is in. The minstrels who, in the reign of the Stuarts, enjoyed privileges which were even denied to the principal nobility, were, by degrees, driven from the tables of the great to the second, and afterwards to the common hall, that their music and songs might be heard, while they themselves were unseen. From the common hall they were obliged to retire to the porch or court; and so low has the characters of the minstrels descended, that the performers of the Christmas wakes are wholly unknown to the most part of those whom they serenade. They seem to be despised, but enjoy some small privileges, in order to keep up a name of high and ancient origin.

NOTE II.

There rode the lords of France and Spain,

Of England, Flanders, and Lorraine,

While serried thousands round them stood,

From shore of Leith to Holyrood.-P. 12.

Hollingshed describes Queen Mary's landing in Scotland, with her early misfortunes and accomplishments after this manner : "She arrived at Leith the 20th of August, in the year of our Lord 1561, where she was honourably received by the Earl of Argyle, the Lord

Erskine, the Prior of St Andrew's, and the burgesses of Edinburgh, and conveyed to the Abbie of Holie-roodhouse, for (as saith Buchanan) when some had spread abroad her. landing in Scotland, the nobility and others assembled out of all parts of the realme, as it were to a common spectacle.

"This did they, partly to congratulate her return, and partly to shew the dutie which they alwais bear unto her (when she was absent), either to have thanks therefore, or to prevent the slanders of the enemies: wherefore not a few, by these beginnings of her reign, did gesse what would follow, although, in those so variable notions of the minds of the people, every one was very desirous to see their Queen offered unto them (unlooked for), after so many haps of both fortunes as had befallen her. For, when she was but six days old, she lost her father among the cruel tempests of battle, and was, with great diligence, brought up by her mother (being a chosen and worthy person), but yet left as a prize to others, by reason of civil sedition in Scotland, and of outward wars with other nations, being further led abroad to all the dangers of frowning fortune, before she could know what evil did mean.

"For leaving her own country, she was nourished as

a banished person, and hardly preserved in life from the weapons of her enemies, and violence of the seas. After which fortune began to flatter her, in that she honoured her with a worthy marriage, which, in truth, was rather a shadow of joie to this queen, than any comfort at all. For, shortly after the same, all things were turned to sorrow, by the death of her new young husband, and of her old and grieved mother, by loss of her new kingdom, and by the doubtful possession of her old heritable realme. But as for these things she was both pitied and praised, so was she also for gifts of nature as much beloved and favoured, in that beneficial nature (or rather good God) had indued her with a beautiful face, a well composed body, an excellent wit, a mild nature, and good behaviour, which she had artificially furthered by courtly education, and affable demeanor. Whereby, at the first sight, she wan unto her the hearts of most, and confirmed the love of her faithful subjects."-Holl. p. 314. Arbroath Ed.

With regard to the music, which so deeply engaged her attention, we have different accounts by contemporaries, and those at complete variance with one another. Knox says, "Fyres of joy were set furth at night, and a companie of maist honest men, with instruments of mu

sick, gave ther salutation at hir chalmer windo: the melodie, as sche alledged, lyked her weill, and sche willed the sam to be continued sum nychts efter with grit diligence." But Dufresnoy, who was one of the party who accompanied the Queen, gives a very different account of these Scotish minstrels. "We landed at Leith," says he," and went from thence to Edinburgh, which is but a short league distant. The Queen went there on horseback, and the lords and ladies who accompanied her upon the little wretched hackneys of the country, as wretchedly capparisoned; at sight of which the Queen began to weep, and to compare them with the pomp and superb palfreys of France. But there was no remedy but patience. What was worst of all, being arrived at Edinburgh, and retired to rest in the Abbey (which is really a fine building, and not at all partaking of the rudeness of that country), there came under her window a crew of five or six hundred scoundrels from the city, who gave her a serenade with wretched violins and little rebecks, of which there are enough in that country, and began to sing Psalms so miserably mistimed and mistuned, that nothing could be worse. Alas! what music! and what a night's rest!"

This Frenchman has had no taste for Scotish musicsuch another concert is certainly not in record.

NOTE III.

Ah! Kennedy, vengeance hangs over thine head!

Escape to thy native Glengary forlorn.-P. 53. The Clan Kennedy was only in the present age finally expelled from Glen-Gary, and forced to scatter over this and other countries. Its character among the Highlanders is that of the most savage and irreclaimable tribe that ever infested the mountains of the north.

NOTE IV.

The Witch of Fife.-P. 70.

It may suffice to mention, once for all, that the catastrophe of this tale, as well as the principal events related in the tales of Old David and M'Gregor, are all founded on popular traditions. So is also the romantic story of Kilmeny's disappearance and revisiting her friends, after being seven years in Fairyland. The tradition bears some resemblance to the old ballads of Tam Lean and Thomas of Erceldon; and it is not improbable that all the three may have drawn their origin from the same ancient ro

mance.