THE UBRARY OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC 
 SOCIETIES 
 
 PHl+989 
 .M63 
 
 S5 
 
This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the 
 last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be 
 renewed by bringing it to the library. 
 
 DATE 
 DUE 
 
 RET. 
 
 APR 01 ?f |3 
 
 DATE 
 DUE 
 
 RET, 
 
THE ^/T} 6-5 
 
 SILLER GUN.^^ 
 
 A POEM, ^ ^/ 
 
 m FOUR CANTOS: ^' 
 
 WITH NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY. 
 BY JOHN MAYNE, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE POEM OF « GLASGOfV,'' ^ c. 
 
 PRINTED BY D. WALKER, 
 
 FOR TKE AUTHOR : 
 SOLD BY J. RICHARDSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE; AK^O 
 J. M. RICHARDSO^J, 23, CORNHILL, LONDON. 
 
 18Q3. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/sillergunpoeminfOOmayn 
 
TO THE 
 
 REV. ALEXANDER CROMBIE, LL.D. 
 THIS POEM, 
 
 IMPROVED BY HIS GENIUS, AND CORRECTED BY 
 HIS TASTE, 
 
 IS MOST RESFECrrULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY HIS MUCH OBLIGED 
 
 HUMBLE SERVANTj 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
The following Poem is founded on an 
 ancient custom in Dumfries, called Shooi- 
 ing for the Siller Gun. 
 
 The Gun is a smtili silver tube^ like the 
 barrel of a pistol^ but derives great imj)ort- 
 ance from its being the gift oi' James V!. 
 that Monarch having ordained it as a 
 prize to the, best marksman among the 
 Corporations of Dumfries. 
 
 The contest was, by royal authority, 
 licensed to take place every year ; but, 
 in consequence of the trouble and ex- 
 pence attending it, the custom has not 
 been so frequently observed. Whenever 
 the festival is appointed, the birth-day 
 of -he reigning sovereign is invariably 
 choi>en for that purpose. 
 
vi 
 
 The institution itself may be regarded , 
 as a memorial of the Waponshaw — the 
 shooting at butts and bow-marks, and 
 other military sports, introduced by our 
 ancestors, to keep alive the martial ar- 
 dour and heroic spirit of the peopk?. 
 
 It was on one of the contests for this 
 royal prize, namely, that of the 4th of 
 June, 1777, that the first Verses entitled 
 The Siller Gun were composed. They 
 were afterwards pubhshed by Mr. liud- 
 diman, in The Edinburgh Weeklij Maga- 
 zine^ and thence copied and printed in 
 various forms by different persons. 
 
 These Verses, in some respect^ constitute 
 the ground-work of the present Poem ; 
 but the additions and alterations are so 
 numerous, that scarcely an original stanza 
 now remains. 
 
 The Dramatis Personce^ here exhibited, 
 were characters, at that time, well known 
 in Dumfries, and made a prominent figure 
 
vii 
 
 in that festival of which this little Poem 
 attempts a description. Some of them 
 are still alive; but much the greater pari 
 have now paid the debt of Nature. 
 
 Though the festival of 177 7 forms strict^ 
 ly the subject of the Poem^ the Author 
 has ventured to introduce a circumstance 
 which occurred at a festival posterior 
 to that period. He trusts, however, that 
 the illustrious names which irresistibly dic- 
 tated this little anachronism, will, with 
 every candid and patriotic reader, plead 
 its excuse."^ 
 
 * See Canto 4.— Verse 34. 
 
THE SILLER GUN: 
 A POEM. 
 
 , . A sight so rare, 
 
 Makes Wisdom smile, and Folly stare. 
 
 Anon. 
 
 CANTO FIRST. 
 
 •For loyal feats, and trophies won, 
 Dumfries shall live till time be done! 
 Ae Simmer's morning, wi' the sun. 
 
 The Sev'n Trades there, 
 JForgather'd, for their Siller Gun 
 
 To shoot ance mair. 
 
10 THE SILLER GUN % 
 
 To shoot ance mair in grand array _^ 
 And celebrate the King's Birth-day^^ 
 Crouds^ happy i' the gentle sway 
 
 Of ane sae dear. 
 Were proud their fealty to display. 
 
 And marshal here. 
 
 George ! the best o' kings and men! 
 For thee our daily pray'rs ascend ! 
 Of ilka blessing Heav'n can send, 
 
 May'st thou ha'e store ; 
 And may thy royal race extend 
 
 Till time be o'er ! 
 
CANTO FIRST. H 
 4. 
 
 For weeks before this Fete sae clever, 
 T'he fowk were in a perfect fever. 
 Scouring gun-barrels i' the river— 
 
 At marks practizing— 
 Marching wi' drums and fifes forever— 
 A' sodgerizing! 
 
 5. 
 
 And turning coats, and mending breeks. 
 New-seating where the sark-tail keeks ; 
 <Nae matter tho' the cloot that eeks 
 
 Is black or blue ;) 
 And darning, with a thousand steeks, 
 
 The stockings too. 
 
 B Q. 
 
12 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 6. 
 
 Between the last and this occasion^ 
 Lang, unco lang, seem'd the vacation. 
 To him wha wooes sweet recreation 
 
 In Nature^s prime ; 
 And him wha hkes a day's potation 
 At ony time. 
 
 7. 
 
 The lift was clear, the morn serene. 
 The sun just glinting owr the scene. 
 When James M^Noe began again 
 
 To beat to arms, 
 Rouzing the heart o' man and wean 
 
 Wi' War's alarms. 
 
CANTO FIRST. 13 
 8. 
 
 Frae far and near, the country lads 
 (Their joes ahint them on their yads,) 
 Flock'd in to see the show in squads ; 
 
 And, what was dafter. 
 Their pawky mithers and their dads 
 
 Came trotting after. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 9. 
 
 And mony a beau and belle were there, 
 
 Doited wi' dozing on a chair; 
 
 For, lest they'd, sleeping, spoil theii hair. 
 
 Or miss the sight. 
 The gowks, like bairns before a fair^ 
 
 Sat up a' night! 
 
 B 3 
 
14 THE SILLER GUN t 
 
 : 10. 
 
 Wi' hats as black as ony raven. 
 Fresh as the rose, their beards new-shave% 
 And a' their Sunday's deeding having 
 
 Sae trim and gay. 
 Forth came our Trades, some ora saving 
 To wair that day. 
 
 11, 
 
 Fan* fa' ilk canny caidgy carl ! 
 Weel may he bruik his new apparel f 
 And never dree the bitter snarl 
 
 O' scowling wife; 
 But, blest in pantry^ barn, and barrel. 
 
 Be blithe thro' hfe ! 
 
CANTO FIRST. 15 
 
 12. 
 
 Heh^ Sirs ! what crouds were gather'd round. 
 To see them marching up and down ! 
 Lasses and lads, sun-burnt and brown- 
 Women and weans. 
 Gentle and semple, mingling, crown 
 The gladsome scenes ! 
 
 13. 
 
 Meanwhile, before ilk Deacon's dwalling. 
 His ain brigade was made to fall in ; 
 And, while the muster-roll was calling, 
 
 MuU'd ale and wine 
 Were dealt about in mony a gallon. 
 And gardevine : 
 B 4 
 
16 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 14. 
 
 And cheese-and-bread, and bits ham^ 
 Laid the foundation for a dram 
 O' whisky, gin frae Amsterdam, 
 
 Or cheny-brandy ; 
 Whilk after, a' was fish that cam 
 
 To Jock or Sandy. 
 
 15. 
 
 For weel ken they wha loo their chappin. 
 Drink makes the auldest swack and strappen ; 
 Gars Care forget the ills that happen-— 
 
 The blate, look spruce— 
 And e'en the thowless cock their tappin. 
 
 And craw fu' croose ! 
 
CANTO FlUSt. ' 17 
 16. 
 
 The muster owr^ the difF'rent bands 
 File afF in parties to the Sands^ 
 Where^ midst loud laughs and clapping hands^ 
 
 deed Geordy Smith 
 Reviews them^ and their line expands 
 Alang the Nith. 
 
 17. 
 
 And ne'er, for uniform or air. 
 
 Was sic a groupe reviewed elsewhere f 
 
 The short, the tall; fat fowk, and spare; 
 
 Side coats, and dockit ; 
 Wigs, queus, and chibs, and curly hair; 
 
 Round hatS; and cockit! 
 
18 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 18. 
 
 As to their guns — thae fell engines^ 
 Borrow'd or begg'd^ were of a' kinds 
 For bloody war^ or bad designs. 
 
 Or shootino^ cushies — 
 Lang fowling-pieces, carabines. 
 
 And blunder-busses ! 
 
 19. 
 
 Maistfeck, tlio' oifd to make them glimmer^ 
 Hadna been shot for mony a Simmer; 
 i\nd Fame, the story-telhng limmer^ 
 
 Jocosely hints. 
 That some o' them had bits o' timmer^ 
 
 Instead o' flints. 
 
CANTO FIRST. IQ 
 20. 
 
 Some guns^ she threeps, within her ken. 
 Were spik'd,, to let nae priming ben ; 
 And, as in twenty there were ten 
 
 Worm-eaten stocks, 
 Sae, here and there, a rozit-end 
 
 Held on their locks ! 
 
 21. 
 
 And then, to show what dilFrence stands 
 ^Tween him that gets^ and gi'es commands. 
 Claymores that, erst, at Prestonpans, 
 
 Gart faes stand yon'. 
 Were quiv'ring i' the feckless hands 
 
 O' mony a drone ! 
 
20 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 Ohon quo' George^ and ga'e a graen^ 
 The age o' chivalry is gane!" 
 SynC;, having owr and ovvr again 
 
 The hale survey'd^ 
 Their route^ and a' things else^ made plain^ 
 He snufF^d^ and said : 
 
 23. 
 
 Now^ Gentlemen ! now mind the motion. 
 And dinna^ this time^ make a botion : 
 Shouther your arms ! — O ! had them tosh on. 
 
 And not athraw ! 
 Wheel wi' your right-hands to the ocean. 
 
 And march awa!'* 
 
CANTO FIRSTS 21 
 
 24. 
 
 Wi'that, the dinlin drums rebound, 
 Fifes^ clarionets, and hautboys sound! 
 Thro' crouds on crouds, collected round. 
 
 The Corporations 
 Trudge afF, whilst . Echo's self was drown'd 
 With acclamations ! 
 
 25. 
 
 Their steps to martial airs agreeing. 
 And a' the Sev'n-Trades'-Colours fleeing. 
 Bent for the Craigs, O ! weel worth seeing ! 
 
 They hy'd aw a'; 
 Their bauld Convener proud o' being 
 
 The Chief owr a'. 
 
22 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 26. 
 
 Attended by his body-guard. 
 
 He stepp'd in gracefu'ness unpaired ! 
 
 Straight as the poplar on the swaird. 
 
 And strong as Sampson^ 
 Nae eie cou'd look without regard 
 On Robin Tamson. 
 
 His Craft, the Blacksmiths, first ava, 
 Led the Procession, twa and twa ; 
 The Squaremen follow'd i' the raw. 
 
 And syne the Weavers, 
 The Taylors, Souters, Skinners a', 
 
 And Marrow-cleavers. 
 
CANTO FIRST. 
 £8. 
 
 Their journeymen were a' sae gaucy, 
 Th'^ apprentices sae kir and saucy. 
 That, as they gaed alang the causey^ 
 
 Sae tight and braw, 
 Th' applauding heart o' mony a lassie 
 
 Was stown awa. 
 
 ^ Brisk as a bridegroom gawn to wed. 
 Ilk Deacon march'd before his trade : 
 Foggies the zig-zag followers led. 
 
 But scarce had pow'r 
 To keep some, fitter for their bed, 
 
 Frae stoit'ring owi\ 
 
£4 THE SILLER GUNS 
 
 SO. 
 
 For^ blithesome Sir John Barleycorn 
 Had sae allur'd them i' the morn^ 
 That, what wi' drams, and mony a horn. 
 
 And reaming bicker. 
 The ferly is, withouten scorn. 
 
 They waak'd sae sicker I 
 
 As thro' the town their banners fly, 
 Frae windows low, frae windows high, 
 A' that cou'd find a nook to spy. 
 
 Were leaning o'er; 
 The streets, stair-heads, and carts, forbye, 
 
 Were a' uproar ' 
 
CANTO FIRST. £5 
 
 32. 
 
 To see his face whom she loo'd best. 
 Hub's wife was there amang the rest; 
 And, while wi' joy her sides she prest. 
 
 Like mony mae. 
 Her exultation was exprest 
 
 In words like thae: 
 
 33. 
 
 Wow ! but it makes ane's heart lovvp light 
 To see auld fowk sae cleanly dight! 
 " E'en now ouv Habby seems as tight 
 As whenylang syne, 
 His looks were first the young delight 
 And pride o' mine!'' 
 
^6 THE SILLE^R GUN! 
 
 34. 
 
 But ou the meeker maiden's part^ 
 Deep sighs alane her love impart! 
 Deep sighs, the language o' the hearty 
 
 Will aft reveal 
 A flame which a' the pow'rs of art ' 
 
 In vain conceal! 
 
 35. 
 
 Frae rank to rank while thousands bustle^ 
 In fronts like waving corn, they hustle ; 
 Where, deck'd wi' ribbons round its muzzle, 
 
 The Siller Gun, 
 A trinket like a penny whustle, 
 
 GleamM the sun! 
 
CANTO FIRST. 
 
 Suspended frae a painted pole, 
 
 A glimpse o't sae inspired the whole^ 
 
 That auld and young, wi' heart and son]. 
 
 Their heads were cocking, 
 Keen as ye've seen, at bridals droll, 
 
 Maids catch the stocking ! 
 
 37. 
 
 In honour o' this gaudy thing, 
 And eke in honour o' the King, 
 A fouth o' flow'rs the Gard'ners bring. 
 
 And frame sweet posies 
 Of a' the relics o' the Spring, 
 
 And Simmer's ro^s ! 
 
^8 THE SILLER GUK : 
 
 SS. 
 
 Amang the flow'ry forms they weavc^ 
 There's Adamy to the Hfe^ and 'Eve : 
 She^ wi' the apple in her rieeye^ 
 
 Enticing Adam; 
 While Satan's laughing in his sleevej, 
 
 At him and madam ! 
 
 59. 
 
 The lily white^ the vilet blue, 
 The heather-bells of azure hue ; 
 And birken chaplets not a feW;, 
 
 And yellow broom — 
 Athwart the scented welkin threw 
 
 A rich perfuripie ! 
 
CANTO FIRST. 
 
 40. 
 
 Perfume^ congenial to the clime. 
 The sweetest^ the sweetest time ! 
 The merry bells, in jocund chime^ 
 
 Rang thro' the air. 
 And Minstrels play'd^ in strains subhme^ 
 
 To charm the Fair ! 
 
 41. 
 
 And fairer than our Nithsdale Fair, 
 Or handsomer, there's nane elsewhere! 
 Pure as the streams that murmur there, 
 
 In them ye'll find 
 That Virtue and the Graces rare 
 
 Are a' enshriu'd ! 
 
30 THE SILLER GUN. 
 
 Lang may the bonny bairns recline 
 On Plenty's bosom^ saft and kind ■ 
 And^ O! may I, ere life shall dwine 
 
 To its last scene, 
 Eeturn, and a' my sorrows tine 
 At hame again ! 
 
THE SILLER GUN. 
 
 CJ,NTO SECOND. 
 
 Aff to the Craigs, the hale forenoon. 
 By a' the bye-gates^ round and round. 
 Crouds after crouds were flocking down. 
 
 In nines and tens, 
 .Deserting, fast, the bonniest town 
 
 That Scotia kens, 
 c 4 
 
32 • THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 2. 
 
 O ! happy they wha^ up twa story^ 
 Saw the Procession in its glory ! 
 Alang the roads it left out o'er ye 
 
 Sic clouds o' stour^ 
 Ye cou'dna see your thoomb before ye 
 For ha'f an hour ! 
 
 3. 
 
 Where the lang train of armour gleams. 
 Bright Phcebus shone in ghtt'ring beams: 
 Parch'd up wi' heat, nae caller streams 
 
 To weet their basses. 
 The squadrons grien'd for ale that reams 
 Frae Jenny Gass^s ! 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 4. 
 
 They wha had corns^ or broken wind, 
 Begood to pegh and limp behind: 
 Laith to sit down, and still inclined 
 To try their pith, 
 I hope we'll dance yet, ere we've din'i 
 Cries Geordy Smith. 
 
 5. 
 
 To cheer them wha began to fag. 
 The Minstrels lows'd Apollo's bag. 
 And lilted up, tho' still they lag. 
 The Red o' Boggie/' 
 And Willy was a zi:anto)i wag, ' 
 Wi' ''Kat/irim OggieJ' 
 
34 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 But Robert's March to Bannockburn/^ 
 To leave his banes in Er^edom's urn. 
 Or, glorious and triumphant, spurn 
 
 Intended thraldom, 
 Sae rais'd their hearts at ilka turn. 
 
 That nought cou'd hald thenl. 
 
 O! blessings on his warlike name ! 
 On Wallace, and Sir John the Gr^me ! 
 While Freedom dare assert her claim. 
 Or Virtue blossom, 
 " Wallace and Bruce shall aye inflame 
 The Patriot bosom!'' 
 
CANTO SECOND. 35 
 S. 
 
 A* this^ and mair^ they seem'd to say. 
 And rent the air wi' thrice huzzay ! 
 Out owr the hills and far awat//' 
 The Pipers play'd ; • 
 And soon they reach'd^ fu' bUthe and gay. 
 Their grand parade— 
 
 9. 
 
 Where louder grew the busy hum 
 O' friends rejoicing as they come : 
 Wi' double vir the drummers drum. 
 
 The pint-stowps clatter. 
 And bowls o^ negus, milk and rum. 
 
 Flow round like water. 
 
36 THE SILLER GUN I 
 
 10. 
 
 Tak a gude waught — Vm sure y e're weary/' 
 Quoth jhi7i]/ Kaillie to her deary : 
 Joluh fain to see his wife sae cheary, 
 
 Indulg'd the fun. 
 Got fou, and danner'd lang and eerie^ 
 
 And tint his gun — 
 
 la. 
 
 And miss'd, mairowr, th' endearing charms 
 (The very thought ilk bosom warms !) 
 Of auld acquaintances in swarms, 
 
 ISIeeting hke brithers. 
 And wie-things gigghng i' the arm^ 
 
 O' their fond mithers ! 
 
CANTO SECOND. Sf 
 
 12: 
 
 And bonny lasses^ tight and clean^ 
 Buskit to please their ain lad's em- 
 Lasses^ whose faces^ as the scene 
 
 Its tints discloses^ 
 In glowing sweetness intervene. 
 
 Like living roses ! 
 
 13. 
 
 CoNVEENER Tamson's troop, the while. 
 Prepare for action in great stile ; 
 The lave their various firelocks pile. 
 
 By three and three. 
 And, 'tween ilk corps, for ha'f a mile, 
 
 Their banners flee* 
 
58 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 14. 
 
 The drums and fifes a flourish made ; 
 Thr>ee loud huzzas the menyie gaed. 
 And clear'd the stance^ that ilka blade 
 
 The mark might view. 
 Far glist'ning, like a white cockade 
 
 Wi' spraings o' blue ! 
 
 Ill niirigled prospect, on the plain 
 That parts the Maiden-craigs in twain^ 
 Craems, ginge-bread-stawns, legerdemain. 
 
 And raree-shows, 
 Entic'd young sparks to entertain. 
 
 And treat their joes. 
 
CANTO SECOND, 39 
 16. 
 
 Then there were tents^ where, frank and free^ ^ 
 On 'divet-seats, sae cozielie, 
 Auld birkies, innocently slee, 
 
 Wi' cap and stowp. 
 Were e'en as blithe as blithe could be— 
 
 A' fit to lowp ! 
 
 17. 
 
 Pleas'd, they recount^ wi' meikle joy. 
 How aft they've been at sic a ploy ; 
 Descrive past scenes ; re-act the boy. 
 
 And a' his wheems : 
 S^eet days of youth, without alloy. 
 
 Like fairy dreams ! 
 
40 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 18. 
 
 And mony a crack, and gallant tale, 
 'Bout bauld forebears, sae stark and hale. 
 Inspired their breasts with ardent zeal. 
 
 While circling round, 
 The reaming cogs o^ nappie ale 
 
 Gaed glibber down ! 
 
 19. 
 
 Yet, now and then, a silent tear,. 
 For friends departed, kindred dear, 
 (Friends, wha were aye the foremost here!) 
 
 Bedew'd ilk cheek, 
 Mair eloquent, in grief sincere. 
 
 Than tongue can speak ! 
 
CANTO SECOND. 41 
 20. 
 
 Meantime^ the younkers on the greeti. 
 In merry rounds are dancing keen : 
 Wi' rapture sparkhng i' their ein. 
 
 They mind fu' weel 
 The sappy kiss, and squeeze^ between 
 Hk bhthesome reel. 
 
 21. 
 
 And, as the Highland flings begin. 
 
 Their heels grow lighter wi' the din ; 
 
 They smack their hands ; and, chin to chin^ 
 
 They cut and caper : 
 Ev'n the bye-standers figure in. 
 
 And flounce and vapour? 
 D 
 
4,0, THE SILLER GUN; 
 
 The Minstrels there^were, Sandy Brown, 
 The Piper Lochmaben town : 
 Tho' whozzling sair and cruppen down 
 
 Auld Saunders seem'd^ 
 His chaunter, for its cheering sound. 
 Was aye. esteemed. 
 
 23. 
 
 Jock WiUisoriy a Souter bred, ♦ 
 Wha, for the fiddle, left his trade, 
 Jigg'd it far better than he sped,. 
 
 For, oh! poor Jock 
 Con'd ne'er gang soberly to bed* 
 
 Like ither fo^k. 
 
CANTO SECOND. 45 
 
 To hear John Bruce exert his skill, 
 Ye'd never grudge the ither gill : 
 O ! how he scorn'd the Italian trill. 
 
 And variations; 
 And gart his thairm-strings speak^ at will. 
 
 True Scots vibrations! 
 
 Nor wRs it only for a reel 
 
 That Johnny was belov'd sae Weel : 
 
 He loo'd his friend, was aye genteel, 
 
 And, what's far niair, 
 John to his Prince was true and leel, 
 
 Ev^n in despair ! 
 
44 THE SILLER GVN I 
 
 But wha's he lilting i^ the rear, 
 
 Sae saft, sae tunefu', and sae clear ? 
 
 It's Dingzi'all, to the Muses dear. 
 
 Whose modest merit 
 Was sae repress'd for want o' gear. 
 
 Care crush'd his spirit ! 
 
 £7. 
 
 Aft, Avhen the Waits were playing by, 
 I've marked his viol with a sigh. 
 Soothing lorn lovers, where they lye^, 
 
 To visions sweet— 
 Safe as a mither's lullabv, 
 
 When babies greet,! 
 
CANTO SECOND. 45 
 
 The bonny Buss ahoon Traqaair/' 
 And Mart/ Seott of Yarrow, fair 
 Tweedside/' and O ! I wish I rcerc 
 Where Helen les /" 
 IJe play'd in tones that suit Despair^ 
 When Beautv dies ! 
 
 29. 
 
 But;, a' this while^ wi' mony a danner, 
 Auld guns were brattUng afF like thunner^ 
 Three parts o' whilk^ in ilka hunner^ 
 
 Did sae recoil^ 
 Fowk thought their liths and limbs asunner^ 
 
 In this turmoil. 
 
46 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 so. 
 
 Wide o' the mark, as if to scar us. 
 
 The bullets ripp'd the swaird like harrows ; 
 
 And, frightening a' the craws and sparrows 
 
 About the place, 
 Ilamrods were fleeing thick as arrows 
 
 At Chevy Chace ! 
 
 31. 
 
 Yet still, as thro' the tents we steer, 
 Unmov'd the festive groupes appear ! 
 Lads oxter lasses without fear. 
 
 Or dance like wud ; 
 Blithe, when the guns gaed afF sae queer. 
 
 To hear the thud ! 
 
CANTO SECOND. 47 
 
 32. 
 
 Steekmg his ein, big John M^Maff 
 Held out his musquet like a staff ; 
 Turn'd, tho' the chield was ha'f-and-ha'f. 
 
 His head away. 
 And, panting, cry'd, Sirs! is she aff?" 
 
 In wild dismay. 
 
 33. 
 
 Poor gowk ! ne'er us'd to War's alarms. 
 And but ae holiday in arms. 
 His fears foresaw a thousand harms— 
 
 But here the Muse 
 Propones, in Verity's sweet charms, 
 A short excuse : 
 D 4 
 
48 THE SILLER GVN I 
 
 34. 
 
 Peace and gude-will had been sae lang 
 The burthen o' the people's sang, 
 Their arms like useless lumber hang. 
 
 Till France^ amain. 
 Decreed, wi' fell Invasion's fang. 
 Our soil to stain ! 
 
 35. 
 
 Then, ere our King cou'd gi'e command. 
 Up raise the Genius o' the land ! 
 Dumfries, in mony a chosen band, 
 
 Enarm'd appears. 
 Fit, in ae phalanx, to withstand 
 
 A host o' spears ! 
 
tJANTO SECOND. 
 36. 
 
 Nor was this fervour only here. 
 
 It spread, like wild-fire^ far and near 
 
 Scotland, to ilka Virtue dear, 
 
 Tho' aft inthrall'd, 
 Scotland was never i' the rear 
 
 When Danger call'd ! 
 
 37. 
 
 At hame, afield, or far awa'. 
 She bore the brunt in front of a'! 
 The last to sheathe, the first to draw 
 
 Her auld Claymore, 
 For Liberty, her King, and Law^ 
 
 And native shore! 
 
50 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 38. 
 
 O ! in his King and Country's cause. 
 How blest is he wha nobly fa's ! 
 Bright Fame her gowden trumpet blaws> 
 
 And deathless Story 
 Devotes his name, wi' loud huzzas. 
 To endless glory ! 
 
 Amid the scenes, depainted here. 
 Of inexperience, doubt, and fear, 
 Auld Sportsmen fir'd correct and clear ; 
 
 And Samuel Clark, 
 Mild as the Spring when flow'rs appear. 
 Just miss'd the mark ! 
 
CANTO SECOND. 51 
 40. 
 
 When his gun snappit, James M^Kee, 
 Charge after charge, charg'd to the eie : 
 At length she bounc'd out-owr a tree. 
 In mony a flinner— • 
 for God's sake, bairns, keep back !" cries he. 
 There's sax shot in her !" 
 
 41. 
 
 WuU SJianklin brought his firelock hither. 
 And cock'd it in an unco swither: 
 Ae drunken Souterjeer'd anither 
 
 To come and learn— 
 FufF play'd the priming — heels owr ither. 
 They fell in shairn! 
 
52 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 42. 
 
 Just i' the moment o' disgrace^ 
 CoNVEENER Tamson saw their case: 
 O ! hov/ he hid his manly face^ 
 
 And fleech'd thae fallows^ 
 To think upo' the glorious race 
 O' godhke Wallace! 
 
 43. 
 
 William M^Nish, a taylor slee, 
 Rouz'd at the thought/ charg'd his fuzee ; 
 Took but ae vizzy wi' his eie — 
 
 The bullet flies 
 Clean thro' the target to a tee. 
 
 And wons the prize ! 
 
CAxNfTO SECOND. 53 
 
 44. 
 
 His \\ insome wife, wha lang had missM him^ 
 Press'd thro' the croud, caress'd and kiss'd him : 
 Less furthy dames, (wha' cou'd resist them ? ) 
 
 Th' example take ; 
 And some held up his bairns,and bless'd them^ 
 
 For daddy's sake ! 
 
 45. 
 
 In Williani^ hat, wi' ribbons bound. 
 The Gunny was wi' laurel crown'd; 
 And while triumphant owr the ground. 
 
 They bore him tenty. 
 His health in streams o' punch gaed round, 
 Lang life and plenty!" 
 
S4 THE SILLER GUN. 
 
 46. 
 
 Wr loud applause frae man and woman^ 
 His fame spread like a spate wide foaming: 
 Warse deeds liae gi'en to mony a Roman 
 
 Eternal fame ; 
 But prodigies are grown sae common> 
 
 They've tint the name ! 
 
THE SILLER GUN, 
 
 CANTO THIRD. 
 
 i' dancing, sangs, and weel-tim'd daffin> 
 The afternoon grew late vvi' laughing ; 
 Auld fowk seem'd young again wi' quaffing 
 
 Some favorite's name ; 
 And Love in youthfu' breasts was flaffing 
 A mutual flame. 
 
56 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 2. 
 
 Sic shaking hands, and kind enquiries, 
 Tween Uncle JoJins^ and Auniy Maries! 
 Grave dames in a' their nice feegaries^ 
 
 And ancient beaus 
 Whisthng and singing hke canaries^ 
 
 Blithe and jocose ! 
 
 S. 
 
 Croose as a cock in his ain cavie, 
 Wha shon'd be there but Hirmy Daty ? 
 The Gee,'' and Fare ye weelyKUlavie/' 
 He sang sae sweet. 
 His friends, the' knuckle-deep in gravie^ 
 Forgat to eat. 
 
CANTO THIRD. 57 
 4. 
 
 CoNVEENER Tamson meiis'd the boards 
 Where sat ilk Deacon Hke a Lord : 
 John Blackstock raise and vvav'd his sword 
 In loyal glee — 
 God save the KingT was thrice encor'd, 
 Wi' three times' three! 
 
 5, 
 
 . Of a' the toasts that scour their liasses, 
 The Kirk o' Scotland'' foreihost passes ; 
 Dumfries, and a' its honny Lasses, 
 And gallant Lads/' 
 Were drank in magnam-bonum glasses, 
 Wi' ruffs and dads! 
 
 £ 
 
5S THE SILLEU GUN : 
 
 6. 
 
 Heres to our Liege /" cries Deacon Gibh, 
 And draiii'd the goblet ilka drib : 
 The toast gaed round. The Royal Rib/\ 
 
 The Prince and a'/' 
 Were drank sae aft that tongues^ ance glib^ 
 Scarce wagg'd ava. 
 
 7. 
 
 Meanwhile, like midges i' the sun, 
 Prae tent to tent the wie-things run; 
 Lasses, to dance wi' him wha won. 
 
 Are forward pressing ; 
 And meikle, meikle is their fun. 
 And fond caressing ! 
 
CANTO THIRD. 59 
 8. 
 
 O! vvi' what glee the Muse stravaigs 
 Ovvr a' the beauties o' the Craigs!— 
 f orgettmg a' the ills and plagues 
 
 That aft harass us, 
 She scours the hills and dales, for leagues 
 
 Round this Parnassus ! 
 
 9. 
 
 Sweet spot ! how happy ha'e I been 
 Seeking birds'-nests with eager ein ; 
 Or pu'ing gowans on tlie green. 
 
 Where waving corn. 
 Blue-bells and roses, fringe the scene. 
 
 And flow'ring thorn ! 
 
 E <Z 
 
60 THE SILLER GUN 
 
 10. 
 
 Yonder the lads and lasses group. 
 To see the luckless Lover's loup : 
 Wae's me that disappointed Houp^ 
 
 That cruel blight, 
 Shou'd drive fowk frae this warld to scoup. 
 
 To endless night ! 
 
 il. 
 
 Beneath yon clifT, high beetling owr. 
 Is chaste Diana's maiden bow'r : 
 There, sacred to the guardian PowV, 
 
 A tablet stands, 
 Inscrib'd by a' wha make that tour. 
 
 In true-love's bands. 
 
CANTO THIRD* 
 12. 
 
 Sae strait and narrow is the way, 
 Nane but pure virgins enter may ; 
 And^ O ! it's sometimes droll, they say. 
 
 To see Miss Clack 
 Her wie infirmities betray. 
 
 By turning back ! 
 
 13. 
 
 But, hark ! again the chaunlcr*s sound 
 Invites us where the glass gaes round ; 
 Where mirth and jolUty abound. 
 
 And kindly greeting- 
 Pleasures th^it ha'e, for ages, crown'd 
 This merry meeting ! 
 
621 THE SILLER GUN IT 
 
 44. 
 
 Yet wha can paint her mither's fear% 
 Where Tibby V the dance appears ? 
 Boding nae gude frae young men's leers^ 
 
 She, wi' concern. 
 Starts at ilk glance, and thinks she hears 
 Her ruin'd bairn ! 
 
 15. 
 
 She sees, wi' sorrow, on the plain 
 Jock getting f\x\ and Jenny fain ; 
 And dreads, ovvr true, what S^/itZy's say'ng, 
 
 Frae Nelly's face. 
 Flushed, like red roses after rain, 
 
 \Vi' modest grace ! 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 16. 
 
 Aft to the whins^ frae ^mang the thran 
 Some laddie ^nd his lassie gang; 
 But^ oh ! the sports sae sweet and lang 
 
 Within that shade. 
 Beguile, to mony a future pang, 
 
 The yielding maid ! 
 
 17- 
 
 Amang the lave was country Joluri/y 
 
 Wr his joe Meg, as braw as ony: 
 
 Nae doubt she thought lierseF as bonny 
 
 As ony there ; 
 But, lang ere e'en, her cockernonny 
 
 Was toozel'd sair. 
 
64 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 18. 
 
 For when the slee intriguing loon 
 Had fairly danc'd his partner down^ 
 Cauld whisky-punchy and ale, nut-brown;^ 
 
 He gart her sweel. 
 Till, dizzy, a/* the warld ran round. 
 
 As in a reeL 
 
 19. 
 
 Twas then, in ecstacy, he saw 
 
 Her weel-turn'd ancle straight and sma' t 
 
 Her neck, her heaving breast, and a' ! 
 
 O I strange delight ! 
 Wow ! what is man or maid ava. 
 
 In sic a plight? 
 
CANTO THIRD. GS 
 20. 
 
 For owr the mind when Drink presides^ 
 To pranks o' sin and shame it guides ; 
 In Wisdom's ways it never prides^ 
 
 But brings to view 
 A thousand fau'ts which Temp'rance hides 
 
 In me and you! 
 
 21. 
 
 Now word was brought to Deacon Greer, 
 Intrenched wi' friends, pies, bread and beer^ 
 That^ counter to a mandate clear, 
 
 Ane o' the Snobs, 
 Vain as a peacock, strutted here 
 
 In crimson robes ! 
 
CO THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 This news^ tlio nought cou'd happ^^n droller^ 
 Bred the hale party meikle dolour : 
 A Taylor^ pufF'd wi' this day's valour^ 
 
 Assum'd the man. 
 And:, taking Crispin by the collar^, 
 
 To carp began : 
 
 Ye good-for-naething Souter hash, 
 Tho' muisted is your carrot pash. 
 Tell me, I say, thou Captain Flash, 
 
 Withouten charter. 
 What right ye ha'e to wear this sash^ 
 
 And star and garter r'^ 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 24. 
 
 It sets ye weel, indeed^ to speer," 
 The Souter answer'd with a sneer : 
 I represent King Crispin here ! 
 While, fye for shame, 
 *^ Your lousy craft to manhood ne'er 
 *^ Could yet lay claim !" 
 
 25. 
 
 Cut to the quick wi' this rebuff, 
 Th' astonish'd Taylor grew mair gruff; 
 And, swearing he was better stuff 
 
 Than sick a fouter. 
 Stripped, in a twinkling, to the buff. 
 
 And braved the Souter, 
 
6S THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 26. 
 
 A ring, a ring !" the Souters cry'd : 
 A ring, a ring the Snips reply'd : 
 Some egg'd them on ; and, while some tryM 
 
 To stop their flyting. 
 The crowd fell back, encircling wide 
 A space for fighting. 
 
 £7. : : . 
 
 In dread for what might happen neest. 
 Around the ring the clamour ceas'd : 
 Sae croose the twa set up their creest. 
 
 Before the toolie, 
 Fovvk thought in other's waems, at least. 
 They'd sheath a goolie. 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 28. 
 
 Wi' looks thai ill conceaFcl his fears^ 
 The Taylor the lists appears: 
 King Crispin^ wha in nobler weirs 
 
 Had aften bled^ 
 His brawny arm, indignant, rears. 
 And, dauntless, said : 
 
 29. 
 
 Now take,'thou warst o' worthless thin 
 The vengeance due frae slighted kings 
 Wi' that, his garments afF he flings. 
 
 And, as he strack. 
 The souple Taylor skips and springs- 
 Aye jeuking btick. 
 
70 THE SILLER GUN I 
 
 SO. 
 
 To see fair play^ or help a frien', 
 Fowk stoiter'd frae a' airths^ bedeeii: 
 Auld wiveSj to redd them^ ran between. 
 
 Like Amazons, 
 And nought was heard syne, owr the green^ 
 But scraighs and groans ! 
 
 SL 
 
 The Taylor lad, forfoughten sair. 
 Was knockit down, ance, twice, and mair ; 
 His anxious comrades, in despair. 
 
 Draw quickly near him, 
 Hceze up his carcase on a chair, 
 
 And chafe and cheer him* 
 
CANTO THIRD. 71 
 
 32. 
 
 Besprent wi' bloody besprent wi' glar. 
 His ein japann'd, his chafts a-jarr, 
 Be thankfu'^ man, it is nae war/' 
 Quoth Edom Bryen, 
 ^* A living dog is better far 
 
 Than a dead lion r 
 
 33. 
 
 'Midst loud huzzas^ and women's squeels, 
 A dawn of hope the Taylor feels ; 
 Fights like a cock that rins and wheels. 
 
 While, dunt, dunt^, dunting, 
 Crispin pursues, trips up his heels. 
 And leaves him grunting ! 
 
7^3 THE SILLER <3UN : 
 
 34. 
 
 Vex'd at the upshot o' this fraj. 
 The Taylors wisely slunk away : 
 Crispin remained in kingly sway; 
 
 And^ loud and lang, 
 -Shouts, and wild joj^, hurray ! hurray 
 
 Triumphant rang. 
 
 35. 
 
 Frae Johny Groats s to the Border, 
 Was ne'er sic tumult and disorder : 
 Here Discord strave new" hroils to forder j 
 
 There, Beagles flew 
 To ha'd the Souter lads in order, 
 
 But nought wou'd do. 
 
CANTO THIRD. 73 
 
 . ^ 36. 
 Rab Kinnie, Clinchy and Jeamy Strong, 
 And twa-three mae^ the fight prolong: 
 Where'er they come^ arfF flees the throng 
 
 O' country bilHes, 
 Like cattle brodit with a prong,- 
 Or cleg-&tung fillies. 
 
