Chronicles of
Gretna Green
By Peter Orlando Hutchinson (1844)
PREFACE.
The following Work must not
be mistaken for a fiction: it is not a fiction, it is a history. If we have
not everywhere preserved the sedate and plodding doggedness of the grave
historian, this will nothing invalidate our veracity ; for we believe we may
confidently say, that we have not brought forward any fact, professedly as
such, without having had good authority for so doing. Our materials and our
anecdotes were collected ^ in the parish of Gretna Green itself, and that,
too, 2 from such sources as may be held worthy of credit. That portion of
the Work most pleasurable to the general taste, will, perhaps, be the Second
Volume, or the portion which comes down nearer to the present day; but if
there are any persons living who have visited the Hymeneal shrine of Gretna,
(which no doubt there are,) we hope they will not feel offended at anything
these pages contain. Our purpose has not been to annoy any one, but only to
write a history.
A word for the illustrations.
The survey for the Map was made before our own eyes; and though not
trigonometrically done, we believe it to be tolerably accurate. The views
are engraved from sketches made by us on the spot, and their fidelity may be
relied on.
London, December 1843.
CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME
Chapter I.
Situation of Gretna.—The Debateable Land.—Walls of Agricola and Adrian.—Wall
of Severus.—Arthur's Court. — Arthur's Queen insulted. — Pcredur and the
Knight. — Pcredur's knight-errantry. — His Prowess.— Gwalchmai's Offer.—
Percdur and Gwalchmai.— Pere-dur's Courtship.
Chapter II.
The Picts.—First Gretna Nuptials.—Origin of Chau-eer's "Wife's Tale."—Arthur
and the Grim Baron.— The Grim Lady.—The Secret revealed.—Gawaine's
Magnanimity.—Fetehing the Bride.—The Reward of Friendship.—The Bride's
Tale.—The First Marriage at Gretna.
Chapter IV.
Ancient Kings of Scotland.—Wars between the Britons, Danes, and Saxons.
Chapter V.
Downfall of the Saxons, and establishment of the Norman ascendancy. —Battle
between the English and Scoto-Saxons.
Chapter VI.
State of Scotland at the death of Alexander III.—Voy-nge of Sir Patric Spens.—Competitors
for the Crown of Scotland.—Siege of Carlisle.—Heroism of the Women in the
Castle.
Chapter VII.
Battles between the English and the Scotch in the reign of Edward the First.
Chapter VIII.
Military Annals : Bruce and Baliol.—Border Laws.
Chapter XI.
Treaty of Peace between James IV. of Scotland and Henry VII. of
England.—Minority of James V.—His Adventures in disguise.—The Gaberlunzie
Man.
Chapter XII.
The Widow of Annandale, Sir John Charters, and the King.
Chapter XIII.
History of John Armstrong, the famous Border Outlaw.
Chapter XIV.
Dick o' the Cow, and the Laird's Jock.
Chapter XV.
Feat of the Blind Harper of Lochmaben.
Chapter XXI.
Attempt of the Young Pretender.— His advance to Derby.—Retreat to
Scotland.—Battle of Culloden.—Present appearance of the Field of Battle.
Chapter XXII.
A Tragical Love Story of the "Olden Time."
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME
Chapter I.
Topography of the Country between Carlisle and Gretna
Chapter II.
Gretna Green: its Toll-gate Keeper and Marrying-houses
Chapter III.
Description of Gretna Hall, the principal Marriage-house
Chapter V.
Poverty in relation to the Married State.—Lord Hardwicke's Marriage's Act,
which put an end to Fleet Marriages, and gave birth to those of
Gretna.—Disquisition on Gretna Marriages
Chapter VI.
Gretna Marriages.—Wakefield and Miss Turner
Chapter VII.
Gretna Marriages.—Wakefield and Miss Turner
Chapter VIII.
Gretna Marriages.—Wakefield and Miss Turner
This comment system
requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account
or an account you already have with Google, Twitter,
Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account
with any of these companies then you can create an account
with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't
display until the moderator has approved your comment.
