" e was redily re- sodibera ravage. Scotland, this abomynable act net on to be done! dyverse of the Mershe, but also the afver named pr sons of Tyvidaill, and consented to, as by appearan by the Erie of Murey, upon Friday at white last, slyp c of the best horsemen of Giend.nl, with a pa of your highnes' subjects of Bervice, together ♥ George Dowglas, whoo came into lagiami agavat, the dawning of the day; but afore theyre retorne, li dyd mar the Earl of Murrei's provisions at Collingha for they did not only burne the said towne of Coldi ham, with all the corne thereunto belonging, whic esteemed wurthe cii marke sterling; but alsoo bar twa townes nye adjoining thereunto, cailed Bran dergest and Black Hill, and toke xxin persons, horse, with cc hed of cattaill, which nowe as i informed, hathe not only been a stave of the said of Murrei's not coming to the Bordure as yet, but als that none inlande man will adventure theyre selfs up the marches. And as for the tax that skulde have b grauntyd for finding of the said iii hundred men. utterly denyed. Upon which the king of Scotland. parted from Edynburgh to Stirling, and as yet th doth remayn. And also I, by the advice of my brot Clyfforth, have devysed, that within this iii nyghts, 6 willing, Kelsey, in lyke case, shall be brent, with all corne in the said town'; and then they shall have t place to lye any garyson in nygh unto the Erde And as I shail atteigne further knowledge, I shad i fail to satisfye your highnes, according to my m bounden dutie. And for this burnvage of heisey devysed to be done secretly, by Tyndall and y disdale.. And thus the holy Trynite and *** your lowing fragment of a letter from the vapen becland to King Henry VIII, preserved yo MSS. Calig. B. vii. 179, the reader une nature of the dreadful war which was waged upon the Borders, sharpened by ta, and the personal hatred of the war-royal estate, with long lyf, and as much increase honour as your most noble heart can desire. Ata worth, the xxiid day of October.» (1522). Note 4. Stanza iv.. xosh barons, says the earl, had threatened what w three miles of my pore house of Awood, where I lye, and gif me light to put on my mydayght, and alsoo the said Marke Carr kov synly, that, seying they had a governor on This person was, in my younger days, the theme cx of Scotland, as well as they had in Ingland, many a fireside tale. He was a retainer of the Bo kope your highness' instructions, gyffyn unto cleuch family, and held for his Border service a sm you, for making of any day-forrey; for he and tower on the frontiers of Liddesdale. Watt say ad wolde burne enough on the nyght, lettyng profession, a sutor, but, by inclination and practice, ...ill here defyne a notable acte at theyre archer and warrior. Upon one occasion, the capta ༄ * ནས * Upon whiche, in your highnes' name, I of Bewcastle, military governor of that wild district dene watche to be kept on your marchies, Cumberland, is said to have made an incursion i my of any Scotts. --Neutheless, upon Thurs-Scotland, in which he was defeated, and forced to th At wiht last, came thyrty light horsemen into a Watt Tinliun pursued him closely through a dangero cyclage of myne, called Whitell, having not past morass; the captain, however, gained the firm grou Ak lyng towards Ryddisdaill, upon Shilbotell and seeing Tinlinn dismounted, and floundering in th cry. And there wold have fyred the said howses, but bog, used these words of insult; «< Sutor Watt, ye can *** was now fyre to get there, and they forgate to not sew your boots; the heels risp, and the seam kyany withe theyme; and toke a wyf, being great rive.»«If I cannot sew,»- retorted Tinlinn, das wak lule, in the said towne, and said to hyr, Wher charging a shaft, which nailed the captain's thigh b Man mot gyve the laird lyght yet we shall doo this in his saddle,-« If I cannot sew, I can yerk.» a gy of him, and gyve her iii mortall wounds upon kend, and another in the right side, with a dagger: wh cupon the said wyf is deede, and the childe in her bly to heste Beseeching your most gracious highnes Note 5. Stanza v. There is an old rhyme, which thus celebrates the to reduce unto your gracious memory thys wylful and places in Liddesdale remarkable for game; a que full murder, done within this your highnes' realme, Bilhope braes for bucks and raes, And Carit baugh for swine, Resp, creak.