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diff --git a/old/12882.txt b/old/12882.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc2362d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12882.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10658 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Vol. II +(of 3), by Walter Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Vol. II (of 3) + Consisting Of Historical And Romantic Ballads, Collected In The + Southern Counties Of Scotland; With A Few Of Modern Date, Founded + Upon Local Tradition + + +Author: Walter Scott + +Release Date: July 11, 2004 [EBook #12882] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINSTRELSY, VOL. II *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Shawn Cruze and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +MINSTRELSY +OF THE +SCOTTISH BORDER: + + +CONSISTING OF +HISTORICAL AND ROMANTIC BALLADS, +COLLECTED +IN THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND; WITH A FEW +OF MODERN DATE, FOUNDED UPON +LOCAL TRADITION. + + +IN THREE VOLUMES. + + +VOL. II. + + + The songs, to savage virtue dear. + That won of yore the public ear, + Ere Polity, sedate and sage, + Had quench'd the fires of feudal rage.--WARTON. + + +THIRD EDITION. + +1806. + + + +CONTENTS +TO +THE SECOND VOLUME. + + +LESLEY'S MARCH +The Battle of Philiphaugh +The Gallant Grahams +The Battle of Pentland Hills +The Battle of Loudonhill +The Battle of Bothwell-bridge + + + +PART SECOND. + +_ROMANTIC BALLADS._ + + +Scottish Music, an Ode +Introduction to the Tale of Tamlane +The Young Tamlane +Erlinton +The Twa Corbies +The Douglas Tragedy +Young Benjie +Lady Anne +Lord William +The Broomfield-Hill +Proud Lady Margaret +The Original Ballad of the Broom of Cowdenknows +Lord Randal +Sir Hugh Le Blond +Graeme and Bewick +The Duel of Wharton and Stuart, Part I. + Part II. +The Lament of the Border Widow +Fair Helen of Kirkonnel, Part I. + Part II. +Hughie the Graeme +Johnie of Breadislee +Katherine Janfarie +The Laird o' Logie +A Lyke-wake Dirge +The Dowie Dens of Yarrow +The Gay Goss Hawk +Brown Adam +Jellon Grame +Willie's Ladye +Clerk Saunders +Earl Richard +The Lass of Lochroyan +Rose the Red and White Lilly + + + +MINSTRELSY +OF THE +SCOTTISH BORDER. + + +PART FIRST.--CONTINUED. + +_HISTORICAL BALLADS._ + + + + +LESLY'S MARCH. + + + "But, O my country! how shall memory trace + "Thy glories, lost in either Charles's days, + "When through thy fields destructive rapine spread, + "Nor sparing infants' tears, nor hoary head! + "In those dread days, the unprotected swain + "Mourn'd, in the mountains, o'er his wasted plain; + "Nor longer vocal, with the shepherd's lay, + "Were Yarrow's banks, or groves of Endermay." + LANGHORN--_Genius and Valour_. + + +Such are the verses, in which a modern bard has painted the desolate +state of Scotland, during a period highly unfavourable to poetical +composition. Yet the civil and religious wars of the seventeenth century +have afforded some subjects for traditionary poetry, and the reader is +here presented with the ballads of that disastrous aera. Some prefatory +history may not be unacceptable. + +That the Reformation was a good and a glorious work, few will be such +slavish bigots as to deny. But the enemy came, by night, and sowed tares +among the wheat; or rather; the foul and rank soil, upon which the seed +was thrown, pushed forth, together with the rising crop, a plentiful +proportion of pestilential weeds. The morals of the reformed clergy were +severe; their learning was usually respectable, sometimes profound; +and their eloquence, though often coarse, was vehement, animated, and +popular. But they never could forget, that their rise had been achieved +by the degradation, if not the fall, of the crown; and hence, a body of +men, who, in most countries, have been attached to monarchy, were in +Scotland, for nearly two centuries, sometimes the avowed enemies, always +the ambitious rivals, of their prince. The disciples of Calvin could +scarcely avoid a tendency to democracy, and the republican form of +church government was sometimes hinted at, as no unfit model for the +state; at least, the kirkmen laboured to impress, upon their followers +and hearers, the fundamental principle, that the church should be solely +governed by those, unto whom God had given the spiritual sceptre. The +elder Melvine, in a conference with James VI., seized the monarch by the +sleeve, and, addressing him as _God's sillie vassal_, told him, "There +are two kings, and two kingdomes. There is Christ, and his kingdome, the +kirke; whose subject King James the sixth is, and of whose kingdome he +is not a king, nor a head, nor a lord, but a member; and they, whom +Christ hath called and commanded to watch ower his kirke, and govern his +spiritual kingdome, have sufficient authorise and power from him so to +do; which no christian king, no prince, should controul or discharge, +but fortifie and assist: otherwise they are not faithful subjects to +Christ."--_Calderwood_, p. 329. The delegated theocracy, thus sternly +claimed, was exercised with equal rigour. The offences in the king's +household fell under their unceremonious jurisdiction, and he was +formally reminded of his occasional neglect to say grace before and +after meat--his repairing to hear the word more rarely than was +fitting--his profane banning and swearing, and keeping of evil +company--and finally, of his queen's carding, dancing, night-walking, +and such like profane pastimes.--_Calderwood_, p. 313. A curse, direct +or implied, was formally denounced against every man, horse, and spear, +who should assist the king in his quarrel with the Earl of Gowrie; and +from the pulpit, the favourites of the listening sovereign were likened +to Haman, his wife to Herodias, and he himself to Ahab, to Herod, and +to Jeroboam. These effusions of zeal could not be very agreeable to the +temper of James: and accordingly, by a course of slow, and often crooked +and cunning policy, he laboured to arrange the church-government upon +a less turbulent and menacing footing. His eyes were naturally turned +towards the English hierarchy, which had been modelled, by the despotic +Henry VIII., into such a form, as to connect indissolubly the interest +of the church with that of the regal power.[A] The Reformation, in +England, had originated in the arbitrary will of the prince; in +Scotland, and in all other countries of Europe, it had commenced among +insurgents of the lower ranks. Hence, the deep and essential +difference which separated the Huguenots, the Lutherans, the Scottish +presbyterians, and, in fine, all the other reformed churches, from that +of England. But James, with a timidity which sometimes supplies the +place of prudence, contented himself with gradually imposing upon the +Scottish nation a limited and moderate system of episcopacy, which, +while it gave to a proportion of the churchmen a seat in the council of +the nation, induced them to look up to the sovereign, as the power to +whose influence they owed their elevation. But, in other respects, James +spared the prejudices of his subjects; no ceremonial ritual was imposed +upon their consciences; the pastors were reconciled by the prospect of +preferment,[B] the dress and train of the bishops were plain and decent; +the system of tythes was placed upon a moderate and unoppressive +footing;[C] and, perhaps, on the whole, the Scottish hierarchy contained +as few objectionable points as any system of church-government in +Europe. Had it subsisted to the present day, although its doctrines +could not have been more pure, nor its morals more exemplary, than those +of the present kirk of Scotland, yet its degrees of promotion might have +afforded greater encouragement to learning, and objects of laudable +ambition to those, who might dedicate themselves to its service. But +the precipitate bigotry of the unfortunate Charles I. was a blow to +episcopacy in Scotland, from which it never perfectly recovered. + +[Footnote A: Of this the Covenanters were so sensible, as to trace +(what they called) the Antichristian hierarchy, with its idolatry, +superstition, and human inventions, "to the prelacy of England, the +fountain whence all these Babylonish streams issue unto us."--See their +manifesto on entering England, in 1640.] + +[Footnote B: Many of the preachers, who had been loudest in the cause of +presbytery, were induced to accept of bishoprics. Such was, for example, +William Cooper, who was created bishop of Galloway. This recreant Mass +John was a hypochondriac, and conceived his lower extremities to be +composed of glass; hence, on his court advancement, the following +epigram was composed: + + _"Aureus heu! frugilem confregit malleus urnam."_] + +[Footnote C: This part of the system was perfected in the reign of +Charles I.] + +It has frequently happened, that the virtues of the individual, at least +their excess (if, indeed, there can be an excess in virtue), have been +fatal to the prince. Never was this more fully exemplified than in the +history of Charles I. His zeal for religion, his family affection, the +spirit with which he defended his supposed rights, while they do honour +to the man, were the fatal shelves upon which the monarchy was wrecked. +Impatient to accomplish the total revolution, which his father's +cautious timidity had left incomplete, Charles endeavoured at once to +introduce into Scotland the church-government, and to renew, in England, +the temporal domination, of his predecessor, Henry VIII. The furious +temper of the Scottish nation first took fire; and the brandished +footstool of a prostitute[A] gave the signal for civil dissension, +which ceased not till the church was buried under the ruins of the +constitution; till the nation had stooped to a military despotism; and +the monarch to the block of the executioner. + +[Footnote A: "_Out, false loon! wilt thou say the mass at my lug +(ear)_," was the well known exclamation of Margaret Geddes, as she +discharged her missile tripod against the bishop of Edinburgh, who, +in obedience to the orders of the privy-council, was endeavouring to +rehearse the common prayer. Upon a seat more elevated, the said Margaret +had shortly before done penance, before the congregation, for the sin of +fornication: such, at least, is the tory tradition.] + +The consequence of Charles' hasty and arbitrary measures were soon +evident. The united nobility, gentry, and clergy of Scotland, entered +into the SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, by which memorable deed, they +subscribed and swore a national renunciation of the hierarchy. The walls +of the prelatic Jericho (to use the language of the times) were thus +levelled with the ground, and the curse of Hiel, the Bethelite, +denounced against those who should rebuild them. While the clergy +thundered, from the pulpits, against the prelatists and malignants (by +which names were distinguished the scattered and heartless adherents of +Charles), the nobility and gentry, in arms, hurried to oppose the march +of the English army, which now advanced towards their borders. At the +head of their defensive forces they placed Alexander Lesley, who, with +many of his best officers, had been trained to war under the great +Gustavus Adolphus. They soon assembled an army of 26,000 men, whose +camp, upon Dunse-law, is thus described by an eye-witness. + +"Mr Baillie acknowledges, that it was an agreeable feast to his eyes, +to survey the place: it is a round hill, about a Scots mile in circle, +rising, with very little declivity, to the height of a bow-shot, and the +head somewhat plain, and near a quarter of a mile in length and breadth; +on the top it was garnished with near forty field pieces, pointed +towards the east and south. The colonels, who were mostly noblemen, as +Rothes, Cassilis, Eglinton, Dalhousie, Lindsay, Lowdon, Boyd, Sinclair, +Balcarras, Flemyng, Kirkcudbright, Erskine, Montgomery, Yester, &c. +lay in large tents at the head of their respective regiments; their +captains, who generally were barons, or chief gentlemen, lay around +them: next to these were the lieutenants, who were generally old +veterans, and had served in that, or a higher station, over sea; and the +common soldiers lay outmost, all in huts of timber, covered with divot, +or straw. Every company, which, according to the first plan, did consist +of two hundred men, had their colours flying at the captain's tent door, +with the Scots arms upon them, and this motto, in golden letters, "FOR +CHRIST'S CROWN AND COVENANT." Against this army, so well arrayed and +disciplined, and whose natural hardihood was edged and exalted by a high +opinion of their sacred cause, Charles marched at the head of a large +force, but divided, by the emulation of the commanders, and enervated, +by disuse of arms. A faintness of spirit pervaded the royal army, and +the king stooped to a treaty with his Scottish subjects. The treaty was +soon broken; and, in the following year, Dunse-law again presented the +same edifying spectacle of a presbyterian army. But the Scots were not +contented with remaining there. They passed the Tweed; and the English +troops, in a skirmish at Newburn, shewed either more disaffection, +or cowardice, than had at any former period disgraced their national +character. This war was concluded by the treaty of Rippon; in +consequence of which, and of Charles's concessions, made during his +subsequent visit to his native country, the Scottish parliament +congratulated him on departing "a contented king, from a contented +people." If such content ever existed, it was of short duration. + +The storm, which had been soothed to temporary rest in Scotland, burst +forth in England with treble violence. The popular clamour accused +Charles, or his ministers, of fetching into Britain the religion of +Rome, and the policy of Constantinople. The Scots felt most keenly the +first, and the English the second, of these aggressions. Accordingly, +when the civil war of England broke forth, the Scots nation, for a time, +regarded it in neutrality, though not with indifference. But, when the +successes of a prelatic monarch, against a presbyterian parliament, were +paving the way for rebuilding the system of hierarchy, they could no +longer remain inactive. Bribed by the delusive promise of Sir Henry +Vane, and Marshall, the parliamentary commissioners, that the church of +England should be reformed, _according to the word of God_, which, they +fondly believed, amounted to an adoption of presbytery, they agreed to +send succours to their brethren of England. Alexander Lesly, who ought +to have ranked among the _contented_ subjects, having been raised by the +king to the honours of Earl of Leven, was, nevertheless, readily induced +to accept the command of this second army. Doubtless, where insurrection +is not only pardoned, but rewarded, a monarch has little right to expect +gratitude for benefits, which all the world, as well as the receiver, +must attribute to fear. Yet something is due to decency; and the best +apology for Lesly, is his zeal for propagating presbyterianism in +England, the bait which had caught the whole parliament of Scotland. +But, although the Earl of Leven was commander in chief, David Lesly, a +yet more renowned and active soldier than himself, was major-general of +the cavalry, and, in truth, bore away the laurels of the expedition. + +The words of the following march, which was played in the van of this +presbyterian crusade, were first published by Allan Ramsay, in his +_Evergreen_; and they breathe the very spirit we might expect. Mr +Ritson, in his collection of Scottish songs, has favoured the public +with the music, which seems to have been adapted to the bagpipes. + +The hatred of the old presbyterians to the organ was, apparently, +invincible. It is here vilified with the name of a "_chest-full of +whistles_," as the episcopal chapel at Glasgow was, by the vulgar, +opprobriously termed the _Whistling Kirk_. Yet, such is the revolution +of sentiment upon this, as upon more important points, that reports have +lately been current, of a plan to introduce this noble instrument into +presbyterian congregations. + +The share, which Lesly's army bore in the action of Marston Moor, has +been exalted, or depressed, as writers were attached to the English or +Scottish nations, to the presbyterian or independent factions. Mr Laing +concludes, with laudable impartiality, that the victory was equally due +to "Cromwell's iron brigade of disciplined independents, and to three +regiments of Lesly's horse."--Vol I. p. 244. + + + +LESLEY'S MARCH. + + + March! march! + Why the devil do ye na march? + Stand to your arms, my lads, + Fight in good order; + Front about, ye musketeers all, + Till ye come to the English border: + Stand til't, and fight like men, + True gospel to maintain. + The parliament's blythe to see us a' coming. + When to the kirk we come, + We'll purge it ilka room, + Frae popish reliques, and a' sic innovation, + That a' the warld may see, + There's nane in the right but we, + Of the auld Scottish nation. + _Jenny_ shall wear the hood, + _Jocky_ the sark of God; + And the kist-fou of whistles, + That mak sic a cleiro, + Our piper's braw + Shall hae them a', + Whate'er come on it: + Busk up your plaids, my lads! + Cock up your bonnets! + _Da Capo._ + + + +THE BATTLE OF PHILIPHAUGH. + + +This ballad is so immediately connected with the former, that the editor +is enabled to continue his sketch of historical transactions, from the +march of Lesly. + +In the insurrection of 1680, all Scotland, south from the Grampians, was +actively and zealously engaged. But, after the treaty of Rippon, the +first fury of the revolutionary torrent may be said to have foamed off +its force, and many of the nobility began to look round, with horror, +upon the rocks and shelves amongst which it had hurried them. Numbers +regarded the defence of Scotland as a just and necessary warfare, who +did not see the same reason for interfering in the affairs of England. +The visit of King Charles to the metropolis of his fathers, in all +probability, produced its effect on his nobles. Some were allied to +the house of Stuart by blood; all regarded it as the source of their +honours, and venerated the ancient in obtaining the private objects of +ambition, or selfish policy which had induced them to rise up against +the crown. Amongst these late penitents, the well known marquis of +Montrose was distinguished, as the first who endeavoured to recede from +the paths of rude rebellion. Moved by the enthusiasm of patriotism, or +perhaps of religion, but yet more by ambition, the sin of noble +minds, Montrose had engaged, eagerly and deeply, upon the side of the +covenanters He had been active in pressing the town of Aberdeen to take +the covenant, and his success against the Gordons, at the bridge of Dee, +left that royal burgh no other means of safety from pillage. At the head +of his own battalion, he waded through the Tweed, in 1640, and totally +routed the vanguard of the king's cavalry. But, in 1643, moved with +resentment against the covenanters who preferred, to his prompt and +ardent character, the caution of the wily and politic earl of Argyle, or +seeing, perhaps, that the final views of that party were inconsistent +with the interests of monarchy, and of the constitution, Montrose +espoused the falling cause of royalty and raised the Highland clans, +whom he united to a small body of Irish, commanded by Alexander +Macdonald, still renowned in the north, under the title of Colkitto. +With these tumultuary and uncertain forces, he rushed forth, like a +torrent from the mountains, and commenced a rapid and brilliant career +of victory. At Tippermoor, where he first met the covenanters, their +defeat was so effectual, as to appal the presbyterian courage, even +after the lapse of eighty years.[A] A second army was defeated under the +walls of Aberdeen; and the pillage of the ill-fated town was doomed to +expiate the principles, which Montrose himself had formerly imposed upon +them. Argyleshire next experienced his arms; the domains of his rival +were treated with more than military severity; and Argyle himself, +advancing to Inverlochy for the defence of his country, was totally +and disgracefully routed by Montrose. Pressed betwixt two armies, +well appointed, and commanded by the most experienced generals of the +Covenant, Mozitrose displayed more military skill in the astonishingly +rapid marches, by which he avoided fighting to disadvantage, than even +in the field of victory. By one of those hurried marches, from the banks +of Loch Katrine to the heart of Inverness-shire, he was enabled to +attack, and totally to defeat, the Covenanters, at Aulderne though he +brought into the field hardly one half of their forces. Baillie, a +veteran officer, was next routed by him, at the village of Alford, +in Strathbogie. Encouraged by these repeated and splendid successes, +Montrose now descended into the heart of Scotland, and fought a bloody +and decisive battle, near Kilsyth, where four thousand covenanters fell +under the Highland claymore. + +[Footnote A: Upon the breaking out of the insurrection, in the year +1715, the earl of Rothes, sheriff and lord-lieutenant of the county of +Fife, issued out an order for "all the fencible men of the countie to +meet him, at a place called Cashmoor. The gentlemen took no notice of +his orders, nor did the commons, except those whom the ministers forced +to goe to the place of rendezvouse, to the number of fifteen hundred +men, being all that their utmost diligence could perform. But those of +that countie, having been taught by their experience, that it is not +good meddling with edge tools, especiallie in the hands of Highlandmen, +were very averse from taking armes. No sooner they reflected on the name +of the place of rendezvouse, Cashmoor, than Tippermoor was called to +mind; a place not far from thence, where Montrose had routed them, when +under the command of my great-grand-uncle the earl of Wemyss, then +generall of God's armie. In a word, the unlucky choice of a place, +called _Moo_, appeared ominous; and that, with the flying report of the +Highlandmen having made themselves masters of Perth, made them throw +down their armes, and run, notwithstanding the trouble that Rothes and +the ministers gave themselves to stop them."--M.S. _Memoirs of Lord St +Clair._] + +This victory opened the whole of Scotland to Montrose He occupied the +capital, and marched forward to the border; not merely to complete the +subjection of the southern provinces, but with the flattering hope of +pouring his victorious army into England, and bringing to the support of +Charles the sword of his paternal tribes. + +Half a century before Montrose's career, the state of the borders was +such as might have enabled him easily to have accomplished his daring +plan. The marquis of Douglas, the earls of Hume, Roxburgh, Traquair, and +Annandale, were all descended of mighty border chiefs, whose ancestors +could, each of them, have led into the field a body of their own +vassals, equal in numbers, and superior in discipline, to the army of +Montrose. But the military spirit of the borderers, and their attachment +to their chiefs, had been much broken since the union of the crowns. The +disarming acts of James had been carried rigorously into execution, and +the smaller proprietors, no longer feeling the necessity of protection +from their chiefs in war, had aspired to independence, and embraced +the tenets of the covenant. Without imputing, with Wishart, absolute +treachery to the border nobles, it may be allowed, that they looked with +envy upon Montrose, and with dread and aversion upon his rapacious and +disorderly forces. Hence, had it been in their power, it might not have +altogether suited their inclinations, to have brought the strength +of the border lances to the support of the northern clans. The once +formidable name of Douglas still sufficed to raise some bands, by +whom Montrose was joined, in his march down the Gala. With these +reinforcements, and with the remnant of his Highlanders (for a great +number had returned home with Colkitto, to deposit their plunder, and +provide for their families), Montrose after traversing the border, +finally encamped upon the field of Philiphaugh. + +The river Ettrick, immediately after its junction with the Yarrow, and +previous to its falling into the Tweed, makes a large sweep to the +southward, and winds almost beneath the lofty bank, on which the town +of Selkirk stands; leaving, upon the northern side, a large and level +plain, extending in an easterly direction, from a hill, covered with +natural copse-wood, called the Harehead-wood, to the high ground which +forms the banks of the Tweed, near Sunderland-hall. This plain is called +Philliphaugh:[A] it is about a mile and a half in length, and a quarter +of a mile broad; and, being defended, to the northward, by the high +hills which separate Tweed from Yarrow, by the river in front, and by +the high grounds, already mentioned on each flank, it forms, at once, +a convenient and a secure field of encampment. On each flank Montrose +threw up some trenches, which are still visible; and here he posted his +infantry, amounting to about twelve or fifteen hundred men. He himself +took up his quarters in the burgh of Selkirk, and, with him, the +cavalry, in number hardly one thousand, but respectable, as being +chiefly composed of gentlemen, and their immediate retainers. In this +manner, by a fatal and unaccountable error, the river Ettrick was thrown +betwixt the cavalry and infantry, which were to depend upon each other +for intelligence and mutual support. But this might be overlooked by +Montrose, in the conviction, that there was no armed enemy of Charles +in the realm of Scotland; for he is said to have employed the night in +writing and dispatching this agreeable intelligence to the king. Such an +enemy was already within four miles of his camp. + +[Footnote A: The Scottish language is rich in words, expressive of local +situation The single word _haugh_, conveys, to a Scotsman, almost all +that I have endeavoured to explain in the text, by circumlocutory +description.] + +Recalled by the danger of the cause of the Covenant, General David Lesly +came down from England, at the head of those iron squadrons, whose force +had been proved in the fatal battle of Long Marston Moor. His array +consisted of from five to six thousand men, chiefly cavalry. Lesly's +first plan seems to have been, to occupy the mid-land counties, so as to +intercept the return of Montrose's Highlanders, and to force him to an +unequal combat Accordingly, he marched along the eastern coast, from +Berwick to Tranent; but there he suddenly altered his direction, and, +crossing through Mid-Lothian, turned again to the southward, and, +following the course of Gala water, arrived at Melrose, the evening +before the engagement How it is possible that Montrose should have +received no notice whatever of the march of so considerable an army, +seems almost inconceivable, and proves, that the country was strongly +disaffected to his cause, or person. Still more extraordinary does it +appear, that, even with the advantage of a thick mist, Lesly should +have, the next morning, advanced towards Montrose's encampment without +being descried by a single scout. Such, however, was the case, and it +was attended with all the consequences of the most complete surprisal. +The first intimation that Montrose received of the march of Lesly, +was the noise of the conflict, or, rather, that which attended the +unresisted slaughter of his infantry, who never formed a line of battle: +the right wing alone, supported by the thickets of Harehead-wood, and +by the entrenchments which are there still visible, stood firm for some +time. But Lesly had detached two thousand men, who, crossing the Ettrick +still higher up than his main body, assaulted the rear of Montrose's +right wing. At this moment, the marquis himself arrived, and beheld +his army dispersed, for the first time, in irretrievable route. He +had thrown himself upon a horse the instant he heard the firing, and, +followed by such of his disorderly cavalry as had gathered upon the +alarm, he galloped from Selkirk, crossed the Ettrick, and made a bold +and desperate attempt to retrieve the fortune of the day. But all was +in vain; and, after cutting his way, almost singly, through a body of +Lesly's troopers, the gallant Montrose graced by his example the +retreat of the fugitives. That retreat he continued up Yarrow, and over +Minch-moor; nor did he stop till he arrived at Traquair, sixteen miles +from the field of battle. Upon Philiphaugh he lost, in one defeat, the +fruit of six splendid victories: nor was he again able effectually to +make head, in Scotland, against the covenanted cause. The number slain +in the field did not exceed three or four hundred; for the fugitives +found refuge in the mountains, which had often been the retreat of +vanquished armies, and were impervious to the pursuer's cavalry. Lesly +abused his victory, and dishonoured his arms, by slaughtering, in cold +blood, many of the prisoners whom he had taken; and the court-yard of +Newark castle is said to have been the spot, upon which they were +shot by his command. Many others are said, by Wishart, to have been +precipitated from a high bridge over the Tweed. This, as Mr Laing +remarks, is impossible; because there was not a bridge over the Tweed +betwixt Peebles and Berwick. But there is an old bridge, over the +Ettrick, only four miles from Philiphaugh, and another over the Yarrow, +both of which lay in the very line of flight and pursuit; and either +might have been the scene of the massacre. But if this is doubtful, +it is too certain, that several of the royalists were executed by the +Covenanters, as traitors to the king and parliament.[A] + +[Footnote A: A covenanted minister, present at the execution of these +gentlemen observed, "This wark gaes bonnilie on!" an amiable +exclamation equivalent to the modern _ca ira_, so often used on similar +occasions.--_Wishart's Memoirs of Montrose._] + +I have reviewed, at some length, the details of this memorable +engagement, which, at the same time, terminated the career of a hero, +likened, by no mean judge of mankind[A] to those of antiquity, and +decided the fate of his country. It is further remarkable, as the last +field which was fought in Ettrick forest, the scene of so many bloody +actions. The unaccountable neglect of patroles, and the imprudent +separation betwixt the horse and foot, seem to have been the immediate +causes of Montrose's defeat. But the ardent and impetuous character +of this great warrior, corresponding with that of the troops which he +commanded was better calculated for attack than defence; for surprising +others, rather than for providing against surprise himself. Thus, he +suffered loss by a sudden attack upon part of his forces, stationed at +Aberdeen;[B] and, had he not extricated himself with the most singular +ability, he must have lost his whole army, when surprised by Baillie, +during the plunder of Dundee. Nor has it escaped an ingenious modern +historian, that his final defeat at Dunbeath, so nearly resembles in its +circumstances the surprise at Philiphaugh, as to throw some shade on his +military talents.--LAING'S _History_. + +[Footnote A: Cardinal du Retz.] + +[Footnote B: Colonel Hurry, with a party of horse, surprised the town, +while Montrose's Highlanders and cavaliers were "dispersed through the +town, drinking carelessly in their lodgings; and, hearing the horse's +feet, and great noise, were astonished, never dreaming of their enemy. +However, Donald Farquharson happened to come to the causey, where he was +cruelly slain, anent the Court de Guard; a brave gentleman, and one of +the noblest captains amongst all the Highlanders of Scotland. Two or +three others were killed, and some (taken prisoners) had to Edinburgh, +and cast into irons in the tolbooth. Great lamentation was made for this +gallant, being still the king's man for life and death."--SPALDING +Vol. II. p. 281. The journalist, to whom all matters were of equal +importance, proceeds to inform us, that Hurry took the marquis of +Huntly's best horse, and, in his retreat through Montrose seized upon +the marquis's second son. He also expresses his regret, that "the said +Donald Farquharson's body was found in the street, stripped naked: for +they tirr'd from off his body a rich stand of apparel, but put on the +same day."--_Ibid._] + +The following ballad, which is preserved by tradition in Selkirkshire, +coincides accurately with historical fact. This, indeed, constitutes its +sole merit. The Covenanters were not, I dare say, addicted, more +than their successors "to the profane and unprofitable art of +poem-making."[A] Still, however, they could not refrain from some +strains of exultation, over the defeat of the _truculent tyrant_, James +Grahame. For, gentle reader, Montrose, who, with resources which seemed +as none, gained six victories, and reconquered a kingdom; who, a poet, a +scholar, a cavalier, and a general, could have graced alike a court, +and governed a camp; this Montrose was numbered, by his covenanted +countrymen, among "the troublers of Israel, the fire-brands of hell, the +Corahs, the Balaams, the Doegs, the Rabshakahs, the Hamans, the Tobiahs, +and Sanballats of the time." + +[Footnote A: So little was the spirit of illiberal fanaticism decayed +in some parts of Scotland, that only thirty years ago, when Wilson, +the ingenious author of a poem, called "_Clyde_," now republished, was +inducted into the office of schoolmaster at Greenock, he was obliged +formally, and in writing, to abjure _"the profane and unprofitable art +of poem-making."_ It is proper to add, that such an incident is _now_ as +unlikely to happen in Greenock as in London.] + + + +THE BATTLE OF PHILIPHAUGH. + + + On Philiphaugh a fray began, + At Hairhead wood it ended; + The Scots out o'er the Graemes they ran, + Sae merrily they bended. + + Sir David frae the border came, + Wi' heart an' hand came he; + Wi' him three thousand bonny Scotts, + To bear him company. + + Wi' him three thousand valiant men, + A noble sight to see! + A cloud o' mist them weel concealed, + As close as e'er might be. + + When they came to the Shaw burn, + Said he, "Sae weel we frame, + "I think it is convenient, + "That we should sing a psalm."[A] + + When they came to the Lingly burn, + As day-light did appear, + They spy'd an aged father, + And he did draw them near. + + "Come hither, aged father!" + Sir David he did cry, + "And tell me where Montrose lies, + "With all his great army." + + "But, first, you must come tell to me, + "If friends or foes you be; + "I fear you are Montrose's men, + "Come frae the north country." + + "No, we are nane o' Montrose's men, + "Nor e'er intend to be; + "I am sir David Lesly, + "That's speaking unto thee." + + "If you're sir David Lesly, + "As I think weel ye be, + "I'm sorry ye hae brought so few + "Into your company. + + "There's fifteen thousand armed men, + "Encamped on yon lee; + "Ye'll never be a bite to them, + "For aught that I can see. + + "But, halve your men in equal parts, + "Your purpose to fulfil; + "Let ae half keep the water side, + "The rest gae round the hill. + + "Your nether party fire must, + "Then beat a flying drum; + "And then they'll think the day's their ain, + "And frae the trench they'll come. + + "Then, those that are behind them maun + "Gie shot, baith grit and sma'; + "And so, between your armies twa, + "Ye may make them to fa'." + + "O were ye ever a soldier?" + Sir David Lesly said; + "O yes; I was at Solway flow, + "Where we were all betray'd. + + "Again I was at curst Dunbar, + "And was a pris'ner ta'en; + "And many weary night and day, + "In prison I hae lien." + + "If ye will lead these men aright, + "Rewarded shall ye be; + "But, if that ye a traitor prove, + "I'll hang thee on a tree." + + "Sir, I will not a traitor prove; + "Montrose has plundered me; + "I'll do my best to banish him + "Away frae this country." + + He halv'd his men in equal parts, + His purpose to fulfill; + The one part kept the water side, + The other gaed round the hill. + + The nether party fired brisk, + Then turn'd and seem'd to rin; + And then they a' came frae the trench, + And cry'd, "the day's our ain!" + + The rest then ran into the trench, + And loos'd their cannons a': + And thus, between his armies twa, + He made them fast to fa'. + + Now, let us a' for Lesly pray, + And his brave company! + For they hae vanquish'd great Montrose, + Our cruel enemy. + +[Footnote A: Various reading; "That we should take a dram."] + + + +NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF PHILIPHAUGH. + + +_When they came to the Shaw burn._--P. 27. v. 1. A small stream, that +joins the Ettrick, near Selkirk, on the south side of the river. + +_When they came to the Lingly burn._--P. 27. v. 2. A brook, which falls +into the Ettrick, from the north, a little above the Shaw burn. + +_They spy'd an aged father._--P. 27. v. 2. The traditional commentary +upon the ballad states this man's name to have been Brydone, ancestor to +several families in the parish of Ettrick, particularly those occupying +the farms of Midgehope and Redford Green. It is a strange anachronism, +to make this aged father state himself at the battle of _Solway flow,_ +which was fought a hundred years before Philiphaugh; and a still +stranger, to mention that of Dunbar, which did not take place till five +years after Montrose's defeat. + +A tradition, annexed to a copy of this ballad, transmitted to me by Mr +James Hogg, bears, that the earl of Traquair, on the day of the battle, +was advancing with a large sum of money, for the payment of Montrose's +forces, attended by a blacksmith, one of his retainers. As they crossed +Minch-moor, they were alarmed by firing, which the earl conceived to +be Montrose exercising his forces, but which his attendant, from the +constancy and irregularity of the noise, affirmed to be the tumult of an +engagement. As they came below Broadmeadows, upon Yarrow, they met their +fugitive friends, hotly pursued by the parliamentary troopers. The earl, +of course, turned, and fled also: but his horse, jaded with the weight +of dollars which he carried, refused to take the hill; so that the earl +was fain to exchange with his attendant, leaving him with the breathless +horse, and bag of silver, to shift for himself; which he is supposed +to have done very effectually. Some of the dragoons, attracted by the +appearance of the horse and trappings, gave chase to the smith, who +fled up the Yarrow; but finding himself as he said, encumbered with the +treasure, and unwilling that it should be taken, he flung it into a +well, or pond, near the Tinnies, above Hangingshaw. Many wells were +afterwards searched in vain; but it is the general belief, that the +smith, if he ever hid the money, knew too well how to anticipate the +scrutiny. There is, however, a pond, which some peasants began to drain, +not long ago, in hopes of finding the golden prize, but were prevented, +as they pretended, by supernatural interference. + + + +THE GALLANT GRAHAMS. + + +The preceding ballad was a song of triumph over the defeat of Montrose +at Philiphaugh; the verses, which follow are a lamentation for his final +discomfiture and cruel death. The present edition of _"The Gallant +Grahams"_ is given from tradition, enlarged and corrected by an ancient +printed edition, entitled, _"The Gallant Grahams of Scotland"_ to the +tune of _"I will away, and I will not tarry,"_ of which Mr Ritson +favoured the editor with an accurate copy. + +The conclusion of Montrose's melancholy history is too well known. The +Scottish army, which sold king Charles I. to his parliament, had, we may +charitably hope, no idea that they were bartering his blood; although +they must have been aware, that they were consigning him to perpetual +bondage.[A] At least the sentiments of the kingdom at large differed +widely from those of the military merchants, and the danger of king +Charles drew into England a well appointed Scottish army, under the +command of the duke of Hamilton. But he met with Cromwell, and to meet +with Cromwell was inevitable defeat. The death of Charles, and the +triumph of the independents, excited still more highly the hatred and +the fears of the Scottish nation. The outwitted presbyterians, who saw, +too late, that their own hands had been employed in the hateful task +of erecting the power of a sect, yet more fierce and fanatical than +themselves, deputed a commission to the Hague, to treat with Charles +II., whom, upon certain conditions they now wished to restore to the +throne of his fathers. At the court of the exiled monarch, Montrose also +offered to his acceptance a splendid plan of victory and conquest, and +pressed for his permission to enter Scotland; and there, collecting the +remains of the royalists to claim the crown for his master, with the +sword in his hand. An able statesman might perhaps have reconciled these +jarring projects; a good man would certainly have made a decided choice +betwixt them. Charles was neither the one not the other; and, while he +treated with the presbyterians, with a view of accepting the crown from +their hands, he scrupled not to authorise Montrose, the mortal enemy of +the sect, to pursue his separate and inconsistent plan of conquest. + +[Footnote A: As Salmasius quaintly, but truly, expresses it, +_Presbyterian iligaverunt independantes trucidaverunt_.] + +Montrose arrived in the Orkneys with six hundred Germans, was furnished +with some recruits from those islands, and was joined by several +royalists, as he traversed the wilds of Caithness and Sutherland: but, +advancing into Ross-shire, he was surprised, and totally defeated, +by colonel Strachan, an officer of the Scottish parliament, who had +distinguished himself in the civil wars, and who afterwards became a +decided Cromwellian. Montrose, after a fruitless resistance, at length +fled from the field of defeat, and concealed himself in the grounds of +Macleod of Assint to whose fidelity he entrusted his life, and by whom +he was delivered up to Lesly, his most bitter enemy. + +He was tried for what was termed treason against the estates of the +kingdom; and, despite the commission of Charles for his proceedings, he +was condemned to die by a parliament, who acknowledged Charles to be +their king, and whom, on that account only, Montrose acknowledged to be +a parliament. + +"The clergy," says a late animated historian, "whose vocation it was to +persecute the repose of his last moments, sought, by the terrors of his +sentence, to extort repentance; but his behaviour, firm and dignified to +the end, repelled their insulting advances with scorn and disdain. He +was prouder, he replied, to have his head affixed to the prison-walls, +than to have his picture placed in the king's bed-chamber: 'and, far +from being troubled that my limbs are to be sent to your principal +cities, I wish I had flesh enough to be dispersed through Christendom, +to attest my dying attachment to my king.' It was the calm employment of +his mind, that night, to reduce this extravagant sentiment to verse. +He appeared next day, on the scaffold, in a rich habit, with the same +serene and undaunted countenance, and addressed the people, to vindicate +his dying unabsolved by the church, rather than to justify an invasion +of the kingdom, during a treaty with the estates. The insults of his +enemies were not yet exhausted. The history of his exploits was attached +to his neck by the public executioner: but he smiled at their inventive +malice; declared, that he wore it with more pride than he had done the +garter; and, when his devotions were finished, demanding if any more +indignities remained to be practised, submitted calmly to an unmerited +fate."--_Laing's History of Scotland,_ Vol. I. p. 404. + +Such was the death of James Graham, the great marquis of Montrose, over +whom some lowly bard has poured forth the following elegiac verses. To +say, that they are far unworthy of the subject, is no great reproach; +for a nobler poet might have failed in the attempt. Indifferent as the +ballad is, we may regret its being still more degraded by many apparent +corruptions. There seems an attempt to trace Montrose's career, from his +first raising the royal standard, to his second expedition and death; +but it is interrupted and imperfect. From the concluding stanza, I +presume the song was composed upon the arrival of Charles in Scotland, +which so speedily followed the execution of Montrose, that the king +entered the city while the head of his most faithful and most successful +adherent was still blackening in the sun. + + + +THE GALLANT GRAHAMS. + + + Now, fare thee weel, sweet Ennerdale! + Baith kith and countrie I bid adieu; + For I maun away, and I may not stay, + To some uncouth land which I never knew. + + To wear the blue I think it best, + Of all the colours that I see; + And I'll wear it for the gallant Grahams, + That are banished from their countrie. + + I have no gold, I have no land, + I have no pearl, nor precious stane; + But I wald sell my silken snood, + To see the gallant Grahams come hame. + + In Wallace days when they began, + Sir John the Graham did bear the gree, + Through all the lands of Scotland wide; + He was a lord of the south countrie. + + And so was seen full many a time; + For the summer flowers did never spring, + But every Graham, in armour bright, + Would then appear before the king. + + They all were dressed in armour sheen, + Upon the pleasant banks of Tay; + Before a king they might be seen, + These gallant Grahams in their array. + + At the Goukhead our camp we set, + Our leaguer down there for to lay; + And, in the bonnie summer light, + We rode our white horse and our gray. + + Our false commander sold our king + Unto his deadly enemie, + Who was the traitor Cromwell, then; + So I care not what they do with me. + + They have betrayed our noble prince, + And banish'd him from his royal crown; + But the gallant Grahams have ta'en in hand, + For to command those traitors down. + + In Glen-Prosen[A] we rendezvoused, + March'd to Glenshie by night and day, + And took the town of Aberdeen, + And met the Campbells in their array. + + Five thousand men, in armour strong. + Did meet the gallant Grahams that day + At Inverlochie, where war began, + And scarce two thousand men were they. + + Gallant Montrose, that chieftain bold, + Courageous in the best degree, + Did for the king fight well that day; + The lord preserve his majestie! + + Nathaniel Gordon, stout and bold, + Did for king Charles wear the blue; + But the cavaliers they all were sold, + And brave Harthill, a cavalier too. + + And Newton Gordon, burd-alone + And Dalgatie, both stout and keen, + And gallant Veitch upon the field, + A braver face was never seen. + + Now, fare ye weel, sweet Ennerdale! + Countrie and kin I quit ye free; + Chear up your hearts, brave cavaliers, + For the Grahams are gone to high Germany. + + Now brave Montrose he went to France, + And to Germany, to gather fame; + And bold Aboyne is to the sea, + Young Huntly is his noble name. + + Montrose again, that chieftain bold, + Back unto Scotland fair he came, + For to redeem fair Scotland's land, + The pleasant, gallant, worthy Graham! + + At the water of Carron he did begin, + And fought the battle to the end; + Where there were killed, for our noble king, + Two thousand of our Danish men. + + Gilbert Menzies, of high degree, + By whom the king's banner was borne; + For a brave cavalier was he, + But now to glory he is gone. + + Then woe to Strachan, and Hacket baith! + And, Lesly, ill death may thou die! + For ye have betrayed the gallant Grahams, + Who aye were true to majestic. + + And the laird of Assint has seized Montrose, + And had him into Edinburgh town; + And frae his body taken the head, + And quartered him upon a trone. + + And Huntly's gone the selfsame way, + And our noble king is also gone; + He suffered death for our nation, + Our mourning tears can ne'er be done. + + But our brave young king is now come home, + King Charles the second in degree; + The Lord send peace into his time, + And God preserve his majestie! + +[Footnote A: Glen-Prosen, in Angus-shire.] + + + +NOTES ON THE GALLANT GRAHAMS. + + +_Now, fare thee weel, sweet Ennerdale._--P. 38. v. 1. A corruption of +Endrickdale. The principal, and most ancient possessions of the Montrose +family lie along the water of Endrick, in Dumbartonshire. + +_Sir John the Graham did bear the gree._--P. 39. v. 1. The faithful +friend and adherent of the immortal Wallace, slain at the battle of +Falkirk. + +_Who was the traitor Cromwell, then._--P. 39. v. 5. This extraordinary +character, to whom, in crimes and in success our days only have produced +a parallel, was no favourite in Scotland. There occurs the following +invective against him, in a MS. in the Advocates' Library. The humour +consists in the dialect of a Highlander, speaking English, and confusing +_Cromwell_ with _Gramach,_ ugly: + + Te commonwelt, tat Gramagh ting. + Gar brek hem's word, gar do hem's king; + + Gar pay hem's sesse, or take hem's (geers) + We'l no de at, del come de leers; + We'l bide a file amang te crowes, (_i.e._ in the woods) + We'l scor te sword, and wiske to bowes; + And fen her nen-sel se te re, (the king) + Te del my care for _Gromaghee_. + +The following tradition, concerning Cromwell, is preserved by an +uncommonly direct line of traditional evidence; being narrated (as I am +informed) by the grandson of an eye-witness. When Cromwell, in 1650, +entered Glasgow, he attended divine service in the High Church; but the +presbyterian divine, who officiated, poured forth, with more zeal than +prudence, the vial of his indignation upon the person, principles, and +cause, of the independent general. One of Cromwell's officers rose, +and whispered his commander; who seemed to give him a short and stern +answer, and the sermon was concluded without interruption Among the +crowd, who were assembled to gaze at the general, as he came out of the +church, was a shoemaker, the son of one of James the sixth's Scottish +footmen. This man had been born and bred in England, but, after his +father's death, had settled in Glasgow. Cromwell eyed him among the +crowd, and immediately called him by his name--the man fled; but, at +Cromwell's command, one of his retinue followed him, and brought him +to the general's lodgings. A number of the inhabitants remained at the +door, waiting the end of this extraordinary scene. The shoemaker soon +came out, in high spirits, and, shewing some gold, declared, he was +going to drink Cromwell's health. Many attended him to hear the +particulars of his interview; among others, the grandfather of the +narrator. The shoemaker said, that he had been a playfellow of Cromwell +when they were both boys, their parents residing in the same street; +that he had fled, when the general first called to him, thinking he +might owe him some ill-will, on account of his father being in the +service of the royal family. He added, that Cromwell had been so very +kind and familiar with him, that he ventured to ask him, what the +officer had said to him in the church. "He proposed," said Cromwell, "to +pull forth the "minister by the ears; and I answered, that the preacher +was "one fool, and he another." In the course of the day, Cromwell held +an interview with the minister, and contrived to satisfy his scruples so +effectually, that the evening discourse, by the same man, was tuned to +the praise and glory of the victor of Naseby. + + _Nathaniel Gordon, stout and bold, + Did for King Charles wear the, blue._--P. 40. v. 5. + +This gentleman was of the ancient family of Gordon of Gight. He had +served, as a soldier, upon the continent, and acquired great military +skill. When his chief, the marquis of Huntly, took up arms in 1640, +Nathaniel Gordon, then called Major Gordon, joined him, and was of +essential service during that short insurrection. But, being checked +for making prize of a Danish fishing buss, he left the service of the +marquis, in some disgust. In 1644, he assisted at a sharp and dexterous +_camisade_ (as it was then called), when the barons of Haddo, of Gight, +of Drum, and other gentlemen, with only sixty men under their standard, +galloped through the old town of Aberdeen, and, entering the burgh +itself, about seven in the morning, made prisoners, and carried off, +four of the covenanting magistrates and effected a safe retreat, though +the town was then under the domination of the opposite party. After the +death of the baron of Haddo, and the severe treatment of Sir George +Gordon of Gight, his cousin-german, Major Nathaniel Gordon seems to have +taken arms, in despair of finding mercy at the covenanters' hands. On +the 24th of July, 1645, he came down, with a band of horsemen, upon the +town of Elgin, while St James' fair was held, and pillaged the merchants +of 14,000 merks of money and merchandize.[A] He seems to have joined +Montrose, as soon as he raised the royal standard; and, as a bold and +active partizan, rendered him great service. But, in November 1644, +Gordon, now a colonel, suddenly deserted Montrose, aided the escape of +Forbes of Craigievar, one of his prisoners, and reconciled himself to +the kirk, by doing penance for adultery, and for the almost equally +heinous crime of having scared Mr Andrew Cant,[B] the famous apostle of +the covenant. This, however, seems to have been an artifice, to arrange +a correspondence betwixt Montrose and Lord Gordon, a gallant young +nobleman, representative of the Huntley family, and inheriting their +loyal spirit, though hitherto engaged in the service of the covenant. +Colonel Gordon was successful, and returned to the royal camp with his +converted chief. Both followed zealously the fortunes of Montrose, until +Lord Gordon fell in the battle of Alford, and Nathaniel Gordon was taken +at Philiphaugh. He was one of ten loyalists, devoted upon that occasion, +by the parliament, to expiate, with their blood, the crime of fidelity +to their king. Nevertheless, the covenanted nobles would have probably +been satisfied with the death of the gallant Rollock, sharer of +Montrose's dangers and glory, of Ogilvy, a youth of eighteen, whose +crime was the hereditary feud betwixt his family and Argyle, and of Sir +Philip Nisbet, a cavalier of the ancient stamp, had not the pulpits +resounded with the cry, that God required the blood of the malignants, +to expiate the sins of the people. "What meaneth," exclaimed the +ministers, in the perverted language of scripture--"What meaneth, then, +this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen?" The +appeal to the judgment of Samuel was decisive, and the shambles were +instantly opened. Nathaniel Gordon was brought first to execution. He +lamented the sins of his youth, once more (and probably with greater +sincerity) requested absolution from the sentence of excommunication +pronounced on account of adultery, and was beheaded 6th January 1646. + +[Footnote A: Spalding, Vol. II. pp. 151, 154, 169, 181, 221. _History of +the Family of Gordon,_ Edin. 1727, Vol. II. p. 299.] + +[Footnote B: He had sent him a letter, which nigh frightened him out of +his wits.