ar, had brewed her 'peck of malt' and set the
liquor out of doors to cool; the cow of B., a neighbour of A., chanced to
come by, and seeing the good beverage, was allured to taste it, and
finally to drink it up. When A. came to take in her liquor, she found her
tub empty, and from the cow's staggering and staring, so as to betray her
intemperance, she easily divined the mode in which her 'browst' had
disappeared. To take vengeance on Crummie's ribs with a stick was her
first effort. The roaring of the cow brought B., her master, who
remonstrated with his angry neighbour, and received in reply a demand for
the value of the ale which Crummie had drunk up. B. refused payment, and
was conveyed before C., the bailie, or sitting magistrate. He heard the
case patiently; and then demanded of the plaintiff A. whether the cow had
sat down to her potation or taken it standing. The plaintiff answered,
she had not seen the deed committed, but she supposed the cow drank the
ale while standing on her feet, adding, that had she been near she would
have made her use them to some purpose. The bailie, on this admission,
solemnly adjudged the cow's drink to be deoch an doruis, a stirrup-cup,
for which no charge could be made without violating the ancient
hospitality of Scotland.

NOTE 11

The story last told was said to have happened in the south of Scotland;
but cedant arma togae and let the gown have its dues. It was an old
clergyman, who had wisdom and firmness enough to resist the panic which
seized his brethren, who was the means of rescuing a poor insane creature
from the cruel fate which would otherwise have overtaken her. The
accounts of the trials for witchcraft form one of the most deplorable
chapters in Scottish story.

NOTE 12

Although canting heraldry is generally reprobated, it seems nevertheless
to have been adopted in the arms and mottos of many honourable families.
Thus the motto of the Vernons, Ver non semper viret, is a perfect pun,
and so is that of the Onslows, Festina lente. The Periissem ni per-iissem
of the Anstruthers is liable to a similar objection. One of that ancient
race, finding that an antagonist, with whom he had fixed a friendly
meeting, was determined to take the opportunity of assassinating him,
prevented the hazard by dashing out his brains with a battle-axe. Two
sturdy arms, brandishing such a weapon, form the usual crest of the
family, with the above motto, Periissem ni per-iissem--I had died, un