the same story. Some arrangement was also occasionally necessary, to recover the rhyme, which was often, by the ignorance of the reciters, transposed, or thrown into the middle of the line. With these freedoms, which were essentially necessary, to remove obvious corruptions, and fit the ballads for the press, the Editor presents them to the public, under the complete assurance that they carry with them the most indisputable marks of their authenticity.

The same observations apply to the Second Class, here termed ROMANTIC BALLADS, intended to comprehend such legends as are current upon the Border, relating to fictitious and marvellous adventures. Such were the tales with which the friends of Spenser strove to beguile his indisposition:

Some told of ladies, and their paramours;

Some of brave knights, and their renowned squires;
Some of the fairies, and their strange attires,
And some of giants, hard to be believed."

These, carrying with them a general, and not merely a local interest, are much more extensively known among the peasantry of Scotland than the Border-raid ballads, the fame of which is in general confined to the mountains where they were originally composed. Hence, it has been easy to collect these tales of romance, to a number much greater than the Editor has chosen to insert in this publication. 1 With this class are now intermingled some lyric pieces, and some ballads, which, though narrating real events, have no direct reference to Border history or manners. To the politeness and liberality of Mr. Herd of Edinburgh, who put forth the first classical collection of Scottish songs and ballads, the Editor is indebted for the use of his MSS., containing songs and ballads, published and unpublished, to the number of ninety and upwards. To this collection frequent references are made in the course of the following pages. Two books of ballads, in MS., have also been com municated to me by my learned and respected friend, Alexander Fraser Tytler, Esq. I take the liberty of transcribing Mr. Tytler's memorandum respecting the manner in which they came into his hands. "My father3 got the following songs from an old friend, Mr Thomas Gordon, Professor of Philosophy in King's College, Aberdeen. The following extract of a letter of the Professor to me explains how he came by them:-'An aunt of my children, Mrs. Farquhar, now dead, who was married to the proprietor of a small estate, near the sources of the Dee, in Braemar, a good old woman, who had spent the best part of her life among flocks and herds, resided in her latter days in the

2

town of Aberdeen. She was possessed of a most tenacious memory, which retained all the songs she had heard from nurses and country-women in that sequestered part of the country. Being maternally fond of my children, when young, she had them much about her, and delighted them with her songs and tales of chivalry. My youngest daughter, Mrs. Brown, at Falkland, is blest with a memory as good as her aunt, and has almost the whole of her songs by heart. In conversation, I mentioned them to your father, at whose request my grandson, Mr. Scott, wrote down a parcel of them as his aunt sung them. Being then but

a mere novice in music, he added, in the copy, such musical notes as, he supposed, might give your father some notion of the airs, or rather lilts, to which they were sung.'"

From this curious and valuable collection, the Editor has procured very material assistance. At the same time, it contains many beautiful legendary poems, of which he could not avail himself, as they seemed to be the exclusive property of the bards of Angus and Aberdeenshire. But the copies of such as were known on the Borders, have furnished him with various readings, and with supplementary stanzas, which he has frequent opportunities to acknowledge. The MSS. are cited under the name of Mrs. Brown of Falkland, the ingenious lady, to whose taste and memory the world is indebted for the preservation of the tales which they contain. 4 The other authorities, which occur during the work are particularly referred to. Much information has been communicated to the Editor, from various quarters, since the work was first published, of which he has availed himself, to correct and enlarge the subsequent editions.

In publishing both classes of Ancient Ballads, the Editor has excluded those which are to be found in the common collections of this nature, unless in one or two instances, where he conceived it possible to give some novelty, by historical or critical illustration.