 St 
 
 There's little wisdom in his pow 
 Wha lights a candle at the low : 
 To bell the cat wi' sic a scrow, ' 
 
 Some swankies ettled ; 
 But^ oh ! they got a fearfu' cow> 
 
 Ere a' was settled ! 
 
74 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 38. 
 
 Rushing like droves o' madden'd nowt. 
 Mob's party caus'd a gen'ral route: 
 Foul play Or fair; kick^ cuff, and clout; 
 
 Right side or wrang. 
 Friends fighting friends^ rampag'd about;^ 
 
 A drunken thrang ! 
 
 39. 
 
 In vain Conveener Tamson rais^t. 
 And vvav'd his hand^ hke ane ha'f eraz'd : 
 In vain his heralds fleech'd and phras'd. 
 
 Where Strife^ lang brewing. 
 Threatened, like Ihum when it blaz'd^. 
 Baith wreck and ruin ! 
 
GANTO THIRD*^ 75 
 40. 
 
 To furnish weapons for the fray, 
 Craems, tents, and stawns, were swept away; 
 Puist fowk, unus'd to cudgel-play. 
 
 And doose spectators. 
 Were a"^ involved in this deray, 
 * Like gladiators I 
 
 It 
 
 41. 
 
 Nor cou'd ye ken, wi' nicest care. 
 The victors frae the vanquish'd there; 
 Like Kelton-hill, that fighting Fair, 
 
 The hubbleshew, 
 Wi' neeves and staffs, and rugging haiiv 
 
 Sae awsome grew ! 
 
76 The siller gun. 
 
 42. 
 
 And aft^ as ye may weel suppose. 
 Where women kindly interpose, 
 Baith parlies got the sairest blows> 
 
 Blows that were gi'en them 
 While pu'd and hauFd by their ain Joes,. 
 
 Striving to screen them I 
 
THE SILLER GUN. 
 
 CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 At length a parley is decreed — 
 Parties shake hands, and are agreed : 
 Their anxious leaders, blythe indeed 
 
 At this concession, 
 Sally their troops, and hamevvard speed 
 
 In grand procession. 
 
^78 THE SILLER €UN : 
 
 The croud^ in tokeu of applause, 
 Threw up their hats as black as craws^ 
 And foUow'd fast, wi' loud huzzas. 
 
 Except a few 
 Whose hearts, owr zealous i' the cause. 
 
 Were s<}ueamish now. 
 
 5. 
 
 Far as the keenest eie cou'd run. 
 The waving flags, and mony a gun^ 
 Buskit wi' flow'rs and yellow whun, 
 
 Sae sweetly shining, 
 Streara'd like a rainbow, while the sun 
 
 Was just dechning. 
 
CANTO FOURTfl. 
 4. 
 
 And^ as tte troops drew iiear the towAi^. 
 AVith a' the ensigns o' renown^ 
 The Magistrates paraded down^ 
 
 And a' the Gentry; 
 And Love and Friendship vyVl to crown 
 
 .Their joyous entry ! 
 
 5. 
 
 See^ see the eonq'ring Hero comes ! 
 The Band struck up with a' their drums: 
 Louder the big bass-fiddle bams. 
 
 The cymbals jingle. 
 And;, in ten thousand thousand hums. 
 Glad voices mingle! 
 T 4 
 
so THE fiiLiteR gun: 
 
 6. 
 
 CloJfe by CoNVEENER Tamson's side. 
 The Victor march'd wi' stately stride : 
 The Sev'n-Trade's flag, unfurl'd sae wide. 
 
 Was borne before ; 
 And the lang train advanc'd vvi' pride. 
 
 By corps and corps, 
 
 7./ 
 
 Amang the croud was Johiy Ga^y 
 Kend thro' the town by lad and lass : 
 Rever'd aboon the common class. 
 
 Up late and air^ 
 John had seen saxty Simmers pass — 
 # A Barber there ! 
 
, , . CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 8. 
 
 The chronicle o' former years ! 
 
 At him ilk ane some question speers ; 
 
 But when they spoke of auld forebears.. 
 
 Now dead and gane, 
 John answer'd only wi' his tears. 
 
 Or made a maen ! 
 
 9. 
 
 O! wha, amang the Wrights^ is he 
 That seems^ for grace^ to bear the gree ? 
 It's Rohy Kemp: in him you see. 
 
 On Virtue's plan. 
 The traits o"" true nobility— 
 An honest man 
 
^2 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 10. 
 
 And wlia's he on the milk-whke steed ? 
 Wacs me/' quo' JoJiUy and shook his head ; 
 The gout has marr'd George Jehnsio?fs speed 
 
 Since^ in our garden. 
 We ran, when boys, for gingerbread, 
 " Wi' Johny Jar dine! 
 
 1 1. 
 
 See, too, enarm'd \vi' sword and spear^ 
 M'GheCy our ain town's bairn, draws near: 
 ^rSks, when the Highlandmen Avere here. 
 
 In Forty-five,^ 
 His father gart them flee for feat, 
 
 And sculk belyve!" 
 
CANTO TOCRTU* 
 12. 
 
 But wha^^ amang the lookers-oii,, 
 With aspect meek and mild^ is yon f 
 He's, sure^ the sire o' mony a son^ 
 
 If ane may guess 
 By thena wha seem to watch the tone 
 
 He wou'd express! 
 
 13. 
 
 That^s Doctor Chapman! — shav'dbyme 
 Quo' John^ thir thirty years and three: 
 He and his Boarders come to see. 
 
 Ere a' be done. 
 Our ance-in-sev'n-years Jubilee, 
 '^The Siller Gun r 
 
B4 THE SILLER GUlV ! 
 
 14. 
 
 A Scholar there^ wi' loud acclaim^ 
 Did homage to the good mau's namei 
 Led by the lustre o' his fame^ 
 
 Frae far and near^ 
 Lords^ Lairds^ and Nabobs^ quit their hame. 
 To study here ! 
 
 15. 
 
 Nor is it only classic lair^ 
 
 Mere Greek and Latin^ and nae mair, 
 
 Chapmaiiy wi' fond parental care. 
 
 Has lair combined 
 With a' the gems and jewels rare 
 
 That deck the mind ! 
 
OANTO FOURTH. 85 
 16. 
 
 O! had I follow'd up the plan ' 
 ^.^ His sage instructions first began! 
 The race which nty schoolfellows ran, 
 
 . Like stars to shine^ 
 And a' that dignifies the man^ 
 Had now been mine 
 
 17. 
 
 ^ But what can keep our John sae lang T 
 Cries Meggy Muncyy i' the thrang : 
 ^ I left him happy^ hale^ and Strang, 
 
 ^ Wi' sash and sword on — 
 ^ GuDE grant there maybe naething wrang 
 
 ^ Wi' John]/ Gordon P 
 
86 THE SILLER' GUN 
 
 18. 
 
 Lang^ lang they daniier'd to and fro^ 
 Wha miss'd a kinsman or a beau; 
 The pomp and splendour o' the sho\\v 
 
 To them and tlieir's^ 
 Brought nought but apprehensive woe'> 
 
 And fruitless cares. 
 
 19. 
 
 Back to the Craigs they hie again. 
 To seek their friends amang the slain : 
 By the road-sides/ and on the plain^, 
 
 The motley crew. 
 Heart-sick, and penitent in vain^ 
 
 Were unco fu'I 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 87 
 20. 
 
 The Muse is sorry to pour tray 
 The fuddled heroes o' the day : 
 Nae camp, when War has reft away 
 
 tier brightest sons, 
 Cou'd sic a rtiefu' scene display 
 
 O' men and guns ! 
 
 Their firelocks broke, their doublets torn. 
 And eke King Crispin vJ forlorn ! 
 Here lay, beside the beugle-horn, 
 
 A cat-gut strummer ; 
 And there, blithe herald o' the morn. 
 
 The parish-drummer !^ 
 
 G 
 
88 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 E'en Geordy Smithy tho' stark and slee, 
 Was there as fu' as fu' cou'd be : 
 Reviewing still, in Fancy's eie. 
 
 The martial train— 
 Now, Gentlemen ! now look—" cries he^ 
 
 And snor'd again ! 
 
 Carts, syne, wi' sic as dughtna gae. 
 Were pang'd till they cou'd ha'd nae mae : 
 Rob liinnie, Clinch, and sic as thae. 
 
 Now blind and lame. 
 Sad wights ! wi' ribs baith black and blae> 
 Were harllt hame. 
 
CANTO FOT)RTH. 89 
 
 But turn, my Muse, frae scenes debasingy 
 To windows fill'd wi* Beauty gazing— 
 To streets wi' happy thousands praising 
 
 TJie passing show ; 
 And banefires crackling loud, and blazing, 
 As on they go ! 
 
 25. 
 
 Ding, ding, ding, dang, the bells ring in. 
 The Minstrels screw their merriest pin, 
 The Magistrates, wi' loyal din, 
 
 Tak afF their cau'kers ; 
 And boys their annual pranks begin, 
 
 Wi' trains and crackers ! 
 
90 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 26. 
 
 Wae's me for Deacon Ronald's jeezy. 
 That sat sae orthodox and easy! 
 For, while he smil'd at his ain Leezy, 
 
 A squib came whizzing. 
 Set a' its ringlets in a bleezy. 
 
 And left them bizzing ! 
 
 And wae's me, likewise, for the folly. 
 That fowk, ha'f-fu', shou'd fire a volley! 
 As thro' the town they march'd sae jolly, 
 
 Kfeudejoie 
 Had nearly led to melancholy. 
 
 And great annoy ! 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 28. 
 
 Tat, tat, a-rat-tat, clkter clatter. 
 Gun after gun play'd blitter blatter: 
 A random shot, not levell'd at her. 
 
 Hit Narmy Nairm — 
 Gart bonny Nanny's blue ein water^ 
 
 And hurt her arm ! 
 
 29. 
 
 This, when Conveener Tamson saw. 
 He griev'd, and soon dismiss'd them a'; 
 Syne, wi' the Deacons, scour'd avva'. 
 
 By Mr. WyUe% 
 And took his seat at the To\vn's-ha', 
 
 Amang the Baihes, 
 
92 THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 30. 
 
 Arriving in an unco flutter^ 
 
 The coffee-cups began to clutter ; 
 
 But first. Mass John, grave Dr. Mutter. 
 
 Wi' pious care. 
 And a' the zeal that Grace cou*d utter, 
 
 Preferr'd this pray'r : 
 
 31. 
 
 O Thou ! by whose resistless law. 
 Kings, kingdoms, empires, stand or fa' ^ 
 Watch owr this realm ; bless great and sma'; 
 
 Keep, keep us free ; 
 And fill our hearts wi' rev'rend awe 
 
 For truth and— Thee 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 93 
 
 32. 
 
 The Town-Clerk next, a fallow fine, 
 Wha' ne'er loo'd water in his wine, 
 Gart bring the great big gardevine. 
 
 And fill the glasses : 
 Wi' thrice three cheers, in bumpers, syne, 
 
 The claret passes. 
 
 33. 
 
 ^* The Kingy^ and ither loyal toasts, 
 ^' Healthypeace andplerityy round our coasts,^ 
 Our fleets,'^ and a' our ar/rud hosts/^ 
 Were drank aloud ; 
 And names o' which the country boasts. 
 And may be proud ! 
 G 4 
 
94 THE SILLER GVHs'l 
 
 34. 
 
 Duncan's^ a never-dying name ! 
 And Abercrombie^S) dear to Fame ! 
 Wallace^ and Bruce^ Sir John the Gmmt^ 
 
 And names like their'sj, 
 Heroes and Patriots shall proclaim 
 
 To Scotland's heirs ! 
 
 35. 
 
 Scotland! my ain dear native land ! 
 England^ her sister^ great and grand ! 
 Wou'd Ireland join us, heart and hand, 
 
 Without commotion. 
 Our faes wou'd crumble like the sand 
 Before the Ocean ! 
 
CANTO. FOURTH* 95' 
 36. 
 
 The Provost spoke a speech belyve ; 
 Wha can the valiant Scots descrive? \ 
 Aye foremost where the bravest strive^ 
 
 And aye victorious ; 
 Or, hindmost, wi' the few alive. 
 
 Retreating glorious!" 
 
 37. 
 
 Of early scenes the Singers sung, 
 In days of yore when life was young ! 
 When Music dwelt on ilka tongue ; 
 
 And a' the Arts 
 To Peace their gowden harps had strung, 
 Wi' lightsome hearts ! 
 
96 THE SILLER GUN: 
 
 38. 
 
 The Bailies caught the welcome strain. 
 And made the Ha' resound again : 
 God save the King,'' and bless his reign ^ 
 
 And still watch o'er us — 
 And Rukf Britannia^ rule the main"-^ 
 
 Were sung in chorus ! 
 
 39. 
 
 But vain is a' the Poet's art 
 To paint this banquet o' the heart— 
 The town's-fowk a' on the aleit. 
 
 The grave^ the gay, 
 Happy to meet, and laith to part 
 
 On sic a day ! 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 40. 
 
 And where ceu'd Love or Fealty trace 
 A mansion like this bonny place. 
 Where Manliness, in a' its grace. 
 
 Protects the land- 
 Where Beauty's saft enchanting face 
 
 Is blithe and bland ! 
 
 41. 
 
 Nor is it only, here and there, 
 Ae bonny Lassie, and nae mair! 
 O' beauties, gracefu' as they are. 
 
 Throughout the nation, 
 Dumfries can boast, beyond compare, 
 A constellation! 
 
9& THE SILLER GUN : 
 
 42; 
 
 For them. Assemblies and the Play, 
 Conclude the pleasures o' the day : 
 In Birth-day dress, sae fine and gay. 
 
 The Belle and Beau, 
 In chairs and chariots, stop the way— * 
 A splendid show ! 
 
 43. 
 
 A' ranks in loyal freaks agreeing, 
 The mingled scene was weel worth seeing : 
 Big banefires here — there, boys te-heeing — » 
 
 Crouds on the streets-^ 
 Dead cats, and duddy doublets, fleeing. 
 And burning peats ! 
 
CANTO FOURTH. ' 
 
 * 44. 
 
 But Bailie C/«?'A*, wha seldom brooks 
 The pastime that hke mischief looks^ 
 Sent for John Doogan frae the Nooks, 
 
 And, at his ca', 
 John quench'd the fires, and fley 'd, hke rooks. 
 
 The boys awa' ! 
 
 45, 
 
 Lang had the callans, morn and noon, 
 Look'd forward to the fourth o' June ; 
 And sair they grudge^ when now in tune 
 
 The joy -bells chime, 
 Their pleasures cropt, like flow'rs, owr soon. 
 Before their prime ! 
 
100 THE SftLER gun: 
 
 46. 
 
 Harae, as the gloamin nearer draws, 
 CoNVEENER Tamson sHps his wa's ; 
 Where wife and weans, in a' their braws. 
 
 And best complexion. 
 Crown the last transports of applause 
 
 Wi' sweet affection ! 
 
 47. 
 
 Jocosely i' the gardy chair. 
 
 He tells the day's adventures there ; 
 
 Syne, ere the bairns to bed repair. 
 
 For mercies giv'n. 
 His gratefu' thoughts, in fervent pray'r. 
 
 Ascend to Heav'n ! 
 
CANTO FOURTH. lOl 
 48. 
 
 Like his, our closing strain shall be. 
 May Scotland, happy, brave, and free. 
 Aye flourish like th' unfading tree ! 
 
 And may Dumfries, 
 In a* her revelry and glee. 
 
 Blend Love and Peace ! 
 
CJNTO FIRST. 
 
 Verse 1. — Lines 1, 2. 
 
 For loyal feats, and tropfues won, 
 Dumfries shall live till time be done! 
 
 Dumfries, the scene of this Poem, and the 
 birth-place of its Author, is a handsome county- 
 town, situated on a gentle declivity, along the 
 north-east bank of the River Nith, about nine 
 miks above the confluence of that river with the 
 Solway Frith. 
 
 Of the precise period at which Dumfries was 
 founded, no record has been preserved. Antiqua- 
 rians, without recurring to the Celtic, have bewil- 
 dered themselves in endeavouring to settle the ety- 
 mology of its name — which, in fact, has undergone 
 hardly any change from what it was originally, viz. 
 Druim-a-Phrisbf afterwards altered to Drumfries^ 
 and, v.'ithin these 50 or 60 years, changed to Dum- 
 friesj for the sake of euphony, Druifn-a-Fhrisfi, in 
 the Celtic, signifies the back or ridge of a woody 
 eminence, which is very descriptive of the situation 
 of Dumfries, rising gradually from the river side, 
 and embosomed in one of the finest and best sheets 
 t>f dak-tountry in Scotland; The prospect, ter- 
 
106 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 minated at the distance of a few miles by a conti- 
 nued chain of hills, covered with wood, or cul- 
 tivated to the summit, forms altogether one of the 
 grandest amphitheatres in Britain. 
 
 Serving as a kind of capital, not only to its own 
 shire, but to that of Galloway, and possessing an 
 easy and frequent intercourse both with London 
 and Edinburgh, Dumfries is a place of great resort 
 for the nobility and gentry of the neighbouring 
 counties. Independently of those who have 
 amusement only in view, many families are at- 
 tracted thither by the cheapness of living, the sa- 
 lubrity of the air, and, above all, by its excellent 
 seminaries of education. The society of Dum- 
 fries possesses, therefore, a greater share of ele- 
 gance and gaiety than will probably be found in 
 any other town of its size in Scotland. 
 
 By the Municipal Constitution of Dumfries, the 
 Craftsmen, who are here, as in the other Scotch 
 boroughs, called Trades, are divided into Seven 
 Corporations ; namely, 
 
 The Hammermen, or Blacksmiths 5 
 
 The Squaremen, or Carpenters j 
 
 The Tay.ors 5 
 
 Th e Weavers j 
 
 The Shoemakers ; 
 
 The Skinners j and 
 
 The Fleshers, or Butchers. 
 
 A Deacon (or President), together with a Box- 
 master (or Treasurer), and six Masters from each 
 
CANTO f'IRSTc 
 
 107 
 
 of these Corporations, are annually chosen into 
 their respective offices at Michaelmas; the Dea- 
 cons electing, at the same time, one of their own 
 number to be Convener, and another, general Box- 
 master; all of whom, fifty-six in number, form 
 v^^hat is called a grand Committee of the Seven 
 Trades. The elections for these offices are often 
 contested with wonderful keenness, and, in the 
 course of the year, give occasion to some days and 
 nights of boisterous festivity. 
 
 Besides their influence over their respective Cor- 
 porations, the Convener and Deacons are members 
 of the Town Council, which likewise consists of a 
 Provost, three Bailies, a Dean of Guild, a Trea- 
 surer, and twelve Merchant Councillors; in all, 
 twenty-five members; to whom the whole juris- 
 diction of the Borough is confided. 
 
 The town's Charter, granted by Robert IIL is 
 dated at Glasgow, April 1396. The Corporations 
 have separate Charters. They are all written in 
 Latin, and now scarcely legible. That of the 
 Shoemakers is dated in 1599. 
 
 Verse 7. Line 3. 
 
 The Town- Drummer i a man who, in his vocation, 
 was of no small celebrity. He particulariv ex- 
 celled in that best of all drum-music, the Scots 
 Reveille^ or Morning- drum. 
 
 H £ 
 
108 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 Verse 9.—£ine 3. 
 • • Lest theyd, sleeping, spoil their hair. 
 At the period to which the Poem alludes, the 
 operation of trimming and adorning the hair was 
 indeed a work of time and labour. The fashion 
 then, especially am.ong the ladies, resembled that 
 which is described by Mr. Addison, with great 
 humour, in No. 98, of The Spectator ; 
 
 With curls on curls they build her head before. 
 And mount it with a formidable tow'r : 
 A giantess she seems j but, look behind. 
 And then she dwindles to the pigmy kind! 
 
 Verse 16. — Line 4« 
 
 • • Geordy Smith, 
 
 George Smith, one of the Town-ofEcers, was 
 originally a Serjeant in the Highland Watch j from 
 which circumstance he was seldom without a 
 beating- order, when recruits were wanted for the 
 King's service, and always a Generalissimo on ocr 
 casions like the present. In his capacity of re- 
 cruiting-officer to different regiments, George is 
 supposed to have enlisted upwards of a thousand 
 men 5 many of whom rose to great rank in the 
 army, particularly in the Royal Artillery, at 
 the period when the humble matross was not 
 precluded from the hope of arriving at the ge- 
 uerars staff. 
 
CANTO FIRST. 
 
 309 
 
 Ibid. — Line 6. 
 
 The Nith. 
 
 The River Nith washes the Sands of Dumfries 5 
 dividing Nithsdale, to which it gives its name, and 
 the whole of Dumfries-shire, from Galloway. 
 
 The following apostrophe to this delightful 
 river, is among the earliest effusions of the Author, 
 who cannot resist this opportunity of giving it a 
 momentary respite from oblivion : 
 
 Hail, gentle stream ! for ever dear 
 Thy rudest murmurs to mine ear f 
 Torn from thy banks, tho' far 1 rove. 
 The slave of poverty and love. 
 Ne'er shall thy Bard, where'er he be, 
 Without a sigh remember thee ! 
 For there my infant years began. 
 And there my happiest minutes ran ; 
 And there, to love and friendship true, 
 Tlie blossoms of affection grew ! 
 
 Blythc on thy banks, thou sweetest stream 
 That ever nurs'd a Poet's dream ! 
 Oft have I, in forbidden time, 
 (If youth couid sanctify a crime,) 
 With hazle-rod and fraudful fly, 
 EnsnarM thy unsuspecting fry 5 
 in pairs have draggM them from their den, 
 'Till, chas'd by lurking fishermen. 
 Away I've flown as fleet as wind. 
 My lagging followers far behind ! 
 And, when the vain pursuit was o'er, 
 Rctura'd successful as before! 
 
 H 4 
 
no 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Verse 21.— Lines 3, 4. 
 Claymores thaty erst, at Prestonpa7is, 
 Gar t faes stand ]/o?i\ 
 The Battle of Prestonpans, in which the Pre- 
 tender defeated the forces of George II. under the 
 command of Sir John Cope, was fought on the 
 21st of September, 1745. 
 
 Verse 25.— Lines 3, 4. 
 
 Bent for the CruigSy O ! zceel worth seeing! 
 They hied awa'*. 
 The Craigs, generally called the Maiden-Bower 
 Craigs, (from a tradition, that a young lady, dis- 
 appointed in love, took up her residence in an 
 excavation or bower there,) are situated about a 
 mile and a half from Dumfries. They consist of 
 three distinct rocks^ wildly but beautifully varie- 
 gated, with towering perpendicular precipices to the 
 N. E. yet cultivated to the very summit on the S.W. 
 and sloping with a gentle declivity to the River 
 Nith i each rock about 200 yards distant from the 
 other. In front of these, and in the plain which 
 intersects thena, the interesting spectacle of shoot- 
 ing at a target for their Silver Gun, has often , 
 been exhibited by the Corporations of Dumfries j 
 and no spot in its neighbourhood could be better 
 chosen for the purposes of individual safety or 
 general merriment. 
 
CANTO FIKST. 
 
 HI 
 
 Verse 26. — Lines 5, 6. 
 Nae eie cou'd look without regard 
 On Robin Tamson. 
 Mr. Robert Thomson, Convener of the Black- 
 smiths, was a man of a very graceful exterior ; to 
 which his silver locks gave an air of the most 
 venerable dignity. His character also was excel- 
 lent 5 and, what endeared him to young people, 
 his files and forge were always welcome to the boys 
 who resorted thither to repair the implements of 
 their pastime — an indulgence which, in early life, 
 the Author of these Verses often experienced, and 
 still gratefully remembers. 
 
 Verse 28.— Lines 1, 2. 
 Their journeymen were a* sue gaucy^ 
 TK apprentices sac kir and saucy. 
 Though freemen only are permitted to shoot for 
 the Silver Gun, yet their journeymen and ap- 
 prentices join in the procession to and froifl the 
 scene of action j a separate target is set up for 
 them to shoot at, and a small premium is always 
 awarded to the best marksman. 
 
 Verse 35.— Lines 4, 5. 
 2^he Siller Gun, 
 A trinket like a penny w hustle. 
 The Silver Gun is about ten inches long j has 
 silver marks stamped on itj and, according to 
 
] 10 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 what old people say they heard from their proge- 
 nitors, was originally mounted on a carriage, with 
 wheels, all of silver 5 but of these no vestige re- 
 mains. Near the touch-hole, the letters I'M are 
 engraved on the barrel, supposed to be the initials 
 of the Provost of Dumfries at the time when 
 this ceremony was first instituted. This, how- 
 ever, is mere conjecture : such records of the Cor- 
 porations as were prior to the reign of Charles II. 
 have suifered so much by decay, that they are 
 no longer legible j and, after that period, the only 
 mention in them of the Silver Gun is an occasi- 
 onal memorandum of its having been shot for 
 *^ agreeably to the institution.'' 
 
 The Burgh of Kirkcudbright is also in posses- 
 sion of a Silver tube, or Gun 5 which, like that 
 of Dumfries, is said to have been given , to the 
 Corporations by King James VI. It is about 
 seven inches long; marked T*M.C*1587. These 
 letters are supposed to be the initials of Sir Thomas 
 M'Clellan, Laird of Boitibie, Provost of Kirkcud- 
 bright* in 1687, and ancestor of the Lords of that 
 
 * The original Charter of the Burgh of Kirkcudbright 
 is dated 26th October, 1455 , but there are no records for 
 a long period afterwards in existence. It appears, how- 
 ever, that James IV. was at Kirkcudbright in March 
 1508 5 for he granted another Charter on the I7th of 
 March, in that year, to one Alexander of Holm. It 
 appears also, that the King had been hospitably ea~ 
 
CANTO FIRST, 
 
 ITS 
 
 rtame. This gun is lodged with the Town Clerk 
 of Kirkcudbright, and has only been shot for 
 twice in the memory of any person living. The 
 last time was in the summer of 1781, when the 
 Corporations applied by petition to have the gun 
 delivered to them, that they might shoot for it at 
 a target. Their petition was granted j but no si- 
 milar application has been made since 1781. 
 
 The Corporations of Dumfries, however, seem 
 to possess privileges which are unknown to their 
 brethren of Kirkcudbright. The Silver Gun of 
 Dumfries is at all times deposited among the ar- 
 chives of the Corporations. They have, more- 
 over, a royal licence, or injunction, to assemble in 
 military array, and shoot for it once a-year. Till 
 ktely, every Deacon-Convener was allowed, if he 
 
 tertained by the Burgh, as well as by M*Cie]lan of Bom- 
 bie, about two miles distant from the town ; and that, 
 in February 1509, he gave the lands of Castlemains, in 
 the Burrow-roods, to the town. By a Charter dated in 
 December 1569, M*ClelIan obtained the ground on which 
 the Collegiate Church of the Brothers , since demolished 
 by the Reformers, was built ; and on part of which he 
 soon afterwards erected the Castle of Kirkcudbright, 
 now a magnificent ruin. Tiie armorial bearings of the 
 M*Clellans are still visible on the front of this venerable 
 edifice ; and that potent family which, in the reign of 
 James II. of Scotland, could boast of twelve knights, is 
 now represented by Lord Kirkcudbright. 
 
114 
 
 NOTES 
 
 pleased, to call out the Trades for this purpose 
 once during his administration, which generally 
 lasts for two years } btit a regulation has been made 
 among the Trades themselves, that this ceremony 
 shall not take place oftener than once in five years. 
 When a day is fixed, and a mandate issued for this 
 purpose, all the Freemen of the Corporations are 
 obliged to appear at the time and place appointed 
 by the Convener. If any individual refuse to ap- 
 pear, he is subjected to a fine of 3/. 6s. 8d. sterling 5 
 and, till payment thereof, interdicted from voting 
 in any of the affairs of the Corporations. 
 
 Along with the royal licence to assemble in 
 military array, the Corporations are privileged 
 to shoot for the Silver Gun at the King-holm, 
 wfiich is part of the common land belonging to 
 the town, and laved by the dimpled waters of 
 the Nith. The fields at the Craigs, however, 
 as often as permission can be obtained, (for they 
 are private property,) are always preferred, being 
 better adapted for the purpose. 
 
 When the farm of the Craigs was in the posses- 
 sion of Samuel Clark, Esq. Sheriff-Clerk of Dum- 
 fries, he readily devoted as much of the ground as 
 was necessary for the day, to the accommodation of 
 his townsmen. They, in return, enrolled his name 
 as a freeman of all the Corporations, proud of an 
 opportunity of manifesting their respect for a gen- 
 tleman whose urbanity and goodness of heart have, 
 on all occasions, endeared him to the community. 
 
CANTO FIKST. 
 
 115 
 
 Versi 36. — Lines 3, 6. 
 " ' Auld and young, wi* hem^t and soul, 
 
 Their heads were cocking, 
 Hcen as ye've seen, at bridals droll, 
 Maids catch the stocking ! 
 When a newly-married couple are bedded, as it 
 is called in Scotland, their wedding-friends of both 
 sexes are present at the ceremony. The bride's 
 left stocking is then thrown promiscuously among 
 themj and the person on whom it falls, or who 
 first catches it, is generally considered as the next 
 to be married of the company : 
 
 The bride was now laid in her bed. 
 
 Her left-leg-ho' was flung. 
 And Geordy Gib was fidging glad 
 
 Because it hit Jean Gung : 
 She was his >o, &c. 
 
 ChrisVs Kirk on the Green, 
 
 This iudicnous custom is not peculiar to Scotland 
 only. It prevaili also in Ireland, and is alluded 
 to by Father Luke, in O'Keeffe's farce of The 
 Foor Soldier, 
 
C^iVrO SECOND. 
 
 Verse S. — Lines 5, 6. 
 l%e squadrons gricnd for ale that reamz 
 Frae Jenny Gass's! 
 
 Jenny GASS's was a noted public-house in 
 Dumfries, much frequented by respectable people, 
 and famed for a sort of ale called two -penny, agree- 
 able to the taste, very brisk, and intoxicating. 
 
 Verse 6.— Line 1. 
 • • ** Robert's March to BannockhurnJ''* 
 Accoiding to tradition, the fine old air of Hey 
 tiitie taitie was played to King Robert-the-Bruce's 
 army when they were marching to Bannock- 
 burn ; and, from that circumstance, was afterwards 
 known by the name of King Robert-the-Bruce's 
 March."" It is the oldest air now known, is men- 
 tioned by Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, in 
 1488, and has received further celebrity, in our 
 own days, from Burns, being the melody to which 
 his patriotic words of Scots wha ha^e Wallace 
 bkd ! are adapted. 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 
 117 
 
 VlRSE 7. 
 
 0/ blessmgs on his warlike name ! 
 
 " On Wallace, and ^Sir John the Grjeme ! 
 
 *' Whiie Freedom dare assert her claim ^ 
 Or Virtue blossom, 
 
 " Wallace and Bruce shall aye enjlame 
 The Fatr lot bosom !''^ 
 
 Sir William Wallace, of Ellerslee, the great 
 hero of Scottish story, was a man endowed with gi- 
 gantic strength, and dauntless courage. These 
 qualities, combined with invincible fortitude in 
 bearing cold, hunger, and fatigue, eminently fitted 
 him for martial atchievements j whilst a native ge- 
 nerosity of soul, and conciliating manners, secured 
 to him an absolute, though unconstrained autho- 
 rity over a band of patriotic followers, by whose 
 aid he long and . successfully maintained the free- 
 dom and independence of his country. 
 
 Sir JoHN-the-GRiEME, slain at the battle of 
 Falkirk, July !33, 1289, was the faithful friend and 
 adherent of the immortal Wallace. 
 
 King Robe RT-the-BRUCE, accounted the great- 
 est' of all the Scottish Monarchs, secured, by his 
 wisrdom and valour, the independence of his coun- 
 try j and raised her to a |>itch of glory unknown 
 to former times. His grateful countiymen al- 
 most idolized himj and, after his death, which 
 happened on the 7th of June, 1329, he was long 
 remembered by the endearing appellation of the 
 Gtti/^ Robert! 
 
118 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Verse 22.— Lines 1, 2. 
 
 Sandy Brown, 
 
 The Piper o' Lochmaben town, 
 Mr. Brown was famous as a player on the 
 hautboy. His head-quarters were chiefly at Loch- 
 maben, a royal borough, about eight miles frbm 
 Dumfries j but, on all festive occasions in the 
 neighbourhood, he was sure to be sent for as one 
 of tke chief musicians. 
 
 Verse 23.— Line 1. 
 Jock Willison, a Soutcr bred, 
 John Willison was, as he is here described, a 
 shoemaker j but a natural taste for music, and 
 the love of indolence, diverted him from his 
 sober calling, and reduced hjm to many difficulties. 
 In his better days, he was accounted a handsome 
 man, of very creditable appearance. 
 
 Verse 25.— Lines 5, 6. 
 John to Ids PriJice was true and Icely 
 JEv^n in despair / 
 John Bruch followed the fortunes of the 
 Pretender with unshaken fidelity. Actively en- 
 gaged in the Rebellion of 1745, he was taken 
 prisoner, and, for a while, confined in Edinburgh. 
 Numbers of Highland Gentlemen, associates in 
 the same unfortunate cause, were at that time 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 
 119 
 
 prisoners In the Abbey. At a ball given by some 
 of their friends, the lady of a Highland Chieftain 
 called for a particular tune, which the musicians^ 
 whom they had hired, either could not or would 
 not play. The name of the tune was The gather- 
 trig of the Clans. I know," said she, " one, 
 who can play it, and would play it, if he had his 
 liberty}'' meaning John Bruce. By her solicita- 
 tion, John was brought from his dungeon, and 
 introduced into the ball-room, where his violin 
 had such a wonderful effect, that the whole party 
 took a lively interest in his favour. The lady 
 exerted herself to meliorate his condition as a 
 prisoner, and to obtain his pardon. Her endea- 
 vours were successful, and John was restored to 
 liberty and the Highlands. 
 
 But John Bruce did not remain long obscured 
 In his native mountains. His celebrity as a player 
 of ball-music soon procured him an invitation to 
 lead the band at the assemblies of Moffat, the 
 Buxton, of Scotland, then a place of fashionable 
 resort in the summer season, and still in great 
 repute for its mineral springs. His visit to Mof- 
 fat-Wells was repeated with so much advantage 
 for several seasons, that, to avoid the fatigue and. 
 cxpence of trudging once a year to and from 
 Braemar, in Aberdeenshire, he formed the reso- 
 lution, from its vicinity to Moffat, of settling in 
 Dumfries, where he spent the remainder of his 
 days. He is said, by Burns, to have been the au- 
 I 
 
1*20 
 
 NOTi:S» 
 
 thor of the favourite Scotch air, Whistle o'er the 
 lave 07/ ' This opinion, however, appears highly 
 questionable 5 for, though John Bruce was an ad- 
 mirable performer, he was not known as a com- 
 poser. 
 
 Verse 26.— Lines 1, S. 
 But who's he lilting V the rear^ 
 Sae sqft, sae tunefu' and sue clear 9 
 Ifs Dingwall, to the Muses dear. 
 John Dingwall was of the first order of our 
 Border Minstrels. In the tender and pathetic 
 melodies of Caledonia, he was without a rival on 
 the violin. Ball- music, however, was what he 
 professed. He had a fine taste also for drawing, 
 which, with music, he taught in a number of gen- 
 teel families in Dumfries. But, what is often the 
 misfortune of genius, he wanted confidence in his 
 own abilities. It is not to be wondered, therefore, 
 that John Dingwall lived and died in very narrow 
 circumstances. 
 
 Verse 30. — Lines 5, 6. 
 
 Jiamrods were fleeing thick as arrows 
 At Chevy C/iacef 
 Since the introduction of fire-arms, the use of 
 the bow in war is now quite laid aside 5 and, even 
 as an exercise of sport, is but little practised. 
 
CANTO SECOND, 
 
 There still, however, remain three Societies of 
 Archers in Scotland ; namely, the Royal Compa- 
 nies of Archers at Edinburgh and Peebles, and 
 the ancient Society of Archers at Kilwinning, in 
 Ayrshire; all of which, particularly the Royal 
 Company of Archers at Edinburgh, can boast of 
 having the chief of the Scotch Nobility and Gen- 
 try enrolled among their members. Long may 
 these ancient institutions flourish j and may the 
 manly exercise of the bow, the care of so gallant a 
 monarch as Jamss I. of Scotland, and which might 
 still be useful in repelling an invader, be pre* 
 served and transmitted to the latest posterity I 
 
 Verse 34.— Line 3. 
 Their arms like useless lumber hang. 
 The progress of the arts of Peace was not the 
 only circumstance which led to this state of list- 
 lessness and indiscipline. The strictness of the 
 game-laws, the care with which Government, for 
 a while, thought it necessary to prosecute a plan 
 for disarming the inhabitants, and, till lately, the 
 want of a militia in Scotland, all concurred to di- 
 vert the common people from the manly and mar- 
 tial exercises to which they had been accustomed, 
 and in which they delighted. But, though the 
 martial spirit lay thus dormant, it was not extin- 
 guished} and, now that it anim^^^tes and pervades 
 > all ranks of the ccrnmunity, every means of keep- 
 I 2 
 
NOTES. 
 
 ing it alive, and of drawing forth the strength and 
 energies of the whole empn-e, should be resorted 
 to by the friends of the country j for, although the 
 alarm of invasion, or rather tlie expectation of it, 
 has in a great measure subsided, we are every hour 
 exposed to the attempt from a daring and success- 
 ful foe, who, in the prosecution of an ambitious 
 project, is utterly regardless of the waste of humar 
 beings. 
 
 V^Rst: 35.— LtNES 3, 4» 
 
 Dumfries, in mony a chosen bandp 
 KnanrCd appears. 
 
