one day they contrived a hank of red yarn in the form of crosses, which it was impossible the devil could pass; and, on his appearance at night, they got in behind him, and attacked him resolutely with each a bible in one hand, and a rowan-tree staff in the other, and, after a desperate encounter, they succeeded in tumbling him headlong over the linn; but, to prevent hurting himself at the moment he was overcome, he turned himself into a batch of skins!

NOTE IX.

And deep and long, from out the lake
The Water-cow was heard to low,

P. 69, v. 3.

In some places of the Highlands of Scotland, the inhabitants are still in continual terror of an imaginary being, called The Water-Horse.

NOTE X.

And forced the lady loud to cry.

P. 69, v. 6.

The lass of Craigyburn after this line, is no more mentioned: but the story adds, that she died of a broken heart, and of the heats which she got in, being forced to run so fast.

THE

DEATH OF DOUGLAS,

LORD OF LIDDISDALE.

THE first stanza of this Song, as well as the history of the event to which it refers, is preserved by Hume of Godscroft in his history of the House of Douglas. The author having been successful in rescuing some excellent old songs from the very brink of oblivion, searched incessantly many years after the remains of this, until lately, by mere accident, he lighted upon a few scraps, which he firmly believes to have formed a part of that very ancient ballad. The reader may judge for himself. The first verse is from Hume;

and all those printed within brackets are as near the original as rhyme and reason will permit. They are barely sufficient to distinguish the strain in which the old song hath proceeded.

THE Lady Douglas left her bower,
An' ay sae loud as she did call,
"'Tis all for gude Lord Liddisdale
That I do let these tears down fall."

["O haud your tongue, my sister dear,
An' o' your weepin' let me be:
Lord Liddisdale will haud his ain
Wi' ony Lord o' Chrystendie.

"For him ye widna weep nor whine
If you had seen what I did see,]
That day he broke the troops o' Tyne,
Wi's gilded sword o' metal free..

"Stout Heezlebrae was wonder wae To see his faintin' vassals yield; An' in a rage he did engage

Lord Liddisdale upon the field.

"Avaunt, thou haughty Scot,' he cry'd, 'Nor dare to face a noble fae: Say-wilt thou brave the deadly brand, And heavy hand of Heezlebrae ?'

"The word was scarcely mixt wi' air, When Douglas' sword his answer gau; An' frae a wound, baith deep and sair, Out fled the soul o' Heezlebrae.

"Mad Faucet next, wi' wounds transfixt,
In anguish gnaw'd the bloody clay;
Then Hallinshed he wheil'd an' fled,
An' left his rich, ill-gotten prey.

"I ha'e been west, I ha'e been east,
I ha'e seen dangers many a ane;
But for a bauld and dauntless breast,
Lord Liddisdale will yield to nane.

"An' were I called to face the foe,
An' bidden chuse my leader free;
Lord Liddisdale would be the man
Should lead me on to victory.

["O haud your tongue, my brother John! Though I have heard you patientlie,

Lord Liddisdale is dead an' gone,

An' he was slain for love o' me.

"My little true an' trusty page

Has brought the heavy news to me, That my ain lord did him engage

Where he could nouther ficht nor flee.

"Four o' the foremost men he slew,
An' four he wounded despratelie;
But cruel Douglas came behind,
An' ran him through the fair bodie.]

"O wae be to the Ettrick wood! O wae be to the banks of Ale! O wae be to the dastard croud

That murder'd handsome Liddisdale !