The first stroke that young Edward gae,
  He struck wi’ might and mayn;
  He clove the Maitlan’s helmet stout,
  And bit right nigh the brayn.

  When Maitland saw his ain blood fa’,
  An angry man was he! 
  He let his weapon frae him fa’,
  And at his throat did flee.

  And thrice about he did him swing,
  Till on the grund he light,
  Where he has halden young Edward,
  Tho’ he was great in might.

  “Now, let him up,” King Edward cried,
  “And let him come to me! 
  “And, for the deed that thou hast done,
  “Thou shalt hae erldomes three!”

  “Its ne’er be said in France, nor e’er
  In Scotland, when I’m hame,
  That Edward once lay under me,
  And e’er gat up again!”

  He pierced him through and through the heart;
  He maul’d him cruellie;
  Then hung him ower the draw-brigg,
  Beside the other three.

  “Now, take frae me that feather-bed! 
  “Mak me a bed o’ strae! 
  “I wish I had na lived this day,
  “To mak my heart sae wae.

  “If I were ance at London tower,
  “Where I was wont to be,
  “I never mair suld gang frae hame,
  “Till borne on a bier-tree.”

[Footnote 90:  Waled—­Chosen.]

[Footnote 91:  North-Berwick, according to some reciters.]

[Footnote 92:  Edward had quartered the arms of Scotland with his own.]

[Footnote 93:  The two first lines are modern, to supply an imperfect stanza.]

NOTES ON AULD MAITLAND.

* * * * *

  Young Edward hight his name.—­P, 25. v. 2.

Were it possible to find an authority for calling this personage Edmund, we should be a step nearer history; for a brother, though not a nephew of Edward I., so named, died in Gascony during an unsuccessful campaign against the French.—­Knighton, Lib.  III. cap. 8.

  I wish him dool and pyne.—­P. 26. v. 3.

Thus, Spenser, in Mother Huberd’s tale—­

  Thus is this ape become a shepherd swain,
  And the false fox his dog, God give them pain!

  Who, marching forth with false Dunbar,
  A ready welcome found.—­P. 26. v. 4.

These two lines are modern, and inserted to complete the verse.  Dunbar, the fortress of Patrick, Earl of March, was too often opened to the English, by the treachery of that baron, during the reign of Edward I.

  They laid their sowies to the wall,
  Wi’ many a heavy peal.—­P. 27. v. 4.