From _The Border Minstrelsy_. There are Danish, Swedish, Dutch, and German versions, and the theme enters artistic poetry as early as Marie de France (_Le Lai del Freisne_). In Scotch the Earl of Wemyss is a recent importation: the earldom dates from 1633. Of course this process of attaching a legend or _Märchen_ to a well-known name, or place, is one of the most common in mythological evolution, and by itself invalidates the theory which would explain myths by a philological analysis of the proper names in the tale. These may not be, and probably are not, the original names. THE DOWNIE DENS OF YARROW.—p. 116 From _The Border Minstrelsy_. Scott thought that the hero was Walter Scott, third son of Thirlestane, slain by Scott of Tushielaw. The “monument” (a standing stone near Yarrow) is really of a very early, rather Post-Roman date, and refers to no feud of Thirlestane, Oakwood, Kirkhope, or Tushielaw. The stone is not far from Yarrow Krik, near a place called Warrior’s Rest. Hamilton of Bangour’s version is beautiful and well known. Quite recently a very early interment of a corpse, in the curved position, was discovered not far from the standing stone with the inscription. Ballad, stone, and interment may all be distinct and separate. SIR ROLAND.—p. 119 From Motherwell’s _Minstrelsy_. The authenticity of the ballad is dubious, but, if a forgery, it is a very skilled one for the early nineteenth century. Poets like Mr. Swinburne, Mr. Rossetti, and Mrs. Marriot Watson have imitated the genuine popular ballad, but never so closely as the author of “Sir Roland.” ROSE THE RED AND WHITE LILY.—p. 123 From the Jamieson-Brown MS., originally written out by Mrs. Brown in 1783: Sir Waiter made changes in _The Border Minstrelsy_. The ballad is clearly a composite affair. Robert Chambers regarded Mrs. Brown as the Mrs. Harris of ballad lore, but Mr. Norval Clyne’s reply was absolutely crushing and satisfactory. THE BATTLE OF HARLAW.—p. 131 Fought on July 24, 1411. This fight broke the Highland force in Scotland. The first version is, of course, literary, perhaps a composition of 1550, or even earlier. The second version is traditional, and was procured by Aytoun from Lady John Scott, herself the author of some beautiful songs. But the best ballad on the Red Harlaw is that placed by Scott in the mouth of Elspeth, in _The Antiquary_. This, indeed, is beyond all rivalry the most splendid modern imitation of the ancient popular Muse. DICKIE MACPHALION.—p. 142 A great favourite of Scott’s, who heard it sung at Miss Edgeworth’s, during his tour in Ireland (1825). One verse recurs in a Jacobite chant, probably of 1745–1760, but the bibliography of Jacobite songs is especially obscure. A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE.—p. 143