NOTE XVI.

He thought, as he took it, the dead man frowned.-P. 36. William of Deloraine might be strengthened in this belief by the well-known story of the Cid Ruy Diaz. When the body of that famous Christian champion was sitting in state by the high altar of the cathedral church of Toledo, where it remained for ten years, a certain malicious Jew attempted to pull him by the beard; but he had no sooner touched the formidable whiskers, than the corpse started up, and half unsheathed his sword. The Israelite fled; and so permanent was the effect of his terror, that he became Christian. Heywood's Hierarchie, p. 480, quoted from Sebastian Cobarruvias crozcę.

NOTE XVII.

The Baron's Dwarf his courser held.-P. 41.

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 Bordermountains. A gentleman of that country has noted down the following particulars concerning his appear

ance.

"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 Gilpia appeared and staid for some time. He said there were two men, late in the evening, when it was growing dark, employed in fastening 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 ! tint ! tint !"* One of the men, nam、 ed Moffat, called out, What de'il has tint you? Come here.' Immediately a creature, of something like a human form, appeared. It was surprisingly little, distorted in features, and misshapen in limbs. As soon as

* Tint_signifies lost

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 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 mischievous creature; and any of the children whom it could master, 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 kah, 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 suddenly they heard a loud shrill voice cry, three times, 'Gilpin Horner ? it started, and said, 'That is me, I must away ;' and instantly disappeared, and was néver heard of more. Old Anderson 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 remotest doubt as to the truth of the story; although, I must own, I cannot help thinking there must be some misrepresentation in it.”—To this account, I have to add the following particulars from the most respectable authority. Besides constantly repeating the word tint ! tint! Gilpin Horner was often heard to call upon Peter Bertram, or Be-teram, as he pronounced the word: and when the shrill voice called Gilpin Horner, he im. mediately 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 supposed rather a device of the author than a

popular superstition, I can only say, that no legend which I ever heard seemed 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 of Branksome gathered a band,
Of the best that would ride at her command.-P. 42.

"Upon 25th June 1557, Dame Janet Beatoune Lady Buccleuch, and a great number of the name of Scott, delaitit (accused) for coming to the kirk of St. Mary of the Lowes, to the number of two hundred persons bodin in feire of weire (arrayed in armour,) and breaking open the doors of the said kirk, in order to apprehend the laird of Cranstoune for his destruction." On the 20th July, a warrant from the queen is presented, discharging the justice to proceed against the Lady Buccleuch while new calling. Abridgment of Books of Adjournal in Advocates' Library.—The following proceedings upon this case appear on the record of the Court of Justiciary: On the 25th of June, 1557, Robert Scott, in Bowhill parish, priest of the kirk of St. Mary's, accused of the convocation 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 malice 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 Todshawhaugh, 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, and 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 Seett of Synton, and Walter Chris

holme of Chisholme, and William Scott of Harden, be dame bound, jointly and severally, that Sir Peter Cran stoun, and his kindred and servants, should receive no injury from them in future. At the same time, Patrick Murray of Fallohill, Alexander Stuart, uncle to the laird of Trak whare, John Murray of Newhall, John Fairlye, residing in Selkirk, George Tait, younger of Pirn, John Pennycuke of Pennycuke, James Ramsay of Cokpen, the laird of Fassyde, and the laird of Henders toune, were all severally fined for not attending as jurors; being probably either in alliance with the accused parties, or dreading their vengeance. Upon the 20th of July following, Scott of Synton, Chisholme 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 THIRD.

NOTE L

When, dancing in the sunny beam,

He marked the crane on the baron's crest.-P. 45.

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 cbant.

NOTE II.

Much he marvelled a knight of pride,

Like a book-bosomed priest should ride.-P. 48.

At Unthank, two miles N. E. from the church (of Ewes,) there are the ruins of a chapel for divine ser vice, in time of popery. There is a tradition, that friars were wont to come from Melrose, or Jedburgh, to baptize and marry in this parish; 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 baptized by these book-a-bosomes, and who says one of them, called Hair, used this parish for a very long time."-Account of Parish of Ewes, apud Macfarlane's MSS.

NOTE III.

It had much of glamour might.-P. 49.

Glamour, in the legends of Scottish superstition, means the magic power of imposing on the eyesight of