It would have been easy for the Editor to have given these songs an appearance of more indisputable antiquity, by adopting the rude orthography of the period to which he is inclined to refer them. But this (unless when MSS. of antiquity can be referred to) seemed too arbitrary an exertion of the privileges of a publisher, and must, besides, have unnecessarily increased the difficulties of many readers. On the other hand, the utmost care has been taken, never to reject a word or phrase, used by a reciter, however uncouth or antiquated. Such barbarisms, which stamp upon the tales their age and their nation, should be respected by an

1 Mr. Robert Jamieson, of Macclesfield, a gentleman of literary and poetical accomplishments, was, for some years, employed in a compilation of Scottish ballad poetry, which was published in 1806. I therefore, as far as the nature of my work permitted, sedulously avoided anticipating any of his materials: and the curious reader will find in his collection some important light on the history of Scottish Song, derived from comparing it with the ballad of the Scandinavians. (1810.)

* Now a senator (of the College of Justice, by the title of Lord Woodhouselee. 1810.-Now deceased. (1820.)

3 William Tytler, Esq. the ingenious defender of Queen Mary, and author of a Dissertation upon Scottish Music, which does honour to his memory. 4 [To this lady, Mr. Jamieson also acknowledges his obligations for similar assistance, in the following terms:

* For the groundwork of this collection, and for the greater and more valuable part of the popular and romantic tales which it contains, the public are indebted to Mrs. Brown of Falkland. Besides the large supply of ballads, taken down from her own recitation many years ago, by Professor Scott of Aberdeen-in 1800, I paid an unexpected visit to Mrs. Brown, at Dysart, where she then happened to be for health, and wrote down, from her unpremeditated repetition, about a dozen pieces more, most of which will be found in my work. Several others, which I had not time to take down, were afterwards transmitted to me by Mrs. Brown herself and by

her late highly respectable and worthy husband, the Rev. Dr. Brown. Every person who peruses the following sheets, will see how much I owe to Mrs. Brown, and to her nephew, my much-esteemed friend, Professor Scott; and it rests with me to feel, that I owe them much more for the zeal and spirit which they have manifested, than even for the valuable communications which they have made.

"As to the authenticity of the pieces themselves, they are as authentic as traditionary poetry can be expected to be; and their being more entire than most other such pieces are found to be, may be easily accounted for, from the circumstance that there are few persons of Mrs. Brown's abilities and education, that repeat popular ballads from memory. She learnt most of them before she was twelve years old, from old women and maid-servants: What she once learnt she never forgot; and such were her curiosity and industry, that she was not contented with merely knowing the story, according to one way of telling, but studied to acquire all the varieties of the same tale which she could meet with. In some instances, these different readings may have insensibly mixed with each other, and produced from various disjointed fragments, a whole, such as reciters, whose memories and judgments are less perfect, can seldom produce: but this must be the case in all poetry, which depends for its authenticity on oral tradition alone."-Preface to Jamieson's Ballads. ]

"The rough bur-thistle spreading wide

Amang the bearded beer,

I turned the weeder-clips aside,

And spared the symbol dear."-BURNS.

The meaning of such obsolete words is usually given at the bottom of the page. For explanation of the more common peculiarities of the Scottish dialect, the English reader is referred to the excellent glossary annexed to the best editions of Burns's works.

The Third Class of Ballads are announced to the public, as MODERN IMITATIONS of the Ancient style of composition, in that department of poetry; and they are founded upon such traditions, as we may suppose in the elder times would have employed the harps of the minstrels. This kind of poetry has been supposed capable of uniting the vigorous numbers and wild fiction, which occasionally charm us in the ancient ballad, with a greater equality of versification, and elegance of sentiment, than we can expect to find in the works of a rude age. But upon my ideas of the nature and difficulty of such imitations, I ought in prudence to be silent; lest I resemble the dwarf, who brought with him a standard to measure his own stature. I may, however, hint at the difference, not always attended to, betwixt the legendary poems and real imitations of the old ballad; the reader will find specimens of both in the modern part of this collection. The legendary poem, called Glenfinlas, and the ballad, entitled the Eve of St. John, were designed as examples of the difference betwixt these two kinds of composition.

