Morsing-horns.-Page 86.

Powder-flasks.

—A gauntlet on a spear.-Page 88.

A glove upon a lance was the emblem of faith among the ancient Borderers, who were wont, when any one broke his word, to expose this emblem, and proclaim him a faithless villain at the first Border meeting. This ceremony was much dreaded.

Flemens-firth.-Page 90.

An asylum for outlaws.

We claim from thee William of Deloraine, That he may suffer march-treason pain.-Page 90. Several species of offences, peculiar to the Border, constituted what was called march-treason. Among others, was the crime of riding, or causing to ride, against the opposite country during the time of

truce.

Plundered.

Harried.-Page 90.

Warrison.-Page 91.

Note of assault.

Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword.—Page 92. The dignity of knighthood, according to the original institution, had this peculiarity, that it did not flow from the monarch, but could be conferred by one who himself possessed it, upon any squire who, after due probation, was found to merit the

honour of chivalry. Latterly, this power was confined to generals, who were wont to create knights bannerets after or before an engagement. Even so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Essex highly offended his jealous sovereign by the indiscriminate exercise of this privilege.

When English blood swell'd Ancram's ford.-Page 92.

The battle of Ancram Moor, or Penielheuch, was fought A.D. 1545. The English, commanded by Sir Ralph Evers, and Sir Brian Latoun, were totally routed, and both their leaders slain in the action. The Scottish army was commanded by Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, assisted by the Laird of Buccleuch and Norman Lesley.

Lyke-wake dirge.-Page 92.

Lyke-wake, i.e. the watching a corpse previous to interment.

His weapon-schaw.—Page 94.

Weapon-schaw, i.e. the military array of a county.

The blanche lion.-Page 95.

This was the cognizance of the noble house of Howard in all its branches. The crest, or bearing, of a warrior, was often used as a nomme de guerre.

He, the jovial Harper.--Page 98.

The person, here alluded to, is one of our ancient

Border minstrels, called Rattling Roaring Willie. This soubriquet was probably derived from his bullying disposition; being, it would seem, such a roaring boy, as is frequently mentioned in old plays. While drinking at Newmill, upon Teviot, about five miles above Hawick, Willie chanced to quarrel with one of his own profession, who was usually distinguished by the odd name of Sweet Milk, from a place on Rule Water so called. They retired to a meadow, on the opposite side of the Teviot, to decide the contest with their swords, and Sweet Milk was killed on the spot. A thorn-tree marks the scene of the murder, which is still called Sweet Milk Thorn. Willie was taken and executed at Jedburgh, bequeathing his name to the beautiful Scotch air, called "Rattling Roaring Willie."

The Bloody Heart blazed in the van,

Announcing Douglas, dreaded name !--Page 104. The chief of this potent race of heroes, about the date of the poem, was Archibald Douglas, seventh Earl of Angus, a man of great courage and activity. The Bloody Heart was the well-known cognizance of the house of Douglas, assumed from the time of good Lord James, to whose care Robert Bruce committed his heart, to be carried to the Holy Land.

The Seven Spears of Wedderburne.-Page 104. Sir David Home of Wedderburn, who was slain in the fatal battle of Flodden, left seven sons. They were called the Seven Spears of Wedderburne.

That tamed of yore the sparkling crest

Of Clarence's Plantagenet.-Page 105.

At the battle of Beaugé, in France, Thomas, Duke of Clarence, brother to Henry V., was unhorsed by Sir John Swinton of Swinton, who distinguished him by a coronet set with precious stones, which he wore around his helmet. The family of Swinton is one of the most ancient in Scotland, and produced many celebrated warriors.

And Hepburn's mingled banners come, Down the steep mountain glittering far,

And shouting still, "A Home! a Home!"-Page 105.

The Earls of Home, as descendants of the Dunbars, ancient Earls of March, carried a lion rampant, argent; but, as a difference, changed the colour of the shield from gules to vert, in allusion to Greenlaw, their ancient possession. The slogan, or war-cry, of this powerful family, was, "A Home! a Home!" It was anciently placed in an escrol above the crest. The helmet is armed with a lion's head erased gules, with a cap of state gules, turned up ermine.

The Hepburns, a powerful family in East Lothian, were usually in close alliance with the Homes. The chief of this clan was Hepburn, Lord of Hailes; a family which terminated in the too famous Earl of Bothwell.

And whingers now in friendship bare.-Page 107. Whinger, i.e. a sort of knife or poniard.

'Twixt truce and war, such sudden change
Was not infrequent, nor held strange,

In the old Border-day.-Page 108.

Notwithstanding the constant wars upon the Borders, and the occasional cruelties which marked the mutual inroads, the inhabitants on either side do not appear to have regarded each other with that violent and personal animosity, which might have been expected. On the contrary, like the outposts of hostile armies, they often carried on something resembling friendly intercourse, even in the middle of hostilities; and it is evident, from various ordinances against trade and intermarriages, between English and Scottish Borderers, that the governments of both countries were jealous of their cherishing too intimate a connexion. The Border-meetings of truce, which, although places of merchandise and merriment, often witnessed the most bloody scenes, may serve to illustrate the description in the

text.

The pipe's shrill port.-Page 113.

A martial piece of music adapted to the bagpipes.

Snaffle, spur, and spear.—Page 125.

"The lands, that over Ouse to Berwick forth do bear, Have for their blazon had, the snaffle, spur, and Poly-Olbion, song xiii.

spear."

Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way,

And with the bugle rouse the fray.-Page 125.

The pursuit of Border marauders was followed by