V ' .-,; : THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. IN SIX CANTOS. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTKEL, A POEM; BY WALTER SCOTT, ESQ. Dum relego, scripswse pudet, quia plurima cerno, Me quoque, quifeci, judice, digna lini. THE TWELFTH EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW J AND A. CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH By James Eallantyne $ Co. Edinburgh. 1811. EARL OE DALKEITH, THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. 2123619 THE Poem, now offered to the Public, is intended to illustrate the customs and manners, 'which anciently pre- vailed on the Borders of England and Scotland. The inhabitants, living in a state partly pastoral and partly Warlike, and combining habits of constant depredation with the influence of a rude spirit of chivalry, txere often engaged in scenes, highly susceptible of poetical ornament. As the description of scenery and manners was more the object of the Author, than a combined and regular narra- tive, the plan of the ancient Metrical Romance was adopt- ed, which allows greater latitude, in this respect, than would be consistent with the dignity of a regular Poem. The same model offered other facilities, as it permits an occasional alteration of measure, which, in some degree, authorises the change of rhythm in the text. The machine- ry also, adopted from popular belief, woidd have seemed puerile in a Poem, which did not partake of the rudeness of the old Ballad, or Metrical Romance. For these reasons, the Poem was put into the mouth of an ancient Minstrel, the last of the race, who, as he is sup- posed to have survived the Revolution, might have caught somewhat of the refinement of modern poetry, without lo- sing the simplicity of his original model. The date of the Tale itself is about the middle of the sixteenth century, when most of the personages actually flourished. The time occupied by the action is Three Nights and Three Days. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO FIRST. INTRODUCTION. IHE way was long, the wind was cold, The Minstrel was infirm and old ; His withered cheek, and tresses gray, Seemed to have known a better day; The harp, his sole remaining joy, Was carried by an orphan boy. The last of all the bards was he, Who sung of Border chivalry. For, well-a-day ! their date was fled, His tuneful brethren all were dead; And he, neglected and oppressed, Wished to be with them, and at rest. No more, on prancing palfrey borne, He carolled, light as lark at morn ; 12 INTRODUCTION. No longer courted and caressed, High placed in hall, a welcome guest, He poured, to lord and lady gay, The unpremeditated lay : Old times were changed, old manners gone ; A stranger filled the Stuarts' throne ; The bigots of the iron time Had called his harmless art a crime. A wandering Harper, scorned and poor, He begged his bread from door to door; And tuned, to please a peasant's ear, The harp, a king had loved, to hear. He passed where Newark's stately tower Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower : The Minstrel gazed with wishful eye No humbler resting-place was nigh. With hesitating step, at last, The embattled portal-arch he passed, INTRODUCTION. 13 Whose ponderous grate and massy bar Had oft rolled back the tide of war, But never closed the iron door Against the desolate and poor. The Duchess* marked his weary pace, His timid mien, and reverend face, And bade her page the menials tell, That they should tend the old man well : For she had known adversity, Though born in such a high degree ; In pride of power, in beauty's bloom, Had wept o'er Monmouth's bloody tomb ! When kindness had his wants supplied, And the old man was gratified, Began to rise his minstrel pride : * Anne, Duchess of Bucclench and Monmouth, represen- tative of the ancient lords of Buccleuch, and widow of the unfortunate James, Duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded in 1685. 14 INTRODUCTION. And he began to talk anon, Of good Earl Francis,* dead and gone, And of Earl Walter,f rest him God ! A braver ne'er to battle rode ; 'And how full many a tale he knew, Of the old warriors of Buccleuch ; And, would the noble Duchess deign To listen to an old man's strain, Though stiff his hand, his voice though weak, He thought even yet, the sooth to speak, That, if she loved the harp to hear, He could make music to her ear. The humble boon was soon obtained; The Aged Minstrel audience gained. But, when he reached the room of state, Where she, with all her ladies, sate, * Francis Scott, Earl of Buccleuch, father of the Duchess, f Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, grandfather of the Duchess, and a celebrated warrior. 8 INTRODUCTION. Perchance he wished his boon denied : For, when to tune his harp he tried, His trembling hand had lost the ease, Which marks security to please ; And scenes, long past, of joy and pain, Came wildering o'er his aged brain He tried to tune his harp in vain, The pitying Duchess praised its chime, And gave him heart, and gave him time, Till every string's according glee Was blended into harmony. And then, he said, he would full fain He could recal an ancient strain, He never thought to sing again. It was not framed for village churls, But for high dames and mighty earls ; He had played it to King Charles the Good, When he kept court in Holyrood ; And much he wished, yet feared, to try The long-forgotten melody. INTRODUCTION. Amid the strings his fingers strayed, And an uncertain warbling made, And oft he shook his hoary head. But when he caught the measure wild, The old man raised his face, and smiled; And lightened up his faded eye, With all a poet's ecstacy ! In varying cadence, soft or strong, He swept the sounding chords along: The present scene, the future lot, His toils, his wants, were all forgot : Cold diffidence, and age's frost, In the full tide of song were lost; Each blank, in faithless memory void, The poet's glowing thought supplied; And, while his harp responsive rung, 'Twas thus the LATEST MINSTREL sung. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO FIRST. I. THE feast was over in Branksome tower, And the Ladye had gone to her secret bower ; Her bower that was guarded by word and by spell, Deadly to hear, and deadly to tell Jesu Maria, shield us well ! No living wight, save the Ladye alone, Had dared to cross the threshold stone, n 18 THE LAY OF CANTO I. II. The tables were drawn, it was idlesse all ; Knight, and page, and household squire, Loitered through the lofty hall, Or crowded round the ample fire : The stag-hounds, weary with the chace, Lay stretched upon the rushy floor, And urged, in dreams, the forest-race, From Teviot-stone to Eskd ale-moor. III. Nine-and-twenty knights of fame Hung their shields in Branksorne Hall ; Nine-and-twenty squires of name Brought them their steeds from bower to stall ; Nine-and-twenty yeomen tall Waited, duteous, on them all : They were all knights of mettle true, Kinsmen to the bold Buccleuch. CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 19 IV. Ten of them were sheathed in steel, With belted sword, and spur on heel : They quitted not their harness bright, Neither by day, nor yet by night : They lay down to rest, With corslet laced, Pillowed on buckler cold and hard ; They carved at the meal With gloves of steel, And they drank the red wine through the helmet barred. V. Ten squires, ten yeomen, mail-clad men, Waited the beck of the warders ten ; Thirty steeds, both fleet and wight, Stood saddled in stable day and night, Barbed with frontlet of steel, I trow, And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow ; 26 THE LAY OF CANTO I. A hundred more fed free in stall : Such was the custom of Branksome Hall. Why do these steeds stand ready dight ? Why watch these warriors, armed, by night ? They watch, to hear the blood-hound baying ; They watch, to hear the war-horn braying ; To see St George's red cross streaming, To see the midnight beacon gleaming ; They watch, against Southern force and guile, Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers, Threaten Branksome's lordly towers, From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle. VIE. Such is the custom of Branksome-Hall. Many a valiant knight is here ; But he, the chieftain of them all, His sword hangs rusting on the wall, Beside his broken spear. CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 21 Bards long shall tell, How Lord Walter fell ! When startled burghers fled, afar, The furies of the Border war ; When the streets of high Dunedin Saw lances gleam, and falchions redden, And heard the slogan's* deadly yell Then the Chief of Branksome fell. VIII. Can piety the discord heal, Or staunch the death-feud's enmity r Can Christian lore, can patriot zeal, Can love of blessed charity. ? No ! vainly to each holy shrine, In mutual pilgrimage. they drew ; Implored, in vain, the grace divine For chiefs, their own red falchions slew : * The war-cry, or gathering word, of a Border clan. 22 THE LAY OF CANTO I. While Cessford owns the rule of Car, While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, The slaughtered chiefs, the mortal jar, The havoc of the feudal war, Shall never, never be forgot ! IX. In sorrow, o'er Lord Walter's bier The warlike foresters had bent ; And many a flower, and many a tear, Old Teviot's maids and matrons lent : But o'er her warrior's bloody bier The Ladye dropped nor flower nor tear ! Vengeance, deep-brooding o'er the slain, Had locked the source of softer woe ; And burning pride, and high disdain, Forbade the rising tear to flow ; Until, amid his sorrowing clan, Her son lisped from the nurse's knee " And, if I live to be a man, My father's death revenged shall be I" 1 CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 23 Then fast the mother's tears did seek To dew the infant's kindling cheek. X. All loose her negligent attire, All loose her golden hair, Hung Margaret o'er her slaughtered sire, And wept in wild despair. But not alone the bitter tear Had filial grief supplied ; For hopeless love, and anxious fear, Had lent their mingled tide : Nor in her mother's altered eye Dared she to look for sympathy. Her lover, 'gainst her father's clan, With Car in arms had stood, When Mathouse-burn to Melrose ran, All purple with their blood ; And well she knew, her mother dread, Before Lord Cranstoun she should wed, Would see her on her dying bed. 24 THE LAY OF CANTO I. XI. Of noble race the Ladye came ; Her father was a clerk of fame, Of Bethune's line of Picardie r He learned the art, that none may name, In Padua, far beyond the sea. Men said, he changed his mortal frame By feat of magic mystery ; For when, in studious mood, he paced St Andrew's cloistered hall, His form no darkening shadow traced Upon the sunny wall ! XII. And of his skill, as bards avow, He taught that Ladye fair, Till to her bidding she could bow The viewless forms of air. And now she sits in secret bower, In old Lord David's western tower, CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 25 And listens to a heavy sound, That moans the mossy turrets round. Is it the roar of Tiviot's tide, That chafes against the scaur's* red side ? Is it the wind, that swings the oaks ? Is it the echo from the rocks ? What may it be, the heavy sound, That moans old Branksome's turrets round ? XIII. At the sullen, moaning sound, The ban-dogs bay and howl ; And, from the turrets round, Loud whoops the startled owl. In the hall, both squire and knight Swore that a storm was near, And looked forth to view the night ; But the night was still and clear ! * Scaur, a precipitous bank of earth. 26 THE LAY OF CANTO I. XIV. From the sound of Teviot's tide, Chafing with the mountain's side, From the groan of the wind-swung oak, From the sullen echo of the rock, From the voice of the coming storm, The Ladye knew it well ! It was the Spirit of the Flood that spoke, And he called on the Spirit of the Fell. XV. " Sleep'st thou, brother I* fountain Spirit, " Brother, nay On my hills the moon-beams play. From Craik-cross to Skelf hill-pen, By every rill, in every glen, Merry elves their morrice pacing, To aerial minstrelsy, Emerald rings on brown heath tracing, Trip it deft and merrily. CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 27 Up, and mark their nimble feet ! Up, and list their music sweet !" " Tears of an imprisoned maiden Mix with my polluted stream ; Margaret of Branksome, sorrow-laden, Mourns beneath the moon's pale beam. Tell me, thou, who viewest the stars, When shall cease these feudal jars ? What shall be the maiden's fate ? Who shall be the maiden's mate ?" XVII. fountain Spirit* " Arthur's slow wain his course doth roll, In utter darkness round the pole ; The Northern Bear lowers black and grim Orion's studded belt is dim : 28 THE LAY OF CANTO I; Twinkling faint, and distant far, Shimmers through mist each planet star; 111 may I read their high decree ! But no kind influence deign they shower On Teviot's tide, and Branksome's tower, Till pride be quelled, and love be free." XVIII. The unearthly voices ceast, And the heavy sound was still ; It died on the river's breast, It died on the side of the hill. But round Lord David's tower The sound still floated near; For it rung in the Ladye's bower, And it rung in the Ladye's ear. She raised her stately head, And her heart throbbed high with pride : " Your mountains shall bend, And your streams ascend, Ere Margaret be our foeman's bride !" CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 29 XIX. The Ladye sought the lofty hall, Where many a bold retainer lay, And, with jocund din, among them all, Her son pursued his infant play. A fancied moss-trooper, the boy The truncheon of a spear bestrode, And round the hall, right merrily, In mimic foray * rode. Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Share in his frolic gambols bore, Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, Were stubborn as the steel they wore. For the gray warriors prophesied, How the brave boy, in future war, Should tame the Unicorn's pride, Exalt the Crescent and the Star, * Foray, a predatory inroad. t Alluding to the armorial bearings of the Scotts and Carrs. 6 30 THE LAY OF CANTO I: XX. The Ladye forgot her purpose high, One moment, and no more ; One moment gazed with a mother's eye, As she paused at the arched door : Then from amid the armed train, She called to her William of Deloraine. XXL A stark moss-trooping Scott was he, As e'er couched border lance by knee : Through Solway sands, through Tarras moss, Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross ; By wily turns, by desperate bounds, Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds, In Eske, or Lid del, fords were none, But he would ride them, one by one ; Alike to him was time or tide, December's snow, or July's pride ; Alike to him was tide, or time, j, Moonless midnight, or matin prime ; CANTO 1. THE LAST MINSTREL. 31 Steady of heart and stout of hand, As ever drove prey from Cumberland ; Five times outlawed had he been, By England's king, and Scotland's queen. XXII. " Sir William of Deloraine, good at need, Mount thee on the wightest steed ; Spare not to spur, nor stint to ride, Until thou come to fair Tweedside ; And in Melrose's holy pile Seek thou the Monk of St Mary's aisle. Greet the Father well from me; Say that the fated hour is come, And to-night he shall watch with thee, To win the treasure of the tomb : For this will be St Michael's night, And, though stars be dim, the moon is bright ; And the Cross, of bloody red, Will point to the grave of the mighty dead. 32 THE LAY OF CANTO I. XXIII. " What he gives thee, see thou keep ; Stay not thou for food or sleep : Be it scroll, or be it book, Into it, knight, thou must not look ; If thou readest, thou art lorn ! Better had'st thou ne'er been born." XXIV. " O swiftly can speed, my dapple-gray steed, Which drinks of the Teviot clear ; Ere break of day," the warrior 'gan say, " Again will I be here : And safer by none may thy errand be done, Than, noble dame, by me ; Letter nor line know I never a one, Wer't my neck-verse at Hairibee."* * Huiribec, the place of executing the border marauders, at Carlisle. The neck-verse is the beginning of the 51st psalm, 'Miserere mei, &c. anciently read by criminals, claiming the benefit of clergy. CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 33 XXV. Soon in his saddle sate he fast, And soon the steep descent he past, Soon crossed the sounding barbican,* And soon the Teviot side he won. Eastward the wooded path he rode, Green hazels o'er his basnet nod ; He passed the Peel f of Goldiland, And crossed old Borthwick's roaring strand ; Dimly he viewed the Moat-hill's mound, Where Druid shades still flitted round : In Hawick twinkled many a light; Behind him soon they set in night ; And soon he spurred his courser keen Beneath the tower of Hazeldean. XXVI. The clattering hoofs the watchmen mark ; " Stand, ho ! thou courier of the dark." * Barbican, the defence of the outer gate of a feudal castle. t Peel, a Border tower. 34 THE LAY OF CANTO I. " For Branksome, ho !" the knight rejoined, And left the friendly tower behind. He turned him now from Teviotside, And, guided by the tinkling rill, Northward the dark ascent did ride, And gained the moor at Horseliehill ; Broad on the left before him lay, For many a mile, the Roman way. * XXVII. A moment now he slacked his speed, A moment breathed his panting steed ; Drew saddle-girth and corslet-band, And loosened in the sheath his brand. On Minto-crags the moon-beams glint, Where Barnhill hewed his bed of flint ; Who flung his outlawed limbs to rest, Where falcons hang their giddy nest, Mid cliffs, from whence his eagle eye For many a league his prey could spy ; * An ancient Roman road, crossing through part of Rox- burghshire. CANTO 1. THE LAST MINSTREL. 35 Cliffs, doubling, on their echoes borne., The terrors of the robber's horn ; Cliffs, which, for many a later year, The warbling Doric reed shall hear, When some sad swain shall teach the grove, Ambition is no cure for love ! XXVIII. Unchallenged, thence past Deloraine To ancient Riddel's fair domain, Where Aill, from mountains freed, Down from the lakes did raving come ; Each wave was crested with tawny foam, Like the mane of a chesnut steed. In vain ! no torrent, deep or broad, Might bar the bold moss-trooper's road. XXIX. At the first plunge the horse sunk low, And the water broke o'er the saddle-bow ; 36 THE LAY OF CANTO I. Above the foaming tide, I ween, Scarce half the charger's neck was seen ; For he was barded * from counter to tail, And the rider was armed complete in mail ; Never heavier man and horse Stemmed a midnight torrent's force. The warrior's very plume, I say, Was daggled by the dashing spray ; Yet, through good heart, and Our Ladye's grace, At length he gained the landing place. XXX. Now Bowden Moor the march-man won, And sternly shook his plumed head, As glanced his eye o'er Halidon ; f For on his soul the slaughter red * Barded, or barbed, applied to a horse accoutered with defensive armour. j- Halidon-Hill, on which the battle of Melrose was fought. S CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 37 Of that unhallowed morn arose, When first the Scott and Car were foes ; When royal James beheld the fray, Prize to the victor of the day ; When Home and Douglas, in the van, Bore down Buccleuch's retiring clan, Till gallant Cessford's heart-blood dear Reeked on dark Elliot's Border spear. XXXI. In bitter mood he spurred fast, And soon the hated heath was past ; And far beneath, in lustre wan, Old Melros' rose, and fair Tweed ran : Like some tall rock, with lichens gray, Seemed, dimly huge, the dark Abbaye. When Hawick he passed, had curfew rung, Now midnight lauds * were in Melrose sung. * Lauds, the midnight service of the Catholic church. 38 THE LAY OF CANTO I. The sound, upon the fitful gale, In solemn wise did rise and fail, Like that wild harp, whose magic tone Is wakened by the winds alone. But when Melrose he reached, 'twas silence all ; He meetly stabled his steed in stall, And sought the convent's lonely wall. HERE paused the harp : and with its swell The Master's fire and courage fell : Dejectedly, and low, he bowed, And, gazing timid on the crowd, He seemed to seek, in every eye, If they approved his minstrelsy ; And, diffident of present praise, Somewhat he spoke of former days, And how old age, and wandering long, Had done his hand and harp some wrong. CANTO I. THE LAST MINSTREL. 39 The Duchess, and her daughters fair, And every gentle ladye there, Each after each, in due degree, Gave praises to his melody ; His hand was true, his voice was clear, And much they longed the rest to hear. Encouraged thus, the Aged Man, After meet rest, again began, THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO SECOND. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO SECOND. I. IF thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, Go visit it by the pale moon-light; For the gay beams of lightsome day Gild, but to flout, the ruins gray. When the broken arches are black in night, And each shafted oriel glimmers white ; When the cold light's uncertain shower Streams on the ruined central tower ; 1 44 THE LAY OF CANTO II. When buttress and buttress, alternately, Seem framed of ebon and ivory ; When silver edges the imagery, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die ; When distant Tweed is heard to rave, And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave, Then go but go alone the while Then view St David's ruined pile ; And, home returning, soothly swear, Was never scene so sad and fair ! II. Short halt did Deloraine make there ; Little recked he of the scene so fair : With dagger's hilt, on the wicket strong, ,He struck full loud, and struck full long. The porter hurried to the gate How these two hostile armies met ? Deeming it were no easy task To keep the truce which here was set ; Where martial spirits, all on fire, Breathed only blood and mortal ire. By mutual inroads, mutual blows, By habit, and by nation, foes, OANTO V, THE LAST MINSTREL. 14f They met on Te viol's strand ; ' They met, and sate them mingled down, Without a threat, without a frown, As brothers meet in foreign land : The hands, the spear that lately grasped. Still in the mailed gauntlet clasped, Were interchanged in greeting dear ; Visors were raised, and faces shewn, And many a friend, to friend made known, Partook of social cheer. Some drove the jolly bowl about ; With dice and draughts some chased the day ; And some, with many a merry sb.out, In riot, revelry, and rout, Pursued the foot-ball play. VII. Yet, be it known, had bugles blown, Or sign of war been seen, 8 14 Amends from Deloraine to crave, For foul despiteous scathe and acorn. CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 159 He sayeth, that William of Deloraine Is traitor false by Border laws ; This with his sword he will maintain, So help him God, and his good cause ! XX. Here standeth William of Deloraine, Good knight and true, of noble strain, Who sayeth, that foul treason's stain, Since he bore arms, ne'er soiled his coat And that, so help him God above He will on Musgrave's body prove, He lies most foully in his throat. llorfc SDantf Forward, brave champions, to the fight Sound trumpets ! - - " God defend the right !" Then, Teviot ! how thine echoes rang, When bugle-sound and trumpet clang 169 THE LAY OF CANTO V. Let loose the martial foes, And in mid list, with shield poised high, And measured step and wary eye, The combatants did close. XXI. Ill would it suit your gentle ear, Ye lovely listeners, to hear How to the axe the helms did sound, And blood poured down from many a wound ; For desperate was the strife and long, And either warrior fierce and strong. But, were each dame a listening knight, I well could tell how warriors fight ; For I have seen war's lightning flashing, Seen the claymore with bayonet clashing, Seen through red blood the war-horse dashing, And scorned, amid the reeling strife, To yield a step for death or life. CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 1(51 XXII. Tis done, 'tis done ! that fatal blow Has stretched him on the bloody plain ; He strives to rise Brave Musgrave, no ! Thence never shalt thou rise again ! He chokes in blood some friendly hand Undo the visor's barred band, Unfix the gorget's iron clasp, And give him room for life to gasp ! O, bootless aid ! haste, holy Friar, Haste, ere the sinner shall expire ! Of all his guilt let him be shriven, And smooth his path from earth to heaven ! XXIII. In haste the holy Friar sped ; His naked foot was dyed with red, As through the lists he ran ; _ Unmindful of the shouts on high, That hailed the conqueror's victory, He raised the dying man ; 165 THE LAY OF CANIO V. Loose waved his silver beard and hair, As o'er him he kneeled down in prayer ; And still the crucifix on high He holds before his darkening eye ; And still he bends an anxious ear, His faultering penitence to hear ; Still props him from the bloody sod, Still, even when soul and body part, Pours ghostly comfort on his heart, And bids him trust in God ! Unheard he prays ; the death-pang's o'er ! Richard of Musgrave breathes no more. XXIV. As if exhausted in the fight, Or musing o'er the piteous sight, The silent victor stands; His beaver did he not unclasp, Marked not the shouts, felt not the grasp Of gratulating hands. CANTO V. THE 1AST MINSTREL. 163 When lo ! strange cries of wild surprise, Mingled with seeming terror, rise Among the Scottish bands ; And all, amid th thronged array, In panic liaste gave open way To a half-naked ghastly man, Who downward from the castle ran : He crossed the barriers at a bound, And wild and hagard looked around, As dizzy, and in pain ; And all, upon the armed ground, Knew William of Deloraine ! Each ladye sprung from seat with speed ; Vaulted each marshal from his steed ; " And who art thou," they cried, " Who hast this battle fought and won ? M His plumed helm was soon undone " Cranstoun of Teviot-side ! For this fair prize I've fought and won," And to the Ladye led her son. 164 THE LAY OF CANTO v. XXV. Full oft the rescued boy she kissed, And often pressed him to her breast ; For, under all her dauntless show, Her heart had throbbed at every blow ; Yet not Lord Cranstoun deigned she greet, Though low he kneeled at her feet. Me lists not tell what words were made, What Douglas, Home, and Howard said For Howard was a generous foe And how the clan united prayed, The Ladye would the feud forego, And deign to bless the nuptial hour Of Cranstoun's Lord and Teviot's Flower. XXVI. She looked to river, looked to hill, Thought on the Spirit's prophecy, Then broke her silence stern and still, 4C Not you, but Fate, has vanquished me ; 4 CANTO v. THE LAST MINSTREL. 16 i Their influence kindly stars may shower On Teviot's tide and Branksome's tower, For pride is quelled., and love is free." She took fair Margaret by the hand, Who, breathless, trembling, scarce might stand ; That hand to Cranstoun's lord gave she : rt As I am true to thee and thine, Do thou be true to me and mine ! This clasp of love our bond shall be ; For this is your betrothing day, And all these noble lords shall stay, To grace it with their company." XXVII. All as they left the listed plain, Much of the story she did gain ; How Cranstoun fought with Deloraine, And of his Page, and of the Book Which from the wounded knight he took ; 166 THE LAY OF CAKTO V. And how he sought her castle high, That morn, by help of grarnarye ; How, in Sir W illiarn's armour dight, Stolen by his Page, while slept the knight, He took on him the single fiiiht. But half his tale he left unsaid, And lingered till he joined the maid. Cared not the Ladye to betray Her mystic arts in view of day ; But well she thought, ere midnight came, Of that strange Page the pride to tame, From his foul hands the Book to save, And send it back to Michael's grave. Needs not to tell each tender word Twixt Margaret and 'twixt Cranstoun's lord ; Nor how she told of former woes, And how her bosom fell and rose, While he and Musgrave bandied blows. Needs not these lovers' joys to tell ; One day, fair maids, you'll know them well CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. XXVIII. William of Deloraine, some chance Had wakened from his deathlike trance ; And taught that, in the listed plain, Another, in his arms and shield, Against fierce Musgrave axe did wield, Under the name of Deloraine. Hence, to the field, unarmed, he ran, And hence his presence scared the clan, Who held him for some fleeting wraith,* And not a man of blood and breath. Not much this new ally he loved, Yet, when he saw what hap had proved, He greeted him right heartilie : He would not waken old debate, For he was void of rancorous hate Though rude, and scant of courtesy ; In raids he spilt but seldom blood, Unless when men at arms withstood, * The spectral apparition of a living person. 16 THE LAY OP CANTO V. Or, as was meet, for deadly feud. He ne'er bore grudge for stalwart blow, Ta'en in fair fight from gallant foe : And so 'twas seen of him, e'en now, When on dead Musgrave he looked down ; Grief darkened on his rugged brow, Though half disguised with a frown ; And thus, while soriow bent his head, His foeman's epitaph he made. XXIX. " Now, Richard Musgrave, liest thou here 1 I ween, my deadly enemy ; For, if I slew thy brother dear, Thou slewest a sister's son to me ; And when I lay in dungeon dark, Of Naworth Castle, long months three a Till ransomed for a thousand mark, Dark Musgrave, it was long of thee. ANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. 169 And, Musgrave, could our fight be tried, And thou wert now alive, as I, No mortal man should us divide, Till one, or both of us, did die : Yet rest thee God ! for well I know I ne'er shall find a nobler foe. In all the northern counties here, Whose word is, Snafle, spur, and spear,* Thou wtrt the best to follow gear. 'Twas pleasure, as we looked behind, To see how thou the chase could st wind, Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way, And with the bugle rouse the fray! I'd give the lands of Deioraine, Dark Musgrave were alive again." XXX. So mourned he, till Lord Dacre's band Were bowning back to Cumberland. * The lam's, that over Ouse to Berwick forth do bear, Have for their blazon had, the snafle, spur, and spear. Poly- Albion, Song xiii. 170 THE LAY OF CANTO V. They raised brave Musgrave from the field, And laid him on his bloody shield ; On levelled lances, four and four, By turns, the noble burden bore. Before, at times, upon the gale, Was heard the Minstrel's plaintive wail ; Behind, four priests, in sable stole, Sung requiem for the warrior's soul : Around, the horsemen slowly rode ; With trailing pikes the spearmen trod ; And thus the gallant knight they bore, Through Liddesdale, to Leven's shore ; Thence to Holme Coltrame's lofty nave, And laid him in his father's grave. THE harp's wild notes, though hushed the song, The mimic march of death prolong ; Now seems it far, and now a-near, Now meets, and now eludes the ear ; CANTO V. THE LAST MINSTREL. Now seems some mountaia side to sweep, Now faintly dies in valley deep ; Seems now as if the Minstrel's wail, Now the sad requiem, loads the gale; Last, o'er the warrior's closing grave, Rung the full choir in choral stave. After due pause, they bade him tell, Why he, who touched the harp so well, Should thus, with ill-rewarded toil, Wander a poor and thankless soil, When the more generous southern land Would well requite his skilful hand. The Aged Harper, howsoe'er His only friend, his harp, was dear, Liked not to hear it ranked so high Above his flowing poesy ; 173 THE LAY OF, &c. CANTO Y. Less liked he still, that scornful jeer Misprised the land he loved so dear ; High was the sound, as thus again The Bard resumed his minstrel strain. THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO SIXTH. THE CANTO SIXTH. I. BREATHES there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land ! Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned, As home his footsteps he bath turned, From wandering on a foreign strand ! If such there breathe, go, mark him well ; For him no Minstrel raptures swell ; 176 THE LAY OP CANTO VI. High though his titles, proud his name, Boundless his wealth as wish can claim ; Despite those titles, power, and pelf, The wretch, concentered all in self, Living, shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubly dying, shall go down To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. II. O Caledonia ! stern and wild, Meet nurse for a poetic child ! Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood, Land of my sires ! what mortal hand Can e'er untie the filial band, That knits me to thy rugged strand ! Still, as I view each well-known scene, Think what is now, and what hath been, CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 17 Seems as, to me, of all bereft, Sole friends thy woods and streams were left ; And thus I love them better still, Even in extremity of ill. By Yarrow's stream still let me stray, Though none should guide my feeble way ; Still feel the breeze down Ettricke break, Although it chill my withered cheek ; Still lay my head by Teviot stone, Though there, forgotten and alone, The Bard may draw his parting, groan. III. Not scorned like me ! to Branksome Hall The Minstrels came, at festive call ; Trooping they came, from near and far, The jovial priests of mirth and war ; Alike for feast and fight prepared, Battle and banquet both they shared. Of late, before each martial clan, They blew their death-note in the van, M 178 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. But now, for every merry mate, Rose the portcullis' iron grate ; They sound the pipe, they strike the string, They dance, they revel, and they sing, Till the rude turrets shake and ring. IV. Me lisl not at this tide declare The splendour of the spousal rite, - How mustered in the chapel fair Both maid and matron, squire and knight ; Me lists not tell of owches rare, Of mantles green, and braided hair, And kirtles furred with miniver ; What plumage waved the altar round, How spurs, and ringing chainlets, sound : And hard it were for bard to speak The changeful hue of Margaret's cheek ; That lovely hue which comes and flies, As awe and shame alternate rise. 3 CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. V. Some bards have sung, the Ladye high Chapel or altar came not nigh ; Nor durst the riles of spousal grace, So much she feared each holy place. False' slanders these : I trust right well She wrought not by forbidden spell : For mighty words and signs have power O'er sprites in planetary hour : Yet scarce I praise their venturous part, Who tamper with such dangerous art. But this for faithful truth I say, The Ladye by the altar stood, Of sable velvet her array, And on her head a crimson hood, With pearls embroidered and entwined, Guarded with gold, with ermine lined ; A merlin sat upon her wrist, Held by a leash of silken twist. 180 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. vi. The spousal rites were ended soon : 'Twas now the merry hour of noon, And in the lofty arched hall Was spread the gorgeous festival. Steward and squire, with heedful haste, Marshalled the rank of every guest ; Pages, with ready blade, were there, The mighty meal to carve and share : O'er capon, heron-shew, and crane, And princely peacock's gilded train, And o'er the hoar-head, garnished brave, And cygnet from St Mary's wave ; O'er ptarmigan and venison, The priest had spoke his benison. Then rose the riot and the din, Above, beneath, without, within ! For, from the lofty balcony, Rung trumpet, shalm, and psaltery ; ANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. ll Their clanging bowls old warriors quaffed, Loudly they spoke, and loudly laughed ; Whispered young knights, in tone more mild, To ladies fair, and ladies smiled. The hooded hawks, high perched on beam, The clamour joined with whistling scream, And flapped their wings, and shook their bells, In concert with the stag-hounds' yells. Round go the flasks of ruddy wine, From Bourdeaux, Orleans, or the Rhine ; Their tasks the busy sewers ply, And all is mirth and revelry. VII. The Goblin Page, omitting still No opportunity of ill, Strove now, while blood ran hot and high, To rouse debate and jealousy ; Till Conrad, lord of Wolfenstein, By nature fierce, and warm with wine, 182 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. And now in humour highly crossed, About some steeds his band had lost, High words to words succeeding still, Smote, with his gauntlet, stout Hunthill ; A hot and hardy Rutherford, Whom men call Dickon Draw-the-Sword. He took it on the Page's saye, Hunthill had driven these steeds away. Then Howard, Home, and Douglas rose, The kindling discord to compose : Stern Rutherford right little said, But bit his glove, and shook his head. A fortnight thence, in Inglewood, Stout Conrad, cold, and drenched in blodd. His bosom gored with many a wound, * Was by a woodman's lyme-dog found ; Unknown the manner of his death, Gone was his brand, both sword and sheath ; CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 1*S But ever from that time, 'twas said, / That Dickon wore a Cologne blade. VIII. The Dwarf, who feared his master's eye Might his foul treachery espie, -Now sought the castle buttery, Where many a yeoman, bold and free, Revelled as merrily and well As those that sat in lordly selle. Watt Tinlinn, there, did frankly raise The pledge to Arthur Fire-the-Braes ; And he, as by his breeding bound, To Howard's merry-men sent it round. To quit them, on the English side, Red Roland Forster loudly cried, " A deep carouse to yon fair bride !", At every pledge, from vat and pail, Foamed forth, in floods, the nut-brown ale ; 184 THE LAY OP CANTO VI. While shout the riders every one, Such day of mirth ne'er cheered their clan, Since old Buccleuch the name did gain, When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en. IX. i The wily Page, with vengeful thought, Remembered him of Tinlinn's yew, And swore, it should be dearly bought, That ever he the arrow drew. First, he the yeoman did molest, With bitter gibe and taunting jest; Told, how he fled at Solway strife, And how Hob Armstrong cheered his wife : Then, shunning still his powerful arm, At unawares he wrought him harm ; From trencher 'stole his choicest cheer, Dashed from his lips his can of beer ; Then, to his knee sly creeping on, With bodkin pierced him to the bone : CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. isS The venomed wound, and festering joint, Long after rued that bodkin's point. The startled yeoman swore and spurned, And board and flaggons overturned. Riot and clamour wild began ; Back to the hall the Urchin ran ; Took in a darkling nook his post, ' And grinned, and muttered, " Lost ! lost ! lost I" X. By this, the Dame, lest further fray Should mar the concord of the day, Had bid the Minstrels tune their Jay. And first slept forth old Albert Grame, The Minstrel of that ancient name : Was none who struck the harp so well, Within the Land Debateable ; Well friended too, his hardy kin, Whoever lost, were sure to win \ 186 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. They sought the beeves, that made their broth, In Scotland and in England both. In homely guise, as nature bade, His simple song the Borderer said. XI. It was an English ladye bright, (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,,) And she would marry a Scottish knight, For Love will still be lord of all. Blithely they saw the rising sun, When he shone fair on Carlisle wall, But they were sad ere day was done, Though Love was still the lord of all. Her sire gave brooch and jewel fine, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall Her brother gave but a flask of wine, For ire that Love was lord of all. CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 187 For she had lands, both meadow and lea, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall, And he swore her death, ere he would see A Scottish knight the lord of all ! XII. That wine she had not tasted well, (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall ;) When dead, in her true love's arms, she fell, For Love was still the lord of all. He pierced her brother to the heart, Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall : So perish all, would true love part, That Love may still be lord of all ! And then he took the cross divine, Where the sun shines fair -on Carlisle wall, And died for her sake in Palestine, So Love was still the lord of all. 185 THE LAY OF HANTO VI. Now all ye lovers, that faithful prove, (The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,) Pray for their souls who died for love, For Love shall still be lord of all ! XIII. As ended Albert's simple lay. Arose a bard of loftier port ; For sonnet, rhyme, and roundelay, Renowned in haughty Henry's court : There rung thy harp, unrivalled long, Fitzlraver of the silver song ! The gentle Surrey loved his lyre Who has not heard of Surrey's fame ? His was the hero's soul of fire, And his the hard's immortal name, And his was love, exalted high By all the glow of chivalry. CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. i9 XIV. They sought, together, climes afar, And oft, within some olive grove, When evening came, with twinkling star, They sung of Surrey's absent love. His step the Italian peasant staid, And deemed, that spirits from on high, Round where some hermit saint was laid, Were breathing heavenly melody ; So sweet did harp and voice combine, To praise the name of Geraldine. XV. Fitztraver ! O what tongue may say The pangs thy faithful bosom knew, When Surrey, of the deathless lay, Ungrateful Tudor's sentence slew f Regardless of the tyrant's frown, His harp called wrath and vengeance down. 190 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. He left, for Naworth's iron towers, Windsor's green glades, and courtly bowers, And, faithful to his patron's name, With Howard still Fitztraver came ; Lord William's foremost favourite he, And chief of all his minstrelsy. . XVI. 'Twas All-soul's eve, and Surrey's heart beat high j He heard the midnight bell with anxious start, Which told the mystic hour, approaching nigh, When wise Cornelius promised, by his art, To shew to him the ladye of his heart, Albeit betwixt them roared the ocean grim ; Yet so the sage had hight to play his part, That he should see her form in life and limb, And mark, if still she loved, and still she thought of him. CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 191 XVII. Dark was the vaulted room of gramarye, To which the wizard led the gallant Knight, Save that before a mirror, huge and high, A hallowed taper shed a glimmering light On mystic implements of magic might ; On cross, and character, and talisman, And almagest, and altar, nothing bright ; For fitful was the lustre, pale and wan, As watch-light by the bed of some departing man. XVIII. But soon, within that mirror huge and high, Was seen a self-emitted light to gleam ; And forms upon its breast the earl 'gan spy, Cloudy and indistinct, as feverish dream ; Till, slow arranging, and defined, they seem To form a lordly and a lofty room, Part lighted by a lamp with silver beam, Placed by a couch of Agra's silken loom, And part by moonshine pale, and part was hid in gloom. 192 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. XIX. Fair all the pageant but how passing fair The slender form, which lay on couch of Ind ! O'er her white bosom strayed her hazel hair, Pale her dear cheek, as if for love she pined j All in her night-robe loose she lay reclined, And, pensive, read from tablet eburnine Some strain, that seemed her inmost soul to find : That favoured strain was Surrey's raptured line, That fair and lovely form, the Lady Geraldine. XX. Slow rolled the clouds upon the lovely form, And swept the goodly vision all away So royal envy rolled the murky storm O'er my beloved Master's glorious day. Thou jealous, ruthless tyrant ! Heaven repay On thee, and on thy children's latest line. The wild caprice of thy despotic sway, The gory bridal bed, the plundered shrine, The murdered Surrey's blood, the tears of Geraldine! 1 CANTO VI, THE LAST MINSTREL. 193 XXI. Both Scots, and Southern chiefs, prolong Applauses of Fitztraver's song : These hated Henry's name as death, And those still held the ancient faith. Then, from his seat, with lofty air, Rose Harold, bard of brave St Clair ; St Clair, who, feasting high at Home, Had with that lord to battle come. Harold was born where restless seas Howl round the storm-swept Orcades ; Where erst St Clairs held princely sway O'er isle and islet, strait and bay ; Still nods their palace to its fall, Thy pride and sorrow, fair Kirkwall ! Thence oft he marked fierce Penlland rave, As if grim Odinn rode her wave ; And watched, the whilst, with visage pale, i And throbbing heart, the struggling sail ; N 94 THE LAY OF CANTO VI For all of wonderful and wild Had rapture for the lonely child. XXII. And much of wild and wonderful In these rude isles might Fancy cull ; For thither came, in times afar, Stern Lochlin's sons of roving war, The Norsemen, trained to spoil and blood, Skilled to prepare the raven's food, Kings of the main their leaders brave, Their barks the dragons of the wave. And there, in many a stormy vale, The Scald had told his wondrous tale ; And many a Runic column high Had witnessed grim idolatry. And thus had Harold, in his youth, Learned many a Saga's rhyme uncouth, Of that Sea-Snake, tremendous curled, Whose monstrous circle girds the world ; CANTO vi. THE LAST MINSTREL. 195 Of those dread Maids, whose hideous yell Maddens the battle's bloody swell; Of chiefs, who, guided through the gloom By the pale death-lights of the tomb, Ransacked the graves of warriors old, Their faulchions wrenched from corpses' hold, Waked the deaf tomb with war's alarms, And bade the dead arise to arms ! With war and wonder all on flame, To Roslin's bowers young Harold came, Where, by sweet glen and greenwood tree, He learned a milder minstrelsy ; Yet something of the northern spell Mixed with the softer numbers well. XXIII. O listen, listen, ladies gay ! No haughty feat of arms I tell ; Soft is the note, and sad the lay, That mourns the lovely Rosabelle. 196 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. " Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew ! And, gentle ladye, deign to stay ! Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch, Nor tempt the stormy firth to-day. " The blackening wave is edged with white ; To inch * and rock the sea-mews fly ; The fishers have heard the Water Sprite, Whose screams forebode that wreck is nigh. " Last night the gifted Seer did view A wet shroud swathed round ladye gay ; Then stay thee, Fair, in Ravensheuch : Why cross the gloomy firth to-day ?" " 'Tis not because Lord Lindesay's heir To-night at Roslin leads Ihe ball, But that my ladye-mother there Sits lonely in her castle-hall. * Inch, Isle. CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 197 " 'Tis not because the ring they ride, And Lindesay at the ring rides well, But that my sire the wine will chide, If 'tis not filled by Rosabelle." O'er Roslin all that dreary night A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam ; Twas broader than the watch-fire light, And redder than the bright moon-beam. It glared on Roslin's castled rock, It ruddied all the copse-wood glen ; 'Twas seen from Dreyden's groves of oak, And seen from caverned Hawthornden. Seemed all on fire that chapel proud, Where Roslin's chiefs uncoffined lie ; Each Baron, for a sable shroud, Sheathed in his iron panoply* 198 THE LAY OF CANTO vi, Seemed all on fire within, around, Deep sacristy and altar's pale ; Shone every pillar foliage-bound, And glimmered all the dead men's mail. Blazed battlement and pinnet high, Blazed every rose-carved buttress fair So still they blaze, when fate is nigh The lordly line of high St Glair. There are twenty of Roslin's barons bold Lie buried within that proud chapellej Each one the holy vault doth hold But the sea holds lovely Rosabelle ! And each St Clair was buried there, With candle, with book, and with knell ; But the sea-caves rung, and the wild winds sung, The dirge of lovely Rosabelle. CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 199 XXIV. So sweet was Harold's piteous lay, Scarce marked the guests the darkened hall, Though, long before the sinking day, A wondrous shade involved them all : It was not eddying mist or fog, Drained by the sun from fen or bog ; Of no eclipse had sages told ; And yet, as it came on apace, Each one could scarce his neighbour's face, Could scarce his own stretched hand behold. A secret horror checked the feast, And chilled the soul of every guest ; Even the high Dame stood half aghast, She knew some evil on the blast ; The elvish Page fell to the ground, And, shuddering, muttered, " Found ! found ! found!" 200 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. XXV. Then sudden, through the darkened air A flash of lightning came ; So broad, so bright, so red the glare, The castle seemed on flame. Glanced every rafter of the hall, Glanced every shield upon the wall ; Each trophied beam, each sculptured stone, Were instant seen, and instant gone ; Full through the guests' bedazzled band Resistless flashed the levin-brand, And filled the hall with smouldering smoke, As on the elvish Page it broke. It broke, with thunder long and loud, Dismayed the brave, appalled the proud, From sea to sea the larum rung ; On Berwick wall, and at Carlisle withal, To arms the startled warders sprung. When ended was the dreadful roar, The elvish Dwarf was seen no more ! CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 201 XXVI. Some heard a voice in Branksome Hall, Some saw a sight, not seen by all ; That dreadful voice was heard by some, Cry, with loud summons, " GYLBIN, COME !" And on the spot where burst the brand, Just where the Page had flung him down, Some saw an arm, and some a hand, And some the waving of a gown. The guests in silence prayed and shook, And terror dimmed each lofty look. But none of all the astonished train Was so dismayed as Deloraine ; His blood did freeze, his brain did bum, 'Twas feared his mind would ne'er return ; For he was speechless, ghastly, wan, Like him, of whom the story ran, Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man.* At length, by fits, he darkly told, With broken hint, and shuddering cold * The Isle of Man. See Note. 208 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. That he had seen, right certainly, A shape with amice wrapped around, With a wrought Spanish baldric bound, Like pilgrim from beyond the sea ; And knew but how it mattered not It was the wizard, Michael Scott. XXVII. The anxious crowd, with horror pale, All trembling, heard the wondrous tale ; No sound was made, no word was spoke, Till noble Angus silence broke ; And he a solemn sacred plight Did to St Bride of Douglas make, That he a pilgrimage would take To Melrose Abbey, for the sake Of Michael's restless sprite. Then each, to ease his troubled breast, To some blessed saint his prayers addressed ; CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. gos Some to St Modan made their vows, Some to St Mary of the Lowes, Some to the Holy Rood of Lisle, Some to our Lady of the Isle ; Each did his patron witness make, That he such pilgrimage would take, And Monks should sing, and bells should toll, All for the weal of Michael's soul. While vows were ta'en, and prayers were prayed, 'Tis said the noble Dame, dismayed, Renounced, for aye, dark magic's aid. XXVIII. Nought of the bridal will I tell, Which after in short space befel ; Nor how brave sons and daughters fair Blessed Teviot's Flower, and Cranstoun's heir : After such dreadful scene, 'twere vain To wake the note of mirth again. 11 204 THE LAY OF CANTO VI. More meet it were to mark the day Of penitence and prayer divine, When pilgrim-chiefs, in sad array, Sought Melrose' holy shrine. XXIX. With naked foot, and sackcloth vest, And arms enfolded on his breast, Did every pilgrim go ; The standers-by might hear uneath, Footstep, or voice, or high-drawn breath, Through all the lengthened row : No lordly look, nor martial stride, Gone was their glory, sunk their pride, Forgotten their renown ; Silent and slow, like ghosts, they glide To the high altar's hallowed side, And there they kneeled them down ; Above the suppliant chieftains wave The banners of departed brave ; CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 205 Beneath the lettered stones were laid The ashes of their fathers dead ; From many a garnished niche around, Stern saints, and tortured martyrs, frowned. XXX. And slow up the dim aisle afar, With sable cowl and scapular, And snow-white stoles, in order due, The holy Fathers, two and two, In long procession came ; Taper, and host, and book they bare, And holy banner, flourished fair With the Redeemer's name : Above the prostrate pilgrim band The mitred Abbot stretched his hand, And blessed them as they kneeled ; With holy cross he signed them all, And prayed they might be sage in hall, And fortunate in field. 206 THE LAY OP CANTO VI. Then mass was sung, and prayers were said, And solemn requiem for the dead; And bells tolled out their mighty peal^ For the departed spirit's weal ; And ever in the office close The hymn of intercession rose; And far the echoing aisles prolong The awful burthen of the song,- DIES IKS:, DIES ILLA, SOLVET SJECLUM IN FA VILLA ; While the pealing organ rung ; Were it meet with sacred strain To close my lay, so light and vain, Thus the holy Fathers sung. XXXI. !^pmn for t$t SDeatu That day of wrath, that dreadful day, When heaven and earth shall pass away, What power shall be the sinner's stay ! How shall he meet that dreadful day ? CANTO VI. THE LAST MINSTREL. 207 When, shrivelling like a parched scroll, The flaming heavens together roll ; When louder yet, and yet more dread, Swells the high trump that wakes the dead ! Oh ! on that day, that wrathful day, When man to judgment wakes from clay, Be THOU the trembling sinner's stay, Though heaven and earth shall pass away ! HUSHED is the harp the Minstrel gone; And did he wander forth alone ? Alone, in indigence and age, To linger out his pilgrimage ? No : close beneath proud Newark's tower, Arose the Minstrel's lowly bower ; A simple hut ; but there was seen The little garden hedged with green, The cheerful hearth, and lattice clean. 508 THE LAY, &c. CANTO VI- There sheltered wanderers, by the blaze, Oft heard the tale of other days ; For much he loved to ope his door, And give the aid he begged before. So passed the winter's day ; but still, When summer smiled on sweet Bowhill, And July's eve, with balmy breath, Waved the blue-bells on Newark heath ; When throstles sung in Hare-head shaw, And corn was green on Carterhaugh,; And flourished, broad, Blackandro's oak, The aged Harper's soul awoke ! Then would he sing achievements high, And circumstance of chivalry, Till the rapt traveller would stay, Forgetful of the closing day ; And noble youths, the strain to hear, Forsook the hunting of the deer ; And Yarrow, as he rolled along, Bore burden to the Minstrel's song. 9 NOTES. NOTES TO CANTO I. Note I. The feast was over in Branksome tower. P. IT. In the reign of James I. Sir William Scott of Buccleuch, chief of the clan bearing that name, exchanged, with Sir Tho- mas Inglis of Manor, the estate of Murdiestone, in Lanark- shire, for one half of the barony of Branksome, or Branx- holm, * lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above Ha- wick. He was probably induced to this transaction from the vicinity of Branksome to the extensive domain which he pos- sessed in Ettricke Forest and in Teviotdale. In the former district he held by occupancy the estate of Buccleuch, f and much of the forest land on the river Ettricke. In Teviotdale, he enjoyed the barony of Eckford, by a grant from Robert II. * Branxholm is the proper name of the barony ; but Brank- some has been adopted, as suitable to the pronunciation, and more proper for poetry. t There are no vestiges of any building at Buccleuch, except the scite of a chapel, where, according to a tradition current ID 212 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. to his ancestor, Walter Scott of Kirkurd, for the apprehending of Gilbert Ridderford, confirmed by Robert III., 3d May, 1424. Tradition imputes the exchange betwixt Scott and In- glis to a conversation, in which the latter, a man, it would ap- pear, of a mild and forbearing nature, complained much of the injuries which he was exposed to from the English Border- ers, who frequently plundered his lands of Branksome. Sir William Scott instantly offered him the estate of Murdiestone, in exchange for that which was subject to such egregious in- convenience. When the bargain was completed, he drily re- marked, that the cattle in Cumberland were as good as those of Teviotdale ; and proceeded to commence a system of repri- sals upon the English, which was regularly pursued by his suc- cessors. In the next reign, James II. granted to Sir Walter Scott of Branksome, and to Sir David, his son, the remaining half of the barony of Branksome, to be held in blanche for the payment of a red rose. The cause assigned for the grant is, their brave and faithful exertions in favour of the king against the house of Douglas, with whom James had been recently tugging for the throne of Scotland. This charter is dated the 2d February, 1443 ; and, in the same month, part of the ba- rony of Langholm, and many lands in Lanarkshire, were con- ferred upon Sir Walter and his son by the same monarch. the lime of Scott of Satchells, many of the ancient barons of Bucclench lie buried. There is also said to have been a mill near this solitary spot; an extraordinary circumstance, as little or no corn grows within several miles of Buccleuch. Satchells says it was used to griud corn for the hounds of the chieftain* NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 21S After the period of the exchange with Sir Thomas Ingh's, Branksome became the principal seat of the Buccleuch family. The castle was enlarged and strengthened by Sir David Scott, the grandson of Sir William, its first possessor. But, in 1570-1, the vengeance of Elizabeth, provoked by the inroads of Buc- cleuch, and his attachment to the cause of Queen Mary, de- stroyed the castle, and laid waste the lands of Branksome. In the same year the castle was repaired and enlarged by Sir Wal- ter Scott, its brave possessor ; but the work was not completed until after his death, in 1574, when the widow finished the building. This appears from the following inscriptions. Around a stone, bearing the arms of Scott of Buccleuch, appears the following legend : < Sir 32B, Scott of Branrijeim fitnpt jpoe of Sir OEUUiam Scott of ffiir&urU ftnpt began pe toorfe upon je 24 of $$arc|>e 1571 net qtu)a Bepartit at (Sou's p^ifout je 17 8pril 1574." On a similar copartment are sculptured the arms of Douglas, with this inscription, " DAME MARGARET DOUGLAS HIS SPOUS COMPLETIT THE FORSAID WORK IN OC- TOBER 1576." Over an arched door is inscribed the follow- ing moral verse : 3[n, barm* 10, noe!