Interesting differences in the words, and also the additional verse. Thanks. Wedgwood gives no specific source for the poem. She does mention Mark Napier's "Memorials of Montrose" published by the Maitland Society in 1848-50, as the source for "the greater number of documents for the life of Montrose."

In regard to the discussion of how much "history" can be believed, Wedgwood has an interesting comment in her Note on Books and Sources: "I have several times in this book emphasized the growth of legend about his (Montrose) name and exploits. But he was not only the subject of legend, he was also the object of propaganda.... The historian is thus perpetually faced with contradictory statements, or with several accounts of the same event which cannot be made to tally. The bare truth about Montrose's life has been almost equally obscured by the praise of his friends and the slanders of his enemies."

I think that pretty well sets forth the task faced by any real historian in attempting to describe almost any situation or any person who ever lived!

Oh, yes. After going on at great length about how unusually historically accurate the Steeleye Span song is, I found a discrepancy. The song refers to Alisdair MacDonald (who, like Kelly the Boy From Killan, was reported to stand about 7 ft. tall) arriving from Ireland with "sixteen hundred men." I've found one account which puts the number at 1100, and another that gives it as "not much more than 1000." (Alisdair's father had promised Montrose that he would send 10,000!)