The wren she lies in care’s nest,
  Wi’ meikle dole and pyne.

This may be a modification of the ballad in the text.]

I Saw Raf Coilyear with his thrawin brow, Crabit John the Reif, and auld Cowkilbeis Sow; And how the wran cam out of Ailsay, And Peirs Plowman[90], that meid his workmen few; Gret Gowmacmorne, and Fyn MacCowl, and how They suld be goddis in Ireland, as they say. Thair saw I Maitland upon auld beird gray, Robine Hude, and Gilbert with the quhite hand, How Hay of Nauchton flew in Madin land.

In this curious verse, the most noted romances, or popular histories, of the poet’s day, seem to be noticed.  The preceding stanza describes the sports of the field; and that, which follows, refers to the tricks of “jugailrie;” so that the three verses comprehend the whole pastimes of the middle ages, which are aptly represented as the furniture of dame Venus’s chamber.  The verse, referring to Maitland, is obviously corrupted; the true reading was, probably, “with his auld beird gray.”  Indeed the whole verse is full of errors and corruptions; which is the greater pity, as it conveys information, to be found no where else.

[Footnote 90:  Peirs Plowman is well known.  Under the uncouth names of Gow Mac Morn, and of Fyn MacCowl, the admirers of Ossian are to recognise Gaul, the son of Morni, and Fingal himself; heu quantum mutatus ab illo!

To illustrate the familiar character of Robin Hood, would be an insult to my readers.  But they may be less acquainted with Gilbert with the White Hand, one of his brave followers.  He is mentioned in the oldest legend of that outlaw; Ritson’s Robin Hood, p. 52.

  Thryes Robin shot about,
  And alway he slist the wand,
  And so dyde good Gylberte
  With the White Hand.

Hay of Nachton I take to be the knight, mentioned by Wintown, whose feats of war and travel may have become the subject of a romance, or ballad.  He fought, in Flanders, under Alexander, Earl of Mar, in 1408, and is thus described;

  Lord of the Nachtane, schire William,
  Ane honest knycht, and of gud fame,
  A travalit knycht lang before than.

And again, before an engagement,

  The lord of Nachtane, schire William
  The Hay, a knycht than of gud fame,
  Mad schire Gilberte the Hay, knycht.

Cronykil, B. IX. c. 27.

I apprehend we should read “How Hay of Nachton slew in Madin Land.” 
Perhaps Madin is a corruption for Maylin, or Milan Land.]