>t, nature* !>e0, trroucljt, pat, 0al, [cat, ap f tfjatfore, 0ertoe <&oTi 6eip beiU EP* ro5 tljp fame, sal, nocljt, Deltag, Sit SQalter Scot of Branjr&olm Knic^t, Margaret H>mi(sta0, 1571. 214 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. Branksorae castle continued to be the principal seat of the Buccleuch family, while security was any object in their choice of a mansion. It has since been the residence of the Commis- sioners, or Chamberlains, of the family. From the various al- terations which the building has undergone, it is not only great- ly restricted in its dimensions, but retains little of the castella- ted form, if we except one square tower of massy thickness, the only part of the original building which now remains. The whole forms a handsome modern residence, lately inhabited by my deceased friend, Adam Ogilvy, Esq. of Hartwoodmyres, Commissioner of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. The extent of the ancient edifice can still be traced by some vestiges of its foundation, and its strength is obvious from the situation, on a deep bank surrounded by the Teviot, and flank- ed by a deep ravine, formed by a precipitous brook. It was anciently surrounded by wood, as appears from the survey of Roxburghshire, made for Font's Atlas, and preserved in the Ad- vocates' Library. This wood was cut about fifty years ago, but is now replaced by the thriving plantations which have been formed by the noble proprietor, for miles around the ancient mansion of his forefathers. Note II. Nine-and-twenty knights of fame Hung their shields in Branksome Hall. P. 18. The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splen- dour, and from their frontier situation, retained in their house- NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 215 hold, at Branksome, a number of gentlemen of their own name, who held lands from their chief, for the military service of watching and warding his castle. Satchells tells us, in his dog- grel poetry, No baron was better served in Britain ; The barons of Buckleugh they kept their call, Four and twenty gentlemen in their hall, All being of his name and kin ; Each two bad a servant to wait upon them ; Before supper and dinner, most renowned, The bells rung and the trumpets sowned ; And more than that, I do confess, They kept four and twenty pensioners. Think not I lie, nor do me blame, For the pensioners I can all name' There's men alive, elder than I, They know if I speak truth, or lie ; Every pensioner a room * did gain, For service done and to be done; This I'll let the reader understand, The name both of the men and land, Which they possessed, it is of truth, Both from the lairds and lords of Buckleugh. Accordingly, dismounting from lu's Pegasus, Satchells gives us, in prose, the names of twenty-four gentlemen, younger bro- thers of ancient families, who were pensioners to the house of Buccleuch, and describes the lands which each possessed for his Border service. In time of war with England, the garrison was * Room, portion of land. 216 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. doubt'ess augmented. Satchells adds, " These twenty-three pensioned, all of his own name of Scott, and Walter Gladstanes of Whitelaw, a near cousin of my Lord's, as aforesaid, were ready on all occasions, when his honour pleased cause to adver- tise them. It is known to many of the country better than it is to me, that the rent of these lands, which the lairds and lords of Buccleuch did freely bestow upon their friends, will amount to above twelve or fourteen thousand merks a-year." His- tory of the Name of Scott, p. 45. An immense sum in those times. Note III. And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow. P. 19. " Of a truth," says Froissart, " the Scottish cannot boast great skill with the bow, but rather bear axes, with which, in time of need, they give heavy strokes." The Jedwood axe was a sort of partizan, used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jed- burgh, which bear a cavalier mounted, and armed with this weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff. Note IV. They watch against Southern force and guile, Lest Scroope, or Howard, or Percy's powers, Threaten Branksome's lordly towers, From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle. P. 20. Branksome Castle was continually exposed to the attacks of he English, both from its situation and the restless military NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 217 disposition of its inhabitants, who were seldom on good terms with their neighbours. The following letter from the Earl of Northumberland to Henry VIII. in 1533, gives an account of a successful inroad of the English, in which the country was plundered up to the gates of the castle, although the invaders failed in their principal object, which was, to kill, or make pri- soner, the laird of Buccleuch. It occurs in the Cotton MS. Calig. B. VIII. f. 222. " Pleaseth yt your most gracious highnes to be aduertised, that my comptroller, with Raynald Carnaby, desyred licence of me to invade the realme of Scotland, for the annoysaunce of your highnes enemys, where they thought best exploit by theyme might be done, and to haue to ^concur withe theyme the inhabitants of Northumberland, suche as was towards me according totheyre assembly, and as by theyre discrecions vp- pone the same they shulde thinke most convenient ; and soo they dyde mete vppon Monday, before nyght, being the iii day of this instant monethe, at Wawhope, uppon northe Tyne wa- ter, above Tyndaill, where they were to the number of xv c men, and soo invadet Scotland, at the hour of viii of the clok at nyght, at a place called Whele Causay ; and before xi of the clok dyd send forth a forrey of Tyndaill and Ryddisdail, and laide all the resydewe in a bushment, and actyvely dyd set vpon a towne called Branxholm, where the lord of Buclough dwellythe, and purpesed theymeselves with a trayne for hym lyke to his accustomed manner, in rysynge to all frayes ; al- beit, that knyght he was not at home, and soo they brynt 6 218 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. the said Branxholra, and other townes, as to say Whichestre, Whichestre-helrae, and Whelley, and haid ordered theyme- self, soo that sundry of the said Lord Bucloiigh's servants, who dyd issue fourthe of his gates, was takyn prisoners. They dyd not leve one house, one stak of come, nor one shyef, without the gate of the said Lord Buclough vnbrynt ; and thus scry- maged and frayed, supposing the Lord of Buclough to be within iii or iiii myles to have trayned him to the bushment ; and soo in the breyking of the day dyd the forrey and the bushment mete, and reculed homeward, making theyr way westward from theyre invasion to be over Lyddersdaill, as in- tending yf the fray frome theyre furst entry by the Scotts waiches, or otherwyse by warnyng, shulde haue bene gyven to Gedworth and the countrey of Scotland theyreabouts of theyre invasion ; whiche Gedworth is from the Wheles Causay vi myles, that thereby the Scots shulde have comen further vnto theyme, and more out of ordre; and soo upon sundry good consideracons, before they entered Lyddersdaill, as well ac- compting the inhabitants of the same to be towards your high- ness, and to enforce theyme the more therby, as alsoo to put an occasion of suspect to the kinge of Scotts and his counsaill, to be taken anenst theyme, amonges theymselves, maid pro- clamacions, commanding, vpon payne of dethe, assurance to be for the said inhabitants of Lyddersdaill, without any pre- judice or hurt to be done by any Inglysman vnto theyme, and BOO in good ordre abowte the howre often of the clok before none, vppone Tewisday, dyd pas through the said LyddersdailJ, 1 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 219 when dyd come diverse of the said inhabitants there to my servauntes, under the said assurance, ofibrring theymeselfs with any service they couthe make ; and thus, thanks be to Godde, your highnes' subjects, abowte the howre of xii of the clok at uone the same daye, came into this youre highness realme, bringing wt theyme above xl Scottsmen prisoners, one of theyme named Scot, of the surname and kyn of the said Lord of Buclough, and of his howsehold ; they brought alsoo ccc nowte, and above Ix horse and mares, keping in savetie frome losse or hurte all your said highnes subjects. There was alsoo a towne, called Newbyggins, by diverse fotmen of Tyndaill and Ryddesdaill, takyn vp of the night, and spoyled, when was slayne ii Scottsmen of the said towne, and many Scotts there hurte ; your highnes subjects was xiii myles within the grounde of Scotlande, and is frome my house at Werkworthe, above Ix miles of the most evill passage, where great snawes dothe lye ; heretofore the same townes now brynt haitli not at any tyme in the mynd of man in any warrs been enterprised unto nowe ; your subjects were therto more encouraged for the better advancement of your highnes service, the said Lord of Buclough beyng always a mortall enemy to this your graces realine, and he dyd say, within xiii days before, he woulde see who durst lye near hym j wt many other cruell words, the knowledge wherof was certainly haid to my said servaunts, before theyre enterprice maid vppon him ; most humbly be- seeching your majesty, that youre highnes thanks may concur vnto theyme, whose names be here inclosed, and to have in 220 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. your most gracious memory, the paynfull and diligent service of my pore servaunte Wharton, and thus, as I am m'ost boun- den, shall dispose wt them that be under me f annoysaunce of your highnes enemys." In resentment of this foray, Buccleuch, with other Border chiefs, assembled an army of 3000 riders, with which they penetrated into Northumber- land, and laid waste the country as far as the banks of Bra- mish. They baffled, or defeated, the English forces opposed to them, and returned loaded with prey. PINKERTON'S History, vol. II. p. 318. Note V. Sards long shall tell, How Lord Walter fell. St. VII. p. 81. Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch succeeded to his grandfather, Sir David, in 1492. He was a brave and powerful baron, and warden of the west marches of Scotland. His death was the consequence of a feud betwixt the Scotts and Kerrs, the histo- ry of which is necessary, to explain repeated allusions in the romance. In the year 1 526, in the words of Pitocottie, " the Earl of Angus, and the rest of the Douglasses, ruled all which they liked, and no man durst say the contrary ; wherefore the king (James V. then a minor) was heavily displeased, and would fain have been out of their hands, if he might by any way : And, to that effect, wrote a quiet and secret letter with his own hand, and sent it to the laird of Buccleuch, beseeching him NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 221 that he would come with his kin and friends, and all the force that he might be, and meet him at Melross, at his home-pass- ing, and there to take him out of the Douglasses hands, and to put him to liberty, to use himself among the lave (rest) of his lords, as he thinks expedient. " This letter was quietly directed, and sent by one of the king's own secret servants, which was received very thankful- ly by the laird of Buccleuch, who was very glad thereof, to be put to such charges and familiarity with his prince, and did great diligence to perform the king's writing, and to bring the matter to pass as the king desired : And, to that effect, conve- ned all his kin and friends, and all that would do for him, to ride with him to Melross, when he knew of the king's home- coming. And so he brought with him six hundred spears, of Liddesdale, and Annandale, and countrymen, and clans there- about, and held themselves quiet while that the king returned out of Jedburgh, and came to Melross, to remain there all that night. " But when the Lord Hume, Cessfoord, and Fernyhirst, (the chiefs of the clan of Kerr,) took their leave of the king, and returned home, then appeared the Lord of Buckleuch in sight, and his company with him, in an arrayed battle, intending to have fulfilled the king's petition, and therefore came stoutly forward on the back side of Haliden hill. By that the Earl of Angus, with George Douglas, his brother, and sundry other of his friends, seeing this army coming, they marvelled what tbe matter meant ; while at the last they knew the laird of NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. Buccleuch, with a certain company of the thieves of Annan- dale. With him they were less affeared, and made them man- fully to the field contrary them, and said to the king in this manner, ' Sir, yon is Buckleuch, and thieves of Annandale with him, to unbeset your Grace from the gate (/. e. interrupt your passage.) I vow to God they shall either fight or flee ; and ye shall tarry here on this know, and my brother George with you, with any other company you please; and I shall pass, and put yon thieves off the ground, and rid the gate unto your Grace, or else die for it/ The king tarried still, as was devised; and George Douglas with him, and sundry other lords, such as the Earl of Lennox, and the Lord Erskine, and some of the king's own servants ; but all the lave (rest} past with the Earl of Angus to the field against the laird of Buc- cleuch, who joyned and countered cruelly both the said par-, ties in the field of Dariielinver, * either against other, with uncertain victory. But at the last, the Lord Hume, hearing word of that matter how it stood, returned again to the king in all possible haste, with him the lairds of Cessfoord and Fair- nyhirst, to the number of fourscore spears, and set freshly on the lap and wing of the laird of Buccleuch's field, and shortly bare them backward to the ground ; which caused the laird of Buccleuch, and the rest of his friends, to go back and flee, whom they followed and chased j and especially the lairds of Davnwick, near Melrose. The place of conflict is still called Skinner's Field, from a corruption of Skirmish Fitld, NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 22S Cessfoord and Fairnyhirst followed furiouslie, till at the foot of a path the laird of Cessfoord was slain by the stroke of a spear by an Elliot, who was then servant to the laird of Buccleuch. But when the laird of Cessfoord was slain, the chase ceased. The Earl of Angus returned again with great merriness and victory, and thanked God that he saved him from that chance, and passed with the king to Melross, where they remained all that night. On the morn they past to Edinburgh with the king, who was very sad and dolorous of the slaughter of the laird of Cessfoord, and many other gentlemen and yeomen slain by the laird of Buccleuch, containing the number of fourscore and fif- teen, which died in defence of the king, and at the command of his writing." I am not the first who has attempted to celebrate in verse the renown of this ancient baron, and his hazardous attempt to procure his sovereign's freedom. In a Scottish Latin poet we find the following verses : VALTERIUS SCOTUS BALCLUCHIUS. Egregio suscepto facinore libertate Regis, ac aliis rebus gestis clams, sub JACOBO V. A. Christ!, 1520. Intentata aliis. nullique audita priorum Audet, nee pavidum morsve, metusve quatit, Libertatem aliis soliti transcriber Reges : Sabreptara hanc Regi restituisse paras, Si vmcis, quanta 6 succedunt praemia dextrae, Sin victus, falsas spes jace, pone animam. Hostica vis nocuit : slant altse rohora mentis Atque decus. Yincet, Itege probante, fides. 224 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. INSITA queis aniinis virtus, quosque acrior ardor Obsidet, ohscuris nox premat an tenebris ? Heroes ex omni Historia Scoticae lectissimi, Auctore Johan. Jonstonio Abredonense Sc'oto, 1003. In consequence of the battle of Melrose, there ensued a deadly feud betwixt the names of Scott and Kerr, which, in spite of all means used to bring about an agreement, raged for many years upon the Borders. Buccleuch was imprisoned, and his estates forfeited, in the year 1535, for levying war against the Kerrs,and restored by act of parliament, dated 15th March, 1542, during the regency of Mary of Lorraine. But the most signal act of violence, to which this quarrel gave rise, was, the murder of Sir Walter himself, who was slain by the Kerrs in the streets of Edinburgh, in 1552. This is the event alluded to in Stanza VII. ; and the poem is supposed to open shortly after it had taken place. The feud between these two families was not reconciled in 1596, when both chieftains paraded the streets of Edinburgh with their followers, and it was expected their first meeting would decide their quarrel. But, on July i4th of the same year, Colvil, in a letter to Mr Bacon, informs him, " that there was great trouble upon the Borders, which would continue till order should be taken by the queen of England and the king, by reason of the two young Scots chieftains, Cesford and Bac- lugh, and of the present necessity and scarcity of corn amongst the Scots Borderers and riders. That there had been a private NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 225 quarrel betwixt those two lairds, on the Borders, which was like to have turned to blood ; but the fear of the general trou- ble had reconciled them, and the injuries which they thought to have committed against each other, were now transferred upon England : not unlike that emulation in France between the Baron de Biron and Mons. Jeverie, who, being both ambi- tious of honour, undertook more hazardous enterprises against the enemy, than they would have done if they had been at con- cord together." BIRCH'S Memorials, vol. II. p. 67. Note VI. No ! vainly to each holy shrine, In mutual pilgrimage, they drew. P. 21. Among other expedients resorted to for staunching the feud betwixt the Scotts and the Kerrs, there was a bond executed, in 1529, between the heads of each clan, binding themselves to perform reciprocally the four principal pilgrimages of Scot- land, for the benefit of the souls of those of the opposite name who had fallen in the quarrel. This indenture is printed in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. I. But either it never took effect, or else the feud was renewed shortly after- wards. Such pactions were not uncommon in feudal times ; and, as might be expected, they were often, as in the present case, void of the effect desired. When Sir Walter Mauny, the re- nowned follower of Edward III., had taken the town of Ryoll, in Gascony, he remembered to have heard that his father lay p 226 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. there buried, and offered a hundred crowns to any who could show him his grave. A very old man appeared before Sir Walter, and informed him of the manner of his father's death, and the place of his sepulture. It seems the Lord of Mauny had, at a great tournament, unhorsed, and wounded to the death, a Gascon knight, of the house of Mirepoix, whose kinsman was bishop of Cambray. For this deed he was held at feud by the relations of the knight, until he agreed to undertake a pilgri- mage to the shrine of St James of Compostella, for the benefit of the soul of the deceased. But as he returned through the town of Ryoll, after accomplishment of his vow, he was beset, and treacherously slain, by the kindred of the knight whom he had killed* Sir Walter, guided by the old man, visited the low- ly tomb of his father ; and, having read the inscription, which was in Latin, he caused the body to be raised, and transported to his native city of Valenciennes, where masses were, in the days of Froissart, duly said for the soul of the unfortunate pil- grim. Cronycle o/TROISSART, vol. I. p. 123. Note VII. While Cessford owns the rule of Car. P. 22. The family of Ker, Kerr, or Car,* was very powerful on the Border. Fynes Morrison remarks, in his Travels, that their influence extended from the village of Preston-Grange, in Lo- * The name is spelled differently by the various families who bear it. Car is selected, not as the most correct, but as the most poetical reading. 6 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 227 thian, to the limits of England. Cessford Castle, the ancient baronial residence of the family, is situated near the village of Morebattle, within two or three miles of the Cheviot Hills. It has been a place of great strength and consequence, but is now ruinous. Tradition affirms, that it was founded by Hal- bert, or Habby Kerr, a gigantic warrior, concerning whom" many stories are current in Roxburghshire. The Duke of Roxburghe represents Ker of Cessford. A distinct and power- ful branch of the same name own the Marquis of Lothian as their chief : Hence the distinction betwixt Kers of Cessfyrd and Fairnihirst. Note VHI. Before Lord Cranstoun she should wed. P. 23. The Cranstouns, Lord Cranstoun, are an ancient Border fa- mily, whose chief seat was at Crailing, in Teviotdale. They were at this time at feud with the clan of Scott ; for it appears that the lady of Buccleuch, in 1557, beset the laird of Cran- stoun, seeking his life. Nevertheless, the same Cranstoun, or perhaps his son, was married to a daughter of the same lady. Note IX. OfSethune's line of Picardie. P. 24. The Bethunes were of French origin, and derived their name from a small town in Artois. There were several dis- tinguished families of the Bethunes in the neighbouring pro- 228 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. vince of Picardy ; they numbered among their descendants the celebrated Due de Sully; and the name was accounted among the most noble in France, while aught noble remained in that country. The family of Bethune, or Beatoun, in Fife, produced tiiree learned and dignified prelates ; namely, Car- dinal Beaton, and two successive archbishops of Glasgow, all of whom flourished about the date of the romance. Of this family was descended Dame Janet Beaton, Lady Buccleuch, widow of Sir Walter Scott of Branksome. She was a woman of masculine spirit, as appeared from her riding at the head of her son's clan, after her husband's murder. She also pos- sessed the hereditary abilities of her family in such a degree, that the superstition of the vulgar imputed them to superna- tural knowledge. With this was mingled, by faction, the foul accusation, of her having influenced Queen Mary to the murder of her husband. One of the placards, preserved in Buchanan's Detection, accuses of Darnley's murder " the Erie Bothwell, Mr James Balfour, the persoun of Fliske Mr David Chal- mers, black Mr John Spens, who was principal deviser of the murder ; and the Quene, assenting thairto, throw the persua- sioun of the Erie Bothwell, and the witchcraft of Lady Buck- leuch." Note X. He learned the art, that none may name, In Padua,far beyond the sea. P. 24. Padua was long supposed, by the Scottish peasants, to be the NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 229 principal school of necromancy. The Earl of Cowrie, slain at Perth, in 1600, pretended, during his studies in Italy, to have acquired some knowledge of the cabala, by which, he said, he could cliarin snakes, and work other miracles ; and, in particu- lar, could produce children without the intercourse of the sexes. See the Examination of Wemyss of Bogie before the Privy Council, concerning Cowrie's Conspiracy. Note XI. His form no darkening shadow traced Upon the sunny wall. P. 24. The shadow of a necromancer is independent of the sun. Glycas informs us, that Simon Magus caused his shadow to go before him, making people believe it was an attendant spi- rit. HEYWOOD'S Hierarchie, p. 475. The vulgar conceive, that when a class of students have made a certain progress in their mystic studies, they are obliged to run through a subter- raneous hall, where the devil literally catches the hindmost in the race, unless he crosses the hall so speedily, that the arch- enemy can only apprehend his shadow. In the latter case, the person of the sage never after throws any shade ; and those, who have thus lost their shadox, always prove the best magi- Note XII. The t lew less forms of air. P. 24. The Scottish vulgar, without having any very defined no- 230 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. tion of their attributes, believe in the existence of an interme- diate class of spirits residing in the air, or in the waters ; to whose agency they ascribe floods, storms, and all such pheno- mena as their own philosophy cannot readily explain. They are supposed to interfere in the affairs of mortals, sometimes with a malevolent purpose, and sometimes with milder views. It is said, for example, that a gallant baron, having returned from the Holy Land to his castle of Drummelziar, found his fair lady nursing a healthy child, whose birth did not by any means correspond to the date of his departure. Such an oc- currence, to the credit of the dames of the crusaders be it spo- ken, was so rare, that it required a miraculous solution. The lady, therefore, was believed, when she averred confidently, that the Spirit of the Tweed had issued from the river while she was walking upon its bank, and compelled her to subjmit to his embraces : and the name of Tweedie was bestowed up- on the child, who afterwards became Baron of Drummelziar, and chief of a powerful clan. To those spirits were also ascri- bed, in Scotland, the " Airy tongues, that syllable men's names, On sands, and shores, and desert wildernesses." When the workmen were engaged in erecting the ancient church of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire, upon a small hill called Bissau, they were surprised to find that the work was impeded by supernatural obstacles. At length, the Spirit of the River was heard to say, NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 231 It is not here, it is not here, That ye shall build the church of Deer; But on Taptillery, Where many a corpse shall lie. The site of the edifice was accordingly transferred to Taptil- lery, an eminence at some distance from the place where the building had been commenced. MACFARLANE'S M SS. I men- tion these popular fables, because the introduction of the River and Mountain Spirits may not, at first sight, seem to accord with the general tone of the romance, and the superstitions of the country where the scene is laid. Note XIII. A fancied moss-trooper, &c. P. 29. This was the usual appellation of the marauders upon the Borders; a profession diligently pursued by the inhabitants on both sides, and by none more actively and successfully than by Buccleuch's clan. Long after the union of the crowns, the moss-troopers, although sunk in reputation, and no longer en- joying the pretext of national hostility, continued to pursue their calling. Fuller includes, among the wonders of Cumberland, " The Moss-troopers ; so strange is the condition of their living, if considered in their Original, Increase, Height, Decay, and Ruine. 