FOOTNOTES:
[126] All the ballads in Scott’s Minstrelsy, excepting a few pieces, of which only ‘Cospatrick’ and ‘The Bonny Hind’ require mention, were translated in Historische und romantische Balladen der Schottischen Grenzlande, Zwickau, 1826-7, 7 small vols, by Elise von Hohenhausen, Willibald Alexis, and Wilhelm von Lüdemann, a work now rare, which has just come to hand. Registering these translations here, in 53 entries, would require an unwarrantable space.
[127] Mild Mary is an appellation which occurs elsewhere (as in No 91 E), and Mary Hamilton and Mary mild are interchangeable in X. It is barely worth remarking that Myle, Moil, in C, S, are merely varieties of pronunciation, and Miles in W, an ordinary kind of corruption.
[128] In the 18th century we have ‘Derwentwater’ and ‘Rob Roy,’ both of slight value; in the 17th ‘The Fire of Frendraught’ and ‘The Baron of Brackley,’ both fairly good ballads, and others of some merit; but nothing in either to be compared with ‘Mary Hamilton.’
[129] As to the “ballads” about the Maries mentioned by Knox, I conceive that these may mean nothing more than verses of any sort to the discredit of these ladies.