The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott ... Notes & life of the author.

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CANTO FOURThL.
NOTE 1.
When Denmark's raven soared on high,
Triumphant through Northumbrian sky,
Till, hovering near, their fatal croak
Bade Reged's Britons dread the yoke.
About the year of God 866, the Danes, under their celebrated leaders'
Inguar and Hubba, sons, it is said, of the still more celebrated Regnar
Lodbrog, invaded Northumberland, bringing with them the magical
standard so often mentioned in poetry, called R&aBnx, or Raunfan, from
Its bearing the figure of a raven.
NOTE II,.
Where Tees in tumult leaves his source,
Thundering o'er JCaldron and High-Force.
The Tees rises about the skirts of Crossfell. and falls over the cataracts
named in the text, before it lea, es the mountains which divide the North
Riding from Cumberland. High Force is seventy-five feet in height.
NOTE III.
Who has not heard how brave O'Neale
In English blood embrued his steel.
The O'Neale here meant, for more than one succeeded to the chieftain
ship during the reign of Elizabath, was Hugh, the grandson of Con
O' Neale, called Con Bacco, or the Lame. His father, Matthew O'Kelly,
was illegitimate, and being the son of a blacksmith's wife, was usually
called Matthew the Blacksmith. His father, nevertheless, destined his
succession to him; and he was created, by Elizabeth, Baron of Dungan.,
non. Upon the death of Con Bacco, this Matthew was slain by his bro.
ther. Hugh narrowly escaped the same fate, and was protected by the
English. Shane O'Neale, his uncle, called Shane Dymas, was succeeded
by Turloush Lynogh O'Neale, after whose death, Hugh, having assumed
the chieftainship, became nearly as formidable to the English as any by
whom it had been possessed. He rebelled repeatedly, and as often made
submissions, of which it was usually a condition that he should not any
longer assume the title of O'Neale, in lieu of which he was created Earl of
Tyrone. But this condition he neverobserved longer than until the pressure
of superior force was withdrawn. His baffling the gallant Earl of Essex
in the field, and over-reaching him in a treaty, was the induction to that
nobleman's tragedy. Lord Mountjoy succeeded in finally subjugating
O'Neale; but it was not till the succession of James, to whom he made
personal submission, and was received with civility at court.
NOTE IV,
But chief arose his victor pride,
When that brave Marshal fought and died.
Theehief victory which Tyrone obtained over the English was in a
battle fought near Blaekwater, while he besieged a fort garrisoned by the
English, which commanded the passes into his country.
NOTE V.
The Tanist he to great O'Neale.
" udox. What is this which you call Tanist and Tanistry? These be
names and terms never heard of nor known to us.
"Ire,. It is a custome amongst all the Irish, that, presently after the