641.  To Douglas gave a golden ring.  Scott says:  “The usual prize of a wrestling was a ram and a ring, but the animal would have embarrassed my story.  Thus, in the Cokes Tale of Gamelyn, ascribed to Chaucer: 

   ’There happed to be there beside
     Tryed a wrestling;
   And therefore there was y-setten
     A ram and als a ring.”

Again, the Litil Geste of Robin Hood: 

       ’By a bridge was a wrestling,
      And there taryed was he
    And there was all the best yemen
      Of all the west countrey. 
    A full fayre game there was set up,
      A white bull up y-pight,
    A great courser with saddle and brydle,
      With gold burnished full bryght;
    A payre of gloves, a red golde ringe,
      A pipe of wine, good day;
    What man bereth him best, I wis,
     The prise shall bear away.’”

648.  To hurl the massive bar.  Cf. iv. 559 above.

658.  Scottish strength.  The Ms. has “mortal strength.”

660.  The Ladies’ Rock.  A point in the “valley” between the Castle and the Greyfriars Church.  It was formerly the chief place for viewing the games, which were held in this “valley,” or depression in the hill on which the Castle stands.  It must not be confounded with the Ladies’ Lookout, a favorite point of view on the Castle walls.

662.  Well filled.  The Ms. has “weighed down;” and in 664, “Scattered the gold among the crowd.”

674.  Ere Douglas, etc.  The Ms. has “Ere James of Douglas’ stalwart hand;” and in 677, “worn” for wrecked.

681.  Murmurs.  Some eds. have “murmur.”

685.  The banished man.  The Ms. has “his stately form.”

724.  Needs but a buffet.  Only a single blow is needed.

728.  Then clamored, etc.  The Ms. and 1st ed. have “Clamored his comrades of the train;” and in 730 the Ms. has “warrior’s” for Baron’s.

735.  Atone.  See on iv. 421 above.

744.  But shall a Monarch’s presence, etc.  The Ms. reads: 

“But in my court injurious blow,     And bearded thus, and
thus out-dared?      What, ho!” etc.

747.  Ward.  Guarding, confinement under guard.  Cf.  Gen. xl. 3.

752.  Misarray.  Disorder, confusion.  Neither Wb. nor Worc. gives the word.

754.  Pricked.  Spurred, rode.  See on 486 above.

755.  Repelled, etc.  The Ms. has “Their threats repelled by insult loud.”

768.  Hyndford.  A village on the Clyde, a few miles above Lanark.

790.  Widow’s mate expires.  An instance of prolepsis, or “anticipation” in the use of a word.  He must expire before she can be a widow.  Cf.  Macbeth, iii. 4. 76: 

    “Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ the olden time,
     Ere human statute purg’d the gentle weal;”