CHAPTER LVIII

To sum the whole—the close of all. Dean Swirt,
As Glossin died without heirs, and without payment of the price, the estate of Ellangowan was again thrown upon the hands of Mr. Godfrey Bertram’s creditors, the right of most of whom was, however defeasible, in case Henry Bertram should establish his character of heir of entail. This young gentleman put his affairs into the hands of Mr. Pleydell and Mr. Mac-Morlan, with one single proviso, that though he himself should be obliged again to go to India, every debt, justly and honourably due by his father, should be made good to the claimant. Mannering, who heard this declaration, grasped him kindly by the hand, and from that moment might be dated a thorough understanding between them.
The hoards of Miss Margaret Bertram, and the liberal assistance of the Colonel, easily enabled the heir to make pro- vision for payment of the just creditors of his father, while the
Guy Mannering 417
ingenuity and research of his law friends detected, especially in the accounts of Glossin, so many overcharges as greatly diminished the total amount. In these circumstances the creditors did not hesitate to recognise Bertram’s right, and to surrender to him the house and property of his ancestors. All the party repaired from Woodbourne to take possession, amid the shouts of the tenantry and the neighbourhood ; and so eager was Colonel Mannering to superintend certain im- provements which he had recommended to Bertram, that he removed with his family from Woodbourne to Ellangowan, although at present containing much less and much inferior accommodation.
The poor Dominie’s brain was almost turned with joy on returning to his old habitation. He posted upstairs, taking three steps at once, to a little shabby attic, his cell and dormitory in former days, and which the possession of his much superior apartment at Woodbourne had never banished from his memory. Here one sad thought suddenly struck the honest man—the books !—no three rooms in Ellangowan were capable to contain them. While this qualifying reflection was passing through his mind, he was suddenly summoned by Mannering to assist in calculating some proportions relating to a large and splendid house, which was to be built on the site of the New Place of Ellangowan, in a style corresponding to the magnificence of the ruins in its vicinity. Among the various rooms in the plan, the Dominie observed, that one of the largest was entitled THe Liprary; and close beside was a snug well-proportioned chamber, entitled, Mr. Sampson’s APARTMENT. — “‘Prodigious, prodigious, pro-di-gi-ous !” shouted the enraptured Dominie.
Mr. Pleydell had left the party for some time; but he returned, according to promise, during the Christmas recess of the courts. He drove up to Ellangowan when all the family were abroad but the Colonel, who was busy with plans of buildings and pleasure-grounds, in which he was well skilled, and took great delight.
“ Ah ha!” said the counsellor, ‘‘so here you are! Where are the ladies? where is the fair Julia?”
“ Walking out with young Hazlewood, Bertram, and Captain Delaserre, a friend of his, who is with us just now. They are gone to plan out a cottage at Derncleugh. Well, have you carried through your law business?”
“With a wet finger,” answered the lawyer; ‘got our
418 Guy Mannering
youngster’s special service retoured into Chancery. We had him served heir before the macers.”
‘ Macers? who are they?”
“Why, it is a kind of judicial Saturnalia. You must know, that one of the requisites to be a macer, or officer in attend- ance upon our supreme court, is, that they shall be men of no knowledge.”
“Very well!”
“Now, our Scottish legislature, for the joke’s sake I sup- pose, have constituted those men of no knowledge into a peculiar court for trying questions of relationship and descent, such as this business of Bertram, which often involve the most nice and complicated questions of evidence.”
“The devil they have? I should think that rather in- convenient,” said Mannering.
‘Oh, we have a practical remedy for the theoretical absurdity. One or two of the judges act upon such occasions as prompters and assessors to their own door-keepers. But you know what Cujacius says, ‘ Multa sunt in moribus dissentanea, multa sine vatione.’1 However, this Saturnalian court has done our busi- ness; and a glorious batch of claret we had afterwards at Walker’s. Mac-Morlan will stare when he sees the bill.”
“Never fear,” said the Colonel, “we'll face the shock, and entertain the county at my friend Mrs. Mac-Candlish’s to boot.”
“ And choose Jock Jabos for your master of horse?” replied the lawyer.
** Perhaps I may.”
“¢ And where is Dandie, the redoubted Lord of Liddesdale ? ” demanded the advocate.
“ Returned to his mountains; but he has promised Julia to make a descent in summer, with the goodwife, as he calls her, and I don’t know how many children.”
‘“Oh, the curly-headed varlets! I must come to play at Blind Harry and Hy Spy with them.—But what is all this?” added Pleydell, taking up the plans ;—“ tower in the centre to be an imitation of the Eagle Tower at Caernarvon —corps de logis—the devil !—wings—wings? why, the house will take the estate of Ellangowan on its back, and fly away with it!”
“Why then, we must ballast it with a few bags of Sicca rupees,” replied the Colonel.
1 The singular inconsistency hinted at is now, in a great degree, removed,
Guy Mannering 419
“Aha! sits the wind there? Then I suppose the young dog carries off my mistress Julia?”
‘‘ Even so, counsellor.”
“ These rascals, the post-nati, get the better of us of the old school at every turn,” said Mr. Pleydell. ‘But she must convey and make over her interest in me to Lucy.”
“To tell you the truth, I am afraid your flank will be turned there too,” replied the Colonel.
‘Indeed? ”
“ Here has been Sir Robert Hazlewood,” said Manner- ing, “upon a visit to Bertram, thinking, and deeming, and opining:
““O Lord! pray spare me the worthy Baronet’s triads!”
“Well, sir,” continued Mannering; ‘‘to make short, he conceived that as the property of Singleside lay like a wedge between two farms of his, and was four or five miles separated from Ellangowan, something like a sale, or exchange, or arrangement might take place, to the mutual convenience of both parties.”
‘Well, and Bertram y
“Why, Bertram replied, that he considered the original settlement of Mrs. Margaret Bertram as the arrangement most proper in the circumstances of the family, and that therefore the estate of Singleside was the property of his sister.”
“The rascal!” said Pleydell, wiping his spectacles, ‘“ he’ll steal my heart as well as my mistress—/¢ puis ?”
