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neither help the oppressed, nor yet the afflicted, applied his mind

to the next remedy, and in the end, by his servants, took the house

of Denure, where the poor Abbot was kept prisoner. The bruit flew fra

Carrick to Galloway, and so suddenly assembled herd and hyre-man that

pertained to the band of the Kennedies; and so within a few hours was

the house of Denure environed again. The master of Cassilis was the

frackast [i. e. the readiest or boldest] and would not stay, but in his

heat would lay fire to the dungeon, with no small boasting that all

enemies within the house should die.

" He was required and admonished by those that were within to be more

moderate, and not to hazard himself so foolishly. But no admonition

would help, till that the wind of an hacquebute blasted his shoulder,

and then ceased he from further pursuit in fury. The Laird of Bargany

had before purchest [obtained] of the authorities, letters, charging

all faithfull subjects to the King's Majesty, to assist him against that

cruel tyrant and mansworn traitor, the Earl of Cassilis; which

letters, with his private writings, he published, and shortly found

sic concurrence of Kyle and Cunynghame with his other friends, that the

Carrick company drew back fra the house: and so the other approached,

furnished the house with more men, delivered the said Mr Allan, and

carried him to Ayr, where, publicly at the market cross of the said

town, he declared how cruelly he was entreated, and how the murdered

King suffered not sic torment as he did, excepting only he escaped the

death: and, therefore, publickly did revoke all things that were done

in that extremity, and especially revoked the subscription of the three

writings, to wit, of a fyve yeir tack and nineteen year tack, and of a

charter of feu. And so the house remained, and remains (till this day,

the 7th of February, 1571, ) in the custody of the said Laird of Bargany

and of his servants. And so cruelty was disappointed of proffeit

present, and shall be eternallie punished, unless he earnestly repent.

And this far for the cruelty committed, to give occasion unto others,

and to such as hate the monstrous dealing of degenerate nobility, to

look more diligently upon their behaviuours, and to paint them forth

unto the world, that they themselves may be ashamed of their own

beastliness, and that the world may be advertised and admonished to

abhor, detest, and avoid the company of all sic tyrants, who are not

worthy of the society of men, but ought to be sent suddenly to the

devil, with whom they must burn without end, for their contempt of

God, and cruelty committed against his creatures. Let Cassilis and his

brother be the first to be the example unto others. Amen. Amen. " [62]

This extract has been somewhat amended or modernized in orthography, to

render it more intelligible to the general reader. I have to add, that

the Kennedies of Bargany, who interfered in behalf of the oppressed

Abbot, were themselves a younger branch of the Cassilis family, but

held different politics, and were powerful enough in this, and other

instances, to bid them defiance.

The ultimate issue of this affair does not appear; but as the house of

Cassilis are still in possession of the greater part of the feus and

leases which belonged to Crossraguel Abbey, it is probable the talons

of the King of Carrick were strong enough, in those disorderly times, to

retain the prey which they had so mercilessly fixed upon.

I may also add, that it appears by some papers in my possession, that

the officers or Country Keepers on the border, were accustomed to

torment their prisoners by binding them to the iron bars of their

chimneys, to extort confession.

NOTE TO CHAPTER XXIX

Note F. --Heraldry

The author has been here upbraided with false heraldry, as having

charged metal upon metal. It should be remembered, however, that

heraldry had only its first rude origin during the crusades, and that

all the minutiae of its fantastic science were the work of time, and

introduced at a much later period. Those who think otherwise must

suppose that the Goddess of " Armoirers", like the Goddess of Arms,

sprung into the world completely equipped in all the gaudy trappings of

the department she presides over.

Additional Note

In corroboration of said note, it may be observed, that the arms, which

were assumed by Godfrey of Boulogne himself, after the conquest of

Jerusalem, was a cross counter patent cantoned with four little crosses

or, upon a field azure, displaying thus metal upon metal. The heralds

have tried to explain this undeniable fact in different modes--but Ferne

gallantly contends, that a prince of Godfrey's qualities should not be

bound by the ordinary rules. The Scottish Nisbet, and the same Ferne,

insist that the chiefs of the Crusade must have assigned to Godfrey this

extraordinary and unwonted coat-of-arms, in order to induce those who

should behold them to make enquiries; and hence give them the name of

" arma inquirenda". But with reverence to these grave authorities, it

seems unlikely that the assembled princes of Europe should have adjudged

to Godfrey a coat armorial so much contrary to the general rule, if such

rule had then existed; at any rate, it proves that metal upon metal, now

accounted a solecism in heraldry, was admitted in other cases similar to

that in the text. See Ferne's " Blazon of Gentrie" p. 238. Edition 1586.

