Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

326 MINSTRELSY OF
of the English. But, lo ! while Robert was addressing his
prayers to the empty casket, it was observed to open and shut
suddenly; and, on inspection, the saint was found to have him-
self deposited his arm in the shrine, as an assurance of victory.
Such is the tale of Lesley. But though Bruce little needed that
the arm of St Fillan should assist his own, he dedicated to him,
in gratitude, a priory at Killin, upon Loch Tay.
In the .Scots ilagazine for July 1802, there is a copy of a
very curious crown grant, dated 11th July, 1487, by which
James III. confirms to Malice Doire, an inhabitant of Strath-
fillan, in Perthshire, the peaceable exercise and enjoyment of
a rehque of St Fillan, being apparently the head of a pastoral
staff called the Quegrich, which he and his predecessors are
said to have possessed since the days of Robert Bruce. As
the Quegrich was used to cure diseases, this document is pro-
bably the most ancient patent ever granted for a quack medi-
cine. The ingenious correspondent, by whom it is furnished,
further observes, that additional particulars, concerning St P'illan,aretobefoundinBALLENDEN'sBoece,
Book*, folio ccxiii.
and in Pennant's Tour in Scotland, 1772, pp. 11, 15,