In the notes, and occasional dissertations, it has been my object to throw together, perhaps without sufficient attention to method, a variety of remarks, regarding popular superstitions, and legendary history, which, if not now collected, must soon have been totally forgotten.  By such efforts, feeble as they are, I may contribute somewhat to the history of my native country; the peculiar features of whose manners and character are daily melting and dissolving into those of her sister and ally.  And, trivial as may appear such an offering, to the manes of a kingdom, once proud and independent, I hang it upon her altar with a mixture of feelings, which I shall not attempt to describe.

“—­Hail, land of spearmen! seed of those who scorn’d To stoop the proud crest to Imperial Rome!  Hail! dearest half of Albion, sea-wall’d!  Hail! state unconquer’d by the fire of war, Red war, that twenty ages round thee blaz’d!  To thee, for whom my purest raptures flow, Kneeling with filial homage, I devote My life, my strength, my first and latest song.”

APPENDIX.  No.  I.

LETTER FROM THE EARL OF SURREY, TO HENRY VIII. 
GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE STORM OF JEDBURGH.

Cott.  MSS.  Calig.  B. III. fol. 29.

* * * * *

“Pleisith it your grace to be advertised, that upon Fridaye, at x a clok at nyght, I retourned to this towne, and all the garnysons to their places assigned, the bushopricke men, my Lorde of Westmoreland, and my Lord Dacre, in likewise evry man home with their companys, without los of any men, thanked be God; saving viii or x slayne, and dyvers hurt, at skyrmyshis and saults of the town of Gedwurth, and the forteressis, which towne is soo suerly brent, that no garnysons ner none other shal bee lodged there, unto the tyme it bee newe buylded; the brennyng whereof I comytted to twoo sure men, Sir William Bulmer, and Thomas Tempeste.  The towne was moche bettir then I went (i.e. ween’d) it had been, for there was twoo tymys moo houses therein then in Berwike, and well buylded, with many honest and faire houses therein, sufficiente to have lodged M horsemen in garnyson, and six good towres therein; whiche towne and towres be clenely distroyed, brent, and throwen downe.  Undoubtedly there was noo journey made into Scotland, in noo manys day leving, with soo fewe a nombre that is recownted to be soo high an enterprice as this, bothe with thies contremen, and Scottishmen, nor of truthe so moche hurt doon.  But in th’ ende a great mysfortune ded fall, onely by foly, that such ordre, as was commaunded by me to be kepte, was not observed, the maner whereof hereaftir shall ensue.  Bifore myn entre into Scotland, I appointed Sir William Bulmer and Sir William Evers too be marshallis of th’ army; Sir William Bulmer for the vangard, and Sir William Evers for the reregard.  In the vangard I appointed my Lord of Westmoreland, as chief, with all the bushopricke, Sir William Bulmer,