The opening theme of a piobaireachd is called the Urlar, or ‘ground’ – the territory on which the whole composition stands.

a pestle of pork

This day the Earle of Rothes, Chancellor, (Sir Wᵐ Bruce’s name is in the gift of non-entrie,) gain’d his action againſt my Lord Melvill and his 2ᵈ ſone; the Lords found Melvill’s ſone could not be ſerved air of tailzie to the laſt Countes of Leven during the poſſibility of a 2ᵈ ſone of my Lord Chancelor’s body, (for the devill moſt byde his day,) and præfers Sir Wᵐ Bruce’s gift.

But pardon, and gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt?