And at the last alone gan know. And said, Yon is the king, but dread, BARBOUR'S Bruce, Book V. p. 115, 16. Note XI. -his brother blamed, But shared the weakness, while ashamed, With haughty laugh his head he turn'd, And dash'd away the tear he scorn'd—P. 160. The kind, and yet fiery character of Edward Bruce, is well painted by Barbour, in the account of his behaviour after the battle of Bannockburn. Sir Walter Ross, one of the very few Scottish nobles who fell in that battle, was so dearly beloved by Edward, that he wished the victory had been lost, so Ross had lived. Out-taken him, has not seen Where he for any men made moaning. And here the venerable arch-deacon intimates a piece of scandal. Sir Edward Bruce, it seems, loved Ross's sister, per amours, to the neglect of his own lady, sister to David de Strathbogie, Earl of Athole. This criminal passion had evil consequences; for, in resentment of the affront done to his sister, Athole attacked the guard which Bruce had left at Cambuskenneth, during the battle of Bannockburn, to protect his magazine of provisions, and slew Sir William Keith the commander. For which treason he was. forfeited. In like manner, when in a sally from Carrick-fergus, Neil Fleming, and the guards whom he commanded, had fallen, after a protracted resistance, which saved the rest of Edward Bruce's army, he made such moan as surprised his followers : "Sic moan he made men had ferly,* For he was not customably Wont for to moan men any thing, Nor would not hear men make moaning." * Wonder. Such are the nice traits of character so often lost in general history. Note IV. "Thou heard'st a wretched female plain, In agony of travail-pain, And thou didst bid thy little band Upon the instant turn and stand."-P. 168. This incident, which illustrates so happily the chivalrous generosity of Bruce's character, is one of the many simple and natural traits recorded by Barbour. It occurred during the expedition which Bruce made to Ireland, to support the pretensions of his brother Edward to the throne of that kingdom. Bruce was about to retreat, and his host was arrayed for moving: "The king has heard a woman cry, That her child-ill † right now has ta'en: And gert her gang in hastily, And syne forth on his ways rade. BARBOUR'S Bruce, Book XVI. p. 39, 40. *Moved END OF VOLUME NINTH. EDINBURGE: |