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 he 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。''*
* Bannatyne's Journal。
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 XXXI
Note F。…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 G。…Richard Cur…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 Cur…de…Lion_。
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXXIII
Note H。…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 I。…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；