The Bruce
advice. See note on _Bk._ II. 471.
517 _but anger._ “Without trouble or sorrow.”
561 _To tell of paynys, etc._ An allusion to Virgil: _Forsan et haec
olim meminisse juvabit_ (_Æneid_, i. 203).
578 _mony frely fute._ “Many a handsome _child_” is Skeat’s
explanation, taking “fute = fode, one fed or nourished up.” But in
the _Morte Arthure_, Gawain says to Mordred, who was no child, “Fals
fosterde _foode_, the fende have thy bonys” (3376); and “frely” also
occurs as in, “Thow arte _frely_ and faire,” etc. (970); whence Barbour
just means, “many a goodly or handsome person.”
584 _the hyde leve on the tre._ “They left the skin on the wood of the
oars,” being unaccustomed to the rough work of rowing.
588 _To furthyr thaim, etc._ “To carry them on in their floating.”
658 _our stycht._ “Our fixed purpose or determination.” _Cf._ A.S.
_stihtan_, to establish (Skeat). The _Morte Arthure_ has the related
verb, “styhtyll tha steryn men”--_i.e._, “place these stern men” (line
157): _styhtlen_, to dispose.
659 _Angus 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 further _Scots
Peerage_, i., 36, 37).
666 _Donavardyne._ 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).
680 _Rauchryne._ Now Rathlinn, off the north coast of Ireland towards
Kintyre. Dean Monro (1549) calls it _Rachlinn_, but Jamieson gives
ten variations of the name from Archdall’s _Monastic. Hibern._,
including _Rachryne_ and _Rochrinne_, “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 to operate 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 (and _Trivet_, 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 in _Lanercost_, p. 205.
688 _strait off Marrok._ The Strait of Gibraltar, so called also by
Chaucer in the _Man of Lawes Tale_.
696 _the mole._ The “Mull” of Kintyre. Gaelic _maoil_ = a promontory, a
borrow of the Norse _múli_. It is “le Moel de Kintyr” in an indenture
in _Bain_, ii., No. 1941.
745 _loud and still._ A romance phrase for “in all ways,” “under all
circumstances.” Henryson has it in his _Robene and Makyne_, “I haif
thee luvit _loud and still_.”
BOOK IV.
10-12 _off 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).
13 _byschop 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 on
_Bks._ I. 354, XIII. 687; and _Scot. Hist. Rev._, vol. v., pp. 86-88).
14 _Marcus 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 the national 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’s _Catalogue of Scottish
Bishops_, ed. 1824, p. 301).
16 _Crystoll of Seytoun._ See note on _Bk._ 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.
19 _Maknab._ 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.
29 _in 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’s _Index_,
p. 13, No. 89).
36 _Schyr 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; _Bain_ iv.
p. 489).
37 _Schyr Bruce the Blair._ As Jamieson points out in his note, the
reading “Bruce” (S) should more properly be _Bryce_ or _Brice_. Sir
Bryce was an ancestor of the Blairs of Blair, in Ayrshire. In the
_Wallace_ it is “Schyr Bryss the Blayr” (_Bk._ vii. 209). Conversely
Brys for Bruce (IV. 61, etc.).
38 _a berne in Ar._ The _Bruce_ being undoubtedly one of the sources
of the _Wallace_ this is--in part, at least--the origin of the famous
outrage of “The Barns of Ayr,” there told in _Bk._ 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).
39 _dame Marjory._ Bruce’s daughter by his first wife, Isabel, daughter
of Donald Earl of Mar. She afterwards married Walter, the High Steward
(see _Bk._ XIII. 689).
47 _the 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.).
49 _thai of Ros._ Fordun says the Queen was seized at St. Duthac’s by
the Earl of Ross (_Gesta Ann._, cxx.).
55 _put 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 at line 57. Lines 59-66 do not read
satisfactorily in either MS., and the text is a composition from both
with a view to clearness.
80 _And 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).
83 _He bad distroy._ _Cf._ note on _Bk._ II. 205.
96 _bargane 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 tak
Syllys off ayk, and a stark _barres_ mak” (_Bk._ x. 829-30).
115 _the 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’s
_Geog. Coll._, i., p. 29). Fordun says simply that the castle was lost
by treachery (_Gesta Annalia_, cxx.).
134 _wes 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.
181 _Snawdoune._ 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 the _Complaynt 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.
189 _in-to Northumberland._ Edward was certainly in Northumberland in
the autumn of 1306, being at Newcastle on August 8 (_Bain_, ii., No.