Alderne, Kilsythe, and Tibber, own'd its

fame,

Tummell's rude pass can of its terrors tell,

But ne'er from prouder field arose the

name,

Than when wild Ronda learn'd the conquering shout of GRÆME!

XVIII.

UT all too long, through seas unknown and dark,

(With Spenser's parable I close my tale,) By shoal and rock hath steer'd my venturous bark,

And landward now I drive before the gale. And now the blue and distant shore I hail,

And nearer now I see the port expand, And now I gladly furl my weary sail, And, as the prow light touches on the strand,

I strike my red-cross flag and bind my skiff to land.

NOTES TO THE

LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL.

The Duchess mark'd his weary pace.--Page 3. Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, representative of the ancient Lords of Buccleuch, and widow of the unfortunate James, Duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded in 1685.

Good Earl Francis.-Page 3.

Francis Scott, Earl of Buccleuch, father of the Duchess.

And of Earl Walter.-Page 3.

Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, grandfather of the Duchess, and a celebrated'warrior.

The feast was over in Branksome tower.—Page 7. 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., 3rd 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 nature, complained much of the injuries which he was exposed to 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 egregrious inconvenience. When the bargain was completed, he drily 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. the next reign, James II. granted to Sir Walter Scott of Branksome, and to Sir David, his son, the remaining half of the barony of Branksome, to be held in blanche for the payment of a red rose. The cause assigned for the grant is, their brave and faithful exertions in favour of the King against the house of Douglas, with whom James had been recently tug

In

ging for the throne of Scotland. This charter is dated the 2nd February, 1443; and, in the same month, part of the barony of Langholm, and many lands in Lanarkshire, were conferred upon Sir Walter and his son by the same monarch.

Branksome Castle continued to be the principal seat of the Buccleuch family, while security was any object in their choice of a mansion. It has since been the residence of the Commissioners, or Chamberlains, of the family. From the various alterations which the building has undergone, it is not only greatly restricted in its dimensions, but retains little of the castellated form, if we except one square tower of massy thickness, the only part of the original building which now remains.

Nine-and-twenty knights of fame

Hung their shields in Branksome Hall.-Page 8. 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.

And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow.-Page 9.

"

"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." The Jedwood-axe was a sort of partizan, used by