177 slep. “To sleep,” infinitive, not a substantive.
188 as foul on twist. “Like a bird on a bough.”
*302 to-waverand. “To-wavering”—i.e., distracted, uncertain. Waverand occurs in line 112 above, and in the Wallace in “waverand wynd” (Bk. iv. 340). “To” is intensive = German zer. In Morte Arthure we have “to-stonayede” = astounded (1436) and “to-briste” = burst asunder (3982). Skeat gives for the text, “wandering uncertainly in different directions,” but “her and thar” follows.
330 nakyt. “Without armour,” as always in the poem.
423 for Jhon Cumyng’s sak. That this feeling did operate in certain quarters we gather, further, from a story told in the Scalacronica, citing “the chronicles of his (Bruce’s) actions,” in which two men ferry Bruce, whom they did not know, over a passage between two islands. They ask about Bruce, and express a wish that they had him in their hands, that they might kill him. Bruce inquired why, and the answer is, “Because he murdered John Comyn, our lord.” This incident is placed after Loudon Hill, and the precise locality is not mentioned. Bruce discloses his identity in parting from them (Scala., pp. 132-3).
455 top our teill. “Top over tail,” head over heels. The phrase occurs in the Alexander (72, 8).
468 till him dreuch. “Drew the man towards him.”
494 Glentruell. Glen Trool and Loch Trool are in the west of Kirkcudbright. See below on 622.
497 the deir war in sesoun. June or July, and so after Loudon Hill in Bk. VIII.
561 the Clyffurd. Sir Robert Clifford. See note on 622 and on Bk. I. 282.