It deserves observation, that these are the two persons particularly named by Barbour, among those who suffered that cruel martyrdom for liberty which was inflicted by the English tyrant. Syr Brice is the reading of Edit. 1594 and 1620: and I am now convinced that the name ought to have stood Bryce in the Bruce, B. III. ver. 265; as it is corrected in the extract made in the preceding Note. But I was misled by the appearance of the letter y in the MS., which differs so much from its usual form, as at first view to resemble u.
Sir D. Dalrymple remarks; “Barbour says that Sir Brice Blair was executed in company with Sir Reginald Crawfurd; but he erroneously supposes this to have happened in Scotland.” Ann. II. 19, N. Kerr follows him in this assertion. Hist. Bruce, I. 284.
But our worthy senator is so averse to give credit to anything that tends to confirm what he calls “the famous story of the Barns of Air,” that he prefers the single testimony of Matthew of Westminster to that of Barbour; not to mention the later but concurrent one of the Minstrel. The English historian says that Reginald de Crawfurd, with Thomas and Alexander de Brus, “brothers of the pseudo-king,” having been defeated and taken prisoners, were presented to Edward at Carlisle, “wounded and half-dead, and that he immediately ordered their execution;” and that “to this their heads bare witness, being placed on the castle and gates” of that city. Hist. p. 458.
It is surprising, however, that the difference of the dates did not make Sir David hesitate to oppose the united testimony of our oldest Scottish writers on this point; especially as the account given by Matthew of Westminster is, by his own confession, at variance with that of Robert of Langtoft. The butchery at Ayr is said to have taken place, A. 1298; this at Carlisle in the year 1306–7, about nine years after. The fact seems to be, that the Reginald he refers to was the son of the other Reginald who had suffered in “the blac parlament” at Ayr. It was he who left a daughter, his only child and heir, who, as is mentioned above, was married to Sir Duncan Campbell. V. Nisbet’s Ragm. Roll. p. 18.
The third entrit, that peté was for thy,
A gentill knycht, Schyr Neill off Mungumry.—V. 213.
Worthi occurs in the line; but this word being under-doted, gentill appears on the margent. The latter is the reading of Edit. 1594, and of 1620. This person seems to have been one of the family now represented by the Earl of Eglinton. One of this family had the same christian name in the reign of James IV. V. Nisbet, I. 375.
Kerlé turnyt with his mastir agayne,
Kneland and Byrd, that mekill war off mayne.—V. 249.