tle of Methven. Hugh de la Haye and Thomas Somerville of Lintoun and Cowdally, ancestor of Lord Somerville, were both made prisoners at that defeat, but neither was executed.

Sir Nigel Bruce was the younger brother of Robert, to whom he committed the charge of his wife and daughter, Marjorie, and the defence of his strong castle of Kildrummie, near the head of the Don, in Aberdeenshire. Kildrummie long resisted the arms of the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford, until the magazine was treacherously burnt. The garrison was then compelled to surrender at discretion, and Nigel Bruce, a youth remarkable for personal beauty, as well as for gallantry, fell into the hands of the unrelenting Edward. He was tried by a special commission at Berwick, was condemned, and executed.

Christopher Seatoun shared the same unfortunate fate. He also was distinguished by personal valour, and signalized himself in the fatal battle of Methven. Robert Bruce adventured his person in that battle like a knight of romance. He 'dismounted Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, but was in his turn dismounted by Sir Philip Mowbray. In this emergence Seatoun came to his aid, and remounted him. Langtoft mentions, that in this battle the Scottish wore white surplices, or shirts, over their armour, that those of rank might not be known. In this manner both Bruce and Seatoun escaped. But the latter was afterwards betrayed to the English, through means, according to Barbour, of one Mac-Nab, "a disciple of Judas," in whom the unfortunate knight reposed entire con.

fidence. There was some peculiarity respecting his punishment; because, according to Matthew of Westminster, he was considered not as a Scottish subject, but an Englishman.] He was therefore taken to Dumfries, where he was tried, condemned, and executed, for the murder of a soldier slain by him. His brother, John de Seton, had the same fate at Newcastle; both were considered as accomplices in the slaughter of Comyn, but in what manner they were particularly accessary to that deed does not appear.

The fate of Sir Simon Frazer, or Frizel, ancestor of the family of Lovat, is dwelt upon at great length, and with savage exultation, by the English historians. This knight, who was renowned for personal gallantry and high deeds of chivalry, was also made prisoner, after a gallant defence, in the battle of Methven. Some stanzas of a ballad of the times, which, for the sake of rendering it intelligible, I have translated out of its rude orthography, give minute particulars of his fate. It was written immediately at the period, for it mentions the Earl of Athole as not yet in custody. It was first published by the indefatigable Mr Ritson, but with so many contractions and peculiarities of character, as to render it illegible, excepting by antiquaries.

This was before Saint Bartholomew's mass,
That Frizel was y-taken, were it more other less,
To Sir Thomas of Multon, gentil baron and free,
And to Sir John Jose be-take tho was he

To hand

He was y-fettered wele

Both with iron and steel

To bringen to Scotland.

Soon after the tiding to the king come,

He sent him to London, with mony armed groom,
He came in at Newgate, I tell you it on a-plight,
A garland of leaves on his head y-dight

Of green,

For he should be y-know

Both of high and of low,

For the traitour I ween.

Y-fettered were his legs under his horse's wombe, Both with iron and with steel mancled were his hond, A garland of pervynk' set upon his heved,2

Much was the power that him was bereved,

In land.

So God me amend,

Little he ween'd

So to be brought in hand.

This was upon our lady's even, forsooth I understand, The justices sate for the knights of Scotland,

Sir Thomas of Multon, an kinde knyght and wise,

And Sir Ralph of Sandwich that mickle is hold in price,

And Sir John Abel,

Moe I might tell by tale

Both of great and small

Ye know sooth well.

Then said the justice, that gentil is and free,
Sir Simond Frizel the king's traiter hast thou be ;

Periwinckle.

2 Head.

In water and in land that mony mighten see,

What sayst thou thereto how will thou quite be,

Do say,

So foul he him wist,

Nede war on trust

For to say nay.

With fetters and with gins' y-hot he was to draw
From the Tower of London that many men might know,
In a kirtle of Burel, a selcouth wise,

And a garland on his head of the new guise.

Through Cheape

Many men of England

For to see Symond

Thitherward can leap.

Though he cam to the gallows first he was on hung,
All quick beheaded that him thought long;
Then he was y-opened, his bowels y-brend,2
The heved to London-bridge was send

To shende.

So evermore mote I the,

Some while weened he

OTHECA

Thus, little to staud.3

He rideth through the city, as I tell may,
With gamen and with solace that was their play,
To London-bridge he took the way,

Mony was the wives child that thereon lacketh a day,*

And said, alas!

That he was y-born

And so vilely forlorn,

So fair man he was.5

He was condemned to be drawn.

2 Burned.

3 Meaning, at one time he little thought to stand thus.

+ viz. Saith Lack-a-day.

5 The gallant knight, like others in the same situation, was pitied by the female spectators as “ a propèr young man.”

Now standeth the heved above the tu-brigge,
Fast by Wallace sooth for to segge;
After succour of Scotland long may he pry,
And after help of France what halt it to lie,

I ween,

Better him were in Scotland,

With his axe in his hand,

To play on the green, &e.

The preceding stanzas contain probably as minute an account as can be found of the trial and execution of state criminals of the period, Superstition mingled its horrors with those of a ferocious state policy, as appears from the following singular narrative.

"The Friday next, before the assumption of Our Lady, King Edward met Robert the Bruce at Saint Johnstoune, in Scotland, and with his company, of which company King Edward quelde seven thousand. When Robert the Bruce saw this mischief, and gan to flee, and hov'd him that men might not him find; but S. Simond Frisell pursued was so sore, so that he turned again and abode bataille, for he was a worthy knight and a bolde of bodye, and the Englishmen pursuede him sore on every side, and quelde the steed that Sir Simon Frisell rode upon, and then toke him and led him to the host. And S. Symond began for to flatter and speke fair, and saide, Lordys, I shall give you four thousand markes of silver, and myne horse and harness, and all my armoure and income. Tho' answered Thobaude of Pevenes, that was the kinges archer, Now, God me so helpe, it is for nought that thou