BOOK XVIII.

3 _A day forrouth thair arivyng._ So, too, Gray declares that Edward Bruce “from over-boldness (_pur surquidery_) was not willing to wait his reinforcements (_soun poair_) which had lately arrived, and were within six leagues (miles) of him” (_Scala._, p. 143)--_i.e._, within a day’s march. Gray, it will be observed, applies the same quality to Edward Bruce as Barbour does in line 183. The same explanation occurs in the _Annals of Clonmacnoise_ (pp. 281, 282). The _Lanercost_ chronicler, on the contrary, says that the “great army” which had “newly come” from Scotland to his assistance had joined Edward before his advance to Dundalk (p. 238).

8-9 _twa thousand, Outane the Kyngis of Erischry._ The _Annals of Ireland_ give the Scots 3,000 (p. 359), so that Barbour is probably about right. The chronicler in Stevenson’s _Illustrations_ makes the Scots 30,000 (p. 3)! The “Irish Kings” here include MacRory, “King” of the Hebrides (“Insi-Gall”), and MacDonald, “King” of Argyll, who were both slain (_Annals of Ulster_, ii., p. 433; _Annals of Clonmacnoise_, p. 281. _Cf._ note on line 443).

12 _Richard of Clare._ Barbour is misinformed; Richard de Clare was killed five months before, May 11 (_Annals of Ulster_, ii., pp. 433 and 432, note 5; _Annals of Ireland_, p. 35). The English were commanded by Sir John de Birmingham (_Annals of Ireland_, p. 359; _Baker_, p. 58).

17 _tuenty thousand._ Such a number of horse is obviously absurd, as is also the total of “forty thousand” below.

33 _Men sayis._ _Cf._ on 3: “My brothir” is Walter, the High Steward.

75 _nane of us._ Not true of the Scots-Irish. _Cf._ note on 8-9.

89 _fourty thousand neir._ _Cf._ line 93, and note on 17. The _Lanercost_ chronicler says the English were but “a few country-folk” (_paucis et popularibus_; p. 238), probably an exaggeration the other way.

95 _cot-armour._ The surcoat over his armour, bearing his coat-of-arms.

101 _till assemmyll._ The battle took place near the hill of Faughard or Fagher, about two miles from Dundalk. The spot where Edward Bruce fell is still shown by the natives. The date is given by Hailes, Bain, and others, following the version of the _Annals_ in Camden’s _Chronicle_ as October 5; but in the later edition of the _Annals_ and in the _Annals of Ulster_ and of _Clonmacnoise_ it is precisely fixed as Saturday, October 14, 1318, from which the _Lanercost_ chronicler differs by a day only, October 13 (_Lanercost_, p. 238; _Annals of Ulster_, p. 433; _Annals of Ireland_, p. 359; _Annals of Clonmacnoise_, p. 281); Fordun also October 14 (_Skene_, i., p. 348).

104 _ruschit with thair fais._ In the _Lanercost Chronicle_ it is explained that the Scots were in three battles too far apart, and that thus each as it attacked was disposed of before the next could come to its assistance. Edward was with the third battle (p. 238).

110 _Johne de Sowlis als._ But John de Soules appears to have been dead _circa_ 1316, when the husband of his “daughter and heir” petitioned Edward II. for his Scottish lands (_Bain_, iii., No. 530). The date, however, is doubtful.

113 _That few ... war slayne._ According to the _Vita Edw. Sec._, five hundred stout men-at-arms (_valentes armati_) were slain, besides Edward Bruce (p. 238); almost all were slain, says _Lanercost_, except those only who escaped by flight (p. 238); not a single one escaped, declares _Knighton_ (i., p. 412), but this is absurd. Two thousand, almost all the Scots, were slain, but a few got away (_Annals of Ireland_, p. 360). Only a few escaped out of thirty thousand (Stevenson, _Illustrations_, p. 3).

117 _Johne Tomassun._ No doubt the same John Thomson (_Johannes videlicet Thomæ_), a stout commoner (_valens vernaclus_), who in 1333 was holding out in the “peel” of Lochdoon against Edward III. (_Scotichr._, lib. xiii., chap. xxviii.).

123 _Johne cummyn._ Skeat prints the verb with a capital, as if “cummyn” was a personal name. Obviously “Johne” is Thomson.

