The following passage, illustrative of the feat of arms accomplished by Johnie Scot, was pointed out to Motherwell by Mr. Sharpe:--James Macgill, of Lindores, having killed Sir Robert Balfour, of Denmiln, in a duel, "immediately went up to London in order to procure his pardon, which, it seems, the King (Charles the Second) offered to grant him, upon condition of his fighting an Italian gladiator, or bravo, or, as he was called, a bully, which, it is said, none could be found to do. Accordingly, a large stage was erected for the exhibition before the King and court. Sir James, it is said, stood on the defensive till the bully had spent himself a little; being a taller man than Sir James, in his mighty gasconading and bravadoing, he actually leapt over the knight as if he would swallow him alive; but, in attempting to do this a second time, Sir James ran his sword up through him, and then called out, 'I have spitted him, let them roast him who will.' This not only procured his pardon, but he was also knighted on the spot."--Small's _Account of Roman Antiquities recently discovered in Fife_, p. 217. From Buchan's _Lang Johnny Moir_, printed in the Appendix, it will be seen that the title of Little Scot is not to be taken literally, but that the doughty champion was a man of huge stature. O Johnie Scot 's to the hunting gane, Unto the woods sae wild; And Earl Percy's ae daughter To him goes big wi' child. O word is to the kitchen gane, 5 And word is to the ha', And word is to the highest towers, Among the nobles a'. "If she be wi' child," her father said, "As woe forbid it be! 10 I'll put her into a prison strang, And try the veritie." "But if she be wi' child," her mother said, "As woe forbid it be! I'll put her intill a dungeon dark, 15 And hunger her till she die." O Johnie 's called his waiting man, His name was Germanie: "It 's thou must to fair England gae, Bring me that gay ladie. 20 "And here it is a silken sark, Her ain hand sewed the sleeve; Bid her come to the merry green wood, To Johnie her true love." He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate, 25 He tirled at the pin: "O wha is there?" said the proud porter; "But I daurna let thee in." It's he rode up, and he rode down, He rode the castle about, 30 Until he spied a fair ladie At a window looking out. "Here is a silken sark," he said, "Thy ain hand sewed the sleeve; And ye must gae to the merry green woods, 35 To Johnie Scot thy love."