A Lollard and a Wickliffite

"Verily, daughter," answered the priest, "what you say seems truth; and

yet, nearly viewed, too much of the comfort you describe will be found

delusive. It is true, there was a period in the Christian world when

good men, maintaining themselves by the work of their hands, assembled

together, not that they might live easily or sleep softly, but that

they might strengthen each other in the Christian faith, and qualify

themselves to be teachers of the Word to the people. Doubtless there are

still such to be found in the holy edifices on which we now look. But it

is to be feared that the love of many has waxed cold. Our churchmen have

become wealthy, as well by the gifts of pious persons as by the bribes

which wicked men have given in their ignorance, imagining that they can

purchase that pardon by endowments to the church which Heaven has only

offered to sincere penitents. And thus, as the church waxeth rich, her

doctrines have unhappily become dim and obscure, as a light is less

seen if placed in a lamp of chased gold than beheld through a screen

of glass. God knows, if I see these things and mark them, it is from no

wish of singularity or desire to make myself a teacher in Israel; but

because the fire burns in my bosom, and will not permit me to be

silent. I obey the rules of my order, and withdraw not myself from

its austerities. Be they essential to our salvation, or be they mere

formalities, adopted to supply the want of real penitence and sincere

devotion, I have promised, nay, vowed, to observe them; and they shall

be respected by me the more, that otherwise I might be charged with

regarding my bodily ease, when Heaven is my witness how lightly I value

what I may be called on to act or suffer, if the purity of the church

could be restored, or the discipline of the priesthood replaced in its

primitive simplicity."

"But, my father," said Catharine, "even for these opinions men term

you a Lollard and a Wickliffite, and say it is your desire to destroy

churches and cloisters, and restore the religion of heathenesse."

The text above is from Walter Scott’s “The Fair Maid of Perth”.  Catherine Glover’s favorite priest has much to be concerned about, if he is considered a Lollard and a Wickliffite.  On May 4^th, 1415, John Wycliffe was condemned by the Council of Constance as a heretic.  Wycliffe is remembered partly for his focus on introducing the Bible in the vernacular. 

Morning Draught

Friday 16 March 1659/60

No sooner out of bed but troubled with abundance of clients, seamen. My landlord Vanly’s man came to me by my direction yesterday, for I was there at his house as I was going to London by water, and I paid him rent for my house for this quarter ending at Lady day, and took an acquittance that he wrote me from his master. Then to Mr. Sheply, to the Rhenish Tavern House, where Mr. Pim, the tailor, was, and gave us a morning draught and a neat’s tongue…

Samuel Pepys enjoys a breakfast of ox tongue and a drink at the Rhenish winehouse.  Not a common breakfast today.  In “The Abbot” Scott’s falconer enjoyed some neat’s tongue himself, one morning.

The falconer passed through the apartment to a projecting latticed window, which formed a sort of recess from the room itself; and having here ensconced himself and his companion, he called for some refreshments; and a tapster, after he had shouted for the twentieth time, accommodated him with the remains of a cold capon and a neat's tongue, together with a pewter stoup of weak French vin-de-pays. "Fetch a stoup of brandy-wine, thou knave--We will be jolly to-night, Master Roland," said he, when he saw himself thus accommodated, "and let care come to-morrow."

And in “The Fair Maid of Perth”, breakfast without a flagon of Rhine wine was deemed insufficient for concerted effort.

"Ye could hardly weel be said to breakfast this morning, my Lord Evandale, and ye maun e'en partake of a small collation before ye ride, such as this poor house, whose inmates are so much indebted to you, can provide in their present circumstances. For my ain part, I like to see young folk take some refection before they ride out upon their sports or their affairs, and I said as much to his most sacred Majesty when he breakfasted at Tillietudlem in the year of grace sixteen hundred and fifty-one; and his most sacred Majesty was pleased to reply, drinking to my health at the same time in a flagon of Rhenish wine, 'Lady Margaret, ye speak like a Highland oracle.' These were his Majesty's very words; so that your lordship may judge whether I have not good authority topress young folk to partake of their vivers."

To your health.

Metheglin

Wednesday 29 February 1659/60

To my office, and drank at Will’s with Mr. Moore, who told me how my Lord is chosen General at Sea by the Council, and that it is thought that Monk will be joined with him therein. Home and dined, after dinner my wife and I by water to London, and thence to Herring’s, the merchant in Coleman Street, about 50l. which he promises I shall have on Saturday next. So to my mother’s, and then to Mrs. Turner’s, of whom I took leave, and her company, because she was to go out of town to-morrow with Mr. Pepys into Norfolk. Here my cosen Norton gave me a brave cup of metheglin, the first I ever drank. To my mother’s and supped there.

As February 29^th comes so infrequently, it may serve as an excuse to imbibe, as did Samuel Pepys, who records in his journal trying metheglin for the first time.  Pepys doesn’t mention whether he enjoyed this libation (spiced mead).  Walter Scott provides Henry the smith in “The Fair Maid of Perth” with metheglin to spice up his story.