--SPALDING, Vol. II. p. 231.] + + _And brave Harthill, a cavalier too._--P. 40, v. 5. + +Leith, of Harthill, was a determined loyalist, and hated the +covenanters, not without reason. His father, a haughty high-spirited +baron, and chief of a clan, happened, in 1639, to sit down in the desk +of provost Lesly, in the high kirk of Aberdeen He was disgracefully +thrust out by the officers, and, using some threatening language to the +provost, was imprisoned, like a felon, for many months, till he became +furious, and nearly mad. Having got free of the shackles, with which he +was loaded, he used his liberty by coming to the tolbooth window where +he uttered the most violent and horrible threats against Provost Lesly, +and the other covenanting magistrates, by whom he had been so severely +treated. Under pretence of this new offence, he was sent to Edinburgh, +and lay long in prison there; for, so fierce was his temper, that no one +would give surety for his keeping the peace with his enemies, if set at +liberty. At length he was delivered by Montrose, when he made himself +master of Edinburgh.--SPALDING, Vol. I. pp. 201; 266. His house of +Harthill was dismantled, and miserably pillaged by Forbes of +Craigievar, who expelled his wife and children with the most relentless +inhumanity.--_Ibid._ Vol. II. p. 225. Meanwhile, young Harthill was the +companion and associate of Nathaniel Gordon, whom he accompanied at +plundering the fair of Elgin, and at most of Montrose's engagements. He +retaliated severely on the covenanters, by ravaging and burning their +lands. _Ibid._ Vol. II. p. 301. His fate has escaped my notice. + + _And Dalgatie, both stout and keen._--P. 41. v. 1. + +Sir Francis Hay, of Dalgatie, a steady cavalier, and a gentleman of +great gallantry and accomplishment. He was a faithful follower of +Montrose, and was taken prisoner with him at his last fatal battle. He +was condemned to death, with his illustrious general. Being a Roman +catholic, he refused the assistance of the presbyterian clergy, and was +not permitted, even on the scaffold, to receive ghostly comfort, in the +only form in which his religion taught him to consider it as effectual. +He kissed the axe, avowed his fidelity to his sovereign, and died like a +soldier.--_Montrose's Memoirs,_ p. 322. + + _And Newton Gordon, burd-alone._--P. 41. v. 1. + +Newton, for obvious reasons, was a common appellation of an estate, or +barony, where a new edifice had been erected. Hence, for distinction's +sake, it was anciently compounded with the name of the proprietor; +as, Newtown-Edmonstone, Newtown-Don, Newtown-Gordon, &c. Of Gordon +of Newtown, I only observe, that he was, like all his clan, a steady +loyalist, and a follower of Montrose. + + _And gallant Veitch, upon the field._--P. 41. v. 1. + +I presume this gentleman to have been David Veitch, brother to Veitch of +Dawick, who, with many other of the Peebles-shire gentry, was taken +at Philiphaugh. The following curious accident took place, some years +afterwards, in consequence of his loyal zeal. + +"In the year 1653, when the loyal party did arise in arms against the +English, in the North and West Highlands, some noblemen and loyal +gentlemen, with others, were forward to repair to them, with such forces +as they could make; which the English, with marvelouse diligence, night +and day, did bestir themselves to impede; making their troops of horse +and dragoons to pursue the loyal party in all places, that they might +not come to such a considerable number as was designed. It happened, one +night, that one Captain Masoun, commander of a troop of dragoons, that +came from Carlisle, in England, marching through the town of Sanquhar, +in the night, was encountered by one captain Palmer, commanding a troop +of horse, that came from Ayr, marching eastward; and, meeting at the +tollhouse, or tolbooth, one David Veitch, brother to the laird of +Dawick, in Tweeddale, and one of the loyal party, being prisoner in +irons by the English, did arise, and came to the window at their +meeting, and cryed out, that they should _fight valiantly for King +Charles_, Where-through, they, taking each other for the loyal party, +did begin a brisk fight, which continued for a while, til the dragoons, +having spent their shot, and finding the horsemen to be too strong for +them, did give ground; but yet retired, in some order, towards the +castle of Sanquhar, being hotly pursued by the troop, through the whole +town, above a quarter of a mile, till they came to the castle; where +both parties did, to their mutual grief, become sensible of their +mistake. In this skirmish there were several killed on both sides, and +Captain Palmer himself dangerously wounded, with many mo wounded in each +troop, who did peaceably dwell together afterward for a time, untill +their wounds were cured, in Sanquhar castle."--_Account of Presbytery of +Penpont, in Macfarlane's MSS._ + + _And bold Aboyne is to the sea, + Young Huntly is his noble name._--P. 41. v. 3. + +James, earl of Aboyne, who fled to France, and there died heart-broken. +It is said, his death was accelerated by the news of King Charles' +execution. He became representative of the Gordon family, or _Young +Huntly_, as the ballad expresses it, in consequence of the death of his +elder brother, George, who fell in the battle of Alford.--_History of +Gordon Family._ + + _Two thousand of our Danish men._--P. 41. v. 5. + +Montrose's foreign auxiliaries, who, by the way, did not exceed 600 in +all. + + _Gilbert Menzies, of high degree, + By whom the king's banner was borne._--P. 42. v. 1. + +Gilbert Menzies, younger of Pitfoddells, carried the royal banner in +Montrose's last battle. It bore the headless corpse of Charles I., with +this motto, _"Judge and revenge my cause, O Lord!"_ Menzies proved +himself worthy of this noble trust, and, obstinately refusing quarter, +died in defence of his charge. _Montrose's Memoirs_. + + _Then woe to Strachan, and Hacket baith._--P. 42. v. 2. + +Sir Charles Hacket, an officer in the service of the estates. + + _And Huntly's gone, the self-same way._--P. 42. v. 4. + +George Gordon, second marquis of Huntley, one of the very few nobles in +Scotland, who had uniformly adhered to the king from the very beginning +of the troubles, was beheaded by the sentence of the parliament of +Scotland (so calling themselves), upon the 22d March, 1649, one month +and twenty-two days after the martyrdom of his master. He has been much +blamed for not cordially co-operating with Montrose; and Bishop Wishart, +in the zeal of partiality for his hero, accuses Huntley of direct +treachery. But he is a true believer, who seals, with his blood, his +creed, religious or political; and there are many reasons, short of this +foul charge, which may have dictated the backward conduct of Huntley +towards Montrose. He could not forget, that, when he first stood out for +the king, Montrose, then the soldier of the covenant, had actually made +him prisoner: and we cannot suppose Huntley to have been so sensible of +Montrose's superior military talents, as not to think himself, as equal +in rank, superior in power, and more uniform in loyalty entitled to +equally high marks of royal trust and favour. This much is certain, that +the gallant clan of Gordon contributed greatly to Montrose's success; +for the gentlemen of that name, with the brave and loyal Ogilvies, +composed the principal part of his cavalry. + + + +THE BATTLE OF PENTLAND HILLS. + + +We have observed the early antipathy, mutually entertained by the +Scottish presbyterians and the house of Stuart It seems to have glowed +in the breast even of the good-natured Charles II. He might have +remembered, that, in 1551, the presbyterians had fought, bled, and +ruined themselves in his cause. But he rather recollected their early +faults than their late repentance; and even their services were combined +with the recollection of the absurd and humiliating circumstances of +personal degradation,[A] to which their pride and folly had subjected +him, while they professed to espouse his cause. As a man of pleasure, he +hated their stern and inflexible rigour, which stigmatised follies +even more deeply than crimes; and he whispered to his confidents, that +"presbytery was no religion for a gentleman." It is not, therefore, +wonderful, that, in the first year of his restoration, he formally +reestablished prelacy in Scotland; but it is surprising, that, with his +father's example before his eyes, he should not have been satisfied +to leave at freedom the consciences of those who could not reconcile +themselves to the new system. The religious opinions of sectaries have a +tendency like the water of some springs, to become soft and mild, when +freely exposed to the open day. Who can recognise in the decent and +industrious quakers, and ana-baptists the wild and ferocious tenets +which distinguished their sects, while they were yet honoured with the +distinction of the scourge and the pillory? Had the system of coercion +against the presbyterians been continued until our day, Blair and +Robertson would have preached in the wilderness, and only discovered +their powers of eloquence and composition, by rolling along a deeper +torrent of gloomy fanaticism. + +[Footnote A: Among other ridiculous occurrences, it is said, that some +of Charles's gallantries were discovered by a prying neighbour. A wily +old minister was deputed, by his brethren, to rebuke the king for this +heinous scandal. Being introduced into the royal presence he limited +his commission to a serious admonition, that, upon such occasions, +his majesty should always shut the windows.--The king is said to have +recompensed this unexpected lenity after the Restoration. He probably +remembered the joke, though he might have forgotten the service.] + +The western counties distinguished themselves by their opposition to the +prelatic system. Three hundred and fifty ministers, ejected from their +churches and livings, wandered through the mountains, sowing the seeds +of covenanted doctrine, while multitudes of fanatical followers pursued +them, to reap the forbidden crop. These conventicles as they were +called, were denounced by the law, and their frequenters dispersed by +military force. The genius of the persecuted became stubborn, obstinate, +and ferocious; and, although indulgencies were tardily granted to some +presbyterian ministers, few of the true covenanters or whigs, as they +were called, would condescend to compound with a prelatic government, or +to listen even to their own favourite doctrine under the auspices of the +king. From Richard Cameron, their apostle, this rigid sect acquired the +name of Cameronians. They preached and prayed against the indulgence, +and against the presbyterians who availed themselves of it, because +their accepting this royal boon was a tacit acknowledgment of the king's +supremacy in ecclesiastical matters. Upon these bigotted and persecuted +fanatics, and by no means upon the presbyterians at large, are to +be charged the wild anarchical principles of anti-monarchy and +assassination which polluted the period when they flourished. + +The insurrection, commemorated and magnified in the following ballad, as +indeed it has been in some histories, was, in itself, no very important +affair. It began in Dumfries-shire where Sir James Turner, a soldier +of fortune, was employed to levy the arbitrary fines imposed for not +attending the episcopal churches. The people rose, seized his person, +disarmed his soldiers, and having continued together, resolved to march +towards Edinburgh, expecting to be joined by their friends in that +quarter. In this they were disappointed; and, being now diminished to +half their numbers, they drew up on the Pentland Hills, at a place +called Rullien Green. They were commanded by one Wallace; and here they +awaited the approach of General Dalziel, of Binns; who, having marched +to Calder, to meet them on the Lanark road, and finding, that, by +passing through Collington, they had got to the other side of the hills, +cut through the mountains, and approached them. Wallace shewed both +spirit and judgment: he drew his men up in a very strong situation, and +withstood two charges of Dalziel's cavalry; but, upon the third shock, +the insurgents were broken, and utterly dispersed. There was very little +slaughter, as the cavalry of Dalziel were chiefly gentlemen, who pitied +their oppressed and misguided countrymen. There were about fifty killed, +and as many made prisoners. The battle was fought on the 28th November, +1666; a day still observed by the scattered remnant of the Cameronian +sect, who regularly hear a field-preaching upon the field of battle. + +I am obliged for a copy of the ballad to Mr Livingston of Airds, who +took it down from the recitation of an old woman residing on his estate. + +The gallant Grahams, mentioned in the text, are Graham of Claverhouse's +horse. + + + +THE BATTLE OF PENTLAND HILLS. + + +_This Ballad is copied verbatim from the Old Woman's recitation._ + + + The gallant Grahams cum from the west, + Wi' their horses black as ony craw; + The Lothian lads they marched fast, + To be at the Rhyns o' Gallowa. + + Betwixt Dumfries town and Argyle, + The lads they marched mony a mile; + Souters and taylors unto them drew, + Their covenants for to renew. + + The whigs, they, wi' their merry cracks, + Gard the poor pedlars lay down their packs; + But aye sinsyne they do repent + The renewing o' their covenant. + + A the Mauchline muir, where they were reviewed, + Ten thousand men in armour shewed; + But, ere they cam to the Brockie's burn, + The half o' them did back return. + + General Dalyell, as I hear tell, + Was our lieutenant general; + And captain Welsh, wi' his wit and skill, + Was to guide them on to the Pentland hill. + + General Dalyell held to the hill, + Asking at them what was their will; + And who gave them this protestation, + To rise in arms against the nation? + + "Although we all in armour be, + It's not against his majesty; + Nor yet to spill our neighbour's bluid, + But wi' the country we'll conclude." + + "Lay down your arms, in the king's name, + And ye shall all gae safely hame;" + But they a' cried out, wi' ae consent, + "We'll fight a broken covenant." + + "O well," says he, "since it is so, + A willfu' man never wanted woe;" + He then gave a sign unto his lads, + And they drew up in their brigades. + + The trumpets blew, and the colours flew, + And every man to his armour drew; + The whigs were never so much aghast, + As to see their saddles toom sae fast. + + The cleverest men stood in the van, + The whigs they took their heels and ran; + But such a raking was never seen, + As the raking o' the Rullien Green. + + + +THE BATTLE OF LOUDONHILL. + + +The whigs, now become desperate, adopted the most desperate principles; +and retaliating, as far as they could, the intolerating persecution +which they endured, they openly disclaimed allegiance to any monarch +who should not profess presbytery, and subscribe the covenant.--These +principles were not likely to conciliate the favour of government; and +as we wade onward in the history of the times, the scenes become yet +darker. At length, one would imagine the parties had agreed to divide +the kingdom of vice betwixt them; the hunters assuming to themselves +open profligacy and legalized oppression; and the hunted, the opposite +attributes of hypocrisy, fanaticism, disloyalty, and midnight +assassination. The troopers and cavaliers became enthusiasts in the +pursuit of the covenanters If Messrs Kid, King, Cameron, Peden, &c. +boasted of prophetic powers, and were often warned of the approach of +the soldiers, by supernatural impulse,[A] captain John Creichton, on +the other side, dreamed dreams, and saw visions (chiefly, indeed, after +having drunk hard), in which the lurking holes of the rebels were +discovered to his imagination.[B] Our ears are scarcely more shocked +with the profane execrations of the persecutors,[C] than with the +strange and insolent familiarity used towards the Deity by the +persecuted fanatics. Their indecent modes of prayer, their extravagant +expectations of miraculous assistance, and their supposed inspirations, +might easily furnish out a tale, at which the good would sigh, and the +gay would laugh. + +[Footnote A: In the year 1684, Peden, one of the Cameronian preachers, +about ten o'clock at night, sitting at the fire-side, started up to his +feet, and said, "Flee, auld Sandie (thus he designed himself), and hide +yourself! for colonel----is coming to this house to apprehend you; and +I advise you all to do the like, for he will be here within an hour;" +which came to pass: and when they had made a very narrow search, within +and without the house, and went round the thorn-bush, under which he was +lying praying, they went off without their prey. He came in, and said, +"And has this gentleman (designed by his name) given poor Sandie, and +thir poor things, such a fright? For this night's work, God shall give +him such a blow, within a few days, that all the physicians on earth +shall not be able to cure;" which came to pass, for he died in great +misery.--_Life of Alexander Peden._] + +[Footnote B: See the life of this booted apostle of prelacy, written by +Swift, who had collected all his anecdotes of persecution, and appears +to have enjoyed them accordingly.] + +[Footnote C: "They raved," says Peden's historian, "like fleshly devils, +when the mist shrouded from their pursuit the wandering whigs." One +gentleman closed a declaration of vengeance against the conventiclers +with this strange imprecation, "Or may the devil make my ribs a gridiron +to my soul!"--MS. _Account of the Presbytery of Penpont._ Our armies +swore terribly in Flanders, but nothing to this!] + +In truth, extremes always approach each other; and the superstition of +the Roman catholics was, in some degree, revived, even by their most +deadly enemies. They are ridiculed by the cavaliers, as wearing the +relics of their saints by way of amulet:-- + + "She shewed to me a box, wherein lay hid + The pictures of Cargil and Mr Kid; + A splinter of the tree, on which they were slain; + A double inch of Major Weir's best cane; + Rathillet's sword, beat down to table-knife, + Which took at Magus' Muir a bishop's life; + The worthy Welch's spectacles, who saw, + That windle-straws would fight against the law; + They, windle-straws, were stoutest of the two, + They kept their ground, away the prophet flew; + And lists of all the prophets' names were seen + At Pentland Hills, Aird-Moss, and Rullen Green. + "Don't think," she says, "these holy things are foppery; + They're precious antidotes against the power of popery." + _The Cameronian Tooth.--Pennycuick's Poems,_ p. 110. + +The militia and standing army soon became unequal to the task of +enforcing conformity, and suppressing conventicles In, their aid, and to +force compliance with a test proposed by government, the Highland +clans were raised, and poured down into Ayrshire.[A] An armed host +of undisciplined mountaineers, speaking a different language, and +professing, many of them, another religion, were let loose, to ravage +and plunder this unfortunate country; and it is truly astonishing to +find how few acts of cruelty they perpetrated, and how seldom they added +murder to pillage[B] Additional levies of horse were also raised, under +the name of Independent Troops, and great part of them placed under the +command of James Grahame of Claverhouse a man well known to fame, by +his subsequent title of viscount Dundee, but better remembered, in the +western shires, under the designation of the bloody Clavers. In truth, +he appears to have combined the virtues and vices of a savage chief. +Fierce, unbending, and rigorous, no emotion of compassion prevented his +commanding, and witnessing, every detail of military execution against +the non-conformists. Undauntedly brave, and steadily faithful to his +prince, he sacrificed himself in the cause of James, when he was +deserted by all the world. If we add, to these attributes, a goodly +person, complete skill in martial exercises, and that ready and decisive +character, so essential to a commander, we may form some idea of this +extraordinary character. The whigs, whom he persecuted daunted by his +ferocity and courage, conceived him to be impassive to their bullets,[C] +and that he had sold himself, for temporal greatness, to the +seducer of mankind. It is still believed, that a cup of wine, +presented to him by his butler, changed into clotted blood; and +that, when he plunged his feet into cold water, their touch +caused it to boil. The steed, which bore him, was supposed +to be the gift of Satan; and precipices are shewn, where a fox could +hardly keep his feet, down which the infernal charger conveyed him +safely, in pursuit of the wanderers. It is remembered, with terror, that +Claverhouse was successful in every engagement with the whigs, except +that at Drumclog, or Loudon-hill, which is the subject of the following +ballad. The history of Burly, the hero of the piece, will bring us +immediately to the causes and circumstances of that event. + +[Footnote A: Peden complained heavily, that, after a heavy struggle with +the devil, he had got above him, _spur-galled_ him hard, and obtained a +wind to carry him from Ireland to Scotland, when, behold! another person +had set sail, and reaped the advantage of his _prayer-wind,_ before he +could embark.] + +[Footnote B: Cleland thus describes this extraordinary army: + + --Those, who were their chief commanders, + As sach who bore the pirnie standarts. + Who led the van, and drove the rear, + Were right well mounted of their gear; + With brogues, and trews, and pirnie plaids, + With good blue bonnets on their heads, + Which, oil the one side, had a flipe, + Adorn'd with a tobacco pipe, + With durk, and snap-work, and snuff-mill, + A bag which they with onions fill; + And, as their strict observers say, + A tup-born filled with usquebay; + A slasht out coat beneath her plaides, + A targe of timber, nails, and hides; + With a long two-handed sword, + As good's the country can afford. + Had they not need of bulk-and bones. + Who fought with all these arms at once? + + * * * * + + Of moral honestie they're clean, + Nought like religion they retain; + In nothing they're accounted sharp, + Except in bag-pipe, and in harp; + For a misobliging word, + She'll durk her neighbour o'er the boord, + And then she'll flee like fire from flint, + She'll scarcely ward the second dint; + If any ask her of her thrift. + Forsooth her nainsell lives by thift. + _Cleland's Poems,_ Edin. 1697, p. 12. +] + +[Footnote C: It was, and is believed, that the devil furnished his +favourites, among the persecutors, with what is called _proof_ +against leaden bullets, but against those only. During the battle of +Pentland-hills Paton of Meadowhead conceived he saw the balls hop +harmlessly down from General Dalziel's boots, and, to counteract the +spell, loaded his pistol with a piece of silver coin. But Dalziel, +having his eye on him, drew back behind his servant, who was shot +dead.--_Paton's Life._ At a skirmish, in Ayrshire, some of the wanderers +defended themselves in a sequestered house, by the side of a lake. They +aimed repeatedly, but in vain, at the commander of the assailants, an +English officer, until, their ammunition running short, one of them +loaded his piece with the ball at the head of the tongs, and succeeded +in shooting the hitherto impenetrable captain. To accommodate Dundee's +fate to their own hypothesis, the Cameronian tradition runs, that, in +the battle of Killicrankie, he fell, not by the enemy's fire, but by the +pistol of one of his own servants, who, to avoid the spell, had loaded +it with a silver button from his coat. One of their writers argues thus: +"Perhaps, some may think this, anent proof-shot, a paradox, and be ready +to object here, as formerly concerning Bishop Sharpe and Dalziel--How +can the devil have, or give, power to save life? Without entering upon +the thing in its reality, I shall only observe, 1. That it is neither +in his power, or of his nature, to be a saviour of men's lives; he is +called Apollyon, the destroyer. 2. That, even in this case, he is said +only to give enchantment against one kind of metal, and this does not +save life: for, though lead could not take Sharpe and Claverhouse's +lives, yet steel and silver could do it; and, for Dalziel, though +he died not on the field, yet he did not escape the arrows of the +Almighty."--_God's Judgement against Persecutors._ If the reader be not +now convinced of _the thing in its reality_, I have nothing to add to +such exquisite reasoning.] + +John Balfour of Kinloch, commonly called Burly, was one of the fiercest +of the proscribed sect. A gentleman by birth, he was, says his +biographer, "zealous and honest-hearted, courageous in every enterprise, +and a brave soldier, seldom any escaping that came in his hands." _Life +of John Balfour._ Creichton says, that he was once chamberlain to +Archbishop Sharpe, and, by negligence, or dishonesty, had incurred +a large arrear, which occasioned his being active in his master's +assassination. But of this I know no other evidence than Creichton's +assertion, and a hint in Wodrow. Burly, for that is his most common +designation, was brother-in-law to Hackston of Rathillet a wild +enthusiastic character, who joined daring courage, and skill in the +sword, to the fiery zeal of his sect. Burly, himself, was less eminent +for religious fervour than for the active and violent share which he had +in the most desperate enterprises of his party. His name does not appear +among the covenanters, who were denounced for the affair of Pentland. +But, in 1677, Robert Hamilton, afterwards commander of the insurgents at +Loudon Hill, and Bothwell Bridge, with several other non-conformists, +were assembled at this Burly's house, in Fife. There they were attacked +by a party of soldiers, commanded by Captain Carstairs, whom they beat +off, wounding desperately one of his party. For this resistance to +authority, they were declared rebels. The next exploit, in which Burly +was engaged, was of a bloodier complexion, and more dreadful celebrity. +It is well known, that James Sharpe, archbishop of St Andrews, was +regarded, by the rigid presbyterians, not only as a renegade, who had +turned back from the spiritual plough, but as the principal author of +the rigours exercised against their sect. He employed, as an agent of +his oppression, one Carmichael, a decayed gentleman. The industry +of this man, in procuring information, and in enforcing the severe +penalties against conventiclers, having excited the resentment of +the Cameronians, nine of their number, of whom Burly, and his +brother-in-law, Hackston, were the leaders, assembled, with the purpose +of way-laying and murdering Carmichael; but, while they searched for him +in vain, they received tidings that the archbishop himself was at hand. +The party resorted to prayer; after which, they agreed, unanimously, +that the Lord had delivered the wicked Haman into their hand. In the +execution of the supposed will of heaven, they agreed to put themselves +under the command of a leader; and they requested Hackston of Rathillet +to accept the office, which he declined alleging, that, should he comply +with their request, the slaughter might be imputed to a private quarrel, +which existed betwixt him and the archbishop. The command was then +offered to Burly, who accepted it without scruple; and they galloped off +in pursuit of the archbishop's carriage, which contained himself and +his daughter. Being well mounted, they easily overtook and disarmed the +prelate's attendants. Burly, crying out, "Judas, be taken!" rode up to +the carriage, wounded the postillion and ham-strung one of the horses. +He then fired into the coach a piece, charged with several bullets, so +near, that the archbishop's gown was set on fire. The rest, coming up, +dismounted, and dragged him out of the carriage, when, frightened and +wounded, he crawled towards Hackston, who still remained on horseback, +and begged for mercy. The stern enthusiast contented himself with +answering, that he would not himself _lay a hand on him_. Burly and his +men again fired a volley upon the kneeling old man; and were in the act +of riding off, when one, who remained to girth his horse, unfortunately +heard the daughter of their victim call to the servant for help, +exclaiming, that his master was still alive. Burly then again +dismounted, struck off the prelate's hat with his foot, and split his +skull with his shable (broad sword), although one of the party (probably +Rathillet) exclaimed, "_Spare these grey hairs_!"[A] The rest pierced +him with repeated wounds. They plundered the carriage, and rode off, +leaving, beside the mangled corpse, the daughter, who was herself +wounded, in her pious endeavour to interpose betwixt her father and his +murderers. The murder is accurately represented, in bas-relief, upon a +beautiful monument erected to the memory of Archbishop Sharpe, in the +metropolitan church of St Andrews. This memorable example of fanatic +revenge was acted upon Magus Muir, near St Andrews, 3d May, 1679.[B] + +[Footnote A: They believed Sharpe to be proof against shot; for one of +the murderers told Wodrow, that, at the sight of cold iron, his courage +fell. They no longer doubted this, when they found in his pocket a small +clue of silk, rolled round a bit of parchment, marked with two long +words, in Hebrew or Chaldaic characters. Accordingly, it is still +averred, that the balls only left blue marks on the prelate's neck and +breast, although the discharge was so near as to burn his clothes.] + +[Footnote B: The question, whether the bishop of St Andrews' death was +murder was a shibboleth, or _experimentum crucis_, frequently put to the +apprehended conventiclers. Isabel Alison, executed at Edinburgh, 26th +January, 1681, was interrogated, before the privy council, if she +conversed with David Hackston? "I answered, I did converse with him, and +I bless the Lord that ever I saw him; for I never saw ought in him but +a godly pious youth. They asked, if the killing of the bishop of St +Andrews was a pious act? I answered, I never heard him say he killed +him; but, if God moved any, and put it upon them, to execute his +righteous judgment upon him, I have nothing to say to that. They asked +me, when saw ye John Balfour (Burly), that pious youth? I answered, +I have seen him. They asked, when? I answered, these are frivolous +questions; I am not bound to answer them." _Cloud of Witnesses_, p. 85.] + +Burly was, of course, obliged to leave Fife; and, upon the 25th of the +same month, he arrived in Evandale, in Lanarkshire, along with Hackston, +and a fellow, called Dingwall, or Daniel, one of the same bloody band. +Here he joined his old friend Hamilton, already mentioned; and, as they +resolved to take up arms, they were soon at the head of such a body of +the "chased and tossed western men," as they thought equal to keep the +field. They resolved to commence their exploits upon the 29th of May, +1679, being the anniversary of the Restoration, appointed to be kept as +a holiday, by act of parliament; an institution which they esteemed a +presumptuous and unholy solemnity. Accordingly, at the head of eighty +horse, tolerably appointed, Hamilton, Burly, and Hackston, entered the +royal burgh of Rutherglen, extinguished the bonfires, made in honour +of the day; burned at the cross the acts of parliament in favour of +prelacy, and for suppression of conventicles, as well as those acts +of council, which regulated the indulgence granted to presbyterians. +Against all these acts they entered their solemn protest, or testimony, +as they called it; and, having affixed it to the cross, concluded with +prayer and psalms. Being now joined by a large body of foot, so that +their strength seems to have amounted to five or six hundred men, though +very indifferently armed, they encamped upon Loudoun Hill. Claverhouse, +who was in garrison at Glasgow, instantly marched against the +insurgents, at the head of his own troop of cavalry and others, +amounting to about one hundred and fifty men. He arrived at Hamilton, +on the 1st of June, so unexpectedly, as to make prisoner John King, a +famous preacher among the wanderers; and rapidly continued his march, +carrying his captive along with him, till he came to the village of +Drumclog, about a mile east of Loudoun Hill, and twelve miles south-west +of Hamilton. At some distance from this place, the insurgents were +skilfully posted in a boggy strait, almost inaccessible to cavalry, +having a broad ditch in their front. Claverhouse's dragoons discharged +their carabines, and made an attempt to charge; but the nature of the +ground threw them into total disorder. Burly, who commanded the handful +of horse belonging to the whigs, instantly led them down on the +disordered squadrons of Claverhouse, who were, at the same time, +vigorously assaulted by the foot, headed by the gallant Cleland,[A] and +the enthusiastic Hackston. Claverhouse himself was forced to fly, and +was in the utmost danger of being taken; his horse's belly being cut +open by the stroke of a scythe, so that the poor animal trailed his +bowels for more than a mile. In his flight, he passed King, the +minister, lately his prisoner, but now deserted by his guard, in the +general confusion. The preacher hollowed to the flying commander, "to +halt, and take his prisoner with him;" or, as others say, "to stay, +and take the afternoon's preaching." Claverhouse, at length remounted, +continued his retreat to Glasgow. He lost, in the skirmish, about twenty +of his troopers, and his own cornet and kinsman, Robert Graham, whose +fate is alluded to in the ballad. Only four of the other side were +killed, among whom was Dingwall, or Daniel, an associate of Burly in +Sharpe's murder. "The rebels," says Creichton, "finding the cornet's +body, and supposing it to be that of Clavers, because the name of Graham +was wrought in the shirt-neck, treated it with the utmost inhumanity; +cutting off the nose, picking out the eyes, and stabbing it through in +a hundred places." The same charge is brought by Guild, in his _Bellum +Bothuellianum_, in which occurs the following account of the skirmish at +Drumclog:-- + + Mons est occiduus surgit qui celsus in oris + (Nomine Loudunum) fossis puteisque profundis + Quot scatet hic tellus et aprico gramine tectus: + Huc collecta (ait) numeroso milite cincta; + Turba ferox, matres, pueri, innuptaeque puellae; + Quam parat egregia Graemus dispersere turma. + Venit, et primo campo discedere cogit; + Post hos et alios, caeno provolvit inerti; + At numerosa cohors, campum dispersa per omnem, + Circumfusa, ruit; turmasque indagine captas, + Aggreditur; virtus non hic, nec profuit ensis; + Corripuere fugam, viridi sed gramine tectis, + Precipitata perit, fossis, pars plurima, quorum + Cornipedes haesere luto, sessore rejecto: + Tum rabiosa cohors, misereri nescia, stratos + Invadit laceratque viros: hic signifer eheu! + Trajectus globulo, Graemus quo fortior alter, + Inter Scotigenas fuerat, nec justior ullus: + Hunc manibus rapuere feris, faciemque virilem + Faedarunt, lingua, auriculus, manibusque resectis, + Aspera, diffuso, spargentes saxa, cerebro: + Vix dux ipse fuga salvus, namque exta trahebat + Vulnere tardatus, sonipes generosus hiante: + Insequitur clamore, cohors fanatica, namque + Crudelis semper timidus si vicerit unquam. + _MS. Bellum Bothuellianum._ + +[Footnote A: William Cleland, a man of considerable genius, was author +of several poems, published in 1697. His Hudibrastic verses are poor +scurrilous trash, as the reader may judge from the description of the +Highlanders, already quoted. But, in a wild rhapsody, entitled, "Hollo, +my Fancy," he displays some imagination. His anti-monarchical principles +seem to break out in the following lines:-- + + Fain would I know (if beasts have any reason) + _If falcons killing eagles do commit a treason?_ + +He was a strict non-conformist, and, after the Revolution, became +lieutenant colonel of the earl of Angus's regiment, called the +Cameronian regiment. He was killed 21st August, 1689, in the churchyard +of Dunkeld, which his corps manfully and successfully defended against +a superior body of Highlanders. His son was the author of the letter +prefixed to the Dunciad, and is said to have been the notorious Cleland, +who, in circumstances of pecuniary embarrassment, prostituted his +talents to the composition of indecent and infamous works; but this +seems inconsistent with dates, and the latter personage was probably the +grandson of Colonel Cleland.] + +Although Burly was among the most active leaders in the action, he was +not the commander in chief, as one would conceive from the ballad. That +honour belonged to Robert Hamilton, brother to Sir William Hamilton of +Preston, a gentleman, who, like most of those at Drumclog, had imbibed +the very wildest principles of fanaticism. The Cameronian account of +the insurrection states, that "Mr Hamilton discovered a great deal of +bravery and valour, both in the conflict with, and pursuit of the enemy; +but when he and some others were pursuing the enemy, others flew too +greedily upon the spoil, small as it was, instead of pursuing the +victory: and some, without Mr Hamilton's knowledge, and against his +strict command, gave five of these bloody enemies quarters, and then let +them go: this greatly grieved Mr Hamilton, when he saw some of Babel's +brats spared, after the Lord had delivered them to their hands, that +they might dash them against the stones." _Psalm_ cxxxvii. 9. In his own +account of this, "he reckons the sparing of these enemies, and letting +them go, to be among their first stepping aside; for which, he feared +that the Lord would not honour them to do much more for him; and says, +that he was neither for taking favours from, nor giving favours to the +Lord's enemies." Burly was not a likely man to fall into this sort of +backsliding. He disarmed one of the duke of Hamilton's servants, who had +been in the action, and desired him to tell his master, he would keep, +till meeting, the pistols he had taken from him. The man described Burly +to the duke as a little stout man, squint-eyed, and of a most ferocious +aspect; from which it appears, that Burly's figure corresponded to his +manners, and perhaps gave rise to his nickname, _Burly_ signifying +_strong_. He was with the insurgents till the battle of Bothwell Bridge, +and afterwards fled to Holland. He joined the prince of Orange, but died +at sea, during the expedition. The Cameronians still believe, he +had obtained liberty from the prince to be avenged of those who had +persecuted the Lord's people; but through his death, the laudable design +of purging the land with their blood, is supposed to have fallen to the +ground.--_Life of Balfour of Kinloch._ + +The consequences of the battle of Loudon Hill will be detailed in the +introduction to the next ballad. + + + +THE BATTLE OF LOUDONHILL. + + + You'l marvel when I tell ye o' + Our noble Burly, and his train; + When last he march'd up thro' the land, + Wi' sax and twenty westland men. + + Than they I ne'er o' braver heard, + For they had a' baith wit and skill + They proved right well, as I heard tell, + As they cam up o'er Loudoun Hill. + + Weel prosper a' the gospel lads, + That are into the west countrie; + Ay wicked Claver'se to demean, + And ay an ill dead may he die! + + For he's drawn up i' battle rank, + An' that baith soon an' hastilie; + But they wha live till simmer come, + Some bludie days for this will see. + + But up spak cruel Claver'se then, + Wi' hastie wit, an' wicked skill; + "Gie fire on yon westlan' men; + "I think it is my sov'reign's will." + + But up bespake his cornet, then, + "It's be wi' nae consent o' me! + "I ken I'll ne'er come back again, + "An' mony mae as weel as me. + + "There is not ane of a' yon men, + "But wha is worthy other three; + "There is na ane amang them a', + "That in his cause will stap to die. + + "An' as for Burly, him I knaw; + "He's a man of honour, birth, an' fame; + "Gie him a sword into his hand, + "He'll fight thysel an' other ten." + + But up spake wicked Claver'se then, + I wat his heart it raise fu' hie! + And he has cry'd that a' might hear, + "Man, ye hae sair deceived me. + + "I never ken'd the like afore, + "Na, never since I came frae hame, + "That you sae cowardly here suld prove, + "An' yet come of a noble Graeme." + + But up bespake his cornet, then, + "Since that it is your honour's will, + "Mysel shall be the foremost man, + "That shall gie fire on Loudoun Hill. + + "At your command I'll lead them on, + "But yet wi' nae consent o' me; + "For weel I ken I'll ne'er return, + "And mony mae as weel as me." + + Then up he drew in battle rank; + I wat he had a bonny train! + But the first time that bullets flew, + Ay he lost twenty o' his men. + + Then back he came the way he gael, + I wat right soon an' suddenly! + He gave command amang his men, + And sent them back, and bade them flee. + + Then up came Burly, bauld an' stout, + Wi's little train o' westland men; + Wha mair than either aince or twice + In Edinburgh confined had been. + + They hae been up to London sent, + An' yet they're a' come safely down; + Sax troop o' horsemen they hae beat, + And chased them into Glasgow town. + + + +THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL-BRIDGE. + + +It has been often remarked, that the Scottish, notwithstanding their +national courage, were always unsuccessful, when fighting for their +religion. The cause lay, not in the principle, but in the mode of its +application. A leader like Mahomet, who is, at the same time, the +prophet of his tribe, may avail himself of religious enthusiasm, because +it comes to the aid of discipline, and is a powerful means of attaining +the despotic command, essential to the success of a general. But, +among the insurgents, in the reigns of the last Stuarts, were mingled +preachers, who taught different shades of the presbyterian doctrine; +and, minute as these shades sometimes were, neither the several +shepherds, nor their flocks, could cheerfully unite in a common cause. +This will appear from the transactions leading to the battle of Bothwell +Bridge. + +We have seen, that the party, which defeated Claverhouse at Loudoun +Hill, were Cameronians, whose principles consisted in disowning all +temporal authority, which did not flow from and through the Solemn +League and Covenant. This doctrine, which is still retained by a +scattered remnant of the sect in Scotland, is in theory, and would be in +practice, inconsistent with the safety of any well regulated government, +because the Covenanters deny to their governors that toleration, which +was iniquitously refused to themselves. In many respects, therefore, we +cannot be surprised at the anxiety and rigour with which the Cameronians +were persecuted, although we may be of opinion, that milder means would +have induced a melioration of their principles. These men, as already +noticed, excepted against such presbyterians, as were contented to +exercise their worship under the indulgence granted by government, +or, in other words, who would have been satisfied with toleration for +themselves, without insisting upon a revolution in the state, or even in +the church government. + +When, however, the success at Loudoun Hill was spread abroad, a number +of preachers, gentlemen, and common people, who had embraced the more +moderate doctrine, joined the army of Hamilton, thinking, that the +difference in their opinions ought not to prevent their acting in the +common cause. The insurgents were repulsed in an attack upon the town +of Glasgow, which, however, Claverhouse, shortly afterwards, thought it +necessary to evacuate. They were now nearly in full possession of the +west of Scotland, and pitched their camp at Hamilton, where, instead of +modelling and disciplining their army, the Cameronians and Erastians +(for so the violent insurgents chose to call the more moderate +presbyterians) only debated, in council of war, the real cause of their +being in arms. Hamilton, their general, was the leader of the first +party; Mr John Walsh, a minister, headed the Erastians. The latter so +far prevailed, as to get a declaration drawn up, in which they owned the +king's government; but the publication of it gave rise to new quarrels. +Each faction had its own set of leaders, all of whom aspired to be +officers; and there were actually two councils of war issuing contrary +orders and declarations at the same time; the one owning the king, and +the other designing him a malignant, bloody, and perjured tyrant. + +Meanwhile, their numbers and zeal were magnified at Edinburgh, and great +alarm excited lest they should march eastward. Not only was the foot +militia instantly called out, but proclamations were issued, directing +all the heritors, in the eastern, southern, and northern shires, to +repair to the king's host, with their best horses, arms, and retainers. +In Fife, and other countries, where the presbyterian doctrines +prevailed, many gentlemen disobeyed this order, and were afterwards +severely fined. Most of them alleged, in excuse, the apprehension of +disquiet from their wives.[A] A respectable force was soon assembled; +and James, duke of Buccleuch and Monmouth, was sent down, by Charles, +to take the command, furnished with instructions, not unfavourable +to presbyterians. The royal army now moved slowly forwards towards +Hamilton, and reached Bothwell-moor on the 22d of June, 1679. The +insurgents were encamped chiefly in the duke of Hamilton's park, along +the Clyde, which separated the two armies. Bothwell-bridge, which is +long and narrow, had then a portal in the middle, with gates, which the +Covenanters shut, and barricadoed with stones and logs of timber. This +important post was defended by three hundred of their best men, under +Hackston of Rathillet, and Hall of Haughhead. Early in the morning, this +party crossed the bridge, and skirmished with the royal van-guard, +now advanced as far as the village of Bothwell. But Hackston speedily +retired to his post, at the western end of Bothwell-bridge. + +[Footnote A: "Balcanquhall of that ilk alledged, that his horses were +robbed, but shunned to take the declaration, for fear of disquiet from +his wife. Young of Kirkton--his ladyes dangerous sickness, and bitter +curses if he should leave her, and the appearance of abortion on his +offering to go from her. And many others pled, in general terms, that +their wives opposed or contradicted their going. But the justiciary +court found this defence totally irrelevant."--Fountainhall's +_Decisions_, Vol. I. p. 88.] + +While the dispositions, made by the duke of Monmouth, announced his +purpose of assailing the pass, the more moderate of the insurgents +resolved to offer terms. Ferguson of Kaithloch, a gentleman of landed +fortune, and David Hume, a clergyman, carried to the duke of Monmouth +a supplication, demanding free exercise of their religion, a free +parliament, and a free general assembly of the church. The duke heard +their demands with his natural mildness, and assured them, he would +interpose with his majesty in their behalf, on condition of their +immediately dispersing themselves, and yielding up their arms. Had the +insurgents been all of the moderate opinion, this proposal would have +been accepted, much bloodshed saved, and, perhaps, some permanent +advantage derived to their party; or, had they been all Cameronians, +their defence would have been fierce and desperate. But, while their +motley and misassorted officers were debating upon the duke's proposal, +his field-pieces were already planted on the eastern side of the +river, to cover the attack of the foot guards, who were led on by Lord +Livingstone to force the bridge. Here Hackston maintained his post with +zeal and courage; nor was it until all his ammunition was expended, and +every support denied him by the general, that he reluctantly abandoned +the important pass.[A] When his party were drawn back, the duke's army, +slowly, and with their cannon in front, defiled along the bridge, +and formed in line of battle, as they came over the river; the duke +commanded the foot, and Claverhouse the cavalry. It would seem, that +these movements could not have been performed without at least some +loss, had the enemy been serious in opposing them. But the insurgents +were otherwise employed. With the strangest delusion, that ever fell +upon devoted beings, they chose these precious moments to cashier their +officers, and elect others in their room. In this important operation, +they were at length disturbed by the duke's cannon, at the very first +discharge of which, the horse of the Covenanters wheeled, and rode off, +breaking and trampling down the ranks of their infantry in their flight. +The Cameronian account blames Weir of Greenridge, a commander of the +horse, who is termed a sad Achan in the camp. The more moderate party +lay the whole blame on Hamilton, whose conduct, they say, left the world +to debate, whether he was most traitor, coward, or fool. The generous +Monmouth was anxious to spare the blood of his infatuated countrymen, by +which he incurred much blame among the high-flying royalists. Lucky it +was for the insurgents that the battle did not happen a day later, when +old General Dalziel, who divided with Claverhouse the terror and hatred +of the whigs, arrived in the camp, with a commission to supersede +Monmouth, as commander in chief. He is said to have upbraided the +duke, publicly, with his lenity, and heartily to have wished his own +commission had come a day sooner, when, as he expresses himself, "These +rogues should never more have troubled the king or country."[B] But, +notwithstanding the merciful orders of the duke of Monmouth, the cavalry +made great slaughter among the fugitives, of whom four hundred were +slain. Guild thus expresses himself: + + Ei ni Dux validus tenuisset forte catervas, + Vix quisquam profugus vitam servasset inertem: + Non audita Ducis verum mandata supremi + Omnibus, insequitur fugientes plurima turba, + Perque agros, passim, trepida formidine captos + Obtruncat, saevumque adigit per viscera ferrum. + _MS. Bellum Bothuellianum._ + +[Footnote A: There is an accurate representation of this part of the +engagement in an old painting, of which there are two copies extant; +one in the collection of his grace the duke of Hamilton, the other at +Dalkeith house. The whole appearance of the ground, even including a few +old houses, is the same which the scene now presents: The removal of the +porch, or gateway, upon the bridge, is the only perceptible difference. +The duke of Monmouth, on a white charger, directs the march of the party +engaged in storming the bridge, while his artillery gall the motley +ranks of the Covenanters. An engraving of this painting would be +acceptable to the curious; and I am satisfied an opportunity of copying +it, for that purpose, would be readily granted by either of the noble +proprietors.] + +[Footnote B: Dalziel was a man of savage manners. A prisoner having +railed at him, while under examination before the privy council, calling +him "a Muscovia beast, who used to roast men, the general, in a passion, +struck him, with the pomel of his shabble, on the face, till the blood +sprung."--FOUNTAINHALL, Vol. I. p. 159. He had sworn never to shave his +beard after the death of Charles the First. This venerable appendage +reached his girdle, and, as he wore always an old-fashioned buff coat, +his appearance in London never failed to attract the notice of the +children and of the mob. King Charles II. used to swear at him, for +bringing such a rabble of boys together, to be squeezed to death, while +they gaped at his long beard and antique habit, and exhorted him to +shave and dress like a Christian, to keep the poor _bairns_, as Dalziel +expressed it, out of danger. In compliance with this request, he once +appeared at court fashionably dressed, excepting the beard; but, when +the king had laughed sufficiently at the metamorphosis, he +resumed his old dress, to the great joy of the boys, his usual +attendants.--CREICHTON'S _Memoirs_, p. 102.] + +The same deplorable circumstances are more elegantly bewailed in +_Clyde_, a poem, reprinted in _Scotish Descriptive Poems_, edited by Dr +John Leyden, Edinburgh, 1803: + + "Where Bothwell's bridge connects the margins steep, + And Clyde, below, runs silent, strong, and deep, + The hardy peasant, by oppression driven + To battle, deemed his cause the cause of heaven: + Unskilled in arms, with useless courage stood, + While gentle Monmouth grieved to shed his blood: + But fierce Dundee, inflamed with deadly hate, + In vengeance for the great Montrose's fate, + Let loose the sword, and to the hero's shade + A barbarous hecatomb of victims paid." + +The object of Claverhouse's revenge, assigned by Wilson, is grander, +though more remote and less natural, than that in the ballad, which +imputes the severity of the pursuit to his thirst to revenge the death +of his cornet and kinsman, at Drumclog;[A] and to the quarrel betwixt +Claverhouse and Monmouth, it ascribes, with great _naivete_ the bloody +fate of the latter. Local tradition is always apt to trace foreign +events to the domestic causes, which are more immediately in the +narrator's view. There is said to be another song upon this battle, once +very popular, but I have not been able to recover it. This copy is given +from recitation. + +[Footnote A: There is some reason to conjecture, that the revenge of the +Cameronians, if successful, would have been little less sanguinary than +that of the royalists. Creichton mentions, that they had erected, in +their camp, a high pair of gallows, and prepared a quantity of halters, +to hang such prisoners as might fall into their hands, and he admires +the forbearance of the king's soldiers, who, when they returned with +their prisoners, brought them to the very spot where the gallows stood, +and guarded them there, without offering to hang a single individual. +Guild, in the _Bellum Bothuellianum_, alludes to the same story, which +is rendered probable by the character of Hamilton, the insurgent +general. GUILD'S _MSS._--CREICHTON'S _Memoirs_, p. 61.] + +There were two Gordons of Earlstoun, father and son. They were descended +of an ancient family in the west of Scotland, and their progenitors were +believed to have been favourers of the reformed doctrine, and possessed +of a translation of the Bible, as early as the days of Wickliffe. +William Gordon, the father, was, in 1663, summoned before the privy +council, for keeping conventicles in his house and woods. By another act +of council, he was banished out of Scotland; but the sentence was never +put into execution. In 1667, Earlstoun was turned out of his house, +which was converted into a garrison for the king's soldiers. He was not +in the battle of Bothwell Bridge, but was met, hastening towards it, by +some English dragoons, engaged in the pursuit, already commenced. As +he refused to surrender, he was instantly slain. WILSON'S _History +of Bothwell Rising--Life of Gordon of Earlston, in Scottish +Worthies_--WODROW'S _History,_ Vol. II. The son, Alexander Gordon +of Earlstoun, I suppose to be the hero of the ballad. He was not a +Cameronian, but of the more moderate class of presbyterians, whose sole +object was freedom of conscience, and relief from the oppressive laws +against non-conformists. He joined the insurgents, shortly after the +skirmish at Loudoun-hill. He appears to have been active in forwarding +the supplication sent to the duke of Monmouth. After the battle, he +escaped discovery, by flying into a house at Hamilton, belonging to one +of his tenants, and disguising himself in female attire. His person +was proscribed, and his estate of Earlstoun was bestowed upon Colonel +Theophilus Ogilthorpe, by the crown, first in security for L.5000, +and afterwards in perpetuity.