** And then, Sir Robert retired after many gracious speeches ; but last week he again took the field in force, with his coach and six horses, his laced scarlet waistcoat, and best bob-wig— all very grand, as the good-boy books say.”
‘* Ay! and what was his overture?”
“Why, he talked with great form of an attachment on the part of Charles Hazlewood to Miss Bertram.”
“Ay, ay; he respected the little god Cupid when he saw him perched on the Dun of Singleside. And is poor Lucy to keep house with that old fool and his wife, who is just the knight himself in petticoats ?”
“ No—we parried that. Singleside House is to be repaired for the young people, and to be called hereafter Mount Hazle- wood.”
‘And do you yourself, Colonel, propose to continue at Woodbourne ?”
‘* Only till we carry these plans into effect. See, nere’s the
420 Guy Mannering
plan of my Bungalow, with all convenience for being separate and sulky when I please.”
** And, being situated, as I see, next door to the old castle, you may repair Donagild’s tower for the nocturnal contempla- tion of the celestial bodies? Bravo, Colonel!”
“No, no, my dear counsellor! Here ends THE As- TROLOGER.”
: y ' §
NOTES
Note I. p. 149.—Mumps’s Ha’
It is fitting to explain to the render the locality described in this chapter. There is, or rather I should say there was, a little inn, called Mumps’s Hall, that is, being interpreted, Beggar’s Hotel, near to Gilsland, which had not then attained its present fame as a Spa. It was a hedge alehouse, where the Border farmers of either country often stopped to refresh themselves and their nags, in their way to and from the fairs and trysts in Cumberland, and especially those who came from or went to Scotland, through a barren and lonely district, without either road or pathway, emphatically called the Waste of Bewcastle. At the period when the adventures described in the novel are supposed to have taken place, there were many instances of attacks by the freebooters on those who travelled through this wild district, and Mumps's Ha’ had a bad reputation for harbouring the banditti who committed such depredations.
An old and sturdy yeoman belonging to the Scottish side, by surname an Armstrong or Elliot, but well known by his soubriquet of Fighting Charlie of Liddesdale, and still remembered for the courage he displayed in the frequent frays which took place on the Border fifty or sixty years since, had the follow- ing adventure in the Waste, which suggested the idea of the scene in the text:
Charlie had been at Stagshaw-bank fair, had sold his sheep or cattle, or whatever he had brought to market, and was on his return to Liddesdale. There were then no country banks where cash could be deposited, and bills received instead, which greatly encouraged robbery in that wild country, as the objects of plunder were usually fraught with gold. The robbers had spies in the fair, by means of whom they generally knew whose purse was best stocked, and who took a lonely and desolate road homeward,—those, in short, who-were best worth robbing, and likely to be most easily robbed.
All this Charlie knew full well; but he had a pair of excellent pistols, anda dauntless heart. He stopped at Mumps’s Ha’, notwithstanding the evil char- acter of the place. His horse was accommodated where it might have the necessary rest and feed of corn; and Charlie himself, a dashing fellow, grew gracious with the landlady, a buxom quean, who used all the influence in her power to induce him to stop,all night. The landlord was from home, she said, and it was ill passing the Waste, as twilight must needs descend on him before he gained the Scottish side, which was reckoned the safest. But Fighting Charlie, though he suffered himself to be detained later than was prudent, did not account Mumps's Ha’ a safe place to quarter in during the night. Hetore himself away, therefore, from Meg’s good fare and kind words, and mounted his nag, having first examined his pistols, and tried by the rarmrod whether the charge remained in them.
He proceeded a mile or two, at a round trot, when, as the Waste stretched black before him, apprehensions began to awaken in his mind, partly arising out of Meg’s unusual kindness, which he could not help thinking had rather a suspicious appearance. He, therefore, resolved to reload his pistols, lest the powder had become damp; but what was his surprise, when he drew the charge, to find neither powder nor ball, while each barrel had been carefully filled with ¢ow, up to the space which the loading had occupied! and, the priming of the weapons being left untouched, nothing but actually drawing and examining the charge could have discovered the inefficiency of his arms
420
A422 Notes
till the fatal minute arrived when their services were required. Charlie be. stowed a hearty Liddesdale curse on his landlady, and reloaded his pistols with care and accuracy, having now no doubt that he was to be waylaid and assaulted. He was not far engaged in the Waste, which was then, and is now, traversed only by such routes as are described in the text, when two or three fellows, disguised and variously armed, started from a moss-hag, while, by a glance behind him (for, marching, as the Spaniard says, with his beard on his shoulder, he reconnoitred in every direction), Charlie instantly saw re- treat was impossible, as other two stout men appeared behind him at some distance. The Borderer lost not a moment in taking his resolution, and boldly trotted against his enemies in front, who called loudly on him to stand and deliver; Charlie spurred on, and presented his pistol. ‘‘D—n your pistol,” cried the foremost robber ; whom Charlie to his dying day protested he believed to have been the landlord of Mumps’s Ha’. ‘‘ D—n your pistol ! { care not a curse for it.’’-—‘‘ Ay, lad,” said the deep voice of Fighting Charlie, ‘‘but the tow’s out mow."" He had no occasion to utter another word; the rogues, surprised at finding a man of redoubted courage well armed, instead of being defenceless, took to the moss in every direction, and he passed on his way without further molestation,
The author has heard this story told by persons who received it from Fighting Charlie himself; he has also heard that Mumps’s Ha’ was afterwards the scene of some other atrocious villainy, for which the people of the house suffered, But these are all tales of at least half a century old, and the Waste has been for many years as safe as any place in the kingdom,
Note II. p. 172.—LUM CLEEKS
The cleek here intimated, is the iron hook, or hooks, depending from the chimney of a Scottish cottage, on which the pot is suspended when boiling. The same appendage is often called the crook. The salmon is usually dried by hanging it up, after being split and rubbed with salt, in the smoke of the turf fire above the cleeks, where it is said to vezst, that preparation being so termed. The salmon thus preserved is eaten as a delicacy, under the name of kipper, a luxury to which Dr, Redgill has given his sanction as an ingredient of the Scottish breakfast.—See the excellent novel entitled ‘* Marriage,”
Note III. p. 173.—CLAN SURNAMES
The distinction of individuals by nicknames when they possess no property, is still common on the Border, and indeed necessary, from the number of persons having the same name. In the small village of Lustruther, in Rox- burghshire, there dwelt, in the memory of man, four inhabitants, called Andrew or Dandie Oliver. They were distinguished as Dandie Eassil-gate, Dandie Wassil-gate, Dandie Thumbie, and Dandie Dumbie. The two first had their names from living eastward and westward in the street of the village ; the. third for something peculiar in the conformation of his thumb; the fourth from his taciturn habits.
