STRANGERS TO THE SEA 6
How the first Helandman of God was maid, Of ane Horss Turd, in Argylle, as is said. The Bannatyne Manuscript (1568), an early anthology of Scottish writing, was collected by an Edinburgh merchant while he was at home, isolating from the plague. It was, according to its text, Ane most godlie mirrie and lustie rapsodie made be sundrie learned Scots poets and written be George Bannatyne in the time of his youth . The heading above is the full title of one of its poems, an anonymous 5½ quatrains of bighting satire. God and Sanct Petir was gangand be the way Heich up in Ardgyle quhair thair gait lay ['High up in Argyll, where their path lay'] Sanct Petir said to God in a sport word, Can ye nocht make a Heilandman of this horse turd? ['Can you not make a Highland man out of this horse turd?'] God turnd owre the horss turd with his pykit staff And up start a Helendman blak as any draff ['And up stood a Highlander, as dark as (brewers' byproduct)'] Quod God to t...
