Sir John Fenwick's the flower amang them (variously titled) is a lovely, yearning air in 3/4 time, which I often used to play to myself on the accordion, or other instruments.
It is very simple; and it is easy to play the notes; although of course, it is never "easy" to play a great simple tune with lyricism and sincerity: phrasing is a product of innate musicality, more than technique.
The song has a great story behind it - which has the virtue of being, probably, true.
Sir John Fenwick was the third Baronet (an hereditary knighthood); but the title was extinguished when Sir John was executed for treason under a Bill of Attainder that confiscated all the land and property of the family.
Sir John Fenwick was executed because he was convicted of plotting to kill the King, who was William III; or William of Orange.
William (a Dutch Protestant) was given the throne (by Parliament) to rule as co-monarch with Mary; who was daughter of James II (a Roman Catholic) - who had been deposed in the "Glorious Revolution" of 1689.
This led to various "Jacobite" plots and rebellions ("Jacobite" means followers of James) intended to restore at first James II, and later other Catholic Stuarts, to the throne.
Sir John Fenwick was a Jacobite by conviction; but he also had a personal grudge against William III; from the time William had been Prince of Orange and had publicly insulted Sir John in some fashion.
However; although during life Sir John's plotting failed to achieve the assassination of William; he got his revenge post-mortally.
Because among the confiscated possessions of Fenwick was a superb horse "Sorrell" that the King took for his own use.
He was riding Sir John's steed when the beast stumbled on a molehill; the King fell, broke his collarbone, and subsequently died from the injury.
Thus it was in honour of the mole who made that hill, that Jacobite sympathizers would (rather spitefully) murmer the encoded toast:
To the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat!
And thus it was that Sir John Fenwick became regarded - at least, by those who shared his convictions - as "a flower among men".
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