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

NOTES TO BALLADS, &t,
ftt'le man, wearing heavy iron shoes, with which he trampled the elay
-!oor of the vault, to dispel the damps. This circumstance caused her to
be regarded, by the well.informed, with compassion, as deranged in ha
understanding, and by the vulgar, with some degree of terrore
CADYOW CASTLE.
NOTE I.
First of his troop, the chief rode on.
The head of the family of Hamilton, at this period, was James. Earl of
Arran, Duke of Chatelherault, in France, and first peer of the Scottish
realm. In 1569, he was appointed by Queen Mary her lieutenant-general
in Scotland, under the singuiar title of her adopted father.
NOTE Ii.
Stern Claud replied, with darkening face.
Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and
commendator of the abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during
the troubles of Queen Alary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to
the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her arm' at
the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the Raid
of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queens.
faction. He was ancestor of the present Mfarquis of Abercorn.
NOTE III.
Few suns have set since Woodhouselee.
This barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, near Auchinliany,
belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right of his wife. The ruins of the rman-.
sion, from whence she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasioned
her death, are still to be seen in a hollow glen beside the river.
NOTE IV.
Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke
Drives to the leap his jaded steed.
Birfell informs us that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, "after
that spur and wand had fail'd him, he drew forth his dagger, and str,,cke
his horse behind, whilk caused the horse to leap a very brodte stance (i. e.
ditch), by whilk means he escaipit, and gat away from all the rest of the
horses."
NOTE V.
With hackbut bent, my secret stand.
The carbine with which the regent was shot is preserved at Hamilton
palace. It is a brass piece, of a middling length, very sm-11 in the bore,
and, what is rather extraordinary, appears to have been rifled or indented
in the barrel. It had a matchlock, for which a modern fire-lock has been
injudiciously substituted.
NOTE VI.
Dark Morton, girt with many a spear.
Of this noted person it is enough to say, that he was active in the muoe
der of David Rizzio, and at least privy to that of Darnley.
NOTE VII.
The wild Macfarlanes' plaided clan.
This clan of Lennox Highlanders were attached to the regent Murray.
Holinshed, speaking of the battle of Langsyde, says, " In this batayle
the valiancie of an hieland gentleman, named Macfarlane, stood the
regent's part in great steede; for, in the hottest brunte of the fighte, he
came up with two hundred of his friendes and countrymen, and so man.
fully gave in upon the flankes of the queen's peo.)le, th tt he was a great
cause of the disordering of them. This Macfarlane had beenlately before,
as I nave heard, condemned to die, for some outrage by him committed,
and obtayning pardon through suyte of the Countesse ot Murray, he
recompenced that clemencie by this piece of service now at this batayle."