The facetious qualities of the ape soon rendered him In this roughly-wooded island, the country people an acceptable addition to the strolling band of the secreted their wives and children, and their most jongleur. Ben Jonson, in his splenetic introduction to valuable effects, from the rapacity of Cromwell's solthe comedy of « Bartholomew Fair,» is at pains to in-diers, during their inroad into this country, in the time I form the audience that he has ne'er a sword and buckler man in his Fair, nor a juggler, with a welleducated ape, to come over the chaine for the King of England, and back again for the prince, and sit still on his haunches for the pope and the King of Spaine.»> Note 3. Stanza xiv. That stirring air that peals on high, O'er Dermid's race our victory.- There are several instances, at least in tradition, of of the republic. These invaders, not venturing to ascend by the ladders, along the side of the lake, took a more circuitous road, through the heart of the Trosachs, the most frequented path at that time, which penetrates the wilderness about half-way between Binean and the lake, by a tract called Yea-chilleach, or the Old Wife's Bog. << In one of the defiles of this by-road, the men of the country at that time hung upon the rear of the invading enemy, and shot one of Cromwell's men, whose grave marks the scene of action, and gives name to that In revenge of this insult the soldiers pass. 2 mecdote is mentioned by the late Mr Riddel of Glen-resolved to plunder the island, to violate the women, maddel, in his collection of Border tunes, respecting an and -put the children to death. With this brutal inair called the « Dandling of the Bairns,» for which a tention, one of the party, more expert than the rest, ertain Gallovidian laird is said to have evinced this swam towards the island, to fetch the boat to his frong mark of partiality. It is popularly told of a comrades, which had carried the women to their asyfamous freebooter, that he composed the tune known lum, and lay moored in one of the creeks. His comby the name of Macpherson's Rant while under sen- panions stood on the shore of the main-land, in full lence of death, and played it at the gallows-tree. Some view of all that was to pass, waiting anxiously for his return with the boat. But just as the swimmer had spirited words have been adapted to it by Burns. A milar story is recounted of a Welch bard, who comgot to the nearest point of the island, and was laying posed and played on his death-bed the air called Dafyddy hold of a black rock, to get on shore, a heroine, who Garregg Wen. stood on the very point where he meant to land, hastily snatching a dagger from below her apron, with one His party stroke severed his head from the body. seeing this disaster, and relinquishing all future hope of revenge or conquest, made the best of their way out of their perilous situation This amazon's great-grandson lives at Bridge of Turk, who, besides others, attests the anecdote. »Sketch of the Scenery near Callender. Stirling, 1806, p. 20. I have only to add to this account But the most curious example is given by Brantome, of a maid of honour at the court of France, entitled, Mademoiselle de Limucil. « Durant sa maladie, dont | ele trespassa, jamais elle ne cessa, ains causa tousjours; car elle estoit forte grande parleuse, brocardeuse, et tres-bien et fort à propos, et très-belle avec cela. Quand eure de sa fin fut venue, elle fit venir à soy son valet, Cosi que les filles de la cour en ont chacune un), qui appeloit Julien, et scavoit très-bien jouer du violon. Julien, luy dit elle, prenez vostre violon, et sonnez moy tousjours jusques à ce que me voyez morte (car je my en vais) la défaite des Suisses, et le mieux que vons pourrez, et quand vous serez sur le mot, 'Tout est perdu, sonnez le par quatre ou cing fois, le plus piteusement que vous pourrez,' ce qui fit l'autre, et elle-mesme buy aidoit de la voix, et quand ce vint tout est perdu,' de le réitera par deux fois; et se tournant de l'autre cesté du chevet, elle dit à ses compagnes: 'Tout est perdu à ce coup, et à bon escient;' et ainsi décéda. Voila une morte joyeuse et plaisante. Je tiens ce conte deux de ses compagnes, dignes de fois, qui virent Jouer ce mystere.»-OEuvres de Brantome, Ill. 507. The tune to which this fair lady chose to make her faal exit was composed on the defeat of the Swiss at Marignano. The burden is quoted by Panurge, in Rabelais, and consists of these words, imitating the agon of the Swiss, which is a mixture of French and that the heroine's name was Helen Stuart. Note 5. Stanza xxvi. And Snowdoun's knight is Scotland's king. This discovery will probably remind the reader of the beautiful Arabian tale of Il Bondocani. Yet the incident is not borrowed from that elegant story, but from Scottish tradition. James V., of whom we are treating, was a monarch whose good and benevolent intentions often rendered his romantic freaks venial, if not respectable, since, from his anxious attention to the interests of the lower and most oppressed class of his subjects, he was, as we have seen, popularly termed the King of the Commons. For the purpose of seeing that justice was regularly administered, and frequently from the less justifiable motive of gallantry, he used to traverse the vicinage of his several palaces in various disguises. The two excellent comic songs, entitled « The Gaberlunzie Man,» and « We'll gae nae mair a roving,>> are said to have been founded upon the success of his amorous adventures when travelling in the disguise of a beggar. The latter is perhaps the best comic ballad in any language. Another