Ver. 101.Mentaye.] At the time of this battle the Earldom of Menteith was possessed
by Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife, third son of King Robert II., who, according to
Buchanan, commanded the Scots that entered by Carlisle. But our minstrel had
probably an eye to the family of Graham, who had this earldom when the ballad was
written.-- See Douglas'sPeerage of Scotland, 1764, fol.
Ver. 103.Huntleye.] This shows this ballad was not composed before 1449; for in that
year Alexander Lord of Gordon and Huntley was created Earl of Huntley by King
James II.
Ver. 105.Bowghan.] The Earl of Buchan at that time was Alexander Stewart, fourth
son of King Robert II.
Ver. 107.Jhonstone -- Maxwell.] These two families of Johnstone Lord of Johnston,
and Maxwell Lord of Maxwell, were always very powerful on the borders. Of the
former family was Johnston Marquis of Annandale: of the latter was Maxwell Earl of
Nithsdale. I cannot find that any chief of this family was named Sir Hugh; but Sir
Herbert Maxwell was about this time much distinguished.-- See Doug. This might
have been originally written Sir H. Maxwell, and by transcribers converted into Sir
Hugh.-- See above, in No. I. ver. 90,Richardis contracted intoRic.
Ver. 109.Swynton.]i.e.The Laird of Swintone; a small village within the Scottish
border, three miles from Norham. The family still subsists, and is very ancient.
Ver. 111.Scotte.] The illustrious family of Scot, ancestors of the Duke of Buccleugh,
always made a great figure on the borders. Sir Walter Scot was at the head of this
family when the battle was fought; but his great-grandson, Sir David Scot, was the
hero of that house when the ballad was written.
Ibid.Stewarde.] The person here designed was probably Sir Walter Stewart, Lord of
Dalswinton and Gairlies, who was eminent at that time.-- See Doug. From him is
descended the present Earl of Galloway.
Ver. 112.Agurstone.] The seat of this family was sometimes subject to the Kings of
Scotland. Thus Richardus Hagerstoun, miles, is one of the Scottish knights who
signed a treaty with the English in 1249, temp. Hen. III. (Nicholson, p. 2, note.) It was
the fate of many parts of Northumberland often to change their masters, according as
the Scottish or English arms prevailed.
Ver. 129.Money.] The person here meant was probably Sir Charles Murray of
Cockpoole, who flourished at that time, and was ancestor of the Murrays sometime
Earls of Annandale.-- See Doug.Peerage.
Ver. 139.Fitz-hughe.] Dugdale (in his Baron. vol. i. p. 403) informs us that John, son
of Henry Lord Fitzhugh, was killed at the battle of Otterbourne. This was a
Northumberland family. Vid. Dugd. p. 493, col. 1. and Nicholson, pp. 33, 60.
Ver. 141.Harebotell.] Harbottle is a village upon the river Coquet, about ten miles
west of Rothbury. The family of Harbottle was once considerable in Northumberland.
(See Fuller, pp. 312, 313.) A daughter of Guischard Harbottle, Esq. married Sir
Thomas Percy, Knt. son of Henry, the fifth, and father of Thomas, the seventh, Earls
of Northumberland.