1. " Original. I conceive them the same called Borderers in Mr Cambden ; and characterised by him to be, a wild and 232 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. warlike people. They are called Moss-troopers, because dwell- ing in the mosses, and riding in troops together. They ('well in the bounds, or meeting, of the two kingdoms, but obey the laws of neither. They come to church as seldom as the ^9th of February comes into the kalendar. 2. " Increase. When England and Scotland were united in Great Britain, they that formerly lived by hostile incursions, betook themselves to the robbing of their neighbours. Their sons are free of the trade by their fathers' copy. They are like to Job, not in piety and patience, but in sudden plenty and poverty ; sometimes having flocks and herds in the morn- ing, none at night, and perchance many again next day They may give for their mottoe, vivitur ex rapto, stealing from their honest neighbours what they sometimes require. They are a nest of hornets : strike one, and stir all of them about your ears. Indeed, if they promise safely to conduct a tra- veller, they will perform it with the fidelity of a Turkish ja- nizary ; otherwise, woe be to him that falleth into their quar- ters ! 3. " Height. Amounting, forty years since, to some thou- sands. These compelled the vicinage to purchase their secu- rity, by paying a constant rent to them. When in their great- est height, they had two great enemies the Laws of the Land, and the Lord William Howard of Naworth. He sent many of them to Carlisle, to that place where the officer doth always his work by day-light. Yet these Moss-troopers, if possibly they could procure the pardon for a condemned person of NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 233 their company, would advance great sums out of their com- mon stock, who, in such a case, cast in their lots amongst them- selves, and all have one purse. 4. " Decay. Caused by the wisdom, valour, and diligence, of the Right Honourable Charles Lord Howard, Earl of Car- lisle, \vho routed these English Tories with his regiment. His severity unto them will not only be excused, but commended, by the judicious, who consider how our great lawyer doth de- scribe such persons, who are solemnly outlawed. BRACTON, lib. 8. trac. 2. cap. 11. ' Ex tune gerunt caput lupinum, ita quod sinejudiciali inquisitione rite pereant, et secum suum ju- dicium portent ; et merito sine lege pereunt, qui secundum le- gem vivcre recusarunt.' ' Thenceforward, (after that they are outlawed) they wear a wolf's head, so that they lawfully may be destroyed, without any judicial inquisition, as who cany their own condemnation about them, and deservedly die with- out law, because they refused to live according to law.' 5. " Ituine. Such was the success of this worthy lord's se- verity, that he made a thorough reformation among them ; and the ringleaders being destroyed, the rest are reduced to legall obedience, and so, I trust, will continue." FULLER'S Worthies ofE%lanii,p. 216. The last public mention of moss-troopers occurs during the civil wars of the 17th century, when many ordinances of par- liament were directed asrainst them. 234 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. Note XIV. How the brave boy, in future war, Should tame the Unicorn's pride, Exalt the Crescent and the Star. P. 20. The arms of the Kerrs of Cessford were, Vert on a cheve- ron, betwixt three unicorns' heads erased argent, three mullets sable ; crest, an unicorn's head erased proper. The Scotts of Buccleuch bore, Or on a bend azure ; a star of six points be- twixt two crescents of the first. Note XV. William of Deloraine. P. 30. The lands of Deloraine are joined to those of Buccleuch in Ettricke Forest. They were immemorially possessed bj the Buccleuch family, under the strong title of occupancy, al- though no charter was obtained from the crown until 1545. Like other possessions, the lands of Deloraine were occasion- ally granted by them to vassals, or kinsmen, for Border-ser- vice. Satchells mentions, among the twenty-four gentlemen pensioners of the family, " William Scott, commonly called Cut-at-the-Black, who had the lands of Nether Deloraine for his service." And again, " This William of Deloraine, com- monly called Cut-at-the-Black, was a brother of the ancient house of Haining, which house of Haining is descended from the ancient house of Hassendean." The lands of Deloraine now give an earl's title to the descendant of Henry, the se- NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 235 cond surviving son of the Duchess of Buccleuch and Mon- mouth. I have endeavoured to give William of Deloraine the attributes which characterised the Borderers of his day ; for which I can only plead Froissart's apology, that " it behoveth, in a lynage, some to be folyshe and outrageous, to maynteyne and sustayne the peasable." As a contrast to my Marchman, I beg leave to transcribe, from the same author, the speech of Amergot Marcel), a captain of the Adventurous Compa- nions, a robber, and a pillager of the country of Auvergne, who had been bribed to sell his strong-holds, and to assume a more honourable military life under the banners of the Earl of Armagnac. But " when he remembered alle this, he was sor- rowful ; his tresour he thought he wolde not mynysshe ; he was wonte dayly to serche for newe pyllages, wherbye encresed his profyte, and then he sawe that alle was closed fro' hym. Then he sayde and imagyned, that to pyll and to robbe (all thynge considered) was a good lyfe, and so repented hym of his good doing. On a tyme, he said to his old companyons, ' Sirs, there is no sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men of warre, but to use suche lyfe as we have done in tyme past. What a joy was it to us when we rode forth at adventure, and somtyme found by the way a riche priour or merchaunt, or a route of mulettes of Mountpellyer, of Narbonne, of Lymens, of Fongans, of Besyers, of Tholous, or of Carcassone, laden with cloth of Brussels, or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres, or laden with spy eery fro Bruges, fro Damas, or fro Alysaun- dre : whatsoever we met^ all was ours, or els ransoumed at 236 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. our pleasures ; dayly we gate new money, and the vyllaynes of Auvergne and of Lymosyn dayly provyded and brought to our castell whete mele, good wynes, beffes, and fatte motions, pullayne, and wylde foule : We were ever furnyshed as tho we had been kings. When we rode forthe, all the countrey trym- bled for feare : all was ours goyng and comynge. Howe tok we Carlast, I and the Bourge of Compayne, and I and Perot of Bernoys took Caluset : how dyd we scale, with lytell ayde, the strong castell of Marquell, pertayning to the Erl Dolphyn : I kept it nat past fyve days, but I receyved for it, on a feyre table, fyve thousand frankes, and forgave one thousande for the love of the Erl Dolphin's children. By my fayth, this was a fayre and a good lyfe ; wherefore I repute myselve sore de- ceyved, in that I have rendered up the fortress of Aloys ; for it wolde have kept fro alle the worlde, and the daye that I gave it up, it was fournyshed with vytaylles, to have been kept seven yere without any re-vytaylynge. This Erl of Armynake hath deceyved me : Olyve Barbe, and Perot le Bernoys, shew- ed to me how I shulde repente myselfe : certayne I sore re- pente myselfe of what I have done." FROISSART, vol. II. p. 155. Note XVI. By wily turns, by desperate bounds. Hud baffled Percy's bent blood-hounds. P. 30. The kings and heroes of Scotland, as well as the Border-ri- ders, were sometimes obliged to study how to evade the pur- NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. suit of blood-hounds. Barbour informs us, that Robert Bruce was repeatedly tracked by sleuth-dogs. On one occasion, he escaped by wading a bow-shot down a brook, and ascending in- to a tree by a branch which overhung the water : thus leaving no trace on land of his footsteps, he baffled the scent. The pursuers caine up : Rycht to the burn thai passyt ware, Bot the sleuth hund made stinting thar, And waucryt lang tyme ta and fra, That he na certain gate couth ga; Till at the last that John of Lorn, Perseuvit the bund the sleuth had lorne. The Bruce, Book vii. A sure way of stopping the dog was to spill blood upon the track, which destroyed the discriminating fineness of his scent. A captive was sometimes sacrificed on such occasions. Hen- ry the Minstrel tells a romantic story of Wallace, founded on this circumstance : The hero's little band had been joined by an Irishman, named Fawdon, or Fadzean, a dark, savage, and suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black-Erne Side, Wallace was forced to retreat with only sixteen follow- ers. The English pursued with a border sleutk-bratch, or blood- hound : In Gelderland there was that bratchet bred, Siker of scent, to follow them that fled ; So was he used in tske and Liddesdail, While (i. e. till) she gat blood no fleeing might avail. 238 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. In the retreat, Fawdon, tired, or affecting to be so, would go no farther : Wallace, having in vain argued with him, in hasty anger, struck off his head, and continued the retreat. When the English came up, their hound stayed upon the dead body : The sleuth stopped at Fawdon, till she stood, Nor farther would fra time she fund the blood. The story concludes with a fine Gothic scene of terror. Wal- lace took refuge in the solitary tower of Cask. Here he was disturbed at midnight by the blast of a horn : He sent out his attendants by two and two, but no one returned with tidings. At length, when he was left alone, the sound was heard still louder. The champion descended, sword in hand ; and at the gate of the tower was encountered by the headless spectre of Fawdon, whom he had slain so rashly. Wallace, in great ter- ror, fled up into the tower, tore open the boards of a window, leapt down fifteen feet in height, and continued his flight up the river. Looking back to Cask, he discovered the tower on fire, and the form of Fawdoun upon the battlements, dilated to an immense size, and holding in his hand a blazing rafter. The Minstrel concludes, Trust ryght wele, that all this be sooth, indeed, Supposing it be no point of the creed. The Wallace, Book v. Mr Ellis has extracted this tale as a sample of Henry's poe- try. Specimens of English Poetry, vol. I. p. 351. NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 239 Note XVII. Dimly he viewed the Moat-hill's mound. P. 33. This is a round artificial mount near Hawick, which, from its name ($9ot Aug. Sax. Concilium, Conventus,)vtas probably anciently used as a place for assembling a national council of the adjacent tribes. There are many such mounds in Scotland, and they are sometimes, but rarely, of a square form. Note XVIII. Beneath the tower of Hazeldean. P. 33. The estate of Hazeldean, corruptly Hassendean, belonged formerly to a family of Scotts, thus commemorated by Satch- ells : Hassendean came without a call, The ancientest house among them all. Note XIX. On Minto-crags the moon-beams glint. P. 34. A romantic assemblage of cliffs, which rise suddenly above the vale of Teviot, in the immediate vicinity of the family- seat, from which Lord Minto takes his title. A small platform, on a projecting crag, commanding a most beautiful prospect, is termed Sarnhill's Bed. This Barnhills is said to have been a robber, or outlaw. There are remains of a strong tower be- neath the rocks, where he is supposed to have dwelt, and from 240 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. which he derived his name. On the summit of the crags are the fragments of another ancient tower, in a picturesque situa- tion. Among the houses cast down by the Earl of Hartforde, in 1 545, occur the towers of Easter Barnhills, and of Minto crag, with Minto town and place. Sir Gilbert Elliot, father to the present Lord Minto, was the author of a beautiful pastoral song, of which the following is a more correct copy than is usually published. The poetical mantle of Sir Gilbert Elliot has descended to his family. My sheep t neglected, I broke ray sheep-hook, And all the gay haunts of my youth I forsook : No more for Amynta fresh garlands f wove; Ambition, 1 said, would soon cure me of love. But what had my youth with ambition to do? Wiry left i Amenta ? why broke I my vow ? Through regions remote in vain do I rove, And bid the wide world secure me from love* Ah, fool, to imagine, that aught could subdue A love so well founded, a passion so true ! Ah, give me my sheep, and my sheep-hook restore, And I'll wander from love and Amynta no more ! Alas ! 'tis too late at thy fate to repine ! Poor shepherd, Amynta no more can be thine J Thy tears are all fruitless, thy wishes are vain, The moments neglected return not again. Ah ! what had my youth with ambition to do? Why left I Amynta ? why broke 1 my vow ? NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 241 Note XX. Ancient Riddel' s fair domain. P. 35. The family of Riddel have been very long in possession of the barony called Riddell, or Ryedale, part of which still bears the latter name. Tradition carries their antiquity to a point extremely remote ; and is, in some degree, sanctioned by the discovery of two stone coffins, one containing an earthen pot filled with ashes and arms, bearing a legible date, A. D. 727 ; the other dated 936, and filled with the bones of a man of gi- gantic size. These coffins were discovered in the foundations of what was, but has long ceased to be, the chapel of Riddell ; and as it was argued, with plausibility, that they contained the remains of some ancestors of the family, they were deposited in the modern place of sepulchre, comparatively so termed, though built in 1 1 1O. But the following curious and authentic documents warrant most conclusively the epithet of " ancient Riddell:" 1st, A charter by David I. to Walter Rydale, she- riff of Roxburgh, confirming all the estates of Liliesclive, &c. of which his father, Gervasius de Rydale, died possessed. 2dly, A bull of Pope Adrian IV., confirming the will of Wal- ter de Ridale, knight, in favour of his brother Anschittil de Ridale, dated 8th April, 1155. 3dly, A bull of Pope Alexan- der III., confirming the said will of Walter de Ridale, be- queathing to his brother Anschittil the lands of Liliesclive, Whettunes, &c. and ratifying the bargain betwixt Anschittil and Huctredus, concerning the church of Liliesclive, in con- 242 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. sequence of the mediation of Malcolm II., and confirmed by a charter from that monarch. This bull is dated 17th June, 1160. 4thly, A bull of the same Pope, confirming the will of Sir Anschittil de Ridale, in favour of his son Walter, convey- ing the said lands of Liliesclive and others, dated 10th March, 1120. It is remarkable, that Liliesclive, otherwise Rydale, or Riddel, and the Whittunes, have descended, through a long train of ancestors, without ever passing into a collateral line, to the person of Sir John Buchanan Riddell, Bart, of Riddell, the lineal descendant and representative of Sir Anschittil. These circumstances appeared worthy of notice in a Border work. Note XXJ. As glanced his eye o'er Halidon. P. 36. Halidon was an ancient seat of the Kerrs of Cessford, now demolished. About a quarter of a mile to the northward lay the field of battle betwixt Buccleuch and Angus, which is call- ed to this day the Skirmish Field. See the 4th note on this Canto. Note XXII. Old Melrof rose, and fair Tweed ran. P. 37. The ancient and beautiful monastery of Melrose was found- ed by King David I. Its ruins afford the finest specimen of Gothic architecture and Gothic sculpture which Scotland can boast. The stone of which it is built, though it has resisted 4 NOTES TO CANTO FIRST. 243 the weather for so many ages, retains perfect sharpness, so that even the most minute ornaments seem as entire as when newly wrought. In some of the cloisters, as is hinted in the next Canto, there are representations of flowers, vegetables, &c. carved in stone, with accuracy and precision so delicate, that we almost distrust our senses, when we consider the diffi- culty of subjecting so hard a substance to such intricate and exquisite modulation. This superb convent was dedicated to St Mary, and the monks were of the Cistertian order. At the time of the Reformation, they shared in the general reproach of sensuality and irregularity, thrown upon the Roman church- men. The old words of Galashiels, a favourite Scottish air, ran thus : O the monks of Melrose made gude kale * On Fridays when they fasted ; They wanted neither beef nor ale, As long as their neighbour's lasted. * Kale, Broth. NOTES TO CANTO II. Note I. When silver edges the imagery, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die. P. 44. The buttresses, ranged along the sides of the ruins of Mel- rose Abbey, are, according to the Gothic style, richly carved and fretted, containing niches for the statues of saints, and labelled with scrolls, bearing appropriate texts of Scripture. Most of these statues have been demolished. Note II. St David's ruined pile. P. 44. David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, by founding, and liberally endowing, not only the monastery of Melrose, but those of Kelso, Jedburgh, aud many others, which led to the well-known observation of his successor, that he was sore saint for the crown. 246 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. Note III. Lands and livings many a rood, Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose P. 45. The Buccleuch family were great benefactors to the Abbey of Melrose. As early as the reign of Robert II., Robert Scott, baron of Murdieston and Rankelburn (now Buccleuch,) gave to the monks the lands of Hinkery, in Ettricke Forest, pro salute animtz su&. Chartulary of Melrose, 28th May, 1415. Note IV. Prayer know I hardly one ; * # # * Save to patter an Ate Mary, When I ride on a Border foray. P. 47. The Borderers were, as may be supposed, very ignorant about religious matters. Colville, in his Paranesis, or Admo- nition, states, that the reformed divines were so far from un- dertaking distant journies to convert the Heathen, " as I wold wis at God that ye wold only go bot to the Hielands and Bor- ders of our own realm, to gain our awin countreymen, who, for lack of preching and ministration of the sacraments, must, with tyme, becum either infidells, or atheists." But we learn, from Lesly, that, however deficient in real religion, they regularly told their beads, and never with more zeal than when going on a plundering expedition. NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 247 Note V. Beneath their feet were the bones of the dead. P. 48. The cloisters were frequently used as places of sepulture. An instance occurs in Dryburgh Abbey, where the cloister has an inscription, bearing, Hie jacetf rater Archibaldus. Note VI. So had he seen, in fair Castile, The youth in glittering squadrons start; Sudden the flying jennet wheel, And hurl the unexpected dart. P. 48. " By my faith," sayd the Duke of Lancaster, (to a Portu- guese squire) " of all the feates of armes that the Castellyang, and they of your countrey doth use, the castynge of their dartes best pleaseth me, and gladly I wolde se it ; for, as I hear say, if they strike one aryghte, without he be well armed, the dart will pierce him thrughe." " By my fayth, sir," sayd the squyer, " ye say trouth ; for I have seen many a grete stroke given with them, which at one time cost us derely, and was to us great displeasure ; for, at the said skyrmishe, Sir John Laurence of Coygne was striken with a dart in such wise, that the head perced all the plates of his cote of mayle, and a sacke stopped with sylke, and passed thrughe his body, so that he fell down dead." FROISSART, vol. II. ch. 44. This mode of fighting with darts was imitated in the military game called Juego de las oniws, which the Spaniards borrowed from their 548 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. Moorish invaders. A Saracen champion is thus described by Froissart : " Among the Sarazyns, there was a yonge knight called Agadinger Dolyferne ; he was always wel mounted on a redy and a lyght horse; it seemed, when the horse ranne, that he did flye in the ayre. The knighte seemed to be a good man of armes by his dedes ; he bare always of usage three fethered dartes, and rychte well he could handle them ; and, according to their custome, he was clene armed, with a long white towell about his heed. His app;,reli was blacke, and his own co- lour browne, and a good horseman. The Crysten men say, they thoughte he dyd such deeds of armes for the love of some yonge ladye of his countrey. And true it was, that he loved entirely the king of Thune's daughter, named the Lady Azala ; she was inherytour to the realme of Thunes, after the discease of the kyng, her father. This Agadinger was sone to the Duke of Olyferne. I an nat telle if they were married together after or nat ; but it was shewed me, that this knyght, for love of the sayd ladye, during the siege, did many feats of armes. The knyghtes of Fraunce wold fayne have taken hytn ; but they colde never attrape nor inclose him, his horse was so swyft, and so redy to his hand, that alwaies he escaped." Vol. II. ch. 71. Note VII, Thy low and lonely urn, O gallant chief of Olterburne P. 50. The famous and desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 15th August, 1388, betwixt Henry Percy, called Hotspur, and NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 249 James, Earl of Douglas. Both these renowned champions were at the head of a chosen body of troops, and they were rivals in military fame; so that Froissart affirms, " Of all the battaylles and encounteryngs that I have made inencion of here before in all this hystory, great or smalle, this batayle that I treat of ttowe was one of the sorest and best foughten, without cowardes or faynte hertes ; for there was neyther knyghte nor squyer but that dyde his devoyre, and fought hande to hande. This batayle was lyke the batayle of Becherell, the which was valiantly fought and endured." The issue of the conflict is well known : Percy was made prisoner, and the Scots won the day, dearly purchased by the death of their gallant general, the Earl of Douglas, who was slain in the ac- tion. He was buried at Melrose, beneath the high altar. " His obsequye was done reverently, and on his bodye layde a tombe of stone, and his baner hangyng over hym." FROISSART, vol. II. p. 161. Note VIII. Dark knight of Liddesdale. P. 50. William Douglas, called the knight of Liddesdale, flourished during the reign of David II. ; and was so distinguished by his valour, that he was called the Flower of Chivalry. Neverthe- less, he tarnished his renown by the cruel murder of Sir Alex- ander Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his friend and brother in arms. The king had conferred upon Ramsay the sherifftlom of Teviotdale, to which Douglas pretended some claim. In 250 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. revenge of this preference, the knight of Liddesdale came down upon Ramsay, while he was administering justice at Hawick, seized and carried him off to his remote and inacces- sible castle of Hermitage, where he threw his unfortunate pri- soner, horse and man, into a dungeon, and left him to perish of hunger. It is said, the miserable captive prolonged his existence for several days by the corn which fell from a gra- nary above the vault in which he was confined.* So weak was the royal authority, that David, although highly incensed at this atrocious murder, found himself obliged to appoint the * There is something affecting in the manner in which the olj Prior of Lochlevin turns from describing the death of the gallant Ramsay, to the general sorrow which it excited : To tell you there of the manere, It is bot sorow for til here; He wes the grettast menyd man That ony cowth have thowcht of than, Of his state, or of mare be fare ; All menyt him, bath bettyr and war; The ryche and pure him menyde bath, For of his dede was mekil skatli. Some years ago, a person digging for stones, about the old castle of Hermitage, broke into a vault, containing a quantity of chaff, some bones, and pieces of iron ; amongst others, the curb of an ancient bridle, which the author has since gi?en to the Earl of Dalhousie, under the impression, that it possibly may be a re- lique of his brave ancestor. The worthy clergyman of the pa- rish has mentioned this discovery, in his statistical account of Castletown. NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 2gi knight of Liddesdale successor to his victim, as sheriff of Te- viotdale. But he was soon after slain, while hunting in Et- trick Forest, by his own godson and chieftain, William, Earl of Douglas, in revenge, according to some authors, of Ramsay's murder : although a popular tradition, preserved in a ballad quoted by Godscroft, and some parts of which are still pre- served, ascribes the resentment of the Earl to jealousy. The place, where the knight of Liddesdale was killed, is called, from his name, William-Cross, upon the ridge of a hill called William-hope, betwixt Tweed and Yarrow. His body, accord- ing to Godscroft, was carried to Lindean church the first night after his death, and thence to Melrose, where he was in- terred with great pomp, and where his tomb is still shewn. Note IX. The moon on the east oriel shone. P. 50. It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful specimen of the lightness and elegance of Gothic architecture, when in its purity, than the eastern window of Melrose Abbey. Sir James Hall of Dunglass, Bart, has, with great ingenuity and plausibi- lity, traced the Gothic order through its various forms, and seemingly eccentric ornaments, to an architectural imitation of wicker work ; of which, as we learn from some of the le- gends, the earliest Christian churches were constructed. In such an edifice, the original of the clustered pillars is traced to a set of round posts, begirt with slender rods of willow, whose loose summits were brought to meet from all quarters, and 252 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND, bound together artificially, so as to produce the frame-work of the roof : and the tracery of our Gothic windows is displayed in the meeting and interlacing of rods and hoops, affording an- inexhaustible variety of beautiful forms of open work. This in- genious system is alluded to in the romance. Sir James Hall's Essay on Gothic Architecture is published in The Edinburgh Philosophical Transactions. Note X. They sate them down on a marble stone, A Scottish monarch slept below. P. 51. A large marble stone, in the chancel of Melrose, is pointed out as the monument of Alexander II., one of the greatest of our early kings ; others say, it is the resting place of Waldeve, one of the early abbots, who died in the odour of sanctity. Note XI. . The wondrous Michael Scott. P. 51. Sir Michael Scott of Balwearie flourished during the 13th century, and was one of the ambassadors sent to bring the Maid of Norway to Scotland upon the death of Alexander III. By a poetical anachronism, he is here placed in a later aera. He was a man of much learning, chiefly acquired in foreign countries. He wrote a commentary upon Aristotle, printed at Venice in 1496; and several treatises upon natural philoso- phy, from which he appears to have been addicted to the abstruse studies of judicial astrology, alchemy, physiognomy, NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 253 and chiromancy. Hence he passed among his contemporaries for a skilful magician. Dempster informs us, that he remem- bers to have heard in his youth, that the magic books of Michael Scott were still in existence, but could not be opened without danger, on account of the malignant fiends who were thereby invoked. Dempsteri Historia Ecclesiastica, 1627, lib. xii. p. 495. Lesly characterises Michael Scott, as singularli phi- losophic, astronomic, ac medicine luude prestans ; dicebatur penitissimos magi. 58. In a very rare romance, which " treat- eth of the lyfe of Virgilius, and of his deth, and many marvayles that hje dyd in his lyfe-time, by wyche-crafte and nygraman- cye, throughe the helpe of the devyls of hell," mention is made of a very extraordinary process, in which one of these mystical lamps was employed. It seems, that Virgil, as he advanced