conquered, and settled in the Lowlands; and Edwin, one of their leaders, founded Edwinsburg, now called Edinburgh. Early in the sixth century the Scots, a Celtic tribe from Ireland, settled on the west coast. The predominant native race at that time was known as the Picts. The Picts were converted to Christianity by missionaries from Ireland; but soon afterward they were conquered, and disappeared before the Irish invaders. In the year 866 the piratical Danes began invading the country; and for two hundred years they endeavored to subdue it, but were always repulsed.

During all this early period the people of Scotland were divided into many tribes, or, in the Celtic language, clans. A clan is a collection of families who are regarded as being descended from some common ancestor, and are subject to the rule of one or their lineage, called a chief. Some of these clans were very numerous and powerful, and they were often at war among themselves. The chiefs were as petty kings over their own people.

In the tenth century the Scotch, as the people of the whole country have come to be known, from the Scots who came into it from Ireland, invaded England, and annexed portions of English territory. This was the beginning of an almost constant series of conflicts between the Scotch and the English, that continued for nearly six hundred years, until it happened that the heirship to the thrones of both kingdoms was united in one person-James VI. of Scotland, and James I. of England — in 1603. This was nearly a century after the events that are narrated in the poem of "Marmion.”

The record of this Border strife is so crowded with events of historic interest and significance, that it is impracticable to present here even a summary of them; but it is an important por.

tion of the life of the English and Scotch races.

In the course of the conflict all Scotland became united in a kingdom under one ruler, although the clans were preserved, and were sometimes rebellious, sometimes treacherous. The conditions preceding and bringing on the disastrous battle of Flodden may, however, be briefly set forth.

In 1460 James II. of Scotland, who had taken part in the civil war of England, commonly known as the War of the Roses, was accidentally killed. His son, James III., was then but eight years old. As soon as he became of age, his brother, Alexander, Duke of Albany, assumed the title of King, and began a war for possession of the throne. He was supported by many of the powerful nobles of Scotland, among the rest the Douglas family and the Lord of the Isles; but he was finally defeated in 1483. Later the nobles, unsubdued in spirit, made a new rebellion, this time in the name of the King's son, who was sixteen years old. In this attempt they were successful, James III. being defeated and slain in battle in the year 1498. The rebellious son then

became King of Scotland as James IV.

He was a person of much ability, many accomplishments, and strong inclination to a life of pleasure and vice; but he had also a conscience, that troubled him on account of his sins, and especially on account of his rebellion against his father. Therefore by spells he led a life of austerity and penance, retiring from his court, and assuming the garb and practices of a monk.

The Scotch nobles and chiefs of clans who had rebelled against his father were not actuated by any real devotion to himself. Their aim was to enhance their own power, and influence and lessen that of royalty. Hence they soon began hostilities against the new King, and the early part of his reign was dis

tracted by a bitter struggle to establish his supremacy, which was finally secured; the powerful Lord of the Isles, a leader in insurrections, being forced to surrender his possessions to the Crown.

In 1509 Henry VIII. succeeded to the throne of England. Between England and France there had been many wars; and a mutual jealousy existed, which easily kindled into flame upon slight pretexts. In these wars Scotland had often been the active ally of France against the hereditary foe of both. Henry had not been long on the throne when he determined on an invasion of France. At the same time, Scotland, having suppressed internal strife, was in a condition to resume hostilities.

The Queen of France sent a very affectionate letter to King James, calling him "my love," saying that she had suffered much insult for her devotion to him, and calling upon him to raise an army and invade England, if only for three feet over the Border. She sent him as a present a beautiful turquoise ring, and also a large sum of money for the expenses of making war in behalf of France. The expectation was that Henry would quit France in order to defend his own realm against the Scotch.

James was not proof against such blandishments, which appealed alike to his vanity and his ambition. He immediately began preparations for war, and sent a herald to Henry in France to make demands for redress of certain wrongs done in years gone by. But Henry did not return to England: instead, he intrusted the defense of his country on the north to the Earl of Surrey, who mustered an army of about thirty thousand men, with which he marched to the border of Scotland, meeting the equal army of James at Flodden in Northumberland County, where a spur of the Cheviot Hills overlooked the deep river Till. Here was fought the battle so fatal to Scotland's heroes.

Marmion, the hero of this poem, is represented as an envoy from England sent to Scotland to demand of the King the reason of the hostile preparations that were making. Such formal official preliminaries were, and are still, a common practice between nations, even when the truth is well known, and when both sides are anxious for war.

The poems originally published as "introductions" to the several cantos of "Marmion" are in this edition omitted from their usual places, and inserted after the main story. This is done for two reasons. First, they are not introductory in any proper sense, but are separate and distinct, in their themes, from the story of "Marmion:" hence, however admirable and worthy they may be of their own kind, they would serve to interrupt and distract the attention of the young if read and studied in place. It is highly important in education to develop the faculty of sustained interest, and the habit of considering parts in their relation to a whole. Only mature and disciplined minds can patiently tolerate long interruptions of an engaging story. Scott's biographer, Lockhart, relates that these "introductions" were written before "Marmion," and with the intention of publishing them in a separate volume. Secondly, these poems are more interesting to older pupils than to those for whom this book is specially prepared, and are better suited for their instruction. They may be read more profitably, perhaps, in connection with studies of modern English history. They are published in this book without notes. Those who use them in a

later stage of their studies may be presumed to have attained an

age when it will be useful for them to be required to search out, under guidance, such information as they need.

W. A.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

It is hardly to be expected that an author whom the public have honored with some degree of applause should not be again a trespasser on their kindness. Yet the author of "Marmion" must be supposed to feel some anxiety concerning its success, since he is sensible that he hazards, by this second intrusion, any reputation which his first poem may have procured him. The present story turns upon the private adventures of a fictitious character, but is called "A Tale of Flodden Field," because the hero's fate is connected with that memorable defeat, and the causes which led to it. The design of the author was, if possible, to apprise his readers at the outset of the date of his story, and to prepare them for the manners of the age in which it is laid. Any historical narrative, far more an attempt at epic composition, exceeded his plan of a romantic tale; yet he may be permitted to hope, from the popularity of "The Lay of the Last Minstrel," that an attempt to paint the manners of the feudal times, upon a broader scale, and in the course of a more interesting story, will not be unacceptable to the public.

The poem opens about the commencement of August, and concludes with the defeat of Flodden, 9th September, 1513.

ASHESTIEL, 1808.