MINSTRELSY OF" THE SCOTTISH BORDER. 
spot where he had taken himup. The joy 
of his friends, and the less agreeable surprize 
of his successor, may “be easily conceived, 
when he appeared in court, to reclaim his 
office and honours. All embraced his own 
persuasion, that he had been spirited away 
by witchcraft ; nor could he himself be con- 
vinced of the contrary, until, many years af- 
tertvards, happening-to travel in Annandale, 
his ears were salutéd, once more, with the - 
sounds of Maudge and Batty—the only notes 
which had> solaeed’ his long confinement. 
This led to a discovery of the whole story ; 
but, in these disorderly’ times, it was only 
laughed at, as a fair ruse de guerre. 
* “«« Wild and strange as this tradition may 
seem}: there’ is litele doubt of its foundation 
in fact, The judge, upon whose person this 
extraordinary stratagenrwas practised, was sir 
Alexander Gibson, lord Darie, collector of 
the reports, well known in the Scottish law, 
under the title of Durie's Decisions. He was 
edvanced to the station of an ordinary lord of 
session, 10th July, 1621, and died, at his 
own house of Durie, July 1€46.” “iy? 
*= £ ° * . 
** Tradition ascribes to Christie’s Will 
another memorable feat, which seems worthy 
of being recorded. § It is well known, that, 
during the troubles of Charles I., the ear] of 
Traquair continued pnalterably fixed in his 
attachment to his unfortunate master, in 
whose service he hazarded his person, and 
impoverished his estate. It was of conse- 
quence, itis said, to the king's service, that a 
certain packet, containing papers of import- 
ance, should be transmitted to him from 
Scotland. But the task was 2 difficult one, 
as the parliamentary Igaders used their ut- 
most endeavours to prevent any communi- 
cation betwixt the king and his Scottish 
friends. Traquair, in vhis strajt, again had 
recotirse to the services of Christie’s Will ; 
who undertook the commission, conveyed 
the papers safely to his majesty, and received 
an answer, to be delivered to lord Traquair. 
But, in the meantime, tis embassy had taken 
air, and Cromwell had dispaiehed orders to 
intercept him at Cariisie. Christie’s Will, 
unconscious of his danger, halted in the town 
to refresh his horse, and then pursued his 
journey. But, as soon as he began to pass 
thelong, high, and narrow bridge, which 
crosses the Eden at Carlisle, either end of the 
pass was occupied by a party of parliamentary 
soldiers, who were lying in wait for him. 
The borderer disdained to resign his enter- 
prise, even in these desperate circumstances ; 
4nd at once forming hts resolution, spurred 
his horse over the parapet. ‘The river was 
in high flood. Vill sunk—the soldiers 
shouted—he emerged again, and, guiding his 
horse to a steep bank, called the Stanners, or 
Stanhouse, endeavoured’ to land, but inetlec- 
tually, owing to his heavy horseman’s cloak, 
-now drenched in water. Will cut the loop, 
aud the horse, feeling himself disembarrassed, 
made a desperate exertion, and succeeded in 
535 
gaining the bank, Our hero set off at full 
speed, pursued by the troopers, who had for 
a time stood motionless, in astonishment at 
his temerity. Will, however, was well 
mounted ; and, having got the start, he kept 
it, menacing, with his pistols, any pursuer, 
who seemed likely to gain on him-—an ar- 
tifice, which succeeded, although the arms 
were wet and useless, He was chased to the 
river Eske, which he swam without hesi- 
tation; and, finding himself on Scottish 
ground, and in the neighbourhood of friends, 
he turned on the northern bank, and, in the 
true spirit of a border rider, invited his fol- 
lowers to come through, and drink with 
hima. After this taunt, he proceeded on his 
journey, and faithfully accomplished his mis~ 
sion. Such were the exploits of the very last 
border freebooter of any note.” 
- The next article, the duel of Wharton 
and Stewart, is printed from tradition, 
and affords a fresh proof of the correct- 
ness with which favourite pieces of po- 
etry are preserved in the memory of vil- 
lage hearers. -Its principal merit how- 
ever is, that ithas served as an excuse for 
many curious and entertaining notices 
respecting the rise and progress of duel- 
ling. ; ue 
The remainder of this class consists of 
pieces which are strictly historical ; and 
which, though neither venerable front 
their antiquity, nor important as speci- 
mens of Janguage, nor possessed of much 
poetical merit, have either supplied or 
suggested to the editor such a variety of 
local descriptions, so many lively deli- 
neations of character, and so much in- 
teresting anecdote concerning that event- 
ful period of our history which interven- 
ed between the accession of Charles I., 
and the restoration of his son, that we 
can confidently recommend this portion 
of the present volume as calculated to 
inspire a more general interest than any 
part of the whole work. ‘There is, inall 
great revolutions of government, a point 
of time which is highly favourable to the 
moral painter; an interval between the 
first storm of popular frenzy and the last 
dead calm of military despotism; when 
every passion is excited, and every cha- 
racter exhibited without restraint or dis- 
guise. ‘This interval was rather longer 
in Scotland thanin England; the causes 
of the revolution, the actors in it, their 
views and their means were different ; so 
that Mr. Scott’s sketches, which are 
strictly appropriate to the country and 
the times, will have the merit of novelty 
to the greater part of his English readers. 
As an introduction to Lesly’s March he 
Mm 4 
