NOTES.

THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL.

The feast was over in Branksome tower.-P. 6.

In the reign of James I. Sir William Scott of Buccleuch, chief of the clan bearing that name, exchanged with Sir Thomas Inglis of Manor, the estate of Murdiestone, in Lanarkshire, for one-half of the barony of Branksome, or Branxholm, lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above Hawick.

Nine-and-twenty knights of fame.—P. 6.

The ancient barons of Buccleuch, both from feudal splendour and from their frontier situation, retained in their household at Branksome a number of gentlemen of their own name, who held lands from their chief, for the military service of watching and warding his castle.

And with Jedwood-axe at saddle-bow.-P.7.

The Jedwood axe was a sort of partizan used by horsemen, as appears from the arms of Jedburgh, which bear a cavalier mounted and armed with this weapon. It is also called a Jedwood or Jeddart staff.

How Lord Walter fell.-P. 7.

Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch succeeded to his grandfather, Sir David, in 1492. He was a brave and powerful baron, and warden of the west marches of Scotland. His death was the consequence of a feud betwixt the Scotts and Kerrs.

In mutual pilgrimage, they drew.-P. 7.

Among other expedients resorted to for stanching the feud betwixt the Scotts and the Kerrs, there was a bond executed, in 1529, between the heads of each clan, binding themselves to perform reciprocally the four principal pilgrimages of Scotland, for the benefit of the souls of those of the opposite name who had fallen in the quarrel.

While Cessford owns the rule of Car.-P. 8.

The family of Ker, Kerr, or Car, was very powerful on the Border. Cessford Castle, the ancient baronial residence of tas family, is situated near the village of Morebattle, within two or three miles of the Cheviot Hills.

Before Lord Cranstoun she should wed.-P. 8.

The Cranstouns, Lord Cranstoun, are an ancient Border family, whose chief seat was at Crailing, in Teviotdale.

Of Bethune's line of Picardie.-P. 8.

The Bethunes were of French origin, and derived their name from a small town in Artois. The family of Bethune, or Beatoun, in Fife, produced three learned and dignified prelates, namely, Cardinal Beaton, and two successive archbishops of Glasgow.

In Padua, far beyond the sea.-P. 8.

Padua was long supposed by the Scottish peasants to be the principal school of necromancy.

His form no darkening shadow traced.-P. 8.

The shadow of a necromancer is independent of the sun,

The viewless forms of air.-P. 9.

The Scotch still, in many places, believe in the existence of an intermediate class of spirits residing in the air, or in the waters, to whose agency they ascribe floods, storms, and all such phenomena as their own philosophy cannot readily explain.

A fancied moss-trooper, the boy.-P. 10.

This was the usual appellation of the marauders upon the Borders.

Exalt the Crescent and the Star.-P. 11.

The arms of the Kerrs of Cessford were, Vert on a cheveron, betwixt three unicorns' heads erased argent, three mullets sable; crest, a unicorn's head erased proper. The Scotts of Buccleuch bore, Or on a bend azure; a star of six points betwixt two crescents of the first.

She called to her, William of Deloraine.-P. 11.

The lands of Deloraine are joined to those of Buccleuch in Ettricke Forest. They were immemorially possessed by the Buccleuch family, although no charter was obtained from the crown until 1545.

Had baffled Percy's best bloodhounds.-P. 11.

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

Dimly he viewed the Moat-hill's mound.-P. 12.

This is a round artificial mount near Hawick, which was probably anciently used as a place for assembling a national council of the adjacent tribes.

Beneath the tower of Hazeldean.-P. 12.

The estate of Hazeldean belonged formerly to a family of Scotts.

On Minto crags the moon-beams glint.-P. 13.

A romantic assemblage of cliffs, which rise suddenly above the vale of Teviot, in the immediate vicinity of the family-seat, from which Lord Minto takes his title.

To ancient Riddel's fair domain.-P. 13.