‘The smith, though reluctantly, was obliged to defer to the reasoning of his proposed father in law, and, once determined to accept the honour destined for him by the fathers of the city, he extricated himself from the crowd, and hastened home to put on his best apparel; in which he presently afterwards repaired to the council house, where the ponderous oak table seemed to bend under the massy dishes of choice Tay salmon and delicious sea fish from Dundee, being the dainties which the fasting season permitted, whilst neither wine, ale, nor metheglin were wanting to wash them down…’

Scott, by the way, recorded one February 29th entry in his journal; in 1828.

Saint Cyprian the Magician

‘…"Poor brother Cyprian, at your Highness's command," said the father.

"Ay, ay, brother Cyprian," continued the Prince, "yes. Brother Cyprian shall let you out at some secret passage which he knows of, and I will see him again to pay a Prince's thanks for it."…’

It is not Saint Cyprian in Walter Scott’s “The Fair Maid of Perth”, but a namesake, at least.  And who would know about secret passages but a magician.  The former pagan magician converted to Catholicism, ultimately becoming a bishop.  Cyprian, and Saint Justina, with whom Cyprian had attempted to become intimate prior to his conversion, were both beheaded on September 26, 304 during a persecution imposed by Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Battle of Inverkeithing

‘The devotion of the young chief of Clan Quhele's foster father and foster brethren in the novel is a trait of clannish fidelity, of which Highland story furnishes many examples. In the battle of Inverkeithing, between the Royalists and Oliver Cromwell's troops, a foster father and seven brave sons are known to have thus sacrificed themselves for Sir Hector Maclean of Duart; the old man, whenever one of his boys fell, thrusting forward another to fill his place at the right hand of the beloved chief, with the very words adopted in the novel, "Another for Hector!"…’

The Battle of Inverkeithing was fought on July 20, 1651, with Covenanting forces fighting in support of Charles II, against the Parliamentarian army.  Cromwell’s forces won the day, providing a strategic advantage in the last of the English Civil Wars.  Sir Walter Scott’s observation above is taken from the preface to “The Fair Maid of Perth”.

Battle of the Clans

According to Rampant Scotland, the battle between Clans Chattan and Kay that serves as  focal point for the action in Scott's "The Fair Maid of Perth" occurred on September 28, 1396.  Robert III of Scotland witnessed the event, in which 30 men from each side fought each other until only one remained alive of Clan Kay.  The Chattans lost 19.

Scott describes the two sides: 'The course of our story will be best pursued by attending that of Simon
Glover. It is not our purpose to indicate the exact local boundaries of the two contending clans, especially since they are not clearly pointedout by the historians who have transmitted accounts of this memorable feud. It is sufficient to say, that the territory of the Clan Chattan extended far and wide, comprehending Caithness and Sutherland, and having for their paramount chief the powerful earl of the latter shire, thence called Mohr ar Chat. In this general sense, the Keiths, the Sinclairs, the Guns, and other families and clans of great power, were included in the confederacy. These, however, were not engaged in the present quarrel, which was limited to that part of the Clan Chattan occupying the extensive mountainous districts of Perthshire and Inverness shire, which form a large portion of what is called the northeastern Highlands. It is well known that two large septs, unquestionably known to belong to the Clan Chattan, the MacPhersons and the MacIntoshes, dispute to this day which of their chieftains was at the head of this Badenoch branch of the great confederacy, and both have of later times assumed the title of Captain of Clan Chattan. Non nostrum
est. But, at all events, Badenoch must have been the centre of the confederacy, so far as involved in the feud of which we treat.


Of the rival league of Clan Quhele we have a still less distinct account, for reasons which will appear in the sequel. Some authors have identified them with the numerous and powerful sept of MacKay. If this is done on good authority, which is to be doubted, the MacKays must have shifted their settlements greatly since the reign of Robert III, since they are now to be found (as a clan) in the extreme northern parts of Scotland, in the counties of Ross and Sutherland. We cannot, therefore, be so clear as we would wish in the geography of the story. Suffice it that, directing his course in a northwesterly direction, the glover travelled for a day's journey in the direction of the Breadalbane country, from which he hoped to reach the castle where Gilchrist MacIan, the captain of the Clan Quhele, and the father of his pupil Conachar, usually held his residence, with a barbarous pomp of attendance and ceremonial suited to his lofty pretensions.'

Battle of Homildon Hill

The Battle of Homildon Hill (or Humbleton Hill) took place on September 14, 1402.  This fight pitted Earl Archibald Douglas against Earl Henry Percy of Northumberland.  Douglas' Scots took ground on Holimdon Hill while Percy's English faced Douglas on Harehope Hill.  English archers carried the day, and Percy's forces were victorious that day.

The character of Archibald Douglas has inspired more than one bard.  He appears in Shakespeare's Henry IV, and Walter Scott includes him in his "The Fair Maid of Perth":

'But there remained a third party to be consulted, and that was no other than the tremendous Archibald Earl of Douglas, terrible alike from the extent of his lands, from the numerous offices and jurisdictions with which he was invested, and from his personal qualities of wisdom and valour, mingled with indomitable pride, and more than the feudal love of vengeance. The Earl was also nearly related to the throne, having married the eldest daughter of the reigning monarch.'