adventure, which had nearly cost James his life, is said to have taken place at the village of Cramond, near Edinburgh, where he had rendered his addresses acceptable to a pretty girl of the lower rank. tioned in the text. Beallach an duine. The author requests permission yet farther to verify the subject of his poem, by an extract from the geneslogical work of Buchanan of Auchmar, upon Scottish surnames. « This John Buchanan of Auchmar and Arnpryor was afterwards termed King of Kippen, upon the following account: King James V., a very sociable, debonair prince, residing at Stirling, in Buchanan of Arnpryor's time, carriers were very frequently passing along the common road, being near Arnpryor's house, with necessaries for the use of the king's family; and he, having some extraordinary occasion, ordered one of these carriers to leave his load at his house, and he would pay him for it; which the carrier refused to do, telling him he was the king's carrier, and his load for his majesty's use; to which Arnpryor seemed to have small regard, compelling the carrier, in the end, to leave his load; telling him, if King James was king of Scotland, he was king of Kippen, so that it was reasonable he should share with his neighbour king in some of these loads, so frequently carried that road. The carrier representing this usage, and telling the story, as Arnpryor spoke it, to some of the king's servants, it came at length to his majesty's ears, who, shortly thereafter, with a few attendants, came to visit his neighbour king, who was in the mean time at dinner. King James having sent a servant to demand access, was denied the same by a tall fellow with a battleaxe, who stood porter at the gate, telling, there could be no access till dinner was over. This answer not satis Four or five persons, whether relations or lovers of his mistress is uncertain, beset the disguised monarch, as he returned from his rendezvous. Naturally gallant, and an admirable master of his weapon, the king took post on the high and narrow bridge over the Almond river, and defended himself bravely with his sword. A peasant, who was threshing in a neighbouring barn, came out upon the noise, and, whether moved by compassion or by natural gallantry, took the weaker side, and laid about with his flail so effectually, as to disperse the assailants, well threshed, even according to the letter. He then conducted the king into his barn, where his guest requested a basin and towel, to remove the stains of the broil. This being procured with difficulty, James employed himself in learning what was the summit of his deliverer's earthly wishes, and found that they were bounded by the desire of possessing, in property, the farm of Braehead, upon which he laboured as a bondsman. The lands chanced to belong to the crown: and James directed him to come to the palace of Holyrood, and enquire for the Gudeman (i. e. farmer) of Ballanguich, a name by which he was known in his excursions, and which answered to the Il Bondocani of Haroun Alraschid. He presented himself accordingly, and found, with due astonishment, that he had saved his monarch's life, and that he was to be gratified with a crown-charter of the lands of Braehead, under the service of presenting an ewer, basin, and towel, for the king to wash his hands, when he shall happen to pass the Bridge of Cramond. This person was ancestor of the Howisous of Brae-fying the king, he sent to demand access a second time; head, in Mid-Lothian, a respectable family, who continue to hold the lands (now passed into the female line) under the same tenure. Another of James's frolics is thus narrated by Mr Campbell, from the Statistical Account. «Being once benighted when out a-hunting, and separated from his attendants, he happened to enter a cottage in the midst of a moor, at the foot of the Ochil hills, near Alloa, where, unknown, he was kindly received. In order to regale their unexpected guest, the gudeman (e. i. landlord, farmer,) desired the gudewife to fetch the hen that roosted nearest the cock, which is always the plumpest, for the stranger's supper. The king, highly pleased with his night's lodging and hospitable entertainment, told mine host, at parting, that he should be glad to return his civiltty, and requested that the first time he came to Stirling he would call at the castle, and enquire for the gudeman of Ballenguich. Donaldson, the landlord, did not fail to call on the gudeman of Ballenguich, when his astonishment at finding that the king had been his guest afforded no small amusement to the merry monarch and his courtiers; and, to carry on the pleasantry, he was thenceforth designated by James with the title of King of the Moors, which name and designation have descended from father to son ever since, and they have continued in possession of the identical spot, the property of Mr Erskine of Mar, till very lately, when this gentleman, with reluctance, turned out the descendant and representative of the King of the Moors, on account of his majesty's invincible indolence, and great dislike to reform or innovation of any kind, although, from the spirited example of his neighbour tenants on the same estate, he is convinced similar exertion would promote his advantage.» upon which he was desired by the porter to desist, otherwise he would find cause to repent his rudeness Ilis majesty finding this method would not do, desired the porter to tell his master that the goodman of Ballageigh desired to speak with the king of Kippen. The porter telling Arnpryor so much, he, in all humble manner, came and received the king, and having enter tained him with much sumptuousness and jollity, be came so agreeable to King James, that he allowed him to take so much of any provision he found carrying that road as he had occasion for; and seeing he made the first visit, desired Arnpryor in a few days to return him a second to Stirling, which he performed, and continued in very much favour with the king, alway, thereafter being termed king of Kippen while le lived.»