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.