Catlowdie is a small village in Cumberland, near the junction of the Esk and Liddel.

  Captain Musgrave and a’ his band.—­P. 256. v. 3.

This was probably the famous Captain Jack Musgrave, who had charge of the watch along the Cryssop, or Kershope, as appears from the order of the watches appointed by Lord Wharton, when deputy-warden-general, in 6th Edward VI.

LORD MAXWELL’S GOODNIGHT.

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

* * * * *

This beautiful ballad is published from a copy in Glenriddel’s MSS., with some slight variations from tradition.  It alludes to one of the most remarkable feuds upon the west marches.

A.D. 1585, John, Lord Maxwell, or, as he styled himself, Earl of Morton, having quarrelled with the Earl of Arran, reigning favourite of James VI., and fallen, of course, under the displeasure of the court, was denounced rebel.  A commission was also given to the laird of Johnstone, then warden of the west-marches, to pursue and apprehend the ancient rival and enemy of his house.  Two bands of mercenaries, commanded by Captains Cranstoun and Lammie, who were sent from Edinburgh to support Johnstone, were attacked and cut to pieces at Crawford-muir by Robert Maxwell, natural brother to the chieftain;[195] who, following up his advantage, burned Johnstone’s castle of Lochwood, observing, with savage glee, that he would give Lady Johnstone light enough by which to “set her hood.”  In a subsequent conflict, Johnstone himself was defeated, and made prisoner, and is said to have died of grief at the disgrace which he sustained.—­See Spottiswoode and Johnstone’s Histories, and Moyse’s Memoirs, ad annum 1585.

By one of the revolutions, common in those days, Maxwell was soon after restored to the king’s favour, in his turn, and obtained the wardenry of the west marches.  A bond of alliance was subscribed by him, and by Sir James Johnstone, and for some time the two clans lived in harmony.  In the year 1593, however, the hereditary feud was revived, on the following occasion:  A band of marauders, of the clan Johnstone, drove a prey of cattle from the lands belonging to the lairds of Crichton, Sanquhar, and Drumlanrig; and defeated, with slaughter, the pursuers, who attempted to rescue their property.—­[See the following Ballad and Introduction.] The injured parties, being apprehensive that Maxwell would not cordially embrace their cause, on account of his late reconciliation with the Johnstones, endeavoured to overcome his reluctance, by ottering to enter into bonds of manrent, and so to become his followers and liegemen; he, on the other hand, granting to them a bond of maintenance, or protection, by which he bound himself, in usual form, to maintain their quarrel against all mortals, saving his loyalty.  Thus, the most powerful and respectable families in Dumfries-shire became, for a time, the vassals of