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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 him, it may be he would not expose himself to my manner of curing, because he would think it, peradventure, either ineffectual or superstitious. He replied, the wonderful things which many have related unto me of your way of medicinement makes me nothing doubt at all of its efficacy; and all that I have to say unto you is comprchended in the Spanish proverb, Hagase el milagro, y hagalo Mahoma-Let the miracle be done, though Mahomet do it.'

<< I asked him then for any thing that had the blood upon it; so he presently sent for his garter, wherewith his hand was first bound: and as I called for a bason of water, as 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 bason, observing in the interim, what Mr Howel did, who stood talking with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber, not regarding 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 ails 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 tormented 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 moderate temper betwixt heat and cold.' This was presently reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after to the king, who were both very curious to know the circumstance of the business, 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, whereupon 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.» P. 6.

The king (James V!) obtained from Sir Kenelm the discovery 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 Kenelm Digby. Reginald 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 pain; whereas, if they draw their fingers downwards, thereupon the partie wounded shall feele intollerable pain.>> I presume 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 Tempest:

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. v. sc. 2.

Again, in scene 4th, Miranda enters, with Hippolito's sword wrapt up:

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Note 9. Stanza xxvii.

On Penchryst glows a bale of fire,

And three are kindling on Priestbaugh-swire.

The Border beacons, from their number and position, formed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh.-The act of parliament 1455, c. 48, directs, that one bale, or fagot, shall be warning of the approach of the English in any manner; two bales, that they are coming indeed; four bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy are in force. great << The same taikenings to be watched and maid at Eggerhope (Eggerstane) Castell, fra they se the fire of Hume, that And in like manner on Sowtra they fire right swa. Edge, sall se the fire of Eggerhope Castell, and mak taikening in like manner: 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 Fyfe, and fra Striveling east, and the est part of Louthaine, and to Dunbar, all may se them, and come to the defence 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.»-STEVENSON's History, vol. II, P. 701.

Note 10. Stanza xxvii.

Our kin, and clan, and friends to raise.

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, 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, and 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 inalefactors, and to bring the Border in better quiet than it had been in times past. One memorable thing, of God's mercy showed unto me, was such as I had good cause still to remember it.

leave, the blood that should be spilt that day would lie
very hard upon my conscience. And therefore I de-
sired 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 sa
tisfied 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 messen-
ger'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.>>

Note 11. Stanza xxix.
On many a cairn's gray pyramid,}
Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid.

the summit of most of our Scottish hills, and are found
The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown
in other remarkable situations, seem usually, though
not universally, to have been sepulchral monuments.
Six flat stones are commonly found in the centre, form-

an urn is often placed. The author is possessed of one, discovered beneath an immense cairn at Roughlee, 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 sepulture.

. I had private intelligence given me, that there were two Scottish men, who had killed a churchman in Scotland, and were by one of the Græmes relieved. This Græme 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 prevent it, both myself and all my company would be either slain or taken prisoners. It was strange to me to hear this language. He then said to me, 'do you see that boy that rideth away so fast? He will be in Scotland within this half hour;ing a cavity of greater or smaller dimensions, in which 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 presently 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 Carlisle 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 Scots, seeing their present danger, offered to parley, and yielded themselves to my mercy. They had no sooner opened the iron gate, and yielded themselves my prisoners, but we might see four hundred horse within a quarter of a mile coming to their rescue, and to surprise me and my small company; sudden they stayed, and stood at gaze. Then I had 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 brothers, and uncles, and our cousins; they are coming, thinking to surprise you, upon weak grass nags, such as they could get on a sudden; and God hath put them into your hands, that we may take revenge 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 myself to give them a fair answer, but not to give them their desire. 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

but on a

CANTO IV.

Note 1. Stanza ii. --great Dundee.

The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie.

Note 2. Stanza iii.

For pathless marsh, and mountain cell,

The peasant left his lowly shed.

The morasses were the usual refuge of the Border herdsmen 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 hollowed into similar recesses. But even these dreary dens were not always secure places of concealment. In the way as we 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 would 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 lisense 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, whereof he first stopt up on; another he fill'd full of strawe, and set it a fyer, whereat they within cast water apace; but it was so well maynteyned without, that the fyer prevayled, and thei within fayn to get them belyke into anoother parler. Then devysed we (for I hapt to be with him) to stop the same up, whereby we should eyther smoother them, or fynd out their vents, 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 Account of Somerset's Expedition into Scotland, apud DALZELL'S Fragments.

Note 3. Stanza iii.
--southern ravage.

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 wardeus, or leaders.