 The corps in the tov/n and county of Dumfries, 
 who have associated in arms for the great and glo- 
 ,rious purpose of repelling the enemies of their king 
 and country, are, 
 
 1. The First Battalion of Dumfries-shire Volunteer 
 
 Infantry 5 
 
 2. The Annandale and Eskdale Battalion of ditto j 
 
 3. The Nithsdale Battalion of ditto; and 
 
 4. The Dumfries-shire Yeomanry Cavalry, 
 
 The Dumfries-shire Battalion is commanded by 
 Colonel De Peyster, a gallant veteran, formerly 
 Colonel of the 8t'i regiment of Foot, and Com- 
 mander in Chief in Upper Canada, where he ac- 
 quitted himself with great honour. His corps 
 consists of six companies, of eighty rank and file 
 each, together with an artiij[ery company of sixty 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 
 1£3 
 
 rank and file. The artillery company and three 
 of the infantry companies consist of inhabitants 
 of Dumfries, who are merchants or respectable 
 tradesmen. Two of the other companies are 
 composed of farmers and farmers' sons, residing 
 in the neighbourhood of Mr. Sharpe, of Hoddam, 
 and are under his immediate care, as Major of the 
 Corps. The remaining company are sharp-shoot- 
 ers, all picked young men, who reside in the pa- 
 rish of Closeburn, and Mr. Menteath, of Close- 
 burn, has charge of them as Captain. This is the 
 only corps in the neighbourhood of Dumfries 
 upon the establishment of June 1003 : that is to 
 say, they were the first, in the present war, who 
 offered their services to Government. 
 
 The Annandale and Eskdale Battalion consists 
 of ten companies, of sixty rank and file each j all 
 hardy* powerful men, descendants of the old bor- 
 derers, and natives and inhabitants of the Daks, 
 from which they take their title. The companies 
 are, of course, very much detached j bat, like the 
 other corps, they are drilled by their respective 
 
 * On a recent occasion, one of the companies, herds- 
 men from Eskdale Moor, offered, in case of invasion, to 
 march to Edinburgh, upwards of seventy mil-es distant, 
 in one day, provided they were allowed to put off tlieir 
 shoes and stockings ! 
 
 I 3 
 
124 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 Captains, at the most convenient places, and as- 
 sembled, once a year, for a fortnight or three 
 weeks, at Dumfries, where they are exercised in 
 the same manner as regulars. Colonel William 
 Douglas, a cadet of the Queensberry family, com- 
 mands this battalion. 
 
 The Nithsdale Battalion consists also of ten 
 companies, of sixty rank and file each ; and is 
 composed of farmers, Sec. residing on the banks of 
 the Nith from Corsencon to Carlaverock, the two 
 extremities of the River Nith, and the whole 
 length of the county. This fine corps is com- 
 manded by Colonel William Newall- Maxwell. 
 
 The Dumfries Yeomanry Cavalry consists of 
 four troops, composed of gentlemen and farmers 
 of the county in general, who keep horses, and 
 prefer that kind of service. Mr. Bryce M*Murdo 
 is their Commandant. 
 
 All the corps are completely equipped, and have 
 banners, and other insignia, appropriate to their 
 different districts and designations. 
 
 The colours of the first Battalion were presented 
 by Mrs. De Peyster; those of the second by Lady 
 Ann Hope, lady of the Hon. Captain Hope, M. P. 
 for the county of Dumfries, and one of the Lord-s 
 of the Admiralty. The Nithsdale Battalion re- 
 ceived their colours from Mrs. Constable-Max- 
 well 5 as did the Yeomanry from Mrs. M*Murdo^ 
 the lady of the Commandant. 
 
CANTO SECOND. 125 
 
 Verse 40.— Lines 1, 2. 
 
 When his gun snappity James M*Kee, 
 Charge after charge, charg'^d to the tie. 
 This, however ludicrous it may seem, is no un- 
 common circumstance among raw and inexperi- 
 enced soldiers. The following is one of many 
 instances that could be produced. At a grand 
 field-day of the Tower-Hamlets Militia, a few 
 years ago, on Blackheath, one man, in the course 
 of the firing exercise, unfortunately loaded his 
 musket Jive times! Four times his gun had missed 
 fire, but on the fifth attempt at a discharge, it 
 burst: the fragments of the piece flew off in all 
 directions, and the unhappy man, most desperately 
 wounded, was conveyed to the hospital in an ar- 
 tillery waggon, where he soon after died, notwith- 
 standing every medical assistance. Seven of his 
 companions, all severely wounded, were also car- 
 ried to the hospital. 
 
 Verse 45. — Lines 1, ^. 
 
 In William'*s hat, wi'* ribbons bound. 
 The Gunny was wi^ laurel croivtid. 
 Although the Silver Gun is adjudged as a 
 prize to the best marksman, and worn by him as a 
 trophy in his hat for the day, it is only nominally 
 his property; being invariably relinquished at the 
 €nd of the festivity for some honorary equivakxiti 
 I 4 
 
126 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 and, till another jubilee, deposited in the strong 
 box of the Corporations. 
 
 In this manner has the Silver Gun been pre- 
 served and handed down to us by our ancestors. 
 At what period it was presented to them, is not 
 correctly ascertained. All accounts concur m 
 ascribing the gift to James VI. during one of his 
 excursions to the Southern Borders j but these ex- 
 cursions, and the circumstances which accom- 
 panied them, live now only in oral tradition. 
 What we know for certain is, that King James, 
 having ascended the throne of England, on the 
 death of Elizabeth, in 1603, resolved, after an ab- 
 sence of fourteen years, to make a tour through 
 part of his ancient kingdom of Scotland. 
 
 In pursuance of this plan, his Majesty came from 
 Berwick to Dunglas on the 13th day of May, 1617 ; 
 to Seaton on the 15th 5 Edinburgh on the 16th; 
 Falkland on the 19th 5 Kinnaird on the 22d j 
 and on the 30th to Dundee j to Dalkeith on the 
 11th of June J celebrated his birth-day on the 
 19th, in the Castb of Edinburgh} was at Stirling 
 on Monday, the 30th of June j Perth on the 5th 
 of July J and St. Andrew's on the 11th; on the 
 18th of July he returned to Stirling; on the 22d 
 he visited Glasgow; Paisley on the 24th; Hamil- 
 ton on Monday, the 28th ; Sanquhar on the 31st of 
 July; and on the 1st of August his Majesty was 
 at Drumlanrig; at all of which places he was re- 
 ceived with every mark of loyalty and affection. 
 
CANTO SECOND. 127 
 
 Speeches, filled with strains of the highest pane- 
 gyric, were made by the Magistrates and other 
 persons of distinction ; and the learned at the dif- 
 ferent Universities, which he visited, vied with each- 
 other in testifying, by addresses both in Latin and 
 Greek, their esteem for a Sovereign who was the 
 Patron of learned men. 
 
 " On Monday,* the ferd day of August, his 
 " Majestic, returning to England, past be Drum- 
 " fries, where, at the entrie of the towne, this- 
 <^ Speach was delivered by Mr. James Halyday, 
 ♦* Commissar there : 
 
 " Your royall Majestic, in whose sacred person 
 " the King of Kings hath miraculouslie united 
 *^ so many glorious kingdoms, under whose scep- 
 ter the whyte and reid croces are so propor- 
 " tionablie interlaced, the Lyon and Leopard 
 " draw up one equall yok, and the most honor- 
 able ordors of the 'lliistle and Gaiter march 
 togidder, is most heartelie welcom to this your 
 Majestie's ever loyall towne j whose Magistrats 
 and People now beholding your long desired 
 face doe imitat tht Lizard, For no diamonts 
 or carbuncles by lustre can so allure the eyes, 
 " as doeth the brightnes of your countenance 
 our eyes and hearts. Hence it is that the 
 mynds of your good subjects are filled with 
 
 * Vide The Mwes' Welcome to King James^ printed at 
 Edinburgh in 1618. 
 
128 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 " such Incomprehensible joy. And considering 
 " the innumerable comforts which this your 
 ** Majestie's auncient and unconquered Scotland 
 " (Unica vicinis toties pulsata procellis, extcrni 
 immunis Domini,) hath received under your 
 happie governament both in Kirk and Poll tie, 
 what marveill is it to see the flamme of their 
 love kyth in their faces and tongues, two in- 
 fallible witnesses of their hearts ? To recken 
 all it were impossible, to speak of none it were 
 " ungratfuU : if I speak but of one, which is 
 ** Feace, they who with bleeding hearts and 
 weeping eyes did daily taist of the bitter fruietes 
 of discord, inward and outward broyies, shall 
 «* acknowledge even that onelie Peace to bee all 
 they could have wished, and more than ever 
 they could have hoped for. For what is to be 
 " wished that wee doe not enjoy with it ? Omnia 
 '* pace vigent. Now Justice hath unsheathed her 
 " sword 5 now basse assentation hath no place, 
 ^< and sycophants are put to silence j now is not 
 sucked out the marrow of the people by odious 
 and unjust monopolies; now is not the hua- 
 " band-man his face worne with the grindstone 
 of extortion: but sitting under his own apletrie 
 ** hee in Peace eateth the fruietes of his labours 5 
 lielligion hath her place; Lazv is in vigour; Na- 
 hath bruketh his own vineyard ; and Achitophcll 
 his just reward ; Simonie preferreth not Balaam ; 
 ** nor doeth corrupting gold set up a Jud>gt in hratl : 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 
 129 
 
 but everle place is provyded with some one 
 
 " fitting and suttable for the same. 
 
 If silent in these things, should we not be 
 convinced of ingratitude to Almightie God, 
 
 ** by whose grace wee have this oure Salomon , 
 
 *^ by whose providence, under God, these good 
 things are procured unto us ? and at the foun- 
 
 " taine of whose wisdome so many kingdomes 
 
 " and states get daylie refreshment ? Who wold 
 essey to speake worthelie of your worthie, rare, 
 
 ** royall, and heroicall vertues should have Elo- 
 qucnce for his tongue; and let any speake what 
 hee can, what can hee speake but that which 
 everie man doeth know ? for there is no corner 
 of the earth which hath not heard of your Ma- 
 
 ** jestie, that yee are not onlie a mirour, but a 
 
 " master of Kings ; not onely a patterne to their 
 lyfe, but also a patrone of their cause. Doeth 
 not your royall practise and penning prove all 
 
 ^* these ? and knoweth hee any thing to whom 
 your Basilikon Doron and your learned writings 
 against the supporters of the Antichristian 
 Hierarchic is not knowne ? O, Sir ! your Ma- 
 
 ** jestie oweth much unto your King, that King 
 
 ** of Kings, by whome so much upon you is 
 bestowed. That wee see the face of him, 
 
 ** whome God hath anoynted so above his fel- 
 lowes, is the ground of all these joyes which 
 
 " wee enjoy this day In the fullnesse of which 
 joycs this one thing breeds us anguish, that 
 
ISO 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 this your Majestie's ever loyall towne (whose 
 people ever were, are, and shall bee resolved t® 
 sacrifice their lyves in their Prince's service, 
 and of which God made choice that it should 
 bee the place where your Majestie's most royall 
 
 '* ancestor, the valiant Bruce, killed the Cum- 
 
 ** extirped the jBt//io/ blood, and re-estabiish- 
 
 ed the royall race of our native Princes) now 
 should bee the last period of your Majestie's 
 
 <^ progresse within this your most auncient king- 
 dome. Wold God it could bee circular, as that 
 
 <« of our uther Sunne ; that all your Majestie's 
 subjects might enjoy the comfort of your pre- 
 sence be vicissitude. But let God's will, and 
 
 ** your Majestie's weel, be the measure of our 
 desires. 
 
 " And since wee perceive the force of our load- 
 stone failling, so that it heth no more power of 
 retention } seeing your Majestic will South- 
 ward, we would wish your course more meri- 
 dionall, even tVcins- A Ipuie, that that Romish 
 " idol, the whore of Babel, might repent of her ' 
 too too presumptuous sitting in the Kirk of 
 God, in God's own chaire, above the crownes 
 of Kings. Let her feel the furie of your sword, 
 *< let her know the sharpness of your pike, as 
 " weel as of your pen : in that expedition shall 
 ** not heQ\cLSt Mavoi^tia pectora Scoti. For may wee 
 not now, by God's assistance, in like courage 
 « and magnanimitie, levell with the ground their 
 
CANTO SECOND. 
 
 131 
 
 walles there, as wee did heer of old these moii- 
 " struous heapes of stones and rainpires reared 
 be their Emperour Sevtrus and Hadrian, Espe- 
 ciallie now having the concurrence of that bel- 
 *^ iicose and resolute natione which God hath 
 made to come under your standard with us, 
 how can wee but have hope to cause all them 
 " who will fight against God for Babylon, like 
 as many beards of animals scattered on mount 
 " Aventint and Apptuine make jacks of old dyks ? 
 But remitting this and all other your Majestic" s 
 designs to God's gratious dispensation, and 
 your worthie disposition j wee close up our 
 speech, praying Almightie God that you and 
 your Highnessc's royall progenie may sit upon 
 •* the thrones of your dominions with incresse of 
 all heavenlie and earthlie blessings, so long as 
 ** the sunne and moone shall have place in the fifc- 
 ** mament of the Heaven. Amcny 
 
 While in Dumfries, King James was entertained 
 at the house* of a Mr. Cunningham, where he re- 
 
 * The house was wooden-fronted, with a projecting 
 gallery, and shops underneath. It was the last of a 
 range of buildings, which, extending from the New 
 Church, terminate opposice the lane called the Long 
 Close, and was pulled down and rebuilt about thirty 
 years ago \ but is still remembered by the name of 'D^n\n\ 
 Mason's, because he was the last person who lived in it^ 
 previously to its being rebuilt. 
 
132 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 ceived the congratulations of the Ministers, Ma- 
 gistrates, and heads of Corporations, and gave au- 
 dience to the neighbouring Nobility and Gentiy, 
 who hastened to pay their respects to their So- 
 vereign. 
 
 In this visit to Dumfries, and in his interviews 
 with particular families, such as those of Kenmore 
 and Nithsdale, King James felt a pleasure, mingled 
 with sentiments of the tenderest emotion. The 
 Maxwells and Gordons were, for ages, the warm 
 supporters of his family — he was in a district to 
 which he was partial, and surrounded by a brave 
 and loyal people devoted to his interest } but he 
 recollected that he was not far from Dundrennan 
 Abbey, the last asylum of his beautiful but un- 
 fortunate mother, Mary Queen of Scots, after the 
 overthrov/ of her army at the battle of Langside ; 
 and he could not forget that he was now on the 
 banks of that river, from the foot of which, in 
 great tribulation, she sailed in a fishing-boat for 
 England, the Archbishop of St. Andrew's follow- 
 ing to his knees in water, imploring her to forego 
 an excursion likely to termhiate, as it did termi- 
 nate, in her ruin 1 
 
 Full of these reflections, King James heard a 
 farewell Sermon preached in Dumfries, by the Rev. 
 William Cooper j after which, taking leave of his 
 friends, he spent the night at Lincluden. 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 
 Verse 8.— Lines 1, J. 
 
 O f wi'' what glee the Muse stfaVaigs 
 Owr a" the beauties o* the Craigs! 
 
 Though elevated and ruggedly perpendicular^ 
 on their N. E. front, as has already been observed, 
 the Craigs are cultivated with corn and clover to 
 their very summit on the S. W. sloping in that 
 direction for upwards of a mile to the River Nith, 
 which presents a beautifully diversified opening 
 to the Solway Frith on the S. E. bounded on the 
 Galloway side of the Nith by the ridge of hills 
 which terminate in the lofty mountain of Criffle, 
 the barometer of Dumfries, and, according to the 
 old Border laws, the scite of one of the beacons 
 for alarming the country, during the frequent in- 
 cursions of the English into Scotland. 
 
 Towards the N. E. the fields at the base of the 
 Craigs are likewise in the highest state of cultiva- 
 tion, inclosed with hedges, and extending about 
 half a mile in front till they are lost in Lochar 
 Moss — a bog which supplies Dumfries and the 
 lui^rbundiiig country with fuel, and is about a mile 
 
134 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 broad, and not less than ten muQo in length, 
 skirted all the way with fruitful fields, farm-houses 
 and cottages on. one side; while, on the other, 
 the populous parishes of Mousewald, Torthar- 
 wald, and Tinwald, stretch along in a progressive 
 elevation of verdant hills, interspersed with old 
 towers, church spires, clumps of trees, and gen- 
 tlemen's houses. These charming prospects are 
 terminated, on the northernmost point, by Queens- 
 berry-hill, verdant even to the top, and rising ma- 
 jestically in the form of a cone : to the S. E. the 
 mountains in Northumberland, Westmoreland, and 
 Cumberland, among which is the cioud-capt Skid- 
 daw, force themselves on the attention. 
 
 Verse 10.— liNEs 1, 2. 
 
 Yonder the lads and lasses gronpe, 
 To see the luckless luver^s Imp. 
 
 The name of the lover's lonp, or leap, is fre- 
 quently given to rocky precipices. It , is evi- 
 dently allusive to a custom among the Greeks, 
 -iome of whom, we are told, resorted to the leap 'of 
 Leucate, a white rock projecting into the sea 
 from Leucadia, as the only eftectual remedy for 
 disappointed love. From the top of this pro- 
 montory, the miserable victims of cruel Cupid 
 were accustomed to precipitate themselves into 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 
 135 
 
 the sea. Some men are reported to have reco- 
 vered from the effects of the fall j but women in- 
 variably fell victims to this act of desperation. At 
 Leucate was shewn the tomb of Artemisa, that 
 celebrated Queen of Caria, who gave so many- 
 proofs of courage at the battle of Salamis. In- 
 flamed with a violent passion for a young man. 
 who inflexibly refused her love, she surprised him 
 in his sleep, and put out his eyes. Regret and 
 despair soon brought her to Leucate, where she 
 perished in the waves, notwithstanding every ef- 
 fort to save her. Such, likewise, was the end of 
 the unhappy Sappho. 
 
 Verse 11.?— Lines 1, 2. 
 
 Beneath yon cliffy high beetling onci\ 
 
 Is chaste Diana\9 maiden-bozo'' r, 
 Diana was the goddess of chastity, whose nymphs 
 vowed perpetual virginity, and were remarkable 
 for the exact performance of their vow. The 
 Maiden Bower at the Cf aigs is supposed to be 
 under the influence of that goddess, from a tradi- 
 tion, already alluded to, that this Bower was the 
 residence of an amiable and virtuous young lady, 
 of pious education, v/ho, secluding herself from 
 the world in consequence of the infidelity of her 
 lover, spent her tinie there in meditation and 
 prayer, deploring her unhappy fate, yet suppli- 
 cating her Maker in his behalf. The, Maiden 
 
 K 
 
136 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Bower, therefore, is an object of great attraction 
 to young persons of both sexes. It is situated 
 near the top of a lofty precipice on the perpendi- 
 cular side of the Craigs, and only to be approached 
 by a very narrow chasm on the opposite side. The 
 entrance to it is dangerous and difficult, unless to 
 persons of slender make. A vulgar opinion pre- 
 vails, that the entrance to this Bower was thus 
 formed by Nature to serve as a test of maiden in- 
 nocence } and this whimsical belief sometimes de- 
 ters female visitors from making the experiment. 
 
 Verse 21.— Line 1. 
 Now word was brought to Deacon Greer. 
 Mr. William Greer was deacon of the Tay- 
 lors, and a zealous assertor of their privileges. 
 The journeymen shoemakers having, contrary to 
 a previous stipulation, presumed to introduce into 
 the procession the insignia of King Crispin, occas- 
 ioned much uneasiness to this worthy individual. 
 
 Verse 30. — Line 4. 
 
 • Amazons. 
 
 The Amazons were women of Scythia, of heroic 
 and great atchievements. 
 
 Verse 32. — Line 4. 
 • • Edom B?yen. 
 Adam Bryen was a master taylor, remarkable 
 for garrulity and proverbial expressions. " 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 
 Verse 35.— Line 1. 
 Frae Johny Groats's to the Border* 
 
 JoHNY Groats's was a house so called, from 
 the name of a man who, for a long time, kept the 
 ferry-boat which passes between Scotland and the 
 Orcades. Trae Johny Groat.s^s to the Border , means 
 from one extremity of Scotland to the other. 
 
 The family of the Groats were of Dutch extrac- 
 tion. Three brothers of that name, Malcolm, 
 Gavin, and John, went from the South of Scotland 
 to Caithness, carrying with them a recommenda- 
 tory letter from James IV. By what means they 
 acquired the property, it is impossible now to de- 
 termine 5 but the fact is certain, that these three 
 brothers became proprietors of two considerable 
 estates in that country. This property came af- 
 terwards to be divided among eight individuals, 
 all descendants of the same family. At an annual 
 meeting, which these eight chieftains were in the 
 custom of holding, a violent dispute arose, which 
 should first take the door, and which should sit at 
 the top of the table. This dispute would most pro- 
 bably have terminated in blood, had not John de 
 Groat, who was the proprietor of the Ferry, in- 
 terposed, and pledged himself to settle the con- 
 troversy to the satisfaction of all parties. Before 
 the next anniversary returned, John built a room, 
 ^^the form of an octagon, with eight doors and 
 eight windows j he placed als® in the middle an 
 K 2 
 
138 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 oaken table of the same %ure. When the day of 
 meeting arrived, John desired each to enter at his 
 own door, and sit at the top of the table 5 and when 
 they v/ere all seated, John took possession of the 
 empty place. Finding thus no room for jealousy 
 or envy, they spent the day in harmony and mirth, 
 and parted with sentiments of mutual affection. 
 The building was afterwards called John o' 
 Groats' house j and though not a vestige of it 
 now remains, the place, where it once stood, still 
 retains the same name. 
 
 Verse 41. — Line 3. 
 • • Kelton-hill, that fighting fair. 
 Kelton-hill, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 
 5s well known among horse and cattle-dealers for 
 a great fair held there annually at Midsummer. 
 It is called Kelton-hill fair, and has long been 
 one of the most considerable fairs that are held in 
 that part of Scotland. From England, Ireland, 
 and the most distant parts of North Britain, horse- 
 dealers, cattle-dealers, sellers of sweetmeats and 
 of spirituous liquors, gypsies, pickpockets, and 
 smugglers, are accustomed to resort to this fair. 
 Every house in the adjoining villages is crowded ; 
 and ail become, on this occasion, houses of enter- 
 tainment. The roads are, for a day or two before, 
 crowded with visitors to this fair. On the hill or 
 park where it is held, tents are ei-ected in rows, so 
 
CANTO THIRD. 
 
 139 
 
 as to form a sort of street, for the accommodation 
 of the multitude. Through the whole fair- day, 
 one busy tumultuous scene is here exhibited of 
 bustling backwards and forwards, bargaining, 
 wooing, carousing, quarrelling amidst horses, car- 
 riages, mountebanks, the stalls of chapmen, and 
 the tents of the sellers of liquors and of cold vic- 
 tuals. The fair is held on a Tuesday ; and for all 
 the remainder of the week, the villagers are accus- 
 tomed to wander about, and eat and carouse at 
 each other's houses, to consume the cold victuals, 
 and the liquors, which remain of what they had 
 provided for sale at the fair. Nor is this fair 
 frequented only by the peasantry and the dealers: 
 the busy scene attracts commonly many of the 
 neighbouring gentry to be spectators, for some 
 shprt time, of the confusion, the tumult, and the 
 rude festivity, which it displays. 
 
CJNTO FOURTH. 
 
 Verse 7.-^Lines 1, 2. 
 
 Amang the croud was Johny Gass, 
 Kend thro* the town hy lad and lass, 
 
 John GASS, brother of the notable hostess men- 
 tioned in the first Note of the preceding Canto, 
 is now (1808) in the 87th year of his age, and is 
 one of the few worthies, mentioned in this publi- 
 cation, who have not paid the debt of nature. 
 Always sober and industrious, he was a striking 
 illustration of the remark, that good conduct will 
 make any situation in life respectable. His shop, 
 during the American war, and for a long time 
 afterwards, was frequented by quidnuncs, and gen- 
 tlemen of the first consideration in Dumfries, to 
 whom his anecdotes and information were always 
 acceptable. 
 
 John was a great pedestrian in his time, and 
 thought very little of a journey to Edinburgh in 
 one day, a distance not less than 71 miles. Cold, 
 hot, wet, or dry, he seldom wore a hat in his 
 visits to his customers j and, such was the effect of 
 habit, that being sent for to Moffat upon parti- 
 cular business, he went there, a journey of 24 
 miles, bareheaded. Asked by a gentleman what 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 141 
 
 had become of his hat, — Hat, hat, sir,'' said 
 John, " 'pon my word, sir, I have forgot it V 
 
 Verse 10.— Line 1. 
 • • Wha^s he on the milk-white steed f 
 Mr. Johnstone, father of the present George 
 Johnstone, Esq. of Cowhill, in the neighbourhood 
 of Dumfries, was much afflicted with the gout 5 
 and on the occasion here alluded to was quite 
 lame : loath, however, to be absent from a festival, 
 the recurrence of which brought many pleasing 
 circumstances to his remembrance, he accompa- 
 nied the Blacksmiths on horseback, being a mem* 
 ber of that Corporation. 
 
 Verse 11. — Lines 3, 4, 5, 6. 
 
 SirS) when the Highlandmen were hercy 
 
 ** In Forty -jive y 
 His father gart them flee for fear y 
 " And sculk helyne T"* 
 Mr. William M*Ghee was a painter and gla- 
 zier in Dumfries. His father followed the same 
 occupation, and was the happy, though uninten- 
 tional cause of the precipitate flight here alluded 
 to. On Saturday, the 21st of December, 1745, 
 the Young Pretender, in his retreat from England, 
 halted at Dumfries, with a division of his army, 
 intending to remain there for some days. In the 
 K,.4 
 
142 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 mean time, the King's forces, under the command 
 of the Duke of Cumberland, invested Carlisle, 
 where Charles had left a garrison of about 300 
 men. A rumour of this event having reached 
 Dumfries, on the Sunday morning, Old Painter 
 M'Ghee, as he was familiarly called, was sent 
 out, being a friend of the rebels, to watch the 
 movements of the Royal army. Carlisle is exactly 
 r44 miles from Dumfries. Wearied with hovering 
 all day on the road to that city, the Painter had 
 just sat down to supper in a public-house at 
 Annan, a town nearly midway between Carlisle 
 and Dumfries, when a wag, suspecting the nature 
 qf his errand, told him with apparent concern, that 
 Carlisle had surrendered* to the Duke of Cum- 
 berland, and that, having crossed the River Esk, he 
 was^in full march after the rebels. Big with this 
 jiews, Mr. M^Ghee instantly galloped off for Dum- 
 fries, where, arriving about midnight, he carried 
 his important information directly to head-quar- 
 ters, at the house of a Mr. Lothian. A council of 
 war was immediately held. After a short delibe- 
 ration, the drums beat to arms, and by day-break 
 
 * On the 21st of December, the Duke of Cumberland 
 marched his army from Penrith to Carlisle, and imme- 
 diately invested the place, but, being under the necessity 
 of sending Co Whitehaven for heavy cannon, the batte- 
 ries were not erected till the 28th 3 on the 30th the gar- 
 fison surrendered at dibtretion. 
 
CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 145 
 
 on Monday, the Highlandmen had left the town , 
 having previously lived at free quarters, and de- 
 manded a contribution of 2000/. in money, 1000 
 pair of shoes. Sec. &c. About 1100/, of the money 
 had been paid j and Provost Crosbie, and Walter 
 Kiddle, Esq. of Glenriddie, were carried off as 
 hostages for the remainder. 
 
 Verse 13.— Line 1. 
 " Thafs Doctor Chapman 
 Alas ! -this truly excellent man, Dr. Chapman, 
 for many years Rector of the Grammar Schoo], in 
 Dumfries, is now no more ! With inexpressible 
 grief did the Author learn, while he was preparing 
 these sheets for the press, that his respected friend 
 and preceptor died at Edinburgh, in the 83d year 
 of his age. 
 
 To be silent would be insensibility, nay even 
 ingratitude J and, to delineate his character, far 
 surpasses the Author's humble powers. Those 
 -who knew him, will long remember, that in him 
 were united superior intellectual acquirements, 
 with that urbanity of manners, that suav^ity of 
 temper, and that truly Christian benevolence of 
 heart, which constitute the gentleman, the scho- 
 lar, and the man of worth. In affectionate ten- 
 derness to his pupils, he was a father; nor did 
 his parental feeling cease, when his official con- 
 nection with them was dissolved. It was the 
 
144 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 pride and the joy of his heart, by his counsel, by 
 his interest, and sometimes even by pecuniary 
 aid, to secure for them an auspicious introduction 
 into the world, and to promote their success. 
 
 After a long and laborious life, devoted to the 
 best interests of mankind, this good man expired, 
 Vv'ithout pang or struggle, in the bosom of a duti- 
 ful and affectionate family. 
 
 His Treatise on Education every reader will pe- 
 ruse with pleasure and improvement: its real 
 value can be ascertained by those only, who were 
 acquainted with the man, and who knew how 
 well the virtues and excellencies which that Trea- 
 tise was intended to form, were exemplified in the 
 conduct of its venerable author. 
 
 Verse 30.— Line 3. 
 
 • • Dr. Mutter. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Mutter, Minister of St. Mi- 
 ehaePs, or the Old Church of Dumfries, was a 
 gentleman of distinguished talents, of grgat elo- 
 quence as a preacher, and very eminent as a 
 theologist. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 A. 
 
 A^fBOOF— Above 
 
 J/if— Oft, often 
 Ahint — Behind 
 A in — Own 
 u4'— All 
 Alang — Along 
 Alane — Alone 
 Amang — Among 
 At^e — One 
 Artec — Once 
 Anither — Another 
 At hraw-^ Awry 
 Awa" — Away 
 ^3:;a— At all 
 Auld-^Old 
 Azvsome — Awful 
 
 B. 
 
 Bairn — 'Child 
 Efli^//— Both 
 Banefira — Bonfires 
 Bauid^Eold 
 jBc«g/ij— Beadle 
 
 Bedeen — Instantly, in few 
 words 
 
 Bcli/ve^Soon, by and bye 
 Ben — The inner part, op- 
 posed to Butt; the outer 
 or other part. 
 Begood — Began 
 Besprent — Besprinkled 
 BUIt/ — A young fellow 
 Bicker — A drinking cup, 
 wooden dish, bowl, or 
 bason 
 
 Bien-Like Creditable in 
 
 appearance 
 
 Buzzing or whiz- 
 zing 
 
 Birkcn — Birchen, of birch 
 Birkies — Clever fellows 
 Blatc-^S'iWy, foolish 
 Blae — Blue, purple, the 
 
 colour of the skin when 
 
 bruised 
 Bleezi^' — A small flame or 
 
 blaze 
 
 Blade — A sharp, dashing 
 
 fellow 
 Bluii'^Blow 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Blitfer, Blatter -Words 
 
 expressive of a rattling, 
 irregular noise 
 
 Bon ny — B eau t i ful 
 
 Botion — Botching 
 
 Brattling — Making a con- 
 fused and harsh noise, 
 like the sound of horses'* 
 feet. It implies hurry 
 
 Brazo — Adj. Fine, well- 
 dressed 
 
 Braws — Subs. Finery 
 
 Breeks — Breeches 
 
 Bruik — Enjoy 
 
 Brodit — Pricked or goaded 
 
 Brither — Brother 
 
 Buskit — Dressed or decked 
 
 Bums — Hums 
 
 Bj/egates — Byeways 
 
 C. 
 
 Cft'— Call 
 
 C(i dav — C b ear f u I 
 
 Callans — Boys 
 
 Caller — Cool, refreshing 
 
 Carl — A respectable desig- 
 nation of an old man 
 
 Ca uke rs — Bumpers 
 
 CdUHtyj — -Causeway, street- 
 pavement 
 
 Canny — Handy, dextrous 
 
 Ca vk — Hen-coop 
 
 Chajipbi — Quart, or liquor 
 in general 
 
 C/'hi/d — 'Fellow 
 
 Cheary — C 1) earful 
 
 C haunt er^The reed of a 
 
 bagpipe or hautboy 
 ChaJ'ts — "Chops or jaws 
 Cleeding' Clothing or 
 
 clothes 
 Clegstung — Gad- stung 
 C/oo^— Patch 
 Clout— Cuff 
 Cockit — Cocked 
 Cockernonny — A woman's 
 
 hair snooded, also her 
 
 cap 
 
 Cog — Wooden dish 
 
 Cozilie — Warmly or snug- 
 ly sheltered in a conve- 
 nient place 
 
 Craeiin — Pedlars' booths 
 
 Craft- — Handicraft, corpo- 
 ration 
 
 Craw — Crow 
 
 Croose — Bold 
 
 Cruppcn — Bent with age 
 
 Cusliies — Wild pigeons 
 
 D. 
 
 Dafftn — merriment, or dal- 
 lying, romping 
 Baft — Merry, giddy 
 Daddy — Father, little fa- 
 ther, diminutive from 
 Dad — Father 
 Danntr — To wander 
 Deary — Diminutive from 
 Dear 
 
 Dcray — ^Jollity, noise, dis« 
 order 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 149 
 
 Descrive — Describe 
 
 Dight — To wipe, to clean, 
 dressed 
 
 Dinlin — Trembling, mak- 
 ing a trembling kind of 
 noise 
 
 Dinna — Do not 
 
 Dockit — Cut short 
 Douse — Grave 
 Doited — Stupified 
 Dree — To bear, suffer 
 Drib — Drop 
 Dughtna — Could not 
 
 Dunner Reverberated 
 
 sound 
 Dunt — Beat or thump 
 D walling — D wel ling 
 Dwine — Pine or waste away 
 
 E. 
 
 Eeks — Add, joins 
 Etri — Frightful, frighted 
 £it;— Eye 
 Ein — Eyes 
 Eke — Even, also 
 Ettle — To attempt, to aim 
 at 
 
 F. 
 
 JFa'— Fall 
 Fae — Foe 
 Fain — Fond 
 
 I'ci/" /a'-- Well betide;good 
 luck to 
 
 Fallow — Fellow 
 
 Feckless-^Wtakf puny . 
 
 Feegaries — Finery, super- 
 fiuous ornaments 
 
 Feck — Plenty 
 
 Ferl^' — Wonder 
 
 Fiily—A colt 
 
 Flajfm — Fanning, moving 
 up and down, raising 
 wind by alternate mo- 
 tion 
 
 Fleech — To coax, to in- 
 treat in a flattering man- 
 ner 
 
 Made to flee thro* 
 
 fear, to frighten 
 FUnntr — Piece or splinter 
 Ely ting Reprehending, 
 
 rebuking, finding fault 
 Frae — From 
 
 Fouter—^A term of re- 
 proach 
 
 Fou — Drunk, full 
 
 Forebears Predecessors, 
 
 relatives of former times 
 
 Forder — Further or pro- 
 mote 
 
 Foggies — Old soldiers, men 
 
 pithless and infirm 
 Pt^r^/, -^Besides 
 Forgather — To meet 
 Forfoygliten — Faint with 
 
 fighting, overcome 
 Jow^/.— Plenty 
 Fowk — Folk, people 
 j^'i^^— Full, fully 
 Furtliij — Free in behaviour 
 
160 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 G. 
 
 Oflg— Go 
 Gane — Gone 
 Gaed — Gave 
 Gang — Go 
 
 Gardj/-c/udr — Arm-chair 
 
 Gardtvine — From the 
 
 French words Garde-vin, 
 signifying a wine-bottie. 
 The Scotch Gardcvine 
 generally holds two 
 quarts 
 Gaiocij — Jolly 
 Gawn or G«en-— Going 
 Gear — Goods, wealth 
 Gentle and Semple — High 
 
 and low 
 Geordy — George 
 Gleed — Squint - eyed 
 Glinting — Glancing, peep- 
 
 G loamiu' — T w 11 igh t 
 Glib — Talkative 
 Goolie — Large knife 
 Gowden — Golden 
 Gowk — The cuckoo, a term 
 
 of reproach 
 G^nvan — Daisy 
 Gratn — Groan 
 Greet-— To cry or shed 
 
 tears 
 
 Griend — Long'd for 
 Gree — Palm or victory; to 
 
 bear the gree — to carry 
 
 off the palm 
 
 Good, God 
 
 Gunn ij — Smal I g u n , di rni- 
 nutive from Gun 
 
 H. 
 
 Jf«'-~-Hall 
 lia^l — Hold 
 — Have 
 
 Halfdrunk 
 
 liame — Home 
 
 if«/e— V/hole 
 
 Hmh — Sloven 
 
 Hasses — Throats 
 
 Ear lit — Dragged heavily 
 
 on the ground 
 Heeze- — To pull up 
 Houp — Hope 
 
 Hiihhle.iihew- — Racket, tM^ 
 
 mult, confused noise 
 HunufJi — Hund red 
 
 I. 
 
 Ilki Ilka — Every J each 
 II her — Other 
 
 J. 
 
 JeezT/ — Wig 
 
 Jeukifig — Stooping, and re- 
 treating, to elude a blow 
 
 Joe — A sweetheart J a hus- 
 band 
 
 K. 
 
 Keeks — Peeps 
 Kta — To know 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 151 
 
 Kend — Known 
 
 Kir— Happy,consequentiai 
 
 L. 
 
 Laddie — Diminutive from 
 Lad — generally a term 
 of endearment 
 
 Lang — Long 
 
 iair*— -Learning 
 
 Laifh — Loath 
 
 Lassie Diminutive from 
 
 Lass; generally a term 
 of affection 
 
 Lave — The rest 
 
 Leel — Faithful, loyal 
 
 Lilting — Playing or sing- 
 ing softly 
 
 Limmer — A woman of loose 
 manners 
 
 Liths — Joints 
 
 Loo or Lo^e — Love 
 
 Loon — A roguish person 
 
 Lows'" d — Loosed 
 
 Low — Flame 
 
 Lowp — Leap 
 
 M. 
 
 Mae — More 
 
 Mair — More 
 
 Mairowr — Moreover 
 
 Maist — Most 
 
 Maen — Moan 
 
 Mens'^d — Grac'd, presided 
 at, did the honours of 5 
 from Mense, manners 
 
 Meikk — Much 
 
 Menyie or Menzie — Crowd, 
 
 throng, followers 
 Midge — Gnat 
 iHifAer-— Mother 
 Mo7ii/ — Many 
 Muisted Dusted with 
 
 flower 
 
 N. 
 
 Nae — No 
 
 Nae thing-^N othm g 
 Nappy — Sharp tasted 
 Neeve — Fist 
 Nowt — Oxen 
 iVoo A;-— Corner 
 
 O. 
 
 Ony — Any 
 
 Or a — Surplus, any thing 
 
 over what is needful 
 Owr — Over, too much 
 Gorier— The arm -pit ^ '* lads 
 oxter lasses,'''' that is^ 
 walk arm in arm 
 
 P. 
 
