In this volume there are thirteen poems. 1. _Sir Gray-Steill_ above spoken of. 2. _The Tales of the Priests of Peblis_, wherein the three priests of Peebles, having met to regale on St. Bride’s day, agree, each in turn, to relate a story. 3. _Ane Godlie Dreame_, by lady Culross. 4. _History of a Lord and his three Sons_, much resembling the story of Fortunatus. 5. _The Ring of the Roy Robert_, the printed copies of which have been modernized and corrupted. 6. _King Estmere_, an old romantic tale. 7. _The Battle of Harlaw_, considered by its present editor “as the original of rather a numerous class of Scotish historical ballads.” 8. _Lichtoun’s Dreme_, printed for the first time from the Bannatyne MS. 1568. 9. _The Murning Maiden_, a poem “written in the Augustan age of Scotish poetry.” 10. _The Epistill of the Hermeit of Alareit_, a satire on the Grey Friers, by Alexander earl of Glencairn. 11. _Roswall and Lillian_, a “pleasant history,” (chanted even of late in Edinburgh,) from the earliest edition discovered, printed in 1663, of which the only copy known is in the Advocates’ Library, from the Roxburghe sale. 12. _Poem by Glassinberry_, a name for the first time introduced into the list of early Scotish poets, and the poem itself printed from “Gray’s MS.” 13. _Sir John Barleycorn_, from a stall-copy printed in 1781, with a few corrections, concerning which piece it is remarked, that Burns’s version “cannot be said to have greatly improved it.” There is a vignette to this ballad, “designed and etched by the ingenious young artist, W. Geikie,” of Edinburgh, from whence I take the liberty to _cut_ a figure, not for the purpose of conveying an idea of this “Allan-a-Maut,” who is surrounded with like “good” company by Mr. Geikie’s meritorious pencil, but to extend the knowledge of Mr. Geikie’s name, who is perfectly unknown to me, except through the single print I refer to, which compels me to express warm admiration of his correct feeling, and assured talent. [Illustration] Besides Mr. Geikie’s beautiful etching, there is a frontispiece by W. H. Lizars from a design by Mr. C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe, and a portrait of Alexander earl of Eglintoune 1670, also by Mr. Lizars, from a curiously illuminated parchment in the possession of the present earl. SAYING NOT MEANING. BY WILLIAM BASIL WAKE. _For the Table Book._ Two gentlemen their appetite had fed, When, opening his toothpick-case, one said, “It was not until lately that I knew That _anchovies_ on terrâ firmâ grew.” “Grew!” cried the other, “yes, they _grow_, indeed, Like other fish, but not upon the land; You might as well say grapes grow on a reed, Or in the Strand!”