Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

VI. HENRY THE MINSTREL, 39313. Why should ' I speak in vain, as regards the present time ?315. Elrisle. Wallace's father was Sir Malcolm Wallace of Ellerslieor Elderslie, in the neighbourhood of Paisley.317. Understand the word who; who dwelt in Corsby, i.e. Crosby,between Largs and Ardrossan.318. Hyr fadyr. Wallace's mother was Margaret, daughter of SirRaynald (some say Sir Hugh) Crawfurd, who was sheriff of Ayr, ashis son was after him. Her name, Margaret, no doubt enabled herto make the better pretence of going to St.Margaret's shrine.319. Hyr husband, viz. Sir Malcolm Wallace, killed at Lowdoun-hill,near Galston, not far from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire ; so says our poet.320. Hyr eldest sone. She had two sons, Malcolm and William.Malcolm, says the poet, was wounded in the sinews of the hock, butfought on his knees, till fighters, more than enough, assailed him.328. Schir Ranald, i.e. Sir Raynald Crawfurd, son of the Sir Raynaldmentioned in note to 1. 318.331. Frk of wer, tired of war, harassed by the state of warfare.342. ' For he knew great peril was appearing there ; for they (theEnglish) had all the strongholds of Scotland.'348, 349. ' He that offered him any scorn got a blow for it, whetherhe were lad or lord.'355. ' Riccartoun is evidently a corruption of Richardtoun. It isgenerally supposed to have been so called from a Sir Richard Wallace,who lived in the vicinity of the village, and who is said to have beenuncle to the celebrated patriot Sir William Wallace. Of his house novestige now remains ; the place, however, where it stood, is well known.The village of Riccartoun is within one English mile of the marketplaceof Kilmarnock.' Quoted by Jamieson, who adds, ' v. Riccartoun,Stat. Ace. V. 1 17.'It is now called Riccarton.369. Erewyn, Irvine. The river Irvine flows past Galston, Kilmarnock,and Irvine, into the Firth of Clyde.372. Or noivne, ere noon. Cf. 1. 377.383. Martyns fysche, fish to feast upon. St. Martin's day, Nov. 11,was especially set apart as a festival on which all good things mightbe eaten. A cow or ox fattened up was often killed about this timeand salted for consumption at Christmas, and such meat hence receivedthe name of mart in Scotland and the north of England.St. Martin'sday itself was devoted to the consumption of fat geese and plentyof new wine. Fish might serve as an introduction to such a feast. SeeChambers' Book of Days, ii. 567.386. Waith, spoil, prey, things caught.389. Our small, over small, too little.