 PflwgV— Crammed 
 Pash — Head 
 Pawky — Sly, cunning 
 Peats — Turf, or moss dug 
 
 and dried for luel 
 Pegh — To puff, or breathe 
 
 hard 
 
 Propones — Proposes 
 Pu'ing — Pulling 
 
152 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Puist — Comfortably weal- 
 thy 
 
 R. 
 
 JRampaged — Acted like a 
 
 fury, stormed 
 Maise-^Kose 
 Ran: — Row 
 
 Reaming — Frothy, foam- 
 ing 
 
 Redd — To clear, to disen- 
 tangle, to separate 
 Rin — Run 
 
 Rozit — Rosin; ^^rozit-end,''' 
 cL shoemaker's thread 
 
 Ruefu' — Doleful 
 
 Ruffs and Dads — Thump- 
 ing with hands and feet 
 
 Rugging — Pulling 
 
 S. 
 
 Sae—So 
 
 Sair — Sore 
 Soft 
 
 Sax — Six 
 
 iSa.r^3/— Sixty 
 
 Sark—SKiVt 
 
 Scar -^To scare 
 
 Scowling — Scolding 
 
 Scoup — To run precipi- 
 tately 
 
 Scraighs — Screams 
 
 Scrow — Number, riot, hur- 
 ly burly 
 
 Shairn — »Cow-dung 
 
 Semple—^Oi low condition 
 
 iS^ow^Aer— Shoulder 
 
 *Sic— So 
 
 Sicker — Secure,sure,steady 
 Siller — Silver 
 Simmer — Summer 
 Slee-^^ly 
 
 Sodgerizing Acting the 
 
 soldier, training as sol- 
 diers 
 
 Souple — Pliant, supple, a- 
 gile 
 
 Spate — Sweeping torrent 
 
 after rain 
 Spraings — Streaks 
 Speer — Ask 
 
 Stance — Scite, or place to 
 stand on 
 
 Stazvn — A stand 
 
 >Sf«rA:— Stout 
 
 Steeks — Stitches 
 
 Sleeking — -Closing, shut- 
 ting 
 
 Stoiter^d—StcLggQVed 
 
 Stown — Stolen 
 
 Strappin — Tall and hand- 
 some 
 
 .S^mc/c— -Struck 
 
 Stravaigs— Roves 
 
 Strave — -Strove 
 
 Stour — Dust in motion 
 
 Stoups Pewter- pots j a 
 
 pint-stoup holds two 
 quarts, and has a cover 
 and a handle 
 
 Swack Flexible, supple, 
 
 made for action 
 
 Swaird — Sward 
 
 Swankies Clever young 
 
 fellows 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 153 
 
 Swcel — Swill 
 
 Swither — Doubt, quanda- 
 ry, hesitation 
 
 Sj/ne — Since, ago, after- 
 wards, next 
 
 T. 
 
 Tappin — Head 
 
 lee, as, To a tee — That is, 
 
 to a tittle 
 Tenty — Cautious, careful 
 Thae — These 
 
 Thowless — Spiritless, weak, 
 ■ lazy 
 
 Threeps — AUedges, insists 
 Thrang — Throng 
 
 Te-heeing Giggling 
 
 Thir — These 
 Thoomb — Thumb 
 Tliunner — Thunder 
 Timmer — Timber 
 Tine — Lose, forget 
 Tint — Lost 
 
 Toolie, or Tulzie — A wres- 
 tle, a fight 
 Touzetd — Discomposed 
 Tosh—Tight 
 Twu^Two 
 
 U. 
 
 Unco^ New, strange, 
 
 strangely, uncommonly 
 
 V. 
 
 Fir— Force 
 
 Vizzi/ — Aim, sight 
 
 W. 
 
 Wa — Wall, way 
 
 Wa's — Away ; slips his 
 wasi^ slips away 
 
 Waem — Belly 
 
 Wair — To spend 
 
 Wfirse — Worse 
 
 Waught — Large draught 
 
 PTee— Little 
 
 Weel—WQ\\ 
 
 Weef— 'Wet 
 
 Weirs — Wars 
 
 IF/m—Who 
 
 Wheem — Whim 
 
 W/iUk^Which 
 
 Whozling-'BrcsLthmg hard, 
 as from asthma 
 
 W/iun — Prickly furze 
 
 TF/ms^/^— Whistle 
 
 Winsome Prepossessing, 
 
 kind-hearted, desirable 
 
 Wow — An interjection, ex- 
 pressing wonder 
 
 W'ud-^Mdd 
 
 Y. 
 
 Younkers — Youths 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Walker, Printer, Glocester. 
 
Juutcly puhlishedy hy the same Authoi , 
 Price 2s. Bd, 
 
 GLASGOW: 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 Sold by J. Richardson, Royal Exchange ; and J. M. Richardsonj 
 IS[o. 23, Cornhill. London. 
 
BRUGE S INVASION J 
 
BRUCE'S 
 
 INVASION OF IRELAND; 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 HODGES AND M'ARTHUR. 
 
 1826. 
 
M, Goodwin, Printer^ 
 JOenmark'Street* 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Edward Bruce's invasion forms an important event 
 in the history of Ireland. Wearied and exhausted by 
 sanguinary wars, of w^hich they could foresee no ter- 
 mination, the Irish chiefs became anxious to partici- 
 pate in the blessings of a well-constituted government* 
 and to be admitted, with their people, to the rights 
 and privileges of English subjects. An application 
 to this effect was made to Ufford, the chief governor, 
 accompanied by an offer of 8000 marks for the ser- 
 vice of the king. Sound policy would have dictated 
 compliance with a proposal so reasonable, and so 
 advantageous to England as the voluntary submission 
 of "a high-minded and generous people." King Ed- 
 ward himself was of this opinion, and evinced a 
 desire to comply with their request, on the easy 
 terms of their supplying a body of infantry whenever 
 
 A 
 
2 
 
 PREFACE:. 
 
 his affairs should require their assistance. The sub- 
 ject, however, being referred to the Irish Parliament, 
 they were of a different sentiment. They employed 
 every aii; to prevent a convention of the king's barons 
 and subjects in Ireland to decide on this weighty 
 point, and affirmed that the supplication of the Irish 
 chieftains could not be granted without great preju- 
 dice to the king and his government. This parlia- 
 ment of "perjured adventurers," as they ai e indignantly 
 styled in a letter of Columbanus, thirsting for confis- 
 cations, saw a termination to their rapacious schemes 
 in the proposed settlement, and the desire of the 
 Irish people, was " fatally counteracted by those 
 whose duty it was to promote a measui'e so well 
 calculated for the benefit pf the country."* 
 
 The chiefs, mortified and disappointed by the rejec- 
 tion of their reasonable entreaties, had recoui'se to 
 their last and only alternative, the sword. But the 
 spirit of discord was among them, and that redemp- 
 tion of their country, which their zealous co-opera" 
 tion might have accomplished, was frustrated by their 
 disunion. At length, to end the mutual jealousies 
 ^nd rival claims of contending competitors for supre- 
 macy, some of the principal potentates agreed to 
 electa foreign prince to be theu* sovereign. They 
 heard, with undissembled joy, of th^ illustrious 
 
 » Mod. Un. Hist. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 3 
 
 achievements of King Robert Bruce. He had over- 
 come the might of England in the memorable field of 
 Bannockburn, and was now firmly seated on the 
 Scottish throne. His brother Edward became the just 
 object of their admiration, for by his militaiy prowess 
 he had acquu*ed the name and the renown of a hero. 
 He was descended from their ancient kings, and was 
 therefore deemed worthy to ascend their throne. 
 They accordingly invited him to be their monarch, 
 made a pathetic representation of their cruel suffer- 
 ings, and implored his aid in behalf of an oppressed 
 people, ready to make every exertion to throw off 
 the yoke of their common enemy, and every sacrifice 
 to confirm his possession of the kingdom. Thus was 
 the leopard solicited to protect the fold which had 
 been already wasted by the wolf and the bear. 
 
 Such a proposal was too flattering not to be readily 
 embraced. The conquest of Ireland was an object 
 suited to the high and chivalrous spirit of Edward 
 Bruce. King Robert fully accorded in the scheme, 
 and furnished a fleet of three hundred vessels, with 
 an army of six thousand men, the flower of the Scot- 
 tish forces, under the command of valiant and expe- 
 rienced leaders. 
 
 The armament sailed from A3nr, and arrived in 
 " Wyking's frith," the harbour of Larne, in the County 
 of Antiim, on the ^5th of May, 1315, The successes 
 
4 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 of Bi-uce were rapid and brilliant.* He spread the 
 terror of his arms through Ulster, and leaving a force 
 to conduct the siege of Carrickfergus, advanced to 
 Dundalk, where he was croTVTied king of Ireland. 
 Hence pursuing his conquests, and having thi-eatened 
 the metropolis itself, he carried his victorious arms 
 to the gates of Limerick. After a series of adven- 
 tui-es, in which he had to struggle with famine and 
 the sword, he was at last obliged to retreat He took 
 his last stand at Faughard, in the neighbom'hood of 
 Dundalk, where, in a desperate conflict wdth Lord 
 John Birmingham, he fell, suiTounded by the bravest 
 of his ti'oops. 
 
 Thus terminated an expedition which, if conducted 
 with more prudence^ might have had a very different 
 result. Had Edward possessed the calm virtues of 
 his brother Robert, he might have established himself 
 on the thi'one of Ireland. But robbery, conflagration, 
 and murder, ai*e not the means of subduing nations, 
 much less of securing their gratitude and loyalty. 
 The horrible baibaiities and rapacity of the Scotch 
 
 • Dalrymple passes a just censure on Leland, for " placing in a doubt- 
 ing parenthesis^ every battle in which the Irish Annals, published by 
 Camden, represent Bruce as victorious ; and asks, " how can we recen- 
 cile such conduct with the generous sentiment in his preface ?" Even at 
 this day, the historian of Irish affairs must be armed against censurci 
 only by an integrity which confines him to truth and a literary courage 
 uhich despises every charge but that of wii/ul and careless misrepi-esen- 
 tation.'\ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 5 
 
 army soon alienated the minds of his Irish allies, and 
 gave them alarming proofs of what they were to ex- 
 pect from a change of masters. When the frogs be- 
 sought a new king from Jupiter, the stork came and 
 swallowed them up. The Scottish thistle was to Ire-« 
 land as the bramble which threatened to send forth 
 fires that would devour the cedars of Lebanon. 
 
 One of the most circumstantial accounts extant of 
 Bruce's invasion, is to be seen in John Barboui's His-« 
 tory of King Robert Bruce. Barbour was ai'chdeacon 
 of Aberdeen, supposed to be born about 1326; he 
 composed his History of Bruce in 1375, and died 1396. 
 Dalrymple, in his Annals of Scotland, observes, that 
 " he often mistakes the names of places and persons. 
 He figured to himself that Richai'd De Clai'e was the 
 English deputy in Ireland, and from an error natural 
 enough, he supposed that the deputy always com- 
 manded the armies opposed to Edward Bruce. He 
 omits some events altogether, and is too apt to mag- 
 nify skirmishes into battles ; yet his narration con- 
 tains circumstances curious and characteristical." 
 
 In the following poem the Author has of course 
 availed himself of Barbour's narrative, and all other 
 sources of information to which he had access ; refer- 
 ences to them may be seen in the notes. Should any 
 one suppose him in an error for arraying the Irish 
 forces with the English, in tho manner described in 
 
6 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the third canto, let it be recollected that the atrocities 
 of the Scots had converted many of their former 
 friends into enemies — some Irish chiefs opposed him 
 from the first — and moreover, if Bruce were assailed 
 by only a tenth part of the numbers mentioned by 
 Barbour, the great majority must have been Irish, 
 although our annalists notice only the principal Eng- 
 lish leaders. If this plea be not satisfactory, he claims 
 for that and other liberties the poet's privilege. 
 
 •* Exit in immensum foeeunda licentia vatum, 
 Obligat historica nec sua verba fide." 
 
 Ovid. 
 
BRUGE S INVASION. 
 
 CAUTO FIRST. 
 
BRUCE'S INVASION. 
 
 CANTO FIRST. 
 
 THE LANDING AND THE MARCH. 
 
 Up ! up !— grasp your spears, and in martial array, 
 Away, men of Erin, to battle away !— ■ 
 The Bruce speeds to Ullin ; — before the north breeze, 
 In ships thrice a hundred, he ploughs the salt seas. 
 On the beach— mid the waves— ere a keel touch the strand^ 
 Give his fleet the warm welcome of iron and brand ! 
 
 In long cloudy squadrons, sails pressing on sails. 
 Like birds of the ocean, impelled by the gales, 
 Through the loud^sounding billows exulting they sweep— 
 Wreathed like snow round their prows rolls the foam of the 
 deep ; 
 
 And shoreward their pennants are dancing in light, 
 Like boreal streamers, long, ruddy, and bright, 
 B 
 
10 
 
 eruce's invasion. 
 
 By the Maidens' dark reef, by steep Gobbin they ride. 
 And up Woking's frith smooth and swiftly they glide ; 
 Now the well-balanced rock of the Druid is past, 
 And by Olderfleet tower have their keels grounded fast. 
 From their holds, with shrill hum, forth the soldiery swarm. 
 Like wasps from their cells, when the summer grows warm ; ^ 
 And now on the shore, with loud cheerings, they bound, 
 As if the green isle were their own native ground : 
 Clan crowds upon clan, from the Clyde and the Forth, 
 From the isles of the west and bleak hills of the north. 
 In sooth, 'tis a heart-stirring sight to behold 
 On Erin's fair shores Scotland's standard unrolled. 
 The red lion rampant on field of bright gold ; 
 And the flower of her warriors, with Carrick's young Lord^ 
 Sir Edward the Bruce, armed with buckler and sword. 
 What wild love of glory has led them so far. 
 To inflict and to feel the dire scourges of war ? 
 Ere long they may think it were better to spear 
 The silver-mailed salmon, or hunt the red deer 
 In their own land of hills, than come here to molest 
 Timid maidens, and scare little babes at the breast. 
 
 How proudly the chieftains are pacing the strand, 
 With a targe on their arm and a glaive in their hand ! 
 The bold Earl of Moray towers high o'er the throng. 
 Well-plumed and well-belted— both stalwart and strong ; 
 With Sir Philip Mowbray, a high-minded chief, 
 Oft the joy of his friends, oft his enemies' grief ; 
 In sieges and battles inured to contend. 
 Once a foe to the Bruce, now his sworn trusty friend ; 
 
IBRUCE^S INVASION. 
 
 And Sir John the Stewart, well known in the field 
 As a chivalrous knight. On his broad bossy shield, 
 Lo ! a bird to her young gives her heart's-blood for fpo^, 
 And a savage confronts a wild man of the wood. 
 There Ouchterhouse Ramsay is stalking in pride ; 
 With EUerslie's wight oft he fought side by side : 
 On his buckler's round disk a black eagle is spread, 
 And a golden-horned unicorn crests his helmed head. 
 Sir Fergus comes next, from fair Ardrossan's hill, 
 More happy, perchance, if he wandered there still j 
 But of glory one day is more dear to his mind 
 Than ages of peace, and that day he may find. 
 There Sir John De Soulis, with corsletted breast, 
 Bears a dark raven wing shedding night on his crest. 
 Next Campbell comes on with the youth of Argyll, 
 Of Jura, of Mull, and far Colonsay's isle ; 
 His shield bears a ship with furled sail and spread par. 
 And his crest the couped head of a vdld tusky boar. 
 No ensigns armorial yon chief need declare. 
 So deeply engrailed is his forehead with care— 
 Menteith ! who, 'tis said, did a dark deed of shame, 
 For the cursed love of gold, bartered honor and fame ; 
 To Edward, fell tyrant of England, betrayed 
 The worthiest knight that e'er drew battle-blade ; 
 And now, to allay the dire pangs of remorse. 
 Longs to mingle in conflicts of swords, man and hor^ 
 Beyond him, De Bosco, with well-polished spear 
 That he wields like a wand, leads the stout mountain^dt* ; 
 With Sir Robert Boyd clad in steel's azure hue, 
 To Scotland's crowned king a liege trusty and true. 
 
12 
 
 BRUCL'S INVASION* 
 
 And Bisset comes yonder, with hardiment fell, 
 
 To war *gainst his kindred in Erin who dwell. 
 
 And many a thane, gallant baron, and lord, 
 
 There marshals his clansmen, true sons of the sword , » 
 
 But none vies with Fleming in limb or in power, 
 
 Or Harper, who stalks in his strength like a tower. 
 
 No foe to confront them ; — all gallant and gay. 
 They frolic it well in their tartan array. 
 With claymore and target, dirk, quiver, and bow. 
 Plumed bonnet, and plaid of the rich crimson glow* 
 Superb their attire ! bright their arms azure glare, 
 And lofty the dance of their crests in the air, 
 That sportively wantons in each silky fold 
 Of pennon and banner emblazoned with gold. 
 With sound of the pipe, of the trumpet and drum, 
 They seem to a feast or a wedding to come. 
 Let the blood -streaming sod be the groom's bridal bed !■— 
 Let them bite the cold steel, and carouse with the dead i 
 
 In rich burnished mail, midst a forest of spears, 
 The Bruce tall and portly his stature uprears ; 
 O'er the chiefs that around him have formed a dark ring, 
 He towers with the look of a hero and king ; 
 As if instinct with life nods his high ostrich crest. 
 Like the fair crescent moon shines the gorge on his breast, 
 His broad bossy shield glows with heraldry bright ; 
 His sword as a beam of the red northern light, 
 Such blood of high royalty rolls in his veins. 
 To be less than a monarch he proudly disdains. 
 
bruce's ixvasiok. 
 
 13 
 
 He comes, in the land to reap bloody renown, 
 And win by the sword Erin's sceptre and crown. 
 Thus comes a young leopard, the flower of his race, 
 In quest of his prey ; — clothed in terrible grace, 
 He bounds o'er the lawn, and exults in the pride 
 Of his strength, and the gloss of his fair painted hide ; 
 His spots glow with beauty— fires flash from his eyes, 
 And his roar all the beasts of the forest defies. 
 
 Now their spoil -freighted fleet they speed back through the 
 foam, 
 
 As if they ne'er meant to revisit their home : 
 Their home they call Erin ; whate'er she affords 
 They seize with high hand, as the right of their swords. 
 Unfurled is their standard — begun their career — 
 In the van sage Earl Thomas, the Bruce in the rear, 
 And onward they move, like a fire o'er the heath, 
 Red champions of havoc, gaunt blood-hounds of death ; 
 And they vow ne'er to stop, till they hear the deep roar 
 Of the raging Atlantic on Kerry's wild shore. 
 Well-marked is their track over mountain and dale, 
 By the smoke of destruction that floats on the gale, 
 By hamlet and cot wrapt in ruin and gloom. 
 By the temple despoiled, and the fresh-plundered tomb. 
 In vain to their shrines wives and children have fled, 
 The flames mount aloft— bursts the roof o'er their head. 
 
 Dalriada, sweet land of the cliff and the cave, 
 Thy rivers run red to the ocean's blue wave; 
 
14 
 
 jjruce's ixvastox. 
 
 And foemen have raised their proud flags o*er thy towers, 
 From the Bann's rapid streams to the Lagan's green bowers ; 
 Benmore's startled eagle has fearfully screamed, 
 And Torr's warning fire o'er the dark billows streamed ; 
 In Edinduff-Carrick was heard on the gale, 
 As it swept o'er the lake, the banshee's fatal wail : 
 Round his mist-girdled brow Slemis rings with alarms, 
 Through Connor re-echoes the rude clash of arms* 
 The tempest of wrath o'er Cuil-rath-can has blown. 
 And left nought behind it but water and stone. 
 There the foes were entrapped in a deep swampy fen, 
 Like a huge salmon shoal in the fisher's close den ; 
 And there the O' Canes' and Mac Quillans' sharp glaives 
 Had shorn them like rushes, and strewed in the waves, 
 But Thomas of Down, that " stronge thecfe" of the sea. 
 Ploughed the Bann with his ships, and again set them free. 
 Would that the nine maids with salt foam for their vest, 
 Had him clasped with his crew to their cold marble breast ! 
 Let him flee, if he can, when the ensigns he spies 
 Of Atley's armed fleet on the verge of the skies ! 
 
 Erin, where are thy chiefs ? At the feast or the dance^ 
 While the blood of thy sons is empurpKng the lance ? 
 Are they sleeping or dead, while thy foes o'er thee sweep, 
 Like a storm from the hills, like the waves of the deep ? 
 Though awhile may Knockfergus their onset deride, 
 And repel, — as her rocks the assault of the tide. 
 Yet close is she girded, and near her dark wallsj 
 By Harper's dread battle-axe Maundeville falls. 
 Now see by White- Abbey their banners are spread. 
 High o'er them the dark Hill of Caves lifts his head; 
 
eruce's invasion. 
 
 ]5 
 
 Oh ! now were the time from the cliff and the steep, 
 
 From Mac Cart's cloud-girt fort, and the cairn's rocky heap, 
 
 As they wend where the limestone's clear rivulet rolls. 
 
 To lanch down the bowlders and crush out their souls ! 
 
 That rough gorge of danger is soon left behind. 
 
 And now, as by Lagan's dense forests they wind. 
 
 On their helmets and shields Duna's warriours ring 
 
 The hail-storm of war from the bow and the sling. 
 
 Nor shun the close conflict — ^but what may avail 
 
 The kerns' naked breasts 'gainst the knights clad in mail ? 
 
 Their way they have hewn over hills of the slain, 
 
 Through the closely plashed ravine of Innermalane ; 
 
 Though gallant De Burgo there manfully stood, 
 
 Till his host, man and horse, fell like leaves in the wood. 
 
 Lisnagarvy is fired fired the Abbey of Saul : 
 To Strangford the Ards in dismay loudly call 
 O'er the isle-studded gulf— and Slew-Donard has seen, 
 From his throne in the clouds, Duna's vallies of green, 
 Her round fairy mounts and her thrice-hallowed hiU 
 Where sleeps Erin's Saint by the good Columb-kill, 
 Polluted and trampled by blood-boltered feet. 
 While Discord, foul demon, to mischief still fleet, 
 Of all Erin's curses the first and the last, 
 Through the princes of Connaught her wildfire has cast ; 
 And kinsmen and brothers pierce each others breasts 
 With steel that should ring on the ravagers' crests. 
 Roderic falls by the sword, while too high he aspires ; 
 And Feidhlim is placed on the throne of his sires. 
 But, lured by false hopes, maugre every dear claim 
 Of country, of honour, of fealty and fame, 
 
16 
 
 bruce's ixvasion^ 
 
 He leagues with the Bruce, who receives his late foes 
 
 With joy as his friends, — gathering strength as he goes. 
 
 De Burgo may chafe till he sicken or bleed.—- 
 
 The victor moves on and new treasons succeed ; 
 
 To his standard the Thomond O'Briens have flown : 
 
 Thus Erin is conquered by Erin alone. 
 
 But wo to the traitors by land or by flood, 
 
 Who to wreak private wrongs shed their dear country's blood! 
 
 Let the axe or the rope be the parricides' doom, 
 
 And the night-shade for ever grow rank on their tomb ! 
 
 They climb Na-Jur hills, by Slew-Gullen they wend. 
 And down upon Louth like a tempest descend : 
 Dundalgan is stormed by the slaughtering sword ; 
 And yet, while her gutters run blood, — at the board 
 Grows their revelry loud, as they carve the fat chine, 
 And swill the brown ale with the red sparkling ^^^ne. 
 Whence now their wild shouts and long cheerings ? Behold ! 
 The Bruce has encircled his temples with gold. 
 In all their rich bravery, lofty and proud. 
 Round his throne knights and barons exultingly croud i 
 And yet still more highly his triumph to crown. 
 King Robert the Bruce comes to share his renown. 
 Pond, fond is their meeting, and high is their cheer. 
 For each is to each a kind brother and dear. 
 Of princes and heroes the pride and the flower, 
 In courts or in camps, in the field or the bower. 
 But Robert oft fears for the too fiej-y soul 
 Of Edward, impatient of rest or controul ; 
 Lest by glory spurred on to some desperate deed. 
 He may rush on his fate like an unbroken steed. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 17 
 
 Though Erin be awe-struck, and humbled her crest, 
 
 A spirit invincible dwells in her breast ; 
 
 Though foemea around her their fetters may bind. 
 
 They ne'er can inthral the high thoughts of her mind, 
 
 That bound forth to freedom, that mount to the sky, 
 
 And the rod and the sword of the tyrant defy. 
 
 Hence much he advises, and shews from what springs 
 
 Flow the strength, peace and glory of subjects and kings ; 
 
 Implores him his rashness with prudence to tame, 
 
 And allay in his bosom ambition's fierce flame. 
 
 Hence Edward holds pleas, and to strengthen his cause, 
 
 By semblance of justice, makes judges and laws ; 
 
 Some high he exalts near his person and throne, 
 
 To the scaffold sends some for their crimes to atone. 
 
 But soon tired of peace, yearns his soul in the field 
 
 To hear the shrill pibroc, — to clash the dry shield. 
 
 His chiefs and their men burn the game to pursue, 
 
 Boast of what they have done, and of what they will do. 
 
 And well may they triumph, and loud may they boast. 
 
 As they stalk in the spoils of that proud English host 
 
 Whose plumes they sheared down, when with horror and dread 
 
 England's monarch turned pale, and ingloriously fled, 
 
 Whom, if a true knight, it behoved not to fly, 
 
 But to charge through the foe and with Argentine die. 
 
 Again, his broad banner has Edward unfurled ; 
 Flushed with ardour, he thinks he could conquer the world. 
 With the vaward he rushes by moor, hill, and lake, 
 Regardless what perils pursue in his wake. 
 The rear and King Robert are left far behind, 
 Their march through a dark- wooded valley to wind : 
 
18 
 
 eruce's ixvasiox. 
 
 Near its gorge two bold archers of Erin are seen ; 
 On Albyn their arrows fly rapid and keen. 
 
 To arms !'* cries King Robert—" the foe-men are near, 
 " Let each, at his post, grasp his target and spear." 
 But a chivalrous knight has those archers o'erta'en, 
 And one by his lance lies transfixed on the plain. 
 Cheer the ranks — but sage Robert approves not the deed ; 
 His truncheon has made the knight reel on his steed, 
 And taught him to know, that " in science of war, 
 Cool order surpasses rude courage by far ; 
 And he who obeys not the word of his chief, 
 On his friends brings dishonour, discomfiture, grief. 
 And lo ! there the foe-men their standards display, 
 All prancing to burst through our broken array. 
 From your bows, men of Carrick, their greeting return. 
 Then, horse, to the charge ! — ^be the word Bannockburn !*' 
 ' Tis done — twang their bows — showers of arrows are forth, 
 Thick and keen as the swift-volleyed sleet from the north. 
 The rowel grows red in the steed's smoking flank. 
 And onward they rush to the charge, rank on rank; 
 The claymore is flashing — firm-couched is the spear. 
 And loud is the clang of the chargers' career. 
 Nor tardy is Erin to meet their advance 
 With the edge of the sword and the point of the lance. 
 Head to head dash the steeds —and with fearful rebound, 
 Whole ranks, by the shock, man and horse, bite the ground, 
 Whence, freed by the stroke of the dirk or the glaive, 
 In crowds are escaping the souls of the brave. 
 The red lion triumphs — and spread o'er the turf, 
 Erin's warrlours lie scattered, like wrecks on the surf/ 
 
brijce's invasion. 
 
 Yet not unavenged, Albyn ov/ns, they lie low ; 
 Not inglorious her triumph, for brave was her foe. 
 But with grief to the soul is Sir Edward stung deep. 
 That his sword, such a day, in its scabbard should sleep 
 The day is King Robert's— his prudence retrieved 
 Edward's error— his valour the triumph achieved. 
 But yet he forbears not the error to chide 
 That, by a long march, van and rear would divide. 
 Through the gap will the foe that is eager to strike. 
 As the ocean.swell bursts through the severing dyke. 
 Sweep his thousands in arms, till they deluge the plain, 
 And the host so divided is ne'er joined again. 
 
 Thus by maxims of war, as by curb and by rein, 
 Would Robert the wildness of Edward restrain, 
 And his nature controul by sage lessons of art — 
 Till called by the oares of a throne to depart. 
 With care not more fond, round her ocean-girt height. 
 The eagle her young one directs in his flight. 
 Soars with him aloft through the blue depths of space^ 
 Or o'er the wild heath is his guide in the chace. 
 
 Again for more conquests the march is begun. — 
 They pass by New- Grange, the old cave of the sun • 
 Wives, maidens and children, half-wild vdth affright. 
 Flee far from their paths, as doves flee from the kite. 
 E'en while at thy shrines they are bending the knee;. 
 Fire, rapine, and blood tell thy fate, Atherdee ! 
 Though strong be its walls, and its fortresses highj, 
 On Tredagh his banners triumphantly fly. 
 
20 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 To sorrow is Slane with its hermitage doomed, 
 
 And Trim, where the relics of kings are entombed ; 
 
 With Kenlis, whose round tower yet tapers sublime 
 
 Deeply clad in the mists and the mantle of time : 
 
 Here Mortimer came with a deer-hearted crew. 
 
 To look Bruce in the face.— Ere a bow-string they drew. 
 
 They turned from his glance — for foul treason had spread 
 
 Through their chieftains ; and first were the Lacies who fled» 
 
 Such champions well may the Redshankes deride ; 
 
 With jest and with laughter their camp echoes wide, 
 
 While the pipers skirl loud, with their hearts full of glee, 
 
 And the heroes extol who so valiantly flee ! 
 
 Such easy-earned triumphs Bruce holds in disdain ; 
 
 No brightness has glory unpurchased by pain.— 
 
 The Boyne rolls behind him, and onward he goes, 
 
 No walls to retard him, — no arms to oppose ; 
 
 His hopes to win wealthy Athcliath aspire ; 
 
 Her suburbs are wasted, her temples on fire ; 
 
 And now she sits chafing in wrath and despair, 
 
 A lioness pent by a troop in her lair. 
 
 O' Byrne and O* Toole, from the wood and the glen, 
 O'Cavnagh, O'Nowlan, come forth and be men ; 
 If e'er with each other ye played a rough game 
 With the pike and the faulchion, for pastime and fame ; 
 Rushing down like your own mountain cataracts deep, 
 From the home of your sires these fell ravagers sweep ! 
 
 Ye hear not the call, though ye spy from afar, 
 By Knock's castled walls, the foes ensigns of war:- 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 21 
 
 There Tirrel, indignant, in chains vents his rage, 
 And his fair lady pines, a lorn bird in a cage. 
 The region all round, like an Eden that bloomed, 
 Mourns its harvests down-trodden, its hamlets consumed ; 
 Through the smoke of black ruins that darken the vale, 
 Down the Tolka's stained brook roll the shriek and the wail. 
 The flocks from the glen, and the beeves from the hill, 
 Unsparing in slaughter, they wantonly kill ; 
 By the blaze of the corn-sheaf the feast they prepare, 
 Fire the cottager's roof and carouse in the glare ; 
 Nor dread lest to-morrow, when prowling for prey. 
 They may rue, in deep anguish, the waste of to-day. 
 
 How wanton is man in the pride of a power 
 Which is fragile as ice, and endures but an hour ! 
 Vain- glorious, improvident, foolish and blind- 
 Pride stalks on before him, but fate moves behind. 
 Ambition, still pointing to regions sublime, 
 Turns his eyes to the stars and allures him to climb, 
 Till he reach the rough brow of some dizzying height, 
 Then tilts him down headlong to ruin and night. 
 
 O'er the beautiful city, all proud as she reigns 
 Midst turreted bulwarks, spired temples and fanes, 
 Could Bruce but behold the victorious play 
 Of his banners — 'twere glorious ! — But long the delay 
 Of siege, or blockade — for her ramparts are steep— 
 Her brazen gates massy— her fosse broad and deep— 
 Her ruler, De Nottingham, valiant and true, 
 Her black-banner warriours not feeble, nor few. 
 
22 
 
 bruck's invasion. 
 
 Thus Mowbray advises — " tis wise to hunt down 
 The fear- stricken quarry — Athcliath will crown 
 Our toils at the last." — Hence the march of the war, 
 They guide by the course of the fair western star. 
 On Leixlip they move, in Kildare they encamp, 
 Where the daughters of fire trim the ne'er- dying lamp. 
 In vain has Le Grace, the high-minded and good, 
 Well-belted in iron, their onset withstood ; 
 O'er AscuPs red plain the dire hurricane past. 
 And left it in silence and darkness o'ercast. 
 There quiet he lies with his chivalry's pride, 
 And Bonneville and Prendergast sleep by his side. 
 There also, Sir Fergus, thy pilgrimage ends ; 
 
 And a dark dreamless night on Sir Walter descends. 
 
 Leix horror-struck sees her tall belfry and spire 
 
 Burst forth in a blaze of pyramidal fire. 
 
 Castle -Dermot, their hands sacrilegious they lay 
 
 On thy tombs, and thy shrines, and thy costly array ; 
 
 Of Carlow the corn- covered fields they invade ; 
 
 The Barrow's clear waters grow dark with their shade ; 
 
 The Suir rolls beneath them, and in his smooth glass 
 
 The Shannon reflects their armed ranks as they pass ; 
 
 Now fear and dismay dwell in Limerick's bowers ; 
 
 Kilmallock with all her proud temples and towers. 
 
 And Cashel, high-throned on a rock, hear with dread 
 
 The noise, from afar, of their swift-coming tread. 
 
BRUCE'S INVASION. 
 
 CANTO SECOND, 
 
BRUGE S INVASION, 
 
 CANTO SECOND. 
 
 THE RISING OF ERIN— AND ALBYN*S RETREAT, 
 
 Unblest is the land where fell Faction prevails ; 
 From Justice she wrests both the sword and the scales ; 
 All counsels of wisdom perverts to the wrong. 
 And saps to its basis the might of the strong. 
 
 Erin, wherefore did nature smile sweet on thy birth. 
 When first from dark chaos sprang heaven and earth. 
 Airs of Paradise redolent breathe o*er thy breast. 
 And form thee a type of that land of the blest 
 Which poets once sung, and which poets would choose 
 Where to breathe inspiration and rove with the muse ? 
 What boot thy fair valleys, thy bright-blooming hills. 
 Thy corn-covered fields and thy crystalline rills, 
 . c 
 
sruce's invasion* 
 
 If those valleys and hills but re-echo thy screams, 
 While the sword reaps thy crops, and blood purples thf 
 streams ? 
 
 Vain are nature's best blessings, if discord, more dire 
 
 Than famine and plague and the elements' ire, 
 
 Lets them ne'er be enjoyed but with wrath-kindled flame 
 
 Turns thy song to a dirge — and thy glory to shame. 
 
 Oh ! didst thou but know thy own bliss and pursue — 
 
 If to thy own cause thou wert loyal and true, 
 
 All nations would hail thee of isles the rerioWnfed, 
 
 A queen among queens with prosperity crowned ; 
 
 Thy sons gathered round thee, an adamant pale. 
 
 Or a rampart of fire, that no foeman dared scale. 
 
 In accord with thy harp loud their voices would raise 
 
 In paeans of joy— or in anthems of praise. 
 
 But by thy own fires thou art wasted and burned-*- 
 
 Against thy own bosom thy faulchion is turned ; 
 
 Low, low art thou fallen, heart-stricken and sore, 
 
 Rent, plundered, and bleeding at every pore. 
 
 Breathes a spirit within thee ? Oh ! better to die. 
 
 Than thus crushed and trampled ingloriously lie. 
 
 Are thy warriors all slain ? — Or dispersed far and wide. 
 
 In mountains and caverns their terrors to hide. 
 
 While their wives and their daughters become the sad spoil 
 
 Of the ruthless invaders that widow thy soil ? 
 
 Where now is the might of Clanrickard's brave line, 
 De Claye, and Fitz- Thomas, and stout Geraldine, 
 And Butler, and Desmond, that oft in the strife 
 For glory, have sported with treasure and life 2 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 27 
 
 Ferns, where is thy Bishop ?— -On what mission sent 
 
 In the dead of the night, did he seek Bnice's tent? 
 
 In sooth it behoves not the shepherd to hide. 
 
 When the wolf through the fold spreads his ravages wide. 
 
 But, mayhap, holy man ! through the foes he has passed 
 
 To shrive some lorn penitent breathing his last ; 
 
 Up the heaven- ward way to direct his poor soul, 
 
 And anoint the car-wheels ere he starts for the goal. 
 
 And where are the Lacies ? — Have they too turned good. 
 
 Doffed target and sword for the cassoc and hood, 
 
 And gone to the Bruce, by entreaty and prayer. 
 
 To bend his stern soul bleeding Erin to spare ? 
 
 Well ! let them beware of the scaffold and block, 
 
 Though the seas bar them round in the heart of a rock I 
 
 Where now are the bards, once so potent to warm 
 The cold heart of fear, and the coward to arm ? 
 Amergin, and Conla, and Moran, whose lays 
 In the soul a high tempest of passion could raise. 
 Have your harp -strings in sorrow, in spite, or disdain, 
 Burst asunder, and sworn ne'er to vibrate again ? 
 O spirit of Ossian ! thou sweet soul of song, 
 Sire of Oscar the brave, son of Fionn the strong. 
 In hall and in bower must thy harp's thrilling sound 
 In the drone of that cursed Highland bagpipe be drowned ? 
 From thy dark airy hall, as thou sailest on high. 
 Hear the groans of the land, and in terrors come nigh. 
 These wasters behold of thy harp's native soil. 
 Who e'en of thy glory would Erin despoil. 
 Rough, prickly, and horrid, wherever they tread. 
 The thistle springs up in the shamrog's green bed. 
 
2S 
 
 bruce's invasion* 
 
 Thou whose was the boast that if hell kept thy sire. 
 Thou dar'dst with Clan-Boske to storm e*en hell-fire. 
 And the captive restore, or that realm make thy own ; 
 Let the strength of thy arm to these revers be known— 
 "With hail- shower and torrent, with tempest and night, 
 With the meteor's red flash, with the thunderbolt's might. 
 Haste and sweep them, in wrath, from the land of thy birth : 
 Through the bards, that are now but mere water and earth, 
 Shoot the life-giving lightning — i-that, daringly bold, 
 They may feel as they felt in the good days of old ; 
 Send them forth in defence of their dear father-land, 
 With a sword by their side, and a harp in their hand. 
 Replete with thy spirit, again to re-start. 
 In accord with its own, all the strings of the heart. 
 Let this be the song— 
 
 " Men of Erin arise ! 
 Your country invokes you with agonized cries, 
 By her tears and her groans, plundered altars and graves. 
 Awake ! or sleep on, and for ever be slaves. 
 Black shame to the coward, who hears not the sound- 
 Transfix him, ye darts of the brave, to the ground ! 
 Or bear him, ye tempests, to some deseli; wild. 
 Where the dew never fell, where the sun never smiled, 
 To lap the foiil puddle, to browse the bare thorn. 
 And to flee as a hare flees the hound and the horn ! 
 
