The following piece hath run through two editions in Scotland: the second was printed at Glasgow in 1755, 8vo. Prefixed to them both is an advertisement, setting forth that the preservation of this poem was owing to "a lady, who favoured the printers with a copy as it was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;" and any reader that can render it more correct or complete," is desired to oblige the public with such improvements. In consequence of this advertisement, sixteen additional verses have been produced and handed about in manuscript, which are here inserted in their proper places: (these are from ver. 109 to ver. 121, and from ver. 124 to ver. 129, but are, perhaps, after all, only an ingenious interpolation). As this poem lays claim to a pretty high antiquity, we have assigned it a place among our early pieces: though, after all, there is reason to believe it has received very considerable modern improvements: for in the Editor's ancient MS. collection is a very old imperfect copy of the same ballad: wherein, though the leading features of the story are the same, yet the colouring here is so much improved and heightened, and so many additional strokes are thrown in, that it is evident the whole has undergone a revisal. N.B.-The Editor's MS. instead of Lord Barnard, has John Stewart; and instead of Gil Morrice, Child Maurice, which last is probably the original title.--See above, p. 141. GIL MORRICE was an erlès son, His name it waxed wide: It was nae for his great richès, Bot it was for a lady gay That livd on Carron side. 5 My dear Willie," he sayd : 20 "How can ze strive against the stream? "Bot, O my master dear!" he cry'd, Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ze rede, "Gae bid hir take this gay mantèl, Hir ain hand sewd the sleive; 86 'Yes, I will gae zour blacke errand, Sen ze by me well nae be warn'd, In it ze sall find frost. Ver. 11, something seems wanting here, 'bout the hem. V. 32 and 68, perhaps, |