Scotland, this abomynable act not only to be done by
dyverse of the Mershe, but also the afore named per-
sons of Tyvidaill, and consented to, as by appearance,
by the Erle of Murey, upon Friday at nighte last, let
slyp c of the best horsemen of Glendaill, with a parte
of your highnes' subjects of Berwyke, 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 towne of Golding-
ham, with all the corne thereunto belonging, which is
esteemed wurthe cii marke sterling; but alsoo burned
twa townes nye adjoining thereunto, called Braner-
dergest and Black Hill, and toke xxiii persons, lx
horse, with cc hed of cattaill, which nowe as I am
informed, hathe not only been a staye of the said Erle
of Murrei's not coming to the Bordure as yet, but alsoo,
that none inlande man will adventure theyre selfs uppon
the marches. And as for the tax that shulde have been
grauntyd for finding of the said i hundred men, is
utterly denyed. Upon which the king of Scotland de-
parted 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, God
willing, Kelsey, in lyke case, shall be brent, with all the
corne 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
fail to satisfye your highnes, according to my most
bounden dutie. And for this burnynge of Kelsey is
devysed to be done secretly, by Tyndaill and Ryd-
disdale. 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 Werk-
worth, the xxiid day of October.» (1522).

Note 4. Stanza iv.
Watt Tinlino.

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 sutor, but, by inclination and practice, an archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, the captain of Bewcastle, military governor of that wild district of Cumberland, is said to have made an incursion into

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, seying they had a governor on the marches of Scotland, as well as they had in Ingland, he shulde keep your highness' instructions, gyffyn unto your garyson, for making of any day-forrey; for he and his friends wolde burne enough on the nyght, lettyng your counsail here defyne a notable acte at theyre pleasures. Upon whiche, in your highnes' name, I comauudet dewe watche to be kepte on your marchies, for comyng in of any Scotts.-Neutheless, upon Thurs-Scotland, in which he was defeated, and forced to fly. day at night last, came thyrty light horsemen into a litil village of myne, called Whitell, having not past sex houses, lying towards Ryddisdaill, upon Shilbotell more, and there 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 childe, in the said towne, aud said to hyr, Wher we can not gyve the laird lyght yet we shall doo this in spyte of him; and gyve her iii mortall 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 into your gracious memory thys wylful and shameful murder, done within this your highnes' realme, notwithstanding 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 knowledge to my brother Clyfforthe and me, had by credable persons of

Watt Tinlinn pursued him closely through a dangerous morass; the captain, however, gained the firm ground; and seeing Tinlinn dismounted, and floundering in the bog, used these words of insult: «<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 saddle,—« If I cannot sew, I can yerk.»2

Note 5. Stanza v.

11

- Bilhope stag.

There is an old rhyme, which thus celebrates the places in Liddesdale remarkable for game.

Bilhope braes for bucks and raes,

And Carit haugh for swine,
And Tarras for the good bull-trout,
If he be ta'en in time.

1 Risp, creak,- Rive, tear.

2 Yerk, to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches of their work.

The bucks and roes, as well as the old swine, are now extinct; but the good bull-trout are still famous. Note 6. Stanza v.

Of silver broach and bracelet proud.

As the Borderers were indifferent about the furniture of their habitations, so much exposed to be burnt and plundered, they were proportionally anxious to display splendour in decorating and ornamenting their females. -See LESLY, de Moribus Limitaneorum.

Note 7. Stanza vi.

Belted Will Howard.

27th September, 1549, the Duke of Somerset, Lord
Protector, writes to the Lord Dacre, warden of the
West Marches: «The Almains, in number two thou-
sand, 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 under-
mined 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.>> Re

"

Lord William Howard, third son of Thomas Duke of Norfolk, succeeded to Naworth Castle, and a large domain annexed to it, in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister of George Lord Dacre, who died without heirs male, in peated mention occurs of the Almains, in the subsethe 11th of Queen Elizabeth. By a poetical anachro-quent correspondence; and the enterprise seems finally to have been abandoned, from the difficulty of providnism, he is introduced into the romance a few years ing these strangers with the necessary victuals and earlier than he actually flourished. He was warden of the Western Marches; and, from the rigour with which carriages in so poor a country as Dumfries-shire. » he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted History of Cumberland, vol. I, Introd. p. lxi. From the Will Howard is still famous in our traditions. In the battle-pieces of the ancient Flemish painters we learn, castle of Naworth, his apartments, containing a bedthat the Low-country and German soldiers marched to room, oratory, and a library, are still shown. They also observe, in such pictures, the extravagance to an assault with their right knees bared. And we may impress us with an unpleasing idea of the life of a lord warden of the marches. Three or four strong doors, which they carried the fashion of ornamenting their separating these rooms from the rest of the castle, in- dress with knots of riband. This custom of the Gerdicate apprehensions of treachery from his garrison; mans is alluded to in the Mirrour for Magistrates, and the secret winding passages, through which he could P. 121. privately descend into the guard-room, or even into the dungeons, imply the necessity of no small degree of secret superintendance on the part of the governor. As the ancient books and furniture have remained undisturbed, the venerable 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 near Brampton, in Cumberland. Lord William Howard is ancestor of the

Earls of Carlisle.

