THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND'S ALARM
A Ballad.
Tune—“Come rouse, Brother Sportsman!”
ORTHODOX! orthodox, who believe in John Knox,
Let me sound an alarm to your conscience:
A heretic blast has been blown in the West,
That what is no sense must be nonsense,
Orthodox! That what is no sense must be nonsense.
Doctor Mac! Doctor Mac, you should streek on a rack,
To strike evil-doers wi' terror:
To join Faith and Sense, upon any pretence,
Was heretic, damnable error,
Doctor Mac!〖Dr. M'Gill, Ayr.—R.B,〗'Twas heretic, damnable error.
Town of Ayr! town of Ayr, it was mad, I declare,
To meddle wi' mischief a-brewing,〖See the advertisement.—R.B.〗
Provost John〖John Ballantine,—R.B.〗is still deaf to the Church's relief,
And Orator Bob〖Robert Aiken.—R.B.〗is its ruin,
Town of Ayr! Yes, Orator Bob is its ruin.
D'rymple mild! D'rymple mild, tho' your heart's like a child,
And your life like the new-driven snaw,
Yet that winna save you, auld Satan must have you,
For preaching that three's ane an' twa,
D'rymple mild!〖Dr. Dalrymple, Ayr.—R.B.〗For preaching that three's ane an' twa.
Calvin's sons! Calvin's sons, seize your spiritual guns,
Ammunition you never can need;
Your hearts are the stuff will be powder enough,
And your skulls are a storehouse o'lead,
Calvin's sons! Your skulls are a storehouse o'lead.
Rumble John! rumble John, mount the steps with a groan,
Cry “the book is with heresy cramm'd;”
Then out wi' your ladle, deal brimstone like aidle,
And roar ev'ry note of the D—'d.
Rumble John!〖John Russell, Kilmarnock.—R.B.〗And roar ev'ry note of the damn'd.
Simper James! simper James, leave your fair Killie dames,
There's a holier chase in your view:
I'll lay on your head, that the pack you'll soon lead,
For puppies like you there's but few,
Simper James!〖James Mackinlay, Kilmarnock.—R.B.〗For puppies like you there's but few.
Singet Sawnie! singet Sawnie, are ye huirdin the penny,
Unconscious what evils await?
With a jump, yell, and howl, alarm ev'ry soul,
For the foul thief is just at your gate.
Singet Sawnie!〖Alexander Moodie of Riccarton.—R.B.〗For the foul thief is just at your gate.
Poet Willie! poet Willie, gie the Doctor a volley,
Wi' your “Liberty's Chain” and your wit;
O'er Pegasus' side ye ne'er laid a stride,
Ye but smelt, man, the place where he sh-t.
Poet Willie!〖William Peebles, in Newton-upon-Ayr, a poetaster, who, among many other things, published an ode on the “Centenary of the Revolution,” in which was the line: “And bound in Liberty's endering chain.”—R.B.〗Ye but smelt man, the place where he sh-t.
Barr Steenie! Barr Steenie, what mean ye, what mean ye?
If ye meddle nae mair wi' the matter,
Ye may hae some pretence to havins and sense,
Wi' people that ken ye nae better,
Barr Steenie!〖Stephen Young of Barr.—R.B.〗Wi'people that ken ye nae better.
Jamie Goose! Jamie Goose, ye made but toom roose,
In hunting the wicked Lieutenant;
But the Doctor's your mark, for the L—d holy ark,
He has cooper'd an' ca'd a wrang pin in't,
Jamie Goose!〖James Young, in New Cumnock, who had lately been foiled in an ecclesiastical prosecution against a Lieutenant Mitchel—R.B.〗He has cooper'd an' ca'd a wrang pin in't.
Davie Bluster! Davie Bluster, for a saint ye do muster,
The corps is no nice o' recruits;
Yet to worth let's be just, royal blood ye might boast,
If the Ass were the king o' the brutes,
Davie Bluster!〖David Grant, Ochiltree.—R.B.〗If the Ass were the king o' the brutes.
Cessnock-side! Cessnock-side! wi' your turkey-cock pride
Of manhood but sma' is your share:
Ye've the figure, 'tis true, ev'n your foes will allow,
And your friends they dare grant you nae mair,
Cessnock-side!〖George Smith, Galston.—R.B.〗And your friends darena say ye hae mair.
Muirland Jock! muirland Jock, when the L—d makes a rock,
To crush common-sense for her sins;
If ill-manners were wit, there's no mortal so fit
To confound the poor Doctor at ance,
Muirland Jock!〖John Shepherd Muirkirk.—R.B.〗To confound the poor Doctor at ance.
Andro Gowk! Andro Gowk, ye may slander the Book,
An' the Book nought the waur, let me tell ye;
Tho' ye're rich, an' look big, yet, lay by hat an' wig,
An' ye'll hae a calf's-had o' sma' value,
Andro Gowk!〖Dr. Andrew Mitchel, Monkton.—R.B.〗Ye'll hae a calf's head o' sma value.
Daddy Auld! daddy Auld, there'a a tod in the fauld,
A tod meikle waur than the clerk;
Tho' ye do little skaith, ye'll be in at the death,
For gif ye canna bite, ye may bark,
Daddy Auld!〖William Auld, Mauchline; for the clerk, see “Holy Willie's Prayer.”—R.B.〗Gif ye canna bite, ye may bark.
Holy Will! holy Will, there was wit in your skull,
When ye pilfer'd the alms o' the poor;
The timmer is scant when ye're taen for a saunt,
Wha should swing in a rape for an hour,
Holy Will!〖Vide the “Prayer” of this saint.—R.B.〗Ye should swing in a rape for an hour.
Poet Burns! poet Burns, wi' your priest-skelpin turns,
Why desert ye your auld native shire?
Your muse is a gipsy, yet were she e'en tipsy,
She could ca'us nae waur than we are,
Poet Burns! She could ca'us nae waur than we are.
PRESENTATION STANZAS TO CORRESPONDENTS
Factor John! Factor John, whom the L—d made alone,
And ne'er made anither, thy peer,
Thy poor servant, the Bard, in respectful regard,
He presents thee this token sincere,
Factor John! He presents thee this token sincere.
Afton's Laird! Afton's Laird, when your pen can be spared,
A copy of this I bequeath,
On the same sicker score as I mention'd before,
To that trusty auld worthy, Clackleith,
Afton's Laird! To that trusty auld worthy, Clackleith.