It would have the appearance of personal vanity, were the Editor to detail the assistance and encouragement which he has received, during his undertaking, from some of the first literary characters of our age. The names of Steuart, Mackenzie, Ellis, Currie, and Ritson, with many others, are talismans too powerful to be used, for bespeaking the world's favour to a collection of old songs; even although a veteran bard has remarked "that both the great poet of Italian rhyme, Petrarch, and our Chaucer, and other of the upper house of the Muses, have thought their canzons honoured in the title of a ballad." To my ingenious friend, Dr. John Leyden, my readers will at once perceive that I lie under extensive obligations, for the poetical pieces with which he has permitted me to decorate my compilation; but I am yet further indebted to him for his uniform assistance, in collecting and arranging materials for the work."

In the Notes and occasional Dissertations, it has been my object to throw together, perhaps without a sufficient attention to method, a variety of remarks, regarding popular superstitions, and legendary history, which, if not now col

efforts, feeble as they are, I may contribute somewhat to the history of my native country; the peculiar features of whose manners and character are daily melting and dissolving into those of her sister and ally. And, trivial as may appear such an offering to the manes of a kingdom, once proud and independent, I hang it upon her altar with a mixture of feelings which I shall not attempt to describe.

"Hail, Land of spearmen! seed of those who scorn'd
To stoop the proud crest to Imperial Rome!
Hail! dearest half of Albion, sea-wall'd!
Hail! state unconquer'd by the fire of war,
Red war, that twenty ages round thee blazed!
To thee, for whom my purest raptures flow,
Kneeling with filial homage, I devote

My life, my strength, my first and latest song."

APPENDIX TO THE INTRODUCTION.

No. 1.

LETTER

FROM

THE EARL OF SURREY, TO HENRY VIII.

GIVING AN ACCOUNT

OF THE STORM OF JEDBURGH.

Cott. MSS. Calig. B. III. Fol. 29.

"PLEISITH it your grace to be advertised, that upon Fridaye, at x a clok at nyght, I retourned to this towne and all the garnysons to their places assigned, the bushopricke men, my Lorde of Westmoreland, and my Lorde Dacre, in likewise, every man home with their companys, without loss of any men, thanked be God; saving viii or x slayne, and dyvers hurt, at skyrmyshis and saults of the town of Gedwurth, and the fortereissis; which towne is soo surely brent that no garnysons ner none other shal bee lodged there; unto the time it bee newe buylded; the brennyng whereof I comytted to twoo sure men, Sir William Bulmer, and Thomas Tempeste. The towne was much better than I went [ i. e. ween'd ] it had been, for there was twoo tymys moo houses therein then in Berwicke, and well buylded, with many honest and fair houses therein, sufficiente to have lodged M horsemen in garnyson, and six good towres therein; which towne and towres be clenely destroyed, brent, and throwen down. Undoubtedly there was noo journey made into Scotlande, in noo manys day levying, with soo fewe a nombre, that is recownted to be soo high an enterprise as this, bothe with theis contremen, and Scottishmen, nor of truthe so much hurte doon. But in th' ende a great mysfortune ded fal, onely by foly, that such ordre, as was commanded by me to be kepte, was not observed, the manner whereof hereaftir shall ensue. Bifore myn entred into Scotland, I appointed Sir William

2

Now, to the great loss of literature, and of his friends, no more. (1820.) ["In 4801, when Mr. Lewis published his Tales of Wonder, Leyden was a contributor to that collection, and furnished the ballad of the Elf-King. And in the following year, he employed himself earnestly in the congenial task of procuring materials for the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, the first publication of the Editor of that collection. In this labour, he was equally interested by friendship for the Editor, and by his own patriotic zeal for the bonour of the Scottish Borders, and both may be judged of from the following circumstance. An interesting fragment had been obtained of an ancient historical ballad, but the remainder, to the great disturbance of the Editor and his coadjutor, was not to be recovered. Two days afterwards, while the Editor was sitting with some company after dinner, a sound was heard at a distance like that of the whistling of a tempest through the torn rigging of the vessel which scuds before it. The sounds increased as they approached more near, and Leyden ( to the great astonishment of such of the guests as did not know him) burst into the room, chanting the desiderated ballad, with the most enthusiastic gesture, and all the energy of the saw-tones of his voice, already commemorated.