in years, became desirous of renovating his youth by his magical art. For this purpose he constructed a solitary tower, having only one narrow portal, in which he placed twenty-four cop- per figures, armed with iron flails, twelve on each side of the porch. These enchanted statues struck with their flails inces- santly, and rendered all entrance impossible, unless when Vir- gil touched the spring, which stopped their motion. To this tower he repaired privately, attended by one trusty servant, to whom he communicated the secret of the entrance, and hither they conveyed all the magician's treasure. " Then sayde Vir- gilius, my dere beloved frende, and he that I above alle men truste and knowe mooste of my secret ;" and then he led the man into a cellar, where he made a fayer lamp at all seasons lurnynge. And then sayd Virgilius to the man, " Se you the barrel that standeth here ?" and he sayd, yea : " Therein must vou put me : fyrste ye must slee me, and hewe me smalle to pieces, and cut my hed in iiii pieces, and salte the heed under in the bottom, and then the pieces there after, and my herte in the myddel, and then set the barrel under the lampe, that 1 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 263 nyghte and day the fat therein may droppe and leake ; and ye shall ix dayes long, ones in the day, fyll the lampe, and fayle nat. And when this is all done, then shall I be renued, and made yonge agen." At this extraordinary proposal, the confi- dant was sore abashed, and made some scruple of obeying his master's commands. At length, however, he complied, and Virgil was slain, pickled, and barrelled up, in all respects ac- cording to his own direction. The servant then left the tower, taking care to put the copper thrashers in motion at his depar- ture. He continued daily to visit the tower with the same precaution. Meanwhile, the emperor, with whom Virgil was a great favourite, missed him from the court, and demanded of his servant where he was. The domestic pretended igno- rance, till the emperor threatened him with death, when at length he conveyed him to the enchanted tower. The same threat extorted a discovery of the mode of stopping the sta- tues from wielding their flails. " And then the emperour en- tered into the castle with all his folkc, and sought all aboute in every corner after Virgilius ; and at the last they soughte so longe, that they came into the seller, where they sawe the lampe hang over the barrell, where Virgilius lay in deed. Then asked the emperour the man, who had made hym so herdy to put his mayster Virgilius so to dethe ; and the mart answered no worde to the emperour. And then the emperour, with great anger, drewe out his sworde, and slewe he there Virgilius' man. And when all this was done, then sawe the emperour, and all his folke, a naked childe iii tymes rennynge 264 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. about the barrell, saynge these wordes, ' Cursed be the tyme that ye ever came here !' And with those wordes vanyshed the chylde awaye, and was never sene ageyn ; and thus abyd Virgilius in the barrell deed." Virgilius, bl. let. printed at Ant- werpe by John Doesborcke. This curious volume is in the valuable library of Mr Douce ; and is supposed to be a trans- lation from the French, printed in Flanders for the English market. See Goujet Biblioth. Franc, ix. 225. Catalogue de la Bibliotheque Nationule, torn. II. p. 5. De Sure, No. 3857. Note XVI. He thought, as he took it, the dead manfrown'd.P. 58. William of Deloraine might be strengthened in this belief by the well-known story of the Cid Ruy Diaz. When the bo- dy of that famous Christian champion was sitting in state by the high altar of the cathedral church of Toledo, where it re- mained for ten years, a certain malicious Jew attempted to pull him by the beard ; but he had no sooner touched the for- midable whiskers, than the corpse started up, and half un- sheathed his sword. The Israelite fled ; and so permanent was the effect of his terror, that he became Christian. HEY- WOOD'S Hierarchic, p. 480, quoted from Sebastian Cobarruvias Crozee. NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 265 Note XVII. The Baron's Dwarf his courser held. P. 64. The idea of Lord Cranstoun's Goblin Page is taken from a being called Gilpin Horner, who appeared, and made some stay, at a farm-house among the Border-mountains. A gen- tleman of that country has noted down the following particu- lars concerning his appearance. " The only certain, at least most probable account, that ever I heard of Gilpin Horner, was from an old man, of the name of Anderson, who was born, and lived all his life, at Todshawhill, in Eskedale-muir, the place where Gilpin appear- ed and staid for some time. He said there were two men, late in the evening, when it was growing dark, employed in fasten- ing the horses upon the uttermost part of their ground, (that is, tying their forefeet together, to hinder them from travelling far in the night,) when they heard a voice, at some distance, crying, ' Tint ! tltit ! tint !' * One of the men, named Moffat, called out, ' What de'il has tint you ? Come here.' Immedi- ately a creature, of something like a human form, appeared. It was surprisingly little, distorted in features, and mis-shapen in limbs. As soon as the two men could see it plainly, they ran home in a great fright, imagining they had met with some goblin. By the way Moffat fell, and it run over him, and was * Tint signifies Zest. 266 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. home at the house as soon as either of them, and staid there a long time ; but I cannot say how long. It was real flesh and blood, and ate and drank, was fond of cream, and, when it could get at it, would destroy a great deal. It seemed a mis- chievous creature ; and any of the children whom it could mas- ter, it would beat and scratch without mercy. It was once abusing a child belonging to the same Moffat, who had been so frightened by its first appearance ; and he, in a passion, struck it so violent a blow upon the side of the head, that it tumbled upon the ground : but it was not stunned ; for it set up its head directly, and exclaimed, ' Ah hah, Will o' Moffat, you strike sair ! ' (viz. sore.) After it had staid there long, one evening, when the women were milking the cows in the loan, it was playing among the children near by them, when sudden- ly they heard a loud shrill voice cry, three times, ' Gilpin Hor- ner I* It started, and said, ' That is me t I must away ' and in- stantly disappeared, and was never heard of more. Old An- derson did not remember it, but said, he had often heard his father, and other old men in the place, who were there at the time, speak about it ; and in my younger years I have often heard it mentioned, and never met with any who had the re- motest doubt as to the truth of the story ; although, I must own, I cannot help thinking there must be some misrepresen- tation in it." To this account, I have to add the following particulars from the most respectable authority. Besides con- stantly repeating the word tint ! tint ! Gilpin Horner was of- NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 267 tea heard to call upon Peter Bertram, or Be-teram, as he pro- nounced the word : and when the shrill voice called Gilpirt Horner, he immediately acknowledged it was the summons of the said Peter Bertram ; who seems therefore to have been the devil who had tint, or lost, the little imp. As much has been objected to Gilpin Horner on account of his being sup- posed rather a device of the author than a popular supersti- tion, I can only say, that no legend which I ever heard seem- ed to be more universally credited, and that many persons of very good rank and considerable information are well known to repose absolute faith in the tradition. Note XVIII. But the Ladye ofBranksome gathered a band, Of the best that would ride at her command. P. 66". " Upon 25th June, 1 557, Dame Janet.Beatoune Lady Buc- cleuch, and a great number of the name of Scott, delaitit (ac- cused) for coming to the kirk of St Mary of the Lowes, to the number of two hundred persons bodin in feire of weire (array- ed in armour,) and breaking open the doors of the said kirk, in order to apprehend the laird of Cranstoune for his destruc- tion.'* On the 20th July, a warrant from the queen is pre- sented, discharging the justice to proceed against the Lady Buccleuch while new calling. Abridgment of Books of Ad- journal in Advocates 1 Library. The following proceedings upon this case appear on the record of the Court of Justr- 268 NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. ciary: On the 25th of June, 1557, Robert Scott, in Bowhill parish, priest of the kirk of St Mary's, accused of the convo- cation of the Queen's lieges, to the number of 200 persons, in warlike array, with jacks, helmets, and other weapons, and marching to the chapel of St Mary of the Lowes, for the slaughter of Sir Peter Cranstoun, out of ancient feud and ma- lice prepense, and of breaking the doors of the said kirk, is repledged by the archbishop of Glasgow. The bail given by Robert Scott of Allenhaugh, Adam Scott of Burnefute, Robert Scott in Howfurde, Walter Scott in Todshawhaugb, Walter Scott younger of Synton, Thomas Scott of Hayning, Robert Scott, William Scott, and James Scott, brothers of the said Walter Scott, Walter Scott in the Woll, find Walter Scott, son of William Scott of Harden, and James Wemyss in Eckford, all accused of the same crime, is declared to be forfeited. On the same day, Walter Scott of Synton, and Walter Chisholme of Chisholme, and William Scott of Harden, became bound, jointly and severally, that Sir Peter Cranstoun, and his kin- dred and servants, should receive no injury from them in fu- ture. At the same time, Patrick Murray of Fallohill, Alex- ander Stuart, uncle to the laird of Trakwhare, John Murray of Newhall, John Fairlye, residing in Selkirk, George Tait, younger of Pirn, John Pennycuke of Pennycuke, James Ram- say of Cokpen, the laird of Fassyde, and the laird of Hender- stoune, were all severally fined for not attending as jurors; being probably either in alliance with the accused parties, or NOTES TO CANTO SECOND. 269 dreading their vengeance. Upon the 20th of July following, Scott of Synton, Chlsholme of Chisholme, Scott of Harden, Scott of Howpaslie, Scott of Burnfute, with many others, are ordered to appear at next calling, under the pains of treason. But no farther procedure seems to have taken place. It is said, that, upon this rising, the kirk of St Mary was burned by the Scotts. NOTES TO CANTO III. Note I. When, dancing in the sunny beam, He marked the crane on the Baron's crest P. 75. The crest of the Cranstouns, in allusion to their name, is a crane dormant, holding a stone in his foot, with an emphatic- Border motto, Thou shalt want ere I leant. Note II. Much he marvelled a knight of pride, Like a book-bosomed priest should ride. P. 78. " At Unthank, two miles N. E. from the church (of Ewes,) there are the ruins of a chapel for divine service, in time of popery. There is a tradition, that friars were wont to come from Melrose, or Jedburgh, to baptise and marry in this pa- rish ; and, from being in use to carry the mass-book in their bosoms, they were called, by the inhabitants, Book-a-bosomes. There is a man yet alive, who knew old men who had been baptised by these Book-a-bosomes, and who says one of them, 278 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. called Hair, used this parish for a very long time." Account of Parish of Ewes, apud Macfarlanes' MSS. Note III. It had much of glamour might. P. 79. Glamour, in the legends of Scottish superstition, means the magic power of imposing on the eye-sight of the spectators, so that the appearance of an object shall be totally different from the reality. The transformation of Michael Scott by the Witch of Falsehope, already mentioned, was a genuine operation of glamour. To a similar charm the ballad of Johnny Fa' imputes the fascination of the lovely Countess, who eloped with that gypsey leader: Sae soon as they saw her weel far'd face, They cast the glamour o'er her. It was formerly used even in war. In 1381, when the Duke of Anjou lay before a strong castle, upon the coast of Naples, a necromancer offered to " make the ayre so thycke, that they within shal thynke that there is a great bridge on the see (by which the castle was surrounded,) for ten men to go a front ; and whan they within the castle se this bridge, they wil be so afrayde, that they shall yelde them to your mercy. The Duke demanded Fayre Master, on this bridge that ye speke of, may our people assuredly go thereon to the castell to assayle it ? Syr, quod the enchantour, I dare not assure NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 273 you that ; for if any that passeth on the bridge make the signe of the crosse on hym, all shall go to noughte, and they that be on the bridge shall fall into the see. Then the Duke be- gan to laugh ; and a certain of young knightes, that were there present, said, Syr, for godsake, let the mayster essay his cun- ning ; we shal leve making of any signe of the crosse on us for that tyme." The Earl of Savoy, shortly after, entered the tent, and recognized in the enchanter, the same person who had put the castle into the power of Sir Charles de la Pays, who then held it, by persuading the garrison of the Queen of Naples, through magical deception, that the sea was coming over the walls. The sage avowed the feat, and added, that he was the man in the world most dreaded by Sir Charles de la Payx. " By my fayth, quod the Erl of Savoy, ye say well ; and I will that Syr Charles de la Payx shall know that he hath gret wronge to fear you. But I shall assure him of you ; for ye shall never do enchauntment to deceyve hym, nor yet none other. I wolde nat that in tyme to come we shulde be re- proached that in so high an enterprise as we be in, wherein there be so many noble knyghtes and squyers assembled, that we shulde do any thyng be enchauntment, nor that we shulde wyn our enemys by suche crafte. Than he. called to him a servaunt, and sayd, Go and get a hangman, and let him stryke of this mayster's heed without delay ; and as sone as the Erie had commaunded it, incontynent it was done, for his heed was 074 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. stryken of before the Erie's tent." FROISSART, vol. I. ch. 391, 392. The art of glamour, or other fascination, was anciently a principal part of the skill of the jongleur, or juggler, whose tricks forced much of the amusement of a Gothic castle. Some instances of this art may be found in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. III. p. 119. In a strange allegorical poem, called the Houlat, written by a dependant of the house of Douglas, about 1452-3, the jay, in an assembly of birds, plays the part of the juggler. His feats of glamour are thus described : lie gart them see, as it semyt, in samyn houre, Hunting at herdis in holtis so hair ; Some sailancl on the see schippis of toure, Beinis battalland on burd brim as a bare ; He coulde carye the coup of the kingis des, Syne leve in the stede, Bot a black bunwede ; He could of a henis hede, Make a man mes. He gart the Emproure trow, and trewlye behald, That the corncrnik, the pundare at hand, Had poyndit all his pris hors in a poynd fald, Because thai ete of the corn in the kirkland. lie could wirk windaris, quhat way that he wald Mak a gray gus a gold garland, A lang spere of a bittilc for a befne bald, Nobilis of nutschelles, and silver of sand. NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 275 Thus joukit with juxters the janglane ja. Fair ladjes in ringis, Knychtis in caralyngis, Bajth dansis and singis, It semyt as sa. Note IV. Now, if you ask zcho gave the stroke, I cannot tell, so mot 1 thrive ; It was not given by man alive. P. 80. Dr Henry More, in a letter prefixed to Glanville's Suducis- mus Triumphatus, mentions a similar phenomenon. " I remember an old gentleman in the country, of my ac- quaintance, an excellent Justice of Peace, and a piece of a mathematician ; but what kind of a philosopher he was, you may understand from a rhyme of his own making, which he commended to me at my taking horse in his yard, which rhyme is this : Ens is nothing till sense finds out : Sense ends in nothing, so naught goes about. Which rhyme of his was so rapturous to himself, that, on the reciting of the second verse, the old man turned himself about upon his toe as nimbly as one may observe a dry leaf whisked round in the corner of an orchard-walk by sdme little whirl- wind. With this philosopher I have had many discourses concerning the immortality of the soul and its distinction ; when I have run him quite down by reason, he would but 270 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. laugh at me, and say, this is logic, H. (calling me by my Chris- tian name ;) to which I replyed, this is reason, father L. (for I used and some others to call him;) but it seems you are for the new lights, and immediate inspiration, which I confess he was as little for as for the other ; but I said so only in way of drollery to him in those times, but truth is, nothing but palpa- ble experience would move him ; and being a bold man) and fearing nothing, he told me he had used all the magical cere- monies of conjuration he could, to raise the devil or a spirit, and had a most earnest desire to meet with one, but never could do it. But this he told me, when he did not so much as think of it, while his servant was pulling off his boots in the hall, some invisible hand gave him such a clap upon the back, that it made all ring again ; so, thought he now, I am invited to the converse of my spirit, and therefore, so soon as his boots were off, and his shoes on, out he goes into the yard and next field, to find out the spirit that had given him this familiar clap on the back, but found none neither in the yard nor field next to it. " But though he did not feel this stroke, albeit he thought it afterwards (finding nothing came of it) a mere delusion ; yet, not long before his death, it had more force with him than all the philosophical arguments I could use to him, though I could wind him and non-plus him as I pleased ; but yet all my arguments, how solid soever, made no impression upon him ; wherefore, after several reasonings of this nature, where- by I would prove to him the soul's distinction from the body,, NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 277 and its -immortality, when nothing of such subtile considera- tions did any more execution on his mind than some lightning is said to do, though it melts the sword, on the fuzzy consis- tency of the scabbard, Well, said I, father L., though none of these things move you, I have something still behind, and what yourself has acknowledged to me to be true, that may do the business: Do you remember the clap on your back when your servant was pulling off your boots in the hall ? Assure yourself, said I, father L., that goblin will be the first that will bid you welcome into the other world. Upon that his countenance changed most sensibly, and he was more con- founded with this rubbing up his memory, than with all the rational or philosophical argumentations that I could pro- duce." Note V. The running stream dissolved the spell. P. 8S. It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment can subsist in a living stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and witches, spectres, or even fiends, you are in perfect safety. Burns's inimitable Tarn o' Shanter turns entirely upon such a circumstance. The belief seems to be of antiquity. Brompton informs us, that certain Irish wizards could, by spells, convert earthen clods, or stones, into fat pigs, which they sold in the market ; but which always re-assumed their proper form, when driven by the deceived purchaser across a running stream. But Brompton is severe 278 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. on the Irish, for a very good reason. " Gens ista spurcissima non solvunt decimas." Clironicon Johannis Brompton apud decem Script ores, p. 1076. Note VI. His buckler scarce in breadth a span, No longer fence find he ; He never counted him a man, Would strike Mow the knee. P. 86. Imitated from Drayton's account of Robin Hood and his followers : A hundred valiant men had this brave Robin Hood, Still ready at his call, that bowmen were right good ; All clad in Lincoln green, with caps of red and blue, His fellow's winded horn not one of them but knew. A\ hen setting to their lips their bugles shrill, The warbling echoes waked from every dale and hill ; Their bauldrics set with studs athwart their shoulders cast, To which under their arms their sheafs were buckled fast, A short sword at their belt, a buckler scarce a span, Who struck below the knee not counted then a man. All made of Spanish yew, their bows were wondrous strong, They not an arrow drew but was a clothyard long. Of archery they had the very perfect craft, With broad arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft. To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned contrary to the law of arms. In a tilt betwixt Gawain Mi- chael, an English squire, and Joachim Cathore, a Frenchman, " they met at the speare poyntes rudely : the French squyer justed right pleasantly ; the Englyshman ran too lowe, for NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 279 lie strak the Frenchman depe into the thygh. Wherwith the Erie of Buckingham was right sore displeased, and so were all the other lordes, and saycle how it was shamefully done." FROISSART, vol. I. ch. 366. Upon a similar occasion, " the two knyghts came a fote eche against other rudely, with their speares low couched, to stryke eche other within the foure quarters. Johan of Castel Morante strake the Englysh squyer on the brest in such wyse, that Sir Wyllyam Fermetone stombled and bowed, for his fote a lyttel fayled him. He helde his speare lowe with both his handes, and coude nat amende it, and strake Sir Johan of the Castell-Morante in the thighe, so that the speare went clene throughe, that the heed was sene a handfull on the other syde. And Syre Johan with the stroke reled, but he fell nat. Than the Englyshe knygiites and squyers were ryghte sore displeased, and sayde how it was a foule stroke. Syr Wyllyam Fermetone excused him- selfe, and sayde how he was sorie of that adventure, and howe that yf he had knowen that it shulde have bene so, he wolde never have begon it ; sayenge how he coude nat amende it, by cause of glaunsing of his fote by constraynt of the great stroke that Syr Johan of the Castell-Morante had given him." Ibid. ch. 373. Note VII. And with a charm she staunched the Hood. P. 90. See several charms for this purpose in Reginald Scott's Dis- covery of Witchcraft, p. 273. 280 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. Tom Potts was but a serving man, But yet he was a doctor good ; He bound his handkerchief on the wound, And with some kinds of words he staunched the blood. Pieces of ancient popular Poetry, Load. 1191, p. 131. Note VIII. But she has ta'en the broken lance, And washed it from the clotted gore, And salved the splinter o'er and o'er. P. 90. Sir Kenelm Digby, in a discourse upon the cure by sympa- thy, pronounced at Montpelier, before an assembly of nobles and learned men, translated into English by R. White, gentle- man, and published in 1658, gives us the following curious surgical case : " Mr James Howel (well known in France for his public works, and particularly for his Dendrologie, translated into French by Mons. Baudouin) coming by chance, as two of his best friends were fighting in duel, he did his endeavour to part them ; and, putting himselfe between them, seized, with his left hand, upon the hilt of the sword of one of the combatants, while, with his right hand, he laid hold of the blade of the other. They, being transported with fury one against the other, struggled to rid themselves of the hindrance their friend made, that they should not kill one another ; and one of them roughly drawing the blade of his sword, cuts to the very bone the nerves and muscles of Mr Howel's hand ; and then the other disengaged his hilts, and gave a crosse. blow on his ad- NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 281 versarie's head, which glanced towards his friend, who heaving up his sore hand to save the blow, he was wounded on the back of his hand as he hau been before within. It seems some strange constellation reigned then against him, that he should lo&e so much bloud by parting two such dear friends, who, had they been themselves, would have hazarded both their lives to have preserved his : but this involuntary effusion of blond by them, prevented that which they sholde have drawn one from the other. For they, seeing Mr Howel's face besmeared with bloud, by heaving up his wounded hand, they both ran to embrace him ; and, having searched his hurts, they bound up his hand with one of his garters, to close the veins which were cut, and bled abundantly. They brought him home, and sent for a surgeon. But this being heard at court, the king sent one of his own surgeons ; for his majesty much affected the said Mr Howel. " It was my chance to be lodged hard by him ; and four or five days after, as 1 was making myself ready, he came to my house, and prayed me to view his wounds ; ' for I understand,' said he, ' that you have extraordinary remedies on such occa- sions, and my surgeons apprehend some fear that it may grow to a gangrene, and so the hand must be cut off." In effect, his countenance discovered that he was in much pain, which he said was insupportable, in regard of the extreme inflammation. I told him I would willingly serve him ; but if haply he knew the manner how I would cure him, without touching or seeing 282 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. him, it may be he would not expose himself to my manner of curing, because he would think it, peradventurc, either inef- fectual or superstitious. He replied, ' The wonderful things which many have related unto me of your way of medicine- ment, makes me nothing doubt at all of its efficacy ; and all that I have to say unto you, is comprehended in the Spanish proverb, Hagase el milagro y hagnlo Mahuma Let the miracle be done, though Mahomet do it.' " I asked him then for any thing that had the blood upon it ; so lie presently sent for his garter, wherewith his hand was first bound : and as I called for a bason of water, as if I would wash my hands, I took a handful of powder of vitriol, which I had in my study, and presently dissolved it. As soon as the bloudy garter was brought me, I put it within the ba- son, observing, in the interim, what Mr Howel did, wlio stood talking with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber, not re- garding at all what I was doing ; but he started suddenly, as if he had found some strange alteration in himself. I asked him what he ailed ? ' I know not what ailes me ; but I finde that I feel no more pain. Methinks that a pleasing kinde of freshnesse, as it were a wet cold napkin, did spread over my hand, which hath taken away the inflammation that torment- ed me before.' I replyed, ' Since then that you feel already so good effect of my medicament, I advise you to cast away all your playsters ; only keep the wound clean, and in a mo- derate temper betwixt heat and cold.' This was presently reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after to the NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. <283 king, who were both very curious to know the circumstance of the businesse, which was, that after dinner I took the garter out of the water, and put it to dry before a great fire. It was scarce dry, but Mr Howel's servant came running, that his master felt as much burning as ever he had done, if not more ; for the heat was such as if his hand were 'twixt coles of fire. I answered, although that had happened at present, yet he should find ease in a short time ; for I knew the reason of this new accident, and would provide accordingly ; for his master should be free from that inflammation, it may be before he could possibly return to him ; but in case he found no ease, I wished him to come presently back again ; if not, he might forbear coming. Thereupon he went ; and at the instant I did put again the garter into the water, thereupon he found his master without any pain at all. To be brief, there was no sense of pain afterward ; but within five or six dayes the wounds were cicatrized, and entirely healed." Page 6. The king (James VI.) obtained from Sir Kenelm the dis- covery of his secret, which he pretended had been taught him by a Carmelite friar, who had learned it in Armenia, or Persia. Let not the age of animal magnetism and metallic tractors smile at the sympathetic powder of Sir Ksnelm Digbv. Re- ginald Scott mentions the same mode of. cure in these terms : " And that which is more strange they can remedie anie stranger with that verie sword wherewith they are wounded. Yea, and that which is beyond all admiration, if they stroke the sword upward with their fingers, the partie shall feele no 284 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. pain ; whereas, if they draw their fingers downwards, there- upon the partie wounded shall feele intolerable pain." I pre- sume that the success ascribed to the sympathetic mode of treatment might arise from the pains bestowed in washing the wound, and excluding the air, thus bringing on a cure by the first intention. It is introduced by Dryden in the Enchanted Island, a (very unnecessary) alteration of the Tem- pest : Ariel. Anoint the sword which pierced him with this Weapon-salve, and wrap it close from air, Till i have time to visit him again. Act \. sc. 2. Again, in scene 4th, Miranda enters with Hippolito's sword wrapt up : Hip. O my wound pains me. [S/ie unwraps the SworrL Mir. I am come to ease you. Hip, Alas, I feel the cold air come to me ; My wound shoots worse than ever. Mir. Does it still grieve yon ? [S/fe wipes and anoints the Sword. Hip. Now, methinks, there's something laid just upon it Mir, Do you find no ease ? Hip. Yes, yes; upon the sudden all this pain Is leaving me. Sweet heaven, how I am eased ! Note IX. On Penchryst glows a bale of'fire, And three are kindling on Priesthaughszoire. 