[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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STKEPHON AND LTDIA.
aboue -writtin : And siclike, that ze command and charge all skippars,
maisteris, and marinaris of all schippis Avithin oure realme, at all Portis
and Havynnis quhair the said Johnne and his cumpany salhappin to resort
and cum, to resaue him and them thairin upoune thair expenses, for faring
of thame furth of oure realme to the partis bezond the sey : As thai
and ilk ane of thame siclike will answer to ws thairupoune, and tmdir the
pane forsaid. Subscriuit with oure hand, and under oure Priue Seile,
AT Falkland, the fiveteine day of Februar, and of oure reigne the xxviij
zeir. Subscript, per Regem. [JAMES R.]
Taking the ballad in connection with the era of the " Erie of Little Egypt "
—for, though he may have been no actor in the seduction of the Lady of
Cassillis, it may be assumed that the author of the verses, in assigning him
the leadership of the enterprise, committed no anachronism—we would
be inclined to date back the circumstance at least a century before the
timed fixed by the author of the " Picture of Scotland."
Chambers is locally wrong in stating that the Gypsies' Steps over the
Doon are "a few miles from the Castle." They are not half-a-mile.
Besides, tradition does not say that they were taken there. He forgets
to mention that there are two portraits of the ill-fated Countess preserved
at Cassillis—one before marriage, and the other after her imprisonment.
The latter represents her in tears. There are also some relics said to
have belonged to her.
Stt^P^on ant Egtita.
All lovely on the sultry beach
Expiring Strephon lay
No hand the cordial draught to reach,
Nor cheer the gloomy way.
Ill-fated youth ! no parent nigh
To catch thy fleeting breath ;
No bride to fix thy swimming eye.
Or smooth the face of death.
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