by Robert Low
GRALLOCH
The contents of a stag’s stomach which has been ‘unmade’ after a kill. The gralloch, in medieval times, went to the hounds as a reward.
GUDDLE
Scots terms which, as a verb, means to grope blindly. As a noun it means mix-up or confusion.
HAAR
One of the many Scots words for rain – this refers to a wet mist.
HEAUME
Another name for the large medieval helmet. More properly, it was given to the later TOURNEY helmet, which reached and was supported on the shoulders.
HERSCHIP
From hardship, a Scots term for vicious raids designed to lay waste and plunder a region to the detriment of the enemy.
HOBILAR
English word for light cavalry, recruited to counter the Scots raiders and so called because they were mounted on large ponies called hobyn. This gives us the modern child’s toy, the hobby horse, as well as the generic name for horses everywhere – Dobbin.
HOOR
Scots pronunciation of whore.
HUMFY-BACKIT
Scots term for hunchback.
JACK
Origin of our word jacket, this was a variation on the aketon or GAMBESON and usually involved the addition of small metal plates sewn to the outside. Also known as jazerant.
JACOB’S PILLOW
The Stone of Scone was popularly believed in Scotland to be the same one consecrated to God by Jacob in the Book of Genesis, following a vision while he slept.
JALOUSE
The original Scots meaning was surmise. Some time in the 19th century, the English adopted it but, mysteriously, used it as jealous. It is used here in its original sense.
JEDDART STAFF
More properly known by this name in the 16th and 17th century Border country (the Jeddart refers to Jedburgh), the weapon was essentially the same – a reinforced spear which also incorporated a thin cutting blade on one side and a hook on the other.
JUPON
A short, closely-tailored arming cote worn over MAILLE in action, to display your heraldry.
JURROCKS
Lowlife servant.
JUSTICIAR
An official appointed by the monarch, from the time of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, to ease the burden on overworked SHERIFFS.
KERN
Irish/Scots soldiery. Later, it came to refer to the Gallowglass warriors of Ireland.
KINE
Scots word for cattle. KIST OF WHISTLES
Scots term for a covered, boiling cauldron or kettle, kist being any kind of container, from clothes chest to tomb.
LATCHBOW
Originally, a light crossbow with a simple latch release, it came to be a common term for all crossbows and arbalests.
LAW OF DEUTERONOMY
Specifically Deuteronomy 20, which states: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. Used by medieval Christian commanders to justify the sack and slaughter of any city which did not yield before a siege ram or ladder touched the walls.
LIMMER
A low, base fellow – also a prostitute. MAILLE
The correct spelling of mail, which is also incorrectly referred to as chainmail and should be properly termed ring maille. The linked metal-ringed tunic worn by warriors since the early Roman period. By the 13th/14th century, these had evolved – for those who could afford it – into complete suits, with sleeves, mittens and integral COIF, or hood.
MAK’ SICCAR
Make certain. A famous phrase uttered by Bruce’s loyal follower Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn shortly before he returned to Greyfriars Church to ensure the death of Bruce’s rival, the Red Comyn. It became the motto of the Kirkpatrick family, under the crest of a bloody hand holding a dagger.
MESNIE
Can refer, loosely, to a medieval household, but more usually to the trusted group of knights who accompanied their lord to war and TOURNEY.
MILLINAR
Any knight or SERJEANT appointed to command a band on foot.
MOUDIEWART
Literally, a mole, but frequently used as an insult.
NEB
Scots word for nose.
NOTARY
Nowadays it is a person with legal training licensed by the state to perform certain legal acts, particularly witnessing signatures on legal documents. In the Middle Ages it was a man who could read, write, take notes and acted as clerk to a JUSTICIAR.
ORB
Scots word for young bird. See also SPEUGH.
OS
From the Latin, a mouth or opening – usually applied to the female parts, whether human or animal. In some cases, the os of hind was considered a delicacy.
PACHYDERM
Medieval classification usually applied to elephants, but which also included pigs and wild boar.