1 P. 93. The Border beacons, from their number and position, form- ed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh. The NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 285 set of parliament 1455, c. 48, directs, that one bale or faggot shall be warning of the approach of the English in any man- ner; two bales, that they are coming indeed; four bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy are in great force. " The same taikenings to be watched and maid at Eggerhope (Eggerstane) Castell, fra they se the fire of Hume, that they fire right swa. And in like manner on Sowtra Edge, sail se the fire of Eggerhope Castell, and mak taikening in like man- ner : And then may all Louthaine be warned, and in special the Castell of Edinburgh ; and their four fires to be made in like manner, that they in Fife, and fra Striveling east, and the east part of Louthaine, and to Dunbar, all may se them, and come to the defense of the realme." These beacons (at least in latter times) were " a long and strong tree set up, with a long iron pole across the head of it, and an iron brander fixed on a stalk in the middle of it, for holding a tar-barrel." STE- VENSON'S History, vol. II. p. 701. Note X. Our kin, and clan, and friends, to raise. P. 93. The speed with which the Borderers collected great bodies of horse, may be judged of from the following extract, when the subject of the rising was much less important than that supposed in the romance. It is taken from Carey's Memoirs : " Upon the death of the old Lord Scroop, the queen gave the west wardenry to his son, that had married my sister. He 286 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. having received that office, came to me with great earnestness, and desired me to be his deputy, offering me that I should live with him in his house ; that he would allow me half a dozen men, and as many horses, to be kept at his charge ; and his fee being 1000 marks yearly, he would part it with me, and I should have the half. This his noble offer I accepted of, aud went with him to Carlisle ; where I was no sooner come, but I entered into my office. We had a stirring time of it ; and few days past over my head but I was on horseback, either to prevent mischief, or take malefactors, and to bring the Border in better quiet than it had been in times past. One memora- ble thing, of God's mercy shewed unto me, was such as I have good cause still to remember it. " I had private intelligence given me, that there were two Scottish men, that had killed a churchman in Scotland, and were by one of the Graemes relieved. This Graeme dwelt within five miles of Carlisle. He had a pretty house, and close by it a strong tower, for his own defence in time of need. About two o'clock in the morning, I took horse in Carlisle, and not above twenty-five in my company, thinking to surprise the house on a sudden. Before I could surround the house, the two Scots were gotten in the strong tower, and I could see a boy riding from the house as fast as his horse could carry him ; I little suspecting what it meant. But Thomas Carleton came to me presently, and told me, that if I did not presently pre- vent it, both myself and all my company would be either slain, or taken prisoners. It was strange to me to hear this Ian- NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 28T guage. He then said to me, ' Do you see that boy that rideth away so fast ? He will be in Scotland within this half hour ; and he is gone to let them know, that you are here, and to what end you are come, and the small number you have with you ; and that if they will make haste, on a sudden they may surprise us, and do with us what they please.' Hereupon we took advice what was best to be done. We sent notice pre- sently to all parts to raise the country, and to come to us with all the speed they could ; and withall we sent to Carlisle to raise the townsmen ; for without foot we could do no good against the tower. There we staid some hours, expecting more company ; and within short time after the country came in on all sides, so that we were quickly between three and four hundred horse ; and, after some longer stay, the foot of Car- lisle came to us, to the number of three or four hundred men; whom we presently set to work, to get up to the top of the tower, and to uncover the roof; and then some twenty of them to fall down together, and by that means to win the tower. The Scotts, seeing their present danger, offered to par- ley, and yielded themselves to my mercy. They had no sooner opened the iron gate, and yielded themselves my prisoners, but we might see 400 horse within a quarter of a mile coming to their rescue, and to surprise me and my small company ; but of a sudden they stayed, and stood at gaze. Then had I more to do than ever; for all our Borderers came crying, with full mouths, * Sir, give us leave to set upon them ; for these are they that have killed our fathers, our brother?, and uncles, and 12 288 NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. our cousins ; and they are coming, thinking to surprise you, upon weak grass nags, such as they could get on a sudden j and God hath put them into your hands, that we may take re- venge of them for much blood that they have spilt of ours.' I desired they would be patient a while, and bethought myself, if I should give them their will, there would be few or none of the Scots that would escape unkilled (there were so many deadly feuds among them) ; and therefore I resolved with my- self to give them a fair answer, but not to give them their de- sire. So I told them, that if I were not there myself, they might then do what pleased themselves ; but being present, if I should give them leave, the blood that should be spilt that day would lie very hard upon my conscience. And therefore I desired them, for my sake, to forbear; and, if the Scots did not presently make away with all the speed they could, upon my sending to them, they should then have their wills to do what they pleased. They were ill satisfied with my answer, but durst not disobey. I sent with speed to the Scots, and bade them pack away with all the speed they could ; for if they stayed the messenger's return, they should few of them return to their own home. They made no stay; but they were turned homewards before the messenger had made an end of his message. Thus, by God's mercy, I escaped a great danger ; and, by my means, there were a great many men's lives saved that day." NOTES TO CANTO THIRD. 289 Note IX. On many a cairn's gray pyramid, Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid. P. 95. The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown the summit of most of our Scottish hills, and are found in other remark- able situations, seem usually, though not universally, to have been sepulchral monuments. Six flat stones are commonly found in the centre, forming a cavity of greater or smaller di- mensions, in which an urn is often placed. The author is pos- sessed of one, discovered beneath an immense cairn at Rough- lee, in Liddesdale. It is of the most barbarous construction ; the middle of the substance alone having been subjected to the fire, over which, when hardened, the artist had laid an inner and outer coat of unbaked clay, etched with some very rude ornaments ; his skill apparently being inadequate to baking the vase, when completely finished. The contents were bones and ashes, and a quantity of beads made of coal. This seems to have been a barbarous imitation of the Roman fashion of se- pulture. ' NOTES TO CANTO IV. Note I. Great Dundee. P. 102. The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie. Note II. For pathless marsh, and mountain cell, The peasant left his lowly shed. P. 103. The morasses were the usual refuge of the Border herds- men, on the approach of an English army. (Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. I. p. 49.) Caves, hewed in the most dangerous and inaccessible places, also afforded an occasional retreat Such caverns may be seen in the precipitous banks of the Teviot at Sunlaws, upon the Ale at Ancram, upon the Jed at Hundalee, and in many other places upon the Border. The banks of the Eske, at Gorton and Hawthornden, are hol- lowed into similar recesses. But even these dreary dens were not always secure places of concealment. " In the way as we 292 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. came, not far from this place (Long Niddry,) George Ferres, a gentleman of my Lord Protector's happened upon a cave in the grounde, the mouth whereof was so worne with the fresh printe of steps, that he seemed to be certayne thear wear sum folke within ; and gone doune to trie, he was redily receyved with a hakebut or two. He left them not yet, till he had knowen wheyther thei wold be content to yeld and come out ; which they fondly refusing, he went to my lorde's grace, and upon utterance of the thynge, gat lisence to deale with them as he coulde ; and so returned to them, with a skore or two of pioners. Three ventes had their cave, that we wear ware of, wherof he first stopt up on ; anoother he fill'd full of strawe. and set it a fyer, whereat they within cast water apace ; but it was so wel maynteyned without, that the fyer prevay- led, and thei within fayn to get them belyke into anoother parler. Then devysed we (for I hapt to be with hym) to stop the same up, whereby we should eyther smoother them, or fynd out their ventes, if thei hadde any moe : as this was done at another issue, about xii score of, we moughte see the fume of their smoke to come out; the which continued with so great a force, and so long a while, that we could not but thinke they must needs get them out, or smoother within : and forasmuch as we found not that they dyd the tone, we thought it for certain thei wear sure of the toother. "^-PATTEN'S Ac- count of Somerset's Expedition intoScotland t apud DAL YELL'S Fragments. NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 293 Note III. Southern ravage. P. 103. From the following fragment of a letter from the Earl of Northumberland to King Henry VIII., preserved among the Cotton MSS. Calig. B. vii. 179, the reader may estimate the nature of the dreadful war which was occasionally waged upon the Borders, sharpened by mutual cruelties, and the personal hatred of the wardens, or leaders. Some Scottish barons, says the earl, had threatened to come within " three miles of my pore house of Werkworth, where I lye, and gif me light to put on my clothes at mydnyght; and alsoo the said Marke Carr said there opynly, that, seyng they had a governor on the marches of Scotland, as well as they had in Ingland, he shulde kepe your highness instructions, gyf- fyn unto your garyson, for making of any day-forrey j for he and his friends wolde burne enough on the nyght, lettyng your counsaill here defyne a notable acte at theyre pleasures. Up- on whiche, in your highnes' name, I comaundet dewe watche to be kepte on your marchies, for comyng in of any Scotts. Neutheles, upon Thursday at night last, came thyrty light horsemen into a litrl village of myne, called Whitell, having not past sex houses, lying towards Ryddisdaill, upon Shilbotell more, and ther wold have fyred the said howses, but ther was noo fyre to get there, and they forgate to brynge any withe theyme ; and toke a wyf, being great with chylde, in the said towne, and said to hyr, Wher we can not gyve the lard lyght, 294 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. yet we shall doo this in spyte of hym ; and gyve her iii mor- tall wounds upon the heid, and another in the right side, with a dagger: wheruppon the said wyf is deede, and the childe in her bely is loste. Beseeching your most gracious highnes to reduce unto your gracious memory this wylful and shamefull murder, done within this your highnes' realme, notwithstand- ing all the inhabitants thereabout rose unto the said fray, and gave warnynge by becons into the countrey afore theyme, and yet the Scottsmen dyde escape. And uppon certeyne know- ledge to my brother ClyfForthe and me, had by credable per- sons of Scotland, this abomynable act not only to be done by dyverse of the Mershe, but also the afore named persons of Tyvidaill, and consented to, as by appearance, by the Erie of Murey, upon Friday at night last, let slyp C of the best horse- men of Glendaill, with a parte of your highnes' subjects of Ber- wyke, together with George Dowglas, whoo came into Ingland agayne, in the dawning of the day ; but afore theyre retorne, they dyd mar the Earl of Murrei's provisions at Coldingham : for they did not only burne the said town of Coldingham, with all the come thereunto belonging, which is esteemed wurthe cii marke sterling ; but alsoo burned twa townes nye adjoin- ing thereunto, called Branerdergest and the Black Hill, and toke xxiii persons, Ix horse, with cc hed of cataill, which nowe, as I am informed, hathe not only been a staye of the said Erie of Murrei's not coming to the Bordure as yet, but al- seo, that none inlande man will adventure theyr selfs uppon the marches. And as for the tax that shulde have been graun- NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 295 tyd for finding of the said iii hundred men, is utterly denyed. Upon which the king of Scotland departed from Edynburgh to Stirling, and as yet there doth remayn. And also I, by the advice of my brother Clyfforth, have devysed, that within this iii nyghts, Godde willing, Kelsey, in lyke case, shall be brent, with all the come in the said town ; and then they shall have noo place to lye any garyson in nygh unto the Borders. And as I shall atteigne further knowledge, I shall not faill to satis- fye your highnes, according to my most bounden dutie. And for this burnyng of Kelsey is devysed to be done secretly, by Tyndaill and Ryddisdale. And thus the holy Trynite and * * * your most royal estate, with long lyf, and as much increase of honour as your most noble heart can desire. At Werkwort/i, the xxiid day of October" (l 522.) Note IV. Watt Tinlinn. P. 108. This person was, in my younger days, the theme of many a fireside tale. He was a retainer of the Buccleuch family, and held for his Border service a small tower on the frontiers of Liddesdale. Watt was, by profession, a tutor, but, by inclina- tion and practice, an archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, the captain of Bewcastle, military governor of that wild dis- trict of Cumberland, is said to have made an incursion into Scotland, in which he was defeated, and forced to fly. Watt Tinlinn pursued him closely through a dangerous morass : the captain, however, gained the firm ground ; and seeing Tinliun 296 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. dismounted, and floundering in the bog, used these words of in- sult : " Sutor Watt, ye cannot sew your boots : the heels risp, and the seams rive." * " If I cannot sew,' retorted Tinlinn, discharging a shaft, which nailed the captain's thigh to his sad- dle, " If I>cannot sew, I can yerk" f NoteV. ilhopeStag.P. 104. There is an old rhyme, which thus celebrates the places in Liddesdale, remarkable for game : Bilhopc braes for bucks and raes, And Carit haugh for swine, And Tarras for the good bull-trout, If he be ta'en in time. The bucks and roes, as well as the old swine, are now ex- tinct ; but the good bull-trout is still famous. Note VI. Of silver broach and bracelet proud, P. 104. As the Borderers were indifferent about the furniture of their habitations, so much exposed to be burnt and plunder- ed, they were proportionally anxious to display splendour in * JRz'sp, creak. Hive, tear. + Yerk, to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches of their work. NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 297 decorating and ornamenting their females. See LESLY de Mo- ribus Limitaneorum. Note VII. Selted Will Howard.?. 105. Lord William Howard, third son of Thomas, duke of Nor- folk, succeeded to Naworth Castle, and a large domain annex- ed to it, in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister of George Lord Dacre, who died without heirs male, in the llth of Queen Elizabeth. By a poetical anachronism, he is introduced into the romance a few years earlier than he actually flourished. He was warden of the Western Marches ; and, from the ri- gour with which he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted Will Howard is still famous in our traditions. In the castle of Naworth, his apartments, containing a bed-room, oratory, and library, are still shewn. They impress us with an unpleasing idea of the life of a lord warden of the marches. Three or four strong doors, separating these rooms from the rest of the castle, indicate apprehensions of treachery from his garrison ; and the secret winding passages, through which he could privately descend into the guard-room, or even into the dungeons, imply the necessity of no small degree of secret superintendence on the part of the governor. As the ancient books and furniture have remained undisturbed, the venera- ble appearance of these apartments, and the armour scattered around the chamber, almost lead us to expect the arrival of the warden in person. Naworth Castle is situated nearBramp- 1 398 ton, in Cumberland. Lord William Howard is ancestor of the Earls of Carlisle. Note VIII. Lord Dacre.P. 105. The well-known name of Dacre is derived from the exploits of one of their ancestors at the siege of Acre, or Ptolemais, under Richard Coeur de Lion. There were two powerful branches of that name. The first family, called Lord Dacres of the South, held the castle of the same name, and are ances- tors to tlie present Lord Dacre. The other family, descended from the same stock, were called Lord Dacres of the North, and were barons of Gilsland and Graystock. A chieftain of the latter branch was warden of the West Marches during the reign of Edward VI. He was a man of a hot and obstinate character, as appears from some particulars of Lord Surrey's letter to Henry VIII., giving an account of his behaviour at the siege and storm of Jedburgh. It is printed in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Appendix to the Introduction. Note IX. The German hackbut-men. P. 105. In the wars with Scotland, Henry VIII. and his successors, employed numerous bands of mercenary troops. At the bat- tle of Pinky, there were in the English army six hundred hack- butters on foot, and two hundred on horseback, composed chiefly of foreigners. On the 27th September, 1 549, the Duke NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 299 of Somerset, Lord Protector, writes to the Lord Dacre, war- den of the West Marches : " The Almains, in number two thousand, very valiant soldiers, shall be sent to you shortly from Newcastle, together with Sir Thomas Holcroft, and with the force of your wardenry, (which we would were advanced to the most strength of horsemen that might be,) shall make the attempt to Loughmaben, being of no such strength but that it may be skailed with ladders, whereof, beforehand, we would you caused secretly some number to be provided ; or else undermined with the pyke-axe, and so taken : either to be kept for the king's majesty, or otherwise to be defaced, and taken from the profits of the enemy. And in like manner the house of Carlaverock to be used." Repeated mention occurs of the Almains, in the subsequent correspondence; and the enterprise seems finally to have been abandoned, from the difficulty of providing these strangers with the necessary " vic- tuals and carriages in so poor a country as Dumfries-shire." History of Cumberland, vol. I. Introd. p. Ixi. From the battle- pieces of the ancient Flemish painters, we learn, that the Low- Country and German soldiers marched to an assault with their right knees bared. And we may also observe, in such pictures, the extravagance to which they carried the fashion of orna- menting their dress with knots of ribband. This custom of the Germans is alluded to in the Mirrour for Magistrates, p. 121. Their pleited garments therewith well accord, All jagde and frouust, with divers colours decfct. NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. Note X. His ready lances Thirlestane brave Arrayed beneath a banner bright, P. 107. Sir John Scott of Thirlstaine flourished in the reign of James V., and possessed the estates of Thirlestaine, Gamescleuch, &c. lying upon the river of Ettricke, and extending to St Ma- ry's Loch, at the head of Yarrow. It appears, that when James had assembled his nobility, and their feudal followers, at Fala, with the purpose of invading England, and was, as is well known, disappointed by the obstinate refusal of his peers, this baron alone declared himself ready to follow the king where- ever he should lead. In memory of his fidelity, James granted to his family a charter of arms, entitling them to bear a border of fleurs-de-luce, similar to the tressure in the royal arms, with a bundle of spears for the crest ; motto, Ready, aye ready. The charter itself is printed by Nisbetj but his work being scarce, I insert the following accurate transcript from the ori- ginal, in the possession of the Right Honourable Lord Napier, the representative of John of Thirlestaine. " JAMES REX. " We James, be the grace of God, king of Scottis, consider- and the ffaith and guid servis of of of * right traist friend John * Sic iii orig. NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. so i Scott of Thirlestane, quha cummand to our hoste at Soutra- edge, with three score and ten launcieres on horseback of his friends and followers, and beand willing to gang with ws into England, when all our nobles and others refuised, he was read- dy to stake all at our bidding; ffor the quhilk cause, it is our will, and we doe straitlie command and charg our lion herauld, and his deputies for the time beand, to give and to graunt to the said John Scott, ane Border of ffleure de lises about his coatte of armes, sik as is on our royal banner, and alsua ane bundell of launces above his helmet, with thir words, Readdy, ay Readdy, that he and all his aftercummers may bru;k the samine as a pledge and taiken of our guid will and kyndnes for his true worthines ; and thir our letters seen, ye nae wayes failzic to doe. Given at Ffalla Muire, under our hand and privy cashet, the xxvii day of July, in c and xxxii zeires. By the King's graces speciall ordinance. Jo. ARSKINE." On the back of the charter, is written, " Edin. 14. January, 1718. Registred, conform to the act of parliament made anent probative writs, per M'Kaile, pror. and produced by Alexander Borthwick, servant to Sir William Scott of Thirlestane, M, L. J." 302 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH, Note XL An aged knight, to danger steeled, With many a moss-trooper, came on ; And azure in a golden field, The stars and crescent graced his shield. Without the bend of Murdiestone. P. 108. The family of Harden are descended from a younger son of the laird of Buccleuch, who flourished before the estate of Murdieston was acquired by the marriage of one of those chief- tains with the heiress, in 1296. Hence they bear the cogni- zance of the Scotts upon the field ; whereas those of the Buc- cleuch are disposed upon a bend dexter, assumed in conse- quence of that marriage. See GLADSTAINE of Wnitelawe's MSS. and SCOTT ofStokoe's Pedigree, Newcastle, 1783. Walter Scott of Harden, who flourished during the reign of Queen Mary, was a renowned Border free-booter, concerning whom tradition has preserved a variety of anecdotes, some of which have been published in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, and others in LEYDEN'S Scenes of Infancy ; and others, more lately, in The Mountain Bard, a collection of Border bal- lads by Mr James Hog. The bugle horn, said to have been used by this formidable leader, is preserved by his descendant, the present Mr Scott of Harden. His castle was situate upon the very brink of a dark and precipitous dell, through which a scanty rivulet steals to meet the Borthwick. In the recess of this glen he is said to have kept his spoil, which served for the NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 303 daily maintenance of his retainers, until the production of a pair of clean spurs, in a covered dish, announced to the hun- gry band, that they must ride for a supply of provisions. He was married to Mary Scott, daughter of Philip Scott of Dry- hope, and called in song the Flower of Yarrow. He possess- ed a very extensive estate, which was divided among his five sons. There are numerous descendants of this old marauding Baron. The following beautiful passage of LEYDEN'S Scenes of Infancy , is founded on a tradition respecting an infant cap- tive, whom Walter of Harden carried off in a predatory incur- sion, and who is said to have become the author of some of our most beautiful pastoral songs : Where Bortha hoarse, that loads the meads with sand, Rolls her red tide to Teviot's western strand, Through slaty hills, whose sides are shagged with thorn, Where springs, in scattered tufts, the dark-green corn, Towers wood-girt Harden, far above the vale, And clouds of ravena o'er the turrets sail. A hardy race, who never shrunk from war, The Scott, to rival realms a mighty bar, Here fixed his mountain-home ; a wide domain, And rich the soil, had purple heath been grain ; But, what the niggard ground of wealth denied, From fields more blessed his fearless arm supplied. The waning harvest-moon shone cold and bright; The warder's horn was heard at dead of night; And, as the massy portals wide were flung, With stamping hoofs the rocky pavement rung. What fair, half-veiled, leans from her latticed hall, Where red the wavering gleams of torch-light fall? 304 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 'Tis Yarrow's fairest Flower, who, through the gloom, Looks, wistful, for her lover's dancing plume. Amid the piles of spoil, that strewed the ground, Her ear, all anxious, caught a wailing sound ; With trembling haste the youthful matron flew, And from the hurried heaps an infant drew. Scared at the light, his little hands he flung Around her neck, and to her bosom clung ; While beauteous Mary soothed, in accents mild, His fluttering soul, and clasped her foster child. Of milder mood the gentle captive grew, Nor loved the scenes that scared his infant view ; In vales remote, from camps and castles far, He shunned the fearful shuddering joy of war ; Content the loves of simple swains to sing, Or wake to fame the harp's heroic string. His are the strains, whose wandering echoes thrill The shepherd, lingering on the twilight hill, When evening brings the merry folding hours, And sun-eyed daisies close their winking flowers. He lived, o'er Yarrow's Flower to shed the tear, To strew the holly leaves o'er Harden's bier; But none was found above the minstrel's tomb, Emblem of peace, to bid the daisy bloom : He, nameless as the race from which he sprung, Saved other names, and left his own unsung. Note XII. Scotts ofEskdale, a stalwart band. P. 109. In this, and the following stanzas, some account is given of the mode in which the property of the valley of Esk was trans- ferred from the Beattisons, its ancient possessors, to the name of Scott. It is needless to repeat the circumstances, which NOTES TO CAXTO FOURTH. 