--FOUNTAINHALL, p. 390. The same author +mentions a person tried at the circuit court, July 10, 1683, solely for +holding intercourse with Earlstoun, an intercommuned (proscribed) rebel. +As he had been in Holland after the battle of Bothwell, he was probably +accessory to the scheme of invasion, which the unfortunate earl of +Argyle was then meditating. He was apprehended upon his return to +Scotland, tried, convicted of treason, and condemned to die; but his +fate was postponed by a letter from the king, appointing him to be +reprieved for a month, that he might, in the interim, be tortured for +the discovery of his accomplices. The council had the unusual spirit +to remonstrate against this illegal course of severity. On November +3, 1653, he received a farther respite, in hopes he would make some +discovery. When brought to the bar, to be tortured (for the king had +reiterated his commands), he, through fear or distraction, roared like a +bull, and laid so stoutly about him, that the hangman and his assistant +could hardly master him. At last he fell into a swoon, and, on his +recovery, charged General Dalziel and Drummond (violent tories), +together with the duke of Hamilton, with being the leaders of the +fanatics. It was generally thought, that he affected this extravagant +behaviour, to invalidate all that agony might extort from him concerning +his real accomplices. He was sent, first, to Edinburgh castle, and, +afterwards, to a prison upon the Bass island; although the privy council +more than once deliberated upon appointing his immediate death. On 22d +August, 1684, Earlstoun was sent for from the Bass, and ordered for +execution, 4th November, 1684. He endeavoured to prevent his doom by +escape; but was discovered and taken, after he had gained the roof of +the prison. The council deliberated, whether, in consideration of this +attempt, he was not liable to instant execution. Finally, however, they +were satisfied to imprison him in Blackness castle, where he remained +till after the Revolution, when he was set at liberty, and his doom of +forfeiture reversed by act of parliament.--See FOUNTAINHALL, Vol. I. pp. +238, 240, 245, 250, 301, 302. + + + +THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL-BRIDGE. + + + "O Billie, billie, bonny billie, + "Will ye go to the wood wi' me? + "We'll ca' our horse hame masterless, + "An' gar them trow slain men are we." + + "O no, O no!" says Earlstoun, + "For that's the thing that mauna be; + "For I am sworn to Bothwell Hill, + "Where I maun either gae or die." + + So Earlstoun rose in the morning, + An' mounted by the break o' day; + An' he has joined our Scottish lads, + As they were marching out the way. + + "Now, farewell father, and farewell mother, + "An' fare ye weel my sisters three; + "An' fare ye weel my Earlstoun, + "For thee again I'll never see!" + + So they're awa' to Bothwell Hill, + An waly[A] they rode bonnily! + When the duke o' Monmouth saw them comin', + He went to view their company. + + "Ye're welcome, lads," then Monmouth said, + "Ye're welcome, brave Scots lads, to me; + "And sae are ye, brave Earlstoun, + "The foremost o' your company! + + "But yield your weapons ane an' a'; + "O yield your weapons, lads, to me; + "For, gin ye'll yield your weapons up, + "Ye'se a' gae hame to your country." + + Out up then spak a Lennox lad, + And waly but he spak bonnily! + "I winna yield my weapons up, + "To you nor nae man that I see." + + Then he set up the flag o' red, + A' set about wi' bonny blue; + "Since ye'll no cease, and be at peace, + "See that ye stand by ither true." + + They stell'd[B] their cannons on the height, + And showr'd their shot down in the how;[C] + An' beat our Scots lads even down, + Thick they lay slain on every know.[D] + + As e'er you saw the rain down fa', + Or yet the arrow frae the bow,-- + Sae our Scottish lads fell even down, + An' they lay slain on every know. + + "O, hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd, + "Gie quarters to yon men for me!" + But wicked Claver'se swore an oath, + His cornet's death reveng'd sud be. + + "O hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd, + "If ony thing you'll do for me; + "Hold up your hand, you cursed Graeme, + "Else a rebel to our king ye'll be." + + Then wicked Claver'se turn'd about, + I wot an angry man was he; + And he has lifted up his hat, + And cry'd, "God bless his majesty!" + + Then he's awa to London town, + Ay e'en as fast as he can dree; + Fause witnesses he has wi' him ta'en. + An' ta'en Monmouth's head f'rae his body. + + Alang the brae, beyond the brig, + Mony brave man lies cauld and still; + But lang we'll mind, and sair we'll rue, + The bloody battle of Bothwell Hill. + +[Footnote A: _Waly!_ an interjection.] + +[Footnote B: _Stell'd_--Planted.] + +[Footnote C: _How_--Hollow.] + +[Footnote D: _Know_--Knoll.] + + + +NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL-BRIDGE. + + + _Then he set up the flag of red, + A' set about wi' bonnie blue._--P. 91. v. 1. + +Blue was the favourite colour of the Covenanters; hence the vulgar +phrase of a true blue whig. Spalding informs us, that when the first +army of Covenanters entered Aberdeen, few or none "wanted a blue +ribband; the lord Gordon, and some others of the marquis (of Huntley's) +family had a ribband, when they were dwelling in the town, of a red +fresh colour, which they wore in their hats, and called it the _royal +ribband_, as a sign of their love and loyalty to the king. In despite +and derision thereof, this blue ribband was worn, and called the +_Covenanter's ribband_, by the hail soldiers of the army, who would not +hear of the royal ribband, such was their pride and malice."--Vol. I. p. +123. After the departure of this first army, the town was occupied by +the barons of the royal party, till they were once more expelled by the +Covenanters, who plundered the burgh and country adjacent; "no fowl, +cock, or hen, left unkilled, the hail house-dogs, messens (i.e. +lap-dogs), and whelps, within Aberdeen, killed upon the streets; so that +neither hound, messen, nor other dog, was left alive that they could +see: the reason was this,--when the first army came here, ilk captain +and soldier had a blue ribband about his craig (i.e. neck); in despite +and derision whereof, when they removed from Aberdeen, some women of +Aberdeen, as was alleged, knit blue ribbands about their messens' +craigs, whereat their soldiers took offence, and killed all their dogs +for this very cause."--P. 160. + +I have seen one of the ancient banners of the Covenanters: it +was divided into four copartments, inscribed with the words, +_Christ--Covenant--King--Kingdom_. Similar standards are mentioned in +Spalding's curious and minute narrative, Vol. II. pp. 182, 245. + + _Hold up your hand, ye cursed Graeme, + Else a rebel to our king ye'll be._--P, 91. v. 5. + +It is very extraordinary, that, in April, 1685, Claverhouse was left out +of the new commission of privy council, as being too favourable to the +fanatics. The pretence was his having married into the presbyterian +family of lord Dundonald. An act of council was also past, regulating +the payment of quarters, which is stated by Fountainhall to have been +done in _odium_ of Claverhouse, and in order to excite complaints +against him. This charge, so inconsistent with the nature and conduct of +Claverhouse, seems to have been the fruit of a quarrel betwixt him and +the lord high treasurer. FOUNTAINHALL, Vol. I. p. 360. + +That Claverhouse was most unworthily accused of mitigating the +persecution of the Covenanters, will appear from the following simple, +but very affecting narrative, extracted from one of the little +publications which appeared soon after the Revolution, while the +facts were fresh in the memory of the sufferers. The imitation of the +scriptural stile produces, in some passages of these works, an effect +not unlike what we feel in reading the beautiful book of Ruth. It is +taken from the life of Mr Alexander Peden,[A] printed about 1720. + +"In the beginning of May, 1685, he came to the house of John Brown and +Marion Weir, whom he married before he went to Ireland, where he stayed +all night; and, in the morning when he took farewell, he came out of the +door, saying to himself, "Poor woman, a fearful morning," twice over. "A +dark misty morning!" The next morning, between five and six hours, the +said John Brown having performed the worship of God in his family, was +going, with a spade in his hand, to make ready some peat ground: the +mist being very dark, he knew not until cruel and bloody Claverhouse +compassed him with three troops of horse, brought him to his house, and +there examined him; who, though he was a man of a stammering speech, yet +answered him distinctly and solidly; which made Claverhouse to examine +those whom he had taken to be his guides through the muirs, if ever they +heard him preach? They answered, "No, no, he was never a preacher." He +said, "If he has never preached, meikle he has prayed in his time;" he +said to John, "Go to your prayers, for you shall immediately die!" When +he was praying, Claverhouse interrupted him three times; one time, that +he stopt him, he was pleading that the Lord would spare a remnant, and +not make a full end in the day of his anger. Claverhouse said, "I gave +you time to pray, and ye are begun to preach;" he turned about upon +his knees, and said, "Sir, you know neither the nature of preaching or +praying, that calls this preaching." Then continued without confusion. +When ended, Claverhouse said, "Take goodnight of your wife and +children." His wife, standing by with her child in her arms that she had +brought forth to him, and another child of his first wife's, he came +to her, and said, "Now, Marion, the day is come, that I told you would +come, when I spake first to you of marrying me." She said, "Indeed, +John, I can willingly part with you."--"Then," he said, "this is all I +desire, I have no more to do but die." He kissed his wife and bairns, +and wished purchased and promised blessings to be multiplied upon them, +and his blessing. Clavers ordered six soldiers to shoot him; the most +part of the bullets came upon his head, which scattered his brains upon +the ground. Claverhouse said to his wife, "What thinkest thou of thy +husband now, woman?" She said, "I thought ever much of him, and now as +much as ever." He said, "It were justice to lay thee beside him." She +said, "If ye were permitted, I doubt not but your cruelty would go that +length; but how will ye make answer for this morning's work?" He said, +"To man I can be answerable; and for God, I will take him in my own +hand." Claverhouse mounted his horse, and marched, and left her with the +corpse of her dead husband lying there; she set the bairn on the ground, +and gathered his brains, and tied up his head, and straighted his body, +and covered him in her plaid, and sat down, and wept over him. It being +a very desart place, where never victual grew, and far from neighbours, +it was some time before any friends came to her; the first that came was +a very fit hand, that old singular Christian woman, in the Cummerhead, +named Elizabeth Menzies, three miles distant, who had been tried with +the violent death of her husband at Pentland, afterwards of two worthy +sons, Thomas Weir, who was killed at Drumclog, and David Steel, who was +suddenly shot afterwards when taken. The said Marion Weir, sitting upon +her husband's grave, told me, that before that, she could see no blood +but she was in danger to faint; and yet she was helped to be a witness +to all this, without either fainting or confusion, except when the shots +were let off her eyes dazzled. His corpse were buried at the end of his +house, where he was slain, with this inscription on his grave-stone:-- + + In earth's cold bed, the dusty part here lies, + Of one who did the earth as dust despise! + Here, in this place, from earth he took departure; + Now, he has got the garland of the martyrs. + +[Footnote A: The enthusiasm of this personage, and of his followers, +invested him, as has been already noticed, with prophetic powers; but +hardly any of the stories told of him exceeds that sort of gloomy +conjecture of misfortune, which the precarious situation of his sect +so greatly fostered. The following passage relates to the battle +of Bothwell-bridge:--"That dismal day, 22d of June, 1679, at +Bothwell-bridge, when the Lord's people fell and fled before the enemy, +he was forty miles distant, near the border, and kept himself retired +until the middle of the day, when some friends said to him, 'Sir, the +people are waiting for sermon,' He answered, 'Let them go to their +prayers; for me, I neither can nor will preach any this day, for our +friends are fallen and fled before the enemy, at Hamilton, and they are +hacking and hewing them down, and their blood is running like water." +The feats of Peden are thus commemorated by Fountainhall, 27th of March, +1650: "News came to the privy council, that about one hundred men, well +armed and appointed, had left Ireland, because of a search there for +such malcontents, and landed in the west of Scotland, and joined with +the wild fanatics. The council, finding that they disappointed the +forces, by skulking from hole to hole, were of opinion, it were better +to let them gather into a body, and draw to a head, and so they would +get them altogether in a snare. They had one Mr Peden, a minister, with +them, and one Isaac, who commanded them. They had frighted most part +of all the country ministers, so that they durst not stay at their +churches, but retired to Edinburgh, or to garrison towns; and it was sad +to see whole shires destitute of preaching, except in burghs. Wherever +they came they plundered arms, and particularly at my Lord Dumfries's +house."--FOUNTAINHALL, Vol. I. p. 359.] + +"This murder was committed betwixt six and seven in the morning: Mr +Peden was about ten or eleven miles distant, having been in the fields +all night: he came to the house betwixt seven and eight, and desired to +call in the family, that he might pray amongst them; when praying, he +said, "Lord, when wilt thou avenge Brown's blood? Oh, let Brown's blood +be precious in thy sight! and hasten the day when thou wilt avenge it, +with Cameron's, Cargil's, and many others of our martyrs' names; and oh! +for that day, when the Lord would avenge all their bloods!" When ended, +John Muirhead enquired what he meant by Brown's blood? He said twice +over, "What do I mean? Claverhouse has been at the Preshil this morning, +and has cruelly murdered John Brown; his corpse are lying at the end of +his house, and his poor wife sitting weeping by his corpse, and not a +soul to speak a word comfortably to her." + +While we read this dismal story, we must remember Brown's situation +was that of an avowed and determined rebel, liable as such to military +execution; so that the atrocity was more that of the times than of +Claverhouse. That general's gallant adherence to his master, the +misguided James VII., and his glorious death on the field of victory, at +Killicrankie, have tended to preserve and gild his memory. He is still +remembered in the Highlands as the most successful leader of their +clans. An ancient gentleman, who had borne arms for the cause of Stuart, +in 1715, told the editor, that, when the armies met on the field of +battle, at Sheriff-muir, a veteran chief (I think he named Gordon +of Glenbucket), covered with scars, came up to the earl of Mar, and +earnestly pressed him to order the Highlanders to charge, before the +regular army of Argyle had completely formed their line, and at a moment +when the rapid and furious onset of the clans might have thrown them +into total disorder. Mar repeatedly answered, it was not yet time; till +the chieftain turned from him in disdain and despair, and, stamping with +rage, exclaimed aloud, "O for one hour of Dundee!" + +Claverhouse's sword (a strait cut-and-thrust blade) is in the possession +of Lord Woodhouselee. In Pennycuik-house is preserved the buff-coat, +which he wore at the battle of Killicrankie. The fatal shot-hole is +under the arm-pit, so that the ball must have been received while his +arm was raised to direct the pursuit However he came by his charm of +_proof_, he certainly had not worn the garment usually supposed to +confer that privelage, and which is called _the waistcoat of proof, or +of necessity_. It was thus made: "On Christmas daie, at night, a thread +must be sponne of flax, by a little virgine girle, in the name of the +divell: and it must be by her woven, and also wrought with the needle. +In the breast, or forepart thereof, must be made with needle work, two +heads; on the head, at the right side, must be a hat and a long beard; +the left head must have on a crown, and it must be so horrible that it +maie resemble Belzebub; and on each side of the wastcote must be made a +crosse."--SCOTT'S _Discoverie of Witchcraft,_ p. 231. + +It would be now no difficult matter to bring down our popular poetry, +connected with history, to the year 1745. But almost all the party +ballads of that period have been already printed, and ably illustrated +by Mr Ritson. + + +END OF HISTORICAL BALLADS. + + + + + +MINSTRELSY OF THE SCOTTISH BORDER. + + +PART SECOND. + + +_ROMANTIC BALLADS._ + + + +SCOTTISH MUSIC, AN ODE, + +BY J. LEYDEN. + +TO IANTHE. + + + Again, sweet syren, breathe again + That deep, pathetic, powerful strain; + Whose melting tones, of tender woe, + Fall soft as evening's summer dew, + That bathes the pinks and harebells blue, + Which in the vales of Tiviot blow. + + Such was the song that soothed to rest. + Far in the green isle of the west, + The Celtic warrior's parted shade; + Such are the lonely sounds that sweep + O'er the blue bosom of the deep, + Where ship-wrecked mariners are laid. + + Ah! sure, as Hindu legends tell, + When music's tones the bosom swell, + The scenes of former life return; + Ere, sunk beneath the morning star, + We left our parent climes afar, + Immured in mortal forms to mourn. + + Or if, as ancient sages ween, + Departed spirits, half-unseen, + Can mingle with the mortal throng; + 'Tis when from heart to heart we roll + The deep-toned music of the soul, + That warbles in our Scottish song. + + I hear, I hear, with awful dread, + The plaintive music of the dead; + They leave the amber fields of day: + Soft as the cadence of the wave, + That murmurs round the mermaid's grave, + They mingle in the magic lay. + + Sweet syren, breathe the powerful strain! + _Lochroyan's Damsel_[A] sails the main; + The chrystal tower enchanted see! + "Now break," she cries, "ye fairy charms!" + As round she sails with fond alarms, + "Now break, and set my true love free!" + + Lord Barnard is to greenwood gone, + Where fair _Gil Morrice_ sits alone, + And careless combs his yellow hair; + Ah! mourn the youth, untimely slain! + The meanest of Lord Barnard's train + The hunter's mangled head must bear. + + Or, change these notes of deep despair, + For love's more soothing tender air: + Sing, how, beneath the greenwood tree, + _Brown Adam's_[B] love maintained her truth, + Nor would resign the exiled youth + For any knight the fair could see. + + And sing _the Hawk of pinion gray_,[C] + To southern climes who winged his way, + For he could speak as well as fly; + Her brethren how the fair beguiled, + And on her Scottish lover smiled, + As slow she raised her languid eye. + + Fair was her cheek's carnation glow, + Like red blood on a wreath of snow; + Like evening's dewy star her eye: + White as the sea-mew's downy breast, + Borne on the surge's foamy crest, + Her graceful bosom heaved the sigh. + + In youth's first morn, alert and gay, + Ere rolling years had passed away, + Remembered like a morning dream, + I heard these dulcet measures float, + In many a liquid winding note, + Along the banks of Teviot's stream. + + Sweet sounds! that oft have soothed to rest + The sorrows of my guileless breast, + And charmed away mine infant tears: + Fond memory shall your strains repeat, + Like distant echoes, doubly sweet, + That in the wild the traveller hears. + + And thus, the exiled Scotian maid, + By fond alluring love betrayed + To visit Syria's date-crowned shore; + In plaintive strains, that soothed despair, + Did "Bothwell's banks that bloom so fair," + And scenes of early youth, deplore. + + Soft syren! whose enchanting strain + Floats wildly round my raptured brain, + I bid your pleasing haunts adieu! + Yet, fabling fancy oft shall lead + My footsteps to the silver Tweed, + Through scenes that I no more must view. + +[Footnote A: _The Lass of Lochroyan_--In this volume.] + +[Footnote B: See the ballad, entitled, _Brown Adam._] + +[Footnote C: See the _Gay Goss Hawk._] + + + +NOTES ON SCOTTISH MUSIC, AN ODE. + + _Far in the green isle of the west._--P. 103. v. 2. + The _Flathinnis_, or Celtic paradise. + + _Ah! sure, as Hindu legends tell._--P. 104. v. 1. + +The effect of music is explained by the Hindus, as recalling to our +memory the airs of paradise, heard in a state of pre-existence--_Vide_ +Sacontala. + + _Did "Bathwell's banks that bloom so fair."_--P. 106. v. 3. + +"So fell it out of late years, that an English gentleman, travelling in +Palestine, not far from Jerusalem, as he passed through a country town, +he heard, by chance, a woman sitting at her door, dandling her child, to +sing, _Bothwel bank thou blumest fair_. The gentleman hereat wondered, +and forthwith, in English, saluted the woman, who joyfully answered him; +and said, she was right glad there to see a gentleman of our isle: and +told him, that she was a Scottish woman, and came first from Scotland to +Venice, and from Venice thither, where her fortune was to be the wife of +an officer under the Turk; who being at that instant absent, and very +soon to return, she entreated the gentleman to stay there until his +return. The which he did; and she, for country sake, to shew herself the +more kind and bountiful unto him, told her husband, at his home-coming, +that the gentleman was her kinsman; whereupon her husband entertained +him very kindly; and, at his departure gave him divers things of good +value."--_Verstigan's Restitution of Decayed Intelligence._ Chap. _Of +the Sirnames of our Antient Families._ Antwerp, 1605. + + + +INTRODUCTION TO THE TALE OF TAMLANE. + + +ON THE FAIRIES OF POPULAR SUPERSTITION. + + + _"Of airy elves, by moon-light shadows seen, + The silver token, and the circled green._--POPE. + +In a work, avowedly dedicated to the preservation of the poetry and +tradition of the "olden time," it would be unpardonable to omit this +opportunity of making some observations upon so interesting an article +of the popular creed, as that concerning the Elves, or Fairies. The +general idea of spirits, of a limited power, and subordinate nature, +dwelling among the woods and mountains, is, perhaps common to all +nations. But the intermixture of tribes, of languages, and religion, +which has occurred in Europe, renders it difficult to trace the origin +of the names which have been bestowed upon such spirits, and the primary +ideas which were entertained concerning their manners and habits. + +The word _elf_, which seems to have been the original name of the +beings, afterwards denominated fairies, is of Gothic origin, and +probably signified, simply, a spirit of a lower order. Thus, the Saxons +had not only _dun-elfen_, _berg-elfen_, and _munt-elfen_, spirits of +the downs, hills, and mountains; but also _feld-elfen_, _wudu-elfen_, +_sae-elfen_, and _water-elfen_; spirits of the fields, of the woods, +of the sea, and of the waters. In low German, the same latitude of +expression occurs; for night hags are termed _aluinnen_, and _aluen_, +which is sometimes Latinized _eluoe_. But the prototype of the English +elf, is to be sought chiefly in the _berg-elfen_, or _duergar_, of the +Scandinavians. From the most early of the Icelandic Sagas, as well as +from the Edda itself, we learn the belief of the northern nations in +a race of dwarfish spirits, inhabiting the rocky mountains, and +approaching, in some respects, to the human nature. Their attributes, +amongst which we recognize the features of the modern Fairy, were, +supernatural wisdom and prescience, and skill in the mechanical arts, +especially in the fabrication of arms. They are farther described, as +capricious, vindictive, and easily irritated. The story of the elfin +sword, _Tyrfing_, may be the most pleasing illustration of this +position. Suafurlami, a Scandinavian monarch, returning from hunting, +bewildered himself among the mountains. About sun-set, he beheld a large +rock, and two dwarfs, sitting before the mouth of a cavern. The king +drew his sword, and intercepted their retreat, by springing betwixt +them and their recess, and imposed upon them the following condition of +safety:--that they should make for him a faulchion, with a baldric and +scabbard of pure gold, and a blade, which should divide stones and iron +as a garment, and which should render the wielder ever victorious in +battle. The elves complied with the requisition, and Suafurlami pursued +his way home. Returning at the time appointed, the dwarfs delivered to +him the famous sword _Tyrfing_; then, standing in the entrance of their +cavern, spoke thus: "This sword, O king, shall "destroy a man every time +it is brandished; but it shall "perform three atrocious deeds, and it +shall be thy bane." The king rushed forward with the charmed sword, and +buried both its edges in the rock; but the dwarfs escaped into their +recesses.[A] This enchanted sword emitted rays like the sun, dazzling +all against whom it was brandished; it divided steel like water, and was +never unsheathed without slaying a man--_Hervarar Saga,_ p. 9. Similar +to this was the enchanted sword, _Skoffhung_, which was taken by a +pirate out of the tomb of a Norwegian monarch. Many such tales are +narrated in the Sagas; but the most distinct account of the _-duergar_, +or elves, and their attributes, is to be found in a preface of Torfaeus +to the history of Hrolf Kraka, who cites a dissertation by Einar +Gudmund, a learned native of Iceland. "I am firmly of opinion," says the +Icelander, "that these beings are creatures of God, consisting, like +human beings, of a body and rational soul; that they are of different +sexes, and capable of producing children, and subject to all human +affections, as sleeping and waking, laughing and crying, poverty and +wealth; and that they possess cattle, and other effects, and are +obnoxious to death, like other mortals." He proceeds to state, that the +females of this race are capable of procreating with mankind; and gives +an account of one who bore a child to an inhabitant of Iceland, for whom +she claimed the privilege of baptism; depositing the infant, for that +purpose, at the gate of the church-yard, together with a goblet of gold, +as an offering.--_Historia Hrolfi Krakae, a_ TORFAEO. + +[Footnote A: Perhaps in this, and similar tales, we may recognize +something of real history. That the Fins, or ancient natives of +Scandinavia, were driven into the mountains, by the invasion of Odin and +his Asiatics, is sufficiently probable; and there is reason to believe, +that the aboriginal inhabitants understood, better than the intruders, +how to manufacture the produce of their own mines. It is therefore +possible, that, in process of time, the oppressed Fins may have been +transformed into the supernatural _duergar_. A similar transformation +has taken place among the vulgar in Scotland, regarding the Picts, or +Pechs, to whom they ascribe various supernatural attributes.] + +Similar to the traditions of the Icelanders, are those current among the +Laplanders of Finland, concerning a subterranean people, gifted with' +supernatural qualities, and inhabiting the recesses of the earth. +Resembling men in their general appearance, the manner of their +existence, and their habits of life, they far excel the miserable +Laplanders in perfection of nature, felicity of situation, and skill in +mechanical arts. From all these advantages, however, after the partial +conversion of the Laplanders, the subterranean people have derived no +farther credit, than to be confounded with the devils and magicians of +the dark ages of Christianity; a degradation which, as will shortly be +demonstrated, has been also suffered by the harmless Fairies of Albion, +and indeed by the whole host of deities of learned Greece and mighty +Rome. The ancient opinions are yet so firmly rooted, that the Laps of +Finland, at this day, boast of an intercourse with these beings, in +banquets, dances, and magical ceremonies, and even in the more intimate +commerce of gallantry. They talk, with triumph, of the feasts which +they have shared in the elfin caverns, where wine and tobacco, the +productions of the Fairy region, went round in abundance, and whence +the mortal guest, after receiving the kindest treatment and the most +salutary counsel, has been conducted to his tent by an escort of his +supernatural entertainers.--_Jessens, de Lapponibus._ + +The superstitions of the islands of Feroe, concerning their +_Froddenskemen_, or under-ground people, are derived from the _duergar_ +of Scandinavia. These beings are supposed to inhabit the interior +recesses of mountains, which they enter by invisible passages. Like the +Fairies, they are supposed to steal human beings. "It happened," says +Debes, p. 354, "a good while since, when the burghers of Bergen had +the commerce of Feroe, that there was a man in Servaade, called Jonas +Soideman, who was kept by spirits in a mountain, during the space of +seven years, and at length came out; but lived afterwards in great +distress and fear, lest they should again take him away; wherefore +people were obliged to watch him in the night." The same author mentions +another young man, who had been carried away, and, after his return, was +removed a second time upon the eve of his marriage. He returned in a +short time, and narrated, that the spirit that had carried him away, was +in the shape of a most beautiful woman, who pressed him to forsake his +bride, and remain with her; urging her own superior beauty, and splendid +appearance. He added, that he saw the men who were employed to search +for him, and heard them call; but that they could not see him, nor could +he answer them, till, upon his determined refusal to listen to the +spirit's persuasions, the spell ceased to operate. The kidney-shaped +West Indian bean, which is sometimes driven upon the shore of the +Feroes, is termed, by the natives "the _Fairie's kidney_." + +In these traditions of the Gothic and Finnish tribes, we may recognize, +with certainty, the rudiments of elfin superstition; but we must look to +various other causes for the modifications which it has undergone. These +are to be sought, 1st, in the traditions of the east; 2d, in the wreck +and confusion of the Gothic mythology; 3d, in the tales of chivalry; +4th, in the fables of classical antiquity; 5th, in the influence of the +Christian religion; 6th, and finally, in the creative imagination of +the sixteenth century. It may be proper to notice the effect of these +various causes, before stating the popular belief of our own time, +regarding the Fairies. + +I. To the traditions of the east, the Fairies of Britain owe, I think, +little more than the appellation, by which they have been distinguished +since the days of the crusade. The term "Fairy," occurs not only +in Chaucer, and in yet older English authors, but also, and more +frequently, in the romance language; from which they seem to have +adopted it. Ducange cites the following passage from Gul. Guiart, in +_Historia Francica_, MS. + + Plusiers parlent de Guenart, + Du Lou, de L'Asne, de Renart, + De _Faeries_ et de Songes, + De phantosmes et de mensonges. + +The _Lay le Frain_, enumerating the subjects of the Breton Lays, informs +us expressly, + + Many ther beth _faery_. + +By some etymologists of that learned class, who not only know whence +words come, but also whither they are going, the term _Fairy_, or +_Faerie_, is derived from _Fae_, which is again derived from _Nympha_. +It is more probable the term is of oriental origin, and is derived from +the Persic, through the medium of the Arabic. In Persic, the term _Peri_ +expresses a species of imaginary being, which resembles the Fairy in +some of its qualities, and is one of the fairest creatures of romantic +fancy. This superstition must have been known to the Arabs, among whom +the Persian tales, or romances, even as early as the time of Mahomet, +were so popular, that it required the most terrible denunciations of +that legislator to proscribe them. Now, in the enunciation of the Arabs, +the term _Peri_ would sound _Fairy_, the letter _p_ not occurring in +the alphabet of that nation; and, as the chief intercourse of the early +crusaders was with the Arabs, or Saracens, it is probable they would +adopt the term according to their pronounciation. Neither will it be +considered as an objection to this opinion, that in Hesychius, the +Ionian term _Phereas_, or _Pheres_, denotes the satyrs of classical +antiquity, if the number of words of oriental origin in that +lexicographer be recollected. Of the Persian Peris, Ouseley, in his +_Persian Miscellanies_, has described some characteristic traits, with +all the luxuriance of a fancy, impregnated with the oriental association +of ideas. However vaguely their nature and appearance is described, they +are uniformly represented as gentle, amiable females, to whose character +beneficence and beauty are essential. None of them are mischievous or +malignant; none of them are deformed or diminutive, like the Gothic +fairy. Though they correspond in beauty with our ideas of angels, their +employments are dissimilar; and, as they have no place in heaven, their +abode is different. Neither do they resemble those intelligences, whom, +on account of their wisdom, the Platonists denominated Daemons; nor +do they correspond either to the guardian Genii of the Romans, or the +celestial virgins of paradise, whom the Arabs denominate Houri. But the +Peris hover in the balmy clouds, live in the colours of the rainbow, +and, as the exquisite purity of their nature rejects all nourishment +grosser than the odours of flowers, they subsist by inhaling the +fragrance of the jessamine and rose. Though their existence is not +commensurate with the bounds of human life, they are not exempted from +the common fate of mortals.--With the Peris, in Persian mythology, are +contrasted the Dives, a race of beings, who differ from them in sex, +appearance, and disposition. These are represented as of the male sex, +cruel, wicked, and of the most hideous aspect; or, as they are described +by Mr Finch, "with ugly shapes, long horns, staring eyes, shaggy hair, +great fangs, ugly paws, long tails, with such horrible difformity and +deformity, that I wonder the poor women are not frightened therewith." +Though they live very long, their lives are limited, and they are +obnoxious to the blows of a human foe. From the malignancy of their +nature, they not only wage war with mankind, but persecute the Peris +with unremitting ferocity. Such are the brilliant and fanciful colours +in which the imaginations of the Persian poets have depicted the +charming race of the Peris; and, if we consider the romantic gallantry +of the knights of chivalry, and of the crusaders, it will not appear +improbable, that their charms might occasionally fascinate the fervid +imagination of an amorous troubadour. But, further; the intercourse of +France and Italy with the Moors of Spain, and the prevalence of the +Arabic, as the language of science in the dark ages, facilitated the +introduction of their mythology amongst the nations of the west. Hence, +the romances of France, of Spain, and of Italy, unite in describing the +Fairy as an inferior spirit, in a beautiful female form, possessing many +of the amiable qualities of the eastern Peri. Nay, it seems sufficiently +clear, that the romancers borrowed from the Arabs, not merely the +general idea concerning those spirits, but even the names of individuals +amongst them. The Peri, _Mergian Banou_ (see _Herbelot, ap. Peri_), +celebrated in the ancient Persian poetry, figures in the European +romances, under the various names of _Mourgue La Faye_, sister to _King +Arthur; Urgande La Deconnue_, protectress of _Amadis de Gaul_; and the +_Fata Morgana_ of Boiardo and Ariosto. The description of these nymphs, +by the troubadours and minstrels, is in no respect inferior to those of +the Peris. In the tale of _Sir Launfal_, in Way's _Fabliaux_, as well as +in that of _Sir Gruelan_, in the same interesting collection, the reader +will find the fairy of Normandy, or Bretagne, adorned with all the +splendour of eastern description. The fairy _Melusina_, also, who +married Guy de Lusignan, count of Poictou, under condition that he +should never attempt to intrude upon her privacy, was of this latter +class. She bore the count many children, and erected for him a +magnificent castle by her magical art. Their harmony was uninterrupted, +until the prying husband broke the conditions of their union, by +concealing himself, to behold his wife make use of her enchanted +bath. Hardly had _Melusina_ discovered the indiscreet intruder, than, +transforming herself into a dragon, she departed with a loud yell of +lamentation, and was never again visible to mortal eyes; although, even +in the days of Brantome, she was supposed to be the protectress of her +descendants, and was heard wailing, as she sailed upon the blast +round the turrets of the castle of Lusiguan, the night before it was +demolished. For the full story, the reader may consult the _Bibliotheque +des Romans_.[A]--Gervase of Tilbury (pp. 895, and 989), assures us, +that, in his days, the lovers of the Fadae, or Fairies, were numerous; +and describes the rules of their intercourse with as much accuracy, as +if he had himself been engaged in such an affair. Sir David Lindsay also +informs us, that a leopard is the proper armorial bearing of those +who spring from such intercourse, because that beast is generated by +adultery of the pard and lioness. He adds, that Merlin, the prophet, was +the first who adopted this cognizance, because he was "borne of faarie +in adultre, and right sua the first duk of Guyenne, was borne of a +_fee_; and, therefoir, the armes of Guyenne are a leopard."--_MS. on +Heraldry, Advocates' Library,_ w. 4. 13. While, however, the Fairy of +warmer climes was thus held up as an object of desire and of affection, +those of Britain, and more especially those of Scotland, were far +from being so fortunate; but, retaining the unamiable qualities, and +diminutive size of the Gothic elves, they only exchanged that term for +the more popular appellation of Fairies. + +[Footnote A: Upon this, or some similar tradition, was founded the +notion, which the inveteracy of national prejudice, so easily diffused +in Scotland, that the ancestor of the English monarchs, Geoffrey +Plantagenet, had actually married a daemon. Bowmaker, in order to +explain the cruelty and ambition of Edward I., dedicates a chapter to +shew "how the kings of England are descended from the devil, by the +mother's side."--_Fordun, Chron._ lib. 9, cap. 6. The lord of a certain +castle, called Espervel, was unfortunate enough to have a wife of the +same class. Having observed, for several years, that she always left the +chapel before the mass was concluded, the baron, in a fit of obstinacy +or curiosity, ordered his guard to detain her by force; of which the +consequence was, that, unable to support the elevation of the host, she +retreated through the air, carrying with her one side of the chapel, and +several of the congregation.] + +II. Indeed, so singularly unlucky were the British Fairies that, as has +already been hinted, amid the wreck of the Gothic mythology, consequent +upon the introduction of Christianity, they seem to have preserved, with +difficulty, their own distinct characteristics, while, at the same time, +they engrossed the mischievous attributes of several other classes of +subordinate spirits, acknowledged by the nations of the north. The +abstraction of children, for example, the well known practice of the +modern Fairy, seems, by the ancient Gothic nations, to have rather been +ascribed to a species of night-mare, or hag, than to the _berg-elfen_, +or _duergar_. In the ancient legend of _St Margaret_, of which there is +a Saxo-Norman copy, in _Hickes' Thesaurus Linguar. Septen._ and one, +more modern, in the Auchinleck MSS., that lady encounters a fiend, whose +profession it was, among other malicious tricks, to injure new-born +children and their mothers; a practice afterwards imputed to the +Fairies. Gervase of Tilbury, in the _Otia Imperialia_, mentions certain +hags, or _Lamiae_, who entered into houses in the night-time, to oppress +the inhabitants, while asleep, injure their persons and property, and +carry off their children. He likewise mentions the _Dracae_, a sort of +water spirits, who inveigle women and children into the recesses which +they inhabit, beneath lakes and rivers, by floating past them, on the +surface of the water, in the shape of gold rings, or cups. The women, +thus seized, are employed as nurses, and, after seven years, are +permitted to revisit earth. Gervase mentions one woman, in particular, +who had been allured by observing a wooden dish, or cup, float by her, +while washing clothes in a river. Being seized as soon as she reached +the depths, she was conducted into one of these subterranean recesses, +which she described as very magnificent, and employed as nurse to one of +the brood of the hag who had allured her. During her residence in this +capacity, having accidentally touched one of her eyes with an ointment +of serpent's grease, she perceived, at her return to the world, that she +had acquired the faculty of seeing the _dracae_, when they intermingle +themselves with men. Of this power she was, however, deprived by the +touch of her ghostly mistress, whom she had one day incautiously +addressed. It is a curious fact, that this story, in almost all its +parts, is current in both the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland, with +no other variation than the substitution of Fairies for _dracae_, and +the cavern of a hill for that of a river.[A] These water fiends are thus +characterized by Heywood, in the _Hierarchie_-- + + "Spirits, that have o'er water gouvernement, + Are to mankind alike malevolent; + They trouble seas, flouds, rivers, brookes, and wels, + Meres, lakes, and love to enhabit watry cells; + Hence noisome and pestiferous vapours raise; + Besides, they men encounter divers ways. + At wreckes some present are; another sort, + Ready to cramp their joints that swim for sport: + One kind of these, the Italians _fatae_ name, + _Fee_ the French, we _sybils_, and the same; + Others _white nymphs_, and those that have them seen, + _Night ladies_ some, of which Habundia queen. + _Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels,_ p. 507. + +[Footnote A: Indeed, many of the vulgar account it extremely dangerous +to touch any thing, which they may happen to find, without _saining_ +(blessing) it, the snares of the enemy being notorious and well +attested. A poor woman of Tiviotdale, having been fortunate enough, as +she thought herself, to find a wooden beetle, at the very time when +she needed such an implement, seized it without pronouncing the proper +blessing, and, carrying it home, laid it above her bed, to be ready +for employment in the morning. At midnight, the window of her cottage +opened, and a loud voice was heard, calling upon some one within, by a +strange and uncouth name, which I have forgotten. The terrified cottager +ejaculated a prayer, which, we may suppose, insured her personal +safety; while the enchanted implement of housewifery, tumbling from the +bed-stead, departed by the window with no small noise and precipitation. +In a humorous fugitive tract, the late Dr Johnson is introduced as +disputing the authenticity of an apparition, merely because the spirit +assumed the shape of a tea-pot, and of a shoulder of mutton. No doubt, +a case so much in point, as that we have now quoted, would have removed +his incredulity.] + +The following Frisian superstition, related by Schott, in his _Physica +Curiosa_, p. 362, on the authority of Cornelius a Kempen, coincides more +accurately with the popular opinions concerning the Fairies, than even +the _dracae_ of Gervase, or the water-spirits of Thomas Heywood.--"In +the time of the emperor Lotharius, in 830," says he, "many spectres +infested Frieseland, particularly the white nymphs of the ancients, +which the moderns denominate _witte wiven_, who inhabited a +subterraneous cavern, formed in a wonderful manner, without human art, +on the top of a lofty mountain. These were accustomed to surprise +benighted travellers, shepherds watching their herds and flocks, and +women newly delivered, with their children; and convey them into their +caverns, from which subterranean murmurs, the cries of children, the +groans and lamentations of men, and sometimes imperfect words, and all +kinds of musical sounds, were heard to proceed." The same superstition +is detailed by Bekker, in his _World Bewitch'd_, p. 196, of the English +translation. As the different classes of spirits were gradually +confounded, the abstraction of children seems to have been chiefly +ascribed to the elves, or Fairies; yet not so entirely, as to exclude +hags and witches from the occasional exertion of their ancient +privilege.--In Germany, the same confusion of classes has not taken +place. In the beautiful ballads of the _Erl King_, the _Water King_, and +the _Mer-Maid_, we still recognize the ancient traditions of the Goths, +concerning the _wald-elven_, and the _dracae_. + +A similar superstition, concerning abstraction by daemons, seems, in +the time of Gervase of Tilbury, to have pervaded the greatest part of +Europe. "In Catalonia," says that author, "there is a lofty mountain, +named Cavagum, at the foot of which runs a river with golden sands, in +the vicinity of which there are likewise mines of silver. This mountain +is steep, and almost inaccessible. On its top, which is always covered +with ice and snow, is a black and bottomless lake, into which if a +stone be thrown, a tempest suddenly rises; and near this lake, though +invisible to men, is the porch of the palace of daemons. In a town +adjacent to this mountain, named Junchera, lived one Peter de Cabinam. +Being one day teazed with the fretfulness of his young daughter, he, in +his impatience, suddenly wished that the devil might take her; when she +was immediately borne away by the spirits. About seven years afterwards, +an inhabitant of the same city, passing by the mountain, met a man, who +complained bitterly of the burthen he was constantly forced to bear. +Upon enquiring the cause of his complaining, as he did not seem to carry +any load, the man related, that he had been unwarily devoted to the +spirits by an execration, and that they now employed him constantly as +a vehicle of burthen. As a proof of his assertion, he added, that the +daughter of his fellow-citizen was detained by the spirits, but that +they were willing to restore her, if her father would come and demand +her on the mountain. Peter de Cabinam, on being informed of this, +ascended the mountain to the lake, and, in the name of God, demanded his +daughter; when, a tall, thin, withered figure, with wandering eyes, and +almost bereft of understanding, was wafted to him in a blast of wind. +After some time, the person, who had been employed as the vehicle of the +spirits, also returned, when he related where the palace of the spirits +was situated; but added, that none were permitted to enter but those who +devoted themselves entirely to the spirits; those, who had been rashly +committed to the devil by others, being only permitted, during their +probation, to enter the porch." It may be proper to observe, that the +superstitious idea, concerning the lake on the top of the mountain, is +common to almost every high hill in Scotland. Wells, or pits, on the +top of high hills, were likewise supposed to lead to the subterranean +habitations of the Fairies. Thus, Gervase relates, (p. 975), "that he +was informed the swine-herd of William Peverell, an English baron, +having lost a brood-sow, descended through a deep abyss, in the middle +of an ancient ruinous castle, situated on the top of a hill, called +Bech, in search of it. Though a violent wind commonly issued from +this pit, he found it calm; and pursued his way, till he arrived at a +subterraneous region, pleasant and cultivated, with reapers cutting down +corn, though the snow remained on the surface of the ground above. Among +the ears of corn he discovered his sow, and was permitted to ascend with +her, and the pigs which she had farrowed." Though the author seems to +think that the inhabitants of this cave might be Antipodes, yet, as +many such stories are related of the Fairies, it is probable that this +narration is of the same kind. Of a similar nature seems to be another +superstition, mentioned by the same author, concerning the ringing of +invisible bells, at the hour of one, in a field in the vicinity of +Carleol, which, as he relates, was denominated _Laikibraine_, or _Lai ki +brait_. From all these tales, we may perhaps be justified in supposing, +that the faculties and habits ascribed to the Fairies, by the +superstition of latter days, comprehended several, originally attributed +to other classes of inferior spirits. + +III. The notions, arising from the spirit of chivalry, combined to add +to the Fairies certain qualities, less atrocious, indeed, but equally +formidable, with those which they derived from the last mentioned +source, and alike inconsistent with the powers of the _duergar_, whom +we may term their primitive prototype. From an early period, the daring +temper of the northern tribes urged them to defy even the supernatural +powers. In the days of Caesar, the Suevi were described, by their +countrymen, as a people, with whom the immortal gods dared not venture +to contend. At a later period, the historians of Scandinavia paint their +heroes and champions, not as bending at the altar of their deities, but +wandering into remote forests and caverns, descending into the recesses +of the tomb, and extorting boons, alike from gods and daemons, by dint +of the sword, and battle-axe. I will not detain the reader by quoting +instances, in which heaven is thus described as having been literally +attempted by storm. He may consult Saxo, Olaus Wormius, Olaus Magnus, +Torfaeus, Bartholin, and other northern antiquaries. With such ideas of +superior beings, the Normans, Saxons, and other Gothic tribes, brought +their ardent courage to ferment yet more highly in the genial climes of +the south, and under the blaze of romantic chivalry. Hence, during the +dark ages, the invisible world was modelled after the material; and the +saints, to the protection of whom the knights-errant were accustomed to +recommend themselves, were accoutered like _preux chevaliers_, by the +ardent imaginations of their votaries. With such ideas concerning the +inhabitants of the celestial regions, we ought not to be surprised to +find the inferior spirits, of a more dubious nature and origin, equipped +in the same disguise. Gervase of Tilbury (_Otia Imperial, ap. Script, +rer. Brunsvic,_ Vol. I. p. 797.) relates the following popular story +concerning a Fairy Knight. "Osbert, a bold and powerful baron, visited +a noble family in the vicinity of Wandlebury, in the bishopric of Ely. +Among other stories related in the social circle of his friends, who, +according to custom, amused each other by repeating ancient tales and +traditions, he was informed, that if any knight, unattended, entered an +adjacent plain by moon-light, and challenged an adversary to appear, he +would be immediately encountered by a spirit in the form of a knight. +Osbert resolved to make the experiment, and set out, attended by a +single squire, whom he ordered to remain without the limits of the +plain, which was surrounded by an ancient entrenchment. On repeating the +challenge, he was instantly assailed by an adversary, whom he quickly +unhorsed, and seized the reins of his steed. During this operation, his +ghostly opponent sprung up, and, darting his spear, like a javelin, at +Osbert, wounded him in the thigh. Osbert returned in triumph with the +horse, which he committed to the care of his servants. The horse was of +a sable colour, as well as his whole accoutrements, and apparently of +great beauty and vigour. He remained with his keeper till cock-crowing, +when, with eyes flashing fire, he reared, spurned the ground, and +vanished. On disarming himself, Osbert perceived that he was wounded, +and that one of his steel boots was full of blood. Gervase adds, +that, as long as he lived, the scar of his wound opened afresh on the +anniversary of the eve on which he encountered the spirit."[A] Less +fortunate was the gallant Bohemian knight, who, travelling by night, +with a single companion, came in sight of a fairy host, arrayed under +displayed banners. Despising the remonstrances of his friend, the knight +pricked forward to break a lance with a champion who advanced from +the ranks, apparently in defiance. His companion beheld the Bohemian +over-thrown horse and man, by his aerial adversary; and, returning to +the spot next morning, he found the mangled, corpse of the knight and +steed.--_Hierarchie of Blessed Angels,_ p. 554. + +[Footnote A: The unfortunate Chatterton was not, probably, acquainted +with Gervase of Tilbury; yet he seems to allude, in the _Battle of +Hastings_, to some modification of Sir Osbert's adventure: + + So who they be that ouphant fairies strike, + Their souls shall wander to King Offa's dike. + +The entrenchment, which served as lists for the combatants, is said by +Gervase to have been the work of the pagan invaders of Britain. In the +metrical romance of _Arthour and Merlin_, we have also an account of +Wandlesbury being occupied by the Sarasins, i.e. the Saxons; for all +pagans were Saracens with the romancers. I presume the place to have +been Wodnesbury, in Wiltshire, situated on the remarkable mound, +called Wansdike, which is obviously a Saxon work.--GOUGH'S _Cambden's +Britannia,_ pp. 87--95.] + +To the same current of warlike ideas, we may safely attribute the +long train of military processions which the Fairies are supposed +occasionally to exhibit. The elves, indeed, seem in this point to be +identified with the aerial host, termed, during the middle ages, the +_Milites Herlikini_, or _Herleurini_, celebrated by Pet. Blesensis, +and termed, in the life of St Thomas of Canterbury, the _Familia +Helliquinii_. The chief of this band was originally a gallant knight and +warrior; but, having spent his whole possessions in the service of the +emperor, and being rewarded with scorn, and abandoned to subordinate +oppression, he became desperate, and, with his sons and followers, +formed a band of robbers. After committing many ravages, and defeating +all the forces sent against him, Hellequin, with his whole troop, fell +in a bloody engagement with the Imperial host. His former good life was +supposed to save him from utter reprobation; but he and his followers +were condemned, after death, to a state of wandering, which should +endure till the last day. Retaining their military habits, they were +usually seen in the act of justing together, or in similar warlike +employments. See the ancient French romance of _Richard sans Peur_. +Similar to this was the _Nacht Lager_, or midnight camp, which seemed +nightly to beleaguer the walls of Prague, + + "With ghastly faces thronged, and fiery arms," + +but which disappeared upon recitation of the magical words, _Vezele, +Vezele, ho! ho! ho!