Note 6, p. 244

The mysterious rites in which Meg Merrilies is described as engaging belong to her character as a queen of her race.  All know that gipsies in every country claim acquaintance with the gift of fortune-telling; but, as is often the case, they are liable to the superstitions of which they avail themselves in others.  The correspondent of Blackwood, quoted in the Introduction to this Tale, gives us some information on the subject of their credulity.

‘I have ever understood,’ he says, speaking of the Yetholm gipsies,’ that they are extremely superstitious, carefully noticing the formation of the clouds, the flight of particular birds, and the soughing of the winds, before attempting any enterprise.  They have been known for several successive days to turn back with their loaded carts, asses, and children, upon meeting with persons whom they considered of unlucky aspect; nor do they ever proceed on their summer peregrinations without some propitious omen of their fortunate return.  They also burn the clothes of their dead, not so much from any apprehension of infection being communicated by them, as the conviction that the very circumstance of wearing them would shorten the days of their living.  They likewise carefully watch the corpse by night and day till the time of interment, and conceive that “the deil tinkles at the lyke-wake” of those who felt in their dead-thraw the agonies and terrors of remorse.’

These notions are not peculiar to the gipsies; but, having been once generally entertained among the Scottish common people, are now only found among those who are the most rude in their habits and most devoid of instruction.  The popular idea, that the protracted struggle between life and death is painfully prolonged by keeping the door of the apartment shut, was received as certain by the superstitious eld of Scotland.  But neither was it to be thrown wide open.  To leave the door ajar was the plan adopted by the old crones who understood the mysteries of deathbeds and lykewakes.  In that case there was room for the imprisoned spirit to escape; and yet an obstacle, we have been assured, was offered to the entrance of any frightful form which might otherwise intrude itself.  The threshold of a habitation was in some sort a sacred limit, and the subject of much superstition.  A bride, even to this day, is always lifted over it, a rule derived apparently from the Romans.

GLOSSARY

’A, he, I. a’, all. abide, endure. ablins, aiblins, perhaps. abune, above. ae, one. aff, off. afore, before. a-guisarding, masquerading. ahint, behind. aik, an oak. ails, hinders, prevents. ain, own. amang, among. an, if. ance, once. ane, one. anent, about. aneuch, enough. auld, old. auld threep, a superstitious notion. avise, advise, deliberate. awa’, away. aweel, well. awfu’, awful. awmous, alms. aye, ever.