It is told as a well-known jest, that a beggar woman, repulsed from door to door as she solicited quarters through a village of Annandale, asked, in her despair, if there were no Christians in the place. To which the hearers, con- cluding that she inquired for some persons so surnamed, answered, ‘‘ Na, na, — there are nae Christians here; we are a’ Johnstones and Jardines,”
Note IV. p. 180.—GIPSY SUPERSTITIONS
The mysterious rites in which Meg Merrilies is described as engaging, belong — to her character as a queen of her race. All know that gipsies in every
Notes 423
country claim acquaintance with the gift of fortune-telling ; but, as is often the case, they are liable to the superstitions of which they avail themselves in others, The correspondent of Blackwood, quoted in the Introduction of this Tale, gives us some information on the subject of their credulity.
‘*T have ever understood,” he says, speaking of the Yetholm gipsies, ‘‘ that they are extremely superstitious—carefully noticing the formation of the clouds, the flight of particular birds, and the soughing of the winds, before attempting any enterprise. They have been known for several successive days to turn back with their loaded carts, asses, and children, on meeting with persons whom they considered of unlucky aspect; nor do they ever proceed on their summer peregrinations without some propitious omen of their fortunate return, They also burn the clothes of their dead, not so much from any apprehension of infection being communicated by them, as the conviction that the very circumstance of wearing them would shorten the days of their living. They likewise carefully watch the corpse by night and day till the time of interment, and conceive that ‘the deil tinkles at the lyke-wake’ of those who felt in their dead-thraw the agonies and terrors of remorse.”
These notions are not peculiar to the gipsies; but having been once gene- rally entertained among the Scottish common people, are now only found among those who are the most rude in their habits, and most devoid of instruction, The popular idea, that the protracted struggle between life and death is painfully prolonged by keeping the door of the apartment shut, was re- ceived as certain by the superstitious eld of Scotland. But neither was it to be thrown wide open. To leave the door ajar, was the plan adopted by the old crones who understood the mysteries of deathbeds and lykewakes, In that case, there was room for the imprisoned spirit to escape ; and yet an obstacle, we have been assured, was offered to the entrance of any frightful form which might otherwise intrude itself. The threshold of a habitation was in some sort a sacred limit, and the subject of much superstition, A bride, even to this day, is always /f/ted over it, a rule derived apparently from the Romans.
Note V. p. 278.—TAPPIT HEN
The Tappit Hen contained three quarts of claret-—
Weel she loed a Hawick gill, And leugh to see a Tappit Hen,
I have seen one of these formidable stoups at Provost Haswell’s, at Jedburgh, in the days of yore. It was a pewter measure, the claret being in ancient days served from the tap, and had the figure of a hen upon the lid. In later times, the name was given to a glass bottle of the same dimensions, These are rare apparitions among the degenerate topers of modern days.
Note VI. p. 278.—CONVIVIAL HABITS OF THE SCOTTISH Bar ,
The account given by Mr. Pleydell, of his sitting down in the midst of a revel to draw an appeal case, was taken from a story told me by an aged gentleman, of the elder President Dundas of Arniston (father of the younger President, and of Lord Melville). It had been thought very desirable, while that distinguished lawyer was King’s counsel, that his assistance should be obtained in drawing an appeal case, which, as occasion for such writings then rarely occurred, was held to be matter of great nicety. The Solicitor em- ployed for the appellant, attended by my informant acting as his clerk, went to the Lord Advocate’s chambers in the Fishmarket Close, as I think. It was Saturday at noon, the Court was just dismissed, the Lord Advocate had changed his dress and booted himself, and his servant and horses were at the foot of the close to carry him to Arniston, It was scarcely possible to get him
424 Notes
to listen to a word respecting business. The wily agent, however, on pre- tence of asking one or two questions, which would not detain him half-an- hour, drew his Lordship, who was no less an eminent bon vivant than a lawyer of unequalled talent, to take a whet at a celebrated tavern, when the learned counsel became gradually involved in a spirited discussion of the law points of the case. At length it occurred to him, that he might as well ride to Arniston in the cool of the evening. The horses were directed to be put in the stable, but not to be unsaddled. Dinner was ordered, the law was laid aside for atime, and the bottle circulated very freely. At nine o'clock at night, after he had been honouring Bacchus for so many hours, the Lord Advocate ordered his horses to be unsaddled,—paper, pen, and ink were brought—he began to dictate the appeal case—and continued at his task till four o'clock the next morning. By next day’s post, the solicitor sent the case to London, a chef-d’ceuvre of its kind; and in which, my informant assured me, it was not necessary on revisal to correct five words. Iam not, therefore, conscious of having overstepped accuracy in describing the manner in which Scottish lawyers of the old time occasionally united the worship of Bacchus with that of Themis. My informant was Alexander Keith, Esq., grandfather to my friend, the present Sir Alexander Keith of Ravelstone, and apprentice at the time to the writer who conducted the cause.
Note VII. p. 352. —LorD MONBODDO
The Burnet, whose taste for the evening meal of the ancients is quoted by Mr. Pleydell, was the celebrated metaphysician and excellent man, Lord Monboddo, whose cene will not be soon forgotten by those who have shared his classic hospitality. As a Scottish Judge, he took the designation of his family estate. His philosophy, as is well known, was of a fanciful and some- what fantastic character; but his learning was deep, and he was possessed of a singular power of eloquence, which reminded the hearer of the os rotundum of the Grove or Academe. Enthusiastically partial to classical habits, his entertainments were always given in the evening, when there was a circulation of excellent Bourdeaux, in flasks garlanded with roses, which were also strewed on the table after the manner of Horace. The best society, whether in respect of rank or literary distinction, was always to be found in St, John’s Street, Canongate. The conversation of the excellent old man, his high, gentleman- like, chivalrous spirit, the learning and wit with which he defended his fanci- ful paradoxes, the kind and liberal spirit of his hospitality, must render these noctes ceneque dear to all who, like the author (though then young), had the © honour of sitting at his board.
