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Theare was flayne uppon the Englyshe parte,

205

For foothe as I you faye;

Of nine thousand Englishe mene

Fyve hondred came awaye :

The other weare flayne in the feeld,

Christe keepe thear fowles from wo,

Seeing thear was fo fewe frendes
Against so manyè foo.

Then one the morowe they made them beeres

Of byrche, and hafelle graye;

Many a wydowe with weepinge teeres

Their maks they fette away.

This fraye begane at Otterborne
Betweene the nighte and the daye :
Theare the Dowglas lofte his lyfe,
And the Percye was leade away.

Then was theare a Scottyfhe prisonere tane,

210

215

220

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To bring his fowle to the blyfs of heven,

For he was a gentle knight.

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V. 213. one, i. e, on, *fe. captive. V. 225. Percyes. MS.

Moft of the names in the two preceding ballads are found to have belonged to families of diftinction in the North, as may be made appear from authentic records. Thus in

THE ANCIENT BALLAD OF CHEVY CHASE.

Pag. 14.

Ver. 112. Agerstone.] The family of Haggerfton of Haggerston, near Berwick, has been feated there for many centuries, and still remains. Thomas Haggeriton was among the commissioners returned for Northumberland in 12 Hen. 6. 1433. (Fuller's Worthies, p. 310.) The head of this family at prefent is Sir Thomas Haggerston, Bart. of Haggerston abovementioned.

Ver. 113. Hartly.] HARTLEY is a village near the fea in the barony of Tinemouth, about 7 m. from NorthShiels. It probably gave name to a family of note at that

time.

Ver. 114. Hearone.] This family was one of the most ancient in Northumberland: they were once Lords of Ford Caftle, and alfo of the Barony of Heron in this county; their principal feat being at Chip-Chafe near Hexham. Thus, Johannes Hearon, miles, is among those who figned a treaty with the Scots in 1449. Hen. 6. (See Nicholson's Laws of the Borders, p. 34. See also p. 330. 331. 332. 333-335.)-Two Herons are among the commiffiorers in Ful ler. p. 310.Johan Heronn was fheriff of Northumber land in 35 of Edv. 3. (Fuller. p. 311.) Alfo in 7° of Richard 2. (p. 312.) and others afterwards. The defcendant of this family, Sir Thomas Heron, Bart. is at prefent an officer in the army.

Ver. 115. Lovele.] Joh. de Lavale, miles, was sheriff of Northumberland 34 Hen. 7.-Joh. de Lavele, mil. in the Edw. 6. and afterwards (Fuller 313.) In NicholJon this name is Spelt Da Lovel. p. 304. This feems to be the ancient family of Delaval, of Seaton Delaval, in Northumberland.

Ver 117.

Ver. 117. Rugbè.] The ancient family of ROKEBY in Yorkshire, feems to be here intended. In Thorefby's Ducat. Leod. p. 253. fol. is a genealogy of this houfe, by which it appears that the head of the family about the time when this ballad was written, was Sir Ralph Rokeby, Knt. RALPH being a common name of the ROKEBYS.

Ver. 119. Wetharrington.] Rog. de Widrington was Sheriff of Northumberland in 36 of Edw. 3. (Fuller, p. 311.)-Joh. de Widrington in 11 of Hen. 4. and many others of the fame name afterwards. See alfo Nichaljon, p. 331.Of this family was the late Lord Witherington.

Ver. 124. Mongonberry.] Sir Hugh Montgomery was fon of John Lord Montgomery, the lineal ancestor of the prefent Earl of Eglington.

Ver. 125. Lwdale.] The ancient family of the LIDDELS were originally from Scotland, where they were Lords of LIDDEL Caitle, and of the Barony of Buff. (Vid. Collins's Peerage.) The bead of this family is the prefent Lord Ravenfworth, of Ravensworth Castle, in the county of Durbam.

In THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.

Pag, 26. ver. 101. Mentaye.] At the time of this battle the Earldom of Menteith was pafejjed by Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife, third son of K. 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. Ste Douglas's Peerage of Scetland, 1764. fol.

Ver. 103. Huntleye.] This fhews this ballad was not compofed before 1449; for in that year Alexander Lord of Gordon and Huntley, was created Earl of Huntley by K. James II.

VOL. I.

D

Ver. 105.

Ver. 105. Bowghan.] The Earl of Buchan at that time. was Alexander Stewart, fourth fon of K. Robert II.

Ver. 107. Jhonftone-Maxwell.] These two families of Johnfton Lord of Johnfton, and Maxwell Lord of Maxwell, were always very powerful on the borders. Of the former family is Johnston Marquis of Annandale: of the latter is Maxwell Earl of Nithfdale. I cannot find that any chief of this family was named Sir Hugh; but Sir Herbert Maxwell was about this time much diftinguifhed. (See Doug.) This might have been originally written Sir H. Maxwell, and by tranfcribers converted into Sir Hugh. So above, in p. 8. Richard is contracted

into Ric.

Ver. 109. Swintone.] i. e. The Laird of SWINTONE; a fmall village within the Scottish border, 3 miles from Norham. This family ftill fubfifts, and is very ancient.

Ver. 111. Scotte.] The illuftrious 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-grandfon Sir David Scot, was the hero of that house, when the Ballad was written.

Ibid. Stewarde.] The perfon here defigned was probably Sir Walter Stewart, Lord of Dalfwinton and Gairlies, who was eminent at that time. (See Doug.) From him is defcended the prefent Earl of Galloway.

Ver. 112. Agurftonne.] The feat of this family was fometimes Jubject to the Kings of Scotland. Thus Richardus Hagerftcun, miles, is one of the Scottish knights, who figned a treaty with the English in 1249. Hen. 3. (Nicholson, p. 2. note.) It was the fate of many parts of Northumberland often to change their mafters, according as the Scottish or English arms prevailed.

Pag. 30. ver. 189. Murrey.] The perfon bere meant was probably Sir Charles Murray of Cockpoole, who flou rifhed

ried at that time, and was ancestor of the Murrays fometime Earls of Annandale. See Doug. Peerage.

This was

Ver. 119. Fitz-hughe.] Dugdale (in his Baron. V. 1. p: 403.) informs us, that John fon of Henry Lord Fitzhugh, was killed at the battle of Otterbourne. a Northumberland family. Vid. Dugd. p. 403. col. 1. and Nicholson, p. 33. 60.

Ver. 201. Harbotle.] HARBOTTLE is a village upon the river Coquet, about 10 m. weft of Rothbury. The family of Harbottle was once confiderable in Northumberland. (See Fuller. p. 312. 313.) A daughter of Sir Guifchard Harbottle, Knt. married Sir Thomas Percy, Knt. son of Henry the fifth, and father of Thomas, seventh Earl of Northumberland.

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Is founded upon the fuppofed practice of the Jews in trucifying or otherwife murthering Chriftian children, out of batred to the religion of their parents: a practice, which bath been always alledged in excufe for the cruelties exercised upon that wretched people, but which probably never happened in a fingle inftance. For if we confider, on the one band, the ignorance and fuperftition of the times when fuch ftories took their rife, the virulent prejudices of the monks who record them, and the eagerness with which they would be catched up by the barbarous populace as a pretence for plunder; on the other hand, the great danger incurred by the perpetrators, and the inadequate motives they could have to

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