BOOK III.

“Quha for his Lord dois he sall beHarbreid with Angellis gle” (p. 21).

365all the renk.Skeat has a note on this word explaining renk as “a rank of fighting men,” and citing “the plur. form renges” in Chaucer’sKnight’s Tale(Globe,Chaucer, A 2594). But while there is a formrenk= rank, thatis not the word or the sense here. The proper explanation comes from theAlexander, in such examples as:

“Anerenkabout him hes he made,Quhair evir he straik nane him abade” (p. 145, 8-9).

and

“Anerenkabout him hes he maid,He sparit nane that him abaid” (p. 231, 20-21);

while we have a similar use in theMorte Arthure:

“Ryde thrughte all the rowtte, rerewarde and other,Redy wayes to make, andrennkes full rowme.”

Another passage from theAlexandergives us the sense in the setting and phraseology of the passage on hand:

“The woundit gave cryis and granes,Trumpettis and hornes blew atanes,It seemit all the countre quok” (p. 412, 29-31).

Renk, then, has nothing to do with “rank,” but signifies “an open or clear space”; here “all the place about them quaked.” It is, in fact, our modern “rink,” and appears to be a form of “ring,” as in “prize-ring” (Skeat’sEtymol. Dict.). It has nothing to do with “range” in the sense of “rove,” as Mr. Amours thinks (Alliterative Poems, S.T.S.). H actually readsrinke.

415hynt hys rengyhe.The account in Gray is that Bruce’s rein was seized by John de Haliburton, who let him go immediately when he saw who he was. The difficulty about recognition was due to the fact that Bruce showed no coat of arms, having on a white tunic (un chemys blank.—Scalacronica, p. 131). Hemingburgh says that all the mounted Scots, in their approach to Perth, had these white overalls (super omnia arma vestem lineam), so that they could not be identified (ii., p. 248).

438corn-but.This reading for the obscuretorn-butof E (tandcare often indistinguishable in MS.) andcombatof H is due to Mr. George Neilson, basing on a passage in theMorte Arthure(Scottish Antiquary, July, 1902, p. 51). The “heathen king” is down with a mortal wound from Sir Cador, who exclaims:

“Thow hascorne botte, sir kynge, there God gyfe the sorowe,Thow killyde my cosyn, my kare is the less” (1837-8).

Though the general meaning of “revenge,” “tit-for-tat,” is clear, no satisfactory analysis of the phrase has been offered. Skeat and Gollancz think that the first part of the term is French—corne, a horn “as the symbol of pride”—and that the compound signifies “a requitalfor pride, a taking down.” The passages will scarcely bear this. Moreover,bōtis admittedly old English—“remedy, atonement”—and one shies at a solitary compound in such a case.Mann-bōtwas a fine paid to the lord of a murdered man;brycgbotwas a levy for the repair of bridges;corn-gesc(e)otwas a contribution of corn.Corn-botmay thus have been a fine for the destruction of corn, and have taken on a general sense of requital or revenge. It does not seem to require the force of a specially intense revenge (auserlessene busse.Holshausen), but appears to have been a slang term, whence its rare occurrence in literature. It is not given in theNew English Dic.(See furtherScottish Antiquary. June, 1903, pp. 121-123;Notes and Queries, 9 Series, x. 61, 115, 253).

463Thomas Randell.He was given in ward to Sir Adam de Gordon to be kept till the King’s arrival in Inverkip Castle (Bain, ii., No. 1807). Gray says he was released at the instance of Gordon, when he remained English till his recapture (Scala., p. 131).

467sum thai hangyt.See on 235, 239.

471will of wane.“Astray in thought (weening); distracted, at a loss.Will= modern Englishwild, astray, bewildered (Icel.villr).Cf.in theGest. Hystoriale: “All wery I wex andwyll of my gate” = out of my way (line 2369).

479the Boroundoun.This name has puzzled editors and given rise to a good deal of conjecture. But a Sir Walter de Borondone was constable of Carstairs Castle in 1305-1306 (Bain, ii., No. 1880), and he is the same person as Sir Walter de Bourghdon, constable there in 1301-1302 (ibid., No. 1290), of Roxburghshire (ibid., p. 199). He was an English officer.

482The Erle of the Levenax wes away.Fordun, however, says that Lennox and De la Hay alone followed Bruce, and became “his inseparable companions (comites individui) in every tribulation” (Gesta Annal., cxxi.).Cf.Bk.III. 591.

491Schir Nele Cambell.Ancestor of the Campbells of Lochow, or Loch Awe, and so of the Argyll family. He married Mary Bruce, the King’s sister, but not, it would seem, before 1312 (Scots Peerage, i., p. 323; but see on xvi. 119). The grant of “Lauchaw” was to their son Colin (Robertson’sIndex, pp. 16, 18).

