The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border

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Then spak the Lord, hight Hamilton.—­P. 86. v. 4.

This is, in most copies, the earl hight Hamilton, which must be a mistake of the reciters, as the family did not enjoy that title till 1503.

James Boyd (the Earl of Arran his brother), &c.—­P. 87. v. 2.

Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, was forfeited, with his father and uncle, in 1469, for an attempt on the person of James III.  He had a son, James, who was restored, and in favour with James IV. about 1482.  If this be the person here meant, we should read “The Earl of Arran his son was he.”  Glenriddel’s copy reads, “A highland laird I’m sure was he.”  Reciters sometimes call the messenger, the laird of Skene.

  Down Birkendale Brae when that he cam.—­P. 88, v. 2.

Birkendale Brae, now commonly called Birkendailly, is a steep descent on the south side of Minch-Moor, which separates Tweeddale from Ettrick Forest; and from the top of which you have the first view of the woods of Hangingshaw, the castle of Newark, and the romantic dale of Yarrow.

  The laird of the Corehead, &c.—­P. 93. v. 1.

This is a place at the head of Moffat-water, possessed of old by the family of Halliday.

  To Andrew Murray of Cockpool.—­P. 94. v. 1.

This family were ancestors of the Murrays, earls of Annandale; but the name of the representative, in the time of James IV. was William, not Andrew.  Glenriddel’s MS. reads, “the country-keeper.”

  To Sir James Murray of Traquair.—­P. 94. v. 3.

Before the barony of Traquair became the property of the Stewarts, it belonged to a family of Murrays, afterwards Murrays of Black-barony, and ancestors of Lord Elibank.  The old castle was situated on the Tweed.  The lands of Traquair were forfeited by Willielmus de Moravia, previous to 1464; for, in that year, a charter, proceeding upon his forfeiture, was granted by the crown “Willielmo Douglas de Cluny.”  Sir James was, perhaps, the heir of William Murray.  It would farther seem, that the grant in 1464 was not made effectual by Douglas; for, another charter from the crown, dated the 3d February, 1478, conveys the estate of Traquair to James Stewart, Earl of Buchan, son to the black knight of Lorne, and maternal uncle to James III., from whom is descended the present Earl of Traquair.  The first royal grant not being followed by possession, it is very possible that the Murrays may have continued to occupy Traquair long after the date of that charter.  Hence, Sir James might have reason to say, as in the ballad, “The king has gifted my lands lang syne.”

  James Hop Pringle of Torsonse.—­P. 97. v. 1.

The honourable name of Pringle, or Hoppringle, is of great antiquity in Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire.  The old tower of Torsonse is situated upon the banks of the Gala.  I believe the Pringles of Torsonse are now represented by Sir James Pringle of Stitchell.  There are three other ancient and distinguished families of this name; those of Whitebank, Clifton, and Torwoodlee.

  He bids ye mete him at Permanscore.—­P. 98. v. 1.

Permanscore is a hollow on the top of a high ridge of hills, dividing the vales of Tweed and Yarrow, a little to the east-ward of Minch-Moor.  It is the outermost point of the lands of Broadmeadows.  The Glenriddel MS., which, in this instance, is extremely inaccurate as to names, calls the place of rendezvous “The Poor Man’s house,” and hints, that the Outlaw was surprised by the treachery of the king:—­

  “Then he was aware of the king’s coming,
  With hundreds three in company,
  I wot the muckle deel * * * * *
  He learned kings to lie! 
  For to fetch me here frae amang my men,
  Here like a dog for to die.”

I believe the reader will think, with me, that the catastrophe is better, as now printed from Mrs. Cockburn’s copy.  The deceit supposed to be practised on the Outlaw, is unworthy of the military monarch, as he is painted in the ballad; especially if we admit him to be King James IV.

  Fair Philiphaugh is mine by right.—­P. 101. v. 1.

In this and the following verse, the ceremony of feudal investiture is supposed to be gone through, by the Outlaw resigning his possessions into the hands of the king, and receiving them back, to be held of him as superior.  The lands of Philiphaugh are still possessed by the Outlaw’s representative.  Hangingshaw and Lewinshope were sold of late years.  Newark, Foulshiels and Tinnies, have long belonged to the family of Buccleuch.