Note VIII. p. 354. LAWYERS’ SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
It is probably true, as observed by Counsellor Pleydell, that a lawyers anxiety about his case, supposing him to have been some time in practice, will seldom disturb his rest or digestion. Clients will, however, sometimes fondly — entertain a different opinion. I was told by an excellent judge, now no more, ~ of a country gentleman, who, addressing his leading counsel, my informer, then an adyocate in great practice, on the morning of the day on which the case was to be pleaded, said, with singular bonhomie, ‘‘ Weel, my lord” (the counsel was Lord Advocate), ‘‘the awful day is come at last. I have nae been able to sleep a wink for thinking of it—nor, I dare say, your Lordship either."
ADDITIONAL NOTE TO GUY MANNERING
GALWEGIAN LOCALITIES AND PERSONAGES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPOSED TO BE ALLUDED TO IN THE NOVEL
An old English proverb says, that more know Tom Fool than Tom Fool knows; and the influence of the adage seems to extend to works composed under the influence of an idle or foolish planet. Many corresponding circum- stances are detected by readers, of which the author did not suspect the existence. He must, however, regard it as a great compliment, that in detail- ing incidents purely imaginary, he has been so fortunate in approximating reality, as to remind his readers of actual occurrences. It is therefore with pleasure he notices some pieces of local history and tradition, which have been supposed to coincide with the fictitious persons, incidents, and scenery of Guy Mannering.
The prototype of Dirk Hatteraick is considered as having been a Dutch skipper called Yawkins. This man was well known on the coast of Galloway and Dumfriesshire, as sole proprietor and master of a Bzckkar, or smuggling lugger, called the Black Prince. Being distinguished by his nautical skill and intrepidity, his vessel was frequently freighted, and his own services employed, by French, Dutch, Manx, and Scottish smuggling companies.
A person well known by the name of Buckkar-tea, from having been a noted smuggler of that article, and also by that of Bogle-Bush, the place of his residence, assured my kind informant, Mr. Train, that he had frequently seen upwards of two hundred Lingtow-men assemble at one time, and go off into
the interior of the country, fully laden with contraband goods,
_ In those halcyon days of the free trade, the fixed price for carrying a box of tea, or bale of tobacco, from the coast of Galloway to Edinburgh, was fifteen shillings, and a man with two horses carried four such packages. The trade was entirely destroyed by Mr, Pitt’s celebrated commutation law, which, by reducing the duties upon excisable articles, enabled the lawful dealer to com- pete with the smuggler, The statute was called in Galloway and Dumfries- shire, by those who had thriven upon the contraband trade, ‘ the burning and starving act.”
Sure of such active assistance on shore, Yawkins demeaned himself so boldly, that his mere name was a terror to the officers of the revenue. He availed himself of the fears which his presence inspired on one particular night, when, happening to be ashore with a considerable quantity of goods in his sole custody, a strong party of excisemen came down on him. Far from shunning the attack, Yawkins sprung forward, shouting, ‘‘Come on, my lads ; Yawkins is before you.” The revenue officers were intimidated, and relin- quished their prize, though defended only by the courage and address of a single man. On his proper element, Yawkins was equally successful, On Jone occasion, he was landing his cargo at the Manxman’s lake, near Kirkcud- bright, when two revenue cutters (the Pzgmy and the Dwa7f) hove in sight at jonce on different tacks, the one coming round by the Isles of Fleet, the other between the point of Rueberry and the Muckle Ron. The dauntless free- trader instantly weighed anchor, and bore down right between the luggers, so close that he tossed his hat on the deck of the one, and his wig on that of the
426 Notes
other, hoisted a cask to his maintop, to show his occupation, and bore away under an extraordinary pressure of canvas, without receiving injury. To account for these and other hair-breadth escapes, popular superstition alleged that Yawkins insured his celebrated Buckkar by compounding with the devil for one-tenth of his crew every voyage. How they arranged the separation of the stock and tithes, is left to our conjecture. The Buckkar was perhaps called the Black Prince in honour of the formidable insurer.
The Black Prince used to discharge her cargo at Luce, Balcarry, and else- where on the coast; but her owner's favourite landing-places were at the entrance to the Dee and the Cree, near the old Castle of Rueberry, about six miles below Kirkcudbright. There is a cave of large dimensions in the vicinity of Rueberry, which, from its being frequently used by Yawkins, and his supposed connection with the smugglers on the shore, is now called Dirk Hatteraick’s cave. Strangers who visit this place, the scenery of which is highly romantic, are also shown, under the name of the Gauger’s Loup, a tremendous precipice, being the same, it is asserted, from which Kennedy was precipitated.
