Red blazed the beacon on Pownell;

On Skiddaw there were three;
The warder's horn, on muir and fell,
Was heard continually.

Dark grew the sky, the wind was still,
The sun in blood arose ;

But oh! how many a gallant man
Ne'er saw that evening close!

NOTES TO LORD DERWENT.

NOTE 1.

I got that sword in bloody fray,
Last night on Eden downe.

P. 106. v. 1.

This ballad relates to an engagement which took place betwixt the Scots and English, in Cumberland, A. D. 1524; for a particular account of which, see the historians of that time.

NOTE II

But Maxwell rallying, wheeled about.

P. 108. v. 2.

The page's account of this action seems not to be wide of the truth: "On the 17th of Julie, the Lord Maxwell, and Sir Alexander Jardein with diverse other Scottishmen, in great numbers, entered England by the west marches and Caerleill, with displayed banners, and began to harrie the country, and burn diverse places. The Englishmen assembled on every side, so that they were far more in number than the Scottishmen, and thereupon set feircelie upon their enemies : insomuch, that, for the space of an hour, there was a sore fight continued betwixt them. But the Lord Maxwell, like a true politike captain, as of all that knew him he was no less reputed, ceased not to encourage his people; and after that, by the taking of Sir Alexander Jardein and others, they had beene put backe, he brought them in arraie again, and, beginning a new skirmish, recovered in manner all the prisoners; took and slew diverse Englishmen; so that he returned with victorie, and led above 300 prisoners with him into Scotland.' -HOLINGSPED.

THE

LAIRD OF LAIRISTAN,

OR, THE

THREE CHAMPIONS OF LIDDISDALE.

The scene of this ballad is laid in the upper parts of Liddisdale, in which district the several residencies of the three champions are situated, as is also the old castle of Hermitage, with the farm-houses of Saughentree and Roughley. As to the authenticity of the story, all that I can say of it is, that I used to hear it told when I was a boy, by William Scott, a joiner of that country, and was much taken with some of the circumstances. Were I to relate it verbatim, it would only be anticipating a great share of the poem.-One verse is ancient, beginning, O wae be to thee, &c.

"O WIILLIE, 'tis light, and the moon shines bright, Will ye go and watch the deer wi' me?"

"Ay, be my sooth, this very night :"

And away they went to the Saughentree.

The moon had turn'd the roof of heaven;
The ground lay deep in drifted snaw;
The hermitage bell had rung eleven,

When lo! a wondrous sight they saw.

Right owr the knowe where Liddel lyes-
Nae wonder that it catch'd his ee!
A thing of huge and monstrous size
Was steering that way hastilye.

"Ah! what is yon, my brother John?

Now God preserve baith you and me!

But our guns they are load, and what comes in their road,

Be't boggle, or robber, these bullets shall prie."

"O haud your tongue, my brother dear;

Let us survey't with steedy ee;

'Tis surely a man they are carrying here,

And 'tis fit that the family warn'd should be."

They ran to the ha', and they waken'd them a',

Where none where at home but maidens three; And into the shade of the wall they have staid, To watch what the issue of this would be.

And there they saw a dismal sight!

A sight had nearly freez'd their blood! One lost her reason that very night,

And one of them fainted where they stood.