Saturday Memory for August 2, 2025
Saturday Memory
August 2, 2025
During my 1980 trip to Scotland, I visited Simon McDonald-Lockhart at Lee Castle, the ancestral home of the Lockharts. He made it possible for me to spend some time alone with the Lee Penny. This object (a ruby-like stone mounted on a coin) was gifted to Simon Locard during the crusade in 1330 from a Moorish emir. It was believed to have healing properties, and indeed, it has been used as such, even being requisitioned by the government. In handling the stone, I could feel some strange qualities but could not describe them. I did see images that presented themselves, but they were too fast to track. The Lee Penny was the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott’s novel, The Talisman. Scott was a frequent visitor to Lee Castle, where he found a Lockhart daughter to marry. The memory of holding the Lee Penny is still as sharp as ever.
I’m taking my place as an honorary Scots woman. One of my relatives on my dad’s side, and I’m not sure I ever told you this, was a laird of a castle in northern Scotland. I don’t know his name and when I lived in the UK, I did not visit him. Now I could kick myself. He was given the title and land, supposedly for fine good deed he did. He was originally from London and was granted this land. I am certain he had passed away. The only person who would know who he was and our relationship to him is my cousin Alan, but last time I mentioned “The Laird,” he replied, “What’s a Laird?” I’m obviously getting nothing from him! Anyway, I consider myself Scottish by blood to a Jew ft
London, probably from Holland to begin with. Oh well. I love the penny story, and Henry had his Gladtonbury stone in his pocket. Always.