“Riccartoun is evidently a corruption of Richardtoun. It is generally supposed to have been so called from a Sir Richard Wallace, who lived in the vicinity of the village, and who is said to have been uncle to the celebrated patriot, Sir William Wallace. Of his house no vestige now remains; the place, however, where it stood is well known. The village of Riccartoun is within one English mile of the market-place of Kilmarnock.” V. Riccartoun, Stat. Acc. V. 117.
And with the swerd awkwart he him gawe.—V. 407.
In Edit. 1594,—ane ackwart straik him gaif.
This is followed by subsequent editions. The line, as it stands in MS., is both clumsy and nonsensical. But perhaps Blind Harry used this for athwart; as it occurs in the same sense, II. 109.
Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this drede. MS.—V. 437.
Of the deid, Edit. 1594. Of the deed, Edit. 1620.
This is more in character, than to suppose that Wallace, after so chivalrous an achievement, should run to his uncle, and tell him in what terror he was for the vengeance of the English. The term here used, indeed, seems to reduplicate on the phrase which occurs v. 434, “this worthi werk.”
NOTES ON THE SECOND BOOK.
Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;
The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.—V. 27.