Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

468 MINSTRELSY OF
The following War-Song was written during the ap-
prehension of an invasion. The corps of volunteers, to
which it was addressed, was raised in 1797, consisting
of gentlemen, mounted and armed at their own ex-
pense. It still subsists, as the Right Troop of the Royal
Mid-Lothian Light Cavalry, commanded by the Ho-
nourable Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas.* The noble and
constitutional measure of arming freemen in defence
of their own rights, was nowhere more successful than
in Edinburgh, which furnished a force of 3000 armed
and disciplined volunteers, including a regiment of
cavalry, from the city and county, and two corps of
artillery, each capable of serving twelve guns. To
such a force, above all others, might, in similar cir-
cumstances, be applied the exhortation of our ancient
Galgacus : " Proinde iiuri in aciem, et majores veslros
" el posteros cogitate."
Edition 1812.