 Erin once had a sword never tarnished with rust. 
 And men that would trample her foes in the dust, 
 And hearts that, to slavery ere they would bow, 
 Would bleed— and would burst— but oh ! where are they now? 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 29 
 
 Weak, heartless, inglorious, of manhood the shame, 
 
 Ye women of Erin, ye men but in name ! 
 
 Sit down — fold your aims — bow your necks — and your lives, 
 
 Though worthless, redeem with your children and wives. 
 
 Hew wood and draw water, to please your proud foes ; 
 
 Let them dance in your halls—in your chambers repose. 
 
 Ere ye shrink from their lash, and be bound with their thongs> 
 
 Let the lance and the sword in their blood wreak your wrongs. 
 
 If yet in your bosoms a chord may be found. 
 
 At the dear name of country to trill and rebound, 
 
 If honour, and feeUng, and shame have not fled. 
 
 And left you as clods, soulless, torpid, and dead, 
 
 Ere ye hear her last groans, her last agonies see. 
 
 Rise, with swords in your hands, still undaunted and free. 
 
 Up ! up ! grasp your spears, and in martial array, 
 
 Away, men of Erin, to battle away !'* 
 
 Ha ! hear ye the call, ayid from sleep have ye sprung. 
 As if in your ear the last trumpet had rung ? 
 Yes, Erin has heard — \o ! she springs to the field. 
 Unsheathed is her sabre, and struck is her shield. 
 Loud her harp-strings have rung^ in their old native tone, 
 Loud her priests have declaimed for tlie altar and throne ; 
 Loud her orators thundered, as boldly they flung, 
 Winged with flashes of thought, the keen bolts of the tongue : 
 Her lakes, isles, and forests, glens, mountains, and skies, 
 Reverberate loud — " Men, of Erin arise !" 
 Hark ! the soul-stirring sound ! as it echoes again. 
 The aged grow young, and boys start into men. 
 The youth are aroused, like a thousand swoln rills 
 That commingling rush down to the vale from the hills, 
 
30 
 
 bruce's invasion* 
 
 When the show'ry- winged west, with his dark ocean-clouds. 
 
 And torrents of rain, giant Mangerton shrouds. 
 
 Thick-teeming they hasten from city and tower, 
 
 From the sheeling's low roof, from the boolie's green boweiv 
 
 From the rath and the dun, from the woods and the rocks ; 
 
 The hind leaves his furrows, the shepherd his flocks, 
 
 The ploughman his share, and the sailor his oar ; 
 
 His corragh the fisher draws up on the shore. 
 
 JSoys wage mkftic wars — tiny cross-bows they draw ; 
 
 The women and children chant " Erin go Brah 
 
 With spirit congenial e'en brutes seem to glow, 
 
 And in gesture and look a strange sympathy show. 
 
 The winds as they breathe, and the streams as they roll. 
 
 Seem animate all with the same quickening soul. 
 
 Yes — the Genius of Erin is forth in her might, 
 Working wonders by day, sending visions by night ; — 
 Clogher stone, like the statue of Memnon renowned, 
 Was heard to give forth an oracular sound. 
 From Mithra's rude shrine, where in Callan's dark shade 
 
 The turbulent, swift-footed Conan" is laid ; 
 And from the cold couch where King Tuathal lies ; 
 In Glendaloch*s vale came a voice, " Wake, arise V* 
 As the breeze o*er the round tower swept down the dell, 
 It bore the unwonted sweet sound of a bell. 
 Of no earthly tone, and by no mortal rung— 
 
 Erin calls I" wildly chimed its miraculous tongue. 
 The rath, and the cromleach, and cairn's rocky cone. 
 Giants* graves, and the Druids' rude circle of stone 
 Sent warriours forth and at even and morn 
 The small fairy host paced in arms round the thorn. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 SI 
 
 A bard, as he chanced Tarah's hill to pass by, 
 
 When it threw its dark shade on the clear moon-lit sky, 
 
 Saw a glorious scene ; — Erin's monarchs of old, 
 
 That were wont on this hill their sage counsels to hold. 
 
 Bards, druids, and brehons, with collars of gold, 
 
 Knights and earls, with their steeds in caparisons fair. 
 
 In. solemn convention were all gathered there. 
 
 Awhile in deep counsel they seemed to remain, 
 
 Then sprang to their arms, and rushed down to the plain, 
 
 As if charging a foe : shone their lances afar. 
 
 Like long shafts of light, and each tipped with a star ; 
 
 Streamed their crests like the locks of a comet — their shields 
 
 Shone as meteors that wander o'er Allen's moist fields ; 
 
 Their steeds were as mists that the north-wind pursues 
 
 O'er Neagh's wide lake, when condensing the dews. 
 
 But soon they returned, as from victory won, 
 
 Wlien the bards swept their harps, and the feast was begun* 
 
 In a thrill of emotion the seer made essay 
 
 To join in the strain, and all melted away. 
 
 But well does he deem that such glittering shows 
 
 Image forth the events coming time will disclose. 
 
 Fond man in the marvellous finds strange delight, 
 In the day's waking dreams— in the phantoms of night ; 
 Still led to believe that some mystical tie 
 His destiny links with the signs of the sky. 
 As his hopes, or his wishes, or terrors prevail. 
 They colour the vision, and garnish the tale. 
 And, as if his prediction could bias the fates. 
 Full oft the events he foretels it creates. 
 
33 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 Now all trim their arms, from the Iiind to the lord ; 
 New-ground is the war- axe, new-edged is the sword ; 
 The ash-tree descends — rings the anvil afar, 
 Spades, sickles and scythes turn to weapons of war. 
 Soon belted and plumed, clad in yellow and green, 
 By the hill's grassy side their armed thousands are seen : 
 Each feels a new soul through his frame quickly dart, 
 Giving strength to his arm, and fresh life to his heart ; 
 A warriour by instinct, he lifts his helmed head, 
 And paces the ground with a warriour's tread. 
 At the three- pillared rock, where, as legends have told. 
 In the moon's silver light worshipped druids of old, 
 Like their Scythian sires, they have drank a red wine 
 More costly and rich than e'er flowed from the vine. 
 An arm, upon which baptist's dew never fell. 
 Draws a blade that was sheathed in the earth for a spell : 
 By this have they sworn, by the sun, moon, and fire, 
 To conquer, or ne'er from the field to retire, 
 And, panting for glory, the signal demand 
 
 point the fleet arrow, and wield the keen brand. 
 
 To the dark marble walls of Saint Canice they crowd. 
 As fire, sleet and storai, to the thunder's dense cloud. 
 Again in bright steel Ullin's chivalry gleami. 
 And long for a day their lost fame to redeem. 
 The Graces, the Rochforts, Fitzmorrises join 
 The Powers, the Arnolds, Kildare and Dunboyne, 
 And Butler, who chafes like a tiger in chains. 
 For his flocks, and his herds, and his ravaged demesnes. 
 And these too have vowed to be trusty and true, 
 " Com.e life or come death," and the foemen pursue. 
 
BRUCE^s invasio:e^. 
 
 33 
 
 And ne*er sheathe the sword till their last drop of gore, 
 With its rich ruby varnishj have crimsoned it o'er. 
 
 To marshal their forces, and firmly combine, 
 For the march or the charge, in square, wedge, or line, 
 A chief of high bearing— his boast and his care 
 Well in council to plan, well in combat to dare — 
 De Bermingham comes, with a truncheon in hand, 
 Well-skilled the armed legions of war to command. 
 The frigid to warm with the sweet breath of praise. 
 The fiery to cool, and the languid to raise. 
 And mould, by a gentle or rigid controul. 
 Till they move in one step, till they breathe but one soul, 
 And onward, unbroken, invincible sweep, 
 Like the long, dark, majestic, proud swell of the deep. 
 
 When a nation thus rises united and true. 
 What might upon earth can her spirit subdue'? - - • 
 Every^eld proves a camp — every hill, and green shade, 
 Stream, and rock, grows a rampart, tower, fosse, or stockade. 
 With the hero's bold thoughts peasant bosoms beat high ; 
 Hope nerves every breast, courage fires every eye. 
 For a season may prosper the power of the strong. 
 But Freedom and Right, o'er Oppression and Wrong, 
 Must go forth rejoicing in triumph at last, 
 As the sun, in his strength, when the tempest is past. 
 
 Wary Albyn the gathering war-cloud espies : — 
 Though loath to relinquish so noble a prize 
 As Erin's green fields, that, compared with her own, 
 Are as emerald bright to the dark iron stone ; 
 
34 
 
 bruce's invasion* 
 
 Reluctant and slow she retraces her ground, 
 As a lion, when hunters are closing him round, 
 Recedes from the prey. Now advanced to its height, 
 Her star must descend in black whirlwinds and night. 
 Her own bloody scourges her children must feel, 
 Dire famine, disease, and the edge of the steel : 
 May the ruthless still feel the fierce pangs they have given, 
 And stern retribution pursue them from heaven ! 
 
 Tidings come to their camp that brave Scots not a few, 
 At Knockfergus, entrapped by the Sassanach crew, 
 Had entered the fortress, and, horrid to tell, 
 Were slain and devoured — nay more, that there fell 
 In battle, five-score full-armed sons of the Gael, 
 And as many twice-told clad in light single mail, 
 By the Bissets and Logans who rage o'er the plains ; 
 While Sir Allan Stewart lies fretting in chains. 
 Yet farther — De Burgo*s and Bermingham's powers 
 Their allies had vanquished by Athenree's towers. 
 King Feidhlim there lay on the cold bloody ground, 
 And all his rich chivalry scattered around. 
 In fine, that the Pope for King Edward had cursed 
 His foes young and old, and the Bruces the first; 
 Shut solemnly out, by book, candle, and bell, 
 From the church upon earth, and predoomed them to hell, 
 For their wrath upon Erin so recklessly spent, 
 And their impious gorging of flesh-meat in lent. 
 While the sons of the church who had sailed by their side, 
 Now turned with the breeze, and ran back with the tide. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 35 
 
 In heart less elated now northward they go, 
 In battle array, still prepared for the foe ; 
 For oft on their helms, though no foe-men they meet, 
 Like hail from the clouds pelts the sling's rattling sleet. 
 Of arms from the dingle they hear the deep clang. 
 Spears glance in the copse, sounds the bow-string's shrill twang, 
 On their front and their rear drives the barbed iron shower ; 
 They chafe, but in vain. An invisible power 
 Besets them ; and round them, wherever they tread, 
 New dangers appal, and new horrors are spread. 
 Their numbers are thinned by the galloglass stern. 
 And the skean and the bow of the swift-footed kern. 
 Through woods, dismal glens, rocky straits is their march ; 
 The torrent flows wide o'er the new-broken arch. 
 By day, they sink deep in the treacherous swamp ; 
 By night, the cooped river is sluiced on their camp. 
 *Tis the fall of the leaf— and a cold wintry blast 
 Has the blood iu their veins half congealed as it passed. 
 As an ice«bolt arrested the courser's warm speed. 
 And froze to a statue the knight on his steed, 
 "While the elements round them are mustered in wrath, 
 Howls famine aloud in their desolate path ; 
 Gaunt famine, that in the lone church-yard has fed. 
 And cooked her last meal in the skulls of the dead. 
 No welcome now waits them in bower or in hall. 
 No sheep from the fold, and no ox from the stall. 
 To the once-plenteous board want and hunger have crept. 
 The viands have vanished, the tables are swept ; 
 And the ruins they spread, when they passed in their prime. 
 Now seem to upbraid thcra with folly and crime. 
 
36 
 
 bruce's invasion* 
 
 Of the steeds that erst bore them so gallant and trim, 
 They drain the red life, and they carve the lean limb ; 
 They dig, with their dirks, for the earth-nut and weed, 
 And on all noxious things, and forbidden, they feed : 
 While the wolf's hungry howl fills their souls with dismay, 
 And the vulture wheels round them expecting her prey. 
 Oh ! now for the sweet highland glen's sunny side. 
 For the sheaf-studded vales of the Forth and the Clyde, 
 For the cate-covered board and the maiden's fond wiles. 
 The prattling of children, the wife's happy smiles ! — • 
 'Twixt them and such joys rolls the dark-swelling flood. 
 Stands a proud bannered host— spreads a red field of blood. 
 
 Next, ominous sights, and sad bodings invade. 
 And spread o'er their soul dark and comfortless shade. 
 In the cataract's fall, shrieking kelpies they hear ; 
 In the mists, lonely wi'aiths and sti-ange phantoms appeal-. 
 By the Flurry's swift stream, a huge altar of stone. 
 In the dark stilly night, gave a blood-curdling groan. 
 As if knife sacrificial deep-plunged in the side 
 Of some human victim, were draining life's tide. 
 While the ghosts of the slain, whose heads grimly lower. 
 With gory locks streaming from rampart and tower. 
 O'er their camp came in crowds with a horrible cry. 
 And marshalled their battle, and fought in the sky. 
 So a dreamer declared. — To a seer's second sight 
 Rose a vision terrific ; all scattered in flight. 
 From a lost battle-field fled his clans like the wind, 
 Pale, bloody, and fear -struck ; their chief left behind 
 Gashed with wounds widely gaping ; the head foully torn 
 From the trunk, as a gift to a monarch was borne ; 
 
BtlUCE's INVASION. 
 
 The gibbetted members hung up to the gale, 
 In four distant regions, disclosed a sad tale. 
 
 But what cares the Bruce for a wo-boding seer? 
 His sword is unblunted, his heart void of fear. 
 Of dark superstition whatever may be born. 
 Dreams, omens, and visions, he holds in proud scorn. 
 To a soldier but one sacred omen is known. 
 The cause of his country : — her rights to enthrone, 
 By the bright star of glory his movements he guides. 
 And the impotent menace of beadsmen derides. 
 He knows 'tis the lot of the warriour to meet. 
 Alternate, with triumph — or flee from defeat. 
 If to-day for lost conquest and fame he deplores. 
 To-morrow the loss with more lustre restores. 
 When the shade that eclipses it passes away, 
 Bursts forth in more radiance the full orb of day. 
 Again at Dundalgan, though weary and slow, 
 He stands fierce at bay with his face to the foe. 
 
 Thence not far remote a green hill lifts its brow, 
 Hight Faughard, where pilgrims were oft wont to bow. 
 And move round Saint Brigid's rough circle of flint. 
 On their knees, till they marked it with many a dint. 
 Sad penance !— hut vestals so holily live. 
 That, in man, sin or error they seldom forgive. 
 More soon might poor pilgrim melt flint by a prayer. 
 Than their rock-crystal hearts all so cold and so fair ; 
 Though rich ones, 'tis said, more persuasive and bland, 
 As is meet, e'en the coldest can warm and expand 
 
S8 
 
 BHUCe's INvASIOICi 
 
 Here of holy Monenna the nunnery stood, 
 And near it an abbey conjoined by a wood ; 
 Such the sympathies still of the pious and good, 
 That the monk and the abbot will ever be found 
 Where vestals' devotions have hallowed the ground; 
 
 On the slope of this hill Albyn fixes her seat, 
 Here breathes from the toils of her wasting retreat. 
 A prey she has brought from the neighbouring plains. 
 And courage with plenty again warms her veins. 
 Here the Bruce has resolved the fierce onset to wait ; 
 No farther he flees — here he challenges fate. 
 But the chieftains, in council, advise not to try 
 The fortune, of war, till their allies be nigh. 
 
 Our foes,'* cries the Stewart' " come on like the deeps. 
 When in torment they whirl, as the hurricane sweeps 
 O'er the dire Corryvrekan. Before they be spread 
 In fury around us, and burst o'er our head, 
 To march, I advise, Ullin's passes to gain, 
 Where a few may the onset of numbers sustain. 
 Nor here waste our blood. Where such myriads assail 
 All courage is fruitless, all efforts must fail." 
 
 And what says De Soulis ?" cries Bruce in a flame : 
 ^' My peer counsels well, and I counsel the same,'* 
 De Soulis replies* Then Bruce, deeply moved. 
 
 Are counsels so dastard by Mowbray approved?" 
 
 Though burns," says the Mowbray, " unwearied our fire, 
 True wisdom exhorts from this field to retire. 
 'Tis madness, , not courage, to stand in the path 
 Of the torrent that roars from the fidd in its wrath. 
 
BkUCE's INVASION^ 
 
 39 
 
 l^hough field upon field be well foughten and won^ 
 
 By victory oft is the victor undone ; 
 
 While still crowding forward, new columns advance 
 
 To fill up the gap made by broadsword and lance. 
 
 The lion, though fearless to meet the attack 
 
 Of blood-hound and beagle, must yield to the pack. 
 
 Recede then, lest, borne down by numbers, we bleed ; 
 
 Or wait for King Robert, he marches with speed. 
 
 And soon will arrive, if the heralds speak truth, 
 
 With some thousands of spears, and the flower of his youth." 
 
 Bruce hears vnih disdain, and indignantly cries. 
 Ours all be the danger, ours all be the prize ! 
 Such maxims of wisdom, such counsels of fear. 
 From chivalrous Mowbray we ne'er hoped to hear. 
 In our own dauntless breasts and good swords we confide ; 
 This day's coming glory with none we divide. 
 Let the foes crowd around us from mountain and glen. 
 Thick as swarms of the small summer flies o'er the fen ; 
 Oh ! ne'er it be said, they who manfully trod 
 O'er the pride of King Edward, on Bannockbum's sod. 
 Fled the wild Irish kern no ! we'll trample them down j 
 The greater their number, more great our renown. 
 Xct Mortimer come with his Sassanach bows ; 
 We'll answer his arrows with dirks when we close, 
 Xet Bermingham's horse urge their rapid career ; 
 No steed leaps the hedge-row of target and spear. 
 How oft have we hewn our red pass through a crowd 
 Of foes, round us wrapt like a dark stormy cloud ? 
 "What once we achieved, we again will perform. 
 Though the cloud be more dense, and more pelting the storm* 
 
40 
 
 bruce's invasion-^ 
 
 The darker the welkin, more bright is the flash 
 Of the levin, and louder its earth-shaking crash. 
 Remember the wrongs of your country and king ; 
 Remember the joys that from victory spring ; 
 Win Erin — and shake to. its base England's throne ; 
 Be victors to-day and the land is your own. 
 Then each to his post, and his clansmen inspire 
 With all the proud thoughts that c^n kindle their fire. 
 In the left, thou, De Soulis, as wont, prove thy might ; 
 Thou, Mowbray, maintain our good cause in th?. right; 
 The main-battle ourselves will to victory lead ; 
 For here, by the rood, we miist cpnquelr or bleed." 
 
 His words to the chiefs his own spirit imp^i'tji 
 And each for bold action soon braces his heart. 
 *''Tis yours," cried the Mowbray, "our swords to command ; 
 Ours to vdeld, in thy cause, both with heart and with hand. 
 To Heaven the issues of battle belong. 
 It strengthens the weak and enfeebles the strong. 
 Let the thousands of Erin advance in their pride. 
 Here our claymores we draw, and let Heaven decide." 
 
BRUCE'S INVASION. 
 
 CANTO THIRD. 
 
BRUCEVS INVASION. 
 
 CANTO THIRD. 
 
 THE ARMIES OF ERIN. 
 
 'Tis sublime to look forth from the watch-tower or steep, 
 When the tempest in foam sheets the billowy deep : 
 More sublime, from some height, in the young purple day, 
 To see two armed legions, in bannered array, 
 Front to front o'er the champaign advancing in pride, 
 For empire or glory their strife to decide ; 
 All hearts with high hope and strange ecstacy filled ; 
 With war's stern delight e'en to agony thrilled. 
 'Tis a glorious scene in the morn — but at night— 
 Oh ! hide it in mercy— Oh ! blot from the sight 
 That scene of atrocity bloody and fell, 
 Where the fiends held their revels, and death raged witli helin 
 
bruce's INVASIO]^. 
 
 Must man against man ever marshal his powef^ 
 And the sword, edged by famine, go forth to devour ? 
 So Fate has decreed ; but sure Vengeance, ere long. 
 Must pounce, in her wrath, on the authors of wrong. 
 When ambition and guilt yoke the tigers of war, 
 Screw the scythe to the wheels, mount the soul-crushing car, 
 And come with, oppression the land to enslave ; 
 Rise up in your might, ye high-minded and brave ! 
 Roll back en the demons their own whelming tide. 
 And sweep from the earth— Heaven wars on your side ! 
 
 Erin's armies are forth : horse and foot they draw near, 
 Thick bristled all o*er with the sword and the spear ; 
 With pennon, and banner, and shields dazzling bright. 
 And feathery crests tipt with silvery light. 
 In caparisons gorgeous, exultant and proud 
 Prance their chivalry on — clangs their armour aloud. 
 And loud are the neighings, and red is the blaze 
 Of their march, as the sun's through the morn's ruddy haze. 
 
 Rank presses on rank — the proud lords of the Pale, 
 Knights and squires, earls and barons, refulgent in mail. 
 In corslet and coat of the steel- woven net, 
 In close- visored helm, or the light bassinet. 
 And warriours are there, who by Galilee's flood 
 Their lances have crimsoned in Saracen blood, 
 %Vhen the Temple's red cross, and white cross of Saint John, 
 O'er the Crescent's waned glories triumphantly shone. 
 Their well-blazoned shields, as they glance in the sun. 
 Tell their passions, their hopes, and the deeds they have done. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 45 
 
 Some bear on their helms a silk fillet or glove, 
 
 The pledge of defiance, or ensign of love ; 
 
 And each glows with hope soon to find in the field 
 
 New plumes for his helm, and new signs for his shield. 
 
 At the head of those thousands all rampant and bold, 
 Stout Bermingham comes, with his target of gold ; 
 Well-taught when in calm or in tempest to move. 
 Every vantage to seize, every chance to improve, 
 To meet strength with skill, art with stratagem mate. 
 And by courage and wisdom wage battle with Fate. 
 0*er his breast a rich baldrick is gracefully thrown. 
 With gems starred and figured like heaven's broad zone. 
 With his truncheon he points, as the posture he scans 
 Of the foe, and the passage to victory plans. 
 His war-steed broad-chested, and lofty, and strong, 
 Of his war-harness proud, bears him prancing along. 
 Like the antelope's horns butts the chevron's sharp crest. 
 Of bright iron scales shines the mail on his breast ; 
 To adorn the rich selle gold with silver conjoins. 
 And a steel-plated wolf-skin hangs deep o'er his loins. 
 The soul of his lord seems that steed to inspire ; 
 O'er his neck floats his mane clothed in terror and ire. 
 His eyes roll in lightning, his nostrils breathe fire. 
 His iron-armed hoof, dark, horny, and round. 
 Rings loud on the flint, and strikes fire at each bound. 
 Already, rejoicing, war's music he hears. 
 The roar of the onset, the crashing of spears ; 
 And buoyant with spirit, and life's thrilling glow. 
 Longs to charge the armed files, and dash fierce through the 
 foe. 
 
44 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 Again comes De Burgo, his hopes soaring higfi^ 
 The might of his sabre with Albyn to tiy, 
 New-edged for the conflict, he longs to restore 
 To Erin her glory more bright than before. 
 A whirlwind, with darkness and rage in their path, 
 Sweep his chivalry on, plumed with vengeance and wrath* 
 Thro' the dust-cloud around shoots their arms' frequent glance^ 
 As flashes of fire through the night's dark expanse ; 
 And deep is their clang moving on to the shock. 
 Like the ocean's long swell ere it bursts on the rock. 
 
 Next advances Le Poer, a chivalrous lord, 
 Proved both in the war of the tongue and the sword ; 
 By the one on his head church's vengeance he drew, 
 In the other the brave Sir John Bonneville he slew. 
 But wherefore, vain wretch, did he offer foul wrong. 
 Wrong ne'er unatoned, to a sweet son of song ? 
 Let hira learn, who insults or dishonours the muse. 
 Soon or late, in dire dread, his temerity rues : 
 Against him the Nine all their quivers shall store, 
 And the arrows of song pierce his heart to the core. 
 His surcoat armorial two angels adorn, 
 With swords in their hands, and more fair than the morn. 
 Blest inmates of heaven, they stand as prepared 
 Their knight through the perils of conflict to guard. 
 Float their long golden locks o'er theii* silvery vest ; 
 And a speared dragon's head hisses high on his crest. 
 
 How graceful his warriours their coursers bestride ! 
 Each comes with a light-footed page by his side. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 47 
 
 He uses no stirrup, yet mounts at full speed. 
 And sits on his selle like a part of the steed ; 
 His legs costly buskins of cordwayne enclose ; 
 Of the iron-ringed web are his hauberk and hose ; 
 Streams the hair from his cone like the tresses of night ; 
 Shines his round dazzling shield like the sun in his height, 
 His spear on the winds, in gay frolic, he proves. 
 And his iron-sheathed sabre clangs loud as he moves. 
 
 Thus comes a winged dragon, in huge volumes rolled, 
 Clothed in bright -burnished scales of carbuncle and gold ; 
 As, darting his tongue, to the sun-beam he turns, 
 His gem-studded panoply sparkles and burns. 
 
 A sheet of red flame, Grace's standard waves high, 
 With white lion rampant, that comes to defy 
 The lion of Albyn, and make him crouch low 
 From the fear-bringing slogan of " Grasagh aboe." 
 
 There Cusack and Sutton, knights valiant and true 
 As e'er lifted target, or bent the tough yew. 
 Join Verdon and Tripton, both chiefs of high name ; 
 And Larpulke, who comes glory's chaplets to claim ; 
 With Sir Richard Tute, in rough conflict oft tried. 
 Whose sires came with Strongbow, and fought by his side. 
 These lead the Fingallians and Flemings of worth, 
 From the strong-castled cantreds of Bargie and Forth. 
 Timed and steady their march — their looks lofty and bold, 
 And close are they girt in the jack's quilted fold ; 
 With cross-bows, and quarrels, and mallets of lead, 
 And sallet or morion plumed o'er their head ; 
 
48 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 Light ixJundlets some bear— some the pavise, whose swell 
 Broad and bossy, might seem a huge sea-turtle's shell. 
 And Husse is there, that brave spirit of fire, 
 Who at Athenree slew both a knight and his squire ; 
 Thence grown a bold warriour, he left his low den, 
 And from slaying of oxen now comes to slay men ; 
 Let him try, if high glory his bosom can charm. 
 With Harper, the might of his slaughtering arm . 
 
 Lo ! the banners of Ossory, Ormond, and Clare> 
 Of Carlow, of Uriel, Meath and Kildare ; 
 All brilliant and bright as the sun-lighted dies 
 Of the seven- woofed ensign hung out in the skies. 
 Preceding the spirit that comes to deform 
 Heaven's face with dense darkness, blue lightning and storm. 
 
 North, South, East and West, to increase the war-flood, 
 Send many a chief of Milesian blood ; 
 The bravest of all the brave princes who shoot 
 From the three branchy arms of the great royal root : 
 From Heremon, father of monarchs renowned. 
 Or Heber, transfixed by his steel to the ground. 
 Or Ir, o'er whose corse howled the hurricane dark. 
 When the Skeligs' wild breakers had deluged his bark. 
 There the leopard of Connaught seems couched for a spring. 
 Here the eagle of Desmond has spread her dark wing. 
 As birds to the prey that come rushing from far. 
 They speed to enjoy the grand pastime of war ; 
 Proud Flaitlis on whose helmets gemmed coronets shine ; 
 Proud Tanists with baldrics enriched by the mine. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 49 
 
 And knights who the honours of knighthood had won. 
 
 Ere in years they had measured eight rings of the sun : 
 
 These lead to the field chosen friends and alHes, 
 
 By gossipred's sacred, infrangible ties 
 
 Conjoined ; or by fosterage, potent to bind 
 
 As the same Jdndred blood, and mind rivet to mind. 
 
 Carty-More, rich and potent in vassals and land. 
 And O' Sullivan Beare of the liberal hand, 
 Whose cup ever-full, and vrhose ever-spread board 
 Refection and strength to the pilgrim afford. 
 Lead on the armed files of Momonia's rough shore ; 
 Those who drink of the Suir, or the dark Avonmore ; 
 Of th' alder-fringed MuUa, or castle-crowned Lee ; 
 Or Bandon, fair- winding by turret and tree ; 
 Or the silvery eddies of Arragadeen, 
 Or of Lean's mountain lakes spread in crystalline sheen. 
 Where the Arbutus blooms ever verdant and green : 
 Wild haunt of the echoes that sportively play 
 Round the cliffs, and the peaks, and each wood-skirted bay. 
 Till nature in ecstacy vibrates and thrills. 
 As thunders melodious roll round the hills. 
 With these come the warriours who dwell where expand 
 The fleet-bearing gulfs, mid the mountain-girt land 
 Of Bantry and Dingle ; or breathe the pure air 
 Of the wild and magnificent shores of Kenmare. 
 
 Blood-royal O'Connor his infantry guides 
 From regions beyond where the broad Shannon glides ; 
 Great monarch of streams that from upland and dell. 
 And a thousand steep mountains, his wide current swell ; 
 
50 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 By cities, lakes, forests, and fields rich with grain, 
 Sweeping on with his sail-covered tides to the main. 
 There come those who dwell by the ocean's rough bound, 
 Where Galway with strong Gothic turrets sits crowned ; 
 Where Corrib her pine-dotted waters spreJids wide; 
 By Cong, where the pious King Roderick died : 
 Or where o*er Benboola the sun-eagles soar. 
 And their fleet shadows fling on the lake of Kylemore : 
 Who view the blest hill where thy saint, Erin, stood. 
 When he smote and expelled all thy viperous brood ; 
 Who from far see the Curlieus with peaks towering high, 
 Or Nephin, snow-turbaned and piercing the sky ; 
 Or drink of the Moy, as it flows broad and deep. 
 By abbey and belfry, fortalice and keep. 
 
 With these comes O'Mailey, well- versed in sea- wiles. 
 The lord of Craig- Uile, a prince of the isles ; 
 Of th' Arrans where health-wafting gales ever blow. 
 And Bovin, with fat lowing herds, white as snow.. 
 And a thousand green islets, with foam girdled bright. 
 Like gems chased in silver, and glistening in light. 
 To far distant shores was this chief wont to roam ; 
 Light he swept from the port, but deep-freighted came home; 
 His galley would lie in the rock-sheltered bay. 
 Like the osprey that looks from her eyry for prey. 
 On the sea-wafted quarry still ready to stoop. 
 To spread the broad pinion and make the fell swoop. 
 Now he longs to be trussing more generous game. 
 And comes from the Bruce wreaths of glory to claim. 
 
bhuce's invasion. 
 
 51 
 
 Tirconnel's bleak shores send O'Donnell the bold, 
 Whose sires gave to Albyn her monarchs of old ; 
 He leads the brave race who Kilcrennan surround, 
 Where, Ullin, thy kings in past ages were crowned ; 
 Who hear ocean thunder in Swin*s stormy cave, 
 Dwell by Derg's hallowed stream ; or where Erne's foamy wave 
 O'er the salmon -leap rock is precipitate rolled. 
 Or the Esk guards its char dropped with crimson and gold ; 
 By Swilly's wild bay, or the confluent flow 
 Of the Mourne and the Fin, or the vale of the Roe. 
 With the Irian race of great Fergus Mac Roy, 
 Comes O'Loghlin of streams, and of meads Clannaboy. 
 O'er thy men, Dalriada, the flower of the land, 
 O' Neil's blazoned banner displays the red hand. 
 Ere yon sun to his western pavilion return, 
 That hand with a crimson more glowing shall bum. 
 'Tis borne by O'Hanlon, whose free martial bit 
 Speaks his time-sanctioned right Ullin's standard to beai*. 
 The chief of a tribe subtle, hardy and brave, 
 Whose couch is the heath, and whose dwelling the cave. 
 Oft, at midnight's dark hour, they descend from their rocks ; 
 The vale in the morn looks around for its flocks : 
 They have found a new fold in the cliff's dark retreats, 
 And the wilds of Slew-Gullen re-echo their bleats. 
 
 Next come the Clan-CoUas in quest of renown, 
 From Ardmacha's heights — and Maginis of Down ; 
 And Savage, the Spartan, who thmks that men's bones 
 Form a bulwark more strong than a rampart of stones. 
 With Gronstram, of Innisnabel the rich lord ; 
 Ne'er did warriour more courteous or kind draw a sword, 
 
52 
 
 BRUCE S INVASION. 
 
 Hence many a maiden had fain been his bride r 
 But in scorn Cupid's arrows he wafted aside, 
 For, lord of th' ascendant, the stern god of war 
 Shone high, at his birth, o'er the fair Paphian star^ 
 But near him is one who were better I ween, 
 In the sweet myrtle grove, with Idalia's soft queen, 
 Hight Redmond, the victim of love and despair. 
 His eye rolling-wild, his brow clouded with care : 
 Here he hopes to forget the false maiden who sold 
 Her hand — Redmond had all her heart — for vile gold. 
 An aunt with malignity grizzled, and fraught 
 With the spirit of evil, this misery wrought ; 
 Forced the maid to embrace, maugre honour and truth. 
 For wealth, a crazed dotard, and leave the fond youth. 
 But of vengeance and wo is the day speeding fast. 
 Her selfish and sordid ambition to blast ; 
 When the hideous grin and wild laugh shall reveal 
 That the horror-struck wretch is at last taught to feel. 
 Her cold callous heart shall remorse keenly wring, 
 And avenge wounded love by a noose and a swing. 
 
 With flags in proud freedom that winnow the gale, 
 Come th' O'Tooles of the glens, and O' Byrne of Imayle, 
 A restless, high-daring, invincible race. 
 Whose law is the sword, and whose substance the chace. 
 Walled cities and towers for defence they despise. 
 While round them their own native ramparts arise. 
 Woods, hills, cliff-girt valleys, a rough portless shore, 
 The home of the deer, and the eagle-rock hoar. 
 Bogs, lakes, and peaked crags, where the foam-torrent speeds. 
 Climbs the wild mountain goat, and the green plover breeds. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 53 
 
 Some on hobbies advance, that have beauty combined 
 With sinewy strength, and are fleet as the wind : 
 With croupier, and petryl, and chevron well-dight, 
 With sliding and gold-bitted reins shining bright. 
 
 Each chief bears a gorget that jewels bedeck, 
 And a collar of fine-twisted gold round his neck* 
 The crotal's dark crimson is fused through his vest, 
 That a gem-studded brooch buckles close o'er his breast ; 
 The sea -lion's tusk, well-enameled and gilt, 
 To his blue polished sword gives an ivory hilt : 
 And a spear shines before him, elastic and strong. 
 Armed with nine steely barbs, and twice five cubits long. 
 Twisted osier the frame of his small moon- like shield, 
 The boss shining gold — burnished iron the field. 
 His fingers, like knight's of old Rome, proudly show 
 Rings and signets of ruby or chrysolite glow, 
 Or emerald rare ; wrought with filigree fine. 
 His sinewy arms golden bracelets entwine. 
 An amulet too in his breast might be found, 
 Marked with dark Runic rhymes, by whose magical sound 
 Storms are hushed into peace, stayed the dart in its flight. 
 And blunted the sword's razor edge ere it bite. 
 
 Broad-shouldered, and stately, and shirted in brass. 
 With his war-axe and sword comes the stout galloglass. 
 His axe double-winged, with each wing shining clear. 
 And curved like the moon ere she fills up her sphere. 
 More keen than the razor, more rapid its way 
 Than the gannet's, or hawk's, rushing down to the prey. 
 
54 
 
 brL'Ce's invasion-. 
 
 Its shaft seasoned ash, and, when sv,-ung in his hand. 
 Its terrible dint may nought living >\athstand* 
 Through the wan-iour's cuished thigh the dread thunderbolt 
 glides, 
 
 Or the helmeted head from the shoulders divides. 
 
 Round his casque the green shamrog is gracefully twined, 
 
 And his scarf, of the bright saffron dye, flouts the wind. 
 
 Next comes the glibbed kern, with his lion -like face, 
 His frieze purple mantle tight-girt with a brace : 
 His light nether limbs yellow truise clasp around ; 
 In bull's hairy hide close his ancles are bound. 
 No target he wields, but to guard him from harm, 
 In gauntlets of iron he buckles his arm. 
 More swiftly he bounds than the fleet mountain roe, 
 "With a lance for his work when foe grapples with foe. 
 Though seldom he joys in the close standing fight, 
 But in ambushes oft and in skirmishings light. 
 On his foes, when dark forests entangle their course, 
 He showers forth his missiles with death-dealing force. 
 Oft as some errant knight spurs his steed like the wind. 
 Amazed he discerns a strange rider behind. 
 The kern on his crupper has sprung with a bound, 
 And his arms have the knight closely girdled around ; 
 In vain the knight labours those arms to unloose. 
 The fiercer his struggles more tight grows the noose. 
 Some spirit unearthly, he thinks, works his wo ; 
 Cold sweat-drops of terror his forehead o'erflow. 
 The kern has him clasped to his breast like a child, 
 And he drives on the courser impetuous and wild, 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 65 
 
 Up mountain, down Talley ; — deep-plunging they cross 
 
 The bog — sv-im the river and bound o'er the fosse ; 
 
 Till, in the far glen, joyous cheerings arise, 
 
 To greet the return of the kern with his prize. 
 
 Two keen-pointed javelins he wliirls by a thong, 
 
 With aim so unerring, with impulse so strong, 
 
 As through shield and hauberk to sluice the red tide : 
 
 Hangs a skean, in an ivory sheath, by his side ; 
 
 With this, when thick carnage the champaign bespreads, 
 
 From the wounded and dying he severs the heads. 
 