494the Month.“The mountain which is called the Mound, which stretches from the western to the eastern sea” (De Situ Albaniae, MS. Paris; cited inHistorians of Scotland, Innes’ Essay, p. 412). The modern Grampians.

513Nele the Bruys ... and the Queyn.Neilor Nigel (Nigellus) Bruce was the King’s brother. His Queen was Bruce’s second wife, a daughter of Richard de Burgh Earl of Ulster.

514othir ladyis.Fordun says all the ladies went with their husbands and the King, hiding in the woods, etc. (Gesta Annal., cxix.).

529King Adrastus.One of “the Seven against Thebes,” and the only one who returned home in safety. Barbour follows neither the Greek sources nor the Thebaid of Statius, but one of the many French romances on the subject. SeeAppendixF.

534Campaneus.ProperlyCapaneus, who was struck with lightning by Zeus, whom he had defied, while attempting to scale the walls of Thebes.

542the tour.See note onBk.XVII. 224.

1The Lord of Lorne.Strictly this should be Alexander Macdougall of Argyll or of Lorn, but probably his son, John of Lorn, is meant, as on September 14 Edward writes to the Prince of Wales how “Sir John of Argyll has well served him and the Prince” (Bain, ii., No. 1830).

3his emys sak.Alexander of Argyle, according to Wyntoun (Bk.viii., Chap, vi., 1171) had married an aunt of the murdered John Comyn, a daughter of Sir John Comyn “the Red” (!), of Badenoch, his grandfather. He was thus the “eym” or uncle of Comyn, not his nephew (Scots Peerage, i., 507).

15thar fryst metyng.According to Fordun, this skirmish took place at Dalry (“the King’s field”), near Tyndrum, in the west of Perthshire, on August 11, 1306 (Gesta Ann., cxx.). Bruce was making his way westwards by Glen Dochart. There is the usual “King’s Cave” in Balquhidder (Jamieson).

62ane sik aw.“In such awe.” For this form,cf.Alexander(78, 5), “he stude of thame lytill aw,” andWallace(Bk.v. 929), “On thaim he raid, and stud bot litill aw.” This usage is a stage in the grammatical development of the modern phrase from the original type, “Awe of one stood men” (dat.), for which see N.E.D.

67Marthokys sone.Jamieson suggestsMarthokto be forMuratach(Muredach) =Murdoch; so “Marthokys sone” = MacVurich (MacMhuirich).

69Fyn all.Here E giveshym all, which is clearly wrong. Skeat adoptsFyngallfrom H and A. Better, however, is the more ancient and correct form,Fyn, which the scribe has turned intohym, while the “all” is preserved to balance the “all” in the next line. Golmakmorn isGoll mac Morna, head of the Clann Morna, the rivals of theFianna, and the reference is to the detachment of members of his band from Finn by Goll; Finn, indeed, perished in a conflict with rebel followers.

75in Gadyrris the forrayours.The reference is to one of the later episodes in theRomance of Alexander, appearing in the ScottishAlexanderasThe Forray of Gadderis(La Fuerre de Gadres). Alexander, while besieging Tyre, sends out a body of men to forage in the “vale of Josaphas.” On their return with the cattle, they are set upon by a large army under Betys of “Gaderis,” one of whose followers was Gaudifer. Only the timely arrival of Alexander saved his men, and, on the flight of Betys, Gaudifer maintained the struggle till he was slain. Skeat says that Barbour could not have used the Scottish translation, dated 1438, but “must have seen it in an earlier form.” Lines 81, 82, however, correspond literally, with one exception, to the passage in theAlexander, and, according to Neilson, they have no place in the original French (John Barbour, p. 55):

“For to defend all the flearisAnd for to stony the chassaris” (p. 88, 20).

Coneus(line 85) is thereCorneus(pp. 88, 89), andDanklyne,DanclyneorDanclene—in the French originalCorneusandDans Clins.Cf.Brown’sWallaceandBruce, p. 101, where, however, Mr. Brown’s transcription of the names in theAlexandermust be checked; and see furtherAppendixE. In theWallacethere is a similar reference toThe Forray,Bk.x. 340-2.

101“the Durwarth sonnys.”“The Durward or door-ward’s sons,” a translation of the Gaelic nameMac-na-dorsair, “son of the door-man.” Skeat has a long note, contributed by Dr. Murray, claiming that “no writer seems to have seen the point of this passage.” Reference is accordingly made to the trouble caused by Alan Durward in the reign of Alexander III., and the connection of Durward with Nicholas de Soulis, one of the Competitors (see also onBk.XIX. 11). Whence it is inferred that these “men were the clansmen of Alan the Durward, who, like the Comyns of Badenoch, the Baliols, and others, were almost more dangerous to Bruce than the arms of England.” That can scarcely have been the case, since it must also be taken into account (1) that the Bruces were of the Durward party in the reign of Alexander III., and (2) that an Alan Durward was hanged with Nigel Bruce at Berwick, having, apparently, been captured at Kildrummy (Scala., p. 131).

