none.

upon a stone without, and entreated some of the king's servants for a cup of drink, being weary and thirsty; but they fearing the king's displeasure, durst give him none. When the king was set at his dinner, he asked what he had done, what he had said, and whither he had gone? It was told him that he had desired a cup of drink, and had gotten The king reproved them very sharply for their discourtesy, and told them, that if he had not taken an oath that no Douglas should ever serve him, he would have received him into his service, for he had seen him some time a man of great ability. Then he sent him word to go to Leith, and expect his further pleasure. Then some kinsman of David Falconer, the canonier, that was slain at Tantallon, began to quarrel with Archibald about the matter, wherewith the king shewed himself not well pleased when he heard of it. Then he commanded him to go to France for a certain space, till he heard further from him. And so he did, and died shortly after. This gave occasion to the king of England (Henry VIII) to blame his nephew, alleging the old saying, That a king's face should give grace. For this Archibald (whatsoever were Angus's or Sir George's fault) had not been principal actor of any thing, nor no counsellor nor stirrer up, but only a follower of his friends, and that noways cruelly disposed."-HUME of Godscroft, II. 107.

NOTE XIII.

Prize of the wrestling-match, the king
To Douglas gave a golden ring.

St. XXXIII. p. 158.

The usual prize of a wrestling was a ram and a ring, but the animal would have embarrassed my story. Thus in the Cokes Tale of Gamelyn, ascribed to Chaucer;

There happed to be there beside
Tryed a wrestling;

And therefore there was y-setten
A ram and als a ring.

Again the litil geste of Robin Hood:

- By a bridge was a wrestling,
And there taryed was he,

And there was all the best yemen
Of all the west countrey.

A full fayre game there was set up,
A white bull up y-pight,

A great courser with saddle and brydle,
With gold burnished full bryght;
A payre of gloves, a red golde ringe,
A pipe of wyne good fay;

What man bereth him best I wis,

The prise shall bear away.

RITSON'S Robin Hood, vol. I.

རྩྭ

NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH.

NOTE I.

These drew not for their fields the sword,
Like tenants of a feudal lord,

Nor own'd the patriarchal claim

Of chieftain in their leader's name;
Adventurers they.——St. III. p. 171.

The Scottish armies consisted chiefly of the nobility and barons, with their vassals, who held lands under / them, for military service by themselves and their tenants. The patriarchal influence exercised by the heads of clans in the Highlands and Borders was of a different nature, and sometimes at variance with feudal principles. It flowed from the Patria Potestas, exercised by the chieftain as representing the original father of the whole name, and was often obeyed in contradiction to the feudal superior. James V seems first to have introduced, in addition to the militia furnished from these sources, the service of a small number of mercenaries, who formed a body-guard, called the Foot-Band. The satirical

poet, Sir David Lindsay, (or the person who wrote the prologue to his play of the "Three Estaites") has introduced Finlay of the Foot-Band, who, after much swaggering upon the stage, is at length put to flight by the fool, who terrifies him by means of a sheep's skull upon a pole. I have rather chosen to give them the harsh features of the mercenary soldiers of the period, than of this Scottish Thraso. These partook of the character of the Adventurous Companions of Froissart, or the Condottieri of Italy.

One of the best and liveliest traits of such manners is the last will of a leader, called Geffroy Tete Noir, who, having been slightly wounded in a skirmish, his intemperance brought on a mortal disease. When he found himself dying, he summoned to his bed-side the adventurers whom he commanded, and thus addresed them;

"Fayre sirs, quod Geffray, I knowe well ye have alwayes served and honoured me as men ought to serve their soveraygne and capitayne, and I shal be the gladder if ye will agre to have to your capitayne one that is descended of my blode. Behold here Aleyne Roux, my cosyn, and Peter his brother, who are men of armes and of my blode. I require you to make Aleyne your capitayne, and to swere to him faythe, obeysaunce, love, and loyalte, here in my presence, and also to his brother: howe be it, I wyll that Aleyne have the souverayne charge. Sir, quod they, we are well content, for ye hauve ryght well chosen. There all the companyons made theym