Lord Claud Hamilton, second son of the Duke of Chatelherault, and commendator of the abbey of Paisley, acted a distinguished part during the troubles of Queen Mary's reign, and remained unalterably attached to the cause of that unfortunate princess. He led the van of her army at the fatal battle of Langside, and was one of the commanders at the Raid of Stirling, which had so nearly given complete success to the queen's faction. He was ancestor of the present Marquis of Abercorn.
Few suns have set since Woodhouselee.—P. [420]. v. 5.
This barony, stretching along the banks of the Esk, near Auchindinny, belonged to Bothwellhaugh, in right of his wife. The ruins of the mansion, from whence she was expelled in the brutal manner which occasioned her death, are still to be seen in a hollow glen beside the river. Popular report tenants them with the restless ghost of the lady Bothwellhaugh; whom, however, it confounds with Lady Anne Bothwell, whose Lament is so popular. This spectre is so tenacious of her rights, that, a part of the stones of the ancient edifice having been employed in building or repairing the present Woodhouselee, she has deemed it a part of her privilege to haunt that house also; and, even of very late years, has excited considerable disturbance and terror among the domestics. This is a more remarkable vindication of the rights of ghosts, as the present Woodhouselee, which gives his title to the honourable Alexander Fraser Tytler, a senator of the college of justice, is situated on the slope of the Pentland hills, distant at least four miles from her proper abode. She always appears in white, and with her child in her arms.
Whose bloody poniard's frantic stroke
Drives to the leap his jaded steed.—P. [422]. v. 1.
Birrell informs us, that Bothwellhaugh, being closely pursued, "after that spur and wand had fail'd him, he drew forth his dagger, and strocke his horse behind, whilk caused the horse to leap a verey brode stanke (i.e. ditch), by whilk means he escaipit, and gat away from all the rest of the horses."—Birrel's Diary, p. 18.
From the wild Border's humbled side,
In haughty triumph, marched he.—P. [423]. v. 1.
Murray's death took place shortly after an expedition to the borders; which is thus commemorated by the author of his elegy:
"So having stablischt all thing in this sort,
"To Liddisdaill agane he did resort,
"Throw Ewisdail, Eskdail, and all the daills rode he,
"And also lay three nights in Cannabie,
"Whair na prince lay thir hundred yeiris before.
"Nae thief durst stir, they did him feir so sair;
"And, that thay suld na mair thair thift allege,
"Threescore and twelf he brocht of thame in pledge,
"Syne wardit thame, whilk maid the rest keep ordour,
"Than mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the bordour."
Scottish Poems, 16th century, p. 232.
With hackbut bent, my secret stand.—P. [423], v. 3.