125 _Schir Philipe the Mowbray._ The defender of Stirling Castle before Bannockburn: mortally wounded (_Annals of Ir._, p. 360).

167 _strak his hed of._ The _Lanercost_ writer says Edward Bruce was beheaded after death, and his body divided into four parts, which were sent to the four chief towns of Ireland (p. 238). According to Barbour, it was Gilbert Harper’s head. For the beheading, see also _Trokelowe_, p. 103, and Stevenson’s _Illustrations_, p. 3.

183 _owtrageous succudry._ _Cf._ extract from _Scalacronica_ in note on 3.

215 _Richard of Clare._ But see note on 12.

224 _Johne Mawpas._ According to the _Annals_, John Mawpas slew Edward Bruce, and was himself found dead over his body. John de Birmyngham brought the head to Edward III. (p. 360). Probably he thus earned the reward offered for injury to Edward in life or limb, on September 3, 1316 (_Patent Rolls_, p. 551).

225 _Quhilk._ Koeppel points out that this is the only example of this word otherwise than in the form _the quhilk that_, and therefore suggests that E gives the original reading (_Englische Studien_, x. 381).

230 _tuk purpos._ 1322. Barbour passes over four years, and says nothing of a destructive raid of the Scots on the West March in June-July of this year, in which they went as far south as Preston (_Lanercost_, p. 246; _Knighton_, i., p. 428; _Bain_, iii., No. 761; _Fœdera_, iii., p. 960).

235 _richt gret hoost._ “A very great army” (_Lanercost_, 247). “With a very large army ... having an armed foot-soldier from each town in England, besides his knights and esquires” (_Scala._, p. 149. So also _Gesta Edwardi de Carnarvon_, p. 78; _Knighton_, i. 428; _Baker_, p. 66).

249 _with-draw all the catele._ “The Scots fled with all their possessions, at their approach (_a facie eorum_), to safe places; stripped their own land wholly bare, and cleared the districts of all the goods” (_Trokelowe_, p. 125). “The Scots, having cleared away or conveyed with them beyond the Scottish Sea (the Forth) everything that could be easily carried, left for the English a land bare of victuals” (_Baker_, p. 66). Edward told the Archbishop of Canterbury that he found neither “man nor beast” (_Bain_, iii., No. 778). So also in _Knighton_, i., p. 428.

253 _with his hoost als still he lay._ “The Scots, in their usual fashion, withdrew, and did not dare to fight with him” (_Lanercost_, p. 247). The English traversed the country, meeting with no resistance (_Baker_, p. 66).

254 _At Culros._ In Fife, on the Forth, opposite Boness (_cf._ note on 249).

261 _in Lowdiane._ Edward was at Gosford, in Haddingtonshire, on August 5 (_Bain_, iii., No. 761). He had taken the coast-road in order to do more damage (_ibid._, 778).

262 _till Edinburgh._ _Scala._, p. 149; _Fordun_; _Skene_, i., p. 349. There is a record of a grant by Edward at Edinburgh on August 22, and of payments made at Leith on August 23, so that he may have been there longer than three days; _cf._ above on 261 (_Bain_, iii., Nos. 764, 765). On August 17, however, a pardon is dated from Lauder (_ibid._, 763).

264 _Thair schippes._ At some date in August, probably later than above, for the King, it would appear, had left, a cargo of medicine came by sea to Edinburgh (Leith) from Newcastle (_ibid._, 766). Fordun speaks of a vast multitude of ships (_copiosa multitudine_: _Fordun_, i. 349).

268 _Thair vittale._ “Having used up the food on land, and that by sea everywhere failing them” (_Trokelowe_, p. 125).

276 _Tranentis corne._ Tranent is between Musselburgh and Haddington.

283 _derrest beiff._ In Bower, “That this beef was too dear,” Warenne punning in the Latin, _Quod illius tauri caro erat nimis cara_ (_Scotichr._, ii., p. 278).

