Page:The Lay of the Last Minstrel - Scott (1805).djvu/270

 Dumbar, all may se them, and come to the defense of the realme." These beacons (at least in later times) were "a long and strong tree set up with a long iron pole across the head of it, and an iron brander fixed on a stalk in the middle of it, for holding a tar-barrel." History, v. II. p. 701.

The speed with which the borderers collected great bodies of horse, may be judged of from the following extract, when the subject of the rising was much less important than that supposed in the romance. It is taken from Carey's Memoirs.

"Upon the death of the old Lord Scroope, the queen gave the west wardenry to his son, that had married my sister. He, having received that office, came to me with great earnestness, and desired me to be his deputy, offering me that I should live with him in his house; that he would allow me half a dozen men, and as many horses, to be kept at his charge; and his fee being 1000 marks yearly, he would part it with me, and I should have the half. This his noble offer I accepted of, and went with him to Carlisle; where I was no sooner come, but I entered into my office. We had a stirring time of it; and few days past over my head but I was on horseback, either to prevent mischief, or to take malefactors, and to bring the border in better quiet than it had been in times past. One memorable thing of God's mercy shewed unto me was such, as I have good cause still to remember it.