Nisbet's " Heraldry", vol. i. p. 113. Second Edition.

NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXI

Note G. --Ulrica's Death song.

It will readily occur to the antiquary, that these verses are intended

to imitate the antique poetry of the Scalds--the minstrels of the old

Scandinavians--the race, as the Laureate so happily terms them,

" Stern to inflict, and stubborn to endure,

Who smiled in death. "

The poetry of the Anglo-Saxons, after their civilisation and conversion,

was of a different and softer character; but in the circumstances

of Ulrica, she may be not unnaturally supposed to return to the wild

strains which animated her forefathers during the time of Paganism and

untamed ferocity.

NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXII

Note H. --Richard Coeur-de-Lion.

The interchange of a cuff with the jolly priest is not entirely out

of character with Richard I., if romances read him aright. In the very

curious romance on the subject of his adventures in the Holy Land, and

his return from thence, it is recorded how he exchanged a pugilistic

favour of this nature, while a prisoner in Germany. His opponent was

the son of his principal warder, and was so imprudent as to give the

challenge to this barter of buffets. The King stood forth like a true

man, and received a blow which staggered him. In requital, having

previously waxed his hand, a practice unknown, I believe, to the

gentlemen of the modern fancy, he returned the box on the ear with

such interest as to kill his antagonist on the spot. --See, in Ellis's

Specimens of English Romance, that of Coeur-de-Lion.

NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXIII

Note I. --Hedge-Priests.

It is curious to observe, that in every state of society, some sort of

ghostly consolation is provided for the members of the community, though

assembled for purposes diametrically opposite to religion. A gang of

beggars have their Patrico, and the banditti of the Apennines have among

them persons acting as monks and priests, by whom they are confessed,

and who perform mass before them. Unquestionably, such reverend persons,

in such a society, must accommodate their manners and their morals to

the community in which they live; and if they can occasionally obtain

a degree of reverence for their supposed spiritual gifts, are, on most

occasions, loaded with unmerciful ridicule, as possessing a character

inconsistent with all around them.

Hence the fighting parson in the old play of Sir John Oldcastle, and the

famous friar of Robin Hood's band. Nor were such characters ideal. There

exists a monition of the Bishop of Durham against irregular churchmen

of this class, who associated themselves with Border robbers, and

desecrated the holiest offices of the priestly function, by celebrating

them for the benefit of thieves, robbers, and murderers, amongst ruins

and in caverns of the earth, without regard to canonical form, and with

torn and dirty attire, and maimed rites, altogether improper for the

occasion.

NOTE TO CHAPTER XLI.

Note J. --Castle of Coningsburgh.

When I last saw this interesting ruin of ancient days, one of the very

few remaining examples of Saxon fortification, I was strongly impressed

with the desire of tracing out a sort of theory on the subject, which,

from some recent acquaintance with the architecture of the ancient

Scandinavians, seemed to me peculiarly interesting. I was, however,

obliged by circumstances to proceed on my journey, without leisure to

take more than a transient view of Coningsburgh. Yet the idea dwells so

strongly in my mind, that I feel considerably tempted to write a page or

two in detailing at least the outline of my hypothesis, leaving better

antiquaries to correct or refute conclusions which are perhaps too

hastily drawn.

Those who have visited the Zetland Islands, are familiar with the

description of castles called by the inhabitants Burghs; and by the

Highlanders--for they are also to be found both in the Western Isles

and on the mainland--Duns. Pennant has engraved a view of the famous

Dun-Dornadilla in Glenelg; and there are many others, all of them built

after a peculiar mode of architecture, which argues a people in the most

primitive state of society. The most perfect specimen is that upon the

island of Mousa, near to the mainland of Zetland, which is probably in

the same state as when inhabited.

