[3] Innisfail is one of the ancient names of Ireland;—it means the isle of fate or destiny. It was so called from possessing an ancient stone chair, on which was sculptured in Gaelic,
Or fate is false, or where this stone shall be
The Scots shall reign a powerful monarchy.
It was afterwards removed to Scotland, and subsequently to England. It is now placed under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey.
[4] Mala-pioba—the bagpipes. The late Mr. Cooper Walker in his "Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards," in a note at foot of page 81, speaking on the subject of the Irish bagpipes, (which, by the way, are played upon by the finger, and not like the Scotch pipes, which are played by the lips,) he makes the following remark:—"I have been informed that George II. was so much delighted with the performance of an Irish gentleman on the bagpipes, that he ordered a medal to be struck for him."
[5] Sir Trystrem was entitled to the lily, being a royal son of France; he was designated Sir Trystrem of Lyons. He was nephew to Mark, king of Cornwall. His name really was Tristrem, but we suppose, for sake of euphony, old Cormac thought he was privileged to change it.
[6] "The spiced wassail-bowl."—See Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess," act V. p. 108. Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, vol. IV. The efficacy of love philtres was credited from the days of Pliny even down to the seventeenth century! See Sir Walter Scott's "Sir Tristrem," p. 298; and also Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. III. p. 459.
[7] Muscadel.—This species of wine was a common ingredient in the wassail-bowls, which were peculiarly in favour at Christmas.—Note to "the Pilgrim," by Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. V. p. 429. Muscadel is likewise noticed in the same volume in the play called "The Woman's Prize," p. 263.
"Sweet gentleman with muscadel."
Mr. Weber adds in a note, "This passage, perhaps, explains the reason why wine was offered immediately after the marriage ceremony to the bride and bridegroom generally before they left the church." The following passage occurs in Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew:"