Southern Branch
of the
University of California
Lo8 Angeles
Form L 1
x^
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below
MAR 1 3 1^33d
^f^ 10 i954
RECEIVE,
MAIN LOAN DESI^
AUG 2 1 1964
^u»^
e\^e'
P.M. I
Form L-9-15m-8,'24
s/-
^y
SCOTISH PASQUILS.
A B O K
UK
SCOTISH PASQUILS.
1568-17 15.
EDINBURGH:
WILLIAM PATERSON, 74 PRINCES STREET.
MDCCCLXVIII.
r ,r
'• 4 38
c c t t « c
.0
N
O
4
V
Forty years have elapsed since the third and con-
cluding portion of a collection of satirical pieces of
poetry, usually in Scotland called Pasquils, issued
t* from the press. From the limited impression and
'^ the destination of the greater part of the copies for
private circulation, they were speedily exhausted, and
for many years past, complete sets, whenever they
occurred for sale, brought a much higher price than
"^ their size or merit might be supposed to warrant.
Subsequently a variety of similar verses occasion-
ally turned up, — and it having been suggested that
a new edition, containing the original text, whicli
was in many instances inaccurate, enlarged by addi-
tional new matter, and accompanied by illustrative
remarks and notes, might be acceptable to those per-
sons who take an interest in the relics of olden times,
as tending to throw some additional light upon the
VI INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
history of dissensions which, for upwards of a cen-
tury, so seriously affected the tranquillity of Scot-
land, this present Book of Pasquils is offered to the
Pubhc.
In these satires there is great coarseness of expres-
sion and bitterness of feeling, which may not be a
recommendation to the general reader, but they can-
not fail to interest the historical student, as preserving
A^aluable evidence of the state of popular feeling in
the reigns of Charles I. and his descendants, and as
illustrating the habits and morals of the people of
Scotland for upwards of a century. Rugged as the
versification in many instances certainly is, there
is in almost the whole of these Pasquils vigour and
power, and not unfrequently the satire is cleverly
pointed and merited. The only material rejection
of pasquils contained in the volumes originally
printed, are some indelicate attacks on the Rev.
David Williamson, a divine who was bold enough to
encounter matrimony seven times, and an elegy on
the death of the first Duke of Argyle, omitted for its
great indecency. But in a work relating to a remote
period, calculated to su})2)ly matter illustrative of the
.state of Scotland during very turbulent times, and
to elucidate passages in its civil and religious history
during the seventeenth century, suppression of pas-
sages and epithets otherwise objectionable could not
be justified.
TIk; first article of the collection is taken from
the Bannatyne MS. It is a satire upon the want
of faith in the fair sex, and has never previously
INTRODUCTOUY KEMAKKS. VU
been i^rinted. Similar productions might have
followed, but their introduction would have extended
the work far beyond the limits originally contem-
plated, and excluded the principal object in view,
which was to collect together those fugitive and
evanescent pieces which, although now existing only
in manuscript, at one period, no doubt, were circulated
in the guise of single sheets, denominated broadsides,
and were scattered over the country with a lavish
hand during the contest betwixt the Episcopalians and
the Covenanters, which originated in the ill-judged
attempt of Archbishop Laud to force the Service
Book upon the denizens of North Britain. A very few
of these broadsides, believed to be unique, are still
preserved in Sir James Balfour's collection of State
Papers in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
The verses relating to these times are generally
interesting, — neither are those less so Avhich followed
upon the restoration of Episcopacy in 1660, and the
repudiation of the Solemn League and Covenant. After
the Revolution, when William of Orange patronised the
doctrines of Calvin, the tables were again turned, and
the Jacobites consoled themselves by libelling the
Monarch who had saved them from Papal supremacy,
and by abusing those eminent persons who had aided
him in a measure which, however unpalateable to the
advocates of the divine right of kings, had the bene-
ficial effect of saving the monarchy. Specimens of
these effusions form not the least valuable portion of
the present volume.
The " perfervidum ingonium Scotorum," may ex-
viii INTRODUCTORY RKMARKS.
plain the love the nation had for satirical ballads and
songs — a passion which may be traced to a remote
date. A pasquinade by the Scots upon Edward I.
was the cause of the dreadful vengeance that mon-
arch took upon the unlucky citizens of Berwick. The
defeat of his efteminate son at Bannockburn produced
verses in derision of the conquered. Unfortunately
all that remain in both instances are fragments.
Many admirable specimens of satire occur in Dun-
bar, Avho may fairly take his place as one of the
greatest poets of his native land. Sir David Lynd-
say's satire of the Three Estates, boldly given to the
world at a period when its Author might have
suffered for his opinions, contains passages of great
coarseness ; — but to this charge even the great reformer
himself is obnoxious, as those readers who have
perused his reasoning with the Abbot of Crosraguel
must be perfectly aware. Lyndsay sowed the seeds
of that reformation, which gradually germinated, and
which, under the fostering care of Knox and his
associates, came to maturity, and latterly spread
almost over all Scotland.
The same monarch who patronised Sir David
Lyndsay, nearly got himself into trouble with his
uncle, Henry the Eighth, for certain libels and ballads
alleged to have been written against him by some of
his Scotch subjects. James condescended to address
Lord Wharton, the Warden of the West Marches
between England and Scotland, on the subject, and in
a letter to that nobleman, expressed his disbelief
of the verity of the accusation. But in a later epistle
INTUUDUCTUKY HEMAKKS. IX
uf the same monarcii, addressed to the Bishop of
Landaff, his Majesty evidently had arrived at a
different conclusion, as he intimated to his Lordship
that he would take every measure in his power to find
out the authors, and would put down the circulation
of the libels in every way he could devise. Both of
these letters, which are preserved among the Cot-
tonian manuscripts in the British Museum, will be
found in the Appendix.
At a later date the publication of libellous verses
again formed the subject of complaint, and govern-
ment interfered, especially pointing out two of the
most offensive, "Pasculus," and "The Bair." As no
copies of these have come down to posterity, their
nature can only be guessed at, but that "Pasculus" is
just the Scotch word Pasquil latinised can hardly be
doubted. In Zedler's Universal Lexicon there is this
definition of the word Pasquil, "a paper written by a
concealed author annuo Infiwuindi, accusing a party
of a crime which would result in ' infamia ' or loss of
honour in the person accused."
King James VL had so great a dislike to composi-
tions of this kind, that he suppressed them on every
occasion when he had the means of so doing. Shortly
after his accession to the English throne, a flight of
arrows sharply pointed was directed from Scotland
against his Majesty's English subjects, intended, as he
thought, to perpetuate the bad feeling which had
previously existed between the two nations. With the
view of extinguishing any further abuse of the kind,
he, with consent of Parliament, passed the curious
X INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
act which \vill also be found in the Appendix, and
which has been disinterred from the vahiable but
cumbrous edition of the Scotish Statutes, published
under the authority of Parliament, by the late Thomas
Thomson, Esq., Deputy Clerk Register.
Neither did James allow foreigners to indulge in
satires, where the honour and dignity of Scotland was
assailed. Of this there is a singular instance in the
case of a Pole, by name Stercovius, who was capitally
punished for having ventured to defame the Scotish
nation. It appears that Stercovius had been induced
to visit Scotland, where he met with anything but a
hospitable reception. His retaining the costume of
his country exposed him to derision, as we learn from
a scarce poem, entitled a "Counter Cuff to Lysimachus
Nicanor,"* where it is stated that : —
" Hither be came, clade all in antique sort.
Where, seen in streets, the subject of a sport
He scene became to childish gazers, who.
With skriechs and clamours, hiss him to and fro,
Till forced he was with shame and speed to pack him,
And to his feet and loathsome cabin take him."
As might be expected, on returning home, he penned
and published " A Legend of Reproaches " against
the nation by which he had been insulted. The fact
of publication having come to the ears of King James,
he was at great pains to procure the punishment of
the enraged satirist, and in this he was successful.
This vindictive act is said to have cost the King the
* Printed in 1G40, 4to.
INTRODUCTUKY REMARKS. XI
large sum ut" six liuudicd pounds sterling ; but in
what way it was expended is not easy to imagine,
unless bribery of foreign officials was resorted to.
This sum his Majesty very ingeniously tried to
impose upon the Koyal Burghs of Scotland ; and
there is preserved in the Charter-Chest of the City
of Edinburgh, an extract of a decreet of the Lords of
the Secret Council, dismissing the claim : their Lord-
ships having adopted the views urged by the Burghs,
that they "can nawyse be Judges Competent to
cognosce on this cans, in respect the same is foundit
upon the pajntnent of ane soume of money and not
ui)oun ane fyne for ony ryot comitit be thame, and
thairfore should be remitit to the Judge-ordiner ; and
farder, it was allegit be the saidis conMnissionaris, that
the said actioun was foundit upon ane impositioun
upon the burrowis of this realme, being ane of the
three estates of this kingdome, A\dthout the consent of
the saidis estatis, quhilk could nawyse be done bot be
ane generall conventioun of the same, or ane Parlia-
ment, and thairfore that the saidis Lords of Secrete
Counsaill sould be nawyse Judges Competent in this
matter." Accordingly, their Lordships "findis an«l
declairis that they are nawyse Judges in the said
Cans, and thairfore have remitted and remittes the
decisions thairof to the Judge Competent."
In the poem from which we have already made an
extract, Stercovius' libel consisted of: —
" A legend of reproaches stuflf't with lies.
Wna bol<l to print and wnt those calumnies
XU INTR()DUtrrOKY REMARKS.
Against the Scots, their manners, and their fame,
Of purpose to obscure their splendid name,
In all that Easterne clyme and tract of ground,
AYhere squadrons of our nation did abound ;
Whence some choice men of ours did take in hand.
To supplicat the Princes of that land,
Their wrong for to redresse, so with great paine,
Great search, and length of time, their point they gaine.
For aU vaste Teutons' states, the Spruch, the Dan,
Dispatch, and arme with power some trustie man,
Stercovius to pureue in any ground.
Take and arraign e him where he may be found,
Which is with great turmoil and travell done :
Yet things well acted are performed soone.
For this the Fox hunted from hole to hole,
At length is catch't and unresolv'd did thole
His head's divorce, which from his body fell
Low to the ground : his soul I cannot tell
AMiich way it went, for most unworthie I
That should into the Eternal's secrets pry.
Every effort has been made to procure this satire of
Sterco\dus, thus proved to have been printed, but with-
out success. It is not however impossible that a solitary
copy may one of these days turn up unexpectedly.
It is interesting to learn that at the particular date of
the libel, 1619, there were "squadrons" of the Scotch
nation abounding in Poland, and probably scattered
over the Teutonic states. Germany was a place of re-
fuge during the religious burnings of Mary Tudor, and
one branch of the unfortunate race of Ruthven found
protection there, after the unexplained mystery called
the Gowrie conspiracy compelled those of the name
to fly froin Scotland.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Xlll
The individual by whose active exertions princi-
pally Stercovius was Ijrought to execution, was Patrick
Gordon, who at that time was the King's resident
in Poland and author of the history of " The Valiant
Bruce," written in heroic verse, and printed at Dort
1615, 4to. It is not unlikely that this gentleman got
no small portion of the six hundred pounds sterling,
which his Majesty asserts was expended in getting
this unfortunate Pole put to death. He may have
been the distributor of the money amongst the judi-
cial functionaries abroad, taking care to keep, after the
modern parliamentary fashion at elections, no incon-
siderable portion to himself, — as the first Earl of
Breadalbane is believed to have done with cash paid
by the English Government to him to pacify the High-
land chieftains. It is some satisfaction to think that
his sapient Majesty was unable to recover the sum from
the Royal burghs, and that the Lords of the Privy
Council, who at that time had a sort of jurisdiction in
such matters, were bold enough not to countenance
the demand.
In July 1618 Thomas Eoss or Roiss, a son of the
deceased John Ross of Craigie, composed a Thesis in
Latin which he caused to be published, and proposed
to defend before the Universities of Oxford, Cam-
bridge, Paris, "and other places," the object of which
was in " ten several abominable articles," to shew the
propriety of expelling all Scotchmen from England,
excepting the King, "his sone, and ane verrie few
otheris." This Thesis he affixed " upoun the Marie
kirk doors upon a Thursday, as the people were
XIV INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
skailling fra the sermone, and as Doctor Godwene,
Vice-Chancellour of the Universitie of Oxford, was
coming out of the Kirk, to the intent the samyn
micht be publicklie red and dispersit amangst his
majesties subjects of England."
It thus would appear that the act, if criminal in
reality, was committed in England, where undoubtedly
it ought to have been tried, and there is no averment
in the indictment that it was in any manner connected
with Scotland, excepting that it proposed to eject
Scotsmen from England : neither was it averred that the
Thesis was put up at any of the Scotish Universities.
Nevertheless the Author, who admitted what he had
done, was tried before the Court of Justiciary in
Scotland upon the 20th of August following, and was
convicted; "the Assyse having rypelie and at length
advyset thereAvith, together with the villanious and
infamous Pasquell or Thesis and damnable appendices
subjoined thairto; his judicial confessioun and acknow-
ledging thairof," &c. Sentence was delayed until the
10th of September following, perhaps mth the view of
ascertaining the wishes of the King as to the punish-
ment, which was that the youth should be taken to
the Cross of Edinburgh, and there, upon a scaffold,
have first his right hand struck off, next be decapitated,
his head to be " set upone ane irne prick, upone the
Nether-Boll-Port ; and his said richt hand to be also
affixit upone the West Port of the said Burgh of
Edinburgh," which humane sentence Avas duly carried
into execution.
The object in transferring Ross from an English to
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. XV
a Scotish Criminal Court is plain enough. It was not
probable that he would be convicted by an English
jury, whereas a Scotish one would have no scruples
on the subject. The sapient Monarch consecjuently
did not choose to run the risk of any acquittal, and
although the publication of the Thesis, or Pasquil as
the jury term it, Avas at Oxford, the victim was
dragged to Edinburgh, tried there, convicted and
murdered by form of law.
No copy of the Thesis can now be found, the one used
on the trial with the reasons appended, after being
considered by the jury, was returned to the Lord
Advocate. So, like the satire of Stercovius, the Thesis
of Eoss has also disappeared, and can only be found
in the moon, where, as the Italian poet says, things
lost on the earth uniformly go.
The sources from which the Pasquils in this volume
have been derived, are mentioned in the prefiitory
remarks prefixed to each article. To Sir James Balfour
of Deumylne, the Lord Lyon, we are chiefly indebted
for the early portions of the contents of the volume.
He was a Presbjiierian, and consequently Inimical
to Episcopacy, which may account for his preserv-
ing so very carefully, the scandalous, and for the
most part, unjust attacks upon the Bishops, many of
whom were eminent for their piety, learning, and
virtue. But then as now partizanship has the singular
and unifoi-m effect of creating blindness, and although
Sir James was a worthy man and a staunch upholder
of the monarchy, his perceptions were too much
affected by his defective vision, as he could only
XVI INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
see what was progressing by the {assistance of Cove-
nanting Spectacles.
A similar remark may be made as regards Robert
Mylne, from whose Manuscripts the greater part of
the concluding portion of this volume has been taken.
An uncompromising adherent of tlie House of Stewart,
he had no sympathy wath its political opponents, of
none of whom he 'was inclined to speak well. Some
account of his life will be found in the Appendix.
That so little is now known of one who was held in
estimation by the learned men of his time, shews the
vanity of all sublunary things, and proves — if proof
were requisite — tliat the lapse of a very few years
removes all remembrance of persons who figured in
their day as eminent in their various vocations.
Since the text was finished there has been found in
a volume of the State Papers from Denmylne, now in
the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, a pasquil
which had previously escaped notice, in consequence
of the defective state of the catalogues of Manuscripts
preserved in that very valuable but neglected collec-
tion. As it was too late to be put in its proper
place, the Editor has inserted it at the end of these
remarks. The date must be previous to the year
1639, as Wentworth is called by that name, and not
by that of Strafford, which title he obtained in^Iarch
1639, when at the same time he was made a Knight
of the Garter. He was introduced as an Earl to the
House of Lords 18th April following, that is to say,
1640, the year then commencing on the 25th of March
preceding.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. xvii
The following is the Title of tliis Black-Letter
Pasquil : —
Britaine and Ireland's last adew
To Rome, and Babel's cursed crew.
Since Jock and Jack, by happie chance,
Are joyud in amitie :
You Popish Monsicurs march to France,
You Dons to Castalee.
Let liomish frogs retiu-n to Rome,
And meane them to the Pope :
If here they haunt, expect a doome.
No better nor a rope.
Our Irish Shane with weeping eye,
Moanes he lov'd Rome so long :
And now to God and Britaine he
Rcgraits his woes and wrong,
Entreating them for Christ's blest woundes,
That he reliev'd may be,
From error's pits wherein he swouns,
Least blinded there he die.
For why ? in Turkic, Rome, nor Spain,
Was not such crueltie.
Nor for God Saints such barbarous pain.
Such shame and miserie.
Such grinding of the poor one's face,
Such plots of Church and State,
Unpunished were within no place.
As in our land of late.
b
XVUl INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Trueman to God and to liis King,
Did at Knockfergus die ;
And there a spectacle did hing,
Whiles traitoiirs honoured be.
March on brave Jock, thy lot is so,
God's game for to begin :
To free thyself and brethren two,
From that proud man of sin.
Jack use thy time and busie be,
To chase these frogs away,
And with brave Jock bear company,
Who will thee lend a day.
At Tyne he'll on thy service stay,
While thou well setled be,
And for Schan's sake alongs the way.
To Dublin march with thee.
Those Romish Brambles to root out.
Which have overgroAvn that land,
And Wentworth's weeds to chg about.
Which in Christ field there stand.
And when brave Jock returns from Tyne,
xVnd Schane from Rome set free,
Jock will with Jack march to the Rhyne,
The Palsgrave's bounds to see.
There to avenge the woes and wrong
Of our Eliza faire,*
Whose Princely race born down so long
Is by the Spainiard there.
* Elizabeth of Bohemia.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. XIX
I hope our Lyon once will wake.
And with his Libbards* strong,
His sister's case to take to heart
His martiall thoughts among.
The pricking Thistle shall convoy
Christ's Ensignes to those bounds :
And Hiber's Harps with greatest joy
Shall warble forth their sounds.
if that blessed iiy would daw,
Which Jock and Jack would see,
Then they with courage in a raw
Should march to Germanic.
To clip the Eagle's soaring wings,
And curbe in pridefuU Spaiue,
Then he as God in Rome who reignes
Shall fall, not rise againe.
The Lord who hath this work begun.
Make it periited be ;
And when these troublous times are done.
End Sion's miserie.
Amen, quoth he, who prayes these three.
By God conjoin'd ia unitie,
May still in one Religion
Fear God, under one tripled Crown :
That Darjon heer as he hath been.
May neer God's ark no more be seen,
* Leopards.
CONTENTS.
Page
Woman's Truth, ..... 3
The Four Archbishops of St. Andrews, . 7
The Legend of Limjiers' Lives, ... 9
Pasquil against the Bishops, 1610, . . 10
Andro Melvill's Pasquil, 1608, . 11
Archbishop Gladstane's Epitaph, , . 13
Pasquillis Contra Episcopos, 1638, . . 15
The Pasquil against the Bishops Versified, . 17
Satire on the General Assembly at Glasgow, 1638, 25
The New Litany, .... 45
Thomson's Letter to Sir James Carmichael Versified, 58
A Caveat for Scotlande, 1638-9, . . 64
WiL. DrUMMOND'S Ll-NES ON THE BiSCHOPES, 14TH
Appryll, 1638, .... 67
ChICKE ChaKE FOR THE AnTI -COVENANTERS, 1639, 70
The Kail-Wyfe's Communing, ... 78
XXU CONTENTS.
Page
The Ovekthrow ov the Spanish Akmada, . 89
On the Parliament at "Westminster, . . 90
Pasquil against Laud and "Wentworth, . 95
Proclamation against the Home-Loyterers, . 96
A Game at Chasse, .... 99
Pasquil on the Battle of the Bridge of Dee, . 100
A Scot's New Year's Gift, . . . 106
Lines by Montrose, .... 108
Pasquil on the EaFvL of Rothes, 1640, . . 109
Pasquil on the Earl of Leven, . . Ill
Anagrams on Lord Traquair, 1640, . . 112
Pasquil, June 1642, against the Marquis of Argyle, 114
Execution of Argtle, . . . .118
Scotland's Encouragement, , . . 120
Scotland's Triusiph over Rome, . . 128
A English Challenge and Reply from Scotland, 134
Colville's Pasquil on Sir Alexander Gibson, . 141
Election of Edinburgh Magistrates, 1647, . 145
Knights of the Isle of Wight, . . . 15.S
The Presbyterian's Cat, . . . 156
Acrostic on the Great Name of Prei.acie, . 157
Minor Pasquils, 1637-8 : —
A Game at Cairds, 1637-8, . . . 158
The New Game at Gardes, . . . 158
On the Bishops, 1638, . . . 159
A Jesuit's Creed, . .• . . 159
CONTENTS.
Will
Page
Political Pasqcils, 1642, 3, . . . 160
(1) Pasqiiil Wented in November, . 161
(2) Ane other at the same Tyme, . 161
Political Pasqlils, 1643, . . . 162
(1) Pasquil Wented in February, 1643, 164
(2) Ane other at the same Tyme, . . 166
Pasqlhls on Dean Annan, . . . 167
Another Pasquil on Dean Annan, . . 171
Pasquil on the Stair F.viiiLY, . 174
Civic Kolts'delay, 1673, .... 194
Pitcairn's Roundel on Sir Robert Sibbald, 1686, 202
Disputes between the Court of Sessionand Bar, 1675, 210
1. Parody of " FareweU, Fair Armida," . 218
2. Answer, ..... 219
3. To the Advocates who stayed behind, . 220
4. To the President, . . . .221
5. Verses on the President, . . 221
Robert Cook's Petition against the Peats, . 222
On the tymelie Death of Little Mr Andrew
Gray, late Minister of Coull, 1678, . 228
The Covenanter's Army at Rullion Green, 28th
November, 1666, .... 232
Satyre on the Duchess of Lauderdale, . 234
Dialogue between Lauderdale and Sir Lionel
Talmash, . . . . .243
The Whigs' AVklco.me from Botiiwell Brig, 246
XXIV CONTENTS.
Page
A LiTAKY, 1671, ..... 2-49
The Presbyterian's Address, . , . 253
Coronation Song, 1689, .... 258
A Short Scotish Litant, . . . 263
An Address from the Geese to the Presbyterian
Preachers, ..... 265
Address for the Cameronian Geese, . . 268
The Trouper's Prophesie, . . . 270
Satyre upon the Duke of Hamilton and Earl of
Breadalbane, ..... 273
Jack Bowles' Rant, .... 278
Mac-Queen's Apologetical Letter, . . 283
Presbyterian Address to the Prince of Orange, 289
Litant, 1690, ..... 292
Another Litany, 1690, .... 293
Mock Lines on King Willloi's Cowardice. . 294
Prophecie concerning the Prayer Book, . 296
Pasquils on the Lord Advocate Stewart, . 298
Lines on Sir James Stewart Lord Advocate, 305
Other Lines on Sir James Stewart, . . 306
Gall or Honey for Sir James Stewart, her
Majesty's Advocate, . . . 306
Verses on Breadalbane and Queensberry, . 309
De Juramento Illicito, . . . .316
Lines on the Earl of Crawford. . . 318
Popular Khymes, 1689-90-91, . . .323
CONTExNTS.
XXV
Page
Bannocks of Beau-Meal, . 328
Pasquil on Lokd Leven's Marriaue, . 332
Song on Wemyss and Leven, . . 335
Dialogue on the Death of King William, 1703, 337
The Twelfth Ode of Horace [imitated], . 341
Pasquil on Argyle and Hamilton, . . 344
Parody on the 137th Psalm, . . 348
PiTCAiRN's Address to Gray, versified, . . 352
On the Countess of "Weems, her Match with the
Viscount Tarbet, .... 35(3
John Plain's Representation, . . . 358
On the Death of Sir William Hamilton of
Whytlaw, ..... 361
On Priestfield's Lead Coffin, . . . 363
A Song on the Treaty of Union, 16th Ai>ril 1706, 366
A Curse against the Unionists and Revolutionists, 368
Epitaph on the first Earl of Stair, . . 370
On the Union Parliament, . . . 372
Upon the Rogues in Parliament, 1704, . . 379
Verses on the Scots Peers, 1706, . . 385
A Litanie anent the Union, . . . 386
Lines on the first Duke of Montrose, . . 390
On the Death of Louis XIV., . . . 393
CoLviLLE's Ode on Bishop Burnet, . . 394
Dispute between Satan and the Devil of Clerk-
ENWELL KOi; BisHOP Burnet's Soul, . . 396
XXVI
CONTENTS.
of
The Marquis of Wharton and Bishop Burnet
Reception into Hell, .
Dialogue between Argyle and Mar,
Minor Satirical Verses,
Pasquinade, . . • •
On the Amours of Charles Second, at time
the Dutch War, . . ,
On the Flight of Lord Chancellor Hyde,
On Mr Patrick Falconer of Monktown,
On King James VII., by Mr Taikeor,
Another Epitaph on King James VII., by Mr
Calder,
On William III.,
" Epitaph on Wilham III.,
Lynes to John Carnagie,
Lines on David Baillie,
The Blessing with the Black Sclvidge
On the Kirk of Scotland,
On the Grand Plot, .
The French King's Conspiracy,
TheCaU,
Epigram,
Thanksgiving, 7th June 1716,
On the Abjuration, .
Poj'L'LAR Rhymes,
Page
398
402
406
406
406
406
407
407
407
408
408
409
409
410
410
411
411
411
412
412
413
413
CONTENTS. XXVll
APPENDIX.
Page
1. Letter from James V., King of Scots, to Sir
Thomas TVhartoN, Warden of the West
Marches, . . . . .417
2. Letfer from James V,, King of Scots, to John
HoLGATE, Bishop of Landaff, . . 418
3. Ane Act anent Defamatouris, . . 420
4. Act against Scandalous Speeches .vnd
Lybellis, 24 June, 1609, . . .420
5. Some Account of Robert Mylne, . . 422
G. Verses in Honour of Robert Mylne : —
1. On my dearly beloved friend, Robert Mylne,
ane Acrostick, . . . ' . 428
2. Other verses on the ingenious wrytcr,
Robert Mylne, .... 429
3. On the piety of my dear friend, Robert
Mylne, 429
4. Carmen extemporanium compositum per
Jacobum Campbell de Auchincloch, . 430
5. On my near and dear friend Robert Mylne,
the ingenious searcher into the antiquities
of his countrie, . . . .430
0. Acrostic on Robert Mylne, wryter, . 431
XXVIU CONTENTS.
Page
C. Verses in honour of Robert Mylne, — Continued.
7. James Spence having promised Robert
Mylne a Highland plaid, and having only
sent him a halfe plaid, Mr Robert Calder
made the following lynes thereon, . 431
8. The following sent by Mr Spence of Alves,
when he sent me halfe a Highland plaid,
he offered me the haill, which refuseing,
yittafter got it about, 1711, . . 482
7. Some Account of the Reverend John Govean,
Minister of Mockart, father-in-law of
Robert Mylne, .... 433
8. Letter from a gentleman m Edinburgh to a
relative in the country, giving an account
of some proceedings of the general
Assembly, ..... 435
9. Prospects of the Roman Catholics in 1712, 436
10. Papist and Presbyterian, anno 1730, . 438
THE BOOK
OF
SCOTISH PASQUILS.
m9
WOMAN'S TRUTH.
These verses occur in the Bannatyne MS.,* and have
never previously been printed. Their object is to satirize
the fair sex, by stringing together a variety of impossibilities
which finish with a declaration, that if ever realized, then
" wenien will be trew." The author never imagined that
two centuries aiid a half afterwards, a blind man might be
taught to read a "buke alane," or that dogs could be
instructed to perform stranger things than "tell pennies.'"
* Page 1.35.
4" woman's truth.
Some of the words used are not common. "Mai wart,"
does not frequently occur ; it is presumed to mean Moudie-
wart, or Mole. Maw — a Sea-^faw or Gull. Hurcheon — a
Hedge-hog. The slakes are waste lands bordering on the
seashore, which are covered with water when the tide conies
in. The word is common in Northumberland, where the
slakes between the Mainland and Holy Island, are much
frequented by sportsmen for wild-duck shooting.
Probably the most curious portion of this strange produc-
tion is the haudless man playing at Caichpule — evidence of
the antiquity of the game of tennis — still popular in Scotland.
j^.^JfO/y*^^ »'wi
T geid the gait wes nevir gane
1 fand the thmg wes nevir fund
I saw vnder ane tree bowane
A lowss man lyand bund
Ane dum man hard I full lowd speik
Ane deid man hard I sing
Ze may knaw by my talking eik
That this is no lesing
And als ane blind man hard I reid
Vpoun a buk allane.
' Ane handles man I saw but dreid
1 In caichpule faste playane.
As I come by zone forrest flat
I hard thame bark and brew.
Ane rattoun in a window satt
Sa fair a seme coud schew (sew)
woman's truth.
And cimiinund l)v luch Idjuoiit huch
Aug malwart trcJ^ Ji maw,
Gife ze trow not this sang be suth
Speir ze at thame that saw.
I saw ane guss ^drry a fox
Rycht far doune in yone slak.
I saw ane la^Tock slay ane ox
Richt hie up in zone stak.
I saw a weddir wii-ry (a) wouf
Heich up in a law.
The kitting with her meikle mowth
Ane scoir home lowde scho blaw
Tlie partane with her mony feit
Scho spied the niuk on feild.
In frost and snaw, wind and weit
The lapstar deip furris teild
I saw baith bukk, da, and ra -
In mercat skarlet sell.
Twa leisch of grewhoundis I saw alswa
The pennyis douu cowd tell.
I saw ane ■\\Tan ane Avatter maid
Her clais wer kiltit hie
Vpoun her bak ane milstaue braid
Sche bure, this is no lie.
' Tred — Pursue or chase.
* I saw both buck, doo, and roe.
WOMAN S TRUTH.
Tlie air [hard] come hirpland to the toun
The preistis to lek to spell.
The hurcheouu to the kirk maid boun
To ring the commou bell.
The mowss grat that the cat wes deid
That all her Idn mycht rew.
Quhen all thir tailis ar trew iu deid
All Wemen will be trew.
THE FOUR ARCHBISIIol'S OF ST. ANDIIKWS.
THE FOUR ARCHBISHOPS OF ST.
ANDREWS.
From the Rev. John IJow's Kirk-History.* The " godly
fact " of the assassination of Cardinal Bethune, came off in his
own palace at St Andrews, on Saturday, 29th Jlay 154(1.
His successor was John Hamilton, a natural son of James,
Earl of Arran, by a lady of the name of Boyd, said by Keith
to have been of a good family in Ayrshire. He was a
staunch adherent of Queen Mary, and having, after the
battle of Langside, taken refuge in Dumbarton Castle, was
surprised by his enemies, carried to Stirling, and there hanged
on a gibbet, the first of April, 1572. He was the author of a
catechism, printed at his own expense, at St. Andrews, in small
4to, black letter, 29th August 1552. A work of which only a
few copies can now be found, and valuable for its having
been written in "the Vulgar Tongue."
Patrick Adamsou, a native of Perth, a man of cultivated
mind, was made Archbishop of St Andrews in the year
157G. In Sir John Graham Dalziel's Scotish Poems of the
Sixteenth Century, there has been printed a contemporary
MS. called the legend of the Archbishop of St Andrews, a
most scandalous production. It has the initials R. S. at the
end, meaning perhai^s Robert Semple, the author of the
Testament of King Henrie Stewart, which was printed by
Lekprevik, at Edinburgh, shortly after the murder of that
ill-fated youth. Adamson died in the year 1591. After his
death the rents of the Archbishoprick were pocketed by the
Duke of Lennox, and a successor was not appointed until
160G, when George Gladstanes or Gledstanes was translated
from Caithness to St Andrews.
* Page 3(H.
8 THE FOUR ARCHBISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS.
Row's opinion of tliis dignitary will be found prefixed to
the Epitaph on his memory, page 12.
EPITAPHIUM.
•
Restis Hamiltonum necat, ensis ut ante Betonum,
Diraque Adamsonum siLstulit ecce fames.
Quid tibi Gladstoni quarto tua fata relinquunt ]
Hseredem cum te tres statuere trium.
Dira fames, crux prisca; novum nova fata decebunt,
Flammse animam, comedeut, pinguia colla canes.
Englished thus: —
The bastard Bishop Hamiltoun was hang'd,
And Cardinall Beatoun stob'd,
Proud Adamson with famine much
Of all comfort was rob'd,
Gladstane's thou'rt fourth, thy destinie
What hes it left to thee 1
For certainlie wee'U serve thee heire
To all the former three :
Famine and gallows are not eneugh,
Some new wrath Avaits for thee :
By hellish flames thy soule, by doggs,
Fat-necke, devoured bee.
THK LKCKND Ol' LLMMERS LIVES. 9
THE LEGEND OF LIMMERS' LIVES.
See Row's "Kirk History," p. 295.
Heir is a breefe Ijut a most tnie narration,
Of the Scots Bishops' lives and conversation ;
First to tlie erection of old Abbacies
They all consented and of Priories,
Only to get their own erections past :
Though now them to undoe they seek at last,
Next, they are j^ura' Fidei transgressares,
Whereas they should be Fidei defensores,
Make rhetorick of ane oath, swear and forswear,
Recks not God's mercies nor his judgements fear.
To eat, to drink, to card, to dice, to play
In Princes Courts placebo night and day,
They endeavour et vigilante cura,
Daylie to seeke for castra, prata, rura,
Thus they desire to be Episcopati,
In nothing else but to be elevati ;
And though God's Law cryes ne quis perjuraret,
Ne quis adidterium fnrtuinve jMtraret,
Yet they lyke hirelings seek but gregis lanam,
And live prophanlie, sectantes viam vanam ;
Yea, they doe ride per imiltas mmuli plagas,
To get great pomp and leave their oune sheep vagas,
I know they'll say they have their substituts.
But I say these are not Clirist's constituts ;
For they are not Mith libertie electit.
Pmt contrair wayes intrusively erected ;
10 PASQUIL AGAINST THE BISHOPS.
Thus tliongli til ey seem to have true religion,
Yet craftillie in them they hyde ambition.
[And as for] those Avho their hlest ministrie
Discharges well, for not conformitie
Before the High Commission they are called,
Confyned, deprived, imprisoned, and thralled.
Thus from a worse estate to worse tliey fall.
And so but change may look for worst of all.] ■
PASQUIL AGAINST THE BISHOPS, 1610.
The following lines form a suitable supplement to the
Legend of Linimers. They were for the first time printed
in Row's Histoiy.
"VMiat shall we say now when we see,
The preachers of humilitie.
With pompe practise the Papall pride,
With potentats to sit and ryde.
And strive for state in Parliament,
Like lords in their abulziement.
They blew against the Bishops lang,
And doctrine in the people dang ;
That Ministers should not be Lords,
But now their words and works discords,
Their braverie breaks their owne Kirke acts,
Such change mal-contentment makes,
Fy on that faith that turns with tyme,
Turne home, and I shall turne my ryme.
* From Maitland Chil) edition of ' ' Row's Historic. "
ANDKO MELVILLS I'ASyUIL.
ANDKO MELVILL'S PASQUIL, 1G08.
Melville admitted the authorsliip of the following lines,
which had found their way into the hands of James I. He
attacked subsequently Barlow, Bisliop of Gloucester, who had
eulogized Prelacy and panegyrized Archbishop Bancroft.
lie concludes his last, but not particularly brilliant,
Epigram as follows :
Praxitiles Venerem pinxit Divamne lupamve ?
Pastorem Barlo pinxerat anne lupum ?
'Tis asked, did Praxitiles paint a goddess or an whoore.
Did Barlo paint a pastor, or a wolf that doth devoure
Andre was lodged in the Tower of London for his handi-
work, which, to say the least cf it, was both uncalled for
and impertinent.
Cur stant clausi Anglis libri duo, regia in ara
Lumina coeca duo, pollubra sicca duo 1
Num sensum culturaque Dei tenet Anglia clausum
Lumine coeca suo, sorde sepulta sua 1
Romano et ritu dum re£ralem instruit aram
Purpureum pingit religiosa lupam.
Thus translated : —
On Kingis chappoU altar stands
Blind candlestick, closed book,
Dry silver basons, two of each
Wlicrrfoie says ho who looks?
12
ANDRO MELVILL'S PASQUIL.
The raiude and worship of the Lord
Doth Iiigland so keep closse
Blind in hir sight and buried in
Hir filthiness and drosse 1
And while with Roman rites she doth
Her tiny altar dresse
-Religiously a purpur'd whoore
To trim she doth professe.*
* Row, p. 236.
ARCHBISIK^P GLADSTANES' EPITAPH. 13
ARCHBISHOP GLADSTANES' EPITAPH.
From the ^Vodrow edition of Row's " Historic of the
Kirk of Scothmd," 1842, 8vo, p. 303. It is prefaced
thus : — "Anno 1615 in the moneth of Maie, Mr George Glad-
stanes, Arclibishop of St Ancbois, departed this life. He
lived a filthie belliegod ; he died of a iilthie and loathsome
disease. In the tyroe of his sickness he desyred not any to
visit him, or to speak comfortablie to him, neither that they
should i)ray publicktlie for him ; but he left a supplication
behind him to the King that he might be honourablie buried,
and that his wife and bairns might be helped, because of his
greiit povertie and debt at his death, (behold the curse of
God, on Bishops' great rents and revenues). All whilk was
done, for albeit his iilthie carion behoved to be buried
instantlie after his death, be reason of the most loathsome
ruse it was in ; .yet the solemnitie of the funeralls was made
in the moneth of Junii following. The day of the funeralls
being a windie and stormie day, blew away the pall that
was caried above his head, and marred all the honours that,
was caried about his coffin."
The Rev. gentleman, after declaring that the poor Arch-
bishop was "a wyld iilthie beUie-god beast," concludes with
his Grace's evening prayer, which the reader will find
on page 30-1 of this curious specimen of "Kirk" History,
but which is much too coarse for repetition here.
Judging by the calumnies lavished upon all church
dignitaries by their opponeiits, it may be assumed that Glad-
stones great crime was being an Archbishop, and a staunch
upholder of Episcopacy. He was a Dundee man — had been
a minister at Arbroath in Angus, afterwards at St Andrews ;
from whence he was made Bishop of Caithness, and ulti-
14 ARCHBISHOP GLADSTANE'S EPITAPH.
iiiately translated to St Andrews. Whether he was of the old
southern families of Gledstanes of that Ilk, and of Cocklawi
in Tweedale, supposed to be extinct in the male line, is uii-
certain. Nisbet says, " Gladstanes of that Ilk boars argent,
a savage's head eouped, distilling drops of blood, and there-
upon a bonnet, composed of bay and hoUy leaves, all proper,
within an orb of eight martlets, sable, crest — a griffin issuing
out of a wreath holding a sword in its right talon — ^proper-
Motto, ' Fide et virtute.' " A martlet, iu Latin '■'■■merula, is
coimted one of the bii-ds of passage that goes and comes to
countries at certain seasons of the year, as the green plover
or doterel." The bleeding head of the Saracen points to
the crusades, and the martlets indicate that the Gladstanes
were a flighty and fickle race."
THE EPITAPH OF MR GEORGE GLADSTANES, WHO
TOOK UPON HIM TO BE A BISHOP IN THIS THEIR
LAST RISING, IGIO.
Here lyes beneath tliir laid-stanes,
The carcase of George Glaid-stanes,
Wherever be his other half,
Loe here, yee's have his Epitaph.
Heavens abject, for he was an eartlilie beast,
" Earth's burthen for his belHe was his god,
A Bacchus Bishop for a fleshlie feast,
And for religion, but a Romish rod,
Als false in heart, as fyrie in his face,
Of civill conversation tlie shame.
And lacked, what he lov'd be stylled, Grace,
His life was still repugnant to that name ;
As by his death his life ye may determine,
A lazie life draws on a lowsie death,
A fearful thing ! sith vile Herodian vermine.
Did stop that proud presumptious Prelat's breath.
PASgUILLUS CONTRA EPISCOros. 15
PAS(^UILLUS CONTKA EPISCOPOS,
1638.
The Latin Pasquil upon the Scotish Bishops, according to
Sir James Balfour, of Denmyhi, amongst whose manuscript
collections it was found,* "wes written by Ja. Cleye, School-
master of Dundee, in Appryle 6, 1638." It is in one or
two places not very intelligible, the paleness of the ink
liaving made it difficult to decypher.
The translation that follows is also from the Balfour
MSS., but the name of the author has not been given. In
violence it exceeds the original. Both poems are singular
illustrations of the extent to which religious intolerance can
be carried.
Atheus Andreas est, Stultus Glasgiia, Brechin
Moechus, Edinensis Saccus Avaritiae est,
Gallua papista est, Dive.s Caledonius auri.
Aulicus est Rossen : Lismoriensis a:dax.
Pauper Aberdonius : Morravius vafer : ebriae satis
Duniblanen : fraudem dira Sodora ferax.
Arcum Orcus tractat, Cathaneus pliarma, Christi
(Proli pudor) his sacrum prostituisse gregem.
Atlieus Andreas tremit et mens conscia rupti
Ftederis, vltorem non cupit esse Deum.
Glasgua stultescit cerebri nutritius humor
Fhixit, et huie barba gravis est caputque leve.
Moechatur Brechin, sponsi conteraptor Jesu,
Servet legitimi quomodo jura thori
* Pasquinades, M.S.. 19, 3, S.
1 6 PASQUILLUS CONTRA EPISCOroS.
Parens Eden et auarus auet terreiia ; nee vlla est
Turgidula Cliristum prendere cnra manu.
Gallua papauus quare esf? Iinmite furentis
Ingeuium Recto non petit astra pede.
Cur dives Caledon 1 fa vet liuie nam Plutus aniico
Post habito coluit quod sua regna Jove.
Aulieus est Rosseu : pater illi et Regia coeli
Sordet, honor, comites, principis aula placet.
Hie patre plebeio, furiosa mater, catellus
Prodiit, et fulmen fronte minasque gerit.
Cur gula tarn Argadio cordi est, quin quamlibet off am
Vir pius et simplex autumat esse deum
Vexat Aberdonium paupertas, quasque parabat
Divitias animte pro capione volant.
Cur Morravius vafer est, putat ipsum demona teetius
Vincere, et incautos caliditate viros.
Ebibis et laticem Lambis Dumblane, Gehenna;
Nee memor addiseis hie tolerare sitim.
Insula quod gignat fraudes, nihil ipse moretur
Infamis vitium est muneris atque soli
Demon erat Christi, ex duodenis vnus, et omnis,
MUitat hsee stygio turba seelesta Deo.
Arcum Orcus tractat ; Recte collimat, at illi
Nervus amor, Christus mseta, sagitta fides
Corporis atque Animse euras Cathanese salutem
Praesulis et medii munera solus obis.
THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED. 1 7
THE PASQUIL AGAINST THE BISHOPS
VERSIFIED.
The insane extent to which hatred of Episcopacy wad
carried in Scotland at the time of the Ghsgow Assembly
can hardly be better instructed than by the following
liberal versification of the preceding Pasqud, which is more
of a paraphrase than a transktion.
One of the excellent persons libelled was Bishop Wedder-
burn, a native of Dundee, who studied for some time either in
Oxford or Cambridge. He was a prebendary of Wliite-
church, in the Diocese of Wells in 1631, subsequently
Professor of Divinity at St Andrews and Bishop of Dunkeld.
After his deposition he returned to England, where he died
the next year, and was buried in the Cathedral Church of
Canterbury, with the following Inscription on his grave-
stone, within the chapel of the Virgin ^lary : —
Reverendissimus in Christo Pater
Jacobus Wedderburuus, Taoduni
In Scotia natus, Sacelli Regit
Ibidem Decanus. Dumblanensis
Sedis per annos IV Episcopus :
Antiquaj probitatis et fidci ;
Magnumque ob excellentem
Doctrinam ; patriae su£e ornamentum.
In explanation of this Scotish Deanery, Bishop Russell, in
his edition of Keith (p. 182), remarks in a note " th;it
he was Dean of the chapel-royal, only as he was Bishop of
Diimblane, and this Deanery was annexed by King James
VI., whereas it was formerly in the See of Galloway."
B
18 THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED.
From the Bishop having been a native of Dundee, it is no
unreasonable conjecture that he may have been a descendant
of the James Wedderbm-n of that place, who is mentioned,
imder the year 1540, by Calderwood as the author of many
"comedies and tragedies in the Scotish Tongue " exposing
the corruptions of Popery.
Sydserff was successively Bishop of Brechin and Galloway.'
He was deposed by the Glasgow Assembly, but, upon
the Kestoration, was translated to Orkney. He was the
only Scotish Bishop that survived the Restoration. He died
in Edinburgh in 1663. His body lay in state in St Giles's
Chinch, and a funeral sermon was preached on the occasion
by Mr William Annan.
The Bishop was the father of the versatile and clever
Thomas Sydserff, author of a comedy called " Tarugo's AYiles,"
1668, 4to, which was successful in London, and which is
highly eulogized in the curious little volume entitled " Covent
Garden Drollery." He was the compiler of the Mercurius
Caledonius — the first newspaper printed in Scotland, and
of which a complete set, forming a small 4to volume, will
be found in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
During the great Civil War he was a valuable adherent of
the monarchy ; for, assuming various disguises, he traversed
> Sydserff was a man of learning and probity. He was
unpopular for his exertions to introduce the liturgy, and
was nearly murdered on the streets of Edinburgh by an
infuriated rabble. His pupil, Lord Tra^piair, coming to his
assistance, was soon in as bad a plight as the Bishop,
the multitude shouting out, to his Lordship's infinite horror,
"God defend those that defend God's cause! God confound
the service-book, and all the maintainers of it!" Both the
Peer and the Bishop would have been torn to jjieces had
assistance not been procured. The lapse of more than two
centuries has not abated that intolerance which, under the
guise of religion, has proved so injurious to Christianity.
THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED. 1 'J
the country to procure intelligence for the iloyaliste, in
which employment he was generally successful. He was very
serviceable to Montrose, a fact which Sydserif brings under
the notice of the second marquis in his dedication to him of
a translation from the French entitled " The entei-tainment
of the Cours," London, 1658, and wliich Ls also mentione.'!
in the " Covent Garden Drollery,'' 1672, p. S-i : —
Once like a Perllar, they have heard thee brag,
How thou didst cheat their sight and save thy crag.
When to the great Montrose, under pretence
Of Godly bakes, thou brought intelhgence.
He was also the manager of a Play-house in the
Canongate in 1669, and there has been privately printed
in the Abbotsford Miscellany, from the records of the Court
of Justiciary, a report of certain criminal proceedings which
were instituted fur an assault by one Mungo Murray upon
him whilst engaged in the Theatre.
Sydserff does not appear to have reaped much, if any,
pecuniary recompense for his services, and it is not un-
likely that he shared the same fate with hundreds who had
devoted their energies to the cause of the Stewarts, and
who never obtained any recompence for having been so
simple.
John Guthrie, the Bishop of Moray, was an excellent
and benevolent person. Having a fine estate, which came
to him by descent, he was independent in his circumstances,
and the loss of his Bishoi>rick, as affecting Ids pecuniary
resources, did not matter much. He incurred the resentment
of the Pious folk because he had in 1633 preached in a
suqilice before the King a sermon, in the High Church of
Edinburgh. He was ordered by the Gla.sgow Assembly to
make a public repentance in the Metropolis for this enormity,
under penalty of excommunication. Not choosing to admit
20 THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED.
either the authority uf the Assembly, or the heinousness of
his offence, he refused to obey the Zealots, who deposed him.
The necessary consequence was, he suffered the penalty
of his disobedience, which, as it did not touch his person,
or materially affect his pocket, was of no consequence
whatever. He held the See from 1623 until his deposition
in 1638. He then took up his abode in Spynie Castle, but in
1640 was forced to surrender it to Colonel Monro, and
retire to his own house of Guthrie, in the parish of Arbroath
and county of Forfar, where he died peaceably before
the Restoration.
St Andreus^ is an Athiest, and Glasgow^ is ane gouke :
A Venclier Brechin :^ Edinburgh * of auarice a pocke.
To popery prone is Galloway :^ Dunkeld ^ is rich in
thesaure,
' Spottiswoode, translated from Glasgow to St. Andrews
in August 1G15, and made Chancellor in 1634. He died in
1639.
' Patrick Lindsay. Translated from Ross 1633. Deprived
and exconununicated in 1638. He died at Newcastle in 1641.
3 Walter Whitford, Subdean of Glasgow, and Rector of
Moffat. He was deprived in 1638 by the Assembly, and died
in 1643.
* David Lyndsay, translated from Brechin 17th September
1634, and deprived in 1638.
* Thomas Sydserff, translated from Brechin; he was deprived
and excommunicated in 1638 by the Glasgow Assembly.
•* Alexander Lindsay, of Evelick. He abjured Episcopacy,
submitted to the Presbyterian party, and accepted his former
church of St Mados in 1638.
THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED. 21
A courtier Rosse : ^ but glutton lyke ® Argyle eats out
of measure ;
Dround AberJein^ in pouertie: vaggo Murrayes^" sub-
tile vitt,
Dumblaine " the criple, loues the Coupe :^^ Jylles for
all sul)ject fitt.
Skill'd Orkiiay^" is in archerie, as" Caithness is in
droges,
quhat a shame Christ's flocke to trust to such
vnfaithful doges.
St Andreus athiest quakes and shakes, and villanouslie
o'rgrouen,
With hynous sins doth visch ther wer no God one him
to skouin ;
Glasgow thy braine is daft and dray, for mother
moyster flitts
' John Maxwell, deprived in 1638. In 1640 he was made
Bishop of Killala in Ireland, and was translated to the Arch-
bishoprick of Tuam in 1645, but died sudderdy in 1646.
* James Fairley consecrated Bishop of Argyle 15th July
1637, deprived in 1638 : subsequently Presbyterian minister of
Leswood in Mid- Lothian.
» Adam Bellenden, son of Sir John BeUenden, the Lord
Justice -Clerk, translated from Dumblane, deprived in 1638 ;
died soon after in England.
"* John Guthrie of that Ilk, deprived in 1638.
" James Wedderbumo, deprived in 163S ; died m England
the ensuing year, aged 54.
" Niel Campbell, parson of Glastrey, Bishop of the Isles,
deprived in 1638.
" Georgo Graham, translated from Uuuiblaue to Orkney,
1615.
'•John Abernethy, parson of Jedburgh, Bishop of Caith-
ness, 1624.
0-7
THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED.
Into thy chin and makes thy beird more vaighty then
tliy witts.
Wyle Lecher Brechin quho contems thy soulls bryd-
groume our Lord.
Hou can thou keipe the Vedlocke band and not
therfra debord.
Vrechit Edinburgh doeth gape for pelfe ; and neuer
had the grace,
Once Symeon lyke with his full hands, Christ Jesus
to embrace.
A papist thou art Galloway, in Heaven thoues never
duell,
Thy crooked soule and fyrie head, will cause ye
marche to hell.
Dunkell is riche and suims in wealth, God Mammon
still he loues.
And he more subiect unto him, then to Jehova
proues.
Kosse is a courtier, bot doeth, the court of heauin
disdaine.
He pryses earthly princes courts, Vaine glory, pompe,
and trayne.
Of rascall father, and a dame distracted, doeth dis-
cend, I
This snarling quhelpe, vithiu hes brou doeth pryde
and vrath protend.
Argyle ingurgitats and eattes, vith surfeit in a feast,
For quhay, the simple soule makes god, each morsell
to his taist.
Plunged Aberdeine with pouerty, the riches he
devor'd,
THE PASgUIL VEIISIFIEL. 2:3
By houpe for woodset* of lies soule, ar blasted by the
Lord.
Slee subtile Murray tliiuks to catch, old Satliau by
lies wylles,
For he by slikey lyes and wourdes, some sillie nieu
begjdles.
Dumblaine lickes out and chalice lickes, vnmyndfull
that he may.
Heir learne to suffer tlirist with those, sail tortur him
for iiy.
Falsse Jylles that thou loues fraud, scarsse fault it is
in the,
A Bishope, and ane heighlandman, hou can thou
honest bee.
OflF all our Lord and Sauiors 12. no traitor wes bot
one,
Bot all thesse 12 doe firmly ioyne our Sauiour to
dethrone.
Good Orkney ^^ onlie liueth right : is skilled in ajchery
craft.
His string is Loue, hes marke is Christ, a steadfast
faith hes shaft.
* Meaning wadset, i.e. , mortgage.
'* Bishop Graham is indebted to his tmckling to the Presby-
terian party for these high praises. He is said to have been
of the family of Inchbrakie. He was first minister of Scoon,
then Bishop of Dumblane, from whence he was translated to
the See of Orkney, where he discharged the duties of the Ejjis-
copal function for twenty-three years. To avoid the penal
consequences of excomniunication, he submitted to the General
Assembly at Glasgow, and was deprived 11th December 1G3S;
and thus saved his purse at the expense of his reputation.
24 THE PASQUIL VERSIFIED.
Both soule and bodey Cathnes '^ cures, tliers none bot
only he,
Treu pastor and phisitian may only termed be,
•* Abemethy seems to have gone farther than Graham ; for
we learn from Balfour's Annals, Vol. II. p. 311, that he "re-
ceaved sentence of deposition from his office of Episcopacy,
and he to be receaved in the office of the ministrie upon his
publicke repentance to be made in the kirk of Jedburgh."
This benefice Abernethy retained during the time he was
Bishop of Caithness — that is to say, from 1624 untU 1638.
He had it at least as far back as 1607. " in a Synod held
by him at Dornoch in 1623, it was decreed that every entering
minister should pay the first year's stipend to the reparation
and maintenance of the Cathedral." In this Bishop's time
Dornoch was made a Burgh Eoyal. — Keith, p. 217.
The bishop was named John; but there was another
Abemethie called Thomas, who created a sensation in the
memorable year 1638, by taking the covenant. He had been
previously a Jesuit, but, "hearing of God's wonderful work,
wakened in conscience," and made a public confession "of
his apostacie " in the Great Kirk of Edinburgh,* upon the
24th of August, before a crowded and delighted audience.
To give additional zest to the exhibition, the Rev. Andrew
Kamsay commenced by preaching upon the text, " Come out
of Babel "a little before "to make way" for Abemethie's
confession and abjuration of poperie. Was this ci-devant
Jesuit any relation of the prelate ?
The Bishop of Caithness was in 1620 included by James VI.
in the letter of commission passed under the Great Seal of
Scotland for the purpose of abating an evil which had arisen
by "impious and wicked men " guilty of offences cognizant by
the Ecclesiastical Court, appealing to the Lords of Council
and Session by suspension and advocation, thereby delaying
" their trj'ell and punishment." This commission conferred
the power of trying all " offenders m doctrine, life, or religion,
or any of these holden to be scandalous," and gave ample
power to punish all attempts to frustrate its efficacy.
* Now the High Church.
SATIRE ON THE GLASGOW ASSEMBLY, KiSS. 25
SATIRE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT
GLASGOW, 1G38.
Tlie followiii^f violent pasquil on tlie Glasrrow Assembly
was printed for the first time in the Scots Magazine for
26 SATIRE ON THE
*
February 1807, with this notice prefixed: — "This curious
piece was obligiugly transmitted to us, by a literary
gentleman of the first eminence, ' wlio found a copy,
probably the only one which exists, written on the blank
leaves of an early edition of the Bruce, in a hand of
the middle of the 17th century. It was probably com-
posed by Afr Thomas Forrester, Episcopal minister of
Melrose, a man of considerable humour, who was deposed
by the Assembly in 1638 on account of various alleged
crimes, of which the chief was doubtless his attach-
ment to prelacy, and to the royal cause. MUne, iii his
' Description of the Parish of Melrose,' pp. 38, 41, expresses
his surprise that a Satire, which made so much noise in its
day, should not have been noticed and preserved by succeed-
ing writers. He had searched in vain for a copy. > The
piece is well worthy preservation, having much satirical and
forcible expression. We have added a few notes, collected
from the history of the times, to illustrate the leading
characters mentioned in it." Several eiTors occiurediu the
transcription, which have been corrected, by collation with
an MS. autograph of Robert Mylne, the well-known Scotish
Bibliomaniac, who died in December 1747, on his birthday,
at the advanced age of one hundred and three years.^
In the year 1724, there was printed " An account of the
proceedings of the General Assembly at Glasgow, 1638.
Taken verbatim from a letter written by one of the Members
present to his Brother in the country." There is a note
appended, mentioning that the tract is the " copy of a letter
which a Reverend Divine of this church, now deceased,
found among his fathers papers, also a minister of the
church, who liv'd in the time of our fii-st disturbance mider
K. Charles I."
' The late Alexander Henderson, Esq., of the Post Office.
2 British Magazine, vol. i. , p. 6.34, Edin,
Gl,ASC;uW ASSEMBLY, 1 638. 27
This tractate has been to a certain extent referred to in
the notes below the satire, — but it is so curious, as giving
many particulare of the proceedings occurring on an occa-
sion so momentous to Episcopacy, that it may not be out
of place to make some additional extracts from it. At
the outset the Marquis of Hamilton, the King's Commissioner,
proposed that before any appointment of a Moderator, "the
commissions should be tryed." But this did not please the
"Lord of Loudon," who contended "that there behoved to
be a settled judicatory before the commissions could be tryed,
and no settled judicatory, till the moderator was chosen."
Thereupon a "scholar," perhaps the writer of the letter,
answered, that the trial of the commissioners should go first,
because both the order of nature, and the order of lawful
procedure required that the cause should precede and
go before the effect. As the " tryed commissioners " are
the cause of the moderator's lawful election, the commissions
required to be scrutinized first.
Reference was made to the possibility of falsehood and
treachery if the commissions were not tried before, but
after, the election of the moderator, and distinct reference
was made to certain practices of a disreputable nature
arising "from the subornations of the Tables at Edinburch."
Lord Loudon not being able to answer tliis objection
"remained Blancatus,''' hut as he had the great majority
'■'Reason behoved to yeild unto Will, the master to the
servant," and the Peer carried all before him.
This resolution was protested against by his Majesty's Com-
misioner, but his protest was disregarded. Those present
proceeded to elect a moderator, and Mr Alexander Hender-
son, was chosen with the fidl consent of all, "yet there was
some" secret murmuring against "him that he smelled
something of popery, — becixuse he was unmarried." The
worthy moderator apologized for his Hving in single blessed-
ness, and declared that "he never thought virginity to be
28 SATIRE ON THE
a virtue, but that marriage is honourable in all, and the
married life is far to be preferred before the single," neither
" could he well allow of St. Paul's preferring the single life
to the married," "as for himself, he protested it was
the coldness of his complexion that debarred him from the
felicity of marriage, and that if he were able 'solvere
debitum,' he should not be so long unmarried after this, as
Luther was when he came out of the cloyster." The
suggestion that before a man could competently become
Moderator in a General Assembly, he must be married, is
amusing; it no doubt arose out of the celibacy of the
Roman Catholic Priests, and a mistaken aj^prehension, that
it was not from " Vitium naturie,^'' but from an inclination to
popery, that Henderson was afraid to take to himself a
Avife.
The choice of a Clerk came next before the Assembly,
when Mr James Sandilands was rejected because he came
from "that unsanctiiied place" Aberdeen, and Archibald
Johnston was chosen. This election was also ineffectually
protested against by the Royal Commissioner. The in-
dividual chosen was the famous Johnston of Warriston,
whose portrait has been usually painted, according to the
political prejudices of those who delineate him. The
Covenanters calling him a saint, and the Royalists a
sinner. He was chosen "not for any excellence in his
person, but as he is come of an holy race, as being one of
Rachel Arnot, her posterity, that blessed Saint, whose
posterity for her cause wiU be blessed unto the thousandth
generation." "In a note the writer explains that this
woman was the famous head of all mobs, and grandmother
to Johnston, who was uncle to the late Bishop of Sarum
(Burnet)." Elizabeth, the mother of Warriston, was a
daughter of Sir Thomas Craig of Ricartoun, author of the
celebrated treatise De Fendis, whose father, an Edinburgh
GLASGOW ASSEMBLY, 1G38. 29
sliopkeeper, had become proprietor of tlie Estate of Warris-
ton, near Edinburgh.
lu the Deuniyhi collections, the following epitaph will be
fouud upon the death of Warriston's mother : —
Deevil suell ye Deathe,
Aud burete thee lyke a tun ;
That took away good Elspet Craig,
And left the knave her son.
PART FIRST.
Frome Glasgow * Eaid to which mad meeting, — '
Huge troups frome all quarters came fleeting,
With dags ^ and guns in forme of warre, ^
All loyal subjects to debarre ;
Wher Bishops might not shew their faces,*
And mushroome elders " fill'd their places.
Frome such mad pranks of Catharus,
Almighty God deliver us ! li
' Meaning the assemblage of discontented zealots who com- ] ^ H?
bined to put down Episcopacy. ' f*^"
»Bag8. R.M. w
' The Covenanters came armed to the Assembly, under - f
pretence of securing their personal safety against the outrages
which were said to have been committed in that neighbour-
hood by the clan of the Macgregors. — Stevenson's Hist, of tlie
Church, vol. ii.
* The General Assembly in 1638, which threw off the King's
authority.
* The Court was extremely urgent that Bishops should be
admitted into this Assembly, aud that one of their number
should be moderator ; but this the opposite party, who were
bent on the ruin of prelacy, successfully opposed.
30 SATIRE ON THE
From sitting in that convocation,"
Discharged by open proclamation/
Who did not stirr till they had ended
All the mischief they had intended ;
Frome all their cobbling knobs and knacks,
Set out in forme of public acts,
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome usurping the Kmg's forts,
Frome fortifying the sea-ports,
To shelter rebels and withstand
The King's, nay God's revenging hand ;
Frome usurj^ing the King's rent,
Frome threescore strange books in print.
And all mad pranks, &c.
Namely Buchannau's Eegni Jus,
Among such books most i^ernicious,
Now there is one worse, so God me save.
Sent out I thinke from Hell's conclave ;
I cannot hit its name, shame fall it,
" Defensive armes," I troAV they call it.
And all such, &c.
* The Court urged also the exclusion of lay elders, wishing
the Assembly to consist entirely of clergymen, with the view,
doubtless, of excluding those powerful nobles who had
espoused the party of the Covenanters ; but this proposal
was rejected.
' On the 29th November 1638, a proclamation was made at
the Market Cross of Glasgow, prohibiting, under pain of
treason, any further meetings of the Assembly. The Assem-
bly, however, in defiance of this proclamation, resoh^ed to con-
tinue their sittings, and proceeded to the most violent
measures against the Court and Bishops.
GLASGOW ASSEJIELY, 1638. 31
Frome usurping the King's presse,
80 that no hook could liave accesse,
Which might maintaine the Iving's just title,
Or crosse the covenant ne'er so little ;
Its strange, but trew, books of that straine,
Are bai"'J under the highest pain,
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome displaying the Covenant's banner,
Frome taking up in savage maner
Horses, comes, cattle, every thing,
Frome true men to God and King,
Namelie from kirkmen, I am sorie.
When I think on Breichen's^ sad storie.
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome attempting to translate
The sacred monuments of state.
From the sevententh of December,
' James Wedclerbum, first, Bishop of Dumblain, aud
secondly of Brechin. Of all the Bishops he appears to
have been the most zealous for Prelacy, aud for the royal
authority. When the Ser\-ice-Book first came dowTi, he
allowed the clergy of his diocess no alternative, but either of
reading it, or of immediate deposition. Afterwards, when
di'ead of popular violence deterred the other bishops even
from reading it themselves, he "resolved to serve the King at
a time when other feeble cowards crouched." Accorilinglj^
wth his family he went armed to church, and having got in
before the usual time, shut the doors and read the serA-ice ;
but was so roughly handled on his return home, that he never
ventured to repeat the experiment. [He was deprived by the
Glasgow Assembly, as previously mentioned. — Ed.]
32 SATIRE ON THE
Which day with horrour we remember,
Frome threatening to renew the play,
Hatch't on that black and dismal day,
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome cassiug acts of Parlament,
Without the three estates consent.
Nay, if th' assembly do command,
The King himself may not withstand,
Ecclesiastical decrees
Against kirk lawes and liberties,
And all such pranks, &c.
From abrogating prelacie
In Parliament ; one of the three
Estates, it cannot be denied
But that estate should be supply'd ;
But how I pray shall this be done t
Unless it be brought from the moone.
And all such, &c.
From making pricklows and the King
Of equal power in every thing.
Pertaining to kirk government,
And that with Bellarmine's extent ;
To all things which in any sense
To kirk maters have reference.
And all such, &c.
From transcendant prerogative
Given to a bodie collective,
A mutinous muckle trouble-feast,
CLASGOW ASSEMBLY, 1 HSS. 33
A prattle, peevish, monstrous beast ;
With many heads, and in all things
A Puritane; the bane of Kings,
And all such, &c.
From Boyd's' French "Ruling Elder's hors :"
His "Gilead's Balme," a great deal wors,
And last of al, his revocatione
(For his young sone) of donatione ;
Made by himself to pious use ;
Frome all such foolries and abuse.
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome one thing said, another seen,
Frome tli' outrage done to Aberdeen ;
From hollow hearts and holy faces,
Frome ridiculous prayers and graces :
From peremptorie reprobatione,
Frome Hendersone's ^° rebaptizatione,
And all such pranks, &c.
* Lord Boyd. He was among the first noblemen who
signed the Covenant, and was sent with some others to Glas-
gow, in order to overcome the scruples which were entertained
against it by some clergymen there.
'" Alexander Henderson, minister of Leuchars. Originally
a supporter of Prelacy, he rendered himself so veiy un-
popular that at his admission the populace blocked up the
doors, and his supporters were obliged to break in at the
windows. He was converted by a sermon of Mr Robert
Bruce, a name famous in the annals of Presbjiiery. From
that time he became the prime mover in all the measures
against the Court and Bishops. On the meeting of Assembly
in 1C38, he was made moderator. (See Introductory notice.
He died iu 1G4G. ,
U
34 SATIRE ON THE
First when the baser sort began
To act rebellioune, than
It was base rebellioune and rage :
But when great men entered the stage,
And act it over again, strange.
It was pure religione from that change,
And all such pranks, &c.
Frome false and forged informations,
Against the King's gracious declarations,
Whereby they laboured to persuade,
That he forsooth minds to invade
His own subjects and to subdue them.
Even as a King that never knew them.
And all such, &c.
Frome Puritane's equivocationes.
And from their mental reservationes.
Wherein they doe, ther is no doubt,
Jesuites in their own bow outshoot ;
From all rebellious leagues and unions,
Gathering to sections and communions.
And all such, &c.
From kirkmen's independencie,
The main pillar of papacy,
Frome censures past on men for l^reaking
Of kirks canons before their making ;
From ruling elders inspirations,
And phanatick ejaculations,
And all such, &c.
OENERAI. AHS^LMBLY AT (iLASGOM'. 35
From turncoat preacher's supplications,
And from their mental reservationes/^
Frome lawless excommunications,
Frome laicks household congregations,
Frome unsupportable taxations,
Ther are the covenanting actions.
And all such, &c.
THE SECOND PART.
Frome Hendersone who doeth ourtope
The Patriarcks, for he is Pope,
Yet Leckie makes bold to opijose,^^
His holines ev'n to his nose ;
Leckie, a covenanting brother,
Go to, let one divel ding another.
And all such, &c.
From Leslie's quondam excellence,'*
" Shameless recantations. R. M.
'2 The Laird of Leckie, a gentleman of property in Stirling-
shire, -who became the head of a sort of inilepeudent sect, and
in imitation of some refugees from Ireland, held private meet-
ings at his own house, where the Irish form of worship was
used. As uniformly happens in religious innovations, he
soon got followers. Leckie having spoken disrespectfully
of Mr Hari-y Guthi'ie, and other ministers of Stirling, was
arraigned before the Assembly, and long discussions took
place on the subject. Baillie asserts that "Mr Henderson
vented himself on many occasions passionately opposite to
these conceits."
" Colonel, afterwards General Leslie, who commanded the
army of the Covenanters, better known as Earl of Leven.
36 SATIRE ON THE
Who want's too long a recompence
For his good service ; yet, however,
Better he have it late than never ;
The same I wish to all arch traitours.
To all their favourers and ftiutors,
And all such mates, &c.
Frome all who swear themselves mensuorne,
Frome Louthian, Loudoun, Lindsay, Lome,
Prince Rothes, and Balmirrino,^*
" So early as 1633, tlie Earl of Lothian, Lord Loudon,
Lord Balmerino, the Earl of Rothes, and Lord Lyndsay, are
enumerated by Guthrie as avowed supporters of the Pres-
byterian interest (Mem. p. 9). Loudon in particular was a
most strenuous supporter of this cause. Even in 1626,
when the king brought forward his scheme for the revoca-
tion of tithes and church lauds, Loudoun, with Lord Rothes,
went to London, and petitioned, though without effect,
against that measure. These two were always employed in
presenting the various reijresentations and supplications which
were afterwards made to the king on the subject of the liturgy
and Perth articles. Loudoun was one of those employed
in 1637 to draw up the complaint against the bishops
and when, after repeated remonstrances, the Commissioners
were at length admitted before the council, he made a long
speech, enumerating all the grievances which Scotland had
suffered, and declaring that, far from submitting to be tried
by the Bishops, he could prove them guilty of the most shock-
ing crimes. When Charles was compelled by his disasters in
England to throw himself in the anns cf the Scotish Par-
liament, he made Loudon Lord Chancellor. His Majesty
having been afterwards reduced to the last extremity, he
was one of those that presented the petition calling upon
him to take the Covenant ; at which time he is said to have
GLASGOW ASSEMBLY, 1038. 37
And devout Lordlings many moe ;
Who lead the dance and rule the rost,
And forceth us to make the cost,
And all such, &c.
accosted his Majesty in the following jo/am terms: — "The
difference between your Majesty and your Parliament is
gro\vn to such a height, that, after many bloody battles, they
have your Majesty, with all your garrisons and strongholds,
in their hands, Sze. They are in a capacity now to do what
they will iu Church and State ; and some are so afraid, and
others so unwilling, to proceed to extremities till they know
your Majesty's last resolution. Now, Sire, if your Majesty
shall refuse your consent to the resolutions, you wU lose all
your friends m the House and in the city, and all England shall
join against you as one man ; they will depose you and set up
another government ; they will charge us to deliver your
Majesty to them, and remove our arms out of England ; and
upon your refusal we will be obliged to settle religion and
peace without you ; which will ruin your Majesty and your
posterity." (Scots Worthies, p. 247. ) On the establishment
of Cromwell's government he lost all his influence, and was
dismissed from his office. The restoration, however, was
much worse, when, " it is inconceivable to express the grief
this godly nobleman sustained," both on account of the
renewal of "Popery, Prelacy, and Slavery," and the dangers
which threatened his own person. These affected him so
violently, that he died on the 15th of March 16G2, before the
meeting of Parliament.
Lord Ptothes was equally zealous, and his name is generally
coupled with that of Loudoun in the transactions of those
times. In the Parliament of lii'S'.i, on the clerk's declar-
ing that an important question had been carried in the King's
favour, liothes rose and affirmed the contrary. When the
King went north shortly afterwards, the Earl of Rothes and
Lord Lindesay assemlded about 2000 of the Fife gentry to
meet him ; but the King was so incensed at their previous
b D ^ ■:>
38 SATIRE ON THE
Frome Duns Lawe's rebells rabbled out,
Rascalls frome all quarters sought out ;
Faire England's forces to defeate,
Without armour, money, or meat :
True, some had forks, some roustie dags.
And some had bannocks in their bags,
And all such, &c.
Frome the table's emissaries,
Frome mutineers of all degrees :
conduct, that lie shunned them by taking a by-road to Dun-
fermlme.
Lord Bahnerino concurred in all the measures of the other
Lords, and particularly in a petition which was to have been
presented to the King in 1633, but was suppressed from the
fear of offending his Majesty. This petition having been
found in Balmerino's possession, a criminal process was opened
against him, and, by the casting vote of the Earl of Traquair,
he was condenmed to die. But, "it was resolved, either to
set him at liberty, or to revenge his death on the Court and
eight jurymen;" which, Traquair learning, procured his
pardon. This transaction, by irritating the Covenanters,
and by showing them their strength, proved highly injurious
to the Royal cause.
Archibald Lord Lome, afterwards Marquis of Argyle, was
much slower in declaring himself. He continued long a
member of Council, though he is supposed to have made
secret remonstrances against the imprudent measures of the
Court. But in 1638, when the General Assembly determined
to sit, notwithstanding their being dissolved, this nobleman
agreed, though not a member, to continue a witness to their
proceedings, which the Assembly considered "as the greatest
human encouragement they could meet with," but which
occasioned a complete breach between him and the Court.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT GLASGOW. 39
Priests, Lords, Judges, clerks of touns,
Proud citizens, poor country clouns ;
Who in all courses disagree,
Bot joyne to crosse authoritie,
And all sucli, ^c.
Frome these who put no difference
'Twixt constraint and obedience,
St Paul made C?esar supreme judge,
To CjBsar had his last refuge ;
Fy then on these who dare appeal
Frome Caesar in preposterous zeal,
And all such, &c.
Frome Prelates dumb'^ by self-confession,
Frome Priests too nigh the same transgressione,
Frome those thAt ne'er gave any prooffe.
Of loyalty ; bot hold, alooffe,
Frome traitours under trust, yow'll say
Ther is non sucli, yet we will pray,
From all such mates, &c.
Frome Will Dick'" that usurious chuff,
His feathered cape, his coat of buff;
For all the world a saddled sow,
A worthie man and Generall too ;
Frome both the Duries," these mad sparks.
One brybing judge, two cheating clerks.
And all such, &c.
'* Daniu'il in the printed copy.
'« Probably the rieh ancestor of Priestfiekl.
'• Gibsons of Durie. The lairtl of Durie appears, like
40 SATIRE ON THE
Frome Hackertouu, if yow would know him,
His pointed beard, and breeches show him,
A whyted bank of rotten timmer.
Is th' upright emblem of that limmer.
Thanks to the Covenant, his whoores
Live now at rest within his doores.
And all such, &c.
Frome comer-creeping parlour preachers.
Of blind disciples, more blind teachers ;
Frome cisternes that no water hold,
Frome Aberdeen's base and false gold,
Frome daubers with untempered mortar,
Frome Eow,^^ the springal pulpit sporter,
And all such pranks, &c.
Argyll, to have once been a member of the Royal council,
tte came over, however, earlier to the other side ; for before
the meeting of the assembly, we find him protesting against
the substitution of the Confession of Faith for the Covenant.
From that time the cause of the Covenant was strenuously
supported by himself and all his family, particularly Alex-
ander.
'* John Row, minister at Camock, the author of the
History of the Kirk of Scotland from the year 1558 to
August 1837. I suspect Mr Henderson is here mistaken,
as probably "Pockmanty Mr James," so called from the
celebrated sermon he preached in St Giles's Church, the
last Sunday of July 1638, was the person alluded to. He was
minister at Monivaird and Strowan, and the fifth son of the
minister of Camock. See a very scarce collection of fugitive
pieces, called Reliquiae Scoticse, 8vo, Edin. 1828, where an
account of him, taken from Mylne's, the younger, MS.
genealogy of his mother's relations, will be found. In old
Mylne's version the name is Reid. — Ed.
GLASGOW ASSEMBLY, 1 G3S. 41
Frome nortlu-rn Dunbar, Murray's chaiitiT,
The knave became a covenanter ;
To save his lyfe how may that be,
The covenant its a sanctuary
To felons and to false sirras,
And all such cheating rogues as he is,
And all such, &c.
Frome the most stupid senseles asse,
That ever brayed, my consin Casse,'"
He is th' assemblyes voyce, and so,
Th' assembly is his echo.
The fool speaks first, and all the rest
To say the same are ready prest.
And all such, &c.
Frome Eliot, Tueddal's Jackanaips,
In pulpit when it skips and leaps,
It makes good s])ort, I must confcsse.
Its a mad monkie, questionlesse.
Frome Selkirke's glory young and old,
Selkirke's reproach if truth were told.
And all such, &c.
Frome ]\Iinniboles Bonner,^" out upon him,
I could find in my heart to stone him ;
'5 Probably Cassilis.
''" James Boner, minister at Maybole, often mentioned
as an active Presbyterian. He was of the family of the
" Ijords of Bonnar," as modern genealogists have been pleased
to style this respectable Vmt humble race of Bonnet Laii'ds.
42 SATIRE ON THE
The knave affirmes that ther's no odds
BetAvixt his horses hous and Gods ;
Fronie Ecfoord's trumpeter of stryfe,
Who worships a deafe idoll wyfe,
And all such, &c.
Frome kirk Archie knave or foole,
He puts our court Archie^^ to schoole ;
Frome Lesly, that adulterous whore,
And devout palyards by the scoare,
Wlio among all whores reject not one.
Except the whore of Babylone,
And all such, &c.
Frome him that's neither cold nor hot,
Frome Ker, Salt-Prestone's, sal ties sot,
Frome Adamsone, pray know the man,
A palyard drunkard charlitan,
And principal in al three, its much
That any one man should be such.
And all such, &c.
Frome covenanting familists,
Amsterdamian separists,
2' Archy Armstrong, the Court jester.
" In Row's "kirk " history will be found a most amusing
account of this worthy clergyman's conversion when a youth
from Puppyism to Presbyterianism, through the instrumen.
tality of Mr John Davidson, the previous minister of Salt-
Preston," — Page 462 (Wodrow Edition). Mr John Ker was
the son of the Lady Fadensyde.
22
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT (;LASGO^V. 43
Antinomiaiis and Biowuists,
Jesuitizing Calvinists,
Murranizing Bucliananists,
All monster Misobasilists :
These are the maites of Catharus,
Almighty God deliver ns.
Frome noble beggers, beggennakers,
Frome all bold and blood undertakers,
Frome hungry catchpoles, knyted lounes,
Frome perfumed puppies and babouns,
Frome caterpillars, moths, and rats,
Hors leiches, state blood-suicking brates,
And all such, &c.
Frome Sandie Hay, and Sandie Gibsoue,^^
Sandie Kinneir, and Sandie Johnstoun f^
Whose knaverie made them covenanters.
To keep their neckes out of the belters
Of falshood greid whan yow'U't name.
Of treacherie they think no shame.
Yet thes the mates of Catharus,
Frome whome good Lord deliver us.
^ Alex. Gibson, younger of Durie, advocate. When the
King's declaration of the 4th of July was published at Edin-
burgh, he protested against it in name of the Barons. He
was employed to collect evidence against several of the
Bishops, at the time of their persecution by the Assembly in
1638.
» Alexander Johnston, better known as Lord Warriston.
44 SATIRE ON THE GLASGOW ASSEMBLY, 1638.
-■ADDITIONAL VERSES FROM MYLNE'S MSS.^*
From Williamson who had seaven wyves,
I tell not how they lost their lyves,
But how he pull'd fra his coad piece,
The Covenant, as an odd jiiece :
I wUl not here relate the story,
But all was acted to God's glory.
From all thes pranks, &c.
From greedie, false, base John Kinnier,
In all thrie worse than Lourie^^ or Keir ;
A witches son, shame fa' his face,
Sa carling lyke, betydes no grace :
From churchmen's independencie.
The main pillar of poperie.
From sic mad mates, &c.
2* These two stanzas are of a more modem date, from the
mention of "Mass Da\id Williamson," and his seven wives.
Old Robert Mylne seems to have had no great respect for
" Dainty Davy ;" and it is not unlikely that he thought this
eminent person might, with no great improprietj'^, be intro-
duced amongst the worthies described ia the pasij^uil, over-
looking the evident absurdity of placing amongst individuals
who flourished in 1638-9, a person who then must have been
a mere child, and whose purity did not become conspicuous
till considerably more than thirty years afterwards.
25 This no doubt was meant for Lowrie or Laurie, Tutor of
Blackwood, who figures so prominently in the Ballad of Lady
Barbara Erskine's Lament. — See Scotish Historical and
Traditionary Ballads, Edin. 1868, vol. ii.
IHR NEW LITANY. 4?
THE NEW LITANY,
From Balfour's MS.
Littleton in the fourtli edition of his Latin and English
Dictionary gives the following definition of Catharus : —
" Cathari qnidani dicti Kvdapoi puri ob siinulatam puri-
tatem. Puritans, a sect which denied oaths upon an occa-
sion for the deciding of any truth ; they maintained
absolute perfection in this life ; whence, with their master,
Novatus, they denied repentance to those that fell away
from baptism."
The three Apostles of the Covenant named in the second
stanza of part second were Henderson, the moderator of
the Glasgow Assembly of 1638, of whom some account will
be found in the preface to the preceding article, Dickson, and
Cant.
