made of the mazers, and also of a habiliment, called "King Robert Bruce's serk," i. e. shirt, meaning, perhaps, his shirt of mail; although no other arms are mentioned in the inventory. It might have been a relique of more sanctified description, a penance shirt perhaps. Extract from "Inventare of ane Parte of the Gold and Silver conyeit and unconyeit, Jowellis, and uther Stuff perteining to Umquhile oure Soverane Lords Fader, that he had in Depois the Tyme of his Deceis, and that come to the Handis of oure Soverane Lord that now is, M.CCCC.LXXXVIII.” Memorandum fundin in a bandit kist like a gardeviant, in the fyrst the grete chenye2 of gold, contenand sevin score sex linkis. Item, thre platis of silver. Item, tuelf salfatis.3 Item, fyftene discheis* ouregilt. Item, a grete gilt plate. Item, twa grete bassingis ouregilt: Item, FOUR MASARIS, CALLED KING ROBERT THE BROCIS, with a cover. Gard-vin, or wine-cooler. 2 Chain. 3 Salt-cellars, anciently the object of much curious workman 5 Basons. ship, + Dishes. Item, a grete cok maid of silver. Item, the hede of silver of ane of the coveris of masar. Item, a fare dialle.' Item, twa kasis of knyffis.2 Item, a pare of auld kniffis. Item, takin be the smyth that opinnit the lokkis, in gold four ty demyis. Item, in Inglys grotis3 given again to the takaris of hym. xxiiii li. and the said silver Item, ressavit in the cloissat of Davidis tour, ane haly waterfat of silver, twa boxis, a cageat tume, a glas with rois-water, a dosoune of torchis, King ROBERT BRUCIS SERK. The real use of the antiquarian's studies, is to bring the minute information which he collects to bear upon points of history. For example, in the inventory I have just quoted, there is given the contents of the black kist, or chest, belong. ing to James III., which was his strong box, and contained a quantity of treasure, in money and jewels, surpassing what might have been at the period expected of poor Scotland's gear." This illustrates and authenticates a striking passage in the history of the house of Douglas, by Hume of Godscroft. The last Earl of Douglas, (of the elder branch,) had been reduced to monastic seclusion in the abbey of Lindores, by 'Dial. 2 Cases of knives. 3 English groats. James II. James III., in his distresses, would willingly have recalled him to public life, and made him his lieutenant. "But he," says Godscroft, " laden with years and old age, and weary of troubles, refused, saying, Sir, you have keept mee, and your black coffer in Sterling, too long, neither of us can doe you any good: I, because my friends have forsaken me, and my followers and dependers are fallen from me, betaking themselves to other masters; and your black trunk is too farre from you, and your enemies are between you and it: or (as others say) because there was in it a sort of black coyne, that the king had caused to be coyned by the advice of his courtiers; which moneyes (saith he) sir, if you had put out at the first, the people would have taken it; and if you had employed mee in due time I might have done you service. But now there is none that will take notice of me, nor meddle with your money."-HUME'S History of the House of Douglas, fol. Edin. 1644, p. 206. Note X. Arouse old friends, and gather new.-St. XXXIV. p. 218. As soon as it was known in Kyle, says ancient tradition, that Robert Bruce had landed in Carrick, with the intention of recovering the crown of Scotland, the Laird of Craigie, and forty-eight men in his immediate neighbourhood, declared in favour of their legitimate prince. Bruce granted them a tract of land, still retained by the freemen of Newton to this day. The original charter was lost when the pestilence was raging at Ayr; but it was renewed by one of the Jameses, and is dated at Faulkland. The freemen of Newton were formerly officers by rotation. The provost of Ayr, at one time, was a freeman of Newton, and it happened to be his turn, while provost in Ayr, to be officer in Newton, both of which offices he discharged at the same time. Note XI. Let Ettrick's archers sharp their darts, The fairest forms, the truest hearts !—St. XXXIV. p. 218. The forest of Selkirk, or Ettrick, at this period, occupied all the district which retains that denomination, and embraced the neighbouring dales of Tweeddale, and at least the upper ward of Clidesdale, All that tract was probably as waste as it is mountainous, and covered with the remains of the ancient Caledonian forest, which is supposed to have stretched from Cheviot Hills as far as Hamilton, and to have comprehended even a part of Ayrshire. At the fatal battle of Falkirk, Sir John Stewart of Bonkill, brother to the steward of Scotland, commanded the archers of Selkirk forest, who fell around the dead body of their leader. The English historians have commemorated the tall and stately persons, as well as the unswerving faith, of these foresters. Nor has their interesting fall escaped the notice of an elegant modern poetess, whose subject led her to treat of that calamitous engagement. "The glance of the morn had sparkled bright The bugle was strung at each hunter's side, And the tired forester is laid Far, far from the clustering greenwood shade! WALLACE, or the Fight of Falkirk, Lond. |