University of Virginia Library

About the ports of Aberdeen
The Hotch-potch Rabble did conveen,
Of different Names, and different Natures,
Complexions, Principles and Features;
Some Hectors, Tories, Bullies, Ranters,
Some True-blue Saints and Covenanters,
Old Consuls, and old Fornicators,
Were now become new Reformators,
Both Messengers of God and Sathan,
And many of the tribe of Dathan;
Some Pharisees and Hypocrites,
Consultors, Scribes and Parasites,
Mechanicks some, and Aqueductors,
And Proppers of old ruin'd structures.
Some who liv'd, as my author tells,
Not by the Kirk, but by the Bells.
Malignants too did help afford
To fight the battles of the Lord,
Which was the cause (as say the Godly)
That they came off so very oddly;
Some of the Mob, spur'd on with Conscience,
And some with Maggot, some with Nonsense,
But most of all, as wise men think,
Went not so much to fight as drink.
Thus fifty Troopers, and some more,
Armed as we have said before,
With Infantry, which made a force
Equal in number to the Horse,
Set forward all with one accord,
Leaving the city Bon-accord,
Inspir'd with mighty Resolution,
Because they fear'd no opposition:
Some were for this Kirk, some for that Kirk,
And some no mortal knows for what Kirk:
Yet all of them their course did steer
To storm and take the Kirk of Deer.

Perhaps the reader here may wonder,
How Tories could commit this Blunder,
And in a Presbyterian quarrel
Expose themselves to certain peril;
They only did what hath been done;
There's nothing new beneath the sun.
A myter'd head, born in our nation,
Oppos'd the Scottish Toleration,
And still this Prelate boldly ventures
To plead and write for the Dissenters.

Yea, more, a certain author, who
The plotting trade doth nicely know,
Hath trac'd the Revolution's spring,
And tells a Hogan Mogan King,
Who sav'd our land from Superstition,
Despotick power, and Inquisition,
The only Presbyterian prop,
Yet was an Ally to the Pope,
And did the Romish See advance
Against the growing power of France.
Now, if a Prelate for Dissenters
Can set his wit upon the Tenters,
If Rome can with Geneva join,
To carry on a good design,
If such a Prince could make a shift
To lend to Antichrist a lift,
Who then can doubt but Tories might
For Whigs with a good conscience fight,
To plant and propagate a Schism?
'Tis plainly prov'd by Syllogism.

The night preceeding the engagement,
Some Scouts went off from the Kirk Reg'ment,
Designing for to view the Trenches,
But were oppos'd by warlike Wenches,
Whose Man-like courage soon did stop,
And routed the Forlorn-hope:
These Wenches with Scar-crows were armed,
By which our Troopers sore were harmed,
By swinging these about their heads,
Most of the Riders lost their Steeds,
And, stuned with the martial sound,
Dropt topsie-turvie to the ground;
The rest, opprest with pannick fear,
Kept at a distance in the rear.
The Captain was a man of force,
Who closely sticking to his horse,
With mighty valour forward prest,
Commanding to bring up the rest,
Upbraiding all the silly Pack,
Who to the Women turn'd their back.
Mean time a Plow-man, with a Pattle,
Engag'd the Captain close in battle,
And very quickly made him stand,
By wounding him in the Sword-hand.
When flying Foes are in a Terror,
Not to pursue must be an error.
At Cannæ, where fierce Hannibal
Kill'd Romans like a cannibal,
His March to Rome had he intended,
He'd sack'd the Town, and the War ended;
He would not take it when he could,
Nor after could he when he would.
But here there was a wiser Crew,
Who did their Victory pursue,
Finding their foes in bad condition,
March'd up, and seiz'd their Ammunition,
With all their Wine, and other Forage,
In which lay all the Troopers courage:
This News when the Kirk-army heard,
The consequences much they fear'd,
And every one did greatly dread
Next day what would to this succeed.
Now finding what they scarce suppos'd,
That they were like to be oppos'd
In their design of Kirk-Plantation,
They fell into a Consternation,
And many, who at first seem'd keen,
Wish'd now to be at Aberdeen.