Clan
Sinclair
[Clan Sinclair]
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K. Peter's
   Crusade
   1365
Zeno
   Map
   (1398)
King of Scots
   James IV
   entertains
   Perkin
   Warbeck
   1495
B. Flodden
   1513
B. Summerdale
   1529
B. Solway
   Moss
   1542
B. Altgawn
   1586
B. Kringom
   1612
[Swedish Sinclairs]
   Sweden
Battle of
   Altimarlach
   1680
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Flowers of the Forest

by Jane Elliott, eyewitness to the Battle of Flodden.

1. I've heard them liltin', at the ewe milkin,'
Lasses a-liltin' before dawn of day.
Now there's a moanin', on ilka green loanin'.
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

2. As boughts in the mornin', nae blithe lads are scornin',
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighin' and sobbin',
Ilk ane lifts her leglin, and hies her away.

3. At e'en in the gloamin', nae swankies are roamin',
'Mang stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play.
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin' her dearie,
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

4. In har'st at the shearin' nae youths now are jeerin'
Bandsters are runkled, and lyart, or grey.
At fair or at preachin', nae wooin', nae fleecin',
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

5. Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
the English for ance by guile wan the day.
The flowers of the forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay.

6. We'll hae nae mair liltin', at the ewe milkin',
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighin' and moanin' on ilka green loanin',
The flowers of the forest are all wede away.

Source of this version.

The Battle of Flodden, 1513, 9 September

King James IV of Scotland was killed, along with a very large number Scots of all ranks, including George Sinclair of Keiss, Earl of Caithness. Hardly a household in the land was spared loss. Shortly afterwards, Jane Elliott wrote the poem ``Flowers of the Forest,'' which has since traditionally been used to commemorate newly deceased relatives.
Last changed: 00/05/28 15:54:09 [Clan Sinclair]