Redgauntlet
Page 55
SANCTA WINIFREDA, ORA PRO NOBIS, Saint Winifred, pray for us.
SARTUM ATQUE TECTUM, repaired and covered.
SAT EST, it is enough.
SAWNEY, a nickname for a Scotchman.
SCARBOROUGH WARNING, the blow before the threat.
SCOWP, quaff.
SCRUB, the name of a footman in the BEAUX' STRATAGEM (Geo.
Farquhar, 1704).
SCULDUDDERY, loose, immoral.
SEALGH, seal,
SEA-MAWS, sea-mews.
SECUNDUM ARTEM, according to the rules of his art.
SEDERUNT, a sitting of the courts.
SEMPLE, simple, not of gentle birth,
SHILPIT, weak; poor, shabby.
SHINGLES, thin boards used for roofs.
SI NON CASTE, CAUTE TAMEN, if not for virtue's sake, yet for caution.
SIB, kin.
SIGMA, the Greek S.
SINE DIE, without a date, indefinitely.
SIS MEMOR MEI, be mindful of me.
SKELLOCH, screech.
SKINKER, a server of liquor.
SKIRL, to scream.
SKIVIE, harebrained.
SLEEKIT, smooth.
SLOKEN, quench.
SNEESHING, snuff.
SNELL, sharp, terrible.
SNICKERS, sniggers.
SOCIETAS EST MATER DISCORDIARUM, partnership is the mother of quarrels.
SOLITAIRE, an ornament for the neck.
SOLON, the law-giver of Athens.
SONSY, good-humoured, sensible.
SORT, to chastise; to manage.
SORTES VIRGILIANAE, Virgilian lots; opening the works of Virgil at random and taking the first passage read for counsel.
SOUGH, a breath, a chant.
SOUPLE, active; supple in mind or body.
SOUTER'S CLOD, a kind of coarse black bread.
SPATTERDASHES, coverings for the legs to protect them from mud.
SPEER, ask.
SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE, have an extra allowance of spirits.
SPLORE, a frolic, quarrel.
SPRATTLE, struggle, scramble.
SPRING, a merry tune.
SPRUSH, spruce.
SPULE-BLADE, shoulder blade,
SPUNK, courage, fire: SPUNKS, matches.
STEND, take long steps.
STEWARTRY, territory in Scotland administered by a steward.
STIBBLER, a divinity student, a probationer.
STILTS, plough-handles.
STUNKARD, sullen, obstinate.
SUA QUEMQUE TRAHIT VOLUPTAS, his own peculiar pleasure allures each.
SURTOUT, a tight-fitting, broad-skirted outer coat.
SWIPES, small beer.
TAES, toes.
TALIS QUALIS, of some kind.
TAM MARTE QUAM MERCURIO, as much devoted to Mars as to Mercury (as much a soldier as a pleader).
TASS, a glass.
TAU, the Greek: T.
TERRA FIRMA, firm earth.
TESTE ME PER TOTUM NOCTEM VIGILANTE, I am witness as I was awake all night.
TETE-A-TETE, a private conversation.
THAIRM, catgut.
THEMIS, the goddess of law and justice.
THIRLAGE, mortgaging of property.
THREAP, aver.
THUMBIKINS, thumbscrews, instruments of torture.
TIMOTHEUS, a famous musician.
TIPPENY, twopenny ale,
TIRTEAFUERA, a character in DON QUIXOTE, the doctor in Sancho
Panza's island government.
TITHER, the other.
TOD, a bush, a fox.
TOOM, empty.
TOUR OUT, to look about.
TOY, a linen cap; a head-dress hanging down over the shoulders.
TRANCES, passages.
TUPTOWING, beating, from the Greek verb 'tupto', to strike.
TWALPENNY, one penny sterling.
TWASOME, a pair or couple.
TYNE, loss or forfeit.
TYRO, TYRONES, beginner, beginners; novice.
UNCO, very, uncommon, strange.
URGANDA, an enchantress in the romance of AMADIS OF GAUL.
USQUEBAUGH, whisky.
VADE RETRO, get thee behind me.
VALE, SIS MEMOR MEI, farewell, be mindful of me.
VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER FEMINA, woman is always variable and changeful.
VERBUM SACERDOTIS, the word of a priest.
VIA FACTI, by personal force.
VINCERE VINCENTEM, to conquer the conquering.
VINCO VINCENTEM, ERGO VINCO TE, I conquer the conquering,
therefore I conquer you.
VIOLER, a player on a viol.
VIR SAPIENTIA ET PIETATE GRAVIS, a man of much wisdom and piety.
VIS ANIMI, strength of soul.
VITIOUS, vicious, unruly.
VOET, Jan Voet, author of a book on the PANDECTS.
W.S., writer to the signet, a lawyer.
WALING, choosing.
WAME, stomach.
WANCHANCY, unlucky, dangerous.
WARE, spend.
WARK, work, trouble.
WAUR, worse.
WEARS, weirs, dams.
WEIGH-BANKS, scales.
WHIN, gorse.
WHITTLE, a small clasp-knife.
WITHERSHINS, backwards in their courses, in the contrary way.
WUD, mad.
WYND, yard, alley.
YAULD, active.
YELLOCH, yell.
YETTS, gates.
YILL, ale.
Notes
1
the Chevalier, doubtless
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2
The approach is thus expressed by Dr. King, who brings the charge:—'But the most odious part of his character is his love of money, a vice which I do not remember to have been imputed by our historians to any of his ancestors, and is the certain index of a base and little mind. I know it may be urged in his vindication, that a prince in exile ought to be an economist. And so he ought; but, nevertheless, his purse should be always open as long as there is anything in it, to relieve the necessities of his friends and adherents. King Charles II, during his banishment, would have shared the last pistole in his pocket with his little family. But I have known this gentleman, with two thousand louis-d'ors in his strong-box, pretend he was in great distress, and borrow money from a lady in Paris who was not in affluent circumstances. His most faithful servants, who had closely attended him in all his difficulties, were ill rewarded.'—King's MEMOIRS.
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3
The first stage on the road from Edinburgh to Dumfries via Moffat.
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4
Break a window, head a skirmish with stones, and hold the bonnet, or handkerchief, which used to divide High School boys when fighting.
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5
A pass on the very brink of the Castle rock to the north, by which it is just possible for a goat, or a High School boy, to turn the corner of the building where it rises from the edge of the precipice. This was so favourite a feat with the 'hell and neck boys' of the higher classes, that at one time sentinels were posted to prevent its repetition. One of the nine-steps was rendered more secure because the climber could take hold of the root of a nettle, so precarious were the means of passing this celebrated spot. The manning the Cowgate Port, especially in snowball time, was also a choice amusement, as it offered an inaccessible station for the boys who used these missiles to the annoyance of the passengers. The gateway is now demolished; and probably most of its garrison lie as low as the fortress. To recollect that the author himself, however naturally disqualified, was one of those juvenile dreadnoughts, is a sad reflection to one who cannot now step over a brook without assistance.
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6
The Hall of the Parliament House of Edinburgh was, in former days, divided into two unequal portions by a partition, the inner side of which was consecrated to the use of the Courts of Justice and th
e gentlemen of the law; while the outer division was occupied by the stalls of stationers, toymen, and the like, as in a modern bazaar. From the old play of THE PLAIN DEALER, it seems such was formerly the case with Westminster Hall. Minos has now purified his courts in both cities from all traffic but his own.
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7
'Sir John Nisbett of Dirleton's DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS UPON THE LAW, ESPECIALLLY OF SCOTLAND;' and 'Sir James Stewart's DIRLETON'S DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS ON THE LAW OF SCOTLAND RESOLVED AND ANSWERED,' are works of authority in Scottish jurisprudence. As is generally the case, the doubts are held more in respect than the solution.
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8
Till of late years, every advocate who catered at the Scottish bar made a Latin address to the Court, faculty, and audience, in set terms, and said a few words upon a text of the civil law, to show his Latinity and jurisprudence. He also wore his hat for a minute, in order to vindicate his right of being covered before the Court, which is said to have originated from the celebrated lawyer, Sir Thomas Hope, having two sons on the bench while he himself remained at the bar. Of late this ceremony has been dispensed with, as occupying the time of the Court unnecessarily. The entrant lawyer merely takes the oaths to government, and swears to maintain the rules and privileges of his order.