Note 8. Stanza vi.

--Lord Dacre.

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 ancestors to the 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

Their pleited garments therewith well accord,
All jagde and frounst, with divers colours deckt.

Note 10. Stanza viii.

His ready lances Thirlestane brave
Array'd beneath a banner bright.

Sir John Scott of Thirlestane flourished in the reign
of James V, and possessed the estates of Thirlestane,
Gamescleuch, etc. lying upon the river Ettrick, and
extending to St Mary'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, disap-
alone declared himself ready to follow the king where-
pointed by the obstinate refusal of his peers, this baron
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 tres-
sure in the royal arms, with a bundle of spears
for the
crest, motto, Ready, aye ready. The charter itself is
printed by Nisbet; but his work being scarce, I insert
the following accurate transcript from the original, in
the possession of the Right Honourable Lord Napier,

latter branch was warden of the West Marches during the representative of John of Thirsestane.

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 Stanza vi.
9.

-the German hackbut-men.

In the wars with Scotland, Henry VIII and his successors employed numerous bands of mercenary troops. At the battle of Pinky, there were in the English army

six hundred hackbutters on foot, and two hundred on horseback, composed chiefly of foreigners. On the

" JAMES REX.

We James, be the grace of God, king of Scottis, considerand the ffaith and guid servis of of of right traist friend John 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 readdy to stake all at our bidding; ffor the yuhilk cause, it is our will, and we doe straitlie command and charg our lion herauld, and his deputies for the time beand, to give

Sic in orig.

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 bruik the samine as a pledge and taiken of our guid will and kindness for his true worthines; and thir our letters seen, ye nae wayes failzie to doe. Given at Ffalla Muire, under our hand and privy cashet, the xxvii day of July, m c and xxxii zieres. By the King's graces speciall ordinance.

Jo. ARSKINE.>>

On the back of the charter, is written,

<«< Edin. 14. January, 1713. 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.»

Note II. Stanza ix.

An aged knight, to danger steel'd,

With many a moss-trooper, came on:

And azure in a golden field,

The stars and crescent graced his shield,
Without the bend of Murdieston.

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 chieftains with the heiress, in 1296. Hence they bear the cognizance of the Scotts upon the field; whereas those of the Buccleuch are disposed upon a bend dexter, assumed in consequence of that marriage. See GLADSTAINE of Whitelawe's MSS. and SCOTT of Stokoe's Pedigree, Newcastle, 1783.

Walter Scott of Harden, who flourished during the reign of Queen Mary, was a renowned Border freebooter, concerning whom tradition has preserved a variety of anecdotes, some of which have been published in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, others in LEYDEN'S Scenes of Infancy, and others, more lately, in The Mountain Bard, a collection of Border ballads by Mr James Hogg. 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 daily maintenance of his retainers, until the production of a pair of clean spurs, in a covered dish, announced to the hungry band, that they must ride for a supply of provisions. He was married to Mary Scott, daughter of Philip Scott of Dryhope, and called in song the Flower of Yarrow. He possessed 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 captive, whom Walter of Harden carried off in a predatory incursion, 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 shagg'd with thorn,
Where springs, in scatter'd tufts, the dark-green corn,
Towers wood-girt Harden, far above the vale,
And clouds of ravens o'er the turrets sail.

A hardy race, who never shrunk from war,
The Scott, to rival realms a mighty bar,
Here fix'd 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 bless'd 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 boofs the rocky pavement rung.
What fair, balf-veil'd, leans from her latticed hall,
Where red the wavering gleams of torch-light fall?
'T is Yarrow's fairest Flower, who, through the gloom,
Looks, wistful, for her lover's dancing plume.
Amid the piles of spoil, that strew'd 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 clasp'd 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 shunn'd 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 12. Stanza x.

Scotts of Eskdale, a stalwart band.

In this, and the following stanza, some account is given of the mode in which the property of the valley of Esk was transferred from the Beattisons, its ancient possessors, to the name of Scott. It is needless to repeat the circumstances, which are given in the poem literally as they have been preserved by tradition. Lord Maxwell, in the latter part of the sixteenth 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, etc.

Note 13. Stanza xiii.

Their gathering word was Bellenden.

Bellenden is situate near the head of Borthwick water, and, being in the centre of the possessions of the Scotts, was frequently 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 account of the families of that clan, his Bellenden.

Note 14. Stanza xviii.

The camp their home, their law the sword,
They knew no country, own'd no lord.

The mercenary adventurers, whom, in 1380, the Earl of Cambridge carried to the assistance of the King of

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