by Walter Scott
NOTE TO CHAPTER XLI.
Note J.--Castle of Coningsburgh.
When I last saw this interesting ruin of ancient days, one of the veryfew remaining examples of Saxon fortification, I was strongly impressedwith the desire of tracing out a sort of theory on the subject, which,from some recent acquaintance with the architecture of the ancientScandinavians, seemed to me peculiarly interesting. I was, however,obliged by circumstances to proceed on my journey, without leisure totake more than a transient view of Coningsburgh. Yet the idea dwells sostrongly in my mind, that I feel considerably tempted to write a page ortwo in detailing at least the outline of my hypothesis, leaving betterantiquaries to correct or refute conclusions which are perhaps toohastily drawn.
Those who have visited the Zetland Islands, are familiar with thedescription of castles called by the inhabitants Burghs; and by theHighlanders--for they are also to be found both in the Western Islesand on the mainland--Duns. Pennant has engraved a view of the famousDun-Dornadilla in Glenelg; and there are many others, all of them builtafter a peculiar mode of architecture, which argues a people in the mostprimitive state of society. The most perfect specimen is that upon theisland of Mousa, near to the mainland of Zetland, which is probably inthe same state as when inhabited.
It is a single round tower, the wall curving in slightly, and thenturning outward again in the form of a dice-box, so that the defenderson the top might the better protect the base. It is formed of roughstones, selected with care, and laid in courses or circles, with muchcompactness, but without cement of any kind. The tower has never, toappearance, had roofing of any sort; a fire was made in the centre ofthe space which it encloses, and originally the building was probablylittle more than a wall drawn as a sort of screen around the greatcouncil fire of the tribe. But, although the means or ingenuity of thebuilders did not extend so far as to provide a roof, they supplied thewant by constructing apartments in the interior of the walls of thetower itself. The circumvallation formed a double enclosure, the innerside of which was, in fact, two feet or three feet distant from theother, and connected by a concentric range of long flat stones, thusforming a series of concentric rings or stories of various heights,rising to the top of the tower. Each of these stories or galleries hasfour windows, facing directly to the points of the compass, and risingof course regularly above each other. These four perpendicular rangesof windows admitted air, and, the fire being kindled, heat, or smoke atleast, to each of the galleries. The access from gallery to gallery isequally primitive. A path, on the principle of an inclined plane, turnsround and round the building like a screw, and gives access to thedifferent stories, intersecting each of them in its turn, and thusgradually rising to the top of the wall of the tower. On the outsidethere are no windows; and I may add, that an enclosure of a square, orsometimes a round form, gave the inhabitants of the Burgh an opportunityto secure any sheep or cattle which they might possess.
Such is the general architecture of that very early period when theNorthmen swept the seas, and brought to their rude houses, such as Ihave described them, the plunder of polished nations. In Zetland thereare several scores of these Burghs, occupying in every case, capes,headlands, islets, and similar places of advantage singularly wellchosen. I remember the remains of one upon an island in a small lakenear Lerwick, which at high tide communicates with the sea, the accessto which is very ingenious, by means of a causeway or dike, about threeor four inches under the surface of the water. This causeway makes asharp angle in its approach to the Burgh. The inhabitants, doubtless,were well acquainted with this, but strangers, who might approach in ahostile manner, and were ignorant of the curve of the causeway, wouldprobably plunge into the lake, which is six or seven feet in depth atthe least. This must have been the device of some Vauban or Cohorn ofthose early times.
The style of these buildings evinces that the architect possessedneither the art of using lime or cement of any kind, nor the skill tothrow an arch, construct a roof, or erect a stair; and yet, with allthis ignorance, showed great ingenuity in selecting the situation ofBurghs, and regulating the access to them, as well as neatness andregularity in the erection, since the buildings themselves show a styleof advance in the arts scarcely consistent with the ignorance of so manyof the principal branches of architectural knowledge.
