440 Notes on Biunxltolme. By W. EHott Lock-hart. 



The hands, the spear that lately grasp' d, 



Still in the mailed gauntlet clasp'd, 



Were interchanged in greeting dear; 



Visors were raised, and faces shown, 



And many a friend, to friend made known, 



Partook of social cheer. 



Some drove the jolly bowl about ; 



With dice and draughts some chased the day ; 



And some, with many a merry shout, 



in riot, revelry, and rout, 



Pursued the football play. 



Yet, be it known, had bugles blown. 



Or sign of war been seen. 



Those bands so fair together ranged. 



Those hands so frankly interchanged, 



Had dyed with gore the green ; 



The merry shout by Teviot-side 



Had sunk in war-cries wild and wide. 



And in the groan of death : 



And whingers, now in friendship bare, 



The social meal to part and share, 



Had found a bloody sheath. 



'Twirt truce and war, -such sudden change 



Was not infrequent, nor held strange, 



In the old Border day ; 



But yet on Branksome's towers and town, 



In peaceful merriment, sunk down 



The sun's declining ray." 1 

 The fulfilment of a Warden's duties also necessarily entailed a 

 constant watch being kept, not only against sudden raids, or "calls 

 to the fray," but even against invasions from across the Border. 

 " Why do these steeds stand ready dight ? 



Why watch these warriors, arm'd, by night P — 



They watch, to hear the bloodhound baying ; 



They watch, to hear the warhorn braying; 



To see St George's red cross streaming, 



To see the midnight beacon gleaming : 



They watch, against Southern force and guile, 



Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers, 



Threaten Branksome s lordly towers, 



From Waxkworth, or Nawoith, or merry Carlisle. 



Such is the custom of Branksome Hall." 2 



- 1 Lay of the Last Minstrel, Canto V., v., VI., rn. 

 Ibid. ,, I., vi., vii. 



