The fishes, the hope of the angler, no more rose to the fly.
All commonly occurs in our old writers. But aw is here used, as corresponding with the general pronunciation in Scotland; especially as it has the authority of Dunbar, in his Lament for the Deth of the Makaris.
It is believed in Angus, that the spirit of the waters appears sometimes as a man, with a very frightful aspect; and, at other times, as a horse. The description, here given, must therefore be viewed as the offspring of fancy. All that can be said for it is, that such attributes are selected as are appropriate to the scenery.
South-Esk abounds with the fresh water oyster, vulgarly called the horse-mussel; and, in former times, a pearl fishery was carried on here to considerable extent.
Part of the Grampian mountains. Catla appears as a promontory, jutting out from the principal ridge, towards the plain. The Esk, if I recollect right, issues from behind it.
The vulgar idea is, that a spirit, however frequently it appear, will not speak, unless previously addressed. It is, however, at the same time believed, that the person, who ventures to speak to a ghost, will soon forfeit his life, in consequence of his presumption.
The popular tradition is here faithfully described; and, strange to tell! has not yet lost all credit. In the following verses, the principal articles of the vulgar creed in Angus, with respect to this supposed being, are brought together and illustrated by such facts as are yet appealed to by the credulous. If I mistake not, none of the historical circumstances mentioned are older than half a century. It is only about thirty years since the bridge referred to was built.
It is pretended that Kelpie celebrated this memorable event in rhyme; and that for a long time after he was often heard to cry, with a doleful voice,
A head, like that of a gorgon, appears above the arch of the bridge. This was hewn in honour of Kelpie.
A very common tale in Scotland is here alluded to by the poet. On the banks of a rapid stream the water spirit was heard repeatedly to exclaim, in a dismal tone, "The hour is come, but not the man;" when a person coming up, contrary to all remonstrances, endeavoured to ford the stream, and perished in the attempt. The original story is to be found in Gervase of Tilbury.—In the parish of Castleton, the same story is told, with this variation, that the by-standers prevented, by force, the predestined individual from entering the river, and shut him up in the church, where he was next morning found suffocated, with his face lying immersed in the baptismal font. To a fey person, therefore, Shakespeare's words literally apply:
Aboon. Above.
Ahint. Behind.
Aip. Ape, imitate.
Alangis. Alongst.
Bemangit. Injured, whether in mind or body; a word much used in Angus.
Be. By.
Big. Build.
Biggin. Building, house.
Blink. Moment.
Bonny. Handsome, beautiful.
Boun. Ready.
Bouk. Body.
Braw. Fine.
Briskit. Breast.
Bustuous. Huge.
Byre. Cow-house.
Chap. Rap.
Chiell. Fellow.
Cleik. Hold.
Cowit. Shorn, cut off.
Croonin. Bellowing—most properly with a low and mournful sound.
Cur'd. Covered.
Darger. Labourer, day-worker.
Daffin. Sport.
Deid. Death.
Do the turn. Accomplish the fatal event.
Dore-cheek. Door-post.
Dowie. Melancholy, sad.
Douce. Sober, sedate.
Dreddour. Dread, terror.
Droich. Dwarf, pigmy.
Een. Eyes.
Eebrees. Eyebrows.
Elritch. Wild, hideous, not earthly.
Erd. Earth.
Esks. Newts, or efts.
Fey. Affording presages of approaching death, by acting a part directly the reverse of their proper character.
Fire-flauchts. Lightnings.
Fleckit-scales. Spotted shoals, or troops of trouts and other fishes.
Fleyd. Frighted.
Forhowit. Forsaken.
Fow. Full.
Fangit. Seized.
Fleyit. Affrighted.
Frightsum. Frightful.
Fremmit fouk. Strange folk.
Gaist. Ghost.
Gaif. Gave.
Gart. Caused, made.
Gar. The slimy vegetable substance in the bed of a river.
Gate. Road.
Glack. A hollow between two hills or mountains.
Gliffin. A moment.
Glint. Moment.
Gowl. Yell.
Greits. Cries, implying the idea of tears.
Gudewillit. Without constraint, cheerfully.
Haill. Whole.
Haugh. Low, flat ground on the side of a river.
Heyrt. Furious.
Howlat. Owl.
Horse-gells. Horse-leeches.
Huly. Slowly.
