J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

THE SCOTTISH ROEDER. 21
and that which follows refers to the tricks of jugailrie;
so that the three verses comprehend the whole pastimes
of the middle ages, which are aptly represented as the
furniture of dame Venus's chamber. The verse, refer-
ring to Maitland, is obviously con-upted ; the true read-
ing was probably, " mith his auld beird gray." Indeed
Piers Plo-u.-man is well known. Under the uncouth names of Gow
Mac Morn, and of Fyn Mac Cowl, the admirers of Ossian are to re-
cognize Ganl, the son of Morni, and Fingal himself ; hcu qiiantum
mutatus ab illo !
To illustrate the familiar character of RoUii Hood, would be an
insult to my readers. But they may be less acquainted with Gilbrrt
■mth the Whifc Hand, one of his brave followers. He is mentioned
in the oldest legend of that outlaw ; Ritson's Robin Hood, p. 52 :
Thryes Robin shot about.
And alway he slist the wand.
And so dyde good Gi/lherte
With the White Hand.
Hay of Nachton I take to be the knight, mentioned by Wyntown,
whose feats of war and travel may have become the subject of a ro-
mance, or ballad. He fought in Flanders, under Alexander, Earl of
Mar, in 1408, and is thus described :—
Lord of the Nachtane, Schire William,
Ane honest knycht, and of gud fame,
A travalit knycht lang before than.
And again, before an engagement,
The Lord of Nachtane, Schire William,
The Hay, a knycht than of gud fame,
Mad Schire Gilbert the Hay, knycht,
Cronijkil, B. IX. c. 27.
I apprehend we should read, " How Hay of Nachton sUxki in
" Madin Land." Perhaps Madin is a corruption for Maylin, or
Milan Land.