unpunish'd in case of Treason against the King who cannot be said to have any will and so cannot offend who during his Idiocy or Lunacy shall kill or go about to kill the King he shall be punish'd as a Traytor yet being non compos mentis the Law holds he cannot commit Felony or petty Treason nor other sorts of High Treason Moreover for the precious regard of the Person of the King no Physick ought to be administred to the King but what his Physicians prepare with their own hands and not by the hands of an Apothecary and to use no Chyrurgions but such as are sworn the King's Chyrurgâ—ons All His Subjects by Oath of Allegiance are obliged and bound to defend His Person in his natural as well as political capacity with His own life and limbs He is Pater Patriae dulce decorum est pro Patria mori To lose life or limb in defending the King from Conspiracies Rebellions or Invasions or the Execution of His Laws should seem a pleasant thing to every Loyal hearted Subject The King's Revenue anciently consisted most in Crown-Lands which could not be alienated but by Act of Parliament and in the Wards and Marriages of the Vassals of the Crown But most of these have been of late years given away and most of the Tenures of Lands are changed although there has been no general Law for taking away the Wards The Revenue is now raised out of the Customs and Excise The last is given this King for life but the former is in the Crown for ever The rest is raised out of what remains of the Crown-Lands and the Wards The King of Scotland beareth for his Soveraign Ensigns Armorial as followeth a double Tressure counterflowered de Lys Or and a Lion Rampant Gules Of the Present Queen of Scotland England c. Donna Catherina Infanta of Portugal being Queen Consort of Scotland England c. and the Second Person in the Kingdoms was Daughter of Don Juan the fourth of that Name King of Portugal and of Donna Lucia Daughter of Don Guzman El bueno a Spaniard Duke of Medina Sidonia who was Lineally descended from Ferdinando de la Cerde and his Consort Blanche To whom Lewis King of France her Father relinquisht his Right and Title to Spain descended to him by his Mother Blanche Eldest Daughter and Heir of Alphonso the Spanish King The Queen was born the fourteenth of Novemb. 1638. at Villa Vicosa in Portugal she was baptized Catherina signifying in Greek pure her Father being then Duke of Briganza though right Heir of the Crown of Portugal the most potent Subject in Europe for a third part of Portugal was holden of him then in Vassallage The Queen is only Sister at present of Don Alphonso the sixth of that Name and twenty third King of Portugal â—orn 1643. Hath another Brother more called Don Pedro born 1648. who is now Regent of the Kingdom of Portugal Having been most carefully and piously educated by her Mother and at the Age of twenty two desired in Marriage by King Charles the Second the Marriage not long after concluded by the Negotiation of Don Francisco de Melo Con. de Ponte Marquis de Saude and then Extraordinary Ambassadour of the King of Portugal and solemnized at Lisbon she embarkt for England upon the twenty third of April 1662. and was safely by the Earl of Sandwich conducted by a squadron of Ships to Portsmouth where the King first met her and was Re-married by the then Bishop of London who afterwards was Archbishop of Canterbury On the 23d of August 1662. Her Majesty coming by Water from Hampton Court was with great pomp and magnificence first received by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at Chelsey and thence conducted by Water to Whitehall The Portion she brought with her was eight hundred millions of Reas or two millions of Crusadoes being about three hundred thousand pounds sterling together with that important place of Tangier upon the the Goast of Africk and the Isle of Bombaim near Goa in the East-Indies with a priviledge that any Subjects of the King of Great Britain c. may Trade freely in the East and West-Indies Plantations belonging to the Portugues The Queen's Joynture by the Articles of Marriage is thirty thousand pound sterling per annum and the King out of his great affection toward her hath as an Addition settled upon her 10000 l. per annum more The Queen's Arms as Daughter to the King of Portugal is Argent Five Scutcheons Azure cross-wise each Scutcheon charged with Five Plates or Besants Argent saltier-wise with a Point sable the Border gules charged with Six Castles Or. Queen Catherine is a Personage of rare perfections of eminent Piety and Modesty and extraordinary Religious and Charitable CHAP. IV. Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood And first of the Duke of Albany and York THE First Prince of the Blood is the most Illustrious Prince James Duke of Albany and York Second Son to King Charles the Martyr and only Brother to the present King our Sovereign He was Born Octob. 14. 