Fy lads! shout a' a' a' a' a',
My gear's a gane.
[Footnote 193: _Nogs_--Stakes.]
[Footnote 194: _Mergh_--Marrow.]
NOTES ON THE FRAY OF SUPORT.
* * * * *
_And there, toom thy brock-skin bag_.--P. 254. v. 1.
The badger-skin pouch was used for carrying ammunition.
_In the Nicol forest woods_.--P. 254. v. 3.
A wood in Cumberland, in which Suport is situated.
_For I hae a' the fords o' Liddel set_.--P. 255. v. 1.
Watching fords was a ready mode of intercepting the marauders; the
names of the most noted fords upon the Liddel are recited in this
verse.
_And thro' at Fargy Grame's gap_.--P. 256. v. 1.
Fergus Grame of Sowport, as one of the chief men of that clan, became
security to Lord Scroope for the good behaviour of his friends
and dependants, 8th January, 1602.--_Introduction to History of
Westmoreland and Cumberland_, p. 111.
_Wi' his sleuth dog sits in his watch right sure_.--P 256. v. 1.
The centinels, who, by the march laws, were planted upon the border
each night, had usually sleuth-dogs, or blood-hounds, along with
them.--See _Nicolson's Border Laws_, and _Lord Wharton's Regulations,
in the 6th of Edward VI_.
Of the blood-hound we have said something in the notes on _Hobbie
Noble_; but we may, in addition, refer to the following poetical
description of the qualities and uses of that singular animal:
--Upon the banks
Of Tweed, slow winding thro' the vale, the seat
Of war and rapine once, ere Britons knew
The sweets of peace, or Anna's dread commands
To lasting leagues the haughty rivals awed,
There dwelt a pilfering race; well trained and skill'd
In all the mysteries of theft, the spoil
Their only substance, feuds and war their sport.
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