CHRISTIS KIRK OF THE GRENE. W L ES nevir in Scotland hard nor fene Nouthir Chrift's Kirk.] The scene of action of this poem is traditionally faid to have been a village of this name, within, or near to the parish of Lefly, in that part of the county of Aberdeen called the Garrioch. In its neighbourhood is the hill of Dunnideer, which rifes like a pyramid in the midst of the plain of Garrioch; on the top of which are the remains of a castle, faid to have been a hunting-feat of the Scottish Kings.-Allan Ramfay seems to have mistaken the above fituation for Lefly in the county of Fife. a Deray.] Merriment, riot, disorder. G. D. p. 35. and 288. From the Fr. deroyer. From the fame derivation is the Scots word royet, or royit, fignifying romping, daft, extravagant. Nouthir atb Falkland on the Grene, Nor Pebillis at the Play; As wes of d wowaris, as I wene, At Chriftis Kirk on ane day: Thair came our e kitties, weshen clene, Full gay, At Chriftis Kirk of the Grene that day. II. b Falkland.] One of the Royal houses, fituated on the north fide of the Lomond hills, in the county of Fife. The castle of Falkland, a noble edifice, was habitable in the beginning of the prefent century, though now in ruins. c Pebillis, or Peebles.] The head town of the county of Tweeddale, fituated on the banks of the river Tweed. The annual games of archery, and other paftimes, at Peebles, were of very ancient inftitution. Our poet King James I. is faid to have often reforted to that annual festivity. d Wowaris.] Wooers, fuitors. e Kitties] Ruftic, romping, country laffes, dreft in their new apparel.-Bishop Gibfon's edition has it, "For there came Kitty, wafhen clean Which is fubftituting the proper name of one girl (Kitty, or Kattie) in place of the general epithet given to the whole country laffes that were affembled on this occafion. / II. To dans thir damyfellis thame dicht, Thair gluvis war of the raffel rycht, i Thair fhune wer of the straitis, Thair kirtillis wer of Lynkome licht, Weil preft with mony plaitis, Thay wer sa nyfs quhen men thame / nicht, Sa loud, At Chriftis Kirk of the Grene that day. III. f Dight.] Dreffed, or prepared for the occafion, G. D. P. 233. 395. g Licht of laits.] This probably has been a vulgar phrase. Licht of manners, lightsome, frolicfome, or romping. h Gluvis, gloves of the raffell rycht.] Probably from the Saxon ra, or rae, a roe-deer; and ffell, a fkin. i Shune wer of the ftraitis.] Their fhoes were made of Turkey or Moroquin leather, from the Straits. k Kirtills of Lynkome licht.] Gowns or petticoats of Lincoln manufacture. I Men thame nicht.] When men came nigh or toyed with them. m Squelit.] Shrieked like wild goats. III. Of all thir madynis, myld as meid, Thot all hir kin had fworn hir deid, Scho wald haif bot sweit Willie At Chriftis Kirk, &c. Alane, s IV. Scho skornit Jok, and skrapit at him, And murgeonit him with mokkis, n Fimp.] Neat, tight, slender. He • Hir rude wes reid.] Her colour or complexion was red. G. D. 408. p Hir lyre.] Her skin, bosom, or neck. The lyre, or is the breast or bofom. lure, in vulgar speech, q Of lufe wes fillie.] nifies happy. G. D. take it in either fenfe. Seile, fele, in our old language, figAlfo fimple, weak. The reader may r Had fworn hir deid.] Should have doomed her to death. s And skrapit at him.] Scropit, mocked, or scorned.John Knox's Hist. p. 93. t Murgeonit him.] Made mouths at, or ridiculed him. |