Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/403

Rh having taken a Saracen prince prisoner, his wife came to ransome him; and on counting the money and jewels, a stone fell out of her purse, which she hastily snatched up: this, and her confusion being observed by Sir Simon, he insisted upon having the stone, or else he would not give up his prisoner. Upon this the lady remonstrated, but in vain; and she gave it him, and told him its many virtues; videlicet, that it cured all diseases in cattle, and the bite of a mad dog both in man and beast. It is used by dipping the stone in water, which is given to the diseased cattle to drink; and the animals are to have the wounds, or parts infected, washed with the water. There are no words used in the dipping of the stone, nor any money taken by the servants, without incurring the owner's displeasure. Many are the cures said to be performed by it; and people come from all parts of Scotland, and even as far in England as Yorkshire, to get the water in which the stone has been dipped to give to their cattle, especially when ill of the murrain and black-leg.

"In early times, a complaint was made to the ecclesiastical courts against the then Laird, of