PAPINGO
The popinjay or parrot – any brightly coloured bird, or person who resembles one in dress or manner. Can also refer to an archery competition, where such a live bird was placed on a pole and used as a target. It still pertains to the present – there is an annual Papingo Shoot at Kilwinning Abbey – but the papingo target is no longer a bird, live or otherwise.
PAYNIM
Medieval term for heathen, particularly Muslims.
PLENARY INDULGENCE
The remittance of sins, granted by the Catholic church after confession and absolution. However, these could also be sold as a sort of cheque drawn on the Treasure House of Merit, an abuse which was widespread in the Middle Ages.
PLOOTERING
Scots word meaning to walk carelessly, with the added connotation of splashing, as through puddles or into marsh or mud.
POLLARD
A fake silver penny of Edward I’s reign, so called either because of the miscast head (poll) of the monarch or because it had been clipped (pollarded) of some of its metal, making it smaller.
POW
Scots word which can either refer to the head (as in ‘curly pow’) or an expanse of water meadow cut up with small pools.
POWRIE
Scots Fairies which, as you might expect, are not ethereally-pretty winged creatures. They are short and wiry, with ragged pointed teeth and sharp claws like steel. They wear a red bonnet on their heads and are generally bearded with wrinkled aged faces. They kill by rolling boulders or tearing at people with their sharp claws. They then proceed to drink the blood of their victims and dip their hats in it, giving rise to their other name of Red Caps. In particular they haunt castles with a reputation for evil events in the past. Also known as Dunters.
PRIGG
Scots word meaning to beseech or plead.
QUINE
Scots word for a woman or a young girl. See CHIEL.
RIGG
Scots word for a strip of ploughed field.
SCAPULAR
Large length of cloth suspended from the shoulders – monastic scapulars originated as aprons worn by medieval monks, and were later extended to habits.
SCHILTRON
The first mention of the schiltron as a specific formation of spearmen appears to be at the Battle of Falkirk in 1297. There is, however, no reason to believe this is the first time such a formation was used and there are references to the Picts using blocks of spearmen in such a fashion. The name is thought to derive from the Middle English for shield troop.
SCRIEVING
Scots word – to move swiftly and smoothly.
SCRIVENER
Medieval term for anyone who could read and write.
SCULLION
Servant performing menial kitchen tasks.
SERJEANT
The armed ‘middle class’ of medieval England, only differing from a knight in that they h
ad not been recognised as such. Equipment, training and skill were all more or less the same.
SERK
Scots word – originally Norse – for a shirt or undertunic.
SHERIFF
A contraction of the term ‘shire reeve’, he is the highest law officer in a county. A term and idea which has spread from England to many parts of the world, including the US and Canada. In Scotland, English sheriffs were particularly hated, none more so than Heselrigg, Sheriff of Lanark and the man Wallace famously killed to begin his part in the rebellion.
SKITE
Scots word meaning to slip or skate.
SLAISTER
Scots word meaning a dirty mess, or slovenly work.
SLEEKIT
Scots word for crafty or sly.
SLORACH
Scots word for a wet and disgusting mess of anything.
SNECK
Scots word for a bolt or latch on a door. Still in use today in the Borders and north of England in the term ‘sneck lifter’ – the last coin in a man’s pocket, enough to let him open a pub door and buy a drink.
SONSIE
Scots word for a woman with a generous, hour-glass figure.
SPEUGH
Scots word for baby sparrow.
SPIER
Scots word meaning to inquire after, to question.
SPITAL
Medieval short-form of hospital, which was any place – usually in a monastery or abbey – which cared for the sick.
STAPPIT
Scots word for stuffed full.
STOOKS
Scots word for sheaves.
STRAMASH
Scots word for a noisy disturbance.
STRAVAIG
Scots word meaning to wander aimlessly.
STUSHIE
Scots word for being in a state of excitement. Also for a shouting argument.
SWEF
Medieval bastardised French for gently or softly.