_--For similar delusions, see DELRIUS, pp. 294, 295. + +The martial spirit of our ancestors led them to defy these aerial +warriors; and it is still currently believed, that he, who has courage +to rush upon a fairy festival, and snatch from them their drinking cup, +or horn, shall find it prove to him a cornucopia of good fortune, if he +can bear it in safety across a running stream. Such a horn is said to +have been presented to Henry I. by a lord of Colchester.--GERVAS TILB. +p. 980. A goblet is still carefully preserved in Edenhall, Cumberland, +which is supposed to have been seized at a banquet of the elves, by one +of the ancient family of Musgrave; or, as others say, by one of their +domestics, in the manner above described. The Fairy train vanished, +crying aloud, + + If this glass do break or fall, + Farewell the luck of Edenhall! + +The goblet took a name from the prophecy, under which it is mentioned, +in the burlesque ballad, commonly attributed to the duke of Wharton, but +in reality composed by Lloyd, one of his jovial companions. The duke, +after taking a draught, had nearly terminated the "luck of Edenhall," +had not the butler caught the cup in a napkin, as it dropped from his +grace's hands. I understand it is not now subjected to such risques, but +the lees of wine are still apparent at the bottom. + + God prosper long, from being broke, + The luck of Edenhall.--_Parody on Chevy Chace._ + +Some faint traces yet remain, on the borders, of a conflict of a +mysterious and terrible nature, between mortals and the spirits of the +wilds. This superstition is incidentally alluded to by Jackson, at the +beginning of the 17th century. The fern seed, which is supposed to +become visible only on St John's Eve,[A] and at the very moment when +the Baptist was born, is held by the vulgar to be under the special +protection of the queen of Faery. But, as the seed was supposed to have +the quality of rendering the possessor invisible at pleasure,[B] and to +be also of sovereign use in charms and incantations, persons of courage, +addicted to these mysterious arts, were wont to watch in solitude, to +gather it at the moment when it should become visible. The particular +charms, by which they fenced themselves during this vigil, are now +unknown; but it was reckoned a feat of no small danger, as the person +undertaking it was exposed to the most dreadful assaults from spirits, +who dreaded the effect of this powerful herb in the hands of a cabalist. +Such were the shades, which the original superstition, concerning the. +Fairies, received from the chivalrous sentiments of the middle ages. + +[Footnote A: + + Ne'er be I found by thee unawed, + On that thrice hallowed eve abroad, + When goblins haunt, from fire and fen. + And wood and lake, the steps of men. + COLLINS'S _Ode to Fear._ + +The whole history of St John the Baptist was, by our ancestors, +accounted mysterious, and connected with their own superstitions. +The fairy queen was sometimes identified with Herodias.--DELRII +_Disquisitiones Magicae,_ pp. 168. 807. It is amusing to observe with +what gravity the learned Jesuit contends, that it is heresy to believe +that this celebrated figurante (_saltatricula_) still leads choral +dances upon earth!] + +[Footnote B: This is alluded to by Shakespeare, and other authors of his +time: + + "We have the receipt of _fern-seed_; we walk invisible." + _Henry IV. Part 1st, Act 2d, Sc. 3_.] + +IV. An absurd belief in the fables of classical antiquity lent an +additional feature to the character of the woodland spirits of whom we +treat. Greece and Rome had not only assigned tutelary deities to each +province and city, but had peopled, with peculiar spirits, the Seas, the +Rivers, the Woods, and the Mountains. The memory of the pagan creed was +not speedily eradicated, in the extensive provinces through which it was +once universally received; and, in many particulars, it continued long +to mingle with, and influence, the original superstitions of the Gothic +nations. Hence, we find the elves occasionally arrayed in the costume of +Greece and Rome, and the Fairy Queen and her attendants transformed into +Diana and her nymphs, and invested with their attributes and appropriate +insignia.--DELRIUS, pp. 168, 807. According to the same author, the +Fairy Queen was also called _Habundia_. Like Diana, who, in one +capacity, was denominated _Hecate_, the goddess of enchantment, the +Fairy Queen is identified in popular tradition, with the _Gyre-Carline, +Gay Carline_, or mother witch, of the Scottish peasantry. Of this +personage, as an individual, we have but few notices. She is sometimes +termed _Nicneven_, and is mentioned in the _Complaynt of Scotland_, by +Lindsay in his _Dreme_, p. 225, edit. 1590, and in his _Interludes_, +apud PINKERTON'S _Scottish Poems_, Vol. II. p. 18. But the traditionary +accounts regarding her are too obscure to admit of explanation. In the +burlesque fragment subjoined, which is copied from the Bannatyne MS. the +Gyre Carline is termed the _Queen of Jowis_ (Jovis, or perhaps Jews), +and is, with great consistency, married to Mohammed.[A] + + +[Footnote A: + + In Tyberius tyme, the trew imperatour, + Quhen Tynto hills fra skraipiug of toun-henis was keipit, + Thair dwelt are grit Gyre Carling in awld Betokis bour, + That levit upoun Christiane menis flesche, and rewheids unleipit; + Thair wynit ane hir by, on the west syde, callit Blasour, + For luve of hir lanchane lippis, he walit and he weipit; + He gadderit are menzie of modwartis to warp doun the tour: + The Carling with are yren club, quhen yat Blasour sleipit, + Behind the heil scho hat him sic ane blaw, + Quhil Blasour bled ane quart + Off milk pottage inwart, + The Carling luche, and lut fart + North Berwik Law. + + The king of fary than come, with elfis many ane, + And sett are sege, and are salt, with grit pensallis of pryd; + And all the doggis fra Dunbar wes thair to Dumblane, + With all the tykis of Tervey, come to thame that tyd; + Thay quelle doune with thair gonnes mony grit stane, + The Carling schup hir on ane sow, and is her gaitis gane, + Grunting our the Greik sie, and durst na langer byd, + For bruklyng of bargane, and breikhig of browis: + The Carling now for dispyte + Is maieit with Mahomyte, + And will the doggis interdyte, + For scho is queue of Jowis. + + Sensyne the cockis of Crawmound crew nevir at day, + For dule of that devillisch deme wes with Mahoun mareit, + And the henis of Hadingtoun sensyne wald not lay, + For this wild wibroun wich thame widlit sa and wareit; + And the same North Berwik Law, as I heir wyvis say, + This Carling, with a fals east, wald away careit; + For to luck on quha sa lykis, na langer scho tareit: + All this languor for love before tymes fell, + Lang or Betok was born, + Scho bred of ane accorne; + The laif of the story to morne, + To you I sall telle.] + +But chiefly in Italy were traced many dim characters of ancient +mythology, in the creed of tradition. Thus, so lately as 1536, Vulcan, +with twenty of his Cyclops, is stated to have presented himself suddenly +to a Spanish merchant, travelling in the night, through the forests of +Sicily; an apparition, which was followed by a dreadful eruption of +Mount Aetna.--_Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels,_ p. 504 Of this +singular mixture, the reader will find a curious specimen in the +following tale, wherein the Venus of antiquity assumes the manners of +one of the Fays, or Fatae, of romance. "In the year 1058, a young man +of noble birth had been married at Rome, and, during the period of his +nuptial feast, having gone with his companions to play at ball, he put +his marriage ring on the finger of a broken statue of Venus in the area, +to remain, while he was engaged in the recreation. Desisting from the +exercise, he found the finger, on which he had put his ring, contracted +firmly against the palm, and attempted in vain either to break it, or to +disengage his ring. He concealed the circumstance from his companions, +and returned at night with a servant, when he found the finger extended, +and his ring gone. He dissembled the loss, and returned to his wife; +but, whenever he attempted to embrace her, he found himself prevented +by something dark and dense, which was tangible, though not visible, +interposing between them; and he heard a voice saying, 'Embrace me! for +I am Venus, whom this day you wedded, and I will not restore your ring.' +As this was constantly repeated, he consulted his relations, who had +recourse to Palumbus, a priest, skilled in necromancy. He directed the +young man to go, at a certain hour of night, to a spot among the ruins +of ancient Rome, where four roads met, and wait silently till he saw a +company pass by, and then, without uttering a word, to deliver a letter, +which he gave him, to a majestic being, who rode in a chariot, after the +rest of the company. The young man did as he was directed; and saw a +company of all ages, sexes, and ranks, on horse and on foot, some joyful +and others sad, pass along; among whom he distinguished a woman in a +meretricious dress, who, from the tenuity of her garments, seemed +almost naked. She rode on a mule; her long hair, which flowed over her +shoulders, was bound with a golden fillet; and in her hand was a golden +rod, with which she directed her mule. In the close of the procession, +a tall majestic figure appeared in a chariot, adorned with emeralds +and pearls, who fiercely asked the young man, 'What he did there?' He +presented the letter in silence, which the daemon dared not refuse. +As soon as he had read, lifting up his hands to heaven, he exclaimed, +'Almighty God! how long wilt thou endure the iniquities of the sorcerer +Palumbus!' and immediately dispatched some of his attendants, who, with +much difficulty, extorted the ring from Venus, and restored it to +its owner, whose infernal banns were thus dissolved."--FORDUNI +_Scotichronicon,_ Vol. I. p. 407, _cura_ GOODALL. + +But it is rather in the classical character of an infernal deity, that +the elfin queen may be considered, than as _Hecate_, the patroness of +magic; for not only in the romance writers, but even in Chaucer, are the +Fairies identified with the ancient inhabitants of the classical hell. +Thus Chaucer, in his _Marchand's Tale_, mentions + + Pluto that is king of fayrie--and + Proserpine and all her fayrie. + +In the _Golden Terge_ of Dunbar, the same phraseology is adopted: Thus, + + Thair was Pluto that elricke incubus + In cloke of grene, his court usit in sable. + +Even so late as 1602, in Harsenet's _Declaration of Popish Imposture,_ +p. 57, Mercury is called _Prince of the Fairies._ + +But Chaucer, and those poets who have adopted his phraseology, have only +followed the romance writers; for the same substitution occurs in the +romance of _Orfeo and Heurodis_, in which the story of Orpheus and +Eurydice is transformed into a beautiful romantic tale of faery, and +the Gothic mythology engrafted on the fables of Greece. _Heurodis_ is +represented as wife of _Orfeo_, and queen of Winchester, the ancient +name of which city the romancer, with unparalleled ingenuity, discovers +to have been Traciens, or Thrace. The monarch, her husband, had a +singular genealogy: + + His fader was comen of King Pluto, + And his moder of King Juno; + That sum time were as godes y-holde, + For aventours that thai dede and tolde. + +Reposing, unwarily, at noon, under the shade of an ymp tree,[A] +_Heurodis_ dreams that she is accosted by the King of Fairies, + + With an hundred knights and mo, + And damisels an hundred also, + Al on snowe white stedes; + As white as milke were her wedes; + Y no seigh never yete bifore, + So fair creatours y-core: + The kinge hadde a croun on hed, + It nas of silver, no of golde red, + Ac it was of a precious ston: + As bright as the sonne it schon. + +[Footnote A: _Ymp tree_--According to the general acceptation, this only +signifies a grafted tree; whether it should he here understood to mean a +tree consecrated to the imps, or fairies, is left with the reader.] + +The King of Fairies, who had obtained power over the queen, perhaps from +her sleeping at noon in his domain, orders her, under the penalty of +being torn to pieces, to await him to-morrow under the ymp tree, and +accompany him to Fairy-Land. She relates her dream to her husband, who +resolves to accompany her, and attempt her rescue: + + A morwe the under tide is come, + And Orfeo hath his armes y-nome, + And wele ten hundred knights with him, + Ich y-armed stout and grim; + And with the quen wenten he, + Right upon that ympe tre. + Thai made scheltrom in iche aside, + And sayd thai wold there abide, + And dye ther everichon, + Er the qeun schuld fram hem gon: + Ac yete amiddes hem ful right, + The quen was oway y-twight, + With Fairi forth y-nome, + Men wizt never wher sche was become. + +After this fatal catastrophe, _Orfeo_, distracted for the loss of +his queen, abandons his throne, and, with his harp, retires into a +wilderness, where he subjects himself to every kind of austerity, and +attracts the wild beasts by the pathetic melody of his harp. His state +of desolation is poetically described: + + He that werd the fowe and griis, + And on bed the purpur biis, + Now on bard hethe he lith. + With leves and gresse he him writh: + He that had castells and tours, + Rivers, forests, frith with flowrs. + Now thei it commence to snewe and freze, + This king mot make his bed in mese: + He that had y-had knightes of priis, + Bifore him kneland and leuedis, + Now seth he no thing that him liketh, + Bot wild wormes bi him striketh: + He that had y-had plente + Of mete and drinke, of ich deynte, + Now may he al daye digge and wrote, + Er he find his fille of rote. + In sorner he liveth bi wild fruit, + And verien hot gode lite. + In winter may he no thing find, + Bot rotes, grases, and the rinde. + + * * * * * + + His here of his herd blac and rowe, + To his girdel stede was growe; + His harp, whereon was al his gle, + He hidde in are holwe tre: + And, when the weder was clere and bright, + He toke his harpe to him wel right, + And harped at his owen will, + Into al the wode the soun gan shill, + That al the wild bestes that ther beth + For joie abouten him thai teth; + And al the foules that ther wer, + Come and sete on ich a brere, + To here his harping a fine, + So miche melody was therein. + +At last he discovers, that he is not the sole inhabitant of this desart; +for + + He might se him besides + Oft in hot undertides, + The king of Fairi, with his route, + Come to hunt him al about, + With dim cri and bloweing, + And houndes also with him berking; + Ac no best thai no nome, + No never he nist whider thai bi come. + And other while he might hem se + As a gret ost bi him te, + Well atourued ten hundred knightes, + Ich y-armed to his rightes, + Of cuntenance stout and fers, + With mani desplaid baners; + And ich his sword y-drawe hold, + Ac never he nist whider thai wold. + And otherwhile he seighe other thing; + Knightis and lenedis com daunceing, + In queynt atire gisely, + Queyete pas and softlie: + Tabours and trumpes gede hem bi, + And al mauer menstraci.-- + And on a day he seighe him biside, + Sexti leuedis on hors ride, + Gentil and jolif as brid on ris; + Nought o man amonges hem ther nis; + And ich a faucoun on bond bere, + And riden on hauken bi o river. + Of game thai found wel gode haunt, + Maulardes, hayroun, and cormoraunt; + The foules of the water ariseth, + Ich faucoun hem wele deviseth, + Ich fancoun his pray slough, + That seize Orfeo and lough. + "Par fay," quoth he, "there is fair game, + "Hider Ichil bi Godes name, + "Ich was y won swich work to se:" + He aros, and thider gan te; + To a leuedie hi was y-come, + Bihelde, and hath wel under nome, + And seth, bi al thing, that is + His owen quen, dam Heurodis; + Gern hi biheld her, and sche him eke, + Ac nouther to other a word no speke: + For messais that sche on him seighe, + That had ben so riche and so heighe, + The teres fel out of her eighe; + The other leuedis this y seighe, + And maked hir oway to ride, + Sche most with him no longer obide. + "Allas!" quoth he, "nowe is mi woe, + "Whi nil deth now me slo; + "Allas! to long last mi liif, + "When y no dare nought with mi wif, + "Nor hye to me o word speke; + "Allas whi nil miin hert breke! + "Par fay," quoth he, "tide what betide, + "Whider so this leuedis ride, + "The selve way Ichil streche; + "Of liif, no dethe, me no reche. + +In consequence, therefore, of this discovery _Orfeo_ pursues the hawking +damsels, among whom he has descried his lost queen. They enter a rock, +the king continues the pursuit, and arrives at Fairy-Land, of which the +following very poetical description is given: + + In at roche the leuedis rideth, + And he after and nought abideth; + When he was in the roche y-go, + Wele thre mile other mo, + He com into a fair cuntray, + As bright soonne somers day, + Smothe and plain and al grene, + Hill no dale nas none ysene, + Amiddle the loud a castel he seighe, + Rich and reale and wonder heighe; + Al the utmast wal + Was cler and schine of cristal; + An hundred tours ther were about, + Degiselich and bataild stout; + The butrass come out of the diche, + Of rede gold y-arched riche; + The bousour was anowed al, + Of ich maner deuers animal; + Within ther wer wide wones + Al of precious stones, + The werss piler onto biholde, + Was al of burnist gold: + Al that loud was ever light, + For when it schuld be therk and night, + The riche stonnes light gonne, + Bright as doth at nonne the sonne + No man may tel, no thenke in thought. + The riche werk that ther was rought. + + * * * * * + + Than he gan biholde about al, + And seighe ful liggeand with in the wal, + Of folk that wer thidder y-brought, + And thought dede and nere nought; + Sum stode with outen hadde; + And some none armes nade; + And sum thurch the bodi hadde wounde; + And sum lay wode y-bounde; + And sum armed on hors sete; + And sum astrangled as thai ete; + And sum war in water adreynt; + And sum with fire al for schreynt; + Wives ther lay on childe bedde; + Sum dede, and sum awedde; + And wonder fere ther lay besides, + Right as thai slepe her undertides; + Eche was thus in this warld y-nome, + With fairi thider y-come.[A] + There he seize his owhen wiif, + Dame Heurodis, his liif liif, + Slepe under an ympe tree: + Bi her clothes he knewe that it was he, + And when he had bihold this mervalis alle, + He went into the kinges halle; + Then seigh he there a semly sight, + A tabernacle blisseful and bright; + Ther in her maister king sete, + And her quen fair and swete; + Her crounes, her clothes schine so bright, + That unnethe bihold he hem might. + _Orfeo and Heurodis, MS._ + +[Footnote A: It was perhaps from such a description that Ariosto adopted +his idea of the Lunar Paradise, containing every thing that on earth was +stolen or lost.] + +_Orfeo_, as a minstrel, so charms the Fairy King with the music of +his harp, that he promises to grant him whatever he should ask. He +immediately demands his lost _Heurodis_; and, returning safely with +her to Winchester, resumes his authority; a catastrophe, less pathetic +indeed, but more pleasing, than that of the classical story. The +circumstances, mentioned in this romantic legend, correspond very +exactly with popular tradition. Almost all the writers on daemonology +mention, as a received opinion that the power of the daemons is most +predominant at noon and midnight. The entrance to the Land of Faery is +placed in the wilderness; a circumstance, which coincides with a passage +in Lindsay's _Complaint of the Papingo:_ + + Bot sen my spreit mon from my bodye go, + I recommend it to the queue of Fary, + Eternally into her court to tarry + In _wilderness_ amang the holtis hair. + LINDSAY'S _Works_, 1592, p. 222. + +Chaucer also agrees, in this particular, with our romancer: + + In his sadel he clombe anon, + And priked over stile and ston, + An elf quene for to espie; + Til he so long had riden and gone + That he fond in a privie wone + The countree of Faerie. + + Wherein he soughte north and south, + And often spired with his mouth, + In many a foreste wilde; + For in that countree nas ther non, + That to him dorst ride or gon, + Neither wif ne childe. + _Rime of Sir Thopas._ + +V. Other two causes, deeply affecting the superstition of which we +treat, remain yet to be noticed. The first is derived from the Christian +religion, which admits only of two classes of spirits, exclusive of the +souls of men--Angels, namely, and Devils. This doctrine had a necessary +tendency to abolish the distinction among subordinate spirits, which had +been introduced by the superstitions of the Scandinavians. The existence +of the Fairies was readily admitted; but, as they had no pretensions to +the angelic character, they were deemed to be of infernal origin. The +union, also, which had been formed betwixt the elves and the Pagan +deities, was probably of disservice to the former; since every one +knows, that the whole synod of Olympus were accounted daemons. + +The fulminations of the church were, therefore, early directed against +those, who consulted or consorted with the Fairies; and, according to +the inquisitorial logic, the innocuous choristers of Oberon and Titania +were, without remorse, confounded with the sable inhabitants of the +orthodox Gehennim; while the rings, which marked their revels, were +assimilated to the blasted sward on which the witches held their +infernal sabbath.--_Delrii Disq. Mag._ p. 179. This transformation early +took place; for, among the many crimes for which the famous Joan of Arc +was called upon to answer, it was not the least heinous, that she +had frequented the Tree and Fountain, near Dompre, which formed the +rendezvous of the Fairies, and bore their name; that she had joined in +the festive dance with the elves, who haunted this charmed spot; had +accepted of their magical bouquets, and availed herself of their +talismans, for the delivery of her country.--_Vide Acta Judiciaria +contra Johannam D'Arceam, vulgo vocutam Johanne la Pucelle._ + +The Reformation swept away many of the corruptions of the church of +Rome; but the purifying torrent remained itself somewhat tinctured by +the superstitious impurities of the soil over which it had passed. The +trials of sorcerers and witches, which disgrace our criminal records, +become even more frequent after the Reformation of the church; as if +human credulity, no longer amused by the miracles of Rome, had sought +for food in the traditionary records of popular superstition. A Judaical +observation of the precepts of the Old Testament also characterized the +Presbyterian reformers. _"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,"_ was +a text, which at once (as they conceived) authorized their belief in +sorcery, and sanctioned the penalty which they denounced against it. The +Fairies were, therefore, in no better credit after the Reformation than +before, being still regarded as actual daemons, or something very little +better. A famous divine, Doctor Jasper Brokeman, teaches us, in his +system of divinity, "that they inhabit in those places that are polluted +with any crying sin, as effusion of blood, or where unbelief or +superstitione have gotten the upper hand."--_Description of Feroe._ The +Fairies being on such bad terms with the divines, those, who pretended +to intercourse with them, were, without scruple, punished as sorcerers; +and such absurd charges are frequently stated as exaggerations of +crimes, in themselves sufficiently heinous. + +Such is the case in the trial of the noted Major Weir, and his sister; +where the following mummery interlards a criminal indictment, too +infamously flagitious to be farther detailed: "9th April, 1670. Jean +Weir, indicted of sorceries, committed by her when she lived and kept a +school at Dalkeith: that she took employment from a woman, to speak in +her behalf to the _Queen of Fairii, meaning the Devil_; and that another +woman gave her a piece of a tree, or root, the next day, and did tell +her, that as long as she kept the same, she should be able to do what +she pleased; and that same woman, from whom she got the tree, caused her +spread a cloth before her door, and set her foot upon it, and to repeat +thrice, in the posture foresaid, these words, _'All her losses and +crosses go alongst to the doors,'_ which was truly a consulting with the +devil, and an act of sorcery, &c. That after the spirit, in the shape of +a woman, who gave her the piece of tree, had removed, she, addressing +herself to spinning, and having spun but a short time, found more +yarn upon the pirn than could possibly have come there by good +means."[A]--_Books of Adjournal._ + +[Footnote A: It is observed in the record, that Major Weir, a man of +the most vicious character, was at the same time ambitious of appearing +eminently godly; and used to frequent the beds of sick persons, to +assist them with his prayers. On such occasions, he put to his mouth +a long staff, which he usually carried, and expressed himself with +uncommon energy and fluency, of which he was utterly incapable when the +inspiring rod was withdrawn. This circumstance, the result, probably, of +a trick or habit, appearing suspicious to the judges, the staff of the +sorcerer was burned along with his person. One hundred and thirty years +have elapsed since his execution, yet no one has, during that space, +ventured to inhabit the house of this celebrated criminal.] + +Neither was the judgment of the criminal court of Scotland less severe +against another familiar of the Fairies, whose supposed correspondence +with the court of Elfland seems to have constituted the sole crime, for +which she was burned alive. Her name was Alison Pearson, and she seems +to have been a very noted person. In a bitter satire against Adamson, +Bishop of St Andrews, he is accused of consulting with sorcerers, +particularly with this very woman; and an account is given of her +travelling through Breadalbane, in the company of the Queen of Faery, +and of her descrying, in the court of Elfland, many persons, who had +been supposed at rest in the peaceful grave.[A] Among these we find two +remarkable personages; the secretary, young Maitland of Lethington, and +one of the old lairds of Buccleuch. The cause of their being stationed +in Elfland probably arose from the manner of their decease; which, being +uncommon and violent, caused the vulgar to suppose that they had been +abstracted by the Fairies. Lethington, as is generally supposed, died a +Roman death during his imprisonment in Leith; and the Buccleuch, whom I +believe to be here meant, was slain in a nocturnal scuffle by the Kerrs, +his hereditary enemies. Besides, they were both attached to the cause +of Queen Mary, and to the ancient religion; and were thence, probably, +considered as more immediately obnoxious to the assaults of the powers +of darkness.[B] The indictment of Alison Pearson notices her intercourse +with the Archbishop of St Andrews, and contains some particulars, worthy +of notice, regarding the court of Elfland. It runs thus: "28th May, +1586. Alison Pearson, in Byrehill, convicted of witchcraft, and of +consulting with evil spirits, in the form of one Mr William Simpsone, +her cosin, who she affirmed was a gritt schollar, and doctor of +medicine, that healed her of her diseases when she was twelve years of +age; having lost the power of her syde, and having a familiaritie with +him for divers years, dealing with charms, and abuseing the common +people by her arts of witchcraft, thir divers years by-past. + +[Footnote A: + + For oght the kirk culd him forbid, + He sped him sone, and gat the thrid; + Ane carling of the quene of Phareis, + That ewill win geir to elpliyne careis; + Through all Brade Abane scho has bene, + On horsbak on Hallow ewin; + And ay in seiking certayne nightis, + As scho sayis with sur silly wychirs: + And names out nybours sex or sewin, + That we belevit had bene in heawin; + Scho said scho saw theme weill aneugh, + And speciallie gude auld Balcleuch, + The secretar, and sundrie uther: + Ane William Symsone, her mother brother, + Whom fra scho has resavit a buike + For ony herb scho likes to luke; + It will instruct her how to tak it, + In saws and sillubs how to mak it; + With stones that meikle mair can doe, + In leich craft, where scho lays them toe: + A thousand maladeis scho hes mendit; + Now being tane, and apprehendit, + Scho being in the bischopis cure, + And keipit in his castle sure, + Without respect of worldlie glamer, + He past into the witches chalmer. + _Scottish Poems of XVI. Century,_ Edin. 1801, + Vol. II, p. 320.] + +[Footnote B: Buccleuch was a violent enemy to the English, by whom his +lands had been repeatedly plundered (See _Introduction,_ p. xxvi), and +a great advocate for the marriage betwixt Mary and the dauphin, 1549. +According to John Knox, he had recourse even to threats, in urging the +parliament to agree to the French match. "The laird of Buccleuch," says +the Reformer, "a bloody man, with many Gods wounds, swore, they that +would not consent should do worse."] + +"_Item,_ For banting and repairing with the gude neighbours, and queene +of Elfland, thir divers years by-past, as she had confest; and that she +had friends in that court, which were of her own blude, who had gude +acquaintance of the queene of Elfland, which might have helped her; but +she was whiles well, and whiles ill, sometimes with them, a'nd other +times away frae them; and that she would be in her bed haille and feire, +and would not wytt where she would be the morn; and that she saw not the +queene this seven years, and that she was seven years ill handled in the +court of Elfland; that, however, she kad gude friends there, and that +it was the gude neighbours that healed her, under God; and that she was +comeing and going to St Andrews to haile folkes thir many years past. + +"_Item,_ Convict of the said act of witchcraft, in as far as she confest +that the said Mr William Sympsoune, who was her guidsir sone, born in +Stirleing, who was the king's smith, who, when about eight years of age, +was taken away by ane Egyptian to Egypt; which Egyptian was a gyant, +where he remained twelve years, "and then came home. + +"_Item,_ That she being in Grange Muir, with some other folke, she, +being sick, lay downe; and, when alone, there came a man to her, clad in +green, who said to her, if she would be faithful, he would do her good; +but she, being feared, cried out, but naebodye came to her; so she said, +if he came in God's name, and for the gude of her saule, it was well; +but he gaid away: that he appeared to her another tyme like a lustie +man, and many men and women with him; that, at seeing him, she signed +herself and prayed, and past with them, and saw them making merrie with +pypes, and gude cheir and wine, and that she was carried with them; and +that when she telled any of these things, she was sairlie tormentit by +them; and that the first time she gaed with them, she gat a sair straike +frae one of them, which took all the _poustie_[A] of her syde frae her, +and left ane ill-far'd mark on her syde. + +"_Item,_ That she saw the gude neighbours make their sawes[B] with panns +and fyres, and that they gathered the herbs before the sun was up, and +they came verie fearful sometimes to her, and flaide[C] her very sair, +which made her cry, and threatened they would use her worse than before; +and, at last, they took away the power of her haile syde frae her, which +made her lye many weeks. Sometimes they would come and sitt by her, and +promise all that she should never want if she would be faithful, but if +she would speak and telle of them, they should murther her; and that Mr +William Sympsoune is with them, who healed her, and telt her all things; +that he is a young man not six years older than herself, and that he +will appear to her before the court comes; that he told her he was taken +away by them, and he bidd her sign herself that she be not taken away, +for the teind of them are tane to hell everie year. + +[Footnote A: _Poustie_--Power.] + +[Footnote B: _Sawes_--Salves.] + +[Footnote C: _Flaide_--Scared.] + +"_Item,_ That the said Mr William told her what herbs were fit to cure +every disease, and how to use them; and particularlie tauld, that the +Bishop of St Andrews laboured under sindrie diseases, sic as the riples, +trembling, feaver, flux, &c. and bade her make a sawe, and anoint +several parts of his body therewith, and gave directions for making a +posset, which she made and gave him." + +For this idle story the poor woman actually suffered death. Yet, +notwithstanding the fervent arguments thus liberally used by the +orthodox, the common people, though they dreaded even to think or speak +about the Fairies, by no means unanimously acquiesced in the doctrine, +which consigned them to eternal perdition. The inhabitants of the Isle +of Man call them the "_good people_, and say they live in wilds, and +forests, and on mountains, and shun great cities, because of the +wickedness acted therein: all the houses are blessed where they visit, +for they fly vice. A person would be thought impudently prophane who +should suffer his family to go to bed, without having first set a tub, +or pail, full of clean water, for those guests to bathe themselves in, +which the natives aver they constantly do, as soon as ever the eyes of +the family are closed, wherever they vouchsafe to come."--WALDREN's +_Works_, p. 126. There are some curious, and perhaps anomalous facts, +concerning the history of Fairies, in a sort of Cock-lane narrative, +contained in a letter from Moses Pitt, to Dr Edward Fowler, Lord Bishop +of Gloucester, printed at London in 1696, and preserved in Morgan's +_Phoenix Britannicus,_ 4to, London 1732. + +Anne Jefferies was born in the parish of St Teath, in the county of +Cornwall, in 1626. Being the daughter of a poor man, she resided as +servant in the house of the narrator's father, and waited upon the +narrator himself, in his childhood. As she was knitting stockings in an +arbour of the garden, "six small people, all in green clothes," came +suddenly over the garden wall; at the sight of whom, being much +frightened, she was seized with convulsions, and continued so long sick, +that she became as a changeling, and was unable to walk. During her +sickness, she frequently exclaimed, "They are just gone out of the +window! they are just gone out of the window! do you not see them?" +These expressions, as she afterwards declared, related to their +disappearing. During the harvest, when every one was employed, her +mistress walked out; and dreading that Anne, who was extremely weak +and silly, might injure herself, or the house, by the fire, with some +difficulty persuaded her to walk in the orchard till her return. She +accidentally hurt her leg, and, at her return, Anne cured it, by +stroking it with her hand. She appeared to be informed of every +particular, and asserted, that she had this information from the +Fairies, who had caused the misfortune. After this, she performed +numerous cures, but would never receive money for them. From harvest +time to Christmas, she was fed by the Fairies, and eat no other victuals +but theirs. The narrator affirms, that, looking one day through the +key-hole of the door of her chamber, he saw her eating; and that she +gave him a piece of bread, which was the most delicious he ever tasted. +The Fairies always appeared to her in even numbers; never less than two, +nor more than eight, at a time. She had always a sufficient stock of +salves and medicines, and yet neither made, nor purchased any; nor did +she ever appear to be in want of money. She, one day, gave a silver cup, +containing about a quart, to the daughter of her mistress, a girl about +four years old, to carry to her mother, who refused to receive it. The +narrator adds, that he had seen her dancing in the orchard among the +trees, and that she informed him she was then dancing with the Fairies. +The report of the strange cures which she performed, soon attracted the +attention of both ministers and magistrates. The ministers endeavoured +to persuade her, that the Fairies by which she was haunted, were evil +spirits, and that she was under the delusion of the devil. After they +had left her, she was visited by the Fairies, while in great perplexity; +who desired her to cause those, who termed them evil spirits, to +read that place of scripture, _First Epistle of John,_, chap. iv. v. +1,--_Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, +whether they are of God,_ &c. Though Anne Jefferies could not read, she +produced a Bible folded down at this passage. By the magistrates she was +confined three months, without food, in Bodmin jail, and afterwards +for some time in the house of Justice Tregeagle. Before the constable +appeared to apprehend her, she was visited by the Fairies, who informed +her what was intended, and advised her to go with him. When this account +was given, on May 1, 1696, she was still alive; but refused to relate +any particulars of her connection with the Fairies, or the occasion on +which they deserted her, lest she should again fall under the cognizance +of the magistrates. + +Anne Jefferies' Fairies were not altogether singular in maintaining +their good character, in opposition to the received opinion of the +church. Aubrey and Lily, unquestionably judges in such matters, had +a high opinion of these beings, if we may judge from the following +succinct and business-like memorandum of a ghost-seer. "Anno 1670. Not +far from Cirencester was an apparition. Being demanded whether a good +spirit or a bad, returned no answer, but disappeared with a curious +perfume, and most melodious twang. M.W. Lilly believes it was a Fairie. +So Propertius, + + Omnia finierat; tenues secessit in auras, + Mansit odor possis scire fuisse Deam!" + AUBREY'S _Miscellanies,_ p. 80. + +A rustic, also, whom Jackson taxed with magical practices, about 1620, +obstinately denied that the good King of the Fairies had any connection +with the devil; and some of the Highland seers, even in our day, +have boasted of their intimacy with the elves, as an innocent and +advantageous connection. One Maccoan, in Appin, the last person +eminently gifted with the second sight, professed to my learned and +excellent friend, Mr Ramsay, of Ochtertyre, that he owed his prophetic +visions to their intervention. + +VI. There remains yet another cause to be noticed, which seems to have +induced a considerable alteration into the popular creed of England, +respecting Fairies. Many poets of the sixteenth century, and, above all, +our immortal Shakespeare, deserting the hackneyed fictions of Greece and +Rome, sought for machinery in the superstitions of their native country. +"The fays, which nightly dance upon the wold," were an interesting +subject; and the creative imagination of the bard, improving upon the +vulgar belief, assigned to them many of those fanciful attributes and +occupations, which posterity have since associated with the name +of Fairy. In such employments, as rearing the drooping flower, and +arranging the disordered chamber, the Fairies of South Britain gradually +lost the harsher character of the dwarfs, or elves. Their choral dances +were enlivened by the introduction of the merry goblin _Puck_,[A] +for whose freakish pranks they exchanged their original mischievous +propensities. The Fairies of Shakespeare, Drayton, and Mennis, +therefore, at first exquisite fancy portraits, may be considered as +having finally operated a change in the original which gave them +birth.[B] + +[Footnote A: Robin Goodfellow, or Hobgoblin, possesses the frolicksome +qualities of the French _Lutin_. For his full character, the reader is +referred to the _Reliques of Ancient Poetry_. The proper livery of this +sylvan Momus is to be found in an old play. "Enter Robin Goodfellow, in +a suit of leather, close to his body, his hands and face coloured russet +colour, with a flail."--_Grim, the Collier of Croydon, Act 4, Scene 1._ +At other times, however, he is presented in the vernal livery of the +elves, his associates: + + _Tim._ "I have made + "Some speeches, sir, ill verse, which have been spoke + "By a _green Robin Goodfellow_, from Cheapside conduit, + "To my father's company." + _The City Match, Act I, Scene 6._] + +[Footnote B: The Fairy land, and Fairies of Spenser, have no connection +with popular superstition, being only words used to denote an Utopian +scene of action, and imaginary or allegorical characters; and the title +of the "Fairy Queen" being probably suggested by the elfin mistress of +Chaucer's _Sir Thopas_. The stealing of the Red Cross Knight, while a +child, is the only incident in the poem which approaches to the popular +character of the Fairy: + + --A Fairy thee unweeting reft; + There as thou sleptst in tender swadling band, + And her base elfin brood there for thee left: + Such men do changelings call, so chang'd by Fairies theft. + _Book I. Canto_ 10.] + +While the fays of South Britain received such attractive and poetical +embellishments, those of Scotland, who possessed no such advantage, +retained more of their ancient, and appropriate character. Perhaps, +also, the persecution which these sylvan deities underwent, at the +instance of the stricter presbyterian clergy, had its usual effect, in +hardening their dispositions, or at least in rendering them more dreaded +by those among whom they dwelt. The face of the country, too, might +have some effect; as we should naturally attribute a less malicious +disposition, and a less frightful appearance, to the fays who glide by +moon-light through the oaks of Windsor, than to those who haunt the +solitary heaths and lofty mountains of the North. The fact at least is +certain; and it has not escaped a late ingenious traveller, that the +character of the Scottish Fairy is more harsh and terrific than that +which is ascribed to the elves of our sister kingdom.--See STODDART'S +_View of Scenery and Manners in Scotland._ + +The Fairies of Scotland are represented as a diminutive race of beings, +of a mixed, or rather dubious nature, capricious in their dispositions, +and mischievous in their resentment. They inhabit the interior of green +hills, chiefly those of a conical form, in Gaelic termed _Sighan_, on +which they lead their dances by moon-light; impressing upon the surface +the mark of circles, which sometimes appear yellow and blasted, +sometimes of a deep green hue; and within which it is dangerous to +sleep, or to be found after sun-set. The removal of those large portions +of turf, which thunderbolts sometimes scoop out of the ground with +singular regularity, is also ascribed to their agency. Cattle, which are +suddenly seized with the cramp, or some similar disorder, are said to be +_elf-shot_; and the approved cure is, to chafe the parts affected with +a blue bonnet, which, it may be readily believed, often restores the +circulation. The triangular flints, frequently found in Scotland, with +which the ancient inhabitants probably barbed their shafts, are supposed +to be the weapons of Fairy resentment, and are termed _elf-arrow heads_. +The rude brazen battle-axes of the ancients, commonly called _celts_, +are also ascribed to their manufacture. But, like the Gothic duergar, +their skill is not confined to the fabrication of arms; for they are +heard sedulously hammering in linns, precipices, and rocky or cavernous +situations where, like the dwarfs of the mines, mentioned by Georg. +Agricola, they busy themselves in imitating the actions and the various +employments of men. The brook of Beaumont, for example, which passes, +in its course, by numerous linns and caverns, is notorious for being +haunted by the Fairies; and the perforated and rounded stones, which are +formed by trituration in its channel, are termed, by the vulgar, fairy +cups and dishes. A beautiful reason is assigned, by Fletcher, for the +fays frequenting streams and fountains. He tells us of + + A virtuous well, about whose flowery banks + The nimble-footed Fairies dance their rounds, + By the pale moon-shine, dipping oftentimes + Their stolen children, so to make them free + From dying flesh, and dull mortality. + _Faithful Shepherdess._ + +It is sometimes accounted unlucky to pass such places, without +performing some ceremony to avert the displeasure of the elves. There +is, upon the top of Minchmuir, a mountain in Peebles-shire, a spring, +called the _Cheese Well_, because, anciently, those who passed that way +were wont to throw into it a piece of cheese, as an offering to the +Fairies, to whom it was consecrated. + +Like the _feld elfen_ of the Saxons, the usual dress of the Fairies +is green; though, on the moors, they have been sometimes observed in +heath-brown, or in weeds dyed with the stoneraw, or lichen.[A] They +often ride in invisible procession, when their presence is discovered by +the shrill ringing of their bridles. On these occasions, they sometimes +borrow mortal steeds; and when such are found at morning, panting and +fatigued in their stalls, with their manes and tails dishevelled and +entangled, the grooms, I presume, often find this a convenient excuse +for their situation; as the common belief of the elves quaffing the +choicest liquors in the cellars of the rich (see the story of Lord +Duffus below), might occasionally cloak the delinquencies of an +unfaithful butler. + +[Footnote A: Hence the hero of the ballad is termed an "elfin grey."] + +The Fairies, beside their equestrian processions, are addicted it would +seem, to the pleasures of the chace. A young sailor, travelling by night +from Douglas, in the Isle of Man, to visit his sister, residing in Kirk +Merlugh, heard the noise of horses, the holla of a huntsman, and the +sound of a horn. Immediately afterwards, thirteen horsemen, dressed in +green, and gallantly mounted, swept past him. Jack was so much delighted +with the sport, that he followed them, and enjoyed the sound of the horn +for some miles; and it was not till he arrived at his sister's house +that he learned the danger which he had incurred. I must not omit to +mention, that these little personages are expert jockeys, and scorn to +ride the little Manks ponies, though apparently well suited to their +size. The exercise therefore, falls heavily upon the English and Irish +horses brought into the Isle of Man. Mr Waldron was assured by a +gentleman of Ballafletcher, that he had lost three or four capital +hunters by these nocturnal excursions.--WALDRON'S _Works_, p. 132. +From the same author we learn, that the Fairies sometimes take more +legitimate modes of procuring horses. A person of the utmost integrity +informed him, that, having occasion to sell a horse, he was accosted +among the mountains by a little gentleman plainly dressed, who priced +his horse, cheapened him, and, after some chaffering, finally purchased +him. No sooner had the buyer mounted, and paid the price, than, he sunk +through the earth, horse and man, to the astonishment and terror of the +seller; who experienced, however, no inconvenience from dealing with so +extraordinary a purchaser.--_Ibid._ p. 135. + +It is hoped the reader will receive, with due respect, these, and +similar stories, told by Mr Waldron; for he himself, a scholar and a +gentleman, informs us, "as to circles in grass, and the impression +of small feet among the snow, I cannot deny but I have seen them +frequently, and once thought I heard a whistle, as though in my ear, +when nobody that could make it was near me." In this passage there is a +curious picture of the contagious effects of a superstitious atmosphere. +Waldron had lived so long among the Manks, that he was almost persuaded +to believe their legends. + +From the _History of the Irish Bards_, by Mr Walker, and from the +glossary subjoined to the lively and ingenious _Tale of Castle +Rackrent_, we learn, that the same ideas, concerning Fairies, are +current among the vulgar in that country. The latter authority mentions +their inhabiting the ancient tumuli, called _Barrows_, and their +abstracting mortals. They are termed "the good people;" and when an eddy +of wind raises loose dust and sand, the vulgar believe that it announces +a Fairy procession, and bid God speed their journey. + +The Scottish Fairies, in like manner, sometimes reside in subterranean +abodes, in the vicinity of human habitations or, according to the +popular phrase, under the "door-stane," or threshold; in which +situation, they sometimes establish an intercourse with men, by +borrowing and lending, and other kindly offices. In this capacity they +are termed "the good neighbours,"[A] from supplying privately the wants +of their friends, and assisting them in all their transactions, while +their favours are concealed. Of this the traditionary story of Sir +Godfrey Macculloch forms a curious example. + +[Footnote A: Perhaps this epithet is only one example, among many, of +the extreme civility which the vulgar in Scotland use towards spirits of +a, dubious, or even a determinedly mischievous, nature. The archfiend +himself is often distinguished by the softened title of the "good-man." +This epithet, so applied, must sound strange to a southern ear; but, as +the phrase bears various interpretations, according to the places where +it is used, so, in the Scottish dialect, the _good-man of such a place_ +signifies the tenant, or life-renter, in opposition to the laird, or +proprietor. Hence, the devil is termed the good-man, or tenant, of the +infernal regions. In the book of the Universal Kirk, 13th May, 1594, +mention is made of "the horrible superstitioune usit in Garioch, and +dyvers parts of the countrie, in not labouring a parcel of ground +dedicated to the devil, under the title of the _Guid-man's Croft_." Lord +Hailes conjectured this to have been the _tenenos_ adjoining to some +ancient Pagan temple. The unavowed, but obvious, purpose of this +practice, was to avert the destructive rage of Satan from the +neighbouring possessions. It required various fulminations of the +General Assembly of the Kirk to abolish a practice bordering so nearly +upon the doctrine of the Magi.] + +As this Gallovidian gentleman was taking the air on horseback, near his +own house, he was suddenly accosted by a little old man, arrayed in +green, and mounted upon a white palfrey. After mutual salutation, the +old man gave Sir Godfrey to understand, that he resided under his +habitation, and that he had great reason to complain of the direction of +a drain, or common sewer, which emptied itself directly into his chamber +of dais, [A] Sir Godfrey Macculloch was a good deal startled at this +extraordinary complaint; but, guessing the nature of the being he had +to deal with, he assured the old man, with great courtesy, that the +direction of the drain should be altered; and caused it be done +accordingly. Many years afterwards, Sir Godfrey had the misfortune to +kill, in a fray, a gentleman of the neighbourhood. He was apprehended, +tried, and condemned.[B] The scaffold, upon which his head was to be +struck off, was erected on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh; but hardly had +he reached the fatal spot, when the old man, upon his white palfrey, +pressed through the crowd, with the rapidity of lightning. Sir Godfrey, +at his command, sprung on behind him; the "good neighbour" spurred his +horse down the steep bank, and neither he nor the criminal were ever +again seen. + +[Footnote A: The best chamber was thus currently denominated in +Scotland, from the French _dais_, signifying that part of the ancient +halls which was elevated above the rest, and covered with a canopy. +The turf-seats, which occupy the sunny side of a cottage wall, is also +termed the _dais_.] + +[Footnote B: In this particular, tradition coincides with the real fact; +the trial took place in 1697.] + +The most formidable attribute of the elves, was their practice of +carrying away, and exchanging, children; and that of stealing human +souls from their bodies. "A persuasion prevails among the ignorant," +says the author of a MS. history of Moray, "that, in a consumptive +disease, the Fairies steal away the soul, and put the soul of a Fairy in +the room of it." This belief prevails chiefly along the eastern coast of +Scotland, where a practice, apparently of druidical origin, is used to +avert the danger. In the increase of the March moon, withies of oak and +ivy are cut, and twisted into wreaths or circles, which they preserve +till next March. After that period, when persons are consumptive, or +children hectic, they cause them to pass thrice through these circles. +In other cases the cure was more rough, and at least as dangerous as the +disease, as will appear from the following extract: + +"There is one thing remarkable in this parish of Suddie (in +Inverness-shire), which I think proper to mention. There is a small hill +N.W. from the church, commonly called Therdy Hill, or Hill of Therdie, +as some term it; on the top of which there is a well, which I had the +curiosity to view, because of the several reports concerning it. When +children happen to be sick, and languish long in their malady, so that +they almost turned skeletons, the common people imagine they are taken +away (at least the substance) by spirits, called Fairies, and the shadow +left with them; so, at a particular season in summer, they leave them +all night themselves, watching at a distance, near this well, and this +they imagine will either _end or mend them_; they say many more do +recover than do not. Yea, an honest tenant who lives hard by it, and +whom I had the curiosity to discourse about it, told me it has recovered +some, who were about eight or nine years of age, and to his certain +knowledge they bring adult persons to it; for, as he was passing one +dark night, he heard groanings, and coming to the well, he found a man, +who had been long sick, wrapped in a plaid, so that he could scarcely +move, a stake being fixed in the earth, with a rope, or tedder, that was +about the plaid; he had no sooner enquired what he was, but he conjured +him to loose him, and out of sympathy he was pleased to slacken that, +wherein he was, as I may so speak, swaddled; but, if I right remember, +he signified, he did not recover."--_Account of the Parish of Suddie,_ +apud _Macfarlane's MSS._ + +According to the earlier doctrine, concerning the original corruption of +human nature, the power of daemons over infants had been long reckoned +considerable, in the period intervening between birth and baptism. +During this period, therefore, children were believed to be particularly +liable to abstraction by the Fairies, and mothers chiefly dreaded the +substitution of changelings in the place of their own offspring. Various +monstrous charms existed in Scotland, for procuring the restoration of a +child, which had been thus stolen; but the most efficacious of them was +supposed to be, the roasting of the suppositious child upon the live +embers, when it was believed it would vanish, and the true child appear +in the place, whence it had been originally abstracted.