Ilk. Each.
In a stound. Suddenly.
Ken. Know.
Kie. Cows.
Kintrie. Country.
Lavrock. Lark.
Lauch. Laugh.
Leid. Language.
Leil. True, not delusive.
Lift. Sky.
Loun'. Calm.
Loup. Leap.
Maik. Companion, mate.
Mirk. During night.
Mirker. Darker.
Mow. Mouth.
Mudge. Budge, stir.
Nar. Near.
Narby. Near to.
Nickerin. Neighing.
Nocht. Not.
Norlan. Northern.
Oulks. Weeks.
Pend. Arch.
Quhihher. The idea is nearly expressed by whiz.
Quhilk. Which.
Ramper-eels. Lampreys.
Rashes. Rushes.
Rede. Council.
Reid. Read.
Rippet. Noise, uproar.
Sair brizz'd. Sore bruised.
Sall. Shall.
Sen. Since.
Seggs. Sedges.
Sheen. Shine.
Shill. Shrill.
Sicklike. Of this kind.
Sinder. Separate.
Skelvy skair. A rock presenting the appearance of a variety of lamina.
Skeegs. Lashes.
Skrae. Skeleton.
Skuggin. Overshadowing, protecting wood.
Sloom. Slumber.
Slauky. Slimy.
Smur'd. Smothered.
Snockerit. Snorted.
Soupt. Drenched.
Spae. Predict.
Spat. Spot.
Spate. Flood.
Speirit. Asked.
Spule-banes. Shoulder-blades.
Stanners. Gravel on the margin of a river, or any body of water.
Staig. A young horse.
Starnless. Without stars.
Stravaig. Stray, roam.
Strypes. Rills of the smallest kind.
Swarfit. Fainted.
Sweet sair'd. Sweet savoured.
Syne. Then.
Taiken. Token.
Tap. A child's top.
Tent. Take care, be attentive.
Thai. These.
Than. Then.
Toozlin. Toying, properly putting any thing in disorder.
Tyke-tyrit. Tired as a dog after coursing.
Tyne. Lose.
Waefou. Fatal, causing woe.
Wald. Would.
Wanweirid. Unhappy fate.
Wanchancy. Unlucky, causing misfortune.
Wanerthly. Preternatural.
Wap. Stroke, flap.
War. Were.
Wauk the claes. Watch the clothes.
Wean. Child.
Weird. Fate.
Whush. A rustling sound.
Wilsum skraik. Wild shriek.
Wirk. Work.
Wode. Deprived of reason.
Win. Dig from a quarry.
Wull. Wild.
Yestreen. Yesternight.
A HIGHLAND TALE.
NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.—- COLIN MACKENZIE, ESQ.
Ellandonan Castle stands on a small rocky isle, situated in Loch Duich (on the west coast of Ross), near the point where the western sea divides itself into two branches, forming Loch Duich and Loch Loung. The magnificence of the castle itself, now a roofless ruin, covered with ivy, the beauty of the bay, and the variety of hills and valleys that surround it, and particularly the fine range of hills, between which lie the pastures of Glensheal, with the lofty summit of Skooroora, overtopping the rest, and forming a grand back-ground to the picture; all contribute to make this a piece of very romantic Highland scenery.[92]
The castle is the manor-place of the estate of Kintail, which is denominated the barony of Ellandonan. That estate is the property of Francis, Lord Seaforth. It has descended to him, through a long line of gallant ancestors; having been originally conferred on Colin Fitzgerald, son to the Earl of Desmond and Kildare, in the kingdom of Ireland, by a charter, dated 9th January, 1266, granted by King Alexander the third, "Colino Hybernio," and bearing, as its inductive cause, "pro bono et fideli servitio, tam in bello, quam in pace." He had performed a very recent service in war, having greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Largs, in 1263, in which the invading army of Haco, King of Norway, was defeated. Being pursued in his flight, the king was overtaken in the narrow passage which divides the island of Skye from the coasts of Inverness and Ross, and, along with many of his followers, he himself was killed, in attempting his escape through the channel dividing Skye from Lochalsh. These straits, or kyles, bear to this day appellations, commemorating the events by which they were thus distinguished, the former being called Kyle Rhee, or the King's Kyle, and the latter Kyle Haken.
