Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

THi: SCOTTISH BOUDEE. 2/3
notp:s
LORD SOULIS.
BY THE EDITOK,
The tradition, regarding the death of Lord Soulis, howevet
singular, is not without a iiarallel in the real history of Scot-
land. The same extraordinary mode of cookery was actually
practised {horresco referens !) upon the body of a sheriff of the
Mearns. This person, whose name was jMelville of Glenbervie,
bore his facilities, so harshly, that he became detested by
the barons of the country. Reiterated complaints of his con-
duct having been made to James I. (or, as others say, to the
Duke of Albany,) the monarch answered, in a moment of unguarded
impatience, " Sorrow gin the sheriff were sodden, and
*' supped in broo !" The complainers retired, perfectly satis-
fied. Shortly after, the Lairds of Arbuthnot, Mather, Laureston,
and Pittaraw, decoyed JMelville to the top of the hUl of
Garvock, above LaAvrencekirk, under pretence of a grand hunt-
ing party. Upon this place (still called the Sheriff's Pot,) the
VOL. III. s