perceive, in one of the highest windows there, the resemblance of a woman, arrayed in a shroud. Though we are certain this is only a reflection caused by the splendour of the sunbeams, yet fame reports it, and it is constantly believed among the vulgar, to be an appearance of Lady Hilda in her shroud, or rather in a glorified state; before which, I make no doubt, the Papists, even in these our days, offer up their prayers with as much zeal and devotion, as before any other image of their most glorified saint." Charlton's History of Whitby, p. 33.'—Scott.
Stanza V. l. 131. 'What makes, what is it doing? Cp. Judges xviii. 3: 'What makest thou in this place?' The usage is frequent in Shakespeare; as e.g. As You Like It, i. 1. 31: 'Now sir! what make you here?'
l. 137. Blood-gouts, spots of blood. Cp: 'gouts of blood,' Macbeth, ii. 1. 46.
l. 150. Shakespeare, King John, iv.2, 13, makes Salisbury say that—
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish
Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess.'
Stanza VI. l. 174. Beadsman, one hired to pray for another. Cp. 'Piers the Plowman,' B, III. 40:—
and also be thi bedeman.'
Edie Ochiltree, the Blue-gown in 'The Antiquary,' belongs to the class called King's Bedesmen, 'an order of paupers to whom the kings of Scotland were in the custom of distributing a certain alms, in conformity with the ordinances of the Catholic Church, and who were expected in return to pray for the royal welfare and that of the state.' See Introd. to the novel. Cp .also Henry V, iv, 1. 315:—
'Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay,' &c.
Stanza VII. l. 218. The Palmer's dress is put off like the serpent's slough. Cp. the Earl of Surrey's Spring sonnet—
'The adder all her slough away she flings.'
Stanza VIII. l. 261. Featly, cleverly, dexterously. Cp. Tempest, i. 2.380;—
'Foot it featly here and there.'
Stanza IX. l. 271. See Otterbourne, 'Border Minstrelsy,' i. p. 345. Douglas's death during the battle was kept secret, that when his men conquered, as if still under his command, the old prophecy was fulfilled that a dead Douglas should win the field.
