A word of caution is necessary as to the ‘many pieces’ mentioned here.  Besides his ’AEneid, ’ Douglas’s extant works are ’Palice of Honour,’ ‘King Hart,’ and a poem of four stanzas entitled ‘Conscience.’  To each book of the ‘AEneid,’ however, as well as to the supplementary thirteenth book of Maphaeus Vegius, which he also translates, he prefixes an introductory poem, so that there is a sense in which it is correct to call him the author of ’many pieces.’  His works were first published in complete form in 1874, in four volumes, admirably edited by the late Dr. John Small.  See ’Dict. of Nat.  Biog.’

line 329.  Rocquet, a linen surplice.

line 344, ’Angus had strength and personal activity corresponding to his courage.  Spens of Kilspindie, a favourite of James iv, having spoken of him lightly, the Earl met him while hawking, and, compelling him to single combat, at one blow cut asunder his thigh-bone, and killed him on the spot.  But ere he could obtain James’s pardon for this slaughter, Angus was obliged to yield his castle of Hermitage, in exchange for that of Bothwell, which was some diminution to the family greatness.  The sword with which he struck so remarkable a blow, was presented by his descendant, James Earl of Morton, afterwards Regent of Scotland, to Lord Lindesay of the Byres, when he defied Bothwell to single combat on Carberry-hill.  See Introduction to the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border’—­Scott.

Stanza xii. line 379.  With the use of fall = befall cp.  Antony and Cleopatra, iii. 7. 38:—­

                               ’No disgrace
      Shall fall you for refusing him at sea.’

Stanza xiv. line.  Saint Bride is Saint Bridget of Ireland, who became popular in England and Scotland under the abbreviated form of her name.  She was ’a favourite saint of the house of Douglas, and of the Earl of Angus in particular.’  See note to Clarendon Press ’Lay of Last Minstrel,’ vi. 469.

line 437.  ’This ebullition of violence in the potent Earl of Angus is not without its example in the real history of the house of Douglas, whose chieftains possessed the ferocity, with the heroic virtues, of a savage state.  The most curious instance occurred in the case of Maclellan, Tutor of Bombay, who, having refused to acknowledge the pre-eminence claimed by Douglas over the gentlemen and Barons of Galloway, was seized and imprisoned by the Earl, in his castle of the Thrieve, on the borders of Kirkcudbrightshire.  Sir Patrick Gray, commander of King James the Second’s guard, was uncle to the Tutor of Bombay, and obtained from the King a “sweet letter of supplication,” praying the Earl to deliver his prisoner into Gray’s hand.  When Sir Patrick arrived at the castle, he was received with all the honour due to a favourite servant of the King’s household; but while he was at dinner, the Earl, who suspected his errand, caused his prisoner to be led forth and beheaded.