Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)Chambers, Robert
History
Domestic Annals of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution, Volume 1 (of 2)
Chambers, Robert
Scotland -- History -- 16th century; Scotland -- History -- 17th century
‘Upon that Tyesday after the deid [death], ane surgeoner of Aberdeen,
callit William Urquhart, came to Strathbogie and bowelled the dead
corpse, which, after the bowelling, was ta’en out of the chalmer and
had into the chapel, where it remaineth to the burial. John Hamilton
receivit the key of the chalmer door again when the dead corpse was
ta’en out. On Wednesday next after the deid, Patrick Gordon, the earl’s
brother, was sitting on ane form next to that chalmer door where that
the dead corpse was bowelled; he hears ane great noise and din in that
chalmer, whether it was of speech, of graning, or rumbling, I cannot
tell. There was sixteen or twenty men in the hall with him; he gars
call for John Hamilton, and asks gif there was onybody in that chalmer;
the other said: “Nay.” He bade him hearken what he heard at the door,
wha heard as he did. Then the key was brought him. He commandit John
Hamilton to gang in, wha refused; he skipped in himself; John Hamilton
followed ane step or twa, and came with speed again to the door for
fear. Patrick passed to the inner side of the chalmer, and heard the
like noise as he did when he was thereout, but yet could see nothing,
for it was even, at the wayganging of the daylight. He came back gain
very affrayedly, and out at the door, and show[ed] so mony as bidden in
the hall what he had heard, wha assayit to pass to the chalmer, to know
what was there; but nane enterit ower the threshold; all came back for
fear. This pastime lasted them more nor ane hour. Candles were brought,
the chalmer vissied [examined]; nothing there. As soon as they came
to the door again, the noise was as great as of before, the candles
burning there ben [within]; they said to me that knows it, there is not
sae meikle a quick thing as a mouse may enter within that chalmer, the
doors and windows [being] steekit, it is so close all about. Judge ye
how ghaists and gyre-carlins come in among them. They were ane hour or
twa at this bickering, while ane man of the place comes in among them,
and said to Patrick: “Fye, for gif he was not tentie [careful], the
bruit [report] wald pass through the country that the Earl of Huntly
had risen again.” Then Patrick called them that had heard it, and
commandit that nae sic word should be spoken.’--_Ban._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: JULY 18.]
The work of printing the Bible, undertaken by Arbuthnot and Bassendyne
in March of the year preceding, had proved a heavier undertaking than
they expected, and had met with ‘impediments.’ They now therefore came
with their sureties before the Privy Council, and pleaded for nine
months further time to complete the work, obliging themselves, in case
of failure, to return the money which had been contributed by the
various parishes. This grace was extended to them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account