Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

30
Whan she cam to the kings court,
She rappit wi a ring— p. 18, v. 12.
The risp and ringle was the ancient mode of making
application for admission. They have been superseded
by the bell and knocker, altho' they are yet to be seen on
the doors of some old houses in Edinburgh. The risp
" was formed of a small square rod of iron, twisted or
otherwise notched, which was placed perpendicularly,
starting out a little from the door, bearing a small ring of
the same metal, which an applicant for admittance drew
rapidly up and down the nicks [notches], so as to pro-
duce a grating sound."
—
Traditions of Edinburgh.
When she cam to yon nettle-dyke.—p. 22, v. 32.
The practice of gathering nettles for making kail, or
broth, was once very common in Scotland, among the
poorer class. They were also considered an excellent
antiscorbutic, and are still used by some on account of
this medicinal quality.
Never a mill-capon,
Wad hae been a love 6 mine.— p. 23, v. 35.
A mill-capon was a designation given to a poor per-
son who sought charity at mills from those who had
grain grinding. The alms were usually a gowpen or
handful of meal. It was likewise customary to hang up
a pock in the mill, into which a handful of meal was put
for the use of the poor, out of the quantity ground. It
is feared that this charitable multure is no longer given.