NOTES ON THE SECOND BOOK.
Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;
The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.—V. 27.
This is most probably for abandounly; signifying, “without regard to danger,” as it is indeed explained in the following line. In Edit. 1594, it is rendered,—All but abaissing; 1620 and 1648, abasing.
He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille.—V. 33.
A sting signifies a pole; but this sasteing must have been something fixed in a larger poille or pole. Norw. sjaastang is explained, “a pole wherewith skins are taken off or laid on smoky vents.” Sjaa itself signifies the skin taken from the stomachs of animals, of which parchment is made. V. Hallager Ordsamling. But as Scottish say signifies a water bucket, this may refer to the pole used for carrying it. The following definition might seem to throw light on this singular term. “So or soa, a tub with two ears to carry on a stang.” Ray’s Collection of North Country Words. The term was most probably pronounced saysting; as a, in our old writers, must often have been sounded ai.
The Aperse of Scotland left in cayr.—V. 170.
In MS. it is,—Prophesye out Scotland is left, &c.
As this has no meaning, I have altered it, according to the reading of Edit. 1594, 1620, and 1648:
The Apersie of Scotland is in greit cair.
Celimus was maist his geyeler now.—V. 234.
In editions Cellinus. In MS. the initial letter is wanting, as is generally the case in MSS. which were afterwards to be illuminated. But from the copies it appears probable that it was C. This name is certainly given figuratively, or in reference to some jailor, celebrated in the romances then in vogue. Or could the Minstrel allude to Celaeno, one of the fabled harpies? If so, Cellinus would perhaps be the original reading.
Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,
With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:
He wsyt offt to that religiouss place.—V. 288.
This passage has been strangely misunderstood. So early as 1594 it had been made to bear quite a different meaning:—
Thomas Rymour withouttin faill was than
With the minister, &c.
This error has been followed in subsequent editions. In Edit. Perth, 1790, it is, in to the ayle; although it had been properly given, in to the Faile, Edit. 1714.
This was a cell or priory of the Cluniacenses in Kyle, Ayrshire, depending on Paisley. Spottiswoode writes it Feale. “Our history,” he says, “only remarks, that the prior of this place was one of those who hindred the castle of Dumbarton from being surrendered to the English, anno 1544, in opposition to the Earl of Lenox, then governor of it.” But besides this curious passage, which shows that it was an ancient foundation; it may be added, that “the right of the patronage of the kirk of Fale, in the county of Ayr,” is given to James de Lindsay, apparently the ancestor of the Earls of Crawford, in a charter by Robert II. Registr. Mag. Sigill. p. 172. N. 13. The miln of Faill, and the crofthead of Fail, in the lordship of Failfurd, are mentioned in a retour regarding William Wallace, heir of William Wallace, minister of Failfurd, A. 1617. Inquis. Retour. Ayr, N. 162.
Thar man that day had in the merket bene.—V. 297.
In Edit. 1594, 1620, 1714, and Perth, it is that man; in 1648 and 1673, this man; either of which would immediately refer to Thomas of Ercildon. But thar, i.e. their man, respects the servant of the religious fraternity of Faile, as appears from v. 299, which cannot respect True Thomas;
His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.