THE BONNY HYND.

When she cam to the Netherbow port.—P.93, v. 1.

The Netherbow port was the gate which divided the city of Edinburgh from the suburb, called the Canongate. It had towers and a spire, which formed a fine termination to the view from the Cross. The gate was pulled down, in one of those fits of rage for indiscriminate destruction, with which the magistrates of a corporation are sometimes visited.

Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she'll hae but three, &c.—P.93. v. 2.

The queen's Maries were four young ladies of the highest families in Scotland, who were sent to France in her train, and returned with her to Scotland. They are mentioned by Knox, in the quotation introductory to this ballad. Keith gives us their names, p. 55. "The young queen, Mary, embarked at Dunbarton for France, ... and with her went ..., and four young virgins, all of the name of Mary, viz. Livingston, Fleming, Seaton, and Beatoun." The queen's Maries are mentioned again by the same author, p. 288, and 291, in the note. Neither Mary Livingston, nor Mary Fleming, are mentioned in the ballad; nor are the Mary Hamilton, and Mary Carmichael, of the ballad mentioned by Keith. But if this corps continued to consist of young virgins, as when originally raised, it could hardly have subsisted without occasional recruits; especially if we trust our old bard, and John Knox.

The following additional notices of the queen's Maries occur, inMonteith'sTranslation of Buchanan's Epigrams, &c.

Page 60.Pomp of the Gods at the Marriage of Queen Mary, 29th July, 1565, a Dialogue.

Diana.

"Great father, Maries[22]five late served me,"Were of my quire the glorious dignitie:"With these dear five the heaven I'd regain,"The happiness of other gods to stain;"At my lot, Juno, Venus, were in ire,"And stole away one——"

P. 61.Apollo.

"Fear not, Diana, I good tidings bring,"And unto you glad oracles I sing;"Juno commands your Maries to be married,"And, in all state, to marriage-bed be carried."

P. 62.Jupiter.

"Five Maries thine;"One Marie now remains of Delia's five,"And she at wedlock o'er shortly will arrive."P. 64. To Mary Fleming, the king's valentyn—65. To Mary Beton, queen by lot, the day before the coronation.

"Five Maries thine;"One Marie now remains of Delia's five,"And she at wedlock o'er shortly will arrive."

P. 64. To Mary Fleming, the king's valentyn—65. To Mary Beton, queen by lot, the day before the coronation.

Sundry Verses.

The queen's Maries are mentioned in many ballads, and the name seems to have passed into a general denomination for female attendants:

Now bear a hand, my Maries a',And busk me brave, and make me fine.

Old Ballad.

FOOTNOTES:[20]The name should be Livingston. "John Semple, son of Robert, Lord Semple, (by Elizabeth Carlisle, a daughter of the Lord Torthorald) was ancestor of the Semples of Beltrees. He was married to Mary, sister to William Livingston, and one of the maids of honour to Queen Mary; by whom he had Sir James Semple of Beltrees, his son and heir," &c.; afterwards ambassador to England, for King James VI. in 1599.—Crawford'sHistory of Renfrew, p. 101.[21]One copy bears, "Mary Miles."[22]The queen seems to be included in this number.

[20]The name should be Livingston. "John Semple, son of Robert, Lord Semple, (by Elizabeth Carlisle, a daughter of the Lord Torthorald) was ancestor of the Semples of Beltrees. He was married to Mary, sister to William Livingston, and one of the maids of honour to Queen Mary; by whom he had Sir James Semple of Beltrees, his son and heir," &c.; afterwards ambassador to England, for King James VI. in 1599.—Crawford'sHistory of Renfrew, p. 101.

[21]One copy bears, "Mary Miles."

[22]The queen seems to be included in this number.

From MrHerd'sMS., where the following Note is prefixed to it—"Copied from the mouth of a Milkmaid, 1771, by W. L."

