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ral in Scotland, under the singular title of her adopted ditch), by whilk means he escapit, and gat away father. all the rest of the horses.»-BIRRELL'S Diary, p. 18.

Note 2. Stanza xv.

The mountain bull comes thundering on.

<< In Caledonia olim frequens erat sylvestris quidam bos, nunc vero rarior, qui colore candidissimo, jubam densam et demissam instar leonis gestat, truculentus ac ferus, ab humano genere abhorrens, ut quæcunque homines vel manibus contrectaverint, vel halitu perflaverint, ab iis multos post dies omnino abstinuerint. Ad hoc tanta audacia huic bovi indita erat, ut non solum irritatus equites furenter prosterneret, sed ne tantillum lacessitus omnes promiscue homines cornibus, ac ungulis peteret; ac canum, qui apud nos ferocissimi sunt, impetus plane contemneret. Ejus carnes cartilaginosa sed saporis suavissimi. Erat is olim per illam vastissimam Caledoniæ sylvam frequens, sed humana ingluvie jam assumptus tribus tantum locis est reliquus, Strivilingii, Cumbernaldia, et Kincarnie.»-Leslæus, Scotia Descriptio, p. 13.

Note 3. Stanza xxi.

Stern Claud replied, with darkening face

(Gray Pasley's haughty lord was he). Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and commendator of the abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during the troubles of Queen Mary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her army at the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the Raid of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queen's faction. He was ancestor to the present Marquis of Abercorn.

of his wife.

Note 4. Stanza xxii.

Few sups have set, since Woodhouselee.

Note 6. Stanza xxxiii.

From the wild Border's humbled side

In haughty triumph marched he.

from

Murray's death took place shortly after an expedition to the Borders; which is thus commemorated by the author of his elegy:

So having stablischt all thing in this sort,
To Liddisdaill again he did resort,

Throw Ewisdail, Eskdail, and all the daills rode he,

And also lay three nights in Cannabie.

Whair na prince lay thir hundred yeiris Lefore,
Nae thief durst stir, they did him feir so sair;
And, that they suld na mair thair thift alledge,
Threescore and twelf be brocht of thame in pledge,
Syne wardit thame, whilk made the rest keep ordour,
Than mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the Bordour.
Scottish Poems, 16th century, p. 232.

Note 7. Stanza xxxv.

With hackbut bent, my secret stand.

The carabine, with which the regent was shot, is preserved at Hamilton Palace. It is a brass piece, of a middling length, very small in the bore, and, what is rather extraordinary, appears to have been rifled or indented in the barrel. It had a match-lock, for which a modern fire-lock has been injudiciously substituted. Note 8. Stanza xxxvi.

Dark Morton, girt with many a spear.

Of this noted person it is enough to say, that he was active in the murder of David Rizzio, and at least privy to that of Darnley.

Note 9. Stanza xxxvi.

The wild Macfarlane's plaided clan.

This clan of Lennox Highlanders were attached to the Regent Murray. Hollinshed, speaking of the battle of Langside, says, « In this batayle the valiancie of an This barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, lieland gentleman, named Macfarlane, stood the renear Auchendinny, belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right gent's part in great steede; for, in the hottest brunte The ruins of the mansion, from whence of the fighte, he came up with two hundred of his she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasion-friendes and countrymen, and so manfully gave in upon the flankes of the queene's people, that he was a ed her death, are still to be seen, in a hollow glen beside the river. Popular report tenants them with the great cause of the disordering of them. This Macfarrestless ghost of the Lady Bothwellhaugh; whom, how-lane had been lately before, as I have heard, condemnever, it confounds with Lady Anne Bothwell, whose ed to die, for some outrage by him committed, and Lament is so popular. This spectre is so tenacious of obtayning pardon through suyt of the Countess of Murher rights, that, a part of the stones of the ancient edi-ray, he recompenced that clemencie by this piece of fice having been employed in building or repairing the service now at this batayle.» Calderwood's account is present Woodhouselee, she has deemed it a part of her less favourable to the Macfarlanes. He states, that Macfarlane, with his Highlandmen, fled from the privilege to haunt that house also; and, even of very The Lord Lindesay, who late years, has excited considerable disturbance and ter-wing where they were set. ror among the domestics. This is a more remarkable stood nearest to them in the regent's battle, said, 'Let vindication of the rights of ghosts, as the present them go! I shall fill their places better:' and so stepWoodhouselee, which gives his title to the honourable ping forward with a company of fresh men, charged whose enemy, spears were now spent, with long Alexander Fraser Tytler, a senator of the College of Justice, is situated on the slope of the Pentland hills, dis- weapons, so that they were driven back by force, being tant at least four miles from her proper abode. She before almost overthrown by the avant-guard and haralways appears in white, and with a child in her quebusiers, and so were turned to flight.»-Calderwood's MS. apud Keith, p. 480. Melville mentions the flight of the van-guard, but states it to have been commanded by Morton, and composed chiefly of commoners of the barony of Renfrew.

arms.

