She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains, 15 She up with her pattens, and beat out their brains. She knocked the old Satan against the wall,-- "Let's try turn her out, or she'll murder us all." Now he's bundled her up on his back amain, And to her old husband he took her again. 20 "I have been a tormentor the whole of my life, But I ne'er was tormented till I met with your wife." THE DUEL OF WHARTON AND STUART. _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 77. The unhappy event upon which the following ballad is founded took place under the reign of James the VI. "The sufferers in this melancholy affair were both men of high birth, the heirs-apparent of two noble families, and youths of the most promising expectation. Sir James Stuart was a knight of the Bath, and eldest son of Walter, first Lord Blantyre, by Nicholas, daughter of Sir James Somerville of Cambusnethan. Sir George Wharton was also a knight of the Bath, and eldest son of Philip, Lord Wharton, by Frances, daughter of Henry Clifford, Earl of Cumberland. He married Anne, daughter of the Earl of Rutland, but left no issue." SCOTT. This ballad was printed in the first edition of Ritson's _Ancient Songs_, p. 199, from a black-letter copy in Major Pearson's collection, (afterwards part of the Roxburghe.) Scott's version appears to have been obtained from James Hogg. "Two verses have been added," says Sir Walter, "and one considerably improved, from Mr. Ritson's edition. These three stanzas are the fifth and ninth of Part First, and the penult verse of Part Second. I am thus particular, that the reader may be able, if he pleases, to compare the traditional ballad with the original edition. It furnishes striking evidence, that 'without characters, fame lives long.' The difference chiefly to be remarked betwixt the copies, lies in the dialect, and in some modifications applicable to Scotland; as, using the words "our Scottish Knight." The black-letter ballad, in like manner, terms Wharton "our English Knight." In this connection we may mention another ballad founded on a duel--_Sir Niel and Mac Van_, in Buchan's larger collection, ii. 16. A stall copy is called _Sir Neil and Glengyle_. PART FIRST. It grieveth me to tell you o' Near London late what did befall, 'Twixt two young gallant gentlemen; It grieveth me, and ever shall. One of them was Sir George Wharton, 5 My good Lord Wharton's son and heir; The other, James Stuart, a Scottish knight, One that a valiant heart did bear. When first to court these nobles came, One night, a-gaming, fell to words,[L10] 10 And in their fury grew so hot, That they did both try their keen swords.