In Otterburne, Scott, ALTERING HOGG'S COPY,
makes Douglas swear "By the might of Our Ladye."
It is a question of opinion; but I do think that if Scott were merely
paraphrasing and pirating Satchells, he could not have helped putting
into his version the Catholic, "'By the cross of my sword,' then Willy
said," as given by Satchells. To do this was safe, as Scott had said
that Satchells does pirate ballads. On the other hand, Satchells,
composing in black 1688, when Catholicism had been stamped out on the
Scottish Border, was not apt to invent "By the cross of my sword." It
LOOKS like Scott's work, for he, of course, knew how Catholicism
lingered among the spears of Bothwell, himself a Catholic, in 1596.
But it is NOT Scott's work, it is in Satchells. In both Satchells and
the ballad, news comes to Buccleuch. Here Satchells again balladises -
"It is that way?" Buckcleugh did say;
"Lord Scrope must understand
That he has not only done me wrong
But my Sovereign, James of Scotland.
"My Sovereign Lord, King of Scotland,
Thinks not his cousin Queen,
Will offer to invade his land
Without leave asked and gi'en.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184