David Dickson was a popular preacher. It it said that
an English Merchant, who heard him at Irvine, where he was
Minister, " described him as a well-favoured proper old man,
with a long beard," wlio showed him all his heart, for he
was famt-d for treating of all " cases of conscience." He was
author of a " short explanation of the Epistle of Paul to the
Hebrews," which was priiited by Edward Rabane, at Aber-
deen 1635, 12nio. Mr Dickson, moreover, got up a flirtation
with the muses, which resulted in the birth of a " Divine
Poem," " on Christian Love," reprinted at the beginning of
the next centuiy . He composed several theological Treatises.
He died in 1662.* Wodrow, in his Analccta,t has preserved
* Vol. iii., p. 6.
fFour volumes 4to., — The Contribution to the Maitland
Club of its late much esteemed President, the Earl of Glas-
gow. A book of great interest.
46 THE NEW LITANY.
many particulars relative to Dickson. One anecdote may be
given. Travelling -with a young man, who proved to be a
robber, and sought his purse, he told him " this is a very
bad -way of living you are now following, take my advice,
if you will needs take my money from me, go and trade
Avith it, follow some lawful trade of merchandizing, and
leave off this woeful course of yours." The money was
taken, and for years nothing was heard more of the rob-
bery. Dickson left Irvine, went to Glasgow and lastly
removed to Edinburgh, where he was both professor and
minister.
One day a hogshead of wine was sent to the College for
Mr Dickson, but as it had not been ordered by him, he caused
it to be put aside. Shortly after a gentleman called, who
was received with much courtesy and was treated with
a glass of ale, which the stranger greatly commended, but
asked if there was no wine in the house. Mr Dickson
said there was, and mentioned how it came there. His
visitor said he had sent it, and asked if he remembered of
being robbed of a purse, with four or five hundred merks,
years before. His host " minded " the circumstance. The
gentleman said he was the man ; that he had followed the
advice given ; had traded and been successful, and that he
now returned the money taken, with interest.
But of the trio, Master Andrew Cant was the most
popular ; Henderson and Dickson were men of talent and
learning, but Cant's opinions were held in more esteem by
the lower classes. Reference has previously been made to
the account of the Glasgow Assembly of 1638, and the picture
there presented of the reverend gentleman's eloquence and
acquirements is too graphic to be omitted. Mr David Mitchell,
an Edinburgh clergymen, having been accused of Armini-
anism. Cant was desired by the Assembly to state his views
on the point. He veiy "gravely and modestly did excuse
himself in that matter, that there were many more learned
THK NEW LITANY. 47
than he to speak of that matter; for I/'saith lie, "havebeeu
otlierwise exercised than in reaflinp; Arminius's tenets; for
after I had spent some yeai-s in the College of Aberdeen, I
was promoted to be a doctor (i.e., usher) of the grammar-
school there, and in the meantime I did read Becaniis his
Theology." There was one sitting beside him who touched
him on the elbow, and told him Jhcanii.^ was a Jesuit,
and that he should have said liucaiius. He crav'd the whole
Assembly pardon, that he should have named a Jesuit, and
protested that " he never read three lines either on Jesuit
or any other Popish writer; yea," continued he, "I abhor
these men whom they call the Fathers, for one told me,
who heard it of Mr Charles Ferme, that they smell'd too
much of Popery. Bucaiuts have I studied, and some English
Homilies, but above all, I owe all I have to the most
Reverend Mr Cartwright (the great English Apostle of
Presbytery in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.) I would have
studied Mr Culi:in''s Institutions, but I found them some-
what harsh and obscure to be understood."' That is to say,
observes the writer, he did not miderstand Latin, for Calvin
writes in a plain, intelligible style, and his Latin is as
refined as any work in that language this 1600 years;
Cant next disclosed the startling fact that "when I
should have studied most, I had such a prick in my flesh,
that I behoved either to marry or burn, being of a com-
plexion quite contrary to our moderator's." Here the
narrator explains that tliis " may easily be believed if what
is reported of him be true — viz., that he begot his son Mr
Andrew upon a Sunday betwixt his forenoon and afternoon
sermons." "Therefore, moderator, I request you to seek
some other's judgment concerning that, for Pupery, Armini-
anuiin, and the Alcoran are all aUke known to me." The
motlest Henderson must have blushed to the ears, at this
candid admission of Cant's heat of body, especially when the
orator contrasted it with his own coldness of temperament.
48 THE NEW LITANY.
Wodrow observes that the "malignaats" called Cant one
of the Apostles of the Covenant."
A still more ridiculous, but more excusable appearance was
made by the euUghtened commissioner of Forfar, a mender
of soles, not of souls. He declared that, though a man of small
learning, he had, by virtue of " Presbyterial commission," as
"great a power to speak and decide matters as any that
hath imposition of hands from a Bishop. Concerning Arian-
ism" — some one bade him say Arminianism — he resumed, " I
know not how you call it ; but when I was in Holland buy-
ing leather, in order to my vocation, there was one Barna-
veld who was arraign'd and beheaded ; I asked what was
the fault? They said he was found guilty of Arminianism and
treason against the State. So, in my judgment, Arminianism
is Treason against the Covenant, aud deserves to be punished
with death." Luckily, as the Assembly had not power to
order Mitchell's execution, the members merely contented
themselves with depriving him of his benefice, although they
knew as little about Aiminianism as they did about true
Christianity. The author of the account of the Assembly
asserts that the real cause of the deprivation was, that Mitchell
had given offence to the pious and pure Earl of Rothes.
Andrew Cant, the younger, did not follow in the foot-
steps of the elder Cant, as he was a staunch Eoyalist ; and
when preaching in Aberdeen, spoke with such violence
against the " bondage of the oppressours," that some of the
soldiers who were in tlie church rushed forward to the
pulpit with swords drawn. His colleague, Menzies, in a
fright, crept in below the pulpit, but the undaunted Andi-ew
stood firm, and exclaimed, "Here's the man that spoke,"
and opening out his bosom, declared, "here is a heart ready
to receive the thrusts, if any will venture to give them, for
the truth." His hearers gave no further indication of
hostility. Wodrow has preserved this anecdote, adding, in
his comraentaiy, that Cant, " had once been a captain, and
THE NKW LITANY. 49
was one of the most resolute, bold men of his day." What-
ever may have been his original calling, one cannot avoid
.idniiriiig the manly courage which ho on this occasion
displayed.
Henry Rollock, is called Rogue in the account of the
(ilasgow Assembly, so often referred to; "the name is
Rollock, but it was then, and by some to this day (172G)
}n'onouuced Rogue, and never man deserved the name better,
if we consult the minutes of that meeting."
Andrew liamsay, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, is
the other person referred to ; he can hardly be classed with
those zealots who endeavoured to override the civil power.
The assembly approving of an act of the commission,
repealed or attempted to repeal a Parliamentary enact-
ment, had enjoined all the clergy to sign an approbatory
declaration. Ramsay and Mr William Colville declined to
do so, and were deposed. AVhereupon, says Wodrow, *
" my Lord Eglinton, Graystcil,t left the house in a pet.
That same day John Gilon, a pious but illiterate man who
had no language but his mother tongue, was ordained a
minister. My Lord, when he came out, said the assembly
were going quite wrong. They had put out two great
lights in this church, and had set up John Gilon at Lin-
lithgow, a ruff and dark lantliorn in comparison with them."
liamsay was a man of superior attainments to his
brethren. He was author of a small and now rare volume
of sacred poems, in Latin vei-se, of great excellence, which
were printed at Edinburgh in 1G33, 12mo. It has been
conjectured that Milton borrowed from him several of the
speeches and descriptions in his Paradise Lost, which
was printed subsequently: in an old Edinburgh Magazine
several parallel passages have been given.
The "glass," mentioned in the fourth stanza, was that
used for the purpose of enabling the preacher to know ^\ hen
* Vol. iv. p. "271. t His Lordship's sobriquet.
1)
50 THE NEW LITANY.
it was time to terminate his discourse. A humorous story
has been preserved of one of the Earls of Airlie, who enter-
tained at his table a clergyman, who was to preach before
the Commissioner next day. The glass circulated, peihaps
too freely ; and whenever the divine attempted to I'ise, his
Lordship prevented him, saying, "another glass, and then."
After "flooring" (if the expression may be allowed) his
Lordship, the guest went home. He next day selected as
a text, " The wicked shall be punished, and that right
KARLY." Inspired by the subject, he was by no means
sparing of his oratory, and the hour-glass was disregarded,
although repeatedly warned by the precentor, who in common
with Lord Airlie, thought the discourse rather lengthy. The
latter soon knew why he was thus punished, by the reverend
gentleman when reminded, exclaiming, not sotto voce,
" another glass, and then."
Gutter Jennie, in stanza eleven, refers to the holy woman
Viho threw a stool at Archbishop Spottiswood. Kirkton,
in his History, says, that as the lirst Keformation that
abolished Popery began at Perth "with the throw of a
stone in a boy's hand, so the second Reformation, which
abolished Episcopacy, began with the throw of a stool in a
woman's hand." This heroine of the Covenant was Geddes,
but whether called Margaret or Janet is not quite certain.
Mr C. K. Sharpe, the Commentater on Kirkton, observes in
a note, that it was said she had done penance on the stool
of repentance for fornication the Sabbath previous to this
exploit. How curious it would be if the cutty stool, as it is
commonly called, was the identical one which, after having
brought Janet to repentance, should have been the original
cause of the popular and successful attempt to abolish
Episcopacy.
Females were uniformly the great supporters of the
Covenant. In Archbishop Sharp's time a female association
was formed for the \e.rj /emiiniif purpose of murdering him.
»
THE NEW LITANY. 51
FIRST PART OF THE XKW LITANY.
From knokiiig priests and prelattis croims
Without respecte of coates or g<june.s,
From Lanrick wyffes, euill be ther fate,
They knock't my deir friend one the pate ;
From all suclx bick'ring south and nortlie,
Or in the innes tuLx Tay and Forth,
And all mad pranks of Catharus,
Almightie God deliver us.
From the withstanding the solemne mentione.
Of Christ's birth-day, rysing, assentione,
From withholding the sealles of grace,
Quhen neid requyred in every place ;
From branding the quhole Liturgie
Witli poperie, quherof it is free,
And all mad pranks of Catharu.s,
Almighty (lod deliver us.
From fasting one the Lords auen day,
Fasting without wairand, I say,
And fasting wich the Lord does hate,
For mantining strytie and debait ;
From Antrum liridge wee understand.
Such fasting spred throughout ye land,
And all mad, &c.
From vpeside, downesyde brought of lait
Wnto ye church, wnto the stait,
Since Emperour Hacketts rainge I meine.
02 THE NEAV LITANY.
The lyke wes iieuei- liard, nor seine ;
From standing without feare of falling,
From extraordinary calling,
And all mad, &c.
From vorshipinge of imaginations,
From relaying upone Revelations,
From praying nonsense, and from saying.
That Gods good Spirite neids no such praying;
From tuoching of the Lords anoynted.
From a poore kirk, and stait disjoynted,
And all mad pranks of Catharus, &c.
From running heidlong to perditione,
From Presheteriall inquisitione,
Qulierin I wes once toss'd amaine,
I houpe neuer to come ther againe ;
From hurlie-burlie, pouder, shote,
From taying of a Gordian knot.
And all mad pranks of Catharus, &c.
From visards, musties, and baitted hookes.
And all pernitious pamphlet bookes,
Namlie Buchanan's Eegni Jus,
Wich is the most pernitious,
From mending vronges vith vorss and vorsse.
From stabing of a poor coatche hors,
And all mad pranks, &c.
From him quhat thinkes not quhat he sayeth,
And from a disobedient faith,
THE NEW LITANY. 53
From coliliug acts of parliament,
Agains the Lawers intent.
Frome a basse cliurch and staitly table,
From brecking the communion table,
And all mad pranks, &c,
From the long prayers of dewot sisters,
From master madecaps rotten glisters,
From sermons made to blow the fyre,
All over the land for Balaams hyre.
From BisclKjpesi that betray the causse,
And advocatts that yretts the lawes,
And all mad pranks, &c.
From the table, na tabellis three
Of Lords, Barrens, and Ministrie,
From ther decrees and all neu glosses,
And from pitfalls, quakmyres and mosses ;
From all wich is not reuell'd with ressone.
From all conspiracy and tresson.
And all mad pranks, &c.
From sitting church asseniblic free,
From all Kuyal authority,
A free assembly falsely named,
Wich is not by the King proclaimed,
And crossing that wich he proclaimed,
From ther most dangerous extremes.
And all mad pranks, &c.
' Fairley, Bishopof Aryyle ; firaliam, Bishop of (iiUii;y ; and
Abcrnethy, Bisliop oi C'aitluiLS.s.
54 THE NEW LITANY.
From euery band of combinatione,
Wich wants the princes approbatione,
And more from manifest repyning,
Against his will in such inioyning ;
But most of all for standing to it,
Against all persons quho darr doe it.
And all mad pranks, &c.
From proud and perwers suplications,
Pute wp in lawless conuocations,
From creids made vpe of poore negations,
Inlarged with faithless, explications,
Informations, protestations,
The couenant and all hes actions.
Thesse ar the pranks of Catharus,
From wich the Loixl deliuer us.
SECOND PART OF THE NEW LITANY.
From pedler, shewbleck, and pricklous,
Elders and reulers of God's housse.
From menders of the magnificat,
Quho knowes not qicid sigyiificat ;
From stripling staitsmen, stout and bold
Some 10, some 12, and 9 zeir old,
And all mad mattes of Catharus,
Almighty God deliver us.
From the Catholicon of Spaine,
From the Jesuit knave in Crraine.
'lilt; m:\v i.iiANY. 55
From Heuderijon, Dickson, and ('uut,
Apostles of the Couenunt,
From Kollock, Ramsay, patriarks,
And tlieir adherents all mad sparks,
And all mad mattes, &c.
And the good Christians of the West,
As from ane vaspe or hornets nest.
And, namlio from the town of Aire,
And tlie old rascall Dumbar ther ;
From all such brats to mischeifte borne,
Some tuysse banisht, some tuysse mensuorne.
And all mad mattes, &c.
From preachers that haue words in store,
And faces too, but nothing more ;
From thosse quho quhen ther matter fails,
Run out thor glass with idell tailles ;
And from lay lads, in pulpit preaching.
And tuisse a day rumbling and railing.
And all mad mattes, &c.
From Jack on both syde, so and so,
Qiiho suers pro contra, contra jtro,
A\'^ith venlis vt nunc Jlaniibus,
Et rebus vt nunc stantibus) ;
From such C'amolions, and such foxes,
And from thr knock doune race of Iviioxos,
And all mad mattes, &c.
56 I'HE NEW LITANY,
From pyet preachers with shoulder rufFes,
Or shoulder hands with elhow cufFes ;
With kiiaping, traping, strapping strings,
Buttons, boulace, ribands, and ringes,
Poynts tangling heir, poynts tangling ther,
And cotane spangaries eury quher,
And all mad pranks, &c.
With French jouks and Spanish cappes,
And in a word lyk Jack-ane-appis,^
From tope to toe buskit lyke a sport,
From them as from a uitious sort ;
Quho in ther clothing vpe and doune,
Doe represent the countrey cloune,
And all mad prankis, &c.
From preachers, chamberlanis and factors,
The Lords rent-rackers and exactors,
Corn mowngers, vsers, and fermors,
Store masters, montebanks, and charmers ;
In sum, quho employes both vitt and paine
One traids, though ncuer so basse, for gane.
And all mad pranks, &c.
From tyi^set i)reachers drunk all night.
And dreich againe e'r day be light.
From him that feasts, quheu he sliould fast,
And from a trencher paraphrast ;
- Jackftnapcs.
THE m:\v litany. 57
From bussie Bishops witliout ordcis,
As master shrifts in thi r borders,
And all mad pranks, &c.
From them that drink drunk to God's glorie.
And often tymes tell a pretty storey
Of Bischope Laude, or of the King,
Of Pope, of Spaine, or of some such thing,
Neuer without grosso calumni(%
Quherin ther f:\ith doeth fructitie.
And all mad mattes, tKrc.
From pupill, pastor, tutor, flocke.
From Gutter Jennie,^ pupit Jocke,
From all such head countrolling taylles,
And from small barkes, with too big saylles ;
From him that Jesus name defaces,
And violats all holy places,
And all mad mattes, &c.
From couenanting, tage and rage.
From horsruber, scudler, scold and hagge.
Tinker, treulerd, slouene and shut,
Dick, Jacke, and Tom, long taill and coitt ;
Drunkard, and dyuor, theiffe and whore,
Infamous rascaills by the score.
These are the mattes of Catharus,
From wich the Lord deliuer us.
•'• Bishop Henry Guthrie in his Memoirs, after mentioning
that women and maid-servants were the usual originators of
these disturbances, particularly names two of the Craigs- one
evidently the mother of Johnston of Warriston.
."iS Thomson's letteii
THOMSON'S LETTEE TO SIR JAMES
CARMICHAEL VERSIFIED.
" This Ryme," says Balfour, " was composed of a letter
sent be Master Alexander Thomesoue, one of the ministers
of Edinburghe, to Sir James Carmichael, Thesaurer-depute
at Courte. The letter was written after the first tmuult in
Edinburghe anent the service booke, miscarried, and
divulged, and turned in this Ryme to scoffe the minister."
Alexander Thomson and William Struthers were the
ministers of the Great Kirk called commonly " St. Geills
Kirk," in 1630.® The tumult was occasioned by the Bishoj)
of Edinburgh reading from the service-book ; whereupon
" all the common people, especiallie the women, rose up with
a lowd clamour and uproare, so that nothing could be heard."
Some cried out, " "Woe, woe," others " Sorrow, sorrow,"
" for this dooleful day that they are bringing poperie
among us." In those days the congregation sat on stools,
and some of their number took and threw them at the Dean,
Dr. James Hannay. Spottiswood and the Bishops present
ineifectually entreated quietness. A sermon was then
preached by David Lyndesay, Bishop of Edinburgh, but his
sermon was '' a verie short one." When his Lordship left
the church he was mobbed by the crowd, and accused of
bringing in " Poperie." He was very much alarmed, and
got into " my Lord Wemyss' lodging," which apparently
was up a common stair, exclaiming in his flight that
he " had no wyt of the matter."
Tn the afternoon Lyndesay returned to the Kirk, and the
magistrates kept the door guarded to prevent the intrusion
of malcontents ; but so much tune was coii.sumed in i-eading
* Row, 3.52.
I
TU SIK JA.ME.S (JAilMlCilAHI.. 59
the service " that it was about four o'clock at night before
Mr. Alexander Thomson began Im sennou," wliich was like
that of the forenoon, " verie short." On his Lordship
leaving the church in a coach with Lord Koxburghe, the
populace pelted it \vith stones until it reached the abbey of
llolyrood, where the Bishop had his residence.
A scene not unlike this occurred in the " great kirk" in
158G, when James VI. was present, in which the females
were " more solito " principal performers. They raised so
great a clamour that the congregation fled jirecipitately,
leaving the nobility and gentry in the " Lord's loft,"
and the Provost and Magistrates in t\\e one set apart for
them. The King on witnessing this exodus rose up and
cried, " what the divill aills the people that they may not
tarry to heare a man preach." This anecdote is better
evidenced than most stories of the kind, for Row says he
was present during the time, and Avas an " eye and ear
witness."*
In all these indecent exhibitions, arising from the ill-
judged attempts to force the service-book upon a nation
disinclined to accept it, there is one circumstance deserving
consideration — that it was the form, not the substance, that
was brought into operation to inflame the passions of the
masses. Things of no vital moment were impressed u2>oii
the minds of the populace, such as the use of the organ, the
'' kist fu' o' whistles," — incense — candles at the altar —
consecrated water — ringing of bells, i^cc. &c. The doctrine
of transubstantiation was, in the opinion of Protestants,
erroneous, but its belief had nothing to do with Papal
floniination, whereas the suhstdiu-r did. The supremacy of
a foreign prince as head of the Church of Christ — auri-
cular confession — absolution — the priestly power to remit
sin — are antagonistic to the well-lx'ing of any country
wishing to be free. The arbitrary rule of clunchmen
• Row, 116.
60 Thomson's letter
not under the control of the civil power, would lead to a
despotism worse than that of the most absolute tyrant.
Sir James Carmichael was the founder of the family of
Ilyndford, and being a devoted adherent of the Koyal
cause, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on the 17th
July 1G27. He held the office of Lord Justice-Clerk in
163-4, bvit resigned this office on being appointed Treasurer-
Depute 14th Oct. 1636. On the 27th December 1647 he
was made a peer, having been created Lord Carmichael by
Charles L — ^an hor.onr confirmed to him by Charles IL 3d
January 1651. He died 29th November 1672 in the 94th
year of his age. He was the father of the first Earl of
Hyndford.
Carmichael had a sister in Galloway called by "Wodrow
" The L;uly Hairshough or Haircleugh."* She was a
widow, was " under an ill fame of a witch," and had been
'' debarred from the Table by the Session." Nevertheless
she appeared at the tables on " Mr. M'Clelland's last
communion." This reverend gentleman, as she had no
token, would not allow her to receive the sacrament, and
made her rise from the table, whereupon she threatened
him, and said he should be made to repent this ere long.
There was " likewise " a Laird called " Old Barmagechan,"
who it seems had incurred the Lady's iU-will, for she
prophesied he should never thrive in the world. " By
common repute she was deemed a witch."
The sapient magistrates of Kirkcudbright committed the
Lady Hairshough to prison, but were frightened into
speedily liberating her by the threats of her influential
brother. Why a subject of Satan could have been so
desirous to partake of the Lord's Supper is extraordinary
— her anxiety on the subject being at least presumptive
evidence that she did not believe that the Father of
evil held an hypotliec upon her soul for favours done.
* Analccta, vol. ii., j>. .S"2S.
TO Slli .lAAIKS ("AKMirilAEL. 61
Wolrow s;iy8 nothing about the fate of (M Hannagechan,
Imt records that M'Lelhin sicki'iied " in a little time, dwineJ
in a lingering distemper, and died in about a quarter of a
year thereafter. Some of the people," continues the Church
Historian, " were extremely damped that Satan's instruments
hatl got power over him." M'Lellan consoled them by this
sensible answer, '* If my father be calling me home, I care
not who be the messenger ; and though it should even be
brought about by Satan's agency." The date of the
reverend gentleman's death is not precisely given — all that
is said is that it was about 1G60. The reason why the Devil
killed the clergyman because liady Hairshough was not
allowed to participate in the communion has the merit
of not being very intelligible. The worthy clergj^man
himself does not appear to have given any credit to this
suggestion of the parishioners.
My Lord, your unexjjected post,
To courte : made me to misse
The hiipijiuess quliilk I loue most,
Your Lordship's hand to kisse.
Bot tho with .speed ye did depairt,
So fa.st ye sliall not flee,
As to wntay' my louing harte,
Wich your conuoy shall be.
I neid not to impaii't to you
How our church stait does stand,
♦ Untye.
62 THOMSON'S LETTER
By this neu seruice book which nou
iSo troubells all this land.
Nor darre I the small boate adventure
Of my most shallow braine,
Wpon thesse fearfull seas to enter
In this tempestuous maine.
Wnless that by authoritie
I charged be to doe so,
Wich may command and shelter me
From shipwreck and from woe.
Therfor to God its to dispoisse
This causse I will commend,
For woefully it is by thoise
Abussed quho should it tend.
And lyke it is to bring grate ill,
Since it intrustet wes,
To thesse had nather strenth nor skill
To bring such things to pas.
Better thesse flames should quenschit be,
That they have set one fire,
Bot wisdome and authority,
That matter doeth requyre.
Ane warrlyk nation still we ar,
Wich soune may slatrit* be,
* Slaughtered.
TU .SIR JAMES CARMICHAKL. C'i
Not forc'cl, but broken, qiiheu wee ar
Most lotli tlien to aggre.
So I commend you to the Lord,
And shall be glad if I
My countrey seruice can afford,
My loue to you to try.
And housoeuer I remaine
Your Lordships quhill I die,
And for j'our saue returne again e,
Your Beidman I shall be.
64 A CAVEAT FOR SCOTLAXDE.
A CAVEAT FOR SCOTLANDE,
1G38-9.
From Sir James Balfour's MS.
Stand to tliy covenant, read, sworne, and signed,
Stand for the treutli Chryst's gospel hath combyn'd,
Thy sueet spread leaues in ends for faith and zeall,
Sail sure triumphe, God's glorey must i>rewaill.
Most pairts of Europe praisse the : ar euclyn'd
To pray for grace, to blisse thy constant mynde.
These trayells sifft thy wipers, kirk bred slaues,
Woulfls cled in lambskins, basse deceauing knaues ;
And turne-coate temporizers, this poynts fourth
Ther falshood in thy trev/ religious worthe.
Flie superstitione then : thy sister soyle
Is suallowing Popery : ! she's made a spoyle
To pollicey and poyson ; each kirk is forc'd
To reare wpe altars, and quhat, (Ach !) is worste
They bow ther heads to stockes, books, and blue
candells.
See hou the Deivell and Popery with them dandells.
The factione fast pravaills, and Rome sho guesses
That pouer will causse proclaime her idole masses.
Ther's heir a misterie tuixt zea and no,
Pouer wold punish ; bot terror stopes the blow.
Liue then free, Scotland, for ther's non dare grive the,
If thou stand fast religione will not leaue the.
A CAVEAT FOR SCOTLAND. 65
For (lotting Spootswood,^ that pernitious weeid,
Tliat connorant of smouke, that shakis the head,
Hes palsey letts, hes conscience quakes, and how
To make our heads lyke his to Balaam bow ;
Bot last and worste, three snakes from hell arrysse.
Three changelings, wold God's worde and kirke
surprysse.
First Bishope MackivelP Pelagius bastard,
That Sterne laced turue coat tyranizing dastard.
Curst Canterberries creture : he doniineris
Lyke Nuncio Con f and in hes shape appeiris
With (lallaway Tarn :* that squint eyed stridling asse,
That vinking vrighter, he may a shavelling passe,
For spight a scribe : for tjTanney and scorne,
Lett Gallway curse the day this wretche wes borne.
The youngest snake, Quhytefoord' comes pleading for it,
' Archbishop of St Andrews, afterwards Lord Chancellor
— a worthy and able man.
- Maxwell, Bishop of Ross. This Prelate, in a pamphlet
entitled "Sacra SanctaRegiim Majestas," which was answered
by Rutherford in his "Lex Rex," made use of an "apothegm"
of King James VI., " that Monarchy and Scotish Presbytery
agree as well as God and the DeWl." He was deposed by the
General Assembly at Glasgow, 1G38, but was elevated by
Charles to the Archbishopric of Tuam, 30th August 1645.
» Signior Con, the Pope's Nuncio. A copy of his instruc-
tions from Rome will be found in Balfour's Annals, vol. ii.,
p. 348. See further, p. 75.
* This passage does not represent Bishop Sydserff as par-
ticularly well-favoured.
* Walter \\Tiytefoord, who with Mr David Lindesay,
Bishop of Brechin, were deposed and excommunicated, 7th
December 1C38.
E
66 A CAVEAT FOR SCOTLAND.
He cannot preach none, that makes him abhorre it.
He loves the barre, as lawers love dissentione,
And creel lyke lives in the fyre of contentione.
Thesse hoodwinks now, thesse black wasted crowes ar
stolne
Lyke theives to courte, how, their breists are swolne
To be revenged 1 with basse John knaue ther man,
Edinburghs foe, hes knaueries quho wold scan.
Sail find this sycophant ane odious traitour,
A miscreant willaine, a perfideous creture ;
WyfFes,' ather stone or hange him, you must doe it,
As for the rest, lett Scotland look vnto it.
Goe breck ther neckis, els banish them thy border,
To live lyke rogues ; the Lord confound the order.
^ Joiiii means John Spottiswood, the Primate.
' An appeal to Elspet Craig, Janet Geddes, Euphan Hen-
derson, and their followers.
DRUMMONU'S LYNES ON THE BISCHOPE.S. 67
AVIL. DRUMMOND'S LYNES ON THE
BISCHOPES, Uth APPRYLL, 1G38.
These lines, which do not add to the poetical reputation
of the author of the Flowers of Zion, were first printed from
the MS. of Sir James Balfour in 1828, and were thereafter
included in tlie coinplute collection of Pruminond's Poems,
page 404, presented to the Members of the Maitland Club by
William Macdowall, Esquire of Garthland, 1832, 4to. This
valuable work, which contains several poems not previously
printed, was edited by the late Thomas Maitland, Esq.,
afterwards a Senator of the College of Justice, under the
title of Lord Dundrennan.
Doe all pens sluiuljer still, darr not one tray
In tumbling lynes to lett some pasquill fly 1
Each houer a satyre crauith to display,
The secretts of this tragick comick play.
If loue should Ictt me vrett, I think you'd see
The Perenies and Alpes cum skipe to me, •
And lauch themselues assunder ; If I'd trace
The hurly-burly of stait bussines.
And to the vorld abused once hot tell
The Legend of Ignatian Matchiuell ;
That old bold smouking monster and the pryde,
Of thesse vsurping prelats, that darr ryde
Vpon authority, and looke so gay
As if, goodmen they ought forsuith to suay ;
Church, Stait, and all : plague oue that damned crew,
Of such Hell's black-mouth'd hounes ; its of a new
68 drummond's lynes on the bischopes.
That Roman pandars, boldly dar'd to ov (woo 1)
Nay straine a gentle king tliesse things to doo.
That moue the French, Italian, and Spaine,
In a luxurious and insulting straine
To sing te Deum ; causse they houpe to see
The glorie of the popeish prelacie
Eaissed aboue hes Royall throne apaice,
To droune hes minor light with prouder face !
Thesse hounds they have ingaged him on the stage
Of sharpe-eyed Europe, nay, ther's not a page,
Bot thinks he may laugh freily quhen he sees,
Kings, Buffons acte, and Bishop es, tragedies.
Should aney dauly with the Lyon's pau,
Then know a distance, serpents stand in aw.
Nay, pray you heavens once lend me bot your thunder,
I'le crusch and teare thesse sordid slaues assunder,
And leuell with the dust ther altars home.
With the lasscivious organs, pietie's scorne ;
Or let me be as King, then of their skine
rie causse dresse lether and fyne Marokin.*
To couer coatches (quher they wont to ryde)
And valke in bootes and shoes made of ther hyde,
Vhipe them at neighbour princes courts to show.
That no nouations Scotts zeall can allow.
I sacrifisse void such presumptious slaues
To my deir people, beat to dust the knaues.
Then, if the ponder of ther bones to dray
The hare and pereuiget to the popes Lackay.
I noblie should resent and take to heart,
Thesse pedants pryde that make poore Brittane smart,
* Morocco. + Periwig.
drummond's lynes on the bischopes. 69
Confound the church, the stait, and all the natinn
With appish fooleries and abomination,
Leaves churches desolate, and stopes the mouth
Of faithful vatchmen, quho dare preach hot treuth ;
Incendiary fyrebrands whosse proud wordes
Drope blood, and sounds the clattring noysse of suordis.
Had I hot half the sj^yte of Gallaway Tom,*
That Roman snakie viper I'd fall from
Discreitter lynes, and rube ther itching eare
With Spanish nouells, bot I ^vill forbeare,
Because my foster and my amorous quill.
Is not yet hard, proud pasquills to distill.
I doe intreat that droll John de Koell
To sting them with satyres hatcht in hell.
Each doge chyde thesse tobacco-breathed deuyns,
Each pen daii't volums of acutest lynes.
And print the shame of that black troupe profaine,
In liuid vords, -wdth a Tartarian straine.
Since I a louer am and know not how
To lim a satyre in halffe hyddeous hew
Lyke to polyjiragmatick Machuiel,
vvi pleasant flame (not stryffe) I loue to duell.
Bot nou to Paris back I goe to tell
Some neues to plotting Riceleu. Fair you weill.
• Sydserf.
70 CHICKE CHACKE FOR THE
CHICKE CHAKE FOR THE
ANTI- COVENANTERS,
163 9.
This was first printed in "a second book of Scotish
Pasquils, 1828," but from the difficulty of decyphering
Balfour's MS., many errors crept into the text, which are
now corrected. The key given by Sir James, wiU be found
at the end, printed precisely as he penned it ; the editor not
choosing to delete what the Lyon Iving at Arms thought
it fitting to preserve.
The accusations both in the Satire and the Key are pal-
pable exaggerations. Whatever may have been the demerits
of Archbishop Laud, assuredly immorality was not among
his vices, — neither do we believe that Lord Stirling was
a drunkard. His poetical abilities have never received the
praise which they deserve. Mixed up with bombast and
pedantry, passages occur in his dramas of infinite beauty.
His Aurora, not included in the folio collection of his
works, and now very rare, may rival the similar composi-
tions of any poet of his time. Those persons who will take
the trouble of going through his Lordship's " Recreations
with the Muses," will be amply rewarded for their pains.
There is a curious specimen of King James's critical acumen
in a sonnet — the original of which will be found in one of
the Denmiln folios, with corrections in his majesty's hand,
addressed to Sir William Alexander. It is called —
anti-covenanters. / 1
The complainte of the muses to Alexander upon
himselfe for hip. ingratitude towards them,
by hurting them with his hard hammered
words, fitter to be used upon his mineralles.
holde your hande, holde, mercie, mercie, spare,
Those sacred Niiie that nurst you many a year,
Full oftt, alace, with comforte and with care,
Wee bathed you in Castalias founteynes cleare,
Then on our winges aloft wee did you beare,
And set yow on our statelie forked hille,
Where yow your heavenlie harmonies did heare,
The rocks resounding with their echos still,
Although your neighbours have conspired to kille
That arte that did the lawrell croune obteyne,
Who borowing from the Raven theyr ragged quille,
Bewray their hard, harsh, trotting, tum1)ling veyne,
Such hammering hard youre metles harde require,
Our songes arc filled with smooth o'erflowing fire.*
The date of this severe attack upon Sir William's "hard
harsh, ' trotting,' tumbling veyne," was perhaps 1G13, when
he, Thomas Fouhs, and Paul Pinto, got a Grant of the
Silver mines at Hiklerston, in the county of Linlithgow —
the working of which the monarch assumed had given cause
for the tuneful nine to complain. In the Pasquil Lord
Stirling is designed as of " Menstrie," although he had at
its date been created first viscount, and subsequently Earl
of Stirling. The barony of Menstrie is in the comity of
Clackmannan, and now belongs to Lord Abercromby, whose
predecessor. Sir Ralph, it is asserted was born in an antique
edifice in the village, traditionally reported to have been
the residence of the poet. The s;itirist styles his Lordship,
•The words "youre," "harde," "smooth," "o'er," are in
the hand-writing of the king.
72 C'HICKE CHACKE FOR THE
"that Copper Scot." Is this an allusion to the "Copper
Captain," in " Rule a Wife and Have a Wife," that delight-
ful comedy of Fletcher, once so popular, though now
banished the stage? It had been acted probably about the
period when Lord Stirling figures in the poem.
Oddly enough the American Earl — connected with the
Alexanders of Menstrie, as nearest heir male — is also intro-
duced as a drunkard, in a strange little drama pubhshed
at Edinburgh during the American war, called the "Battle
of Brooklyn." The Earl is brought on the stage as a
distinguished commander of the rebel forces, but his chief
exploits consist in a series of intoxicating exhibitions which
must have been very edifying to the audience. The cause
of the last Lord Stirling deserting his native country,
resulted from an ungracious and injudicious attempt to
negative his right to the peerage. He was an able general,
and honest politician ; as a man his character could not be
impeached, and all that can be said against him was that
he repudiated his connection with the home of his birth, a
step which the treatment he received sufficiently justified.
To return to the first Peer, Scotstarvit observes (p. 72.)
that Lord Stirling got " great things from his majestie, as
especially a liberty to create a hundred Scotsmen Knights-
Baronets ; from every one of whom he got two hundred
pounds sterling or thereby ; a liberty to coin base money,
far under the value of the weight of copper, which brought
great prejudice to the kingdom. At which time he built
his great lodging in Stirling and put on the gate thereof :
per mare per terras, which a merry man changed, per metre
per tamers, meaning that he attained to his estate by poesy,
and that gift of base money."
The building mentioned was a proof at least of Lord
Stirling's admiration of the beauties of nature. When
originally built it must have been a glorious place — standing
above the town of Stirling, on an elevation — having Hurley-
ANTI-COVENANTERS. 73
llacket, where AlliaTiy, his children, and kinsmen were
judicially niur(lere<l, and the Castle on the west, with
gradually descending terrace gardens — beautifully planted —
commandiug a view of the Ochils on the north, with the
windings of the silvery Forth, and the carse of Falkirk on
the east ; it is not easy to imagine a more fitting habitation
for a poet — and one so peculiarly adapted for " Recreations
with the Muses."
This palatial residence at the present date is an hospital
for the soldiers in the Castle. Its fair gardens have been
desecrated, its parks built uix)n, even the family burying
ground, in the adjoining church, has been taken possession
of by strangers.
The Marquis of Dowushire is the heir of line of this
remarkable man, who, by force of talent and perseverance,
from a comparatively humble position became an Earl,
and lield the highest offices in Scotland. The American Earl
is believed to have been a collateral heir, under a remainder
to heirs male. Leaving no male descendants, it is understood
that the peerage is extinct. An interesting Life of his
Lordship was published by the New Jersey Historical
Society, New York, 1847, 8vo. A Biography of the founder
of the family, for which there exists plenty of material,
would be, if well done, a work of great interest.
Sir William was created, by Charles L, Viscount of
Stirling and Baron Alexander of TuUiliody, 4th September
1630, with remainder to his heirs male bearing the name
and arms of Alexander. On the l4th June 1033, he was
made Earl of Stilling and Viscount Canada, with a similar
remainder. He died in Feburary 1040, — his body was
carried to Stirling, "was deposited in a leaden coffin in
the family aisle in the Church of Stirling, above ground,
and remained entire till within these thirty years."
We fear that Lord Traquair was not altogether undeserv-
ing rtf the severity with which he has here been treated ;
74 CHICKE CHACKE FOR THE
his conduct from the time of his rise until his final overthrow
was mercenary and deceitful. Scotstarvit could hardly be
otherwise than inimical ; and Balfour, in his Annals, does
not spare him, as the following passage shows. *
" In the beginning of Aguste, this zeire, (1634) a
warrant was procured from the King, by the Earl of
Traquaire, quho had laitly follin oute with the Lord
Chanceler, [Archbishop Spottiswood,] for procuring the
marriage of one Inglis, with a good portione, to one
Butter, a nephew of his ; wich Morsell Traquair had
formerlie, in his conceit, deuored for a cousin of his auen,
with quhome he was to haue dewydit the pray ; so finding
himself outreached, he raisses all the furies of the courte
against the Chanceler, and procures a warrant to the Priuey
Counsellers, for heiring the Lord Chanceler's comptes of
his coUectorey of the taxations granted to his Majesty in
the General Conventione of the Estaits, in Anno 1630. Bot
Traquaire failled in his malice, in persuading himselve to
ruitie the Lord Chanceler's crydit at court by this affront;
for he cleired his honestie and integretie to his Majisty and
all honest men ; and onlie shew his auen basse ingratitude
towardes him quho first of all men brought him to have
the King's fauour and respecte."
Scotstarvit has a most scandalous story, amongst many
others, as to a transaction of the noble Lord, by which he
procured a remission from the crown for a forgery, practised
upon the Lord Herries, who having written his name on
the fly-leaf of a book, it was converted into a discharge
for 6000 merks, duly witnessed, according to law, by four
(dead) witnesses!! Traquaire died in 1659. in extreme
poverty, whilst smoking a pipe of tobacco; "and at his
burial had no mort-cloth, but a black apron ; nor towels,
but dog leishes, belonging to some gentlemen that were
present, and the grave being two feet shorter than his
* Vol. ii. p. 220.
ANTI-COVENANTERS. 75
body, the assistants behoved to 8tay till the same were
enlarged."
Cranston — Macgill, — was a grandson of David Makgill of
Nisbet, Ix)rd Advocate, he was Lord of Session, and was
created by Charles II., in 1051, although the patent did
not pass the great seal until the Restoration, Viscount of
Oxfurd and Lord Makgill of Cousland. The remainders or
titles was to him, and " his heirs male of tailzie and provi.sion
whatsoever." These few words liad the effect next century
of extinguishing or perhaps the proper expression should be,
suspending the peerage. The first Viscount's son left two
daugliters, "but no heir male of tailzie." The eldest of the
Lidies took the estates under the entail. The heir male was
James Makgill of Rankeillor, a distant cousin, who assumed
the title, and petitioned the House of Lords. Now he was
heir male — but not "of tailzie and provision," that being the
character of Piobert Makgill of Cranston Makgill — Thus each
of the competing parties had one haJf of what the patent
required — one was heir male — the other heir of talzie and
provision, consequently neither claimant could take. But
if by any freiik of fortune, some future heir male should
marry an heiress of talzie, the conditions of the destination
would be fulfilled, and the peerage in this way be revived.
€\)kM €f)aUe for Ujt ^ntif^Cobrnantrrs^
163 9.
The deuill, the Pope, the King of Spaine,
The Jesuit, the Arminian,
Leud Lade vfiih hes curst incantations,
Queene Mother, incendiary of all nations,
Treacherous Huntly ! Grand Dumbar,
The miscreant matche of Hell, Traquare,
76 CHICKE CHACKE FOR THE
Ambitious-hearted Lauderdall,
Soule hazarder for the grate seale ;
Douglas the Popes patriot,
Drunken Menstrey, that copper Scot,
The mighty marques Hamilton,
Quhose land wes bought with two of ten,
Spotiswood, chiefe-president of brybes,
Scandall of Justinian's trybes.
Register Hay semi-ustus,
And zet he Strang remains Iniustus,
Eastbanke, prjTne pet Lord, friend of Venus,
Cranston Mackgill, Elinarum plenus,
Sir Leues Lovegold, farrm pravce,
Commissary Hardhead, cantans aue,
Fourtains Belly -godes all abjured,
Aberdene Doctors much obdured,
Amongst us makes no small debait,
Lyke becorey sounds against church and stait,
A fyge for them all Christ is our Bux,
Our vita Veritas, vigor, Imx.
The " Clavis of thesse Lynes," in the handwriting of
Balfour, follows : —
1. Lade, Archbishop of Canterburrey.
2. Quoin Mother came to England this zear from the Low
Countreys, viz., Marey of Medicis, mother to the Queene of
Greate Britaine.
3. Marques Huntley, the chieffe instrument for one to
insense the kiug against his countrey, and the first raisser
of the troubles in the north, 1639.
4. Du-bar, (Dumbar) a RebaU an a comon theiffe and cute-
throte, one of the Mack-Gregor, and ane assisan of the
Marques Iluntlyes.
ANTI-COVENANTERS. 77
b. Traquairo, Lord Tliesaurer of Scotland.
(5. Douglas, the Marques Douglas, a professed papist.
7. Drunken Menstrey, the Earl of Streueling, principal!
Secretary of Estait for Scotland, quho first wes goodinan of
Menstrey ; and did muche wrongc the coimtry with a gifte
of cooper coyne, obtained in Anno 1634 and 1G35.
8. (Wes bought with 2 of ten) this wes a gifte wich the
Marques Hamiltone gote from the King in Anno 1033, for
the annuellis of moneys wes brought from 10 jier cent to 8,
and the twa for three zeiris wes by Parliament bestowed
one the King, quhow gave it to the Marques Hamilton, to
pay his debts.
9. Spotiswooil, President of the Sessione.
10. Register Hay, Sir Johne Hay, Clerk of Register, a
wicked and villanous fellow, a grate Leicher, and often
scorched with the pockis. From a servant to the Toune
Clerk of Edinburgh, made Clerk of Register iu Anno 1G32.
11. Eastbank, Sir Patrick Nisbett one of the senators of
the colledge of Justice, a pryme drinker and hooremounger.
12. Fourteene belly-gods, 14 Bishops.
13. Commissary Hardliead, Mr Thomas Aikenheed, one
of the commissaries of Ediuburghe.
78 THE kail-wyfe's communing.
THE KAIL-WYFE'S COMMUNING.
This attack upon the supposed coolness of the leaders of
the Presbyterian party, and the evident apprehension of the
revival of Popery, is taken from the Balfour MS., and has
now for the first time been printed. It is not improbable
nevertheless that it may have originally appeared in the
form of a broadside or single sheet — then as now the
ordinary way of circulating such things amongst the people
— but no copy has as yet been discovered.
The continued re,sidence in England of George Cone
(Conseus), the Pope's nuncio referred to in the Caveat for
Scotland, p. 65, naturally created alarm. He had been,
contrary to law, permitted to remain at the Court of Eng-
land, and was supposed to have had much to do with the
preparations made by Charles for his expedition against
Scotland.
Conseus — or Cone — was the author of a very rare work,
" De duplici statu ReUgionis apud Scotos. Romae, Typis
Vaticanis. m.dc.xxviii., 4to." It is dedicated to Francis,
Cardinal Barberini, who is styled. Protector " Magnae
Brittanise." In the address to the reader there are several
interesting literary notices, and particularly one laudatory of
Lopez de Vega Carpio, therein styled " Iberise suse Apollo."
Under the patronage of Pope Urban VIII. Conaeus wrote
a life of Queen Mary Stewart, in Latin, which was printed
originally without the author's knowledge, and is full of
errors.
An interesting account of Cone's arrival and residence in
London occurs in a rare — perhaps unique — tract of the
period: "In the month of July 1636 there arrived in
England, an the Pope's resident, Seignor George Con, a
THE KAIL-WYFE .S COMMUxNING. i 9
Scottish man, secretarie for the Latine tongue to Car-
dinall Baibarini, who was most kindly entertained by
the King, Queene, and all the Court : and having great
acquaintance and friends, he made much more noyse and
bruit than Panzani had done, by giving and receiving
visits from a great number of the nobilitie. Yet there is
little evidence that hee shall advance the affaires of reli-
gion better than Panzani because of the dirtidence of the
English, to whom he seems a mere cmining vulpine man."*
The title prefixed by Balfour to the poem is " The Keal-
wyves Coraoninge, or Currant Newes from ye Parliament
Housse in Aguste 1639." Kealwyfe means, says Jamieson,
Kailwyfe — '' a green woman — a common figure for a
scold."
" Its follie with kail- wives to flyte,
Some dogs bark best after they byte."
Clelakd's Poems, p. 112.
The only individual named in this Pasquil is Sir John
Hay, Lord Clerk Register, as to whom the reader will find
a racy note of Balfour's in the preceding article. Scots-
tarvit, who never lost an opportunity of chronicling the
evil deeds of his cotemporaries, has no charge against him,
and the ensuing verses admit that he was no turn-
coat, but a steady adherent of the cause he had espoused.
He was compelled to fly from Edinburgh for sujiporting the
Bishops. He joined Montrose, was taken at Philiphaugh,
and was " likely to have suffered if he had not been saved
by the means of the Earl of Callender, whose lady was his
kinswoman, and of his son Mr. William, who advanced £500
sterling to some of the oflicers for his relief. He has lurked
ever since privately, and never conquest any land but a
poor piece in Galloway, called the Land."t
* This account of Cone is extracted from "The Pope's
Nuntio," London, 1643, p. 15, of which there is a copy in
the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
t .Staggering State, p. 124.
80 THE KAIL-WYFE'S COMMUNING.
As I wes walking by the Trone
Aboute j'^e dawning tyme* (1) alone
I harde two keahyyifes sore complaine
And thus they talked them between
" Cumer Madie quhat shall wee say
Of this sade newes we hard this day "
" Quhat newes good Madie can ther be
That makes the teares stand in thyne eye "
" Madie," quod sho, " wee have grate causse
Forsuith they say they ar no sawes
That thosse quho tooke the causse in hand
To keipe religion in ye land
And for ye same ventred their blood
And manfully for Christ's right stood
And for ye countries Eight and Law
Are now begunne to fall away
Wither by flatriey or by feire
Or by the promisse of cursed geare
Or by the hope to be preferrid
They ar bewitched, both Lord and Laird
Commissioners for burrowes
Are lyke to worke ther land much sorrowes "
" Cumer," quod Madie, " that can not be
That honest men of ther degree
For aney causse shold fall away
And causse and countrey both betray
* Myne.— MS.
THE KAIL WYFE's COMMUNING. 81
Its treu, its thought ther fallin backe
And for the comou causse right slacke.
Of our iio])k's qulio take grate cure
They say ther some tliat are not sure ;
And so its thought ere all be done
They-ill plainly sing ane other tune "
" Cumer," quod sho, " quho are thesse men
That wold I uerey glaidly ken
That quhen I see them one the gaite
Quhider it be aire or laite,
I freily may tell them my mynde
For so ye know I am inclynde,
For feude nor favor I shall not spaire
My mynde to them for to declaire,
And call them turnecottes and tyme servers
And all the paines of hell deservers,
Quho darres for aney selve respecte
Christe or his countrey to neglecte
And for lies countrey and comonweill
Will not be treu as aney steill :
And now if they begin to shrinke
Ther name eternally shall stiiike,
And I shall tell them in their face
God will them cursse and all that race.
And if that will not doe ther turne,
We shall them stoone, thoughe wee shold burne."
" Cumer," quod sho, " 1 can not ken
As yet the names of thesse falsse men
Bot surelie God withoutin doubte
Will shortly have them all trayed out
So quhen wee shall thorn know by name
K
82 TIIK TRYELL OF TIIER NEWES.
Wee shall not spaii* them for to shame,
For Weill remember I that day
"\Miereiu we followed Sir Johne Hay,
And I think weill ther worsse then he
That now turnes coate so shamfully ;
For he was never our profess' d freind
The country neuer to him lean'd
For enimie wee tooke him still
Expecting nought from him hot ill,
Bot thir deceavors under trust
And Judas name deservers just,
But yet our judgement we'll suspend
Until more cleirlie it be kend."
THE TRYELL OF THER NEWES.
Quhen I had hard the poore wives thus complaine
Aud unto uther heavely regraite
So foule defectione, I fand the Lord prevent
That thretned mine of this poore estaite
Then I began to thinke, can this be trew 1
O no thought I, they are bot idle tealles.
But after, quhen I tooke a little vieu
Of this grate courte and quhat syde ther prevaills,
And ther that tyme is triffled still away
With triviall things wich bred noght bot delay
Are treatted one, God knows for quhat pretence
And how our leaders cairfully before,
Lett no thing slipe wich could our causse advance
For quhat concern'd Christ's kingdom or hes ^lore,
THE TRYELL OF TIIER NEWES. 83
Adwenturing all quhat ever might be chance
For Christ, the countries liberty Jind croune
Without divissione valliantly they stood
And for the same they willingly layed doune
Thor fortouns, nieiiis, ther bodies and ther blood,
And now quhen come is this grate parliment
Long wished for and in grate expectatione.
For all belived and wer right confident
That it should satle this distracted natione,
And pute ane end to all our grieftes and feares,
And all disturbers of our peace correcte.
To quhilk our Prince petitioned by our Peers
Hes condiscendit for that same effecte,
Ane free assemblie to our kirk is given,
Quherin religion rightlie is restor'd
According to the purest lawes of heaven.
And to Christ's reule hes every thing conform'd
To see ane end pute to our grate debait.
By this so longed for present parliament
For setling all things both in kirk and stait :
Bot quhen I call things seriously to mynde
And how grate matters trewly are neglected,
I think mens mynds are other wayes inclined
Then ever any honest harte expected,
Quhilk makes me think the wyves talkis not vaine
Tliat some are wroght one by grate poUicie:
Hopes of preferment, feare, or greid of gaine
Hes made some fall from former constaucie
For uthervvayes how could this come to passe,
That Lords and Lairds so fordward heirtofor
Comissioners for diversse of the burrowes,
84 THE TRYELL OF THER NEWES.
Should fall so foully from ther former glore
Befor quhen Majestic vent a harder way
And caisse so stood that lifFe, lands, guides and geire
Should all rune hazard, if they should betray,
Religion, countries liberties for feare.
Divisione then was thought ane odious thinge
And wold no sitting gett within this land.
No subtile coursse the same to passe could bringe
Brybes, force or flatrey, or the king's command
Bot sweitly all rankes rane ane holy coursse,
Religione, liberty, puritie manteind
And covenant quhilk in the sacred bookes
Of holy Scripture cleirly is conteind.
The country then wes firmly made beleive
That free assembly and parliament once granted
All thinges in kirke and stait that did us greive
Should be removed, enimees supplanted.
Who wer the causse of all ther grate disorders
Within the land, quhosse falshood drew us out
For to defend our causse upone our borders,
Or else for Chris-t and countrey not proue stoute :
Wee did beleeve thosse should be nocht rewarded,
Who that ill counsel gave unto our kinge
And never againe unto this land regairded,
Who under slavrey strave us for to bringe.
Bot now alias ! failled is our expectation
And none more freely trades or streits throughout
Then they of lait that lefte ther native nation
Our overthrowe to helpe to brilige aboute.
And to sj)eake treuth yet a little further
Ther's not injoyned aney trew correctione,
THE TRYELL OF THER NEWES. 85
For thirste for blood oppressione and murthur
Altho' known, done under ther protectione,
Altho' our kii'k hes prelacie put doune
With all ther trashe and antecliristian traino,
Yet still lies sutfrod since parliament begane
Means to propone to bringe them in againe.
O quhers the zeall quhilk heirtofor wes seyne
Of all estaits quhen first this land begane
111 to resist, and poperey to preweine.
Durst aney man have motion'd such things then ?
Denuding motions wer not intertained
Nor wronges be done to aney in our land,
We are layed by othe, ane other to defend,
Who for our causse ar aney way injured.
But nou alas its manifestlie kend
That maney sufters and neA'er ane secured.
How can this bot bring judgement one this land
Quhen soleme othes ar no wayes layed to harte,
Bot uiolating our most holie band
Tiler's few that's found to take ane uther's pairt
Quhen justice sought, for wronges that ar received,
Justice denayed and parties are bot slighted
And quhat in law and resonne is bot craved.
From tyme to t}Tne we see the same bot drifted ;
So that our courage plainly doeth appeir
Much to be cooled : our zeall for to decay
From quhat it was befor within this zeiro
So that its feared, Christ, cuntrey will betray
For countrey few or comon-welth, takes caire,
Bot most pairt seikes ther awen stait to secure
And this doeth cleirly unto all declaire
8G THE TRYELL OF THER NEWES.
That peace and truth will not longe heir endure.
Ai'e we not bound for to advance Christ's causse
Not to lett slipe that therto may conduce
Can this be done, if we suffer our lawes
To lay wnpurg'd from dangerous abusse ?
If that wee stand not stoutly to mantyne
Keligion, Lawes, Liberty and State
Now quhene its tyme ill's studey to preweine
Befor we shall repent quhen its too laite.
Doeth not all judgements in this one accord
That this go-ate worke that hes beine in tliis land
Proceidit onlie from our God and Lord,
And in the same wes seine his miirhtie hand.
How AvonderfuUy he hes brought to passe
More then at first wee durst presume to seike.
Man, woman, all, yea evrey lade and lasse
For comon causse enabled them to speake,
With quhat grate courage did they us inspyre
Our causse, our lawes and liberties to defend
Should not this be all trew Scott's hartes desyres
That so wee might contineAv to the end.
No man can say bot God hes pairt hath achev'd
More wounderfully then in aney age.
To us hes favour wes never seine slacked
All this longe tyme wee have beine one the stage;
Bot now to us quhen granted's our desyre
Our causse to spoyle by oure awen eivell g}-ding
Quhilke in this countrey kendle shall the fyre,
Wee might have quenched by our not dewyding.
Quhat will be sayd or thought throughe all the world
Bot Scotland did ane glorious worke intende
THE TRYELL OF TIIEIl XEWES. 87
To keipe out poperey and lett tlier state be thralled,
Bot wes niisgydit by them in the end,
And hade no harte and courage to stand oute,
Quhen God ha<.l brought them to their vished end.
And craved nought of them bot they wold be stout.
For Christ and countrie ^v}^slie to contend,
And that the lads, courte flatrie or feare
Hes for most pairt be\vitched ther sensis all.
That for the same peace purity so cleire
And liberty they quholly did inthrall ;
And sa justlie on them and ther seid
God's cursse shall rest vrith ther eternall shame
For ther defections and their beastly deid
Shall after ages one them still exclame.
Yet let one still in our God remaine.
That quhen the chaffe is sever'd from the corne
He his awen causse against them shall maintyne
And shall it croune the contraire quho hes sworne,.
"NMierfor if aney of you worthies be
Gilty of this, wich talked is so ^vyde.
Repent in tjTiie and show that you are free.
Of this foule faute and cleave to the riglit syde.
And never dreame such standing can be sure
Quhilk is establish'd by yeilding to the tymes.
Nor yet that man shall never be secure
"Who guiltie is of such odious crymes.
I wounder much how aney can raistruste
The Lord as he wold not in tyme perfyte
This hes awen worke he hes to you intrusted
To prosecute, manger the deivell's despyte
For though religion rightly be restored
88 THE TRYELL OF THER NEWES.
If in the stait things go not right bot wronge,
It is ane matter much to be deplored.
Churche puritie be seure can not last longe
For cache one other is seine for to depend,
One being faultie, the other without fail
Will soune corrupte, experience is kend
And error, be longe corruptione vill prewaile.
Strive to establische our lawes in this land
With England see the marches cleirly red
For ere't be longe the kinge Adll ws command
We'll not be Scotts bot merely English bred.
Tlius to conclude this rurall rude narratione
Praying the Lord, ye may stand to your marke,
So ye shall prove a blissing to your natione
And God by you shall croune has awen grate vork.
THE OVERTHROW OF THE SPANISH ARMADA. 89
THE OVEKTHROW OF THE SPANISH
ARMADA.
From Balfour's MS., and written about the same time as
" The Kail-wyfe's Comoninge."
This and the preceding Pasquil indicate pretty strongly
the intense hatred of the Scotish nation at that time towards
anything savouring of Popery, and the deep-rooted fear
that it might agiiin be dominant. The unfounded suspicion
that Charles had anti-Protestant feelings was caused by
his wife's being, although a daughter of Henry IV., a
zealoiLs Romanist, and the knowledge of his deep attach-
ment towards her.
The Hollanders and German See did end
That holy fleet, the Roman see did send.
Pox on the Pope, his lioly water then
That could not from these waters save his men,
No Ave Marie, Agnus Dei, no rood,
Salt, spitle, nor Popes bull did any good,
The seas obeyed Christ Jesus, now wee knaw,
That of his Vicar they stood little awe.
Ten thousand sowles at once, wondi-ous story,
Tlirough fire and water past to Purgatory.
Justly the Pope may canonize them iill.
They canons brought, and canons wrought their fidl,
Let Rome sowle messes for her clients sine:.
Whilst wee Te Deum, to our heavnly King,
If theyr intention was to spill our blood,
Prayse be to God, they ended in the Flood,
Then let the Pope his Roman See goveme,
Christ guide our Bark, I ever hold at Sterne.
00 ON THE PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER.
ON THE PAELIAMENT AT WESTMINSTEK.
Although this bitter satire has been claimed as a
Scotish Pasquil, it is by no means certain that it is so.
It was taken from one of those numerous collections of
Robert Mylne, which were unfortunately, together with
his invaluable library, sold by auction after his demise,
instead of having been bought by some of the public
libraries of the North, and thus kept entire. One hun-
dred pounds might, in 1743 or 1744, have secured a
collection in which were innumerable articles of the
greatest value. Books with the Autograph of Robert
Mylne may yet be found in the book-shops of Great
Britain. Some fifteen years since a volume containing
about twenty articles turned up at a sale — the pecuniary
value of which could not be under a couple of hundred
pounds. Amongst the rarities was an unique edition of
Robin Goodfellow, with a woodcut prefixed, not to be found
either in the Bridgewater copy or in the one sold at Mr
Daniel's sale for above fifty pounds.
Thomas May, the poet and dramatic writer, is the author
of the History of the Long Parliament " which began Novem-
ber the 3d MDCXL." * In a copy of this book formerly belong-
ing to George Chalmers, the author of Caledonia, there is the
following MS. note by him. "May of Mayfield in the county
of Sussex. He seems to have been indebted to the patronage
of Charles in the early part of his career, and on some dis-
appointment of further advancement, to have taken umbrage
and revengefully joined the Republican party — so say both
Fuller and Lord Clarendon. At the same time, on the
testimony of others of similar politics, liis history is considered
impartial." — G. C.
* Small folio, London, 1648.
ON THE PAHLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER. 'Jl
The conversion of May to patriotism was pretty much in
accordance with the opinion of Sir Robert AVulpole, who
dechired he could make patriots by wholesale. Only refuse
a man an vmreasouable request and he instantly becomes
one. This seems to have been the case with our historian,
for on the death of Ben Jonson in 1637 the vacant laurel
was sought by him, but to his annoyance was given, through
the influence, it was alleged, of the Queen, to Sir Wilham
Davenant who it must be admitted was, both as a dramatic
writer and poet, quite worthy of it, — his Gondibert being
superior to any poem of his competitor. On the other
hand, May's Dramas, "The Heir," and "Old Couple," are
better than any of Davenant's comedies. May died in 105U,
in the 55tli year of his age, and thus predeceased the Long
Parliament.
The sale of Charles for filthy lucre was an act of such
baseness that nothing can palliate it. It is a perpetual blot
on the Scotish escutcheon, although perpetrated by a
faction. If a nation confers the power of riding on political
jobbers and hypocritical pretenders, it must share with
them the infamy of all their iniquitous actions.
The Long Parliament came to an end upon the elevation
of Cromwell to supreme jwwer. On the 12th December 1653
it was dissolved. Some of the membere stUl continumg to
sit. Colonel White came to the house, with a guard, and
demanded what they were there for. They answered, " To
seek the Lord." " Pish," said White, "the I^rd has not
been within these walls these twelve years," and without
further ceremony turned them out.
On the Cavaher side, Cleveland, a popular and clever
writer, has a smart poem on this interminable Parhament,
from which a few stanzas may be extracted : —
Most gracious and onmipotent
And everlasting Parliiunent
Whose power and majesty
92 ON THE PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER.
Is greater than all king's by odds ;
And to account you less than Gods
Must needs be blasphemy.
Moses and Aaron ne'er did do
More AYonders than are wrought by you
For England's Israel ;
But though the Red Sea we have past,
If you to Canaan bring's at last,
Is't not a miracle V
In six years space you have done more
Than all the Parliament's before ;
You have quite done the work.
The King, the Cavalier, and Pope
You have o'erthrown, and next we hope
You will confound the Turk.
By you we have deliverance
From the designs of Spain and France,
Ormond, Montross, the Danes ;
You, aided by our brethren Scots,
Defeated have malignant plots,
And brought your sword to Cain's.
• • • • •
Could you have done more piously.
Than sell church lands the king to buy,
And stop the cities plaints.
Paying the Scots-church-militant,
That the new Gospel helpt to plant,
God knows they are poor Saints.
Because the apostle's creed is lame,
The Assembly doth a better frame,
Which saves us aU with ease ;
ON THE PAllLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER. 93
Provifled still we have the grace,
To believe the House in the first place,
Be our works what the please.
'Tis strange your Power and Holiness,
Can't the Irish devil dispossess
His end is very stout ;
But though you do so often pray.
And every month keep fasting day,
You cannot cast them out.
It was reserved for Cromwell to cast out the Irish devil,
and this he did so effectually tliat even at the present time
Ills memory is execrattd in the Green Isle by the natives.
The Koyalist poet was Judge- Advocate at Newark until
the surrender; he was a just and prudent judge for the
king, and a faithful advocate for the countiy. " There he
drew up that gallant return to the summons of the besiegers,
which spake him, and the rest that were embarked with
him, resolute to sacrifice their lives to their loyalty, had not
the king's especial command, when first he had surrendered
himself into the hands of the Scots, made such stubborn
loyalty a crime."
Cleveland, "upon some private intelligence, throe days be-
fore the king reached them (the Scots), foresaw the pieces
of silver paying upon the banks of the Tweed, and that
they were the price of his Sovereign's bloofl." — Vide life of
Cleveland, prefixed to his Works. Lond. 1()87.
Cleveland did not live to witness the Restoration of the
Stewarts. He died at Gray's Inn, of an intermitting fever,
and was buried upon the fiist day of May 1(J56, in the
parish church of "St. Michael Royal, upon College Hill,
London." His funeral sermon was preached by Dr Pearson
— afterwards Lord Bishop of Chester.
94 ON THE PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER.
Kf)c parliament of mcQtmimUv, 1640.
Within this house is to be sene
Such a monster as has not been
At any time in England, nay,
In Europe, Africk, Asia.
Its a round body without a head.
Almost fy ve years, yet not dead ;
As like that beast I once did see,
Wliose tayle stood where his head should be.
And which was never seen before.
Tho' it want a head, it has horns good store ;
It hes a very little hair, and yet
You'll say it hes more hair than wit.
That hes many eyes and many eares.
That hes many jealousies and feares,
That hes many mouths and many hands.
Its full of Questions and Commands.
_ Its armed with muskets, pykes ; it fears
Nought in the world but Cavaliers ;
It was born in England, but begot
Betwixt the English and the Scot ;
Though some are of opinion rather,
That the Devil was its fatlier.
PASQUIL AGAINST LAUD AND WENTWORTH. 95
PASQUIL AGAINST LAUD AND WENTWOKTI 1 .
As Black Tom, otherwise Thomas, Earl of StrafTonl, was
behearled on the 12th of May 1C41, it is obvious that the
scurrilous production below was written some time previous.
When Charles signed the warrant for his execution, his
own ultimate fate mi_<,'ht easily be foreseen. Balfour has in
the same volume with these lines transcribed the beautiful
poem usually ascribed to Strafford, and assigned the author-
ship to him. As a cotemporary, and from his high otticml
position in Scotland, his testimony is not without its value.
In one of the volumes of Balfour's State Papers, there also
occurs a printed broadside iu which the verses are in like
manner stated to be by Strafford.
Laud was not executed until afterwards. The Commons
were detennined to put the Archbishop to death, and
although the Peers were of opinion that liis Grace was not
guilty of high treason, they were so much terrified by the
threats of the Commons that they gave way. Ilis Grace was
accordingly executed on Tower Hill on the 10th of January
1644-45, notwithstanding he produced the King's pardon.
Both Strafford and Laud were murdered, not liy conunon
assassins, but by a set of men who, as members of the House
of Commons, were sirpposed to be the just guardians of the
lives and liberties of their countrymen.
Laudles Vill of Lambeth Strand,
And Black Tome, t}Tant of Ireland,
Lyke foxe and voltfe did lurke
With maney Dukes and Magetepaye's,
To pyke out Good King Charles his eyes,
And then be Pope and Turke.
96 PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE HOME-LOYTERERS.
PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE HOME-
LOYTERERS.
From a printed broadside entitled, "A Proclamation
against the Home-Loyterers, Recusants to the Common
Cause, within the CoUedge of Justice," in the Library of the
Faculty of Advocates. This attempt to influence the members
of the legal fraternity who had not embraced the covenant to
join its adherents at Dunglass, was fortunately not very suc-
cessful, if we may judge by the list of the persons destroyed
by the blowing up of the bridge there next month, and pre-
served by that remarkable person William Lithgow, in his
!<«poetical account of the disaster, occasioned, it is said, by
a poor jest of the Earl of Haddington against the English,
Avhich so much irritated Southern, his j)age, that he blew up
the bridge, kilhng by the explosion himself. Lord Hadding-
ton, and numerous individuals of rank and wealth, amongst
whom was Colonel Erskine, the seducer of Anne Bothwell,
whose beautiful Lamentation contemplates the probability
of the betrayer perishing by a violent death.
f roclatnatfon asatttst t]^e |^ome=iLo2teret0»
We blameless Beautie, badges bright of peace,
White shining smyles of Lady Justice face ;
And glory of that pomp expecting Traine,
Whose aymes by us, are honour now to gaine.
For as much as that fleeing herald Fame,
Doeth still by her eare-batring voice proclame
Each where, that for our Croune and Faith's defence,
Our present progresse keepes a residence ;
Here in Dunglasse, where now our curious eyes.
PROCL VMATION AGAINST THE HOME-LOYTERERS. O't
AA^ith long-wome looks, as waking watchmen lyes
Still in await : as pleasing to bee designed
Here to attend those unto us assign'd,
By Truth's Mew Flags, our Sister in degree,
Both sprung from noble Justice pedigree ;
As als our jiatience did not yet disdaine.
To wait the lurking fragment of our Traine
That yet remaines : as our assur'd supplie,
Bought long agoe by love, and clemencie :
Albeit to them heaven's liclping hand hath beene
Most liberall, as mortall eyes hath scene :
Wliose prodigall usher Ladie Providence,
Fraught their desires with a right large expence,
Of golden strength, by nursing Vertue's hand
And made them strong in our just Cause to stand ;
Under the shelter of our famous Name,
Wliich by the right of thankfulnesse wee claime :
Aye due by them, and that for their supplie
Of true Religion, and our Libertie :
That so our sight might terrific our foe,
As did our noble Name a yeare a-goe.
But ! those hopes were blasted long ere time
Could bring these blossomes to an happie prime.
Whose fruits (deceits, nay, rather) in respect.
They nothing bring but showes of mere neglect.
Which all men knowes did spring from servile fear,
Our churlish-mindcs, that now the swey doth bear.
Yet whilst Mee did, sweet smylling Peace enjoy.
Then seem'd they readie Subjects to employ ;
And trac'd the Streets -with such a gallent grace,
As if their wortii consisted in their pace :
98 PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE HOME-LOYTERERS.
»
But when proud Mars once shew his angrie brow
Their fainting hearts then seem'd for feare to bow.
Their courage which their tongues some times did keep
Now in their secret eels doth soundly sleep.
With gapmg gried they glorie in their gaine,
Which lurking they atchieved with honour's staine
They care not for their Faith, nor Countrie's good,
So they buy ease with their own Brethren's blood.
Thus when (we see) their Faith, and courage cold,
Now make their feble breasts in nothing bold,
Except it be a Venus to embrace,
Much more esteem' d, than brave Bellond's face :
Then lo, what cause wee have so to proclame.
Them wanting braines to under-prop our Name.
Herefore since threats, nor our perswasions faire.
Nothing avails, Jfee tvill, and wee declare
That this afore-nam'd home delighting crew,
As well of white, as of the collours blew,
Bee from hence-forth, and by all humane lawes,
Esteem'd Recusants, to our noble cause.
And als wee finde, and thinke exj^edient.
That they, and every one of them bee rent,
And cut cleane off, with shames infamous strock,
As withred boughes from blooming Juslice stock.
And wee command, that this our will be shown.
And in each place, that Fame doe make it known
Wliich we here stamp with Truth faire Justice seal.
That never died : nor ever yet shall fail.
Daitedfrom Dunglasse, 26. of July 1640.
Tim Prodamatiorh s seaPd that now I hrinrj,
With great Ajjollo's hmd adorning Reigne.
Tho. Plaine, Gierke,
A (;amk a'I' (jhassr. 99
A GAME AT CHASSE.
From the Balfour MSS.
It seems to some that Brittaine (by the Masse)
Is now in earnist gaming at the chasse.
The Bischops bracke the phiy : tliey rang'd the brod,
They stand not awe of man, yea scarce of God.
To serche and grow more gi\ite they euer presse,
If Pope wer in the plaj', haue at hes place.
They phiy the roge, the knaue, for vnder cure,
They cheete both king and kingdome I am sure.
The noble knights ar forced to interposse,
Tlier Hues and all to barr thesse cruell foes,
Quho atlier aim to steall tlie king to Rome
Quer he should lousse hes liberty and croun,
Or ells to make him manles they intend
Destroying such as treulie him defend :
Bot bookes and beckes and surples showes of lait,
They meine to giue cheke masse, if not cheke mate.
If them the raite of Game, tope them and take them.
Darr meine to checke the King : tlio' Queine should
back them.
Rokkes doubled one ane bur, should make us varrie,
That one reuld tuo barrs, first made all miscarey,
God moue the King to see and make the same,
For still raismet and manles lousse the game.
To make tin- game gne right to strokes void furder,
Trew knights aduanc'd, fals Bishops put to order.
Marke euery man's deseiugs ther actions tells,
Tliesse loues the King in treuth, thosse lone themselves.
100 BATTLE OF BRTDGE OF DEE.
PASQUIL ON THE BATTLE OF THE BEIDGE
OF DEE.
This " Pasquil, marie at the Bridge of Dee quhen it was
wone from the Ante-Covenanters of the north," is a curious
specimen of the Covenanting Muse, usually not very
inspiring. It is the more interesting because tradition
has preserved a ballad of considerable merit, which the
editor had many years since the good fortune to recover and
print for the first time in the "North Countrie Garland,"
from which it has been transferred to the pages of Mother-
well, Aytoun, and other editors of Scotish Ballads. Professor
Aytoun in his set has omitted the three concluding stanzas
of the ballad as originally printed, considering them as inter-
polations, because they represented the Highlanders flying
from the field of battle, in consequence of their being
frightened by the artillery brought against them. In our
recent edition of "Scotish Historical Ballads," the original
verses have been restored and the reader will see that
Aytoun's objections are obviated by the contemporary
^IS. of Balfour, which particularly mentions the alarm
occasioned amongst the northern Royalists by the use of
" Muskie's Mother," and the effects produced on the Viscount
of Aboyne, — an amusing incident, as it establishes that
upon this occasion the Viscount did not wear a kilt.
While the saintly Argyle was employed in the more con-
genial occupation of plundering the Castle of Airlie and
collecting property of every description for removal to his
Castle of Inverary, his coadjutor, ]\Iontrose, then an adlierent
of the revolutionaiy cause was fighting gallantly on its
behalf, and by his victory over Huntly made himseK master
of the important city of Aberdeen.
He compelled the Marquis of Huntly to fly, together ^dth
IJATTLE OF BRIDGE OF DEE. 101
his son the Viscount of Aboync. Luckily for the Aberdo-
nians it was that the victor was the chivalrous .Montrose, for
though urged by the fanatics about hiiu to destroy the ancient
burgh, he resisted their importunities. Aytouu's conclud-
ing verses are as follows : —
Then up and spoke the gude Jlontroee
Grace be on his fair boilie,
" We Avinna burn the bonny bi-uch,
AVc'll even let it be."
Then out and spake the gallant Montrose,
As lie rade owre the Meld,
" Why should we burn the bonny bruch,
, When its like we couldua build V"
" I see the women and the children.
Climbing the craig so hie,
We'll sleep this night in the bonny bruch.
And even let it be."*
Had Montrose then left the Covenanters very different
might have been the fortmies of Charles in the north, but Pro-
vidence ordered otherwise, and it was even then much too
late for the Grahame to benefit a monarch whose infirmity
of purpose enabled his opponents to hurl him from his
throne. With all his good qualities, and they were many,
the vacillating policy of the King rendered him unfitted to
rule. It required a man of sterner materials to save the
crown. His mighty successor, Cromwell, proved what
might be done by mental vigour and unconquerable deter-
mination.
The Eail of Kinghorn was the second peer of that title.
Ho married Lady Margaret Erskine, third daughter of
John, Earl of Mar, Lord Treasure of Scotland, she died at
" Scotish Ballads, Historical and Tratlitionarj'. Ediu. 1SG8,
vol. i. p. 288.
102 BATTLE OF BRIDGE OF DEE,
Edinburgh ou the 7th of November 1639. " Shoe had issue
diversse childrene, bot all of them deyed before herselue;
her corpes wer embalmed, and soleranley interred in the
comon sepulture of that familey, at the Church of Glamis,
in the months of February 1640." Balfour vol. ii. p. 371.
Upon the death of his first wife, his Lordship married
the Lady Ehzabeth Maule, daughter of Patrick first Earl of
Panmore, and by her had a son Patrick, liis successor, and
a daughter Elizabeth, who married the first Earl of Aboyne,
a title now merged in the Marqr.isite of Huntly, and ujDon
his death captain Alexander Grant. His successor prefer-
ring the title of Strathmore, obtained from the Crown a
new charter, under which he and his successors became
Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorn.
George Ogilvie of Dunlugus was created a Baronet by
King Charles I., 30th July 1627. He shewed his loyalty
and valour at the Bridge of Dee, and was created a Baron by
letters patent dated 31st of August 1642. — Crawford's
Peerage, p. 36. The title is at present dormant, but as the
remainder is to heirs male whatsoever, it is not improbable
that some day or other it may be revived.
23attle of ISvitiQC of Bee.
God bliss our Covenanters in Fyffe and Lotliean,
In Angus and the Mearnis, qulio did us first begin
With muskit and with carabin, with money speare
and shield,
To take the tonne of Aberdeen and make our Marques*
yield.
God bliss Montrois our General,
The stout Earl of Kinghorne,
* Huntly.
BAITLE OF BRIDGE OF DEE. 103
That wee may long line and rejoyce
That euer they were borne.
The man that hes ane eiuell wyfle,
He prayes God to amend lier,
That he may line a quyat lyffe,
And dye a Couenanter.
My Lord Aboyne hes tint his style
Vith maney a Northland man,
Quhen couardly thej^ fled away
For all ther craft and can.
Quhen they caroussed at the brigend,
Drinkand their wyne and beaire,
The Couenanters leuche at theme,
And dranke the watter cleir.
I was a Couenanter
Long ere that I came heire,
With my burnish 't muskit,
And my bandeleire.
My 7 yells of Flanders matche,
And my sheii-ing suord.
At euery woley I did shote,
The limers yeul'd loud.
I purpois to begin
In wersse for to record,
The commendatiou of our men
That trusted in the Lord.
Pray for our Coueuanters,
Quho still depens one God,
104 BATTLE OF BRIDGE OF DEE.
Quho proued treuly to the end,
And marched be south the rod.
The Laird of Bamffe is taken the sea,
His pilot for the Euther,
And dars not come a land agane,
For feare of Muskies mother.
The Laird of Bamffe hes gottin the jamffe,
And so did Gight ane other,
My Lord AbojTie, beshet hes breikes
For feare of Huskies mother.*
The Prouests daughter of Aberdeine,
She is a sore lamenter.
And cursses her father he will not be
Ane honest Couenanter.
Tlie Couenanters of the South,
They'ar honest, stout, and trewe,
And they haue woued both saule and lyffe
To bume fals Aberdeine.
Muskies mother hes made a wow
That she Avill take her wenter,
And thunder throughe (the) brige of Dee
Led by a Couenanter.
The Couenanters that ye see
Come marching alongest the grein,
Wer not for feare of God they say,
They void plounder Aberdeine.
* A cannon.
BATTLE or BKIDGE OF DEE. 105
I had a bi-anl as vthcr men,
But God reuard the ponder,
He suers he's neuer cocke hes matche,
Nor nuiskit one hes shoulder.
While that the dogs of Aberdeene,
Wich did cast vpe such trinches,
Themselues with speed fill N-jie the same
To please our Coucnanters.
The Douper doges of Aberdeene,
Is fled and veighed thcr ankers,
They durst not byde into ther toune,
To feast the Couenauters.
Tliey left ther cliildren and ther wyftes,
To reed yare reuelit zairne,
And cuckold-lyke fled for their Hues
Unto the lyle of feme.
106 A scot's new year's gift.
A SCOT'S NEW YEAR'S GIFT.
The following verses, entitled,
A Scott's New Year Gift,
Better nor a Christmas Carroll.
Were found amongst some old papers in the possession of
the late much lamented Earl of EgUnton and Winton, one
of the most popular Viceroys that ever ruled over Ireland.
They appeared in a provincial journal some years since,
and, as they relate to the ecclesiastical controversies of the
period, have been printed in the present collection.
The style of the composition, and the place where it was
foimd, induce a suspicion that the first Seton, Earl of Eglin-
ton, commonly called Grey Steel, may have been the author.
The writing is that of the period in which he Uved. He
was an upholder of the monarchy, though a covenanter,
and suffered for his loyalty ; — the original ]\IS. was, and, it is
presumed, is stUl preserved amongst the Eglinton family
papers.
The burden " Gramercie good Scot," is the same as that
in "A new Carrell for Clu-istmasse, made and sung at
Londone," which will befoundin "Ballads and other Fugitive
Poetical Pieces, chiefly Scotish, from the collections of Sir
James Balfour, Knight. Edinburgh 1834, small 4to."
E %coiVs n(\ii Vi^avcs gift
Uettev not a ©rismes €axvoh
Brave England be glaide ye got suche a King,
So gracious and godlie aboue you to Ring,
A scot's NEW YEAR S GIl-T. iD?
Regraiting your gi-evance, so long overgone,
By popery and prelatts, but now salbe none ;
Be thankful! to God, for that ye haue gott,
And say so with glaidnes, Graxiercy GOOD ScOT.
The best of your church wes brought to grit thrall,
Baith nobles and gentry and comons and all ;
Your tradesmen and trafRk, and all put to nocht,
By butchers from l^abell, that bischops in broght ;
But blist be our King, hes broken that knot,
And maks you to say, Gramercy good Scot.
The Lyoun and Leopards, lads sail not leid.
Nor Wentworth nor Winchfurd* the harp sail nadreid ;
Then confort and credit sail cum to our Croune,
Wlien traitors and tyrants, and knaives ar cut doune ;
So shall we rejois, to see such a shott,
And sing all at once, GRAiiERCY good Scot.