Tradition carries the antiquity of the family of Riddel to a point extremely remote; and is, in some degree, sanctioned by the discovery of two stone coffins, one containing an earthen pot filled with ashes and arms, bearing a legible date, A.D. 727; the other dated 936, and filled with the bones of a man of gigantic size. These coffins were discovered in the foundations of what was, but has long ceased to be, the chapel of Riddell.

As glanced his eye o'er Halidon.-P. 13.

Halidon was an ancient seat of the Kerrs of Cessford, now demo lished.

Old Melrose rose, and fair Tweed ran.-P. 14.

The ancient and beautiful monastery of Melrose was founded by King David I. in 1136. Its ruins afford the finest specimen of Gothic architecture and Gothic sculpture which Scotland can boast. This superb convent was dedicated to St. Mary, and the monks were of the Cistertian order.

And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die.-P. 15.

The buttresses, ranged along the sides of Melrose Abbey, are richly carved and fretted, containing niches for the statues of saints, and labelled with scrolls bearing appropriate texts of Scripture.

Then view St. David's ruined pile.-P. 15.

David I. of Scotland purchased the reputation of sanctity, by founding, and liberally endowing, not only the monastery of Melrose, but those of Kelso, Jedburgh, and many others.

Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose.-P. 15.

The Buccleuch family were great benefactors to the abbey of Melrose. As early as the reign of Robert II., Robert Scott, baron of Murdieston and Rankelburn (now Buccleuch), gave to the monks the lands of Hinkery, in Ettricke Forest, pro salute anime suӕ.

And beneath their feet were the bones of the dead.-P. 16. The cloisters were frequently used as places of sepulture.

O gallant chief of Otterburne.-P. 17.

The desperate battle of Otterburne was fought 15th August 1388, betwixt Henry Percy, called Hotspur, and James, Earl of Douglas. Both these renowned champions were at the head of a chosen body of troops. Percy was made prisoner, and the Scots won the day, Idearly purchased by the death of their gallant general, the Earl of Douglas, who was slain in the action. He was buried at Melrose, beneath the high altar.

And thine, dark Knight of Liddesdale.-P. 17.

William Douglas, called the Knight of Liddesdale, flourished during the reign of David II.; and was so distinguished by his valour, that he was called the Flower of Chivalry. Nevertheless, he tarnished his renown by the cruel murder of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, originally his friend and brother in arms, because the king had conferred upon Ramsay the sheriffdom of Teviotdale, to which Douglas pretended some claim.

The moon on the east oriel shone.-P. 17.

It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful specimen of the lightness and elegance of Gothic architecture, when in its purity, than the eastern window of Melrose Abbey.

They sate them down on a marble stone.-P. 17.

A large marble stone, in the chancel of Melrose, is pointed out as the monument of Alexander II.; others say it is the resting-place of Waldeve, one of the early abbots.

To meet the wonderous Michael Scott.-P. 17.

Sir Michael Scott of Balwearie flourished during the 13th century. By a poetical anachronism, he is here placed in a later era. He was a man of much learning. He appears to have been addicted to the abstruse studies of judicial astrology, alchymy, physiognomy, and chiromancy. Hence he passed among his contemporaries for a skilful magician.

That when in Salamanca's cave.-P. 17. Spain was accounted a favourite residence of magicians.

The words, that cleft Eildon Hills in three.-P. 18. Michael Scott was, once upon a time, much embarrassed by a spirit, for whom he was under the necessity of finding constant employment. He commanded him to build a cauld, or dam-head, across the Tweed at Kelso; it was accomplished in one night, and still does honour to the infernal architect. Michael next ordered that Eildon Hill, which was then a uniform cone, should be divided into three. Another night was sufficient to part its summit into the three picturesque peaks which it now bears.

That lamp shall burn unquenchably.-P. 18.

Baptista Porta, and other authors who treat of natural magic, talk much of eternal lamps, pretended to have been found burning in ancient sepulchres.

He marked the crane on the Baron's crest.-P. 25.

The crest of the Cranstouns, in allusion to their name, is a crane dormant, holding a stone in his foot, with an emphatic Border motto, Thou shalt want ere I want.

Like a book-bosomed priest should ride.-P. 26.

