[Footnote 140:  Lourd—­Rather.]

[Footnote 141:  Wudspurs—­Hotspur, or Madspur.]

NOTES ON JAMIE TELFER OF THE FAIR DODHEAD.

* * * * *

  It was high up in Hardhaughswire.—­P. 140. v. 1.

Hardhaughswire is the pass from Liddesdale to the head of Tiviotdale.

  It was laigh down in Borthwick water.—­P. 140. v. 1.

Borthwick water is a stream, which falls into the Tiviot, three miles above Hawick.

  But, gin ye’ll gae to the fair Dodhead.—­P. 140. v. 2.

The Dodhead, in Selkirkshire, near Singlee, where there are still the vestiges of an old tower.

  Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair.—­P. 140. v. 4.

There is still a family of Telfers, residing near Langholm, who pretend to derive their descent from the Telfers of the Dodhead.

  Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha’.—­P. 141. v. 1.

Stobs Hall, upon Slitterick.  Jamie Telfer made his first application here because he seems to have paid the proprietor of that castle black-mail, or protection-money.

  Gar seek your succour at Branksome Ha’.—­P. 141. v. 4.

The ancient family-seat of the lairds of Buccleuch, near Hawick.

  Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh.—­P. 142. v. 2.

The Coultart Cleugh is nearly opposite to Carlinrig, on the road between Hawick and Mosspaul.

  Gar warn the water, braid and wide.—­P. 144. v. 4.

The water, in the mountainous districts of Scotland, is often used to express the banks of the river, which are the only inhabitable parts of the country. To raise the water, therefore, was to alarm those who lived along its side.

  Warn Wat o’ Harden, and his sons, &c.—­P. 144. v. 5.

The estates, mentioned in this verse, belonged to families of the name of Scott, residing upon the waters of Borthwick and Tiviot, near the castle of their chief.

  Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire.—­P. 145. v. 1.

The pursuers seem to have taken the road through the hills of Liddesdale, in order to collect forces, and intercept the foragers at the passage of the Liddel, on their return to Bewcastle.  The Ritterford and Kershope-ford, after mentioned, are noted fords on the river Liddel.

  The gear was driven the Frostylee up.—­P. 145. v. 3.

The Frostylee is a brook, which joins the Tiviot, near Mosspaul.

  And Harden grat for very rage.—­P. 146. v. 4.