153a baroune Maknauchtan.The chief of the Macnaughtons (? Ferchar or Farquhar), whose father was of the time ofAlexander III., an ancient clan having lands near Loch Awe (Cf.Coll. de Reb. Alb., p. 51). There is no “Duncan” (Jamieson following Nisbet,Heraldry) in the genealogy.

162his owtrageous manheid.Cf.inAlexander, “outtragius hardement” (p. 184, 16). This use of “outrageous” = extreme or excessive, is common, if not peculiar, to theAlexanderand theBruce.Cf.inBruce, vi. 126; viii. 270; ix. 101; xi. 32:Alexander, 235, 8; 258, 30; 335, 9.

172“sa our Lord me se.”“May our Lord watch over me,” as in Chaucer’sPardoner’s Tale, “Now, lordes, God yow see” (Group C, line 715).

208Hanniball.The reference is to Hannibal’s crushing defeat of the Romans at Cannae, 216B.C.Barbour takes his details in a rather huddled fashion fromMartinus Polonus, a popular monkish historian of the thirteenth century (Chronicon de Gestis Romanorum, etc.), who again bases onPaulus Orosius, of the beginning of the fifth century. Wyntoun confessedly reproduces the chapters of Polonus at greater length and more accurately than Barbour, and on this fact, viewed in the light of the general relation of Wyntoun to Barbour, and certain peculiarities in the present case, Mr. Brown bases an argument that the Hannibal passage is “derived from theCronykil” and “an interpolation” in theBruce. On this seeAppendixF, v. Mr. Brown gives in full the relevant portions of the text of Polonus and Orosius (Wallace and Bruce, pp. 120-7).

211thre bollis, etc.“Tres modios aureorum anulorum Carthaginem misit, quos ex manibus interfectorum nobilium extraxerat” (Mart. Pol.).

216Scipio the king.For the medieval usage in titles,cf.also note onBk.I. 554. Polonus calls ScipioTribunus militum; Barbour (and Wyntoun) translatemilites, from the contemporary use of the word, as “knights”; whence “the Tribune of the knights” naturally suggests the title “King,” Wyntoun preferring “chyftane.”Cf.also what is said in the footnote. It may, however, be considered that in theAlexanderwe have “Gaudifer the yhing” (121, 20), and “Ideas the yhing” (161, 26).

221knychtis.Really only “soldiers” (milites fecerunt).

231Thai ischit.Barbour hurries over the interval of four years between the Battle of Cannae and Hannibal’s appearance before the walls of Rome, 212B.C.

234throw mycht of Goddis grace.Divina miseratioinMart. Pol.andOrosius.

242twys thar-eftir.No; only twice altogether. But Barbour is apparently summarizing from memory, though Mr. Brown repudiates the suggestion (p. 126).

281-2That hym thocht, etc.From Lucan’sPharsalia:Nil actum credens, si quid superesset agendum(ii. 657).

337Kildromy.Kildrummy Castle, in Aberdeenshire, on the Don, a royal castle which Edward had ordered Bruce, in September, 1305, to place “in the keeping of one for whom he shall answer” (Bain, ii., No. 1691).

365H has flatly misunderstood this line, and Skeat’s partial emendation therefrom introduces a use ofthe quhilkrare in Barbour (see on XVIII. 225). Moreover, as Koeppel further points out, the sense of the passage implies an antithesis such as E gives. The only difficulty is the redundant syllableyt, and forconfortalone,cf.V. 210, XV. 371 (Englische Studien, x., p. 380, note).

373to the wynter ner.Kildrummy fell before the middle of September, 1306, but August is scarcely “near” winter, even in Scotland.

390hys werdis, etc.“Follow out his fate (werdis) to the end.”

392Nele Cambel.See note onBk.II. 491.