It was originally the intention of the Editor to have omitted this ballad, on account of the disagreeable nature of the subject. Upon consideration, however, it seemed a fair sample of a certain class of songs and tales, turning upon incidents the most horrible and unnatural, with which the vulgar in Scotland are greatly delighted, and of which they have current amongst them an ample store. Such, indeed, are the subjects of composition in most nations, during the early period of society; when the feelings, rude and callous, can only be affected by the strongest stimuli, and where the mind does not, as in a more refined age, recoil, disgusted, from the means by which interest has been excited. Hence incest, parricide—crimes,in fine, the foulest and most enormous, were the early themes of the Grecian muse. Whether that delicacy, which precludes the modern bard from the choice of such impressive and dreadful themes, be favourable to the higher classes of poetic composition, may perhaps be questioned; but there can be little doubt, that the more important cause of virtue and morality is advanced by this exclusion. The knowledge, that enormities are not without precedent, may promote, and even suggest, them. Hence, the publication of theNewgate Registerhas been prohibited by the wisdom of the legislature; having been found to encourage those very crimes, of which it recorded the punishment. Hence, too, the wise maxim of the Romans,Facinora ostendi dum puniantur, flagitia autem abscondi debent.

The ballad has a high degree of poetical merit.

COPIED

FROM THE MOUTH OF A MILKMAID,

IN 1771.

O May she comes, and May she goes,Down by yon gardens green;And there she spied a gallant squire,As squire had ever been.And May she comes, and May she goes,Down by yon hollin tree;And there she spied a brisk young squire,And a brisk young squire was he."Give me your green manteel, fair maid;"Give me your maidenhead!"Gin ye winna give me your green manteel,"Give me your maidenhead!"

O May she comes, and May she goes,Down by yon gardens green;And there she spied a gallant squire,As squire had ever been.

And May she comes, and May she goes,Down by yon hollin tree;And there she spied a brisk young squire,And a brisk young squire was he.

"Give me your green manteel, fair maid;"Give me your maidenhead!"Gin ye winna give me your green manteel,"Give me your maidenhead!"

"Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir;"Perhaps there may be nane;"But, if you be a courtier,"You'll tell me soon your name.""I am nae courtier, fair maid,"But new come frae the sea;"I am nae courtier, fair maid,"But when I court with thee."They call me Jack, when I'm abroad;"Sometimes they call me John;"But, when I'm in my father's bower,"Jock Randal is my name.""Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad!"Sae loud's I hear you lee!"For I'm Lord Randal's ae daughter,"He has nae mair nor me.""Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny May!"Sae loud's I hear ye lee!"For I'm Lord Randal's ae ae son,"Just now come o'er the sea."She's putten her hand down by her gare,And out she's ta'en a knife;And she has put it in her heart's bleed,And ta'en away her life.And he has ta'en up his bonny sister,With the big tear in his e'en;And he has buried his bonny sisterAmang the hollins green.And syne he's hyed him o'er the dale,His father dear to see—"Sing, Oh! and Oh! for my bonny hind,"Beneath yon hollin tree!""What needs you care for your bonny hind?"For it you needna care;"Take you the best, gi' me the warst,"Since plenty is to spare.""I carena for your hinds, my lord;"I carena for your fee;"But, Oh! and Oh! for my bonny hind,"Beneath the hollin tree!""O were ye at your sister's bower,"Your sister fair to see,"You'll think nae mair o' your bonny hind,"Beneath the hollin tree."

"Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir;"Perhaps there may be nane;"But, if you be a courtier,"You'll tell me soon your name."

"I am nae courtier, fair maid,"But new come frae the sea;"I am nae courtier, fair maid,"But when I court with thee.

"They call me Jack, when I'm abroad;"Sometimes they call me John;"But, when I'm in my father's bower,"Jock Randal is my name."

"Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad!"Sae loud's I hear you lee!"For I'm Lord Randal's ae daughter,"He has nae mair nor me."

"Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny May!"Sae loud's I hear ye lee!"For I'm Lord Randal's ae ae son,"Just now come o'er the sea."

She's putten her hand down by her gare,And out she's ta'en a knife;And she has put it in her heart's bleed,And ta'en away her life.

And he has ta'en up his bonny sister,With the big tear in his e'en;And he has buried his bonny sisterAmang the hollins green.

And syne he's hyed him o'er the dale,His father dear to see—"Sing, Oh! and Oh! for my bonny hind,"Beneath yon hollin tree!"

"What needs you care for your bonny hind?"For it you needna care;"Take you the best, gi' me the warst,"Since plenty is to spare."

"I carena for your hinds, my lord;"I carena for your fee;"But, Oh! and Oh! for my bonny hind,"Beneath the hollin tree!"

"O were ye at your sister's bower,"Your sister fair to see,"You'll think nae mair o' your bonny hind,"Beneath the hollin tree."

