enim est David de quo apud Gallos liber satis vulgaris loquitur, qui de trium regum filiis inscribitur, scilicet Francia, Anglia, et Scotia, et non differen`tem ab hoc in nostra lingua vernacula librum habemus. "-P. 135. Edinb. 1740.

II. 1. The origin of the historical ballads of Scotland requires no investigation; they have sprung up, like the greater part of the popular poetry of all uncivilized nations, among the people themselves, as the record of their most interesting events; and little can be collected regarding them, but a few incidental notices, from successive historians, of those which were popular in their time.

The first popular songs in the country, of which any memory is preserved, are those composed in honour of William, brother of King Achaius, and one of Charlemagne's peers."This prince William," says Hume of Godscroft," brother to Achaius king of Scotland, passed into Germanie, and gave himselfe wholly to the warres, where, for his service by his

sword, having obtained large territories, he led a single life all his days; and, thinking to make, Christ his heire, he founded and doted fifteen abbacies for those of the Scottish nation. It is he, (saith Major,) who is named in songs made of him, Scottish Gilmore."-P. 5. Edin. 1648. Major's words, indeed, seem hardly to admit of this construction; they are simply, "Qui a nostratibus vulgaliter Scotisgilmor vocatur." May we presume, then, that, since the expression "vulgaliter vocatur," when applied to Gilmor, appeared, to Hume's mind, equivalent to" is named in songs," these songs must have been still current in the days of the later historian? Or can we only conclude, that, at the time when Major wrote, (about 1508,) he was still a popular hero in Scotland? I have accidentally met with an allusion to him in an ancient Latin poem, by one of the priors of Alnwick, which is more decisive of his being the subject of song.

Vix est muse melior Scotus Guilmaurus,
Ad cujus victoriam nunquam crescit laurus
Desunt nam robora, deestque thesaurus

Bella movet citius cui desunt cornua taurus.

He was called the Scottish Gilmor, to distinguish him from the Irish Gilmor, whose name occurs frequently in romance.

I should be inclined to think, that the ballad of Sir Patrick Spens is the most ancient of which we are in possession. It contains, no doubt, allusions to a state of comparative refinement; but these are obviously acquired in the natural course of tradition. The event upon which it is founded, is not, to the best of my knowledge, recorded by any of our historians; but the following passage, quoted by Leland from an ancient chronicler, although incorrect in the point

Prioris Alnwicensis de bello Scotico apud Dumbar tempore regis Edwardi I. dictamen sive rythmus Latinus, quo de Willielmo Wallace, Scotico illo Robin Whood, plura sed invidiosè canit.-MS. Brit. Mus.

that Margaret perished by shipwreck, is sufficiently decisive of the fact, of a disastrous issue of a voyage undertaken for the purpose mentioned in the ballad. "One Master Weland, (qu. Cleland?) a clerke of Scotlande, sent into Norway for Margaret, dyed with her by tempeste on the se, cumming out of Norway to Scotlande yn costes of Boghan."-Scala Chronica.* Of the ballad itself I have been favoured with some recited copies, one of which contains these stanzas, which are too characteristic to be omitted:

Then up an' cam a mermaid,

Wi' a siller cup in her han':

"Sail on, sail on, my gude Scotch lords,
For ye sune will see dry lan'."

"Notable thinges,

*Leland's Collectanea, I. p. 538. translated in to Englisch, by John Leylande, oute of a booke caullid Scala Chronica, the which a certein Englisch man (taken in werre prisoner, and brought to Edingeburgh yn Scotland) did translate owte of Frenche ryme yn to Frenche prose."

"Awa, awa, ye wild woman,
An' let your fleechin be;

For, sen your face we've seen the day,
Dry lan' we'll never see."

Of Wallace, the renowned assertor of Scottish independence, many songs were anciently current. "Wallace, ascensâ nave Franciam petiit, ubi quantâ probitate refulsit tam super mare a piratis quam in Franciâ ab Anglis perpessus est discrimina, et viriliter se habuit, nonnulla carmina, tam in ipsâ Franciâ, quam Scotiâ, attestantur.”— FORDUNI Scotichron. II. 176. edit. Goodall. See more also to the same purpose in the edit. of Henry, 1650. There can be little doubt that such songs formerly existed, although the historical fact, for the establishment of which they are quoted, is sufficiently problematical. Other fragments, relating to Wallace's history, are mentioned in the introduction to the Gude Wallace. A recited copy of this last poem makes Wallace allude to Robin Hood: