Douglas of Cavers, hereditary sheriff of Teviotdale, descended from Black Archibald, who carried the standard of his father, the Earl of Douglas, at the battle of Otterbourne.—­See the Ballad of that name.

  Wi’ Cranstane, Gladstain, good at need.—­P. 158. v. 2.

Cranstoun of that ilk, ancestor to Lord Cranstoun; and Gladstain of Gladstains.

  Wi a’ the Trumbills, stronge and stout;
  The Rutherfoords, with grit renown.—­P. 158. v. 2.

These were ancient and powerful border clans, residing chiefly upon the river Jed.  Hence, they naturally convoyed the town of Jedburgh out.  Although notorious freebooters, they were specially patronised by Morton, who, by their means, endeavoured to counterpoise the power of Buccleuch and Ferniherst, during the civil wars attached to the queen’s faction.

The following fragment of an old ballad is quoted in a letter from an aged gentleman of this name, residing at New-York, to a friend in Scotland: 

    “Bauld Rutherfurd, he was fow stout, Wi’ a’ his nine sons
    him round about; He led the town o’ Jedburgh out, All bravely
    fought that day.”

  Wi’ Sir John Forster for their guyde.—­P. 158. v. 3.

This gentleman is called, erroneously, in some copies of this ballad, Sir George.  He was warden of the mid-marches of England.

  Wi’ Sir George Henroune of Schipsydehouse.—­P. 159. v. 1.

Sir George Heron of Chipchase-house, whose character is contrasted with that of the English warden.

  Had Tindaill, Reedsdaill at his hand.—­P. 159. v. 2.

These are districts, or dales, on the English border.  Hebsrime seems to be an error in the MS. for Hebburn upon the Till.

  Five hundred Fennicks in a flock.—­P. 159. v. 3.

The Fenwicks; a powerful and numerous Northumberland clan.

  Then raise the slogan with ane shout.—­P. 161. v. 3.

The gathering word, peculiar to a certain name, or set of people, was termed slogan, or slughorn, and was always repeated at an onset, as well as on many other occasions, as appears from the following passage of an old author, whom this custom seems much to have offended—­for he complains,

“That whereas alweys, both in al tounes of war, and in al campes of armies, quietnes and stilnes without nois is principally in the night, after the watch is set, observed (I need not reason why.) Yet, our northern prikkers, the borderers, notwithstanding, with great enormitie, (as thought me) and not unlyke (to be playn) unto a masterless hounde houyling in a hie wey, when he hath lost him he wayted upon, sum hoopyng, sum whistelyng, and most with crying, a Berwyke! a Berwyke! a Fenwyke! a Fenwyke! a Bulmer! a Bulmer! or so ootherwise as theyr captein’s names wear, never linnde those troublous and daungerous noyses all the night long.  They sayd they did it to fynd out their captein and fellowes; but if the soldiours of our oother countries and sheres had used the same maner, in that case we shoold have oftymes had the state of our campe more lyke the outrage of a dissolute huntyng, than the quiet of a wel ordred army.”—­