1633. the 24th of the same month was Baptized and afterward committed to the Government of the then Countess of Dorset There was no Ceremony used in England when he was created D. of York which was the 27. of July 1643. the iniquity of these times not admitting thereof Scotland not being so happy as to have him or any of the Royal Family at that time among them After the Surrender of Oxford His Royal Highness was in 1646. conveyed to London by the prevailing disloyal Part of the Two Houses of Parliament and committed with his Brother Glocester and Sister Elizabeth to the care of the Earl of Northumberland In the year 1648. Aged about Fifteen was by Collonel Bampfield conveyed in a disguise or habit of a Girl beyond Sea first to his Sister the Princess Royal of Orange in Holland and afterwards to the Queen his Mother then at Paris where he was carefully educated in the Religion of the Church of England and in all Exercises meet for such a Prince About the Age of Twenty in France he went into the Campagne and served with much Gallantry under the great Commander the then Protestant Mareschal de Turene for the French King against the Spanish Forces in Flanders Notwithstanding which upon a Treaty between the French King and Cromwell the Usurper in 1655. being obliged with all his Retinue to leave the French Dominions and invited into Flanders by Don Juan of Austria he there served under him against the French King then leagued with the English Rebels against Spain where his Magnanimity and Dexterity in Martial Affairs though unsuccessful were very eminent In the year 1660. came over with the King into England and being Lord High Admiral in the year 1665. in the War against the United States of the Netherlands commanded in Person the whole Royal Navy on the Sea between England and Holland where
material as will appear by his further perusal Kind Reader use me discreetly in your censures being it is the first undertaking and if kindly received may be an encouragement for me to serve you hereafter upon some other as necessary occasion Consider it may happen that your own Works may be published which likewise you would desire to be received with kind entertainment Quod â—ihi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris expecting your good construction of this will be the greatest encouragement I can have hereafter to be serviceable to you Farewel A. M. THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. Page 1. OF Scotland in general Of its Name Climate Dimensions Division Air Soil Commodities Moneys Measures Weights Buildings c. Chap. 2. Page 16. Of the Laws of Scotland Of Registers of Letters of Horning and Caption c. A List of all the Kings of Scotland to His present Majesty Of the Descent of the Crown What a Convention of Estates is The Prerogatives of the Crown Chap. 3. Page 37. Of Succession of the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland Chap. 4. Pag. 55. Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood Chap. 5. Page 72. Of the Chief Officers of State Of the Parliament The Manner of their Election Of the Riding of Parliament The Chusing the Lords of the Articles A List of all the present Nobility of Scotland Of the Privy Counsel with a List of the present Members thereof Of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer Chap. 6. Page 116. Of Inferiour Courts Of Sheriffdoms A List of the Shires of Scotland with the Names of the present Sheriffs Of Courts of Regalities Of a Barons Court Chap. 7. Page 127. Of the Burroughs of Scotland Of Burroughs Royal Burroughs of Regalities and Burroughs of Baronies Chap. 8. Page 135. Of the Court of Admiralty Of the Government of the Militia Chap. 9. Page 141. Of the Church Government Chap. 10. Page 182. Of Bishops Jurisdiction Of their Commissaries Of the Court of Session Of Presbyteries A List of all the Presbyteries of Scotland Of a Synod Of the General Assemblies Ch. 11 12 13 14. P. 196 c. Of the Vniversities of Scotland A List of all the Commissioners that have been in Scotland since King James the 6th 252 A Catalogue of the Chancellors of Scotland since the year 1198. 257 Writers of the Scottish History 260 Books Printed for Jonathan Wilkins Bookseller at the Star in Cheapside next Mercers-Chapel A Philosophick Discourse concerning Man being the Anatomy both of his Soul and Body wherein the Nature Origin Union Immateriality Immortality Extension and Faculties of the one and the Parts Humors Temperaments Complexions Functions Sexes and Ages respecting the other are concisely delivered by S. H. Student in Physick In 12. New and Curious Observations on the Art of Curing the Venereal Disease and the Accidents that it produces in all its Degrees Explicated by Natural and Mechanick Principles with the Motions Actions Effects of Mercury and its other Remedies wherein are discovered on the same Subject the Errours of some Authors and the most notorious Cheats of Ignorant Pretenders Written in French by Monsieur de Blegny Chyrurgion in Ordinary to the French Queen and Englished by Walter Harris Dr. of Physick lately Fellow of New Colledge in Oxford In 80. Miracles of Art and Nature Or a Brief Description of the several Varieties of Birds Beasts Fishes Plants and Fruits of other Countries With several other remarkable things in the World By R. B Gent. In 80. The Cities Exaltation by Uprightness A Sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chapel on Sunday June 6 1680. before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Clayton Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Court of Aldermen By John Rowley Rector of Hemmingford-Abbots in the County of Huntington Modesty Triumphing over Impudence Or some Notes upon a late Romance published by Elizabeth Cellier Midwife and Lady Errant Together with the Depositions