Authors: Robert Low

Kingdom 01 - The Lion Wakes (54 page)

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JURROCKS

Lowlife servant.

JUSTICIAR

An official appointed by the monarch, from the time of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, to ease the burden on overworked SHERIFFS.

KERN

Irish/Scots soldiery. Later, it came to refer to the Gallowglass warriors of Ireland.

KINE

Scots word for cattle. KIST OF WHISTLES

Scots term for a covered, boiling cauldron or kettle, kist being any kind of container, from clothes chest to tomb.

LATCHBOW

Originally, a light crossbow with a simple latch release, it came to be a common term for all crossbows and arbalests.

LAW OF DEUTERONOMY

Specifically Deuteronomy 20, which states:
And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
Used by medieval Christian commanders to justify the sack and slaughter of any city which did not yield before a siege ram or ladder touched the walls.

LIMMER

A low, base fellow – also a prostitute. MAILLE

The correct spelling of mail, which is also incorrectly referred to as chainmail and should be properly termed ring maille. The linked metal-ringed tunic worn by warriors since the early Roman period. By the 13th/14th century, these had evolved – for those who could afford it – into complete suits, with sleeves, mittens and integral COIF, or hood.

MAK’ SICCAR

Make certain. A famous phrase uttered by Bruce’s loyal follower Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn shortly before he returned to Greyfriars Church to ensure the death of Bruce’s rival, the Red Comyn. It became the motto of the Kirkpatrick family, under the crest of a bloody hand holding a dagger.

MESNIE

Can refer, loosely, to a medieval household, but more usually to the trusted group of knights who accompanied their lord to war and TOURNEY.

MILLINAR

Any knight or SERJEANT appointed to command a band on foot.

MOUDIEWART

Literally, a mole, but frequently used as an insult.

NEB

Scots word for nose.

NOTARY

Nowadays it is a person with legal training licensed by the state to perform certain legal acts, particularly witnessing signatures on legal documents. In the Middle Ages it was a man who could read, write, take notes and acted as clerk to a JUSTICIAR.

ORB

Scots word for young bird. See also SPEUGH.

From the Latin, a mouth or opening – usually applied to the female parts, whether human or animal. In some cases, the os of hind was considered a delicacy.

PACHYDERM

Medieval classification usually applied to elephants, but which also included pigs and wild boar.

PAPINGO

The popinjay or parrot – any brightly coloured bird, or person who resembles one in dress or manner. Can also refer to an archery competition, where such a live bird was placed on a pole and used as a target. It still pertains to the present – there is an annual Papingo Shoot at Kilwinning Abbey – but the papingo target is no longer a bird, live or otherwise.

PAYNIM

Medieval term for heathen, particularly Muslims.

PLENARY INDULGENCE

The remittance of sins, granted by the Catholic church after confession and absolution. However, these could also be sold as a sort of cheque drawn on the Treasure House of Merit, an abuse which was widespread in the Middle Ages.

PLOOTERING

Scots word meaning to walk carelessly, with the added connotation of splashing, as through puddles or into marsh or mud.

POLLARD

A fake silver penny of Edward I’s reign, so called either because of the miscast head (poll) of the monarch or because it had been clipped (pollarded) of some of its metal, making it smaller.

POW

Scots word which can either refer to the head (as in ‘curly pow’) or an expanse of water meadow cut up with small pools.

POWRIE

Scots Fairies which, as you might expect, are not ethereally-pretty winged creatures. They are short and wiry, with ragged pointed teeth and sharp claws like steel. They wear a red bonnet on their heads and are generally bearded with wrinkled aged faces. They kill by rolling boulders or tearing at people with their sharp claws. They then proceed to drink the blood of their victims and dip their hats in it, giving rise to their other name of Red Caps. In particular they haunt castles with a reputation for evil events in the past. Also known as Dunters.

PRIGG

Scots word meaning to beseech or plead.

QUINE

Scots word for a woman or a young girl. See CHIEL.

RIGG

Scots word for a strip of ploughed field.

SCAPULAR

Large length of cloth suspended from the shoulders – monastic scapulars originated as aprons worn by medieval monks, and were later extended to habits.

SCHILTRON

The first mention of the schiltron as a specific formation of spearmen appears to be at the Battle of Falkirk in 1297. There is, however, no reason to believe this is the first time such a formation was used and there are references to the Picts using blocks of spearmen in such a fashion. The name is thought to derive from the Middle English for shield troop.

SCRIEVING

Scots word – to move swiftly and smoothly.

SCRIVENER

Medieval term for anyone who could read and write.

SCULLION

Servant performing menial kitchen tasks.

SERJEANT

The armed ‘middle class’ of medieval England, only differing from a knight in that they had not been recognised as such. Equipment, training and skill were all more or less the same.

SERK

Scots word – originally Norse – for a shirt or undertunic.

SHERIFF

A contraction of the term ‘shire reeve’, he is the highest law officer in a county. A term and idea which has spread from England to many parts of the world, including the US and Canada. In Scotland, English sheriffs were particularly hated, none more so than Heselrigg, Sheriff of Lanark and the man Wallace famously killed to begin his part in the rebellion.

