Page 12. The feast was over in Branksome

tower.

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. 3d 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 to which he was exposed 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 egregious inconvenience. When the bargain was completed, he dryly 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 tugging for the throne of Scotland. This charter is dated the 2d Febnary 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.

12. Nine-and-twenty knights of fame

In

Hung their shields in Branksome-hall. The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splendour and from their frontier situa

tion, 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.

13. —with Fedwood-axe at saddle-bow." "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 partisan, used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jedburgh, which bear a cavalier mounted, and armed with this weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff.

13. They watch, against Southern force and guile,

Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's

13. While Cessford owns the rule of Carr, While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott. Among other expedients resorted to for stanching the feud betwixt the Scotts and the Kerrs, was a bond executed in 1529, between the heads of each clan, binding themselves to perform reciprocally the four principal pilgrimages of Scotland, for the benefit of the souls of those of the opposite name who had fallen in the quarrel. But either this indenture never took effect, or else the feud was renewed shortly afterwards. The family of Ker, Kerr, or Carr, was very powerful on the Border.

K K

14. His form no darkening shadow traced

Upon the sunny wall!

The shadow of a necromancer was independent of the sun. Glycas informs us that Simon Magus caused his shadow to go before him, making people believe it was an attendant spirit. 15. By wily turns, by desperate bounds,

Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds. The kings and heroes of Scotland, as well as the Border-riders, were sometimes obliged to study how to evade the pursuit of blood-hounds. Barbour informs us, that Robert Bruce was repeatedly tracked by sleuth-dogs. On one occasion, he escaped by wading a bow-shot down a brook, and ascending into a tree by a branch which overhung the water; thus, leaving no trace on land of his footsteps, he baffled the scent. A sure way of stopping the dog was to spill blood upon the track, which destroyed the discriminating fineness of his scent. A captive

was sometimes sacrificed on such occasions Henry the Minstrel tells a romantic story of Wallace, founded on this circumstance :-The hero's little band had been joined by an Irishman, named Fawdoun, or Fadzean, a dark, savage, and suspicious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black-Erne Side, Wallace was forced to retreat with only sixteen followers, the English pursuing with a Border blood-hound. In the retreat, Fawdoun, tired, or affecting to be so, would go no further, and Wallace having in vain argued with him, in hasty anger struck off his head, and continued the retreat. When the English came up, their hound stayed upon the dead body:

"The sleuth stopped at Fawdon, still she stood, Nor farther would fra time she fund the blood."

16. And sought the convent's lonely wall.

The ancient and beautiful monastery of Melrose was founded by King David 1. Its ruins afford the finest specimen of Gothic architecture and Gothic sculpture which Scotland can boast. The stone of which it is built, though it has resisted the weather for so many ages, retains perfect sharpness, so that even the most minute ornaments seem as entire as when newly wrought.

17. Then view St. David's ruin'd pile.

David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, by founding, and liberally endowing, not only the monastery of Melrose, but those of Kelso, Jedburgh, and many others; which led to the well-known observation of his successor, that he was a sore saint for the

crown.

18. O gallant Chief of Otterburne!

The desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 15th August 1388, between Henry Percy, called

Hotspur, and James. Earl of Douglas these renowned champions, rivals in m fame, were at the head of a chosen & troops. The issue of the conflict is welke Percy was made prisoner, and the Scot the day, dearly purchased by the death gallant general, the Earl of Douglas, wh slain in the action. He was buried at M beneath the high altar.

18.

Dark Knight of Liddesdale

William Douglas, the Knight of Lide flourished during the reign of David i was so distinguished by his valour that called the Flower of Chivalry. But he t his renown by the murder of Sir Ale Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his frie brother in arms. The King had conferre Ramsay the sheriffdom of Tevictdale, t Douglas pretended some claim. In rev this preference, the Knight of Liddesdal down upon Ramsay, while he was almir justice at Hawick, seized and carried h his remote and inaccessible castle of He where he threw his unfortunate prisons and man, into a dungeon, leaving him. of hunger. So weak was the royal v that David, although highly incensed atrocious murder, found himself obe point the Knight of Liddesdale success victim, as Sheriff of Teviotdale. soon after slain, while hunting in Ettrick by his own godson and chieftain, Wil of Douglas, in revenge, according authors, of Ramsay's murder: a popular tradition, preserved in a bulls by Godscroft, some parts of which preserved, ascribes the resentment of to jealousy.

