[603] "The Bruce, or the book of the most excellent and noble Prince Robert de Broyss, King of Scots," a.d. 1375, ed. Skeat, E.E.T.S., 1879-89. Barbour, having received safe conducts from Edward III., went to Oxford, and studied there in 1357 and in 1364, and went also to France, 1365, 1368. Besides his "Bruce" he wrote a "Brut," and a genealogy of the Stuarts, "The Stewartis Oryginale," beginning with Ninus founder of Nineveh; these two last poems are lost. Barbour was archdeacon of Aberdeen; he died in 1395 in Scotland, where a royal pension had been bestowed upon him.
[604] "The incidents on which the ensuing novel mainly turns are derived from the ancient metrical chronicle of the Bruce by Archdeacon Barbour, and from," &c. "Castle Dangerous," Introduction.—"The authorities used are chiefly those ... of Archdeacon Barbour...." "Lord of the Isles," Advertisement to the first edition.
[605] Book vii. line 483.
[606] Book xvi. line 270.
[607] Book i. line 235.
Et si jeo n'ai de François la faconde,
Pardonetz moi qe jeo de ce forsvoie;
Jeo suis Englois.
"Balades and other Poems by John Gower," London, Roxburghe Club, 1818 4to, in fine.
[609] Book v. st. 266.
[610] "Confessio Amantis," ed. Pauli, London, 1857, 3 vols, 8vo. vol. iii. p. 374.