FROM MR HERD'S MS.

O gin my love were yon red rose,That grows upon the castle wa',And I mysell a drap of dew,Down on that red rose I would fa'.O my love's bonny, bonny, bonny;My love's bonny and fair to see:Whene'er I look on her weel far'd face,She looks and smiles again to me.O gin my love were a pickle of wheat,And growing upon yon lily lee,And I mysell a bonny wee bird,Awa wi' that pickle o' wheat I wad flee.O my love's bonny, &c.O gin my love were a coffer o' gowd,And I the keeper of the key,I wad open the kist whene'er I list,And in that coffer I wad be.O my love's bonny, &c.

O gin my love were a pickle of wheat,And growing upon yon lily lee,And I mysell a bonny wee bird,Awa wi' that pickle o' wheat I wad flee.O my love's bonny, &c.

O gin my love were a coffer o' gowd,And I the keeper of the key,I wad open the kist whene'er I list,And in that coffer I wad be.O my love's bonny, &c.

The following verses are taken down from recitation, and are averred to be of the age ofCharles I.They have, indeed, much of the romantic expression of passion, common to the poets of that period, whose lays still reflected the setting beams of chivalry; but, since their publication in the first edition of this work, the Editor has been informed, that they were composed by the late MrGrahamof Gartmore.

If doughty deeds my ladye please,Right soon I'll mount my steed;And strong his arm, and fast his seat,That bears frae me the meed.I'll wear thy colours in my cap,Thy picture in my heart;And he, that bends not to thine eye,Shall rue it to his smart.Then tell me how to woo thee, love;O tell me how to woo thee!For thy dear sake, nae care I'll take,Tho' ne'er another trow me.If gay attire delight thine eye,I'll dight me in array;I'll tend thy chamber door all night,And squire thee all the day.If sweetest sounds can win thy ear,These sounds I'll strive to catch;Thy voice I'll steal to woo thysell,That voice that nane can match.Then tell me how to woo thee, love;O tell me how to woo thee!For thy dear sake, nae care I'll take,Tho' ne'er another trow me.But if fond love thy heart can gain,I never broke a vow;Nae maiden lays her skaith to me,I never loved but you.For you alone I ride the ring,For you I wear the blue;For you alone I strive to sing,O tell me how to woo.O tell me how to woo thee, love;O tell me how to woo thee!For thy dear sake, nae care I'll take,Tho' ne'er another trow me.

If gay attire delight thine eye,I'll dight me in array;I'll tend thy chamber door all night,And squire thee all the day.If sweetest sounds can win thy ear,These sounds I'll strive to catch;Thy voice I'll steal to woo thysell,That voice that nane can match.Then tell me how to woo thee, love;O tell me how to woo thee!For thy dear sake, nae care I'll take,Tho' ne'er another trow me.

But if fond love thy heart can gain,I never broke a vow;Nae maiden lays her skaith to me,I never loved but you.For you alone I ride the ring,For you I wear the blue;For you alone I strive to sing,O tell me how to woo.O tell me how to woo thee, love;O tell me how to woo thee!For thy dear sake, nae care I'll take,Tho' ne'er another trow me.

This little lyric piece, with those which immediately follow in the collection, relates to the fatal battle of Flodden, in which the flower of the Scottish nobility fell around their sovereign, James IV.

The ancient and received tradition of the burgh of Selkirk affirms, that the citizens of that town distinguished themselves by their gallantry on that disastrous occasion. Eighty in number, and headed by their town-clerk, they joined their monarch on his entrance into England. James, pleased with the appearance of this gallant troop, knighted their leader, William Brydone, upon the field of battle, from which few of the men of Selkirk were destined to return. They distinguished themselves in the conflict, and were almost all slain. The few survivors, on their return home, found, by the side of Lady-Wood Edge, the corpse of a female, wife to one of their fallen comrades, with a child sucking at her breast. In memory of this latter event, continues the tradition, the present arms of theburgh bear, a female, holding a child in her arms, and seated on a sarcophagus, decorated with the Scottish lion; in the back-ground a wood.

A learned antiquary, whose judgment and accuracy claim respect, has made some observations upon the probability of this tradition, which the editor shall take the liberty of quoting, as an introduction to what he has to offer upon the same subject. And, if he shall have the misfortune to differ from the learned gentleman, he will at least lay candidly before the public the grounds of his opinion.