It turned out, that he had walked between forty and fifty miles, and back again, for the sole purpose of visiting an old person who possessed this precious remnant of antiquity. His antiquarian researches and poetic talents were also liberally exerted for the support of this undertaking. To the former, the reader owes, in a great measure the Dissertation on Fairy Superstition, which, although arranged and digested by the Editor, abounds with instances of such curious reading as Leyden alone had read, and was originally compiled by him; and to the latter, the spirited ballads entitled Lord Soulis, and the Court of Keeldar.”—Biographical Memoir of Dr. Leyden, in Sir Walter Scott's Miscellaneous Prose Works. ]

3 [From Albania, (1742,) whose author has never been discovered. This poem was a great favourite with Sir Walter Scott, who often read it aloud in his evening circle. He used to say it was most likely the early effort of some gentleman, who, rising subsequently to eminence in a grave profession, was afraid of confessing that he had ever indulged in the light sin of verse. The original thin folio is very rare-but Dr. Leyden reprinted the piece in his "Scottish Descriptive Poems," 1803, 12mo.- ED.]

No. II.

HISTORY OF GEORDIE BOURNE.

In the following passage, extracted from the Memoirs of Sir Robert Carey, then deputy of his father, Lord Hunsdon, Warden of the East Marches, afterwards Earl of Monmouth, the reader will find a lively illustration of the sketch of Border manners in the preceding Introduction.

"Having thus ended with my brother, I then beganne to thinke of the charge I had taken upon mee, which was the government of the East March in my father's absence. I wrote to Sir Robert Kerr, who was my opposite warden, a brave active young man, and desired him that hee would appoint a day, when hee and myselfe might privately meet in some part of the Border, to take some good order for the quieting the Borders, till my retourne from London, which journey I was shortly of necessity to take. Hee stayed my man all night, and wrote to mee back, that hee was glad to have the happinesse to be acquainted with mee, and did not doubt but the country would be better governed by our good agreements. I wrote to him on the Monday, and the Thursday after hee appointed the place and hour of meeting.