305 are given in the poem, literally as they have been preserved by tradition. Lord Maxwell, in the latter part of the six- teenth century, took upon himself the title of Earl of Morton. The descendants of Beattison of Woodkerricke, who aided the earl to escape from his disobedient vassals, continued to hold these lands within the memory of man, and were the only Beattisons who had property in the dale. The old people give locality to the story, by showing the Galliard's Haugh, the place where Buccleuch's men were concealed, c. Note XIII. Their gathering word was Bellenden. P. 114. Bellenden is situated near the head of Borthwick water, and, being in the centre of the possessions of the Scotts, was fre- quently used as their place of rendezvous and gathering word. Survey of Selkirkshire, in Macfarlane's MSS. Advocates' Library. Hence Satchells calls one part of his genealogical ac- count of the families of that clan, his Bellenden. Note XIV. The camp their home, their law the sword, They knew no country, owned no lord. P. 119. The mercenary adventurers, whom, in 1380, the Earl of Cambridge carried to the assistance of the King of Portugal against the Spaniards, mutinied for want of regular pay. At an assembly of their leaders, Sir John Soltier, a natural son of Edward the Black Prince, thus addressed them : " I counsayle, u 306 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. let us be alle of one alliance, and of one accorde, and let us among ourselves reyse up the baner of St George, and let us be frendes to God, and enemyes to alle the worlde ; for without we make ourselfe to be feared, we gette nothynge." " By my fayth," quod Sir William Helmon, " ye saye right well, and so let us de." They all agreed with one voyce, and so regarded among them who shulde be their capitayne. Then they advysed in the case how they coude nat have a bet- ter capitayne than Sir John Soltier. For they sulde than have good leyser to do yvell, and they thought he was more mete- Iyer therto than any other. Than they raised up the penon of St George, and cried, " A Soltier ! a Soltier ! the valyaunt bastarde ! frendes to God, and enemies to all the worlde !" FROISSART, vol. I. ch. 393. Note XV. A gauntlet on a spear. P. 122. A glove upon a lance was the emblem of faith among the ancient Borderers, who were wont, when any one broke his word, to expose this emblem, and proclaim him a faithless vil- lain at the first Border meeting. This ceremony was much dreaded. See LESLY. Note XVI. We claim from thee William ofDeloraine, That he may suffer march-treason pain. P. 124. Several species of offences, peculiar to the Border, constitu- NOTES TO CANTO FOUHTH. SO? ted what was called march-treason. Among others, was the crime of riding, or causing to ride, against the opposite coun- try during the time of truce. This, in an indenture made at, the water of Eske, beside Salom, the 25th day of March, 1S34 betwixt noble lords and mighty, Sirs Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galoway, a truce is agreed upon until the 1st day of July ; and it is ex- pressly accorded, " Gif ony stellis authir on the ta part, or on the tothyr, that he shall be henget or heofdit ; and gif ony cum- pany stellis any gudes within the trieux beforesayd, ane of that company sail be henget or heofdit, and the remanant sail re- store the gudys stolen in the dubble." History of West more' land and Cumberland, Introd. p. xxxix. Note XVII. William of Deloraine Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason pain. P. 126. In dubious cases, the innocence of Border criminals was oc- casionally referred to their own oath. The form of excusing bills, or indictments, by Border-oath, ran thus : " You shall swear by heaven above you, hell beneath you, by your part of Paradise, by all that God made in six days and seven nights, and by God himself, you are whart out sackless of art, part, way, witting, ridd, kenning, having, or recetting of any of the goods and cattels named in this bill. So help you God." History of Cumberland, Introd. p. xxv. -308 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. Note XVIII. Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword. P. 126- The dignity of knighthood, according to the original institu- tion, had this peculiarity, that it did not flow from the mo- narch, but could be conferred by one who himself possessed it, upon any squire who, after due probation, was found to me- rit the honour of chivalry. Latterly, this power was confined to generals, who were wont to create knights bannerets after or before an engagement. Even so late as the reign of Queen. Elizabeth, Essex highly offended his jealous sovereign by the indiscriminate exertion of this privilege. Amongst others, he knighted the witty Sir John Harrington, whose favour at court was by no means enhanced by his new honours. See the Nu- g P. 130. It may easily be supposed, that trial by single combat, so pe- culiar to the feudal system, was common on the Borders. In 1 558, the well-known Kirkaldy of Grange fought a duel with Ralph Evre, brother to the then Lord Evre, in consequence of a dispute about a prisoner said to have been ill treated by the Lord Evre. Pitscottie gives the following account of the af- fair : " The Lord of Ivers his brother provoked William Kir- NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 3}1 caldy of Grange to fight with him, in singular combat, on horseback, with spears; who, keeping the appointment, ac- companied with Monsieur d'Ossel, lieutenant to the French king, and the garrison of Haymouth, and Mr Ivers, accompa- nied with the governor and garrison of Berwick, it was dis- charged, under the pain of treason, that any man should come near the champions within a flight-shot, except one man for either of them, to bear their spears, two trumpets, and two lords to be judges. When they were in readiness, the trumpets sounded, the heraulds cried, and the judges let them go. Then they encountered very fiercely ; but Grange struck his spear through his adversary's shoulder, and bare him off his horse, being sore wounded : But whether he died, or not, it is uncer- tain." P. 202. The following indenture will show at how late a period the trial by combat was resorted to on the Border, as a proof of guilt or innocence : " It is agreed between Thomas Musgrave and Lancelot Carleton, for the true trial of such controversies as are be- twixt them, to have it openly tried by way of combat, before God and the face of the world, to try it in Canonbyholme, be- fore England and Scotland, upon Thursday in Easter-week, being the eight day of April next ensuing, A. D. 1602, betwixt nine of the clock, and one of the same day, to fight on foot, to be armed with jack, steel cap, plaite sleeves, plaite breaches, plaite sockes, two basleard swords, the blades to be one yard and half a quarter of length, two Scotch daggers, or dorks, at 312 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. their girdles, and either of them to provide armour and wea- pons for themselves, according to this indenture. Two gentle- men to be appointed, on the field, to view both the parties, to see that they both be equal in arms and weapons, according to this indenture ; and being so viewed by the gentlemen, the gentlemen to ride to the rest of the company, and to leave them but two boys, viewed by the gentlemen, to be under six- teen years of age, to hold their horses. In testimony of this our agreement, we have both set our hands to this indenture, of intent all matters shall be made so plain, as there shall be no question to stick upon that day. Which indenture, as a witness, shall be delivered to two gentlemen. And for that it is convenient the world should be privy to every particular of the grounds of the quarrel, we have agreed to set it down in this indenture betwixt us, that, knowing the quarrel, their eyes may be witness of the trial. The Grounds of the Quarrel. " 1. Lancelot Carleton did charge Thomas Musgrave before the lords of her majesty's privy council, that Lancelot Carleton was told by a gentleman, one of her majesty's sworn servants, that Thomas Musgrave had offered to deliver her majesty's castle of Bewcastle to the king of Scots ; and to witness the same, Lancelot Carleton had a letter under the gentleman's own hand for his discharge. " 2. He chargeth him, that whereas her majesty doth yearly bestow a great fee upon him, as captain of Bewcastle, to aid NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 31S and defend her majesty's subjects therein ; Thomas Musgrave hath neglected his duty, for that her majesty's castle of Bew- castle was by him made a den of thieves, and an harbour and receipt for murderers, felons, and all sorts of misdemeanors. The precedent was Quintin Whitehead and Runion Black- burne. " 3. He chargeth him, that his office of Bewcastle is open for the Scotch to ride in and through, and small resistance made by him to the contrary. " Thomas Musgrave doth deny all tin's charge ; and saith, that he will prove that Lancelot Carleton doth falsely bely him, and will prove the same by way of combat, according to this indenture. Lancelot Carleton hath entertained the chal- lenge ; and so, by God's permission, will prove it true as be- fore, and hath set his hand to the same. (Signed) THOMAS MUSGRAVE. LANCELOT CARLETON-." Note XXII. He, the jovial Harper. P. 134. The person, here alluded to, is one of our ancient Border minstrels, called Rattling Roaring Willie. This soubriquet was probably derived from his bullying disposition ; being, it would seem, such a roaring boy, as is frequently mentioned in old plays. While drinking at Newmill, upon Teviot, about five miles above Hawick, Willie chanced to quarrel with one of hi* ewn profession, who was usually distinguished by the odd name S14 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. of Sweet Milk, from a place on Rule water so called. They retired to a meadow, on the opposite side of the Teviot, to de- cide the contest with their swords, and Sweet Milk was killed on the spot. A thorn- tree marks the scene of the murder, which is still called Sweet Milk Thorn. Willie was taken and executed at Jedburgh, bequeathing his name to the beautiful Scotch air, called " Rattling Roaring Willie." Ramsay, who set no value on traditionary lore, published a few verses of this song in the Tea Table Miscellany, carefully suppressing all which had any connection with the history of the author, and origin of the piece. In this case, however, honest Allan is in some degree justified, by the extreme worthlessness of the poe- try. A verse or two may be taken, as illustrative of the his- tory of Roaring Willie, alluded to in the text. Now Willie's gane to Jeddart, And he's for the rood-day ; * But Stobs and young Faluash, f They followed him a' the way ; They followed him a 1 the way, They sought him up and down, In the links of Ousenam water, They fand him sleeping sound. Stobs lighted air his horse, And never a word he spak, Till he tied Willie's hands IV fast behind bis back ; The day of the Rood-fair at Jedburgh. f Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, and Scott of Falnash. NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. 315 Fu' fast behind his back, And down beneath his knee, And drink will be dear to Willie, When sweet milk * gars him die. Ah wae light on ye, Stobs ! An ill death mot ye die ! Ye're the first and foremost man That e'er laid hands on me ; That e'er laid hands on me, And took my mare me frae ; Wae to you, Sir Gilbert Elliot ! Ye are my mortal fae ! The lasses of Ousenam water Are rugging and riving their hair, And a' for the sake of Willie, His beauty was so fair : His beauty was so fair, And comely for to see, And drink will be dear to Willie, When sweet milk gars him die. Note XXIII. Black Lord Archibald's battle lawt, In the old Douglas' day. P. 134. The title to the most ancient collection of Border regulations runs thus : " Be it remembered, that, on the 18th day of December, 1468, Earl William Douglas assembled the whole lords, free- holders, and eldest Borderers, that best knowledge had, at the * A wretched pun on his antagonist's name. 316 NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH. college of Linclouden ; and there he caused those lords and Borderers bodily to be sworn, the Holy Gospel touched, that they, justly and truly, after their cunning, should decrete, de- cern, deliver, and put in order and writing, the statutes, ordi- nances, and uses of marche, that were ordained in Black Ar- chibald of Douglas's days, and Archibald his son's days, in time of warfare ; and they came again to him advisedly with these statutes and ordinances, which were in time of warfare before. The said Earl William, seeing the statutes in writing decreed and delivered by the said lords and Borderers, thought them right speedful and profitable to the Borders ; the which statutes, ordinances, and points of warfare, he took, and the whole lords and Borderers he caused bodily to be sworn, that they should maintain and supply him at their goodly power, to do the law upon those that should break the statutes under- written. Also, the said Earl William, and lords, and eldest Borderers, made certain points to be treason in time of war- fare to be used, which were no treason before his time, but to be treason in his time, and in all time coming." Note I. The Bloody Heart blazed in the ran, Announcing Douglas, dreaded name. P. 144. The chief of this potent race of heroes, about the date of the poem, was Archibald Douglas, seventh Earl of Angus, a iaan of great courage and activity. The Bloody Heart was the well- known cognizance of the house of Douglas, assumed from the time of good Lord James, to whose care Robert Bruce com- mitted his heart, to be carried to the Holy Land. Note II. The Seven Spears of Wedderburne. P. 144, Sir David Home of Wedderburn, who was slain in the fatal battle of Flodden, left seven sons by his wife, Isabel, daughter of Hoppringle of Galashiels (now Pringle of Whitebank.) They were called the Seven Spears of Wedderburne. 1 318 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. Note III. And Swinton laid the lance in rest, That tamed of yore the sparkling crest Of Clarence's Plantagenet.P. 144. At the battle of Beauge', in France, Thomas, Duke of Cla- rence, brother to Henry V., was unhorsed by Sir John Swinton of Swinton, who distinguished him by a coronet set with pre- cious stones, which he wore around his helmet. The family of Swinton is one of the most ancient in Scotland, and pro- duced many celebrated warriors. Note IV. Beneath the crest of old Dunbar, And Hepburn's mingled banners, come t Down the steep m ountain glittering far, And shouting still, " a Home ! a Home!" P. 145. The Earls of Home, as descendants of the Dunbars, ancient Earls of March, carried a lion rampant, argent ; but, as a dif- ference, changed the colour of the shield from gules to vert, in allusion to Greenlaw, their ancient possession. The slogan, or war-cry, of this powerful family, was, " A Home ! a Home !" It was anciently placed in an escrol above the crest. The hel- met is armed with a lion's head erased gules, with a cap of state gules, turned up ermine. The Hepburns, a powerful family in East Lothian, were usu- ally in close alliance with the Homes. The chief of this clan 3 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. 319 was Hepburn, Lord of Hailes ; a family which terminated in the too famous Earl of Bothwell. Note V. Pursued the foot-ball play. P. 147. The foot-ball was anciently a very favourite sport all through Scotland, but especially upon the Borders. Sir John Carmichael of Carmichael, warden of the middle marches, was killed in 1600 by a band of the Armstrongs, returning from a foot-ball match. Sir Robert Carey, in his Memoirs, mentions a great meeting, appointed by the Scottish riders to be held at Kelso, for the purpose of playing at foot-ball, but which terminated in an incursion upon England. At present, the foot-ball is of- ten played by the inhabitants of adjacent parishes, or of the opposite banks of a stream. The victory is contested with the utmost fury, and very serious accidents have sometimes taken place in the struggle. , Note VI. ' Twixt truce and war, such sudden change Was not unfrequent, nor held strange, In the old Border day. P. 148. Notwithstanding the constant wars upon the Borders, and the occasional cruelties which marked the mutual inroads, the inhabitants on either side do not appear to have regarded each other with that violent and personal animosity, which might have been expected. On the contrary, like the outposts of 320 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. hostile armies, they often carried on something resembling friendly intercourse, even in the middle of hostilities ; and it is evident, from various ordinances against trade and inter- marriages between English and Scottish Borderers, that the go- vernments of both countries were jealous of their cherisliing too intimate a connection. Froissart says of both nations, that " Englyshemen on the one party, and Scottes on the other par- ty, are good men of warre ; for when they meet, there is a harde fight without sparynge. There is no hoo (truce) be- tween them, as long as spears, swords, axes, or daggers, will endure, but lay on eche upon uther; and whan they be well beaten, and that the one party hath obtained the victory, they then gloryfye so in theyre dedes of armes, and are so joyfull, that such as be taken they shall be ransomed, or that they go out of the felde ; so that shortly eche of them is so content with other, that, at their departynge, ctirtyslye they will say, Qod thank you." BERNERS' Froissart, vol. II. p. 153. The Border meetings of truce, which, although places of merchan- dise and merriment, often witnessed the most bloody scenes, may serve to illustrate the description in the text. They are vividly pourtrayed in the old ballad of the Reidsquair. Both parties came armed to a meeting of the wardens, yet they in- termixed fearlessly and peaceably with each other in mutual ^ports and familiar intercourse, until a casual fray arose : Then was there nought but bow and spear, And every man pulled out a brand. NOTES TO CANTO TIFTH. 321 In the 29th stanza of this Canto, there is an attempt to ex- press some of the mixed feelings, with which the Borderers on oach side were led to regard their neighbours. Note VII. And frequent, on the darkening plain, Loud hollo, whoop, or whistle ran ; As bands, their stragglers to regain, Gave the shrill watch-word of their clan. P. 149. Patten remarks, with bitter censure, the disorderly conduct of the English Borderers, who attended the Protector Somer- set on his expedition against Scotland. " As we wear then a setting, and the tents a setting up, among all things els com- mendable in our hole journey, one thing seemed to me an in- tollerable disorder and abuse : that whearas allways, both in all tounes of war, and in all campes of armies, quietnes and stilnes, without nois, is, principally in the night, after the watch is set, observed, (I nede not reason why,) our northern prik- kers, the. Borderers, notwithstandyng, with great enormitie (as thought me,) and not unlike (to be playn) unto a masteries hounde howlyng in a hie wey when he hath lost him he wait- ed upon, sum hoopynge, sum whistlyng, and most with crying, A Berwyke, a Berwyke ! A Fenwyke, a Fenwyke ! A Bulmer, a Bulmer! or so otherwise as theyr captains names wear, ne- ver lin'de these troublous and dangerous noyses all the nyghte longe. They said, they did it to finde their captain and fellows ; but if the souldiers of our oother countreys and sheres had x 322 NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH. used the same maner, in that case we should have oft tymes had the state of our camp more like the outrage of a dissolute huntyng, than the quiet of a well ordred armye. It is a feat of war, in mine opinion, that might right well be left. I could reherse causes (but yf I take it, they are better unspoken than uttred, unless the faut wear sure to be amended) that might shew thei move alweis more peral to our armie, but in their one nyght's so doynge, than they shew good service (as sum sey) in a hoole vyage." Apud DALZELI/S Fragments, p. 75. Note VIII. Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way, And zcith the bugle rouse the fray. P. 169. The pursuit of Border marauders was followed by the injti- red party and his friends with blood-hounds and bugle-horn, and was called the hot-trod. He was entitled, if his dog could trace the scent, to follow the invaders into the opposite king- dom ; a privilege which often occasioned blood-shed. In ad- dition to what has been said of the blood-hound, I may add, that the breed was kept up by the Buccleuch family on their Border estates till within the 18th century. A person was alive in the memory of man, who remembered a blood-hound being kept at Eldinhope, in Ettricke Forest, for whose main- tenance the tenant had an allowance of meal. At that time the sheep were always watched at night. Upon one occasion, when the duty had fallen on the narrator, then a lad, he be- came exhausted with fatigue, and fell asleep, upon a bank, wear NOTES TO CANTO FIFTH, 323 sjm-rising. Suddenly he was awakened by the tread of horses, and saw five men, well mounted and armed, ride briskly over the edge of the hill. They stopped and looked at the flock; but the day was too far broken to admit the chance of their carrying any of them of One of them, in spite, leaped from his horse, and, coming to the shepherd, seized him by the belt he wore round his waist ; and, setting his foot upon his body, pulled it till it broke, and carried it away with him. They rode off at the gallop ; and, the shepherd giving the alarm, the blood-hound was turned loose, and the people in the neigh- bourhood alarmed. The marauders, however, escaped, not- withstanding a sharp pursuit. This circumstance serves to show how very long the licence of the Borderers continued in some degree to manifest itself. NOTES TO CANTO VI. Note I. She wrought not by forbidden spell. P. 179. Popular belief, though contrary to the doctrines of the church, made a favourable distinction betwixt magicians, and necromancers, or wizards ; the former were supposed to com- mand the evil spirits, and the latter to serve, or at least to be in league and compact with those enemies of mankind. The arts of subjecting the daemons were manifold ; sometimes the fiends were actually swindled by the magicians, as in the case of the bargain betwixt one of their number and the poet Vir- gil. The classical reader will doubtless be curious to peruse this anecdote : " Virgilius was at scole at Tolenton, where he stodyed dy- lygently, for he was of great understandynge. Upon a tyme, the scolers had lycense to go to play and sporte them in the fyldes, after the usance of the hplde tyme. And there was also Virgilius therbye, also walkynge among the hylles alle 326 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. about. It fortuned he spyed a great hole in the syde of a great hyll, wherein he went so depe, that he culd not see no more lyght ; and than he went a lytell farther therin, and than he saw some lyght agayne, and than he went fourth streyghte, and within a lytyll wyle after he harde a voyce that called, ' Virgilius ! Virgilius !' and looked aboute, and he colde nat see no body. Than sayd he, (i. e. the voice,) * Virgilius, see ye not the lytyll bourde lying bysyde you there markd with that word ?" Than answered Virgilius, ' I see that borde well anough.' The voyce said, * Doo awaye that borde, and lette me out there atte. Than answered Virgilius to the voice that was under the lytell borde, and sayd, ' Who art thou that callest me so ?' Than answered the devyll, ' I am a devyll conjured out of the body of a cetteyne man, and banysshed here tyll the day of judgmend, without that I be delyvered by the handes of men. Thus, Virgilius, I pray the, delyvere me out of this payn, and I shall shewe unto the many bokes of negromancye, and how thou shalt come by it lyghtly, and know the practyse therein, that no man in the Scyence of ne- gromancye shall passe the. And moreover, I shall shewe and enforme the so, that thou shalt have alle thy desyre, whereby mythinke it is a great gyfte for so lytyll a doyng. For ye may also thus all your power frendys helpe, and make ryche your enemyes." Thorough that great promyse was Virgilius tempt- ed ; he badde the fynd show the bokes to him, that he might have and occupy them at his wyll ; and so the fynde shewed hym. And than Virgilius pulled open a bourde, and there NOTES TOCANTO SIXTH. 327 was a lytell hole, and thereat wrang the devyll out lyke a yeel, and cam and stode before Virgilius lyke a bygge man ; wher- of Virgilius was astonied and marveyled greatly thereof, that so great a man myght come out at so lytyll a hole. Than sayd Virgilias, ' Shulde ye well passe into the hole that ye cam out off'' Yea, I shall well,' said the devyl. ' I holde the best plegge that I have, that ye shall not do it.' ' Well,' sayd the devyll, ' thereto I consent.' And than the devyll wrange him- selfe into the lytyll hole ageyne ; and as he was therein, Vir- gilius kyverd the hole ageyne with the bourde close, and so was the devyll begyled, and myght nat there come out agen, but abydeth shytte styll therein. Than called the devyll drede- fully to Virgilius, and said, ' What have ye done, Virgilius ?' Virgilius answered, ' Abyde there styll to your day appoynt- ed ;' and fro thens forth abydeth he there. And so Virgilius became very connynge in the practyse of the black scyence." This story may remind the reader of the Arabian tale of the Fisherman and the imprisoned Genie; and it is more than probable, that many of the marvels narrated in the life of Vir- gil are of oriental extraction. Among such I am disposed to reckon the following whimsical account of the foundation of Naples, containing a curious theory concerning the origin of the earthquakes with which it is afflicted. Virgil, who was a person of gallantry, had, it seems, carried off the daughter of a certain Soldan, and was anxious to secure his prize. " Than he thought in his mynde howe he myghte mareye hyr, and thought in his mynde to founde in the middes of the 328 NOTES TO CA1WTO SIXTH. see a fayer towne, with great landes belongynge to it ; and so he dyd by his cunnynge, and called it Napells. And the fan- dacyon of it was of egges, and in that town of Napells he made a tower with iiii corners, and in the toppe he set an ap- pell upon an yron yarde, and no man culde pull away that apell without he brake it j and thoroughe that yren set he a bolte, and in that bolte set he a egge. And he henge the apell by the stauke upon a cheyne, and so hangeth it still. And when the egge styrreth, so shulde the towne of Napells quake; and whan the egge brake, than shulde the towne sinke. Whan he had made an ende, he lette call it Napells." This appears to have been an article of current belief during the middle ages, as appears from the statutes of the order Du Saint Es- prit, au droit desir, instituted in 1352. A chapter of the knights is appointed to be held annually at the Castle of the Enchanted Egg, near the grotto of Virgil. MoNTFAUCON, vol. II. p. 32iJ. Note II. A merlin sat upon her wrist. P. 179. A merlin, or sparrow-hawk, was usually carried by ladies of rank, as a falcon was, in time of peace, the constant attendant of a knight, or baron. See LATHAM on Falconry. Godscroft relates, that, when Mary of Lorraine was regent, she pressed the Earl of Angus to admit a royal garrison into his castle of Tantallon. To this he returned no direct answer ; but, as if apostrophising a goss-hawk, which sat on his wrist, and which NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 329 he was feeding during the Queen's speech, he exclaimed, * The devil's in this greedy glade, she will never be full." HUME'S History of the House of Douglas, 1743, vol. II. p. 131. Barclay complains of the common and indecent practice of bringing hawks and hounds into churches. Note III. And princely peacock's gilded train. P. 180. The peacock, it is well known, was considered, during the times of chivalry, not merely as an exquisite delicacy, but as a dish of peculiar solemnity. After being roasted, it was again decorated with its plumage, and a spunge, dipt in lighted spi- rits of wine, was placed in its bill. When it was introduced on days of grand festival, it was the signal for the adventurous knights to take upon them vows to do some deed of chivalry, u before the peacock and the ladies." Note IV. And o'er the boar-head, garnished brave. P. 180. The boar's head was also an usual dish of feudal splendour. In Scotland it was sometimes surrounded with little banners, displaying the colours and achievements of the baron, at whose board it was served. PINKERTON'S History, vol. I. p. 43?. 