-Rive, tear. Yerk, to twitch, as shoemakers do, in securing the stitches of The backs and roes, as well as the old swine, are atiact; but the good bull-trout are still famous. Note 6. Stanza v. Of silver broach and bracelet proud. Borderers were indifferent about the furniture habitations, so much exposed to be burnt and od, they were proportionally anxious to display akar in decorating and ornamenting their females. - Lasty, de Moribus Limitaneorum. Note 7. Stanza vi. Belted Will Howard. Is Wim Howard, third son of Thomas Duke of leik, succeeded to Naworth Castle, and a large dosta anneted to it, in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister Fuse Lord Dacre, who died without heirs male, in 11 of Queen Elizabeth, By a poetical anachrohe is introduced into the romance a few years er than he actually flourished. He was warden of Western Marches; and, from the rigour with which be repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted W Howard is still famous in our traditions. In the th of Naworth, his apartments, containing a bedforatory, and a library, are still shown. They ingress us with an unpleasing idea of the life of a lord Me of the marches. Three or four strong doors, wing these rooms from the rest of the castle, inapprehensions of treachery from his garrison; secret winding passages, through which he could gray descend into the guard-room, or even into geons, imply the necessity of no small degree superintendance on the part of the governor. be ancient books and furniture have remained uned, the venerable appearance of these apartBs, and the armour scattered around the chamber, ad us to expect the arrival of the warden in Saworth Castle is situated near Brampton, in and. Lord William Howard is ancestor of the Carlisle. Note 8. Stanza vi. 27th September, 1549, the Duke of Somerset, Lord Their pleited garments therewith well accord, His ready lances Thirlestane brave' Sir John Scott of Thirlestane flourished in the reign Tewel-known name of Dacre is derived from the s of one of their ancestors at the siege of Acre, mais, under Richard Cour-de-Lion. There were erful branches of that name. The first family, Lord Dacres of the South, held the castle of the same, and are ancestors to the present Lord The other family, descended from the same were called Lord Dacres of the North, and were of Gilsland and Graystock. A chieftain of the branch was warden of the West Marches during go of Edward VI. He was a man of a hot and te character, as appears from some particulars Surrey's letter to Henry VIII. giving an account behaviour at the siege and storm of Jedburgh. | printed in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. considerand the ffaith and guid servis of of of right da to the latroduction. « We James, by the grace of God, king of Scottis, traist friend John Scott of Thirlestane, quha cummand to our hoste at Soutra-edge, with three score and ten launcieres on horseback of his friends and followers, and beand willing to gang with ws into England, when all our nobles and others refuised, he was readdy to stake all at our bidding; ffor the quhilk cause, it is our will, and we doe straitlie command and charg our lion herauld, and his deputies for the time beand, to give Sic in orig. folke within; and gone doune to trie, he was redily receyved with a hakebut or two. He left them not yet, till he had knowen wheyther thei would be content to yeld and come out; which they fondly refusing, h went to my lorde's grace, and upon utterance of t thynge, gat lisense to deale with them as he coulde so returned to them, with a skore or two of p Three ventes had their cave, that we wear w whereof he first stopt up on; anoother he hir strawe, and set it a fyer, whereat they within apace; but it was so well maynteyned wa fyer prevayled, and thei within fayn to into apoother parler. Then devised be with him) to stop the same up, cyther smoother them, or fynd of hadde any moe: as this was dou xii score of, we moughte see to come out; the which con and so long a while, that w must needs get them o forasmuch as we fou thought it for certain PATTEN'S Account land, apud DAIZS From th Earl of N amon A in to ts, per thwick, M. L. J.» ed from a younger w flourished before red by the marriage the heiress, in 1296. of the Scotts upon the ccleuch are disposed upon ousequence of that marlawe's MSS. and SCOTT le 1783. who flourished during the wax a renowned Border freew tradition has preserved a some of which have been pubof the Scottish Border, others fancy, and others, more lately, , a collection of Border ballads the bugle-horn, said to have been ble leader, is preserved by his decat Me Scott of Harden.-His castle a the very brink of a dark and preough which a scanty rivulet steals to In the recess of this glen he is Apt his spoil, which served for the daily a las retainers, until the production of a qs, in a covered dish, announced to aud, that they must ride for a supply of He was married to Mary Scott, daughter Not of Dryhope, and called in song the Varrow. He possessed a very extensive eswh was divided among his five sons. 14 " There ous descendants of this old marauding ba-. The tollowing beautiful passage of LEYDEN'S Scenes -ray, is founded on a tradition respecting an wat captive, whom Walter of Harden carried off in vatory incursion, and who is said to have become Author of some of our most beautiful pastoral Where Bortha hoarse, that loads the meads with sand, her red tide to Teviot's western strand, Though slaty hills, whose sides are shagg'd with thorn, Where springs, in scatter'd fufts, the dark-green corn, jowcas wood girt Harden, far above the vale, Aud clouds of ravons o'er the turrets sail, ས་ e, who never shrunk from war to rival realms a mighty bar, A his mountain-home; -a wide domain, the soil, bad purple heath been grain; a bat the niggard ground of wealth denied, fields more bless'd his fearless arm supplied. The waning harvest-moon shone cold and bright; The warder's horn was heard at dead of night; And, as the massy portals wide were flung, With stamping hoofs the rocky pavement rung. What fair, half-veil'd, leans from her latticed ball. Where red the wavering gleams of torch-light fall? "T is Yarrow's fairest Flower, who, through the gloom, Looks, wistful, for her lover's dancing plume. Amid the piles of spoil, that strew'd the ground, Her car, all anxious, caught a wailing sound: With trembling haste the youthful matron flew, And from the hurried heaps an infant drew. Scared at the light, his little hands he flung Nor loved the scenes that scared his infant view; His are the strains, whose wandering echoes thrill Note 12. Stanza x. Scotts of Eskdale, a stalwart band. In this, and the following stanza, some account is of the mode in which the property of the valley of was transferred from the Beattisons, its ancient pas sors, to the name of Scott. It is needless to repet circumstances, which are given in the pocin literalt they have been preserved by tradition. Lord Ma in the latter part of the sixteenth century, took u himself the title of Earl of Morton. The descend of Beattison of Woodkerricke, who aided the ear escape from his disobedient vassals, continued to these lands within the memory of man, and were only Beattisons who had property in the dale. The people give locality to the story, by showing the liard's Haugh, the place where Buccleuchi's men concealed, etc. Note 13. Stanza xiii. Their gathering word was Bellenden. Bellenden is situate near the head of Borthwick wa and, being in the centre of the possessions of the Sc was frequently used as their place of rendezvous gathering word.—Survey of Selkirkshire, in MAC LANE'S MSS. Advocates' Library. Hence Satchells one part of his genealogical account of the familie that clan, his Bellenden. Note 14. Stanza xviii. The camp their home, their law the sword, The mercenary adventurers, whom, in 1380, the I of Cambridge carried to the assistance of the Kin the Spaniards, mutinied for want of Imon, 'ye saye Lo shulde be Lave good leyser to do i was more metelyer thereto A they raised up the penon of ed, A Soltier! a Soltier! the valyaunt des to God, and enemies to all the FAOISSART, Vol. I, ch. 393. Note 15. Stanza xxi. --a gauntlet on a spear. A glove upon a lance was the emblem of faith among tancient Borderers, who were wont, when any one brake his word, to expose this emblem, and proclaim ham a faithless villain at the first Border meeting. This remony was much dreaded.—See LESLY. Note 16. Stanza xxiv. We claim from thee William of Deloraine, That he may suffer match-treason pain. Seteral species of offences, peculiar to the Border, Cosuted what was called march-treason. Among shes, was the crime of riding, or causing to ride, at the opposite country, during the time of truce. sin an indenture made at the water of Eske, bede Salom, the 25th day of March, 1334, betwixt noble himself possessed it, upon any squire who, after due probation, was found to merit the honour of chivalry. Latterly, this power was confined to generals, who were wont to create knights bannerets after or before an engagement. Even so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Essex highly offended his jealous sovereign by the indiscriminate exertion of this privilege. Amongst others, he knighted the witty Sir John Harrington, whose favour at court was by no means enhanced by his new honours.