into the adjoining grounds of Mr. De Lisle, and is distant more than a mile from the place called Battle Croft, belonging to Mr. Davidson. The expression in your ballad, that 'they lighted high on Otterbourne' also perfectly agrees with this situation. The Castle of Otterburn, (which Douglas was beleaguring) with its demesne lands, is not only my property, but my place of residence, and the room in which, at this moment, I am writing, actually comprehends part of the ancient walls. There is another part of my ground which would seem to have some relation to the battle, though I know of no tradition respecting it. It is called 'Earl's Meadows,' and has in it a fine spring of water, called 'Percy's Well!' Perhaps the

spot where Hotspur was taken prisoner.

So circumstanced, I hope I may be excused for feeling a little sore, when I see, in your work, my neighbour Mr. Davidson described as 'the Proprietor of Otterbourne.' It is in fact, so far as the evidence of your book goes, to divest me of my property, and bestow it on another. I have no doubt, however, of your justice in taking an opportunity to correct this involuntary, but to me unpleasant, mis-statement.

Being somewhat fond of Border history, permit me to make a few observations, and to subjoin a copy of some notes made on Dr. Percy's Collection, which, though trifling, are original. Perhaps the date, 1387, and Cornwall, both occurring in your introduction to the

I do not recollect what these notes were —E.

Battle of Otterbourne, are merely misprinting for 1388, and Cornhill. Your quotation from Godscroft, whose book I never saw, agrees with my notion of the Hunting a' the Cheviat,' as you will perceive by a subjoined note on Dr. Percy. But it appears by the conclusion of your introduction, that you refer to some other edition of the Reliques, than that on which I made some remarks; for in that, there are no notes or account of the Scottish warriors, except for the Earl of Mentaye,' the Earl of Menteith; and for the Lord of Bowghan,' the Lord Buchan;' and respecting sir James of Agurstone referring to Richard Hagerstoun, a Scottish knight, living in 1249. So that if there is a better edition, my notes are perhaps worse than trifling. I have no doubt of your being right as to Edgerston.' Your remark on

Johnie Armstrong,' that one of the last Border reivers was of that family, and lived within the last century, is amply confirmed by the confession of John Weir, an accomplice, when under sentence of death in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, a copy of which I have. The number of their depredations, chiefly in horse-stealing, is really astonishing. Their method, generally, was to steal in England, and sell in Scotland, et vice versa, even so far south as London. In 'Hobbie Noble,' you are at a loss about the Earl of Whitfield.' Whitfield is a large manorial, and rather wild, district, in the extreme south-west part of Northumberland, the pos

e The MS. don't give this note.-J. F.

d

sessor of which might naturally enough be called the Lord,' though not Earl of Whitfield. Sir Matthew Whitfield of Whitfield Hall, was sheriff of Northumberland in 1433, and the estate remained in that family from the reign of Richard II. till within these fifty years. To your remark in the introduction to Clerk Saunders,' respecting the invitation to funerals, I would add that a similar custom still prevails in some parts of England, particularly at Hexham, in this county. I remember when little more than a boy, to have heard the bellman there, who was also sexton, deliver the following invitation. 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Anthony Lambert is departed. Your company is desired tomorrow evening at five o'clock, and at six o'clock he is to be bu-ri-ed. For him and all faithful people give God most hearty thanks.' This man had hanged himself in a wood, but the doxology never varied; and on this occasion, its absurdity struck me so much, that I have not forgot it. The invitation was at length altered in words, but the mode continues.

I have in my possession, though it is not my property, a copy of a poem called Cheviot, written in the beginning of last century, by a person unknown, whose initials are R. W. It has been, at some time, seen by Dr. Percy, as appears by some notes in his handwriting. It is in no wise allied to Border Minstrelsy,' being a very heavy,

d Vide appendix.—B. e Vide appendix.-C.

yet desultory, composition of above six hundred verses, and is chiefly valuable for its enumeration of places, and of families of note in Northumberland, many of whom are now extinct. Yet as it was never published, I take the liberty of sending you below, an extract from nearly the beginning of it, as rather a favourable specimen. It is somewhat remarkable that this writer appears to have known who was the author of Chevy Chace, (the modern ballad, I presume), for I have never met with even a guess on that head.

I beg you will accept my apologies for troubling you with all this, notwithstanding yourself gave me the first occasion of troubling you at all, and I am,

Sir,

With great respect,

Your very obedient servant,

JAS. ELLIS.

To the preceeding letter, Mr. Scott, almost immediately returned the following polite answer :

DEAR SIR,

Edinburgh, 27 February, 1812.

You could not do me a more acceptable pleasure than by favouring me with the particulars concerning the battle of Otterbourne, contained in your favour of the 22nd. It is certainly one of the most interesting incidents of Border history, and from the spirited old ballads to which it has given rise, as well as from a remote con

nection with some of the heroes of the day, has been always a favourite subject of investigation with me. It is many, many years since I was on the spot, a little boy on a little pony, and with a travelling companion too careful to permit any of the researches which, even then, I had much inclination to make concerning the locality of the battle. When I had determined to commence editor of the old songs in the Border Minstrelsy, I was referred to Mr. Davidson to satisfy some enquiries respecting the field of Otterburne, and you have the general result in the book, although the erroneous expression that he was the proprietor of Otterbourne could not be his, but must have arisen from my confounding the castle and manor, with the field called Battle Crofts. I conceive in other respects, his information coincides nearly with yours. The Scotch appear to have left their camp and moved in an oblique direction against the flank of the English, who had unawares engaged themselves among the followers of their camp. Such movements, executed by a body of 10,000 or 12,000 men, together with the various changes of position during the vicissitudes of so long and desperate an engagement, must have covered a great space of ground, and the incidents of the battle probably gave name to various places within a mile or two of each other. I have some thoughts of being in the North of England this summer, and will certainly take an opportunity to survey the field of Otterbourne. As you mention Mr. Johnes' translation of