In the middle of the last century appeared two editions of a brochure containing the now well-known ballad of _Gil Morrice_; the date of the second was 1755. Prefixed to both was an advertisement setting forth that the preservation of this poem was owing 'to a lady, who favoured the printers with a copy, as it was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;' and 'any reader that can render it more correct or complete,' was desired to oblige the public with such improvements. Percy adopted the poem into his collection, with four additional verses, which meanwhile had been 'produced and handed about in manuscript,' but which were in a florid style, glaringly incongruous with the rest of the piece. He at the same time mentioned that there existed, in his folio manuscript, (supposed) of Elizabeth's time, an imperfect copy of the same ballad, under the title of _Child Maurice_. This early ballad of _Child Maurice_, which Mr Jamieson afterwards printed from Percy's manuscript, gives the same story of a gentleman killing, under jealousy, a young man, who proved to be a son of his wife by a former connection. But it is a poor, bald, imperfect composition, in comparison with _Gil Morrice_. It was evident to Percy that there had been a '_revisal_' of the earlier poem, attended by '_considerable improvements_.' Now, by whom had this improving revisal been effected? Who was the 'lady' that favoured the printers with the copy? I strongly suspect that the reviser was Lady Wardlaw, and that the poem was communicated to the printers either by her or by some of her near relations. The style of many of the verses, and even some of the particular expressions, remind us strongly of _Sir Patrick Spence_; while other verses, again, are more in the stiff manner of _Hardyknute_. The poem opens thus: Gil Morrice was an earl's son, His name it waxed wide; It was na for his great riches, Nor yet his mickle pride; But it was for a lady gay, That lived on Carron side. 'Whar sall I get a bonny boy, That will win hose and shoon; That will gae to Lord Barnard's ha', And bid his lady come? 'And ye maun rin my errand, Willie, And ye may rin wi' pride, When other boys gae on their foot, On horseback ye sall ride.' 'O no! O no! my master dear, I dare nae for my life; I'll ne gae to the bauld baron's, For to tryst forth his wife.' 'O say na sae, my master dear, For I fear a deadly storm.' What next follows is like _Hardyknute_: 'But, O my master dear,' he cried, In green wood ye're your lane; Gie ower sic thoughts, I wad ye reid, For fear ye should be tane.' 'Haste, haste! I say, gae to the ha'; Bid her come here wi' speed: If ye refuse my heigh command, I'll gar your body bleed.' When the boy goes in and pronounces the fatal message before Lord Barnard: