Gathering the reins, he turned towards the east. The sun, gaining in intensity, warmed his face as the blazing tower scorched his back. Another roar, another rumble of falling masonry, Sweet Briar startling afresh. Munro leant forwards, rested his good hand for a moment on her neck, promised himself, ‘I won’t stay long away.’
Afterword
Throughout its hundred and fifty year duration the feud between the Cunninghames and Montgomeries was characterized by repeated acts of brutality and murder on both sides, evidence of the reality that, as Ayrshire, Its History puts it, ‘blood feud was the custom of the times’.
However it was my choice rather than a reflection of documented history to cast William Cunninghame and the Earl of Glencairn as the primary villains of this story. The Massacre of Annock is well documented, though sources differ in regard to the numbers involved on each side. I have used the account in the Montgomerie family manuscripts as my primary source. The fate of key members of the Cunninghame faction in the aftermath of Annock as written here, is generally accepted. An enduring animosity between Hugh Montgomerie and William Cunninghame and the quarrel Hugh has with Patrick Maxwell are also on record, though without detail as to the timing, the cause of the quarrel, or who prevented them killing each other. In the interests of the story I have taken some liberites with the timing of events and with William Cunninghame’s age. In casting Maxwell as a villain I have done him no disservice as the real Patrick Maxwell was a much more unpleasant character than depicted here: gaining notoriety for physically abusing his wife.
Glossary
aught (n): anything
bailie (n): magistrate
bailieship (n): office of magistrate
bailiewick (n): district under magistrate’s control
barmkin (n): enclosed area within the outer fortification of a castle or tower house
bawbee (n): small value coin
baxter (n): baker
birl (v): to whirl around
bliant (n): expensive fabric probably made of silk
bonnet-laird (n): minor laird
butterbur (n): plant, rhubarb-like in appearance
cap-house (n): guard chamber at roof level in a castle or tower house
cap-stone (n): coping stones topping a wall
caul (n): cap
champ (v): to be eager
clack (n): talk, gossip
clatching (v): to transport mud on the soles of shoes (from clatch, noun: mire)
clegg (n): gad-fly
cludgie (n): earth closet
coney (n): rabbit
coup (v): to overturn
craw (n): gullet
curtain-wall (n): outer fortification, rampart
deeve (v): to weary by constant talking
dour (adj): humourless, sullen
dreich (adj): damp, miserable
dunt (v): to bump into
dwam (n): stupor, trance
farl (n): a flat bread formed by cutting a circle of dough into quarters before cooking
feart (adj): afraid
feisty (adj): spirited
fissling (adj): muted rustling sound
fitty (adj): fitting, appropriate
flesher (n): butcher
forbye (n): besides, in addition to
foundered (adj): extremely cold
ganch (n): dull-witted person
gey (adv): very
glaur (n): slime, soft mud
grizzle (v): to whimper
hackbut (n): early form of firearm
hall (n): main public apartment in a castle or tower house
heft (v): to lift (esp. onto shoulders)
hirsel (n): wheeze, catarrhal sound in chest
ingle-nook (n): corner by a fireplace, usually with seating
looby (n): ill-educated person
lucken-booth (n): covered stall which could be locked up
midden (n): refuse heap
neep (n): turnip
nicker (v): to whinny softly
pauchled (adj): exhausted
pawky (adj): vivacious
peched (adj): gasping for breath
plackard (n): piece made to fill in a U or V-shaped opening in a bodice
pommel (n): knob on the hilt of a sword
posset (n): a drink of hot milk, curdled with ale or wine, sometimes flavoured
pruch (n): goods
put to the horn (figure of speech): banished
ram-stam (adj): reckless or precipitate manner
redd-out (v): to spring-clean
reek (n): stench
scunner (v): to annoy, irritate, disgust
simple (n): herbal remedy made from a single ingredient
sit (v): to maintain (spec. Scots)
skitters (n): thin execrement
slub (n): raised imperfection in the weave of cloth
smoult (n): young salmon, trout
sneck (n): latch
snood (n): close fitting outer cap (esp. of fur)
solar (n): private, family apartment in a castle or tower house
sonsy (adj): comely, attractive
souter (n): shoemaker
speir (n): talk, gossip
stook (n): bundle of cut sheaves of grain, set up to dry
thole (v): to suffer, endure
turnpike stair (n): spiral staircase, usually stone
wabbit (adj): weak
wall-walk (n): an external walk-way at roof level where a watch can be kept, often leading to a cap-house
wandered (adj): mentally incompetent
ween (adj): small amount
wheest (imp): be quiet
whiffler (n): person at the front of a procession, clearing the way
wynd (n): narrow alley or lane leading off a main thoroughfare
yett (n): defensive metal grid door, in addition to external main (wooden) door of a castle or tower house
Turn of the Tide Page 33
