Arthur Fire-the-braes.-St. VIII. p. 177. The person, bearing this redoubtable nomme de guerre, was an Elliot, and resided at Thorleshope, in Liddesdale. He occurs in the list of Border riders, in 1597. Since old Buckleuch the name did gain, When in the cleuch the buck was ta'en.-St. VIII. p. 178. A tradition, preserved by Scott of Satchells, who published, in 1788, A true History of the Right Honourable Name of Scott, gives the following romantic origin of that name. Two brethren, natives of Galloway, having been banished from that country for a riot, or insurrection, came to Rankelburn, in Ettricke Forest, where the keeper, whose name was Brydone, received them joyfully, on account of their skill in winding the horn, and in the other mysteries of the chace. Kenneth Mac-Alpin, then king of Scotland, came soon after to hunt in the royal forest, and pursued a buck from Ettrickeheuch to the glen now called Buckleuch, about two miles above the junction of Rankelburn with the river Ettricke. Here the stag stood at bay; and the king and his attendants, who followed on horseback, were thrown out by the steepness of the hill and the morass. John, one of the brethren from Galloway, had followed the in, seized the buck by the horns, and, being a man of great strength and activity, threw him on his back, and run with his burden about a mile up the steep hill, to a place called Cracra chace on foot; and now coming Cross, where Kenneth had halted, and laid the buck at the * Froissart relates, that a knight of the household of the Compte de Foix exhibited a similar feat of strength. The hall-fire had waxed low, and wood was wanted to mend it. This knight went down to the court-yard, where stood an ass laden with faggots, seized on the animal and his burden, and, carrying him up to the hall on his shoulders, tumbled him into the chimney with his heels uppermost; a humane pleasantry, much applauded by the Count and all the spectators. Night's-ment at first they did appear, WATT'S Bellanden. The Buccleuch arms have been altered, and now allude less pointedly to this hunting, whether real or fabulous. The family now bear Or upon a bend azure, a mullet betwixt two crescents of the field; in addition to which they formerly bore in the field a hunting horn. The supporters, now two ladies, were formerly a hound and buck, or, according to the old terms, a hart of leash and a hart of greece. The family of Scott of Howpasley and Thirlestaine long retained the buglehorn they also carried a bent bow and arrow in the sinister cantle, perhaps as a difference. It is said the motto was Best riding by moonlight, in allusion to the crescents on the : "Minions of the moon," as Falstaff would have said. The vocation pursued by our ancient Borderers may be justified on the authority of the most polished of the ancient nations : "For the Grecians in old time, and such barbarians as in the continent lived neere unto the sea, or else inhabited the islands, after once they began to crosse over one to another in ships, became theeves, and went abroad under the conduct of their more puissant men, both to enrich themselves, and to fetch in maintenance for the weak and falling upon towns unfortified, or scatteringly inhabited, rifled them, and made this the best means of their living; being a mat : shield, and perhaps to the habits of those who bore it. The motto now given is Amo, applying to the female supporters. old Albert Grame, 179. The Minstrel of that ancient name.—St. X. p. "John Grahame, second son of Malice, Earl of Monteith, commonly surnamed John with the Bright Sword, upon some displeasure risen against him at court, retired with many of his clan and kindred into the English Borders in the reign of king Henry the Fourth, where they seated themselves; and many of their posterity have continued there ever since. Mr Sandford, speaking of them, says (which indeed was applicable to most of the Borderers on both sides), They were all stark moss-troupers, and arrant thieves: Both to England and Scotland outlawed; yet sometimes connived at, because they ter at that time no where in disgrace, but rather carrying with it something of glory. This is manifest by some that dwell upon the continent, amongst whom, so it be performed nobly, it is still esteemed as an ornament. The same is also prooved by some of the ancient poets, who introduce men questioning of such as sail by, on all coasts alike, whether they bee theeves or not; as a thing neyther scorned by such as were asked, nor upbraided by those that were desirous to know. They also robbed one another within the main land and much of Greece useth that old custome, as the Locrians, the Acarnanians, and those of the continent in that quarter unto this day. Moreover, the fashion of wearing iron remaineth yet with the people of that continent, from their old trade of theeving." HOBBES' Thucydides, p. 4. Lond. 1629. : at any gave intelligence forth of Scotland, and would raise 400 horse time upon a raid of the English into Scotland. A saying is recorded of a mother to her son (which is now become proverbial) Ride, Rowlie, hough's the pot: that is, the last ? piece of beef was in the pot, and therefore it was high time for him to go and fetch more." Introduction to the History of Cumberland. The residence of the Græmes being chiefly in the Debateable Land, so called because it was claimed by both kingdoms, their depredations extended both to England and Scotland, with impunity; for as both wardens accounted them the proper subjects of their own prince, neither inclined to demand reparation for their excesses from the opposite officers, which would have been an acknowledgement of his jurisdiction over them. See a long correspondence on this subject betwixt Lord Dacre and the English Privy Council, in Introduction to History of Cumberland. The Debateable Land was finally divided betwixt England and Scotland by commissioners appointed by both nations. The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall.--St. XI. p. 180. This burden is adopted, with some alteration, from an old Scottish song, beginning thus: She leaned her back against a thorn, |