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 8 APPENDIX. St. XXXV.-XLI.-In some respects, Holland, in the Episode contained in these stanzas concerning the gud Schir James,' or, as he is sometimes called, the Black Douglas,' has greatly exceeded his illustrious predecessor, the Arch- deacon of Aberdeen, with whose metrical history of the Bruce, he was evidently acquainted. Several lines might be quoted, with which there is too close a si- milarity to suppose it to have been merely accidental. On this subject, Wyn- town, the Prior of Lochlevin, is remarkably concise ; contenting himself with referring his readers to Barbour. There was no great loss sustained, proba- bly, in his so doing; as it is not likely that he would have added anything to the interest of his predecessor's narrative. After telling us, that in 1320, King Robert lay in lang sicknes in Cardross, and that his body was interred in the Kirk of Dunfermline, he merely adds, « And gud Jamys of Dowglas His Hart tuk, as fyrst orderyd was For to bere in the Holy Land. How that that wes tene on hand, Well purportis Browsys buk, Quhay will tharof the matere luke." St. XLIII.--Since writing the preface, I observe that " Archibaldus Mora- viæ Comes," appears as one of the witnesses to a publick deed, 28th June, 1445. -(Acta Parl. vol. II. p. 59.) The earliest mention of him under that title, which I had then discovered, was in the curious paper, of date, 25th August, 1447, printed by Hay of Drumboote, (in his Vindication of Elizabeth More; Edin. 1723,4to, p. 65, &c.) determining the priority of birth in favour of James, over Archibald, who, it appears, were twin-brothers; in which Sir James is de- signated as “ of Heriotmuir;" and his brother is expressly called " Archibald of Douglas, Erle of Murrawe." The succession was thus amicably adjusted, in the event that," gif it sall happen the said [William] Lord Erle, to decesse with- outyn ayrs of his body lauchfullie to be gottin." -The name of Archibald, Earl of Murray, is again mentioned, in 144:9, as one of the conservators of a truce with England. -(Rymeri Foedera, XI. 253, &c.) But the former deed is suf- ficient to shew that the marriage was celebrated as early as 1445. From Gods- croft we learn that it was subsequent to the death of the Earl of Murray, the father of the lady. There is usually a sad want of dates in ascertaining such minute points of history. St. xLv.-The name of the Earl of Ormond occurs likewise among the witnesses in the deed above referred to, in June 14.45. The title therefore must have been conferred on him not long after his brother, the Earl of Douglas, had gained the ascendancy in matters of state. St. xLv. I. 3, And richt so did the ferd.—On the margin of Bannatyne's MS., opposite these words, is affixed the name of Lord Balveny;" younger brother, as here described, of the Douglasses. VA XLVII