_So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw_
_The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was._--V. 26.
In MS. _that_ Hesilden; but I have followed the judicious alteration
made in Edit. 1714. In that of 1594 it is completely changed:
Sa suddainlie that time himself he saw, &c.
This is adopted by Hart, Edit. 1620.
_Hesilden_ is evidently a local name, and must be the same place that
is now called _Hezilton-head_, a farm, situated on high ground, in the
parish of Mearns, on the direct road from Ayr to Glasgow, about nine
miles to the south-west of the latter. This appears unquestionable,
from the necessity under which Sir Ranald Crawfurd was laid, in
consequence of his sumpter-horse being carried off by the English, of
sleeping that night at Mearns, v. 70.
Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;
And said, “I will byde at the _Mernys_ all nycht.”
_Schir Ranald said_, ‘_That is bot litill_ der.’--V. 60.
In MS. _her_, which is followed by Edit. 1714. But I prefer _der_ or
_deir_, the reading of 1594, signifying “injury, loss.” In Edit. 1620,
_deare_.
_Befor Persye_ than seir men _brocht war thai:_
_Thai_ folowit _him of felouny that was wrocht._--V. 122.
Befoir the Persie _and his men_ brocht were thai.--Edit. 1594.
It is the same as given by Hart.
The phrase “_folowit_ him of,” signifies, pursued him for. It
frequently occurs in this sense in our old statutes.
_For thai war_ strang: _yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid._--V. 179.
_Strang_ here signifies, “strange; persons with whom he was not
acquainted.”
_Thocht_ they were _strangers_, &c. Edit. 1594. _Though_ they were
_strangers_, 1620.
_A bown_ Lekle, _&c._ MS.--V. 211.
It is _Lekkie_ in all the editions; which is still the name of the
place, (V. Stat. Acc. XVIII. 98. 116.) and was so in the time of Robert
Bruce. Robertson’s Ind. 8, 90.
_On_ Gargownno _was byggyt a small_ peill, &c.--V. 213.
“A little southward of the village there is a conical height called
the Kier-hill, which is evidently artificial, and seems to have been a
military work. There are remains of a ditch or rampart of a circular
form, which proves that it is not of Roman origin. It is probably of
later date, and appears to have been the place from which Sir William
Wallace sallied forth on the night when he took by surprise the _Peel_
of _Gargunnock_.” Stat. Acc. XVIII. 116, 117.
_Wallace with hyr in_ secré _maid him glaid._--V. 403.
I have retained the word as in MS. although it is _secret_ in all the
copies. Perhaps it might be from O. Fr. _en secré_.
_Wemen and preistis_ wpon the wall _can wepe._--V. 480.
In MS. _wpon Wallace_. But the reading of Edit. 1594 is preferable;
especially as they did not then know that their enemy was Wallace.
Perhaps it might originally be, “wpon the _wallis_,” whence the blunder
might easily be made, as the word would be read as two syllables.
_No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht_ draw.--V. 550.
In MS. we find _all_ as the last word in the preceding line, and
_drall_ here. But the error has arisen from the resemblance of _w_ to
_ll_.
_To Cargyll wood thai went that samyn nycht._--V. 677.
In MS. _Gargyll_. But it is _Cargill_, Edit. 1594; and this must be
the true reading, Shortwoodshaw being in the parish of Cargill. V.
Stat. Acc. XIII. 532. This is evidently spoken of as the same with
Cargyll-wood.