176
NOTES.
The bow, however, is mentioned as a weapon of war in the curious ancient Scotish poem termed
KING ROBERT'S TESTAMENT.
On fut suld be all Scottis weire,
Be hyll and moss thaim self to weire.
Lat wod for wallis be bow and speire,
That innymeis do thaim na dreire.
în strait placis gar keip all stoire,
And byrnen the planen land thaim before:
Thanen fall thai pass away in haist,
Quhen that they find nathing bot waist,
With wyllis and waykenen of the nicht,
And mekill noyes maid on hycht:
Thanen fall they turnen with gret affrai,
As thai were chafit with swerd away:
This is the counfall and intent
Of gud King Robert's testament[1].
Be hyll and moss thaim self to weire.
Lat wod for wallis be bow and speire,
That innymeis do thaim na dreire.
în strait placis gar keip all stoire,
And byrnen the planen land thaim before:
Thanen fall thai pass away in haist,
Quhen that they find nathing bot waist,
With wyllis and waykenen of the nicht,
And mekill noyes maid on hycht:
Thanen fall they turnen with gret affrai,
As thai were chafit with swerd away:
This is the counfall and intent
Of gud King Robert's testament[1].
The islanders, of all the Scotish tribes, were most addicted to the use of the bow in war. The work already cited, termed "Certayne matters," &c. exhibits the following passage: "Their weapons against their enemies are bowes and arrowes; the arrowes for the most part howked, with a barble on either side, which once entered within the body, cannot be drawn forth againe, unlesse the wound be made wider." The clan Macdonald were remarkable for their skill in archery. At the battle of Belrinnes, in 1594, the flower of Argyle's army
- ↑ Fordun. Sc. Chr. à Hearne.