[A] + +[Footnote A: Less perilous recipes were sometimes used. The editor is +possessed of a small relique, termed by tradition a toad-stone, the +influence of which was supposed to preserve pregnant women from the +power of daemons, and other dangers incidental to their situation. It +has been carefully preserved for several generations, was often pledged +for considerable sums of money, and uniformly redeemed, from a belief in +its efficacy.] + +The most minute and authenticated account of an exchanged child is to be +found in Waldron's _Isle of Man_, a book from which I have derived much +legendary information. "I was prevailed upon myself," says that author, +"to go and see a child, who, they told me, was one of these changelings, +and, indeed, must own, was not a little surprised, as well as shocked, +at the sight. Nothing under heaven could have a more beautiful face; +but, though between five and six years old, and seemingly healthy, he +was so far from being able to walk or stand, that he could not so much +as move any one joint; his limbs were vastly long for his age, but +smaller than any infant's of six months; his complexion was perfectly +delicate, and he had the finest hair in the world. He never spoke nor +cried, ate scarce any thing, and was very seldom seen to smile; but if +any one called him a _fairy-elf_, he would frown, and fix his eyes so +earnestly on those who said it, as if he would look them through. His +mother, or at least his supposed mother, being very poor, frequently +went out a chareing, and left him a whole day together. The neighbours, +out of curiosity, have often looked in at the window, to see how he +behaved while alone; which, whenever they did, they were sure to find +him laughing, and in the utmost delight. This made them judge that he +was not without company, more pleasing to him than any mortals could be; +and what made this conjecture seem the more reasonable, was, that if he +were left ever so dirty, the woman, at her return, saw him with a clean +face, and his hair combed with the utmost exactness and nicety." P. 128. + +Waldron gives another account of a poor woman, to whose offspring, it +would seem, the Fairies had taken a special fancy. A few nights after +she was delivered of her first child, the family were alarmed by a +dreadful cry of "Fire!" All flew to the door, while the mother lay +trembling in bed, unable to protect her infant, which was snatched from +the bed by an invisible hand. Fortunately the return of the gossips, +after the causeless alarm, disturbed the Fairies, who dropped the child, +which was found sprawling and shrieking upon the threshold. At the good +woman's second _accouchement_, a tumult was heard in the cow-house, +which drew thither the whole assistants. They returned, when they found +that all was quiet among the cattle, and lo! the second child had been +carried from the bed, and dropped in the middle of the lane. But, upon +the third occurrence of the same kind, the company were again decoyed +out of the sick woman's chamber by a false alarm, leaving only a nurse, +who was detained by the bonds of sleep. On this last occasion, the +mother plainly saw her child removed, though the means were invisible. +She screamed for assistance to the nurse; but the old lady had partaken +too deeply of the cordials which circulate on such joyful occasions, to +be easily awakened. In short, the child was this time fairly carried +off, and a withered, deformed creature, left in its stead, quite naked, +with the clothes of the abstracted infant, rolled in a bundle, by its +side. This creature lived nine years, ate nothing but a few herbs, +and neither spoke, stood, walked nor performed any other functions +of mortality; resembling, in all respects, the changeling already +mentioned.--WALDRON'S _Works, ibid._ + +But the power of the Fairies was not confined to unchristened children +alone; it was supposed frequently to extend to full grown persons, +especially such as, in an unlucky hour, were devoted to the devil by the +execration of parents, and of masters;[A] or those who were found asleep +under a rock, or on a green hill, belonging to the Fairies, after +sun-set; or, finally, to those who unwarily joined their orgies. A +tradition existed, during the seventeenth century, concerning an +ancestor of the noble family of Duffus, who, "walking abroad in the +fields, near to his own house, was suddenly carried away, and found the +next day at Paris, in the French king's cellar, with a silver cup in his +hand. Being brought into the king's presence, and questioned by him who +he was, and how he came thither, he told his name, his country, and the +place of his residence; and that, on such a day of the month, which +proved to be the day immediately preceding, being in the fields, he +heard the noise of a whirlwind, and of voices, crying, _'Horse and +Hattock!'_ (this is the word which the Fairies are said to use when they +remove from any place), whereupon he cried, _'Horse and Hattock'_ also, +and was immediately caught up, and transported through the air, by the +Fairies, to that place, where, after he had drunk heartily, he fell +asleep, and, before he woke, the rest of the company were gone, and had +left him in the posture wherein he was found. It is said the king gave +him the cup, which was found in his hand, and dismissed him." The +narrator affirms, "that the cup was still preserved, and known by the +name of the _Fairy cup_." He adds, that Mr Steward, tutor to the then +Lord Duffus, had informed him, "that, when a boy, at the school of +Forres, he, and his school-fellows, were upon a time whipping their tops +in the church-yard, before the door of the church, when, though the day +was calm, they heard a noise of a wind, and at some distance saw +the small dust begin to rise and turn round, which motion continued +advancing till it came to the place where they were, whereupon they +began to bless themselves; but one of their number being, it seems, a +little more bold and confident than his companions, said, _'Horse and +Hattock, with my top,'_ and immediately they all saw the top lifted up +from the ground, but could not see which way it was carried, by reason +of a cloud of dust which was raised at the same time. They sought for +the top all about the place where it was taken up, but in vain; and +it was found afterwards in the church-yard, on the other side of the +church."--This puerile legend is contained in a letter from a learned +gentleman in Scotland, to Mr Aubrey, dated 15th March, 1695, published +in AUBREY'S _Miscellanies,_ p. 158. + +[Footnote A: This idea is not peculiar to the Gothic tribes, but extends +to those of Sclavic origin. Tooke (_History of Russia,_ Vol. I. p. +100) relates, that the Russian peasants believe the nocturnal daemon, +_Kikimora_, to have been a child, whom the devil stole out of the womb +of its mother, because she had cursed it. They also assert, that if +an execration against a child be spoken in an evil hour, the child is +carried off by the devil. The beings, so stolen, are neither fiends nor +men; they are invisible, and afraid of the cross and holy water; but, on +the other hand, in their nature and dispositions they resemble mankind, +whom they love, and rarely injure.] + +Notwithstanding the special example of Lord Duffus, and of the top, it +is the common opinion, that persons, falling under the power of the +Fairies, were only allowed to revisit the haunts of men, after +seven years had expired. At the end of seven years more, they again +disappeared, after which they were seldom seen among mortals. The +accounts they gave of their situation, differ in some particulars. +Sometimes they were represented as leading a life of constant +restlessness, and wandering by moon-light. According to others, they +inhabited a pleasant region, where, however, their situation was +rendered horrible, by the sacrifice of one or more individuals to the +devil, every seventh year. This circumstance is mentioned in Alison +Pearson's indictment, and in the _Tale of the Young Tamlane,_ where +it is termed, "the paying the kane to hell," or, according to some +recitations, "the teind," or tenth. This is the popular reason assigned +for the desire of the Fairies to abstract young children, as substitutes +for themselves in this dreadful tribute. Concerning the mode of winning, +or recovering, persons abstracted by the Fairies, tradition differs; but +the popular opinion, contrary to what may be inferred from the following +tale, supposes, that the recovery must be effected within a year and a +day, to be held legal in the Fairy court. This feat, which was reckoned +an enterprize of equal difficulty and danger, could only be accomplished +on Hallowe'en, at the great annual procession of the Fairy court.[A] +Of this procession the following description is found in Montgomery's +_Flyting against Polwart,_ apud _Watson's Collection of Scots Poems,_ +1709, Part III. p. 12. + + In the hinder end of harvest, on All-hallowe'en, + When our _good neighbours_ dois ride, if I read right. + Some buckled on a bunewand, and some on a been, + Ay trottand in tronps from the twilight; + Some saidled a she-ape, all grathed into green, + Some hobland on a hemp-stalk, hovand to the hight; + The king of Pharie and his court, with the Elf queen, + With many elfish incubus was ridand that night. + There an elf on an ape, an unsel begat. + Into a pot by Pomathorne; + That bratchart in a busse was born; + They fand a monster on the morn, + War faced nor a cat. + +[Footnote A: See the inimitable poem of Hallowe'en:-- + + "Upon that night, when Fairies light + On Cassilis Downan dance; + Or o'er the leas, in splendid blaze, + On stately coursers prance," &c. _Burns._] + +The catastrophe of _Tamlane_ terminated more successfully than that of +other attempts, which tradition still records. The wife of a farmer in +Lothian had been carried off by the Fairies, and, during the year of +probation, repeatedly appeared on Sunday, in the midst of her children, +combing their hair. On one of these occasions she was accosted by +her husband; when she related to him the unfortunate event which had +separated them, instructed him by what means he might win her, and +exhorted him to exert all his courage, since her temporal and eternal +happiness depended on the success of his attempt. The farmer, who +ardently loved his wife, set out on Hallow-e'en and, in the midst of a +plot of furze, waited impatiently for the procession of the Fairies. At +the ringing of the Fairy bridles, and the wild unearthly sound which +accompanied the cavalcade, his heart failed him, and he suffered the +ghostly train to pass by without interruption. When the last had rode +past, the whole troop vanished, with loud shouts of laughter and +exultation; among which he plainly discovered the voice of his wife, +lamenting that he had lost her for ever. + +A similar, but real incident, took place at the town of North Berwick, +within the memory of man. The wife of a man, above the lowest class of +society, being left alone in the house, a few days after delivery, was +attacked and carried off by one of those convulsion fits, incident to +her situation. Upon the return of the family, who had been engaged in +hay-making, or harvest, they found the corpse much disfigured. This +circumstance, the natural consequence of her disease, led some of the +spectators to think that she had been carried off by the Fairies, +and that the body before them was some elfin deception. The husband, +probably, paid little attention to this opinion at the time. The body +was interred, and, after a decent time had elapsed, finding his domestic +affairs absolutely required female superintendence, the widower paid +his addresses to a young woman in the neighbourhood. The recollection, +however, of his former wife, whom he had tenderly loved, haunted his +slumbers; and, one morning, he came to the clergyman of the parish in +the utmost dismay, declaring, that she had appeared to him the preceding +night, informed him that she was a captive in Fairy Land, and conjured +him to attempt her deliverance. She directed him to bring the minister, +and certain other persons, whom she named, to her grave at midnight. Her +body was then to be dug up, and certain prayers recited; after which the +corpse was to become animated, and fly from them. One of the assistants, +the swiftest runner in the parish, was to pursue the body; and, if he +was able to seize it, before it had thrice encircled the church, the +rest were to come to his assistance, and detain it, in spite of the +struggles it should use, and the various shapes into which it might be +transformed. The redemption of the abstracted person was then to become +complete. The minister, a sensible man, argued with his parishioner upon +the indecency and absurdity of what was proposed, and dismissed him. +Next Sunday, the banns being for the first time proclaimed betwixt the +widower and his new bride, his former wife, very naturally, took the +opportunity of the following night to make him another visit, yet more +terrific than the former. She upbraided him with his incredulity, his +fickleness, and his want of affection; and, to convince him that her +appearance was no aerial illusion, she gave suck, in his presence, to +her youngest child. The man, under the greatest horror of mind, had +again recourse to the pastor; and his ghostly counsellor fell upon +an admirable expedient to console him. This was nothing less than +dispensing with the further solemnity of banns, and marrying him, +without an hour's delay, to the young woman to whom he was affianced; +after which no spectre again disturbed his repose. + + * * * * * + +Having concluded these general observations upon the Fairy superstition, +which, although minute, may not, I hope, be deemed altogether +uninteresting, I proceed to the more particular illustrations, relating +to the _Tale of the Young Tamlane._ + +The following ballad, still popular in Ettrick Forest, where the scene +is laid, is certainly of much greater antiquity than its phraseology, +gradually modernized as transmitted by tradition, would seem to denote. +The _Tale of the Young Tamlane_ is mentioned in the _Complaynt of +Scotland;_ and the air, to which it was chaunted, seems to have been +accommodated to a particular dance; for the dance of _Thorn of +Lynn_, another variation of _Thomalin_, likewise occurs in the same +performance. Like every popular subject, it seems to have been +frequently parodied; and a burlesque ballad, beginning + + "Tom o' the Linn was a Scotsman born," + +is still well known. + +In a medley, contained in a curious and ancient MS. cantus, _penes_ J.G. +Dalyell, Esq., there is an allusion to our ballad:-- + + "Sing young Thomlin, be merry, be merry, and twice so merry." + +In _Scottish Songs_, 1774, a part of the original tale was published, +under the title of _Kerton Ha';_ a corruption of Carterhaugh; and, +in the same collection, there is a fragment, containing two or three +additional verses, beginning, + + "I'll wager, I'll wager, I'll wager with you," &c. + +In Johnson's _Musical Museum_, a more complete copy occurs, under the +title of _Thom Linn_, which, with some alterations was reprinted in the +_Tales of Wonder_. + +The present edition is the most perfect which has yet appeared; being +prepared from a collation of the printed copies, with a very accurate +one in Glenriddell's MSS., and with several recitals from tradition. +Some verses are omitted in this edition, being ascertained to belong to +a separate ballad, which will be found in a subsequent part of the work. +In one recital only, the well known fragment of the _Wee, wee Man_, +was introduced, in the same measure with the rest of the poem. It was +retained in the first edition, but is now omitted; as the editor has +been favoured, by the learned Mr Ritson, with a copy of the original +poem, of which it is a detached fragment. The editor has been enabled to +add several verses of beauty and interest to this edition of _Tamlane_, +in consequence of a copy, obtained from a gentleman residing near +Langholm, which is said to be very ancient, though the diction is +somewhat of a modern cast. The manners of the Fairies are detailed at +considerable length, and in poetry of no common merit. + +Carterhaugh is a plain, at the conflux of the Ettrick and Yarrow, in +Selkirkshire, about a mile above Selkirk, and two miles below Newark +Castle; a romantic ruin, which overhangs the Yarrow, and which is said +to have been the habitation of our heroine's father, though others place +his residence in the tower of Oakwood. The peasants point out, upon the +plain, those electrical rings, which vulgar credulity supposes to be +traces of the Fairy revels. Here, they say, were placed the stands of +milk, and of water, in which _Tamlane_ was dipped, in order to effect +the disenchantment; and upon these spots, according to their mode of +expressing themselves, the grass will never grow. Miles Cross (perhaps a +corruption of Mary's Cross), where fair Janet waited the arrival of the +Fairy train, is said to have stood near the duke of Buccleuch's seat of +Bowhill, about half a mile from Carterhaugh. In no part of Scotland, +indeed, has the belief in Fairies maintained its ground with more +pertinacity than in Selkirkshire. The most sceptical among the lower +ranks only venture to assert, that their appearances, and mischievous +exploits, have ceased, or at least become infrequent, since the light of +the Gospel was diffused in its purity. One of their frolics is said to +have happened late in the last century. The victim of elfin sport was a +poor man, who, being employed in pulling heather upon Peatlaw, a hill +not far from Carterhaugh, had tired of his labour, and laid him down +to sleep upon a Fairy ring.--When he awakened, he was amazed to find +himself in the midst of a populous city, to which, as well as to the +means of his transportation, he was an utter stranger. His coat was left +upon the Peatlaw; and his bonnet, which had fallen off in the course of +his aerial journey, was afterwards found hanging upon the steeple of +the church of Lanark. The distress of the poor man was, in some degree, +relieved, by meeting a carrier, whom he had formerly known, and who +conducted him back to Selkirk, by a slower conveyance than had whirled +him to Glasgow.--That he had been carried off by the Fairies, was +implicitly believed by all, who did not reflect, that a man may have +private reasons for leaving his own country, and for disguising his +having intentionally done so. + + + +THE YOUNG TAMLANE + + + O I forbid ye, maidens a', + That wear gowd on your hair, + To come or gae by Carterhaugh; + For young Tamlane is there. + + There's nane, that gaes by Carterhaugh, + But maun leave him a wad; + Either goud rings or green mantles, + Or else their maidenheid. + + Now, gowd rings ye may buy, maidens, + Green mantles ye may spin; + But, gin ye lose your maidenheid, + Ye'll ne'er get that agen. + + But up then spak her, fair Janet, + The fairest o' a' her kin; + "I'll cum and gang to Carterhaugh, + "And ask nae leave o' him." + + Janet has kilted her green kirtle,[A] + A little abune her knee; + And she has braided her yellow hair, + A little abune her bree. + + And when she cam to Carterhaugh, + She gaed beside the well; + And there she fand his steed standing, + But away was himsell. + + She hadna pu'd a red red rose, + A rose but barely three; + Till up and starts a wee wee man, + At Lady Janet's knee. + + Says--"Why pu' ye the rose, Janet? + "What gars ye break the tree? + "Or why come ye to Carterhaugh, + "Withoutten leave o' me?" + + Says--"Carterhaugh it is mine ain; + "My daddie gave it me; + "I'll come and gang to Carterhaugh, + "And ask nae leave o' thee." + + He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand, + Amang the leaves sae green; + And what they did I cannot tell-- + The green leaves were between. + + He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand, + Amang the roses red; + And what they did I cannot say-- + She ne'er returned a maid. + + When she cam to her father's ha', + She looked pale and wan; + They thought she'd dried some sair sickness, + Or been wi' some leman. + + She didna comb her yellow hair, + Nor make meikle o' her heid; + And ilka thing, that lady took, + Was like to be her deid. + + Its four and twenty ladies fair + Were playing at the ba'; + Janet, the wightest of them anes, + Was faintest o' them a'. + + Four and twenty ladies fair + Were playing at the chess; + And out there came the fair Janet, + As green as any grass. + + Out and spak an auld gray-headed knight, + Lay o'er the castle wa'-- + "And ever alas! for thee, Janet, + "But we'll be blamed a'!" + + "Now haud your tongue, ye auld gray knight! + "And an ill deid may ye die! + "Father my bairn on whom I will, + "I'll father nane on thee." + + Out then spak her father dear, + And he spak meik and mild-- + "And ever alas! my sweet Janet, + "I fear ye gae with child." + + "And, if I be with child, father, + "Mysell maun bear the blame; + "There's ne'er a knight about your ha' + "Shall hae the bairnie's name. + + "And if I be with child, father, + "'Twill prove a wondrous birth; + "For well I swear I'm not wi' bairn + "To any man on earth. + + "If my love were an earthly knight, + "As he's an elfin grey, + "I wadna gie my ain true love + "For nae lord that ye hae." + + She princked hersell and prinn'd hersell, + By the ae light of the moon, + And she's away to Carterhaugh, + To speak wi' young Tamlane. + + And when she cam to Carterhaugh, + She gaed beside the well; + And there she saw the steed standing, + But away was himsell. + + She hadna pu'd a double rose, + A rose but only twae, + When up and started young Tamlane, + Says--"Lady, thou pu's nae mae! + + "Why pu' ye the rose, Janet, + "Within this garden grene, + "And a' to kill the bonny babe, + "That we got us between?" + + "The truth ye'll tell to me, Tamlane; + "A word ye mauna lie; + "Gin ye're ye was in haly chapel, + "Or sained[B] in Christentie." + + "The truth I'll tell to thee, Janet, + "A word I winna lie; + "A knight me got, and a lady me bore, + "As well as they did thee. + + "Randolph, Earl Murray, was my sire, + "Dunbar, Earl March, is thine; + "We loved when we were children small, + "Which yet you well may mind. + + "When I was a boy just turned of nine, + "My uncle sent for me, + "To hunt, and hawk, and ride with him, + "And keep him cumpanie. + + "There came a wind out of the north, + "A sharp wind and a snell; + "And a dead sleep came over me, + "And frae my horse I fell. + + "The Queen of Fairies keppit me, + "In yon green hill to dwell; + "And I'm a Fairy, lyth and limb; + "Fair ladye, view me well. + + "But we, that live in Fairy-land, + "No sickness know, nor pain; + "I quit my body when I will, + "And take to it again. + + "I quit my body when I please, + "Or unto it repair; + "We can inhabit, at our ease, + "In either earth or air. + + "Our shapes and size we can convert, + "To either large or small; + "An old nut-shell's the same to us, + "As is the lofty hall. + + "We sleep in rose-buds, soft and sweet, + "We revel in the stream; + "We wanton lightly on the wind, + "Or glide on a sunbeam. + + "And all our wants are well supplied, + "From every rich man's store, + "Who thankless sins the gifts he gets, + "And vainly grasps for more. + + "Then would I never tire, Janet, + "In elfish land to dwell; + "But aye at every seven years, + "They pay the teind to hell; + "And I am sae fat, and fair of flesh, + "I fear 'twill be mysell. + + "This night is Hallowe'en, Janet, + "The morn is Hallowday; + + "And, gin ye dare your true love win, + "Ye hae na time to stay. + + "The night it is good Hallowe'en, + "When fairy folk will ride; + "And they, that wad their true love win, + "At Miles Cross they maun bide." + + "But how shall I thee ken, Tamlane? + "Or how shall I thee knaw, + "Amang so many unearthly knights, + "The like I never saw.?" + + "The first company, that passes by, + "Say na, and let them gae; + "The next company, that passes by, + "Say na, and do right sae; + "The third company, that passes by, + "Than I'll be ane o' thae. + + "First let pass the black, Janet, + "And syne let pass the brown; + "But grip ye to the milk-white steed, + "And pu' the rider down. + + "For I ride on the milk-white steed, + "And ay nearest the town; + "Because I was a christened knight, + "They gave me that renown. + + "My right hand will be gloved, Janet, + "My left hand will be bare; + "And these the tokens I gie thee, + "Nae doubt I will be there. + + "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, + "An adder and a snake; + "But had me fast, let me not pass, + "Gin ye wad be my maik. + + "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, + "An adder and an ask; + "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, + "A bale[C] that burns fast. + + "They'll turn me in your arms, Janet, + "A red-hot gad o' aim; + "But had me fast, let me not pass, + "For I'll do you no harm. + + "First, dip me in a stand o' milk, + "And then in a stand o' water; + "But had me fast, let me not pass-- + "I'll be your bairn's father. + + "And, next, they'll shape me in your arms, + "A toad, but and an eel; + "But had me fast, nor let me gang, + "As you do love me weel. + + "They'll shape me in your arms, Janet, + "A dove, but and a swan; + "And, last, they'll shape me in your arms, + "A mother-naked man: + "Cast your green mantle over me-- + "I'll be mysell again." + + Gloomy, gloomy, was the night, + And eiry[D] was the way, + As fair Janet, in her green mantle, + To Miles Cross she did gae. + + The heavens were black, the night was dark, + And dreary was the place; + + But Janet stood, with eager wish, + Her lover to embrace. + + Betwixt the hours of twelve and one, + A north wind tore the bent; + And straight she heard strange elritch sounds + Upon that wind which went. + + About the dead hour o' the night, + She heard the bridles ring; + And Janet was as glad o' that, + As any earthly thing! + + Their oaten pipes blew wondrous shrill, + The hemlock small blew clear; + And louder notes from hemlock large, + And bog-reed struck the ear; + But solemn sounds, or sober thoughts, + The Fairies cannot bear. + + They sing, inspired with love and joy, + Like sky-larks in the air; + Of solid sense, or thought that's grave, + You'll find no traces there. + + Fair Janet stood, with mind unmoved, + The dreary heath upon; + And louder, louder, wax'd the sound, + As they came riding on. + + Will o' Wisp before them went, + Sent forth a twinkling light; + And soon she saw the Fairy bands + All riding in her sight. + + And first gaed by the black black steed, + And then gaed by the brown; + But fast she gript the milk-white steed, + And pu'd the rider down. + + She pu'd him frae the milk-white steed, + And loot the bridle fa'; + And up there raise an erlish[E] cry-- + "He's won amang us a'!" + + They shaped him in fair Janet's arms, + An esk[F], but and an adder; + She held him fast in every shape-- + To be her bairn's father. + + They shaped him in her arms at last, + A mother-naked man; + She wrapt him in her green mantle, + And sae her true love wan. + + Up then spake the Queen o' Fairies, + Out o' a bush o' broom-- + "She that has borrowed young Tamlane, + Has gotten a stately groom." + + Up then spake the Queen of Fairies, + Out o' a bush of rye-- + "She's ta'en awa the bonniest knight + In a' my cumpanie. + + "But had I kenn'd, Tamlane," she says, + "A lady wad borrowed thee-- + "I wad ta'en out thy twa gray een, + "Put in twa een o' tree. + + "Had I but kenn'd, Tamlane," she says, + "Before ye came frae hame-- + "I wad tane out your heart o' flesh, + "Put in a heart o' stane. + + "Had I but had the wit yestreen, + "That I hae coft[G] the day-- + "I'd paid my kane seven times to hell, + "Ere you'd been won away!" + +[Footnote A: The ladies are always represented, in Dunbar's Poems, with +green mantles and yellow hair. _Maitland Poems,_ Vol. I. p. 45.] + +[Footnote B: _Sained_--Hallowed.] + +[Footnote C: _Bale_--A faggot.] + +[Footnote D: _Eiry_--Producing superstitious dread.] + +[Footnote E: _Erlish_--Elritch, ghastly.] + +[Footnote F: _Esk_--Newt.] + +[Footnote G: _Coft_--Bought.] + + + +NOTES ON THE YOUNG TAMLANE. + + + _Randolph, Earl Murray, was my sire, + Dunbar, Earl March, is thine,_ &c.--P. 185, v. 5. + +Both these mighty chiefs were connected with Ettrick Forest, and its +vicinity. Their memory, therefore, lived in the traditions of the +country. Randolph, earl of Murray, the renowned nephew of Robert Bruce, +had a castle at Ha' Guards, in Annandale, and another in Peebles-shire, +on the borders of the forest, the site of which is still called +Randall's Walls. Patrick of Dunbar, earl of March, is said by Henry the +Minstrel, to have retreated to Ettrick Forest, after being defeated by +Wallace. + + _And all our wants are well supplied, + From every rich man's store; + Who thankless sins the gifts he gets, &c._--P. 187. v. 3. + +To _sin our gifts, or mercies_, means, ungratefully to hold them in +slight esteem. The idea, that the possessions of the wicked are most +obnoxious to the depredations of evil spirits, may be illustrated by the +following tale of a _Buttery Spirit_, extracted from Thomas Heywood:-- + +An ancient and virtuous monk came to visit his nephew, an inn-keeper, +and, after other discourse, enquired into his circumstances. Mine host +confessed, that, although he practised all the unconscionable tricks of +his trade, he was still miserably poor. The monk shook his head, and +asked to see his buttery, or larder. As they looked into it, he rendered +visible to the astonished host an immense goblin, whose paunch, +and whole appearance, bespoke his being gorged with food, and who, +nevertheless, was gormandizing at the innkeeper's expence, emptying +whole shelves of food, and washing it down with entire hogsheads of +liquor. "To the depredation of this visitor will thy viands be exposed," +quoth the uncle, "until thou shalt abandon fraud, and false reckonings." +The monk returned in a year. The host having turned over a new leaf, and +given christian measure to his customers, was now a thriving man. When +they again inspected the larder, they saw the same spirit, but woefully +reduced in size, and in vain attempting to reach at the full plates and +bottles, which stood around him; starving, in short, like Tantalus, in +the midst of plenty. Honest Heywood sums up the tale thus: + + In this discourse, far be it we should mean + Spirits by meat are fatted made, or lean; + Yet certain 'tis, by God's permission, they + May, over goods extorted, bear like sway. + + * * * * * + + All such as study fraud, and practise evil, + Do only starve themselves to plumpe the devill. + _Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels,_ p. 577. + + + +ERLINTON. NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +This ballad is published from the collation of two copies, obtained from +recitation. It seems to be the rude original, or perhaps a corrupted +and imperfect copy, of _The Child of Elle_, a beautiful legendary tale, +published in the _Reliques of Ancient Poetry_. It is singular, that +this charming ballad should have been translated, or imitated, by the +celebrated Buerger, without acknowledgment of the English original. As +_The Child of Elle_ avowedly received corrections, we may ascribe its +greatest beauties to the poetical taste of the ingenious editor. They +are in the truest stile of Gothic embellishment. We may compare, for +example, the following beautiful verse, with the same idea in an old +romance: + + The baron stroked his dark-brown cheek, + And turned his face aside, + To wipe away the starting tear, + He proudly strove to hide! + _Child of Elle._ + +The heathen Soldan, or Amiral, when about to slay two lovers, relents in +a similar manner: + + Weeping, he turned his heued awai, + And his swerde hit fel to grounde. + _Florice and Blauncheflour._ + + + +ERLINTON. + + + Erlinton had a fair daughter, + I wat he weird her in a great sin,[A] + For he has built a bigly bower, + An' a' to put that lady in. + + An' he has warn'd her sisters six, + An' sae has he her brethren se'en, + Outher to watch her a' the night, + Or else to seek her morn an' e'en. + + She hadna been i' that bigly bower, + Na not a night, but barely ane, + Till there was Willie, her ain true love, + Chapp'd at the door, cryin', "Peace within!" + + "O whae is this at my bower door, + "That chaps sae late, nor kens the gin?"[B] + "O it is Willie, your ain true love, + "I pray you rise an' let me in!" + + "But in my bower there is a wake, + "An' at the wake there is a wane;[C] + "But I'll come to the green-wood the morn, + "Whar blooms the brier by mornin' dawn." + + Then she's gane to her bed again, + Where she has layen till the cock crew thrice, + Then she said to her sisters a', + "Maidens, 'tis time for us to rise." + + She pat on her back a silken gown, + An' on her breast a siller pin, + An' she's tane a sister in ilka hand, + An' to the green-wood she is gane. + + She hadna walk'd in the green-wood, + Na not a mile but barely ane, + Till there was Willie, her ain true love, + Whae frae her sisters has her ta'en. + + He took her sisters by the hand, + He kiss'd them baith, an' sent them hame, + An' he's ta'en his true love him behind, + And through the green-wood they are gane. + + They hadna ridden in the bonnie green-wood, + Na not a mile but barely ane, + When there came fifteen o' the boldest knights. + That ever bare flesh, blood, or bane. + + The foremost was an aged knight, + He wore the grey hair on his chin, + Says, "Yield to me thy lady bright, + "An' thou shalt walk the woods within." + + "For me to yield my lady bright + "To such an aged knight as thee, + "People wad think I war gane mad, + "Or a' the courage flown frae me." + + But up then spake the second knight, + I wat he spake right boustouslie, + "Yield me thy life, or thy lady bright, + "Or here the tane of us shall die." + + "My lady is my warld's meed; + "My life I winna yield to nane; + "But if ye be men of your manhead, + "Ye'll only fight me ane by ane." + + He lighted aff his milk-white steed, + An' gae his lady him by the head, + Say'n, "See ye dinna change your cheer; + "Until ye see my body bleed." + + He set his back unto an aik, + He set his feet against a stane, + An' he has fought these fifteen men, + An' kill'd them a' but barely ane; + For he has left that aged knight, + An' a' to carry the tidings hame. + + When he gaed to his lady fair, + I wat he kiss'd her tenderlie; + "Thou art mine ain love, I have thee bought; + "Now we shall walk the green-wood free." + +[Footnote A: _Weird her in a great sin_--Placed her in danger of +committing a great sin.] + +[Footnote B: _Gin_--The slight or trick necessary to open the door, from +engine.] + +[Footnote C: _Wane_--A number of people.] + + + +THE TWA CORBIES. + + +This poem was communicated to me by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq. +jun. of Hoddom, as written down, from tradition, by a lady. It is a +singular circumstance, that it should coincide so very nearly with the +ancient dirge, called _The Three Ravens_, published by Mr Ritson, in his +_Ancient Songs;_ and that, at the same time, there should exist such a +difference, as to make the one appear rather a counterpart than copy of +the other. In order to enable the curious reader to contrast these two +singular poems, and to form a judgment which may be the original, I take +the liberty of copying the English ballad from Mr Ritson's Collection, +omitting only the burden and repetition of the first line. The learned +editor states it to be given _"From Ravencroft's Metismata. Musical +phansies, fitting the cittie and country, humours to 3, 4, and 5 +voyces,_ London, 1611, 4to. It will be obvious (continues Mr Ritson) +that this ballad is much older, not only than the date of the book, but +most of the other pieces contained in it." The music is given with the +words, and is adapted to four voices: + + There were three rauens sat on a tre, + They were as blacke as they might be: + + The one of them said to his mate, + "Where shall we our breakfast take?" + + "Downe in yonder greene field, + "There lies a knight slain under his shield; + + "His hounds they lie downe at his feete, + "So well they their master keepe; + + "His haukes they flie so eagerly, + "There's no fowle dare come him nie. + + "Down there comes a fallow doe, + "As great with yong as she might goe, + + "She lift up his bloudy hed, + "And kist his wounds that were so red. + + "She got him up upon her backe, + "And carried him to earthen lake. + + "She buried him before the prime, + "She was dead her selfe ere euen song time. + + "God send euery gentleman, + "Such haukes, such houndes, and such a leman. + _Ancient Songs,_ 1792, p. 155. + +I have seen a copy of this dirge much modernized. + + + +THE TWA CORBIES. + + + As I was walking all alane, + I heard twa corbies making a mane; + The tane unto the t'other say, + "Where sall we gang and dine to-day?" + + "In behint yon auld fail[A] dyke, + "I wot there lies a new slain knight; + "And nae body kens that he lies there, + "But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair. + + "His hound is to the hunting gane, + "His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, + "His lady's ta'en another mate, + "So we may mak our dinner sweet. + + "Ye'll sit on his white hause bane, + "And I'll pike out his bonny blue een: + "Wi' ae lock o' his gowden hair, + "We'll theek[B] our nest when it grows bare. + + "Mony a one for him makes mane, + "But nane sall ken whare he is gane: + "O'er his white banes, when they are bare, + "The wind sall blaw for evermair." + +[Footnote A: _Fail_--Turf.] + +[Footnote B: _Theek_--Thatch.] + + + +THE DOUGLAS TRAGEDY. + + +The ballad of _The Douglas Tragedy_ is one of the few, to which popular +tradition has ascribed complete locality. The farm of Blackhouse, in +Selkirkshire, is said to have been the scene of this melancholy +event. There are the remains of a very ancient tower, adjacent to +the farmhouse, in a wild and solitary glen, upon a torrent, named +Douglas-burn, which joins the Yarrow, after passing a craggy rock, +called the Douglas-craig. This wild scene, now a part of the Traquair +estate, formed one of the most ancient possessions of the renowned +family of Douglas; for Sir John Douglas, eldest son of William, +the first Lord Douglas, is said to have sat, as baronial lord of +Douglas-burn, during his father's lifetime, in a parliament of Malcolm +Canmore, held at Forfar.--GODSCROFT, Vol. I. p. 20. The tower appears to +have been square, with a circular turret at one angle, for carrying up +the staircase, and for flanking the entrance. It is said to have derived +its name of Blackhouse from the complexion of the lords of Douglas, +whose swarthy hue was a family attribute. But, when the high mountains, +by which it is inclosed, were covered with heather, which was the case +till of late years, Blackhouse must have also merited its appellation +from the appearance of the scenery. + +From this ancient tower Lady Margaret is said to have been carried by +her lover. Seven large stones, erected upon the neighbouring heights of +Blackhouse, are shown, as marking the spot where the seven brethren were +slain; and the Douglas-burn is averred to have been the stream, at which +the lovers stopped to drink: so minute is tradition in ascertaining the +scene of a tragical tale, which, considering the rude state of former +times, had probably foundation in some real event. + +Many copies of this ballad are current among the vulgar, but chiefly in +a state of great corruption; especially such as have been committed to +the press in the shape of penny pamphlets. One of these is now before +me, which, among many others, has the ridiculous error of "_blue gilded_ +horn," for "_bugelet_ horn." The copy, principally used in this edition +of the ballad, was supplied by Mr Sharpe. The three last verses are +given from the printed copy, and from tradition. The hackneyed verse, of +the rose and the briar springing from the grave of the lovers, is common +to most tragic ballads; but it is introduced into this with singular +propriety, as the chapel of St Mary, whose vestiges may be still traced +upon the lake, to which it has given name, is said to have been the +burial place of Lord William and Fair Margaret. The wrath of the Black +Douglas, which vented itself upon the brier, far surpasses the usual +stanza: + + At length came the clerk of the parish, + As you the truth shall hear, + And by mischance he cut them down, + Or else they had still been there. + + + +THE DOUGLAS TRAGEDY. + + + "Rise up, rise up, now, Lord Douglas," she says, + "And put on your armour so bright; + "Let it never be said, that a daughter of thine + "Was married to a lord under night. + + "Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons, + "And put on your armour so bright, + "And take better care of your youngest sister, + "For your eldest's awa the last night." + + He's mounted her on a milk-white steed, + And himself on a dapple grey, + With a bugelet horn hung down by his side, + And lightly they rode away. + + Lord William lookit o'er his left shoulder, + To see what he could see, + And there he spy'd her seven brethren bold + Come riding over the lee. + + "Light down, light down, Lady Marg'ret," he said, + "And hold my steed in your hand, + "Until that against your seven brethren bold, + "And your father, I mak a stand." + + She held his steed in her milk-white hand, + And never shed one tear, + Until that she saw her seven brethren fa', + And her father hard fighting, who lov'd her so dear. + + "O hold your hand, Lord William!" she said, + "For your strokes they are wond'rous sair; + "True lovers I can get many a ane, + "But a father I can never get mair." + + O she's ta'en out her handkerchief, + It was o' the holland sae fine, + And ay she dighted her father's bloody wounds, + That ware redder than the wine. + + "O chuse, O chuse, Lady Marg'ret," he said, + "O whether will ye gang or bide?" + "I'll gang, I'll gang, Lord William," she said, + "For ye have left me no other guide." + + He's lifted her on a milk-white steed, + And himself on a dapple grey, + With a bugelet horn hung down by his side, + And slowly they baith rade away. + + O they rade on, and on they rade, + And a' by the light of the moon, + Until they came to yon wan water, + And there they lighted down. + + They lighted down to tak a drink + Of the spring that ran sae clear; + And down the stream ran his gude heart's blood, + And sair she gan to fear. + + "Hold up, hold up, Lord William," she says, + "For I fear that you are slain!" + "'Tis naething but the shadow of my scarlet cloak; + "That shines in the water sae plain." + + O they rade on, and on they rade, + And a' by the light of the moon, + Until they cam' to his mother's ha' door, + And there they lighted down. + + "Get up, get up, lady mother," he says, + "Get up, and let me in!-- + "Get up, get up, lady mother," he says, + "For this night my fair lady I've win. + + "O mak my bed, lady mother," he says, + "O mak it braid and deep! + "And lay Lady Marg'ret close at my back, + "And the sounder I will sleep." + + Lord William was dead lang ere midnight, + Lady Marg'ret lang ere day-- + And all true lovers that go thegither, + May they have mair luck than they! + + Lord William was buried in St Marie's kirk, + Lady Margaret in Mary's quire; + Out o' the lady's grave grew a bonny red rose, + And out o' the knight's a brier. + + And they twa met, and they twa plat, + And fain they wad be near; + And a' the warld might ken right weel, + They were twa lovers dear. + + But bye and rade the Black Douglas, + And wow but he was rough! + For he pull'd up the bonny brier, + And flang'd in St Mary's loch. + + + +YOUNG BENJIE. NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +In this ballad the reader will find traces of a singular superstition, +not yet altogether discredited in the wilder parts of Scotland. The +lykewake, or watching a dead body, in itself a melancholy office, is +rendered, in the idea of the assistants, more dismally awful, by the +mysterious horrors of superstition. In the interval betwixt death and +interment, the disembodied spirit is supposed to hover around its mortal +habitation, and, if invoked by certain rites, retains the power of +communicating, through its organs, the cause of its dissolution. Such +enquiries, however are always dangerous, and never to be resorted to +unless the deceased is suspected to have suffered _foul play_, as it +is called. It is the more unsafe to tamper with this charm, in an +unauthorized manner; because the inhabitants of the infernal regions +are, at such periods, peculiarly active. One of the most potent +ceremonies in the charm, for causing the dead body to speak, is, setting +the door ajar, or half open. On this account, the peasants of Scotland +sedulously avoid leaving the door ajar, while a corpse lies in the +house. The door must either be left wide open, or quite shut; but the +first is always preferred, on account of the exercise of hospitality +usual on such occasions. The attendants must be likewise careful never +to leave the corpse for a moment alone, or, if it is left alone, to +avoid, with a degree of superstitious horror, the first sight of it. +The following story, which is frequently related by the peasants of +Scotland, will illustrate the imaginary danger of leaving the door ajar. +In former times, a man and his wife lived in a solitary cottage, on one +of the extensive border fells. One day, the husband died suddenly; and +his wife, who was equally afraid of staying alone by the corpse, or +leaving the dead body by itself, repeatedly went to the door, and +looked anxiously over the lonely moor, for the sight of some person +approaching. In her confusion and alarm, she accidentally left the door +ajar, when the corpse suddenly started up, and sat in the bed, frowning +and grinning at her frightfully. She sat alone, crying bitterly, unable +to avoid the fascination of the dead man's eye, and too much terrified +to break the sullen silence, till a catholic priest, passing over the +wild, entered the cottage. He first set the door quite open, then put +his little finger in his mouth, and said the paternoster backwards; when +the horrid look of the corpse relaxed, it fell back on the bed, and +behaved itself as a dead man ought to do. + +The ballad is given from tradition. + + + +YOUNG BENJIE. + + + Of a' the maids o' fair Scotland, + The fairest was Marjorie; + And young Benjie was her ae true love, + And a dear true love was he. + + And wow! but they were lovers dear, + And loved fu' constantlie; + But ay the mair when they fell out, + The sairer was their plea.[A] + + And they hae quarrelled on a day, + Till Marjorie's heart grew wae; + And she said she'd chuse another luve, + And let young Benjie gae. + + And he was stout,[B] and proud-hearted, + And thought o't bitterlie; + And he's ga'en by the wan moon-light, + To meet his Marjorie. + + "O open, open, my true love, + "O open, and let me in!" + "I dare na open, young Benjie, + "My three brothers are within." + + "Ye lied, ye lied, ye bonny burd, + "Sae loud's I hear ye lie; + "As I came by the Lowden banks, + "They bade gude e'en to me. + + "But fare ye weel, my ae fause love, + "That I hae loved sae lang! + "It sets[C] ye chuse another love, + "And let young Benjie gang." + + Then Marjorie turned her round about, + The tear blinding her ee,-- + "I darena, darena, let thee in, + "But I'll come down to thee." + + Then saft she smiled, and said to him, + "O what ill hae I done?" + He took her in his armis twa, + And threw her o'er the linn. + + The stream was strang, the maid was stout, + And laith laith to be dang,[D] + But, ere she wan the Lowden banks, + Her fair colour was wan. + + Then up bespak her eldest brother, + "O see na ye what I see?" + And out then spak her second brother, + "Its our sister Marjorie!" + + Out then spak her eldest brother, + "O how shall we her ken?" + And out then spak her youngest brother, + "There's a honey mark on her chin." + + Then they've ta'en up the comely corpse, + And laid it on the ground-- + "O wha has killed our ae sister, + "And how can he be found? + + "The night it is her low lykewake, + "The morn her burial day, + "And we maun watch at mirk midnight, + "And hear what she will say." + + Wi' doors ajar, and candle light, + And torches burning clear; + The streikit corpse, till still midnight, + They waked, but naething hear. + + About the middle o' the night. + The cocks began to craw; + And at the dead hour o' the night, + The corpse began to thraw. + + "O wha has done the wrang, sister, + "Or dared the deadly sin? + "Wha was sae stout, and feared nae dout, + "As thraw ye o'er the linn?" + + "Young Benjie was the first ae man + "I laid my love upon; + "He was sae stout and proud-hearted, + "He threw me o'er the linn." + + "Sall we young Benjie head, sister, + "Sall we young Benjie hang, + "Or sall we pike out his twa gray een, + "And punish him ere he gang?" + + "Ye mauna Benjie head, brothers, + "Ye mauna Benjie hang, + "But ye maun pike out his twa gray een, + "And punish him ere he gang. + + "Tie a green gravat round his neck, + "And lead him out and in, + "And the best ae servant about your house + "To wait young Benjie on. + + "And ay, at every seven year's end, + "Ye'll tak him to the linn; + "For that's the penance he maun drie, + "To scug[E] his deadly sin." + +[Footnote A: _Plea_--Used obliquely for _dispute_.] + +[Footnote B: _Stout_--Through this whole ballad, signifies _haughty_.] + +[Footnote C: _Sets ye_--Becomes you--ironical.] + +[Footnote D: _Dang_--defeated.] + +[Footnote E: _Scug_--shelter or expiate.] + + + +LADY ANNE. + + +This ballad was communicated to me by Mr Kirkpatrick Sharpe of Hoddom, +who mentions having copied it from an old magazine. Although it has +probably received some modern corrections, the general turn seems to +be ancient, and corresponds with that of a fragment, containing the +following verses, which I have often heard sung in my childhood:-- + + She set her back against a thorn, + And there she has her young son borne; + "O smile nae sae, my bonny babe! + "An ye smile sae sweet, ye'll smile me dead." + + * * * * * + + An' when that lady went to the church, + She spied a naked boy in the porch, + + "O bonnie boy, an' ye were mine, + "I'd clead ye in the silks sae fine." + "O mither dear, when I was thine, + "To me ye were na half sae kind." + + * * * * * + +Stories of this nature are very common in the annals of popular +superstition. It is, for example, currently believed in Ettrick Forest, +that a libertine, who had destroyed fifty-six inhabited houses, in order +to throw the possessions of the cottagers into his estate, and who added +to this injury, that of seducing their daughters, was wont to commit, to +a carrier in the neighbourhood, the care of his illegitimate children, +shortly after they were born. His emissary regularly carried them away, +but they were never again heard of. The unjust and cruel gains of the +profligate laird were dissipated by his extravagance, and the ruins of +his house seem to bear witness to the truth of the rhythmical prophecies +denounced against it, and still current among the peasantry. He himself +died an untimely death; but the agent of his amours and crimes survived +to extreme old age. When on his death-bed, he seemed much oppressed in +mind, and sent for a clergyman to speak peace to his departing spirit: +but, before the messenger returned, the man was in his last agony; +and the terrified assistants had fled from his cottage, unanimously +averring, that the wailing of murdered infants had ascended from behind +his couch, and mingled with the groans of the departing sinner. + + + +LADY ANNE + + + Fair lady Anne sate in her bower, + Down by the greenwood side, + And the flowers did spring, and the birds did sing, + 'Twas the pleasant May-day tide. + + But fair lady Anne on sir William call'd, + With the tear grit in her e'e, + "O though thou be fause, may heaven thee guard, + "In the wars ayont the sea!" + + Out of the wood came three bonnie boys, + Upon the simmer's morn, + And they did sing, and play at the ba', + As naked as they were born. + + "O seven lang year was I sit here, + "Amang the frost and snaw, + "A' to hae but ane o' these bonnie boys, + "A playing at the ba'." + + Then up and spake the eldest boy, + "Now listen, thou fair ladie! + "And ponder well the read that I tell, + "Then make ye a choice of the three. + + "'Tis I am Peter, and this is Paul, + "And that are, sae fair to see, + "But a twelve-month sinsyne to paradise came, + "To join with our companie." + + "O I will hae the snaw-white boy, + "The bonniest of the three." + "And if I were thine, and in thy propine,[A] + "O what wad ye do to me?" + + "'Tis I wad clead thee in silk and gowd, + "And nourice thee on my knee." + "O mither! mither! when I was thine, + "Sic kindness I could na see. + + "Before the turf, where I now stand, + "The fause nurse buried me; + "Thy cruel penknife sticks still in my heart, + "And I come not back to thee." + +[Footnote A: _Propine_--Usually gift, but here the power of giving or +bestowing.] + + * * * * * + + + +LORD WILLIAM + + +This ballad was communicated to me by Mr James Hogg; and, although it +bears a strong resemblance to that of _Earl Richard_, so strong, indeed, +as to warrant a supposition, that the one has been derived from the +other, yet its intrinsic merit seems to warrant its insertion. Mr Hogg +has added the following note, which, in the course of my enquiries, I +have found most fully corroborated. + +"I am fully convinced of the antiquity of this song; for, although much +of the language seems somewhat modernized, this must be attributed +to its currency, being much liked, and very much sung, in this +neighbourhood. I can trace it back several generations, but cannot +hear of its ever having been in print. I have never heard it with any +considerable variation, save that one reciter called the dwelling of the +feigned sweetheart, _Castleswa_." + + + +LORD WILLIAM + + + Lord William was the bravest knight + That dwait in fair Scotland, + And, though renowned in France and Spain, + Fell by a ladie's hand. + + As she was walking maid alone, + Down by yon shady wood. + She heard a smit[A] o' bridle reins, + She wish'd might be for good. + + "Come to my arms, my dear Willie, + "You're welcome hame to me; + "To best o' chear and charcoal red,[B] + "And candle burnin' free." + + "I winna light, I darena light, + "Nor come to your arms at a'; + "A fairer maid than ten o' you, + "I'll meet at Castle-law." + + "A fairer maid than me, Willie! + "A fairer maid than me! + "A fairer maid than ten o' me, + "Your eyes did never see." + + He louted owr his saddle lap, + To kiss her ere they part, + And wi' a little keen bodkin, + She pierced him to the heart. + + "Ride on, ride on, lord William, now, + "As fast as ye can dree! + "Your bonny lass at Castle-law + "Will weary you to see." + + Out up then spake a bonny bird, + Sat high upon a tree,-- + How could you kill that noble lord? + "He came to marry thee." + + "Come down, come down, my bonny bird, + "And eat bread aff my hand! + "Your cage shall be of wiry goud, + "Whar now its but the wand." + + "Keep ye your cage o' goud, lady, + "And I will keep my tree; + "As ye hae done to lord William., + "Sae wad ye do to me." + + She set her foot on her door step, + A bonny marble stane; + And carried him to her chamber, + O'er him to make her mane. + + And she has kept that good lord's corpse + Three quarters of a year, + Until that word began to spread, + Then she began to fear. + + Then she cried on her waiting maid, + Ay ready at her ca'; + "There is a knight unto my bower, + "'Tis time he were awa." + + The ane has ta'en him by the head, + The ither by the feet, + And thrown him in the wan water, + That ran baith wide and deep. + + "Look back, look back, now, lady fair, + "On him that lo'ed ye weel! + "A better man than that blue corpse + "Ne'er drew a sword of steel." + +[Footnote A: _Smit_--Clashing noise, from smite--hence also _(perhaps)_ +Smith and Smithy.] + +[Footnote B: _Charcoal red_--This circumstance marks the antiquity of +the poem. While wood was plenty in Scotland, charcoal was the usual fuel +in the chambers of the wealthy.] + + + +THE BROOMFIELD HILL. + + +The concluding verses of this ballad were inserted in the copy of +_Tamlane_, given to the public in the first edition of this work. They +are now restored to their proper place. Considering how very apt the +most accurate reciters are to patch up one ballad with verses from +another, the utmost caution cannot always avoid such errors. + +A more sanguine antiquary than the editor might perhaps endeavour to +identify this poem, which is of undoubted antiquity, with the _"Broom +Broom on Hill,"_ mentioned by Lane, in his _Progress of Queen Elizabeth +into Warwickshire_, as forming part of Captain's Cox's collection, +so much envied by the black-letter antiquaries of the present +day.