Wend thou to Branksome back on foot, He blew his bugle so loud and hoarse, That the dun deer started at far Craikcross; He blew again so loud and clear, Through the gray mountain mist there did lances appear; That the echoes answered from Pentoun-linn ; And all his riders came lightly in. Then you had seen a gallant shock, When saddles were emptied and lances broke: His own good sword the chieftain drew, The Scotts have scattered the Beattison clan, In Eskdale they left but one landed man. The valley of Eske, from the mouth to the source, BORDER WARS. The history of the border wars of Scotland is highly interesting. Scotland is only divided from England by an artificial boundary, but the two regions were once governed by different kings and laws, and the people thought they had different and clashing interests. Those who lived on the border, or contiguous territories of the two dominions, paid little regard to any laws.-They took justice into their own hands, or rather they defied justice, and devastated each other's property as much as they could, and they kept up for ages the hostilities which some needy robber had begun. In the third canto of the Lady of the Lake-The GatheringSir Walter Scott represents in a very vivid manner, the spirit and alacrity with which the clansmen assembled themselves at the call of their chiefs. When the clansmen were suddenly summoned to their lord's defence, or that of his allies, a signal was carried through the tract of country which they inhabited, and with almost incredible speed they assembled themselves at the "trysting place," or as we say from the French, at the Rendezvous. The Funeral and the Wedding were alike suspended at this summons, and the mourner and the bride were forgotten in the claim of a Scottish chief. "Fast as the fatal symbol flies, In arms the huts and hamlets rise; The fisherman forsook the strand, Each valley, each sequestered glen, No oath, but by his Chieftain's hand, No law, but Roderick Dhu's command." The predatory habits of these clans originated in their rapacity and indolence, and were carried on by the spirit of retaliation. The chiefs, however, possessed some high qualities in conjunction with the passions which produced such shocking results. Ellen, in The Lady of the Lake, describes this combination of revolting and praise-worthy traits. She speaks of Roderick Dhu, the chief of Clan Alpine: "I grant him liberal, to fling. Among his clan the wealth they bring, From peasants slaughtered in their shed? Like lightning o'er the midnight sky." THE ALARM. The story of Sir Walter Scott's Minstrel is one of the warfare of the Scott's, (the family of the Dukes of Buccleuch,) with southern force and guile.— "When Scrope, and Howard, and Percy's powers Branksome was the castle of the Buccleuch family, and Scrope, Howard, and Percy, are names of English noblemen from "Warkworth, and Naworth, and merry Carlisle," who were open enemies of the Scotts of Buccleuch. The action of the poem is dated about 1550. In anticipation of an attack from the southern powers, the Scotts mustered the clans, their neighbours and allies. The alarm is exhibited with wonderful animation. the evening fell, 'Twas near the time of curfew bell; The stream was smooth, the dew was balm, Enjoyed and blessed the lovely hour. She waked at times the lute's soft tone Her golden hair streamed free from band, Is yon the star, o'er Penchryst Pen, And, spreading broad its wavering light, Scarce could she draw her tightened breath, The warder viewed it blazing strong, The Seneschal, whose silver hair The foe to scout! Mount, mount, for Branksome, every man! Ye need not send to Liddesdale ; Fair Margaret, from the turret head, As to their seats with clamour dread, In hasty route, The horsemen galloped forth; And east, and west, and north, And soon a score of fires, I ween, From height, and hill, and cliff, were seen; Each with warlike tidings fraught; Each from each the signal caught; Each after each they glanced to sight, The livelong night in Branksome rang Was frequent heard the heavy jar, |