TABARD
Medieval short tunic, sleeveless, or with shoulder pieces, designed to show a noble’s heraldic device or arms -hence the term cote of arms. Still seen today on ceremonial heralds.
TAIT
Scots word for a little item or a small portion.
THOLE
Scots word meaning to suffer or to bear.
THRAWN
Scots word for twisted or misshapen, which can be applied equally to a tree, a face or a disposition.
TOLT
Medieval word for a tax, usually on wool.
TOURNEY
Simply put, this was the premier entertainment and sporting pursuit of the medieval gentleman. It involved, usually, the Melee, a mass of knights fighting each other. A Grand Melee could involve several hundred and be fought over a large distance – it was not a spectator sport. The object of the Melee was to unhorse your opponent and take him for ransom -as was expected in a real war – though the weapons were blunted for the Tourney and no-one was expected to die or get hurt (though, of course, some did). Latterly, the one-on-one joust became more and more popular, simply because it was a spectator sport and everyone could see your skill.
TRAILBASTON
Medieval term for the itinerant judicial commission ordered by Edward I to combat outlaws and brigands, it became the name for the perpetrators themselves.
VENNEL
Scots word for alleyway.
WHEEN
Scots word for many, a lot.
YETT
Scots word for a door, originally applied to the grilled inner gate of a fortress.
AND FINALLY
There is a short scene in chapter four which is designed to show how the broadest of Scots is virtually incomprehensible even to other Scots and certainly to French-speaking nobles.
Delivered from one Fergus, a man from the north of Scotland, it runs:
‘Atweill than,’ Fergus declared to the haughty rider, ‘this wul dae brawlie. Gin ye haed spoke The Tongue at the verra stert, ye wad hae spared the baith o us aw this hatter. Tak tent ti whit Ah hae ti say an lippen ti me weill – ye maun bide ther until I lowse ye.’
The rider, mailled and coiffed, flung up his hands, so that wet drops flew up from his green-gloved fingers, and cursed pungently in French.
‘I am Sir Gervaise de la Mare. Do you understand no language at all?’
‘Ah prigg the blissin o the blue heivins on ye,’ Fergus scowled back. ‘There are ower mony skirrivaigin awhaurs, so bide doucelyke or, b’Goad’s ane Wounds, Ah wul. . .’
‘Fergus,’ Hal said and the dark man fell back and turned, his black-browed face breaking into a wary grin.
‘Yersel,’ he greeted with about as much deference as he ever gave and then jerked his head contemptuously at the rider.
‘This yin an’ his muckle freends came sklimming the heich brae, aw grand an’ skerlet and purpie. Luikin to spier you somewhiles.’
For those who haven’t worked it out, here’s what Fergus was really saying:
‘Well then. This will be fine. If you had tried to be understood from the start you would have spared us both a deal of trouble. Pay attention now and listen to me closely – you have to remain here until I permit you to pass.’
The rider, mailled and coiffed, flung up his hands, so that wet drops flew up from his green-gloved fingers, and cursed pungently in French.
‘I am Sir Gervaise de la Mare. Do you understand no language at all?’
‘I beseech the blessing of the blue Heaven from you. There are too many people wandering everywhere, so stay here quietly, or by God’s Own Wounds, I will . . .’
‘Fergus,’ Hal said and the dark man fell back and turned, his black-browed face breaking into a wary grin.
‘Yersel,’ he greeted with about as much deference as he ever gave and then jerked his head contemptuously at the rider.
‘This one and his great friends came gliding over the high hills, all grand and garishly dressed. They are searching for you in particular.’
And now you know!
Also by Robert Low
The Whale Road
The Wolf Sea
The White Raven
The Prow Beast
Copyright
1
Copyright © Robert Low 2011
Map © John Gilkes 2011
Robert Low asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-0-00-733791-0
EPub Edition © 2011 ISBN: 9780007337934
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it, while in some cases based on historical figures, are the work of the author’s imagination.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Author’s Note
List of Characters
Glossary
Also by Robert Low
Copyright
About the Publisher