of Richard Adams of Lincolns-Inn Esq against her before His Majesty and the Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council OF SCOTLAND In General CHAP. I. Of its Name Climate Dimension Division Air Soil Commodities Moneys Weights Measures and Buildings SCotland maketh the Northern Part of Great Brittain it hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Deucalidon Sea the West is affronted with Ireland and is dividâ—d from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot hills Name The name of Scots from which the Kingdom is called Scotland Originally is derived from Scota Daughter to Pharoah King of Aegypt The Ancient Histories of the Kingdom by unanimous consent give this account of the Inhabitants of this Island retaining that name unto this day Scota being given in Marriage to Gathelus Son of Cecrops King of Athens in consideration of the eminent service and assistance he perform'd in a War that Pharoah had against the Ethiopians to whose Valour and the Grecians that accompanied him the King imputed the Victory Gathelus deserving so weâ—â— the Kings Daughter was given to him in Marriage while Pharoah lâ—â—â—d Gaâ—helus was in esteem with the â—â—ople having encreased his reputaâ—â—â—â— as well â—â— hâ—s Lands shortly after Pharoah dying his Son of the same name who so cruelly tormented the Israelites with Taxes and Bondage having no regard to Gathelus or his Services began to use him inferiour to what might be expected Notwithstanding of this hard measure Gathelus willingly would have afforded this Pharoah his Service upon all occurrences but being warned of the Plagues that should happen to the Egyptians he made preparations to remove into some other Country which he intended to have been Numidia but being hinder'd to land there he set Sail passing thorow the Streights taking some valiant Grecians along with him he at last landed in a part of Spain then called Lusitania but by reason of his Arrivaâ— Port-gathell now Portangell This is said to be in the Year of the world 2453. After he had conquered this People he came to 〈◊〉 North of Spain where by reason of â—is abode there was a Colony of 〈◊〉 whom he named Scots from 〈…〉 Scota having two Sons Hiber and Himicus whom he sent to an Island which he heard was opposite to Spain on the North which afterwards had its name from Hiber being called Hibernia now Ireland the People of the Isle being easily conquer'd a great many Scots from Gallicia in Spain being the name of the Colony where Gathelus first setled were sent hither keeping their name still After sundry engagements with the Inhabitants the Scots in Ireland became the stronger and greater Party of these descended many Valianâ— and Noble Men who came with Fergusius the first King of Scotland to fight against the Picts who cruelly and barbarously at that time insulted over some Scots who landed in Albion being formerly of the Scots in Ireland Fergusius the first King of Scots in Albion now Scotland Son to Ferqu hard King of Ireland was Crown'd
was made a Privy Councillor in 1662. and in 1666. being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarl first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the enemy soon to flight He enjoyes a Pension from His Majesty of 4000 l. per annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland are three French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Bohemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the Late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. sterling a year There was two Daughters of Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine who being unmarried are deceased The last is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia Born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659. wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters she is said to be one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Having this particular Account of all the nearest in Blood to the Crown of Scotland being the Issue of King James the Sixth and King Charles the First it will not be amiss to relate these that are descended of the Daughter of King James the Second since whom till the Queen of Bohemia no collateral branch sprung from the Royal Family of whom any Issue remains James Lord Hamilton was married to the Daughter of King James the Second and had Issue first James created Earl of Arran whose Son was the Duke of Chastelherault from whom by Two Sons are descended the Families of Hamilton and Abercorn and by Two Daughters the Families of Huntley and Lauderdale And by an Act of Parliament signed by all the Three Estates the Original whereof is yet extant in the Reign of Queen Mary The Duke of Chastelheraults Family is declared next the Queen and her Issue the Rightful Heir of the Crown The Sister of King James the Third bare likewise to the Lord Hamilton a Daughter married to the Earl of Lennox from whom descended the Family of Lennox There is no otther branch of the Royal Family since it was in the Line of the Stewarts except the Earl of Cassils his Family whose Ancestor the Lord Kennedy married King James the firsts Sister from which Marriage that Family is descended And so much of the Royal Family CHAP. V. Of the Chief Officers of State of the Court of Justice The Manner of Elections of the Members in Parliament and