"That the souters of Selkirk should, in 1513, amount to fourscore fighting men, is a circumstance utterly incredible. It is scarcely to be supposed, that all the shoemakers in Scotland could have produced such an army, at a period when shoes must have been still less worn than they are at present. Dr Johnson, indeed, was told at Aberdeen, that the people learned the art of making shoes from Cromwell's soldiers.—'The numbers,' he adds, 'that go barefoot, are still sufficient to show that shoes may be spared: they are not yet considered as necessaries of life; for tall boys, not otherwise meanly dressed, run without them in the streets; and, in the islands, the sons of gentlemen pass several of their first years with naked feet.'—(Journey to the Western Islands, p. 55.) Away, then, with the fable of the souters of Selkirk. Mr Tytler, though he mentions it as the subject of a song, or ballad, 'does not remember ever to have seen the original genuine words,'—as he obligingly acknowledged in a letter to the editor. Mr Robertson, however, who gives the statistical account of the parish of Selkirk, seems to know something more of the matter—'Some,' says he, 'havevery falselyattributed to this event (the battle of Flowden), that song,

'Up wi' the souters of Selkirk,'And down with the Earl of Hume.'

"There was no Earl of Hume,' he adds, 'at that time, nor was this song composed till long after. It arose from a bet betwixt the Philiphaugh and Hume families; the souters (or shoemakers) of Selkirk, against the men of Hume, at a match of foot-ball, in which the souters of Selkirk completely gained, and afterwards perpetuated their victory in that song.'—This is decisive; and so much for Scottish tradition."—Note toHistorical Essay on Scotish Song, prefixed toScotish Songsin 2 vols. 1794.

It is proper to remark, that the passage of Mr Robertson's statistical account, above quoted, does not relate to the authenticity of the tradition, but to the origin of the song, which is obviously a separate and distinct question. The entire passage in the statistical account (of which a part only is quoted in the essay) runs thus:

"Here, too, the inhabitants of the town of Selkirk, who breathed the manly spirit of real freedom, justly merit particular attention. Of one hundred citizens, who followed the fortunes of James IV. on the plains of Flowden, a few returned, loaded with the spoils taken from the enemy. Some of these trophies still survive the rust of time, and the effects of negligence. The desperate valour of the citizens of Selkirk, which, on that fatal day, was eminently conspicuous to both armies, produced very opposite effects. The implacable resentment of the English reduced their defenceless town to ashes; while their grateful sovereign (James V.) showed his sense of their valour, by a grant of an extensive portion of the forest, the trees for building their houses, and the property as the reward of their heroism."—A note is added by Mr Robertson.—"A standard, the appearance of which bespeaks its antiquity, is still carried annually (on the day of riding their common) by the corporation of weavers, by a member of which it was taken from the English in the field of Flowden. It may be added, that the sword of William Brydone, the town clerk, who led the citizens to the battle (and who is said to have been knighted for his valour), is still in the possession of John Brydon, a citizen of Selkirk, his lineal descendant."—An additional note contains the passage quoted in theEssay on Scotish Song.

If the testimony of Mr Robertson is to be received as decisive of the question, the learned author of the essay will surely admit, upon re-perusal, that the passage in the statistical account contains the most positive and unequivocal declaration of his belief in the tradition.

Neither does the story itself, upon close examination, contain any thing inconsistent with probability. The towns upon the border, and especially Selkirk and Jedburgh, were inhabited by a race of citizens, who, from the necessity of their situation, and from the nature of their possessions (held by burgage tenure), were inured to the use of arms. Selkirk was a county town, and a royal burgh; and when the array of the kingdom, amounting to no less than one hundred thousand warriors, was marshalled by the royal command, eighty men seems no unreasonable proportion from a place of consequence, lying so very near the scene of action.