 What km'ght in black helmet and wo's sable weed, 
 Is spurring so stoutly his dark glossy steed ? 
 Sir Maupus, of knighthood the pride and the boast, 
 No warriour more valiant lifts speeu- in the host. 
 Armed with vengeance he comes to make Albyn atone 
 By her blood, for his country's deep wTongs and his own, 
 For his ravaged demesnes, for his children and wife. 
 In Dundalgan, who fell by the murderer's knife. 
 Crossed bones and a skull on his helmet and shield 
 Are linmed, and he vows ne'er to move from the field, 
 Till the dint of the two-handed blade that he sways 
 With a helm-crushing force, on the Bruce he essays. 
 
 Wide unfurled o'er the host Erin*s standard is raised ; 
 In its emerald grain the gold harp shines emblazed : 
 Gallgrena, the sun-burst, that standard they name, 
 For it glitters in fight like the sun's bursting flame 
 Through the dark broken clouds.— -Seems the harp to be strung 
 With his beams, and by spirits aerial rung. 
 
5G 
 
 BkUCE's INVASION* 
 
 *Tis the prelude of triumph ; the bards catch the strain, 
 And wild from their harps it re-echoes amain. 
 
 Lo ! the sword-girded bards by that standard are seen, 
 With harps in their hands, closely cinctured in green, 
 Or in robes snowy white shot with crimson and blue. 
 Clasped by bodkin or brooch of the topaze's hue. 
 The gold-wrought barrad round their temples they wear. 
 And dark in the wind floats their long raven hair. 
 On their arms jewelled bracelets, and massy and long, 
 Round their necks golden chains, splendid honours of song, 
 *Tis theirs with high thought warriour breasts to inspire. 
 High thought of high daring the nurse and the sire. 
 Twelve measures twice told of sweet music they play, J 
 From their own local strains to the foreigner's lay ; 
 Whatever to the soul can emotion impart, 
 In nature's wild bursts, or skilled lessons of art. 
 
 Nigh these, bands of minstrels Oirfidian behold. 
 Their Keirnines or Cruits strung with glittering gold. 
 Some through Ullan or Cuislian pipes smooth and white. 
 Rich with ferrules of gold, and with keys silver.bright. 
 From ^olian bags, prisoned winds drive, elate 
 And whistling with joy, through their ivory gate. 
 
 In ages to come, if the muse can foretell. 
 The souls of those bards in new bodies shall dwell. 
 Lo ! Reda who sang of the dark Hill of Caves, 
 With him who in Suir found sweet Castaly's waves, 
 Ardfileas both, skilled with dexterous, hand 
 To wake the harp's spirit, or wield battle-brand. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 There is Ybod the sage who of heaven subHm^ " 
 
 Has sung — and of hell, and the sin-purging clime. 
 
 And nigh him, inspired, comes the young Duvalcour, 
 
 Loud and bold rings the emit of that brave troubadour. 
 
 As he wakes the Rosg-catha — impetuous and strpng 
 
 The torrent of battle rolls mad in his song. 
 
 But whose is that harp whence such ecstasy floats. 
 
 Those powerful, those magical, heart-thrilling notes ? 
 
 To-day may th* Ovoca be proud of her child. 
 
 Sweet bard of the city, the bower, and the wild. 
 
 He seems as if gifted by some sacred spell, 
 
 To inflame to high deeds, the rapt bosom to swell 
 
 With love of his Erin, and vividly start 
 
 The spirit of conflict in each bounding heart. 
 
 The " dark chain of silence" the heralds have rung, 
 And it binds, as in links of enchantment, each tongue : 
 Dies the hum of the host— -e*en to breathe the winds cease, 
 For the song of the bards all is hushed into peace. 
 
 Men of Erin, quick advance ! 
 Firmly grasp the shield and lance. 
 Fix each heart as flint in rock, 
 On ! like storm-sleet to the shock. 
 Raise the mound of triumph high. 
 Or — your faces to the sky, 
 Sleep with glory ; and your fame 
 Shall the bards aloud proclaim. 
 
 On them, men of Erin, dash ! 
 
 Greet them with the target's clash? 
 
 Lance's dint and sabre's flash ! 
 E 
 
BRUCE S INVASION 
 
 Live the brave with honour crowned 
 
 Ever be their names renowned ! 
 
 But let faukhion, spear, or dart. 
 
 Sluice the craven's coward heart ! 
 
 By his tomb shall mother weep ? 
 
 "Wife e'er wish to burst his sleep ? 
 
 Never ! — but from earth and sky 
 
 Curses on his grave shall lie. 
 
 On them, men of Erin, dash ! 
 Greet them with the target's clash 
 Lance's dint and sabre's flash ! 
 
 In the islands of the blest 
 Shall the souls of heroes rest ; 
 Where through fragrant bowery vales. 
 Breathe the health-respiring gales, 
 Youth eternal glads the soul. 
 Sparkling bliss the fountains roll ; 
 Ever in those isles to live. 
 Nature's debt to glory give. 
 
 On them, men of Erin, dash ( 
 Greet them with the target's clash^ 
 Lance's dint and sabre's flash ! 
 
 For your dear- loved Erin's right. 
 Fame, and maiden's love ye fight. 
 Let your deeds heroic prove 
 Just your claim to maiden's love. 
 Now for altar, country, life. 
 Father, mother, children, wife^ 
 
•sruce's invasion. 
 
 59 
 
 Bliss, and glory, nerve each heart, 
 Edge the steel and point the dart. 
 On them, men of Erin, dash ! 
 Greet them with the target's clash, 
 Lance's dint and sabre's flash ! 
 
 Shaking terrors from your crest. 
 Spur in steed, and lance in rest, 
 Warriours* welcome give the foe. 
 Steel-bolts hissing from the bow. 
 Lead-sleet rattling from the sling. 
 Darts that heroes' dirges sing, 
 Pike and faulchion, stab and thrust. 
 Till the foemen bite the dust. 
 
 On them, men of Erin, dash ! 
 Greet them with the target's clash, 
 Lance's dint and sabre's flash ! 
 
 As the bards in grand chorus the strings sweep along. 
 The ranks catch the life-spark, and burst into song, 
 Empassioned and wild as the spirit that rings 
 On the harp of the winds, when the hurricane sings> 
 
 Men of Erin advance ! like the wild -rushing tide ; 
 Like the water-spout's burst down the glen's channelled side. 
 Like the eagle's fell swoop on the birds of the mere ; 
 Like the blood-hound's fierce leap from his leash on the deer ; 
 Like the volleying bursts of the quick-bolting leven, 
 ^Vhen in thunder it flashes and blazes through heaven. 
 O'er the spoils of the foe — o'er their blood-streaming gravp, 
 Xo-day let .the banner of green proudly wave ; 
 
60 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 Rend the jaws of the lion that prowls round your shorej 
 And trample the thistle of Albyn in gore." 
 
 Thus music and song through the host breathe their fire ; 
 Religion too comes her warm flame to inspire— 
 Blest offspring of heaven, whose dictates prevail, 
 When country and fame, song and minstrelsy fail, 
 To nerve for the battle by breathings sublime 
 Of the hope, love and joy of her bliss-teeming clime. 
 See where, on a charger swift-footed and white. 
 Rides Jorse, the bold primate, arrayed for the fight. 
 He wields not to-day, with mild pastoral grace. 
 The shepherd's long crook, but the warriour's short mace, 
 Whose ponderous head glitters bright and afar 
 With spikes densely rayed like the fair morning star. 
 A casque is his mitre, his sleeve burnished steel ; 
 In a frock of blue mail, with a spur on his heel, 
 In the centre and flank, in the van and the rear, 
 He speeds, with his own glowing spirit to cheer, 
 And urge to high daring, by all that is given 
 To hope or to wish, upon earth or in heaven. 
 " Ye fight, men of Erin, from bondage to save 
 A land of renown, fat with blood of the brave ; 
 A land blest of nature in soil, sun and skies ; 
 Sword ne'er clashed with sword for more noble a prize. 
 'Tis yours-^heaven's gift — let your prowess retain 
 What God has bestowed, nor that gift render vain. 
 "Tis the land, from old time, by your fore-fathers trod : 
 Speaks a voice from their ashes that hallow the sod. 
 And bids you to prove, by your deeds of high name, 
 The sons and the heirs of their valour and famct 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 The saints too invoke you to valiantly dare, 
 Holy Brigid, the chief, who first breathed vital air 
 On Faughard, that hill where she kindles her shrine. 
 And where she still dwells, working wonders divine. 
 Tliis day who survives, in her love shall rejoice ; 
 Who falls, falls thrice happy — for, hearken ! her voice, 
 From above, whispers softly, * to mansions of rest 
 Shall his soul wing her flight with the souls of the blest.* 
 See the staff of your national saint, that of yore. 
 Expelled all things noxious from Erin's green shore- 
 To-day shall this staff, Hke the all-potent wand 
 Of Moses, deliverance work for the land. 
 Let the Lord God arise, and his foes turn to flight ! 
 Let the whirlwind roll on, and the hail-tempest smite ! 
 Till Erin has vanquished, O sun, stand thou still. 
 And thou too, O moon, o*er the vale and the hill ! 
 Go — offer them up from the hot-reeking sward, 
 A holocaust savoury and sweet to the Lord, 
 For each blood-drop ye shed shall a sin be forgiven. 
 Each corse forms a round in your ladder to heaven. 
 Then on to the shock ! let the proud foemen feel 
 What nerve strings your arm, and gives edge to your steel. 
 
BRUGE S INVASION. 
 
 CANTO FOURTH. 
 
BRUCE^S INVASION- 
 
 CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 THE SATTtE. 
 
 Though Mercy must weep that beneath every stai^ 
 She can trace o'er the earth crimson footsteps of war * 
 That they blush in the realms of the cold arctic snow. 
 On the green of the isles, and where sand-deserts glow ^ 
 And exclaim that of evils which rage round the ball. 
 The direst is war — nay, that war speaks them all. 
 Yet are there some woes in the dull shades of life. 
 More poignant than e'er raged in stern battle-strife * 
 Worse passions in halls and rich chambers of state, 
 More deadly revenge, more invincible hate, 
 And insults more cruel, and wounds worse to heal 
 Than the fracture of limb, or the gash of the steel. 
 
66 
 
 jbruce's invasion. 
 
 True — war is an angel of wrath and of power. 
 Commissioned by heaven to waste and devour. 
 Yet, good blends with evil in all things below. 
 And bliss may be found in the chalice of wo. 
 From evils more dire than the sword war can save ; 
 It dissevers the chains that would nations enslave. 
 *Tis the thunder that shakes purple tyrants with dread, 
 The lightning that strikes the state-pestilence dead; 
 The shaking of earth by an agent divine, 
 That opens the fount, and discloses the mine, 
 Wakes the slumbering spirit, and gives to expand 
 Each germ in the soul of the good and the grand. 
 
 With valour is every great virtue combined. 
 The generous thought and the high^soaring mind. 
 Self-devotion and honour, pure friendship and love, 
 The fire of the eagle, the truth of the dove. 
 Its gifts the chief blessings to Hfe that belong, 
 Right, justice, and freedom — truth, eloquence, song. 
 
 By its own native grandeur, though dubious its cause, 
 True valour must still claim the Muse's applause. 
 Erin's minstrels the Bruce shall embalm with their praise, 
 The meed of high daring— in ne'er-dying lays. 
 
 Close-marshaled, and ready with target and lance. 
 The warriours of Albyn wait Erin's advance : 
 In the centre, high- waving, her standard is spread, 
 And there towers the crest of the Bruce's helmed head. 
 From his shield the red lion with life seems to spring, 
 Clothed with terror and ire in defence of his king. 
 
bRuce's INVASlOir. 
 
 Like azUre- winged lightning his good battle-brand 
 Seems already to hiss and to blaze in his hand. 
 His guards are around him, a giant-limbed brood. 
 The flower of his clans, all intrepid and rude : 
 But none more devoted e'er moved near a throne— j 
 The life of their prince they prize more than their own, 
 And ere he should feel the light edge of a sword. 
 Would bare their own hearts to its point to be gored. 
 Mid these Harper lifts his broad shoulders on high, 
 With strength in his arm — kindling fires in his eye, 
 Prepared for his lord, as bold Fleming, to die. 
 He arms like the Bruce — such the shield he assumes^ 
 The same his device, corslet, helmet and plumes ; 
 A glorious deceit — when the conflict shall burn, 
 That on him, for the Bruce, all its fury may turn. 
 
 Their pibroc the pipers raise stormy and shrill. 
 With a heart-piercing charm for the sons of the hill ; 
 Fond memory brings to their view, in that strain. 
 The dear native land they shall ne'er see again. 
 Like the scowl of the blast, as the thunder sublime. 
 And rugged and wild as their own mountain clime, 
 Is that strain to their ears — warm it thrills every chord 
 In their hearts, waking love for their country and lord 
 To die in their cause is the acme of bliss. 
 And the music of heaven alone equals this. 
 
 As friends of the Bruce, ranged the hillocks along, 
 Apostates and traitors, a renegade throng, 
 Stand aloof to behold how the battle may speed. 
 Prepared of his triumph to share the rich meed ; 
 
68 bhuce's invasion. 
 
 But if vanquished to flee— and with these Kemerdyne, 
 
 And White, the arch-spy, and the Lacies combine : 
 
 And some too are there who have made their heart-vows, 
 
 Whoe'er may be victor, his cause to espouse. 
 
 Such a race may be found in all ages and cHmes, 
 
 The hirelings of fortune, the slaves of the times, 
 
 Who led by events?— in this maxim delight, 
 
 What fails must be wrong — and what prospers be right. 
 
 May shame be their meed ! — Let them flee, spurred by fear, 
 
 As flees with the barb in her side the wild deer. 
 
 By the curse and the wrath of their country pursued, 
 
 And dogged, as by slouth-hounds, thro' mountain and wood. 
 
 Front to front lower the foes— and now small is the space 
 Between — when they pause and look face upon face ; 
 Such the pause, deep and dreadful, that heralds the birth 
 Of the fearful convulsion that shakes solid earth. 
 Does Albyn submit, and crave mercy ? — for see ! 
 Her ranks to the ground bend a suppliant knee. 
 Bent indeed is their knee — but to no earthly power ; 
 The great God of battles they ask in this hour 
 To shield them — for God once before heard their prayer; 
 Then their cause winged it up to his ear— now in air 
 *Tis scattered. — But lo ! to tlieir feet they have sprung. 
 With looks more elate, and with nerves better strung, 
 Yet each, for a moment, feels cold round the heart- 
 But hark ! 'tis the whiz of the death-bearing dart. 
 The kern are now raising their terrible cries, 
 The welkin re-echoes, and Albyn replies. 
 
BRUCe's INVASION'. 
 
 69 
 
 Such at first is the murmuring sound of the breeze, 
 When it brings the black rain-clouds, and fuiTows the seas ♦ 
 Still louder and louder it swells, till its roar 
 Thro* a thousand deep caves shakes the foam-beaten shore. 
 Far down the rough glens dash the brown yeasty floods, 
 Midst the groans of the cliffs, and the crash of the woods, 
 By volleying thunders the headlands are riven. 
 And loudly rebellows the wide vault of heaven. 
 
 Shrill-booming the stone-hail is showered from the sling. 
 The dirge-singing arrows leap swift from the string ; 
 So thick that full oft in mid air they rebound 
 From the flint's adverse shock, and drop blunt to the ground, 
 Like quills from the wing of the high-soaring swan, 
 Or the eagle that swims round the cliffs of Glenaan. 
 
 Dark grows the blue sky with the war's hurtling sleet; 
 Shakes the ground far and wide, with the rushing of feet : 
 The war- blast is sounding — on ! on to the charge !— 
 They meet and they close — clashes targe upon targe : 
 Ten thousand keen sabres flash red in the sun. 
 The banquet of glory and death is begun ; 
 War's whole fatal enginery now is at play- 
 Pike, dagger, and faulchion are revelling away. 
 As if each knew its task, and rejoiced to perform 
 Its office of blood, in the dire battle-storm. 
 Crash helmets— rush javelins — meet spears in rude tilt- 
 Sword rings upon sword — point to point — hilt to hilt — 
 Fierce threats and deep cries, the wild scream and the yell 
 Make in horrible concert, the music of hellt 
 
70 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 So meet, and so battle two clouds sweeping fast 
 Round Bengore's pillared brow, on the wings of the blast. 
 Foams the ocean below — topple watch-tower and rock — 
 Rathlin's iron foundations are rent by the shock ; 
 Thick fly the forked fires, and in each coUied cloud 
 Wounded spirits are heard shrieking dismal and loud. 
 
 Dimmed grows the array of the erst glittering scene, 
 How marred is its beauty, how tarnished its sheen ! 
 The rich saffron stole and the plaid's crimson fold. 
 And pennon and banner of purple and gold. 
 And corslet, and helmet, and hauberk, and shield, 
 Shivered lances, and sabres, and darts strew the field. 
 Severed limbs and pale corses are scattered around, 
 The blood of the valiant makes slippery the ground ; 
 And feathery crests, that the moment before 
 Made sport with the winds, lie polluted in gore. 
 Smote down like the white plumy birds of the deep, 
 That a slinger has struck on their foam-girdled steep. 
 While one shouts aloud, comes a shaft winged with death, 
 And closes for ever the portals of breath. 
 Lopped off, like a branch, by the keen trenchant brand. 
 With the sword in its grasp, drops a gauntleted hand. 
 Here falls a huge Gael, like a statue of lead. 
 And there lies a chieftain cut short by the head ; 
 All ghastly and glaring, and whirling around 
 In a current of gore smokes the head on the ground ; 
 Beside him a youth — erst elated and gay. 
 He hoped hence to bear some rich trophy away. 
 More blest had he sought a fair chaplet of flowers, 
 In the still shades of peace, or the Muse*s green bowers, 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 Nor through tempests of wrath sought tlie laurel that sprin 
 
 Ever-green from the life-blood of heroes and kings. 
 
 The sword of the foe lops his hopes of renown, 
 
 And he drops his plumed crest, like the canna's soft down, 
 
 That waves in its beauty and pride on the moor, 
 
 Till shorn by the severing slane of the boor. 
 
 Albyn's warriours to-day stand in no listless trance, 
 Not blunt is their sword, nor unvarnished their lance : 
 Well Mowbray contends v/ith the galloglass stern. 
 And well does De Soulis rage wild on the kern. 
 And well does young Edward his prowess make known 
 To the Sassanagh host that he claims for his owti. 
 All radiant in arms as a meteor of light, 
 He shines mid his foes, spreading terror and flight. 
 Even envy must own that a chief of such fires 
 Is worthy the sceptre to which he aspires. 
 Such a heart with the hearts of his people would blend, 
 Such an arm would their rights, laws, and freedom defend. 
 Oh ! grief — that he bore an untractable soul, 
 So reckless— -so wild, and so fierce to controul. 
 Like the bird of the rock in her own wide demesnes 
 Of mountain and ocean, all bounds he disdains. 
 Now midst a dense cloud of the foes see him turn, 
 In Faughard he hopes for a new Bannockburn. 
 On his shield, showering fast, darts and javelins ring ; 
 Round his helm, like the snow-drift, the fleet arrows sing ; 
 He joys in such music — it acts as a charm 
 To his chivalrous soul, and gives strength to his arm. 
 And where his broad claymore is whirling around, 
 Death grins with delight, for the dead heap the ground. 
 
72 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 In nioe-balanced poise hang the fates of the field ; 
 Not a ste^D these advance — nor a step those will yield ; 
 To its highest dread energies strung is each heart, 
 To the steel adding sharpness, and speed to the dart ; 
 And each in his ranks, never pausing for breath, 
 Is wielding his sword like the sceptre of death. 
 Though struck to the ground — there contending he lies, 
 Till, by his own efforts exhausted, he dies 
 Unquailed and unconquered — and grasping his spear. 
 On the spot where he stood finds a warriour*s bier. 
 
 Ullin's horse to the charge ! — hark ! the hoarse bugles sound, 
 And on, like a whirlwind, they dash o*er the ground. 
 Collected in strength — o'er their steeds bending low. 
 With the butt of the lance o'er the firm saddle bow, 
 On Albyn's wedged ranks they are rushing amain 
 Their line to dissever — but on the trenched plain 
 Wary Albyn her sharp spiky caltrops has sown. 
 By which horse and rider would soon lie o'erthrown. 
 The peril they spy, and wheel swift from the foe — 
 More swift flies the shower of winged shafts from his bow. 
 The galled chargers plunge— loud they clatter and clang 
 On the arms of the fallen, and many a pang 
 Inflict, as with brain-spattered fetlocks they tread 
 On the dying, and trample them down with the dead. 
 On the flank of the foe now they urge their career. 
 But there meet a rampart of buckler and spear. 
 Thick bristled all o'er like the hedge-hog's rough form. 
 In a sheltrum he waits the approach of the storm. 
 No open he leaves for their swift-rushing force. 
 But greets with steel points the fierce charge of the horse. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 73 
 
 The steed feels the dint of the pike's iron strokes, 
 Jn the brain of the rider the barbed arrow smokes j 
 He falls a pale corse — springs the charger aloof, 
 In agony flinging his blood -dripping hoof, 
 Till he drops, with a horrible shriek, on the loam. 
 All reeking with gore, bloody sweat, and red foam. 
 
 Does Erin relax and ingloriously yield ? 
 For see— she recoils — she recedes from the field. 
 Oh ! no — *tis a feint that perchance may disjoin 
 Albyn's battle, and open her close-serried line. 
 And lo ! upon Erin now speeding her flight. 
 She bursts as a billow, with yells of delight. 
 And Bruce, as his claymore he flourishes high. 
 Blood-dripping, pursues with a loud scornful cry ; 
 
 Flee, Sassanaghs, flee ! and add wings to your speed, 
 Or stay, that the wolf and the vulture may feed. 
 Pursue^ men of Carrick ! — their might is o'erthrown, 
 O'ertake— seize their stand^ards— the day is our own !'* 
 But short is his triumph — for wheeling in ire 
 Dash the chivalry on, like a tempest of fire, 
 Through the gaps of his line, and the now-broken chain 
 To rejoin, chafe De Soulis and Mowbray in vain ; 
 Before them, condensing, crowd faulchion and spear, 
 And the swords of De Burgo flash quick in the rear. 
 
 On ! Bermingham, on ! — for with no feeble hands. 
 The Bruce and his guards are upon thy brave bands ; 
 E*en the boldest recoil from the strokes of the Gael 
 That ring on their crests with an ear-stunning peal. 
 
 F 
 
74 
 
 BRUCe's INVASION". 
 
 At their head stalwart Harper, with battle-axe fell, 
 
 Smites helmets and shields as a sledge smites a shell. 
 
 But reddened with carnage, lo ! Husse is near : 
 
 They meet — each repelling the other's career. 
 
 As a moment they pause, ere the fight they begin. 
 
 O'er each blood-spotted face curls a tortuous grin. 
 
 The lower of defiance — the grim smile of scorn. 
 
 Cries Husse, " proud Scot, thou hast seen thy last morn ; 
 
 O'er thy threshold ne'er more shall thy long shadow shoot. 
 
 On thy hearth shall the bramble and thorn fix their root. 
 
 While thy bones here are bleaching the cold blast beneath. 
 
 And thy heart's blood is fattening the dark barren heath. 
 
 Insatiate spoiler of altar and tomb ! 
 
 Thou slayer of women — here sealed be thy doom." 
 
 " Fell Sassanagh boaster," cries Harper in wrath, 
 
 The sounds through clenched teeth scarcely working a path, 
 
 " Wordy ruffian ! — thou vassal of vassals, to dare 
 
 With warriour's of Albyn thine arm to compare ! 
 
 From the fate that now waits thee, such upstarts shall learn 
 
 lb rein their presumption — thou leader of kern ! 
 
 What the force of our arm know from this on thy crown." 
 
 Swift as the winged word speeds the battle-axe down ; 
 
 But Husse's quick eye the lanced Hghtning had spied ; 
 
 More swift than its glance has he bounded aside ; 
 
 And ere 'tis repoised, has his own trenchant blade 
 
 On the shield of his foe in wild revelry played. 
 
 Clashes steel upon steel, and stroke answering stroke 
 
 Dints their mail, as the thunderbolt dints the gnarled oak. 
 
 Thus meet two wild bulls in the season of love 
 
 For the lordship contending of valley and grove. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 75 
 
 They bellow, they foam, spurn the ^and, lower in scorn, 
 Rush front against front — grapples horn upon horn, 
 Gored in shoulder and flank — mad with fury and pain, 
 They fight till one falls, or both bleed on the plain. 
 
 But who, like a demon of wrath, *mid the foes 
 Is dealing around such a tempest of blows ? 
 Through the dense ridge of battle he hews a broad pass, 
 And mows down the soldiers of Albyn like grass. 
 Sir Maupus— his steed is transfixed to the ground, 
 And now upon foot he deals terror around. 
 Loud he roars on the Bruce, if he dares, to come nigh ; 
 The Bruce's red claymore makes sudden reply. 
 They meet like two galleys, by wind and by oar 
 Urged swift to the shock — dashes prore upon prore ; 
 Shiver yards — tremble masts — and recoiling they reel, 
 With the fearful assault, from the tops to the keel. 
 So meet two huge bowlders precipitate sent 
 From two adverse hills by the elements rent ; 
 Each many an acre o'erleaps at a bound. 
 And with many a trench deeply furrows the ground, 
 Till, with horrid concussion, they strike in the vale— 
 The shepherd aloof hears the crash, and turns pale. 
 Fierce and dire grows the conflict — in circles of flame 
 Their broadswords are playing their desperate game ; 
 Blow answers to blow — thrust for thrust tells alike ; 
 For each is less careful to ward than to strike ; 
 Rings their oft-stricken mail in a death-telling chime, 
 Like the anvil with hammer and sledge keeping time. 
 Tlie shield of Sir Maupus its fissures may mourn, 
 And the crest of the Bruce for its plumes roughly shorn. 
 
76 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 Each chief bears rude marks of the tempest of war, 
 Battered helm and stained corslet— the gash and the scar. 
 Now the dense cloud of warriours closes them round, 
 And hides — but their blows loud and louder resound. 
 In that cloud's burning centre all th' elements meet 
 Of havoc and carnage, their fire and their sleet, 
 The clash of the war-axe — the steel's scorching glance ; 
 There whirls the mad vortex of claymore and lance. 
 There his shield has the galloglass blazoned anew. 
 And there dyed his plumes in a fresh crimson dew. 
 Like a lion whose mane in the blood of the roe 
 Is dappled, the kern makes his spring on the foe. 
 Round his visage his^locks toss in horrible play, 
 Besprent with the dash of the war's purple spray ; 
 Half-naked his limbs — unincumbered to strike — 
 Wives and mothers may curse the fell thrust of his pike. 
 Quail the foes at his look, for some spirit of ill, 
 They think, has broke loose, or comes chartered to kill. 
 
 Uptripped on the slippery sod, in the fold 
 Of a kern's nimble arms, a huge Gael is rolled. 
 The claymore and sword they have lost in the strife, 
 And with dirk and with skean wage the contest for life. 
 The one light, elastic, and supple of limb ; 
 The other all brawny, and stalwart and grim. 
 Now strength is prevailing— the kern lies beneath— 
 But his skean in the Gael's bold heart finds a sheath. 
 Like the string of a bow by a knife cut in twain. 
 In a moment relaxed — he is stretched with the slain ; 
 While his steel o'er the foe the kern brandishes high, 
 And again is prepared a new conflict to try. 
 
BRUCE^S INVASION. 
 
 77 
 
 I'hus the weasel when trussed by a hawk, closely clings 
 To the high-soaring bird — till beneath her spread wings 
 He finds where the fountains of life warmly play, 
 And sluices and drains the red currents away. 
 Sick and faint she descends from her height in the skies, 
 Drops her quarry unhurt— gives a flutter— and dies. 
 
 The battle is burning more fierce and more fast. 
 Like a wide conflagration when fanned by the blast. 
 On ! on ! men of Erin — lo ! Albyn turns pale. 
 Ye ghosts of our fathers that float on the gale. 
 Ye Firbolgs — ye Danans — with all thy great line, 
 Milesius — and Nial of Hostages Nine ! 
 Ye chiefs who drank blood, and ne'er stooped to a fear 
 Since ye took your first food from the point of a spear ; 
 Great Goll, son of Morna, and Connall renowned, 
 With an arm unbaptized, Erin's foe-men confound. 
 Strike, sword of Mananan, as when thy keen blade 
 Usnach's three gallant sons, at a sweep, headless laid. 
 Ye kings of proud Tara— chiefs valiant and strong. 
 Ye bards who their fame have embalmed in your song, 
 Cuchullin, Finn, Ossian, and Oscar his son. 
 And Conn, who a hundred grand victories won ; 
 From your dark-rolling clouds, shew your terrible forms. 
 Shoot dismay through their hearts— snute with thunders and 
 storms. I ^ 
 
 Weep Albyn, and shriek far o'er mountain and flood, 
 The faulchion of Erin grows drunk in thy blood* 
 All pale with his death- wound and laid on a shield. 
 By his clansmen is Mowbray borne far from the field ; 
 
18 
 
 bruce's invasion* 
 
 De Soulis has fallen before his brave line. 
 
 And Stewart lies cleft from the head to the chine. 
 
 On ! on ! men of Erin — more quick with your steel [ 
 They faint — they grow weary — they stagger — they reel— ' 
 They fall— -or they flee — all besprinkled with gore, 
 Torn, riven and shattered like wrecks on the shore. 
 While Ullin's dread chivalry wide o'er the heath, 
 With sabres are gleaning the harvest of death. 
 
 The kite and the vulture on Ravensdale's peaks, 
 And Carlingford's mountains, are whetting their beaks ; 
 Or screaming on Mourne's famished birds to inhale 
 The odour of blood, as it floats on the gale. 
 
 Flee ! flee ! traitor Lacy— be swift as the wind 
 And leave, if thou canst, shame and sorrow behind. 
 Yet, wert thou a man, on this field would'st thou bide, 
 And in glorious death thy life's infamy hide. 
 But go— thou wert born for the scaffold or tree. 
 And the bright field of glory was ne'er spread for thee. 
 
 Where now is the Bruce ? — on the field's crimson bed, 
 With Maupus, he sleeps the cold sleep of the dead. 
 In one direful struggle they fell face to face, 
 And still they lie twined in an iron embrace. 
 His guards and brave knights here their errantry close, 
 On the same lowly couch — in the same still repose. 
 And Harper's huge limbs by the Bruce closely lie, 
 Spent the might of his arm— quenched the fire of his eye. 
 
bruce's invasion. 
 
 79 
 
 For Bruce was his idol, and this was his pride, 
 In death as in life to be close by his side. 
 
 The storm has rolled past — and now all is as still 
 As the night's breathless calm when the moon lights the hill. 
 On Faughard's red field Albyn*s lion lies torn, 
 And a pitiless hook her tall thistle has shorn. 
 Her chieftains and warriours all scattered around, 
 Their face to the skies, and their back to the ground. 
 On the heathery couch, *twas their wont oft to lie. 
 In bonnet and plaid, *neath the cold starry sky. 
 Lulled to sleep by the blast, or the wild torrent's roar, 
 But ne'er did they slumber so soundly before. 
 In the morn the fleet deer nigh them fearless may spring, 
 And the heath-cock arise on his loud-whirring wing — 
 No hound from their leash, and no shaft from their bow. 
 Shall the fleet deer pursue — or the heath-cock bring low. 
 
 Noble Bruce ! though revenge may disturb thy low bed, 
 And impotent malice wage war with the dead, 
 Thy worth, vaUant prince, Erin's bards shall proclaim. 
 When the caoinan they sing to their chiefs of high name 
 Wlio share in thy slumbers — for though Erin's harp 
 Breathes her feeling of wrong loud, indignant, and sharp. 
 Within it a soul great and generous lives. 
 Which ardently, kindly, and nobly forgives. 
 That e'en to her foe a due trophy will raise. 
 Laud the merit she loves and be just in his praise. 
 'Tis the part of presumptuous upstarts to tread 
 On the fallen— the ass kicks the lion when dead. 
 
80 
 
 33RUCe's INVAStONi 
 
 All virtue and all human good they comprise 
 
 In cunning, address, and the talent to rise. 
 
 Up the column of power ever-crawling they wind, 
 
 Nor turn— but to hiss on the friends left behind ; 
 
 In the specious attire of the generous and brave, 
 
 Mask the soul of the tyrant, and heart of the slave, 
 
 That can smile while they torture — can stab while they kiss^ 
 
 And consign to perdition while promising bliss. 
 
 Unloved let them liv^^, and unwept let them die ; 
 
 For their loss groans no bosom — no tear dims an eye. 
 
 No friend to their tomb fiowery chaplets shall bring, 
 
 No high-minded bard shall their requiem sing, 
 
 No child in his breast their fond memory nurse : 
 
 But the insults they gave shall that memory curse, 
 
 Where they lie shall oblivion brood o'er the spot. 
 
 And their name on the earth, ere their carcases rot. 
 
 Illustrious prince ! by thy valour undone. 
 Thy star sets in glory — thy wild course is run. 
 ITiat course was a meteor's — all brilliant and bright 
 It sparkled and blazed, filled the world with its light. 
 The wonder-struck nations looked up and admired. 
 Till bursting in one glorious flash, it expired. 
 
 Now Erin may raise her victorious cheers : 
 But still must her joy be commingled with tears ; 
 As her clime is her life, chequered pleasure and wo, 
 Sun and cloud — the dark storm and the bright rainy bow. 
 Sad and dear is the joy for a victory won 
 By the blood of a husband, a father— a son. 
 
BRUCE*S INVASION. 
 
 And yet what is life since at last it must go 
 By sickness, affliction, or time's sapping flow ? 
 Oh ! better by far prematurely to fall 
 In the conflict of fame, by the lance or the ball. 
 Than in sorrow, and shame, and sad servitude live, 
 Nor know what to life its true blessings can give. 
 
 Long, long, may thy daughters, Edina, deplore 
 Tlieir true lovers stay — they shall ne'er see them more, 
 For their sons loud may weep the fond mothers of Kyle, 
 For their husbands deep sorrow the wives of Argyle ; 
 For the chiefs and the clans of the sword-stricken Gael 
 Let the lone Western Isles raise the dirge and the wail. 
 Long and oft o'er the waves may their maids cast an eye, 
 Oft speed on the winds the fond wish and the sigh, 
 Oft think they behold in the far- distant foam, 
 Or the sea-bird's white pinion, their sails coming home. 
 Never more in their sails heaven's breezes shall blow. 
 But one little skiff comes deep-freighted with wo. 
 And hope flies for ever — Loud shrieks pierce the air. 
 Wives, mothers, and maidens are ^\Tapt in despair ; 
 Some rend their black tresses — and some for their grief, 
 In fast-gushing tears, find a transient relief. 
 One feels to the core of the heart bruised so deep. 
 She sees not — she hears not — oh ! could she but weep ! 
 One tear-drop would be as a drop of -sweet balm 
 From heaven her agonized spirit to calm. 
 But the shock has absorbed the sweet fountain of tears ; 
 Ko life in her chill frozen aspect appears. 
 
.82 
 
 bruce's invasion. 
 
 The lustre that beamed in her eye has grown dim. 
 Pale, motionless, rigid and hard is each limb. 
 As if Gorgon's head had before her been thrown. 
 And suddenly stiffened and turned her to stone. 
 
NOTES. 
 
NOTES- 
 
 CANTO FIRST. 
 
 NOTE I.— p. 10. 
 
 And up WokinpCs frith smooth and swiftly they glide, 
 " In Woking's fyrth arywyt thai 
 Sauffly, but bargane or assay, 
 And send their shippis hame ilkane." 
 
 Barbottr. 
 
 Woking's fyrth must be the ancient name of Larne harbour, on the 
 N, coast of the County of Antrim. Hollingshed, in his enumeration of the 
 bays of Ireland, places Wolderfrith between the Bann and " Caregfergus.** 
 Jaraieson, in a note upon Barbour, says, that the term " is most probably 
 of Norse origin, and may have been corrupted from Wiking's frith. In 
 the language still spoken in Iceland, Viking fiord would signify the 
 sound, or firth of the pirates, or sea kings." 
 
 The Nine Maidens, or Hulins, are dangerous rocks in view of the 
 harbour of Larne — the Gobbins, a perpendicular range of dark and 
 lofty cliffs, forming the N. boundary of Island Magee. Olderfleet 
 Tower, stands on a peninsular slip of ground, projecting into Larne bay. 
 Its venerable ruins add greatly to the romantic and picturesque beauty 
 of the surrounding scenery. 
 
 NOTE II.—p. 10. 
 
 How proudly the chieftains are pacing the strand. 
 The principal officers of the expedition are thus enumerated by Barbour. 
 
 *' He had then in his cumpany 
 
 The Erie Thomas that was worthe ; 
 
 And Schyr Philip the Mowbray 
 
 That sekyr wes in hard assay ; 
 
 Schyr Jhone the Soulis ane gude knycht, 
 
 And Schyr Jhone Stewart thatnves wycht, 
 
 And Ramsay als of Ouchterhouss, 
 
 That wes wycht and chewalrouss ; 
 
 And Schyr Fergus of Androssane, 
 
 And other knychtis mony ane." 
 Sir Robert Boyd, and Sir Colin Campbell, the knight whom King 
 Robert's truncheon makes ** to reel on his steed," page 18— are after- 
 wards mentioned by Barbour. Others whose names ho has omitted are 
 noticed in Cambden's Annals. 
 
86 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE Ill.-f). 10. 
 
 The hold Earl of Moray towers high o^er the throng. 
 " Sir Thomas Randolph Earl of Murray, was a man of extraordinary 
 merit, a true patriot, and deservedly in great favour with his uncle King 
 Robert, whom he joined as soon as he began to assert his title to the 
 crown. He was sent prisoner to Englahd, by Edward I. in 1306, but was 
 soon released. In 1313, he retook the castle of Edinburgh from the 
 English. The share he had of the glory acquired by the Scots at the me- 
 morable battle of Bannockburn, where he commanded the left wing of 
 the army, 1314, is recorded by many historians. 
 
 Douglas's Peerage of Scotland. 
 
 He led the van of Edward Bruce's army in Ireland, and by his valour 
 and address was often successful in overcoming the enemy. 
 
 NOTE IV.— p. 10. 
 
 With Sir Philip Mowbray ^ a high-minded chief. 
 This distinguished officer had been in the service of King Edward the 
 First, for whom he held the castle of Stirling, when it was besieged *by 
 Edward Bruce. Being hard pressed he agreed to deliver it up, provided 
 it were not relieved on a certain day. The day came and no succour hav- 
 ing arrived, he fulfilled his engagement, and entered into the service of 
 the Scottish king. 
 