--_Dugdale's Warwickshire,_ p. 166. The same ballad is quoted by one +of the personages, in a "very mery and pythie comedie," called _"The +longer thou livest, the more fool thou art."_ See Ritson's Dissertation, +prefixed to _Ancient Songs,_ p. lx. "Brume brume on hill," is also +mentioned in the _Complayat of Scotland_. See Leyden's edition, p. 100. + + + +THE BROOMFIELD HILL. + + There was a knight and a lady bright, + Had a true tryste at the broom; + The ane ga'ed early in the morning, + The other in the afternoon. + + And ay she sat in her mother's bower door, + And ay she made her mane, + "Oh whether should I gang to the Broomfield hill, + "Or should I stay at hame? + + "For if I gang to the Broomfield hill, + "My maidenhead is gone; + "And if I chance to stay at hame, + "My love will ca' me mansworn." + + Up then spake a witch woman, + Ay from the room aboon; + "O, ye may gang to the Broomfield hill, + "And yet come maiden hame. + + "For, when ye gang to the Broomfield hill, + "Ye'll find your love asleep, + "With a silver-belt about his head, + "And a broom-cow at his feet. + + "Take ye the blossom of the broom, + "The blossom it smells sweet, + "And strew it at your true love's head, + "And likewise at his feet. + + "Take ye the rings off your fingers, + "Put them on his right hand, + "To let him know, when he doth awake, + "His love was at his command." + + She pu'd the broom flower on Hive-hill, + And strew'd on's white hals bane, + And that was to be wittering true, + That maiden she had gane. + + "O where were ye, my milk-white steed, + "That I hae coft sae dear, + "That wadna watch and waken me, + "When there was maiden here?" + + "I stamped wi' my foot, master, + "And gar'd my bridle ring; + "But na kin' thing wald waken ye, + "Till she was past and gane." + + "And wae betide ye, my gay goss hawk, + "That I did love sae dear, + "That wadna watch and waken me, + "When there was maiden here." + + "I clapped wi' my wings, master, + "And aye my bells I rang, + "And aye cry'd, waken, waken, master, + "Before the ladye gang." + + "But haste and haste, my good white steed, + "To come the maiden till, + "Or a' the birds, of gude green wood, + "Of your flesh shall have their fill." + + "Ye need na burst your good white steed, + "Wi' racing o'er the howm; + "Nae bird flies faster through the wood, + "Than she fled through the broom." + + + +PROUD LADY MARGARET. + + +_This Ballad was communicated to the Editor by Mr_ HAMILTON, +_Music-seller, Edinburgh, with whose Mother it had been a, favourite. +Two verses and one line were wanting, which are here supplied from a +different Ballad, having a plot somewhat similar. These verses are the +6th and 9th._ + + + 'Twas on a night, an evening bright, + When the dew began to fa', + Lady Margaret was walking up and down, + Looking o'er her castle wa'. + + She looked east, and she looked west, + To see what she could spy, + When a gallant knight came in her sight, + And to the gate drew nigh. + + "You seem to be no gentleman, + "You wear your boots so wide; + "But you seem to be some cunning hunter, + "You wear the horn so syde."[A] + + "I am no cunning hunter," he said, + "Nor ne'er intend to be; + "But I am come to this castle + "To seek the love of thee; + "And if you do not grant me love, + "This night for thee I'll die." + + "If you should die for me, sir knight, + "There's few for you will mane, + "For mony a better has died for me, + "Whose graves are growing green. + + "But ye maun read my riddle," she said, + "And answer my questions three; + "And but ye read them right," she said, + "Gae stretch ye out and die.-- + + "Now, what is the flower, the ae first flower, + "Springs either on moor or dale? + "And what is the bird, the bonnie bonnie bird, + "Sings on the evening gale?" + + "The primrose is the ae first flower, + "Springs either on moor or dale; + "And the thistlecock is the bonniest bird; + "Sings on the evening gale." + + "But what's the little coin," she said, + "Wald buy my castle bound? + "And what's the little boat," she said, + "Can sail the world all round?" + + "O hey, how mony small pennies + "Make thrice three thousand pound? + "Or hey, how mony small fishes + "Swim a' the salt sea round." + + "I think you maun be my match," she said, + "My match, and something mair; + "You are the first e'er got the grant + Of love frae my father's heir. + + "My father was lord of nine castles, + "My mother lady of three; + "My father was lord of nine castles, + "And there's nane to heir but me. + + "And round about a' thae castles, + "You may baith plow and saw, + "And on the fifteenth day of May, + "The meadows they will maw." + + "O hald your tongue, lady Margaret," he said, + "For loud I hear you lie! + "Your father was lord of nine castles, + "Your mother was lady of three; + "Your father was lord of nine castles, + "But ye fa' heir to but three. + + "And round about a' thae castles, + "You may baith plow and saw, + "But on the fifteenth day of May + "The meadows will not maw. + + "I am your brother Willie," he said, + "I trow ye ken na me; + "I came to humble your haughty heart, + "Has gar'd sae mony die." + + "If ye be my brother Willie," she said, + "As I trow weel ye be, + "This night I'll neither eat nor drink, + "But gae alang wi' thee." + + "O hold your tongue, lady Margaret," he said. + "Again I hear you lie; + "For ye've unwashen hands, and ye've unwashen feet,[B] + "To gae to clay wi' me. + + "For the wee worms are my bedfellows, + "And cauld clay is my sheets; + "And when the stormy winds do blow, + "My body lies and sleeps." + +[Footnote A: _Syde_--Long or low.] + +[Footnote B: _Unwashen hands and unwashen feet_--Alluding to the custom +of washing and dressing dead bodies.] + + + +THE ORIGINAL BALLAD OF THE BROOM OF COWDENKNOWS. + + +_The beautiful air of Cowdenknows is well known and popular. In Ettrick +Forest the following words are uniformly adapted to the tune, and seem +to be the original ballad. An edition of this pastoral tale, differing +considerably from the present copy, was published by Mr_ HERD, _in 1772. +Cowdenknows is situated upon the river Leader, about four miles from +Melrose, and is now the property of Dr_ HUME. + + + O the broom, and the bonny bonny broom, + And the broom of the Cowdenknows! + And aye sae sweet as the lassie sang, + I' the bought, milking the ewes. + + The hills were high on ilka side, + An' the bought i' the lirk o' the hill, + And aye, as she sang, her voice it rang + Out o'er the head o' yon hill. + + There was a troop o' gentlemen + Came riding merrilie by, + And one of them has rode out o' the way, + To the bought to the bonny may. + + "Weel may ye save an' see, bonny lass, + "An' weel may ye save an' see." + "An' sae wi' you, ye weel-bred knight," + "And what's your will wi' me?" + + "The night is misty and mirk, fair may, + "And I have ridden astray, + "And will ye be so kind, fair may, + "As come out and point my way?" + + "Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider! + "Your steed's baith stout and strang; + "For out of the bought I dare na come, + "For fear 'at ye do me wrang." + + "O winna ye pity me, bonny lass, + "O winna ye pity me? + "An' winna ye pity my poor steed, + "Stands trembling at yon tree?" + + "I wadna pity your poor steed, + "Tho' it were tied to a thorn; + "For if ye wad gain my love the night, + "Ye wad slight me ere the morn. + + "For I ken you by your weel-busked hat, + "And your merrie twinkling e'e, + "That ye're the laird o' the Oakland hills, + "An' ye may weel seem for to be." + + "But I am not the laird o' the Oakland hills, + "Ye're far mista'en o' me; + "But I'm are o' the men about his house, + "An' right aft in his companie." + + He's ta'en her by the middle jimp, + And by the grass-green sleeve; + He's lifted her over the fauld dyke, + And speer'd at her sma' leave. + + O he's ta'en out a purse o' gowd, + And streek'd her yellow hair, + "Now, take ye that, my bonnie may, + "Of me till you hear mair." + + O he's leapt on his berry-brown steed, + An' soon he's o'erta'en his men; + And ane and a' cried out to him, + "O master, ye've tarry'd lang!" + + "O I hae been east, and I hae been west, + "An' I hae been far o'er the know, + "But the bonniest lass that ever I saw + "Is i'the bought milking the ewes." + + She set the cog[A] upon her head, + An' she's gane singing hame-- + "O where hae ye been, my ae daughter? + "Ye hae na been your lane." + + "O nae body was wi' me, father, + "O nae body has been wi' me; + "The night is misty and mirk, father, + "Ye may gang to the door and see. + + "But wae be to your ewe-herd, father, + "And an ill deed may he die; + "He bug the bought at the back o' the know, + "And a tod[B] has frighted me. + + "There came a tod to the bought-door, + "The like I never saw; + "And ere he had tane the lamb he did, + "I had lourd he had ta'en them a'." + + O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane, + Fifteen weeks and three. + That lassie began to look thin and pale, + An' to long for his merry twinkling e'e. + + It fell on a day, on a het simmer day, + She was ca'ing out her father's kye, + By came a troop o' gentlemen, + A' merrilie riding bye. + + "Weel may ye save an' see, bonny may, + "Weel may ye save and see! + "Weel I wat, ye be a very bonny may, + "But whae's aught that babe ye are wi'?" + + Never a word could that lassie say, + For never a ane could she blame, + An' never a word could the lassie say, + But "I have a good man at hame." + + "Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may, + "Sae loud as I hear you lie; + "For dinna ye mind that misty night + "I was i' the bought wi' thee? + + "I ken you by your middle sae jimp, + "An' your merry twinkling e'e, + "That ye're the bonny lass i'the Cowdenknow, + "An' ye may weel seem for to be." + + Than he's leap'd off his berry-brown steed, + An' he's set that fair may on-- + "Caw out your kye, gude father, yoursell, + "For she's never caw them out again. + + "I am the laird of the Oakland hills, + "I hae thirty plows and three; + "Ah' I hae gotten the bonniest lass + "That's in a' the south country. + +[Footnote A: _Cog_--Milking-pail.] + +[Footnote B: _Tod_--Fox.] + + + +LORD RANDAL. + + +There is a beautiful air to this old ballad. The hero is more generally +termed _Lord Ronald;_ but I willingly follow the authority of an Ettrick +Forest copy for calling him _Randal;_ because, though the circumstances +are so very different, I think it not impossible, that the ballad may +have originally regarded the death of Thomas Randolph, or Randal, earl +of Murray, nephew to Robert Bruce, and governor of Scotland. This great +warrior died at Musselburgh, 1332, at the moment when his services were +most necessary to his country, already threatened by an English army. +For this sole reason, perhaps, our historians obstinately impute his +death to poison. See _The Bruce_, book xx. Fordun repeats, and Boece +echoes, this story, both of whom charge the murder on Edward III. But it +is combated successfully by Lord Hailes, in his _Remarks on the History +of Scotland_. + +The substitution of some venomous reptile for food, or putting it into +liquor, was anciently supposed to be a common mode of administering +poison; as appears from the following curious account of the death of +King John, extracted from a MS. Chronicle of England, _penes_ John +Clerk, esq. advocate. "And, in the same tyme, the pope sente into +Englond a legate, that men cald Swals, and he was prest cardinal of +Rome, for to mayntene King Johnes cause agens the barons of Englond; but +the barons had so much pte (_poustie_, i.e. power) through Lewys, the +kinges sone of Fraunce, that King Johne wist not wher for to wend ne +gone: and so hitt fell, that he wold have gone to Suchold; and as he +went thedurward, he come by the abbey of Swinshed, and ther he abode II +dayes. And, as he sate at meat, he askyd a monke of the house, how moche +a lofe was worth, that was before hym sete at the table? and the monke +sayd that loffe was worthe bot ane halfpenny. 'O!' quod the kyng, 'this +is a grette cheppe of brede; now,' said the king, 'and yff I may, such a +loffe shalle be worth xxd. or half a yer be gone:' and when he said the +word, muche he thought, and ofte tymes sighed, and nome and ete of the +bred, and said, 'By Gode, the word that I have spokyn shall be sothe.' +The monke, that stode befor the kyng, was ful sory in his hert; and +thought rather he wold himself suffer peteous deth; and thought yff +he myght ordeyn therfore sum remedy. And anon the monke went unto his +abbott, and was schryvyd of him, and told the abbott all that the kyng +said, and prayed his abbott to assoyl him, for he wold gyffe the kyng +such a wassayle, that all Englond shuld be glad and joyful therof. Tho +went the monke into a gardene, and fond a tode therin; and toke her upp, +and put hyr in a cuppe, and filled it with good ale, and pryked hyr in +every place, in the cuppe, till the venome come out in every place; an +brought hitt befor the kyng, and knelyd, and said, 'Sir, wassayle; for +never in your lyfe drancke ye of such a cuppe,' 'Begyne, monke,' quod +the king; and the monke dranke a gret draute, and toke the kyng the +cuppe, and the kyng also drank a grett draute, and set downe the +cuppe.--The monke anon went to the Farmarye, and ther dyed anon, on +whose soule God have mercy, Amen. And v monkes syng for his soule +especially, and shall while the abbey stondith. The kyng was anon ful +evil at ese, and comaunded to remove the table, and askyd after the +monke; and men told him that he was ded, for his wombe was broke in +sondur. When the king herd this tidyng, he comaunded for to trusse; but +all hit was for nought, for his bely began to swelle for the drink that +he dranke, that he dyed within II dayes, the moro aftur Seynt Luke's +day." + +A different account of the poisoning of King John is given in a MS. +Chronicle of England, written in the minority of Edward III., and +contained in the Auchinleck MS. of Edinburgh. Though not exactly to our +present purpose, the passage is curious, and I shall quote it without +apology. The author has mentioned the interdict laid on John's kingdom +by the pope, and continues thus: + + He was ful wroth and grim, + For no prest wald sing for him + He made tho his parlement, + And swore his _croy de verament_, + That he shuld make such assaut, + To fede all Inglonde with a spand. + And eke with a white lof, + Therefore I hope[A] he was God-loth. + A monk it herd of Swines-heued, + And of this wordes he was adred, + He went hym to his fere, + And seyd to hem in this manner; + "The king has made a sori oth, + That he schal with a white lof + Fede al Inglonde, and with a spand, + Y wis it were a sori saut; + And better is that we die to, + Than al Inglond be so wo. + Ye schul for me belles ring, + And after wordes rede and sing; + So helpe you God, heven king, + Granteth me alle now mill asking, + And Ichim wil with puseoun slo, + Ne schal he never Inglond do wo." + + His brethren him graunt alle his bone. + He let him shrive swithe sone, + To make his soule fair and cleue, + To for our leuedi heven queen, + That sche schuld for him be, + To for her son in trinite. + + Dansimond zede and gadred frut, + For sothe were plommes white, + The steles[B] he puld out everichon, + Puisoun he dede therin anon, + And sett the steles al ogen, + That the gile schuld nought be sen. + He dede hem in a coupe of gold, + And went to the kinges bord; + On knes he him sett, + The king full fair he grett; + "Sir," he said, "by Seynt Austin, + This is front of our garden, + And gif that your wil be, + Assayet herof after me." + Dansimoud ete frut, on and on, + And al tho other ete King Jon; + The monke aros, and went his way, + God gif his soule wel gode day; + He gaf King Jon ther his puisoun, + Himself had that ilk doun, + He dede, it is nouther for mirthe ne ond, + Bot for to save al Iuglond. + + The King Jon sate at mete, + His wombe to wex grete; + He swore his oth, _per la croyde_, + His wombe wald brest a thre; + He wald have risen fram the bord, + Ac he spake never more word; + Thus ended his time, + Y wis he had an evel fine. + +[Footnote A: _Hope, for think._] + +[Footnote B: _Steles_--Stalks.] + +Shakespeare, from such old chronicles, has drawn his authority for the +last fine scene in _King John_. But he probably had it from Caxton, who +uses nearly the words of the prose chronicle. Hemingford tells the same +tale with the metrical historian. It is certain, that John increased the +flux, of which he died, by the intemperate use of peaches and of ale, +which may have given rise to the story of the poison.--See MATTHEW +PARIS. + +To return to the ballad: there is a very similar song, in which, +apparently to excite greater interest in the nursery, the handsome young +hunter is exchanged for a little child, poisoned by a false step-mother. + + + +LORD RANDAL. + + + "O where hae ye been, Lord Randal, my son? + "O where hae ye been, my handsome young man?" + "I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon, + "For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down." + + "Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son? + "Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?" + "I din'd wi' my true-love; mother, make my bed soon, + "For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down." + + "What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?. + "What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?" + "I gat eels boil'd in broo'; mother, make my bed soon, + "For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down." + + "What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son? + "What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?" + "O they swell'd and they died; mother, make my bed soon, + "For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down." + + "O I fear ye are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son! + "O I fear ye are poison'd, my handsome young man!" + "O yes! I am poison'd; mother, make my bed soon, + "For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down." + + + +SIR HUGH LE BLOND. + + +This ballad is a northern composition, and seems to have been the +original of the legend called _Sir Aldingar_, which is printed in the +_Reliques of Antient Poetry_. The incidents are nearly the same in both +ballads, excepting that, in _Aldingar_, an angel combats for the queen, +instead of a mortal champion. The names of _Aldingar_ and _Rodingham_ +approach near to each other in sound, though not in orthography, and the +one might, by reciters, be easily substituted for the other. + +The tradition, upon which the ballad is founded, is universally current +in the Mearns; and the editor is informed, that, till very lately, the +sword, with which Sir Hugh le Blond was believed to have defended +the life and honour of the queen, was carefully preserved by his +descendants, the viscounts of Arbuthnot. That Sir Hugh of Arbuthnot +lived in the thirteenth century, is proved by his having, in 1282, +bestowed the patronage of the church of Garvoch upon the monks of +Aberbrothwick, for the safety of his soul.--_Register of Aberbrothwick, +quoted by Crawford in Peerage._ But I find no instance in history, in +which the honour of a queen of Scotland was committed to the chance of +a duel. It is true, that Mary, wife of Alexander II., was, about 1242, +somewhat implicated in a dark story, concerning the murder of Patrick, +earl of Athole, burned in his lodging at Haddington, where he had gone +to attend a great tournament. The relations of the deceased baron +accused of the murder Sir William Bisat, a powerful nobleman, who +appears to have been in such high favour with the young queen, that +she offered her oath, as a compurgator, to prove his innocence. Bisat +himself stood upon his defence, and proffered the combat to his +accusers; but he was obliged to give way to the tide, and was banished +from Scotland. This affair interested all the northern barons; and it +is not impossible, that some share, taken in it by this Sir Hugh de +Arbuthnot, may have given a slight foundation for the tradition of the +country.--WINTON, B. vii. ch. 9. Or, if we suppose Sir Hugh le Blond +to be a predecessor of the Sir Hugh who flourished in the thirteenth +century, he may have been the victor in a duel, shortly noticed as +having occurred in 1154, when one Arthur, accused of treason, was +unsuccessful in his appeal to the judgment of God. _Arthurus regem +Malcolm proditurus duello periit._ Chron. Sanctae Crucis ap. Anglia +Sacra, Vol. I. p. 161. + +But, true or false, the incident, narrated in the ballad, is in the +genuine style of chivalry. Romances abound with similar instances, nor +are they wanting in real history. The most solemn part of a knight's +oath was to defend "all widows, orphelines, and maidens of gude +fame."[A]--LINDSAY'S _Heraldry, MS._ The love of arms was a real +passion of itself, which blazed yet more fiercely when united with the +enthusiastic admiration of the fair sex. The knight of Chaucer exclaims, +with chivalrous energy, + + To fight for a lady! a benedicite! + It were a lusty sight for to see. + +It was an argument, seriously urged by Sir John of Heinault, for making +war upon Edward II., in behalf of his banished wife, Isabella, that +knights were bound to aid, to their uttermost power, all distressed +damsels, living without council or comfort. + +[Footnote A: Such an oath is still taken by the Knights of the Bath; +but, I believe, few of that honourable brotherhood will now consider it +quite so obligatory as the conscientious Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who +gravely alleges it as a sufficient reason for having challenged divers +cavaliers, that they had either snatched from a lady her bouquet, or +ribband, or, by some discourtesy of similar importance, placed her, as +his lordship conceived, in the predicament of a distressed damozell.] + +An apt illustration of the ballad would have been the combat, undertaken +by three Spanish champions against three Moors of Granada, in defence of +the honour of the queen of Granada, wife to Mohammed Chiquito, the last +monarch of that kingdom. But I have not at hand _Las Guerras Civiles +de Granada_, in which that atchievement is recorded. Raymond Berenger, +count of Barcelona, is also said to have defended, in single combat, the +life and honour of the Empress Matilda, wife of the Emperor Henry V., +and mother to Henry II. of England.--See ANTONIO ULLOA, _del vero Honore +Militare_, Venice, 1569. + +A less apocryphal example is the duel, fought in 1387, betwixt Jaques le +Grys and John de Carogne, before the king of France. These warriors were +retainers of the earl of Alencon, and originally sworn brothers. John de +Carogne went over the sea, for the advancement of his fame, leaving in +his castle a beautiful wife, where she lived soberly and sagely. But +the devil entered into the heart of Jaques le Grys, and he rode, one +morning, from the earl's house to the castle of his friend, where he was +hospitably received by the unsuspicious lady. He requested her to +show him the donjon, or keep of the castle, and in that remote and +inaccessible tower forcibly violated her chastity. He then mounted his +horse, and returned to the earl of Alencon within so short a space, that +his absence had not been perceived. The lady abode within the donjon, +weeping bitterly, and exclaiming, "Ah Jaques! it was not well done thus +to shame me! but on you shall the shame rest, if God send my husband +safe home!" The lady kept secret this sorrowful deed until her husband's +return from his voyage. The day passed, and night came, and the knight +went to bed; but the lady would not; for ever she blessed herself, +and walked up and down the chamber, studying and musing, until her +attendants had retired; and then, throwing herself on her knees before +the knight, she shewed him all the adventure. Hardly would Carogne +believe the treachery of his companion; but, when convinced, he replied, +"Since it is so, lady, I pardon you; but the knight shall die for this +villainous deed." Accordingly, Jaques le Grys was accused of the crime, +in the court of the earl of Alencon. But, as he was greatly loved of +his lord, and as the evidence was very slender, the earl gave judgment +against the accusers. Hereupon John Carogne appealed to the parliament +of Paris; which court, after full consideration, appointed the case to +be tried by mortal combat betwixt the parties, John Carogne appearing as +the champion of his lady. If he failed in his combat, then was he to +be hanged, and his lady burned, as false and unjust calumniators. This +combat, under circumstances so very peculiar, attracted universal +attention; in so much, that the king of France and his peers, who were +then in Flanders, collecting troops for an invasion of England, returned +to Paris, that so notable a duel might be fought in the royal presence. +"Thus the kynge, and his uncles, and the constable, came to Parys. Then +the lystes were made in a place called Saynt Katheryne, behinde the +Temple. There was soo moche people, that it was mervayle to beholde; and +on the one side of the lystes there was made gret scaffoldes, that the +lordes might the better se the batayle of the ii champion; and so they +bothe came to the felde, armed at all peaces, and there eche of them was +set in theyr chayre; the erle of Saynt Poule gouverned John of Carongne, +and the erle of Alanson's company with Jacques le Grys; and when the +knyght entred in to the felde, he came to his wyfe, who was there +syttynge in a chayre, covered in blacke, and he sayd to her thus:--Dame, +by your enformacyon, and in your quarrell, I do put my lyfe in +adventure, as to fyght with Jacques le Grys; ye knowe, if the cause be +just and true.'--'Syr,' sayd the lady, 'it is as I have sayd; wherefore +ye maye fyght surely; the cause is good and true.' With those wordes, +the knyghte kissed the lady, and toke her by the hande, and then blessyd +hym, and soo entred into the felde. The lady sate styll in the blacke +chayre, in her prayers to God, and to the vyrgyne Mary, humbly prayenge +them, by theyr specyall grace, to send her husbande the victory, +accordynge to the ryght. She was in gret hevynes, for she was not sure +of her lyfe; for, if her husbande sholde have ben dyscomfyted, she was +judged, without remedy, to be brente, and her husbande hanged. I cannot +say whether she repented her or not, as the matter was so forwarde, that +both she and her husbande were in grete peryll: howbeit, fynally, she +must as then abyde the adventure. Then these two champyons were set +one agaynst another, and so mounted on theyr horses, and behauved them +nobly; for they knewe what perteyned to deades of armes. There were +many lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce, that were come thyder to se that +batayle. The two champyons justed at theyr fyrst metyng, but none of +them dyd hurte other; and, after the justes, they lyghted on foote to +periournie theyr batayle, and soo fought valyauntly.--And fyrst, John of +Carongne was hurt in the thyghe, whereby al his frendes were in grete +fere; but, after that, he fought so valyauntly, that he bette down his +adversary to the erthe, and threst his swerde in his body, and soo slewe +hyrn in the felde; and then he demaunded, if he had done his devoyse or +not? and they answered, that he had valyauntly atchieved his batayle. +Then Jacques le Grys was delyuered to the hangman of Parys, and he drewe +hym to the gybbet of Mountfawcon, and there hanged him up. Then John of +Carongne came before the kynge, and kneled downe, and the kynge made +him to stand up before hym; and, the same daye, the kynge caused to +be delyvred to him a thousande franks, and reteyned him to be of his +chambre, with a pencyon of ii hundred pounde by yere, durynge the terme +of his lyfe. Then he thanked the kynge and the lordes, and went to his +wyfe, and kissed her; and then they wente togyder to the chyrche of our +ladye, in Parys, and made theyr offerynge, and then retourned to their +lodgynges. Then this Sir John of Carongne taryed not longe in Fraunce, +but went, with Syr John Boucequant, Syr John of Bordes, and Syr Loys +Grat. All these went to se Lamorabaquyn,[A] of whome, in those dayes, +there was moche spekynge." + +[Footnote A: This odd name Froissart gives to the famous Mahomet, +emperor of Turkey, called the Great.] + +Such was the readiness, with which, in those times, heroes put their +lives in jeopardy, for honour and lady's sake. But I doubt whether the +fair dames of the present day will think, that the risk of being burned, +upon every suspicion of frailty, could be altogether compensated by the +probability, that a husband of good faith, like John de Carogne, or a +disinterested champion, like Hugh le Blond, would take up the gauntlet +in their behalf. I fear they will rather accord to the sentiment of the +hero of an old romance, who expostulates thus with a certain duke:-- + + Certes, sir duke, thou doest unright, + To make a roast of your daughter bright; + I wot you ben unkind. + _Amis and Amelion._ + +I was favoured with the following copy of _Sir Hugh le Blond_, by +K. Williamson Burnet, Esq. of Monboddo, who wrote it down from the +recitation of an old woman, long in the service of the Arbuthnot +family. Of course the diction is very much humbled, and it has, in +all probability, undergone many corruptions; but its antiquity is +indubitable, and the story, though indifferently told, is in itself +interesting. It is believed, that there have been many more verses. + + + +SIR HUGH LE BLOND. + + + The birds sang sweet as ony bell, + The world had not their make, + The queen she's gone to her chamber, + With Rodingham to talk. + + "I love you well, my queen, my dame, + "'Bove land and rents so clear + "And for the love of you, my queen, + "Would thole pain most severe." + + "If well you love me, Rodingham, + "I'm sure so do I thee: + "I love you well as any man, + "Save the king's fair bodye." + + "I love you well, my queen, my dame; + "'Tis truth that I do tell: + "And for to lye a night with you, + "The salt seas I would sail." + + "Away, away, O Rodingham! + "You are both stark and stoor; + "Would you defile the king's own bed, + "And make his queen a whore? + + "To-morrow you'd be taken sure, + "And like a traitor slain; + "And I'd be burned at a stake, + "Altho' I be the queen." + + He then stepp'd out at her room-door, + All in an angry mood; + Until he met a leper-man, + Just by the hard way-side. + + He intoxicate the leper-man + With liquors very sweet; + And gave him more and more to drink, + Until he fell asleep. + + He took him in his arms two, + And carried him along, + Till he came to the queen's own bed, + And there he laid him down. + + He then stepp'd out of the queen's bower, + As switt as any roe, + Till he came to the very place + Where the king himself did go. + + The king said unto Rodingham, + "What news have you to me?" + He said, "Your queen's a false woman, + "As I did plainly see." + + He hasten'd to the queen's chamber, + So costly and so fine, + Untill he came to the queen's own bed, + Where the leper-man was lain. + + He looked on the leper-man, + Who lay on his queen's bed; + He lifted up the snaw-white sheets, + And thus he to him said: + + "Plooky, plooky,[A] are your cheeks, + "And plooky is your chin, + "And plooky are your arms two + "My bonny queen's layne in. + + "Since she has lain into your arms, + "She shall not lye in mine; + "Since she has kiss'd your ugsome mouth, + "She never shall kiss mine." + + In anger he went to the queen, + Who fell upon her knee; + He said, "You false, unchaste woman, + "What's this you've done to me?" + + The queen then turn'd herself about, + The tear blinded her e'e-- + There's not a knight in all your court + "Dare give that name to me." + + He said, "'Tis true that I do say; + "For I a proof did make: + "You shall be taken from my bower, + "And burned at a stake. + + "Perhaps I'll take my word again, + "And may repent the same, + "If that you'll get a Christian man + "To fight that Rodingham." + + "Alas! alas!" then cried our queen, + "Alas, and woe to me! + "There's not a man in all Scotland + "Will fight with him for me." + + She breathed unto her messengers, + Sent them south, east, and west; + They could find none to fight with him, + Nor enter the contest. + + She breathed on her messengers, + She sent them to the north; + And there they found Sir Hugh le Blond, + To fight him he came forth. + + When unto him they did unfold + The circumstance all right, + He bade them go and tell the queen, + That for her he would fight. + + The day came on that was to do + That dreadful tragedy; + Sir Hugh le Blond was not come up + To fight for our lady. + + "Put on the fire," the monster said; + "It is twelve on the bell!" + "Tis scarcely ten, now," said the king; + "I heard the clock mysell." + + Before the hour the queen is brought, + The burning to proceed; + In a black velvet chair she's set, + A token for the dead. + + She saw the flames ascending high, + The tears blinded her e'e: + "Where is the worthy knight," she said, + "Who is to fight for me?" + + Then up and spake the king himsel, + "My dearest, have no doubt, + "For yonder comes the man himsel, + "As bold as ere set out." + + They then advanced to fight the duel + With swords of temper'd steel, + Till down the blood of Rodingham + Came running to his heel. + + Sir Hugh took out a lusty sword, + 'Twas of the metal clear; + And he has pierced Rodingham + Till's heart-blood did appear. + + "Confess your treachery, now," he said, + "This day before you die!" + "I do confess my treachery, + "I shall no longer lye: + + "I like to wicked Haman am, + "This day I shall be slain." + The queen was brought to her chamber + A good woman again. + + The queen then said unto the king, + "Arbattle's near the sea; + "Give it unto the northern knight, + "That this day fought for me." + + Then said the king, "Come here, sir knight, + "And drink a glass of wine; + "And, if Arbattle's not enough, + "To it we'll Fordoun join." + +[Footnote A: _Plooky_--Pimpled.] + + + +NOTES ON SIR HUGH LE BLOND. + + + _Until he met a leper-man. &c._--P. 268. v. 4. + +Filth, poorness of living, and the want of linen, made this horrible +disease formerly very common in Scotland. Robert Bruce died of the +leprosy; and, through all Scotland, there were hospitals erected for +the reception of lepers, to prevent their mingling with the rest of the +community. + + _"It is twelve on the bell!" + "Tis scarcely ten, now," said the king, &c._--P. 272. v. 2. + +In the romance of Doolin, called _La Fleur des Battailles_, a false +accuser discovers a similar impatience to hurry over the execution, +before the arrival of the lady's champion:--_"Ainsi comme Herchambaut +vouloit jetter la dame dedans le feu, Sanxes de Clervaut va a lui, si +lui dict; 'Sire Herchambaut, vous estes trop a blasmer; car vous ne +devez mener ceste chose que par droit ainsi qu'il est ordonne; je veux +accorder que ceste dame ait un vassal qui la diffendra contre vous et +Drouart, car elle n'a point de coulpe en ce que l'accusez; si la devez +retarder jusque a midy, pour scavoir si un bon chevalier l'a viendra +secourir centre vous et Drouart."_--Cap. 22. + + _"And, if Arbattle's not enough, + "To it we'll Fordoun join."_--P. 274. v. 1. + +Arbattle is the ancient name of the barony of Arbuthnot. Fordun has long +been the patrimony of the same family. + + + +GRAEME AND BEWICK. + + +The date of this ballad, and its subject, are uncertain. From internal +evidence, I am inclined to place it late in the sixteenth century. Of +the Graemes enough is elsewhere said. It is not impossible, that such +a clan, as they are described, may have retained the rude ignorance +of ancient border manners to a later period than their more inland +neighbours; and hence the taunt of old Bewick to Graeme. Bewick is an +ancient name in Cumberland and Northumberland. The ballad itself was +given, in the first edition, from the recitation of a gentleman, who +professed to have forgotten some verses. These have, in the present +edition, been partly restored, from a copy obtained by the recitation of +an ostler in Carlisle, which has also furnished some slight alterations. + +The ballad is remarkable, as containing, probably, the very latest +allusion to the institution of brotherhood in arms, which was held so +sacred in the days of chivalry, and whose origin may be traced up to the +Scythian ancestors of Odin. Many of the old romances turn entirely upon +the sanctity of the engagement, contracted by the _freres d'armes_. In +that of _Amis and Amelion_, the hero slays his two infant children, that +he may compound a potent salve with their blood, to cure the leprosy of +his brother in arms. The romance of _Gyron le Courtois_ has a similar +subject. I think the hero, like Graeme in the ballad, kills himself, out +of some high point of honour towards his friend. + +The quarrel of the two old chieftains, over their wine, is highly in +character. Two generations have not elapsed since the custom of drinking +deep, and taking deadly revenge for slight offences, produced very +tragical events on the border; to which the custom of going armed to +festive meetings contributed not a little. A minstrel, who flourished +about 1720, and is often talked of by the old people, happened to be +performing before one of these parties, when they betook themselves to +their swords. The cautious musician, accustomed to such scenes, dived +beneath the table. A moment after, a man's hand, struck off with a +back-sword, fell beside him. The minstrel secured it carefully in +his pocket, as he would have done any other loose moveable; sagely +observing, the owner would miss it sorely next morning. I chuse rather +to give this ludicrous example, than some graver instances of bloodshed +at border orgies. I observe it is said, in a MS. account of Tweeddale, +in praise of the inhabitants, that, "when they fall in the humour of +good fellowship, they use it as a cement and bond of society, and not +to foment revenge, quarrels, and murders, which is usual in other +countries;" by which we ought, probably, to understand Selkirkshire and +Teviotdale.--_Macfarlane's MSS._ + + + +GRAEME AND BEWICK. + + + Gude lord Graeme is to Carlisle gane; + Sir Robert Bewick there met he; + And arm in arm to the wine they did go, + And they drank till they were baith merrie. + + Gude lord Graeme has ta'en up the cup, + "Sir Robert Bewick, and here's to thee! + "And here's to our twae sons at hame! + "For they like us best in our ain countrie." + + "O were your son a lad like mine, + "And learn'd some books that he could read, + "They might hae been twae brethren bauld, + "And they might hae bragged the border side." + + "But your son's a lad, and he is but bad, + "And billie to my son he canna be; + + * * * * * + + "Ye sent him to the schools, and he wadna learn; + "Ye bought him books, and he wadna read." + "But my blessing shall he never earn, + "Till I see how his arm can defend his head." + + Gude lord Graeme has a reckoning call'd, + A reckoning then called he; + And he paid a crown, and it went roun'; + It was all for the gude wine and free.[A] + + And he has to the stable gaen, + Where there stude thirty steeds and three; + He's ta'en his ain horse amang them a', + And hame he' rade sae manfullie. + + "Wellcome, my auld father!" said Christie Graeme, + "But where sae lang frae hame were ye?" + "It's I hae been at Carlisle town, + "And a baffled man by thee I be. + + "I hae been at Carlisle town, + "Where Sir Robert Bewick he met me; + "He says ye're a lad, and ye are but bad, + "And billie to his son ye canna be. + + "I sent ye to the schools, and ye wadna learn; + "I bought ye books, and ye wadna read; + "Therefore, my blessing ye shall never earn, + "Till I see with Bewick thou save thy head." + + "Now, God forbid, my auld father, + "That ever sic a thing suld be! + "Billie Bewick was my master, and I was his scholar, + "And aye sae weel as he learned me." + + "O hald thy tongue, thou limmer lown, + "And of thy talking let me be! + "If thou does na end me this quarrel soon, + "There is my glove I'll fight wi' thee." + + Then Christie Graeme he stooped low + Unto the ground, you shall understand;-- + "O father, put on your glove again, + "The wind has blown it from your hand." + + "What's that thou says, thou limmer loun? + "How dares thou stand to speak to me? + "If thou do not end this quarrel soon, + "There's my right hand thou shalt fight with me." + + Then Christie Graeme's to his chamber gane, + To consider weel what then should be; + Whether he suld fight with his auld father + Or with his billie Bewick, he. + + "If I suld kill my billie dear, + "God's blessing I sall never win; + "But if I strike at my auld father, + "I think 'twald be a mortal sin. + + "But if I kill my billie dear, + "It is God's will! so let it be. + "But I make a vow, ere I gang frae hame, + "That I shall be the next man's die." + + Then he's put on's back a good ould jack, + And on his head a cap of steel, + And sword and buckler by his side; + O gin he did not become them weel! + + We'll leave off talking of Christie Graeme, + And talk of him again belive; + And we will talk of bonnie Bewick, + Where he was teaching his scholars five. + + When he had taught them well to fence, + And handle swords without any doubt; + He took his sword under his arm, + And he walked his father's close about. + + He looked atween him and the sun, + And a' to see what there might be, + Till he spied a man, in armour bright, + Was riding that way most hastilie. + + "O wha is yon, that came this way, + "Sae hastilie that hither came? + "I think it be my brother dear; + "I think it be young Christie Graeme." + + "Ye're welcome here, my billie dear, + "And thrice you're welcome unto me!" + "But I'm wae to say, I've seen the day, + "When I am come to fight with thee. + + "My father's gane to Carlisle town, + "Wi' your father Bewick there met he; + "He says I'm a lad, and I am but bad, + "And a baffled man I trow I be. + + "He sent me to schools, and I wadna learn; + "He gae me books, and I wadna read; + "Sae my father's blessing I'll never earn, + "Till he see how my arm can guard my head." + + "O God forbid, my billie dear, + "That ever such a thing suld be! + "We'll take three men on either side, + "And see if we can our fathers agree." + + "O hald thy tongue, now, billie Bewick, + "And of thy talking let me be! + "But if thou'rt a man, as I'm sure thou art, + "Come o'er the dyke, and fight wi' me." + + "But I hae nae harness, billie, on my back, + "As weel I see there is on thine." + "But as little harness as is on thy back, + "As little, billie, shall be on mine." + + Then he's thrown aff his coat of mail, + His cap of steel away flung he; + He stuck his spear into the ground, + And he tied his horse unto a tree. + + Then Bewick has thrown aff his cloak, + And's psalter-book frae's hand flung he; + He laid his hand upon the dyke, + And ower he lap most manfullie. + + O they hae fought for twae lang hours; + When twae lang hours were come and gane, + The sweat drapped fast frae aff them baith, + But a drap of blude could not be seen. + + Till Graeme gae Bewick an ackward[B] stroke, + Ane ackward stroke, strucken sickerlie; + He has hit him under the left breast, + And dead-wounded to the ground fell he. + + "Rise up, rise up, now, hillie dear! + "Arise, and speak three words to me!-- + "Whether thou'se gotten thy deadly wound, + "Or if God and good leaching may succour thee?" + + "O horse, O horse, now billie Graeme, + "And get thee far from hence with speed; + "And get thee out of this country, + "That none may know who has done the deed." + + "O I have slain thee, billie Bewick, + "If this be true thou tellest to me; + "But I made a vow, ere I came frae hame, + "That aye the next man I wad be." + + He has pitched his sword in a moodie-hill,[C] + And he has leap'd twentie lang feet and three, + And on his ain sword's point he lap, + And dead upon the grund fell he. + + 'Twas then came up Sir Robert Bewick, + And his brave son alive saw he; + "Rise up, rise up, my son," he said, + "For I think ye hae gotten the victorie." + + "O hald your tongue, my father dear! + "Of your prideful talking let me be! + "Ye might hae drunken your wine in peace, + "And let me and my billie be. + + "Gae dig a grave, baith wide and deep, + "A grave to hald baith him and me; + "But lay Christie Graeme on the sunny side, + "For I'm sure he wan the victorie." + + "Alack! a wae!" auld Bewick cried, + "Alack! was I not much to blame! + "I'm sure I've lost the liveliest lad + "That e'er was born unto my name." + + "Alack! a wae!" quo' gude Lord Graeme, + "I'm sure I hae lost the deeper lack! + "I durst hae ridden the Border through, + "Had Christie Graeme been at my back. + + "Had I been led through Liddesdale, + "And thirty horsemen guarding me, + "And Christie Gramme been at my back, + "Sae soon as he had set me free! + + "I've lost my hopes, I've lost my joy, + "I've lost the key but and the lock; + "I durst hae ridden the world round, + "Had Christie Graeme been at my back." + +[Footnote A: The ostler's copy reads very characteristically-- "It was +all for good wine and _hay_."] + +[Footnote B: _Ackward_--Backward.] + +[Footnote C: _Moodie-hill_--Mole-hill.] + + + +THE DUEL OF WHARTON AND STUART. IN TWO PARTS. + + +Duels, as may be seen from the two preceding ballads, are derived from +the times of chivalry. They succeeded to the _combat at outrance_, +about the end of the sixteenth century; and, though they were no longer +countenanced by the laws, nor considered a solemn appeal to the Deity, +nor honoured by the presence of applauding monarchs and multitudes, yet +they were authorised by the manners of the age, and by the applause of +the fair.[A] They long continued, they even yet continue, to be appealed +to, as the test of truth; since, by the code of honour, every gentleman +is still bound to repel a charge of falsehood with the point of his +sword, and at the peril of his life. This peculiarity of manners, which +would have surprised an ancient Roman, is obviously deduced from the +Gothic ordeal of trial by combat. Nevertheless, the custom of duelling +was considered, at its first introduction, as an innovation upon the law +of arms; and a book, in two huge volumes, entituled _Le vrai Theatre +d' Honneur et de la Chivalerie_, was written by a French nobleman, +to support the venerable institutions of chivalry against this +unceremonious mode of combat. He has chosen for his frontispiece two +figures; the first represents a conquering knight, trampling his enemy +under foot in the lists, crowned by Justice with laurel, and preceded by +Fame, sounding his praises. The other figure presents a duellist, in +his shirt, as was then the fashion (see the following ballad), with his +bloody rapier in his hand: the slaughtered combatant is seen in the +distance, and the victor is pursued by the Furies. Nevertheless, the +wise will make some scruple, whether, if the warriors were to change +equipments, they might not also exchange their emblematic attendants. +The modern mode of duel, without defensive armour, began about the reign +of Henry III. of France, when the gentlemen of that nation, as we learn +from Davila, began to lay aside the cumbrous lance and cuirass, even in +war. The increase of danger being supposed to contribute to the increase +of honour, the national ardour of the french gallants led them early to +distinguish themselves by neglect of every thing, that could contribute +to their personal safety. Hence, duels began to be fought by the +combatants in their shirts, and with the rapier only. To this custom +contributed also the art of fencing, then cultivated as a new study in +Italy and Spain, by which the sword became, at once, an offensive and +defensive weapon. The reader will see the new "science of defence," as +it was called, ridiculed by Shakespeare, in _Romeo and Juliet_, and +by Don Quevedo, in some of his novels. But the more ancient customs +continued for some time to maintain their ground. The sieur Colombiere +mentions two gentlemen, who fought with equal advantage for a whole day, +in all the panoply of chivalry, and, the next day, had recourse to the +modern mode of combat. By a still more extraordinary mixture of ancient +and modern fashions, two combatants on horseback ran a tilt at each +other with lances, without any covering but their shirts. + +[Footnote A: "All things being ready for the ball, and every one being +in their place, and I myself being next to the queen (of France), +expecting when the dancers would come in, one knockt at the door +somewhat louder than became, as I thought, a very civil person. When he +came in, I remember there was a sudden whisper among the ladies, saying, +'C'est Monsieur Balagny,' or, 'tis Monsieur Balagny; whereupon, also, +I saw the ladies and gentlewomen, one after another, invite him to sit +near them; and, which is more, when one lady had his company a while, +another would say, 'you have enjoyed him long enough; I must have him +now;' at which bold civility of theirs, though I were astonished, yet it +added unto my wonder, that his person could not be thought, at most, but +ordinary handsome; his hair, which was cut very short, half grey, his +doublet but of sackcloth, cut to his shirt, and his breeches only of +plain grey cloth. Informing myself of some standers by who he was, I was +told he was one of the gallantest men in the world, as having killed +eight or nine men in single fight; and that, for this reason, the ladies +made so much of him; it being the manner of all French women to cherish +gallant men, as thinking they could not make so much of any one else, +with the safety of their honour."--_Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury,_ +p. 70. How near the character of the duellist, originally, approached to +that of the knight-errant, appears from a transaction, which took place +at the siege of Juliers, betwixt this Balagny and Lord Herbert. As +these two noted duellists stood together in the trenches, the Frenchman +addressed Lord Herbert: _"Monsieur, on dit que vous etes un des plus +braves de votre nation, et je suis Balagny; allons voir qui fera le +mieux."_ With these words, Balagny jumped over the trench, and Herbert +as speedily following, both ran sword in hand towards the defences +of the besieged town, which welcomed their approach with a storm of +musquetry and artillery. Balagny then observed, this was hot service; +but Herbert swore, he would not turn back first; so the Frenchman was +finally fain to set him the example or retreat. Notwithstanding the +advantage which he had gained over Balagny, in this "jeopardy of war," +Lord Herbert seems still to have grudged that gentleman's astonishing +reputation; for he endeavoured to pick a quarrel with him, on the +romantic score of the worth of their mistresses; and, receiving a +ludicrous answer, told him, with disdain, that he spoke more like a +_palliard_ than a _cavalier_. From such instances the reader may judge, +whether the age of chivalry did not endure somewhat longer than is +generally supposed.] + +When armour was laid aside, the consequence was, that the first duels +were very sanguinary, terminating frequently in the death of one, and +sometimes, as in the ballad, of both persons engaged. Nor was this all: +The seconds, who had nothing to do with the quarrel, fought stoutly, +_pour se desennuyer_, and often sealed with their blood their friendship +for their principal. A desperate combat, fought between Messrs Entraguet +and Caylus, is said to have been the first, in which this fashion of +promiscuous fight was introduced. It proved fatal to two of Henry the +Third's minions, and extracted from that sorrowing monarch an edict +against duelling, which was as frequently as fruitlessly renewed by his +successors. The use of rapier and poniard together,[A] was another cause +of the mortal slaughter in these duels, which were supposed, in the +reign of Henry IV., to have cost France at least as many of her nobles +as had fallen in the civil wars. With these double weapons, frequent +instances occurred, in which a duellist, mortally wounded, threw himself +within his antagonist's guard, and plunged his poniard into his heart. +Nay, sometimes the sword was altogether abandoned for the more sure +and murderous dagger. A quarrel having arisen betwixt the vicompte d' +Allemagne and the sieur de la Roque, the former, alleging the youth and +dexterity of his antagonist, insisted upon fighting the duel in their +shirts, and with their poniards only; a desperate mode of conflict, +which proved fatal to both. Others refined even upon this horrible +struggle, by chusing for the scene a small room, a large hogshead, or, +finally, a hole dug in the earth, into which the duellists descended, as +into a certain grave.--Must I add, that even women caught the phrenzy, +and that duels were fought, not only by those whose rank and character +rendered it little surprising, but by modest and well-born maidens! +_Audiguier Traite de Duel. Theatre D' Honneur,_ Vol. I.[B] + +[Footnote A: It appears from a line in the black-letter copy of the +following ballad, that Wharton and Stuart fought with rapier and dagger: + + With that stout Wharton was the first + Took _rapier_ and _poniard_ there that day. + _Ancient Songs,_ 1792, p. 204.] + +[Footnote B: This folly ran to such a pitch, that no one was thought +worthy to be reckoned a gentleman, who had not tried his valour in at +least one duel; of which Lord Herbert gives the following instance:--A +young gentleman, desiring to marry a niece of Monsieur Disaucour, +_ecuyer_ to the duke de Montmorenci, received this answer: "Friend, it +is not yet time to marry; if you will be a brave man, you must first +kill, in single combat, two or three men; then marry, and get two or +three children; otherwise the world will neither have gained or lost by +you." HERBERT'S _Life_, p. 64.] + +We learn, from every authority, that duels became nearly as common in +England, after the accession of James VI., as they had ever been in +France. The point of honour, so fatal to the gallants of the age, was no +where carried more highly than at the court of the pacific _Solomon_ +of Britain. Instead of the feudal combats, upon the _Hie-gate of +Edinburgh_, which had often disturbed his repose at Holy-rood, his +levees, at Theobald's, were occupied with listening to the detail of +more polished, but not less sanguinary, contests. I rather suppose, that +James never was himself disposed to pay particular attention to the laws +of the _duello;_ but they were defined with a quaintness and pedantry, +which, bating his dislike to the subject, must have deeply interested +him. The point of honour was a science, which a grown gentleman might +study under suitable professors, as well as dancing, or any other +modish accomplishment. Nay, it would appear, that the ingenuity of +the _sword-men_ (so these military casuists were termed) might often +accommodate a bashful combatant with an honourable excuse for declining +the combat: + + --Understand'st them well nice points of duel? + Art born of gentle blood and pure descent? + Were none of all thy lineage hang'd, or cuckold? + Bastard or bastinadoed? Is thy pedigree + As long, as wide as mine? For otherwise + Thou wert most unworthy; and 'twere loss of honour + In me to fight. More: I have drawn five teeth-- + If thine stand sound, the terms are much unequal; + And, by strict laws of duel, I am excused + To fight on disadvantage.