NOTE XXII.

The Harp of Ettrick rung again.-P. 328.

That some notable bard flourished in Ettrick Forest in that age is evident, from the numerous ballads and songs which relate to places in that country, and incidents that happened there. Many of these are of a very superior cast. Outlaw Murray, Young Tam Lean of Carterhaugh, Jamie Telfer & the fair Dodhead, The dowy Downs of Yarrow, and many others, are of the number. Dunbar, in his Lament for the Bards, merely mentions him by the title of Ettrick; more of him we know not.

NOTE XXIII.

Gardyn is crowned with garlands gay,

And bears the envied prize away.-P. 329.

Queen Mary's harp, of most curious workmanship, was found in the house of Lude, on the banks of the Garry in Athol, as was the old Caledonian harp. They were both brought to that house by a bride, which the chieftain of Lude married from the family of Gardyn of Banchory (now Garden of Troup). It was defaced of all its ornaments, and Queen Mary's portrait, set in gold and jewels, during the time of the last rebellion. How it came into

the possession of that family is not known, at least traditions vary considerably regarding the incident. But there is every reason to suppose, that it was given in consequence of some musical excellency in one or other of the Gardyns; for it may scarcely be deemed, that the royal donor would confer so rich and so curious an instrument on one who could make no use of it. So far does the tale correspond with truth, and there is, besides, a farther coincidence of which I was not previously aware. I find, that Queen Mary actually gave a grand treat at Holyrood-house at the very time specified in the Poem, where great proficiency was displayed both in music and dancing.

NOTE XXIV.

Coomb-is a Scots Lowland term, and used to distinguish all such hills as are scooped out on one side in form of a crescent. The bosom of the hill, or that portion which lies within the lunated verge, is always denominated the coomb.

NOTE XXV.

Shaw is likewise a Lowland term, and denotes the snout, or brow of a hill; but the part so denominated is always understood to be of a particular form, broad at the

base, and contracted to a point above. Each of these terms conveys to the mind a strong picture of the place so designed. Both are very common.

NOTE XXVI.

Law-signifies a detached hill of any description, but more generally such as are of a round or conical form. It seems to bear the same acceptation in the Lowlands of Scotland, as Ben does in the Highlands. The term is supposed to have had its derivation from the circumstance of the ancient inhabitants of the country distributing the law on the tops of such hills; and where no one of that form was nigh, artificial mounds were raised in the neighbourhood of towns for that purpose. Hence they were originally called Law-hills; but, by a natural and easy contraction, the laws and the hills of the country came to signify the same thing. A little affinity may still be traced;-both were effective in impeding the progress of an hostile invader; while the hardy native surmounted both without difficulty, and without concern.

NOTE XXVII.

Glen-is a term common to every part of Scotland alike, and invariably denotes the whole course of a moun

tain stream, with all the hills and vallies on each side to the first summit. It is an indefinite term, and describes no particular size, or local appearance of a river, or the scenery contiguous to it, farther than that it is one, and inclined to be narrow and confined between the hills; these glens being from one to thirty miles in length, and proportionably dissimilar in other respects. By a Glen, however, is generally to be understood a branch of a greater river. The course of the great river is denominated the Strath, as Strath-Tay, Strath-Spey, &c.; and the lesser rivers, which communicate with these, are the Glens. There may be a few exceptions from this general rule, but they are of no avail as affecting the acceptation of the term whenever it is used as descriptive.

NOTE XXVIII.

Strone.-(Only once used.)-A Strone is that hill which terminates the range. It is a Highland term, but common in the middle districts of Scotland.

NOTE XXIX.

Ben-is likewise a Highland term, and denotes a mountain of a pyramidal form, which stands unconnected with others.

NOTE XXX.

Dale-is the course of a Lowland river, with its adjacent hills and vallies. It conveys the same meaning as Strath does in the Highlands.

NOTE XXXI.

Wale-(only once used)—is a Hebridean term, and signifies the verge or brim of the mountain. It is supposed to be modern, and used only in those maritime districts, as having a reference to the gunnel, or wale, of a ship or boat.

NOTE XXXII.

Cory, or Correi-is a northern term, and is invariably descriptive of a green hollow part of the mountain, from which a rivulet descends.

NOTE XXXIII.

If there is any other word or term peculiar to Scotland, I am not aware of it. The Songs of the two bards, indeed, who affect to imitate the ancient manner, abound with old Scotch words and terms, which, it is presumed, the rythm, the tenor of the verse, and the narrative, will