Chapter CXXX

Written on the Marquess of Huntley’s departure for Holland, with the English forces, under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby, in 1799.

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The first is number 259 in vol. iii. of Johnson’s _Musical Museum_ (1790), signed ‘Z.’ ‘The first half stanza of this song is old--the rest is mine.’--Author’s note in interleaved copy.

The second was written in 1793, and first published in the _Morning Chronicle_ (May, 1794). The old air, _Hey, tuttie, taitie_, to which Burns ‘fitted’ this poem, is said to have been Bruce’s marching tune at Bannockburn.

The third appeared in the _Edinburgh Courant_ (May 4, 1795), and in the _Dumfries Journal_ (May 5, 1795), and is number 546 in vol. ii. of Johnson’s _Musical Museum_ (1803).

The fourth was written in 1795 for the Irish air _Humours of Glen_, and published in the _Edinburgh Magazine_ (May, 1797), and in vol. ii. of Thomson’s _Scottish Airs_ (1799).

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The first is the opening stanza of the sixth canto of _The Lay of the Last Minstrel_ (1805).

The second consists of part of stanza 33, and the whole of stanza 34 of the sixth canto of _Marmion_ (1808).

l. 5. _vaward._ Vanguard.

7. The horn of Roland, nephew of Charlemagne, the sound of which
carried a fabulous distance.

The third was written for _Albyn’s Anthology_ (1816). ‘Donuil Dhu’ means ‘Donald the Black.’

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The first is from _The Monastery_ (1820).

l. 8. _the Queen._ Mary, Queen of Scots.

9. _hirsels._ Flocks.

The second, written in 1825, first appeared in _The Doom of Devergoil_ (1830), Act ii. scene 2.

‘The air of Bonnie Dundee running in my head to-day,’ Scott writes (22nd December), ‘I wrote a few verses to it before dinner, taking the keynote from the story of Clavers leaving the Scottish Convention of Estates in 1688-9. _I wonder if they are good!_’ (_Journal_, i. 60).

_barkened._ Tanned.
_carline._ Old woman.
_couthie._ Kind.
_douce._ Quiet.
_duniewassals._ Yeomen.
_flyting._ Scolding.
_gang._ Go.
_ilk._ Every.
_pow._ Pate.
_target._ A round shield.

The full title of the third number is ‘War Song of the Royal Edinburgh Light Dragoons.’ It was written under the apprehension of a French invasion. The corps of volunteers to which the song is addressed was raised in 1797, and consisted of Edinburgh gentlemen mounted and armed at their own expense.