Bulmer and Sir William Evers too be marshallis of th' army; Sir William Bulmer for the vanguard, and Sir William Evers for the rereguard. In the vanguard I appointed my Lord of Westmoreland, as chief, with all the bushopricke, Sir William Bulmer, Sir William Evers, my Lord Dacre, with all his company; and with me remayned all the rest of the garnysons, and the Northumberland men. I was of counsall with the marshallis at th' ordering of our lodging, and our campe was soo weli envirowned with ordynance, carts, and dikes, that hard it was to entre or issue but at certain places appointed for that purpos, and assigned the mooste commodious place of the said campe for my Lord Dacre his company, next the water, and next my Lord of Westmoreland. And at suche tyme as my Lord Dacre came into the felde, I being at the sault of th' abby, which contynued unto twoo houres within nyght, my seid Lord Dacre wolde in no wise bee contente to ly within the campe, whiche was made right sure, but lodged himself without, wherewith, at my return, I was not contente, but then it was too late to remove; the next daye I sent my seid Lord Dacre to a stronghold, called Fernherste, the lord whereof was his mortal enemy; and wyth him, Sir Arthur Darcy, Sir Marmaduke Constable, with viii c of their men, one cortoute, and dyvers other good peces of ordynance for the feld (the seid Ferneherste stode marvelous strongly, within a grete woode;) the seid twoo knights, with the most part of their men, and Strickland, your grace's servaunte, with my Kendal men, went into the woode on fote, with th' ordynance, where the said Kendall men were so handled, that they found hardy men, that went noo foote back for theym; the other two knightes were also soo sharply assayled, that they were enforced to call for moo of their men; and yet could not bring the ordynance to the fortrees, unto the tyme my Lord Dacre, with part of his horsemen, lighted on fote; and marvelously hardly handled himself, and fynally, with long skirmishing, and moche difficultie, gat forthe th' ordynance within the howse, and threwe down the same. At which skyrmyshe, my seid Lord Dacre, and his brother, Sir Cristofer, Sir Arthure, and Sir Marmaduke, and many other gentilmen, did marvellously hardly; and found the best resistance that hath been seen with my comying to their parties, and above xxxii Scottis sleyne, and not passing iiij Englishmen, but above xl hurt. Aftir that, my said lord returnyng to the camp, wold in no wise bee lodged in the same, but where he lay the furst nyght. And he being with me at souper, about viij a clok, the horses of his company brak lowse, and sodenly ran out of his feld, in such nombre, that it caused a marvellous alarome in our feld; and our standing watche being set, the horses cam ronnyng along the campe, at whome were shot above one hundred shief of arrowes, and dyvers gonnys, thinking they had been Scots, that wold have saulted the campe; fynally, the horses were so madde, that they ran like wild dere into the feld, above xv c at the leest, n dyvers companys; and, in one place, above L felle downe a grete rok, and slew theymself, and above ij c ran into the towne being on fire, and by the women taken, and carried awaye right evill brent, and many were taken agayne. But, finally, by that I can esteme by the nombre of theym that I saw goo on foote the next daye, I think thare is lost above viij e horses, and all with foly for lak of not lying within the camp. I dare not write the wondres that my Lord Dacre, and all his company, doo saye theye sawe that nyght, vj tyms of spirits and fereful sights. And unyversally all their company saye playnly, the devil was that nyght among theym vi tymys; which mysfortune hath blemyshed the best journey that was made in Scotland many yeres. I assure your grace I found the Scottes, at this tyme, the boldest men and the hotest, that ever I sawe any nation; and all the journey, upon all parts of th' armye, kepte us with soo continuall skyrmyshe, that I never saw the like. If they might assemble xl M as good men as 1 nowe sawe xv c or ij M, it wold be a hard encountre to mete theym. Pitie it is of my Lord Dacres losse of the horses of his company; he brought with hym above iiij M men, and came and lodged one night in Scotland, in his moost mortal enemy's contre. There is noo herdyer, ner bettir knight, but often tyme he doth not use the most sure order, which he hath nowe payd derely for. Written at Berwike the xxvij of September.

66 Your most bownden,

"T. SURREY."

It

"After hee had filled my man with drinke, and put him to bed, hee, and some half a score with him, got to horse, and came into England to a little village. There hee broke up a house, and tooke out a poor fellow, who (hee pretended) had done him some wrong, and before the door cruelly murthered him, and so came quietly home, and went to bed. The next morning, hee delivered my man a letter in answer to nine, and retourned him to mee. pleased me well at the reading of his kinde letter; but when I heard what a brave hee had put upon me, I quickly resolved what to do, which was, never to have to do with him till I was righted for the greate wrong hee had done mee. Upon this resolution, the day I should have mett with him, I tooke post, and with all the haste I could, rode to London, leaving him to attend my coming to him as was appointed. There hee stayed from one till five, but heard no news of mee. Finding by this that I had neglected him, hee retourned home to his house, and so things rested (with greate dislike the one of the other) till I came back, which was with all the speede I could, my businesse being ended. The first thing I I did after my retourne, was to ask justice for the wrong hee had done mee; but I could get none. The Borderers, seeing our disagreement, they thought the time wished for of them was come. The winter being begunne, their was roades made out of Scotland into the East March, and goods were taken three or four times aweeke. I had no other meanes left to quiet them, but still sent out of the garrison horsemen of Barwicke, to watch in the fittest places for them, and it was their good hap many times to light upon them, with the stolen goods driving before them. They were no sooner brought before mee, but a jury went upon them, and being found guilty, they were presently hanged; a course which hath been seldom used, but I had no way to keep the country quiet but so to do; for, when the Scotch theeves found what a sharp course I tooke with them that were found with the bloody hand, I had in a short time the country more quiet. All this while wee were but in jest, as it were, but now beganne the great quarrell betweene us.