437Ferambrace.The romance ofFierabrasorFerumbras(ferri brachium, “iron-arm” or “strong-arm”) was the most popular of the Charlemagne romances. It still circulates among the French peasantry. There are two versions of it in English of the fifteenth century,Syr Ferumbras(E.E.T.S.) andThe Sowdone of Babylone(E.E.T.S.). The latter also has the peculiar formLavynefromLabanforBalan, the Sowdone or Sultan and father of Fierabras. On these points seeAppendixF, iii.Olyver(439) is Oliver, one of the “duk-peris” (440) or “twelve peers” (douze pairs) of Charlemagne, andSyr Ferumbrasopens with the account of how he defeated Fierabras in single combat, which also begins the second division of the Sowdone. The French knights are, however, trapped by the Saracens and confined in the castle ofEgrymor(441), or Aigremont, in Spain, but are released and joined by Floripas, the daughter of Balan, and make themselves masters of “the tower” (449). They are the twelve peers, though Barbour makes them “bot eleven” (444), probably with reference to the one who was slain in the defence. But they lack provisions, and news of their plight is carried to Charlemagne by Richard of Normandy (450). Charlemagne, who, supposing them slain, was on his way home to France, turned back with his army, seized the marble bridge over the riverFlagot, which was warded by a giant, and captured the great tower ofMantribleon the other side (445). Thereafter Lavyne, or Balan, is defeated and captured, and, later, executed; the Christians recover from Floripas the sacred relics carried off by Fierabras from St. Peter’s, Rome. The “sper” (459) is the spear with which the side of the crucified Jesus was pierced by the Roman soldier; the crown is the crown of thorns; “the naylis” are the nails with which he was fixed to the cross. In theComplaynt of Scotlande(E.E.T.S.,p. 63) is a reference to theTail(tale)of the Brig of the Mantrible. Readers ofDon Quixotewill recall “the balsam of Fierabras,” which also figures in the romance. On Mr. Brown’s treatment of this passage, seeAppendixF, iii.

493will of red.“At a loss what to do”;red= “rede,” counsel, advice. See note onBk.II. 471.

517but anger.“Without trouble or sorrow.”

561To tell of paynys, etc.An allusion to Virgil:Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit(Æneid, i. 203).

578mony frely fute.“Many a handsomechild” is Skeat’s explanation, taking “fute = fode, one fed or nourished up.” But in theMorte Arthure, Gawain says to Mordred, who was no child, “Fals fosterdefoode, the fende have thy bonys” (3376); and “frely” also occurs as in, “Thow artefrelyand faire,” etc. (970); whence Barbour just means, “many a goodly or handsome person.”

584the hyde leve on the tre.“They left the skin on the wood of the oars,” being unaccustomed to the rough work of rowing.

588To furthyr thaim, etc.“To carry them on in their floating.”

658our stycht.“Our fixed purpose or determination.”Cf.A.S.stihtan, to establish (Skeat). TheMorte Arthurehas the related verb, “styhtyll tha steryn men”—i.e., “place these stern men” (line 157):styhtlen, to dispose.

659Angus of Ile.Angus Macdonald, known as Angus Oig (“the younger”). His elder brother, Alexander of Islay, or of the Isles, was in the English interest, and had married Juliana of Lorn, sister of John of Lorn. Their father, Angus Mor (“the big or elder”), had supported the Bruce party during his life, taking an active part with it in 1286. Angus also was English (Rot. Scot., i., 40, 41) till the appearance of Bruce. His lands were in Kintyre (see furtherScots Peerage, i., 36, 37).

666Donavardyne.The castle of Dunaverty, at the south end of Kintyre. It was being besieged, for some days at least, before September 22, by the English pursuing Bruce (Bain, ii., Nos. 1833, 1834), who believed that he was inside (Hemingburgh, ii. 249;Trivet, p. 410).

680Rauchryne.Now Rathlinn, off the north coast of Ireland towards Kintyre. Dean Monro (1549) calls itRachlinn, but Jamieson gives ten variations of the name from Archdall’sMonastic. Hibern., includingRachryneandRochrinne, “from the multitude of trees with which it abounded in ancient times.” Surprise has been expressed that Bruce should have chosen for retreat an island four miles off the Irish coast, which was within the territory of the Bissets of Antrim, strong English partisans, and in which he could be trapped by a fleet. Not, however, till January 29-30, 1307, do we find a fleet in being, supplied by Hugh Bysset and John de Mentieth, which was tooperate in “the Isles on the Scottish coast” “in putting down Robert de Brus and his accomplices lurking there, and destroying their retreat” (Bain, ii., p. xlix, Nos. 1888, 1889). Hemingburgh says (andTrivet, 410) that Bruce had gone “to the farthest isles of that region” (in extremas insulas, ii. 249). “Was lurking in remote island” is the account inLanercost, p. 205.

688strait off Marrok.The Strait of Gibraltar, so called also by Chaucer in theMan of Lawes Tale.

696the mole.The “Mull” of Kintyre. Gaelicmaoil= a promontory, a borrow of the Norsemúli. It is “le Moel de Kintyr” in an indenture inBain, ii., No. 1941.

745loud and still.A romance phrase for “in all ways,” “under all circumstances.” Henryson has it in hisRobene and Makyne, “I haif thee luvitloud and still.”

