Archaeological essays . elongs to Struan Eobertson, the chief of the Clan am indebted to the kindness of Mrs. Eobertson, for the follow-ing notes regarding the curing-stone, of which her family are thehereditary proprietors. Its local name is Clach-na-Bratach, or Stone of the Standard. This stone has been in possession of the Chiefs of Clan Donna-chaidh since 1315. It is said to have been acquired in this wise. ^ In the first chapter of Adamnans work, the miracle is again alluded toas follows :— He took a white stone {la2ndem candidum) from the rivers bed,and blessed it for the cur
Archaeological essays . elongs to Struan Eobertson, the chief of the Clan am indebted to the kindness of Mrs. Eobertson, for the follow-ing notes regarding the curing-stone, of which her family are thehereditary proprietors. Its local name is Clach-na-Bratach, or Stone of the Standard. This stone has been in possession of the Chiefs of Clan Donna-chaidh since 1315. It is said to have been acquired in this wise. ^ In the first chapter of Adamnans work, the miracle is again alluded toas follows :— He took a white stone {la2ndem candidum) from the rivers bed,and blessed it for the cure of certain diseases ; and that stone, contrary to thelaw of nature, floats like an apple when placed in the water. 2 For other instances of waters rendered medicinal by being brought incontact with saints bones—such as St. Marnans head, with St. Convalschariot, etc. etc., see Daly ells Superstitions oj Scotland, p. 151, etc. SibbaldsMemoirs of the Edinhurgh Collecje of Physicians, p. 39. SCOTTISH CHARM-STONES. 211. * The (then) chief, journeying with his clan to join Braces armybefore Baimockburn, observed, on his standard being lifted one morn-ino:, a glittering something in a clod of earth hanging to the flag-staff. It was this stone. He showed it to his followers, and toldthem he felt sure its brilliant lightswere a good omen and foretold avictory—and victory was won onthe hard-fought field of Bannock-burn. From this time, whenever theelan was out, the Clach-na-Bra-tach accompanied it, carried on theperson of the chief, and its varyinghues were consulted by him as tothe fate of battle. On the eve ofSheriffmuir (13th November 1715), of sad memory, on Struan con-sulting the stone as to the fate of the morrow, the large internalflaw was first observed. The Stuarts were lost—and Clan Donna-chaidh has been declining in influence ever since. The virtues of the Clach-na-Bratach are not altogether of amartial nature, for it cures all manner of diseases in cattle andhorseSj
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