189 in-to Northumberland. Edward was certainly in Northumberland in the autumn of 1306, being at Newcastle on August 8 (Bain, ii., No. 1816), at Newburgh, in Tynedale, August 28 (Fœdera, ii., p. 1018). He was delayed in Northumberland by sickness but passed the winter of 1306-1307 at Lanercost, near Carlisle, to which, on “account of old age and weakness,” he came by easy stages in a horse-litter, arriving on September 29, and staying till Easter of the following year, March 26, 1307 (Chron. de Lanercost, p. 205). Barbour thus antedates his death, which took place at Burgh-on-Sand, “three (about five) miles north of Carlisle,” on July 7, 1307 (ibid., 207; Hem., ii., p. 266).
211 In Burch I wist weill, etc. This is a familiar type of story, the “dowbill undirstanding,” told of several historic personages: of Henry IV., to whom it had been prophesied that he should die in Jerusalem, and who died in the “Jerusalem chamber,” Westminster (Shakespeare’s 2 Henry IV., Act IV., Scene 5); of Cardinal Wolsey, and others.
220 Ane spirit. Archbishop Sharpe was reported to have a “familiar spirit,” which he carried in a snuff-box in the form of a bee!
241 Erle Ferrandis moder. Ferrand was an historical personage, a Prince of Portugal, who, by marriage, became Earl of Flanders. The story of the oracle which can be read in two ways, is also one of which there are many examples from that of the utterance of the Delphic oracle to Crœsus, as told by Herodotus. Ferrand is in the Morte Arthure:
“One sir Feraunt before, upon a fayre stede,
Was fosterde in Famacoste, the fend was his fadyre”
(2760-61).
Famacoste is Famagosta, in Cyprus.
249 Bosbek or Busbecq was in Flanders, west of Courtrai.
253 in Inglis. Barbour calls his own language English, as the Scots poets do down till the fifteenth century (see on Language, Appendix G).
256 Mynerff. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, etc. For the early and mediæval Christians, the ancient deities were demons.