Acc. to Elise J. Kirk, in "Hail to the Chief" (American Music, 1997) no less than *three* musical adaptations of "The Lady of the Lake" were playing in London in 1811! Which tells me, at least, that there was more than one melody set to Scott's words.

Kirk writes persuasively that the "American" tune of "Hail to the Chief" was composed by the London violinist James Sanderson (1769-1841) for the version of "The Lady" dramatized by Thomas J. Dibdin in 1810. The music was published in America a little earlier than Levy (and therefore I) had thought, namely between 1812 and 1814.

Perhaps strangely, Sanderson became responsible within a few months for the music in the stage adaptation by John Edmund Eyre a few months later. We don't know whether he imported his original tune or composed a new one.

The third version of "The Lady" was written by Thomas Morton, with music by Henry Rowley Bishop and was also produced in London in 1811.

Kirk tells nothing about Bishop's melody.

Because the phrase "Scotland the Brave" appears prominently in Hyslop's poem, it may be that the tune of "Scotland the Brave" was composed either by James Sanderson or (perhaps more likely) Henry Rowley Bishop in 1811 to accompany Scott's lyrics about "Roderick Vich Alpine Dhu."

Or it could be that Hyslop's melody was the "American" "Hail to the Chief."

Or it could also be that "Scotland the Brave," by someone else, was set retroactively to Hyslop's lyrics!

Infuriating, isn't it?