Meg Merrilies is in Galloway considered as having had her origin in the traditions concerning the celebrated Flora Marshal, one of the royal con- sorts of Willie Marshal, more commonly called the Cazrvd of Barullion, King of the Gipsies of the Western Lowlands. That potentate was himself deserv- ing of notice, from the following peculiarities. He was born in the parish of Kirkmichael, about the year 1671; and as he died at Kirkcudbright, 23rd November, 1792, he must then have been in the one hundred and twentieth year of his age. It cannot be said that this unusually long lease of existence was noted by any peculiar excellence of conduct or habits of life. Willie had been pressed or enlisted in the army seven times; and had deserted as often; besides three times running away from the naval service. He had been seven- teen times lawfully married; and besides such a reasonably large share of matrimonial comforts, was, after his hundredth year, the avowed father of four children, by less legitimate affections. He subsisted in his extreme old age by a pension from the present Earl of Selkirk’s grandfather. Will Marshal is buried in Kirkcudbright Church, where his monument is still shown, decorated with a scutcheon suitably blazoned with two tups’ horns and two cutty spoons,
In his youth he occasionally took an evening walk on the highway, with the purpose of assisting travellers by relieving them of the weight of their purses. On one occasion, the Caird of Barullion robbed the Laird of Bargally, at a place between Carsphairn and Dalmellington. His purpose was not achieved without a severe struggle, in which the Gipsy lost his bonnet, and was obliged to escape, leaving it on the road. A respectable farmer happened to be the next passenger, and seeing the bonnet, alighted, took it up, and rather im- prudently put it on his own head. At this instant, Bargally came up witb some assistants,,and recognising the bonnet, charged the farmer of Banto- berick with having robbed him, and took him into custody. There being some likeness between the parties, Bargaliy persisted in his charge, and though the respectability of the farmer’s character was proved or admitted, his trial before the Circuit Court came on accordingly. The fatal bonnet lay on the table of the court; Bargally swore that it was the identical article worn by the man who robbed him; and he and others likewise deponed that they had found the accused on the spot where the crime was committed, with the bonnet on his head. The case looked gloomily for the prisoner, and the opinion of the judge seemed unfavourable. But there wasa person in the court who knew well both who did, and who did not, commit the crime. This was the Caird of Barullion, who, thrusting himself up to the bar, near the place where Bargally was standing, suddenly seized on the bonnet, put it on his head, and looking the Laird full in the face, asked him, with a voice which attracted the attention of the Court and crowded audience—‘' Look at me, sir, and tell me, by the oath you have sworn—Am not / the man who robbed you between
Notes 427
Carsphairn and Dalmellington?” Bargally replied, in great astonishment, ** By Heaven! you are the very man,”’—‘‘ You see what sort of memory this gentleman has,” said the volunteer pleader: ‘he swears to the bonnet, what- ever features are under it. If you yourself, my Lord, will put it on your head, he will be willing to swear that your Lordship was the party who robbed him between Carsphairn and Dalmellington.” The tenant of Bantoberick was unanimously acquitted, and thus Willie Marshal ingeniously contrived to save an innocent man from danger, without incurring any himself, since Bargally's evidence must have seemed to every one too fluctuating to be relied upon.
While the King of the Gipsies was thus laudably occupied, his royal con- sort, Flora, contrived, it is said, to steal the hood from the Judge’s gown; for which offence, combined with her presumptive guilt as a gipsy, she was banished to New England, whence she never returned.
Now, I cannot grant that the idea of Meg Merrilies was, in the first concoc- tion of the character, derived from Flora Marshal, seeing I have already said she was identified with Jean Gordon, and as I have not the Laird of Bargally's apology for charging the same fact on two several individuals, Yet 1 am quite content that Meg should be considered as a representative of her sect and class in general—F ora, as well as others.
The other instances in which my Gallovidian readers have obliged me, by assigning to
Airy nothing A local habitation and a name,
shall also be sanctioned so far as the Author may be entitled todo so, I think the facetious Joe Miller records a case pretty much in point; where the keeper of a Museum, while showing, as he said, the very sword with which Balaam was about to kill his ass, was interrupted by one of the visitors, who reminded him that Balaam was not possessed of a sword, but only wished for one. ‘‘ True, sir,” replied the ready-witted Cicerone; ‘‘but this is the very sword he wished for.” The Author, in application of this story, has only to add, that though ignorant of the coincidence between the fictions of the tale and some real circumstances, he is contented to believe he must unconsciously have thought or dreamed of the last, while engaged in the composition of Guy Mannering.
GLOSSAT,
A’, all
ABUNE, above
AE, one
Arr, off
AFORE, before AFTERHEND, afterwards AGAIN-E’EN, about evening A-GUISARDING, mumming AHINT, behind
AIBLINS, perhaps
AIK, an oak
AILS, prevents
AIN, own
AN, tf
ANCE, once
ANE, one
ANENT, opposite, respecting ANEUCH, enough
ARENA, are not
ATWEEL, truly; I wot weel AULD, old
AULD THREEP, an old superstition AvisE, to advise, to deliberate Awa’, away
AWEEL, well
AwFu’, awful
Awmous, alms
Barn, @ child
BaitH, both
BaA.iant, ballad
BAN, to curse
BANE, @ bone
BANNOCK, a flat, round cake
BARKEN, to encrust
BARKERS AND SLASHERS, pistols and cutlasses
BARROW-TRAM, ward fellow
BAuk, BAULK, uncultivated places between ridges of land
BauLp, bold
BEDRAL, sexton
BEHOVED, was compelled
BELL THE CAT, contend with one of superior force and power
BEN THE HOUSE, towards the inner part of the house
BERLING, @ kind of galley
B1DE, to stay, to reside; also, to bear
BIELD, @ shelter
vaw-boned, awk-
428
Bice, build
Biceir, built
Biccit wa’s, built walls
BILLIE, BILLY, @ companion, com- rade, fellow, brother, a smart, roguish boy, young man, beau
Bin, am
Binna, be not
Birk, @ birch
BIRLING, drinking
BiTTLeD, beaten with the wooden pestle used in washing fine clothes by the water-side.
Bittock, @ little bit, a short distance
‘BLACK PETER,’ @ portmanteau
Bracxit, blackened
BraTeE, bashful, modest
Brawn, blown
BLEARING, moistening
‘BLEARING YOUR EE,’ blinding you with flattery
BuiTHE, glad, pleasant
Buuip, blood
BLuNKER, @ calico-printer ; a bungler
BovDLe, a copper coin, value of the sixth part of an English penny
BOGLE, scarecrow
Bonnie, pretty
BonsPIiEL, playing match
Bountitu, bounty given in addition to stipulated wages
BourtTREE-BuSH, elder bush
Bow, a boll or dry measure, con- taining the sixteenth part of a chalder
BowstTeEr, @ bolster
BRAGGED, reproached, defied, chal- lenged
Brat, a troublesome child
BrAw, fine
BRAWLY, finely
Brie, @ bridge
Brock, badger
Bron, plate
BuirDLy, strong, athletic
BuLty HuFF, boasting bully
Burn, @ brook
Bye, besides
Ca’, to call CaDIE, @ street porter
Glossary
CAKE-HOUSE, @ house of entertain- ment
CaLLant, lad
CaM, came
CANNA, cannot
CANNILY, cautiously
Canny, skilful, prudent, trustworthy
CANNY MOMENT, opportune time
CANTLE, a fragment broken off anything
Canty, lively, cheerful
CAPTION, 4 warrant for apprehending a debtor
CaARLE, churl, fellow
Cast, lot, fate
CAULD, cold
Cuap, customer, fellow
CHAPPING-STICK, a weapon
Cuappit, struck
CHEERER, spirits and hot water
CHIELD, young fellow
Cuucxies, barn-door fowls
CHUMLAY, @ chimney
CLAES, clothes
CLANJAMEFRAY, rabble
CLASHER, scandal, tittle-tattle
CLATTER, fatile
CLAUGHT, to violently
CLEEK, tvon hook
CLop, hurl, fling
CLosE, an alley
Cour, @ smash or thunip, (verb) to smash
Cort, bought
COLLIE-SHANGIE, quarrel
‘CoME 0’ wiILL,’ a love-child, a natural child
Coup, to upset
CRACKS, gossip, conversation
CralG, a rock, the neck or throat
CRAMP-RING, @ prison
‘CRAPPIT HEADS,’ puddings made in the heads of haddocks ,
CRAWS, crows
“CRAZED BANES,’ mad bones
CREEL, a basket for the especially for fish
Cuppy, donkey
CussER, @ stallion
CUT-LUGGED, crop-eared
Cutty, short
‘Cutty spoon,’ a@ short horn spoon
clutch, to smatch
back,
Dart, silly, crack-brained DARBIES, handcuffs DARKMANS, dark nights Daur, dare
Daurna, dare not
429 DAY-DAWNING, dawn DEAD-THRAW, the death-throe, the last agony DEATH-RUCKLE, the death-rattle in the throat of a dying person DerFeEat, exhausted Det, the devil DEIL-BE-LIcKIT}, the devil be blowed! Dipna, did not ‘Dipna bow,’ did not like DIKE, a stone-wall fence Dina, to strike, to beat, to subdue ‘DINGING-bowNn,’ throwing down Dinna, do not DISCREET, civil Disna, does not DizzEn, dozen DONNERT, stupid Doo, dove DooKeE?T, dovecot Dooms, absolutely Douce, quiet, sober, sedate Doun, down Dow, to bear, to endure Dowte, dull, melancholy DOWSE THE GLIM, put out the light DRApP, a drop DRAVE, drove DREE, suffer, endure Dus, a pool Duns, rags, clothes
EASE, use
EASSEL, eastward
EE, eye
EEN, eyes
L’EN, (adverb) evening
EILDING, fuel
END LANG, in uninterrupted suc- cession
ENEUGH, enough
ERRAND, ‘BUT JUST ANCE ERRAND,’ but just that purpose
EVENING, considering equal.
even, (noun) the
themselves
Fa’, to fall, to befall
Farm, foam
FAIR-STRAE, natural
‘FAIR-STRAE DEATH,’ death
FAMBLES, hands
Fann, found
FAR-YAUD, @ cry of encouragement to a shepherd's dog
Fasn, trouble
Fasuious, troublesome
a natural
430
FAULD, a fold
FauseE, false
FEARSNA, fears not
FEARSOME, awful
FEck, part
FECKLESS, feeble
FEE, wages
‘FEIFTEEN, THE,’ the Judges of the Supreme Court of Session in Scotland were proverbially termed, among the country people, The Fificen
FELL, a hide, the skin
FELL, strong and fiery
‘FERN-SEED, GATHER THE, make yourself invisible
FIAR, one who has the reversion of property
Fie, mad, acting unaccountably
‘FIEnT A BIT!’, never a bit!
‘FIENT A HAET!’, nothing at all!
FIKE, to fidget
Firtor, fourth part of a boll of corn
FLESH, the skin
‘FLESH AND FELL,’ muscle and skin
Fuick, to flip, to burst
FLiskING, whisking up and down
Fuirt, to remove
ForRBEARS, forefathers, ancestors
ForBYE, besides
FORE—‘TO THE FORE,’ in front
Forcier, to forgive
Fou, Fu’, full, drunk
FoumMarts, pole-cats
FowkK, folk
FRACTIOUS, peevish
FRAE, from
FuLeE, a fool
FUuLE-Bopy, @ foolish creature
GAE, go
GA’E, gave
GAED, went
GAE-DOUN, drinking about
GAEN, gone
Galt, fashion, manner
GALLOWAY, @ strong sort of Scotch cob
GANG, go
GANG-THERE-OUT, wandering
GANGREL, vagrant
Gar, make
GARR’D, forced, compelled
GATE, way
GAUGER, @M exciseman
GAUN, going
GEAR, property, cattle
GENTLE (noun), gentleman
Glossary
‘GENTLE OR SIMPLE,’ gentleman or commoner, rich or poor
GENTLES, gentlefolk
Gry, considerable
G1E, to give
GIEN, given
GIFF-GAFF, give and take, a mutual obligation
GLAMOUR, sight
Gurr, twinkling
GLIFFING, an instant
Guim, a light
GLOWER, to stare
GOTTEN, procured
‘GOTTEN OWER,’ got over
GoupD, GowD, gold
Gowan, @ daisy
Gowk, a fool
GREED, agreed
GREET, to cry, to weep
GREWS, greyhounds
GRIEGO, short cloak
GRIEVE, @n overseer
Grippit, laid hold of
GRUE, @ greyhound
GrunD, ground, bottom
GuDE, good
GUDEMAN, @ husband
GUISARDS, disguised persons, muni- mers who volunteer vocal music for money about Christmastide and New Year
GumMPpHION, @ funeral banner
GYRE-CARLINGS, hobgoblins, witches
magical deception of
Ha’, a hall
Happen, held, holden
Hae, have; also here!
