History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

208 LAND OF THE LINDSAYS.
Long after this timeous service to the gudewife, however,
Brownie continued his monotonous wanderings as a ghost, to the
fear and dread of all guilty hearts ; and, in his serviceable ca-
pacity to the industrious and eident, who were ever thankful of
his visits. Tradition, with its accustomed minuteness, points out
the gudewife of Farmerton as the person in whose welfare
he felt so interested, and a male child was the issue. This
youth ultimately became remarkable for courage and valour in
various ways, and although, from time to time, many stalwart
persons had encountered the spirit of the murdered vassal, none
had sufficient courage to " speak," and allay him. After Far-
merton's son had reached manhood, however, and when return-
ing home one dark night, he accidentally met this spirit, and,
determined to know the cause of his wanderings,
" About himsell wi' hazell staff,
He made ane roundlie score ;
And said, * My lad, in name o' Gude,
What doe you wander for ?' "
On this the ghaist disclosed his woeful tale, confessed the
offences of his life, and making a summary exit from the view of
his interrogator, was never again seen ! — Some say that he was
never heard of from the time he landed the " mammy wife,"
whose impertinent remarks regarding the peculiarities of his
form, are supposed to have caused his departure ! Be this as it
may, the one story is, doubtless, as authentic as the other, and
both versions still live in popular tradition.
SECTION V.
" Calm was the morn, and close the mist
Hung o'er St. Arnold'9 Seat,
As Ferna's sons gaed out to Saughs,
M'Gregor there to meet."
Raid o' Fearn,
The most important historical tradition of Feme is that which
relates to the Raid, or Battle Saughs. This transaction be-
longing to "those days when might was right," and connected
with Ferae only in regard that the parishioners were the actors ;
for " the battle field " lies within the confines of the parish of