-See the Nuge Antique, edited by Mr Park. But probably the latest instance of knighthood, conferred by a subject, was in the case of Thomas Ker, knighted by the Earl of Huntley, after the defeat of the Earl of Argyle in the battle of Belrinues. The fact is attested, both by a poetical and prose account of the engagement, contained in an ancient MS. in the Advocates' Library, and lately edited by Mr Dalyell, in Godly Sangs and Ballets, Edinb. 1802. Note 19. Stanza xxvi. When English blood swell'd Ancram ford. The battle of Ancram Moor, or Peniel-heuch, was fought A. D. 1545. The English, commanded by Sir Ralph Evers, and Şir Brian Latoun, were totally routed, and both their leaders slain in the action. The Scottish army was commanded by Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, assisted by the Laird of Buccleuch and Norman Lesly. Note 20. Stanza xxx. This was the cognizance of the noble house of Howard in all its branches. The crest or bearing of a warrior was often used as a nom de guerre. Thus Richard III. acquired his well-known epithet, The Boar of York. In the violent satire on Cardinal Wolsey, written by Roy, commonly, but erroneously, imputed and mighty, Sirs Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberto Dr Bull, the Duke of Buckingham is called the K and Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, a truce pd upon until the 1st day of July; and it is exaccorded, « Gif ony stellis, authir on the ta part, the tothyr, that he shall be henget or heofdit; gif ony company stellis any gudes within the at beforesayd, ane of that company sall be henget refdit, and the remnant sall restore the gudys in the dabble.»-History of Westmoreland and Cumberland, Introd. хххіх. P. Note 17. Stanza xxvi. -William of Deloraine Will cleanse bim, by oath, of march-treason stajn. la dubious cases, the innocence of Border criminals va accasionally referred to their own oath. The form using bills, or indictments, by Border-oath, ran You shall swear by heaven above you, hell beth you, by your part of Paradise, by all that God tade in six days and seven nights, and by God himself, are whart out sackless of art, part, way, witting, kenning, having, or recetting of any of the goods dcattels named in this bill. So help you God.»dary of Cumberland, Introd. p. xxv. Note 18. Stanza xxvi. Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword. Beautiful Swan, and the Duke of Norfolk, or Earl of Surrey, the White Lion. As the book is extremely rare, and the whole passage relates to the emblematical interpretation of heraldry, it shall be here given at length. The Description of the Armes. Of the proud Cardinal this is the shelde, The temporall chevalry thus thrown doune, There were two copies of this very scarce satire in The dignity of knighthood, according to the original the library of the late John, Duke of Roxburgh. See stution, had this peculiarity, that it did not flow from the monarch, but could be conferred by one who Miscellany, the Censura Literaria. an account of it also in Sir Egerton Brydges's curious the Borders. Note 21. Stanza xxx. Carleton had a letter under the gentleman's own han for his discharge. 2. He chargeth him, that whereas her majesty dot It may easily be supposed, that trial by single com- yearly.bestow a great fee upon him, as captain of Ben bat, so peculiar to the feudal system, was common on castle, to aid and defend her majesty's subjects therett In 1558, the well-known Kirkaldy of Thomas Musgrave hath neglected his duty, for that h Grange fought a duel with Ralph Evre, brother to the majesty's castle of Bewcastle was by him made a de then Lord Evre, in consequence of a dispute about a of thieves, and an harbour and receipt for murderet prisoner said to have been ill treated by the Lord Evre. felons, and all sorts of misdemeanors. The precede Pitscottie gives the following account of the affairs was Quintin Whitehead and Runion Blackburne. The Lord of Ivers his brother provoked William «3. He charged him, that his office of Bewcastle Kirkaldy of Grange to fight with him, in single combat, open for the Scotch to ride in and through, and sm on horseback, with spears; who, keeping the appoint-resistance made by him to the contrary. ment, accompanied with Monsieur d'Ossel, lieutenant to the French king, and the garrison of Haymouth, and Mr Wers, accompanied with the governor and garrison of Berwick, it was discharged under the pain of treason, that any man should come near the champions within a flight shot, except one man for either of them, to bear their spears, two trumpets, and two lords to be judges.hand to the same. When they were in readiness, the trumpets sounded, the heraulds cried, and the judges let them go. Then they encountered very fiercely; but Grange struck his spear through his adversary's shoulder, and bare him off his horse, being sore wounded: But whether he died, or not, it is uncertain.»