“CONSTABLE’S MISCELLANY of _original and selected Publications_” is
proposed to consist of various works on important and popular subjects,
with the view of supplying certain chasms in the existing stock of
useful knowledge; and each author or subject is to be kept separate, so
as to enable purchasers to acquire all the numbers, or volumes, of each
book, distinct from the others. The undertaking commenced in the first
week of the new year, 1827, with the first number of Captain Basil
Hall’s voyage to Loo-Choo, and the complete volume of that work was
published at the same time.
* * * * *
“EARLY METRICAL TALES, _including the History of Sir Egeir, Sir Gryme,
and Sir Gray-Steill_.” Edinb. 1826. sm. 8vo. 9_s._ (175 copies printed.)
The most remarkable poem in this elegant volume is the rare Scottish
romance, named in the title-page, which, according to its present
editor, “would seem, along with the poems of sir David Lindsay, and the
histories of Robert the Bruce, and of sir William Wallace, to have
formed the standard productions of the vernacular literature of the
country.” In proof of this he adduces several authorities; “and yet it
is remarkable enough, that every ancient copy should have hitherto
eluded the most active and unremitting research.” The earliest printed
edition is presumed to have issued from the press of Thomas Bassandyne,
“the first printer of the sacred Scriptures in Scotland.” An inventory
of his goods, dated 18th October, 1577, contains an item of three
hundred “Gray Steillis,” valued at the “pece VI_d._ summa £VII. x. o.”
Its editor would willingly give the sum-total of these three hundred
copies for “_one_ of the said _Gray-Steillis_, were he so fortunate as
to meet with it.” He instances subsequent editions, but the only copy he
could discover was printed at Aberdeen in 1711, by James Nicol, printer
to the town and university; and respecting this, which, though of so
recent date, is at present unique, “the editor’s best acknowledgments
are due to his friend, Mr. Douce, for the kind manner in which he
favoured him with the loan of the volume, for the purpose of
republication.” On the 17th of April, 1497, when James IV. was at
Stirling: there is an entry in the treasurer’s accounts, “Item, that
samyn day to twa Sachelaris that _sang Gray Steil_ to the King, IX_s._”
In MS. collections made at Aberdeen in 1627, called a “Booke for the
Lute,” by Robert Gordon, is the _air_ of “Gray-Steel;” and a satirical
poem in Scottish rhyme on the marquis of Argyle, printed in 1686, is
“appointed to be sung according _to the tune_ of old Gray Steel.” These
evidences that the poem was sung, manifest its popularity. There are
conjectures as to who the person denominated Sir Gray Steel really was,
but the point is undetermined.
In this volume there are thirteen poems. 1. _Sir Gray-Steill_ above
spoken of. 2. _The Tales of the Priests of Peblis_, wherein the three
priests of Peebles, having met to regale on St. Bride’s day, agree, each
in turn, to relate a story. 3. _Ane Godlie Dreame_, by lady Culross. 4.
_History of a Lord and his three Sons_, much resembling the story of
Fortunatus. 5. _The Ring of the Roy Robert_, the printed copies of which
have been modernized and corrupted. 6. _King Estmere_, an old romantic
tale. 7. _The Battle of Harlaw_, considered by its present editor “as
the original of rather a numerous class of Scotish historical ballads.”
8. _Lichtoun’s Dreme_, printed for the first time from the Bannatyne
MS. 1568. 9. _The Murning Maiden_, a poem “written in the Augustan age
of Scotish poetry.” 10. _The Epistill of the Hermeit of Alareit_, a
satire on the Grey Friers, by Alexander earl of Glencairn. 11. _Roswall
and Lillian_, a “pleasant history,” (chanted even of late in Edinburgh,)
from the earliest edition discovered, printed in 1663, of which the only
copy known is in the Advocates’ Library, from the Roxburghe sale. 12.
_Poem by Glassinberry_, a name for the first time introduced into the
list of early Scotish poets, and the poem itself printed from “Gray’s
MS.” 13. _Sir John Barleycorn_, from a stall-copy printed in 1781, with
a few corrections, concerning which piece it is remarked, that Burns’s
version “cannot be said to have greatly improved it.” There is a
vignette to this ballad, “designed and etched by the ingenious young
artist, W. Geikie,” of Edinburgh, from whence I take the liberty to
_cut_ a figure, not for the purpose of conveying an idea of this
“Allan-a-Maut,” who is surrounded with like “good” company by Mr.
Geikie’s meritorious pencil, but to extend the knowledge of Mr. Geikie’s
name, who is perfectly unknown to me, except through the single print I
refer to, which compels me to express warm admiration of his correct
feeling, and assured talent.
[Illustration]
Besides Mr. Geikie’s beautiful etching, there is a frontispiece by W. H.
Lizars from a design by Mr. C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe, and a portrait of
Alexander earl of Eglintoune 1670, also by Mr. Lizars, from a curiously
illuminated parchment in the possession of the present earl.