120 MR HENDERSON ON THE~PROVERBS AND POPULAR SAYINGS 



modate their consciences to all circumstances, and who can stretch it to 

 any extent to suit their selfish purposes. 



2. " The third and last of Ay ton Fair." 



As the pleasant and thriving village of Ayton is well known to all the 

 members of the Club, it would be a waste of time to give any descrip- 

 tion of it here. When the good housewife has brought forth the last of 

 her stone of meal, potatoes, &c., it is usual with her to repeat the above 

 saying. How it originated, it is not easy to say. 



3. " This is like Hilton Kirk." 



The ancient parish of Hilton now forms the eastern part of Whitsome. 

 The kirk is in ruins, but its burial-ground is still used. The Rev. Da- 

 niel Douglas was minister here in Scotland's persecuting times, and he 

 had to flee to Holland to escape the fury of his enemies. He seems to 

 have been a man of apostolic simplicity, sincere piety, and every way 

 endowed as becomes a minister of the Gospel. After the Revolution he 

 returned to his charge at Hilton, and died there on the 24th July 1705, 

 in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and his Through is still pointed out 

 in the church-yard. A certain laird of Hilton, who had been freely re- 

 proved by Daniel Douglas for his licentiousness, so far forgot what was 

 due to decorum, as to drag the reverend gentleman from the pulpit. 

 Such a scene would naturally excite great disorder and confusion in the 

 congregation, and hence may have arisen the proverb, as it is common- 

 ly applied ta a noisy assembly of village politicians, or when things are 

 in great disorder about a house. 



4. " This is like Cranshaw Kirk, there's as many dogs as folk" 



In a wild pastoral region like that of Cranshaws, lying in the midst 

 of the Lammermuir Hills, it is usual for the shepherd dogs to accom- 

 pany their masters to the church, and, in times of severe stormy weather, 

 it may have happened that few people, except the shepherds, who are 

 accustomed to be out in all seasons, could attend divine service ; and in 

 such circumstances, it may have occurred that the dogs may have equal- 

 led in number the rational hearers of the Word, and hence has probably 

 originated the saying, which I have often heard applied by bustling ser- 

 vant-girls to a scene where three or four dogs were lying about the fire- 

 side, and impeding her in her work. 



5. " He's as bold as a Lammermoor Lion." 



A Lammermoor lion is a sheep, and the proverb is applied in a sarcas- 

 tic way to a boasting and assuming person. " As fierce as a lion of 

 Cotswold," is an English proverb, and bears the same meaning. 



