Allan Boyd

“ All this was executed upon the spot; after which, the Naib, leaping from his horse, threw himself at his feet, and watering them with his tears, addressed him thus:—'Father, I have discharged my duty to my God, my sovereign, my country, and my station; permit me now, by my respect and submission, to acquit the debt I owe a parent. Justice is blind, it is the power of God on earth; it has no regard to father or son—God, and our neighbour's right, are above the ties of nature. ”

“ John says, As I'm a Christian man,
Who never likes to curse nor ban,
Nor steal, nor lie, nor drink, nor whore,
I'll never gang within its door,
But sit by the fire-side a' night,
An' gang awa whene'er 'tis light. ”

“ For stoutest hearts have aft been shy
To venture in within the room
After the night begins to gloom;
For in it they can ne’er get rest,
’Tis haunted by a frightful ghaist!
Ourselves are terrified a’ night ”

“ The first of his prophecies ever taken to be faithfully observed, was, that there should be a storm on a certain day, that would surprise all Scotland. Now, some gentlemen being with him that day, they began to joke him, and said, "Sir Thomas, you are now mistaken, and we shall stay and see your mistake, as we have heard so much of your prophecies." He told them to stay an hour longer, and they would see and believe. ”

“ The Youngster' sartless heart o'erflows with joy.
But dash'd and bashful scarce can well behave.
The Mother, with a woman's wiles can spy,
What makes the Youth so bashful and so grave,
Well-pleas'd to think her Child such suitor's like to have. ”

“ Hereabout was the only place where the river could be crossed in any order.———A large body of cavalry advanced to attack him in front, while another fetched a compass to fall upon his flank and rear, but before they could come to a close engagement, they fell into the snare that had been laid for them. Many of their horses were soon disabled by the sharp irons rushing into their feet, others tumbled into the concealed pits, and could not disentangle themselves. ”

“ The Scots pursued; and great was the slaughter among the enemy, especially in passing the river, where they could keep no order, because of the irregularity of the ground. King Edward himself escaped with much difficulty being closely pursued above-forty miles, by Sir James Douglas, with a party of light horse, He was upon the point of being taken prisoner when he was received into the Castle of Dunbar by the Earl of March, who conveyed him to England, by sea, in a fisher's boat; his immense army being entirely discomfited. The Scots lost only four thousand men ”

“ Guid faith, says John, I’m thinking sae;
Better in the neuk to sit,
Than fly’d, guid keep’s, out o’ our wit;
Preserve us ever frae all evil,
I widna like to see the devil:
Whisht gowk, quo’ Thrummy, haud your peace,
That sanna gar me quit this place:
To great nor sma’ I ne’er did ill,
No ghaist, nor deil my sert shall spill. ”

“ I am sorry it was your fate to receive it from me, my conscience would not suffer me to act otherwise-behave better for the future, and instead of blaming, pity my being reduced to so cruel a necessity. ”

“ Shall choose forth himself,
And rule the realm as his own.
When speaking of King Charles, he calls him 'A sly Fox-bird, who would turn to Christ with the wyles of tods and foxes.' Meaning his swearing of the covenants.
When speaking of the battle of Preston-pans, in the year 1745, he names the very two neighbouring villages to the spot of ground whereon it was fought, viz. Goyleford-green, and Seton, saying, Between Seton and the sea, sorrow should be wrought by the light of the moon.'—Which act really came to pass that morning the battle of Prestonpans was fought. ”

“ Some are of opinion, that it was by taking away the power or superiority from the chiefs of the Highland clans, so that they cannot raise men in such a short time as formerly.
These are a few observations on things already come to pass; and as to what is yet to come, there is some remark will yet happen, when the time draws nigh; such as, “When Tarbet’s craigs are tumbled into the sea. And the next season or summer thereafter, great sorrow and bloodshed happen to this realm, the chief thereof especially, such as harling on sleds, and chopping off heads.” ”

