The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other
Poems, by W.E. Aytoun

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Title: Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems

Author: W.E. Aytoun

Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10945]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration]

LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS

BY

W.E. AYTOUN.

TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ARCHIBALD WILLIAM HAMILTON-MONTGOMERIE,

Earl of Eglinton and Winton,

THE PATRIOTIC AND NOBLE REPRESENTATIVE OF

AN ANCIENT SCOTTISH RACE,

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

BY

_THE AUTHOR._

_This Volume is a verbatim reprint of the first edition_ (1849).

CONTENTS

LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS
EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN
THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE
THE HEART OF THE BRUCE
THE BURIAL MARCH OF DUNDEE
THE WIDOW OF GLENCOE
THE ISLAND OF THE SCOTS
CHARLES EDWARD AT VERSAILLES
THE OLD SCOTTISH CAVALIER

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
BLIND OLD MILTON
HERMOTIMUS
OENONE
THE BURIED FLOWER
THE OLD CAMP
DANUBE AND THE EUXINE
THE SCHEIK OF SINAI
EPITAPH OF CONSTANTINE KANARIS
THE REFUSAL OF CHARON

LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS

EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN

The great battle of Flodden was fought upon the 9th of September, 1513.
The defeat of the Scottish army, mainly owing to the fantastic ideas of
chivalry entertained by James IV., and his refusal to avail himself of
the natural advantages of his position, was by far the most disastrous
of any recounted in the history of the northern wars. The whole strength
of the kingdom, both Lowland and Highland, was assembled, and the
contest was one of the sternest and most desperate upon record.

For several hours the issue seemed doubtful. On the left the Scots
obtained a decided advantage; on the right wing they were broken and
overthrown; and at last the whole weight of the battle was brought into
the centre, where King James and the Earl of Surrey commanded in person.
The determined valour of James, imprudent as it was, had the effect of
r