Neither is it necessary to suppose, literally, that the men of Selkirk were allsouters. This appellation was obviously bestowed on them, because it was the trade most generally practised in the town, and therefore passed into a general epithet. Even the existence of such a craft, however, is accounted improbable by the learned essayist, who seems hardly to allow, that the Scottish nation was, at that period, acquainted with the art "of accommodating their feet with shoes." And here he attacks us with our own weapons, and wields the tradition of Aberdeen against that of Selkirk. We shall not stop to enquire, in what respect Cromwell's regiment of missionary cobblers deserves, in point of probability, to take precedence of the souters of Selkirk. But, allowing that all the shoemakers in England, withPraise-the-Lord Barebonesat their head, had generously combined to instruct the men of Aberdeen in the arts of psalmody and cobbling, it by no means bears upon the present question. If instruction was at all necessary, it must have been in teaching the natives how to makeshoes, properly so called, in opposition tobrogues: For there were cordiners in Aberdeen long before Cromwell's visit, and several fell in the battle of the bridge of Dee, as appears from Spalding'sHistory of the Troubles in Scotland, Vol. II. p. 140. Now, the "single-soaled shoon," made by the souters of Selkirk, were a sort of brogues, with a single thin soal; the purchaser himself performing the further operation of sewing on another of thick leather. The rude and imperfect state of this manufacture sufficiently evinces the antiquity of the craft. Thus, the profession of the citizens of Selkirk, instead of invalidating, confirms the traditional account of their valour.

The total devastation of this unfortunate burgh, after the fatal battle of Flodden, is ascertained by the charters under which the corporation hold their privileges. The first of these is granted by James V., and is dated 4th March, 1535-6. The narrative, or inductive clause of the deed, is in these words: "Sciatis quia nos considerantes et intelligentes quod Carte Evidencie et litere veteris fundacionis et infeofamenti burgi nostri de Selkirk et libertatum ejusdem burgensibus et communitati ipsius per nobilissimos progenitores nostros quorum animabus propicietur Deus dat. et concess. per guerrarum assultus pestem combustionem et alias pro majore parte vastantur et distruuntur unde mercantiarum usus inter ipsos burgenses cessavit in eorum magnamlesionem ac reipublice et libertatis Burgi nostri antedict. destruccionem et prejudicium ac ingens nobis dampnum penes nostras Custumas et firmas burgales et eodem nobis debit. si subitumin eisdem remedium minime habitum fuerit NOS igitur pietati et justicia moti ac pro policia et edificiis infra regnum nostrum habend. de novo infeodamus," &c. The charter proceeds, in common form, to erect anew the town of Selkirk into a royal burgh, with all the privileges annexed to such corporations. This mark of royal favour was confirmed by a second charter, executed by the same monarch, after he had attained the age of majority, and dated April 8, 1538. This deed of confirmation first narrates the charter, which has been already quoted, and then proceeds to mention other grants, which had been conferred upon the burgh, during the minority of James V., and which are thus expressed: "We for the gude trew and thankful service done and to be done to ws be owre lovittis the baillies burgesses and communite of our burgh of Selkirk and for certaine otheris reasonable causis and considerationis moving ws be the tennor hereof grantis and gevis license to thame and thair successors to ryfe out breke and teil yeirlie ane thousand[23]acres of thair common landis of our said burgh in what part thairofthea pleas for polecy strengthing and bigging of the samyn for the wele of ws and of liegis repairand thairto and defence againis owre auld innemyis of Ingland and other wayis and will and grantis that thai sall nocht be callit accusit nor incur ony danger or skaith thairthrow in thair personis landis nor gudis in ony wise in time cumingNochtwithstandingony owre actis or statutis maid or to be maid in the contrar in ony panys contenit tharein anent the quhilkis we dispens with thame be thir owre letters with power to them to occupy the saidis landis with thare awne gudis or to set theme to tenentis as thai sall think maist expedient for the wele of our said burgh with frei ische and entri and with all and sindry utheris commoditeis freedomes asiamentis and richtuis pertinentis whatsumever pertenyng or that rychtuisly may pertene thairto perpetually in tyme cuming frelie quietlie wele and in peace but ony revocatioun or agane calling whatsumever Gevin under owre signet and subscrivit with owre hand at Striveling the twenty day of Junii The yere of God ane thousand five hundreth and thretty six yeris and of our regne the twenti thre yere." Here follows another grant: "WeUnderstandingthat owre burgh of Selkirk and inhabitants thairofcontinualie sen the field of Flodounehes been oppressiit heriit and owre runin be theves and traitors whairthrow the hant of merchandice has cessit amangis thame of langtyme bygane and thai heriit thairthrow and we defraudit of owre custumis and dewitesThairforand for divers utheris resonable causis and considerationes moving us be the tenor heirof of our kinglie power fre motive and autorite ryall grantis and gevis to thame and thair successors ane fair day begynand at the feist of the Conception of owre Lady next to cum aftere the day of the date hereof and be the octavis of the sammyn perpetualy in time cuming To be usit and exercit be thame als frelie in time cuming as ony uther fair is usit or exercit be ony otheris owre burrowis within our realme payand yeirlie custumis and doweities aucht and wont as effeiris frelie quietlie wele and in pece but ony revocation obstakill impediment or agane calling whatsumever subscrivet with owre hand and gevin under owre Signet atKirkcaldythe secund day of September The yere of God ane thousand five huudreth and threty sex yeris and of our regne the twenty three yeir." The charter of confirmation, in which all these deeds and letters of donation are engrossed, proceeds to ratify and confirm them in the most ample manner. The testing clause, as it is termed in law language, is in these words: "In cujus rei Testimonium huic presente carte nostre confirmationis magnum sigillum nostrum apponi precepimusTestibusReverendissimo reverendisque in Christo Patribus Gawino Archiepisco Glasguen.Cancellario nostro Georgio Episcopo Dunkelden. Henrico Episcopo Candide Case nostreque Capelle regie Strivilengen. dilectis nostris consanguineis Jacobo Moravie Comite &c. Archibaldo Comite de Ergile Domino Campbell et Lorne Magistro Hospicii nostri Hugone Comite de Eglinton Domino Montgomery Malcolmo Domino Flemyng magno Camerario nostro Venerabilibus in Christo Patribus Patricio Priore Ecclesie Metropolitane Sanctiandree Alexandro Abbate Monasterii nostri de Cambuskynneth dilectis familiaribus nostris Thoma Erskin de Brechin Secretario nostro Jocobo Colville de Estwemis compotorum nostrorum rotulatore et nostre cancellarie directore militibus et Magistro Jacobo Foulis de Colintoun nostrorum rotulorum Registri et Concilii clerico apud Edinburgh octavo die mensis Aprilis Anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo trigesimo octavo et regni nostri vicesimo quinto."

