In 1414, MacDonald of the Isles decided (since the king was detained elsewhere) that he had a claim to parts of Rosshire. He invaded the north east of Scotland, probably with the aim of getting Aberdeen whilst he was at it. He was met at Harlaw (near Inverurie) by a combined eastern alliance, and the battle was eventually a draw. It was a bloody encounter, described well in the ballad below.
The Battle Of Harlaw
As I came in by the Geerie lands, and in by Netherhaw
T’was there I met twa hielandmen, a marchin tae Harlaw.
And as I cam on farther still, till I came tae Balquain
And there I met Sir James the Rose, and hieland Geordie Grahame
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Sae come ye frae the hielands man? And come ye o'er the wie?
Saw ye MacDonald and his men as they came into Skye?
Oh wis ye very near tae them? Did ye their numbers see?
And could ye tell me hieland man what micht their numbers be?
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Oh yes I cam frae the hielands man, and I cam a’ the wye
And I did see MacDonald’s men as they cam in frae Skye.
And I was very near tae them and I their numbers saw
There was fifty thousand hielandmen, a marchin’ tae Harlaw
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
So they rode on and further on, till they came apon Harlaw
They both fell fast on every side, such fun ye never saw.
The hielandmen they were behind, the redcoats up before
And the hielandmen beat redcoats back, twa acres breadth and more
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Brave Forbes tae his brother said. Ah brother dinnae ye see?
They break our men on ilka side and we'll be forced to flee.”
Oh no, oh no my brother dear, this thing it will na be
You'll take your good sword in your hand and take the field wie me
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Brave Forbes, he being young and stout, made the hielandmen tae yield
As a sythe does tae the green, green grass that grows apon the field.
Now back tae back these twa fierce Lords, they went amang the throng
They hewed doon a’ the hielandmen, wi heavy swords and long.
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
MacDonald was tae young and stoot, had on his coat o’ mail
And he went swiftly through the ranks, tae fecht wi’ him himsel’
The first blow that MacDonald struck, their swords rang in a knell.
The second blow Lord Forbes struck, the great MacDonald fell.
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Oh there was sic a lammrachie, the like you never saw
As there amangst the hieland men, when they saw MacDonald fa’.
And when they saw their chief was deid, wi him they rade awa’
And buried him at Leggat’s den, a lang mile frae Harlaw.
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
The fecht began on Monday, wi’ the risin’ o’ the sun
And on Setterday at twelve o’clock, ye scarce wid kent whae’d won
Oh there wis sic a burial, the like you’d never saw
As there wis apon the Sabbath day, the leas a’neath Harlaw.
Wie a didum a do an a dee and a dum didum a do dum day
Oh sixty thousand redcoat men, went hame but thirty two
And fifty thousand hielandmen, went hame but forty three
And if anyone should speir at ye o' them that's gone awa'
Just tell them plain and unco plain; they're sleeping at Harlaw