10-12off na degree ... Nothir of the kyrk, etc. The Lanercost writer notes that among those hanged at this time were not only “common folk and countrymen” (simplices laici et rurales), but also “knights, clerics, and prebendaries”—the latter in spite of their profession that they were “members of the church” (p. 204).

13byschop Robert.Robert Wischard, or Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow since 1273. He had been, at one time, a Guardian of the Kingdom, and up to 1306 had taken the oath of fealty to Edward six times. He had taken a share in the rising of Wallace, had absolved Bruce for his murder of Comyn, and had furnished the robes for his coronation, further stirring up the people by declaring that to fight against Edward was as meritorious as to go on a Crusade. Edward sent to the Pope a long list of charges on these lines (Palgrave, pp. 340-350). He was captured, “as a man of war,” in the castle of Cupar, Fife, shortly before June 18 (Bain, ii., No. 1780;Palgrave, p. 349); at which Edward was “almost as much pleased as if it had been the Earl of Carrick” (Bain, ii., 1786). He was kept a prisoner till after Bannockburn (see note onBks.I. 354, XIII. 687; andScot. Hist. Rev., vol. v., pp. 86-88).

14Marcus of Man.Mark, Bishop of Sodor (i.e., of the “Sudereys,” the “South Isles,” or Hebrides, or of Man and the Isles), had been imprisoned with Wishart in 1299. He had taken a prominent part in Scottish affairs on thenational side, and had been one of the “auditors” in the case of the Competitors (Palgrave, p. 53). Apparently, however, he had died some years before, in 1303, so that Barbour is post-dating his imprisonment (Keith’sCatalogue of Scottish Bishops, ed. 1824, p. 301).

16Crystoll of Seytoun.See note onBk.II. *243. Hemingburgh says he was captured in “the castle of Lochdor,” for which we should probably read “Lochdon,” which fixes the reading in the text (Hem., ii. 250). Lochdon or Loch Doon, source of the river Doon, in Ayrshire, had a castle of which Sir Gilbert de Carrick, ancestor of the Earls of Cassilis, was hereditary keeper. Its traitorous surrender was the subject of a remission “of all rancour of mind conceived” on this account by King Robert to Sir Gilbert (Reg. Mag. Sig., i., p. 115, 8). The castle was being besieged on August 10 by Sir Henry de Percy, and had fallen before October (Bain, ii., Nos. 1819, 1841). Jamieson had identified his “London” with Lochdon, and has a long note on the matter.

19Maknab.In the remission above referred to, the castle is said to have been surrendered “into the hands of the English” by Sir Gilbert’s son-in-law, when Seton was given up.

29in Ingland.In this Barbour seems to be wrong. Hemingburgh says Edward ordered him to be taken to Dumfries, and there to be drawn, hanged, and beheaded (ii. 251). Gray, too, says he was executed at Dumfries, but erroneously adds that he had been captured at Kildrummy (Scala., p. 131). He was “the late” Christopher de Seton on October 4 (Bain, ii., No. 1841). Hemingburgh and Gray both explain that Seton was an Englishman, and had killed a knight at Dumfries. Bruce founded and endowed a chapel to his memory near that town (Robertson’sIndex, p. 13, No. 89).

36Schyr Ranald Crauford.Sir Ranald, or Reginald, Crauford, Edward’s Sheriff of Ayr in 1296 (Bain, ii., No. 853). Under March, 1307, there is a list of rewards by Edward to Dougal Macdowall and others of Galloway for the capture of “Sir Ranald de Crauford and other enemies” (Bain, ii., No. 1915), these being Robert’s brothers Alexander and Thomas, and their friends, who made a descent on Galloway, with the result stated above, February 17, 1307 (Lanerc., p. 205;Bainiv. p. 489).

37Schyr Bruce the Blair.As Jamieson points out in his note, the reading “Bruce” (S) should more properly beBryceorBrice. Sir Bryce was an ancestor of the Blairs of Blair, in Ayrshire. In theWallaceit is “Schyr Bryss the Blayr” (Bk.vii. 209). Conversely Brys for Bruce (IV. 61, etc.).

38a berne in Ar.TheBrucebeing undoubtedly one of thesources of theWallacethis is—in part, at least—the origin of the famous outrage of “The Barns of Ayr,” there told inBk.VII. as before the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297. Crawford and Blair are expressly named among the sufferers on that occasion. Crawford is claimed as Wallace’s uncle (Bk.i. 25-27).

39dame Marjory.Bruce’s daughter by his first wife, Isabel, daughter of Donald Earl of Mar. She afterwards married Walter, the High Steward (seeBk.XIII. 689).

