NOTES TO THE POETRY.

NOTES TO THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL.

p. 6.

The feast was over in Branksome tower.

IN the reign of James I., Sir William Scott of Buccleuch, chief of the clan bearing that name, exchanged, with Sir Thomas Inglis of Manor, the estate of Murdiestone, in Lanarkshire, for one-half of the Barony of Branksome, or Brankholm, lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above Hawick. He was probably induced to this transaction from the vicinity of Branksome to the extensive domain which he possessed in Ettrick Forest and in Teviotdale. In the former district he held by occupancy the estate of Buccleuch, and much of the forest land on the river Ettrick. In Teviotdale, he enjoyed the barony of Eckford, by a grant from Robert II. to his ancestor, Walter Scott of Kirkurd, for the apprehending of Gilbert Ridderford, confirmed by Robert III., 3d May 1424. Tradition imputes the exchange betwixt Scott and Inglis to a conversation, in which the latter a man, it would appear, of a mild and forbearing naturecomplained much of the injuries to which he was exposed from the English Borderers, who frequently plundered his lands of Branksome. Sir William Scott instantly offered him the estate of Murdiestone, in exchange for that which was subject to such egregious inconvenience. When the bargain was completed, he dryly remarked that the cattle in Cumberland were as good as those of Teviotdale; and proceeded to commence a system of reprisals upon the English, which was regularly pursued by his successors.

p. 6.

Nine-and-twenty knights of fame

Hung their shields in Branksome-Hall.

The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splendour and from their frontier situation, retained in their household at Branksome a number of gentlemen of their own name, who held lands from their chief, for the military service of watching and warding his castle.

p. 7.

with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow.

"Of a truth," says Froissart, "the Scottish cannot boast great skill with the bow, but rather bear axes, with which, in time of need, they give heavy strokes."

2.7.

They watch, against Southern force and guile,

Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers,
Threaten Branksome's lordly towers,

From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle.

Branksome Castle was continually exposed to the attacks of the English, both from its situation and the restless military disposition of its inhabitants, who were seldom on good terms with their neighbours.

p. 7.

While Cessford owns the rule of Carr,

While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott.

The family of Ker, Kerr, or Carr, was very powerful on the Border.

p. 8.

His form no darkening shadow traced
Upon the sunny wall!

Glycas

The shadow of a necromancer was independent of the sun. informs us that Simon Magus caused his shadow to go before him, making people believe it was an attendant spirit.

P. 10.

By wily turns, by desperate bounds,

Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds.

The kings and heroes of Scotland, as well as the Border-riders, were sometimes obliged to study how to evade the pursuit of blood-hounds. Barbour informs us, that Robert Bruce was repeatedly tracked by sleuthdogs. On one occasion, he escaped by wading down a brook; thus, leaving no trace on land of his footsteps, he baffled the scent. A sure way of stopping the dog was to spill blood upon the track. Henry the Minstrel tells a story of Wallace, founded on this circumstance :-The hero's little band had been joined by an Irishman, named Fawdoun, or Fadzean, a dark, savage, and suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black-Erne Side, Wallace was forced to retreat with only sixteen followers, the English pursuing with a Border sleuth-bratch or blood-hound. In the retreat, Fawdoun, tired, or affecting to be so, would go no further, and Wallace having in vain argued with him, in hasty anger struck off his head, and continued the retreat. When the English came up, their hound stayed upon the dead body :

P. 14.

"The sleuth stopped at Fawdon, still she stood,
Nor further would fra time she fund the blood."

Then view St David's ruin'd pile.

David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, by founding, and liberally endowing, not only the monastery of Melrose, but those of Kelso, Jedburgh, and many others; which led to the well-known observation of his successor, that he was a sore saint for the crown.

p. 16.

O gallant Chief of Otterbourne !

The desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 15th August 1388, between Henry Percy, called Hotspur, and James, Earl of Douglas. Both these renowned champions, rivals in military fame, were at the head of a chosen body of troops. The issue of the conflict is well known: Percy was made prisoner, and the Scots won the day, dearly purchased by the death of their gallant general, the Earl of Douglas, who was slain in the action. He was buried at Melrose beneath the high altar.

p. 16.

-Dark Knight of Liddesdale.

William Douglas, the Knight of Liddesdale, flourished during the reign of David II., and was so distinguished by his valour that he was called the Flower of Chivalry. But he tarnished his renown by the murder of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his friend and brother in arms. The King had conferred upon Ramsay the sheriffdom of Teviotdale, to which_Douglas pretended some claim. In revenge of this preference, the Knight of Liddesdale came down upon Ramsay, while he was administering justice at Hawick, seized and carried him off to his remote and inaccessible castle of Hermitage, where he threw his unfortunate prisoner into a dungeon, leaving him to perish of hunger. So weak was the royal authority, that David, although highly incensed at this atrocious murder, found himself obliged to appoint the Knight of Liddesdale successor to his victim, as Sheriff of Teviotdale. But he was soon after slain, while hunting in Ettrick Forest, by his own godson and cheftain, William, Earl of Douglas, in revenge.

P. 17.

The words that cleft Eildon hills in three.

Michael Scott was much embarrassed by a spirit, for whom he was under the necessity of finding constant employment. He commanded him to build a cauld, or dam-head, across the Tweed at Kelso; it was accomplished in one night. Michael next ordered that Eildon hill, which was then a uniform cone, should be divided into three. Another night was sufficient to part its summit into the three picturesque peaks which it now bears, and it is said the division was made by two delves of the spade, the spirit finishing his work by a blow from the flat of the spade on one of the cones, which has made one of them flat-topp'd. At length the enchanter conquered this indefatigable demon, by employing him in the hopeless and endless task of making ropes out of sea-sand. After vainly attempting this for some time, the spirit petitioned to be allowed to use barley chaff, but Michael would not permit it; they therefore left their ropes untwisted, the remains of which form the vermicular ridges of the sand on the sea-shore.

P. 21.

The Baron's Dwarf his courser held.

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 Border mountains.

p. 25.

It had much of glamour.

Glamour, in the legends of Scottish superstition, means the magic power of imposing on the eyesight of the spectators, so that the appearance of an object shall be totally different from the reality. To such a charm the ballad of Johnny Fa' imputes the fascination of the lovely Countess, who eloped with that gipsy leader :

p. 26.

"Sae soon as they saw her weel-faur'd face,
They cast the glamour o'er her."

The running stream dissolved the spell.

It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment can subsist in a living stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and witches, spectres, or even fiends, you are in perfect safety. Burns's inimitable Tam o' Shanter turns entirely upon such a circumstance.

p. 27.

He never counted him a man,

Would strike below the knee.

To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned contrary to the law of arms. In a tilt betwixt Gawain Michael, an English squire, and Joachim Cathore, a Frenchman, "they met at the spear poyntes rudely; the French squyer justed right pleasantly; the Englyshman ran too lowe, for he strak the Frenchman depe into the thigh. Wher with the Erle of Buckingham was ryght sore displeared. and so were all the other lordes, and sayde how it was shamefully done."-Froissart, vol. i. chap. 366.

p. 30.

On Penchryst glows a bale of fire.

The Border beacons, from their number and position, formed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh.-The act of Parliament 1455, c. 48, directs, that one bale or fagot shall be warning of the approach of the English, in any manner; two bales, that they are coming indeed; four bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy are in great force.

p. 32.

Fell by the side of great Dundee.

The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie.