brook interference where he held sway, and, in defiance both of the Privy Lords and the King, caused John Wilson to be put to death, "quhaw was a trew man, nevir spotted nor suspect of any sic crymes as he (Lord Sanquhar) falslie objectit against him." Wilson was hanged on the Gallows Knowe, where, if tradition speaks rightly, he was not by any means the only innocent man who there met his fate. Beyond being for a time suspended from his offices, nothing whatever was done to Lord Sanquhar for his dastardly act. Years after, however, his misdeeds found him out, for he was hanged at Westminster in 1612 for being accessory to the murder of Turner, a fencing-master who had accidentally thrust out one of his eyes while they were practising with the foils. It was this Robert, Lord Sanquhar, who in 1598 secured the Royal Charter for Sanquhar burgh. Pity he should have disgraced himself in the manner he did.

Now as to the ghost. Many years ago an old woman, long dead and gone, gave me an account of mysterious noises she had heard at the castle. About sixty years ago she and her husband, who had been out of the district for some time, came back to live in Sanquhar. They had a great difficulty in obtaining a dwelling-house, but at last succeeded in getting a small dwelling from the farmer of the Castle Mains. This was a house of only one apartment, and stood close to the ruins of the castle under the shadow of the old keep or Wallace's Tower. This house had been used by the farmer as a milk-house, but after my informant left it was allowed to fall into decay, and years ago was removed altogether. During the winter months that the couple occupied this lonely dwelling, they were on several occasions much alarmed by noises

as if someone were going about the castle dragging a heavy chain, and at the same time hearing groans and sighs as from some person in great distress. They were unable to account for the sounds, although search was made on more than one occasion, and had no hesitation in putting them down to supernatural causes. Similar sounds have been heard by various people at different times..

The Lady in White is said only to show herself on rare occasions, and her appearance is supposed to bode no good to the ancient Crichton family. Why she haunts the castle I never could learn, further than that the spectre is the ghost of a beauteous maiden, daughter of a neighbouring vassal, and that she had been seduced and cruelly murdered by one of the Lords of Sanquhar. Only at rare intervals was this apparition seen, and when it did appear then trouble was in store for the Crichtons.

Human remains at various times have been found in and around the castle. Many years ago a coffin containing the skeleton of a tall, strong man, without the head, was found under the floor of one of the vaults; and at another time the skeleton of a woman, with long yellow hair still attached to the skull, was discovered head downmost in a pit or sewer. If the old walls could speak, what deeds of darkness they would unfold!

I have heard tell of an uncouth apparition being seen to the south of the castle, near the old Port Well, and also on the road between the castle and the ford through Nith at the Mains. This was believed to be none other than Auld Nick himsel'.

Alexander Broadfoot, the gudeman of South Mains, was a pious, well-living man, much respected by all

who knew him. He is said to have often been assailed by the evil one in many forms and ways, of which the following is an example. He was a keen curler, and one night had beer in Sanquhar attending a meeting of devotees of the roaring game held in the Queensberry Arms Inn. There was an extra amount of business, and the meeting was protracted beyond its usual time. Mrs Broadfoot, thinking her husband long in coming, sent her daughter on horseback to the town to fetch him home. The business being finished, Alexander mounted the horse, his stepdaughter getting up behind him, and away they jogged down the street, passed the Castle, and down the Port Well Brae to the ford. All went right until they reached the riverside; but just as they were entering the water the devil, in the form of a large black sack of wool, came rolling in before them, and went floundering through Nith, sometimes almost touching the horse's nose. Broadfoot said to his terrified companion"Ha'e nae fear, it's him, the auld rascal; he'll neither burn nor droon. Ay, I ken him, I hae'na seen him sae seldom. Keep a firm haud o'me, and never fash yer thoom aboot him; there is Ane that has the care o' you and me this nicht, wha is stronger than a' the devils in hell." When they reached the other side, the devil disappeared, but the horse, usually a quiet animal, snorted and shook with fear.

Now-a-days we know nothing about what gude folks had to suffer lang syne.

THE GHOST HOUSE.

Many of the older people of Sanquhar will remember an old house that stood in the field near the new bridge at Crawick. It was called the Ghost House, and the field, the Forge Park. The field was rented at one time by Mr Rigg of Crawick Forge, but it now forms part of Whitehill farm. As far back as I can remember no person lived in the Ghost House, but before it was demolished it had been used as a shed for feeding cattle. The place was said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman, hence the name. No one ventured near it after nightfall, and few cared to go near it even in the day time. Frequently those who had occasion to pass that way at night were startled by the apparition of a woman which screamed and yelled in a desperate manner, and loudly called for help, this being followed by a few stifled cries and groans, and then all was still. Little wonder such a sight struck terror to the benighted rustic, who took to his heels, feeling himself safest when the greatest distance was between him and the haunted house. Such was the state of things concerning the Ghost House sixty years ago. Since the removal of the house the story about its being haunted seems to be forgotten by many of the old people, and few of a