190 cover and ga. “Recover and go about.”
202 Ald Meldrom. About five miles north-east of Inverury.
204 Before Yhoill-evyn nycht. “One night before Christmas Eve.” Fordun records an attack by Brechin on Bruce on Christmas Day (see above on 183), but the battle of Old Meldrum he puts on to 1308 (cxxiv.). But he sends Bruce north right away after his landing in Carrick and capture of Turnberry to destroy Inverness and other fortresses (cxxi.), whereas Bruce could scarcely go north before the autumn, as he was in Galloway on September 30 (Foedera, iii., p. 14). After his victory at Inverury, Bruce ravages Buchan, subdues the north, and, according to Fordun, is in Argyll by August, 1308 (cxxvi.). This would be quick work, even for Bruce, and Lord Saltoun therefore argues that Barbour is right in his chronology (Frasers of Philorth, ii. 183-194).
221 His horse ... he askit. When the King heard of the attack, says Fordun, “though he was still prostrated by great weakness, he rose from the litter on which he was constantly carried, and ordered his men to arm him and place him on his horse” (Gesta Annalia, cxxiv.).
249 merdale. “Rabble”; O.F. merdaille, “a dirty crowd.” Cf. Alexander, “For thay war pure, small mardale” (379; 14); also Lives of the Saints; Ninian, 921.
289 “The son of him (the Earl of Atholl) that was in Kildrummy.” But see note on Bk. XIII. 489. Atholl was English, and Barbour must be wrong.
293 Com syne his man. But on May 20, 1308, Edward II. was expressing his thanks to “David de Breghyn,” etc. (Bain, iii., No. 43). This would support Fordun’s date for the battle, if, as Barbour says, Brechin submitted soon after. But “Sir David de Breghyn” is receiving wine from Edward II. on July 12, 1310 (Bain, iii., No. 121). See further on Bk. XIX. 19.
296 all Bouchane. The district of Buchan is in the north-east of Aberdeenshire.
307 Toward Angus. In the north of Forfarshire.
309 the Scottis Se. The Firth of Forth (see on 461). Of old it marked the boundary between the land of the Gaelic-speaking Scots and the English Lowlands.