The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border

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  It was high up in Hardhaughswire.—­P. 140. v. 1.

Hardhaughswire is the pass from Liddesdale to the head of Tiviotdale.

  It was laigh down in Borthwick water.—­P. 140. v. 1.

Borthwick water is a stream, which falls into the Tiviot, three miles above Hawick.

  But, gin ye’ll gae to the fair Dodhead.—­P. 140. v. 2.

The Dodhead, in Selkirkshire, near Singlee, where there are still the vestiges of an old tower.

  Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair.—­P. 140. v. 4.

There is still a family of Telfers, residing near Langholm, who pretend to derive their descent from the Telfers of the Dodhead.

  Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha’.—­P. 141. v. 1.

Stobs Hall, upon Slitterick.  Jamie Telfer made his first application here because he seems to have paid the proprietor of that castle black-mail, or protection-money.

  Gar seek your succour at Branksome Ha’.—­P. 141. v. 4.

The ancient family-seat of the lairds of Buccleuch, near Hawick.

  Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh.—­P. 142. v. 2.

The Coultart Cleugh is nearly opposite to Carlinrig, on the road between Hawick and Mosspaul.

  Gar warn the water, braid and wide.—­P. 144. v. 4.

The water, in the mountainous districts of Scotland, is often used to express the banks of the river, which are the only inhabitable parts of the country. To raise the water, therefore, was to alarm those who lived along its side.

  Warn Wat o’ Harden, and his sons, &c.—­P. 144. v. 5.

The estates, mentioned in this verse, belonged to families of the name of Scott, residing upon the waters of Borthwick and Tiviot, near the castle of their chief.

  Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire.—­P. 145. v. 1.

The pursuers seem to have taken the road through the hills of Liddesdale, in order to collect forces, and intercept the foragers at the passage of the Liddel, on their return to Bewcastle.  The Ritterford and Kershope-ford, after mentioned, are noted fords on the river Liddel.

  The gear was driven the Frostylee up.—­P. 145. v. 3.

The Frostylee is a brook, which joins the Tiviot, near Mosspaul.

  And Harden grat for very rage.—­P. 146. v. 4.

Of this border laird, commonly called Auld Wat of Harden, tradition has preserved many anecdotes.  He was married to Mary Scott, celebrated in song by the title of the Flower of Yarrow.  By their marriage-contract, the father-in-law, Philip Scott of Dryhope, was to find Harden in horse meat, and man’s meat, at his tower of Dryhope, for a year and a day; but five barons pledge themselves, that, at the expiry of that period, the son-in-law should remove, without attempting to continue in possession by force!  A notary-public signed for all the parties to the deed, none of whom could write their names.  The original is still in the charter-room of the present Mr. Scott of Harden.  By the Flower of Yarrow the laird of Harden had six sons; five of whom survived him, and founded the families of Harden (now extinct), Highchesters (now representing Harden), Reaburn, Wool, and Synton.  The sixth son was slain at a fray, in a hunting-match, by the Scotts of Gilmanscleugh.  His brothers flew to arms; but the old laird secured them in the dungeon of his tower, hurried to Edinburgh, stated the crime, and obtained a gift of the lands of the offenders from the crown.  He returned to Harden with equal speed, released his sons, and shewed them the charter.  “To horse, lads!” cried the savage warrior, “and let us take possession! the lands of Gilmanscleuch are well worth a dead son.”  The property, thus obtained, continued in the family till the beginning of last century, when it was sold, by John Scott of Harden, to Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch.

  John o’ Brigham there was slane.—­P. 147. v. 3.

Perhaps one of the ancient family of Brougham, in Cumberland.  The editor has used some freedom with the original in the subsequent verse.  The account of the captain’s disaster (tests laeva vulnerata) is rather too naive for literal publication.

  Cried—­“On for his house in Stanegirthside.—­P. 148. v. 3.

A house belonging to the Foresters, situated on the English side of the Liddel.

An article in the list of attempts upon England, fouled by the commissioners ar Berwick, in the year 1587, may relate to the subject of the foregoing ballad.

    October, 1582.

    Thomas Musgrave, deputy {Walter Scott, laird } 200 kine and
    of Bewcastle, and {of Buckluth, and his} oxen,300 gait the
    tenants, against {complices; for } and sheep.

Introduction, to History of Westmoreland and Cumberland, p. 31.