Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 02

Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 02

There was a criminal in a cart Agoing to be hanged Reprieve to him was granted; The crowd and cart did stand, To see if he would marry a wife, Or, otherwise, choose to die! Oh, why should I torment my life? The victim did reply; The bargains bad in every part But a wifes the worst!drive on the cart. Honest Sir John Falstaff talketh of minions of the moon; and, truth to tell, two or three hundred years ago, nowhere was such an order of knighthood more prevalent than upon the Borders. Not only did the Scottish and English Borderers make their forays across the Tweed and the ideal line, but rival chieftains, though of the same nation, considered themselves at liberty to make inroads upon the property of each other. The laws of meum and tuum they were unable to comprehend. Theirs was the strong mans world, and with them might was right. But to proceed with our story. About the beginning of the seventeenth century, one of the boldest knights upon the Borders was William Scott, the young laird of Harden. His favourite residence was Oakwood [Pg 2] Tower, a place of great strength, situated on the banks of the Ettrick. The motto of his family was Reparabit cornua Phbe, which being interpreted by his countrymen, in their vernacular idiom, ran thusWell hae moonlight again. Now, the young laird was one who considered it his chief honour to give effect to both the spirit and the letter of his family motto. Permitting us again to refer to honest Falstaff, it implied that they were gentlemen of the night; and he was not one who would loll upon his pillow when his avocation called him to the foray. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 30711
Author: Wilson, John Mackay
Release Date: Dec 19, 2009
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Leighton, Alexander, 1800-1874