NOTES ON THE FOURTH BOOK.
So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw
The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was.—V. 26.
In MS. that Hesilden; but I have followed the judicious alteration made in Edit. 1714. In that of 1594 it is completely changed:
Sa suddainlie that time himself he saw, &c.
This is adopted by Hart, Edit. 1620.
Hesilden is evidently a local name, and must be the same place that is now called Hezilton-head, a farm, situated on high ground, in the parish of Mearns, on the direct road from Ayr to Glasgow, about nine miles to the south-west of the latter. This appears unquestionable, from the necessity under which Sir Ranald Crawfurd was laid, in consequence of his sumpter-horse being carried off by the English, of sleeping that night at Mearns, v. 70.
Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;
And said, “I will byde at the Mernys all nycht.”
Schir Ranald said, ‘That is bot litill der.’—V. 60.
In MS. her, which is followed by Edit. 1714. But I prefer der or deir, the reading of 1594, signifying “injury, loss.” In Edit. 1620, deare.
Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai:
Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht.—V. 122.
Befoir the Persie and his men brocht were thai.—Edit. 1594.
It is the same as given by Hart.
The phrase “folowit him of,” signifies, pursued him for. It frequently occurs in this sense in our old statutes.
For thai war strang: yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid.—V. 179.
Strang here signifies, “strange; persons with whom he was not acquainted.”
Thocht they were strangers, &c. Edit. 1594. Though they were strangers, 1620.
It is Lekkie in all the editions; which is still the name of the place, (V. Stat. Acc. XVIII. 98. 116.) and was so in the time of Robert Bruce. Robertson’s Ind. 8, 90.
On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill, &c.—V. 213.
“A little southward of the village there is a conical height called the Kier-hill, which is evidently artificial, and seems to have been a military work. There are remains of a ditch or rampart of a circular form, which proves that it is not of Roman origin. It is probably of later date, and appears to have been the place from which Sir William Wallace sallied forth on the night when he took by surprise the Peel of Gargunnock.” Stat. Acc. XVIII. 116, 117.
Wallace with hyr in secré maid him glaid.—V. 403.
I have retained the word as in MS. although it is secret in all the copies. Perhaps it might be from O. Fr. en secré.
Wemen and preistis wpon the wall can wepe.—V. 480.
In MS. wpon Wallace. But the reading of Edit. 1594 is preferable; especially as they did not then know that their enemy was Wallace. Perhaps it might originally be, “wpon the wallis,” whence the blunder might easily be made, as the word would be read as two syllables.
No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht draw.—V. 550.
In MS. we find all as the last word in the preceding line, and drall here. But the error has arisen from the resemblance of w to ll.
To Cargyll wood thai went that samyn nycht.—V. 677.
In MS. Gargyll. But it is Cargill, Edit. 1594; and this must be the true reading, Shortwoodshaw being in the parish of Cargill. V. Stat. Acc. XIII. 532. This is evidently spoken of as the same with Cargyll-wood.