the noblest houses in England, which never sustained a more bloody and disastrous defeat. Barbour says that two hundred pairs of gilded spurs were taken from the field of battle; and that some were left the author can bear witness, who has in his possession a curious antique spur, dug up in the morass not long since.

It wes forsuth a gret ferly,

To se samyn 1 sa fele dede lie.
Twa hundre payr of spuris reid 2,
War tane of kníchtis that war deid.'

I am now to take my leave of Barbour, not without a sincere wish that the public may encourage the undertaking of my friend Dr. Jamieson, who has issued proposals for publishing an accurate edition of his poem, and of Blind Harry's 'Wallace. The only good edition of 'The Bruce' was published by Mr. Pinkerton, in 3 vols., in 1790; and, the learned editor having had no personal access to consult the manuscript, it is not without errors; and it has besides become scarce. Of Wallace' there is no tolerable edition; yet these two poems do no small honour to the early state of Scottish poetry, and 'The Bruce' is justly regarded as containing authentic historical facts.

The following list of the slain at Bannockburn, extracted from the continuator of Trivet's Annals, will show the extent of the national calamity.

PRISONERS.

John de Wyletone,
Robert de Maulee,
Henry Fitz-Hugh,
Thomas de Gray,
Walter de Beau-
champ,
Richard de Charon,
John de Wevelmton,
Robert de Nevil,
John de Segrave,
Gilbert Peeche,
John de Clavering,
Antony de Lucy,
Radulph de Camys,
John de Evere,
Andrew de Abrem-
hyn.

Knights. Thomas de Berkeley, The son of Roger Tyrrel,

de Mares

Anselm
chal,
Giles de Beauchamp,
John de Cyfrewast,
John Bluwet,
Roger Corbet,
Gilbert de Boun,
Bartholomew de Ene-
feld,

Thomas de Ferrers,
Radulph and Tho-
mas Bottetort,
John and Nicholas
de Kingstone (bro-
thers),
William Lovel,
Henry de Wileton,
Baldwin de Frevill,
John de Clivedon,
Adomar la Zouche,
John de Merewode,
John Maufe,
Thomas and Odo Lele
Ercedekene,
Robert Beaupel (the

son),

John Mautravers, (the son),

William and William Giffard and 34 other knights, not named by the historian.

And in sum there were slain, along with the Earl of Gloucester, forty-two barons and bannerets. The number of earls barons, and bannerets made captive was twenty-two, and sixty-eight knights. Many clerks and esquires were also there slain or taken. Roger de Northburge, keeper of the king's signet (Custos Targiae Domini Regis), was made prisoner with his two clerks, Roger de Wakenfelde and Thomas de Switon, upon which the king caused a seal to be made, and entitled it his privy seal, to distinguish the same from the signet so lost. The Earl of Hereford was exchanged against Bruce's queen, who had been detained in captivity ever since the year 1306. The Targia, or signet, was restored to England through the intercession of Ralph de Monthermer, ancestor of Lord Moira, who is said to have found favour in the eyes of the Scottish king.-Continuation of TRIVET'S Annals, Hall's edit. Oxford, 1712, vol. ii. p. 14.

of

Such were the immediate consequences the field of Bannockburn. Its more remote effects, in completely establishing the national independence of Scotland, afford a boundless field for speculation.

On Erin's shores was his outrage known,

graver thought,

blown;

day.

But upon merry England's coast More frequent he sail'd, for he won the most.

IV.

Time will rust the sharpest sword, Time will consume the strongest cord;

knew,

If a sail but gleam'd white 'gainst the

welkin blue,

Trumpet and bugle to arms did call, Burghers hasten'd to man the wall, Peasants fled inland his fury to 'scape, | Beacons were lighted on headland and cape,

Bells were toll'd out, and aye as they rung,

Fearful and faintly the grey brothers

sung,

'Bless us, Saint Mary, from flood and

from fire,

From famine and pest, and Count Witikind's ire!'

III.

Mortal arm and nerve must feel.

Of the Danish band, whom Count Witikind led,

Many wax'd aged, and many were dead :

Himself found his armour full weighty to bear,

Wrinkled his brows grew, and hoary

his hair;

He lean'd on a staff, when his step went abroad,

And patient his palfrey, when steed he bestrode.

Ashe grew feebler his wildness ceased, He made himself peace with prelate and priest,

Made his peace, and, stooping his head, Patiently listed the counsel they said:

so well,

That he sought in her bosom as native to dwell.

He enter'd the Humber in fearful hour,

And disembark'd with his Danish

power.

Three Earls came against him with all their train,—

Two hath he taken, and one hath he slain.

Count Witikind left the Humber's rich strand,

And he wasted and warr'd in Northumberland.

But the Saxon King was a sire in age,

Weak in battle, in council sage;

Gifts he gave, and quiet he bought;

And the Count took upon him the

peaceable style

broad isle.

gazed:

'Give me broad lands on the Wear and the Tyne,

unto thine.'

VI.

Broad lands he gave him on Tyne and Wear,

To be held of the Church by bridle and spear;

Onward they pass'd, till fairly did shine Pennon and cross on the bosom of Tyne;

And full in front did that fortress lower, In darksome strength with its buttress and tower:

part,

To better his will, and to soften his

heart:

Count Witikind was a joyful man, Less for the faith than the lands he wan.

The high church of Durham is dress'd for the day,

The clergy are rank'd in their solemn array:

There came the Count, in a bear-skin warm,

Leaning on Hilda his concubine's arm. He kneel'd before Saint Cuthbert's shrine,

With patience unwonted at rites divine; He abjured the gods of heathen race, And he bent his head at the font of grace.

But such was the grisly old proselyte's look,

That the priest who baptized him

grew pale and shook;

And the old monks mutter'd beneath their hood,

'Of a stem so stubborn can never spring good!'

VII.

Up then arose that grim convertite, Homeward he hied him when ended the rite;

The Prelate in honour will with him ride,

And feast in his castle on Tyne's fair side.

Banners and banderols danced in the wind,

Monks rode before them, and spearmen behind;

there,

Count Witikind's only offspring and heir.

VIII.

Young Harold was fear'd for his hardihood,

His strength of frame, and his fury of mood.

Rude he was and wild to behold, Wore neither collar nor bracelet of gold,

Cap of vair nor rich array,

Such as should grace that festal day: His doublet of bull's hide was all unbraced,

Uncover'd his head, and his sandal unlaced:

His shaggy black locks on his brow hung low,

And his eyes glanced through them a swarthy glow;

A Danish club in his hand he bore, The spikes were clotted with recent gore ;

At his back a she-wolf, and her wolfcubs twain,

In the dangerous chase that morning slain.

Rude was the greeting his father he made,

None to the Bishop, while thus he said:

IX.

'What priest-led hypocrite art thou, With thy humbled look and thy monkish brow,

Like a shaveling who studies to cheat his vow?