I have always thought, that one of the most curious and valuable objectsof antiquaries has been to trace the progress of society, by the effortsmade in early ages to improve the rudeness of their first expedients,until they either approach excellence, or, as is more frequently thecase, are supplied by new and fundamental discoveries, which supersedeboth the earlier and ruder system, and the improvements which have beeningrafted upon it. For example, if we conceive the recent discovery ofgas to be so much improved and adapted to domestic use, as to supersedeall other modes of producing domestic light; we can already suppose,some centuries afterwards, the heads of a whole Society of Antiquarieshalf turned by the discovery of a pair of patent snuffers, and by thelearned theories which would be brought forward to account for the formand purpose of so singular an implement.
Following some such principle, I am inclined to regard the singularCastle of Coningsburgh--I mean the Saxon part of it--as a step inadvance from the rude architecture, if it deserves the name, which musthave been common to the Saxons as to other Northmen. The builders hadattained the art of using cement, and of roofing a building,--greatimprovements on the original Burgh. But in the round keep, a shapeonly seen in the most ancient castles--the chambers excavated in thethickness of the walls and buttresses--the difficulty by which access isgained from one story to those above it, Coningsburgh still retains thesimplicity of its origin, and shows by what slow degrees man proceededfrom occupying such rude and inconvenient lodgings, as were affordedby the galleries of the Castle of Mousa, to the more splendidaccommodations of the Norman castles, with all their stern and Gothicgraces.
I am ignorant if these remarks are new, or if they will be confirmedby closer examination; but I think, that, on a hasty observation,Coningsburgh offers means of curious study to those who may wish totrace the history of architecture back to the times preceding the NormanConquest.
It would be highly desirable that a cork model should be taken of theCastle of Mousa, as it cannot be well understood by a plan.
The Castle of Coningsburgh is thus described:--
"The castle is large, the outer walls standing on a pleasant ascent fromthe river, but much overtopt by a high hill, on which the town stands,situated at the head of a rich and magnificent vale, formed by anamphitheatre of woody hills, in which flows the gentle Don. Near thecastle is a barrow, said to be Hengist's tomb. The entrance is flankedto the left by a round tower, with a sloping base, and there are severalsimilar in the outer wall the entrance has piers of a gate, and on theeast side the ditch and bank are double and very steep. On the top ofthe churchyard wall is a tombstone, on which are cut in high relief, tworavens, or such-like birds. On the south side of the churchyard liesan ancient stone, ridged like a coffin, on which is carved a man onhorseback; and another man with a shield encountering a vast wingedserpent, and a man bearing a shield behind him. It was probably oneof the rude crosses not uncommon in churchyards in this county. See itengraved on the plate of crosses for this volume, plate 14. fig. 1. Thename of Coningsburgh, by which this castle goes in the old editions ofthe Britannia, would lead one to suppose it the residence of the Saxonkings. It afterwards belonged to King Harold. The Conqueror bestowed iton William de Warren, with all its privileges and jurisdiction, whichare said to have extended over twenty-eight towns. At the corner of thearea, which is of an irregular form, stands the great tower, or keep,placed on a small hill of its own dimensions, on which lies six vastprojecting buttresses, ascending in a steep direction to prop andsupport the building, and continued upwards up the side as turrets. Thetower within forms a complete circle, twenty-one feet in diameter, thewalls fourteen feet thick. The ascent into the tower is by an exceedingdeep flight of
