Lag's Elegy and Othek Chap Bcioks. 215 



with me on Horseback as formerly, and, after his first Salutation, 

 bid me not be afraid, for he would do me no Harm. I told him I 

 was not in the least afraid, in the name of God. and of Christ my 

 Saviour, that he would do the least Harm to me : for I knew 

 that lie in whom I trusted was stronger than all them put 

 together, and if any of them should attempt even to do the 

 Horse I rode upon Harm, as you have done to Dr Menzies' man, 

 if it be true that is said, and generally believed about Dumfries, I 

 have free access to complain to my Lord and Master, to the Lash 

 of whose Resentment you are as much liable noAv as before.' 



'• ' Sawney Bean and his Family ' is the most blood-curdling 

 tale in chap-book literature. Bean, who lived in the time of 

 James L of Scotland, was guilty of cannibalism, a crime to be 

 punished in no common way, as he at length discovered to his 

 cost. Lovers of the horrible who have not access to his life in 

 the original chap-book form should read it in Captain Charles 

 Johnson's 'History of the Lives and Actions of the most famous 

 Highwaymen, Murderers, Street Robbers, &c., with the Voyages 

 and Plunders of the most noted Pirates ' (17), or in Nicholson's 

 • Historical and Traditional Tales.' (18.) 



" Everyone remembers how superb a use of the ghastly 

 legend lias been made by Mr Crockett in ' The Grey Man.' From 

 a letter which Mr Macmath has enclosed in his copy of ' Nichol- 

 son ' I learn that the distinguished novelist possesses a copy of the 

 chap dated 1737." 



In closing his lecture (after a short reference to the chap- 

 books of Ireland) Mr Miller remarked that this class of literature 

 deserved more attention than it had yet received. If anyone 

 would do for the British chap-books what Professor Child, with 

 valuable assistance from Mr Macmath, did for the British popular 

 ballads, he would earn the gratitude of all who are interested in 

 literary antiquities. 



Among examples of similar works shewn from Mr Mac- 

 math's collection was a four-page tract, entitled 'Dornock's 

 Distress, a Tragical Dialogue,' and bearing the signature 'Ar. 

 Douglas,' with an intimation that it was to be continued. In it 



17. The first edition of Johnson's book (London, 17.34) contains a 

 picture of Sawney at the entrance of his cave. 



18. Kirkcudbright,. 1843. 



