(may the allegiance of our sovereign lord the king allenarly be excepted).—­And for the obliging and keeping all thir premises above written, baith the saids parties are bound and obliged, ilk ane to others, be the faith and truth of their bodies, but fraud or guile, under the pain of perjury, men-swearing, defalcation, and breaking of the bond of deadly.  And, in witness of the whilk, ilk ane to the procuratory of this indenture remain with the said Walter Scot and his friends, the said Walter Ker of Cessford has affixed his proper seal, with his subscription manual, and with the subscription of the said Andrew Ker of Fairnieherst, Mark Ker of Dolphinston, George Ker, tutor of Cessford, and Andrew Ker of Primesideloch, before these witnesses, Mr. Andrew Drurie, abbot of Melrose, and George Douglas of Boonjedward, John Riddel of that ilk, and William Stewart.

Sic Subscribitur,

WALTER KER of Cessford.

ANDREW KER of Fairnieherst.

MARK KER.

GEORGE KER.

ANDREW KER of Primesideloch.”

N.B.  The four pilgrimages are Scoon, Dundee, Paisley, and Melrose.

APPENDIX, No.  V.

ANE INTERLUDE OF THE LAYING OF A GAIST.

* * * * *

This burlesque poem is preserved in the Bannatyne MSS.  It is in the same strain with the verses concerning the Gyre Carline (Vol.  II.) As the mention of Bettokis Bowr occurs in both pieces, and as the scene of both is laid in East Lothian, they are perhaps composed by the same author.  The humour of these fragments seems to have been directed against the superstitions of Rome; but it is now become very obscure.  Nevertheless, the verses are worthy of preservation, for the sake of the ancient language and allusions.

  Listen lordis, I sall you tell,
  Off ane very grit marvell,
  Off Lord Fergussis gaist,
  How meikle Sir Andro it chest,
  Unto Beittokis bour,
  The silly sawle to succour: 
  And he hes writtin unto me,
  Auld storeis for to se,
  Gif it appinis him to meit,
  How he sall conjure the spreit: 
  And I haif red mony quars,
  Bath the Donet, and Dominus que pars,
  Ryme maid, and als redene,
  Baith Inglis and Latene: 
  And ane story haif I to reid,
  Passes Bonitatem in the creid. 
  To conjure the litill gaist he mon haif
  Of tod’s tails ten thraif,
  And kast the grit holy water
  With pater noster, pitter patter;
  And ye man sit in a compas,
  And cry, Harbert tuthless,
  Drag thow, and ye’s draw,
  And sit thair quhill cok craw. 
  The compas mon hallowit be
  With aspergis me Domine;
  The haly writ schawis als
  Thair man be hung about your bals
  Pricket in ane woll poik
  Of neis powder ane grit loik. 
  Thir thingis mon ye beir,
  Brynt in ane doggis eir,
  Ane pluck, ane pindill, and ane palme cors,