 the grammar, and fitted boyes for the colledge.
Dureing his educating in this place, they had then a custome every year to
solemnize the first Sunday of May with danceing about a May-pole, fyreing of
pieces, and all manner of ravelling then in use. Ther being at that tyme feu or
noe merchants in this pettie village, to furnish necessaries for the schollars
sports, this youth resolves to provide himself elsewhere, so that he may appear
with the bravest. In order to this, by break of day he ryses and goes to
Hamiltoune, and there bestowes all the money that for a long tyme before he had
gotten from his freinds, or had otherwayes purchased, upon ribbones of diverse
coloures, a new hatt and gloves. But in nothing he bestowed his money more
liberrallie than upon gunpowder, a great quantitie whereof he buyes for his owne
use, and to supplie the wantes of his comerades; thus furnished with these
commodities, but ane empty purse, he returnes to Delserf by seven a clock
(haveing travelled that Sabbath morning above eight myles), puttes on his
cloathes and new hatt, flying with ribbones of all culloures; and in this
equipage, with his little phizie (fusee) upon his shoulder, he marches to the
church yaird, where the May-pole was sett up, and the solemnitie of that day was
to be kept. There first at the foot-ball he equalled any one that played; but in
handleing his piece, in chargeing and dischargeing, he was so ready, and shott
so near the marke, that he farre surpassed all his fellow schollars, and became
a teacher of that art to them before the thretteenth year of his oune age. And
really, I have often admired his dexterity in this, both at the exercizeing of
his soulders, and when for recreatione. I have gone to the gunning with him when
I was but a stripeling myself; and albeit that passetyme was the exercize I
delighted most in, yet could I never attaine to any perfectione comparable to
him. This dayes sport being over, he had the applause of all the spectators, the
kyndnesse of his fellow-condisciples, and the favour of the whole inhabitants of
that little village.«
 
8 The history of the restless and ambitious Francis Stewart, Earl of Both well,
makes a considerable figure in the reign of James VI. of Scotland, and First of
England. After being repeatedly pardoned for acts of treason, he was at length
obliged to retire abroad, where he died in great misery. Great part of his
forfeited estate was bestowed on Walter Scott
