This curious piece of antiquity is a stone of a dark red colour and
triangular shape, in size about half an inch each side, set in a piece
of silver coin; which, though much defaced, by some letters still
remaining, is supposed to be a shilling of Edward I., the cross being
very plain, as it is on his shillings. It is affirmed, by tradition, to
have been in the Lee family since the year 1320 odd; that is, a little
after the death of king Robert Bruce, who having ordered his heart to be
carried to the Holy Land for burial, one of the noble family of Douglass
was sent with it, and is said to have got the crowned heart in his arms
from that circumstance. On the other hand, it is alleged that the person
who carried the heart was Simon Locard, of Lee, who about that time
borrowed a large sum of money from sir William de Lendsay, prior of Air,
for which he granted a bond of annuity of ten pounds of silver, during
the life of the said sir William de Lendsay, out of his lands of Lee and
Cartland. The original bond, dated 1323, and witnessed by the principal
nobility of the country, is among the family papers. The sum, which was
a great one in those days, is thought to have been borrowed for that
expedition; and, on the authority of the story, of his being the person
who carried the royal heart, it is affirmed, that he changed his name to
“Lockheart;” or, as it is sometimes spelled, “Lockhart,” and obtained a
heart within a lock for part of his arms, with the motto, “corda serata
pando.”
It is said that this Simon Lockhart having taken a Saracen prince, or
chief, prisoner, his wife came to ransom him; and, on counting out the
money or jewels, the stone in question fell out of her purse, and she
hastily snatched it up, which Simon Lockhart observing, insisted on
having it, or retaining his prisoner. Upon this the Saracen lady gave
it him, and told him of its many virtues, namely, that it cured all
diseases in cattle, and the bite of a mad dog both in man and beast.
To effect these wonders the stone is dipped in water, which is given to
diseased cattle to drink, and to a person who has been bitten; and the
wound, or part infected, is washed with the water. There are no words
used in the dipping of the stone, nor any money taken by the servants
without incurring the owner’s displeasure. People come from all parts of
Scotland, and even from Yorkshire, to get the water in which the stone
is dipped, to give their cattle, especially when ill of the murrain and
black-leg.
Many years ago, a complaint was made to the ecclesiastical courts
against the laird of Lee, then sir James Lockhart, for using witchcraft:
a copy of their act is hereto annexed. There is no date; but from the
orthography, and James being the name of the laird of Lee, it must at
least have been in the seventeenth century.