were suspended on the wall.  One of these swords dropped from its scabbard, as the nobleman, after a moment’s hesitation, crossed the threshold.  His host immediately stared at him with such a marked expression, that the young man could not help demanding his name and business, and the meaning of his looking at him so fixedly.  ‘I am,’ answered the man, ’the public executioner of this city; and the incident you have observed is a sure augury that I shall, in discharge of my duty, one day cut off your head with the weapon which has just now spontaneously unsheathed itself.’  The nobleman lost no time in leaving his place of refuge; but, engaging in some of the plots of the period, was shortly after decapitated by that very man and instrument.

“Lord Lovat is said, by the author of the Letters from Scotland (vol. ii. p. 214), to have affirmed that a number of swords that hung up in the hall of the mansion-house, leaped of themselves out of the scabbard at the instant he was born.  The story passed current among his clan, but, like that of the story I have just quoted, proved an unfortunate omen.”

311.  If courtly spy hath, etc.  The 1st ed. has “If courtly spy, and harbored,” etc.  The ed. of 1821 reads “had harbored.”

319.  Beltane.  The first of May, when there was a Celtic festival in honor of the sun.  Beltane = Beal-tein, or the fire of Beal, a Gaelic name for the sun.  It was celebrated by kindling fires on the hill-tops at night, and other ceremonies, followed by dances, and merry-making.  Cf. 410 below.  See also The Lord of the Isles, i. 8:  “The shepherd lights his belane-fire;” and Glenfinlas: 

    “But o’er his hills, in festal day,
     How blazed Lord Ronald’s beltane-tree!”

323.  But hark! etc.  “The moving picture—­the effect of the sounds —­and the wild character and strong peculiar nationality of the whole procession, are given with inimitable spirit and power of expression” (Jeffrey).

327.  The canna’s hoary beard.  The down of the canna, or cotton-grass.

335.  Glengyle.  A valley at the northern end of Lock Katrine.

337.  Brianchoil.  A promontory on the northern shore of the lake.

342.  Spears, pikes, and axes.  The 1st ed. and that of 1821 have Spears, but all the recent ones misprint “Spear.”  The “Globe” ed. has “Spear, spikes,” etc.

343.  Tartans.  The checkered woollen cloth so much worn in Scotland.  Curiously enough, the name is not Gaelic but French.  See Jamieson or Wb.

Brave.  Fine, beautiful; the same word as the Scottish braw.  Cf.  Shakespeare, Sonn. 12. 2:  “And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;” Ham. ii. 2. 312:  “This brave o’erhanging firmament,” etc.  It is often used of dress, as also is bravery (= finery); as in T. of S. iv. 3. 57:  “With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery.”  See also Spenser, Mother Hubberds Tale, 858:  “Which oft maintain’d his masters braverie” (that is, dressed as well as his master).