The tale was originally told by John Barbour (d. 1395) in The Brus[3] and then by David Hume of Godscroft in The History of the Houses of Douglas and Angus (1644).
[4] In Hogg's own time it appears in a note to The Lord of the Isles (1815) by Walter Scott,[5] and in the same author's essay on 'Chivalry' in the 1818 supplement of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
[6] Hogg also draws on The Brus for an episode actually involving Roxburgh castle, in attacking which Sir James Douglas and his men are taken for cattle.
[7] The only edition of the complete novel in Hogg's lifetime appeared in London in three volumes in June 1822, the publishers being Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown.
During the reign of Robert II, King of Scots (1371‒90), the English Sir Philip Musgrave captures Roxburgh castle and is committed to hold it for a specified period to satisfy his mistress Lady Jane Howard.
After Margaret has recognised Jane and arranged for her to be delivered up to Douglas, she (disguised as her own page) is captured by the English garrison at Roxburgh and executed.
It consists of the bard Colley Carol, Thomas Craik (the Deil's Tam), Gibby Jordan of Peatstacknowe, and a friar, with Charlie Scott as leader and a girl and a boy (Delany Hall and Elias) as presents.
In exchange for two baronies Sir Walter Scott takes direct action, capturing the castle by disguising his men as cattle.
Central characters in bold Ch.1: The English Sir Philip Musgrave has taken Roxburgh castle and is committed to hold it until the end of the Christmas holidays to satisfy his mistress Lady Jane Howard.
2: Sir Walter discusses the situation with his kinsmen, including his officious cousin Dickie o' Dryhope, and it is resolved they should enrich themselves by intercepting the English supply chain.
Back at Castleweary, Charlie Scott of Yardbire arrives and joins Dan in conveying the disguised Jane and her party to Douglas, refusing a bribe to set them free.
During a visit under safe conduct to the Scots camp, Sir Philip meets his condemned brother and Lady Jane, increasing the pressure on him to surrender the castle.
10: A delegation sent by Sir Walter to ascertain from the wizard Michael Scott the future fortunes of his family is accommodated at Jock Robson's house.
The party consists of the bard Colley Carol, Thomas Craik (the Deil's Tam), Gibby Jordan of Peatstacknowe, and a friar, with Charlie Scott as leader.
12: The delegation arrive at Aikwood tower after an adventure involving the corpse of one of the Hall party on horseback, and a general expression of suspicion of the friar's motives in offering Delany spiritual instruction using oriental language.
1: The delegation receive a hostile reception from Michael and his entourage, but they eventually win control of the castle and lock up the seneschal Gourlay.
Egress from the castle being impossible, the friar having blasted the keys away along with Gourlay, Michael proposes a story-telling competition with Delany as the prize.
In 'Tam Craik's Tale' Thomas tells the rest of his life story, involving his mistreatment by a deceitful master and his apprenticeship to a mischievous proficient in swordsmanship.
1: A party led by Dan Chisholm, sent by Sir Walter Scott, arrives at Aikwood with food but they are repelled by a master fiend.
4: Approaching Melrose, Dan and his party are met by strange horsemen purporting to be the abbot and three monks, with whom they return to Aikwood where Michael prophesies future glory for the Scott family.
5: Michael and the abbot (revealed as the Devil) torment Dan and his party, turning them into bulls but providing the friar with the means to reinstate them.
6: Back at Roxburgh, Sir Philip Musgrave responds to the threatened execution of his brother Richard (who was in fact not killed in Vol.
Laidlaw attacks more of the thieves who are stealing the Chisholm livestock, the disguised Bess being wounded in the skirmish and granted by her grateful father to Will.
After Mary has prepared the ground, the knights are invited to compete for ladies' favours: the friar unites Colley Carol with Delany and Charlie Scott with Jane.