47the gyrth of Tayne.The enclosure or “sanctuary” attached to the chapel of St. Duthac, at Tain, Ross-shire, a favourite place of pilgrimage with the Scottish kings, especially James IV. There was, however, no privilege of sanctuary for treason. William Earl of Ross was in the English interest, and on May 20, 1308, is the recipient of thanks from Edward II. “for faithful service to his father and himself” (Bain, iii., No. 43). Hemingburgh says “the new Queen” was taken in Kildrummy (ii. 249); Gray that Cristina Bruce was captured there, and the Queen and Nigel Bruce in Dunaverty (Scala., p. 131); Trivet agrees with the second statement, but obviously confuses (p. 410); according to Fordun the Queen was taken at Tain, and many ladies at “Kyndrumy” (Gesta Ann., cxx.).

49thai of Ros.Fordun says the Queen was seized at St. Duthac’s by the Earl of Ross (Gesta Ann., cxx.).

55put the ladyis in presoune.On November 7, 1306, there are “further orders for the custody of the Countesses of Carrick (the Queen) and Buchan, Marie, and Christine, the sisters, and Margerie the daughter, of Robert de Bruce ... three of the ladies to be in ‘kages.’” (Bain, ii., No. 1851). The Countess of Buchan, who had crowned Bruce, was to be placed in a cage of wooden bars and lattice in one of the turrets of Berwick Castle (Palgrave, p. 358;Scala., p. 131); Marie Bruce in a “kage” in Roxburgh (Palgrave, 359); Marjory in a “kage” in the Tower of London (359); Cristina in ward in England (ibid.). The Queen was to be in custody at “Brustewik” (p. 357); was removed thence by an order of June 22, 1308 (Bain, iii., No. 48). Marjory was in ward at Wattone in March, 1307 (Bain, ii., 1910). By 1311-1312 Maria de Brus is a prisoner in Newcastle (Bain, iii., 227, 340).

57-65 The Cambridge MS. begins atline 57. Lines 59-66 do not read satisfactorily in either MS., and the text is a composition from both with a view to clearness.

80And set a sege.The Prince of Wales was in command at Kildrummy when it fell, shortly before September 13 (Bain, ii., No. 1829). Gray says the castle was invested by Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford (Scala., p. 131).

83He bad distroy.Cf.note onBk.II. 205.

96bargane at the barras.“Barras” or “barrace” is a “barrier” or outwork before a fortress, usually of wood.Cf.Wallace:

“Off hewyn temyr in haist he gert thaim takSyllys off ayk, and a starkbarresmak” (Bk.x. 829-30).

115the mekill hall.One form of the tradition is that the corn or forage was stored in the chapel of the castle and there set on fire (O.S.A., xviii. 417); another, that on the east side is the “Black Lardner,” so called because it was burnt in the siege (Macfarlane’sGeog. Coll., i., p. 29). Fordun says simply that the castle was lost by treachery (Gesta Annalia, cxx.).

134wes battalit all, etc.—i.e., had battlements on the inside of the wall, as well as on the outside. The former case was unusual, but fortunate here because the besieged could thus shelter themselves from the fire within.

181Snawdoune.Kildrummy is said to have had seven towers, of which one on the west side still stands, with the name of the “Snow Tower” (Geog. Coll., i., p. 28). There was a “Snowdoun” also at Stirling, and Sir David Lindsay, in theComplaynt of the Papingo, addresses Stirling Castle as “fair Snowdoun.” Nisbet speaks of a Snowdoun Castle in the county of Ross as an ancient residence of the Scottish kings (Heraldry, ii. 166). The name is, undoubtedly, old, and in its present form probably a corrupt assimilation to more familiar syllables.

189in-to Northumberland.Edward was certainly in Northumberland in the autumn of 1306, being at Newcastle on August 8 (Bain, ii., No. 1816), at Newburgh, in Tynedale, August 28 (Fœdera, ii., p. 1018). He was delayed in Northumberland by sickness but passed the winter of 1306-1307 at Lanercost, near Carlisle, to which, on “account of old age and weakness,” he came by easy stages in a horse-litter, arriving on September 29, and staying till Easter of the following year, March 26, 1307 (Chron. de Lanercost, p. 205). Barbour thus antedates his death, which took place at Burgh-on-Sand, “three (about five) miles north of Carlisle,” on July 7, 1307 (ibid., 207;Hem., ii., p. 266).

211In Burch I wist weill, etc. This is a familiar type of story, the “dowbill undirstanding,” told of several historic personages: of Henry IV., to whom it had been prophesied that he should die in Jerusalem, and who died in the “Jerusalem chamber,” Westminster (Shakespeare’s2 Henry IV., Act IV., Scene 5); of Cardinal Wolsey, and others.

220Ane spirit.Archbishop Sharpe was reported to have a “familiar spirit,” which he carried in a snuff-box in the form of a bee!