-BUCHANAN'S Essay upon the Family of bucha nan. Edin. 1775, 8vo. p. 74. The readers of Ariosto must give credit for the ame able features with which he is represented, since he is generally considered as the prototype of Zerbino, the most interesting hero of the Orlando Furioso. Note 6. Stanza xxviii. Of yore the name of Snowdoun claims. William of Worcester, who wrote about the middle of the fifteenth century, calls Stirling Castle Snowdonn. Sir David Lindsay bestows the same epithet upon it in his Complaint of the Paping. Adieu, fair Snawdoun, with thy towers high, A small district of Perthshire. Mr Chalmers, in his late excellent edition of Sir David Lindsay's works, has refuted the chimerical desation of Snawdoun from snedding, or cutting. It was probably derived from the romantic legend which I connected Stirling with King Arthur, to which the mention of the Round Table gives countenance. The ng within which justs were formerly practised, in the astle park, is still called the Round Table. Snawdoan is the official title of one of the Scottish heralds, whose epithets seem in all countries to have been fantastically adopted from ancient history or romance. It appears from the preceding note, that the real same by which James was actually distinguished in his private excursions, was the Goodman of Balienguich; derived from a steep pass leading up to the Castle of Stirling, so called. But the epithet would not have suited poetry, and would besides at once, and prematurely, have announced the plot to many of my countrymen, among whom the traditional stories above mentioned are still current. The Author has to apologise for the inadvertent appropriation of a whole line from the tragedy of Douglas, I hold the first who strikes, my foe.. Rokeby; A POEM, IN SIX CANTOS. TO JOHN B. S. MORRITT, ESQ. This Poem, THE SCENE OF WHICH IS LAID IN HIS BEAUTIFUL DEMESNE OF ROKEBY, IS INSCRIBED, IN TOKEN OF SINCERE FRIENDSHIP, BY WALTER SCOTT. ADVERTISEMENT. Tax Scene of the Poem is laid at Rokeby, near Greta-bridge, in Yorkshire, and shifts to the adjacent fortress of Barnard Castle, and to other places in that vicinity. The time occupied by the Action is a space of Five Days, Three of which are supposed to elapse between the end of the Fifth and beginning of the Sixth Canto. The date of the supposed events is immediately subsequent to the great Battle of Marston-moor, 3d July, 1644. This period of public confusion has been chosen, without any purpose of combining the Fable with the Mitary or Political Events of the Civil War, but only as affording a degree of probability to the Fictitious Narrative now presented to the Public. ROKEBY. CANTO I. I. Tag moon is in her summer glow, On Barnard's towers, and Tees's stream, (1) When conscience, with remorse and fear, II. Those towers, which in the changeful gleam Conscience, anticipating time, The sounding scourge and hissing snake; III. Thus Oswald's labouring feelings trace With which the moon-beams tinge the Tees. IV. He woke, and fear'd again to close He woke, to watch the lamp, and tell V. Far townward sounds a distant tread, And Oswald, starting from his bed, Hath caught it, though no human ear, Unsharpen'd by revenge and fear, Could e'er distinguish horse's clauk, (2) Until it reach'd the castle-bank. Now nigh and plain the sound appears, The warder's challenge now he hears. Then clanking chains and levers tell, That o'er the moat the draw-bridge fell, And, in the castle-court below, Voices are heard, and torches glow, As marshalling the stranger's way, Straight for the room where Oswald lay; The cry was,―« Tidings from the host, Of weight-a messenger comes post.»Stifling the tumult of his breast, His answer Oswald thus express'd«Bring food and wine, and trim the fire; Admit the stranger, and retire.» VI. The stranger came with heavy stride: The morion's plumes his visage hide, And the buff coat, in ample fold, Then from his brows the casque he drew, VII. With deep impatience, tinged with fear, VIII. Much in the stranger's mien appears, On his dark face a scorching clime, IX. But yet, though BERTRAM's harden'd look, Had plough'd them with impressions strong. Not that, e'en then, his heart had known Awhile he glozed upon the cause In foreign fields for feats of war, From fields where danger, death, and toil, e Nay, mock not, friend ! since well we know The near advances of the foe, To mar our northern army's work, . Thy horse with valiant Fairfax lay, And must have fought-how went the day?» XII. « Wouldst hear the tale?-On Marston heath I could have laugh'd-but lack'd the time- How the fierce zealots fought and bled, A patriot's or a martyr's name.- XIII. «Good am I deem'd at trumpet-sound, Was like the strife which currents wage, Rolls to the main no tribute tide, A rival sea of roaring war; Then ours, though stubborn in their zcal, In zeal's despite began to reel. What wouldst thou more?-in tumult tost, Our leaders fell, our ranks were lost. A thousand men, who drew the sword For both the Houses and the Word, Preach'd forth from hamlet, grange, and down, To curb the crosier and the crown, Now, stark and stiff, lie stretch'd in gore, Thus fared it, when I left the fight, With the good cause and commons' right.» |