"There was a favourite of his, a greate theife, called Geordie Bourne. This gallant, with some of his associates, would, in a bravery, come and take goods in the East March. I had that night some of the garrison abroad. They met with this Geordie and his fellows, driving of cattle before them. The garrison set upon them, and with a shott killed Geordie Bourne's unckle, and hee himselfe, bravely resisting till hee was sore hurt in the head, was taken. After he was taken, his pride was such, as hee asked, who it was that durst avow that nightes work? but when hee heard it was the garrison, hee was then more quiet. But so powerfull and so awfull was this Sir Robert Kerr, and his favourites, as there was not a gentleman in all the East March that durst offend them. Presently after hee was taken, I had most of the gentlemen of the March come to mee, and told mee, that nowe I had the ball at my foote, and might bring Sir Robert Kerr to what conditions I pleased; for that this man's life was so neer and deare

unto him, as I should have all that my heart could desire, for the good and quiet of the country and myselfe, if upon any condition I would give him his life. I heard them and their reasons; notwithstanding, I called a jury the next morning, and hee was found guilty of MARCH TREASON. Then they feared that I would cause him to be executed that afternoone, which made them come flocking to mee, humbly entreating mee, that I would spare his life till the next day, and if Sir Robert Kerr came not himselfe to mee, and made me not such proffers, as I could not but accept, that then 1 should do with him what I pleased. And further, they told mee plainly, that if I should execute him before I had heard from Sir Robert Kerr, they must be forced to quit their houses, and fly the country; for his fury would be such, against mee and the March I commanded, as hee would use all his power and strength to the utter destuction of the East March. They were so earnest with mee, that I gave them my word hee should not dye that day. There was post upon post sent to Sir Robert Kerr, and some of them rode to him themselves, to advertise him in what danger Geordie Bourne was; how hee was condemned, and should have been executed that afternoone, but, by their humble suit, I gave them my word, that hee should not dye that day; and therefore besought him that hee would send to mee, with all the speede hee could, to let me know that he would be the next day with mee to offer mee good conditions for the safety of his life.

"When all things were quiet, and the watch set at night, after supper, about ten of the clock, I tooke one of my men's liveryes, and put it about mee, and tooke two other of my servants with mee in their liveryes, and we three, as the warden's men, came to the provost marshall's, where Bourne was, and were lett into his chamber. Wee sate down by him, and told him that wee were desirous to see him, because we heard hee was stout and valiant, and true to his friend; and that wee were sorry our master could not be moved to save his life. He voluntarily of himselfe said, that hee had lived long enough to do so many villainies as hee had done; and withal told us, that he had layne with about forty men's wives, what in England, and what in Scotland; and that hee had killed seven Englishmen with his own hands cruelly murthering them; that hee had spent his whole life in whoring, drinking, stealing, and taking deep revenge for slight offences. He seemed to be very penitent, and much desired a minister for the comforte of his soule. Wee promised him to lett our master know his desire, who, wee knew, would presently grant it. Wee took our leaves of him, and presently I tooke order, that Mr. Selby, a very worthy honest preacher, should go to him, and not stirre from him till his execution the next morning; for, after I had heard his own confession, I was resolved no conditions should save his life and so tooke order, that at the gates opening the next morning, hee should be carried to execution, which accordingly was performed. The next morning I had one from Sir Robert Kerr for a parley, who was within two miles staying for me. I sent him word, I would meet him where hee pleased, but I would first know upon what terms and conditions.' Before his man was returned, hee had heard, that in the morning, very early, Geordie Bourne had been executed. Many vowes he made of cruell revenge, and returned home full of grief and disdaine, and from that time forward still plotted revenge. Hee knew the gentlemen of the country were altogether sacklesse, and to make open road upon the March would but show his malice, and lay him open to the punishment due to such offences. But his practice was how to be revenged on me, or some of mine.

"It was not long after, that my brother and I had intelligence that there was a great match made at footeball, and the chiefe ryders were to be there. The place they were to meet at was Kelsy, and that day wee heard it was the day for the meeting. Wee presently called a counsaile, and after much dispute, it was concluded, that the likeliest place he was to come to, was to kill the scoutes. And it was the more suspected, for that my brother, before my coming to the office, for the cattaile stolne out of the bounds, and, as it were, from under the walles of Barwicke, being refused justice (upon his complaint), or at least delaid, sent off the garrison into Liddesdale, and killed there the chief offender, which had done the wrong.