Gritt Brittaine may glaidly give thanks to thair God,
That baneist these burreois of babell abrod,
And purgit us of popery of prelatts and all,
And gave all our sycophants so grit a fall.
So nixt our grit God, our gracious King
"We day lie may blis, such joy did us bring ;
This is the best new year gift ever we got,
For whilk we may give, Gramercy good Scot.
Cg balams Slos.
Zf)iQ opoHctt Ixifs.
* Sir Christopher Wanclesfonl.
108 LINES BY MONTROSE.
LINES BY MONTEOSE.
These lines must have been written by Montrose prior to
the elevation of the Marquis of Hamilton to a Dukedom.
His grace was the commissioner at the celebrated Glasgow
Assembly of 1638. His three sons died before him, and his
honoui's, after his execution by the roundheads on 9th March
1648, passed to hLs brother William, Earl of Lanark, who
dying without issue male, 5th Sept. 16.51 — ^the estate and
honours devolved on the Lady Anne, daughter of the first
duke, who married WiUiam Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. At
the soUcitation of the Duchess he was created Duke of
Hamilton in 1661, for Ufe. Thus the Dukes of Hamilton are
only heirs of line of the Hamiltons, while they enjoy the
male representation of the Douglas family.
The Earl of Newcastle did not receive his Marquisate
until the 27th of October 1643, so that the killiiig of his
son's dog could not have occurred before that date. Sur-
viving the Kcstoration he was created Earl of Ogle and
Duke of Newcastle, 16th March 1664. His son Henry, the
second Duke, was probably the owner of the dog slain by
"the maiden sword of Hamilton."
The following is the title given by Balfour: — "Some
lynes one the kiUiug of ye Earle of Newcastell's Sonne's
doge, by ye Marquess Hamilton, in the Queen's Garden
at Yorke. Written there by the Earle of Montrois."
Heir layes a doge, quliosse qualities did plead,
Such fatall end from a Renouned Llade,
PASQl'IL <»\ THE EARL OF ROTHES. 100
And blame him not, though he succumbed now,
For Hercules could not combat agamst two ;
For whilst he on hes foe revenge did take
He manfully was killed behind his back.
Then say to eternize the curr thats.gone,
He flech't the Mayden sword of Hamiltone.
PASQUIL OX THE EARL OF EOTHES, 1640.
" This pasquill," says Balfour, " so scnrrelloiis wes flung
downe at my Lord Rothes' Lodging quhen he went vpe
from Newcastle to London, as one of the Commissioners
from Scotland to end the trety begunc at Ripiione."
John, Earl of Rothes, was a wami adherent of the Cove-
nant, he was born in IGUO and died before 1C41, at
Richmond, after a very sudden illness. He was a man of
joyous habits, and had little of the Puritan about him.
According to Clarendon, he stood so well with both parties,
that liis sudden removal "put an end to all hopes of good
quarters with that nation," i.e., the Scots. His Lordship
wrote "a Relation of Proceedings concerning the affairs of
the Kirk of Scotland, From August 1637 to July 1638,"
wliich, after remaining in manuscript for nearly two
centuries, was privately printed by the late James Nairn,
Esq., for the members of the Banuatyne Club, Edinburgli,
1830, 4to. To this publication is prefixed a very fine
portrait of his Lordship in tlie twenty- fifth year of liis
age, taken from a painting by Jameson in 1625, preserved
in Leslie House, the seat of the family in Fifeshire.
The Earl nuu-ried Lady Anne Erskine. Balfour* thus
records the death of the coimtess: — "The second of ]Maij
* Vol. ii. p. 427.
no PASQUIL ON THE EARL OF ROTHES.
the same zeire (1640) deyed Ladye Auue Erskyiie, Countess
of Rothes, second daughter to Johiie Erskyiie, second Earle
of Mar, Lord Thesaurer of Scotland and Knight of the
Garter. Shoe lefte issue tuo daughters, and one sone,
Johne, now Earle of Rothes, Lord Lesley." Shoe deyed of
a hecticke fewer ; and her corpss wer interrid in the new
iyle of Lesley church, the 25th day of this mounthe of Maij.
without any fimerall ceremoney." The nobility of Scotland
had about this time found reason to dispense with tliose
expensive funeral ceremonies, which had previously been
much in use. The demise in 1640 of four Earls, two
Countesses, and one Baron, is given with the places of
their interment, but in no one instance were there any cere-
monials. The Ijord Lyon did not probably relish very much
this judicious exercise of a laudable economy, by which
his fees of office would materially suffer.
The Earl John, mentioned by Balfoiu", was afterwards
the celebrated and only Duke of Rothes whose rehgious
opinions were not those of his parent. His " Funerals " were
celebrated in such a way as woidd have rejoiced the heart
of Sir James Balfour, had he been then alive. The original
drawings of the gorgeous ceremonial, after having been
supposed to be lost, have recently been found in the Library
of the Faculty of Advocates. They were engraved last
century.
pagqutl on WioUjee.
Doe ye not know quho layes in this corner?
It's a Scots Ambassador extraordinar,
Doe ye not know quliat he came heir about,
To save thesse wnhanged that himsehie hundit out,
Ladyes I request you keepe from, the Vail,
Or the Scots Ambassador will occupey you all.
PASQUIL ON THE EAUL OF LE\'EN. 1 1 1
PASQUIL ON THE EARL OF LE^^N.
To this somewhat smart production Balfoiir has prefixed
the following notanduin : —
"Ane other scurvy pasquill of this same yeir against
Generall Lesley nou Earle of Lewin ventilat the court in
tyme of Parliament."
The point of these verses arises from the fact that T.cven was
an illegitimate son of Leslie of Kininvie. See Scotish Ballads
and Songs, Historical and Traditiouaiy, Edin., 18G8, Vol.
L, p. 298. He, Uke Ruthven, subsequently Earl of Forth
in Scotland and of Brentford in England, served a long
apprenticeship to the science of arms under that competent
teacher, Gustavus Adolphus, whose full confidence both
of them possessed.
The wortl " Bastard " of old was invariably used to denote
an illegitimate child. AVhen the word " natural " came into
general use is uncertain, but it must be of comparatively
modern adoption.
Cooper, in his " Thesaurus," dedicated to Robert Dudley,
Earl of Leicester, 1.578, gives this interpretation, " FiUus
Naturalis — Ones lawf nil or naturall sonne by hys owne bodie
begotten." In Danet's great Latin and French Dictionaiy,
published a century after for the use of the Dauphin, Paris
1691, 4:to, Naturalis is interpreted, "Xaturel, vray, qui
n'est ni artificielle, ni fardee."
^asauU on iLrben.
Scotts are no rebells ! no tlic're conquerours
Since tribute payed them by this conquest land.
Quhat conquest hot a blow 1 These courtiours
For feare of blowes gave quhat they would demand
Fye hyde your faces, and confess you're dastards
For England now is conquer'd tvvy^sse by Bastards.
112 ANAGRAMS ON LORD TRAQrAIR.
AXAGEAMS ON LOED TRAQUAIR, 1G40.
The anagrams that follow, relative to John Stewart, Earl
of Traquair, go far to support the opinion expressed by
Scotstarnt and Baillie, as to the merits of this unpopular,
and apparently unprincipled nobleman. Although not
specially named, as Sir John Hay the Clerk Eegister was
in the "Kailwy\'es Communing," it is evident that he is
one of the suspected traitore pointed out in that cmious
production.
Balfour observes, — " Ther anagrams wer publicklie wented
of the Thesaurer Traqiiair, first in Edinburgh, and then
ouer all the countrey, in March 1640."
John Steuarte,
Say no treuth,
Sir Joline Steuarte,
On treuth amyses,
Johne, Lord Traquaire,
A Iyer honor acquyred,
Johne, Earle of Traquaire,
Ho ! a varrie efFronted Iyer,
Johne, Earle of Traquair, heigh commissioner,
A lying misinformer acquyreth honors.
Amongst the Balfour MSS. will be found the draft of
*' ArticheUs against John Earle of Traquare to be ye ground
of a Suumondes of forfautrie against him 1640." S'd. 1. 1.
.\o. 70.
ANAGRAM ON TRAQUAIR. 1 1 3
anaflVcim on ^raqwatr.
JOHN EARLE OF TRAQUAIR.
Anagram.
Ho ! a varrie effroiited Ij^ar.
Thy face, thy tounge, tliy harte are at a stiyfFe,
Wich of them to thy lyeis should ade most lyffe.
Falsse is thy harte, perfidious plots conceavinge,
Thy tounge unfeithfull, and thy lookes deceaving,
The harte afibrds, vnto the other tuo
Moe cusining shapes then Proteus euer kneu.
Bold browes attend thy double tounge, with eyes
AJs bold, thy tounge quhat euer it speiks, it lyes,
And causse the hand of vengeance long forbeares,
That villane tounge, quhat euer it lyes, it suers,
Fitt instrument for thy pernitious endes,
To reul the King, thy countrey, and her frinds,
Tlius whilst thy harte, thy face, thy tounge conspyre.
Ho ! (thou'rt proclaimed) a varrey effronted Iyer.*
* Lord Traquair, in January 1654, "went up to Court,
being, as reported, sent for to be preferrit : my Lord Durie
also followit to the lyke end, and upon tlic Uke scoir ; bot
werboth disappoynted."— Nicol's Diarj-, p. 121. Edinburgh,
1836. 4to.
H
1 1 4 PASQUIL AGAINST THE MARQUIS OF ARGYLE.
PASQUIL JUNE 1G42, AGAINST THE
MARQUIS OF ARGYLE.
That the Campbells, Lords of Lochow, are an ancient
race, is unquestionable, but the period assigned for their
appearance in Ai-gyll, by genealogical manufacturers,
merely excites a smile. The founder of the family was,
it is said, a mighty chieftain called O'Dwin, who flourished
in 404, and whose descendants were called "Scol Diarmid,"
that is to say the offspring of Diarmid.
This astounding antiquity of the race of Campbell, is
vouched by the " Bards and Senachies," authorities which
may be of value in the west Highlands, but nowhere else.
Whether the Campbells are the Norman family " De
Bello Campo," the founder of the English Beauchamps, is
uncertain. They rose into power and position on the
fall of the Balhol dynasty, when Sir Nigel or Neil Campbell
connected himseK wath the Bruce, by marrying Mary, sister
of King Kobert. This pereon had been an original supporter
of Edward I., and it is far from improbable might have
remained faithful to that monarch, had he not been tempted
by an alliance with the royal race of De Bruce, to break his
oath of allegiance. The district of I^orn was held originally
by an adherent of Balliol, who was driven from his estates
by Sir Nigel. This was the first certain appearance of
the Campbells as Lords in Argyle, and there can be httle
doubt that the "beautiful " Eva, the heiress of " O'Dwin,"
who married "GiUespic Campbell," a gentleman of Anglo-
Norman lineage," * existed only in the imagination of some
Highland " Senachie."
Sir Nigel's son by this marriage, called Colin, had a
* Douglas, p. 86.
PASQUIL AGAINST THE MARQUIS OF AllGYLE. 115
royal charter to Lochow, to be held " pro homagio et ser-
vicio," as freely, fully, and honourably, as any other baron
of Argyle held his possessions. Colin and his heirs furnish-
ing the king and his successors with a ship '•quadragiuta,
Remorum," in acknowledgement of the grant.
The descendants of the Lords of Lochow from this period
gradually increased in wealth and inipoi-tance, and the great
grandson of Nigel, who married a daughter of Robert, Duke
of Albany, is understood to have been the first Lord Camp-
bell. He died in 1453 and was burietl in Kilmun.
His gi-andson, the first Earl of Argyle, married the
eldest of the three daughters of John Stewart of Lorn,
and Innermeath, and got with her the Castle of Gloom,
the name of which was, by statute, changed into Castle
Campbell.
Archibald, Marquis of Argyll, raised to that dignity by
the monarch whose cause he betrayed, had none of the
better qualities of his father, who had the merit of being
a personally brave, though not a successful commander.
His course was erratic. As the great Protestant champion —
he led the King's troops against the adherents of the old
faith — headed by the Earl of Huntly and Errol, and was
defeated at the inglorious battle of Glenlivet or Balrinnes,
in October 1594, where an inferior force put to flight a
better armed, and infinitely more numerous body of men,
who, it was expected, would have effectually put down the
Roman Catholics of the North.*
The Earl subsequently had more success in his military
exploits, for in 1G0;3 he reduced the Macgregors — a race cele-
bi-ated for their skill in cattle steaUng, and the Macdonells
in the western Highlanrls at a later diite. For these
services he got a gi-ant from the Crown of Kintyre, which
was confirmed by Act of Parliament.
*See Scotish Ballads and 'Songs, vol. i. p. 246. Ediu.,
Paterson, 186S.
116 PASQUIL AGAINST THE MARQUIS OF ARGYLE.
By his first wife, the Lady Agnes Douglas, daughter of
WiEiam, Earl of Morton, he had the subject of the ensuing
pasquil, which has been preserved by Sir James Balfour. —
Commencing life as a Protestant, and selected for his zeal
as the most fitting man of his time to extinguish popery,
the Earl, in his latter days, abjured Protestantism, and died
a Roman Catholic, in foreign lands.
Scotstarvet observes that owing to his father, Earl Cohn,
having got involved in pecuniary difficulties, and his son not
being able to settle them, he was compelled to leave Scotland.
"He went over to West Flanders, to serve the King of
Spain, and became Papist ; of whose flight the poet Craig,
wrote these lines : —
'Now Earl of Guile and Lord Forlorn thou goes,
Quitting thy Prince, to serve his Spanish foes ;
No faith in plaids, no trust in highland trews,
Cameleon-like, they change to many hues.'" *
He gave to his son of the second marriage the Lordship
of Ivintyre, which he sold a few years afterwards to his
brother, and went to the French wars, where he died.
Archibald succeeded to the earldom, and was created a
Marquis in 1633. He became one of the gi-eat ajiostles of
the Covenant in Scotland, and by his influence materially
aided its adherents in their successful efforts to destroy the
monarchy. The fate of the Marquis after the Restoration
was the same as that which befel his opponent, Montrose.
Scott's portrait of GiUespic Grumach, as he was called,
from the cast of one of his eyes, — so atlmirably given in
the Legend of Montrose, is, we incUne to beheve, for the
most part true.
* Page 6.
PASQUIL AGAINST THE MARQUIS OF AHGYLE. 1 I 7
IJasqutl on '^VQyle,
Cam is thy name, Cam are thyne eyies and wayes,
And with thy Bell thou troules all traitors to thee,
Cam are thy lookes, thyne eyies, thy ways bcAvrayes,
Thy strained Bell has vitched the vulgar to thee,
Cam's deepest plotts excused by declarationo,
No sound hot Campbell hard throughout our natione.
Cham wes a sinner, yet in the Arke preserved,
Bell wes a god, and must neids bee adored,
Wliose backdores Daniell to the King did tray.
For which he gat the den (you may applay).
Then cursed Cham, bot thrysse most blissed Shem,
He saAV and leuiche, thou hid thy fathers shame,
And blessed Daniell altho' thou gat the den,
Quhen bhnded peoj^le sees Bell beare the bleame.
Campbell begon, for gyle can have no grace.
The Eighteous suffer for their Countries peace.
Thou gives the Prikels and obscures the Eose,
That's treachery to a riglit smelling nose.
Yet your outseeine by Cam, you'r grosse mistake,
And the joynd Bell may you ere long awake
To Your wrong'd senses, without gyle, not shame,
For Campbell shall be freir still then Grahame.
118 EXECUTION OF ARGYLE.
EXECUTION OF ARGYLE.
Prom the MS. of Robert Mylne, who calls this Pasquil
" Verses upon the late Marquis of Arguille."
Although the execution of Argyle did not occur till long
after the date of the preceding pasquil, these verses are
probably better placed here, than postponed for insertion in
their chronological order.
The Marquis was, on the 27th of May, 1661, beheaded at
the niai'ket cross of Edinburgh for treason. Although he
was evidently accessory to the fate of Charles I., yet, as he
had assisted at the coronation in January 1650 of Charles
II. at Scone, his subsequent execution was a hard measure ;
but his treatment of his chivalrous rival Montrose, and the
indignities to which he had subjected that gallant nobleman,
tended to abate any sympathy which his death might
otherwise have excited.
Argyle married Margaret, daughter of WiUiam, seventh
Earl of Morton, by whom he had the ninth Earl, who
perished on the scaffold for rebellion against James II., re-
gretted by all, excepting the sycophants of that weak-
minded and obstinate monarch, who, as the Pope remarked,
" sacrificed three kingdoms for a mass."
Scotland now raise thy triumphs to the light,
Since heaven intends to vyudicat thy right,
And libertie, and justice 'gins to smyle,
Since the committment of the arch Argyle ;
Whose horrid crymes still added to thy pains,
Thou ne'er wer't free till he was hound in chains.
EXECUTION OF ARGYLE. 1 1 1)
What ruin, murder, sacrilege, and rapes !
Ui)()n tlie lyves, souls, honours, and estates
Oi" faithful! men committed wer by him,
AVliose every action was ane highest crjine
'Gaynst King and Country. "We may justly crave
Vengeance on him, who most unjustly gave
Such barbarous unjustice unto all,
And yet, strange, was Justice Generall !
The noble ghosts of Huntlie and Montrose,
With thousands more who heartilie did oppose
His curs'd designs, whose royal blood hee spilt,
^^^uch now at last serves to inhance his guilt,
Shall gladlie from the highest heaven descend,
To \iiiw his tragic and deserved end,
And be spectators of his fatall doume
As he rejoyced in their martyrdome.
No words can serve to vtter what I think,
No word on paper, nor a sea of ink,
Can Avell point out the villanies that he
Hath acted by infernal treacherie
Against his God, his Country, and his Prince,
His father, friends, kindred all at once !
I leave him then, till Heaven be pleased to bring
Him to the justice of his God and King,
12U SCOTLAND'S ENCOURAGEMENT.
SCOTLAND'S ENCOUEAOEMENT.
To tliis pasquil the following lines are prefixed : —
Scotland's Triumph in spight of Rome and Spaine,
Who would curst Jericho's wals heer builde againe.
The author is more than usually bitter against Laud, who
with many other excellent and sound Protestant divines was
regarded as disguised Papists.
Dr Ballcanquall, the Dean of Durham, and one of George
Heriot's Trustees, an honourable and much respected man,
is viUfied because he was opposed to the opinions of the
Covenanters. "When the poet says,
" And he who traitours call'd the loyall Scots,
Arraign'd of treason is, and hainous blots."
he did not calculate that after the lapse of a few years the
'' Loyal Scots " would sell their monarch for a pecuniary
consideration.
Then comes Corbet, author of the "Epistle Congratularie
of Lysimachus Nicanor of the Societie of Jesu to the Cove-
nanters in Scotland," 164:0, 4to. BaUhe laments the evil
reward he got for his diligence "in obtaining favour
to Mr. John Corbett," for " that man having gotten latehe
to Ireland hes piinted a most poor and short, but one of
the most venomous and bitter pamphlets against us all that
could come from the hand of our most furious and inraged
enemie."* The work that caused BaUlie such vexation
was " The Ungirding of the Scottish Armour," Dublin
1639, 4to.
John Maxwell, Bishop of Ross, another malignant, wrote
a work upon the Royal prerogative, entitled " Sacrosancta
Regum Majestas." He was deposed by the Glasgow
* Letters and Journals, vol. i. p. 102.
SCOTLAND S ENCOURAGEMENT. 121
Assembly in 1638, as already mentioned. Being much
esteemed by Laud, he was on that account especially
obnoxious to the Covenanters. He obtained the BishoiJiick
of Killala in Ireland in 1640, and was advanced to the
Archbishoprick of Tuam in 1645, but enjoyed the dignity
only one year, dying, it is said, from grief for his royal
master's sufferings, 14th February, 1640.
The Bishoprick of Doym. was conjoined with that of
Connor, and was held by Henry Leslie in IGoo.
John Bramhall, Archdeacon of Meath, and Bishop of
Derry in 1634, was translated to Armagh in 1600. He
wrote " A Fair Warning to take heed of the Scotish Disci-
pline," 1649, 4to. ; to which Baillie pubhshed a reply,
printed at Delf, 4to., 1649, entitled a "Eeview of Dr.
Bramble, late Bishop of Londonderry, his Faire A\'arning,
&c." On the sitting of the Irish Parliament on the 8th of
May, 1601, the Bishops took their seats in the House of
Peei-s, and Bramble, as Baiilie uniformly calls him, was
chosen speaker, "though Mr. Davis of Derrie was ready
to challenge him of many adulteries and other odious
crimes ."
In 1628 John Lesley was made Bishop of the Isles, and
in 1033 was translated to Raphoe in Ireland. During the
usurpation, he was deprived of his see. After the Res-
toration, he obtained the Bishoprick of Clogher, which
he held until his death in 1671, when above one hundred
years of age. He was an admirable linguist ; and in Spain
it was said, " Solus Lesleius Latine loquitur." He was a
son of Lesley of Crichie, a branch of the Lesleys of Bal-
quhaiu.
The " learntxl " Bishop of Lincoln was John AVilliams,
some time Lord Keejjer, who, in 1641, was translated to
the Archbishoprick of York. He died in 1650, at the age
of 68. He was of Welsh extraction. Williams of Cogh-
* Baillie's Letters and Journals, vol. iii. p. 47U.
122 SCOTLAND'S ENCOURAGEMENT.
wellaune, his grandfather, was said to be descended from a
Prince of Wales in the days " of King Stephen, and so con-
tinued bis coat of three Saxons' heads."*
The Bishop was a staunch and consistent Protestant,
and on that account found favour in the eyes of the
Covenanters. In a church in the coiinty of Bedford an
altar of stone with four pillars had been erected where
previously there had been an altar, the remains of which
had been discovered whilst digging for a foundation. This
coming to the ears of WilUams, the Diocesan, he went to
the church, ordered the whole erection to be removed, saw
it done, and then " told the parson that if he pleased, he
might set the communion table there, but altars were
forbidden by the statute."!
"Williams was present when his patron James I., on his
deathbed, received the communion. He asked the King
whether he wovdd have the absolution, his Majesty ans-
wered, "As it is practised in the EngUsh Church, I ever
approved it ; but in the dark way of the Church of Eome,
I do defy it." " This I tell you, not by reports, for I had
the honour and comfort to receive it with him."J
The Bishop founded three libraries : one at Westminster,
a second at Lincoln, and a third at St John's College, in
Cambridge. He repaired the north side of Westminster
cathedral and Lincoln palace. He maintained a number of
scholars in his home at AVestminster and at the universities.
He built a square com-t of stone at Lincoln College in
Oxford, and did many other equally mimificent acts.
Upon the accession of Charles, he incurred the enmity of
Buckingham, and was removed from his office of Lord
* Ambrose Philip's Life of Williams, p. 3. London, 1700.
t Letter from E. Rossingham to Sir Thomas Puckering,
Bart., February 163G-7.
Z Letter of Sir Edward, afterwards Viscount Conway, Slst
March, 1625.
Scotland's ENCOURAGEMENT. 123
Keeper. As Dean of Westminster, it was his right to
assist at the coronation, but the favourite set him aside,
and put Laud, then Bishop of St DavM's, in his place.
This may have been the cause of the dislike of the
extruded Lord Keeper to tlic future Archbishop of
Canterbury. In a coteniporary letter, Januaiy 26tli,
1625-6, the cause of Buckingham's dislike was a " piece of
counsel " " the Bishop gave my Lord Duke at Salisbury,
namely, that being as then general both by sea and laud,
he shoidd either go in person, or stay tbe fleet at home, or
else give over his office of admiralty to some other."*
The influence of Buckingham over Charles was re-
markable, but may be accounted for as arising from
the intimacy that sprung up between them during the
Spanish trip. Charles was a man of a very affec-
tionate disposition ; and once having taken tliis dazzling
meteor to liis bosom, he yielded hunself implicitly to his
counsels.
Prynne got himself into a sad scrape by his " Histrioraastix,
or the Player's Scoui'ge," now much sought after by literary
antiquaries for the variety of learning it contains. The
pubhcation was prohibited, and the writer was brought
before the High Commission Court and Star Chamber.
In the table of contents, he notes, " AVomen actors, notorious
whores." He further states that St Paul prohibits women
to speak publicly in the Church. " Dares then," he con-
tinues, " any Christian women be so more than whorishly
impudent as to act, to speak publickly on a stage (per-
chance in man's apparel and cut hau-, here proved siufuU
and abominable) in the presence of suuthy men and women."
It happened that the Queen acted in a pastoral drama, f
written by the Hon. Walter Montague, and performed at
* Court and Times of Charles I., vol. i. p. 73. London,
1848, 8vo.
t The Shepherd's Paradise. 8vo, 1G29.
124 Scotland's encuukagement.
Somerset Hoiise the day before the publication of the
" Histriomastix." She was indignant at this attack, which
she considered was directed against herself. Jt is never-
theless probable, that Prynne, who was continually engaged
in antiquarian investigations, and who was perhaps one of
the most unceasing investigators of old parchments that
ever lived, may never have heard of the Queen's intention
to perform, or of her actual performance in the pastoral.
He lost his ears for his indiscretion, and was heavily fined.
Burton was a clergyman, and Bastwick a doctor of medi-
cine, who rose into notice from their never-ending attempts
to influence the people against the government of the
Church by Bishops. Their punishment was similar to that
of Prynne. Clarendon's remarks on the barbarity of the
sentences are both just and humane.*
For an account of the preaching of the Reverend Robert
Bkir, minister of St Andrews in London, the reader is
referred to his autobiography, for the first time published
entire for the Wodrow Society, under the editorial care of
the Reverend Dr M'Crie. Edin. 18i8, 8vo.
All things below in Earth's sublunar sphere
Are changing still, unconstant every where,
No state so stable lieer can be this day.
Which changes not, and quickly doth decay.
That high seraphick ordour, which of late
Bare church and kingdome down, overswayed the
state ;
And domineir'd over all, as Lord and King,
* See History of the Great Rebellion, vol. i. p. 167- Oxford,
1826, 8vo.
SCOTLAND'S ENCOURAGEMENT. 1 2.")
Pope-like who in their precincts once did reigne :
Now wonder strange, and greatest change of all,
Tliat tottering hierarchic begins to fall,
Like Haman curs'd before blest Mordecai,
Pointing out Sion's rysing, Rome's decay.
Scotland rejoice, those supports of proud Rome,
Ambitious Bishops, have received their doome.
And Cain like as vagabonds abroad
Tliey go, cast off by men, cut oti' from God ;
O golden years, halcyon dayes, when we
Did such a change in our meridian see.
Though bought with blood, Avith losse and hazards
many,
Search former times and the records of any.
There you shall finde no nation reap'd such gaine
As Scotland, by the fall of that curs'd traine,
Wlio wish'd our gratious King imbrue his hand
In guiltlesse blood of subjects in our land,
Whose hellish plots, and most malicious minde,
Point out their \^perous brood, and monstruous kinde :
Newcastle, Durhame, and mo English towns
May curse the time they sau these Bishop lo\vns.
Who caiis'd their blood at Newburn's fatal foords
Be spilt, and feel the dints of Scottish swords :
There England found the finger of the Lord,
Whiles popish foes bathed in their bloud lay smord :
noblest enterj^rise without example.