19.

B

The wondrous Michael S

Sir Michael Scott of Balwearic during the 13th century, and was t ambassadors sent to bring the Maide to Scotland upon the death of Alex By a poetical anachronism, he is h in a later era. He was a man of much chiefly acquired in foreign countries a commentary upon Aristotle, printed in 1496; and several treatises up philosophy, from which he appear been addicted to the abstruse studie astrology, alchemy, physiognomy, mancy. Hence he passed among poraries for a skilful magician. informs us, that he remembers to in his youth, that the magic books Scott were still in existence, but co opened without danger, on account lignant fiends who were thereby inv dition varies concerning the place et some contending for Home Coltran berland; others for Melrose Abbe agree, that his books of magic w in his grave, or preserved in the co he died.

9. The words that cleft Eildon hills in three.

Michael Scott was, once upon a time, much barrassed by a spirit, for whom he was under : necessity of finding constant employment. : commanded him to build a cauld, or damad, across the Tweed at Kelso; it was acmplished in one night, and still does honour the infernal architect. Michael next ordered, at Eildon hill, which was then a uniform cone, ould be divided into three. Another night is sufficient to part its summit into the three cturesque peaks which it now bears.

At

gth the enchanter conquered this indefatigle demon, by employing him in the hopeless ad endless task of making ropes out of seand.

27. The Baron's Dwarf his courser held.

The idea of Lord Cranstoun's Goblin Page is ken from a being called Gilpin Horner, who peared, and made some stay, at a farm-house nong the Border mountains."

24. All was delusion, nought was truth. Glamour, in the legends of Scottish superition, means the magic power of imposing on e eyesight of the spectators, so that the apearance of an object shall be totally different om the reality. To such a charm the ballad f Johnny Fa imputes the fascination of the ovely Countess, who eloped with that gipsy eader:

"Sae soon as they saw her weel-far'd face,

They cast the glamour o'er her."

25. The running stream dissolved the spell. It is a firm article of popular faith, that no enchantment can subsist in a living stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and witches, spectres, or even fiends, you are n perfect safety. Burns's inimitable Tam Shanter turns entirely upon such a circum

stance.

25. He never counted him a man Would strike below the knee.

In

To wound an antagonist in the thigh, or leg, was reckoned contrary to the law of arms. a tilt betwixt Gawain Michael, an English squire, and Joachim Cathore, a Frenchman, they met at the speare poyntes rudely; the French squyer justed right pleasantly; the Englishman ran too lowe, for he strak the Frenchman depe into the thigh. Wherewith the Erle of Buckingham was right sore displeased, and so were all the other lords, and sayde how it was shamefully done."-Froissart, vol. i. chap. 366.

27. On Penchryst glows a bale of fire.

Bale, beacon-fagot. The Border beacons, from their number and position, formed a sort of telegraphic communication with Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament 1455, C. 48, directs, that one bale or fagot shall be warning of the approach of the English in any manner; two

bales, that they are coming indeed; four bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy are in great force.

27. On many a cairn's grey pyramid, Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid.

The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown the summit of most of our Scottish hills, and are found in other remarkable situations, seem usually, though not universally, to have been sepulchral monuments. Six flat stones are commonly found in the centre, forming a cavity of greater or smaller dimensions, in which an urn is often placed. The author is possessed of one, discovered beneath an immense cairn at Roughlee, in Liddesdale. It is of the most barbarous construction; the middle of the substance alone having been subjected to the fire, over which, when hardened, the artist had laid an inner and outer coat of unbaked clay, etched with some very rude ornaments, his skill apparently being inadequate to baking the vase, when completely finished. The contents were bones and ashes, and a quantity of beads made of coal. This seems to have been a barbarous imitation of the Roman fashion of sepulture.

