geance on Robert Bruce for his insult offered to God and the church; and this duty having been performed, that he would not, for the future, un

bus visis, Rex votum vovit Deo coeli et cygnis," &c. This is a most extraordinary passage, for the interpretation of which I have consulted antiquaries, but all in vain. The same ceremony is mentioned in Le livre des trois filz de Roys, f. 91. " Apres parolles on fist apporter ung paon par deux damoiselles, et jura le Roy premier de deffendre tout son dit royaume à son pouvoir," &c.

Sir Henry Spelman, Aspilogia, p. 132. observes, that the ancient heralds gave a swan as an imprese to musicians and singing men. He adds, " sed gloriae studium ex eodem hoc symbolo indicari multi asserunt." He then quotes the passage from M. Westm. but he neither remarks its singularity, nor attempts to explain it.

Ashmole, History of the Garter, c. 5. sect. 2. p. 185. observes, that Edward III. had these words wrought upon "his surcoat and shield, provided to be used at a tournament,

"Hay, Hay, the wythe swan,

By G-s soul I am thy man."

This shews that a white swan was the imprese of Edward III. and perhaps it was also used by his grandfather Edward I. How far this circumstance may serve to illustrate the passage in M. Westm. I will not pretend to determine.

A learned friend has supplied me with some farther illustrations of this dark subject. He observes, "that one of the most solemn vows of knights, was what is termed the vow of the Peacock. This bird was accounted noble. It was, in a particular manner, the food of the amorous and the valiant, if we can believe what is said in the old romances of France; St Palaye, Memoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie, T. i. p. 185.; and its plumage served as the proper ornaments of the crowns of the Troubadours or Provençal poets, who consecrated their compositions to the charms of gallantry, and the acts of valour.

"When the hour of making the vow was come, the peacock, roasted and decked out in its most beautiful feathers, made its appearance. It was placed on a bason of gold or silver, and supported by ladies, who, magnificently dressed, carried it about to the knights assembled for the ceremony. To each knight they presented it with formality; and the vow he had to make, which was some promise of gallantry or prowess, was pronounced

over it.

"Other birds beside the peacock were beheld with respect, and honoured as noble. Of this sort was the pheasant; St Palaye,

sheath his sword against Christians, but would haste to Palestine, wage war with the Saracens, and never return from that holy enterprise.

The Prince of Wales vowed, in aid of his father's vow, that he would not remain two nights in the same place until he reached Scotland.* 6

The Earl of Pembroke, Robert de Clifford, and Henry de Percy, hasted to Scotland to oppose the progress of Bruce, and the Prince of Wales followed with his companions. Edward appointed his army to rendezvous at Carlisle: He himself moved slowly towards the north, being conveyed in a litter. He was seized with a dysentery, halted in the neighbourhood of Carlisle, and remained in those parts during the winter.t

T. i. p. 186. Vows and engagements, accordingly, were made, and addressed to the pheasant. A vow of this sort, of which the express purpose was to declare war against the infidels, was conceived in these words: "Je voue à Dieu mon Createur tout premierement et à la glorieuse Vierge sa mere, et apres aux dames et au faisan," &c.; St Palaye, T. 1. p. 191."-This serves to prove, that vows were made to Peacocks and Pheasants; and that, by analogy, they might have been made to swans likewise. But the origin of a custom seemingly so profane and ridiculous still remains unknown.

* It is probable that that age did not discover the strange nature of the vow which the heir apparent made for enabling the King to go into perpetual exile.

† The English historians, ancient as well as modern, assert, that Edward I. marched into Scotland in 1306, and, in the manner of a savage conqueror, over-ran the country. It is certain, however, from the dates of various instruments in the second volume of Foedera Angliae, that Edward did not march into Scotland in 1306. On the 22d July 1306, he was at Beverley; Foedera, T. ii. p. 1005. 28th July, at Thresk; ibid. p. 1005. 14th August, at Corbridge; ibid. p. 1017. 28th and 31st August, at Newburgh in Tindale; ibid. p. 1018. 1020,