241Erle Ferrandis moder.Ferrand was an historical personage, a Prince of Portugal, who, by marriage, became Earl of Flanders. The story of the oracle which can be read in two ways, is also one of which there are many examples from that of the utterance of the Delphic oracle to Crœsus, as told by Herodotus. Ferrand is in theMorte Arthure:

“One sir Feraunt before, upon a fayre stede,Was fosterde in Famacoste,the fend was his fadyre”(2760-61).

Famacosteis Famagosta, in Cyprus.

249Bosbekor Busbecq was in Flanders, west of Courtrai.

253in Inglis.Barbour calls his own language English, as the Scots poets do down till the fifteenth century (see onLanguage,AppendixG).

256Mynerff.Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, etc. For the early and mediæval Christians, the ancient deities were demons.

282in the fechting.Ferrand and the Emperor Otho IV. were defeated at Bouvines, between Lille and Tournai, July 27, 1214.

322“hangis and drawis.”It was Edward I. who regularized the horrible form of punishment allotted to traitors, several examples of which have already been noted. The victim was first drawn by horses on a rough cart through the principal streets, as Fraser was through the streets of London, then hanged, next taken down before he was dead and decapitated. The head was then stuck up on a public place, if the victim was sufficiently notorious, and the limbs might be similarly exposed, as was done with Wallace. Fraser’s heart and entrails were burned, and his body was again hung up till about three weeks afterwards, when it and the gallows were burned together. For Fraser’s case, seeAnn. Paul, pp. 148, 149. For the grammatical forms, seeAppendixH.

336To King Robert.The narrative now goes back to the closing months of 1306.

338till the wyntir neir wes gane.Too long a period. On February 1, 1307, Edward is ordering out ships to hunt for Bruce “towards Ayr” (Bain, ii., 1893).

367In-to Kintyre.Hemingburgh has it that about September 29, 1306, Bruce came back from the islands and waited in Kintyre, and sent some men over to Carrick, who lifted his rents for Martinmas. Trivet has an account which is simply a careless abridgment of Hemingburgh (Hemingburgh, ii. 251;Trivet, 410). Nothing is said of Arran, but these writers are not strong in geography. Hemingburgh says Bruce had a force of “Irish” (Hibernicis) and Scots (ibid.). “Irish” suggests Rathlin, or they may be west-islanders.

384Schir John the Hastyngis.Sir John de Hastings had been the most important of the Competitors, next to Balliol and Bruce, being the grandson of the youngest daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon. On May 22, 1306, he received from Edward a grant “of the Earldom of Mentethe in Scotland, with the Isles” (Bain, ii., No. 1771). In July or August, 1307, he is one of the garrison of Ayr Castle (ibid., 1901).

388Brathwik.Brodick.

421neid to fourty.In line 405 he says the English were in all “thretty and ma”!

464The King arivit.On the west side of the island, opposite Campbelltown, is theKing’s Cove, where, as tradition says, “King Robert de Bruce and his retinue lodged ... for some time when taking shelter in retired places” (Old. Stat. Acct., vol. ix., p. 167).

466in a toune.Not “in a town” in the modern sense, but in the Scots meaning of any group of houses or buildings—e.g., a farm “toun.”

556Turnberys snuke.Turnberry Point, on the coast of Ayrshire, the site of the castle of the Earls of Carrick. The castle was in possession of Henry Percy, to whom Edward had granted Bruce’s Earldom, as is stated in lines 599-600 (Hem., ii. 251). The point at Berwick was known as “le Snoke” (Hist. Docts., ii. p. 160). S reads “nuk” from C.

682-3Jeromy= Jeremiah.Ysay= Isaiah.

720-1 “The constellation that gives to them kindly manners”—i.e., natural dispositions.Cf.“kyndly” = naturally, in line 735. For “manners” = character,cf.Chaucer.The Dethe of Blaunche:

“She used gladly to do wel,These were hirmanerseverydel” (1012-13).

747Nigramansy.“Necromancy,” or the art of revealing the future through communication with the dead (Gr.nekros, a dead body); appearing in mediæval Latin asnigromanteia; O.F.,nygromancie, the first part of the compound being confused and identified with Latinniger, black—whence “the black art.”

753the Phitones.ThePithonessorPythoness, which usually appears in the M.E. writers as in the text.Cf.Chaucer’sHous of Fame, iii. 171: “Andphitonesses, charmeresses,” etc. Pythia was the oracle-giving priestess of Apollo at Delphi; hence a woman who prophesies or divines. The name was given, as in the reference here, to the witch of Endor (1Chron.x. 13), as in Bacon,Prophecies, etc., “Said thePythonissato Saul,” etc.

1in vere.“In spring”—February, 1307 (see note onBk.IV. 338.) The description here is really of the “Poets’ May.”

