[189] Willy Thomson must have been guilty of some serious offence, when he was condemned to slavery. In comparatively recent times actual property in the persons who worked in coal-mines in Scotland was to be found, and the old records bear ample testimony to the existence of serfdom, and to the punishment of subjection to slavery being considered a part of the judicial system of the country.
[190] The third of May, when many superstitious observances were made. The first of May was Beltane, and has been traced to the fire-worship of the ancient Caledonians. Rood-day superstitions, however, were of more recent origin. Great precautions were taken against the power of witches and fairies, and if these should be neglected ill-luck would follow. Jamieson, in his Dictionary of the Scottish Language, under the word ‘Rude-day,’ gives a most interesting account of the ceremonies gone through on the yearly return of the festival.
[191] The ‘mauken,’ or hare seems to have occupied a most important position in the folk-lore of all countries, but notably of Scotland. Sir Walter Scott, in his work on Demonology and Witchcraft, tells how Isobel Gowdie, one of the witches of Auldern, disguised herself as a hare and after being hunted by hounds for some time, took refuge in a house where she found opportunity to say the disenchanting rhyme:—
‘Hare, Hare, God send thee care!
I am in a hare’s likeness now;
But I shall be woman even now—
Hare, hare, God send thee care:’
That is her own story. A most valuable and interesting article, on ‘The Hare in Folk-Lore’ was contributed to a recent number of the Folk-Lore Journal by Mr. William George Black, F.S.A. Scot., and should be consulted by those who wish to know more about this subject.
[192] The statement contained in the text gives an excellent account of what was believed to be the attributes of the water-kelpie. In many old ballads references, such as the following, may be found:—
‘The bonnie gray mare did sweat for fear,