Robert Burns Parcel O' Rogues
Parcel o' Rogues ================ Fareweel to a' oor Scottish fame Fareweel oor ancient glory Fareweel even tae oor Scottish name Sae famed in martial story Noo Sark runs o'er the Solway sands Tweed runs tae the ocean Tae mark wher e England's province stands Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation What force or guile could not subdue Through many wor-like ages Is rocked now by the coward few For hireling traitor's wages The English steel we could disdain Secure in valou r's station But English gold has been oor bane Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation O would or I had seen the day That treason thus would sell us My old grey heid had lain in clay Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace But pith and power till my last hour I'll mak' this declaration We are bought and sold for English gold Such a parcel o' rogues in a nation [ Written by Robert Burns as a protest against the Act of Union, 1707, which joined the parliaments of England and Scotland. Although initially against the Act, the Scottish parliament soon agreed when offered a large pension each by the English government. The people had no say, and thus were 'bought and sold for English gold'. They are still paying the price. ]
