Chapter Hexapla to Highland Mary of H by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Highgate has its name from a gate set up there about 400 years ago, to receive tolls for the bishop of London, when the old miry road from Gray's Inn Lane to Barnet was turned through the bishop's park. The village being in a high or elevated situation explains the first part of the name.
   Sworn at Highgate. A custom anciently prevailed at the public-houses in Highgate to administer a ludicrous oath to all travellers who stopped there. The party was sworn on a pair of horns fastened to a stick -
   (1) Never to kiss the maid when he can kiss the mistress.
   (2) Never to eat brown bread when he can get white.
   (3) Never to drink small beer when he can get strong - unless he prefers it.

Highland Bail Fists and cuffs; to escape the constable by knocking him down with the aid of a companion.

"The mute eloquence of the miller and smith, which was vested in their clenched fists, was prepared to give highland bail for their arbiter [Edie Ochiltree]." - Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary, chap. xxix.

Highland Mary A name immortalised by Burns, generally thought to be Mary Campbell, but more probably Mary Morison. In 1792 we have three songs to Mary: "Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary?" "Highland Mary" ("Ye banks and braes of bonnie Doon"), and "To Mary in Heaven" ("Thou lingering star," etc.). These were all written some time after the consummation of his marriage with Jean Armour (1788), from the recollection of "one of the most interesting passages of his youthful days." Four months after he had sent to Mr. Thomson the song called "Highland Mary" he sent that entitled "Mary Morison," which he calls "one of his juvenile works." Thus all the four songs refer to some youthful passion, and three of them at least were sent in letters addressed to Mr. Thomson, so that little doubt can exist that the Mary of all the four is one and the same person, called by the author Mary Morison.

"How blythely wad I bide the stoure,
A weary slave frae sun to sun,
Could I the rich reward secure-
   The lovely Mary Morison."