A. a.
34. many a styrande. “The reading of the MS. is, I suspect, right; for stage, or staig, in Scotland means a young horse unshorn of its masculine attributes, and the obvious intention of the poet is merely to describe that the Scottish alighted from many a prancing steed, in order to prepare for action.” Motherwell, Minstrelsy, p. lxxi, note 30, who would read accordingly, [Off] many a styrande stage. The fourth line, as amended by Motherwell, would be a superfluity, whereas Percy’s reading, here adopted, adds a pleasing incident, the rousing of the deer as the troopers passed their haunts.
201. beste, corrected to bent.
221. repeated at the top of fol. 65 back.
313. the one; b, thy one.
342. soth soth.
411. b, weynde.
463. cressawttes.
503. schapped: cf. 541.