The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border

AN ANCIENT BORDER GATHERING SONG FROM TRADITION.

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Of all the border ditties, which have fallen into the editor’s hands, this is by far the most uncouth and savage.  It is usually chaunted in a sort of wild recitative, except the burden, which swells into a long and varied howl, not unlike to a view hollo’.  The words, and the very great irregularity of the stanza (if it deserves the name), sufficiently point out its intention and origin.  An English woman, residing in Suport, near the foot of the Kershope, having been plundered in the night by a band of the Scottish moss-troopers, is supposed to convoke her servants and friends for the pursuit, or Hot Trod; upbraiding them, at the same time, in homely phrase, for their negligence and security.  The Hot Trod was followed by the persons who had lost goods, with blood-hounds and horns, to raise the country to help.  They also used to carry a burning wisp of straw at a spear head, and to raise a cry, similar to the Indian war-whoop.  It appears, from articles made by the wardens of the English marches, September 12th, in 6th of Edward VI. that all, on this cry being raised, were obliged to follow the fray, or chace, under pain of death.  With these explanations, the general purport of the ballad may be easily discovered, though particular passages have become inexplicable, probably through corruptions introduced by reciters.  The present copy is corrected from four copies, which differed widely from each other.