 NOTE V.-p. 11. 
 
 Sir John the Stewart. 
 ** Probably a son of Sir John Stewart of Bonkill. Sir Walter Stewart, 
 his third son, was one of those patriots who joined King Robert Bruce, as 
 soon as he began to assert his title to the crown, and performed many 
 gallant actions against the enemies of his country." 
 
 NOTE VI.— p. 11. 
 
 There Ouchterhouse Ramsay is stalking in pride j 
 With Ellerslie's wight oft he fought side by side. 
 We learn from blind Harry's poem of Wallace, that his hero some- 
 times found a welcome retreat from his enemies in Ouchterhouse, the 
 family seat of the Ramsays. Sir John and his son Alexander Ramsay, 
 are both mentioned by the bard in strains of glowing panegyric. 
 
 "Sir John Ramsay that righteous was bom 
 
 Of Ochterhouse, and other lands lord 
 
 And Sheriffs als, as my book will record^ 
 
 Of noble blood, and old ancessary. 
 
 Continued well with worthy chevalry. 
 
 ****** 
 
 In war he was right meikle for to prise, 
 
 Busie and true, both sober, wight and wise. 
 
 ****** 
 
 His son was called the flower of courtliness.'* 
 
 Wallace, Book VIL C. 2. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 87 
 
 NOTE VII.— p. 11. 
 
 Sir John Be Soulis vdth corsletted breast. 
 " This chief is supposed by some to have been the grandson of Nicholas 
 De Soulis, who was one of the competitors for the Scottish crown, in 
 right of his grandmother, the daughter of Alexander the Second." 
 
 Jamieson. 
 
 NOTE VIII.— p. 11. 
 
 "Next Campbell comes on with the youth of Argyle. 
 Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, was a great loyalist, and always ad- 
 hered to the interests of King Robert Bruce, and his son King David. 
 He went on the expedition to Ireland, in favour of Edward Bruce, where 
 his courage and conduct were so remarkable, that King Robert upon his 
 return, rewarded him with a grant of divers lands, by a charter under 
 the great seal, erecting all his lands in Argyleshire into a free barony. 
 
 Douglases Peerage, 
 
 NOTE IX.— p. 11. 
 
 Menieifh, who^ 'tis said^ did a dark deed of shame. 
 Sir John Menteith, a man of great spirit, though he was guilty of that 
 villainous action of betraying the brave Sir William Wallace into the 
 hands of King Edward 1. of England, yet, he afterwards became a great 
 patriot, and was not only a firm friend, but a great favourite of King Robert 
 Bruce. He remarkably distinguished himself at the battle of Bannock- 
 burn, in 1314, signed that famous letter to the Pope, 1320, and was ap- 
 pointed one of the ambassadors to the Court of England, in 1323. 
 
 Douglas. 
 
 According to the popular story. King Edward, by his ambassador, 
 " Aymer the Vallance," made splendid offers to Menteith, to betray 
 Wallace, who was under the sacred protection of his roof. Menteith 
 made some objections ; but Vallance seeing him beginning to hesitate, 
 pressed his advantage by promising him the Lordship of Lennox, and a 
 considerable sum of gold. 
 
 ** Vallance saw him in a study be. 
 Three thousand pound of fine gold let him see. 
 And heght he should the Lennox have at will ; 
 Thus treasonably Monteith granted theretil. 
 An obligation with his own hand he made. 
 Then took the gold and Edward's seal so brade. 
 And gave him his, when he his time might see 
 To take Wallace. * * * * 
 *#***** 
 For covetise, Monteith upon false wise. 
 Betrayed Wallace who was his gossip thrice." 
 
 Wallace, Book XIL 
 
 NOTE X.— p. 12. ' 
 
 But none vies with Fleming in limb or in power. 
 Or Harper who stalks in his strength like a tower. 
 " Neil Fleming, a soldier of uncommon intrepidity, who, to preserve the 
 Scotch army from being surprised by a sally of the garrison of Carrick- 
 fergus castle, under Thomas Lord Maundeville, resolved to sacrifice him- 
 self and party for their preservation. He immediately despatched a 
 messenger to inform the army of their danger, and placing himself at 
 
88 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 the head of his little troop, boldly advanced to meet the assailants. 
 ' Now, of a truth,' cried he, * they shall see how we can die for our 
 Liord.' His first onset checked the progress of the enemy ; but he soon 
 received a mortal wound, and his party were cut to pieces. Maundeville 
 having divided his forces, in order to surround the Scots, now ad- 
 vanced in person, with his best troops, through the principal street of 
 the town, and was met by Bruce with his guards, who had probably been 
 alarmed by the messenger sent to him by Fleming. In front of 
 Bruce's party was Gilbert Harper, a man renowned in the Scottish 
 army for strength and valour, who, knowing Maundeville by the rich- 
 ness of his armour, rushed forward and felled him to the ground with 
 his battle-axe, in which situation he was despatched by Lord Edward 
 Bruce with a knife." The circumstance is thus recorded by Barbour. 
 
 ** Gib Harpar befor him yeid 
 
 That wes the douchteast in deid. 
 
 That wes then levand off his state ; 
 
 And with ane axe maid him sic gat. 
 
 That he the first fellyt to the ground ; 
 
 And oif thre, in a litill stound. 
 
 The Maw nd Weill be his armying 
 
 He knew, and roucht him sic a swyng. 
 
 That he till erd yeid hastily, 
 
 Schyr Edward that wes ner him by, 
 
 Eeversyt him, and with a knyff, 
 
 Rycht in that place, reft him the lyfF." 
 The English disheartened by the loss of their commander, (and the 
 Scots continuing to pour in fresh forces, amongst which were 200 Irish 
 horsemen,) fled towards the castle, closely pressed by the enemy; upon 
 which the garrison were obliged to draw up the bridge, lest the Scots 
 should enter with them, leaving their unfortunate comrades to the mercy 
 of those ruthless assailants. — M'Skimin's History of Carrickfergus. 
 
 NOTE XI.—p. 13. 
 Thus comes a young leopard. 
 
 So Barbour— 
 
 " The Erie of Carrik Schyr Edward 
 That stouter wes than a libbard." 
 
 NOTE XI L— p. 14. 
 
 The tempest of wrath o'er Cuil-rath-can has Noivn, 
 And left nought behind it but water and stone. 
 Cuil-rath-can, i. e. the town of the Forths — Coleraine. Wyntown de- 
 scribing the manner in which the ** Kyng of Ingland" wasted Scotland, 
 says— 
 
 ** In-til our land, he dyd gret skayth. 
 
 In slauchtyr, and in herschype bath ; 
 
 And made him Mayster, Lord, and Syre, 
 
 And gert all bow til hys Empyre. 
 
 And quha til hym wald noucht do swa, 
 
 Owthyr he gert his men thame sla. 
 
 Or he thame heryd, sparand nane, 
 
 Noucht levand be-hynd, hot wattyr and stane." 
 
 Wyntownis Cronykil.'^B. VIII. 1. 19. 
 What language can more simply and forcibly describe the terrible deso- 
 ilation of a country, than the last line of this passage ? 
 
NOTES. 
 
 89 
 
 NOTE XIII.-p. U. 
 
 There the foes we)-e entrapped in a deep swampy fen. 
 
 Barbour informs us that Bruce was sometimes in great danger from the 
 stratagems of his enemies. But he generally escaped by good fortune, and 
 the disciplined bravery of his men. On one occasion he was brought into 
 great difficulties by complying with the request of a chieftain who had 
 invited him into his territories, with a promise of hospitable entertain- 
 ment for himself and his troops. " Toward Ydymsy syne thai raid," and 
 following a treacherous guide, were led into a low swamp, near the issue 
 of a lake, which had been dammed up, and which was intended to be 
 let loose upon them in the night. They escaped this danger, but with 
 great loss of baggage and armour. 
 
 On another occasion they were in great peril on the western side of the 
 river Bann. 
 
 *'The Bann, that is ane nrme of the se 
 
 That with horss may nocht passyt be. 
 
 Was betwix thaim and Hulsyster." 
 They were freed from their jeopardy by the timely aid of four vessels, 
 under the command of a noted pirate— 
 
 *' ——a scowmar of the se, 
 
 Thomas of Downe hattyn was he." 
 
 The same personage, I presume, whom Pembridge, in Camden's Annals, 
 names *' Thomas Dover, a right strong theefe," whom Sir John Atley 
 encountered at sea, and took ; *' and about fourty of his men well armed 
 he slew, and his head he brought with him to Dublin." 
 
 The Scotch, however, were fully a match for their enemies in all the 
 stratagems of war. Alter their escape from the Bann, they approached 
 Coigneris, (Connor) then probably a town of some opulence and magni- 
 tude, though now a very inconsiderable village. They took prisoners 
 many of the Irish soldiers who had gone out to forage — arrayed them- 
 selves in their apparel, fell upon the Irish army, who mistook them for 
 their own foragers, put them to flight, with great slaughter, and entered 
 the town of Connor with them pell-mell. Here they found great abun- 
 dance of provisions. In this conflict Sir John Stewart was wounded, 
 whence he went to Montpellier, and there remained 'till his wounds 
 were healed. The chiefs of the Ulster army are thus enumerated by 
 Barbour : — 
 
 " Brynrane, Wedoune, Fitzwarryne, 
 
 And Schyr Paschall of Florentine, 
 
 That was a knycht of Lumbardy, 
 
 And was full of chewalry. 
 
 The Mawndweillis war thar alsua, 
 
 Besatis, Loganys, and other ma ; 
 
 Savages als, and yeit was ane 
 
 Hat Schyr Nycholl of Kylkenane." 
 
 NOTE XIV.— p. 15. 
 
 The closely plashed ravine of Innermalane. 
 Plashing, from the Franco^GalUc plesser, is to entwine, and equivalent 
 to the Teutonic bawen ; so that plashing a place was to strengthen the 
 top of the vallum with stakes, interlacing them with branches.*— 
 
 * Ledwich. 
 G 
 
90 
 
 «' Within half a mile of the entrance of the Moiry, the English found 
 that place, by which they were to pass, being naturally one of the most 
 difficult passages in Ireland, fortified with good art and admirable in- 
 dustry; the enemy having raised from mountain to mountain, and from 
 wood to wood, and bog to bog, long traverses, with huge and high 
 flankers of great stones, mingled with turf, and staked down on both 
 sides, with palisades wattled."* 
 
 Ledwich justly remarks that this mode of defence was practised in the 
 Homeric as well as in every other age, and by every people. 
 
 Non te fossa patens, nec hispidarum 
 Objectu sudium coronat agger." 
 
 Sid. Apol. ad Narb. 
 
 NOTE XV.— p. 15. 
 
 Though gallant Be Burgo there manfully stood. 
 
 Richard, the second Earl of Ulster, (usually called, from his complex- 
 ion, the Red Earl) was educated for some years in the court of King 
 Henry III. and from his large possessions was esteemed the most power- 
 ful subject in Ireland. He rendered many important services to King 
 Edward, both at home and abroad. He was the first to encounter Bruce, 
 by whom he was defeated, in a sanguinary engagement near the river 
 Bann. Notwithstanding, he fell under the most unjust suspicion of fa- 
 vouring the designs of the enemy— probably for no reason but his rela- 
 tionship to King Robert, who had married his sister, or, according to 
 Lodge, his daughter Ellen. He was cast into prison in Dublin, at a time 
 when his services in the field would have been most valuable, but was 
 released by Parliament, on his taking an oath, and giving security that 
 neither by himself or his friends, he would bring any grievance on the 
 citizens of Dublin, who had caused his imprisonment— a proceeding 
 which attested his innocence, and their consciousness of having acted to- 
 wards him with unwarrantable severity and injustice. He was present 
 (though infirm with age and sickness) in 1326, at a Parliament held in 
 Kilkenny on Whitsunday, where he entertained the nobility in a munifi- 
 cent manner, and bidding them a long farewell, retired to the monastery 
 of Athassell, where he died, 28th June, and was there buried. — Lodge and 
 Pembridge. 
 
 Feidhlim, or Phelim O'Connor, Prince of Connaught, at first joined 
 De Burgo in opposing Bruce. While he was engaged in this service, his 
 kinsman Roderic seized on the principality, and this usurpation gave rise 
 to a sanguinary war, in which Roderic was slain. Feidhlim then boldly 
 avowed his determination to join the standard of the invader, and his 
 example was followed by the O'Briens of Thomond. An army was raised 
 against them, under the command of William De Burgo, brother to the 
 Earl of Ulster, and Richard De Bermihgham. In a. desperate battle, 
 fought on St. Laurence's day at Athenry, the latter were eminently 
 
 Horn. II. 12. 
 
 NOTE XVI.— p. 15, 
 Feidhlim is placed on the throne of his sires. 
 
 * Moryson's Hist. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 91 
 
 successful. Peidhlim was slain, with O'Kelly, King of Imany, and 
 twenty-eight other chiefs. " With the spoils of the slain, walls were said 
 to have been built round the town of Athemy. ''-'Lodge, 
 
 NOTE XVII.— p. 16. 
 The^/ climb Na-Jur hills. 
 The hills of the Yew.trees, now Newry— " The reason of its obtaining 
 this designation appears from an old tradition that two large yew trees grew 
 within the precincts of the abbey. From this circumstance it was called, 
 in the barbarous Latin of the age, Monasterium de viridi lignOy and in 
 Irish Na Jur, or the yew trees. This gave occasion to the plural appel- 
 lation by v/hich it was afterwards most commonly known, the Neivries.—' 
 Newry Mag, March, 1815. 
 
 NOTE XVIII.—p. 16. 
 
 Dundalgan is stoYmed by the slaughtering sword. 
 The Scots being attacked by the Irish forces near Dundalk, put them 
 to flight, pursued them, and took the town, in which they made great 
 carnage, and found ample store of provisions, as we are informed by 
 Barbour. 
 
 ** In all the town commonally 
 
 Thai entryt, bath intremelle ; 
 
 Thar men mycht felloune slauchtre se ; 
 
 For the rycht noble Erl Thomas 
 
 Thar with his rout folowyt the chas. 
 
 Maid swilk a slauchtre in the toun. 
 
 And swa felloune occisioun. 
 
 That the rewys all bludy war 
 
 Of slayn men, that war lyand thar." 
 
 The abundance of wine was so great, that the earl, fearful of conse- 
 quences, laid it under restrictions. 
 
 ** He made of wine levere 
 
 Till ilk man, that he payit suld be." 
 
 NOTE XIX.-P. 19. 
 
 With grief to the soul is Sir Edward stung deep. 
 
 And when Schyr Edward Bruce the bold 
 Wist that the king had foughten so. 
 With so feil folk, and he therpfro. 
 Might no man see a waer man. 
 But the good king said to him than. 
 That it was his own folly, 
 For he rade so unwittingly 
 So far before, and na vanguard 
 Made to them of the rereward."— iEfarfioMr. 
 
 NOTE XX.— p. 20. 
 
 Here Mortimer came with a deer-hearted crew 
 To look Bruce in the face. 
 The Geraldines and Powers had assembled numerous forces to oppose 
 Bruce. But dissention, as usual, arising among the leaders, they with- 
 
92 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 drew without striking a blow. Upon thi% Lord Roger Mortimer, hoping, 
 as Campion expresses it, to embeazell" a victory, took the field with 
 15,000 men. But he was shamefully defeated, principally by the defec- 
 tion of the Lacies, and obliged, with a few followers, to seek his safety 
 in flight. He afterwards went to England, and returned invested with 
 the office of chief justice. On his arrival at Youghal, learnmg that But- 
 ler, De Clare, and other chiefs had collected 30,000 men to oppose Bruce, 
 he despatched letters to Butler, forbidding him to take any decisive step 
 till his arrival. This delay was favourable to Bruce, and enabled him 
 to secure his retreat. Mortimer was one of the most unpopular charac- 
 ters that ever bore sway in Ireland. He went over to the king, says 
 Campion, " indebted to the citizens of Divelin for his viands a thousand 
 poundes, whereof he payde not one smulkin, and many a bitter curse 
 carried with him to the sea." 
 
 NOTE XXI.— p. 20. 
 
 His hopes to win wealthy Athcliath aspire. 
 
 Athcliath, i. e. the ford of hurdles ^ the old Irish name of Dublin, so 
 denominated from the river being made fordable by means of hurdles, 
 before it had the accommodation of quays and bridges. 
 
 On the approach of Bruce, the citizens " with common consent burnt 
 Saint Thomas's street; and with the said fire the church of Saint John, 
 with the chappell of St. Marie Maudlin, was by casualty burnt ; yea, and 
 all the suburbs of Dublin were set on fire, together with the monasterie 
 of St. Marie : and the church of St. Patricke in Dublin was by the said 
 villaines spoiled, "—Pemhridge. 
 
 Dalrymple justly observes, that the public spirit and intrepidity of the 
 citizens of Dublin, at that critical season, ought to be held in perpetual 
 remembrance— they resolved to defend their city, or perish amidst its 
 ruins. 
 
 NOTE XXII.-p. 21. 
 
 There Tirell indignant in dhains vents his rage. 
 ** Bruce took his journey toward the castle of Knocke, and entered the 
 said castle, and took the lord baron of the same, nam.ely, the Lord Hugh 
 
 Tirell and his wife, who for a »)eece of money were delivered 
 
 Understanding that the city was strongly walled and fortified, he took 
 his journey toward the salmon leape, and there they pitched their tents— 
 9nd abode there four dales, and burnt part of the towne, broke downe 
 the church, and spoiled it, and 'afterwards marched on toward the 
 Naas : and the Lacies, against their oath, conducted them and gave 
 them counsell : and Sir Hugh Canon appointed Wardin White his wife's 
 brother to be their guide through the country, and they came to the 
 Naas, and sacked the town, brake into the churches, opened the tombes 
 in the church yard to seeke for treasure, and did much mischiefe whiles 
 they remained there for two days together. And afterwards they went 
 on towards Tristeldermot, in the second week of Lent, and destroyed the 
 Friers Minours ; the bookes, vestiments, and other ornaments they had 
 away, and then departed from thence to Balligaveran ; and from Balli- 
 gaveran leaving the towne of Kilkenny, they came as farre as Kalian, 
 about the feast of Saint Gregorie the Pope. "— Pew^nrf^e. 
 
 NOTE XXIIL— p. 22. 
 
 Where the daughters of fire trim the ne'er»dying lamp. 
 " In 1220, Loundres, Archbishop of Dublin, extinguished the perpetual 
 
NOTES. 
 
 93 
 
 fites which were kept here, and in various parts of Ireland, for supersti. 
 tious purposes. That at Kildare was kept in a small cell or house, near 
 the church, twenty feet square, somp ruins of which are still visible, and 
 called the fire-house. This fire, by which divinations were performed, war. 
 kept by virgins, called in Irish Breochuidh, Breoghidh, or Brighid, that 
 is, fire keepers, from whence originated the story of St.Brigid and her 
 nuns. They were indeed a species of nuns, but not the Brigidines, who 
 followed the rule of St. Augustin, though in subsequent ages confounded 
 with them. It doth not appear that any convents of Brigidines were in 
 Ireland, and but one in England." 
 
 The Breog/dcth or inghean an Dagha, that is, daughters of fire, as they 
 were frequently called, were often women of the first quality, daughters 
 of chieftains. One of these, Dermod M'Murrogh, King of Leinster, stole 
 out of her cloister, and forced to marry one of his own people — during 
 which act of violence, 170 of the inhabitants of the town and abbey 
 were slain. This fire, probably derived from pagan superstition, was in a 
 few years re-lighted, and continued to burn till the total suppression of 
 monasteries.— Hib.vol. 3, p. 9,^1.— -Arch. Monast. p. 329. 
 
 NOTE XXIV.— p. 22. 
 O'er AscuVs red plain the di7'e hurricane past. 
 
 Sir Hamon le Gras, a descendant of Reymond le' Gros, brother.in-laxv 
 of Strongbow, and progenitor of the illustrious family of Grace, was one 
 of the most successful opponents of Bruce. " His frequent success and 
 unwearied activity effectually frustrated the design of seizing and plunder- 
 ing the capital. A general engagement, however, at length took place; 
 the number of Sir Hamon le Gras's forces scarcely exceeding a fourth of 
 that under the Lord Edward Bruce. The conflict was obstinate and san- 
 guinary ; but Sir Hamon, after much fighting, being unfortunately slain, 
 his army fell into confusion, which terminated in defeat. Tradition, as 
 well as history, has carefully perpetuated the memory of an event, which 
 ^t that period nearly proved of fatal importance to the country. The 
 scene of battle was near Ascul, in the county of Kildare, about a mile 
 north-east of Athy, situated on the river Barrow, and Sir Hamon le Gras, 
 together with the Lord John Bonneville and Sir William Prendergast, 
 were buried in the Dominican abbey of that town. A very ancient crest 
 of the Grace family, formerly in partial use among some of its branches, 
 is described, in the books of the office of arms, to be a lion passant, argent, 
 trampling on a royal Scotch thistle, in allusion to Sir Hamon le Gras's 
 valour and loyalty in opposing Lord Edward Bruce's invasion,"— iVbte 
 upon '* Lines on Jerpoint Abbey,*' p. 5. 
 
 Ledwich observes that some vestiges of Bruce's invasion yet remain. 
 Near Aghaboe, Queen's-county, is an old fortification, vulgarly called 
 Scotsrath, properly Scottiswaith, or the Scots walls or fortress. 
 
NOTES* 
 
 CANTO SECOND. 
 
 NOTE-I. p. 27. 
 
 FernSt where is thy bishop ? 
 
 Adaxn of Northampton was consecrated Bishop of Ferns on Trinity 
 Sunday, 1312. * * While he sat in this see, Ferns and the castle of it 
 was plundered and set on fire by the rebels. He adhered some time to 
 the Scotch invaders, and the Irish rebels who fought under them ; whe- 
 ther through fear or force, or for what other cause, I know not. For we 
 find a writ dated and issued against him on the 6th of August, 1317, to 
 Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and justice or custos of Ireland, com- 
 manding him to secure the bishop, and bring him to account for his trea- 
 son in adhering to Edward Biuce, on his arrival in those parts, and after- 
 wards to Robert Bruce his brother, and in furnishing them with provisions, 
 arms, and men." — Ware, 442. 
 
 Fitz John, Bishop of Ossory, was a severe sufferer by Bruce, insomuch 
 that " Edward II. recommended him to the Pope as an object of compas- 
 sion ; and on the 20th of January, 1320, wrote to his holiness very mov- 
 ingly in his behalf, to procure instalments for the payment of some debts 
 due by his see to the court of Rome, on account of the irreparable da- 
 mages he sustained by the devastations of Bruce and the Scots."— ^atm 
 
 NOTE II— -p. 27. 
 
 And where are the Lacies t 
 
 The conduct of the Lacies was a tissue of treason throughout. Though 
 they joined the standard of Mortimer, when he marched against Bruce, 
 they were the first to desert the field. After the assembling of parlia- 
 ment, which did nothing for the peace of the country. Sir Walter Lacy 
 came to Dublin to clear himself of treasonable imputations, and after the 
 example of other lordSj to tender hostages for his loyalty. By an inqui- 
 sition which they procured to be held on their conduct relative to the 
 Scots, they were acquitted ; they obtained a charter of the king's peace, 
 and took an oath, which they confirmed by the sacrament, to be true to 
 the King of England, and endeavour to destroy the Scots. But in viola- 
 tion of their oath, they joined Bruce on his approach to Dublin, con* 
 ducted his march, and gave him counsel. When Mortimer took his 
 journey to Tredagh, and thence to Trim, he sent letters to the Lacies to 
 appear before him, and on their contemptuous refusal to come, he sent 
 Sir Hugh Crofts to treat with them, and him they slew. After this, Mor- 
 timer marched in arms against them, seized their goods and cattle, slevr 
 
HOtES. 
 
 95 
 
 trlatiy of their adherents, and obliged themselves to seek refuge in Con- 
 haught. Sir Walter, it was said, went to Ulster to join Bruce, and he 
 with his brother Hugh_, were proclaimed seducers and felons to the king, 
 because they had advanced their banner against the peace of the King of 
 England. John Lacy, it appears, had been imprisoned, for on Sunday, a 
 month after Easter, he was led forth of the castle at Dublin, and brought 
 to Trim to be arraigned, and receive judgment. He was adjudged to be 
 strait dieted, and so he died in prison. 
 
 Hugh de Lacy, the younger, was, for various treasons, condemned to 
 be drawn with horses, afterwards to be hanged and quartered, one quar- 
 ter, with his head, to be set up in Dublin, and the others in Drogheda, 
 Dundalk, and Trim, and his bowels to be burned. But the Archbishop 
 of Armagh and others interceding with the lord justice to respite his exe- 
 cution until the king's pleasure might be known, his body was delivered 
 for safe custody to Richard Taafe, Esq. sheriff of the county of Louth, 
 who kept him until he was ordered to be hanged at 'Drogheda..— 'Camden 
 —Lodge. 
 
 Three of the Lacies, viz. Sir Walter, Sir Robert, and Sir Aumer, were 
 in the camp of Bruce, during his last conflict at Dundalk, and with great 
 difficulty escaped. 
 
 NOTE IIL— p. 28. 
 
 Thou dar'dst with Clan-Boske to storm e^en hell -fire. 
 
 In an Irish poem, entitled the Prayer of Ossian, published by Dr. 
 Young, in the first volume of the Transactions of the Royal Irish 
 Academy, Ossian s5ys — 
 
 " Na bithad clanna Baosga asteach, 
 'S clanna Moran na feachd treun, 
 Bherrmuid Fionn amach ar. 
 No bhith an teach aguin fein.'* 
 
 *• If the clan of Boisgne were alive, and the descendants of Morne of 
 valiant deeds, we would force Finn out of hell, or the house would be 
 our own." 
 
 NOTE IV.— p. 28. 
 
 Through the bards, that are now but mere water and earth, 
 
 *.******* 
 AAA vficug ^iv Tfecvng vSof^ xcct yetM yimtrh , 
 Hf^im etvh iKecarrot UKmot, otTcXug ecvr ag, 
 
 II. H. 99- 
 
 NOTE v.— p.. 28. 
 
 To lap the foul puddle, to browze the bare thorn. 
 " Here some man happly would thinke it not correspondent to tb« 
 gravitie of this worke, if I should but relate what a ridiculous opinion 
 hath fully possessed the minds of a number of the Irishress, yea, and 
 perswaded them verily to beleeve that he who in that barbarous Pha- 
 roh, and outcry of the soldiers which, with great straining of their 
 voice, they use to set up when they joine battaile, doth not cry and 
 
96 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 shout as they doe, is suddenly caught up from the ground, and carried 
 as it were, flying in the aire, into those desert vallies (in the County 
 of Kerry) out of any country of Ireland, whatsoever : where he eateth 
 grasse, lappeth water, knoweth not in what state he is, good or bad, 
 hath some use of reason, but not of speech, but shall be caught at 
 length with the help of houndes, and the hunters, and brought home 
 to their owne homes."— Cawrfm. 
 
 NOTE VI.~p. 32. 
 
 An arm upon which Baptist's dew never fell. 
 
 " In some corners of the land they used a damnable superstition, 
 leaving the right armes of their infants males unchristened (as they 
 tearmed it) to the intent it might give a more ungracious and deadly 
 blow. Campion. 
 
 NOTE VII.— p. 32. 
 
 JBi/ this have they sworn— by the sun^ moon^ andjire. 
 
 ** The common oath of the Scythians w£,s by the sword and by the fiire, 
 for that they accounted these two speciall divine powers, which should 
 worke vengeance on the perjurers. So do the Irish at this day, when 
 they go to battaile, say certain prayers or charmes to their swords, 
 making a cross therewith upon the earth, and thrusting the points of 
 their blades into the ground, thinking thereby to have the better suc- 
 cess in fight. Also, they used commonly to swear by their swords* 
 Also the Scythians used, when they would binde any solemn vow or 
 combination amongst them, to drink a bowl of blood together, vowing 
 thereby to spend their last drop of blood in that quarrell ; and even 
 so doth wild Scots,* as you may read in Buchanan." 
 
 Spenser's State of Ireland, 
 
 NOTE VIII.— p. 34. 
 
 Were slain and devoured, 
 
 ** The garrison of Carrickfergus castle offered to surrender within a 
 limited time, and an agreement to that effect was entered into, by 
 which they were to give up the castle on the 31st of May, unless re- 
 lieved. The time elapsing without relief, they were required to sur- 
 render, according to contract, and thirty Scots advanced to take possses- 
 sion of the castle, but M^ere immediately made prisoners ; the garrison 
 declaring they would defend the place to the last extremity. About 
 this time, King Robert Bruce embarked at Lochryan, and soon after 
 landed at Carrickfergus, with a reinforcement to his brother. 
 
 *' The siege was now more closely pressed than ever, yet the gar- 
 rison held out to the end of August, before they surrendered. Prior 
 to this event they had endured the utmost horrors of famine, eating 
 hides ; and it is even said that they devoured the thirty Scots who 
 were taken prisoners, as just noticed." — M'SJcimin. 
 
 * He might have added, even so did the lordly Romans. — " Fuere, ea 
 tempestate qui dicerent, Catilinam, oratione habita, cum ad. jusjurandum 
 populares sceleris sui adigeret, humani corporis sanguinem vino per- 
 mixtum in pateris circumtulisse ; inde cum post exsecrationem omnes 
 degustavissent, &c." — Sallust. * 
 
97 
 
 NOTE IX.—p. 34. 
 
 The Pope for King Edward had cursed 
 His foes ifoung and old, and the Bruces the first. 
 
 I'he following extract from the Pope's Bull, shews wliat atrocities 
 had incurred his just displeasure, 
 
 *' Nec sacrilegum execrantes, nec incendiariorum poenas horrentes 
 aedes sacras, ecclesias, monasteria, ac loca religiosa di^iao cultui dedi» 
 cata, destruere ac comburere, Dei calcata reverentia, nequiter prse- 
 sumpserunt, bonis ac rebus sistentibus inibi quse potuerunt ab incen- 
 dio praeservari, furtivis manibus, non sine reatu sacrilegii asportantes." 
 
 Avinion 4 KaL Aprilis 1317. Rymer, 
 
 A Bull Was also issued against the Order of Mendicants for preaching 
 rebellion. ** Bulla contra fratres de ordine Mendicantium, ad populum 
 Hybernicum, rebellionem prEedicuntes." It may be seen in Rymer 
 
 NOTE X.— p. 35. 
 
 And cooked her last meal in the skulls of the dead. 
 
 ** The ravening of the Scots caused such horrible scarcity in Ulster, 
 that the souldiours which in the yeare before abused the king's au- 
 thority, to purvey themselves of wanton fare, surfieted with flesh and 
 aqua-vitEB all the Lent long, prolled and pilled insatiably without neede 
 and without regard of poore people, whose onely provision they de- 
 voured. Those (I say) now living in slavery under Le Bruise, starved 
 for hunger, when they had hrst experienced many lamentable shifts, «s 
 in scratching the dead bodyes out of their graves, in whose skulls they 
 boyled the same flesh and fed thereof" — Pembridge. 
 
 The horrors of this dreadful famine have, most probably, been ex- 
 aggerated by the ambiguity of the word skulls, an appellation frequently 
 given by old writers to a covering for the head — for instance, in Baron 
 Finglas's Breviate of Ireland, *' a lad to bear their jacks, skulls^ bows 
 and arrows." A helmet would be no bad substitute for a pot — supposing 
 the famine had consumed their spits and kettles. " But the aim of the 
 annalist, "says Dalrymple," was to display the enormity of the sin of 
 eating flesh in the season of Lent. It is probable, that the poor Irish 
 violated Lent by eating horse flesh j this, surely, was a venial trans- 
 gression." 
 
 > NOTE XL— p. 36. 
 
 Marshalled their battle and fought in the sky. 
 
 " At the same time the Irish of Omayll, went towards the parts of 
 TuUogh, and fought a battaile; whereupon of the Irish were slaine 
 about four hundred, whose heads were sent to Dublin : and wonders 
 were afterwards seene there. The dead as it were arose and fought one 
 with another, and cried out FennokabOy Which was their signal." 
 
 Pembridge, 
 
 NOTE XII.—p. 37, 
 
 To a soldier but one sacred omen is known. 
 The cause of his country. 
 
 //. M. 243 
 
98 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE XIII.— p. 37. 
 
 — — A green hill lifts its broio 
 Right Faughard. 
 
 '* The Faughard is an artificial mount, composed of stones and terras, 
 with a deep trench round it, raised to the height of sixty feet, in the 
 form of the frustum of a cone, upon the north frontier of what is 
 now called the English pale. There has formerly been some sort of an 
 octagonal building on the top of it, as appears from the foundations 
 remaining. It stands very high, about two miles North of Dundalk. 
 Here Lord Mountjoy encamped from the loth October, till the 9th of 
 November, 1600, against Tyrone, who was then in possession of the 
 pass of the Moiry, distant about a mile. 
 
 ** Here was the natal place of St. Brigid, and here she had a pillar 
 raised upon two circular and concentric steps, round which the nuns 
 of her convent used to go upon their knees, on particular occasions, 
 sometimes round the lesser and sometimes round the larger circles, as 
 their penance required." — Wyighfs Loiithiuna. 
 
 " St. Monenna erected a nunnery here, in the year 638, wherein she 
 presided over 150 virgins. A monastery also is said to have been erected 
 here for regular canons, to the honour of St. Brigid." 
 
 ArchdalVs Man. Hib. 
 
 NOTE XIV.— p. 38. 
 
 The chieftains in council advise not to try 
 The fortune of ivar, till their allies be nigh. 
 
 " It is a prerailing notion among our historians, (says Dalrymple) 
 that Edward Bruce rashly fought, while powerful succours under the 
 command of the King his brother, were approaching. This, however 
 confidently and repeatedly asserted, appears to be altogether a popular 
 fiction. The King of Scots was too much engaged at home, and to« 
 intent on the preservation of the important conquest of Berwick, to 
 risk his forces in a new invasion of Ireland." 
 
 Barbour, in accordance with the popular opinion, informs us that 
 Bruce on the approach of the Irish army sent out his three principal 
 officers, De Soulis, Stewart, and Mowbray, to reconnoitre. When they 
 had surv^eyed the superior numbers of the enemy, which, in no unusual 
 style of exaggeration, Barbour estimates at 4:0',000 — they endeavoured 
 to dissuade Bruce from his rash purpose of fighting. He heard their 
 remonstrances with indignation ; and addressing Mowbray, who had 
 expressed his conviction of the fatal consequences of engaging under 
 such disadvantages, avowed his determined resolution to try the issue of 
 a battle. 
 
 '* Then with gret ire, * Allace,' said he, 
 
 * I wend neuer till her that of the! 
 Now help quha will, for sekyrly, 
 This day, but mar baid, fetch will I, 
 Sail no man say, quhill I may drey. 
 That strenth of men sail ger'me fley. 
 God scheld that ony suld us blam 
 Gif we defend our noble nam.' 
 
 * Now be it swagat than,' quoth thai, 
 
 * We sal] tak that God will purwai.'" 
 
NOTES. 
 
 99 
 
 'The Irish allies of Bruce were as averse from fighting as his priacipal 
 officers. They " counsaillyt him full tenderly," to decline the con- 
 test, and promised to keep the enemy employed both that day and the 
 next, till he had secured his retreat. Finding that their counsels 
 made no impression on the fiery spirit of Bruce, they frankly told him 
 that he was to expect no aid from them, as it was contrary to their 
 custom to cope with their enemies in a standing fight. 
 
 ** For our maner is of this land 
 To follow and fecht, and fecht fleand j 
 And nocht to stand in plane melle 
 Quhill the ta part discomfyt be." 
 
 Bruce said all he demanded of them was to retire to a safe distance, 
 and remain spectators of the conflict. — He was, probably, encouraged by 
 t)ast success in similar circumstances, to anticipate a fortunate result : 
 and it was quite in character with his romantically chivalrous spirit, to 
 combat under every disadvantage. Being informed, on a former occasion 
 that Richard De Clare was marching against him with an army of 50,000 
 men, in five battallions, he exclaimed — 
 
 " The ma thai be 
 The mar honour all out haff we, 
 Giff that we ber us manfully. 
 We ar set her in juperty. 
 To wyn honour or for to dey 
 We ar to far fra hame to fley ; 
 Tharfor let ilk man worthi be. 
 Tone ar gadringis of this countre ; 
 And thai sail fley, I trow, lyohtly, 
 An men assail thaim manlily." 
 
NOTES. 
 
 CANTO THIRD. 
 
 NOTE I.— p. 46. 
 
 Lc PoeVy a chivalrous lord, 
 
 " Lord Arnold Le Poer, a descendant of Sir Roger Le Poer, (sometimes 
 written Power) who accompanied Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in his 
 expedition to Ireland. The Lord Arnold slew Sir John Bonville in 
 single combat, and being tried by a Parliament held at Kildare, in 1310, 
 was acquitted, because he had acted only in self defence- He was one 
 of the commanders against Bruce in the battle of AscuU, in Leinster, 
 in which Raymond Le Gross fell— and afterwards formed one of that 
 numerous confederacy which under Butler and Kildare, assembled to 
 the number of 30,000 to oppose the invaders. He was made Seneschali 
 of the County and City of Kilkenny, and in this situation espoused the 
 cause of William Utlaw, son of the famous Alice Ketyll, whom Ri- 
 chard Lederede, Bishop of Ossory, accused of witchcraft and sorcery. 
 He caused the Bishop to be imprisoned three months ; and afterwards 
 quarrelled with the Lord Morris Fitzthomas, whom he provoked by 
 calling him a rhymer, on account of his taste for poetry. This affront 
 gave rise to a sanguinary war, in which Lord Arnold's possessions were 
 laid waste, and himself obliged to seek refuge in England. He was, 
 afterwards, convicted of heresy by the Bishop of Ossory, and confined in 
 the castle of Dublin till he died. And though Roger Outlaw, Prior of 
 Kilmainham, made it appear that the Lord Arnold was falsely accused, 
 yet he remained a long time unburied, because he died unassoyled." 
 
 Lodge, 
 
 NOTE II.-p. 47. 
 
