CADYOW CASTLE. Note 1, Page 99.—" First of his troop, the Chiej rode on." The head of the family of Hamilton at this period was James, Earl of Arran, Duke of Chatelherault in France, and first peer of the Scottish realm. In 1569 he was appointed, by Queen Mary, her Lieutenant-general in Scotland, under the singular title of her adopted father. Note 2, Page 100.-" Stern Claud replied, with darkening face." Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and commendator of the Abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during the troubles of Queen Mary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her army at the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the raid of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queen's cause. He was ancestor of the present Marquis of Abercorn. Note 3, Page 100.-"Few suns have set since Woodhouselee." The barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, near Auchendinny, belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right of his wife. The ruins of the mansion, from whence she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasioned her death, are still to be seen in a hollow glen beside the river. Popular report tenants them with the restless ghost of Lady Bothwellhaugh; whom, however, it confounds with Lady Anne Bothwell, whose lament is so popular. This spectre is so tenacious of her rights, that--a part of the stones of the ancient edifice having been employed in building or repairing the present Woodhouselee-she has deemed it a part of her privilege to haunt that house also; and, even of very late years, has excited considerable disturbance and terror among the domestics. This is a more remarkable vindication of the rights of ghosts, as the present Woodhouselee is situated on the slope of the Pentland hills, distant, at least, four miles from her proper abode. She always appears in white, and with her child in her arms. Note 4, Page 100.-"Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke." Birrell informs us that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, "After that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his dagger, and strocke his horse behind, which caused the horse to leap a verey brode stanke (i.e., ditch), by whilk means he escaipit, and got away from all the rest of the horses."-BIRRELL'S DIARY, p. 18. Note 5, Page 101.-" From the wild Border's humbled side." Murray's death took place shortly after an expedition to the Borders, where"Nae thief durst stir, they did him feir so sair, Mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the bordour." Note 6, Page 101.-" With hackbut bent, my secret stand." The carbine with which the regent was shot, is preserved at Hamilton Palace. It is a brass piece, of a middling length, very small in the bore, and, what is rather extraordinary, appears to have been rifled or indented in the barrel. It had a match-lock, for which a modern fire-lock has been injudiciously substituted. Note 7, Page 101.-" Dark Morton, girt with many a spear." Of this noted person it is enough to say, that he was active in the murder of David Rizzio, and at least privy to that of Darnley. Note 8, Page 101.-" The wild Macfarlanes' plaided clan. This clan of Lennox Highlanders was attached to the Regent Murray. Hollingshed, speaking of the battle of Langside, says,-"In this batayle the valancie of an Hieland gentleman, named Macfarlane, stood the regent's part in great steede; for, in the hottest brunte of the fighte, he came up with two hundred of his friendes and countrymen, and so manfully gane in upon the flankes of the queen's people, that he was a great cause of the disordering of them. This Macfarlane had been lately before, as I have heard, condemned to die, for some outrage by him committed, and obtayning pardon through suyte of the Countesse of Murry, he recompenced that clemencie by this piece of service seen at this batayle." Calderwood states, that "Macfarlane, with his Highlandmen, fled from the wing where they were set. The Lord Lindsay, who stood nearest to them in the regent's battle, said, 'Let them go; I shall fill their place better!' and so, stepping forward with a company of fresh men, charged the enemy (whose spears were now spent), with long weapons, so that they were driven by force, being before almost overthrown by the avant-guard and harquebusiers, and so were turned to flight."-CALDERWOOD's MSS., apud KEITH, p. 480, Melville mentions the flight of the vanguard, but states it to have been commanded by Morton, and composed chiefly of commoners of the barony of Renfrew. Note 9, Page 101.—“ Glencairn and stout Parkhead were nigh.” The Earl of Glencairn was a steady adherent of the regent's. George Douglas of Parkhead was a natural brother of the Earl of Morton, whose horse was killed by the same ball by which Murray fell. Note 10, Page 101.-" Saw fair Mary weep in vain." Lord Lindsay of the Byres was the most ferocious and brutal of the regent's faction; and, as such, was employed to extort Mary's signature to the deed of resignation, presented to her in Loch-Leven Castle. He discharged his commission with the most savage rigour; and it is even said, when the weeping captive, in the act of signing, averted her eyes from the fatal deed, he pinched her arm with the grasp of his iron glove. Note 11, Page 101.-" So close the minions crowded nigh." "Not only had the regent notice of the intended attempt upon his life, but even of the very house from which it was threatened. With that infatuation, at which men wonder, after such events have happened, he deemed it a sufficient precaution to ride briskly past the dangerous spot. But even this was prevented by the crowd, so that Bothwellhaugh had time to take a deliberate aim."-SPOTTISWOODE, 233, BUCHANAN, A Tale of Flodden Field. IN SIX CANTOS. Alas! that Scottish maid should sing That Scottish Bard should wake the string, The triumph of her foes to tell! WITH NOTES. ΤΟ -LEYDEN. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY LORD MONTAGUE, &c., &c., &c., THIS ROMANCE IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. |