Jon, actually in the thread linked in Mary in Kentucky's post, is a post from Big Mick in which he states "By the way, in the third verse, second line, the second word should be "factors" not "battles". The Factor was the man who carried out the Lord's wishes, and usually handled the financial end of things. In the movie "Rob Roy" this man that was taken to the Island and killed by Macgregor's wife. In most cases they were not well liked."

This seems logical and fits with you "fatters" as well.