DESCRIPTION:
The execution of a fiddler must have been a sufficiently rare occurrence to merit a song celebrating his understandable act of spite. James Macpherson and his Highland followers terrorised the market towns of Banff, Elgin and Forres in 1700. To ensure they ended his career, it is said that the burgesses put the clock forward by a quarter of an hour to pre-empt the deadline for a possible reprieve. Bobby Campbell plays the fiddle. Apologies to Neil Gow and his fraternity who are entirely blameless.

"Being ye mercats in yr ordinary manner of thieving and purse-cutting, or of the crimes of theft and masterful bangstree and oppression, ye are found fyllen, culpable, and convick. For sae muckle, as you, James MacPherson, are found guilty of being Egyptians and vagabonds and oppressors of his free lieges. Therefore, I adjudge and decern you to be taken to the cross of Banniff to be hanged by the neck to the death." -- Sheriff Nicholas Dunbar, Banff, November 1700