14 Marcus of Man. Mark, Bishop of Sodor (i.e., of the “Sudereys,” the “South Isles,” or Hebrides, or of Man and the Isles), had been imprisoned with Wishart in 1299. He had taken a prominent part in Scottish affairs on the national side, and had been one of the “auditors” in the case of the Competitors (Palgrave, p. 53). Apparently, however, he had died some years before, in 1303, so that Barbour is post-dating his imprisonment (Keith’s Catalogue of Scottish Bishops, ed. 1824, p. 301).
16 Crystoll of Seytoun. See note on Bk. II. *243. Hemingburgh says he was captured in “the castle of Lochdor,” for which we should probably read “Lochdon,” which fixes the reading in the text (Hem., ii. 250). Lochdon or Loch Doon, source of the river Doon, in Ayrshire, had a castle of which Sir Gilbert de Carrick, ancestor of the Earls of Cassilis, was hereditary keeper. Its traitorous surrender was the subject of a remission “of all rancour of mind conceived” on this account by King Robert to Sir Gilbert (Reg. Mag. Sig., i., p. 115, 8). The castle was being besieged on August 10 by Sir Henry de Percy, and had fallen before October (Bain, ii., Nos. 1819, 1841). Jamieson had identified his “London” with Lochdon, and has a long note on the matter.
19 Maknab. In the remission above referred to, the castle is said to have been surrendered “into the hands of the English” by Sir Gilbert’s son-in-law, when Seton was given up.
29 in Ingland. In this Barbour seems to be wrong. Hemingburgh says Edward ordered him to be taken to Dumfries, and there to be drawn, hanged, and beheaded (ii. 251). Gray, too, says he was executed at Dumfries, but erroneously adds that he had been captured at Kildrummy (Scala., p. 131). He was “the late” Christopher de Seton on October 4 (Bain, ii., No. 1841). Hemingburgh and Gray both explain that Seton was an Englishman, and had killed a knight at Dumfries. Bruce founded and endowed a chapel to his memory near that town (Robertson’s Index, p. 13, No. 89).
36 Schyr Ranald Crauford. Sir Ranald, or Reginald, Crauford, Edward’s Sheriff of Ayr in 1296 (Bain, ii., No. 853). Under March, 1307, there is a list of rewards by Edward to Dougal Macdowall and others of Galloway for the capture of “Sir Ranald de Crauford and other enemies” (Bain, ii., No. 1915), these being Robert’s brothers Alexander and Thomas, and their friends, who made a descent on Galloway, with the result stated above, February 17, 1307 (Lanerc., p. 205; Bain iv. p. 489).
37 Schyr Bruce the Blair. As Jamieson points out in his note, the reading “Bruce” (S) should more properly be Bryce or Brice. Sir Bryce was an ancestor of the Blairs of Blair, in Ayrshire. In the Wallace it is “Schyr Bryss the Blayr” (Bk. vii. 209). Conversely Brys for Bruce (IV. 61, etc.).
38 a berne in Ar. The Bruce being undoubtedly one of the sources of the Wallace this is—in part, at least—the origin of the famous outrage of “The Barns of Ayr,” there told in Bk. VII. as before the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297. Crawford and Blair are expressly named among the sufferers on that occasion. Crawford is claimed as Wallace’s uncle (Bk. i. 25-27).
39 dame Marjory. Bruce’s daughter by his first wife, Isabel, daughter of Donald Earl of Mar. She afterwards married Walter, the High Steward (see Bk. XIII. 689).
47 the gyrth of Tayne. The enclosure or “sanctuary” attached to the chapel of St. Duthac, at Tain, Ross-shire, a favourite place of pilgrimage with the Scottish kings, especially James IV. There was, however, no privilege of sanctuary for treason. William Earl of Ross was in the English interest, and on May 20, 1308, is the recipient of thanks from Edward II. “for faithful service to his father and himself” (Bain, iii., No. 43). Hemingburgh says “the new Queen” was taken in Kildrummy (ii. 249); Gray that Cristina Bruce was captured there, and the Queen and Nigel Bruce in Dunaverty (Scala., p. 131); Trivet agrees with the second statement, but obviously confuses (p. 410); according to Fordun the Queen was taken at Tain, and many ladies at “Kyndrumy” (Gesta Ann., cxx.).
49 thai of Ros. Fordun says the Queen was seized at St. Duthac’s by the Earl of Ross (Gesta Ann., cxx.).