267 



eius cum haculo suo vel alio signo noto transiens terminos infidelium proe- 

 dictorum a regibus et nobilibus et communi populo in magna reverentia 

 habebatur." 



Yoigt, in his history of ancient Prussia, gives a somewhat varied ver- 

 sion of the passage and practice : — Quod etiam nuncius qui ejus hacu- 

 lum aut signum aliquid portabat ab eo missum principes etiam et 

 communis populus multo honore colebant et omnia preecepta ejus firmi- 

 ter servabant." 



In his note F to the above lines, at the end of the volume, the great 

 poet brings his legendary lore in aid of his poetic painting. The cross was 

 called in Gaelic Creaw-Fareigh, or the cross of shame, because disobedience 

 to what the symbol implied inferred infamy : this idea is not farther 

 removed from that implied in the Bavarian inscription above, Gewrokt^ 

 than cause from effect. He also appends a relation from Olaus Magnus, 

 to the same purpose, and corroborative of those older ones I have 

 adduced from Dusburg. More extended reading would have given Sir 

 Walter stronger and better coincidences with his Creaw-Fareigh in the 

 Danish Budlafa already noticed, and still stronger in the Swedish Bud- 

 stilclce, on the authority of John Stiernhook, ^'De Jure Saev." (lib.i.b) : — . 

 ''In priscis Sueoniae legibus citatio per baculum. Hunc emittebant terito- 

 rii quadrantibus et per manus vicinorum extraditus etfacti notitiam simul 

 et comparandi mandatum circumferet ; quomodo non judicia tantum sed 

 et promiscue omnes conventus publici indicati fuerunt ubi de casu 

 aliquo extra ordinem deliberandum erat aut indicandum. Erat autem 

 hie baculus nuntiatorius eifectus ad modum rei de qna in conventu 

 tractatio instituenda fuit, ut si res sacra, crux lignea ; si homicidium, 

 ligneum telum aut securis.^' 



More examples might be adduced ; but if the above are insufficient, 

 any addition could scarcely insure conviction, and must be wearisome to 

 follow. 



Sir "Walter, in the same note, adduces instances of a comparative! 

 recent and successful use of the fiery cross during the Scotch rebellion 

 in 1745-6:— 



During the civil war of 1745-6, the fiery cross often made its cir- 

 cuit ; and upon one occasion it passed through the whole district of 

 Breadalbane, a tract of 32 miles, in three hours. 



" The late Alexander Stuart, Esq., of Inverhagle, described to me 

 his having sent round the fiery cross through the district of Appine 

 during the same commotion. The coast was threatened by a descent 

 from two English frigates, and the flower of the young men were with 

 the army of Prince Charles, then in England ; the summons was so 

 effectual, that even old age and children obeyed it ; and a force was col- 

 lected in a few days so numerous and enthusiastic, that all attempts of 

 the intended diversion upon the coasts of the absent warriors was, in 

 prudence, abandoned as desperate." 



In continuance of these notices, the following passage, from a pro- 

 vincial newspaper of October, 1853, may be addnced, showing that the 



