[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 rousing to a pitch of desperation the courage of the meanest soldiers; and the ground becoming soft and slippery from blood, they pulled off their boots and shoes, and secured a firmer footing by fighting in their hose.