"Upon this conclusion, there was order taken. that both horse and foote should lye in ambush in diverse parts of the boundes, to defend the scoutes, and to give a sound blow to Sir Robert and his company. Before the horse and foote were sett out with directions

what to do, it was almost dark night, and the gates ready to be lockt. Wee parted, and as I was by myselfe, comeing to my house, God put it into my mind, that it might well be, hee meant destruction to my men that I had sent out to gather tithes for mee at Norham, and their rendezvous was every night to lye and sup at an alehouse in Norham. I presently caused my page to take horse, and to ride as fast as his horse could carry him, and to command my servants (which were in all eight) that, presently upon his coming to them, they should all change their lodging, and go streight to the castle, there to lye that night in strawe and hay. Some of them were unwilling thereto, but durst not disobey; so altogether left their ale-house, and retired to the castle. They had not well settled themselves to sleep, but they heard in the town a great alarm; for Sir Robert and his company came straight to the ale-house, broke open the doors, and made enquiry for my servants. They were answered, that by my command they were all in the castle. After they had searched all the house, and found none, they feared they were betrayed, and, with all the speede they could, made haste homewards again. Thus God blessed me from this bloody tragedy.

"All the whole March expected nightly some hurt to be done; but God so blessed mee and the government I held, as, for all his fury, hee never drew drop of blood in all my March, neither durst his theeves trouble it much with stealing, for fear of hanging, if they were taken. Thus wee continued a yeare, and then God sent a meanes to bring things to better quiet by this occasion. "There had been commissioners in Barwicke, chosen by the Queene and King of Scottes, for the better quieting of our Borders. By their industry they found a great number of malefactors guilty, both in England and Scotland; and they tooke order, that the officers of Scotland should deliver such offenders, as were found guilty in their jurisdictions, to the opposite officers in England, to be detained prisoners, till they had made satisfaction for the goods they had taken out of England. The like order was taken with the Wardens of England, and days prefixed for the delivery of them all. And in case any of the officers, on either side, should omit their duties, in not delivering the prisoners at the dayes and places appointed, that then there should a course be taken by the soveraignes, that what chiefe officer soever should offend herein, hee himself should be delivered and detained, till hee had made good what the commissioners had agreed upon.

"The English officers did punctually, at the day and place, deliver their prisoners, and so did most of the officers of Scotland; only the Lord of Bocleuch and Sir Robert Kerr were faultie. They were complained of, and new dayes appointed for the delivery of their prisoners. Bocleuch was the first that should deliver; and hee failing, entered himself prisoner into Barwicke, there to rcmaine till those officers under his charge were delivered to free him. Hee chose for his guardian Sir William Selby, master of the ordnance at Barwicke. When Sir Robert Kerr's day of delivery came, bee failed too, and my Lord Hume, by the king's command, was to deliver him prisoner into Barwicke upon the like terms, which was performed. Sir Robert Kerr (contrary to all men's expectation) chose mee for his guardian, and home I brought him to my own house, after he was delivered to mee. I lodged him as well as I could, and tooke order for his diet, and men to attend on him, and sent him word that (although by his harsh carriage towards mee, ever since I had that charge, he could not expect any favour, yet) hearing so much goodness of him, that hee never broke his worde, if hee would give mee his hand and credit to be a true prisoner, hee would have no guard sett upon him, but have free liberty for his friends in Scotland to have ingress and regress to him as oft as hee pleased. Hee tooke this very kindly at my handes, accepted of my offer, and sent mee thankes.