“ EDWARD II. of England, kept up the same claim upon Scotland, which his father had began; and after several unsuccessful attempts to establish it, he resolved to make a great effort and with one blow reduce that turbulent nation, which had put so many signal affronts upon his father and himself. ”

“ Th' expectant young ones tottering stagger thro'
To meet their Dad with prattling noise and glee
His little wood-fire sparkling cheerfully,
His clean hearth-stone, his thrifty wife's glad smile,
The lisping infant prattling on his knee,
Does all his weary anxious cares beguile,
And makes him quite forget his labour and his toil.
The elder children soon come dropping in,
At service out, among the farmers round ”

“ The mother with her needle and her shears,
Makes old clothes look almost as well as new,
The Father mixes all with admonition due.
Their Master's and their Mistress's command,
The Youngers all are warned to obey ”

“ Are we to starve in Christian land?
As lang’s my stick bides in my hand,
An’ silver plenty in my pouch,
To nane about your house I’ll crouch;
Landlord, you needna be sae rude,
For faith we’ll make our quarters good. ”

“ They stand in a spot which has lately been enclosed for a garden, at the north end of the village of New-House, and about a quarter of a mile from the Borough Port of Stirling
This victory gave new spirits to the whole army, and made them so eager for the general engagement, that the night, though among the shortest of the year, seemed long to them. At length appeared the dawn of that important day which was to decide whether Scotland was henceforth to be an independent kingdom, or subject to a foreign yoke. Early all was in motion in both armies ”

“ A Grocer of the city of Smyrna had a son who, with the help of the little learning the country could afford, rose to the post of Naib, or deputy to the Cady, or mayor of the city, and as such visited the markets, and inspected the weights and measures of all retail dealers. One day, while going his rounds, his father was advised by the neighbours to remove his weights, which they knew to be deficient. ”

“ Glauming the gate back to his bed,
Aye thinks he hears a person tread,
An’ ere he gat without the door,
The Ghaist again stood him before,
And in his face did staring stand,
Wi’ a big candle in his hand. ”

“ Upon receiving the news, Sir Thomas told them that this was the storm, and it would give rise to greater commotions in Scotland.
After the death of Queen Margaret, the King married Isabel, daughter to the Earl of Driux; and Sir Thomas told within a few months of an earthquake at Kinghorn, that would make Scotland tremble. An express accordingly came to Cryle to Sir Thomas, that the King had fallen from his horse at Kinghorn, and broke his neck. After the death of Alexander, he left no heirs except a grandchild, Margaret, daughter of the King of Norway, who also soon died ”

“ Pass joyful days for ever.
But that the curious may be more fully informed concerning the aforesaid predictions, with respect to their being exactly fulfilled, they are referred to the Scottish histories. ”

“ Randolph considering this as a reproach, because he had the charge of that part through which the English had marched, immediately set out after them with a party of five hundred horse, and coming up with them in the plain where the small village of New-House now stands, a sharp action ensued, in sight of both armies, and of the garrison of Stirling. It was fought with valour on both sides; and it was for some time doubtful where victory should turn. ”

“ There is also mention made of a lord with a lucken, or double hand, which certainly is of royal blood, and will breed great stir and confusion in Britain. This man is alive at this very present age, and of the Stewarts’ race, now in Italy. ”

“ As to his prophetical sayings, they are hard to be understood, because they are pointed out by the Coats of Arms which appertain to so many different kingdoms and persons. Yet we may observe how he has pointed out plainly, many things which have come to pass in our days ”

“ Whate’er you charge, we sanna grudge,
But satisfy ye, ere we budge
To gang awa— and fan ’tis day,
We’ll pack our all, and tak the way.
The Landlord said, O’ beds I’ve nane,
Our ain folks they will scarce contain ”

“ Sae in our tale, as we go on,
I think we'd ca' him cowardly John.
Sae on they gaed at a good scow'r,
'Cause that they saw a gathering showe:
Grow yerra thick upon the wind,
Whilk to their wae they soon did find ”