Riding of Parlialiament Of the Privy Council Of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer THE Government of the Kingdom being wholly in the Crown the King administers it by his officers of State and Privy Council The Officers of State are Eight The first is the Lord Chancellour who is Keeper of the Great Seal and President in all Courts where-ever he is This Office was in the Person of John Duke of Rothes lately deceased The Second Officer is the Lord High Treasurer who governs the Revenue and presides in the Exchequer This Office is now in Commission The Third Officer is the Lord Privy Seal who is at present John Duke of Athol These Three take place of all the Nobility The Fourth Officer is the Lord Secretary who keeps the Signet and is a Lord by his Office and takes place of all of his Rank The Office of Secretary is executed by the Right Honourable Alexander Earl of Murray The Fifth Officer is the Lord Clerk of Registers who has the charge of all the publick Records Rolls and Registers and Names of all the Clerks of Parliament and Session and the Keepers of Publick Registers This Office is executed by Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick The Sixth Officer is the King's Advocate who is also called the Lord Advocate He is commonly a Judge except in cases in which the King is concerned and in these he pleads in the King's Name The present Lord Advocate is Sir George Mackenzie of Rose-haugh The Seventh Officer is the Lord Treasurer Deputy who is Assistant to the Lord High Treasurer and is a check upon him and presides in the Exchequer in his absence This Office is executed by Charles Maitland of Hatton The Eighth Officer is the Lord Justice Clerk who assists the Lord Justice General in Criminal Causes The present Justice Clerk is Rich. Maitland Esq All these have the Title of Lord and the Precedency of all under Noble men and their Eldest Sons Of the Courts of Justice The Chief and Supream Court of Justice is the High Court of Parliament which is made up of Three Estates The first is the Ecclesiastical that of Old consisted of Bishops and Miter'd Abbots but since the Reformation consists only of Arch-Bishops and Bishops The second Estate is the Nobility who were antiently divided into the greater Barons and the lesser for every man that holds Lands of the Crown with a priviledge of holding a Court much like the Lord of a Mannour in England is called a Baron and all were obliged to appear personally in Parliament Proxies never being allowed by the Law of Scotland and give the King Counsel This proved a very hard burden to the small Barons upon which they desired to be excused from their Attendance in Parliament And this was granted them as a favour in King James's the first Reign And though by that Act they might have sent two or three or more to represent them from every Shire yet they made no use of that for above 150 years But King James the Sixth to ballance the Nobility got them restored to that Right so that ever since there are two sent from every Shire who are Commissioners of the Shires The third Estate is the Burroughs every one of which chuseth one Commissioner or Burgess only the City of Edinburgh as the Metropolis chuseth two Elections of Members of Parliament The Parliament is summoned by Proclamation made at the Head Burrough of every Shire forty daies before they meet upon which the Shires and Burroughs meet about their Elections Every one that holdeth Lands of the Crown that in the Rolls of the Taxation the Antient Name of Subsidies and Assessments are valued at forty shillings Scottish Money of Taxation to the King which will be in real value about ten pounds sterling a year is an Electour or may be Elected so he be rightly vested in the Land or according to the Scottish terms infeoft and seized and be not at the King's Horn that is under an Outlawry The Electours subscribe the Commissions they give and so their Commissioner is returned and if there be Cross Elections the Parliament is only Judge In the Burroughs the Common Council of the Town makes the Election The Manner of the Riding of the Parliament When the day comes in which
round And a Dukes Coronet only Leaves without Pearls They are more especially distinguisht by their Robes of Parliament by their several Guards on their Mantles or short Cloaks about their shoulders A Baron hath but two Guards a Viscount two and a half an Earl three a Marquess three and a half and a Duke four Precedence Touching the Places or Precedences among the Nobility of Scotland it is to be observed that Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquesses Dukes Eldest Sons Earls Marquesses Eldest Sons Dukes Younger Sons Viscounts Earls Eldest Sons Marquesses Younger Sons Barons Viscounts Eldest Sons Earls Younger Sons Barons Eldest Sons Viscounts Younger Sons Barons Younger Sons The Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and no further having the Precedency of all the Nobility Yea the natural or illegitimate Sons of the King after they are acknowledged by the King take Precedency of all the Nobles under those of the Blood Royal. Moreover observe that all Nobles of the same degree take place according to the seniority of their Creation all Dukes Eldest Sons have the title of Earls and the Eldest Son of an Earl hath the title of the Earls Barony and sometimes of the Viscountry according to the Patent Of His Majesties Privy Council in the Kingdom of Scotland The Privy Council is chiefly imployed about publick Affairs and are Judges of Riots and any disturbance given to the Peace of the Kingdom Antiently the Lords oâ— the Session were the King's Council and so are stiled Lords of Counciâ— and Session The Power of the Privy Council hath been most raised since King James got the Crown of England that by reason of the King 's necessary absence from Scotland the King hath lodged much of His Power with His Privy Council Lawyers do plead the Causes of Riots before them and when sentence is to be given every Privy Councillor gives his Vote and the major Vote carries it Lords and others of His Majesties present Privy Council of SCOTLAND His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany c. John Duke of Rothes Lord Chancellor Alexander Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate John Duke of Athol Lord Privy Seal John Duke of Lauderdale Presid of the Council William Marquess of Douglass James Marquess of Montross Alexander Earl of Murray Secretary of State Archbald E. of Argile John E. of Errol George E. of Marischal Charles E. of Marr. E. of Linlithgow E. of Pearth Patrick E. of Strathmore Robert E. of Roxburgh E. of Queensbury E. of Ancram James E. of Airly E. of Balcarras William E. of Dondonald E. of Kintore E. of Broadalbine Archbald Lord Lorn John Lord Livingstone John Lord Bishop of Edinburgh James Lord Elphinstone John Lord Rosse Sir Charles Maitland of Haâ—tone Treasurer Deputy Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick L. Clerk Register Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh L. Advocate Richard Maitland Esq L. Justice Clerk Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Sessions Sir George Gordon of Haddo Sir George Mackenzy of Tarbot John Drummond of Londy Lieutenant General Dalziel Sir George Kinnard of Rossy Sir John Wachop of Nidry Of the Supreme Court of Judicature The Supreme Court of Judicature about the Property of the Subject is called the Colledge of Justice or the Session which was antiently an ambulatory Court but was settled as it is now by King James the â—ifth Anno Christi 1532. to consist of fourteen who are called Senatours of the Colledge of Justice or Lords of Council and Session and a President to whom are added the Lord Chancellor and four Lords of the Nobility or as they usually call them Lords Extraordinary The Extraordinary Lords have no Salary and are not obliged to Attendance but when they come they have a Vote This Court sits from the first of June till the last of July and from the first of November till Christmas-Eve and from the first of January till the last of February But now by Act of Parliament the Summer Sessions are taken away and in stead thereof are henceforth to be kept in March They sit from Nine of the Clock in the Morning till Twelve all the daies of the week except Sunday and Monday There is an Outer-house and an Inner In the Outer-house there is a Bench where one of the Senators sits a week and all of them except the President have their Turns in it who hears all Causes originally and where the case is clear he gives sentence But if it be difficult or if either party desires it he reports it to the rest of the Senators who either send out their Answer by him or if it be very intricate and the parties or either of them desire it do appoint it to be heard before themselves This is a Court of great dispatch But besides the Judge upon the Bench there is a side Bar to which one of the Judges comes out by turns weekly as in the former and receives and answers all Petitions and Bills The Inner-house where all the rest of the Senators sit is a Court of great State and Order The Senators sit in a semicircle in Robes under them sit their Clerks who write all the most material heads of all that is pleaded at the Bar where the pleadings are long and very learned When the the Senatours have after all the parties are removed considered their arguments they give their sentence and the major part carries it Their final sentence determines all business in their Court there lying no Appeal from them only the Parliament as the Supreme Court may review and repeal their sentence their decisive sentence are called Decreets from the Latine Decreta Senators of the present Colledge of Justice The Lords Extraordinary The Lord Chancellor The Duke of Athol The D. of Lauderdale The Earl of Murray The Earl of Argile The Lords Ordinary not Noblemen Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Session Charles Maitland of Hatton Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick Sir James Foulis of Collington Sir John Lockart of Castlehill Sir Robert Nairn of Strathurd Sir James Foulis of Redford Sir David Nevoy of Nevoy Sir David Balfour of Torret Sir David Falconer of Newton Sir John Gordon of Pitmedden Sir Roger Hogg of Harcus Sir Andrew Birny of Saline Sir George Gorden of Haddo Of the Justice Court The next Supreme Court is the Justice Court where all Criminals are tryed It consists of a Lord Justice General and of a Lord Justice Clerk who is his Assistant The Earl of Argile had this Office by Inheritance but King Charles the First agreed with the said Earl and gave him the hereditary Justiciariship of of the High lands for which he laid down his pretensions to the other The Lord Justice General is not obliged to serve in person but may do it by Deputies and he commonly named two This Order was changed Anno 1669. and by Act of Parliament four Judges were appointed to sit