steep steps, four feet and a half wide, on the south sideleading to a low doorway, over which is a circular arch crossed by agreat transom stone. Within this door is the staircase which ascendsstraight through the thickness of the wall, not communicating with theroom on the first floor, in whose centre is the opening to the dungeon.Neither of these lower rooms is lighted except from a hole in the floorof the third story; the room in which, as well as in that above it, isfinished with compact smooth stonework, both having chimney-pieces,with an arch resting on triple clustered pillars. In the third story,or guard-chamber, is a small recess with a loop-hole, probably abedchamber, and in that floor above a niche for a saint or holy-waterpot. Mr. King imagines this a Saxon castle of the first ages of theHeptarchy. Mr. Watson thus describes it. From the first floor to thesecond story, (third from the ground,) is a way by a stair in the wallfive feet wide. The next staircase is approached by a ladder, and endsat the fourth story from the ground. Two yards from the door, at thehead of this stair, is an opening nearly east, accessible by treadingon the ledge of the wall, which diminishes eight inches each story; andthis last opening leads into a room or chapel ten feet by twelve, andfifteen or sixteen high, arched with free-stone, and supported by smallcircular columns of the same, the capitals and arches Saxon. It hasan east window, and on each side in the wall, about four feet from theground, a stone basin with a hole and iron pipe to convey the water intoor through the wall. This chapel is one of the buttresses, but no signof it without, for even the window, though large within, is only a longnarrow loop-hole, scarcely to be seen without. On the left side of thischapel is a small oratory, eight by six in the thickness of the wall,with a niche in the wall, and enlightened by a like loop-hole. Thefourth stair from the ground, ten feet west from the chapel door, leadsto the top of the tower through the thickness of the wall, which at topis but three yards. Each story is about fifteen feet high, so that thetower will be seventy-five feet from the ground. The inside forms acircle, whose diameter may be about twelve feet. The well at the bottomof the dungeon is piled with stones."--Gough's "Edition Of Camden'sBritannia". Second Edition, vol. iii. p. 267.
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[Footnote 1: The motto alludes to the Author returning to the stage repeatedlyafter having taken leave.]
[Footnote 2: This very curious poem, long a desideratum in Scottish literature,and given up as irrecoverably lost, was lately brought to light bythe researches of Dr Irvine of the Advocates' Library, and has beenreprinted by Mr David Laing, Edinburgh.]
[Footnote 3: Vol. ii. p. 167.]
[Footnote 4: Like the Hermit, the Shepherd makes havock amongst the King's game;but by means of a sling, not of a bow; like the Hermit, too, he hashis peculiar phrases of compotation, the sign and countersign beingPasselodion and Berafriend. One can scarce conceive what humour ourancestors found in this species of gibberish; but "I warrant it provedan excuse for the glass."]
[Footnote 5: The author had revised this posthumous work of Mr Strutt. SeeGeneral Preface to the present edition, Vol I. p. 65.]
[Footnote 6: This anticipation proved but too true, as my learned correspondentdid not receive my letter until a twelvemonth after it was written. Imention this circumstance, that a gentleman attached to the cause oflearning, who now holds the principal control of the post-office, mayconsider whether by some mitigation of the present enormous rates,some favour might not be shown to the correspondents of the principalLiterary and Antiquarian Societies. I understand, indeed, that thisexperiment was once tried, but that the mail-coach having broke downunder the weight of packages addressed to members of the Society ofAntiquaries, it was relinquished as a hazardous experiment. Surely,however it would be possible to build these vehicles in a form moresubstantial, stronger in the perch, and broader in the wheels, so asto support the weight of Antiquarian learning; when, if they should befound to travel more slowly, they would be not the less agreeable toquiet travellers like myself.--L. T.]
[Footnote 7: Mr Skene of Rubislaw is here intimated, to whose taste and skillthe author is indebted for a series of etchings, exhibiting the variouslocalities alluded to in these novels.]
[Footnote 8: Note A. The Ranger of the Forest, that cuts the fore-claws off ourdogs.]
[Footnote 9: Note B. Negro Slaves.]
[Footnote 11: The original has "Cnichts", by which the Saxons seem to havedesignated a class of military attendants, sometimes free, sometimesbondsmen, but always ranking above an ordinary domestic, whether in theroyal household or in those of the aldermen and thanes. But the termcnicht, now spelt knight, having been received into the English languageas equivalent to the Norman word chevalier, I have avoided using it inits more ancient sense, to prevent confusion. L. T.]
[Footnote 12: Pillage.]
[Footnote 13: These were drinks used by the Saxons, as we are informed by MrTurner: Morat was made of honey flavoured with the juice of mulberries;Pigment was a sweet and rich liquor, composed of wine highly spiced, andsweetened also with honey; the other liquors need no explanation. L. T.]