It is a single round tower, the wall curving in slightly, and then

turning outward again in the form of a dice-box, so that the defenders

on the top might the better protect the base. It is formed of rough

stones, selected with care, and laid in courses or circles, with much

compactness, but without cement of any kind. The tower has never, to

appearance, had roofing of any sort; a fire was made in the centre of

the space which it encloses, and originally the building was probably

little more than a wall drawn as a sort of screen around the great

council fire of the tribe. But, although the means or ingenuity of the

builders did not extend so far as to provide a roof, they supplied the

want by constructing apartments in the interior of the walls of the

tower itself. The circumvallation formed a double enclosure, the inner

side of which was, in fact, two feet or three feet distant from the

other, and connected by a concentric range of long flat stones, thus

forming a series of concentric rings or stories of various heights,

rising to the top of the tower. Each of these stories or galleries has

four windows, facing directly to the points of the compass, and rising

of course regularly above each other. These four perpendicular ranges

of windows admitted air, and, the fire being kindled, heat, or smoke at

least, to each of the galleries. The access from gallery to gallery is

equally primitive. A path, on the principle of an inclined plane, turns

round and round the building like a screw, and gives access to the

different stories, intersecting each of them in its turn, and thus

gradually rising to the top of the wall of the tower. On the outside

there are no windows; and I may add, that an enclosure of a square, or

sometimes a round form, gave the inhabitants of the Burgh an opportunity

to secure any sheep or cattle which they might possess.

Such is the general architecture of that very early period when the

Northmen swept the seas, and brought to their rude houses, such as I

have described them, the plunder of polished nations. In Zetland there

are several scores of these Burghs, occupying in every case, capes,

headlands, islets, and similar places of advantage singularly well

chosen. I remember the remains of one upon an island in a small lake

near Lerwick, which at high tide communicates with the sea, the access

to which is very ingenious, by means of a causeway or dike, about three

or four inches under the surface of the water. This causeway makes a

sharp angle in its approach to the Burgh. The inhabitants, doubtless,

were well acquainted with this, but strangers, who might approach in a

hostile manner, and were ignorant of the curve of the causeway, would

probably plunge into the lake, which is six or seven feet in depth at

the least. This must have been the device of some Vauban or Cohorn of

those early times.

The style of these buildings evinces that the architect possessed

neither the art of using lime or cement of any kind, nor the skill to

throw an arch, construct a roof, or erect a stair; and yet, with all

this ignorance, showed great ingenuity in selecting the situation of

Burghs, and regulating the access to them, as well as neatness and

regularity in the erection, since the buildings themselves show a style

of advance in the arts scarcely consistent with the ignorance of so many

of the principal branches of architectural knowledge.

I have always thought, that one of the most curious and valuable objects

of antiquaries has been to trace the progress of society, by the efforts

made in early ages to improve the rudeness of their first expedients,

until they either approach excellence, or, as is more frequently the

case, are supplied by new and fundamental discoveries, which supersede

both the earlier and ruder system, and the improvements which have been

ingrafted upon it. For example, if we conceive the recent discovery of

gas to be so much improved and adapted to domestic use, as to supersede

all other modes of producing domestic light; we can already suppose,

some centuries afterwards, the heads of a whole Society of Antiquaries

half turned by the discovery of a pair of patent snuffers, and by the

learned theories which would be brought forward to account for the form

and purpose of so singular an implement.

Following some such principle, I am inclined to regard the singular

Castle of Coningsburgh--I mean the Saxon part of it--as a step in

advance from the rude architecture, if it deserves the name, which must

have been common to the Saxons as to other Northmen. The builders had

attained the art of using cement, and of roofing a building, --great

improvements on the original Burgh. But in the round keep, a shape

only seen in the most ancient castles--the chambers excavated in the

thickness of the walls and buttresses--the difficulty by which access is

gained from one story to those above it, Coningsburgh still retains the

simplicity of its origin, and shows by what slow degrees man proceeded

from occupying such rude and inconvenient lodgings, as were afforded

by the galleries of the Castle of Mousa, to the more splendid

accommodations of the Norman castles, with all their stern and Gothic

graces.

I am ignorant if these remarks are new, or if they will be confirmed

by closer examination; but I think, that, on a hasty observation,

Coningsburgh offers means of curious study to those who may wish to

trace the history of architecture back to the times preceding the Norman

Conquest.

It would be highly desirable that a cork model should be taken of the

Castle of Mousa, as it cannot be well understood by a plan.

