Note IX.

The sun, ere yet he sunk behind

Ben-ghoil, "the Mountain of the Wind,"

Gave his grim peaks a greeting kind,

And bade Loch-Ranza smile-St. XIII. p. 107.

Loch Ranza is a beautiful bay, on the northern extremity of Arran, opening towards East Tarbat Loch. It is well described by Pennant.

"The approach was magnificent: a fine bay in front, about a mile deep; having a ruined castle near the lower end, on a low far projecting neck of land, that forms another harbour, with a narrow passage; but within has three fathom of water, even at the lowest ebb. Beyond is a little plain watered by a stream, and inhabited by the people of a small village. The whole is environed with a theatre of mountains; and in the back-ground the serrated crags of Grianan-Athol soar above." -Pennant's Tour to the Western Isles, p. 191, 2.

Ben-Ghaoil, "the mountain of the winds," is generally known by its English, and less poetical name, of Goatfield.

Note X.

Each to Loch-Ranza's margin spring ;

That blast was winded by the King!-St. XVIII. p. 112. The passage in Barbour, describing the landing of Bruce, and his being recognised by Douglas and those of his followers, who had preceded him, by the sound of his horn, is in the original singularly simple and affecting.-The king arrived in Arran with thirty-three small row-boats. He interrogated a female if there had arrived any warlike men of late in that country.."Surely, sir," she replied, "I can tell you of many who lately came hither, discomfited the English governor, and blockaded his castle of Brodick. They maintain themselves in a wood at no great distance." The king, truly conceiving that this must be Douglas and his followers, who had lately set forth to try their fortune in Arran, desired the woman to conduct him to the wood. She obeyed.

"The king then blew his horn on high;
And gert his men that were him by,
Hold them still, and all privy;
And syne again his borne blew he.
James of Dowglas heard him blow,
And at the last alone gan know;
And said, 'Soothly yon is the king;
I know long while since his blowing.'
The third time therewithall he blew,
And then Sir Robert Boid it knew ;
And said, 'Yon is the king but dread,
Go we forth till him, better speed.'
Then went they till the king in hye,
And him inclined courteously,
And blithly welcomed them the king,
And was joyful of their meeting,
And kissed them; and speared* syne
How they had fared in hunting?
And they him told all but lesing:†
Syne laud they God of their meeting.
Syne with the king till his harbourye
Went both joyful and jolly."

Barbour's Bruce, Book IV. p. 115, 16.

Note XI.

-his brother blamed,

But shared the weakness, while ashamed,

With haughty laugh his head he turned,

And dashed away the tear he scorned.-St. XX. p. 114. The kind, and yet fiery character of Edward Bruce, is well painted by Barbour, in the account of his behaviour after the battle of Bannockburn. Sir Walter Ross, one of the very few Scottish nobles who fell in that battle, was so dearly beloved

* Asked.

Without lying.

by Edward, that he wished the victory had been lost, so Ross had lived.

Out-taken him, men has not seen

Where he for any men made moaning.

And here the venerable arch-deacon intimates a piece of scandal. Sir Edward Bruce, it seems, loved Ross's sister, per amours, to the neglect of his own lady, sister to David de Strathbogie, Earl of Athole. This criminal passion had evil consequences; for in resentment of the affront done to his sister, Athole attacked the guard which Bruce had left at Cambuskenneth, during the battle of Bannockburn, to protect his magazine of provisions, and slew Sir William Keith the commander. For which treason he was forfeited.

In like manner, when in a sally from Carrick-fergus,-Neil Fleming, and the guards whom he commanded, had fallen, after a protracted resistance, which saved the rest of Edward Bruce's army, he made such moan as surprised his followers:

"Sic moan he made men had ferly,*

For he was not customably

Wont for to moan men any thing,

Nor would not hear men make moaning."

Such are the nice traits of character so often lost in general history.

And thou didst bid thy little band

Upon the instant turn and stand.-St. XXVII. p. 120. This incident, which illustrates so happily the chivalrous

* Wonder.

generosity of Bruce's character, is one of the many simple and natural traits recorded by Barbour. It occurred during the expedition which Bruce made to Ireland, to support the pretensions of his brother Edward to the throne of that kingdom. Bruce was about to retreat, and his host was arrayed for moving.

"The king has heard a woman cry,
He asked, what that was in hy.*
"It is the layndart sir,' sai ane,

"That her child-illt right now has ta'en:
And must leave now behind us here.
Therefore she makes an evil cheer."Ş
The king said, 'Certes, it were pity
That she in that point left should be,
For certes I trow there is no man
That he no will rue¶ a woman than.'

His host all there arested he,

And gert a tent soon stintit** be,
And gert her gang in hastily,
And other women to be her by.
While she was delivered he bade;

And syne forth on his ways rade.
And how she forth should carried be,
Or he forth fure,ft ordained he.
This was a full great courtesy,
That swilk a king and so mighty,
Gert his men dwell on this maner,
But for a poor lavender.

Barbour's Bruce, Book XVI. pp. 39, 40.

NOTES

ΤΟ

CANTO FIFTH.

Note I.

O'er chasms he passed, where fractures wide

Craved wary eye, and ample stride.-St. VI. p. 132.

The interior of the island of Arran abounds with beautiful highland scenery. The hills, being very rocky and precipitous, afford some cataracts of great height, though of inconsiderable breadth. There is one pass over the river Machrai, renowned for the dilemma of a poor woman, who, being tempted by the narrowness of the ravine to step across, succeeded in making the first movement, but took fright when it became necessary to move the other foot, and remained in a posture equally ludicrous and dangerous, until some chance passenger assisted her to extricate herself. It is said she remained there for hours.

Note II.

He crossed his brow beside the stone,
Where Druids erst heard victims groan.

And at the cairns upon the wild,

O'er many a heathen hero piled.-St. VI. p. 152.

The isle of Arran, like those of Man and Anglesea, abounds with many reliques of heathen, and probably druidical, superstition. There are high erect columns of unbewn stone, the most early of all monuments, the circles of rude stones, com