28. Fell by the side of great Dundee. The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie.

28. For pathless marsh and mountain cell, The peasant left his lowly shed.

The morasses were the usual refuge of the Border herdsmen, on the approach of an English army.-Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. i. p. 393. Caves, hewed in the most dangerous and inaccessible places, also afforded an occasional retreat. Such caverns may be seen in the precipitous banks of the Teviot at Sunlaws, upon the Ale at Ancram, upon the Jed at Hundalee, and in many other places upon the Border. The banks of the Eske, at Gorton and Hawthornden, are hollowed into similar

recesses.

28. Watt Tinlinn.

This person was, in my younger days, the theme of many a fireside tale. He was a retainer of the Buccleuch family, and held for his Border service a small tower on the frontiers of Liddesdale. Watt was, by profession, a sutor, but, by inclination and practice, an archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, the captain of Bewcastle, military governor of that wild district of Cumberland, is said to have made an incursion into Scotland, in which he was defeated and forced to fly. Watt Tinlinn pursued him closely through a dangerous morass; the captain, however, gained the firm ground; and seeing Tinlinn dismounted, and floundering in the bog, used these words of insult: Sutor Watt, ye cannot sew your boots: the heels risp, and the seams rive. "If I cannot sew," retorted Tinlinn, discharg

* Risp, creak.-Rive, tear.

ing a shaft, which_nailed the captain's thigh to his saddle," If I cannot sew, I can yerk."*

29. His wife, stout, ruddy, and darkbrow'd,

Of silver brooch and bracelet proud.

As the Borderers were indifferent about the furniture of their habitations, so much exposed to be burned and plundered, they were proportionally anxious to display splendour in decorating and ornamenting their females. - See LESLEY de Moribus Limitaneorum.

29. Belted Will Howard.

Lord William Howard, third son of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, succeeded to Naworth Castle, and a large domain annexed to it, in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister of George Lord Dacre, who died without heirs male, in the 11th of Queen Elizabeth. By a poetical anachronism, he is introduced into the romance a few years earlier than he actually flourished. He was warden of the Western Marches; and, from the rigour with which he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted Will Howard is still famous in our traditions.

29. Lord Dacre.

The well-known name of Dacre is derived from the exploits of one of their ancestors at the siege of Acre, or Ptolemais, under Richard Coeur-de-Lion.

29. The German hackbut-men.'"

In the wars with Scotland, Henry VIII. and his successors employed numerous bands of mercenary troops. At the battle of Pinky there were in the English army six hundred hackbutters on foot, and two hundred on horseback, composed chiefly of foreigners.

31. Their gathering word was Bellenden. Bellenden is situated near the head of Borthwick water, and being in the centre of the possessions of the Scotts, was frequently used as their place of rendezvous and gathering

word.

33. That he may suffer march-treason pain. Several species of offences, peculiar to the Border, constituted what was called marchtreason. Among others, was the crime of riding, or causing to ride, against the opposite country during the time of truce.

33. Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword.

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.

Yerk, to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches of their work.

33. When English blood swell è Anch ford.

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

34. For who, in field or foray slack, Saw the blanche lion e'er fall back This was the cognizance of the noble of Howard in all its branches. The cr bearing, of a warrior, was often used nomme de guerre.

36. The Bloody Heart blazed in the

Announcing Douglas, dreaded

The chief of this potent race of herves the date of the poem, was Archibald I seventh Earl of Angus, a man of great c and activity. The Bloody Heart was t known cognizance of the house of assumed from the time of good Lord Ja whose care Robert Bruce committed hi to be carried to the Holy Land.

36. The Seven Spears of Wedderbur Sir David Home of Wedderburn, sla fatal battle of Flodden, left seven s were called the Seven Spears of Wedu 36. Clarence's Plantagenet.

At the battle of Beauge, in France, Duke of Clarence, brother to Heary unhorsed by Sir John Swinton of Swi distinguished him by a coronet set cious stones, which he wore around hi The family of Swinton is one of t ancient in Scotland, and produced m brated warriors.

36. And shouting still, "A H Home !"

The Earls of Home, as descendar Dunbars, ancient Earls of March, lion rampant, argent: but, as a d changed the colour of the shield from vert, in allusion to Greenlaw, their possession. The slogan, or war-cry powerful family, was, "A Home! a l

The Hepburns, a powerful family Lothian, were usually in close allianc Homes. The chief of this clan wa Lord of Hailes; a family which term the too famous Earl of Bothwell.

