J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 2

170 MINSTRELSY OF
sisting them in all their transactions, while their favours
are concealed. Of this the traditionary story of Sir
Godfrey MaccuUoch forms a curious example.
As this Gallovidian gentleman was taking the air on
horseback, near his own house, he was suddenly accost-
ed by a little old man, arrayed in green, and movmted
upon a white palfrey. After mutual salutation, the old
man gave Sir Godfrey to understand, that he resided
under his habitation, and that he had great reason to
complain of the direction of a drain, or common sewer,
which emptied itself directly into his chamber of dais.*
Sir Godfrey MaccuUoch was a good deal stai-tled at this
extraordinary complaint ; but, guessing the nature of
the being he had to deal with, he assured the old man,
with great courtesy, that the direction of the drain
should be altered ; and caused it to be done according-
ly. Many years afterwards, Sir Godfrey had the mis-
fortime to kill, in a fray, a gentleman of the neighbour-
hood. He was apprehended, tried, and condemned. f
The scaffold, upon which his head was to be struck off,
was erected on the Castle-hill of Edinburgh ; but hard-
ly had he reached the fatal spot, when the old man,
* The best chamber was thus currently denominated in Scotland,
from the French dais, signifying that part of the ancient halls which
was elevated above the rest, and covered with a canopy. The turf-
seats, which occupy the sunny side of a cottage wall, are also termed
the dais.
•f- In this particular, tradition coincides with the real fact ; the trial
took place in 1G97.