There is a tradition that friars were wont to come from Melrose, or Jedburgh, to baptize and marry in the parish of Unthank; and, from being in use to carry the mass-book in their bosoms, they were called by the inhabitants, Book-a-bosomes.

The running stream dissolved the spell.-P. 27.

It is a firm article of popular faith that no enchantment can subsist in a living stream. Nay, if you can interpose a brook betwixt you and witches, spectres, or even fiends, you are in perfect safety. Burns's inimitable Tam o' Shanter turns entirely upon such a circumstance. The belief seems to be of antiquity.

Would strike below the knee.-P. 29.

To wound an antagonist in the thigh or leg was reckoned contrary to the law of arms.

On many a cairn's grey pyramid.-P. 32.

The cairns, or piles of loose stones, which crown the summit of most of our Scottish hills, and are found in other remarkable situa tions, seem usually, though not universally, to have been sepulchral monuments. Six flat stones are commonly found in the centre, forming a cavity of greater or smaller dimensions, in which an urn is often placed.

Fell by the side of great Dundee.-P. 34.

The Viscount of Dundee, slain in the battle of Killicrankie.
Watt Tinlinn, from the Liddel-side.-P. 34.

This person was a retainer of the Buccleuch family, and held for his Border service a small tower on the frontiers of Liddesdale.

Belted Will Howard is marching here.-P. 35.

Lord William Howard, third son of Thomas, duke of Norfolk. By a poetical anachronism, he is introduced into the romance a few years earlier than he actually flourished. He was warden of the Western Marches; and, from the rigour with which he repressed the Border excesses, the name of Belted Will Howard is still famous in our traditions.

And hot Lord Dacre with many a spear.-P. 35.

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

And all the German hackbuck-men.-P. 35.

At the battle of Pinky, there were in the English army 600 hackbutters on foot, and 200 on horseback, composed chiefly of foreigners.

His ready lances Thirlestane brave.-P. 36.

Sir John Scott of Thirlestane flourished in the reign of James V., and possessed the estates of Thirlestane, Gamescleuch, &c., lying upon the river Ettricke, and extending to St. Mary's Loch, at the head of the Yarrow. In memory of his fidelity, James granted to his family a charter of arms, entitling them to bear a border of fleurs-de-luce, similar to the tressure in the royal arms, with a bundle of spears for the crest; motto, Ready, aye ready.

Without the bend of Murdieston.-P. 36.

The family of Harden are descended from a younger son of the laird of Buccleuch, who flourished before the estate of Murdieston was acquired by the marriage of one of those chieftains with the heiress in 1296. Hence they bear the cognizance of the Scotts upon the field; whereas those of the Buccleuch are disposed upon a bend dexter, assumed in consequence of that marriage.

Their gathering word was Bellenden.-P. 38.

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

Bore high a gauntlet on a spear.-P. 41.

A glove upon a lance was the emblem of faith among the ancient Borderers, who were wont, when any one broke his word, to expose this emblem, and proclaim him a faithless villain at the first Border meeting. This ceremony was much dreaded.

That he may suffer march-treason pain.-P. 42.

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

Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword.-P. 43.

The dignity of knighthood, according to the original institution, had this peculiarity, that it did not flow from the monarch, but could be conferred by one who himself possessed it, upon any squire who, after due probation, was found to merit the honour of chivalry.

When English blood swelled Ancram ford.-P. 43.

The battle of Ancram Moor, or Peniel-heuch, was fought A.D. 1545.

Saw the blanche lion e'er fall back.-P. 44. This was the cognizance of the noble house of Howard in all its branches.

Announcing Douglas, dreaded name!-P. 48.

The chief of this potent race of heroes, about the date of the poem, was Archibald Douglas, seventh Earl of Angus, a man of great courage and activity. The Bloody Heart was the well-known cognizance of the house of Douglas, assumed from the time of Good Lord James, to whose care Robert Bruce committed his heart, to be carried to the Holy Land.

Where the Seven Spears of Wedderburne.-P. 48.

Sir David Home of Wedderburn, who was slain in the fatal battle of Flodden, left seven sons, who were called the Seven Spears of Wedderburne,