37. 'Twixt truce and war, $960 change

Was not infrequent, nor kelds In the old Border-day. Notwithstanding the constant wars Borders, and the occasional cruelt marked the mutual inroads, the inb either side do not appear to have re other with that violent and personal

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.

41. Cheer the dark blood-hound on his way, And with the bugle rouse the fray!

The pursuit of Border marauders was followed by the injured party and his friends with blood-hounds and bugle-horn, and was called the hot-trod. He was entitled, if his dog could trace the scent, to follow the invaders into the opposite kingdom; a privilege which often occasioned bloodshed. The breed of the bloodhound was kept up by the Buccleuch family on their Border estates till within the 18th century.

43. She wrought not by forbidden spell.

Popular belief, though contrary to the doctrines of the Church, made a favourable distinction betwixt magicians and necromancers or wizards-the former were supposed to command the evil spirits, and the latter to serve, or at least to be in league and compact with, those enemies of mankind. The arts of subjecting the demons were manifold; sometimes the fiends were actually swindled by the magicians.

43. A merlin sat upon her wrist.

A merlin, or sparrow-hawk, was actually carried by ladies of rank, as a falcon was, in time of peace, the constant attendant of a knight or baron. Godscroft relates, that when Mary of Lorraine was regent, she pressed the Earl of Angus to admit a royal garrison into his castle of Tantallon. To this he returned no direct answer: but, as if apostrophizing a gosshawk, which sat on his wrist, and which he was feeding during the Queen's speech, he exclaimed, "The devil's in this greedy glede; she will never be full."-Hume's History of the House of Douglas, 1743, vol. ii. p. 131. Barclay complains of the common and indecent practice of bringing hawks and hounds into churches.

43. And princely peacock's gilded train, And o'er the boar-head, garnished

brave.

The peacock, it is well known, was considered, during the times of chivalry, not merely an exquisite delicacy, but a dish of peculiar solemnity. After being roasted, it was again decorated with its plumage, and a sponge, dipped in lighted spirits of wine, was placed in its bill. When it was introduced on days of grand festival, it was the signal for the adventurous knights to take upon them vows to do some deed of chivalry, "before the peacock and the ladies."

The Rutherfords of Hunthill were an ancient race of Border Lairds, whose names occur in history, sometimes as defending the frontier against the English, sometimes as disturbing the peace of their own country. Dickon Drawthe-sword was son to the ancient warrior, called in tradition the Cock of Hunthill, remarkable for leading into battle nine sons, gallant warriors, all sons of the aged champion. 43. bit his glove.

To bite the thumb, or the glove, seems not to have been considered, upon the Border, as a gesture of contempt, though so used by Shakspeare, but as a pledge of mortal revenge. It is yet remembered, that a young gentleman of Teviotdale, on the morning after a hard drinking-bout, observed that he had bitten his glove. He instantly demanded of his companion, with whom had he quarrelled? And, learning that he had had words with one of the party, insisted on instant satisfaction, asserting that, though he remembered nothing of the dispute, yet he was sure he never would have bit his glove unless he had received some unpardonable insult. He fell in the duel, which was fought near Selkirk, in 1721.

44.

old Albert Græme,

Mr.

The Minstrel of that ancient name. "John Græme, second son of Malice, Earl of Monteith, commonly surnamed John with the Bright Sword, upon some displeasure risen against him at court, retired with many of his clan and kindred into the English Borders, in the reign of King Henry the Fourth, where they seated themselves, and many of their posterity have continued there ever since. Sandford, speaking of them, says, (which indeed was applicable to most of the Borderers on both sides,) 'They were all stark mosstroopers, and arrant thieves: Both to England and Scotland outlawed; yet sometimes connived at, because they gave intelligence forth of Scotland, and would raise 400 horse at any time upon a raid of the English into Scotland. A saying is recorded of a mother to her son, (which is now become proverbial,) Ride, Rowley, hough's the pot: that is, the last piece of beef was in the pot, and therefore it was high time for him to go and fetch more."-Introduction to the History of Cumberland.

45. Who has not heard of Surrey's fame?

The gallant and unfortunate Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was unquestionably the most accomplished cavalier of his time; and his sonnets display beauties which would do honour to a more polished age. He was beheaded on