Chapter Scotch Mist to Screw Plot of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Scotch Mist to Screw Plot

Scotch Mist A thick fog with drizzling rain, common in Scotland.

“A Scotch fog will wet an Englishman through.”- Common saying.

Scotch Pint (A). A Scotch pint = 2 English quarts.

Scotch Pound (A) was originally of the same value as an English pound, but after 1355 it gradually depreciated, until in 1600 it was but one-twelfth of the value of an English pound, that is about 1s. 8d.

Scotch Shilling = a penny sterling. The Scotch pound in 1600 was worth 20d., and as it was divided into twenty shillings, it follows that a Scotch shilling was worth one penny English.

Scotia Now applied poetically to Scotland, but at one time Ireland was so called. Hence Claudius says-

“When Scots came thundering from the Irish shores,
And ocean trembled, struck with hostile oars.”

Scotists Followers of Duns Scotus, who maintained the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in opposition to Thomas Aquinas.

“Scotists and Thomists now in peace remain.” Pope: Essay on Criticism.

Scotland St. Andrew is the patron saint of this country, and tradition says that the remains of the apostle were brought by Regulus, a Greek monk, to the eastern coast of Fife in 368. (See Rule , St.)
   Scotland a fief of England. Edward I. founded his claim to the lordship of Scotland on these four grounds:- (1) the ancient chroniclers, who state that Scotch kings had occasionally paid homage to the English sovereigns from time immemorial. Extracts are given from St. Alban, Marianus Scotus, Ralph of Diceto, Roger of Hoveden, and William of Malmesbury. (2) From charters of Scotch kings: as those of Edgar, son of Malcolm, William, and his son Alexander II. (3) From papal rescripts: as those of Honorius III., Gregory IX., and Clement IV. (4) By an extract from The Life and Miracles of St. John of Beverley. The tenor of this extract is quite suited to this Dictionary of Fable: In the reign of Adelstan the Scots invaded England and committed great devastation. Adelstan went to drive them back, and on reaching the Tyne, found that the Scotch had retreated. At midnight St. John of Beverley appeared to him, and bade him cross the river at daybreak, for he “should discomfit the foe.” Adelstan obeyed the vision, and reduced the whole kingdom to subjection. On reaching Dunbar on his return march, he prayed that some sign might be vouchsafed to him to satisfy all ages that “God, by the intercession of St. John, had given him the kingdom of Scotland.” Then struck he with his sword the basaltic rocks near the coast, and the blade sank into the solid flint “as if it had been butter,” cleaving it asunder for “an ell or more,” and the cleft remains even to the present hour. Without doubt there is a fissure in the basalt, and how could it have come there except in the way recorded above? And how could a sword cut three feet deep into a hard rock without miraculous aid? And what could such a miracle have been vouchsafed for, except to show that Adelstan was rightful lord of Scotland? And if Adelstan was lord, of course Edward should be so likewise. Q. E. D. (Rymer: Foedera, vol. i. pt. ii. p. 771.)

Scotland Yard (London). So called from a palace built there for the reception of the kings of Scotland when they visited England. Pennant tells us it was originally given by King Edgar to Kenneth of Scotland when he came to London to pay homage.
   Scotland Yard. The headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, whence all public orders to the force proceed.

“Mr. Walpole has only to speak the word in Scotland Yard, and the parks will be cleared.”- Pall Mall Gazette.

Scott The Walter Scott of Belgium. Hendrick Conscience. (Born 1812.)
   The Southern Scott. Lord Byron calls Ariosto the Sir Walter Scott of Italy. (Childe Harold, iv. 40.)

Scotus (Duns). Died 1309. His epitaph at Cologne is-

“Scotia me genuit, Anglia me suscepit,
Gallia me docuit, Colonia me tenet.”

Scourge of Christians Noureddin- Mahmûd of Damascus. (1116-1174.)