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The Battle At Duneane
(December 11, 1601)
Ane cauld December day o' gloom
Bargany's Laird was slain,
And now he's in a churchyard tomb
While his rival's free tae reign.
The Lairds and Dukes frae near and far
Came tae bid fareweel that day;
But nane rebuked this senseless war
At the kirk o' Ballantrae.
"Judge and revenge my cause, O Lord."
Words his funeral banner bore;
But do not judge this righteous sword,
For the choice was never war.
And sae it was yon winter day
As Bargany rade frae Ayr,
Upon the Auld Doon Brig he'd say
These resounding words and mair:
"I'm no' come tae fight wi' my Lord
Or tae seek Cassillis's bluid;
But should we meet upon the road
We will gie him latitude."
"If he pursues we'll onward prod"
Tauld Bargany tae his men;
"But I protest before my God,
We will never flee this glen."
"For duty's sake stand by my side
And wi' kindness honour me,
Yet if there's men wha canna bide,
Then I'll gie them leave tae flee."
Said every henchman tae his Lord.
"In defense of you we'll die,
If Cassillis fights he'll taste our sword
In this cauld December sky."
"We canna stay our rival's heart
We can only take his hand;
But frae this fight we'll no' depart
Nor be driven frae this land."
Some eighty men of a dual force
Stood defiant and thegither,
Bargany took the first resource
Laird Carelton took the ither.
Cassillis met them saddled and tall
At Duneane that snawy night,
Twa hundred horsemen at his call
And Musketeers left and right.
Wi' musketeers on every side
The Laird wad stay his men;
Cassillis fired the first broadside
And mayhem ruled the glen.
Bannatyne and Irving crossed the burn
Auchendrane and Cloncaird too;
Bargany spak wi' deep concern,
"Guid Sirs, we are owre few."
Sodger and steed met death uncrowned
On a bleak December plain;
But vengeance trod that battle ground,
When Bargany's life was ta'en.
And still gently drones the Pibroch
Whaur the Laird laid doon his life,
In the valley near West Enoch
That has shared in Scotia's strife.
Who shall protect this freedom God,
And who shall raise its banner?
On land whaur Bruce and Wallace trod
On land, that freemen honour.
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William F. Davidson
was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1939. Raised in Maybole, he attended Cairn
Primary School & Carrick Academy before emigrating to Canada in October
1956. He traveled throughout Canada and the United States for three
years before taking up permanent residence in New York in 1959. Mr.
Davidson has also lived and worked in Australia for two years. He is
married with one son. Several family members continue to live in
Maybole. E-mail