From these extracts, which are accurately copied from the original charters,[24]it may be safely concluded, 1st, that Selkirk was a place of importance before it was ruined by the English; and, 2d, "that the voice of merchants had ceased in her streets," in consequence of the fatal field of Flodden. But further, it seems reasonable to infer, that so many marks of royal favour, granted within so short a time of each other, evince the gratitude, as well as the compassion, of the monarch, and were intended to reward the valour, as well as to relieve the distress, of the men of Selkirk. Thus, every circumstance of the writtenevidence, as far as it goes, tallies with the oral tradition of the inhabitants; and, therefore, though the latter may be exaggerated, it surely cannot be dismissed as entirely void of foundation. That William Brydone actually enjoyed the honour of knighthood, is ascertained by many of the deeds, in which his name appears as a notary public. John Brydone, lineal descendant of the gallant town-clerk, is still alive, and possessed of the reliques mentioned by Mr Robertson. The old man, though in an inferior station of life, receives considerable attention from his fellow-citizens, and claims no small merit to himself on account of his brave ancestor.

Thus far concerning the tradition of the exploits of the men of Selkirk, at Flodden field. Whether the following verses do, or do not, bear any allusion to that event, is a separate and less interesting question. The opinion of Mr Robertson, referring them to a different origin, has been already mentioned; but his authority, though highly respectable, is not absolutely decisive of the question.

The late Mr Plummer, sheriff-depute of the county of Selkirk, a faithful and accurate antiquary, entertained a very opposite opinion. He has thus expressed himself, upon the subject, in the course of his literary correspondence with Mr Herd:

"Of the Souters of Selkirk, I never heard any words but the following verse:

'Up with the Sutors of Selkirk,'And down wi' the Earl of Home;'And up wi' a' the bra' lads'That sew the single-soled shoon.'

"It is evident, that these words cannot be so ancient as to come near the time when the battle was fought; as Lord Home was not created an earl till near a century after that period.

"Our clergyman, in the "Statistical Account," Vol. II. p. 48, note, says, that these words were composed upon a match at foot-ball, between the Philiphaugh and Home families. I was five years at school at Selkirk, have lived all my days within two miles of that town, and never once heard a tradition of this imaginary contest till I saw it in print.

