The Bruce 14H has flatly misunderstood this line, and Skeat’s partial
18
Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 14
H has flatly misunderstood this line, and Skeat’s partial
BarbourEnglish
emendation therefrom introduces a use of the quhilk rare 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 syllable yt, and for confort alone, cf. V. 210, XV. 371 (Englische Studien, x., p. 380, note).
373 to the wynter ner. Kildrummy fell before the middle of September, 1306, but August is scarcely “near” winter, even in Scotland.
390 hys werdis, etc. “Follow out his fate (werdis) to the end.”
392 Nele Cambel. See note on Bk. II. 491.
437 Ferambrace. The romance of Fierabras or Ferumbras (_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.) and The Sowdone of Babylone (E.E.T.S.). The latter also has the peculiar form Lavyne from Laban for Balan, the Sowdone or Sultan and father of Fierabras. On these points see Appendix F, iii. Olyver (439) is Oliver, one of the “duk-peris” (440) or “twelve peers” (douze pairs) of Charlemagne, and _Syr Ferumbras_ opens 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 of Egrymor (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 river Flagot, which was warded by a giant, and captured the great tower of Mantrible on 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 the Complaynt of Scotlande (E.E.T.S., p. 63) is a reference to the Tail (tale) of the Brig of the Mantrible. Readers of Don Quixote will recall “the balsam of Fierabras,” which also figures in the romance. On Mr. Brown’s treatment of this passage, see Appendix F, iii.
493 will of red. “At a loss what to do”; red = “rede,” counsel, 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. 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).
211 In 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’s _2 Henry IV._, Act IV., Scene 5); of Cardinal Wolsey, and others.
220 Ane spirit. Archbishop Sharpe was reported to have a “familiar spirit,” which he carried in a snuff-box in the form of a bee!
241 Erle 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 the _Morte Arthure_:
“One sir Feraunt before, upon a fayre stede,
Was fosterde in Famacoste, the fend was his fadyre”
(2760-61).
Famacoste is Famagosta, in Cyprus.
249 Bosbek or Busbecq was in Flanders, west of Courtrai.
253 in Inglis. Barbour calls his own language English, as the Scots poets do down till the fifteenth century (see on Language, Appendix G).
256 Mynerff. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, etc. For the early and mediæval Christians, the ancient deities were demons.
282 in 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, see Ann. Paul, pp. 148, 149. For the grammatical forms, see Appendix H.
336 To King Robert. The narrative now goes back to the closing months of 1306.
338 till 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).
367 In-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.
384 Schir 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).
388 Brathwik. Brodick.
421 neid to fourty. In line 405 he says the English were in all “thretty and ma”!
464 The King arivit. On the west side of the island, opposite Campbelltown, is the King’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).
466 in 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.”
556 Turnberys 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.
682-3 Jeromy = 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 hir maners everydel” (1012-13).
747 Nigramansy. “Necromancy,” or the art of revealing the future through communication with the dead (Gr. nekros, a dead body); appearing in mediæval Latin as nigromanteia; O.F., nygromancie, the first part of the compound being confused and identified with Latin niger, black--whence “the black art.”
753 the Phitones. The Pithoness or Pythoness, which usually appears in the M.E. writers as in the text. Cf. Chaucer’s _Hous of Fame, iii. 171: “And phitonesses_, 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 (1 Chron. x. 13), as in Bacon, Prophecies, etc., “Said the Pythonissa to Saul,” etc.
BOOK V.
1 in vere. “In spring”--February, 1307 (see note on Bk. IV. 338.) The description here is really of the “Poets’ May.”
23 na nedill had na stane; i.e., neither an actual needle magnetized, nor a piece of magnetic iron, loadstone, to serve as a compass.
24 in-till ane. “In a straight course,” guiding themselves by the fire.
90 till 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.
104 Makdowall. Probably, as Jamieson suggests, the Dougall Macdowall who, about this time, defeated and captured Bruce’s brothers in Galloway. See on Bk. IV. 36.
