In the memory of men still living, two well-known weavers, named James Livingstone and James McLaren, lived in Barnkettick, at the west end of the town. Livingstone was a through wag, and McLaren was somewhat of a simpleton. Livingstone was in the habit of telling his neighbour all sorts of extravagant stories about ghosts and witches. The facility with which the latter fraternity could turn themselves into hares and scamper about was an accepted fact, which McLaren as truly believed as his Bible.The story's told at great length. Basically, Livingstone gets a few of his mates involved, and they turn up early with snares and 'squibs'. When the two friends start digging, "a strange unearthly sound came up the hill, and on looking round, a ball of fire was seen careering through the underwood. McLaren felt queerish and almost speechless." But Livingstone said they were only bits of falling stars. McLaren thought otherwise, that it was something to do with the Monzie witches. When Livingstone yelled that he smelt brimstone, McLaren rushed terrified down the hillside, scaring rabbits and hares that then got caught screaming in the snares. He makes it home but Livingstone clearly doesn't know when to stop and ties a live hare to the bed, which McLaren of course interprets as a witch.
The Rocking or Cradle Stone on the brow of the Knock, behind the town, was supposed to be of Drudical [sic] origin, and for ages drew forth the fear and wonder of the natives. A belief prevailed that something valuable was buried in its foundation, and worth lifting, if it could only be got at.
The RCAHMS record says the Cradle Stone is a huge boulder that's been split in two. Surely it's called the Cradle Stone because it rocks / rocked at some point? but in a mention in PSAS (v45/1910) it says "the local story is that the Cradle Stone is where the babies came from!" Maybe that's a kind of back-explanation with a fertility related twist?
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