Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

NOTE
CLERK SAUNDERS.
Then out he drew a nut-brown sword,
I wat he stript it to the stroe p. 236, v. 1 3.
The meaning of the last line, which was explained
by the reciter, " / wat he thrust it to the hilt, (stroe),"
is obscure ; and the explanation given is very unsatis-
factory. The Editor knows of no authority for de-
fining stroe, the hilt of a sword ; and he suspects it is
merely a corruption of strae. He is, therefore, inclin-
ed to view the meaning of the line as equivalent to the
phrase, " He slait it on the strae" i. e. he drew the
sword across the straw to give it a keen edge.
Now he has drawn his trusty brand,
And slait it on the strae
And through Gil Morice fair bodie
He garr'd cauld iron gae.
;
Gil Morice.