The attack on Ellandonan Castle, which forms the subject of the following poem, lives in the tradition of the country, where it is, at this day, a familiar tale, repeated to every stranger, who, in sailing past, is struck with admiration at the sight of that venerable monument of antiquity. But the authenticity of the fact rests not solely on tradition. It is recorded, by Crawford, in his account of the family of Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, and reference is there made to a genealogy of Slate, in the possession of the family, as a warrant for the assertion. The incident took place in 1537.
The power of the Lord of the Isles was at that time sufficiently great to give alarm to the crown. It covered not only the whole of the Western Isles, from Bute northwards, but also many extensive districts on the main-land, in the shires of Ayr, Argyle, and Inverness. Accordingly, in 1535, on the failure of heirs-male of the body of John, Lord of the Isles, and Earl of Ross, as well as of two of his natural sons, in whose favour a particular substitution had been made, King James the fifth assumed the lordship of the Isles. The right was, however, claimed by Donald, fifth baron of Slate, descended from the immediate younger brother of John, Lord of the Isles. This bold and high-spirited chieftain lost his life in the attack on Ellandonan Castle, and was buried by his followers on the lands of Ardelve, on the opposite side of Loch Loung.
The barony of Ellandonan then belonged to John Mackenzie, ninth baron of Kintail. Kenneth, third baron, who was son to Kenneth, the son of Colin Fitzgerald, received the patronimic appellation of Mac Kenneth, or Mac Kennye, which descended from him to his posterity, as the sirname of the family. John, baron of Kintail, took a very active part in the general affairs of the kingdom. He fought gallantly at the battle of Flodden, under the banners of King James the fourth, was a member of the privy council in the reign of his son, and, at an advanced age, supported the standard of the unfortunate Mary, at the battle of Pinkie.
In the sixth generation from John, baron of Kintail, the clan was, by his lineal descendant, William, fifth earl of Seaforth, summoned, in 1715, to take up arms in the cause of the house of Stuart. On the failure of that spirited, but ill-fated enterprize, the earl made his escape to the continent, where he lived for about eleven years. Meantime his estate and honours were forfeited to the crown, and his castle was burnt. A steward was appointed to levy the rents of Kintail, on the king's behalf; but the vassals spurned at his demands, and, while they carried on a successful defensive war, against a body of troops sent to subdue their obstinacy, in the course of which the unlucky steward had the misfortune to be slain, one of their number made a faithful collection of what was due, and carried the money to the earl himself, who was at that time in Spain. The descendants of the man, to whom it was entrusted to convey to his lord this unequivocal proof of the honour, fidelity, and attachment of his people, are at this day distinguished by the designation of Spaniard; as Duncan, the Spaniard, &c. The estate was, a few years after the forfeiture, purchased from government, for behoof of the family, and re-invested in the person of his son.
A HIGHLAND TALE.
[92] We learn from Wintoun, that, in 1331, this fortress witnessed the severe justice of Randolph, Earl of Murray, then warden of Scotland. Fifty delinquents were there executed, by his orders, and, according to the prior of Lochlevin, the earl had as much pleasure in seeing their ghastly heads encircle the walls of the castle, as if it had been surrounded by a chaplet of roses.
BY THE EDITOR.
The ruins of Cadyow, or Cadzow Castle, the ancient baronial residence of the family of Hamilton, are situated upon the precipitous banks of the river Evan, about two miles above its junction with the Clyde. It was dismantled, in the conclusion of the civil wars, during the reign of the unfortunate Mary, to whose cause the house of Hamilton devoted themselves with a generous zeal, which occasioned their temporary obscurity, and, very nearly, their total ruin. The situation of the ruins, embosomed in wood, darkened by ivy and creeping shrubs, and overhanging the brawling torrent, is romantic in the highest degree. In the immediate vicinity of Cadyow is a grove of immense oaks, the remains of the Caledonian Forest, which anciently extended through the south of Scotland, from the eastern to the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these trees measure twenty-five feet, and upwards, in circumference; and the state of decay, in which they now appear, shews, that they may have witnessed the rites of the Druids.—The whole scenery is included in the magnificent and extensive park of the Duke of Hamilton. There was long preserved in this forest the breed of the Scottish wild cattle, until their ferocity occasioned their being extirpated, about forty years ago. Their appearance was beautiful, being milk-white, with black muzzles, horns, and hoofs. The bulls are described by ancient authors, as having white manes; but those of latter days had lost that peculiarity, perhaps by intermixture with the tame breed.[93]
In detailing the death of the regent Murray, which is made the subject of the following ballad, it would be injustice to my reader to use other words than those of Dr Robertson, whose account of that memorable event forms a beautiful piece of historical painting.
"Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh was the person who committed this barbarous action. He had been condemned to death soon after the battle of Langside, as we have already related, and owed his life to the regent's clemency. But part of his estate had been bestowed upon one of the regent's favourites,[94] who seized his house, and turned out his wife, naked, in a cold night, into the open fields, where, before next morning, she became furiously mad. This injury made a deeper impression on him than the benefit he had received, and from that moment he vowed to be revenged of the regent. Party rage strengthened and inflamed his private resentment. His kinsmen, the Hamiltons, applauded the enterprize. The maxims of that age justified the most desperate course he could take to obtain vengeance. He followed the regent for some time, and watched for an opportunity to strike the blow. He resolved, at last, to wait till his enemy should arrive at Linlithgow, through which he was to pass, in his way from Stirling to Edinburgh. He took his stand in a wooden gallery,[95] which had a window towards the street; spread a feather-bed on the floor, to hinder the noise of his feet from being heard; hung up a black cloth behind him, that his shadow might not be observed from without; and, after all this preparation, calmly expected the regent's approach, who had lodged, during the night, in a house not far distant. Some indistinct information of the danger which threatened him had been conveyed to the regent, and he paid so much regard to it, that he resolved to return by the same gate through which he had entered, and to fetch a compass round the town. But, as the crowd about the gate was great, and he himself unacquainted with fear, he proceeded directly along the street; and the throng of people obliging him to move very slowly, gave the assassin time to take so true an aim, that he shot him, with a single bullet, through the lower part of his belly, and killed the horse of a gentleman, who rode on his other side. His followers instantly endeavoured to break into the house, whence the blow had come; but they found the door strongly barricaded, and, before it could be forced open, Hamilton had mounted a fleet horse,[96] which stood ready for him at a back-passage, and was got far beyond their reach. The regent died the same night of his wound."—History of Scotland, book v.
Bothwellhaugh rode straight to Hamilton, where he was received in triumph; for the ashes of the houses in Clydesdale, which had been burned by Murray's army, were yet smoking; and party prejudice, the habits of the age, and the enormity of the provocation, seemed, to his kinsmen, to justify his deed. After a short abode at Hamilton, this fierce and determined man left Scotland, and served in France, under the patronage of the family of Guise, to whom he was doubtless recommended by having avenged the cause of their niece, Queen Mary, upon her ungrateful brother. De Thou has recorded, that an attempt was made to engage him to assassinate Gaspar de Coligni, the famous admiral of France, and the buckler of the Huguenot cause. But the character of Bothwellhaugh was mistaken. He was no mercenary trader in blood, and rejected the offer with contempt and indignation. He had no authority, he said, from Scotland, to commit murders in France; he had avenged his own just quarrel, but he would neither, for price nor prayer, avenge that of another man.—Thaunus, cap. 46.
The regent's death happened 23d January, 1569. It is applauded or stigmatized, by contemporary historians, according to their religious or party prejudices. The triumph of Blackwood is unbounded. He not only extols the pious feat of Bothwellhaugh, "who," he observes, "satisfied, with a single ounce of lead, him, whose sacrilegious avarice had stripped the metropolitan church of St Andrew's of its covering;" but he ascribes it to immediate divine inspiration, and the escape of Hamilton to little less than the miraculous interference of the Deity.—Jebb, Vol. II. p. 263. With equal injustice, it was, by others, made the ground of a general national reflection; for, when Mather urged Berney to assassinate Burleigh, and quoted the examples of Poltrot and Bothwellhaugh, the other conspirator answered, "that neyther Poltrot nor Hambleton did attempt their enterpryse, without some reason or consideration to lead them to it; as the one, by hyre, and promise of preferment or rewarde; the other, upon desperate mind of revenge, for a lytle wrong done unto him, as the report goethe, accordinge to the vyle trayterous dysposysyon of the hoole natyon of the Scottes."—Murdin's State Papers, Vol. I. p. 197.
ADDRESSED TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LADY ANNE HAMILTON.