has acknowledged to me to be true, that may do the business:-Do you remember the clap on your back when your servant was pulling off your boots in the hali? Assure yourself, said I, father L., that goblin will be the first that will bid you welcome into the other world. Upon that his countenance changed most sensibly, and he was more confounded with this rubbing up his memory, than with all the rational or philosophical argumentations that I could produce.»> Note 5. Stanza xiii. The running stream dissolved the spell. It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment can subsist in a running stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and witches, spectrés, or even fiends, you are safe. Burns's inimitable Tam o'Shanter turns entirely upon such a circumstance. The belief seems to be of antiquity. Brompton informs us, that certain Irish wizards could, by spells, convert earthen clods, or stones, into fat pigs, which they sold in the market; but which always reassumed their proper form, when driven by the deceived purchasers across a running stream. But Brompton is severe on the Irish, for a very good reason. « Gens ista spurcissima non solvunt decimas.»-Chronicon Johannis Brompton apud decem Scriptores, p. 1076. Note 6. Stanza xvii. His buckler scarce in breadth a span, No larger fence had he; He never counted him a man. Imitated from Drayton's account of Robin Hood and his followers: A hundred vafiant men had this brave Robin Hood, lyshe knyghtes and squyers were ryghte sore displeased, Note 7. Stanza xxiii. And with a charm she staunch'd the blood. See several charms for this purpose in Reginald Scott's Tom Potts was but a serving man, He bound his handkerchief on the wound, And with some kind of words he staunched the blood. Note 8. Stanza xxiii. But she has ta'en the broken lance, And wash'd it from the clotted gore, Sir Kenelm Digby, in a discourse upon the cure by « Mr James Howel (well known in France for his public works, and particularly for his Dendrologie, translated into French by Mons. Baudouin) coming by chance, as two of his best friends were fighting in duel, he did his endeavour to part them; and, putting himselfe between them, seized, with his left hand, upon the hilt of the sword of one of the combatants, while, with his right hand, he laid hold of the blade of the other. They, being transported with fury, one against the other, struggled to rid themselves of the hindrance their friend made, that they should not kill one another; and one of them, roughly drawing the blade of his sword, cuts to the very bone the nerves and muscles of Mr Howel's hand; and then the other disengaged his hilts, and gave a cross blow on his adversarie's head, which glanced towards his friend, who heaving up his sore hand to save the blow, he was wounded on the back of his hand as he had been before within. It seems some strange con so much bloud by parting two such dear friends, who, To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned contrary to the law of arms. In a tilt be-stellation reigned then against him, that he should lose twixt Gawain Michael, an English squire, and Joachim Cathroe, a Frenchman, «< they met at the speare poynts rudely; the French squyer justed right pleasantly; the Englyshman ran too lowes for he strak the Frenchman depe into the thygh. Wherewith the Earl of Bucking-sholde have drawn one from the other. For they, seeham was right sore displeased; and so were all the other lordes, and sayde how it was shamefully done.» FROISSART, vol. I, ch. 366.-Upon a similar occasion, «< the two knyghtes came a fote eche against other rudely, with their speares low couched, to stryke eche other within the foure quarters. Johan of Castell-Morante strake the Englysh squyer on the brest in such wyse, that Syr Wyllyam Fermetone stombled and bowed, for his fote a lyttel fayled him. He held his speare lowe « It was my chance to be lodged hard by him; and with bothe his handes, and could nat amende it, and four or five days after, as I was making myself ready, sirake Sir Johan of the Castell-Morante in the thyghe, he came to my house, and prayed me to view his wounds; so that the speare went clene throughe, that the heed for I understand,' said he, that you have extraordiAnd Syre Johannary remedies on such occasions, and my surgeons apThan the Eng-prehend some fear that it may grow to a gangrene, and was sene a handfull on the other syde. with the stroke reled, but he fell nat. ing Mr Howel's face besmeared with bloud, by heaving 1 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 so the hand must be cut off. In effect, his countemance 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, be-by the first intention. It is introduced by Dryden in cause he would think it, peradventure, either ineffec- the Enchanted Island, a (very unnecessary) alteration tual or superstitious. He replied, the wonderful things of the Tempest: which many have related unto me of your way of medicinement makes me nothing doubt at all of its effcacy; and all that I have to say unto you is comprehended in the Spanish proverb, Hagase el milagro, y hagalo Mahoma-Let the miracle be done, though Mahomet do it." «J.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 find that I feel no more pain. Methinks that a Ariel. Anoint the sword which pierced him with this Till I have time to visit him again.-Act. v. sc. 2. ་ Again, in scene 4th, Miranda enters, with Hippolito's sword wrapt up: any manner; The Border beacons, from their number and posipleasing kinde of freshnesse, as it were a wet cold nap- Edinburgh.