Haet, thing
HAFFLIN CALLANT, half-grown lad
Haick, hack
HAIL, whole
‘HAILL WATER,’ whole riverside
HALian, the partition between the door of a cottage and the fireplace
HAME, home
Hank, rope
HANSEL, a present
HansEt Monanpay, Hansel Mon- day, which is the Monday after New Year’s Day
HANTLE, a number of
Hap, to cover, to cover warmly
Haun, hold
Haupen, held
Hautp, place of abode
HEEzIE, to hoist
He tiicat, half-witted, wicked
Glossary
Herps, keepers of cattle or sheep
HEREZELD, an acknowledgment of vassalage
HET, hot
HeEucH, a dell
Hine, to hang
HInNEY, honey—a term of endear- ment
HirsEL, a stock of sheep
HIRSLE, creep sideways in a sitting posture by means of the hands only
Hizzie, hussy
Hoc, @ sheep from six to fifteen months old
HORNING OR CAPTION, warrant for arrest of a debtor
HorsE-couPErs, horse dealers
HouDIE, HOWDIE, midwife
‘Hour Fie!’ tut, fie!
‘Houts na!’ oh no!
Howrr, resort, chance
Howk, to dig
How, hollow
Hum-puDGEON, fuss, ado
Hunps, hounds
‘Hunt fHE GOWK,’ fo go on a fool’s errand
‘Hy spy,’ a kind of hide-and-seek game
ILKa, each, every
ILL-SORTED, 1ll-suited, ill-managed INGANS, onions
INGLESIDE, fireside
INVENTAR, inventory
Vse, I shail
ITHER, other.
JAW-HOLE, a sink JETHART, Jedburgh Jor, a sweetheart
KaAIM, @ camp, a rising ground
Kain, duty paid by a tenant! to his landlord in eggs, fowls, etc.
KEEPIT, kept
‘KEEPIT THE KIRK,’ attended the parish church
Ken, to know
KENNA, know not
KENNING, knowing
KIBE, @ chapped heel
KILLOGIE, furnace of a limekiln
KILT, upset
KIMMER, @ gossip, a friend
KINCHIN, infant
Kipper, @ salmon salted and smoke- dried,
Kirk, church
431
KIRK-KEEPER, @ regular church- goer
Kist, chest
KITT Le, ticklish
IKNAVE-BAIRN, @ man-child
KNEVELLED, beat
Knocxit, knocked
Larr, learning
LairD, squire, lord of a manor
LAND-LOUPERS, tramps, vagrants
Lane, long
LANG-LUGGED, long-eared
LANGSYNE, long ago
LASSIE, a girl
LATCH, mire
Leppy, a lady
LrED-FARM, a farm let along with another
LEE, a hie, to lie
LETTER-GAE, church precentor, or clerk
Levin, lightning
LiB-KEN, jail quarters
Licks, blows
Lirt, to carry the body to the grave
Like, nearly
LimMER, jade, strumpet
LipPEN, trust
Litn, joint
Loan, lane
LOANING, meadow
Lo’ED, loved
Loosy, a blockhead
Loon, young fellow
Loup, leap
Low, flame
Lue, to drag
Lues, the ears
Lunt, to blaze up
LYKEWAKE, watch over a corpse before interment
Mair, more
“MAIR BY TOKEN,’ especially, more- over
Maks, makes
Marcues, landmarks, boundaries
Maun, must
MAUNNA, must not
Minp, to remember
MINDED, looked after
Mirk, dark
MISTRESSES, matrons
MiITHER, mother
MOANED, mourned for
Morn, to-morrow A
Moss-nHAG, a pit or slough in a mire or bog
432
MUCKLE, much, great MuIR, @ moor Mourcukin, English pint
NA, NAE, no, not
NAETHING, nothing
NANE, none
NATHLEsS, nevertheless NEEDNA, need not
NEIBORS, neighbours NIFFERING, higgling, bargaining NIFFY-NAFFY, fastidious ‘NIGHT, THE,’ to-night
No, not
NovDteE, the head
‘Now, THE,’ at once
time
ODD-COME-SHORTLY, chance
not fay off On’T, on it Ony, any Or, eve, before OrRA, odd, occasional O’r, of it Ou, oh Out, out in rebellion Outcast, dispute ‘OuT OF - HOUSE destitute OwER, over
AND HAULD,’
Paiks, punishment
PARRITCH, porridge
PEENGING, whining
PENNY-STANE, @ stone quoit
PERIAPTS, amulets
PICKLE, a supply, a quantity
Pike, to pick
Pinners, @ head-dress with lappets
Pirn, veel, bobbin
Pit, to put
Piru, strength
PLasH, to dabble
PLOUGHGATE, as much land as can be properly tilled with one plough —about 40 Scots acres
Pock, a poke, a pouch, a bag
POCKMANKY, portmanteau
POINDED, distrained
PopptineG, bubbling, purling, rip- pling
PoscHAY, @ post-chaise
Poucues, pockets
Pow, the head
Powny, a pony
PRECEESE, thorough
PRECENTOR, the leader of psalmody in a Presbyterian congregation
PRIGGED, begged
Glossary
PRIN, pin
Purr, poor
‘Put on,’ clothed Putten, put
QUEAN, wench, young woman
RADE, rode
RAMBLE, @ spree
RAMPAUGING, roaring, scolding
RANDLE-TREE, wild one
RAnpy, riotous, disorderly
“RANDY QUEAN,’ @ wild jade
RANGING AND RIPING, Scouring and searching
RASP-HOUSE, @ custom-house
‘RED COCK CRAW,’ five is raised
REDDING, clearing, or tidying, up
REDDING-STRAIK, @ Stroke received in attempting to separate com- batants in a fray; a blow in return for offictous interference
REEK, smoke
REEKED, smoked
ReEiF, robbery
‘REIF AND WEAR,’ injury
REISE, @ twig
REIST, sioke
REIVER, @ robber, a freebooter
Retour, returned for service of an heir, return to writ of inquisition
Ries, ridges
RIN, run
RIPE, search
RIVE, to rend, to tear
RIvInG, bursting
Rorrens, vats
Roup, sale by auction
RoutTinG, roaring, bellowing, snoring
Russit, robbed
RUCKLE, ratile
RUMP AND DOZEN, a rump of beef and a dozen of wine: downright feast
robbery and
SACK, a penttential dress SACKLESS, innocent SAE, so SAFT, soft Sain, bless Sar, sore, heavy; very much SALL, shall SAMYN, same SANG, @ song Sap, sop Sark, @ shirt SauGH, willow SAUL, soul | SAULIE, a mute, a hired mourner