The first enterprise of the King of Scots was against Perth, where Pembroke, the English guardian, had fixed his head-quarters." The Scots, in the popular strain of chivalry, challenged the English commander to the open field; he answered, " that he would fight them on the morrow." The Scots betook themselves to the neighbouring wood of Methven. Towards the close of the day, Pembroke sallied forth and attacked them. Sir Philip de Moubray unhorsed the King; Seaton rescued him.* It is said that John de Haliburton, who served in the English army, made the King prisoner; but, discovering who he was, set him at liberty. Hugh de la Haye,† Barclay, Fraser, Inchmartin, Somerville, and Randolph, were taken,

8

and the Scottish army was dispersed, (19th June).

6th and 7th September, at Thirlewal; ibid. p. 1025. 7th October, at Lanercost; ibid. p. 1027. He speaks at that time of his having been recovered from a dangerous illness by the care of Nicolas de Tynchewyk his physician. He appears to have remained at Lanercost during the months of October, November, December, January, and February; ibid, p. 1022-1037. He was at Lynstock on the 6th of March; ibid. p. 1045; and at Carlisle, or in that neighbourhood, from 10th March to the beginning of July 1307; ibid. p. 1046-1058.

* Barbour ascribes this honour to Seaton, and minutely relates the circumstances of the story, p. 34. Seaton's office of Esquire to the King, adds probability to Barbour's relation. M. Westminster says, that the King was thrice unhorsed, and that Simon Fraser thrice rescued him. " Ter a dextrariis prostratus est, et per Simonem de Freysel, bellatorem egregium, ter levatus;" p. 455.

† This is probably the same person whom M. Westm. p. 455. calls " Hutting Marescallus et vexillifer pseudo-Regis." He also mentions Hugh, the King's chaplain, as among the prisoners.

Robert retired with the broken and dispirited remains of his party into the fastnesses of Athole.*9 After having lurked for some time among the mountains, and endured much hardship, they came down into the low country of Aberdeenshire. At Aberdeen the King met his wife, and many other ladies, whom his brother Nigel had conducted thither, a.. determined to share the worst of fortunes with their fathers and husbands.

Bruce and his followers, at the approach of the English, again sought refuge among the mountains; and, accompanied with their faithful women, retreated into Breadalbine.1°

The King was now on the borders of Argyle. Alexander of Argyle, Lord of Lorn, had married the aunt of Comyn." Eager to revenge the death of his nephew, he attacked the King. A fierce combat ensued: Douglas and de la Haye were wounded, and the royalists were overpowered. Bruce placed himself in the rear of his small disordered band, and, by persevering valour, checked the pursuit of the enemy,† (11th August).

* Of that army, with which, a few weeks before, he had asserted his title to the crown, he could hardly collect 500 men. Barbour relates, that his brother Edward Bruce, the Earl of Athole, Douglas, Gilbert de la Haye, and Nigel Campbell, remained with him. Barbour also mentions a Sir William the Barondown, as one of the band, p. 36. Who this person was, I know not.

+ According to Barbour, p. 43. two brothers named Makendorser, which he interprets, the sons of Durward, and another person, had vowed, if they encountered Bruce, either to slay him or perish in the attempt. They overtook him at a narrow Hitherto the King and his associates had earned a hardy sustenance by the chace of wild animals, and by fishing; but winter now approached, and there was no hope of subsisting at that season in the open fields.

Bruce sent his Queen, and the other ladies, to the strong castle of Kildrummie in Marre, under the escort of his brother Nigel, and all his horsemen; himself, with two hundred men, resolved to force a passage into Kintyre, and from thence to cross over into the northern parts of Ireland.13

At the banks of Lochlomond their progress was interrupted. Douglas, after long search, discovered a small leaky boat, in which he passed over with the King. The rest followed, some by the conveyance of the boat, and others by swimming. They were now reduced to the extremities of famine.14 While they roved in quest of food through the adjacent forests, they met Lennox, ignorant till then of the fate of his sovereign: They all wept.

Angus of the Isles, Lord of Kintyre, hospitably received the King into his castle of Dunavarty. From thence the King, with a few faithful companions, passed over to Rachrin, an island on the