Campo-bello or Campbell Turgot Prior of Durham and B. of St. Andrews wrote the Lives of King Malcolm Canmoir and of his Queen Margaret Liber Sconae a Chronicle written by the Monks of Scoone Liber Pasletensis The Black Book of Paislay a Chronicle written by the Monks of Paislay Liber Pluscartensis a Chronicle written by the Monks of Pluscardy One Blind Henry wrote the History of Sir William Wallace in Scottish Meeter John Barbour Archdeacon of Aberdeen did write the Life of King Robert Bruce in Scottish Meeter John Major Provost of St. Salvator's Colledge in St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation William Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth or Boyes Principal of the King's Colledge of Aberdeen wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the First continued till the Reign of King James the Sixth by John Ferrerius a Piemontoise a Monk of Pluscardy John Balenden Archdeacon of Murray did translate Boyes History into English George Buchanan Praeceptor to King James the Sixth wrote the History of the Nation till the year 1572. Robert Johnstone wrote a Continuation of the Scottish History from the year 1572. till the year 1624. in Latine Folio John Leslie Bishop of Ross wrote the History of the Nation till the year 138 Raphael Holinshed wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the Sixth continued by Francis Thin Will. Cambden wrote a Description of the Kingdom John Dempster wrote an Introduction to the Scottish History David Chalmer wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Saints David Hume of Godscroft did write the History of the Earls of Douglass and Angus William Drummond of Hawthornden did write the Lives of the Five King James's William Sanderson wrote the Lives of Queen Mary King James the Sixth and King Charles the First John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews did write the History of the Church of Scotland from the first Plantation of the Christian Faith therein till the Death of King James the Sixth The Office of the Chancellor of State conferred upon him by that glorious Martyr King Charles the First he discharged to the satisfaction of his Royal Master and the advantage of the Church He was a person of rare Ornaments and in all things compleatly qualified for his Imployment yet he did not escape the hard measure which other Loyal Subjects tasted of for by the Covenanters he was forced to retire into England where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth He ended his daies in a good old Age and was honourably Interred in Westminster Abby Anno 1639. after he had governed the See twenty four years George Wishart Dr. of Divinity and Bishop of Edinburgh did write the Actions of James Marquess of Montross Robert Gordon of Stralogh did write the Theatrum Scotiae being a description of the whole Kingdom with the Maps of every particular Country Printed by Janson Bleaw at Amsterdam a very excellent work The mercenary Printer did him a double injury first in printing with his Book Buchanan's Seditious Pamphlet De Jure Regni apud Scotos it being sufficiently known that the Author was of no such principle but alwaies Loyal Then in dedicating that work to the Usurper O. Cromwell whereas the Author sent over to the Printer a Dedication of his Book to His most Sacred Majesty at that time Prince of Wales and the Copy of that Dedication written with his own hand is yet in the Custody of his Son the Reverend James Gordon Parson of Rothimay This much was necessary to be said in vindication of that worthy Gentleman who was one of the most Learned persons of the Age he lived in If any think that this Treatise hath not swelled to that bulk that might be expected from an undertaking of this nature having so large a Subject to treat of let this suffice for an Answer that the several calamities that have happened in this Antient Kingdom may justly serve for an Apology when it is to be considered that after the Death of Alexander the Third of that Name King of Scotland and all his Sons which in one years space died of a pestilent Fever which was never before known in this Kingdom his Daughter being Queen of Norway died in the same year who left behind her a Daughter whom after the Death of the King and his Sons the Estates sent for to this effect Two Ambassadors were dispatcht to Norway to take care of the safe conveyance of this Young Lady the only hope the Kingdom relyed on It was not long after these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing News that this Lady was dead likewise Consider what fears and sorrows at the hearing of these News did perplex the Subjects of this Kingdom So many deaths falling out in the Royal Family did presage great calamities to ensue For as the Loss of so worthy a King was great so their Fears was no less because of the uncertainty of the Succession Many Competitors six they were in number claiming the Inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship It must needs be supposed that they did divide the Realm and so beget a Civil War yet these who were trusted with