 The fear bringing slogan of " Grasagh ahoe,'^ 
 
 ** Grasagh aboe" — the cause of the Graces. 
 
 *' In the early days of feudal warfare, most families of note in Ireland 
 had some particular slogan, or war-cry, to distinguish their respective 
 followers. The word aboe^ in which they usually terminated, is derived 
 from aba a cause or business. Thus Butler aboe, the slogan of the 
 house of Ormonde, when cried at the begiiming of an engagement, was 
 to encourage one another to fight valiantly in the cause of the Butlers. 
 Such, also, is the reference of Grasagh aboe to the family of Grace, 
 Barons of Courtstown. The Earls of Kildare had for their slogan, 
 Crom aboe, alluding to their great castle of Crom, in the County of 
 Limerick. The Fitzpatrick slogan, was Gear laidir aboe, the cause of 
 the strong and sharp, ojXxxiXui^ to their crest, viz: a lion surmounted by 
 
NOTES. 
 
 101 
 
 a dragon ; and the O'Neil slogan was Lamb dearg aboe, the cause of 
 the red hand, which was the ancient cognisance of that family." 
 This note is annexed to a translation from Irish of the subjoined 
 War-song of the Graces," obligingly communicated by Sir William 
 Grace, Baronet, of whom it may be truly affirmed, concordant nomine 
 facta. For this, and many other acts of kindness, the author is happy 
 to avail himself of an opportunity to express his grateful thanks. 
 
 GRASAGH ABOE — THE CAUSE OF THE GRACES. 
 
 O Courtstown I thy walls rise in beauty and pride, 
 From thy watch-tower's summit the bold foe is descried. 
 Though the hearts of thy children with courage o'erflow. 
 Still their strength is the war-shout of " Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown ! thy chieftains in kindness delight;— 
 
 As dauntless their valour their glory is bright : 
 
 In prowess unequalled they rush on the foe, 
 
 While the hills and the vales ring with " Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown ! thou home of the great and renowned. 
 Thy bulwarks what heroes of battle surround. 
 The Shees, Rooths, and Shortalls, whose bosoms still glow 
 To join in the conflict with " Grasagh aboe !" 
 
 O Courtstown! ne'er may'st thou demand foreign aid. 
 When aloft thy red standard is proudly displayed. 
 And its rampant white lion threats slaughter and wo. 
 As thy sons raise the slogan of " Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown ! what trophies of conquest you boast, 
 In the spoils of a noble and valorous host ; 
 O'More and Fitz Patrick felt the shame of o'erthrow. 
 As they fled the dire contest with " Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown I how martial and grand was thy train. 
 As they stood with the Butlers on combat's red plain ; 
 And Desmond's proud followers, his partners in wo, 
 Shrunk heart-struck and pale from *' Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown ! no strangers thy battles e'er fight, 
 Thy friends are unnumbered, and matchless in might j 
 Thy Walshes, thy Purcells, thy Powers, long ago. 
 Shared the feast and the triumph with *' Grasagh aboe." 
 
 O Courtstown ! can fate in its wrath e'er ordain 
 
 That thy name be forgotten, thy barfls cease their strain. 
 
 Their harps all be mute, and in sorrow forego 
 
 The praise of thy heroes and *' Grasagh aboe ?" 
 
102 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 NOTE III.— p. 47. 
 
 Flemings of ivorth 
 From the strong castled cantreds of Bargie and Forth. 
 
 ** The baronies of Bargie and Forth* are situated at the southern ex- 
 tremity of the county of V^^^exford, and together contain about sixty 
 square Irish miles. They lie due east from Cardiganshire, in Wales ; the 
 shortness of the passage caused a frequent intercourse between the Irish 
 and the Britons, from the earliest account of their history." — Vallancey. 
 
 Dermod, king of Leinster, granted these baronies to Fitzstephen for 
 ever. Fitzstephen surrendered his right to Henry II. who gave it to 
 Pembroke ; from whom, by the Earls Mareschals, the Valences of the 
 Lusigrdan line in France, and the Hastings, it descended to the Greies, 
 Lords of Ruthin, who commonly in ancient charters are named Lords of 
 Weisford ; although in the reign of King Henry VI. John Talbot is once 
 called in the Records Earl of Shrewsburie and of Weisford. — Camden. 
 
 An wpinion has been entertained that this territory was peopled by a 
 colony of Flemings, and this opinion seems to be founded on the belief, 
 that many of the first adventurers under Strongbow and Fitzstephen were 
 of Flemish extraction. We read in Holinshed that in the year 1108, a 
 great part of Flanders being inundated by the sea, many of the inhabi- 
 tants sought an asylum in England, and had . Pem.brokeshire assigned 
 them for their habitation. *' But," he adds, multitudes of Flemings 
 arrived in England before, even in the time of WiOiam the Conqueror ; 
 through the friendship of the queen, their countryvv^oman, sithens which 
 time their numbers so increased, that the realme of England was pestered 
 with them: whereupon King Henrie devised to place them in Pembroke- 
 shire, as well to avoid them out of other parts of England, as also by 
 their helpe to tame the bold and presumptuous fiercenesse of the Welsh- 
 men. Which thing in those parts they brought verie well to passe j for 
 after they were setled there, they valiantlie resisted their enemies, and 
 made very shai-pe warres upon them, sometimes with gaine and sometimes 
 with losse." 
 
 Camden says, ** this whole territorie (of Bargie and Forth) is passing 
 well peopled with English, who to this very day use the ancient English- 
 men's apparell and their language ; yet so as they have a certaine kind of 
 mungreli speech between English and Irish." Vallancey affirms that in 
 his day " they still retained their ancient manners, customs, and lan- 
 guage — but that not one word of Irish was spoken or understood in these 
 two baronies." Inconsequence, however, of the introduction of schools, 
 the original language, which has a striking resemblance to some of the 
 provincial English dialects, is rapidly dying. It is known now only to a 
 few of the most aged individuals, and in another generation its oral pe- 
 culiarities will probably have ceased to exist. 
 
 The country is generally level, rich, well cultivated, and thickly stud- 
 ded with ancient castles, some of them in ruins, others in good preserva- 
 tion. The people are industrious, well-clothed, opulent, hospitable, and 
 of good morals. Much might be written on this interesting subject, but 
 it would be doing it wrong to attempt it in a note. The curious reader 
 is referred to General Vallancey 's Essay in the Transactions of the Royal 
 Irish Academy. 
 
 * The old Irish names Bargi» and Forth signify a fertile spot, viz. bar, 
 fruitful; go, the sea— the fertile land on the sea coast:— /or^Aa, plenty. 
 
NOTES, 
 
 103 
 
 f 
 
 NOTE IV.-p. 48. 
 
 And Husse is there, that brave spirit of fire, 
 
 " To Sir Richard Bermingham belonged a lusty young swayne, John 
 Hussee,* whom his lord commanded fco take a view of the dead carcasses 
 about the walls (of Athenry) and bring him word whether O'Kelly, his 
 mortal foe, were slaine among them. Hussee passed forth with one man 
 to turn up and peruse the bodies. All this marked O'Kelly, who lurking 
 in a bush thereby, being of old well acquainted with the valiantness and 
 truth of Hussee, sore longed to traine him from his captaine, and presum- 
 ing now upon his opportunity, disclosed himself and said, ' Hussee, thou 
 seest I am at all points armed, and have my esquire, a manly man, be- 
 sides me ; thou art thin, and thy page a youngling, so that if I loved not 
 thee for thine own sake, I might betray thee for thy master's. But come 
 and serve me at my request, and I promise thee by St, Patricke's stafF to 
 make thee a lord in Connaught, of more ground than thy master hath 
 in Ireland.' When these wordes waighed him nothing, his owne man (a 
 st®ut lubber) began to reprove him for not relenting to so rich a proffer, 
 assured him with an oath, whereupon he proffered to gage his soul for 
 performance. Now had Hussee three enemies, and first he turned to hig 
 owne knave, whom he slew; next he raught to O'Kellyes squire a great 
 rappe under the pitte of his eare, which overthrew him. Thirdly he be- 
 stirred himself so nimbly, that ere any help could be hoped for, he had 
 also slain O'Kelly, and perceiving breath in the squire, he drawed him up 
 againe, and forced him, upon a truncheon, to beare his lord's head into 
 the high towne, which presented to Bermingham, and the circumstances 
 declared, he dubbed Hussee knight, and him advanced to many prefer- 
 ments ; whose family became afterwards the Barons of Galtrime."— 
 Campion. 
 
 NOTE v.— p. 49. 
 Ere in years they had measured eight rings of the sun. 
 
 *• Beal ainn, ttie ring of Baal, or the sun — the Irish for year; Four 
 Irish Kings having promised obedience to King Richard, he was de- 
 sirous of creating them knights. On the proposal being made to them, 
 they answered that they were knights already, and had been honoured 
 with that title at seven years old ; that in Ireland a King makes his 
 son a knight, and should the child have lost his father, then the nearest 
 relation ; and the young knight begins to learn to tilt with a light lance 
 against a shield fixed to a post in the field, and the more lances he 
 breaks the more honour he acquires." — Froissart. 
 
 NOTE VI.— p. 50. 
 O^Mailey, well-versed in sea wiles. 
 
 O'Mailey, the chief of a sept, in the CouVity of Mayo, once powerful 
 in galleys and seamen. The celebrated Grace O'Mailey, better known by 
 the name of Grana Uile, was daughter to a chieftain of that sept, and 
 wife of O'Flaherty. Her name is still renowned in Irish history and 
 tradition, for her intrepid spirit, maritime adventures, her unsophisticated 
 manners in the court of Queen Elizabeth, and her abduction of the 
 infant son of Lord Howth. She had a numerous fleet—of which the 
 
 * Cox says he was a butcher of Athenry. 
 
104 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 largest vessels were stationed at Clare Island—the smaller at Carrick-a- 
 Owly— her owa galley was moored by a cable passing through a hole in 
 her castla wall, ^nd fastened to her bed-post, to prevent any sudden sur- 
 prise. Her exploits are said to have been the theme of many a bardic 
 tale and song. 
 
 NOTE VII.— p. 55. 
 
 The crotaVs dark aimson is fused through Ms vest. 
 Crotall Coilleagh— Irish— Tree Lungwort. Threlkeld. Many species 
 of lichen are used, especially by the inhabitants of mountainous and 
 rocky districts, for colouring various kinds of wearing apparel. Saffron 
 appears to have been the favourite dye of the Irish. Smith says, that 
 Castle Saffron, in the County of Cork, was so called from the quantity of 
 saffron cultivated there by the Irish for dying their habits. Its use, 
 however, was beginning to decline in 1571, when Campion was com- 
 mencing his history of Ireland. Sir William Petty informs us, that a 
 certain mud taken out of the bogs, served them for copperas j the rind of 
 several trees and saw-dust for galls ; as for wild and green weeds they 
 find enough, as also of Rhamnus berries. ^The inhabitants of the 
 Rosses, on the coast of the County of Donegal, use a mud, the same 
 perhaps as that alluded to by Petty, called mire-black which makes a 
 very deep and durable black, a kind of stuff' caMed corkar (lichen ompha- 
 lodes) scraped off" the rocks, from which they extract a very fine red, 
 and a kind of plant almost the same and of the same effect as madder."— 
 See Appendix to Walker's' Essay on the dress of the Irish. 
 
 " A Parliament held in Dublin in the reign of Henry VIII. A. D. 
 1536, enacted among other laws—*' That no subject shall be shaved 
 above the ears, or wear Glibbs, or Crom-meals {i. e. hair on the upper 
 lip,) or linnen dyed in saffron, or above seven yards of linnen in their 
 shifts, and that no woman wear any kirtle, or coat tucked up, or 
 embroydered, or garnished with silk, or couched, nelaid with Usker, after 
 the Irish fashion, and that no person wear mantles, coats, or hoods after 
 the Irish fashion.' " — Cox, 1. p. 250. 
 
 NOTE VIII.— p. 53. 
 
 With his war. axe and sword comes the stout galloglass. 
 " Galloglass, the Irish grenadier — from gal-glac the courageous hand. 
 Spenser thinks it comes from gal-ogla the English servitor ; but, as it is 
 justly observed in Grose's Antiquities, he did not consider that the Irish 
 never would have given themselves, nor would their countrymen per- 
 mit them to adopt a hated and degrading appellation. What is stated 
 in the text of the force with which the galloglass could wield the battle- 
 axe, * the Amazonian bipennis of Scythian origin,' is no poetical fiction 
 but founded on a fact recorded by Cambrensis." 
 
 NOTE IX.— p. 54. 
 
 Next comes the glibbed kerUy with his lion-like face. 
 Kern^ the light-armed infantry — from carn^ or kearn^ the victorious 
 or conquering band. Vaunting titles are common among the military 
 corps of every nation".— Gro*^. 
 
 *' Glibbes," says Spenser, ** were thick curled bushes of hair hanging 
 down over their eyes, and monstrously disguising thera. They are as fit 
 
NOT£S. 
 
 105 
 
 maskes as a mantle is for a thiefe. For whensoever he hath run himself 
 into that perill of law, that he will not be knowne, he either cutteth off his 
 glibbe quite, by which he becommeth nothing Ukehimselfe, or pulleth it so 
 low downe over his eyes, that it is very hard to discernc his thecvish coun . 
 tenance." The glibbe often became so closely matted and strong, that the 
 wearer required no other protection for his head, even in battle, as it could 
 resist the edge of the sword. 
 
 Of the courage and activity of the kerns, numerous testimonies might be 
 adduced, but none more satisfactory or amusing than that of Henry Castide, 
 an English squire, who fought against them, and had ample experience of 
 their military prowess. He is introduced in Froissart's Chronicle giving 
 the following account : — 
 
 " When they find a favourable opportunity to attack their enemies to ad- 
 vantage, which frequently happens, from their knowledge of the country, 
 they fail not to seize it ; and no man at arms, be he ever so well mounted, 
 can overtake them, so light are they on foot. Sometimes they leap from 
 the ground behind a horseman, and embrace the rider (for they are very 
 strong in their arms) so tightly, that he can no way get rid of them. It 
 happened that the Earl of Ormond wafi sent with three hundred lances and 
 one thousand archers to make war on the Irish. The Earl, whose lands 
 bordered on his opponents, had that day mounted me on one of his best 
 horses, and I rode by his side. The Irish having formed an ambuscade to 
 surprise the English, advanced from it, but were so sharply attacked by 
 the archers, whose arrows they could not withstand, for they are not 
 armed against them, that they soon retreated. The Earl pursued them, 
 and I, who was well mounted, kept close by him. It chanced that in thig 
 pursuit my horse took fright, and ran away with me, in spite of all my 
 efforts, into the midst of the enemy. My friends could never overtake me ; 
 and in passing -through the Irish, one of them, by a great feat of agility, 
 leaped on the back of my horse, and held me tight with both his arms, 
 but did me no harm with lance or knife. He pressed my horse forward for 
 more than two hours, and conducted him to a large bush, in a very retired 
 spot, where he found his companions, who had run thither to escape the 
 English." 
 
 Castide lived seven years in captivity with Bryan Costeret, his captor, 
 who treated him well, for he gave him his daughter in marriage. Bryan, 
 notwithstanding his address, was at last taken prisoner, mounted on Cas- 
 tide's horse. He was offered his liberty for that of Castide, and though 
 reluctant to accept such terms, having no alternative, he complied, and 
 Castide, with his wife and children, fixed his residence in Bristol. 
 
 NOTE X,— p. 56, 
 
 Twelve measures, twice told^of sweet music they play. 
 
 We read in the learned and ingenious dissertation prefixed to Bunting's 
 Irish Melodies, that the Irish minstrels had twenty-four measures of 
 music, commencing with Maghaum-in ttir, i. e. for the county plains, 
 passing through all the varieties of high and low, warlike and pacific, joy- 
 ous and melancholy, and terminating with the Allmharach or foreign 
 strains- These measures, borrowed from the Irish, were instituted in Wales 
 by Prince Griffyd ab Cynan, in the 12th century. It is a singular and re- 
 markable fact, that the meaning of these measures was unknown to the 
 Welsh, and had never been explained by their best antiquaries. On a 
 manuscript copy being lately presented to an eminent Irish scholar, (The- 
 ophilus O'Flannigan, Esq. Trinity College, Dublin,) he found himself in- 
 capable of rendering the preamble, (which is Welsh,) but instantly pro. 
 H 
 
106 
 
 NOl'ES. 
 
 nounced the ineasures themselves Irish ; and, without hesitation, wrote 
 them out in their own character, with English meanings. On the other 
 hand, the preamble being offered to a Welsh scholar, it was as speedily 
 translated, being in the language of his country. 
 
 *' We are thus presented with an historical incident nearly of 700 years 
 standing, established by a new species of testimony, the affirmation of 
 ancient Welsh and Scottish annalists ; that the instrumental music of 
 Wales was, in King Stephen's time, (A. D.11S5,) at least settled and im- 
 proved^ if not introduced, by a body of Irish bards, to that country by one 
 of their princes." 
 
 NOTE XI.— p. 57. 
 
 He wakes the Rosg-catha. 
 
 " Rosg-catha, an extempore martial ode, a rhapsody the Irish pibrock, 
 by which the Irish minstrel stimulated his chief to battle— mares animos 
 in Martia bella versibus exacuit. In the Second volume of the Transac- 
 tions of the Royal Irish Academy, may be seen a specimen of this kind of 
 composition, viz. anode sung by Fergus, the chief bard of Goll, in the 
 battle of Cnucha, in which Goll slew Cumhal, master of the Leinster 
 knights, A. D. 155. Were we, from this specimen, to judge of the other 
 battle-songs of the Irish, we should infer that they were 'more indebted 
 for the effects which they are said to have produced, to the music which 
 accompanied them, than to their own intrinsic excellence. It breathes no 
 spirit-stirring thought—it warms with no Tyrteean fire— it is a chaos of 
 laudatory, high-sounding appellations^ unconnected by a single sentiment 
 —for example ; — 
 
 " Goll, vigorous and warlike, chief of heroes ! 
 Generous and puissant hand ; meditator of glorious deeds ; 
 Bulwark dreadful as fire; terrible is thy wrath ! 
 Champion of many battles ; royal hero ! 
 Like a lion rapid to the attack • ruin to the foe ! 
 Overwhelming billow ; Goll, frequent in action ; 
 Invincible in the most dreadful confiicts." 
 
 The whole is in the same style. 
 
 If any of those bardic strains, which once exercised so powerful a controut 
 over the mhids of their hearers, have escaped the ravages of time, it would 
 confer an obligation on the admirers of Irish antiquity, to present them to 
 their attention in an English dress. 
 
 *' Diodorus Siculus informs us, in his account of the Gauls, that whe» 
 armies were ready to engage, if their bards but came between them, they 
 immediately put an end to the battle, as if their warriors were so many 
 wild beasts, which they had charmed by the power of their songs. This 
 extraordinary power was possessed, in an eminent degree, by the Irish 
 bards. We will select one instance from many. — In the celebrated conten- 
 tion for precedence between Fin and Goll, near Fin's palace at Almhain, 
 the attending bards, observing the engagement to grow very sharp, were 
 apprehensive of the consequence, and determined, if possible, to cause a 
 cessation of hostilities. To effect this, they shook the chain of silence ^ and 
 flung themselves among the ranks, extolling the sweets of peace, and the 
 achievements of the combatants' ancestors. Immediately both parties 
 laying down their arms, listened with attention to the harmonious lays of 
 their bards, and, in the end, rewarded them with precious g\f\&,'''-'Walker^s 
 History of the Irish Bards. - ' 
 
NOTES. 
 
 107 
 
 NOTE XII.— p. 60. 
 
 Jorseythe bold primate ^ arrayed for the Jight, 
 
 ** Roland Jorse, a Dominican friar, succeeded to the primacy of Armagh 
 by the Pope's provision, bearing date the 13th of November, ISll, Pie re. 
 signed the archbishoprick of Armagh on the 20th of March, 132I, being, 
 it seems, grieved on account of the impoverishing of his see, by the ravages 
 and devastations of Bruce and his Scots, and the perpetual demands of the 
 Pope for the fees of his promotion " — Ware. 
 
 In the days of Jorse, the characters of the soldier and ecclesiastic were 
 often blended in one person ; and prelates were the conductors both of 
 naval and military expeditions. Jorse took a very active and decided part 
 againsttheScots, and by his exertions Bsay have contributed not a little lo 
 their discomfiture. It is stated by oui' historians, that before the battle he 
 rode among the troops, exhorting and encouraging them. He assoyled 
 or absolved them from their sins, promising the rich fruits of victory to 
 those who should survive, and the more glorious rewards of paradise to those 
 who should fall ; and stimulated them to valiant deeds by all the arguments 
 becoming a patriots a soldier, and a divine. 
 
NOTES, 
 
 CANTO FOURTH. 
 
 NOTE-I.— p. 67. 
 
 He arms like the Bruce, 
 
 It was customary for some of the principal officers, on the eve of battle, 
 to array themselves like their chief, to divert the attention of the enemy, 
 and prevent him from being singled out as the special object of attack. 
 Hence the exclamation of Richard III. at Bosworth— 
 
 " I think there be six Richmonds in the field j 
 Five have I slain to-day instead of him." 
 
 Shakespear, 
 
 Barbour informs us that Bruc«, on the day of battle, did not wear 
 
 His cot armour; bot Gib Harper 
 
 That men held als withoutyn per 
 
 Off his estate, had on that day 
 
 All hale Schyr Edouardis aray." 
 His body being found among the slain, in the armour of Bruce, he was 
 mistaken and dismembered for his master. 
 
 Thai that at the fechting wer, 
 
 Soucht Schyr Eduuard to get his hed 
 Among the folk that thar wes dede. 
 And fand Gib Harper in his ger ; 
 And for so gud hys armys wer. 
 Thai struk hys hed of, and syn it 
 Thai have gert salt in till a kyt. 
 And sent it in till Ingland 
 Till the king Eduuard in presand ; 
 Thai wend Schyr Euuardis it had bene, 
 Bot for the armyingthat wes schene. 
 Thai of the heid dissawyt wer ; 
 All thought Schyr Eduuard deyt thar." 
 
 Bruce, of course, was buried cadavere toto. A pillar in Faughard bury- 
 ing ground marks his grave. This pillar is said to have stood, within the 
 memory of man, seven feet above the ground; but at present, the adja- 
 cent soil has been so elevated by the deposit of dead bodies, that it does not 
 rise more than four feet, perhaps not so much. Every peasant in the 
 neighbourhood can point out the resting place of King Bruce, as he is uni- 
 versally styled. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 109 
 
 A learned friend, to whose literary labours the public is greatly indebted, 
 informs the author, that he, with some antiquarian associates, had fixed a 
 day for opening the grave, to ascertain whether Bruce's head had been 
 buried with the rest of the body ; but some wag having circulated a report 
 of their design, and that one of them had found out, in the Scottish records, 
 that a golden helmet, golden spurs, breast-plate, crown and sceptre, were 
 inhumed with the slain monarch, above 20,000 persons assembled to see or 
 to share the imaginary treasure. Such an assemblage naturally excited 
 some alarm, and prevented the intended investigation. 
 
 A considerable diversity of opinion prevails among historians with re- 
 spect to the final catastrophe of Bruce. " Edward de Bruse, the king of 
 Scottis brother," says Prynne, *' was taken by Englishmen, and was be- 
 headed at Dundalk." The same is recorded by Walsingham — " E. le 
 Bruse * * * a fidelibus regis Anglise captus est 8c propter suam pra?- 
 sumptionem &superbiam decollatus in Dondalk." Another story is told 
 by Lodge, which differs from all the rest : — " Bruce had so far prevailed 
 with the Irish," says he, *' that they crowned him king of Ireland, at 
 Knocknemelan, within half a mile of Dundalk ; but Sir John Birming- 
 ham, by his prudent conduct, gave him a total overthrow ; for encamping 
 about half a mile from the enemy, Roger de Maupas, a burgess of Dundalk, 
 disguised himself in a fool's dress, and in that character entering their 
 caixp, killed Bruce by striking out his brains with a plummet of lead. He 
 was instantly cut to pieces, and his body found stretched over that of 
 Bruce ; but for this service his heir was rewarded with forty francs a year ; 
 of which action Sir John having intelligence, met the Scots in good order 
 of battle, and 28th May routed their whole army with a very great slaugh- 
 ter; after which he cut off Bruce's head, and sent it (or as Marlburgh 
 says, took it himself) to King Edward, who, in recompence of i>o signal a 
 service, created him Earl of Louth." 
 
 The author feels reluctant to give any credence to an account that thus 
 strips the whole affair, so far as the hero is concerned, of all the " pride, 
 pomp, and circumstance of glorious war;" and instead of ennobling his 
 death by the arm of a warriour, makes him the victim of a masked assassin. 
 The date is evidently erroneous. The day of the battle is particularly 
 marked, as being that of Pope Calixtus, thei4th of October— the anniversary 
 of the famous battle of Hastings. 
 
 " The corpse of Edward Bruce," says Dalrymple, " was not treated with 
 honours like those which the King of Scots bestowed on the brave English 
 who fell at Bannockburn. His body was quartered and distributed, for a 
 public spectacle, over Ireland," 
 
 NOTE 1 1. —p. 68. 
 
 ' nov) in air 
 
 ^Tis scattered. 
 
 Volucres dispersit in auras.— Virg. 
 
 In the field of Bannockburn, ** Maurice, Abbot of Inohaffray, placing 
 himself on an eminence, celebrated mass in sight of the Scottish army. He 
 then passed along the front, barefooted, and bearing a cross in his hands, 
 and exhorted the Scots, in a few and forcible words, to combat for their 
 rights and liberty. The Scots kneeled down. * They yield,' cried Edward • 
 
 • see, they implore mercy.' * They do,' answered Ingelram de Umfravillc', 
 
 • but not ours. On that field they will be victorious, or die. ' " ( Dalrymple.) 
 He spoke like a Spartan, and the event justified his speech. 
 
110 
 
 NOTES* 
 
 NOTE III.— p. Q9, 
 
 Suchy atjirst, is the whispering sound of the breeze. 
 
 Excipiunt eos jam gesturientes barritum ciere vel maximum : qui clamot 
 ipso fervore certaminum atenui susiirro incipiens, paulatimque adolescens, 
 ritu extollitur fluctiium cautibu: illisorum. — Amm. Marcell. 
 
 The Irish war cry is adduce i by Spenser as a proof of the Scythian ori- 
 gin of the Irish. Ke observer, chat " Diodorus Siculus and Herodotus des- 
 cribe the manner of the Scythians andParthians coming to give the charge 
 at battles ; at which it is said, they came running as if heaven and earth 
 would hare gone together, which' is the very image of the Irish hubub, 
 which their kerne use at their first encounter." 
 
 *' In all their encounters," he continues, " they use one common word — 
 Ferragh, Ferragh, which is a Scottish word, to wit, the name of one of the 
 first kings of Scotland, called Feragus, or Fergus ; but, according to others, 
 it was of more ancient date — the name of their chief captaine. under 
 whom they fought against the Africans." 
 
 Stanihurst thinks ic the name of Pharaoh, the Egyptian king, under 
 whose daughter Scota, they first came into Ireland— an imagination which 
 Spenser severely handles and exposes. 
 
 Whatever argument may be founded on the word Ferragh, none can 
 rest on the war-cry itself, since its use was common to all nations, as well as 
 the Scythians and the Irish ; and for the obvious reason noticed by Cssar, 
 to keep up the courage of the assailants, and strike the enemy with terror. 
 " Neque frustra antiquitus institutum est, ut signa undique concinerint, 
 clamoremque universi tollerent, quibus rebus & hostes terreri & suos inci- 
 tari existimarunt." The Greeks had their uXtcXcc, and the Germans 
 their Barditus J savages have their warwhoop; and the English, "St. 
 George and victory." Tacitus says that the Germans augured the issue of 
 the conflict from the spirit of the war cry — " Accendunt animos, futur- 
 aeque pugnes fortunam ipso cantu augurantur ; terrent enim, trepidantque, 
 prout sonuit acies." An anecdote of Sir E wen Cameron, related by Pen- 
 nant, contains a good illustration of this species of augury. Just before the 
 battle of Killicrankie, Sir Ewen '* commanded such of the Camerons as 
 were posted near him to make a great shout, which being seconded by those 
 who stood on the right and left, ran quickly through the whole army ; but 
 the noise of the muskets and cannon, with the echoing of the hills, made 
 the Highlanders fancy that their shouts were much louder and brisker than 
 those of the enemy ; and Lochiel cried out, 'Gentlemen, take courage, 
 the day is ours. I am the oldest commander in the army, and have always 
 observed something ominous and fatal in such a dull, hollow, and feeble 
 noise as the enemy made in their shout, which prognosticates that they 
 are all doomed to die by our hands this night j whereas ours was brisk, 
 lively and strong, and shows we have vigour and courage.' These words 
 spreading quickly through the army, animated the troops in a strange 
 manner. The event justified the prediction ; the Highlanders obtained a 
 complete victorj'." 
 
 Hence we may learn the value of Homer's panegyric, /ioviV ctyotQog, 
 From the importance of such a qualification, must have arisen the guilt 
 and punishment attached to feeble and spiritless shouting among the Irish. 
 See Note V. page 95. 
 
 What if the Irish war-cry, Ferragh, were radically the same as the 
 German Barditus, or, as some critics would read it, Barrhitus, and deriva- 
 ble from the strains of the bards ? Selden, in a note to the sixth song of 
 Drayton's Polyolbion, seems to be of this opinion. 
 Fenauiothc name of one of Ariosto's knights. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 Ill 
 
 NOTE IV.— p. 71. 
 
 Till shorn hy the severing slane of the hoor. 
 
 The slane is an instrument well known to the Irish turf-cutter. Dr. 
 Campbell, in his Philosophical Survey, describes it as a« spade about four 
 inches broad, with a steel blade of the same breadth, standing at right 
 angles to the edge of the spade. 
 
 NOTE v.— p. 72. 
 
 In a sheltrum he waits the approach of the storm. 
 
 Sheltrum, or shyltrum, a body of armed men drawn up in a round 
 form. 
 
 In that schyltrum thai slw down 
 And sawfyd of Berwyk swa the town. 
 
 Wyntown. 
 
 It is used by Barbour, Holinshed, and other old writers. In such a 
 form Randolph, in the battle of Bannockbum, waited the attack of Clif- 
 ford's cavalry. He said to his men- 
 Set your spearis you before. 
 And back to back set all your rout. 
 And all your spearis their points out. 
 So-gat us best defend may we. 
 Environed with them if we be. 
 
 Barbour. 
 
 NOTE VI.— p. 77. 
 
 Striket sword of Mananan. 
 
 The three sons ofUsnach being condemned to die, a contest arose be- 
 tween them which of them should first submit to the stroke, to avoid the 
 pain of seeing his brothers suffer. Naisi proposed that they should all die 
 at the same instant. *' I have a sword," said he " which Mananan, the 
 son of Lear, gave me, and it leaves not remains of stroke or blow, and let 
 us three be struck together with it, and we will be killed at once." 
 
 '* True it is," says every one, " and stretched by you be your heads and 
 necks," say they. ** They then stretched their noble, stately, polished necks 
 on the block at once, and then Maini dealt them a quick, forceful blow of 
 the sword, and took the three heads off" them at a stroke."— Dd?-fl?ri, an 
 ancient Irish tale. 
 
 NOTE VII.— p. 77. 
 
 By his clansmen is Mowbray borne far from the field. 
 
 It appears from Barbour that Sir Philip Mowbray had been " dosynt," 
 or stunned by the blows and wounds which he had received in the conflict, 
 and being taken prisoner, was led along a causeway, that lay between 
 Dundalk and the scene oi' action. When about the middle of the cause- 
 way, he began to recover from the *' desynis" by which he had been over- 
 come, and perceiving his situation, he swappyt one of his captors from him. 
 
112 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 and then the other, and nimbly drawing his sword, took his way towards 
 the field of battle, compelling above a hundred of the enemy to flee before 
 him. Here he met John Thomason, leader of the men of Carrik, who 
 told him of the total discomfiture of their forces, and advised him to join 
 in effecting their retreat to an Irish king who was still their friend. It is 
 probable Mowbray died of his wounds, as nothing farther is recorded of 
 him. Thomason, who appears to have been a man of good conduct, col- 
 lected the fugitives, and led them to Carrickfergus, whence they sailed for 
 their own country. He 
 
 wrought syne sa wittilj^ 
 That all that thidder fled than wer, 
 Thoucht that thai lossyt of thair ger, 
 Cam.e to Cragfergus hale and fer. 
 
 Balrymple thinks it likely that Barbour learned what he records of the 
 Irish war from this Thomason. 
 
 Mr. Stuart, in his " Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," a work 
 which discovers a most intimate knowledge, not only of the local history 
 and antiquities of his subject, but of his country in general, states that 
 
 the fugitive Scots of Bruce's army are said to have lost or buried con- 
 siderable quantities of coined money, in their flight across the country. 
 On the 25th of August, 1814, a man who was labouring in a field, near 
 Castlelenaghan, within five miles of Newry, dug up a large cow-horn, full 
 of old silver coins. On some of these, the words 
 
 RoBERTUS Dei Gra : Rex Scottorum, 
 
 are perfectly legible, and the king's face, in profile, is distinctly visible. 
 He is crowned, and a waving line, not inelegantly designed, which termi- 
 nates at each side of the neck, almost surrounds his head. Betwixt this 
 line and the visage of the monarch, a sceptre appears parallel to his face. 
 These are all enclosed in a complete circle, which is itself inscribed within 
 the king's title. On the reverse is a cross, the lines of which are nearly 
 diameters of the coin, and cut two concentrical circles, whose common 
 centre is also that of the cross. In the vertical angles are four stars, each 
 of which has five irradiations. The outer circle contains the following in- 
 scription— 
 
 Dns: Ptector Ms ►J^ Libator Ms. 
 Dommu Protector meus—^Christus Liberator mms. 
 The inner circle contains the words 
 
 Villa Edinburgh. 
 
 Some of the coins bear the imprimatur of David. In these, the word 
 ScoTORUM is written with a single t. The horn has proved the true horn 
 of Amalthea to the poor labourer. It has enriched him and his fa- 
 mily." 
 
 A horn of similar description was found a few years ago, between Belfast 
 and Carrickfergus. Some of the coins are in possession of a friend of the 
 author's. 
 
 Mr. Stuart also informs us, that " in the year 1739, a great gun was dug 
 up near Dundalk, which, it is alleged, was left there by John Lord Bir- 
 
NOTES 
 
 minghara, after the defeat of Bruce. If so, the use of cannon must have 
 been known at an earlier period than is generally conceived. This piece of 
 artillery was encircled and secured with many hoops." 
 
 It seems strange that the date of inventions so extraordinary as gun- 
 powder and cannon, should be left in the least uncertainty. Koger Bacon 
 knew the composition of the former; but its invention is generally 
 ascribed to Shwartz, a German, in 1330. Cannons are said to have been 
 first used by the Moors, at the siege of Algesiras, in Spain, in 1344 ; and 
 next, by the English, at the battle of Cressy, in 1346. Had such a novel 
 instrument of destruction been employed by Birmingham against the Scots, 
 it could not, by any possibility, have escaped the notice of our annalists; 
 and Barbour would most gladly have ascribed the defeat of his countrymen 
 to the ** machina infernal,'? 
 
 ** Which many a good tall fellow has destroyed 
 So cowardly ;" 
 
 and gladly would he have joined in such an invective as that of the Italian 
 poet, againt the use of artillery ;— 
 
 Come trovasti, o scelerata e hrutta 
 Jnventioriy mai loco in uman core ? 
 Per te la militar gloria e distrutta ; 
 Per te il mestier de Varme e senza onore. 
 Per te eU valore, e la virtu ridutta^ 
 Che spessepar del buono il rio migliore ; 
 Non piula gagliardia^ non piu Vardire 
 Per te pud' in campo al paragon venire. 
 ****** 
 Per te songitti, et anderan sotterra 
 Tanti signori, e cavalieri tanti. 
 
 AriostOt Canto xi. 26. 
 
 How could'st thou, curst invention, ever find 
 Reception in the brave, the generous mind ! 
 By thee the glorious war is turned to shame. 
 By thee the trade of arms has lost its fame 1 
 By thee, no more shall gallantry or might 
 Avail the warriour in the field of fight ; 
 By thee so many lords and knights are slain. 
 By thee such numbers yet must press the plain. 
 
 Hoolc. 
 
 " A biasing," says Don Quixote, " on those happy ages that were stran- 
 gers to the dreadful fury of these devilish instruments of artillery, whose 
 inventor, I verily believe, is now in hell, receiving the reward of his dia- 
 bolical invention." 
 
 NOTE VIIL-p. 78. 
 
 With sabres are gleaning the harvest of death. 
 
 Authors differ greatly in their account both of the numbers engaged, 
 and of those who fell. Barbour, whose object it was to pay all possible 
 honour to the valour of his countrymen, says that Bruce's army contained 
 
 I 
 
114 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 about 2000 men, not including his Irish auxiliaries; and that they wea-e 
 opposed by the overwhelming multitude of 40,000. Bruce, at his landing, 
 had 6000 men, and he afterwards received reinforcements from Scotland. 
 Now, though he sustained some loss from the sword, famine, and other 
 casualties of war, it is scarcely credible that his forces were reduced to one- 
 third. The Irish annals compute his numbers at 3000 ; but Ware says that 
 8274 fell in the field, and that they were opposed by only 1324 men at arms; 
 Walsingham states the number of the slain to be 5800, besides 29 barons 
 and knights. The Anglo- Irish army is not said to have sustained any loss 
 beside that of Maupus. But even so, this victory does not equal another 
 gained some time afterwards, viz. in 1336, when the Enghsh gave the 
 Irishmen a great defeat in Connaught, and with the loss of one man, slew 
 10,000 of their enemies ! So says Cox-— that most candid and veracious 
 historian ! ! I 
 
 THE END* 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR, 
 
 Lately PuhUshed^ 5^/ Hodges & M'Arthuu, Dublin^ and 
 Archer, Belfast^ 
 
 POEMS ON RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS, 
 8vo. Price 6s. 6d. 
 
 CLONTARF, A POEM, 
 24 mo. Price 2s. 
 
 A TRANSLATION OF THE FIRST BOOK OF 
 T. LUCRETIUS CARUS, OF THE NATURE OF 
 THINGS, 12mo. Edinburgh: Printed for Mundell, 
 DoiG, and Stevenson; and for Longman, Hurst, 
 Rees and Orme, London. 
 
 ^or character see Monthly Review^ Vol Ix. jo. 413—17; and 
 Mosses Manual of Classical Biography^ Vol* ii, p, 291.