289-290 _of fasting had gret payne, etc._ “A very great part of the army was wasted with hunger, and a great number perished from want of food,” and so they returned (_Trokelowe_, p. 125). The _Lanercost_ writer speaks of lack of victuals, and illness, dysentery, among the soldiers, from both of which many died (p. 247). _Scalacronica_ concurs (p. 149), also Fordun (_Skene_, i. 349). The English were thus forced to retreat (_ibid._). Knighton puts the English losses at about fifteen thousand (i., p. 428); 30,000 (!) from starvation (_Flores Hist._, iii., p. 210).

291 _In-till Melros._ “The King’s hobelers (light horse) foraging at Melrose were defeated by James Douglas” (_Scala._, p. 149). _Cf._ lines 292-3. Knighton says the English came to Melrose, when, most unexpectedly, the Scots rushed on them from the mountains, and slew three hundred and more (i., p. 428). According to Fordun, the English slew and wounded several of the monks, and committed other sacrilege (_Gesta Annal._; _Skene_, i., pp. 349, 350).

339 _by Driburgh._ They burned the monastery to the ground (_Fordun_, _ibid._).

341 _till Ingland._ Edward is at Fenham, on the coast of Northumberland, by September 4, or thereabout (_Bain_, iii., No. 767).

346 _our the Scottis Se._ _Cf._ note on 249.

349 _Auchty thousand._ Certainly an exaggerated number. Each “battle,” as almost invariably with Barbour (_cf._ note on _Bk._ XI.), represents ten thousand men. Bruce had, however, a considerable force (_exercitu non modico_; _Gesta Edw. de Carn._, p. 79), having, according to Gray, assembled the whole power of Scotland, of the Isles, and of the Highlands (_dez autres pays hautz_; _Scala._, p. 149). Exactly parallel is the statement in _Lanercost_, p. 247.

352 _on to Ingland._ By the Solway on October 1, 1322 (_Lanercost_, p. 247; _Gesta Ann._, p. 350).

355 _to Byland._ Byland is in the North Riding of Yorkshire, near Helmsley, on the right bank of the Rye. In _Gesta Edw._ “Bella-landa” (p. 79). The affair at Byland was on October 21 (note in _Stevenson_ from Cotton MS., c. 1325, p. 55); October 14 (_Flores Hist._, iii., p. 210).

356-7 _wes liand The King of Ingland, etc._ So placed, too, in _Gesta Edw. de Carn._: the King “in monasterio de Bella-landa,” and the army on a high mountain above the monastery (p. 79); by Fordun (_Skene_, i. 350); and by Higden (_Polychron._, viii., p. 316). Trokelowe, too, suggests the same, saying the Scots followed the King as far as Byland Abbey, in the district of “Rye Valley” (_Realis Vallis_, p. 125). The escape was “near Byland, close to the Abbey of Rievaulx,” when the King was crossing over (_Flores Hist._, iii., p. 210). But the _Lanercost_ chronicler locates the King in Rievaulx Abbey (Rievaulx = Realis Vallis), on the opposite bank of the Rye (p. 247); and an order from Edward to the Earl of Pembroke “to raise the country towards Byland” is dated from Rievaulx, October 13 (_Bain_, iii., No. 790). In Stevenson’s _Chronicle_, too, the King is at Rievaulx, while Pembroke (Valence) and Richmond and other lords are at “Beghland” (_Illustrations_, p. 7).

365 _Ane craggy bra._ _Cf._ preceding note. “A strength (_un forteresce_) on a hill near Biland” (p. 149). “A certain mountain between the Abbey of Biland and the Abbey of Rievaulx” (_Lanercost_, p. 247).

366 _a gret peth._ “A certain path (_viam_) on the mountain, narrow and confined” (_arctam et strictam_; _Lanercost_, p. 247). “A very narrow road where scarce ten could go abreast” (_vix 10 in fronte meabile._ Stevenson’s _Illustrations_, p. 7).

373-4 _Went to the path, etc._ The Earl of Richmond, John of Brittany, was sent with his followers to examine the Scottish army “from a certain mountain, etc.” (_cf._ on 365. _Lanercost_, _ibid._).

409 _Thomas Ouchtre(d)._ “Arthyn,” as in C., is not known, and is clearly wrong, for Sir Thomas Ughtred, or Ouchtred, was captured here, as Barbour says in line 426 (_Bain_, iii., No. 806).