the management of Affairs during the Inter Reign did by their Mediation work them to a Compromise and to remit the decision of the Controversie to King Edward the First of England a Prince of long Experience and much respected in that time For this purpose divers Gentlemen were sent to King Edward who at that time was in France to inform him of the inconveniencies that were feared to fall out in the Kingdom of Scotland and the course they had taken to prevent the same intreating his help for quieting the State King Edward glad to have an hand in the making of a King in Scotland dimitted them with many kind expressions of his kindness to the Kingdom assigning a Dyet for the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed at which Dyet the King was present at this meeting there was no decision all the Competitors except two to wit John Baliol and Robert Bruce were ordered to cease from their claim Of Baliol and Bruce an Oath was taken that they should abide and stand by the Sentence the King should pronounce The like Oath was taken by the Prelates Nobles and other Commissioners who swore to accept of him for their King that would be tryed to have the best Right and for the greater assurance all their Seals were appended to the Compromise Five years and some more were spent before the Controversie was brought to an end At last K. Edw. returned to Berwick and calling the Twenty Four to whom the important Affairs were committed they were shut up in the Church there to debate the Matter none being permitted to have access unto them he himself now and then went in to know how their proceedings went and perceiving the greater part
inclined to Bruce his Right he dealt with him promising to invest him in the Kingdom so as he would hold the same Crown of England Bruce answered that he was not so desirous of Rule as he would therefore prejudice the Liberties of the Kingdom being it was sufficiently known that Scotland from the first Foundation of the State had been a Free and Independent Kingdom and not subject to any other power whatsoever The like offer he made to the other who being more greedy of a Kingdom than careful of his Honour did yield thereunto Afterwards Baliol assisted with the Nobility did meditate upon a Revenge of King Edward's proceedings with him in that Juncture of Time by forcing Baliol to swear subjection to him at which the Nobility were so much displeased About this Time King Edward sent to crave a supply of men to be sent him by virtue of the Late Allegiance sworn by Baliol which was utterly rejected as unjust he having then War with France Upon this defection of Baliol King Edward entered into Scotland with a mighty Army and prevailed Baliol being overthrown King Edward his Course for Extirpating the Scots And now did the State seem to be wholly ruined for Edward intending to make sure his Title led away captive all that had the least ability to stir and to extinguish if it had been possible the very memory of the Nation He abolished all the Antient Laws of Scotland traduced the Ecclesiastical Rites to the Forms of England destroyed the Antient Monuments erected either by the Romans or their own Progenitors buâ—nt all the Registers with that famous Library of Restennoth wherein besides many other Volumes were reserved the Books which King Fergus the Second brought with him from Rome removed the Marble Chair in which as the Vulgar believed the Fate of the Kingdom did consist In fine left nothing which might incite generous spirits to remember their former Fortunes or encourage them in any sort to virtue worthiness which makes any account of the Kingdom as to its Registers the less voluminous This is not a place to declare how the English afterward at Banockbâ—rn were wholly defeated without leaving any to carry the News thereof into England but this would be too great a digression The next thing to be considered is What that Monster of Rebellion Cromwell I mean thought fit as a very valuable pledge to send to the Tower of London viz. all the publick Registers Records and Rolls of the Kingdom which lay there till His Majesties happy Restauration after which by the King's Orders they were sent down by Sea to be laid up in the Castle of Edinburgh but the Ship that was loaden with them was cast away near the Holy Island so they were all irrecoverably lost and sunk Dempster in his Apparatus to the Scottish History promised a great many things to the World which he never performed Some have thought that he only amused the People by the undertaking he mentions in that Book Others believed that he knew a great many Manuscripts beyond Sea which were carried thither by Monks and Friers at the Reformation In most Religious Houses there was a Chronicle written of the Times some in Rithme English and Latine some in Prose but there cannot be much made out of them they being full of Legends and Stories There are besides very considerable Manuscripts in Scotland that relate to private Families and give an account of several publick Transactions as the Histories of the Families of the Drummonds Gordons and Duglass's c. But they all come far short of what might have been expected from these Registers that have been lost and destroyed Therefore we must rely upon the Credit of our Antient Historians being there are no means left to correct them by FINIS