>-P. 202. << Thomas Musgrave doth deny all this charge; a saith, that he will prove that Lancelot Carleton da falsely bely him, and will prove the same by way combat, according to this indenture. Lancelot Carlet hath entertained this challenge; and so, by God's pe mission, will prove it true as before, and hath sett (Signed) THOMAS MUSGRAVE. LANCELOT CARLETON Note 22. Stanza xxxiv. --be, the jovial harper. The person here alluded to, is one of our ancie Border minstrels, called Rattling Roaring Willie. Th sobriquet was probably derived from his bullying di position; being, it would seem, such a roaring boy, The following indenture will show at how late a period the trial by combat was resorted to on the Border, as a proof of guilt or innocence: «It is agreed between Thomas Musgrave and Lan-is frequently mentioned in old plays. While drinkin celot Carleton, for the true trial of such controversies as are betwixt them, to have it openly tried by way of combat, before God and the face of the world, to try it in Canonbyholme, before England and Scotland, upon Thursday in Easter-week, being the eight day of April next ensuing, A. D, 1602, betwixt nine of the clock, and one of the same day, to fight on foot, to be armed with jack, steel cap, plaite sleeves, plaite breaches, plaite sockes, two baśleard swords, the blades to be one yard and half a quarter of length, two Scotch daggers, or dorks, at their girdles, and either of them to provide armour and weapons for themselves, according to this indenture. Two gentlemen to be appointed, on the field, to view both the parties, to see that they both be equal in arms and weapons, according to this indenture; and being so viewed by the gentlemen, the gentlemen to ride to the rest of the company; and to leave them but two boys, viewed by the gentlemen, to be under sixteen years of age, to hold their horses. In testimony of this our agreement, we have both set our hands to this indenture, of intent all matters shall be made so plain, as there shall be no question to stick upon that day. Which indenture, as a witness, shall be delivered to two gentlemen. And for that it is convenient the world should be privy to every particular of the grounds of the quarrel, we have agreed to set it down in this indenture betwixt us, that, knowing the quarrel, their eyes may be witness of the trial. The grounds of the quarrel. 1. Lancelot Carleton did charge Thomas Musgrave before the lords of her 'majesty's privy council, that Lancelot Carleton was told by a gentleman, one of her majesty's sworn servants, that Thomas Musgrave had offered to deliver her majesty's castle of Bewcastle to the king of Scots; and to witness the same, Lancelot at Newmill, upon Teviót, about five miles above Hlavac Willie chanced to quarrel with one of his own profe sion, who was usually distinguished by the odd nan of Sweet Milk, from a place on Rule water so calle They retired to a meadow, on the opposite side of th Teviot, to decide the contest with their swords, an Sweet Milk was killed on the spot. A thorn-tree marš the scene of the murder, which is still called Sw Milk Thorn. Willie was taken, and executed at de burgh, bequeathing his name to the beautiful Scote air, called «Rattling Roaring Willie,» Ramsay, wi set no value on traditionary lore, published a few vers of this song in the Tea-Table Miscellany, carefull suppressing all which had any connexion with the he tory of the author, and origin of the piece. In th case, however, honest Allan is in some degree justib by the extreme worthlessness of the poetry. A ver or two may be taken, as illustrative of the history Roaring Willie, alluded to in the text. Now Willie's gane to Jeddart. And he's for the rood-day; They sought him up and down, Stobs lighted aff his horse, And never a word he spak, Fu fast behind his Lack, And down beneath his knce, 3 The day of the Rood-fair at Jedburgh, * Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stol bs, and Scott of Falnash. |