NOTES

ON

CADYOW CASTLE.

First of his troop, the Chief rode on.-P. 173. v. 2. The head of the family of Hamilton, at this period, was James, Earl of Arran, Duke of Chatelherault in France, and first peer of the Scottish realm. In 1569, he was appointed by Queen Mary, her lieutenant-general in Scotland, under the singular title of her adopted father.

The Mountain Bull comes thundering on.-P. 174. v. 1. In Caledonia olim frequens erat sylvestris quidam bos, nunc vero rarior, qui colore candidissimo, jubam densam et demissam instar leonis gestat, truculentus ac ferus ab humano genere abhorrens, ut quæcunque homines vel manibus contrectarint, vel halitu perflaverunt, ab iis multos post dies omnino abstinuerint. Ad hoc tanta audacia huic bovi indita erat, ut non solum irritatus equites furenter prosterneret, sed ne tantillum lacessitus omnes promiscue homines cornibus, ac ungulis peterit ; ac canum, qui apud nos ferocissimi sunt, impetus plane contemnerit.

Ejus carnes cartilaginosæ sed saporis suavissimi. Erat is olim per illam vastissimam Caledoniæ sylvam frequens, sed humana ingluvie jam assumptus tribus tantum locis est reliquus, Strivilingii, Cumbernaldiæ, et Kincarniæ.-Leslæus, Scotiæ Descriptio, p. 13.

Stern Claud replied, with darkening face,

(Grey Pasley's haughty lord was he.)—P. 175. v. 3. Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and commendator of the abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during the troubles of Queen Mary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her army at the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the Raid of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queen's faction. He was ancestor to the present Marquis of Abercorn.

Few suns have set, since Woodhouselee.-P. 175. v. 4. This barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, near Auchendinny, belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right of his wife. The ruins of the mansion, from whence she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasioned her death, are still to be seen, in a hollow glen beside the river. Popular report tenants them with the restless ghost of the Lady Bothwellhaugh; whom, however, it confounds with Lady Anne Bothwell, whose Lament is so popular. This spectre is so tenacious of her rights, that, a part of the stones of the ancient edifice having been employed in building or repairing the present Woodhouselee, she has

deemed it a part of her privilege to haunt that house also; and, even of very late years, has excited considerable disturbance and terror among the domestics. This is a more remarkable vindication of the rights of ghosts, as the present Woodhouselee, which gives his title to the honourable Alexander Fraser Tytler, a senator of the College of Justice, is situated on the slope of the Pentland hills, distant at least four miles from her proper abode. She always appears in white, and with a child in her

arms.

Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke

Drives to the leap his jaded steed.-P. 177. v. 3. Birrel informs us, that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, "after that spur and wand had failed him, he drew forth his "dagger, and strocke his horse behind, whilk caused the horse "to leap a very brode stank, (i. e. ditch,) by whilk means he 66 escapit, and gat away from all the rest of the horses."Birrell's Diary, p. 18.

From the wild Border's humbled side,

In haughty triumph marched he.-P. 178. v. 3. Murray's death took place shortly after an expedition to the Borders; which is thus commemorated by the author of his elegy :

"So having stablischt all thing in this sort,

"To Liddisdaill again he did resort,

"Throw Ewisdail, Eskdail, and all the daills rode he,

"And also lay three nights in Cannabie,

"Whair na prince lay thir hundred yeiris before, "Nae thief durst stir, they did him feir so sair; "And, that they suld na mair thair thift alledge, "Threescore and twelf he brocht of thame in pledge, "Syne wardit thame, whilk made the rest keep ordour, "Than mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the Bordour." Scottish Poems, 16th century, p. 232.

With hackbut bent, my secret stand.-P. 179. v. 1. The carabine, with which the regent was shot, is preserved at Hamilton palace. It is a brass piece, of a middling length, very small in the bore, and, what is rather extraordinary, appears to have been rifled or indented in the barrel. It had a matchlock, for which a modern fire-lock has been injudiciously substituted.

Dark Morton, girt with many a spear.-P. 179. v. 2. Of this noted person it is enough to say, that he was active in the murder of David Rizzio, and at least privy to that of Darnley.

The wild Macfarlanes' plaided clan.—P. 179. v. 2, This clan of Lennox Highlanders were attached to the regent Murray. Holinshed, speaking of the battle of Langsyde, says, "In this batayle the valiancie of an hieland gentleman, "named Macfarlane, stood the regent's part in great steede "for, in the hottest brunte of the fighte, he came up with two "hundred of his friendes and countrymen, and so manfully

66

' gave in upon the flankes of the queen's people, that he was a great cause of the disordering of them. This Macfarlane "had been lately before, as I have heard, condemned to die, "for some outrage by him committed, and obtayning pardon "through suyte of the Countess of Murray, he recompenced "that clemencie by this peice of service now at this batayle." Calderwood's account is less favourable to the Macfarlanes. He states, that "Macfarlane, with his Highlandmen, fled from "the wing where they were set. The Lord Lindsay, who stood "nearest to them in the regent's battle, said, 'Let them go ! I "shall fill their place better;' and so stepping forward with 66 a company of fresh men, charged the enemy, whose spears "were now spent, with long weapons, so that they were "driven back by force, being before almost overthrown by the "avant-guard and harquebusiers, and so were turned to flight." -Calderwood's MS. apud Keith, p. 480. Melville mentions the flight of the vanguard, but states it to have been commanded by Morton, and composed chiefly of commoners of the barony of Renfrew.

Glencairn and stout Parkhead were nigh,

Obsequious at their regent's rein.—P. 179. v. 3. The Earl of Glencairn was a steady adherent of the regent. George Douglas of Parkhead was a natural brother of the Earl of Morton; his horse was killed by the same ball by which Murray fell.