-The act of parliament 1455, c. 48, directs, tion, formed a sort of telegraphic communication with kin, did spread over my hand, which hath taken away that one bale, or fagot, shall be warning of the apthe inflammation that tormented me before.' I 'replyed, proach of the English in Since then that you feel already so good effect of my that they are coming indeed; four bales, blazing beside two bales, medicament, I advise you to cast away all your play- each other, that the enemy are in great force. The sters; only keep the wound clean, and in a moderate same taikenings to be watched and maid at Eggerhope temper betwixt heat and cold.' This was presently reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after (Eggerstane) Castell, fra they se the fire of Hume, that they fire right swa. And in like manner on Sowtra to the king, who were both very curious to know the circumstance of the business, which was, that after din-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 cast, 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, ner 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 againthe 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. P. 701. Note 10. Stanza xxvii. Our kin, and clan, and friends to raise. The speed with which the Forderers 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: " The king (James VI.) obtained from Sir Kenelm the discovery of his secret, which he pretended had been Upon the death of the old Lord Scroop, the queen taught him by a Carmelite friar, who had learned it in gave the west wardenry to his son, that had married Armenia, or Persia. Let not the age of animal mag-my sister. He, having received that office, came to me netism 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 anic 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, .... 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 leave, the blood that should be spilt that day would lie of it; and few days past over my head but I was on very hard upon my conscience. And therefore I dehorseback, either to prevent mischief, or take male-sired them, for my sake, to forbear; and, if the Scots factors, 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. did not presently make away with all the speed they Note 11. Stanza xxix. « 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 Scotts 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 prisoIt 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 pers. 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 the 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; but on a 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 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, The contents were bones and CANTO IV. Note 1. Stanza ii. The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie. Note 2. Stanza iii. For pathless marsh, and mountain cell; 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 some 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; anoother 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 devised 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 wardens, or leaders. Scotland, this abomynable act not only to be done by Noté 4. Stanza iv. 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 myduyght; 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 kepe 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 defyné a notable acte at theyre pleasures. Upon whiche, in your highnes' name, I comaundet dewe watche to be kept 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, and 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 unto your gracious memory thys wylful and places in Liddesdale remarkable for game : shamefull 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. There is an old rhyme, which thus celebrates the 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. Risp, creak.- Rive, tear. * 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. Stanzą 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. Lord Willam 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 Daere, who died without heirs male, in the 11th of Queen Elizabeth. By a poetical anachronism, he is introduced into the romance a few years carlier than he actually flourished. He was warden of the Western Marches;, and, from the rigour with which he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted 27th September, 1549, the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector, writes to the Lord Dacre, warden of the West Marches: «The Almains, in number two thousaud, 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 eaused secretly some number to be provided; or else undermined 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.» Repeated mention, occurs of the Almains, in the subsequent correspondence; and the enterprise seems finally to have been abandoned, from the difficulty of providing these strangers with the necessary <<victuals and carriages in so poor a country as Dumfries-shire. >> History of Cumberland, vol. I, Introd. p. lxi. From the battle-pieces of the ancient Flemish painters we learn, Will Howard is still fainous in our traditions. In the that the Low-country and German soldiers marched to castle of Naworth, his apartments, containing a bedan assault with their right knees bared. And we may room, oratory, and a library, are still shown. They also observe, in such pictures, the extravagance to impress us with an unpleasing idea of the life of a lord which they carried the fashion of ornamenting their warden of the marches. Three or four strong doors, dress with knots of riband. This custom of the Gerseparating these rooms from the rest of the castle, in-mans is alluded to in the Mirror for Magistrates, dicate apprehensions of treachery from his garrison; and the secret winding passages, through which he could privately descend into the guard-room, or even into. the dungeons, imply the necessity of no small degree of secret superintendance on me 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 latter branch was warden of the West Marches during 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 9. Stanza vi. --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 p. 121. Their pleited garments therewith well accord, His ready lances Thirlestane brave 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, disappointed by the obstinate refusal of his peers, this baron alone declared himself ready to follow the king whereever 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 tressure in the royal arms, with a bundle of spears for the crest, motto, Ready, ayé 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, the representative of John of Thirlestane. «JAMES REX. considerand the ffaith and guid servis of of of1 right We James, by the grace of God, king of Scottis, 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 quhilk cause, it is our herauld, and his deputies for the time beand, to give will, and we doe straitlie command and charg our lion Sic in orig. |