107 In 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).
118 All haill the reif. Bruce had captured their steeds and silver plate (Hemingburgh, as cited); steeds and much other spoil (Trivet’s Annals, p. 410).
133 a 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. on Bk. 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).
151 the Erle Adell. See on Bk. II. 235.
153 till 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).
156 Cristole of Setoun. See note on Bk. IV. 16.
174 Bot quhar worschip; i.e., in fair fight on the field of battle.
192 Bot 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).
203 Schir Gauter the Lile. Sir Walter de Lisle.
205 schavalduris. Skeat explains this as “wanderers,” and says “the right form seems to be shaveldour, 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 a schavaldus 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.”
231 the Clyffurd. Cf. note on Bk. I. 282. Ancestor of the
Cliffords, Earls of Cumberland.
256 Toward Douglas. In the valley of the Douglas (Gael: dubh glas, black water), a tributary of the Clyde, in Upper Lanarkshire. In Bain’s Calendar is 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).
296 manrent. “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.
307 Palme Sonday. March 19, 1307.
317 mantill. For long a mantle or cloak was the upper garment of the Scots, rich and poor.
336 Sanct Brydis. The church of Douglas was dedicated to St. Bridget, or Bride, a Celtic Saint.
388 With burdys set. On trestles, as the dinner-table. Cf. note on Bk. II. 96.
403 “Knocked out the heads of the wine barrels.”
410 the 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 soche lardare through the field” (Merlin, cited N.E.D.). In the Alexander it is said of the slaughter accomplished by Porrus:
“Of handis and heidis baith braune and blude
He maid ane lardnare quhare he stood” (p. 233, 5).
Dr. Neilson says, “there is nothing corresponding in the French,” and claims that the lines in the Bruce are the source of the “lurid and telling phrase” (John Barbour, p. 56). But this does not follow, as the word occurs in this sense elsewhere (see N.E.D.), and the simple sense of “slaughter” in the Alexander is not quite parallel to the full significance of the word in the Bruce, where the “meile, malt, blude and wyne” fill out the suggestiveness of its use. According to Hume of Godscroft, the Douglas historian, the “wyne-sellar” of line 399 is identified with a cellar “called yet the Douglas Lairder” (_History of the House of Douglas_, p. 28, ed. 1644).
460 The thrill-wallis. May be “John de Thirlewal, vallet of Sir Adam de Swynburne,” who, “with a barbed horse,” was one of a company hunting Bruce in Glentrool, April, 1307 (Bain, ii., p. 572).
483 Schyr Ingrame Bell. Evidently a misreading of “Ingrame Umphrevell,” as is clear from Bk. VI. 3; not the other way, as Skeat puts it. There was no such person as “Bell.” Umfraville was holding Cumnock Castle on May 18 (Bain, ii., 1931). Later in the year he is at Ayr, July or August, sent there by Valence (ibid., No. 1961).
575 about his hals. Hung from his neck. A two-handed sword too long to be supported by a waist-belt.
642 toym. “Leisure.” Modern Scots toom = empty; not time. The distinction is clearly marked in the Gest. Hystoriale: “But this tyme is so tore (inconvenient), and we no tome have” (644).
BOOK VI.
3 the Umphrevell. See Bk. V. 483, 513, etc.
69 Gilbert de la Hay. See note on Bk. II. 237.
120 “Since he was provided with armour.”
121 thurt. “Needed.” The word occurs once in Morte Arthure, in the present impersonal: “Hym thare be ferde (afraid) for no faces” (403). Cf. also Bk. VIII. 257.
128 For litill strynth of erd. “On account of a slight natural defence in the character of the ground.”
149 fiff-sum. “Five together.” The compound is still familiar in Scotland--e.g., a “three-some reel,” a “four-some” in golf. Cf. “sex-sum” in line 231.
