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

NOTES TO CANTO SIXTH.
But the priest understood his meaning. and refused, as by that act he
would have delivered over his soul to the devil. Yet if any body can dis.
cover the mystic words used by the person who deposited the treasure,
and pronounce them, the fiefid must instantly decamp. I had many
stories of a similar nature from a peasant, who had himself seen the devil,
in the shape of a great cat."
NOTE V.
A Bishop by the altar stood.
The well known Gawain Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, son of Archibald
Bell-the-Cat, Earl of Angus. He was author of a Scottish metrical ver.
sion of the ineid, and of many other poetical pieces of great merit. He
had not at this period attained the mitre.
NOTE VI.
- The huge and sweeping brand,
That wont of yore in battle fray
His foemen's limbs to lop away,
As wood-knife shreds the sapling Spray.
Angus had strength and personal activity corresponding to his courage.
Spens of Kilspindie, a favourite of James IV., having spoken of him
lightly, the Earl met him while hawking, and compelling hint to single
combat, at one blow cut asunder his thigh bone, and killed him on the
spot. But ere he could obtain James's pardon for this slaughter, Angus
was obliged to yield his castle of Hermitage, in exchange for that of Both.
well, which was some diminution to the family greatness. The sword.
with which he struck so remarkable a blow, was presented by his
descendant, James, Earl of Morton, afterwards Regent of Scotland, to
Lord Lindesay-of the Byres, when he defied Bothwell to single combat on
Carberry.hill.
NOTE VII,
And hopest thou hence unscathed to go?
No, by St. Bryde of Bothwell, no I
Up draw-bridge, grooms-what, warder, hot
Let the portcullis fall.
This ebullition of violence in the potent Earl of Angus is not without its
examples in the real history of the house of Douglas, whose chieftains
possessed the ferocity with the heroic virtues of aisavage state. The most
curious instance occurred in the case of Maclellan, tutor of Bomby, who,
having refused to acknowledge the pre-eminence claimed by Douglas
over the gentlemen and Barons of Galloway, was seized and imprisoned in.
his castle of Thrieve, on the borders of Kirkcudbright-shire. Sir Patrick
Gray, commander of King James the Second's guard, was uncle to the
tutor of Bomby, and obtained from the king a " sweet letter of supplica.
tion." praying the earl to deliver his prisoner into Gray's hand. When
Sir Patrick arrived at the castle, he was received with all the honour due
to a favourite servant of the king's household; but while he was at dinner,
the earl, who suspected his errand, caused his prisoner to be led forth and
beheaded. After dinner, Sir Patrick presented the king's letter to the
earl, who received it with great affectation of reverence: "and took him
by the hand and led him forth to the green, where the gentleman was
lying dead, and shewed him the manler, and said,' Sir Patrick, you
are come a little too late; yonder is your sister's son lying, but he
wants the head: take his body and do with it what you will.' Sir Patrick
answered again with a sore heart, and said,' My lord, if ye have taken from
him his-head, dispone upon the body as ye please:' and with that called
for his horse, and leaped thereon; and when he Wvis on horseback, he said
to the earl on this manner,'My lord, if I live, you shall be rewarced
for your labours that you have used at this time, according to your demerits.'
"At this saying, the earl was highly offended, and cried for horse, Sit