Sir John Somerville vs. The Serpent of Linton

The Serpent of Linton is a legendary creature that once terrorized the Scottish countryside. According to local legend, the serpent had its den in a hollow piece of ground on the side of a hill south-east from Linton church, where it used to shelter and rest itself. But when it sought after prey, it would wander a mile or two from its residence and make prey of all sorts of bestial that came in its way. Its reign of terror was so great that people were forced to move their livestock several miles away, leaving the country desolate.

The serpent was described as being “in length three Scots yards, and somewhat bigger than an ordinary man’s leg, with a head more proportionable to its length than greatness, in form and colour to our common muir adders.” Several attempts were made to destroy the creature, but none were successful until a young man named Sir John Somerville took up the challenge.

Sir John Somerville was a brave and resourceful young man who was determined to rid the countryside of the serpent. He had heard many strange reports concerning the animal and became anxious to see it for himself. He went to Jedburgh, where he found the inhabitants in such a state of excitement that they were preparing to desert the town. Somerville resolved to obtain a view of the serpent and was not long near the place when he saw the strange beast crawl forth from its den. It lifted up its head with half of the body and stared him in the face with an open mouth, but never offered to advance or come to him. Somerville took courage and drew much nearer so that he might perfectly see all its shapes, and try whether it would dare to assault him. But the beast turned almost in a half circle and returned to the den, never offering him the least prejudice, whereby he concluded that the creature was not so dangerous as the report stated, and that means might be adopted for its destruction.

Somerville knew that the only way to kill the serpent was by a sudden attack with a long spear on horseback. Having watched its movements for several days, he found that it could not run backward but required to turn itself in a half circle, and that it always stared at him with its mouth open. He caused a spear to be made nearly double the ordinary length, and plated with iron from the point downwards, that no fire upon a sudden might cause it to fall asunder. He also trained his horse with a blazing peat on the top of a lance until the steed was familiarly accustomed to the smell, smoke, and light of the fire, and would not refuse to advance on the spur, although it blew in his face.

On the appointed day, Somerville publicly intimated to the gentlemen and peasantry that he would undertake to kill the monster or die in the attempt. He invited as many of them as chose to be spectators. Many looked upon the invitation as a jest, and all concurred in censuring his rashness. Somewhat before the dawning, he placed himself, with a stout and resolute fellow his servant, within half an arrow flight, or thereby, to the mouth of the den. He watched the serpent with a vigilant eye upon horseback, having before prepared some long, small, and hard peats, bedaubed with pitch, rosin, and brimstone, fixed with a small wire upon the wheel at the point of his lance. These being touched with fire would instantly break out into a flame.

About the sun-rising, the serpent appeared with her head and some part of her body outside the den. Upon the servant’s direction, the peats upon the wheel at the top of the lance were set on fire, and instantly, Somerville put spurs to his horse, advancing with a full gallop. The fire still increasing, he placed the same with the wheel and almost the third part of his lance directly in the serpent’s mouth, which went down the throat into the belly. The lance broke by the rebound of his horse, but it gave the serpent a deadly wound. In the pangs of death, some part of her body being within the den, so great was her strength that she raised up the whole ground that was above her and overturned the same to the furthering of her ruin, being partly smothered by the weight thereof.

The body of the serpent was taken from among the rubbish and exposed for many days to the peasantry, who came great distances to view the dead object of their terror. The place where the animal is believed to have been killed is called the Worm’s Glen, and the exploit of Sir John Somerville was commemorated in the sculpture which is still to be seen above the door of the old church of Linton.

For this service, Sir John Somerville was rewarded with the lands and barony of Linton, which continued long in the possession of his descendants, the Lords Somerville. The story of the Serpent of Linton is a fascinating example of Scottish folklore and has been passed down through the generations. It is a tale of courage, resourcefulness, and determination in the face of a terrifying foe, and it has become a part of the rich cultural heritage of Scotland.

Today, the Serpent of Linton remains a popular legend, and the sculpture commemorating the brave deed can still be seen above the door of the old church in Linton. It is a reminder of a time when legends and myths held sway over the Scottish countryside and of the people who faced their fears with courage and ingenuity.