Aboundandely _Wallace amang thaim yeid;_
_The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid._--V. 27.
This is most probably for _abandounly_; signifying, “without regard
to danger,” as it is indeed explained in the following line. In Edit.
1594, it is rendered,--All but _abaissing_; 1620 and 1648, _abasing_.
_He bar a_ sasteing _in a boustous poille._--V. 33.
A _sting_ signifies a pole; but this _sasteing_ must have been
something fixed in a larger _poille_ or pole. Norw. _sjaastang_ is
explained, “a pole wherewith skins are taken off or laid on smoky
vents.” _Sjaa_ itself signifies the skin taken from the stomachs of
animals, of which parchment is made. V. Hallager Ordsamling. But as
Scottish _say_ signifies a water bucket, this may refer to the pole
used for carrying it. The following definition might seem to throw
light on this singular term. “_So_ or _soa_, a tub with two ears to
carry on a _stang_.” Ray’s Collection of North Country Words. The term
was most probably pronounced _saysting_; as _a_, in our old writers,
must often have been sounded _ai_.
_The Aperse of Scotland left in cayr._--V. 170.
In MS. it is,--_Prophesye out_ Scotland is left, &c.
As this has no meaning, I have altered it, according to the reading of
Edit. 1594, 1620, and 1648:
The _Apersie_ of Scotland is in greit cair.
Celimus _was maist his geyeler now._--V. 234.
In editions _Cellinus_. In MS. the initial letter is wanting, as is
generally the case in MSS. which were afterwards to be illuminated.
But from the copies it appears probable that it was _C_. This name
is certainly given figuratively, or in reference to some jailor,
celebrated in the romances then in vogue. Or could the Minstrel allude
to _Celaeno_, one of the fabled harpies? If so, _Cellinus_ would
perhaps be the original reading.
_Thomas Rimour in to the_ Faile _was than,_
_With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:_
_He wsyt offt to that religiouss place._--V. 288.
This passage has been strangely misunderstood. So early as 1594 it had
been made to bear quite a different meaning:--
Thomas Rymour _withouttin faill_ was than
With the minister, &c.
This error has been followed in subsequent editions. In Edit. Perth,
1790, it is, _in to the ayle_; although it had been properly given, _in
to the Faile_, Edit. 1714.
This was a cell or priory of the Cluniacenses in Kyle, Ayrshire,
depending on Paisley. Spottiswoode writes it _Feale_. “Our history,”
he says, “only remarks, that the prior of this place was one of those
who hindred the castle of Dumbarton from being surrendered to the
English, anno 1544, in opposition to the Earl of Lenox, then governor
of it.” But besides this curious passage, which shows that it was an
ancient foundation; it may be added, that “the right of the patronage
of the kirk of _Fale_, in the county of Ayr,” is given to James de
Lindsay, apparently the ancestor of the Earls of Crawford, in a
charter by Robert II. Registr. Mag. Sigill. p. 172. N. 13. The miln of
_Faill_, and the crofthead of _Fail_, in the lordship of _Fail_furd,
are mentioned in a retour regarding William Wallace, heir of William
Wallace, minister of Failfurd, A. 1617. Inquis. Retour. Ayr, N. 162.
Thar _man that day had in the merket bene._--V. 297.
In Edit. 1594, 1620, 1714, and Perth, it is _that_ man; in 1648 and
1673, _this_ man; either of which would immediately refer to Thomas of
Ercildon. But _thar_, i.e. _their_ man, respects the servant of the
religious fraternity of Faile, as appears from v. 299, which cannot
respect True Thomas;
His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.