Such a parcel of rogues in a nation

Neither the poet's name nor mark are attached to this piece, but there can be little doubt that he is the author

encapsulating the national indigation at the time of The Union of 1707.

FAREWEEL to a’ our Scottish fame,

Fareweel our ancient glory;

Fareweel even to the Scottish name,

Sae fam’d in martial story.

Now Sark rins o’er the Solway sands,

And Tweed rins to the ocean,

To mark where England’s province stands-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue

Thro’ many warlike ages,

Is wrought now by a coward few,

For hireling traitors’ wages.

The English steel we could disdain,

Secure in valour’s station;

But English gold has been our bane-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation !

O would, ‘or I had seen the day

That treason thus could sell us,-

My auld grey head had lain in clay,

Wi’ Bruce and loyal Wallace !

But, pith and power, till my last hour,

I’ll mak this declaration,-

We’re bought and sold for English gold-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation

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