num, qui apud nos ferocissimi sunt, impetus plane contemnerit. Ejus carnes cartilaginosæ sed saporis suavissimi. Erat is olim per illam vastissimam Caledonia sylvam frequens, sed humana ingluvie jam assumptus tribus tantum locis est reliquus, Strivilingii, Cumbernaldiæ, et Kincarniæ.-Leslæus, Scotiæ Descriptio, p. 13.

Stern Claud replied, with darkening face,

(Grey Pasley's haughty lord was he.)-P. 267. v. 3. Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and commendator of the Abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during the troubles of Queen Mary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her army at the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the Raid of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queen's faction. He was ancestor to the present Marquis of Abercorn.

Few suns have set, since Woodhouselee.-P. 267. v. 4.

This barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, near Auchendinny, belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right of his wife. The ruins of the mansion, from whence she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasioned her death, are still to be seen, in a hollow glen beside the river. Popular report tenants them with the restless ghost of the Lady Bothwellhaugh; whom, however, it confounds with Lady Anne Bothwell, whose Lament is so popular. This spectre is so tenacious of her rights,

that, a part of the stones of the ancient edifice having been employed in building or repairing the present Woodhouselee, she has deemed it a part of her privilege to haunt that house also; and, even of very late years, has excited considerable disturbance and terror among the domestics. This is a more remarkable vindication of the rights of ghosts, as the present Woodhouselee, which gives his title to the Honourable Alexander Fraser Tytler, a senator of the College of Justice, is situated on the slope of the Pentland Hills, distant at least four miles from her proper abode. She always appears in white, and with a child in her arms.

Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke

Drives to the leap his faded steed.—P. 269. v. 3. Birrell informs us, that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, "after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and stroke his horse behind, whilk caused the horse to leap a very brode stank, (i. e. ditch,) by whilk means he escapit, and gat away from all the rest. of the horses."-BIRRELL'S Diary, p. 18.

From the wild Border's humbled side,

In haughty triumph marched he.-P. 270. v. 3. Murray's death took place shortly after an expedition to the Borders; which is thus commemorated by the author of his elegy:—

"So having stablischt all thing in this sort, To Liddisdaill again he did resort,

Throw Ewisdail, Eskdail, and all the daills rode he,
And also lay three nights in Cannabie,

Whair na prince lay thir hundred yeiris before,
Nae thief durst stir, they did him feir so sair;
And, that they suld na mair thair thift alledge,
Threescore and twelf he brocht of thame in pledge,
Syne wardit thame, whilk made the rest keep ordour,
Than mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the Bordour."
Scottish Poems, 16th century, p. 232.

With hackbut bent, my secret stand.-P. 271. v. 1. The carabine, with which the regent was shot, is preserved at Hamilton Palace. It is a brass piece, of a middling length, very small in the bore, and, what is rather extraordinary, appears to have been rifled or indented in the barrel. It had a match-lock, for which a modern fire-lock has been injudiciously substituted.

Dark Morton, girt with many a spear.-P. 271. v. 2. Of this noted person it is enough to say, that he was active in the murder of David Rizzio, and at least privy to that of Darnley.

The wild Macfarlane's plaided clan.-P. 271. v. 2. This clan of Lennox Highlanders were attached to the Regent Murray. Holinshed, speaking of the battle of Langside, says, "In this batayle the valiancie of an Hieland gentleman, named Macfarlane, stood the regent's part in great steede; for, in the hottest brunte of the fighte, he came up with two hundred of his friendes and countrymen, and so manfully gave in upon the flankes of the queen's people, that he was a great cause

of the disordering of them. This Macfarlane had been lately before, as I have heard, condemned to die, for some outrage by him committed, and obtayning pardon through suyte of the Countess of Murray, he recompenced that clemencie by this peice of service now at this batayle." Calderwood's account is less favourable to the Macfarlanes. He states, that "Macfarlane, with his Highlandmen, fled from the wing where they were set. The Lord Lindsay, who stood nearest to them in the re gent's battle, said, 'Let them go! I shall fill their place better;' and so stepping forward with a company of fresh men, charged the enemy, whose spears were now spent, with long weapons, so that they were driven back by force, being before almost overthrown by the avant-guard and harquebusiers, and so were turned to flight."-Calderwood's MS. apud Keith, p. 480. Melville mentions the flight of the vanguard, but states it to have been commanded by Morton, and composed chiefly of commoners of the barony of Renfrew.

Glencairn and stout Parkhead were nigh,

Obsequious at their regent's rein.-P. 271. v. 3. The Earl of Glencairn was a steady adherent of the regent. George Douglas of Parkhead was a natural brother of the Earl of Morton; his horse was killed by the same ball by which Murray fell.

And haggard Lindsay's iron eye,

That saw fair Mary weep in vain-P. 271. v. 3. Lord Lindsay of the Byres was the most ferocious and

brutal of the regent's faction; and, as such, was employed to extort Mary's signature to the deed of resignation, presented to her in Lochleven Castle. He discharged his commission with the most savage rigour; and it is even said, that when the weeping captive, in the act of signing, averted her eyes from the fatal deed, he pinched her arm with the grasp of his iron glove.

Scarce could his trampling charger move,

So close the minions crowded nigh.—P. 271. v. 4. Richard Bannatyne mentions in his Journal, that John Knox repeatedly warned Murray to avoid Linlithgow.

Not only had the regent notice of the intended attempt upon his life, but even of the very house from which it was threatened. With that infatuation, at which men wonder after such events have happened, he deemed it would be a sufficient precaution to ride briskly past the dangerous spot. But even this was prevented by the crowd; so that Bothwellhaugh had time to take a deliberate aim.-Spottiswoode, p. 233. Buchanan.