Finella (A Ballad)

Finella's Revenge The dother o Cruthneth, the mormaer o Angus Wis Lady Finella, o guid Pictish bluid She had a son Cruthlint, a fiery young laddie Tae Castle Delbog, on a veesit he gaed Twis ained bi his gransire. A quarrel brukk oot there Twa servants o Cruthlint wir killt in the fecht His gransire took umbrage an ordered that Cruthlint Bi threwshed fur the tribble richt speedy wi micht Wi the aid o Finella, the laddie escapit At Fettercairn castle he gaithered his men Thegither they raided Delbog, slew the fowk there Returnin in daybrakk tae harry the glen The king wis informed an sent orders tae meet him At Scone in his castle ere fifteen days passed Bit Cruthlint an ithers fled intae the Heilans Till catched at Lochaber an prisoned at last Tae Dunsinane castle the reivers wir cairriet An killt there. His mither vowed vengeance she'd hae The king, feelin guilty, confessed tae a bishop An set aff tae Fordoun, his penance tae dae King Kenneth lodged neist at the castle o Fettercairn Thonner, Finella received him wi state In a touer she set crossbows ahin the rich hingins An ambush tae kill him sae fierce wis her hate In the mids o the chaumer she'd raised up a figure Twis haudin an aipple, wi gems, he could pluck A gift. Fin he pued it the crossbows set fleein Their arras. King Kenneth wis mortally struck Finella syne mountit her mettlesome stallion The king's men closed in as she fled frae her doom At the deep gorge o Lauriston doonbye St Cyrus She lowped frae a linn, drappt a hunner feet doon Sae endit the life o the Lady Finella King Kenneth tae hyne aff Iona wis taen His subjecks lamentit the daith o their monarch Fa'd treated them justly an drave aff the Dane Wauk lichtly, wauklichtly ower Fettercairn's byweys There's bluid in the bracken o mencruelly slain Spare a thocht fur Finella the mither o Cruthlint A warrior race tae the Netherwarld gaen