-- + _Albumazar,_ Act IV. Sc. 7. + +In Beaumont and Fletcher's admirable play of _A King and no King_, there +is some excellent mirth at the expence of the professors of the point of +honour. + +But, though such shifts might occasionally be resorted to by the +faint-hearted, yet the fiery cavaliers of the English court were but +little apt to profit by them; though their vengeance for insulted honour +sometimes vented itself through fouler channels than that of fair combat +It happened, for example, that Lord Sanquhar, a Scottish nobleman, in +fencing with a master of the noble science of defence, lost his eye by +an unlucky thrust. The accident was provoking, but without remedy; nor +did Lord Sanquhar think of it, unless with regret, until some years +after, when he chanced to be in the French court. Henry the Great +casually asked him, how he lost his eye? "By the thrust of a sword," +answered Lord Sanquhar, not caring to enter into particulars. The king, +supposing the accident the consequence of a duel, immediately enquired, +"Does the man yet live?" These few words set the blood of the Scottish +nobleman on fire; nor did he rest till he had taken the base vengeance +of assassinating, by hired ruffians, the unfortunate fencing-master. The +mutual animosity betwixt the English and Scottish nations, had already +occasioned much bloodshed among the gentry, by single combat; and James +now found himself under the necessity of making a striking example of +one of his Scottish nobles, to avoid the imputation of the grossest +partiality. Lord Sanquhar was condemned to be hanged, and suffered that +ignominious punishment accordingly. + +By a circuitous route, we are now arrived at the subject of our ballad; +for, to the tragical duel of Stuart and Wharton, and to other instances +of bloody combats and brawls betwixt the two nations, is imputed James's +firmness in the case of Lord Sanquhar. + +"For Ramsay, one of the king's servants, not long before Sanquhar's +trial, had switched the earl of Montgomery, who was the king's first +favourite, happily because he tooke it so. Maxwell, another of them, had +bitten Hawley, a gentleman of the Temple, by the ear, which enraged the +Templars (in those times riotous, and subject to tumults), and brought +it allmost to a national quarrel, till the king slept in, and took it up +himself.--The Lord Bruce had summoned Sir Edward Sackville (afterward +earl of Dorset), into France, with a fatal compliment, to take death +from his hand.[A] _And the much lamented Sir James Stuart, one of the +king's blood, and Sir George Wharton, the prime branch of that noble +family, for little worthless punctilios of honor (being intimate +friends), took the field, and fell together by each others +hand."_--WILSON'S Life of James VI. p. 60. + +[Footnote A: See an account of this desperate duel in the _Guardian_.] + +The sufferers in this melancholy affair were both men of high birth, the +heirs apparent of two noble families, and youths of the most promising +expectation. Sir James Stuart was a knight of the Bath, and eldest +son of Walter, first lord Blantyre, by Nicolas, daughter of Sir James +Somerville, of Cambusnethan. Sir George Wharton was also a knight of the +Bath, and eldest son of Philip, lord Wharton, by Frances, daughter of +Henry Clifford, earl of Cumberland. He married Anne, daughter of the +earl of Rutland, but left no issue. + +The circumstances of the quarrel and combat are accurately detailed in +the ballad, of which there exists a black-letter copy in the Pearson +Collection, now in the library of the late John duke of Roxburghe, +entitled, "A Lamentable Ballad, of a Combate, lately fought, near +London, between Sir James Stewarde, and Sir George Wharton, knights, +who were both slain at that time.--To the tune of, _Down Plumpton Park, +&c_." A copy of this ballad has been published in Mr Ritson's _Ancient +Songs_, and, upon comparison, appears very little different from that +which has been preserved by tradition in Ettrick Forest. Two verses have +been added, and one considerably improved, from Mr Ritson's edition. +These three stanzas are the fifth and ninth of Part First, and the +penult verse of Part Second. I am thus particular, that the reader may +be able, if he pleases, to compare the traditional ballad with the +original edition. It furnishes striking evidence, that, "without +characters, fame lives long." The difference, chiefly to be remarked +betwixt the copies, lies in the dialect, and in some modifications +applicable to Scotland; as, using the words _"Our Scottish Knight."_ +The black-letter ballad, in like manner, terms Wharton _"Our English +Knight."_ My correspondent, James Hogg, adds the following note to this +ballad: "I have heard this song sung by several old people; but all +of them with this tradition, that Wharton bribed Stuart's second, and +actually fought in armour. I acknowledge, that, from some dark hints in +the song, this appears not impossible; but, that you may not judge +too rashly, I must remind you, that the old people, inhabiting the +head-lands (high grounds) hereabouts, although possessed of many +original songs, traditions, and anecdotes, are most unreasonably partial +when the valour or honour of a Scotsman is called in question." I +retain this note, because it is characteristic; but I agree with my +correspondent, there can be no foundation for the tradition, except in +national partiality. + + + +THE DUEL OF WHARTON AND STUART. + +PART FIRST. + + + It grieveth me to tell you o' + Near London late what did befal, + 'Twixt two young gallant gentlemen; + It grieveth me, and ever shall. + + One of them was Sir George Wharton, + My good Lord Wharton's son and heir; + The other, James Stuart, a Scottish knight, + One that a valiant heart did bear. + + When first to court these nobles came, + One night, a gaining, fell to words; + And in their fury grew so hot, + That they did both try their keen swords. + + No manner of treating, nor advice, + Could hold from striking in that place; + For, in the height and heat of blood, + James struck George Wharton on the face. + + "What doth this mean," George Wharton said, + "To strike in such unmanly sort? + "But, that I take it at thy hands, + "The tongue of man shall ne'er report!" + + "But do thy worst, then," said Sir James, + "Now do thy worst! appoint a day! + "There's not a lord in England breathes + "Shall gar me give an inch of way." + + "Ye brag right weel," George Wharton said; + "Let our brave lords at large alane, + "And speak of me, that am thy foe; + "For you shall find enough o' ane! + + "I'll alterchange my glove wi' thine; + "I'll show it on the bed o' death; + "I mean the place where we shall fight; + "There ane or both maun lose life and breath!" + + "We'll meet near Waltham," said Sir James; + "To-morrow, that shall be the day. + "We'll either take a single man, + "And try who bears the bell away." + + Then down together hands they shook, + Without any envious sign; + Then went to Ludgate, where they lay, + And each man drank his pint of wine. + + No kind of envy could be seen, + No kind of malice they did betray; + But a' was clear and calm as death, + Whatever in their bosoms lay, + + Till parting time; and then, indeed, + They shew'd some rancour in their heart; + "Next time we meet," says George Wharton, + "Not half sae soundly we shall part!" + + So they have parted, firmly bent + Their valiant minds equal to try: + The second part shall clearly show, + Both how they meet, and how they dye. + + + +THE DUEL OF WHARTON AND STUART. + +PART SECOND. + + + George Wharton was the first ae man, + Came to the appointed place that day, + Where he espyed our Scots lord coming, + As fast as he could post away. + + They met, shook hands; their cheeks were pale; + Then to George Wharton James did say, + "I dinna like your doublet, George, + "It stands sae weel on you this day. + + "Say, have you got no armour on? + "Have ye no under robe of steel? + "I never saw an English man + "Become his doublet half sae weel." + + "Fy no! fy no!" George Wharton said, + "For that's the thing that mauna be, + "That I should come wi' armour on, + "And you a naked man truly." + + "Our men shall search our doublets, George, + "And see if one of us do lie; + "Then will we prove, wi' weapons sharp, + "Ourselves true gallants for to be." + + Then they threw off their doublets both, + And stood up in their sarks o' lawn; + "Now, take my counsel," said Sir James, + "Wharton, to thee I'll make it knawn: + + "So as we stand, so will we fight; + "Thus naked in our sarks," said he; + "Fy no! fy no!" George Wharton says; + "That is the thing that must not be. + + "We're neither drinkers, quarrellers, + "Nor men that cares na for oursel; + "Nor minds na what we're gaun about, + "Or if we're gaun to heav'n or hell. + + "Let us to God bequeath our souls, + "Our bodies to the dust and clay!" + With that he drew his deadly sword, + The first was drawn on field that day. + + Se'en bouts and turns these heroes had, + Or e'er a drop o' blood was drawn; + Our Scotch lord, wond'ring, quickly cry'd, + "Stout Wharton! thou still hauds thy awn!" + + The first stroke that George Wharton gae, + He struck him thro' the shoulder-bane; + The neist was thro' the thick o' the thigh; + He thought our Scotch lord had been slain. + + "Oh! ever alak!" George Wharton cry'd, + "Art thou a living man, tell me? + "If there's a surgeon living can, + "He'se cure thy wounds right speedily." + + "No more of that!" James Stuart said; + "Speak not of curing wounds to me! + "For one of us must yield our breath, + "Ere off the field one foot we flee." + + They looked oure their shoulders both, + To see what company was there; + They both had grievous marks of death, + But frae the other nane wad steer. + + George Wharton was the first that fell; + Our Scotch lord fell immediately: + They both did cry to Him above, + To save their souls, for they boud die. + + + +THE LAMENT OF THE BORDER WIDOW. + + +This fragment, obtained from recitation in the Forest of Ettrick, is +said to relate to the execution of Cokburne of Henderland, a border +freebooter, hanged over the gate of his own tower by James V., in the +course of that memorable expedition, in 1529, which was fatal to Johnie +Armstrang, Adam Scott of Tushielaw, and many other marauders. The +vestiges of the castle of Henderland are still to be traced upon the +farm of that name, belonging to Mr Murray of Henderland. They are +situated near the mouth of the river Meggat, which falls into the lake +of St Mary, in Selkirkshire. The adjacent country, which now hardly +bears a single tree, is celebrated by Lesly, as, in his time, affording +shelter to the largest stags in Scotland. A mountain torrent, called +Henderland Burn, rushes impetuously from the hills, through a rocky +chasm, named the Dow-glen, and passes near the site of the tower. To the +recesses of this glen the wife of Cokburne is said to have retreated, +during the execution of her husband; and a place, called the _Lady's +Seat_, is still shewn, where she is said to have striven to drown, amid +the roar of a foaming cataract, the tumultuous noise, which announced +the close of his existence. In a deserted burial-place, which once +surrounded the chapel of the castle, the monument of Cokburne and his +lady is still shewn. It is a large stone, broken into three parts; but +some armorial bearings may be yet traced, and the following inscription +is still legible, though defaced: + +HERE LYES PERYS OF COKBURNE AND HIS WYFE MARJORY. + +Tradition says, that Cokburne was surprised by the king, while sitting +at dinner. After the execution, James marched rapidly forward, to +surprise Adam Scott of Tushielaw, called the King of the Border, and +sometimes the King of Thieves. A path through the mountains, which +separate the vale of Ettrick from the head of Yarrow, is still called +the _King's Road_, and seems to have been the rout which he followed. +The remains of the tower of Tushielaw are yet visible, overhanging the +wild banks of the Ettrick; and are an object of terror to the benighted +peasant, from an idea of their being haunted by spectres. From these +heights, and through the adjacent county of Peebles, passes a wild path, +called still the _Thief's Road_, from having been used chiefly by the +marauders of the border. + + + +THE LAMENT OF THE BORDER WIDOW. + + + My love he built me a bonny bower, + And clad it a' wi' lilye flour; + A brawer bower ye ne'er did see, + Than my true love he built for me. + + There came a man, by middle day, + He spied his sport, and went away; + And brought the king that very night, + Who brake my bower, and slew my knight. + + He slew my knight, to me sae dear; + He slew my knight, and poin'd[A] his gear; + My servants all for life did flee, + And left me in extremitie. + + I sew'd his sheet, making my mane; + I watched the corpse, myself alane; + I watched his body, night and day; + No living creature came that way. + + I took his body on my back, + And whiles I gaed, and whiles I satte; + I digg'd a grave, and laid him in, + And happ'd him with the sod sae green. + + But think na ye my heart was sair, + When I laid the moul on his yellow hair? + O think na ye my heart was wae, + When I turn'd about, away to gae? + + Nae living man I'll love again, + Since that my lovely knight is slain; + Wi' ae lock of his yellow hair + I'll chain my heart for evermair. + +[Footnote A: _Poin'd_--Poinded, attached by legal distress.] + + + +FAIR HELEN OF KIRCONNELL. + + +The following very popular ballad has been handed down by tradition in +its present imperfect state. The affecting incident, on which it is +founded, is well known. A lady, of the name of Helen Irving, or Bell,[A] +(for this is disputed by the two clans) daughter of the laird of +Kirconnell, in Dumfries-shire, and celebrated for her beauty, was +beloved by two gentlemen in the neighbourhood. The name of the favoured +suitor was Adam Fleming, of Kirkpatrick; that of the other has escaped +tradition; though it has been alleged, that he was a Bell, of Blacket +House. The addresses of the latter were, however, favoured by the +friends of the lady, and the lovers were therefore obliged to meet in +secret, and by night, in the church-yard of Kirconnell, a romantic spot, +surrounded by the river Kirtle. During one of those private interviews, +the jealous and despised lover suddenly appeared on the opposite bank of +the stream, and levelled his carabine at the breast of his rival. Helen +threw herself before her lover, received in her bosom the bullet, and +died in his arms. A desperate and mortal combat ensued between Fleming +and the murderer, in which the latter was cut to pieces. Other accounts +say, that Fleming pursued his enemy to Spain, and slew him in the +streets of Madrid. + +[Footnote A: This dispute is owing to the uncertain date of the ballad; +for, although the last proprietors if Kirconnell were Irvings, when +deprived of their possession by Robert Maxwell in 1600, yet Kirconnell +is termed in old chronicles _The Bell's Tower;_ and a stone, with the +arms of that family, has been found among its ruins. Fair Helen's +sirname, therefore, depends upon the period at which she lived, which it +is now impossible to ascertain.] + +The ballad, as now published, consists of two parts. The first seems to +be an address, either by Fleming or his rival, to the lady; if, indeed, +it constituted any portion of the original poem. For the editor cannot +help suspecting, that these verses have been the production of a +different and inferior bard, and only adapted to the original measure +and tune. But this suspicion, being unwarranted by any copy he has been +able to procure, he does not venture to do more than intimate his own +opinion. The second part, by far the most beautiful, and which is +unquestionably original, forms the lament of Fleming over the grave of +fair Helen. + +The ballad is here given, without alteration or improvement, from the +most accurate copy which could be recovered. The fate of Helen has not, +however, remained unsung by modern bards. A lament, of great poetical +merit, by the learned historian Mr Pinkerton, with several other poems +on this subject, have been printed in various forms. + +The grave of the lovers is yet shewn in the church-yard of Kirconnell, +near Springkell. Upon the tomb-stone can still be read--_Hie jacet +Adamus Fleming;_ a cross and sword are sculptured on the stone. The +former is called, by the country people, the gun with which Helen was +murdered; and the latter, the avenging sword of her lover. _Sit illis +terra levis!_ A heap of stones is raised on the spot where the murder +was committed; a token of abhorrence common to most nations.[A] + +[Footnote A: This practice has only very lately become obsolete in +Scotland. The editor remembers, that, a few years ago, a cairn was +pointed out to him in the King's Park of Edinburgh, which had been +raised in detestation of a cruel murder, perpetrated by one Nicol +Muschet, on the body of his wife, in that place, in the year 1720.] + + + +FAIR HELEN. + +PART FIRST. + + + O! sweetest sweet, and fairest fair, + Of birth and worth beyond compare, + Thou art the causer of my care, + Since first I loved thee. + + Yet God hath given to me a mind, + The which to thee shall prove as kind + As any one that thou shalt find, + Of high or low degree. + + The shallowest water makes maist din, + The deadest pool the deepest linn. + The richest man least truth within, + Though he preferred be. + + Yet, nevertheless, I am content, + And never a whit my love repent, + But think the time was a' weel spent, + Though I disdained be. + + O! Helen sweet, and maist complete, + My captive spirit's at thy feet! + Thinks thou still fit thus for to treat + Thy captive cruelly? + + O! Helen brave! but this I crave, + Of thy poor slave some pity have, + And do him save that's near his grave, + And dies for love of thee. + + + +FAIR HELEN. + +PART SECOND. + + + I wish I were where Helen lies! + Night and day on me she cries; + O that I were where Helen lies, + On fair Kirconnell Lee! + + Curst be the heart, that thought the thought, + And curst the hand, that fired the shot, + When in my arms burd[A] Helen dropt, + And died to succour me! + + O think na ye my heart was sair, + When my love dropt down and spak nae mair! + There did she swoon wi' meikle care, + On fair Kirconnell Lee. + + As I went down the water side, + None but my foe to be my guide. + None but my foe to be my guide, + On fair Kirconnell Lee. + + I lighted down, my sword did draw, + I hacked him in pieces sma, + I hacked him in pieces sma, + For her sake that died for me. + + O Helen fair, beyond compare! + I'll make a garland of thy hair, + Shall bind my heart for evermair, + Untill the day I die. + + O that I were where Helen lies! + Night and day on me she cries; + Out of my bed she bids me rise, + Says, "haste, and come to me!" + + O Helen fair! O Helen chaste! + If I were with thee I were blest, + Where thou lies low, and takes thy rest, + On fair Kirconnell Lee. + + I wish my grave were growing green, + A winding sheet drawn ower my een, + And I in Helen's arms lying, + On fair Kirconnell Lee. + + I wish I were where Helen lies! + Night and day on me she cries; + And I am weary of the skies, + For her sake that died for me. + +[Footnote A: _Burd Helen_--Maid Helen.] + + + +HUGHIE THE GRAEME. + + +The Graemes, as we have had frequent occasion to notice, were a powerful +and numerous clan, who chiefly inhabited the Debateable Land. They were +said to be of Scottish extraction, and their chief claimed his descent +from Malice, earl of Stratherne. In military service, they were more +attached to England than to Scotland; but, in their depredations on both +countries, they appear to have been very impartial; for, in the year +1600, the gentlemen of Cumberland alleged to Lord Scroope, "that the +Graemes, and their clans, with their children, tenants, and servants, +were the chiefest actors in the spoil and decay of the country." +Accordingly, they were, at that time, obliged to give a bond of surety +for each other's peaceable demeanour; from which bond, their numbers +appear to have exceeded four hundred men.--See _Introduction to_ +NICOLSON'S _History of Cumberland,_ p. cviii. + +Richard Graeme, of the family of Netherbye, was one of the attendants +upon Charles I., when prince of Wales, and accompanied him upon his +romantic journey through France and Spain. The following little +anecdote, which then occurred, will shew, that the memory of the +Graemes' border exploits was at that time still preserved. + +"They were now entered into the deep time of Lent, and could get no +flesh in their inns. Whereupon fell out a pleasant passage, if I may +insert it, by the way, among more serious. There was, near Bayonne, +a herd of goats, with their young ones; upon the sight whereof, Sir +Richard Graham tells the marquis (of Buckingham), that he would snap one +of the kids, and make some shift to carry him snug to their lodging. +Which the prince overhearing, 'Why, Richard,' says he, 'do you think you +may practise here your old tricks upon the borders?' Upon which words, +they, in the first place, gave the goat-herd good contentment; and then, +while the marquis and Richard, being both on foot, were chasing the kid +about the stack, the prince, from horseback, killed him in the head, +with a Scottish pistol.--Which circumstance, though trifling, may yet +serve to shew how his Royal Highness, even in such slight and sportful +damage, had a noble sense of just dealing."--_Sir_ HENRY WOTTON'S _Life +of the Duke of Buckingham._ + +I find no traces of this particular Hughie Graeme, of the ballad; but, +from the mention of the _Bishop_, I suspect he may have been one, of +about four hundred borderers, against whom bills of complaint were +exhibited to Robert Aldridge, lord bishop of Carlisle, about 1553, for +divers incursions, burnings, murders, mutilations, and spoils, by them +committed.--NICHOLSON'S _History, Introduction_, lxxxi. There appear +a number of Graemes, in the specimen which we have of that list of +delinquents. There occur, in particular, + + Ritchie Grame of Bailie, + Will's Jock Grame, + Fargue's Willie Grame, + Muckle Willie Grame, + Will Grame of Rosetrees, + Ritchie Grame, younger of Netherby, + Wat Grame, called Flaughtail, + Will Grame, Nimble Willie, + Will Grahame, Mickle Willie, + +with many others. + +In Mr Ritson's curious and valuable collection of legendary poetry, +entitled _Ancient Songs_, he has published this Border ditty, from a +collation of two old black-letter copies, one in the collection of the +late John duke of Roxburghe, and another in the hands of John Bayne, +Esq.--The learned editor mentions another copy, beginning, "Good Lord +John is a hunting gone." The present edition was procured for me by +my friend Mr W. Laidlaw, in Blackhouse, and has been long current in +Selkirkshire. Mr Ritson's copy has occasionally been resorted to for +better readings. + + + +HUGHIE THE GRAEME. + + + Gude Lord Scroope's to the hunting gane, + He has ridden o'er moss and muir; + And he has grippit Hughie the Graeme, + For stealing o' the Bishop's mare. + + "Now, good Lord Scroope, this may not be! + "Here hangs a broad sword by my side; + "And if that thou canst conquer me, + "The matter it may soon be tryed." + + "I ne'er was afraid of a traitor thief; + "Although thy name be Hughie the Graeme, + "I'll make thee repent thee of thy deeds, + "If God but grant me life and time." + + "Then do your worst now, good Lord Scroope, + "And deal your blows as hard as you can! + "It shall be tried, within an hour, + "Which of us two is the better man." + + But as they were dealing their blows so free, + And both so bloody at the time, + Over the moss came ten yeomen so tall, + All for to take brave Hughie the Graeme. + + Then they hae grippit Hughie the Graeme, + And brought him up through Carlisle town; + The lasses and lads stood on the walls, + Crying, "Hughie the Graeme, thou'se ne'er gae down!" + + Then hae they chosen a jury of men, + The best that were in Carlisle[A] town; + And twelve of them cried out at once, + "Hughie the Graeme, thou must gae down!" + + Then up bespake him gude Lord Hume,[B] + As he sat by the judge's knee,-- + "Twentie white owsen, my gude lord, + "If you'll grant Hughie the Graeme to me." + + "O no, O no, my gude Lord Hume! + "For sooth and sae it manna be; + "For, were there but three Graemes of the name, + "They suld be hanged a' for me." + + 'Twas up and spake the gude Lady Hume, + As she sate by the judge's knee,-- + A peck of white pennies, my gude lord judge, + "If you'll grant Hughie the Graeme to me." + + "O no, O no, my gude Lady Hume! + "Forsooth and so it mustna be; + "Were he but the one Graeme of the name, + "He suld be hanged high for me." + + "If I be guilty," said Hughie the Graeme, + "Of me my friends shall hae small talk;" + And he has loup'd fifteen feet and three, + Though his hands they were tied behind his back. + + He looked over his left shoulder, + And for to see what he might see; + There was he aware of his auld father, + Came tearing his hair most piteouslie. + + "O hald your tongue, my father," he says, + "And see that ye dinna weep for me! + "For they may ravish me o' my life, + "But they canna banish me fro' heaven hie.' + + "Fare ye weel, fair Maggie, my wife! + "The last time we came ower the muir, + "'Twas thou bereft me of my life, + "And wi' the Bishop thou play'd the whore. + + "Here, Johnie Armstrang, take thou my sword, + "That is made o' the metal sae fine; + "And when thou comest to the English[C] side, + "Remember the death of Hughie the Graeme." + + +[Footnote A: _Garlard_--Anc. Songs.] + +[Footnote B: _Boles_--Anc. Songs.] + +[Footnote C: _Border_--Anc, Songs.] + + + +NOTE ON HUGHIE THE GRAEME. + + +_And wi' the Bishop thou play'd the whore._--P. 326, v. 9. + +Of the morality of Robert Aldridge, bishop of Carlisle, we know but +little; but his political and religious faith were of a stretching and +accommodating texture. Anthony a Wood observes, that there were many +changes in his time, both in church and state; but that the worthy +prelate retained his offices and preferments during them all. + + + +JOHNIE OF BREADISLEE. + +AN ANCIENT NITHESDALE BALLAD. + + +The hero of this ballad appears to have been an outlaw and +deer-stealer--probably one of the broken men residing upon the border. +There are several different copies, in one of which the principal +personage is called _Johnie of Cockielaw_. The stanzas of greatest merit +have been selected from each copy. It is sometimes said, that this +outlaw possessed the old castle of Morton, in Dumfries-shire, now +ruinous:--"Near to this castle there was a park, built by Sir Thomas +Randolph, on the face of a very great and high hill; so artificially, +that, by the advantage of the hill, all wild beasts, such as deers, +harts, and roes, and hares, did easily leap in, but could not get out +again; and if any other cattle, such as cows, sheep, or goats, did +voluntarily leap in, or were forced to do it, _it is doubted_ if their +owners were permitted to get them out again."--_Account of Presbytery +of Penpont, apud Macfarlane's MSS._ Such a park would form a convenient +domain to an outlaw's castle, and the mention of Durrisdeer, a +neighbouring parish, adds weight to the tradition. I have seen, on a +mountain near Callendar, a sort of pinfold, composed of immense rocks, +piled upon each other, which, I was told, was anciently constructed for +the above-mentioned purpose. The mountain is thence called _Uah var_, or +the _Cove of the Giant_. + + + +JOHNIE OF BREADISLEE. + +AN ANCIENT NITHISDALE BALLAD. + + + Johnie rose up in a May morning, + Called for water to wash his hands-- + "Gar loose to me the gude graie dogs + "That are bound wi' iron bands," + + When Johnie's mother gat word o' that, + Her hands for dule she wrang-- + "O Johnie! for my benison, + "To the grenewood dinna gang! + + "Eneugh ye hae o' the gude wheat bread, + "And eneugh o' the blude-red wine; + "And, therefore, for nae venison, Johnie, + "I pray ye, stir frae hame." + + But Johnie's busk't up his gude bend bow, + His arrows, ane by ane; + And he has gane to Durrisdeer + To hunt the dun deer down. + + As he came down by Merriemass, + And in by the benty line, + There has he espied a deer lying + Aneath a bush of ling.[A] + + Johnie he shot, and the dun deer lap, + And he wounded her on the side; + But, atween the water and the brae, + His hounds they laid her pride. + + And Johnie has bryttled[B] the deer sae weel, + That he's had out her liver and lungs; + And wi' these he has feasted his bludy hounds, + As if they had been erl's sons. + + They eat sae much o' the venison, + And drank sae much o' the blude, + That Johnie and a' his bludy hounds + Fell asleep, as they had been dead. + + And by there came a silly auld carle, + An ill death mote he die! + For he's awa to Hislinton, + Where the Seven Foresters did lie. + + "What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle, + "What news bring ye to me?" + "I bring nae news," said the gray-headed carle, + "Save what these eves did see. + + "As I came down by Merriemass, + "And down amang the scroggs,[C] + "The bonniest childe that ever I saw + "Lay sleeping amang his dogs. + + "The shirt that was upon his back + "Was o' the Holland fine; + "The doublet which was over that + "Was o' the lincome twine. + + "The buttons that were on his sleeve + "Were o' the goud sae gude; + "The gude graie hounds he lay amang, + "Their months were dyed wi' blude." + + Then out and spak the First Forester, + The held man ower them a'-- + If this be Johnie o' Breadislee, + "Nae nearer will we draw." + + But up and spak the Sixth Forester, + (His sister's son was he) + "If this be Johnie o' Breadislee, + "We soon snall gar him die!" + + The first flight of arrows the Foresters shot, + They wounded him on the knee; + And out and spak the Seventh Forester, + "The next will gar him die." + + Johnie's set his back against an aik, + His fute against a stane; + And he has slain the Seven Foresters, + He has slam them a' but ane. + + He has broke three ribs in that ane's side, + But and his collar bane; + He's laid him twa-fald ower his steed, + Bade him cany the tidings hame. + + "O is there na a bonnie bird, + "Can sing as I can say; + "Could flee away to my mother's bower, + "And tell to fetch Johnie away?" + + The starling flew to his mother's window stane, + It whistled and it sang; + And aye the ower word o' the tune + Was--"Johnie tarries lang!" + + They made a rod o the hazel bush, + Another o' the slae-thorn tree, + And mony mony were the men + At fetching our Johnie. + + Then out and spak his auld mother, + And fast her tears did fa'-- + "Ye wad nae be warned, my son Johnie, + "Frae the hunting to bide awa. + + "Aft hae I brought to Breadislee, + "The less gear[D] and the mair, + "But I ne'er brought to Breadislee, + "What grieved my heart sae sair! + + "But wae betyde that silly auld carle! + "An ill death shall he die! + "For the highest tree in Merriemass + "Shall be his morning's fee." + + Now Johnie's gude bend bow is broke, + And his gude graie dogs are slain; + And his body lies dead in Durrisdeer, + And his hunting it is done. + +[Footnote A: _Ling_--Heath.] + +[Footnote B: _Brytlled_--To cut up venison. See the ancient ballad of +_Chevy Chace_, v. 8.] + +[Footnote C: _Scroggs_--Stunted trees.] + +[Footnote D: _Gear_--Usually signifies _goods_, but here _spoil_.] + + + +KATHERINE JANFARIE. + + +_The Ballad was published in the first edition of this work, under the +title of_ "The Laird of Laminton." _It is now given in a more perfect +state, from several recited copies. The residence of the Lady, and the +scene of the affray at her bridal, is said, by old people, to have been +upon the banks of the Cadden, near to where it joins the Tweed. Others +say the skirmish was fought near Traquair, and_ KATHERINE JANFARIE'S +_dwelling was in the glen, about three miles above Traquair house._ + + + There was a may, and a weel far'd may., + Lived high up in yon glen; + Her name was Katherine Janfarie, + She was courted by mony men. + + Up then came Lord Lauderdale, + Up frae the Lawland border; + And he has come to court this may, + A' mounted in good order. + + He told na her father, he told na her mother, + And he told na ane o' her kin; + But he whisper'd the bonnie lassie hersel', + And has her favour won. + + But out then cam Lord Lochinvar, + Out frae the English border, + All for to court this bonnie may, + Weil mounted, and in order. + + He told her father, he told her mother, + And a' the lave o' her kin; + But he told na the bonnie may hersel', + Till on her wedding e'en. + + She sent to the Lord of Lauderdale, + Gin he wad come and see; + And he has sent word back again, + Weel answered she suld be. + + And he has sent a messenger + Right quickly through the land, + And raised mony an armed man + To be at his command. + + The bride looked out at a high window, + Beheld baith dale and down, + And she was aware of her first true love, + With riders mony a one. + + She scoffed him, and scorned him, + Upon her wedding day; + And said--"It was the Fairy court + "To see him in array! + + "O come ye here to fight, young lord, + "Or come ye here to play? + "Or come ye here to drink good wine + "Upon the wedding day?" + + "I come na here to fight," he said, + "I come na here to play; + "I'll but lead a dance wi' the bonnie bride, + "And mount and go my way." + + It is a glass of the blood-red wine + Was filled up them between, + And aye she drank to Lauderdale, + Wha her true love had been. + + He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand, + And by the grass-green sleeve; + He's mounted her hie behind himsell, + At her kinsmen spear'd na leave. + + "Now take your bride, Lord Lochinvar! + "Now take her if you may! + "But, if you take your bride again, + "We'll call it but foul play." + + There were four-and-twenty bonnie boys, + A' clad in the Johnstone grey;[A] + They said they would take the bride again, + By the strong hand, if they may. + + Some o' them were right willing men, + But they were na willing a'; + And four-and-twenty Leader lads + Bid them mount and ride awa'. + + Then whingers flew frae gentles' sides, + And swords flew frae the shea's, + And red and rosy was the blood + Ran down the lily braes. + + The blood ran down by Caddon bank, + And down by Caddon brae; + And, sighing, said the bonnie bride-- + "O waes me for foul play!" + + My blessing on your heart, sweet thing! + Wae to your willfu' will! + There's mony a gallant gentleman + Whae's blude ye have garr'd to spill. + + Now a' you lords of fair England, + And that dwell by the English border, + Come never here to seek a wife, + For fear of sic disorder. + + They'll haik ye up, and settle ye bye, + Till on your wedding day; + Then gie ye frogs instead of fish, + And play ye foul foul play. + +[Footnote A: _Johnstone grey_--The livery of the ancient family of +Johnstone.] + + + +THE LAIRD O' LOGIE + + +An edition of this ballad is current, under the title of "The Laird of +Ochiltree;" but the editor, since publication of this work, has been +fortunate enough to recover the following more correct and ancient copy, +as recited by a gentleman residing near Biggar. It agrees more nearly, +both in the name and in the circumstances, with the real fact, than the +printed ballad of Ochiltree. + +In the year 1592, Francis Stuart, earl of Bothwell, was agitating his +frantic and ill-concerted attempts against the person of James VI., +whom he endeavoured to surprise in the palace of Falkland. Through the +emulation and private rancour of the courtiers, he found adherents even +about the king's person; among whom, it seems, was the hero of our +ballad, whose history is thus narrated in that curious and valuable +chronicle, of which the first part has been published under the title +of "The Historie of "King James the Sext," and the second is now in the +press. + +"In this close tyme it fortunit, that a gentelman, callit Weymis of +Logye, being also in credence at court, was delatit as a traffekker with +Frances Erle Bothwell; and he being examinat before king and counsall, +confessit his accusation to be of veritie, that sundrie tymes he had +spokin with him, expresslie aganis the king's inhibitioun proclamit in +the contrare, whilk confession he subscryvit with his hand; and because +the event of this mater had sik a succes, it sall also be praysit be +my pen, as a worthie turne, proceiding frome honest chest loove and +charitie, whilk suld on na wayis be obscurit from the posteritie for the +gude example; and therefore I have thought gude to insert the same for a +perpetual memorie. + +"Queen Anne, our noble princess, was servit with dyverss gentilwemen +of hir awin cuntrie, and naymelie with are callit Mres Margaret +Twynstoun,[A] to whome this gentilman, Weymes of Logye, bure great +honest affection, tending to the godlie band of marriage, the whilk was +honestlie requytet be the said gentilwoman, yea evin in his greatest +mister; for howsone she understude the said gentilman to be in distress, +and apperantlie be his confession to be puueist to the death, and she +having prevelege to ly in the queynis chalmer that same verie night of +his accusation, whare the king was also reposing that same night, she +came forth of the dur prevelie, bayth the prencis being then at quyet +rest, and past to the chalmer, whare the said gentilman was put +in custodie to certayne of the garde, and commandit thayme that +immediatelie he sould be broght to the king and queyne, whareunto thay +geving sure credence, obeyit. Bot howsone she was cum bak to the chalmer +dur, she desyrit the watches to stay till he sould cum furth agayne, and +so she closit the dur, and convoyit the gentilman to a windo', whare she +ministrat a long corde unto him to convoy himself doun upon; and sa, +be hir gude cheritable help, he happelie escapit be the subteltie of +loove." + +[Footnote A: Twynelace, according to Spottiswoode.] + + + +THE LAIRD O' LOGIE. + + + I will sing, if ye will hearken, + If ye will hearken unto me; + The king has ta'en a poor prisoner, + The wanton laird o' young Logie. + + Young Logie's laid in Edinburgh chapel; + Carmichael's the keeper o' the key; + And may Margaret's lamenting sair, + A' for the love of young Logie. + + "Lament, lament na, may Margaret, + "And of your weeping let me be; + "For ye maun to the king himsell, + "To seek the life of young Logie." + + May Margaret has kilted her green cleiding, + And she has curl'd back her yellow hair-- + "If I canna get young Logie's life, + "Fareweel to Scotland for evermair." + + When she came before the king, + She knelit lowly on her knee-- + "O what's the matter, may Margaret? + "And what needs a' this courtesie?" + + "A boon, a boon, my noble liege, + "A boon, a boon, I beg o' thee! + "And the first boon that I come to crave, + "Is to grant me the life of young Logic." + + "O na, O na, may Margaret, + "Forsooth, and so it manna be; + "For a' the gowd o' fair Scotland + "Shall not save the life of young Logie." + + But she has stown the king's redding kaim,[A] + Likewise the queen her wedding knife; + And sent the tokens to Carmichael, + To cause young Logic get his life. + + She sent him a purse o' the red gowd, + Another o' the white monie; + She sent him a pistol for each hand, + And bade him shoot when he gat free. + + When he came to the tolbooth stair, + There he let his volley flee; + It made the king in his chamber start, + E'en in the bed where he might be. + + "Gae out, gae out, my merrymen a', + "And bid Carmichael come speak to me; + "For I'll lay my life the pledge o' that, + "That yon's the shot o' young Logie." + + When Carmichael came before the king, + He fell low down upon his knee; + The very first word that the king spake, + Was--"Where's the laird of young Logie?" + + Carmichael turn'd him round about, + (I wot the tear blinded his eye) + "There came a token frae your grace, + "Has ta'en away the laird frae me." + + "Hast thou play'd me that, Carmichael?" + "And hast thou play'd me that?" quoth he; + "The morn the justice court's to stand, + "And Logic's place ye maun supply." + + Carmichael's awa to Margaret's bower, + Even as fast as he may drie-- + "O if young Logie be within, + "Tell him to come and speak with me!" + + May Margaret turned her round about, + (I wot a loud laugh laughed she) + "The egg is chipped, the bird is flown, + "Ye'll see na mair of young Logie." + + The tane is shipped at the pier of Leith, + The tother at the Queen's Ferrie; + And she's gotten a father to her bairn, + The wanton laird of young Logie. + +[Footnote A: _Redding kain_--Comb for the hair.] + + + +NOTE ON THE LAIRD O' LOGIE. + + +_Carmichael's the keeper o' the key._--P. 344. v. 2. + +Sir John Carmichael of Carmichael, the hero of the ballad, called the +Raid of the Reidswair, was appointed captain of the king's guard in +1588, and usually had the keeping of state criminals of rank. + + + +A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE. + + +This is a sort of charm, sung by the lower ranks of Roman Catholics, in +some parts of the north of England, while watching a dead body, previous +to interment. The tune is doleful and monotonous, and, joined to the +mysterious import of the words, has a solemn effect. The word _sleet_, +in the chorus, seems to be corrupted from _selt_, or salt; a quantity of +which, in compliance with a popular superstition, is frequently placed +on the breast of a corpse. + +The mythologic ideas of the dirge are common to various creeds. The +Mahometan believes, that, in advancing to the final judgment seat, he +must traverse a bar of red-hot iron, stretched across a bottomless +gulph. The good works of each true believer, assuming a substantial +form, will then interpose betwixt his feet and this _"Bridge of Dread;"_ +but the wicked, having no such protection, must fall headlong into the +abyss.--D'HERBELOT, _Bibiotheque Orientale_. + +Passages, similar to this dirge, are also to be found in _Lady Culross's +Dream_, as quoted in the second Dissertation prefixed by Mr Pinkerton +to his _Select Scottish Ballads_, 2 vols. The dreamer journeys towards +heaven, accompanied and assisted by a celestial guide: + + Through dreadful dens, which made my heart aghast, + He bare me up when I began to tire. + Sometimes we clamb o'er craggy mountains high. + And sometimes stay'd on uglie braes of sand: + They were so stay that wonder was to see; + But, when I fear'd, he held me by the hand. + Through great deserts we wandered on our way-- + Forward we passed on narrow bridge of trie, + O'er waters great, which hediously did roar. + +Again, she supposes herself suspended over an infernal gulph: + + Ere I was ware, one gripped me at the last, + And held me high above a naming fire. + The fire was great; the heat did pierce me sore; + My faith grew weak.; my grip was very small; + I trembled fast; my fear grew more and more. + +A horrible picture of the same kind, dictated probably by the author's +unhappy state of mind, is to be found in Brooke's _Fool of Quality_. The +dreamer, a ruined female, is suspended over the gulph of perdition by +a single hair, which is severed by a demon, who, in the form of her +seducer springs upwards from the flames. + +The Russian funeral service, without any allegorical imagery, expresses +the sentiment of the dirge in language alike simple and noble. + +"Hast thou pitied the afflicted, O man? In death shalt thou be pitied. +Hast thou consoled the orphan? The orphan will deliver thee. +Hast thou clothed the naked? The naked will procure thee +protection."--RICHARDSON'S _Anecdotes of Russia._ + +But the most minute description of the _Brig o' Dread_, occurs in the +legend of _Sir Owain_, No. XL. in the MS. Collection of Romances, W. +4.1. Advocates' Library, Edinburgh; though its position is not the same +as in the dirge, which may excite a suspicion that the order of the +stanzas in the latter has been transposed. Sir Owain, a Northumbrian +knight, after many frightful adventures in St Patrick's purgatory, at +last arrives at the bridge, which, in the legend, is placed betwixt +purgatory and paradise: + + The fendes han the knight ynome, + To a stinkand water thai ben ycome, + He no seigh never er non swiche; + It stank fouler than ani hounde. + And maui mile it was to the grounde. + And was as swart as piche. + + And Owain seigh ther ouer ligge + A swithe strong naru brigge: + The fendes seyd tho; + "Lo! sir knight, sestow this? + "This is the brigge of paradis, + "Here ouer thou must go. + + "And we the schul with stones prowe, + "And the winde the schul ouer blow, + "And wirche the full wo; + "Thou no schalt tor all this unduerd, + "Bot gif thou falle a midwerd, + "To our fewes[A] mo. + + "And when thou art adown yfalle, + "Than schal com our felawes alle, + "And with her hokes the hede; + "We schul the teche a newe play: + "Thou hast served ous mani a day, + "And into helle the lede." + + Owain biheld the brigge smert, + The water ther under blac and swert, + And sore him gan to drede: + For of othing he tok yeme, + Never mot, in sonne beme, + Thicker than the fendes yede. + + The brigge was as heigh as a tour, + And as scharpe as a rasour, + And naru it was also; + And the water that ther ran under, + Brend o' lighting and of thonder, + That thoght him michel wo. + + Ther nis no clerk may write with ynke, + No no man no may bithink, + No no maister deuine; + That is ymade forsoth ywis. + Under the brigge of paradis, + Halvendel the pine. + + So the dominical ous telle, + That is the pure entrae of helle, + Seine Poule berth witnesse;[A] + Whoso falleth of the brigge adown, + Of him nis no redempcioun, + Noither more nor lesse. + + The fendes seyd to the knight tho, + "Ouer this brigge might thou nowght go, + "For noneskines nede; + "Fle peril sorwe and wo, + "And to that stede ther thou com fro, + "Wel fair we schul the lede." + + Owain anon be gan bithenche, + Fram hou mani of the fendes wrenche, + God him saved hadde; + He sett his fot opon the brigge, + No feld he no scharpe egge, + No nothing him no drad. + + When the fendes yseigh tho, + That he was more than half ygo, + Loude thai gun to crie; + "Alias! alias! that he was born! + "This ich night we have forlorn + "Out of our baylie." + +[Footnote A: _Fewes_--Probably contracted for fellows.] + +[Footnote B: The reader will probably search St Paul in vain, for the +evidence here referred to.] + +The author of the _Legend of Sir Owain_, though a zealous catholic, has +embraced, in the fullest extent, the Talmudic doctrine of an earthly +paradise, distinct from the celestial abode of the just, and serving as +a place of initiation, preparatory to perfect bliss, and to the beatific +vision.--See the Rabbi Menasse ben Israel, in a treatise called +_Nishmath Chajim_, i.e. The Breath of Life. + + + +THE DOWIE DENS OF YARROW. + +NOW FIRST PUBLISHED. + + +This ballad, which is a very great favourite among the inhabitants of +Ettrick Forest, is universally believed to be founded in fact. The +editor found it easy to collect a variety of copies; but very difficult, +indeed, to select from them such a collated edition, as may, in any +degree, suit the taste of "these more light and giddy-paced times." + +Tradition places the event, recorded in the song, very early; and it +is probable that the ballad was composed soon afterwards, although +the language has been gradually modernized, in the course of +its transmission to us, through the inaccurate channel of oral +tradition.--The bard does not relate particulars, but barely the +striking outlines of a fact, apparently so well known when he wrote, +as to render minute detail as unnecessary, as it is always tedious and +unpoetical. + +The hero of the ballad was a knight of great bravery, called Scott, +who is said to have resided at Kirkhope, or Oakwood castle, and is, in +tradition, termed the Baron of Oakwood. The estate of Kirkhope belonged +anciently to the Scotts of Harden: Oakwood is still their property, +and has been so from time immemorial. The editor was therefore led to +suppose, that the hero of the ballad might have been identified with +John Scott, sixth son of the laird of Harden, murdered in Ettrick +Forest by his kinsmen, the Scotts of Gilmanscleugh (see notes to _Jamie +Telfer_, Vol. I. p. 152). This appeared the more probable, as the common +people always affirm, that this young man was treacherously slain, and +that, in evidence thereof, his body remained uncorrupted for many years; +so that even the roses on his shoes seemed as fresh as when he was first +laid in the family vault at Hassendean. But from a passage in Nisbet's +Heraldry, he now believes the ballad refers to a duel fought at +Deucharswyre, of which Annan's Treat is a part, betwixt John Scott of +Tushielaw and his brother-in-law Walter Scott, third son of Robert of +Thirlestane, in which the latter was slain. + +In ploughing Annan's Treat, a huge monumental stone, with an +inscription, was discovered; but being rather scratched than engraved, +and the lines being run through each other, it is only possible to +read one or two Latin words. It probably records the event of the +combat.--The person slain was the male ancestor of the present Lord +Napier. + +Tradition affirms, that the hero of the song (be he who he may) was +murdered by the brother, either of his wife, or betrothed bride. The +alleged cause of malice was, the lady's father having proposed to endow +her with half of his property, upon her marriage with a warrior of such +renown. The name of the murderer is said to have been Annan, and the +place of combat is still called Annan's Treat. It is a low muir, on the +banks of the Yarrow, lying to the west of Yarrow Kirk. Two tall unhewn +masses of stone are erected, about eighty yards distant from each other; +and the least child, that can herd a cow, will tell the passenger, that +there lie "the two lords, who were slain in single combat." + +It will be, with many readers, the greatest recommendation of these +verses, that they are supposed to have suggested to Mr Hamilton, of +Bangour, the modern ballad, beginning, + + "Busk ye, busk ye, my bonny bonny bride." + +A fragment, apparently regarding the story of the following ballad, but +in a different measure, occurs in Mr Herd's MSS., and runs thus:-- + + "When I look cast, my heart is sair, + "But when I look west, its mair and mair; + "For then I see the braes o' Yarrow, + "And there, for aye, I lost my marrow." + + + +THE DOWIE DENS OF YARROW. + + + Late at e'en, drinking the wine, + And ere they paid the lawing, + They set a combat them between, + To fight it in the dawing. + + "O stay at hame, my noble lord! + "O stay at hame, my marrow! + "My cruel brother will you betray + "On the dowie houms of Yarrow." + + "O fare ye weel, my ladye gaye! + "O fare ye weel, my Sarah! + "For I maun gae, though I ne'er return, + "Frae the dowie banks o' Yarrow. + + She kissed his cheek, she kaimed his hair, + As oft she had done before, O; + She belted him with his noble brand, + And he's awa' to Yarrow. + + As he gaed up the Tennies bank, + I wot he gaed wi' sorrow, + Till, down in a den, he spied nine arm'd men, + On the dowie houms of Yarrow. + + "O come ye here to part your land, + "The bonnie forest thorough? + "Or come ye here to wield your brand, + "On the dowie houms of Yarrow?" + + "I come not here to part my land, + "And neither to beg nor borrow; + "I come to wield my noble brand, + "On the bonnie banks of Yarrow. + + "If I see all, ye're nine to ane; + "And that's an unequal marrow; + "Yet will I fight, while lasts my brand, + "On the bonnie banks of Yarrow." + + Four has he hurt, and five has slain, + On the bloody braes of Yarrow, + Till that stubborn knight came him behind, + And ran his bodie thorough. + + "Gae hame, gae hame, good-brother[A] John, + "And tell your sister Sarah, + "To come and lift her leafu' lord; + "He's sleepin sound on Yarrow."---- + + "Yestreen I dream'd a dolefu' dream; + "I fear there will be sorrow! + "I dream'd, I pu'd the heather green, + "Wi' my true love, on Yarrow. + + "O gentle wind, that bloweth south, + "From where my love repaireth, + "Convey a kiss from his dear mouth, + "And tell me how he fareth! + + "But in the glen strive armed men; + "They've wrought me dole and sorrow; + "They've slain--the comeliest knight they've slain-- + "He bleeding lies on Yarrow." + + As she sped down yon high high hill, + She gaed wi' dole and sorrow, + And in the den spyed ten slain men, + On the dowie banks of Yarrow. + + She kissed his cheek, she kaim'd his hair, + She search'd his wounds all thorough; + She kiss'd them, till her lips grew red, + On the dowie houms of Yarrow. + + "Now, haud your tongue, my daughter dear! + "For a' this breeds but sorrow; + "I'll wed ye to a better lord, + "Than him ye lost on Yarrow." + + "O haud your tongue, my father dear! + "Ye mind me but of sorrow; + "A fairer rose did never bloom + "Than now lies cropp'd on Yarrow." + +[Footnote A: _Good-brother_--Beau-frere, Brother-in-law.] + + + + +THE GAY GOSS HAWK. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +_This Ballad is published, partly from one, under this title, in Mrs_ +BROWN'S _Collection, and partly from a MS. of some antiquity,_ penes +Edit.