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9
A peculiar Scottish phrase expressive of ingratitude for the favours of Providence.
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10
Probably Mathieson, the predecessor of Dr. Adams, to whose memory the author and his contemporaries owe a deep debt of gratitude.
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11
Celebrated as a Scottish lawyer.
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12
It is well known and remembered, that when Members of Parliament enjoyed the unlimited privilege of franking by the mere writing the name on the cover, it was extended to the most extraordinary occasions. One noble lord, to express his regard for a particular regiment, franked a letter for every rank and file. It was customary also to save the covers and return them, in order that the correspondence might be carried on as long as the envelopes could hold together.
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13
Alluding, as all Scotsmen know, to the humorous old song:—
'The auld man's mare's dead,
The puir man's mare's dead,
The auld man's mare's dead,
A mile aboon Dundee.'
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14
The diminutive and obscure place called Brown's Square, was hailed about the time of its erection as an extremely elegant improvement upon the style of designing and erecting Edinburgh residences. Each house was, in the phrase used by appraisers, 'finished within itself,' or, in the still newer phraseology, 'self-contained.' It was built about the year 1763-4; and the old part of the city being near and accessible, this square soon received many inhabitants, who ventured to remove to so moderate a distance from the High Street.
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15
Of Rob Roy we have had more than enough. Alan Cameron, commonly called Sergeant Mhor, a freebooter of the same period, was equally remarkable for strength, courage, and generosity.
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16
The partition which divides a Scottish cottage.
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17
The frame of wooden shelves placed in a Scottish kitchen for holding plates.
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18
Of old this almost deserted alley formed the most common access betwixt the High Street and the southern suburbs.
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19
The bait made of salmon-roe salted and preserved. In a swollen river, and about the month of October, it is a most deadly bait.
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20
Well known in the Chap-Book, called the History of Buckhaven.
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21
The original of this catch is to be found in Cowley's witty comedy of THE GUARDIAN, the first edition. It does not exist in the second and revised edition, called THE CUTTER OF COLEMAN STREET.
CAPTAIN BLADE. Ha, ha, boys, another catch.
AND ALL OUR MEN ARE VERY VERY MERRY,
AND ALL OUR MEN WERE DRINKING.
CUTTER. ONE MAN OF MINE.
DOGREL. TWO MEN OF MINE.
BLADE. THREE MEN OF MINE.
CUTTER. AND ONE MAN OF MINE.
OMNES. AS WE WENT BY THE WAY WE WERE DRUNK, DRUNK, DAMNABLY
DRUNK, AND ALL OUR MEN WERE VERY VERY MERRY, &c.
Such are the words, which are somewhat altered and amplified in the text. The play was acted in presence of Charles II, then Prince of Wales, in 1641. The catch in the text has been happily set to music.
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22
Blind Rorie, a famous musician according to tradition.
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23
It is certain that in many cases the blind have, by constant exercise of their other organs, learned to overcome a defect which one would think incapable of being supplied. Every reader must remember the celebrated Blind Jack of Knaresborough, who lived by laying out roads.
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24
A precipitous side of a mountain in Moffatdale.
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25
The caution and moderation of King William III, and his principles of unlimited toleration, deprived the Cameronians of the opportunity they ardently desired, to retaliate the injuries which they had received during the reign of prelacy, and purify the land, as they called it, from the pollution of blood. They esteemed the Revolution, therefore, only a half measure, which neither comprehended the rebuilding the Kirk in its full splendour, nor the revenge of the death of the Saints on their persecutors.
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26
A celebrated wizard, executed at Edinburgh for sorcery and other crimes.
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27
The reader is referred for particulars to Pitscottie's HISTORY OF SCOTLAND.
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28
Formerly, a lawyer, supposed to be under the peculiar patronage of any particular judge, was invidiously termed his PEAT or PET.
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29
Process-bags.
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30
Multiplepoinding is, I believe, equivalent to what is called in England a case of Double Distress.
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