The Castle of Coningsburgh is thus described: --

" The castle is large, the outer walls standing on a pleasant ascent from

the river, but much overtopt by a high hill, on which the town stands,

situated at the head of a rich and magnificent vale, formed by an

amphitheatre of woody hills, in which flows the gentle Don. Near the

castle is a barrow, said to be Hengist's tomb. The entrance is flanked

to the left by a round tower, with a sloping base, and there are several

similar in the outer wall the entrance has piers of a gate, and on the

east side the ditch and bank are double and very steep. On the top of

the churchyard wall is a tombstone, on which are cut in high relief, two

ravens, or such-like birds. On the south side of the churchyard lies

an ancient stone, ridged like a coffin, on which is carved a man on

horseback; and another man with a shield encountering a vast winged

serpent, and a man bearing a shield behind him. It was probably one

of the rude crosses not uncommon in churchyards in this county. See it

engraved on the plate of crosses for this volume, plate 14. fig. 1. The

name of Coningsburgh, by which this castle goes in the old editions of

the Britannia, would lead one to suppose it the residence of the Saxon

kings. It afterwards belonged to King Harold. The Conqueror bestowed it

on William de Warren, with all its privileges and jurisdiction, which

are said to have extended over twenty-eight towns. At the corner of the

area, which is of an irregular form, stands the great tower, or keep,

placed on a small hill of its own dimensions, on which lies six vast

projecting buttresses, ascending in a steep direction to prop and

support the building, and continued upwards up the side as turrets. The

tower within forms a complete circle, twenty-one feet in diameter, the

walls fourteen feet thick. The ascent into the tower is by an exceeding

deep flight of steep steps, four feet and a half wide, on the south side

leading to a low doorway, over which is a circular arch crossed by a

great transom stone. Within this door is the staircase which ascends

straight through the thickness of the wall, not communicating with the

room on the first floor, in whose centre is the opening to the dungeon.

Neither of these lower rooms is lighted except from a hole in the floor

of the third story; the room in which, as well as in that above it, is

finished with compact smooth stonework, both having chimney-pieces,

with an arch resting on triple clustered pillars. In the third story,

or guard-chamber, is a small recess with a loop-hole, probably a

bedchamber, and in that floor above a niche for a saint or holy-water

pot. Mr. King imagines this a Saxon castle of the first ages of the

Heptarchy. Mr. Watson thus describes it. From the first floor to the

second story, (third from the ground, ) is a way by a stair in the wall

five feet wide. The next staircase is approached by a ladder, and ends

at the fourth story from the ground. Two yards from the door, at the

head of this stair, is an opening nearly east, accessible by treading

on the ledge of the wall, which diminishes eight inches each story; and

this last opening leads into a room or chapel ten feet by twelve, and

fifteen or sixteen high, arched with free-stone, and supported by small

circular columns of the same, the capitals and arches Saxon. It has

an east window, and on each side in the wall, about four feet from the

ground, a stone basin with a hole and iron pipe to convey the water into

or through the wall. This chapel is one of the buttresses, but no sign

of it without, for even the window, though large within, is only a long

narrow loop-hole, scarcely to be seen without. On the left side of this

chapel is a small oratory, eight by six in the thickness of the wall,

with a niche in the wall, and enlightened by a like loop-hole. The

fourth stair from the ground, ten feet west from the chapel door, leads

to the top of the tower through the thickness of the wall, which at top

is but three yards. Each story is about fifteen feet high, so that the

tower will be seventy-five feet from the ground. The inside forms a

circle, whose diameter may be about twelve feet. The well at the bottom

of the dungeon is piled with stones. " --Gough's " Edition Of Camden's

Britannia". Second Edition, vol. iii. p. 267.

************ FOOTNOTES ******************

]

[Footnote 1: The motto alludes to the Author returning to the stage repeatedly

after having taken leave. ]

[Footnote 2: This very curious poem, long a desideratum in Scottish literature,

and given up as irrecoverably lost, was lately brought to light by

the researches of Dr Irvine of the Advocates' Library, and has been

reprinted by Mr David Laing, Edinburgh. ]

[Footnote 3: Vol. ii. p. 167. ]

[Footnote 4: Like the Hermit, the Shepherd makes havock amongst the King's game;

but by means of a sling, not of a bow; like the Hermit, too, he has

his peculiar phrases of compotation, the sign and countersign being

Passelodion and Berafriend. One can scarce conceive what humour our

ancestors found in this species of gibberish; but " I warrant it proved

an excuse for the glass. " ]

[Footnote 5: The author had revised this posthumous work of Mr Strutt. See

General Preface to the present edition, Vol I. p. 65. ]