419 _Stanis apon thame._ “He (Richmond) strove with them by throwing down stones” (_per lapides projectos._ _Lanercost_, p. 247).

427 _he wes tane._ _Cf._ on line 409.

443 _all the Erischry._ _I.e._, the Highlanders and Islesmen, who spoke Gaelic or Irish. _Cf._ on line 349.

454 _aboun the bra._ The Scots ascended above them (_super eos._ _Lanercost_, _ibid._).

458 _the hycht has tane._ “The Scots ascended between the trees through the middle of the grove” (_Gesta Edw._, p. 79). The fight took place “on the summit of a hill near Byland” (_ibid._, p. 82).

462-4 _Johne Bretane, etc._ _Cf._ on line 373.

469 _thar wes tane._ John of Brittany, Earl of Richmond, a prisoner in Scotland, October 27 (_Bain_, iii., Nos. 792, 793). Still detained in Scotland, December 10 (_ibid._, No. 795). Captured at Byland (Stevenson, _Illustrations_, p. 7).

472 _lord of Souly._ Henry, Lord of Sully, a prisoner (_Bain_, No. 796): “the lord of Sully, a baron of France” (_Scala._, p. 149); “the lord of Sully (_Siliaco_), an ambassador of the King of France” (_Baker_, p. 66).

478 _yheit at Biland._ But _cf._ note on 356-7.

480 _in full gret hy._ “The King himself scarcely escaped from Rivaulx” (_Scala._, p. 149). “The King fled swiftly from Biland” (_Gesta Edw._, p. 79; _cf._ also _Lanercost_, p. 248; _Baker_, p. 66). “To Scarborough Castle” (Stevenson, _Illustrations_, p. 7).

489 _Till Yorkis yhettis._ The Scots made their way to York (_Scala._, p. 150; _Lanercost_, p. 248; _Gesta_, p. 81).

493 _nane wald cum out._ The English were quite demoralized. They had fled like “a hare before the hounds” (_Scala._, p. 150). “The people were collapsing (_corruentem_) before the enemy like sheep without a shepherd” (_Gesta_, p. 81).

498 _Rivens._ Rievaulx; see above.

500 _The King of Inglandis ger._ A note in _Bain_ describes the harness lost at “Ryvaux” by the sudden attack of the Scots there on October 14 (iii., No. 791). According to _Lanercost_, the King in his hurry left in Rievaulx Monastery his silver plate and great treasure, all which the Scots carried off, spoiling the monastery besides (p. 248). The royal treasure taken at Byland (_Higden_, viii., p. 316).

520 _Lang eftir._ In October, 1323, and May, 1324, negotiations for Richmond’s release were still in progress (_Bain_, iii., No. 829; _Pat. Rolls_).

543 _but ransoun free._ This seems to have been the transaction which resulted in the “Emerald” charter of the Douglases, giving them extraordinary powers of jurisdiction within their territories. The grant was in lieu of 4,400 merks sterling, the ransoms of three (not two) French knights and their valets captured by Douglas at Byland, and liberated at the instance of the King of France, “our very dear friend” (Fraser’s _Douglas_, _Bk._ iii., p. 11).

553 _Byrnand, slayand, and distroyand._ From all accounts the Scots did terrible mischief. “They did damage at their pleasure, with no one to oppose them” (_Scala._, p. 150). They spoiled and burned the neighbouring districts, carried off the cattle, and wasted on all sides with fire and sword (_Gesta Edw._, p. 80; _Trokelowe_, p. 126; _Northern Registers_, p. 318).

555 _to the Wald._ The Yorkshire Wold (_Scala._, p. 150). “Le Wald” (_Lanercost_, p. 248; Stevenson’s _Illustrations_, p. 7).

558 _The vale ... of Beauvare._ The valley of the river Hull in which is Beverley. “They destroyed that country to about the town of Beverley, which purchased immunity from being burned” (_Lanercost_, p. 248). Murimuth and Baker say it cost Beverley four hundred pounds sterling (_Baker_, p. 66).

561 _Till Scotland._ They returned on October 22 (_Gesta_, p. 80). In _Lanercost_, November 2 is given as the date (p. 248). It may be inferred, from a reference in _Bain_ to the Earl of Richmond as “a prisoner in Scotland” on October 27, that the Scots had got home by that date.