Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

MlXSTllEI.SY OF
able only to the chief of their own clan was, to the descend-
ants of IVIacdufF, almost equivalent to an absolute indemnity.
Macduff's Cross was situated near Lindores, on the march
dividing Fife from Strathern. The form of this venerable monument
unfortunately offended the zeal of the reformer, Knox,
and it was totally demolished by his followers. The pedestal,
a solid block of stone, alone escaped the besom of destruction.
It bore an inscription, which, according to the ajjocryphal ac-
count of Sir Robert Sibbald, was a mixture of Latin, Saxon,
Danish, and old French. Skene has preserved two lines :
Propter Makgridim et hoc oblatum,
Accipe Smeleridem super lampade limpidaj labrum.
Skene, de ve?!). sig. voce Clan Macduff.
The full inscription, real or pretended, may be found in Siv
Robert SiMhaMi!?, History ofFife, and in James Cunninghame's
Essay upon Macduffs Cross, together with what is called a
translation, or rather paraphrase, of the piebald jargon which
composes it. In Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia, a dif-
ferent and more intelligible version is given, on the authority
of a IVIr Douglas of Xewburgh. The cross was dedicated to a
St IVIacgider. Around the pedestal are tumuli, said to be the
graves of those who, ha\ang claimed the privilege of the law,
failed in proving their consanguinity to the Thane of Fife.
Such persons were instantly executed. The people of Xewburgh
believe, that the spectres of these criminals still haunt
the ruined cross, and claim that mercy for their souls which
they had failed to obtain for their mortal existence.
The late Lord Hailes gives it as his opinion, that the indul-
gence was only to last till the tenth generation from IMacduftl
Fordun and Wintoun state, that the fine, to be paid by the
person taking sanctuary, was twenty-four merks for a gentleman,
and twelve merks for a yeoman. Skene affirms it to be
nine cows, and a colpindach (/. e. a quey, or cow of one or two
years old.)—FoRDUN,lib.5, cap.9 ; WiNTOUN'sCronyie/,b.6,
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