This is absurd enough. Telfer would have gone
straight to Branksome and Buccleuch, unless he were a poor shy small
farmer, WHO WANTED SPONSORS, known to Buccleuch. Jock Grieve and
William's Wat, both of them retainers and near neighbours of Buccleuch,
were such sponsors. Granting this, the Scott version runs smoothly,
Telfer goes to his sponsors, and with his sponsors to Buccleuch, and
Buccleuch's men rescue his kye.
III--COLONEL ELLIOT'S CHARGE AGAINST SIR WALTER SCOTT
Colonel Elliot believes generally in the historical character of the
ballad as given in the Elliot version, but "is inclined to think that"
the original poet "never wrote the stanza" (the stanza with Buccleuch's
refusal) "at all, and that it has been inserted at some later period."
{97a} In that case Colonel Elliot is "inclined to think" that an
Ettrick farmer, robbed by the English, never dreamed of going to his
neighbour and potent chief, but went all the way to Martin Elliot, high
up in Liddesdale, to seek redress! Surely few can share the Colonel's
inclination.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141