"Although the words are not very ancient, there is every reason to believe, that they allude to the battle of Flodden, and to the different behaviour of the souters, and Lord Home, upon that occasion. At election dinners, &c. when the Selkirk folks begin to getfou', (merry) they always call for music, and for that tune in particular.[25]At such times I never heard a souter hint at the foot-ball, but many times speak of the battle of "Flodden."—Letter from Mr Plummer to Mr Herd, 13th January, 1793.

The editor has taken every opportunity, which his situation[26]has afforded him, to obtain information on this point, and has been enabled to recover two additional verses of the song.

The yellow and green, mentioned in the second verse, are the liveries of the house of Home. When the Lord Home came to attend the governor, Albany, his attendants were arrayed in Kendal-green.—Godscroft.

Up wi' the Souters of Selkirk,And down wi' the Earl of Home;And up wi' a' the braw lads,That sew the single-soled shoon.Fye upon yellow and yellow,And fye upon yellow and green;But up with the true blue and scarlet,And up wi' the single-soled sheen.Up wi' the Souters of Selkirk,For they are baith trusty and leal;And up wi' the men of the Forest,[27]And down with the Merse[28]to the deil.

Up wi' the Souters of Selkirk,And down wi' the Earl of Home;And up wi' a' the braw lads,That sew the single-soled shoon.

Fye upon yellow and yellow,And fye upon yellow and green;But up with the true blue and scarlet,And up wi' the single-soled sheen.

Up wi' the Souters of Selkirk,For they are baith trusty and leal;And up wi' the men of the Forest,[27]And down with the Merse[28]to the deil.

It is unnecessary here to enter into a formal refutation of the popular calumny, which taxed Lord Home with being the murderer of his sovereign, and the cause of the defeat at Flodden. So far from exhibiting any marks of cowardice or disaffection, the division, headed by that unfortunate nobleman, was the only part of the Scottish army which was conducted with common prudence on that fatal day. This body formed the vanguard, and entirely routed the division of Sir Edmund Howard, to which they were opposed; but the reserve of the English cavalry rendered it impossible for Home, notwithstanding his success, to come to the aid of the king, who was irretrievably ruined by his own impetuosity of temper.—Pinkerton'sHistory, Vol II. p. 105. The escape of James from the field of battle, has been long deservedly ranked with that of King Sebastian, and similarspeciosa miraculawith which the vulgar have been amused in all ages. Indeed, the Scottish nation were so very unwilling to admit any advantage on the English part, that they seem actually to have set up pretensions to the victory.[29]The same temper of mind led them eagerly to ascribe the loss of their monarch, and his army, to any cause, rather than to his own misconduct, and the superior military skill of the English. There can be no doubt, that James actually fell on the field of battle, the slaughter-place of his nobles.—Pinkerton, ibid.His dead body was interred in the monastery of Sheen, in Surrey; and Stowe mentions, with regard to it, the following degrading circumstances.

"After the battle, the bodie of the said king, being found, was closed in lead, and conveyed from thence to London, and to the monasterie of Sheyne, in Surry, where it remained for a time, in what order I am not certaine; but, since the dissolution of that house, in the reigne of Edward VI., Henry Gray, Duke of Norfolke, being lodged, and keeping house there, I have been shewed the same bodie, so lapped in lead, close to the head and bodie, throwne into a waste room, amongst the old timber, lead, and other rubble. Since the which time, workmen there, for their foolish pleasure, hewed off his head; and Lancelot Young, master glazier to Queen Elizabeth, feeling a sweet savour to come from thence, and seeing the same dried from all moisture, and yet the form remaining, with haire of the head, and beard red, brought it to London, to his house in Wood-street, where, for a time, he kept it, for its sweetness, but, in the end,caused the sexton of that church (St Michael's, Wood-street) to bury it amongst other bones taken out of their charnell."—Stowe'sSurvey of London, p. 539.

FOOTNOTES:[23]It is probable that Mr Robertson had not seen this deed, when he wrote his statistical account of the parish of Selkirk; for it appears, that, instead of a grant of lands, the privilege granted to the community was a right of tilling one thousand acres of those which already belonged to the burgh. Hence it follows, that, previous to the field of Flodden, the town must have been possessed of a spacious domain, to which a thousand acres in tillage might bear a due proportion. This circumstance ascertains the antiquity and power of the burgh; for, had this large tract of land been granted during the minority of James V., the donation, to be effectual, must have been included in the charters of confirmation.[24]The charters are preserved in the records of the burgh.[25]A singular custom is observed at conferring the freedom of the burgh. Four or five bristles, such as are used by shoemakers, are attached to the seal of the burgess ticket. These the new-made burgess must dip in his wine, and pass through his mouth, in token of respect for the souters of Selkirk. This ceremony is on no account dispensed with.[26]That the editor succeeded Mr Plummer in his office of sheriff-depute, and has himself the honour to be a souter of Selkirk, may perhaps form the best apology for the length of this dissertation.[27]Selkirkshire, otherwise called Ettrick Forest.[28]Berwickshire, otherwise called the Merse.[29]"Against the proud Scottes' clattering,That never wyll leave their tratlying;Wan they the field and lost theyr kinge?They may well say, fie on that winning!Lo these fond sottes and tratlying Scottes,How they are blinde in theyr own minde,And will not know theyr overthrow.At Branxton moore they are so stowre,So frantike mad, they say they had,And wan the field with speare and shielde:That is as true as black is blue, &c.Skelton Laureate against the Scottes.

[23]It is probable that Mr Robertson had not seen this deed, when he wrote his statistical account of the parish of Selkirk; for it appears, that, instead of a grant of lands, the privilege granted to the community was a right of tilling one thousand acres of those which already belonged to the burgh. Hence it follows, that, previous to the field of Flodden, the town must have been possessed of a spacious domain, to which a thousand acres in tillage might bear a due proportion. This circumstance ascertains the antiquity and power of the burgh; for, had this large tract of land been granted during the minority of James V., the donation, to be effectual, must have been included in the charters of confirmation.

[24]The charters are preserved in the records of the burgh.

[25]A singular custom is observed at conferring the freedom of the burgh. Four or five bristles, such as are used by shoemakers, are attached to the seal of the burgess ticket. These the new-made burgess must dip in his wine, and pass through his mouth, in token of respect for the souters of Selkirk. This ceremony is on no account dispensed with.

[26]That the editor succeeded Mr Plummer in his office of sheriff-depute, and has himself the honour to be a souter of Selkirk, may perhaps form the best apology for the length of this dissertation.

[27]Selkirkshire, otherwise called Ettrick Forest.

[28]Berwickshire, otherwise called the Merse.

[29]"Against the proud Scottes' clattering,That never wyll leave their tratlying;Wan they the field and lost theyr kinge?They may well say, fie on that winning!Lo these fond sottes and tratlying Scottes,How they are blinde in theyr own minde,And will not know theyr overthrow.At Branxton moore they are so stowre,So frantike mad, they say they had,And wan the field with speare and shielde:That is as true as black is blue, &c.Skelton Laureate against the Scottes.

[29]

"Against the proud Scottes' clattering,That never wyll leave their tratlying;Wan they the field and lost theyr kinge?They may well say, fie on that winning!Lo these fond sottes and tratlying Scottes,How they are blinde in theyr own minde,And will not know theyr overthrow.At Branxton moore they are so stowre,So frantike mad, they say they had,And wan the field with speare and shielde:That is as true as black is blue, &c.

Skelton Laureate against the Scottes.

The following well known, and beautiful stanzas, were composed many years ago, by a lady of family, in Roxburghshire. The manner of the ancient minstrels is so happily imitated, that it required the most positive evidence to convince the editor that the song was of modern date. Such evidence, however, he has been able to procure; having been favoured, through the kind intervention of Dr Somerville (well known to the literary world, as the historian of King William, &c.), with the following authentic copy of theFlowers of the Forest.

From the same respectable authority, the editor is enabled to state, that the tune of the ballad is ancient, as well as the two following lines of the first stanza:

I've heard them lilting at the ewes milking,················The flowers of the forest are a' wede away.

Some years after the song was composed, a lady, who is now dead, repeated to the author another imperfect line ofthe original ballad, which presents a simple and affecting image to the mind:

"I ride single on my saddle,"For the flowers of the forest are a' wede away."

The first of these trifling fragments, joined to the remembrance of the fatal battle of Flodden (in the calamities accompanying which, the inhabitants of Ettrick Forest suffered a distinguished share), and to the present solitary and desolate appearance of the country, excited, in the mind of the author, the ideas, which she has expressed in a strain of elegiac simplicity and tenderness, which has seldom been equalled.

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