[Footnote 14: There was no language which the Normans more formally separatedfrom that of common life than the terms of the chase. The objects oftheir pursuit, whether bird or animal, changed their name each year, andthere were a hundred conventional terms, to be ignorant of which was tobe without one of the distinguishing marks of a gentleman. The readermay consult Dame Juliana Berners' book on the subject. The origin ofthis science was imputed to the celebrated Sir Tristrem, famous for histragic intrigue with the beautiful Ysolte. As the Normans reserved theamusement of hunting strictly to themselves, the terms of this formaljargon were all taken from the French language.]
[Footnote 15: In those days the Jews were subjected to an Exchequer, speciallydedicated to that purpose, and which laid them under the most exorbitantimpositions.--L. T.]
[Footnote 16: This sort of masquerade is supposed to have occasioned theintroduction of supporters into the science of heraldry.]
[Footnote 17: These lines are part of an unpublished poem, by Coleridge, whoseMuse so often tantalizes with fragments which indicate her powers, whilethe manner in which she flings them from her betrays her caprice,yet whose unfinished sketches display more talent than the labouredmasterpieces of others.]
[Footnote 18: This term of chivalry, transferred to the law, gives the phrase ofbeing attainted of treason.]
[Footnote 19: Presumption, insolence.]
[Footnote 20: "Beau-seant" was the name of the Templars' banner, which was halfblack, half white, to intimate, it is said, that they were candid andfair towards Christians, but black and terrible towards infidels.]
[Footnote 21: There was nothing accounted so ignominious among the Saxons as tomerit this disgraceful epithet. Even William the Conqueror, hated as hewas by them, continued to draw a considerable army of Anglo-Saxons tohis standard, by threatening to stigmatize those who staid at home, asnidering. Bartholinus, I think, mentions a similar phrase which had likeinfluence on the Danes. L. T.]
[Footnote 22: The Jolly Hermit.--All readers, however slightly acquainted withblack letter, must recognise in the Clerk of Copmanhurst, Friar Tuck,the buxom Confessor of Robin Hood's gang, the Curtal Friar of Fountain'sAbbey.]
[Footnote 23: Note C. Minstrelsy.]
[Footnote 24: It may be proper to remind the reader, that the chorus of "derrydown" is supposed to be as ancient, not only as the times of theHeptarchy, but as those of the Druids, and to have furnished the chorusto the hymns of those venerable persons when they went to the wood togather mistletoe.]
[Footnote 25: A rere-supper was a night-meal, and sometimes signified acollation, which was given at a late hour, after the regular supper hadmade its appearance. L. T.]
[Footnote 26: Note D. Battle of Stamford.]
[Footnote 27: "Nota Bene."--We by no means warrant the accuracy of this piece ofnatural history, which we give on the authority of the Wardour MS. L. T.]
[Footnote 28: Note E. The range of iron bars
above that glowing charcoal]
[Footnote 29: Henry's Hist. edit. 1805, vol. vii. p..146.]
[Footnote 30: I wish the Prior had also informed them when Niobe was sainted.Probably during that enlightened period when "Pan to Moses lent hispagan horn." L. T.]
[Footnote 31: "Surquedy" and "outrecuidance"--insolence and presumption]
[Footnote 32: Mantelets were temporary and movable defences formed of planks,under cover of which the assailants advanced to the attack of fortifiedplaces of old. Pavisses were a species of large shields covering thewhole person, employed on the same occasions.]
[Footnote 33: The bolt was the arrow peculiarly fitted to the cross-bow, as thatof the long-bow was called a shaft. Hence the English proverb--"I willeither make a shaft or bolt of it," signifying a determination to makeone use or other of the thing spoken of.]
[Footnote 34: The arblast was a cross-bow, the windlace the machine used inbending that weapon, and the quarrell, so called from its square ordiamond-shaped head, was the bolt adapted to it.]
