91. Of Brian's birth, etc. Scott says that the legend which follows is not of his invention, and goes on to show that it is taken with slight variation from "the geographical collections made by the Laird of Macfarlane." 102. Bucklered. Served as a buckler to, shielded. 114. Snood. Cf. i. 363 above. Scott has the following note here: "The snood, or riband, with which as Scottish lass braided her hair, had an emblematical signification, and applied to her maiden character. It was exchanged for the curch, toy, or coif, when she passed, by marriage, into the matron state. But if the damsel was so unfortunate as to lose pretensions to the name of maiden, without gaining a right to that of matron, she was neither permitted to use the snood, nor advanced to the graver dignity of the curch. In old Scottish songs there occur many sly allusions to such misfortune; as in the old words to the popular tune of 'Ower the muir amang the heather:' 'Down amang the broom, the broom, Down amang the broom, my dearie, The lassie lost her silken snood, That gard her greet till she was wearie.'" 120. Or... or. For either... or, as often in poetry. 131. Till, frantic, etc. The MS. reads: "Till, driven to frenzy, he believed The legend of his birth received." 136. The cloister. Here personified as feminine. 138. Sable-lettered. "Black-letter;" the technical term for the "old English" form of letter, used in the earliest English manuscripts and books. 142. Cabala. Mysteries. For the original meaning of the word, see Wb. 144. Curious. Inquisitive, prying into hidden things. 148. Hid him. See on i. 142 above.