Note 5. Stanza xxviii. Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke Drives to the leap his jaded steed. Birrell informs us, that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, «< after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and strocke his horse behind, whilk caused the horse to leap a very brode stank (i. e.

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Note 10. Stanza xxxvii.
Glencairn and stout Parkhead were nigh,
Obsequious at their regent's rein.

The Earl of Glencairn was a steady adherent of the

regent. George Douglas, of Parkhead, was a natural brother of the Earl of Morton: his horse was killed by the same ball by which Murray fell.

Note 11. Stanza xxxvii.

And haggard Lindsay's iron eye,

That saw fair Mary weep in vain. Lord Lindesay, of the Byres, was the most ferocious and brutal of the regent's faction; and, as such, was employed to extort Mary's signature to the deed of resignation, presented to her in Lochleven Castle. He discharged his commission with the most savage rigour; and it is even said, that when the weeping captive, in the act of signing, averted her eyes from the fatal deed, he pinched her arm with the grasp of his iron glove.

Note 12. Stanza xxxviii.

Scarce could bis trampling charger move,

So close the minions crowded nigh.

Richard Bannatyne mentions in his journal, that John Knox repeatedly warned Murray to avoid Linlithgow.

Not only had the regent notice of the intended attempt upon his life, but even of the very house from which it was threatened.

With that infatuation, at which men wonder after such events have happened, he deemed it would be a sufficient precaution to ride briskly past the dangerous spot. But even this was prevented by the crowd: so that Bothwellhaugh had time to take a deliberate aim. -Spottiswoode, p. 233. Buchanan.

THE GRAY BROTHER.

A FRAGMENT.

THE imperfect state of this ballad, which was written several years ago, is not a circumstance affected for the purpose of giving it that peculiar interest, which is often found to arise from ungratified curiosity. On the contrary, it was the author's intention to have completed the tale, if he had found himself able to succeed to his own satisfaction. Yielding to the opinion of persons, whose judgment, if not biassed by the partiality of friendship, is entitled to deference, the author has preferred inserting these verses, as a fragment, to his intention of entirely suppressing them.

stronger claims of natural affection. Chusing, therefore, a dark and windy night, when the objects of his vengeance were engaged in a stolen interview, he set | fire to a stack of dried thorns, and other combustibles, | which he had caused to be piled against the house, and reduced to a pile of glowing ashes the dwelling, with all

its inmates,

1

The scene, with which the ballad opens, was suggested by the following curious passage, extracted from the Life of Alexander Peden, one of the wandering and persecuted teachers of the sect of Cameronians, during the reign of Charles II and his successor, James. This person was supposed by his followers, and perhaps really believed himself, to be possessed of supernatural | gifts; for the wild scenes, which they frequented, and the constant dangers, which were incurred though their i proscription, deepened upon their minds the gloom of superstition, so general in that age.

« About the same time he (Peden) came to Andrew Normand's house, in the parish of Alloway, in the shire of Ayr, being to preach at night in his barn. After he came in, he hilted a little, leaning upon a chair-back, with his face covered; when he lifted up his head, he said, 'There are in this house that I have not one word of salvation unto;' he halted a little again, saying, 'This is strange, that the devil will not go out, that we may begin our work! Then there was a woman went out, ill looked upon almost all her life, and to her dying | hour, for a witch, with many presumptions of the same. It escaped me, in the former passages, that Jolin Muirhead (whom I have often mentioned) told me, that when he came from Ireland to Galloway, he was at family-worship, and giving some notes upon the Scripture, when a very ill-looking man came, and sate | down within the door, at the back of the hallan (par tition of the cottage); immediately he halted, and said, There is some unhappy body just now come into this house. I charge him to go out, and not stop my mouth!' The person went out, and he insisted (went on), yet he saw him neither come in nor go out » The Life and Prophecies of Mr Alexander Peden, late Minister of the Gospel at New Gleniuce, in Galloway, part ii, section 26.

