This long narrative poem is set in Rokeby, Yorkshire. It takes place in 1644, and concerns the events following the Battle of Marston Moor.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), began his career writing narrative poetry, and later re-launched his career as a novelist. Deriving most of his material from his native Scotland, its history and its legends, Scott invented and mastered what we know today as the historical novel.

This edition includes an introduction by Scott and excerpts from letters he wrote during the writing of this poem.