23na nedill had na stane;i.e., neither an actual needle magnetized, nor a piece of magnetic iron, loadstone, to serve as a compass.

24in-till ane.“In a straight course,” guiding themselves by the fire.

90till the toune.Cf.note on III. 556. Hemingburgh’s account is that Bruce, coming on him suddenly, attacked Percy by night and slew a few of his company (ii. 251).Cf.95, etc. Fordun says Bruce captured and destroyed one of his own castles, slew the garrison, and divided arms and other spoils among his men (Gesta Annalia, cxxi.). This is not Barbour’s version, which is the right one.Cf.on 107, 118.

104Makdowall.Probably, as Jamieson suggests, the Dougall Macdowall who, about this time, defeated and captured Bruce’s brothers in Galloway. See onBk.IV. 36.

107In the castell.See above on 90. According to Hemingburgh, “Bruce besieged Percy in the castell till the siege was raised by an English army” (ii. 251). There were desertions, February 18, among troops called out to deal with Bruce (Parliam. Writs, i., p. 379).

118All haill the reif.Bruce had captured their steeds and silver plate (Hemingburgh, as cited); steeds and much other spoil (Trivet’sAnnals, p. 410).

133a lady of that cuntre.Fordun says that Bruce was assisted in returning to Carrick by Christian “of the Isles,” who “had a kindness for him” (Gesta Annalia, cxxi.), but the lady here would seem to be of Carrick, and a relative.Cf.onBk.IV. 367. Fordun is probably right as to the name, and Barbour as to the location, for “Cristiane de Carric” had, afterwards, a pension of forty shillings “at the King’s (Robert’s) pleasure” (Excheq. Rolls, i., p. 114).

151the Erle Adell.See onBk.II. 235.

153till his party war heldand.There were others who were no longer “inclining” to his party; Allan, “late Earl of Menteith,” Sirs Patrick de Graham, Hugh Lovel, William de Moray of Sandford, Walter de Moray, and other adherents, had “come to the King’s (Edward’s) peace to be in law” in November of the previous year; and Thomas Randolph, too, had gone over (cf.Bk.II. 463 note).

156Cristole of Setoun.See note onBk.IV. 16.

174Bot quhar worschip;i.e., in fair fight on the field of battle.

192Bot lay lurkand.On February 6 there is a letter from Edward to the Bishop of Chester, his Treasurer, expressing “great wonder at hearing no news of Sir Aymer de Valence and his forces since he went to Ayr,” and requesting him to order Valence, Percy, Sir John de St. John and others to send particulars of what they are doing and of the state of affairs. He states also that “he hears they have done so badly that they do not wish him to know” (Bain, ii., No. 1895). On February 11 there are letters to the same effect, sent direct to Valence, the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, St. John, and Percy (ibid., 1896).

203Schir Gauter the Lile.Sir Walter de Lisle.

205schavalduris.Skeat explains this as “wanderers,” and says “the right form seems to beshaveldour, a vagrant” (Glossary). Jamieson takes it to mean “wanderers in the woods, subsisting by hunting.” There were bands of “schavaldurs” on the Border, who robbed and plundered (Bain, iii., No. 675); but John de Harcla had “schavaldurs” in his employment (ibid., p. 128). Clerk “Helias” was aschavaldus nobilis(Stevenson, p. 2;Bk.XVI. 441 note). The exact force of the word is not yet clear. Probably they were what later times knew as “broken men.”

231the Clyffurd.Cf.note onBk.I. 282. Ancestor of the Cliffords, Earls of Cumberland.

256Toward Douglas.In the valley of the Douglas (Gael:dubh glas, black water), a tributary of the Clyde, in Upper Lanarkshire. In Bain’sCalendaris a petition from one of the garrison in Douglas Castle, “when Sir Robert de Brus and Sir James de Douglas attacked it, the year when the late King (Edward I.) died” (iii., No. 682).

296manrent.“Homage”; Scots form of “manred” (A.S.mannraéden, homage, allegiance). “Bonds of manrent” are a familiar form of association with some great noble in later Scottish history.

307Palme Sonday.March 19, 1307.

317mantill.For long a mantle or cloak was the upper garment of the Scots, rich and poor.

336Sanct Brydis.The church of Douglas was dedicated to St. Bridget, or Bride, a Celtic Saint.

388With burdys set.On trestles, as the dinner-table.Cf.note onBk.II. 96.

403 “Knocked out the heads of the wine barrels.”

410the Dowglas Lardenere.“The Douglas Larder,” a North English and Scottish form of A.F.lardiner: here with the double meaning of a store of food and a slaughter. For the latter,cf.“The knyghtes of the round table made sochelardarethrough the field” (Merlin, citedN.E.D.). In theAlexanderit is said of the slaughter accomplished by Porrus:

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