This extract throws light on a passage in _The Bruce_, where the king is made to refer to the vulgar idea as to the means necessary for making the blood-hound lose his scent; although the statement given by Boece opposes the opinion which had been generally received.
Bot Ik haiff herd oftymys say, That quha endland a watter ay Wald waid a bowdraucht, he suld ger Bathe the slouth hund, and his leder, Tyne the sleuth men gert hym ta.
John Hardyng has given a curious account of the means used by Edward I. for taking Bruce, similar to that here said to have been employed against Wallace.
The king Edward with hornes and _houndes_ him soght, With menne on fote, through marris, mosse, and myre, Through wodes also and mountens [wher they fought] And euer the kyng Edward hight men greate hyre, Hym for to take and by might conquere; But thei might hym not gette by force ne by train, He satte by the fyre when thei [went] in the rain.
In the stanza immediately following he indeed ascribes the death of Edward to his disappointment, in never being able to get our king into his hands:--
The kyng Edward _for anger_ fell in accesse, And homeward came full sycke and sore annoyed.-- At Burgh vpon the sande he died anone, &c.
_Kerlé beheld on to the bauld_ Heroun, _Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doune._--V. 145.
This appears to have been the head of the ancient family of Heron, who held Ford Castle in Northumberland. In the reign of Henry III. it was in possession of Sir William Heron, who was governor of the castles of Bamborough, Pickering, and Scarborough, lord warden of the forests north of Trent, and sheriff of Northumberland for eleven successive years. V. Hutchinson’s Northumb. II. 19. This castle has attracted much attention, as having been the scene of the enchantments of its fair mistress, by means of which our infatuated James IV. was disarmed before the fatal battle of Flodden; and it has acquired additional celebrity from the no less bewitching Muse of the author of Marmion.
_To_ Dawryoch _he knew the_ forss _full weill._--V. 265.
This is _Dalreoch_, on the south bank of the Earn, four or five miles west from Forteviot. A bridge across the Earn is called that of Dalreoch. By the _forss_ seems to be meant _ford_. V. Etym. Dict. in vo.