Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

360 J11N3TRELSY OF
however it began, soon waxed high betwixt two fierce
and independent barons. At length, standing before
the high altar of the church, Cuming gave Bruce the
lie, and Bruce retaliated by a stroke of his poniard. Full
of confusion and remorse, for a homicide committed in
a sanctuary, the future monarch of Scotland rushed out
of the church, Avith the bloody poniard in his hand.
Kirkpatrick and Lindsay, two barons who faithfully ad-
hered to him, -were waiting at the gate. To their earnest
and anxious inquiries into the cause of his emotion,
Bruce answered, " I doubt I have slain the Red Cum-
" ing."— "Doubtest thou ?" exclaimed Kirkpatrick ; "^ I
^' make sure !"* Accordingly, with Lindsay and a few
followers, he rushed into the church, and dispatched
the wounded Cuming. »
A homicide, in such a place, and such an age, could
hardly escape embellishment from the fertile genius of
the churchmen, whose interest was so closely connected
with the inviolability of a divine sanctuary. According-
ly, Bowmaker informs us, that the body of the slaugh-
tered baron was watched, during the night, by the Do-
minicans, with the usual rites of the church. But, at
midnight, the whole assistants fell into a dead sleep, with
the exception of one aged father, who heard, with terror
and surprise, a voice, like that of a wailing infant, ex-
claim, " How long, O Lord, shall vengeance be defer-
" Hence the crest of Kirkpatrick is a hand, grasping a dagger, dis-
tilling gouts of blood, proper ; motto, " / mack sicker."