--_The stanzas appearing to possess mo st merit have been selected +from each copy._ + + + "O waly, waly, my gay goss hawk, + "Gin your feathering be sheen!" + "And waly, waly, my master dear, + "Gin ye look pale and lean! + + "O have ye tint, at tournament, + "Your sword, or yet your spear? + "Or mourn ye for the southern lass, + "Whom you may not win near?" + + "I have not tint, at tournament, + "My sword, nor yet my spear; + "But sair I mourn for my true love, + "Wi' mony a bitter tear. + + "But weel's me on ye, my gay goss hawk, + "Ye can baith speak and flee; + "Ye sall carry a letter to my love, + "Bring an answer back to me." + + "But how sall I your true love find, + "Or how suld I her know? + "I bear a tongue ne'er wi' her spake, + "An eye that ne'er her saw." + + "O weel sall ye my true love ken, + "Sae sune as ye her see; + "For, of a' the flowers of fair England, + "The fairest flower is she. + + "The red, that's on my true love's cheik, + "Is like blood drops on the snaw; + "The white, that is on her breast bare, + "Like the down o' the white sea-maw. + + "And even at my love's bour door + "There grows a flowering birk; + "And ye maun sit and sing thereon + "As she gangs to the kirk. + + "And four-and-twenty fair ladyes + "Will to the mass repair; + "But weel may ye my ladye ken, + "The fairest ladye there." + + Lord William has written a love letter, + Put it under his pinion gray; + And he is awa' to Southern land + As fast as wings can gae. + + And even at that ladye's bour + There grew a flowering birk; + And he sat down and sang thereon + As she gaed to the kirk. + + And weel he kent that ladye fair + Amang her maidens free; + For the flower, that springs in May morning, + Was not sae sweet as she. + + He lighted at the ladye's yate, + And sat him on a pin; + And sang fu' sweet the notes o' love, + Till a' was cosh[A] within. + + And first he sang a low low note, + And syne he sang a clear; + And aye the o'erword o' the sang + Was--"Your love can no win here." + + "Feast on, feast on, my maidens a': + "The wine flows you amang: + "While I gang to my shot-window, + "And hear yon bonny bird's sang. + + "Sing on, sing on, my bonny bird, + "The sang ye sung yestreen; + "For weel I ken, by your sweet singing, + "Ye are frae my true love sen'." + + O first he sang a merry sang, + And syne he sang a grave; + And syne he peck'd his feathers gray, + To her the letter gave. + + "Have there a letter from Lord William; + "He says he's sent ye three: + "He canna wait your love langer, + "But for your sake he'll die." + + "Gae bid him bake his bridal bread, + "And brew his bridal ale; + "And I sall meet him at Mary's kirk + "Lang, lang ere it be stale." + + The ladye's gane to her chamber, + And a moanfu' woman was she; + As gin she had ta'en a sudden brash,[B] + And were about to die. + + "A boon, a boon, my father deir, + "A boon I beg of thee!" + "Ask not that paughty Scottish lord, + "For him you ne'er shall see. + + "But, for your honest asking else, + "Wee! granted it shall be." + "Then, gin I die in Southern land, + "In Scotland gar bury me. + + "And the first kirk that ye come to, + "Ye's gar the mass be sung; + "And the next kirk that ye come to, + "Ye's gar the bells be rung. + + "And, when ye come to St Mary's kirk, + "Ye's tarry there till night." + And so her father pledged his word, + And so his promise plight. + + She has ta'en her to her bigly bour + As fast as she could fare; + And she has drank a sleepy draught, + That she had mixed wi' care. + + And pale, pale grew her rosy cheek, + That was sae bright of blee, + And she seemed to be as surely dead + As any one could be. + + Then spak her cruel step-minnie, + "Take ye the burning lead, + "And drap a drap on her bosome, + "To try if she be dead." + + They took a drap o' boiling lead, + They drap'd it on her breast; + "Alas! alas!" her father cried, + "She's dead without the priest." + + She neither chatter'd with her teeth, + Nor shiver'd with her chin; + "Alas! alas!" her father cried, + "There is nae breath within." + + Then up arose her seven brethren, + And hew'd to her a bier; + They hew'd it frae the solid aik, + Laid it o'er wi' silver clear. + + Then up and gat her seven sisters, + And sewed to her a kell; + And every steek that they pat in + Sewed to a siller bell. + + The first Scots kirk that they cam to, + They gar'd the bells be rung; + The next Scots kirk that they cam to, + They gar'd the mass be sung. + + But when they cam to St Mary's kirk, + There stude spearmen, all on a raw; + And up and started Lord William, + The chieftane amang them a'. + + "Set down, set down the bier," he said; + "Let me looke her upon:" + But as soon as Lord William touched her hand, + Her colour began to come. + + She brightened like the lily flower, + Till her pale colour was gone; + With rosy cheik, and ruby lip, + She smiled her love upon. + + "A morsel of your bread, my lord, + "And one glass of your wine: + "For I hae fasted these three lang days, + "All for your sake and mine. + + "Gae hame, gae hame, my seven bauld brothers! + "Gae hame and blaw your horn! + "I trow you wad hae gien me the skaith, + "But I've gien you the scorn. + + "Commend me to my grey father, + "That wish'd, my saul gude rest; + "But wae be to my cruel step-dame, + "Gar'd burn me on the breast." + + "Ah! woe to you, you light woman! + "An ill death may you die! + "For we left father and sisters at hame + "Breaking their hearts for thee." + +[Footnote A: _Cosh_--Quiet.] + +[Footnote B: _Brash_--Sickness.] + + + +NOTES ON THE GAY GOSS HAWK. + + _The red, that's on my true love's cheik, + Is like blood drops on the snaw._--P. 362. v, 5. + +This simile resembles a passage in a MS. translation of an Irish Fairy +tale, called _The Adventures of Faravla, Princess of Scotland, and +Carral O'Daly, Son of Donogho More O'Daly, Chief Bard of Ireland._ + +"Faravla, as she entered her bower, cast her looks upon the earth, which +was tinged with the blood of a bird which a raven had newly killed; +'Like that snow,' said Faravla, 'was the complexion of my beloved, his +cheeks like the sanguine traces thereon; whilst the raven recals to my +memory the colour of his beautiful locks." + +There is also some resemblance, in the conduct of the story, betwixt the +ballad and the tale just quoted. The Princess Faravla, being desperately +in love with Carral O'Daly, dispatches in search of him a faithful +confidant, who, by her magical art, transforms herself into a hawk, and, +perching upon the windows of the bard, conveys to him information of the +distress of the princess of Scotland. + +In the ancient romance of _Sir Tristrem_, the simile of the "blood drops +upon snow" likewise occurs: + + A bride bright thai ches + As blod open snoweing. + + + +BROWN ADAM. + + +_There is a copy of this Ballad in Mrs_ BROWN'S _Collection. The Editor +has seen one, printed on a single sheet. The epithet, "Smith," implies, +probably, the sirname, not the profession, of the hero, who seems to +have been an outlaw There is, however, in Mrs_ BROWN'S _copy, a verse +of little merit here omitted, alluding to the implements of that +occupation._ + + + O wha wad wish the wind to blaw, + Or the green leaves fa' therewith? + Or wha wad, wish a lealer love + Than Brown Adam the smith? + + But they hae banished him, Brown Adam, + Frae father and frae mother; + And they hae banished him, Brown Adam, + Frae sister and frae brother. + + And they hae banished him, Brown Adam, + The flower o' a' his kin; + And he's bigged a hour in gude green-wood + Atween his ladye and him. + + It fell upon a summer's day, + Brown Adam he thought lang; + And, for to hunt some venison, + To green-wood he wald gang. + + He has ta'en his bow his arm o'er, + His bolts and arrows lang; + And he is to the gude green-wood + As fast as he could gang. + + O he's shot up, and he's shot down, + The bird upon the brier; + And he's sent it hame to his ladye, + Bade her be of gude cheir. + + O he's shot up, and he's shot down, + The bird upon the thorn; + And sent it hame to his ladye, + Said he'd be hame the morn. + + When he cam to his ladye's bour door + He stude a little forbye, + And there he heard a fou fause knight + Tempting his gay ladye. + + For he's ta'en out a gay goud ring, + Had cost him mony a poun', + "O grant me love for love, ladye, + "And this shall be thy own." + + "I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she said; + "I trew sae does he me: + "I wadna gie Brown Adam's love + "For nae fause knight I see." + + Out has he ta'en a purse o' gowd, + Was a' fou to the string, + "O grant me love for love, ladye, + "And a' this shall be thine." + + "I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she says; + "I wot sae does he me: + "I wad na be your light leman + "For mair than ye could gie." + + Then out he drew his lang bright brand, + And flashed it in her een; + "Now grant me love for love, ladye, + "Or thro' ye this sall gang!" + Then, sighing, says that ladye fair, + "Brown Adam tarries lang!" + + Then in and starts him Brown Adam, + Says--"I'm just at your hand." + He's gar'd him leave his bonny bow, + He's gar'd him leave his brand, + He's gar'd him leave a dearer pledge-- + Four fingers o' his right hand. + + + +JELLON GRAME. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +This ballad is published from tradition, with some conjectural +emendations. It is corrected by a copy in Mrs Brown's MS., from which +it differs in the concluding stanzas. Some verses are apparently +modernized. + +_Jellon_ seems to be the same name with _Jyllian_ or _Julian_. "Jyl of +Brentford's Testament" is mentioned in Warton's _History of Poetry,- +Vol. II. p. 40. The name repeatedly occurs in old ballads, sometimes as +that of a man, at other times as that of a woman. Of the former is +an instance in the ballad of _"Knight and the Shepherd's +Daughter,"--Reliques of Ancient Poetry,_ Vol. III. p. 72. + + Some do call me Jack, sweetheart. + And some do call me _Jille_. + +Witton Gilbert, a village four miles west of Durham, is, throughout the +bishopric, pronounced Witton Jilbert. We have also the common name of +Giles, always in Scotland pronounced Jill. For Gille, or Julianna, as +a female name, we have _Fair Gillian_ of Croyden, and a thousand +authorities. Such being the case, the editor must enter his protest +against the conversion of Gil Morrice, into child Maurice, an epithet +of chivalry. All the circumstances in that ballad argue, that the +unfortunate hero was an obscure and very young man, who had never +received the honour of knighthood. At any rate, there can be no reason, +even were internal evidence totally wanting, for altering a well known +proper name, which, till of late years, has been the uniform title of +the ballad. + + + +JELLON GRAME. + + + O JELLON GRAME sat in Silverwood,[A] + He sharped his broad sword lang; + And he has call'd his little foot page + An errand for to gang. + + "Win up, my bonny boy," he says, + "As quickly as ye may; + "For ye maun gang for Lillie Flower + "Before the break of day." + + The boy has buckled his belt about, + And thro' the green-wood ran; + And he cam to the ladye's bower + Before the day did dawn. + + "O sleep ye, wake ye, Lillie Flower? + "The red sun's on the rain: + "Ye're bidden come to Silverwood, + "But I doubt ye'll never win hame." + + She hadna ridden a mile, a mile, + A mile but barely three, + Ere she cam to a new made grave, + Beneath a green aik tree. + + O then up started Jellon Grame, + Out of a bush thereby; + "Light down, light down, now, Lillie Flower, + "For its here that ye maun lye." + + She lighted aff her milk-white steed, + And kneel'd upon her knee; + "O mercy, mercy, Jellon Grame, + "For I'm no prepared to die! + + "Your bairn, that stirs between my sides, + "Maun shortly see the light; + "But to see it weltering in my blood, + "Would be a piteous sight." + + "O should I spare your life," he says, + "Until that bairn were born, + "Full weel I ken your auld father + "Would hang me on the morn." + + "O spare my life, now, Jellon Grame! + "My father ye need na dread: + "I'll keep my babe in gude green-wood, + "Or wi' it I'll beg my bread." + + He took no pity on Lillie Flower, + Tho' she for life did pray; + But pierced her thro' the fair body + As at his feet she lay. + + He felt nae pity for Lillie Flower, + Where she was lying dead; + But he felt some for the bonny bairn, + That lay weltering in her bluid. + + Up has he ta'en that bonny boy, + Given him to nurses nine; + Three to sleep, and three to wake, + And three to go between. + + And he bred up that bonny boy, + Called him his sister's son; + And he thought no eye could ever see + The deed that he had done. + + O so it fell, upon a day, + When hunting they might be, + They rested them in Silverwood, + Beneath that green aik tree. + + And mony were the green-wood flowers + Upon the grave that grew, + And marvell'd much that bonny boy + To see their lovely hue. + + "What's paler than the prymrose wan? + "What's redder than the rose? + "What's fairer than the lilye flower + "On this wee know[B] that grows?" + + O out and answered Jellon Grame, + And he spak hastelie-- + "Your mother was a fairer flower, + "And lies beneath this tree. + + "More pale she was, when she sought my grace, + "Than prymrose pale and wan; + "And redder than rose her ruddy heart's blood, + "That down my broad sword ran." + + Wi' that the boy has bent his bow, + It was baith stout and lang; + And thro' and thro' him, Jellon Grame, + He gar'd an arrow gang. + + Says--"Lie ye there, now, Jellon Grame! + "My malisoun gang you wi'! + "The place my mother lies buried in + "Is far too good for thee." + +[Footnote A: Silverwood, mentioned in this ballad, occurs in a medley +MS song, which seems to have been copied from the first edition of the +Aberdeen caurus, _penes_ John G. Dalyell, esq. advocate. One line only +is cited, apparently the beginning of some song: + + Silverwood, gin ye were mine.] + +[Footnote B: _Wee know_--Little hillock.] + + + +WILLIE'S LADYE. + +ANCIENT COPY. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +Mr Lewis, in his _Tales of Wonder_, has presented the public with a copy +of this ballad, with additions and alterations. The editor has also seen +a copy, containing some modern stanzas, intended by Mr Jamieson, of +Macclesfield, for publication in his Collection of Scottish Poetry. Yet, +under these disadvantages, the editor cannot relinquish his purpose of +publishing the old ballad, in its native simplicity, as taken from Mrs +Brown of Faulkland's MS. + +Those, who wish to know how an incantation, or charm, of the distressing +nature here described, was performed in classic days, may consult the +story of Galanthis's Metamorphosis, in Ovid, or the following passage in +Apuleius: _"Eadem (Saga scilicet quaedam), amatoris uxorem, quod in sibi +dicacule probrum dixerat, jam in sarcinam praegnationis, obsepto utero, +et repigrato faetu, perpetua praegnatione damnavit. Et ut cuncti +numerant, octo annorum onere, misella illa, velut elephantum paritura, +distenditur."_--APUL. Metam. lib. 1. + +There is also a curious tale about a count of Westeravia, whom a +deserted concubine bewitched upon his marriage, so as to preclude all +hopes of his becoming a father. The spell continued to operate for +three years, till one day, the count happening to meet with his former +mistress, she maliciously asked him about the increase of his family. +The count, conceiving some suspicion from her manner, craftily answered, +that God had blessed him with three fine children; on which she +exclaimed, like Willie's mother in the ballad, "May Heaven confound +the old hag, by whose counsel I threw an enchanted pitcher into the +draw-well of your palace!" The spell being found, and destroyed, the +count became the father of a numerous family.--_Hierarchie of the +Blessed Angels,_ p. 474. + + + +WILLIE'S LADYE. + + + Willie's ta'en him o'er the faem,[A] + He's wooed a wife, and brought her hame; + He's wooed her for her yellow hair, + But his mother wrought her meikle care; + + And meikle dolour gar'd her drie, + For lighter she can never be; + But in her bower she sits wi' pain, + And Willie mourns o'er her in vain. + + And to his mother he has gane, + That vile rank witch, o' vilest kind! + He says--"My ladie has a cup, + Wi' gowd and silver set about, + This gudely gift sall be your ain, + And let her be lighter o' her young bairn." + + "Of her young bairn she's never be lighter, + "Nor in her bour to shine the brighter; + "But she sall die, and turn to clay, + "And you shall wed another may." + + "Another may I'll never wed, + "Another may I'll never bring hame." + But, sighing, said that weary wight-- + "I wish my life were at an end!" + + "Yet gae ye to your mother again, + "That vile rank witch, o' vilest kind! + "And say, your ladye has a steed, + "The like o' him's no in the land o' Leed.[B] + + "For he is silver shod before, + "And he is gowden shod behind; + "At every tuft of that horse mane, + "There's a golden chess[C], and a bell to ring. + "This gudely gift sall be her ain, + "And let me be lighter o' my young bairn." + + "Of her young bairn she's ne'er be lighter, + "Nor in her bour to shine the brighter; + "But she sall die, and turn to clay, + "And ye sall wed another may." + + "Another may I'll never wed, + "Another may I'll never bring hame." + But, sighing, said that weary wight-- + "I wish my life were at an end!" + + "Yet gae ye to your mother again, + "That vile rank witch, o' rankest kind! + "And say, your ladye has a girdle, + "It is a' red gowd to the middle; + + "And aye, at ilka siller hem + "Hang fifty siller bells and ten; + "This gudely gift sall be her ain, + "And let me be lighter o' my young bairn." + + "Of her young bairn she's ne'er be lighter, + "Nor in your bour to shine the brighter; + "For she sall die, and turn to clay, + "And thou sall wed another may." + + "Another may I'll never wed, + "Another may I'll never bring hame." + But, sighing, said that weary wight-- + "I wish my days were at an end!" + + Then out and spak the Billy Blind,[D] + (He spak ay in a gude time:) + "Yet gae ye to the market-place, + "And there do buy a loaf of wace;[E] + "Do shape it bairn and bairnly like, + "And in it twa glassen een you'll put; + + "And bid her your boy's christening to, + "Then notice weel what she shall do; + "And do ye stand a little away, + "To notice weel what she may saye. + + * * * * * + + [_A stanza seems to be wanting. Willie is supposed to follow + the advice of the spirit.--His mother speaks._] + + "O wha has loosed the nine witch knots, + "That were amang that ladye's locks? + "And wha's ta'en out the kaims o' care, + "That were amang that ladye's hair? + + "And wha has ta'en downe that bush o' woodbine, + "That hung between her bour and mine? + "And wha has kill'd the master kid, + "That ran beneath that ladye's bed? + "And wha has loosed her left foot shee, + "And let that ladye lighter be?" + + Syne, Willy's loosed the nine witch knots, + That were amang that ladye's locks; + And Willy's ta'en out the kaims o' care, + That were into that ladye's hair; + And he's ta'en down the bush o' woodbine, + Hung atween her bour and the witch carline; + + And he has kill'd the master kid, + That ran beneath that ladye's bed; + And he has loosed her left foot shee, + And latten that ladye lighter be; + And now he has gotten a bonny son, + And meikle grace be him upon. + +[Footnote A: _Faem_--The sea foam.] + +[Footnote B: _Land o' Leed_--Perhaps Lydia.] + +[Footnote C: _Chess_--Should probably be _jess_, the name of a hawk's +bell.] + +[Footnote D: _Billy-Blind_--A familiar genius, or propitious spirit, +somewhat similar to the _Brownie_. He is mentioned repeatedly in Mrs +Brown's Ballads, but I have not met with him any where else, although he +is alluded to in the rustic game of _Bogle_ (i.e. _goblin) Billy-Blind_. +The word is, indeed, used in Sir David Lindsay's plays, but apparently +in a different sense-- + + "Preists sall leid you like ane _Billy Blinde_." + + PINKERTON'S _Scottish Poems_, 1792, Vol. II. p. 232.] + +[Footnote E: _Wace_--Wax.] + + + +CLERK SAUNDERS. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +This romantic ballad is taken from Mr Herd's MSS., with several +corrections from a shorter and more imperfect copy, in the same volume, +and one or two conjectural emendations in the arrangement of the +stanzas. The resemblance of the conclusion to the ballad, beginning, +"There came a ghost to Margaret's door," will strike every reader.--The +tale is uncommonly wild and beautiful, and apparently very ancient. +The custom of the passing bell is still kept up in many villages of +Scotland. The sexton goes through the town, ringing a small bell, and +announcing the death of the departed, and the time of the funeral.--The +three concluding verses have been recovered since the first edition +of this work; and I am informed by the reciter, that it was usual to +separate from the rest, that part of the ballad which follows the death +of the lovers, as belonging to another story. For this, however, there +seems no necessity, as other authorities give the whole as a complete +tale. + + + +CLERK SAUNDERS. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + + Clerk Saunders and may Margaret + Walked ower yon garden green; + And sad and heavy was the love + That fell thir twa between. + + "A bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders said, + "A bed for you and me!" + "Fye na, fye na," said may Margaret, + "Till anes we married be. + + "For in may come my seven bauld brothers, + "Wi' torches burning bright; + "They'll say--'We hae but ae sister, + "And behold she's wi' a knight!' + + "Then take the sword frae my scabbard, + "And slowly lift the pin; + "And you may swear, and safe your aith, + "Ye never let Clerk Saunders in. + + "And take a napkin in your hand, + "And tie up baith your bonny een; + "And you may swear, and safe your aith, + "Ye saw me na since late yestreen." + + It was about the midnight hour, + When they asleep were laid, + When in and came her seven brothers, + Wi' torches burning red. + + When in and came her seven brothers, + Wi' torches shining bright; + They said, "We hae but ae sister, + "And behold her lying with a knight!" + + Then out and spake the first o' them, + "I bear the sword shall gar him die!" + And out and spake the second o' them, + "His father has nae mair than he!" + + And out and spake the third o' them, + "I wot that they are lovers dear!" + And out and spake the fourth o' them, + "They hae been in love this mony a year!" + + Then out and spake the fifth o' them, + "It were great sin true love to twain!" + And out and spake the sixth o' them, + "It were shame to slay a sleeping man!" + + Then up and gat the seventh o' them, + And never a word spake he; + But he has striped[A] his bright brown brand + Out through Clerk Saunders' fair bodye. + + Clerk Saunders he started, and Margaret she turned + Into his arms as asleep she lay; + And sad and silent was the night + That was atween thir twae. + + And they lay still and sleeped sound, + Until the day began to daw; + And kindly to him she did say, + "It is time, true love, you were awa'." + + But he lay still, and sleeped sound, + Albeit the sun began to sheen; + She looked atween her and the wa', + And dull and drowsie were his een. + + Then in and came her father dear, + Said--"Let a' your mourning be: + "I'll carry the dead corpse to the clay, + "And I'll come back and comfort thee." + + "Comfort weel your seven sons; + "For comforted will I never be: + "I ween 'twas neither knave nor lown + "Was in the bower last night wi' me." + + The clinking bell gaed through the town, + To carry the dead corse to the clay; + And Clerk Saunders stood at may Margaret's window, + I wot, an hour before the day. + + "Are ye sleeping, Margaret?" he says, + "Or are ye waking presentlie? + "Give me my faith and troth again, + "I wot, true love, I gied to thee." + + "Your faith and troth ye sall never get, + "Nor our true love sall never twin, + "Until ye come within my bower, + "And kiss me cheik and chin." + + "My mouth it is full cold, Margaret, + "It has the smell, now, of the ground; + "And if I kiss thy comely mouth, + "Thy days of life will not be lang. + + "O, cocks are crowing a merry midnight, + "I wot the wild fowls are boding day; + "Give me my faith and troth again, + "And let me fare me on my way." + + "Thy faith and troth thou sall na get, + "And our true love sall never twin, + "Until ye tell what comes of women, + "I wot, who die in strong traivelling?"[B] + + "Their beds are made in the heavens high, + "Down at the foot of our good lord's knee, + "Weel set about wi' gillyflowers: + "I wot sweet company for to see. + + "O cocks are crowing a merry mid-night, + "I wot the wild fowl are boding day; + "The psalms of heaven will soon be sung, + "And I, ere now, will be missed away." + + Then she has ta'en a crystal wand, + And she has stroken her troth thereon; + She has given it him out at the shot-window, + Wi' mony a sad sigh, and heavy groan. + + "I thank ye, Marg'ret; I thank ye, Marg'ret; + "And aye I thank ye heartilie; + "Gin ever the dead come for the quick, + "Be sure, Marg'ret, I'll come for thee." + + Its hosen and shoon, and gown alone, + She climbed the wall, and followed him, + Until she came to the green forest, + And there she lost the sight o' him. + + "Is there ony room at your head, Saunders? + "Is there ony room at your feet? + "Or ony room at your side, Saunders, + "Where fain, fain, I wad sleep?" + + "There's nae room at my head, Marg'ret, + "There's nae room at my feet; + "My bed it is full lowly now: + "Amang the hungry worms I sleep. + + "Cauld mould is my covering now, + "But and my winding-sheet; + "The dew it falls nae sooner down, + "Than my resting-place is weet. + + "But plait a wand o' bonnie birk, + "And lay it on my breast; + "And shed a tear upon my grave, + "And wish my saul gude rest. + + "And fair Marg'ret, and rare Marg'ret, + "And Marg'ret o' veritie, + "Gin ere ye love another man, + "Ne'er love him as ye did me." + + Then up and crew the milk-white cock, + And up and crew the gray; + Her lover vanish'd in the air, + And she gaed weeping away. + +[Footnote A: _Striped_--Thrust.] + +[Footnote B: _Traivelling_--Child-birth.] + + + +NOTES ON CLERK SAUNDERS. + + +_Weel set about wi' gillyflowers._--P. 394. v. 5. + +From whatever source the popular ideas of heaven be derived, the mention +of gillyflowers is not uncommon. Thus, in the Dead Men's Song-- + + The fields about this city faire + Were all with roses set; + _Gillyflowers_, and carnations faire, + Which canker could not fret. + RITSON'S _Ancient Songs_, p. 288. + +The description, given in the legend of _Sir Owain_, of the terrestrial +paradise, at which the blessed arrive, after passing through purgatory, +omits gillyflowers, though it mentions many others. As the passage is +curious, and the legend has never been published, many persons may not +be displeased to see it extracted-- + + Fair were her erbers with flowres, + Rose and lili divers colours, + Primrol and parvink; + Mint, feverfoy, and eglenterre + Colombin, and mo ther wer + Than ani man mai bithenke. + + It berth erbes of other maner, + Than ani in erth groweth here, + Tho that is lest of priis; + Evermore thai grene springeth, + For winter no somer it no clingeth, + And sweeter than licorice. + + _But plait a wand o' bonnie birk_, &c.--P. 396. v. 3. + +The custom of binding the new-laid sod of the church-yard with osiers, +or other saplings, prevailed both in England and Scotland, and served to +protect the turf from injury by cattle, or otherwise. It is alluded to +by Gay, in the _What d'ye call it_-- + + Stay, let me pledge, 'tis my last earthly liquor, + When I am dead you'll bind my grave with _wicker_. + +In the _Shepherd's Week_, the same custom is alluded to, and the cause +explained:-- + + With _wicker rods_ we fenced her tomb around, + To ward, from man and beast, the hallowed ground, + Lest her new grave the parson's cattle raze, + For both his horse and cow the church-yard graze. + _Fifth Pastoral._ + + + +EARL RICHARD. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +_There are two Ballads in Mr_ HERD'S _MSS. upon the following Story, +in one of which the unfortunate Knight is termed_ YOUNG HUNTIN. _A +Fragment, containing from the sixth to the tenth verse, has been +repeatedly published. The best verses are here selected from both +copies, and some trivial alterations have been adopted from tradition._ + + + "O lady, rock never your young son young, + "One hour langer for me; + "For I have a sweetheart in Garlioch Wells, + "I love far better than thee. + + "The very sole o' that ladye's foot + "Than thy face is far mair white."-- + "But, nevertheless, now, Erl Richard, + "Ye will bide in ray bower a' night?" + + She birled[A] him with the ale and wine, + As they sat down to sup; + A living man he laid him down, + But I wot he ne'er rose up. + + Then up and spak the popinjay, + That flew aboun her head; + "Lady! keep weel your green cleiding + "Frae gude Erl Richard's bleid." + + "O better I'll keep my green cleiding + "Frae gude Erl Richard's bleid, + "Than thou canst keep thy clattering toung, + "That trattles in thy head." + + She has call'd upon her bower maidens, + She has call'd them ane by ane; + "There lies a deid man in my bour: + "I wish that he were gane!" + + They hae booted him, and spurred him, + As he was wont to ride;-- + A hunting-horn tied round his waist, + A sharp sword by his side; + And they hae had him to the wan water, + For a' men call it Clyde. + + Then up and spak the popinjay, + That sat upon the tree-- + "What hae ye done wi' Erl Richard? + "Ye were his gay ladye." + + "Come down, come down, my bonny bird, + "And sit upon my hand; + "And thou sall hae a cage o' gowd, + "Where thou hast but the wand." + + "Awa! awa! ye ill woman: + "Nae cage o' gowd for me; + "As ye hae dune to Erl Richard, + "Sae wad ye do to me." + + She hadna cross'd a rigg o' land, + A rigg, but barely ane; + When she met wi' his auld father, + Came riding all alane. + + "Where hae ye been, now, ladye fair, + "Where hae ye been sae late?" + "We hae been seeking Erl Richard, + "But him we canna get." + + "Erl Richard kens a' the fords in Clyde, + "He'll ride them ane by ane, + "And though the night was ne'er sae mirk, + "Erl Richard will he hame." + + O it fell anes, upon a day, + The king was boun' to ride; + And he has mist him, Erl Richard, + Should hae ridden on his right side. + + The ladye turn'd her round about, + Wi' meikle mournfu' din-- + "It fears me sair o' Clyde water, + "That he is drown'd therein." + + "Gar douk, gar douk,"[B] the king he cried, + "Gar douk for gold and fee; + "O wha will douk for Erl Richard's sake, + "Or wha will douk for me?" + + They douked in at ae weil-head,[C] + And out ay at the other; + "We can douk nae mair for Erl Richard, + "Although he were our brother." + + It fell that, in that ladye's castle, + The king was boun' to bed; + And up and spake the popinjay, + That flew abune his head. + + "Leave off your douking on the day, + "And douk upon the night; + "And where that sackless[D] knight lies slain, + "The candles will burn bright." + + "O there's a bird within this bower, + "That sings baith sad and sweet; + "O there's a bird within your bower, + "Keeps me frae my night's sleep." + + They left the douking on the day, + And douked upon the night; + And, where that sackless knight lay slain, + The candles burned bright. + + The deepest pot in a' the linn, + They fand Erl Richard in; + A grene turf tyed across his breast, + To keep that gude lord down. + + Then up and spake the king himsell, + When he saw the deadly wound-- + "O wha has slain my right-hand man, + "That held my hawk and hound?" + + Then up and spake the popinjay, + Says--"What needs a' this din? + "It was his light lemman took his life, + "And hided him in the linn." + + She swore her by the grass, sae grene, + Sae did she by the corn, + She had na' seen him, Erl Richard, + Since Moninday at morn. + + "Put na the wite on me," she said; + "It was my may Catherine." + Then they hae cut baith fern and thorn, + To burn that maiden in. + + It wadna take upon her cheik, + Nor yet upon her chin; + Nor yet upon her yellow hair, + To cleanse the deadly sin. + + The maiden touched the clay-cauld corpse, + A drap it never bled; + The ladye laid her hand on him, + And soon the 'ground was red. + + Out they hae ta'en her, may Catherine, + And put her mistress in: + The flame tuik fast upon her cheik, + Tuik fast upon her chin, + Tuik fast upon her faire bodye-- + She burn'd like hollins green.[E] + +[Footnote A: _Birled_--Plied.] + +[Footnote B: _Douk_--Dive.] + +[Footnote C: _Weil-heid_--Eddy.] + +[Footnote D: _Sackless_--Guiltless.] + +[Footnote E: _Hollins green_--Green holly.] + + + +NOTES ON EARL RICHARD. + + + _The candles burned bright._--P. 403. v. 4. + +These are unquestionably the corpse lights, called in Wales _Canhwyllan +Cyrph_, which are sometimes seen to illuminate the spot where a dead +body is concealed. The editor is informed, that, some years ago, the +corpse of a man, drowned in the Ettrick, below Selkirk, was discovered +by means of these candles. Such lights are common in church-yards, and +are probably of a phosphoric nature. But rustic superstition derives +them from supernatural agency, and supposes, that, as soon as life has +departed, a pale flame appears at the window of the house, in which the +person had died, and glides towards the church-yard, tracing through +every winding the route of the future funeral, and pausing where the +bier is to rest. This and other opinions, relating to the "tomb-fires' +livid gleam," seem to be of Runic extraction. + + _The deepest pot in a' the linn._--P. 403. v. 5. + +The deep holes, scooped in the rock by the eddies of a river, are called +_pots;_ the motion of the water having there some resemblance to a +boiling cauldron. + + _Linn_, means the pool beneath a cataract. + + _The maiden touched the clay-cauld corpse, + A drop it never bled._--P. 405. v. I. + +This verse, which is restored from tradition, refers to a superstition +formerly received in most parts of Europe, and even resorted to, by +judicial authority, for the discovery of murder. In Germany, this +experiment was called _bahr-recht_, or the law of the bier; because, +the murdered body being stretched upon a bier, the suspected person was +obliged to put one hand upon the wound, and the other upon the mouth +of the deceased, and, in that posture, call upon heaven to attest his +innocence. If, during this ceremony, the blood gushed from the mouth, +nose, or wound, a circumstance not unlikely to happen in the course of +shifting or stirring the body, it was held sufficient evidence of the +guilt of the party. + +The same singular kind of evidence, although reprobated by Mathaeus and +Carpzovius, was admitted in the Scottish criminal courts, at the short +distance of one century. My readers may be amused by the following +instances: + +"The laird of Auchindrane (Muir of Auchindrane, in Ayrshire) was accused +of a horrid and private murder, where there were no witnesses, and which +the Lord had witnessed from heaven, singularly by his own hand, and +proved the deed against him. The corpse of the man being buried in +Girvan church-yard, as a man cast away at sea, and cast out there, the +laird of Colzean, whose servant he had been, dreaming of him in his +sleep, and that he had a particular mark upon his body, came and took up +the body, and found it to be the same person; and caused all that lived +near by come and touch the corpse, as is usual in such cases. All round +the place came but Auchindrane and his son, whom nobody suspected, till +a young child of his, Mary Muir, seeing the people examined, came in +among them; and, when she came near the dead body, it sprang out +in bleeding; upon which they were apprehended, and put to the +torture."--WODROW'S _History_, Vol. I. p. 513. The trial of Auchindrane +happened in 1611. He was convicted and executed.--HUME'S _Criminal Law_, +Vol. I. p. 428. + +A yet more dreadful case was that of Philip Standfield, tried upon the +30th November, 1687, for cursing his father (which, by the Scottish law, +is a capital crime, _Act 1661, Chap_. 20), and for being accessory +to his murder. Sir James Standfield, the deceased, was a person of +melancholy temperament; so that, when his body was found in a pond near +his own house of Newmilns, he was at first generally supposed to have +drowned himself. But, the body having been hastily buried, a report +arose that he had been strangled by ruffians, instigated by his son +Philip, a profligate youth, whom be had disinherited on account of his +gross debauchery. Upon this rumour, the Privy Council granted warrant to +two surgeons of character, named Crawford and Muirhead, to dig up the +body, and to report the state in which they should find it. Philip +was present on this occasion, and the evidence of both surgeons bears +distinctly, that he stood for some time at a distance from the body +of his parent; but, being called upon to assist in stretching out +the corpse, he put his hand to the head, when the mouth and nostrils +instantly gushed with blood. This circumstance, with the evident +symptoms of terror and remorse, exhibited by young Standfield, seem to +have had considerable weight with the jury, and are thus stated in the +indictment: "That his (the deceased's) nearest relations being required +to lift the corpse into the coffin, after it had been inspected, upon +the said Philip Standfield touching of it (_according to God's usual +mode of discovering murder_), it bled afresh upon the said Philip; and +that thereupon he let the body fall, and fled from it in the greatest +consternation, crying, Lord have mercy upon me!" The prisoner was found +guilty of being accessory to the murder of his father, although there +was little more than strong presumptions against him. It is true, he was +at the same time separately convicted of the distinct crimes of having +cursed his father, and drank damnation to the monarchy and hierarchy. +His sentence, which was to have his tongue cut out, and hand struck off, +previous to his being hanged, was executed with the utmost rigour. He +denied the murder with his last breath. "It is," says a contemporary +judge, "a dark case of divination, to be remitted to the great day, +whether he was guilty or innocent. Only it is certain he +was a bad youth, and may serve as a beacon to all profligate +persons."--FOUNTAINHALL'S _Decisions_, Vol. I. p. 483. + +While all ranks believed alike the existence of these prodigies, the +vulgar were contented to refer them to the immediate interference of the +Deity, or, as they termed it, God's revenge against murder. But those, +who, while they had overleaped the bounds of superstition, were still +entangled in the mazes of mystic philosophy, amongst whom we must +reckon many of the medical practitioners, endeavoured to explain the +phenomenon, by referring to the secret power of sympathy, which even +Bacon did not venture to dispute. To this occult agency was imputed the +cure of wounds, effected by applying salves and powders, not to +the wound itself, but to the sword or dagger, by which it had been +inflicted; a course of treatment, which, wonderful as it may at first +seem, was certainly frequently attended with signal success.[A] This, +however, was attributed to magic, and those, who submitted to such a +mode of cure, were refused spiritual assistance. + +[Footnote A: The first part of the process was to wash the wound clean, +and bind it up so as to promote adhesion, and exclude the air. Now, +though the remedies, afterwards applied to the sword, could hardly +promote so desirable an issue, yet it is evident the wound stood a good +chance of healing by the operation of nature, which, I believe, medical +gentlemen call a cure by the first intention.] + +The vulgar continue to believe firmly in the phenomenon of the murdered +corpse bleeding at the approach of the murderer. "Many (I adopt the +words of an ingenious correspondent) are the proofs advanced in +confirmation of the opinion, against those who are so hardy as to doubt +it; but one, in particular, as it is said to have happened in this +place, I cannot help repeating. + +"Two young men, going a fishing in the river Yarrow, fell out; and so +high ran the quarrel, that the one, in a passion, stabbed the other to +the heart with a fish spear. Astonished "at the rash act, he hesitated +whether to fly, give himself up to justice, or conceal the crime; and, +in the end, fixed on the latter expedient, burying the body of his +friend very deep in the sands. As the meeting had been accidental, he +was never from gaiety to a settled melancholy. Time passed on for +the space of fifty years, when a smith, fishing near the same place, +discovered an uncommon and curious bone, which he put in his pocket, +and afterwards showed to some people in his smithy. The murderer being +present, now an old white-headed man, leaning on his staff, desired a +sight of the little bone; but how horrible was the issue! no sooner had +he touched it, than it streamed with purple blood. Being told where it +was found, he confessed the crime, was condemned, but was prevented, by +death, from suffering the punishment due to his crime. + +"Such opinions, though reason forbids us to believe them, a few moments +reflection on the cause of their origin will teach us to revere. Under +the feudal system which prevailed, the rights of humanity were too often +violated, and redress very hard to be procured; thus an awful deference +to one of the leading attributes of Omnipotence begat on the mind, +untutored by philosophy, the first germ of these supernatural effects; +which was, by superstitious zeal, assisted, perhaps, by a few instances +of sudden remorse, magnified into evidence of indisputable guilt." + + + +THE LASS OF LOCHROYAN. + +NOW FIRST PUBLISHED IN A PERFECT STATE. + + +Lochroyan, whence this ballad probably derives its name, lies in +Galloway. The lover, who, if the story be real, may be supposed to have +been detained by sickness, is represented, in the legend, as confined by +Fairy charms in an enchanted castle situated in the sea. The ruins of +ancient edifices are still visible on the summits of most of those +small islands, or rather insulated rocks, which lie along the coast of +Ayrshire and Galloway; as Ailsa and Big Scaur. + +This edition of the ballad obtained is composed of verses selected from +three MS. copies, and two from recitation. Two of the copies are in +Herd's MSS.; the third in that of Mrs Brown of Falkland. + +A fragment of the original song, which is sometimes denominated _Lord +Gregory_, or _Love Gregory_, was published in Mr Herd's Collection, +1774, and, still more fully, in that of Laurie and Symington, 1792. The +story has been celebrated both by Burns and Dr Wolcott. + + + +THE LASS OF LOCHROYAN. + + + "O wha will shoe my bonny foot? + "And wha will glove my hand? + "And wha will lace my middle jimp + "W' a lang lang linen band? + + "O wha will kame my yellow hair + "With a new made silver kame? + "And wha will father my young son + "Till Lord Gregory come hame?" + + "Thy father will shoe thy bonny foot, + "Thy mother will glove thy hand, + "Thy sister will lace thy middle jimp, + "Till Lord Gregory come to land. + + "Thy brother will kame thy yellow hair + "With a new made silver kame, + "And God will be thy bairn's father + "Till Lord Gregory come hame." + + "But I will get a bonny boat, + "And I will sail the sea; + "And I will gang to Lord Gregory, + "Since he canna come hame to me." + + Syne she's gar'd build a bonny boat, + To sail the salt salt sea: + The sails were o' the light-green silk, + The tows[A] o' taffety. + + She hadna sailed but twenty leagues, + But twenty leagues and three, + When she met wi' a rank robber, + And a' his company. + + "Now whether are ye the queen hersell, + "(For so ye weel might be) + "Or are ye the lass of Lochroyan, + "Seekin' Lord Gregory?" + + "O I am neither the queen," she said, + "Nor sic I seem to be; + "But I am the lass of Lochroyan, + "Seekin' Lord Gregory." + + "O see na thou yon bonny bower? + "Its a' covered o'er wi' tiu: + "When thou hast sailed it round about, + "Lord Gregory is within." + + And when she saw the stately tower + Shining sae clear and bright, + Whilk stood aboon the jawing[B] wave, + Built on a rock of height; + + Says--"Row the boat, my mariners, + "And bring me to the land! + "For yonder I see my love's castle + "Close by the salt sea strand." + + She sailed it round, and sailed it round, + And loud, loud, cried she-- + "Now break, now break, ye Fairy charms, + "And set my true love free!" + + She's ta'en her young son in her arms, + And to the door she's gane; + And long she knocked, and sair she ca'd, + But answer got she nane. + + "O open the door, Lord Gregory! + "O open, and let me in! + "For the wind blaws through my yellow hair, + "And the rain drops o'er my chin." + + "Awa, awa, ye ill woman! + "Ye're no come here for good! + "Ye're but some witch, or wil warlock, + "Or mermaid o' the flood." + + "I am neither witch, nor wil warlock, + "Nor mermaid o' the sea; + "But I am Annie of Lochroyan; + "O open the door to me!" + + "Gin thou be Annie of Lochroyan, + "(As I trow thou binna she) + "Now tell me some o' the love tokens + "That past between thee and me." + + "O dinna ye mind, Lord Gregory, + "As we sat at the wine, + "We chang'd the rings frae our fingers, + "And I can shew thee thine? + + "O your's was gude, and gude enough, + "But ay the best was mine; + "For your's was o' the gude red gowd, + "But mine o' the diamond fine. + + "And has na thou mind, Lord Gregory, + "As we sat on the hill, + "Thou twin'd me o' my maidenheid + "Right sair against my will? + + "Now, open the door, Lord Gregory! + "Open the door, I pray! + "For thy young son is in my arms, + "And will be dead ere day." + + "If thou be the lass of Lochroyan, + "(As I kenna thou be) + "Tell me some mair o' the love tokens + "Past between me and thee." + + Fair Annie turned her round about-- + "Weel! since that it be sae, + "May never woman, that has borne a son, + "Hae a heart sae fu' o' wae! + + "Take down, take down, that mast o' gowd! + "Set up a mast o' tree! + "It disna become a forsaken lady. + "To sail sae royallie." + + When the cock had crawn, and the day did dawn. + And the sun began to peep, + Then up and raise him, Lord Gregory, + And sair, sair did he weep. + + "O I hae dreamed a dream, mother, + "I wish it may prove true! + "That the bonny lass of Lochroyan + "Was at the yate e'en now. + + "O I hae dreamed a dream, mother, + "The thought o't gars me greet! + "That fair Annie o' Lochroyan + "Lay cauld dead at my feet." + + "Gin it be for Annie of Lochroyan + "That ye make a' this din, + "She stood a' last night at your door, + "But I trow she wanna in." + + "O wae betide ye, ill woman! + "An ill deid may ye die! + "That wadna open the door to her, + "Nor yet wad waken me." + + O he's gane down to yon shore side + As fast as he could fare; + He saw fair Annie in the boat, + But the wind it tossed her sair. + + "And hey Annie, and how Annie! + "O Annie, winna ye bide!" + But ay the mair he cried Annie, + The braider grew the tide. + + "And hey Annie, and how Annie! + "Dear Annie, speak to me!" + But ay the louder he cried Annie, + The louder roared the sea. + + The wind blew loud, the sea grew rough, + And dashed the boat on shore; + Fair Annie floated through the faem, + But the babie raise no more. + + Lord Gregory tore his yellow hair, + And made a heavy moan; + Fair Annie's corpse lay at his feet, + Her bonny young son was gone. + + O cherry, cherry was her cheek, + And gowden was her hair; + But clay-cold were her rosy lips-- + Nae spark o' life was there. + + And first he kissed her cherry cheek, + And syne he kissed her chin, + And syne he kissed her rosy lips-- + There was nae breath within. + + "O wae betide my cruel mother! + "An ill death may she die! + "She turned my true love frae my door, + "Wha came sae far to me. + + "O wae betide my cruel mother! + "An ill death may she die! + "She turned fair Annie frae my door, + "Wha died for love o' me." + +[Footnote A: _Tows_--Ropes.] + +[Footnote B: _Jawing_--Dashing.] + + + +ROSE THE RED AND WHITE LILLY. + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. + + +_This legendary Tale is given chiefly from Mrs_ BROWN'S _MS. +Accordingly, many of the rhymes arise from the Northern mode of +pronunciation; as_ dee _for_ do, _and the like.--Perhaps the Ballad may +have originally related to the history of the celebrated_ ROBIN HOOD; +_as mention is made of Barnisdale, his favourite abode._ + + O Rose the Red, and White Lilly, + Their mother deir was dead: + And their father has married an ill woman, + Wished them twa little guid. + + But she had twa as gallant sons + As ever brake man's bread; + And the tane o' them lo'ed her, White Lilly, + And the tother Rose the Red. + + O bigged hae they a bigly bour, + Fast by the roaring strand; + And there was mair mirth in the ladyes' bour, + Nor in a' their father's land. + + But out and spake their step-mother, + As she stood a little forebye-- + "I hope to live and play the prank, + "Sall gar your loud sang lie." + + She's call'd upon her eldest son; + "Cum here, my son, to me: + "It fears me sair, my bauld Arthur, + "That ye maun sail the sea." + + "Gin sae it maun be, my deir mother, + "Your bidding I maun dee; + "But, be never waur to Rose the Red, + "Than ye hae been to me." + + She's called upon her youngest son; + "Cum here, my son, to me: + "It fears me sair, my Brown Robin, + "That ye maun sail the sea." + + "Gin it fear ye sair, my mother deir, + "Your bidding I sall dee; + But, be never waur to White Lilly, + "Than ye hae been to me." + + "Now hand your tongues, ye foolish boys! + "For small sall be their part: + "They ne'er again sall see your face, + "Gin their very hearts suld break." + + Sae Bauld Arthur's gane to our king's court, + His hie chamberlain to be; + But Brown Robin, he has slain a knight, + And to grene-wood he did flee. + + When Rose the Red, and White Lilly, + Saw their twa loves were gane, + Sune did they drop the loud loud sang, + Took up the still mourning. + + And out then spake her White Lilly; + "My sister, we'll be gane: + "Why suld we stay in Barnisdale, + "To mourn our hour within?" + + O cutted hae they their green cloathing, + A little abune their knee; + And sae hae they their yellow hair, + A little abune their bree. + + And left hae they that bonny hour, + To cross the raging sea; + And they hae ta'en to a holy chapel, + Was christened by Our Ladye. + + And they hae changed their twa names, + Sae far frae ony toun; + And the tane o' them's hight Sweet Willie, + And the tother's Rouge the Rounde. + + Between the twa a promise is, + And they hae sworn it to fulfill; + Whenever the tane blew a bugle-horn, + The tother suld cum her till. + + Sweet Willy's gane to the king's court, + Her true love for to see; + And Rouge the Rounde to gude grene-wood, + Brown Robin's man to be. + + O it fell anes, upon a time, + They putted at the stane; + And seven foot ayont them a', + Brown Robin's gar'd it gang. + + She lifted the heavy putting-stane, + And gave a sad "O hon!" + Then out bespake him, Brown Robin, + "But that's a woman's moan!" + + "O kent ye by my rosy lips? + "Or by my yellow hair? + "Or kent ye by my milk-white breast, + "Ye never yet saw bare?" + + "I kent na by your rosy lips, + "Nor by your yellow hair; + "But, cum to your bour whaever likes, + "They'll find a ladye there." + + "O gin ye come my bour within, + "Through fraud, deceit, or guile, + "Wi' this same brand, that's in my hand, + "I vow I will thee kill." + + "Yet durst I cum into your bour, + "And ask nae leave," quo' he; + "And wi' this same brand, that's in my hand, + "Wave danger back on thee." + + About the dead hour o' the night, + The ladye's bour was broken; + And, about the first hour o' the day, + The fair knave bairn was gotten. + + When days were gane, and months were come, + The ladye was sad and wan; + And aye she cried for a bour woman, + For to wait her upon. + + Then up and spake him, Brown Robin, + "And what needs this?" quo' he; + "Or what can woman do for you, + "That canna be done by me?" + + "'Twas never my mother's fashion," she said, + "Nor shall it e'er be mine, + "That belted knights should e'er remain + "While ladyes dree'd their pain. + + "But, gin ye take that bugle-horn, + "And wind a blast sae shrill, + "I hae a brother in yonder court, + "Will cum me quickly till." + + "O gin ye hae a brother on earth, + "That ye lo'e mair than me, + "Ye may blaw the horn yoursell," he says, + "For a blast I winna gie." + + She's ta'en the bugle in her hand, + And blawn baith loud and shrill; + Sweet William started at the sound, + And cam her quickly till. + + O up and starts him, Brown Robin, + And swore by Our Ladye, + "No man shall cum into this hour, + "But first maun fight wi' me." + + O they hae fought the wood within, + Till the sun was going down; + And drops o' blood, frae Rose the Red, + Came pouring to the ground. + + She leant her back against an aik, + Said--"Robin, let me be: + "For it is a ladye, bred and born, + "That has fought this day wi' thee." + + O seven foot he started back. + Cried--"Alas and woe is me! + "For I wished never, in all my life, + "A woman's bluid to see: + + "And that all for the knightly vow + "I swore to Our Ladye; + "But mair for the sake o' ae fair maid, + "Whose name was White Lilly." + + Then out and spake her, Rouge the Rounde, + And leugh right heartilie, + "She has been wi' you this year and mair, + "Though ye wistna it was she." + + Now word has gane through all the land, + Before a month was gane, + That a forester's page, in gude grene-wood, + Had borne a bonny son. + + The marvel gaed to the king's court, + And to the king himsell; + "Now, by my fay," the king did say, + "The like was never heard tell!" + + Then out and spake him, Bauld Arthur, + And laugh'd right loud and hie-- + "I trow some may has plaid the lown,[A] + "And fled her ain countrie." + + "Bring me my steid!" the king can say; + "My bow and arrows keen; + "And I'll gae hunt in yonder wood, + "And see what's to be seen." + + "Gin it please your grace," quo' Bauld Arthur, + "My liege, I'll gang you wi'; + "And see gin I can meet a bonny page, + "That's stray'd awa frae me." + + And they hae chaced in gude grene-wood, + The buck but and the rae, + Till they drew near Brown Robin's hour, + About the close o' day. + + Then out and spake the king himsell, + Says--"Arthur, look and see, + "Gin you be not your favourite page, + "That leans against yon tree." + + O Arthur's ta'en a bugle-horn, + And blawn a blast sae shrill; + Sweet Willie started to her feet, + And ran him quickly till. + + "O wanted ye your meat, Willie, + "Or wanted ye your fee? + "Or gat ye e'er an angry word, + "That ye ran awa frae me?" + + "I wanted nought, my master dear; + "To me ye aye was good: + "I cam to see my ae brother, + "That wons in this grene-wood." + + Then out bespake the king again,-- + "My boy, now tell to me, + "Who dwells into yon bigly bour, + "Beneath yon green aik tree?" + + "O pardon me," said Sweet Willy; + "My liege I dare na tell; + "And gang na near yon outlaw's bour, + "For fear they suld you kill." + + "O hand your tongue, my bonny boy! + "For I winna be said nay; + "But I will gang yon hour within, + "Betide me weal or wae." + + They have lighted frae their milk-white steids, + And saftly entered in; + And there they saw her, White Lilly, + Nursing her bonny young son. + + "Now, by the mass," the king he said, + "This is a comely sight; + "I trow, instead of a forester's man, + "This is a ladye bright!" + + O out and spake her, Rose the Red, + And fell low on her knee:-- + "O pardon us, my gracious liege, + "And our story I'll tell thee. + + "Our father is a wealthy lord, + "Lives into Barnisdale; + "But we had a wicked step-mother, + "That wrought us meikle bale. + + "Yet had she twa as fu' fair sons, + "As e'er the sun did see; + "And the tane o' them lo'ed my sister deir, + "And the tother said he lo'ed me." + + Then out and cried him, Bauld Arthur, + As by the king he stood,-- + "Now, by the faith of my body, + "This suld be Rose the Red! + + The king has sent for robes o' grene, + And girdles o' shining gold; + And sae sune have the ladyes busked themselves, + Sae glorious to behold. + + Then in and came him, Brown Robin, + Frae hunting o' the king's deer, + But when he saw the king himsell, + He started back for fear. + + The king has ta'en Robin by the hand, + And bade him nothing dread, + But quit for aye the gude grene wood, + And cum to the court wi' speed. + + The king has ta'en White Lilly's son, + And set him on his knee; + Says--"Gin ye live to wield a brand, + "My bowman thou sall be." + + They have ta'en them to the holy chapelle, + And there had fair wedding; + And when they cam to the king's court, + For joy the bells did ring. + +[Footnote A: _Lown_--Rogue.] + + + +END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, +Vol. II (of 3), by Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MINSTRELSY, VOL. 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