Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

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liincolne-shire woman lived. It was neere Dunce and the Scotsh
army, and hither my landlord carryed his wife and my selfe, as an
espeoiall favour, to the topp of his kinred to bee entertained, but wee
found noething woorthy that name. The lady was now the widdow
of a Scotsh knight, a very meane homely woeman, and in a house
liker a dungeon than the dwelling of a laird (as it was). Shee was
wrapped in a plad mantle to hide a poore tatterd gowne. There were
two red haird gentlewoemen, her daughters (I take it), with her as
homely apparrelld as herselfe. And there wee had a cupp of poore
smoakie drinke, and a livery napkin, much like a postillion's livery,
indeed, for cleanliness ; and when wee came into the parlour out of the
ladie's towre, where shee lodged, there was hanging a couple of
muttons, lately killed, and the roome was soe smoakie I could not
endure to stay in't. My landlord was ashamed of his wellcome and
our entertainement. The greatest vertue I obseiwed in the lady was
her fervent zeale to the covenant, which shee affirmed was soe backed
with G-od Almightie's immediate blessings that hee had manifested
himselfe in miracles to confirme them in their stout defence and
maintenance of his truth. One was, when the crowne, scepter and
other regall ornaments were remooved from Dalkeith to Holy-rude
house (whence they were taken when the Lord Marquess Hamiltoun, as
his majestie's commissioner lay there), God Allmightie (as they carryed
them in solemme manner) marched before them in a pillar of a cloude.
Annother was, when tliey were in great want of bulletts there was
accidentally discovered a hill of stones that were naturally round and
fittly served some for muskett and some for pistolls. And a third was,
though all those men had layen there a moneth, or six weeks, encamped,
yet never any of them had so much as a. finger aked during
the time. Theise reports shee utterd with great zeale and faith, as
commonly woemen are credulous, and vehement upon what they
place their affeccions ; but I believe there was few of those reports
true if they had been examined : it was but passion in the lady whicli
made her, and many thousands more, believe such lying fables : it
beeing the onely way to winne weake woemen and the vulgar, who
are commonly more superstitiously than judicially devout.
Scotsh Coines.
One penny English—a shilling Scotsh.
pound Scotsh.
Twenty pence English—
Small Coines of Brasse.
Bothwells—vi. make a. penny English. Placks—3 make a penny
English. Atchinsons—3 make two pence Englisli.
Thirteene pence halfe penny Englisli, is a Scotsh marke ; but they
account the Scotsli marke thirteen pence English and one of their
placks.
Halfe marke Scotsh—sixepence English and an atchiiison.