104 COUNTRY ESSAYS. 



The scene which follows, when Janet's devoted love rescues 

 him, is one of the most curious scraps of fairy lore to be found 

 in all literature. Having concealed herself on "good Hal- 

 lowe'en " at the ringing of the bridles of the fairy troop, she 

 springs out upon and successfully possesses herself of Tamlane. 

 The wrath of the Fairy Queen at this exploit is amusing, 



" ' Had I but kenned, Tamlane,' she says, 



* Before ye cam frae hame, 

 I wad hae ta'en out your heart o' flesh, 

 Put in a heart o' stane ; 



Had I but had the wit yestreen 



That I ha'e coft* the day 

 I'd paid my kanet seven times to hell 



Ere you'd been won away ! ' " 



The old Tower of Hangingshaw, on the banks of Yarrow 

 (long since demolished), is popularly considered to have been 

 the scene of " The Sang of the Outlaw Murray." 



" Ettricke Foreste is a feir foreste, 



In it grows manie a semelie tree ; 

 There's hart and hynd and dae and rae, 



And of a' wilde bestis grete plentie ; 

 There's a feir castelle, bigged wi' lime and stane, 

 Oh gin it stands not pleasauntlie ! ' 



The story is too long to quote, but finally James IV., his 

 sovereign, says to him, 



" Wilt thou give me the keys of thy Castell, 



Wi' the blessing of thy gaye ladye ? 

 I'se make thee sheriffe of Ettricke Foreste 



Surely while upwards grows the tree ; 

 If you be not traitour to the King, 



Forfaulted sail thou never be ! " 



His answer shows to what the intense affection of the Scots to 

 the heads of their clans was due, 



* Coft, bought. t Kane, rent paid in kind. 