"Some four dayes passed; all which time his friends came into him, and hee kept his chamber. Then hee sent to mee, and desired mee, I would come and speake with him, which I did; and after a long discourse, charging and re-charging one another with wrong and injuries, at last, before our parting, wee became good friends, with greate protestations, on his side, never to give mee occasion of unkindnesse again. After our reconciliation, hee kept his chamber no longer, but dined and supt with mee. I tooke him abroad with mee at the least thrice a-wecke, a hunting, and every day wee grew better friends. Bocleuch, in a few days after, had his pledges delivered, and was set at liberty. But Sir Robert Kerr could not get his, so that I was commanded to carry him to Yorke, and there to deliver him prisoner to the archbishop, which accord

ingly I did. At our parting, hee professed greate love unto mee for the kind usage I had shown him, and that I would find the effects of it upon his delivery, which hee hoped would be shortly. "Thus wee parted; and, not long after, his pledges were gott, and brought to Yorke, and hee sett at liberty. After his retourne home, I found him as good as his word. Wee met oft at dayes of truce, and I had as good justice as I could desire; and so wee continued very kinde and good friends, all the tyme that I stayed in that March, which was not long."

No. III.

MAITLAND'S COMPLAYNT,

AGAINST

THE THIEVis of liddiSDAIL,

FROM PINKERTON'S EDITION, COLLATED WITH A MS. OF MAITLAND'S POEMS,

IN THE LIBRARY OF EDINBURGH COLLEGE.

Of Liddisdail the common theifis

Sa peartlie stellis now and reifis, 3

That name may keip

Horse, nolt, 4 nor scheip, 5

Nor yett dar sleip

For their mischeifis.

Thay plainly throw the country rydis,

I trow 6 the mekil devil thame gydis !

Quhair they onsett,

Ay in thair gait, 7
Thair is na yet 8

Nor dor thame bydis, 9

Thay leif richt nocht, quhair ever thay ga;

Their can na thing be hid them fra;
For gif men wald

Thair housis hald,

Than wax they bald,

To burne and slay.

Thay theifis have neirhand 1o herreit" hail 12

Ettricke forest and Lawderdail;

Now are they gane,

In Lawthiane;

And spairis nane

That thay will waill. 13

Thay landis ar with stouth 14 sa socht,

To extreame povertye ar broucht,
Thay wicked scrowis 15

Has laid the plowis, 16

That name or few is

That are left oucht.

Bot 7 commoun taking of blak mail,

They that had flesche, and breid and aili,

Now are sae wrakit,

Made bair and nakit,

Fane to be slakit

With watter caill. 18

Thay theifis that steillis and tursis 19 hame, Ilk ane o' them has ane to-name; 20

Will of the Lawis,

Hab of the Schawis :

To mak bar wawis 21

Thay think nae schame.

Thay spuilye 22 puir men of their pakis, 3 Thay leif them nocht on bed nor bakis: 24 Baith hen and cok,

Thieves. Steal.-3 Rob.-4 Black cattle; oxen,-5 Sheep.-6 I wot. -Way.- Gate.-9 Hinders.-10 Almost.- Plundered.-12 The whole. 13 Make choice of.- 14 Theft.-15 Larvæ (fig.)-16 Ploughs.-17 But; besides.-18 Broth of vegetables.-19 Pack up and carry off.

20 Owing to the Marchmen being divided into large clans, bearing the same sirname. individuals were usually distinguished by some epithet derived from their place of residence, personal qualities, or descent. Thus

The battle of Melrose (see Introduction, p. 17) occasioned a deadly feud betwixt the names of Scott and Ker. The following indenture was designed to reconcile their quarrel. But the alliance, if it ever took effect, was not of long duration; for the feud again broke out about 1553, when Sir Walter Scott was slain by the Kers in the streets of Edinburgh.

"Thir indentures, made at Ancrum the 46th of March, 1529 years, contains, purports, and bears leil and suithfast witnessing,

every distinguished moss-trooper had what is here called, a to-name, or nom de guerre, in addition to his family name. 25 Both the

1 Bare walls.-22 Despoil.-23 Pack, or wallet.-24 Bread.-2 spinning instrument and the yarn.-26 Spit.-27 Shirt.-28 Searches.29 Both clothes and meal-chests.-30 Cow-houses.-3 Steals the web of cloth,-32 Mouth.-33 Ruth-a pity.-34 Early.