Glossary
Saut, salt
SAX, six
Scarr-RAFF, riff-vaff, rabble
Scart, scratch
ScCAUDING, scalding
ScongEs, small cakes
SCREED, @ yarn
SCREED 0’ DRINK, @ draught
SECT, sex
SEDERUNT, @ sitting (a legal term)
SELU’D, sold
SEMPLE, @ poor person
SHAKERAG, tatterdemalion
SHEILING, @ hut, a small cottage on the moor or mountain
SHERRA, @ sheriff
SHOEING-HORN, something leading to further drinking
SHOON, shoes
SHOUTHER, shoulder
Sis, related to by blood
Sic, such
SILLER, money
SIN SYNE, swuce then
SKEEL, skill
Skits, tricks
SLACK, @ hollow
Svap, @ breach in a fence
SLOW-HUND, @ Sleuth hound
Sma’, small
SMACKS, rogues
SNAW, snow
SORTING, managing
Soupte, the striking part of a flail
SPAE, to foretell
SPAE-WARK, foretelling
SPAW-WELL, @ magic well
SPEIR, to ask
SPLEUCHAN, tobacco-pouch, used as a purse
SPLORES, frolics, riots, quarrels
SPRUG, sparrow
SPUNK OF FIRE, @ spark of fire, a small fire
STAMACH, the stomach
Start, to betray, to give in
STEEK, to fasten, a stitch
STELL, @ still—commonly illicit
STIBBLER, @ probationer, a novice
STICKIT, stuck
‘STICKIT MINISTER,’ @ clerical student or probationer become unqualified for the ministerial office from im- becility or immoral conduct
Stirks, heifers
STIVER, a small Dutch copper coin
STocKIt, stocked
Srorrit, stopped
satisfying
433
Stoup, @ pot or flagon
Stour, strong
Stown, stolen
STRAE, stvaw
STREIKING, stretching a corpse
SrrRippit, stripped
STuURE, gruff-looking
‘SUFFERED FoR,’ suffered the penalty of the law
SuULD, should
SUNE, soon
SUNKETS, provisions of any sort
SUNKIE, stool
SwEIr, hard, difficult
SWuRE, swore
SYNE, since, then, after that, in that case
Ta, the
Ta’EN, taken
TAIzziz£, entail
TaltT 0’ woo’, tuft of wool
TAK, take
Tap, top
TAPPIT HEN, a tin pot with a knob on the top, containing a quart of ale
Tass, @ glass
Tat, that
TEIND, TIEND, tithe
TELU’D, told
TENT, care
THACK, thatch
THAE, these, those
THEGITHER, together
THEREAWA’, thereabouts
THIR, these
THRAPPLE, throat
THREEP, say, declare
THRISTLE, the thistle
TIKE, v. TYKE
TrLv’t, to tt
Trep, a mouthful, a glass
TIPPENNY, @le at twopence a quart
Top, a fox
Too, empty
Tow, rope
‘TOWN END,’ @ sireet or court
TRINDLING, trundling
TROKING, dealing, trafficking
TuILziE, scuffle, brawl
Tup, a vam
Twa, TWAE, two
TwasoME, two of them
TWEEL, web
Tyke, TIKE, a cur
UmQUuHILE, late UNCANNY, dangerous, danger from breternatural causes
434
Unco, uncommon, particular UPHAUD, uphold, maintain
VERRA, very
Wa’, wail
Wap, would
WADDED, married
WAE, woe
WaeEru’, woeful
War, insignificant
WALE, choice
Wames, bellies
Wark, to expand, to lay out
WARK, work
War_p, world
WARLOCK, wizard, witch
Waster, a kind of trident used for striking salmon
WAUR, worse
WEANS, infants, children
WEAR, war
WEDDER, a wether
WEE, small
WEEL, well
WEEL-FAURED, well-favoured
WEIRD’S DREED, the destiny is ful- filled
WeizE, to direct, to send
WESSEL, westward
Glossary
Wua, who
WHEEN, WHIN, few
WHIGGING CANTILY, cheerfully
WHILES, sometimes
WHILK, which
WHINGER, short sword
WHITTRETS, weasels
Wr, with
Wi, get
Winna, will not
WInsoME, gainly, lovely, pretty, of engaging appearance
Woo’, wool
Woopie, gallows
Worricow, hobgoblin, scarecrow
Wor, know
‘Wor’s NA,’ knows not
Wow, tut!
WRANG, harm
WRITER, @ Scotch attorney
Wuss, to wish
Wyte, blame
jogging on
WUDDIE, @ rope, the
YAFFING, barking, also chattering ‘YEAR, THE,’ this year YEPISTLE, @ letter
YER, YERE, your
YOnT, yonder
es
—— = th agate
875u
METHODIST COLLEGE, FAYETTEVILLE NC y Mannering
i EL Fakak(al (oy oKahal scl abam
62962
Sir Walter
SIR WALTER SCOTT
Guy Mannering
Scott’s greatest writing is to be found in those novels which reflect the manners and customs nearest his own time, and
set within the confines of his own Scottish hills. He let his imagination roam over the European scene in The Talisman, but Guy Mannering is akin to The Heart of Midlothian and Rob Roy. All three are in Everyman Paperbacks. In Guy Mannering Scott once again deserts the high road of resounding deeds for the byways of romance, writing about country people in a remote corner of Scotland ; and he brings to the favourite theme of a thousand folk-tales—that of the ‘missing heir’—a tense atmosphere of excitement and mystery in which memorable and colourful characters continually surprise us with their words of foreboding, their great charity of heart and odd quirks of conscience. Meg Merrilies, the old gipsy, and Dandie Dinmont, the rugged farmer, are cast in the epic mould and emerge as dimensional characters who engage the interest and sympathy of the reader. Yet they, with the rest of this faithful re-creation of Galloway in the time of George III, were all realized—we have Scott’s word for it—and written down
‘six weeks at a Christmas’.
40p wer ux. PRICE ,
. : if 5
J. M. DENT & SONS LTD, BEDFORD ST, LONDON, W.C.2) E. P. DUTTON & CO. INC., NEW YORK, U.S.A. \ © 1967, Cover design: 7. M. Dent & Sons Ltd i 460 O1133 2 i 10/63