[Footnote 35: Note F. Heraldry]
[Footnote 36: Every Gothic castle and city had, beyond the outer-walls, afortification composed of palisades, called the barriers, which wereoften the scene of severe skirmishes, as these must necessarily becarried before the walls themselves could be approached. Many of thosevaliant feats of arms which adorn the chivalrous pages of Froissart tookplace at the barriers of besieged places.]
[Footnote 37: "Derring-do"--desperate courage.]
[Footnote 38: The author has some idea that this passage is imitated from theappearance of Philidaspes, before the divine Mandane, when the city ofBabylon is on fire, and he proposes to carry her from the flames. Butthe theft, if there be one, would be rather too severely punished by thepenance of searching for the original passage through the interminablevolumes of the Grand Cyrus.]
[Footnote 39: Note G. Ulrica's Death Song]
[Footnote 40: Thrall and bondsman.]
[Footnote 41: A lawful freeman.]
[Footnote 42: The notes upon the bugle were anciently called mots, andare distinguished in the old treatises on hunting, not by musicalcharacters, but by written words.]
[Footnote 421: Note H. Richard Coeur-de-Lion.]
[Footnote 43: A commissary is said to have received similar consolation from acertain Commander-in-chief, to whom he complained that a general officerhad used some such threat towards him as that in the text.]
[Footnote 44: Borghs, or borrows, signifies pledges. Hence our word to borrow,because we pledge ourselves to restore what is lent.]
[Footnote 45: "Dortour", or dormitory.]
[Footnote 46: Note I. Hedge-Priests.]
[Footnote 47: Reginald Fitzurse, William de Tracy, Hugh de Morville, andRichard Brito, were the gentlemen of Henry the Second's household, who,instigated by some passionate expressions of their sovereign, slew thecelebrated Thomas-a-Becket.]
[Footnote 48: The establishments of the Knight Templars were called Preceptories,and the title of those who presided in the Order was Preceptor; as theprincipal Knights of Saint John were termed Commanders, and theirhouses Commanderies. But these terms were sometimes, it would seem, usedindiscriminately.]
[Footnote 49: In the ordinances of the Knights of the Temple, this phrase isrepeated in a variety of forms, and occurs in almost every chapter, asif it were the signal-word of the Order; which may account for its beingso frequently put in the Grand Master's mouth.]
[Footnote 50: See the 13th chapter of Leviticus.]
[Footnote 51: The edict which he quotes, is against communion with women of lightcharacter.]
[Footnote 53: The reader is again referred to the Rules of the Poor MilitaryBrotherhood of the Temple, which occur in the Works of St Bernard. L. T.]
[Footnote 54: "Essoine" signifies excuse, and here relates to the appellant'sprivilege of appearing by her champion, in excuse of her own person onaccount of her sex.]
[Footnote 55: "Capul", i.e. horse; in a more limited sense, work-horse.]
[Footnote 56: "Destrier"--war-horse.]
[Footnote 561: From the ballads of Robin Hood, we learn that this * celebratedoutlaw, when in disguise, sometimes assumed * the name of Locksley, froma village where he was born, * but where situated we are not distinctlytold.]
[Footnote 57: Note J. Castle of Coningsburgh.]
[Footnote 58: The crowth, or crowd, was a species of violin. The rote a sort ofguitar, or rather hurdy-gurdy, the strings of which were managed by awheel, from which the instrument took its name.]
[Footnote 581: Infamous.]
[Footnote 59: The resuscitation of Athelstane has been much criticised, as tooviolent a breach of probability, even for a work of such fantasticcharacter. It was a "tour-de-force", to which the author was compelledto have recourse, by the vehement entreaties of his friend and printer,who was inconsolable on the Saxon being conveyed to the tomb.]
[Footnote 60: Dissertation on Romance and Minstrelsy, prefixed to Ritson'sAncient Metrical Romances, p. clxxxvii.]
[Footnote 61: A "Tulchan" is a calf's skin stuffed, and placed before a cowwho has lost its calf, to induce the animal to part with her milk. Theresemblance between such a Tulchan and a Bishop named to transmitthe temporalities of a benefice to some powerful patron, is easilyunderstood.]
[Footnote 62: Bannatyne's Journal.]
