Our _awin young_ king, be wrang led fra Scotland.
_Ayris_ is the word in MS. This may be an _erratum_ for _ayr_, in
singular, as Bruce is thus designed, v. 1342--_our ayr_, i.e. “heir
of our kingdom.” But I have retained it in plural, as by _ayris_ the
Minstrel might not only mean the king, but the heirs of noble families,
then kept prisoners in England; as Randell, Lorn, Bowehane, &c.
mentioned in connexion.
_In the_ Leynhouss _a quhyll he maid repayr_--
_Twa monethis still he duelt in Dunbertane._--V. 1595. 1599.
In Edit. 1594,--_Lenox_, vulgarly pronounced _Lennoss_. The mention of
_Dunbertane_ immediately after shows that this district is meant. V.
Note on the Bruce, B. II. 40.
_His purpos was to se the king off_ France.--V. 1696.
It is undoubtedly a problematical question, whether Wallace ever was
in FRANCE. Some, among whom we must reckon our historian Major, think
that this is improbable. The Minstrel, it must be acknowledged, has
interspersed so much fable in his narrative, as to bring discredit
even on what might otherwise have been readily admitted as fact. It
seems unlikely that Wallace should have left his native country twice;
and the exploits ascribed to him while in France must generally be
rejected, especially those said to have been performed by him in
Guienne; because it is incredible that, if he had done so much injury
to the English in their recent conquests there, not the slightest
notice should have been taken of this by any of their historians. But
I do not see the same reason for deeming it improbable that he should
ever have been in France.
1. From the great intercourse between Scotland and France, as well as
from the great celebrity of the achievements of our hero, it seems very
natural to suppose that Philip King of France should express an earnest
desire to see him, and even send him an invitation to this purpose;
and not less so, that while his hands were tied up, during a truce or
peace with Edward, he should take the opportunity of gratifying his
curiosity, in visiting that kingdom to which so many of his countrymen
had been accustomed to resort, as one that had been long in a state of
amity and alliance with their own. He might be the more disposed to a
temporary change of place, from the envy which his valorous deeds had
excited among the nobles of Scotland.
2. The story concerning the capture of Sir Thomas Charteris of
Longueville is in so far supported by the known fact that there was a
race of this name at Kinfauns; and that a two-handed sword is still
shown in the castle of Kinfauns, which tradition has uniformly ascribed
to this Longueville. Henry Adamson, in his Muse’s Threnodie, speaking
of this castle, describes it as the place,--
---- ---- which famous Longoveil
Sometime did hold; whose ancient sword of steele
Remaines unto this day, and of that land
Is chiefest evident. ---- _Book_ VI. p. 156.
3. In the Scotichronicon it is said, that “after the battle of Roslin,
Wallace, having gone on board a ship, sought to France;” that “he
acquired great fame there from the dangers to which he had been
exposed, not only from pirates while at sea, but afterwards from the
English in France; and that this is attested by certain songs in France
as well as in Scotland.” The author goes so far as to assert, that
Philip had applied to Edward for a truce between him and the Scots,
that Philip might have a pretence for retaining Wallace for some time
longer in France. Lib. XI. c. 34. MSS. Cupr. et Perth.
4. It is worthy of remark, that Major, after having mustered up several
arguments against the probability of Wallace having ever been in
France, at once seems to throw them all aside as of little weight, and
in conclusion speaks like a man who had hitherto reasoned against his
own secret convictions, acknowledging that he is unwilling expressly
to deny that Wallace had been there. He closes the account with these
remarkable words: Nolo tamen ob has _ratiunculas_ constanter _inficias
ire_ ipsum oras Galliæ visitasse. Hist. Fol. LXXIV, a.
It would appear most probable, that the Charterises of Amisfield, now
represented by the Earl of Wemyss and March, were connected with those
of Kinfauns; from the similarity of their armorial bearings, if not
also from their possession of Elcho, in the immediate vicinity of the
latter. There was, however, one family of rank of this name settled
in Scotland before the time assigned for the arrival of Longueville.
Andrew de Charteris, who is said to have been the ancestor of the
Amisfield family, swore fealty to Edward, A. 1296, and William de
Charteris in 1306. V. Nisbet, Rem. Ragm. Roll, II. 23. Fœdera, II. 1015.
--_Erest in weyr to Sanct Jhonstoun couth fair._--V. 1697.
_Neirest but weir_, &c. Edit. 1594. This makes nonsense of the passage,
and has been an early alteration. Wallace did not go _nearest_ to
Perth, but went to the town itself. The meaning must be, “In the
earliest part of spring.” V. VEIR, Etym. Dict.