Sources:
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles32n/northumbria-10.shtml
Wikepedia

Walter Scott Biographer John Buchan Born

The 1st Lord Tweedsmuir, John Buchan, was born on August 26, 1875.  Buchan's contributions to Walter Scott study have been noted in a post on his date of death.  Buchan was born in Perth, Scotland, and included much of Scotland in his works.  In particular, the Upper Tweed Valley/Borderlands that inspired Sir Walter Scott. 

The John Buchan society site is worth a visit, at: http://www.johnbuchansociety.co.uk/index.html.

James I of Scotland

July 25, 1394 is the date ascribed to James I's birth by rampantscotland.com.  James was born in Dunfermline to King Robert III and Anabella Drummond.  James was indirectly impacted by circumstances that Walter Scott employed in his "The Fair Maid of Perth".   James' older brother David was the Duke of Rothesay, who Scott has trying to abduct the maid Catherine Glover.  Rothesay himself later falls afoul of his uncle Robert Stewart, the Duke of Albany, who kills him in hiscastle.  In real life, Rothesay died in Albany's Falkland Castle.

In the novel and in real life, Albany was exonerated by parliament of involvement in Rothesay's death, but James' life was nonetheless considered endangered, and he was sent to France for his safety.  He made it as far as Bass Rock in the Forth where he spent several months in hiding, then tried to sail to France, only to be captured and turned over to King Henry VI of England.  James was detained in England for the next 18 years, before ransom was paid, and James freed.

From "The Fair Maid of Perth": 'Far different had been the fate of the misguided heir of Scotland from that which was publicly given out in the town of Falkland. His ambitious uncle had determined on his death, as the means of removing the first and most formidable barrier betwixt his own family and the throne. James, the younger son of the King, was a mere boy, who might at more leisure be easily set aside. Ramorny's views of aggrandisement, and the resentment which he had latterly entertained against his masters made him a willing agent in young Rothsay's destruction. Dwining's love of gold, and his native malignity of disposition, rendered him equally forward. It had been resolved, with the most calculating cruelty, that all means which might leave behind marks of violence were to be carefully avoided, and the extinction of life suffered to take place of itself by privation of every kind acting upon a frail and impaired constitution. The Prince of Scotland was not to be murdered, as Ramorny had expressed himself on another occasion, he was only to cease to exist. Rothsay's bedchamber in the Tower of Falkland was well adapted for the execution of such a horrible project. A small, narrow staircase, scarce known to exist, opened from thence by a trapdoor to the subterranean dungeons of the castle, through a passage by which the feudal lord was wont to visit, in private and in disguise, the inhabitants of those miserable regions. By this staircase the villains conveyed the insensible Prince to the lowest dungeon of the castle, so deep in the bowels of the earth, that no cries or groans, it was supposed, could possibly be heard, while the strength of its door and fastenings must for a long time have defied force, even if the entrance could have been discovered. Bonthron, who had been saved from the gallows for the purpose, was the willing agent of Ramorny's unparalleled cruelty to his misled and betrayed patron....'

Football Banned

' Nay, prithee, bailie,' said the provost, ' put it off till thou hast eaten. Some complaint against the rascally jackmen and retainers of the nobles, for playing at football on the streets of the burgh, or some such goodly matter.'

From "The Fair Maid of Perth".

On May 26, 1424, James I'sts Parliament banned the playing of football.  James was not the first to try and control umruly football environments.  In 1314, King Edward II had done the same.   Aside from crowd control, one other common reason for banning footballe was that playing football interfered with the practice of archery; seasoned archers being a necessary resource for warfare.

Chronicles of the Canongate - Second Series

From Scott's Journal: On November 7, 1827, Scott is struggling to work, and again exhibits the work ethic that helped enable him to produce in such a prolific manner:

"...Commenced a review-that is an essay, on Ornamental Gardening for the Quarterly. But I stuck fast for want of books. As I did not wish to leave the mind time to recoil on itself, I immediately began the Second Series of the Chronicles of the Canongate, the First having been well approved..."

This second series became "St. Valentine's Day, or The Fair Maid of Perth"

The Bowlt did Cleave the Clouds

The Edinburgh edition of "Fair Maid of Perth" lists Henry Adamson's "The Muses Threnodie" as a source document for Scott's story. A cursory scan quickly reveals the name Henrie Winde; Scott's hero. The selection of Adamson's work reproduced here highlights Perths reputation for archery, both for warfare and sport.

...And with a strong and steadfast eye and hand,
So valiantly your bow yee did command,
A sliddrie shaft forth of its forks did fling,
Clank gave the bow, the whistling air did ring;
The bowlt did cleave the clouds, and threat the skyes,
And thence down falling to the mark it flies:...

Source: google books

Finlayrigg

The Fair Maid of Perth is my most recent Scott read, which means there will be several entries about this text in the near future. Highlighting one quote today: "...It was a wild inaccessible spot, where the Campbells at a subsequent period founded their strong fortress of Finlayrigg..."

The death of Clan Quhele's chief was an important plot development, leading up to the suicide of the new chieftan, which has been the subject of some literary discussion. I have found no historical reference for a Finlayrigg fortress.