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McPherson, James (d. 1700)
A freebooter and the illegitimate son of a member of the Invereshie McPhersons by a gipsy mother. He had great strength and was an excellent violinist. The counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Moray went in fear of him and his gipsy followers, until he was seized by Duff of Braco and tried before the sheriff at Banff. While awaiting execution, he composed a song and air beginning 'I've spent my time in rioting'. Just before his hanging, which took place in the market-place in Banff in November 1700, he played the tune on his fiddle asking afterwards if any friend was there to accept his violin. When none came forward, he broke the instrument and threw away the pieces. He was then executed. Burns rewrote McPherson's song, setting it to the same air, for the second volume of Johnson's Museum. Burns's first line reads. 'Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong'.
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