HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



I went. I had a biscuit, a sandwich, and some wine ; 



Admired the hall and praised the view, and vowed the whole was 



" fine," 

 But ere I had but half got through the subject of my talk, 

 A host of scarlet horsemen came dashing up the walk. 

 The Marquis^ first, with Mr HopCj^and Johnstone Douglas^ near. 

 Then Yorstoun,* Critchley,^ Johnstone,*^ Munn and Graham '^ in 



the rear. 

 And then the grooms with horses led made up a perfect crowd — 

 A gallant show, of which, I'm sure, his lordship felt full proud. 

 And now a lot of black coats are seen approaching fast, — 

 Kirkpatrick of West Roucan — aye first, but never last, — 

 And Davie Dobie o' the Parks,^ and Cadien, and Cowar, 

 And young Bell Irving,^ and Dryfeholm,^° and others from afar, 

 "Whose names alone would fill this page and take up too much 



time. 

 Besides I might not manage just to make them suit the rhyme. 

 So I'll just give my pen " a lift " and " forrard on " a bit. 

 And tell you — fifty men were there, and every man was fit 

 To " follow to the death," nor care for fear a straw. 

 The hounds here trotted ofi' — the word, "Duke's coverts ^^ you're 



to draw ; " 

 In went the hounds, and " Silence, please," the Marquis gave the 



word. 

 He was obeyed — we silent stood — but not a sound was heard, 

 No welcome whimper, not a whine, much less the opening clang, 

 But just the cracking of the whips and the huntsman's lonely 



twang. 



' The eighth Marquis of Queensberry, master of the Dumfriesshire 

 Hounds. 



2 Mr H. W. Hope of Luffiiess, master of the Lothians Hounds. 



^ Mr Arthur Johnstone-Douglas of Lockerbie. 



* Mr Carthew- Yorstoun of East Tinwald. 



^ Mr Asheton Critchley. 



'^ Mr John Johnstone of Halleaths, afterwards master of the Dum- 

 friesshire Hounds. 



'' Joe Graham, huntsman to the Dumfriesshire Hounds. 



8 Mr David Dobie, Tinwald Parks. 



^ Mr David Bell Irving, master of the Dumfriesshire Otter-hounds. 

 1° Mr James Jardine of Dryfeholm. 

 11 The Duke of Buccleuch's coverts, near Ecclefechan. 



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