330 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH". Note V. And cygnet from St Mary's wave. P. 180. There are often flights of wild swans upon St Mary's Lake, at the head of the river Yarrow. Note VI. Smote, with his gauntlet, stout Hunthill. P. 182. The Rtitherfords of Hunthill were an ancient race of Bor- der lairds, whose names occur in history, sometimes as defend- ing the frontier against the English, sometimes as disturbing the peace of their own country. Dickon Draw-the-sword was son to the ancient warrior, called in tradition the Cock of Hunthill. Note VII. But bit his glove, and shook his head. P. 182. To bite the thumb, or the glove, seems not to have been con- sidered, upon the Border, as a gesture of contempt, though so used by Shakespeare, but as a pledge of mortal revenge. It is yet remembered, that a young gentleman of Teviotdale, qp the morning after a hard drinking-bout, observed, that he had bit- ten his glove. He instantly demanded of his companion, with whom he had quarrelled ? and learning that he had had words with one of the party, insisted on instant satisfaction, asserting, that though he remembered nothing of the dispute, yet he was sure he never would have bit his glove unless he had received NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 331 some unpardonable insult. He fell in the duel, which was fought near Selkirk, in 1721. Note VIII. Arthur Fire-t he-braes. P. 183. The person, bearing this redoubtable nomme de guerre, was an Elliot, and resided at Thorleshope, in Liddesdale. He oc- curs in the list of Border riders, in 1597. Note IX. Since old Buccleuch the name did gain, When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en. P. 184. A tradition, preserved by Scott of Satchells, who published, in 1688, A true History of the Right Honourable Name of Scott, gives the following romantic origin of that name. Two brethren, natives of Galloway, having been banished from tliat country for a riot, or insurrection, came to Rankelburn, in Ettricke Forest, where the keeper, whose name was Brydone, received them joyfully, on account of their skill in winding the horn, and in the other mysteries of the chace. Kenneth Mac- Alpin, then king of Scotland, came soon after to hunt in the royal forest, and pursued a buck from Ettricke-heuch to the glen now called Buckleuch, about two miles above the junc- tion of Rankelburn with the river Ettricke. Here the stag stood at bay ; and the king and Ijis attendants, who followed on horseback, were thrown out by the steepness of the hill and the morass. John, one of the brethren from Galloway, S32 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. had followed the chace on foot ; and now coming in, seized the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great strength and activity, threw him on his back, and run with his burden about a mile up the steep hill, to a place called Cracra-Cross, where Kenneth had halted, and laid the buck at the sovereign's feet. * The deer being curee'd in that place, At his Majesty's demand, Then John of Clalloway ran apace. And fetched water to his hand. The king did wash into a dish, And ' ialloway Joho he wot ; He said, " Thy naive now after this Shall ever be called John Scott. " The forest, and the deer therein, We commit to thy hand ; For thou shall sare the ranger be, If thou obey command : And for the buck thou stoutly brought To us up that steep heuch, Thy designation ever shall Be John Scot in Buckscleuch." * Froissart relates, that a knight of the household of the Compte de Foix exhibited a similar feat of strength. The hall-fire had waxed low, and wood was wanted to mend it. The knight went down to the court-yard, where >-tood an ass laden with faggots, seized on the animal and his burden, and, carrying him up ro the hall on his shoulders, tumbled him into the chimney with his heels uppermost ; a humane pleasantry, much applauded by the Count and all the spectators. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 333 In Scotland no Buckcleucb was then, Before the buck in the cleuch was slain ; Eight's men t at first they did appear, Because moon and stars to their arms they bear. Their crest, supporters, and hunting-horn, Shews their beginning from hunting came ; Their name, and stile, the hook doth say, John gained them both into one day. WATT'S Bellanden. The Buccleuch arms have been altered, and now allude less pointedly to this hunting, whether real or fabulous. The fami- ly now bear Or upon a bend azure, a mullet betwixt two cre- scents of the field ; in addition to which, they formerly bore in the field a hunting horn. The supporters, now two ladies, t " Minions of the moon,'' as Falstaff would have said. The vocation pursued by our ancient Borderers may be justified on the authority of the most polished of the ancient nations: " .For the Grecians in old time, and such barbarians as in the continent lived neere unto the sea, or else inhabited the islands, after once they began to crosse over one to another in ships, became theeves, and went abroad under the conduct of their more puissant men, both to enrich themselves, and to fetch in maintenance for the weak; and falling upon towns unfortified, or scatteringly inhabit- ed, rifled them, and made this the best means of their living; be- ing a matter at that time no where in disgrace, but rather carry- ing with it something of glory. This is manifest by some that dwell upon the continent, amongst wliom, so it be performed nobly, it is still esteemed as an ornament. The same is also pro- 334 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. were formerly a hound and buck, or, according to the old terms, a hart of leash and a hurt of greece. The family of Scott of Howpasley and Thirlestaine long retained the bugle- horn : they also carried a bent bow and arrow in the sinister cantle, perhaps as a difference. It is said the motto was, Best riding by moonlight, in allusion to the crescents on the shield, and perhaps to the habits of those who bore it. The motto now given is Amo, applying to the female supporters. Note X. old Albert Graeme^ The Minstrel of that ancient name. P. 185. " John Grahame, second son of Malice, Earl of Monteilh, commonly sirnamed John with the Bright Sword, upon some displeasure risen against him at court, retired with many of his clan and kindred, into the English Borders, in the reign of King Henry the Fourth, where they seated themselves ; and many of their posterity have continued there ever since. Mr ved by some of the ancient poets, who introduced men questioning of such as sail by, on all coasts alike, whether they be theeves or not ; as a thing neyther scorned by such as were asked, nor up- braided by those that were desirous to know. They also robbed one another within the main land ; and much of Greece useth that old ciistome, as the Locrians, the Acarnanians, and thuse of the continent in that quarter unto this day. Moreover, the fashion of wearing iron remaineth yet with the people of that continent, from their old trade of theeving." HOBBES' Thucydides, p. 4. Loud. 16iS9. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 335 Sandford, speaking of them, says (which indeed was applicable to most of the Borderers on both sides), " They were all stark moss-troopers, and arrant thieves : Both to England and Scot- land outlawed ; yet sometimes connived at, because they gave intelligence forth of Scotland, and would raise 400 horse at any time upon a raid of the English into Scotland. A saying is re- corded of a mother to her son (which is now become prover- bial), Ride Rowley, hough's f theyot ; that is, the last piece of beef was in the pot, and therefore it was high time for him to go and fetch more." Introduction to the History of Cum- berland. The residence of the Graemes being chiefly in the Debateable Land, so called because it was claimed by both kingdoms, their depredations extended both to England and Scotland, with impunity ; for as both wardens accounted them the pro- per subjects of their own prince, neither inclined to demand reparation for their excesses from the opposite officers, which would have been an' acknowledgment of his jurisdiction over them. See a long correspondence on this subject betwixt Lord Dacre and the English Privy Council, in Introduction to History of Cumberland. The Debateable Land was finally divided betwixt England and Scotland, by commissioners ap- pointed by both nations. 4 336 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. Note XI. The sun shines fair on-Carlisle wall. P. 186. This burden is adopted, with some alteration, from an old Scottish song beginning thus : She leaned her back against a thorn, The sun shines fair on Carlisle wa'; And there she has her young babe born, And the lyon shall be lord of a'. Note XII. Who has not heard of Surrey 1 s fame ? P. 188. The gallant and unfortunate Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was unquestionably the most accomplished cavalier of his time; and his sonnets display beauties which would do honour to a more polished age. He was beheaded on Tower-hill in 1546 ; a victim to the mean jealousy of Henry VIII., who could not bear so brilliant a character near his throne. The song of the supposed bard is founded on an incident said to have happened to the Earl in his travels. Cornelius Agrippa, the celebrated alchemist, showed him, in a looking- glass, the lovely Geraldine, to whose service he had devoted his pen and his sword. The vision represented her as indis- posed, and reclined upon a couch, reading her lover's verses by the light of a waxen taper. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 857 Note XIII. -The storm-swept Or cades ; Where erst St Clairs held princely sway, O'er isle and islet, strait and bay. P 193. The St Clairs are of Norman extraction, being descended from William de St Clair, second son of Walderne Compte de St Clair, and Margaret, daughter to Richard Duke of Nor- mandy. He was called, for his fair deportment, the Seemly St Clair ; and settling in Scotland during the reign of Malcolm Ceanmore, obtained large grants of land in Mid-Lothian. These domains were increased by the liberality of succeeding monarchs to the descendants of the family, and comprehend- ed the baronies of Rosline, Pentland, Cowsland, Cardaine, and several others. It is said a large addition was obtained from Robert Bruce, on the following occasion : The king, in follow- ing the chase upon Pentland hills, had often started a " white faunch deer," which had always escaped from his hounds.; and he asked the nobles, who were assembled around him, whether any of them had dogs, which they thought might be more successful. No courtier would affirm that his hounds were fleeter than those of the king, until Sir William St Clair of Rosline unceremoniously said, he would wager his head that his two favourite dogs, Help and Hold, would kill the deer before she could cross the March-burn. The king instantly caught at his unwary offer, and betted the forest of Pentland- moor against the life of Sir William St Clair. All the hounds Y 338 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. were tied up, except a few ratches, or slow-hounds, to put up the deer ; while Sir William St Clair, posting himself in the best situation for slipping his dogs, prayed devoutly to Christ, the blessed Virgin, and St Katherine. The deer was shortly after roused, and the hounds slipped ; Sir William following on a gallant steed, to cheer his dogs. The hind, however, reached the middle of the brook, upon which the hunter threw himself from his horse in despair. At this critical mo- ment, however, Hold stopped her in the brook ; and Help, co- ming up, turned her back, and killed her on Sir William's side. The king descended from the hill, embraced Sir William, and bestowed on him the lands of Kirkton, Logan-house, Earn- craig, &c. in free forestrie. Sir William, in acknowledgment of St Katherine's intercession, built the chapel of St Katherine in the Hopes, the churchyard of which is still to be seen. The hill, from which Robert Bruce, beheld this memorable chase, is still called the King's Hill; and the place where Sir William hunted is called the Knight's Field.* MS. History of the Fa- * The tomb of Sir William St Clair, on which he appears sculptured in armour, with a greyhound at his feet, is still to be seen in lioslin chappel. The person who shows it always tells the story of his hunting-match, with some addition to IVlr Hay's account ; as thai the knight of RoslineVfright made him poeti- cal, and that, in the last emergency, he shouted, Help, baud, an' ye may, Or JHoslin will lose his head this day. 8 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 339 mily of St Clair, by RICHARD AUGUSTIN HAY, Canon of St Genevieve. This adventurous huntsman married Elizabeth, daughter of Malice Spar, Earl of Orkney and Stratherne, in whose right their son Henry was, in 1379, created Earl of Orkney, by Ha- co, king of Norway. His title was recognised by the kings of Scotland, and remained with his successors until it was annex- ed to the crown, in 1471, by act of parliament. In exchange for this earldom, the castle and domains of Ravenscraig, or Ravensheuch, were conferred on William Saintclair, Earl of Caithness. Note XIV. Still nods their palace to its fall, Thy pride and sorrow, fair Kirkwall. P. 193. The castle of Kirkwall was built by the St Clairs, while Earls of Orkney. It was dismantled by the Earl of Caithness about 1615, having been garrisoned against the government by Robert Stewart, natural son to the Earl of Orkney. Its ruins afforded a sad subject of contemplation to John, Master of St Clair, who, flying from his native country, on ac- If this couplet does him no great honour as a poet, the conclusion of the story does him still less credit. He set his foot on the dog, says the narrator, and killed him on the spot, saying, he would qever again put his neck in such a risque. As Mr Hay does not mention this circumstance, 1 hope it is only founded on the cou- chant posture of the hound on the monument. 340 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. count of his share in the insurrection 1715, made some stay at Kirkwall. " I had occasion to entertain myself at Kirkwall with the melancholic prospect of the ruins of an old castle, the seat of the old Earls of Orkney, my ancestors ; and of a more melan- choly reflection, of so great and noble an estate as the Orkney and Shetland isles being taken from one of them by James the Third for faultrie, after his brother Alexander, Duke of Alba- ny, had married a daughter of my family, and for protecting and defending the said Alexander against the king, who wished to kill him, as he had done his youngest brother, the Earl of Mar; and for which, after the forfaultrie, he gratefully divor- ced my forfaulted ancestor's sister ; though I cannot persuade myself that he had any misalliance to plead against a familie in whose veins the blood of Robert Bruce run as fresh as in his own ; for their title to the crowne was by a daughter of David Bruce, son to Robert; and our alliance was by marrying a grandchild of the same Robert Bruce, and daughter to the sis- ter of the same David, out of the familie of Douglass, which at that time did not much sullie the blood, more than my ances- tour's having not long before had the honour of marrying a daughter of the king of Denmark's, who was named Florentine, and has left in the town of Kirkwall a noble monument of the grandeur of the times, the finest church ever I saw entire in Scotland. I then had no small reason to think, in that unhap- py state, on the many not inconsiderable services rendered since to the royal familie, for these many years by-gone, on all occa- NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. $41. sions, when they stood most in need of friends, which they have thought themselves very often obliged to acknowledge by let- ters yet extant, and in a stile more like friends than souve- raigns; our attachment to them, without anie other thanks, having brought upon us considerable losses, and among others, that of our all in Cromwell's time ; and left in that condition, without the least relief except what we found in our own vir- tue. My father was the only man of the Scots nation who had courage enough to protest in parliament against King William's title to the throne, which was lost, God knows how : and this at a time when the losses in the cause of the royall familie, and their usual gratitude, had scarce left him bread to maintain 3 numerous familie of eleven children, who had soon after sprung up on him, in spite of all which, he had honourably persisted in his principle. I say, these things considered, and after being treated as I was, and in that unluckie state, when objects ap- pear to men in their true light, as at the hour of death, could I be blamed for making some bitter reflections to myself, and laughing at the extravagance and unaccountable humour of men, and the singularitie of my own case (an exile for the cause of the Stuart family), when I ought to have known, that the greatest crime I, or my family, could have committed, was per- severing, to my own destruction, in seTving the royal family faithfully, though obstinately, after so great a share of depres- sion, and after they had been pleased to doom me and my fa- milie to starve." M, S. Memoirs of John, Master ofSt Clair. 342 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. Note XV. Kings of the main their leaders brave, Their barks the dragons of the wave. P. 194. The chiefs of the Fakingr, or Scandinavian pirates, assumed the title of Sakonungr, or Sea-kings. Ships, in the inflated language of the Scalds, are often termed the serpents of the ocean. Note XVI. Of that Sea-Snake, tremendous curled, Whose monstrous circle girds the world. P. 194. The jormungandr, or Snake of the Ocean, whose folds sur- round the earth, is one of the wildest fictions of the Edda. It was very nearly caught by the god Thor, who went to fish for it with a hook baited with a bull's head. In the battle betwixt the evil demons and the divinities of Odin, which is to pre- qede the Ragnarockr, or Twilight of the Gods, this Snake is to act a conspicuous part. Note XVII. Of those dread Maids, whose hideous yell Maddens the' battle's bloody swell. P. 195. These were the Valkyriur, or Selectors of the Slain, dis- patched by Odin from Valhalla, to choose those who were to die, and to distribute the contest. They are well known to the English reader, as Gray's Fatal Sistera. NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 343 Note XVIII. Ransacked the graves of warriors old. Their faulchions wrenched from corpses' hold. P. 195. The northern warriors were usually entombed with their arms, and their other treasures. Thus, Angantyr, before com- mencing the duel in which he was slain, stipulated, that if he fell, his sword Tyrfing should be buried with him. His daugh- ter, Hervor, afterwards took it from his tomb. The dialogue which past betwixt her and Angantyr's spirit on this occasion has been often translated. The whole history may be found in the Hervarar-Saga. Indeed the ghosts of the northern warriors were not wont tamely to suffer their tombs to be plundered ; and hence the mortal heroes had an additional temptation to attempt such adventures ; for they held nothing more worthy of their valour than to encounter supernatural beings. BAR- THOLINUS De causis contempts a Danis mortis, lib. I. cap. 2, 9, 10, 13. Note XIX. Rosabelle.P. 195. This was a family name in the house of St Clair. Henry St Clair, the second of the line, married Itosabelle, fourth daugh- ter of the Earl of Stratherne. 3*4 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. Note XX. Castle Ravensheuch. P. 196. A large and strong castle, now ruinous, situated betwixt Kirkaldy and Dysart, on a steep crag, washed by the Firth of Forth. Jt was conferred on Sir William St Clair, as a slight compensation for the earldom of Orkney, by a charter of King James III. dated in 1471, and is now the property of Sir James St Clair Erskine, (now Earl of Rosslyn,) representative of the family. It was long a principal residence of the Barons of Roslin; Note XXI. Seemed all on fire that chapel proud, Where Roslin's chiefs uncoffined lie ; Each Baron, for a sable shroud, Sheathed in his iron panoply. P. 198. The beautiful chapel of Roslin is still in tolerable preserva- tion. It was founded in 1446 by William St Clair, Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenbourgh, Earl of Cathness and Strath- erne, Lord Saint Clair, Lord Niddesdale, Lord Admiral of the Scottish seas, Lord Chief Justice of Scotland, Lord Warden of the three Marches, Baron of Roslin, Pentland, Pentland- moor, &c., Knight of the Cockle and of the Garter, (as is af- firmed,) High Chancellor, Chamberlain, and Lieutenant of Scot- land. This lofty person, whose titles, says Godscroft, might weary a Spaniard, built the castle of Roslin, where he reside*! NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 345 in princely splendour, and founded the chapel, which is in the most rich and florid stile of Gothic architecture. Among the profuse carving on the pillars and buttresses, the rose is fre- quently introduced, in allusion to the name, with which, how- ever, the flower has no connection ; the etymology being Ross- linnhe, the promontory of the linn, or water-fall. The chapel is said to appear on fire previous to the death of any of his de- scendants. This superstition, noticed by Slezer in his Thea- trum Scotia, and alluded to in the text, is probably of Norwe- gian derivation, and may have been imported by the Earls of Orkney into their Lothian domains. The tomb-fires of the north are mentioned in most of the Sagas. The Barons of Roslin were buried in a vault beneath the chapel floor. The manner of their interment is thus described by Father Hay, in the MS. history already quoted. " Sir William Sinclair, the father, was a leud man. He kept a miller's daughter, with whom, it is alledged, he went to Ireland j yet I think the cause of his retreat was rather occa- sioned by the Presbyterians, who vexed him sadly, because of his religion being Roman Catholic. His son, Sir William, died during the troubles, and was interred in the'chapel of Roslin the very same day that the battle of Dunbar was fought. When my good-father was buried, his (i. e. Sir William's) corpse seemed to be entire at the opening of the cave ; but when they came to touch his body, it fell into dust. He was laying in his armour, with a red velvet cap on his head, on a flat stone ; nothing was spoiled except a piece of the white 346 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. furring, that went round the cap, and answered to the hinder part of the head. All his predecessors were buried after the same manner, in their armour : late Rosline, my good- father, was the first that was buried in a coffin, against the sentiments of King James the Seventh, who was then in Scotland, and se- veral other persons well versed in antiquity, to whom my mo- ther would not hearken, thinking it beggarly to be buried after that manner. The great expences she was at in burying her husband, occasioned the sumptuary acts which were made in the following parliament." Note XXII. " Gylbin, come /"P. 201. See the story of Gilpin Horner, pp. 265, 266, 267. Note XXHI. For he was speechless, ghastly, wan, Like him, of whom the story ran, Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man. P. 201. The ancient castle of Peel-town, in the Isle of Man, is surrounded by four churches, now ruinous. Through one of these chapels there was formerly a passage from the guard- room of the garrison. This was closed, it is said, upon the following occasion : '* They say, that an apparition, called, in the Mankish language, the Mauthe Doog, in the shape of a large black spaniel, with curled shaggy hair, was used to haunt Peel-castle ; and has been frequently seen in every NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 847 room, but particularly in the guard-chamber, where, as soon as candles were lighted, it came and lay down before the fire, in presence of all the soldiers, who, at length, by being so much accustomed to the sight of it, lost great part of the terror they were seized with at its first appearance. They still, however, retained a certain awe, as believing it was an evil spirit, which only waited permission to do them hurt ; and, for that reason, forebore swearing, and all prophane discourse, while in its company. But though they endured the shock of such a guest when all together in a body, none cared to be left alone with it. It being the custom, therefore, for one of the soldiers to lock the gates of the castle at a certain hour, and carry the keys to the captain, to whose apartment, as I said before, the way led through the church, they agreed among themselves, that whoever was to succeed the ensuing night his fellow in this errand, should accompany him that went first^ and by this means no man would be exposed singly to the danger : for I forgot to mention, that the Mauthe Doog was always seen to come out from that passage at the close of day, and return to it again as soon as the morning dawned ; which made them look on this place as its peculiar residence. " One night, a fellow being drunk, and by the strength of his liquor rendered more daring than ordinarily, laughed at the simplicity of his companions ; and, though it was not his turn to go with the keys, would needs take that office upon him, to testify his courage. All the soldiers endeavoured to dissuade him ; but the more they said, the more resolute he 348 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. seemed, and swore that he desired nothing more than that the Mauthe Doug would follow him, as it had done the others; for he would try if it were dog or devil. After having talked in a very reprobate manner for some time, he snatched up the keys, and went out of the guard-room : in some time after his departure, a great noise was heard, but nobody had the bold- ness to see what occasioned it, till, the adventurer returning, they demanded the knowledge of him ; but as loud and noisy as he had been at leaving them, he was now become sober and silent enough ; for he was never heard to speak more : and though all the time he lived, which was three days, he was entreated by all who came near him, either to speak, or, if he could not do that, to make some signs, by which they might understand what had happened to him ; yet nothing intelligible could be got from him, only that, by the distortion of his limbs and features, it might be guessed that he died in agonies more than is common in a natural death. " The Mauthe Doog was, however, never after seen in the eastle, nor would any one attempt to go through that pas- sage; for which reason it was closed up, and another way made. This accident happened about threescore years since : and I heard it attested by several, but especially by an old soldier, who assured me he had seen it oftener than he had then hairs on his head." WALDRON'S Description of the Js/c trf Man, p. 107. 11 NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH. 349 Note XXIV. And he a solemn sacred plight Did to St Bryde of Douglas make. P. 202. This was a favourite saint of the house of Douglas, and of the Earl of Angus in particular ; as we learn from the follow- ing passage : The Queen-regent had proposed to raise a rival noble to the ducal dignity; and discoursing of her purpose with Angus, he answered, " Why not, madam ? we are happy that have such a princess, that can know and will acknow- ledge men's service, and is willing to recompence it : but, by the might of God (this was his oath when he was serious and in anger ; at other times, it was by St Bride of Douglas,) if he be a Duke, I will be a Drake !" So she desisted from prose- cuting of that purpose. GODSCROFT, vol. II. p. 131. THE END. EDINBURGH : Printed by James Ballantyne & Co. a University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. m * >T University Southei Librar