his "darksome house" on the Leader. The English, however, (stanza xv.)
conquer Scotland, and join Edward I. in France. They besiege that
town,


Which some call Billop-Grace (xviii.).


Here Maitland's three sons are learning at school, as Scots often were
educated in France. They see that Edward's standard quarters the arms
of France, and infer that he has conquered their country. They "will
try some jeopardy." Persuading the English that they are themselves
Englishmen, they ask leave to carry the royal flag. The eldest is told
that he is singularly like Auld Maitland. In anger he stabs the
standard-bearer, seizes the flag, and, with his brothers, spurs to
Billop-Grace, where the French captain receives them. There is
fighting at the gate. The King says that three disguised lads of
France have stolen his flag. The Maitlands apparently heard of this;
the youngest goes to Edward, and explains that they are Maitland's
sons, and Scots; they challenge any three Englishmen; a thing in the
manner of the period. The three Scots are victorious. Young Edward
then challenges one of the dauntless three, who slays him. Edward
wishes himself home at London Tower.

Such is the story. It is out of the regular line of ballad narrative,
but it does not follow that, in the sixteenth century, some such tale
was not told "in rural rhyme" about Maitland's "three noble sons."
That it is not historically true is nothing, of course, and that it is
not in the Scots of the thirteenth century is nothing.