The Complete Kingdom Trilogy (99 page)

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.

OS

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 recognized 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 bastardized 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 Mêlée, a mass of knights fighting each other. A Grand Mêlée could involve several hundred and be fought over a large distance – it was not a spectator sport. The object of the Mêlée 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.

As ever, the list of people who made this book possible is enough to form a rebel army – but, at the head of it stands Jock Simpson, unsung and long dead. He was my English teacher at St John's Grammar in Hamilton and the man who saw not only the flicker of a writer in the boy, but an interest in the history he was passionate about and which was not taught in any class I was in. If any man began my journey through 13th century Scotland and beyond, it was him.

As an uncaring youth, I failed to see what he had given me until much later and this is my way of saying a shameful sorry for never having acknowledged it while he lived. Hard on his heels, of course, has to come Nigel Tranter, whose books on Scotland's history, particularly the trilogy on Bruce, are hard acts to follow. I hope he is not birling in his grave too much.

I am also continually indebted to the members of Glasgow Vikings (
www.glasgowvikings.co.uk
) and the rest of the Vikings, national and international (
www.vikingsonline.org.uk
) who provide entertainment and education in several countries and have caused a beer drought in at least one small island. Although they are predominantly Viking, they are interested in all aspects of Scottish history and can gear up to fight at Bannockburn recreations at the drop of an iron hat. The upcoming 700th anniversary is keenly anticipated and I owe gratitude to the NTS and the Bannockburn Heritage Centre for their kind help in this and later volumes.

Katie Espiner, my editor at HarperCollins, has to be congratulated for taking no nonsense from this auld Scot and insisting, wee English beauty that she is, on not permitting me to descend into Scots-speak more than two or three times.

None of this would have been possible at all if my agent, James Gill of United Agents had not had vision to see the possibilities in my writing – I hoist my glass in his general direction.

The process of writing this has been encouraged by a firm band of fans, who have followed the Oathsworn and now want to carry on reading – my thanks especially to Warren Cummin, descendant of the very Comyn in the story, who takes a keen interest from the distant reaches of Canada.

More power to you all for your praise, criticism, comments and unfailing humour. I hope this one pleases you as much as the others seem to have done.

HarperCollins
Publishers

77–85 Fulham Palace Road,

Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Published by HarperCollins
Publishers
2012

1

Copyright © Robert Low 2012

Map © John Gilkes

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

EPub Edition © February 2012 ISBN: 978 0 00 733794 1

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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