Yet friends, who nearest knew the youth, XXVI. Now back they wend their watery way, Then must he seek Strath-Endrick glen, Nor peril aught for me agen." XXVII. Sir Roderick, who to meet them came, In talk and sport they whiled away Long with his dagger's hilt he play'd, Then raised his haughty brow, and said: XXVIII. "Short be my speech ;-nor time affords, Nor my plain temper, glozing words. Kinsman and father,—if such name Douglas vouchsafe to Roderick's claim; Mine honour'd mother;-Ellen-why, When age shall give thee thy command, 1 In 1529, James V. made a convention at Edinburgh for the purpose of considering the best mode of quelling the Border robbers, who, during the license of his minority, and the troubles which followed, had committed many exorbitances. Accordingly, he assembled a flying army of ten thousand men, consisting of his principal nobility and their followers, who were directed to bring their hawks and dogs with them, that the monarch might refresh himself with sport during the intervals of military execution. With this array he swept through Ettrick Forest, where he hanged over the gate of his own castle Piers Cockburn of Henderland, who had prepared, according to tradition, a feast for his reception. He caused Adam Scott of Tushielaw, also to be executed, who was distinguished by the title of King of the Border. But the most noted victim of justice, during that expedition, was John Armstrong of Gilnockie,2 famous in Scottish song, who, confiding in his own supposed innocence, met the king with a retinue of thirty-six persons, all of whom were hanged at Carlenrig, near the source of the Teviot. The effect of this severity was such, that, as the vulgar expressed it, "the rush-bush kept the cow," and, "thereafter was great peace and rest a long time, wherethrough the King had great profit; for he had ten thousand sheep going in the Ettrick Forest in keeping by Andrew Bell, who made the King as good count of them as they had gone in the bounds of Fife."-PITSCOTTIE'S History, p. 153, 2 [See Border Minstrelsy, vol. i. p. 392.] Where chiefs, with hound and hawk who came 1 [MS.-" "The dales where clans were wont to bide."] 2 James was in fact equally attentive to restrain rapine and feudal oppression in every part of his dominions. "The King past to the Isles, and there held justice courts, and punished both thief and traitor according to their demerit. And also he caused great men to show their holdings, wherethrough he found many of the said lands in non-entry; the which he confiscate and brought home to his own use, and afterward annexed them to the crown, as ye shall hear. Syne brought many of the great men of the Isles captive with him, such as Mudyart, M'Connel, M'Leod of the Lewes, M'Neil, M'Lane. M'Intosh, John Mudyart, M'Kay, M'Kenzie, with many other that I cannot rehearse at this time. Some of them he put in ward and some in court, and some he took pledges for good Yet more; amid Glenfinlas' green, Your counsel in the streight I show." XXIX. Ellen and Margaret fearfully Sought comfort in each other's eye, The hasty colour went and came It To draw the lightning on thy bower; rule in time coming. So he brought the isles, both north and south, in good rule and peace; wherefore he had great profit, service, and obedience of people a long time thereafter; and as long as he had the heads of the country in subjection, they lived in great peace and rest, and there was great riches and policy by the king's justice."--PITSCOTTIE, p. 152. |