[Footnote 6: This anticipation proved but too true, as my learned correspondent

did not receive my letter until a twelvemonth after it was written. I

mention this circumstance, that a gentleman attached to the cause of

learning, who now holds the principal control of the post-office, may

consider whether by some mitigation of the present enormous rates,

some favour might not be shown to the correspondents of the principal

Literary and Antiquarian Societies. I understand, indeed, that this

experiment was once tried, but that the mail-coach having broke down

under the weight of packages addressed to members of the Society of

Antiquaries, it was relinquished as a hazardous experiment. Surely,

however it would be possible to build these vehicles in a form more

substantial, stronger in the perch, and broader in the wheels, so as

to support the weight of Antiquarian learning; when, if they should be

found to travel more slowly, they would be not the less agreeable to

quiet travellers like myself. --L. T. ]

[Footnote 7: Mr Skene of Rubislaw is here intimated, to whose taste and skill

the author is indebted for a series of etchings, exhibiting the various

localities alluded to in these novels. ]

[Footnote 8: Note A. The Ranger of the Forest, that cuts the fore-claws off our

dogs. ]

[Footnote 9: Note B. Negro Slaves. ]

[Footnote 11: The original has " Cnichts", by which the Saxons seem to have

designated a class of military attendants, sometimes free, sometimes

bondsmen, but always ranking above an ordinary domestic, whether in the

royal household or in those of the aldermen and thanes. But the term

cnicht, now spelt knight, having been received into the English language

as equivalent to the Norman word chevalier, I have avoided using it in

its more ancient sense, to prevent confusion. L. T. ]

[Footnote 12: Pillage. ]

[Footnote 13: These were drinks used by the Saxons, as we are informed by Mr

Turner: Morat was made of honey flavoured with the juice of mulberries;

Pigment was a sweet and rich liquor, composed of wine highly spiced, and

sweetened also with honey; the other liquors need no explanation. L. T. ]

[Footnote 14: There was no language which the Normans more formally separated

from that of common life than the terms of the chase. The objects of

their pursuit, whether bird or animal, changed their name each year, and

there were a hundred conventional terms, to be ignorant of which was to

be without one of the distinguishing marks of a gentleman. The reader

may consult Dame Juliana Berners' book on the subject. The origin of

this science was imputed to the celebrated Sir Tristrem, famous for his

tragic intrigue with the beautiful Ysolte. As the Normans reserved the

amusement of hunting strictly to themselves, the terms of this formal

jargon were all taken from the French language. ]

[Footnote 15: In those days the Jews were subjected to an Exchequer, specially

dedicated to that purpose, and which laid them under the most exorbitant

impositions. --L. T. ]

[Footnote 16: This sort of masquerade is supposed to have occasioned the

introduction of supporters into the science of heraldry. ]

[Footnote 17: These lines are part of an unpublished poem, by Coleridge, whose

Muse so often tantalizes with fragments which indicate her powers, while

the manner in which she flings them from her betrays her caprice,

yet whose unfinished sketches display more talent than the laboured

masterpieces of others. ]

[Footnote 18: This term of chivalry, transferred to the law, gives the phrase of

being attainted of treason. ]

[Footnote 19: Presumption, insolence. ]

[Footnote 20: " Beau-seant" was the name of the Templars' banner, which was half

black, half white, to intimate, it is said, that they were candid and

fair towards Christians, but black and terrible towards infidels. ]

[Footnote 21: There was nothing accounted so ignominious among the Saxons as to

merit this disgraceful epithet. Even William the Conqueror, hated as he

was by them, continued to draw a considerable army of Anglo-Saxons to

his standard, by threatening to stigmatize those who staid at home, as

nidering. Bartholinus, I think, mentions a similar phrase which had like

influence on the Danes. L. T. ]

[Footnote 22: The Jolly Hermit. --All readers, however slightly acquainted with

black letter, must recognise in the Clerk of Copmanhurst, Friar Tuck,

the buxom Confessor of Robin Hood's gang, the Curtal Friar of Fountain's

Abbey. ]

[Footnote 23: Note C. Minstrelsy. ]

[Footnote 24: It may be proper to remind the reader, that the chorus of " derry

down" is supposed to be as ancient, not only as the times of the

Heptarchy, but as those of the Druids, and to have furnished the chorus

to the hymns of those venerable persons when they went to the wood to

gather mistletoe. ]

[Footnote 25: A rere-supper was a night-meal, and sometimes signified a

collation, which was given at a late hour, after the regular supper had

made its appearance. L. T. ]

[Footnote 26: Note D. Battle of Stamford. ]

[Footnote 27: " Nota Bene. " --We by no means warrant the accuracy of this piece of

natural history, which we give on the authority of the Wardour MS. L. T. ]

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