SKITE

Scots word meaning to slip or skate.

SLAISTER

Scots word meaning a dirty mess, or slovenly work.

SLEEKIT

Scots word for crafty or sly.

SLORACH

Scots word for a wet and disgusting mess of anything.

SNECK

Scots word for a bolt or latch on a door. Still in use today in the Borders and north of England in the term ‘sneck lifter’ – the last coin in a man’s pocket, enough to let him open a pub door and buy a drink.

SONSIE

Scots word for a woman with a generous, hour-glass figure.

SPEUGH

Scots word for baby sparrow.

SPIER

Scots word meaning to inquire after, to question.

SPITAL

Medieval short-form of hospital, which was any place – usually in a monastery or abbey – which cared for the sick.

STAPPIT

Scots word for stuffed full.

STOOKS

Scots word for sheaves.

STRAMASH

Scots word for a noisy disturbance.

STRAVAIG

Scots word meaning to wander aimlessly.

STUSHIE

Scots word for being in a state of excitement. Also for a shouting argument.

SWEF

Medieval bastardised French for gently or softly.

TABARD

Medieval short tunic, sleeveless, or with shoulder pieces, designed to show a noble’s heraldic device or arms -hence the term cote of arms. Still seen today on ceremonial heralds.

TAIT

Scots word for a little item or a small portion.

THOLE

Scots word meaning to suffer or to bear.

THRAWN

Scots word for twisted or misshapen, which can be applied equally to a tree, a face or a disposition.

TOLT

Medieval word for a tax, usually on wool.

TOURNEY

Simply put, this was the premier entertainment and sporting pursuit of the medieval gentleman. It involved, usually, the Melee, a mass of knights fighting each other. A Grand Melee could involve several hundred and be fought over a large distance – it was not a spectator sport. The object of the Melee was to unhorse your opponent and take him for ransom -as was expected in a real war – though the weapons were blunted for the Tourney and no-one was expected to die or get hurt (though, of course, some did). Latterly, the one-on-one joust became more and more popular, simply because it
was
a spectator sport and everyone could see your skill.

TRAILBASTON

Medieval term for the itinerant judicial commission ordered by Edward I to combat outlaws and brigands, it became the name for the perpetrators themselves.

VENNEL

Scots word for alleyway.

WHEEN

Scots word for many, a lot.

YETT

Scots word for a door, originally applied to the grilled inner gate of a fortress.

AND FINALLY

There is a short scene in chapter four which is designed to show how the broadest of Scots is virtually incomprehensible even to other Scots and certainly to French-speaking nobles.

Delivered from one Fergus, a man from the north of Scotland, it runs:

‘Atweill than,’ Fergus declared to the haughty rider, ‘this wul dae brawlie. Gin ye haed spoke The Tongue at the verra stert, ye wad hae spared the baith o us aw this hatter. Tak tent ti whit Ah hae ti say an lippen ti me weill – ye maun bide ther until I lowse ye.’

The rider, mailled and coiffed, flung up his hands, so that wet drops flew up from his green-gloved fingers, and cursed pungently in French.

‘I am Sir Gervaise de la Mare. Do you understand no language at all?’

‘Ah prigg the blissin o the blue heivins on ye,’ Fergus scowled back. ‘There are ower mony skirrivaigin awhaurs, so bide doucelyke or, b’Goad’s ane Wounds, Ah wul. . .’

‘Fergus,’ Hal said and the dark man fell back and turned, his black-browed face breaking into a wary grin.

‘Yersel,’ he greeted with about as much deference as he ever gave and then jerked his head contemptuously at the rider.

‘This yin an’ his muckle freends came sklimming the heich brae, aw grand an’ skerlet and purpie. Luikin to spier you somewhiles.’

For those who haven’t worked it out, here’s what Fergus was really saying:

‘Well then. This will be fine. If you had tried to be understood from the start you would have spared us both a deal of trouble. Pay attention now and listen to me closely – you have to remain here until I permit you to pass.’

The rider, mailled and coiffed, flung up his hands, so that wet drops flew up from his green-gloved fingers, and cursed pungently in French.

‘I am Sir Gervaise de la Mare. Do you understand no language at all?’

‘I beseech the blessing of the blue Heaven from you. There are too many people wandering everywhere, so stay here quietly, or by God’s Own Wounds, I will . . .’

‘Fergus,’ Hal said and the dark man fell back and turned, his black-browed face breaking into a wary grin.

‘Yersel,’ he greeted with about as much deference as he ever gave and then jerked his head contemptuously at the rider.

‘This one and his great friends came gliding over the high hills, all grand and garishly dressed. They are searching for you in particular.’

And now you know!

Also by Robert Low

The Whale Road

The Wolf Sea

The White Raven

The Prow Beast

Robert Low asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-0-00-733791-0

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it, while in some cases based on historical figures, are the work of the author’s imagination.

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