neither printed, nor even committed to writing; and a reciter may be easily supposed to introduce the costume of his own age, on purpose to render the work more interesting to his audience. Were we to suppose, however, that the event related to the reign of James III., it would bring it a step nearer probability. That monarch married Margaret, the King's daughter of Norroway; and, although the kingdom of Norway had previously been united with that of Denmark, yet the writers and natives of this country, from their old habits and prejudices, still continued to distinguish the sovereign of both countries by the more ancient, and, as they thought, more appropriate title of King of Norway. Lindsey of Pitscottie says, that James " being of the age of twenty years, taketh to wife Margaret, the King of Norroway's daughter, (otherwise the King of Den

mark) and got with her in tocher good, the lands of Orkney and Shetland, with all right, and title of right, to them pertaining, to the King of Norroway at that time."

SIR PATRICK SPENS.

THE king sits in Dunfermline toun, Drinking the blude-red wine ;— "O whare will I get a skeely skipper *, "To sail this ship of mine."

O up and spak an eldern knicht,
Sat at the king's right knee,
"Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
"That ever sail'd the sea,"

Our king has written a braid letter,
And sign'd it wi' his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the strand,

*Skeely skipper, skilful mariner.

D

"To Noroway, to Noroway,
"To Noroway o'er the faem;
“The king's daughter o' Noroway,
"Its thou maun bring her hame."

The first word that Sir Patrick read,
Sae loud loud laughed he;

The neist word that Sir Patrick read,
The tear blinded his e'e.

"O wha is this has done this deed, “And tauld the king o' me,

"To send us out at this time o' the year

"To sail upon the sea?

"Be it wind, be it weet, be it hail, be it sleet,

"Our ship maun sail the faem;

"The king's daughter o' Noroway,

"Its we maun fetch her hame."

They hoysed their sails on Monenday morn,
Wi' a' the speed they may;

They hae landed in Noroway
Upon a Wodensday.

They hadna been a week, a week

In Noroway but twae,

When that the lords o' Noroway

Began aloud to say,

"Ye Scottishmen spend a' our king's goud, "And a' our queenis fee!"

"Ye lie, ye lie, ye liars loud!

"Fu' loud I hear ye

lie.

"For I brought as much white monie, "As gane* my men and me,

"And I brought a half fout o' gude red goud "Out o'er the sea wi' me.

"Make ready, make ready, my merrymen a',

"Our gude ship sails the morn;"

"O say na sae, my master dear, "For I fear a deadly storm.

"Late late yestreen I saw the new moon, "Wi' the auld moon in her arm, "And I fear, I fear, my master dear, "That we will come to harm."

*Gane, suffice.

Half fou', the eighth part of a peck.