THE Pope he was saying the high, high mass,
All on Saint Peter's day,

With the power to him given, by the saints in heaven,
To wash men's sins away.

The Pope he was saying the blessed mass,

And the people kneel'd around;
And from each man's soul his sins did pass,
As he kiss'd the holy ground.

The tradition, upon which the tale is founded, regards a house, upon the barony of Gilmerton, near Lasswade, in Mid-Lothian. This building, now called Gilmerton Grange, was originally named Burndale, from the following tragic adventure. The barony of Gilmerton belonged of yore to a gentleman, named Heron, who had one beautiful daughter. This young lady was seduced by the abbot of Newbattle, a richlyendowed abbey, upon the banks of the South Esk, now a seat of the Marquis of Lothian. Heron came to the knowledge of this circumstance, and learned, also, that the lovers carried on their guilty intercourse by the connivance of the lady's nurse, who lived at this house, of Gilmerton Grange or Burndale, He formed a resolution of bloody vengeance, undeterred by the supposed sanctity of the clerical character, or by the unerring aim.

And all, among the crowded throng,
Was still, both limb and tongue,
While through vaulted roof, and aisles aloof,
The holy accents rung,

1 This tradition was communicated to me by John Clerk, Esq. of 1 Eldin, author of an Essay rpon Naval Tactics, who will be remCRbered by posterity, as having taught the Genius of Britate to c→ centrate her thanders, and to launch them against her foes with m

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And who art thou, thou Gray Brother,

That I should shrive to thee,

When he, to whom are given the keys of earth and heaven,

Has no power to pardon me?»

«OI am sent from a distant clime,

Five thousand miles away,
And all to absolve a foul, foul crime,
Done here 'twixt night and day.

The pilgrim kneel'd him on the sand,
And thus began his saye-

When on his neck an ice-cold hand
Did that Gray Brother laye.

NOTES.

along the Eske, which is there joined by its sister stream of the same name.

Note 7. Stanza xviii.

And classic Hawthornden.

Hawthornden, the residence of the poet Drummond. A house of more modern date is enclosed, as it were, by the ruins of the ancient castle, and overhangs a tremendous precipice, upon the banks of the Eske, perforated by winding caves, which, in former times, formed a refuge to the oppressed patriots of Scotland. Here Drummond received Ben Jonson, who journeyed from London, on foot, in order to visit him. The beauty of this striking scene has been much injured, of late years, by the indiscriminate use of the axe. The traveller now looks in vain for the leafy bower,

Where Jonson sate in Drummond's social shade.

Upon the whole, tracing the Eske from its source, till it joins the sea, at Musselburgh, no stream in Scotland can boast such a varied succession of the most in- ; teresting objects, as well as of the most romantic and beautiful scenery.

Note 1. Stanza xvii.

From that fair dome, where suit is paid

By blast of bugle free.

The barony of Pennycuik, the property of Sir George Clerk, Bart., is held by a singular tenure; the proprietor being bound to sit upon a large rocky fragment, called the Buckstane, and wind three blasts of a born, when the king shall come to hunt on the Borough Muir, near Edinburgh. Hence, the family have adopted, as their crest, a demi-forester proper, winding a horn, with the motto, Free for a blast. The beautiful mansion-house of Pennycuik is much admired, both on account of the architecture and surrounding scenery.

Note 2. Stanza xvii.

THE FIRE-KING.

The Llessings of the evil Genii, which are curses, were upon him.
Eastern Tale.

Tais ballad was written at the request of Mr Lewis, to be inserted in his Tales of Wonder. It is the third in a series of four ballads, on the subject of Elementary Spirits. The story is, however, partly historical; for it is recorded, that, during the struggles of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, a Knight Templar, called Saint Alban, deserted to the Saracens, and defeated the Christians in many combats, till he was finally routed Mac-and stain, in a conflict with King Baldwin, under the walls of Jerusalem.

To Auchendinny's hazel glade. Auchendinny, situated upon the Eske, below Pennycuik, the present residence of the ingenious II. kenzie, Esq. author of The Man of Feeling, etc.

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And palmer, good palmer, by Galilee's wave, O saw ye Count Albert, the gentle and brave?

The priests they erase it with care and with pain,
And the recreant return'd to the cavern again;

When the Crescent went back, and the Red-cross rush'd | But, as he descended, a whisper there fell,—

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Your castle stands strong, and your hopes soar on high; When he thought of the maiden of fair Lebanon. But lady, fair lady, all blossoms to die.

The green boughs they wither, the thunderbolt falls,
It leaves of your castle but levin-scorch'd walls;
The pure stream runs muddy; the gay hope is gone;
Count Albert is prisoner on Mount Lebanon,>>

O she's ta'en a horse, should be fleet at her speed;
And she 's ta'en a sword, should be sharp at her need;
And she has ta'en shipping for Palestine's land,
To ransom Count Albert from Soldanrie's hand.

Small thought had Count Albert on fair Rosalie,
Small thought on his faith or his knighthood had he;
A heathenish damsel his light heart had won,
The Soldan's fair daughter of Mount Lebanon.

Scarce pass'd he the archway, the threshold scarce trod,
When the winds from the four points of heaven were
abroad;

They made each steel portal to rattle and ring,
And, borne on the blast, came the dread Fire-King.

Full sore rock'd the cavern whene'er he drew nigh,
The fire on the altar blazed bickering and high;
In volcanic explosions the mountains proclaim
The dreadful approach of the monarch of flame.
Unmeasured in height, undistinguish'd in form,
Ilis breath it was lightning, his voice it was storm;
I ween the stout heart of Count Albert was tame,
When he saw in his terrors the monarch of flame.

smoke,

« O Christian, brave Christian, my love wouldst thou be, In his hand a broad falchion blue-glimmer'd through
Three things must thou do ere I hearken to thee:
Our laws and our worship on thee shalt thou take;
And this thou shalt first do for Zulema's sake.

« And, next, in the cavern, where burns evermore
The mystical flame which the Kurdmans adore,
Alone, and in silence, three nights shalt thou wake;
And this thou shalt next do for Zulema's sake.

« And, last, thou shalt aid us with counsel and hand,
To drive the Frank robber from Palestine's land;
For my lord and my love then Count Albert I'll take,
When all this is accomplish'd for Zulema's sake.»>—

He has thrown by his helmet and cross-handled sword,
Renouncing his knighthood, denying his Lord;
He has ta'en the green caftan, and turban put on,
For the love of the maiden of fair Lebanon.

And in the dread cavern, deep deep under ground,
Which fifty steel gates and steel portals surround,
He has watch'd until day-break, but sight saw he none,
Save the flame burning bright on its altar of stone.

Amazed was the princess, the Soldan amazed,
Sore murmur'd the priests as on Albert they gazed;
They search'd all his garments, and, under his weeds,
They found, and took from him, his rosary beads.

Again in the cavern, deep deep under ground,
He watch'd the lone night, while the winds whistled round;
Far off was their murmur, it came not more nigh,
The flame burn'd unmoved, and nought else did he spy.

Loud murmur'd the priests, and amazed was the king,
While many dark spells of their witchcraft they sing;
They search'd Albert's body, and, lo! on his breast
Was the sign of the cross, by his father impress'd.

And Mount Lebanon shook as the monarch he spoke :

« With this brand shalt thou conquer, thus long, and

no more,

Till thou bend to the Cross, and the Virgin adore.>>

The cloud-shrouded arm gives the weapon; and, see!
The recreant receives the charmed gift on his knee:
The thunders grow distant, and faint gleam the fires,
As, borne on his whirlwind, the phantom retires.
Count Albert has arm'd him the Paynim among;
Though his heart it was false, yet his arm it was strong;
And the Red-cross wax'd faint, and the Crescent came on,
From the day he commanded on Mount Lebanon,

From Lebanon's forest to Galilee's wave,
The sands of Samaar drank the blood of the brave;
Till the Knights of the Temple, and Knights of St John,
With Salem's King Baldwin, against him came on.

The war-cymbals clatter'd, the trumpets replied,
The lances were couch'd, and they closed on each side;
And horsemen and horses Count Albert o'erthrew,
Till he pierced the thick tumult King Baldwin unto.

Against the charm'd blade which Count Albert did wield,
The fence had been vain of the king's Red-cross shield;
But a page thrust him forward the monarch before,
And cleft the proud turban the renegade wore.

So fell was the dint, that Count Albert stoop'd low
Before the cross'd shield, to his steel saddle-bow;
And scarce had he bent to the Red-cross his head,-
« Bonne grace, notre Dame,» he unwittingly said.

Sore sigh'd the charm'd sword, for its virtue was o'er,
It sprung from his grasp, and was never seen more;
But true men have said, that the lightning's red wing
Did waft back the brand to the dread Fire-King.

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