That Scottish lambs on Romish wolfs did trample ;
And such an handfull with outstreached hand
1 26 Scotland's encouragement.
Should enter in their powerful enemies land,
Commanding their commanders all to yeeld,
And forcing boldest champions flee the field,
Resolving there either to doe or die.
Or i^urchase Scotland's peace and libertie.
And in despight of Rome, and maugre Spaine,
In puritie to settle truth againe.
Like Scipio entering Carthage warlike coast,
To force proud Hannibal recall his hoast ;
And like Leonidas for to devote
Their lives and fortuns to Mar's hardest lot,
For to preserve their Greece from forraine foes
And Sparta save from her oft threatned woes :
Though Romists with their Prelat's pridefull traine.
And Atheists all do gnash their teeth in vaine.
And grieve our Scots conclusions, back'd are so,
Wishing into our armie questions mo :
I trust before our martiall troups return.
Our British and our Irish foes shall mume :
And by decree of England's parliament.
To Newgate with their Romish Lad be sent,
what a change, that Lad who late rewl'd all,
Now cashier'd goes, most like to catch a fall.
And Ireland's late Lieutenant, Strafford's Lord
With Haman, is in danger of a cord :
And he who traitours call'd the loyall Scots,
Arraign'd of treason is, and hainous blots.
1 hope Ballcanquall, and curs'd Corbet all,
With others who did vent such viperous gall,
Against our nation in their viperous spite.
Scotland's ENCOURAGEMENT, 127
Shall curse the time when first they learn'd to write.
The B. of Eosse, Downe, Derrie, and Kapho,
With persecuting miscreants many mo,
Who prison'd Christ's dear saints and dimned the
liglit,
Tlieir day comes when they shall be judg'd aright.
That Eagle-sighted English Parliament
Will search the hellish plots of their intent,
And bring those Romish wolfs to open stage.
Who pester'd have Christ's Church ^nth tyrant's rage.
Prinne, Burtoun, Bastwick, who have suffer'd long,
Shall finde rcdresse now for their losse and wrong,
And Lincoln's learned bishop, long bom down,
In spite of Lad shall wear a laurel crown.
Who would have lookt that Blair exiled t^vise,
To such preferment's top so soon sliould rise 1
And he who late no freedome had of speech,
At London's streets so boldly now should preach.
Great miracle, yet ere this year be gone,
Such like in Britain shall be many one.
Wlien England's parliament shall end,
And Scot's conclud as they intend ;
When Lad and Wentworth love our land.
And shall subscrive our blessed band ;
What now, my muse conceals in ryme,
I'll shew in plainer tearmcs tliat time :
Jock, Jack, and Irish Schane, shall tlien
Our Scottish armies worth commend ;
And to the Lord give praise and glory,
For the blest successe of this storie.
128 SCX)TLAND'S triumph over ROME.
SCOTLAND'S TKIUMPH OVER ROME.
This is a continuation of the preceding poem. The title
prefixed is
" Scotland's Triumph over Rome, the Second Part,
In which the Scarlet Whore is Stab'd to the Heart."
The individual who encountered Laud was the Reverend
Robert Baillie, whose valuable letters and journals reflect
so great and valuable a light upon the history of those
troubled times. He was a zealous suppoi-ter of his party,
but, upon the whole, more moderate in his opinions than
most of his Covenanting friends.
Hennirsoun means Alexander Henderson, the moderator
of the Glasgow Assembly of 1638. Rutherfoord, the
well-known Samuel, was originally minister of Anwortb,
and afterwards of St Andrews. His letters are strange
productions, — those, in particular, addressed to his lady
friends.
BaKour's opinion of Rutherford is not flattering. "AI-
tho' louse in his youth, (he) hes been from his first begin-
ning a sworn enemy to monarchy, as hes wrettings testifie ;
a hatter of aU men not of his opinion, and one quho, if
neuer so lightlie offendit, (was) unreconcilable ; woyd of
mercy and charity, altho' a teacher of both to others."*
Speaking of Blair, Rutherford, and Wood, he declares
that they resolved
First, " to displace and defame, quocunque modo, all
honest and learned men."
Secondly, to overturn monarchy or kingly government.
Thirdly, to displace all those in place that don't hold
their tenets, and to suffer none to be preferred who
are not " of ther auen stampe.'"
* Vol. iii. p. 413.
SCOTLAND'S TlUUMl'H OVER HOME. 1 'J'J
Fourthly, to luivo all places iu the university at tlieir dis-
position, that all, both masters and scholars, may de-
pend upon them, that " with the more cunning they
may |x>yson the fontaina of religion and policy."
George Dunbar was twice depose<l by the Jiishops. aud
was confined in Blackness Castle. He got preferment in
Ireland, but was there also turned about his business. This
was in 16:34. He then returned to Scotland, and in KISS
WJis admitted ministAir of Calder, where he dird. He liad
been originally minister of Ayr. When finally settled iu his
la^jt parish he was far advanced in years.
Sfotlanlr*B Crtump?) obrr Ixomr, t]^r Srcontr
IJartt in ixtijicl) Uje scarlet Wif)ovc is
^tah'tj to tf)c fjcart.
My former lines the alterations tolcl,
Of Church and State, "vvhicli tliere we maj- behold
These show iu northern parts of Britain's isle,
The changes great, and troubles all tliis while.
How bishops tyranniz'd into our bounds.
Advancing few or none but godlesse lowns.
Imprisoning, exiling greatest lights,
And l)i-inging in dark superstitions niglits.
But God who light can out of darkness brine:
By women weak,* this Babel down did ding :
And when our Chiftains strong were all on sleep,
These sillie geese God's capitall did keep,
* Janet Geddes, the Craigs, and other female supporters of
tlic ( 'ovenant.
130 SCOTLAND'S TRIUMPH OVER ROME.
And by their craiking wakened cliurch and land,
For Christ's cause, and our countrie for to stand.
Bayhe is bold now with his subtile pen,
At London, Lad to encounter, and defend
His scrolls 'gainst England's bishops and their minions.
And in High Justice Court plead his opinions.
Learn'd Hennirsoun, Glasgow's grave moderator,
A^Tio of late was call'd schismatic and a traitour,
Is preacher plac'd in Eden's famous citie,
And now at London doth attend our treatie.
Balcanqual wdth his manifesto now,
Dare not be manifest nor it avow.
And rayling Corbet, with Nicanor's book,
Doth blush in face of God or man to look.
Those had their hour and power in darknesse night,
Now dawns that day, which puts them all to flight.
And in our blest horizon shines so clear,
No owl nor bat dare any more appear.
Dickson and Rutherfoord, in Lord's bounds
Confined long, whose fame the north renowns,
Now at Saint Andrews, and at Glasgow, they.
As famous divines, are esteem'd this day.
Dumbar, the object long of Bishop's rage,
At Cawlder now findes rest in older age ;
Who keept their garments in declining times,
And drank not in the cup of common crimes ;
Thrise happie they, God did for them provide,
While stormes were past his presence did them hido,
But wandering temporizers in their need,
HCOTLAKD's TKIUMPII over ROME. 1 3 1
Forlorn by men, with God they come not speed ;
And in their troubled souls tost to and fro,
They finde an endlesse hel of ceaselesse wo.
"Who were deem'd loyall subjects to the King,
Now tainted are with many a treacherous thing ;
Who late call'd traitours, now have libertie,
Their prince's face in favour for to see ;
Where Loudoun lay, Ireland's Lieutenant lyes,
There Lad may be, whose top once reach' t the skyes.
God can advance the poor from the dunghill.
And make the proud in darknesse to sit still,
Who for the pleasure of an earthly Prince,
Offend the Lord, and wound their conscience.
In tlouds of woes when they shall plead for grace,
They naught but frowns finde from Assuerus' face.
Blest they M'ho ground their hopes on Jacob's God,
And not on man, earth's worm, Egyjjt's frail rod.
So long as lasts the Bishop's balefull brood,
In Church and Commonwealth can be no good ;
To sned* the branches, and forbear the root,
Is for to cherish that unhappy fruit,
^^^lose tennons small, if they be left in ground.
Like ill weeds soon will waxe, and all confound ;
Their smallest finger hence will grieve us more
Nor all their weighty body did before ;
And, Pharoah-like, more burdein'd we shall be
* Snctl. — Remove or prune. "It is good that God snedde
the nufiuitful, and rotten branches of nur life." — Z. Boyd's
L:ist l>:".ttcl of tin Soul, p. 218.
T 32 SCOTLAND'S TRIUMPH OVER ROME.
For preassing from their bondage to be free.
BraA^e Scots, go on, shrink not for any fo,
God who began will cro^-n this Avork also.
And shall those Anaks, and curst Babel's crew,
With dint of his two-edged sword subdue.
You gallant English sprits, lay this to heart,
And with the Lord against his foes take part ;
Remember how you were borne dowai so long,
And suffred Christ's blest gospel get such wrong ;
Join hearts and hands with Leslie's thundring band,
To chace those Romish locusts from your land.
The blinded Lish cry, with weeping eye,
For tymous help, least they in darknesse die.
Our Scots and English bretliren there Avho live,
Opprest l>y Romish rights, much sigh and grieve ;
God's barn-doors open'd noAv, make no delay,
Embrace Christ's calling in this gracious day :
So you to Christian Kings shall break the ground.
To loath the scarlet whoor, and her confound.
! if my muse had power your mindes to move,
Such Cavaliers for Christ's cause now to prove,
Then joyful I blest you above all nations,
Who instruments were of such reformations ;
Lord blesse your sagest English Parliament
With a blest successe, and so glade event,
That Ro.mish foes may mourne, true Christians sing,
And these dominions three still blesse our King.
Lord make our wise and valiant Generall,
Our Nobles, Cavalliers, and Souldiers all.
SCOTLAND S TRir:\IPlI OVEK RriME
i:?:}
For to retuni willi glad iil-w.s to our soyl,
With Sion's triumpli and lioiiie's eiidlesse foyl,
That hence all ages who their storie read,
May blesse the time when first they marcht ou'r
Tweed.
Before tlie fourtie-one year g<i,
In Britaine changes shall he mo, —
A worlil of wonders then shall be,
Which none can guess ere they them sec ;
Whitli to prove ha]>py, let us pray
With Mosos on the Mount alwav.
134 A ENGLISH CHALLENGE
A ENGLISH CHALLENGE AND REPLY
FROM SCOTLAND.
FROM THE MS. OF SIR JAMES BALFOnR.
Question.
Oh ! how now, Mars, what is thy humour 1
That thou on us begins to frowne,
Wliat is the meaning of this rumor.
Of warres that flieth up and downe ?
Or to what end, does thou intend,
'Twixt friend and friend to make debate.
And cause the one the other hate !
Ansiver.
You English Poetes, hearken, I pray,
I tell why Mars doth on you frowne.
Because like men you'll not assay
To pull the Romish myter downe.
Since ye want hearts, to acts your parts,
Mars called hath the valiant Scots,
To make the Bishops quite their coats.
Question.
Hath Vulcane any wise displeased thee ?
Or Cupid, that unhappy lad ?
That Venus' smyles cannot appease thee,
Or is it Bachus makes thee mad 1
What planet darre move Jove to warre ?
Durst ever Luna Sol withstand ?
Or Juno Jupiter command ?
AM) RLPLY FROM SCOTLAND. 135
Answer.
We are not planets, but fixed starres,
We prove not wandering from the riglit,
Our liglit with darknesse is not mix't
As yours, that sliincs hut in tlic night.
Of Yulcane'd ire, or Cupid's fire,
Or Venus' toyes, no compt we make,
From Bacluis we no courage take.
Question.
Til en haughty Scot, what does thou mean
Presumptuously thus to attempt 1
You'll better let these warres alone.
Then thus from us thy selfe exempt :
Thou does not well, for to rebell,
And stand against so good a king,
Whose fame throughout the world does reigne.
Answer.
May we not justly for our nation,
Prevein all dangers may ensue,
Should we not make a separation,
A\nien God commands, from Babel's crew ?
Tlien with our Kini; 'gainst Rome's oft'-
And all their trash we'll stoutly fight, [spring
And to the death maintaine our rikdit.
•C3'
Qnesiion.
We that together in one nation.
So long have been Great Britaine called
13G A ENGLISH CHALLENGE
Why does tliou seek a separation 1
Ai't thou from us securely walled ?
Oh ! do not so, lest that thy woe
And sf)rrows more and more do breid,
If once we passe the river Tweid.
Answer.
We love all English loyall subjects,
From them we'll not exempted be,
But of all Bishops' popish projects,
We stand no fear to make us free ;
Tho' Wales we lack, to hold you bake,
I wash our joyes may still abide,
Untill you passe the river Tweid.
Question.
What, does thou think the English powers
So weak, that thou canst make us flee :
Wlio will not sufier any Gowries
For to performe conspiracie 1
Art thou so strong, to profer wrong.
Seditiously to worke such plots.
And thus become rebellious Scots 1
Answer.
In vain ye l)oast your English powers.
As if your Gihoes and great horses.
Your walled townes and fenced towres,
Were able to resist our forces ;
While as you blot, the valiant Scot,
AMI RITLY FROM SCOTLAND. IM
With treacherous doings without reason,
You may think on the powder-treason.
QMCstion.
Ther's not a coward so faint-lieartod,
I tliinlc, which will not dar to fight,
But into valour will be converted,
And staufl up for his Coiintreyes right.
When Cannons rattle, into Battel!,
And Bullets thick amongst us flee,
8t. George for England still we cry.
Ansiver.
I'm sure when any Popish faisart.
For Prelats' quarrels dar to fight,
There is not a Scots-man, but he'll haizart
For to defend his Countreyes right ;
Wlien canons rumble, and bullets tumble,
And English men before us flee.
The Covenant for Scots we cry.
Question.
The Welch-men in his Prince's honour,
Hath vowed ho \vi\\ not be to seek.
But will display St. David's banner,
And unto him present a leike.
Both men and boy, that springs from Troy,
Doth swear, if once they set upon it.
They'll make the Scots-man waile his bonnet.
138 A ENGLISH CHALLENGE
Answer.
The Welcli-man voavs he no way feareth
To make the Scots-man wail his bonnet,
But he performs not what he sweareth,
At Newburn so was seen upon it,
Wlien trumpets blew, and bullets flew,
The Welch-men's courage was to seek :
Wliere was St. David, with his leike 1
Question.
The French, the Irish, and Italian,
Also the Danes and Spaniard too,
The Persian, Pagan, and each alien,
Doth seek rebellion to subdue.
Then seek thy peace, let rumours cease,
And not attemjst to doe such thing,
Or move to wrath so good a king.
Answer.
The Irish, French, and Danes assist you,
And Rome with all her bastard blood ;
Through God we are able to resist you,
Because our quan*el is just and good ;
We wish our king, ay still may reigne,
"While Scots prove false and Papists true,
And Antichrist Christ's truth subdue.
Question.
Least bogie Scot we cry have at thee.
The mark's so fair we cannot misf*e.
AND REPLY FROM SCOTLAND. 139
Yet, never since tliy dady gat thee,
'I'hou could liave fairer play nor this ;
Which we will shew to thee;, our foe ;
Thou cannot hold us much to blame,
For thou thyself have wrought the same.
Answer.
Y"our crying will no wheit dismay us,
For the' ye shoote ye may well misse ;
Come when ye will, ye may assay us,
To fight we will not be ronii.sse.
Ye shall say laddies, got of Scots tladic^s,
Will make the Pope curse his mishaji,
And Prelats wail their corner'd cap.
Question.
And if the serjant chance to presse me,
I will be ready for the same, ■
And not seek any to release me.
But boldly fight for c(juntries fame.
Or if not so, then will I go
A voluntier among the rest.
If otherwise I be not prest.'
Answer.
Since brain-sick poets can but prattle,
I would advise you not to fight.
Lest if they pres.se you to the battell.
You turn a voluntier in Hiirht.
Since it is so, friend, do not goe
140 A ENGLISH CJIALLEXOE.
To fight, lest ye, when canons rumble,
With shame for fear, cry barlafumble.
Question.
Thus to conclude my resolution,
As willing for to fight as sing ;
I'll drink a health to his confusion.
That beareth armes against our King ;
Whom I do love, and still will proAc
A loyall subject to his Grace,
In England or in any place.
Aiiswer.
Then to conclude, that poet lyeth,
That sayes he will not sing but fight,
But poets figlitmg, always fleeth,
Except with pottles in the night.
For me I'll sing, God save our kirig,*
And drink a health to all true Scots,
That loves the truth, and hates false plots.t
* Can this refer to the existing national anthem, about the
origin of which there has been so much controversy.
t In the MS. of Balfour, the Challenge is printcil first,
and the answer afterwards ; but in the present collection, a
printed cotemporary broadside has been used for the text,
collated with the MS., in which the answer follows the
Challenge.
I'ASoUlL ON Sill ALKXANDKIl GIDSON. 14 1
COLVILLE'S PASQUIL ON SIK ALEXANDER
GIBSON.
Tlii«, in Balfcnir MS., i.s oalK'il ■' Mr Saimicl Colveilk-s
]^as(|uil on Sir Alexander Gibson younger of Durie, Clerk
Register, 1643."
Samuel Cohalle was a younger son of Jolni rolville, iU-
jure Lord Colvilleof (Julros, by Elizabeth Melville, daughter
of Sir James Melville of Ilallhill, a lady kno^vn as the
authoress of " Ane Godly Dream, compylit in Scottish
Metre," originally printed in .small 4to, black letter, by
Kobeit Charteris, Edinburgh, 1(JU3, and of which the kust
and best version will be found in Dr. Laing's '' Early
Metrical Tales," Edinburgh, 182G, small 8vo. His elder
brother, Alexander Colville, D.D., was Professor of Divinity
at Sedan, from whence he AViis preferred to be Principal of
St. Mary's College, St. Andrews. He was a man of great
learning, and well versed in Hebrew, of which he was Pro-
fessor. He wrote in Latin various theological dissertations,
which were published in 4to, at Edinbm-gh 1650. Charteris
in his Catalogue of Scotish 'Writers observes "he was a
sharp and learned man." He died in 1666.
His brother, Samuel, does not appeal" to have followed
any profession or calling. He is cliiefly known as author of
a "Mock Poem, or Whigs Supplication," liOndon 1681, 8vo.
The second edition has the title of " Whiggs Supplication,
in two parts, by S. C.," Edinburgh, 16S7, 8vo. There are
various ecUtions of a later date. It remained in MS. many
years before it was given to the world. Dr Irving remarks
it was composed by Colville in iinitation of Butler, " but he
displayes a slender portion of Butler's Avit and humour,''*
an ojuuion in which we do not entu-ely concur. Of his
* Historj' of Scotish Poetry, ]!. 48."}.
142 PASQUIL ON SIR ALEXANDER GIBSON.
history little cau be learned excepting what may be gathered
from the apology prefixed to his poem by one John Cockburn,
iu which it is said :
Samuel was sent to France,
To learn to sing and dance,
And play upon a fiddle,
Now he's a man of great esteem :
His mother got hiui in a dream,
At Culross on a girdle.
He wrote " The grand Impostor discovered ; or an Historical
Dispute of the Papacy and Popish religion," part i. Edhi-
bvu-gh, 1G73, 4to. He was a zealous Protestant. The
period of his demise has not been ascertained. The male
descendants of his father and mother must have failed, as
the peerage of Colville of Culross was allowed by the House
of Peers (27 th May 1723) to John Colville the male repre-
sentative of Alexander Colville, coram endator of Culros,
brother of the first Lord Colville, in virtue of the remainder
in the original patent to heirs male whatsoever bearing the
name and arms of Colville, and is now enjoyed by his male
descendant.
Sir Alexander Gibson, the individual satirized by ColviUe,
was a son of Lord Durie a senator of the College of Justice,
whose decisions, published in 1688, by his grandson Sir
Alexander Gibson, are well known to Scotish lawyers.
His Lordship died at his own house of Durie, 10th June
1641. The strange story of his being carried off by one of
the Armstrongs, so graphically given by Sir Walter Scott,
in his deliglitful Minstrelsy of the Scotish Border, has been
dramatized by Dr Richard Poole, now of Aberdeen, with
considerable skiU in a play called "WilUe Armstrong,"
which was performed with some success in Edinburgh
several years since.
PASQUIL ON SIR ALEXANDER GIliSON. 143
Lord Dune's son, by Margaret Craig, daughter of Sir
Thomas Craig, " having been lojig a Clerk of Session
was made Clerk Register when the king came last to Scot-
land, by the moyen of Williuui Murray, now Earl of Dysart;
to whom, it is said, he gave a velvet cassock lined with fine
furrings, and a thousand double pieces therein."* This
explains Colville's reference to " Vill Murray," and the con-
sideration given for his preferment. " He wa.-, very well
skilled to be a judge ; but within few years, having gone to
England to the engagement with the Marquis of Hamilton,
he was thrust from the place, and has lived since that tune
as a private man."t His successor in office was Johnston
of AVarriston, the grandson of the author of the Jus Feudale,
who tlius through his mother was related to his predecessor.
Lamont, in his Diaiy, mentions tliat both Durie and his
Lady were debarred "from the Tabel, because of their
malignauoie." This was in the year 1650. He was one
of the Commissioners chosen for Scotland to attend the
English Parliament in August 1G52. This shows that he had
then renounced his "mahgnaucie," and submitted to tlie
ruling powers. He went to London in January 1654, " to
be prcfeiTit," but " he was disappointal."^ Perhaps doubts
may have been entertained of the sincerity of his conversion.
His death occurred in June 1656.
Can the line,
" Bot -with Job's wife, curse Cod and die,"
have suggested the verses attributed so unjustly to
Zachary Boyd, who has had simdry abominations palmed
upon him, commencing
Job's wife said to Job,
Ciu^e God and die,
wliich question is answered by her husband in a manner
much too emphatic to admit of repetition?
* .Scot.starvct, p. 12.">. f Il>i.kni. + Sec An(r, p. ]]:i
144 PASQUIL OX SIR ALEXANDER GIBSON.
eoWiilU'Q ^asqutl on Sir ^If xanlrcr (3ih&on,
At first a Puritane Commander,
Now a forsuorne seditious bander,
Quhill tlier Avas houpes for brybes and budding,
You courted God for caikes and pudding,
To sliaw A^'ill jMurraj' your contritione,
You doe allow the crosse petitione :
Yet for his Rolles I dar be bound.
He made you pay ten thousand pound,*
drunken sottes, good cause spiller,
Thou lies sauld Christ, and given thy siller,
Thy evill contrived and desparat matters
Makes thee fische in drumley waters,
Or forseing some tragical closse,
Thou leaves Argyle to find Montrose,
Then with thy friend the Gray Goose feder,
Thou'lt mount its treu but upe the ledder,
Nor this no furder can thou flie.
Bot with Job's wylfe curse God and die.
Quhen thou shalt suffer all this evill,
Thou shalt be pitied of the divil.
Perhaps he will take you to him sell,
For to keepe his Rolles in hell,
To registrate into his paperes.
The acts of all religion ifchetters.
For thy good service quhen he sees,
Thou'll get his own place quhen he dies.
* Scots, it is prcsumeil.
ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGLSTIIATES. 11")
ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTRATES,
1G47.
The following title is given by Balfour : — " Pasquil
made at Election of the Magistrates Edinburgh 1G47. To
James Elector of Edinburghe. Jacobus Steuai-tuo, Anagram.
Urbis Tuae Castas.
"This pasquil made in October 1647, at the election of
the Magistrates of Edinburgh, quheu James Steuart, master
of the excise, braged boldly that he behove to remove
Archibakl Tode from being Provest of Eilinburghe, as he
put him in, and for that cause moved Mr Mungo Law to
preach an invective sermon against the Provest, railling on
him as a malignant, especially for giving his vote for spar-
ing of Hartehill's life."
In the Coltness Papers, one of the many interesting and
valuable works issued by the Maitland Club, there is a
long account of the Provost, who was by marriage allied to
the family of Hope ; his first wife, Anna, having been a
daughter of Henry Hope, a son of John Hope, by Jacqueline
de Tot, whom he marrial when in France, where he as a
trader had gone to purchase velvets, silk, gold and silver
laces. Henry had no sons, but his yoimger brother was
the founder of the flourishing famihes of Hope, a Ccidet
of which now inherits the Earldom of Ilopetoun. Both
the Provost and his Avifo were in trade. " He in the
merchant-factor and exchange business, and she following
a branch of her father's traffic in the retealing shop trade
which she prosecute thereafter to good account, and had
her distinct branch of business in accurate accoimt and
method."* '' She left at death to her husband and family
* Coltness Papers, p. 17. Glasgow 1842, 4to.
K
146 ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTRATES.
thirty-six thousand merks thus acquired by her industry
(hiring the sixteen or eighteen years the marriage subsisted.
She made few demands for family expenses, but answered
most of these from her profites in her own way."
This estimable lady had by her husband seven sons and
one daughter, all of whom she nursed herself — refusing the
aid of nurses — giving as her reason, " I have often seen
children take more a strain of their nurse than from either
parent." She died in 1646.
In the end of the same year Sir James, then Provost of
Edinburgh, who had succeeded Archibald Tod in that office,
took a second wife, Marion M'Culloch, widow of John Eliot,
advocate. She had one daughter Margaret, who married
in 1659 his eldest son Thomas, afterwards created a baronet.
On the 7th of August 1649, the day before the Scots
parliament rose, there was a serious dispute about reducing
the rate of interest to 6 per cent. Sir James Stewart, who
was a dealer in money, opposed this proposition with great
energy in name of all the burghs in the kingdom, where-
upon all the burgh commissioners, with Sir James at their
head, rose and left the assembly. The Earl of CassilUs then
proposed to vote the act, as they could do very well without
them, which was accordingly done. " Thus," says Balfour,
" two estates past this Act without the third."*
Sir James " had nothing of insolence or bloody cruelty
in his disposition. The Marquis Argyle pursued or prose-
cute the unfortunate Montrose with too keen resentment."
"What need," said Sir James, " of so much butchery and dis-
membering? Has not heading and publickly affixing the head
been thought sufficient for the most atrocious state crimes
hitherto? We are embroyled and have taken sydes, but
to insult too much over the mislead is unmanly. Yet
there was no remedy; Argyle pushed the vengeance of
Church and State against Montrose, but Sir James liis con-
* Annals, vol. iii., 483.
ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTPLVTES. 1 4 7
duct was upon the sydc of huraaiiity. Tlie sentence with
cruel inpredients nuist be execute by tlic magistrates of
Ediiibiu'gli, and Sir James was the first in oUice : but he
treated the prisoner with civilities, and when Montrose
desired a conference witli some leading men of the Church
to have their sentence of the greater excommunication
taken ofF, Sir James attended them with tlie prisoner, and
much blamed their using common civilities to a man of his
quality, for Montrose offeral the friendly salute, but these
saints would not so much as touch hi.s hand. ' Strange,' saiil
the Provost ; ' this is tre;itiiig a man worse than a heathen
or publican !' The luifortunate marquis sought absolution
with tears, and Sir James could not refrain his own upon
this melancholy occasion. The clergy were fanatically
bigotted."* This is a renuirkable picture, in wliich iVigyle
and his fanatical friends are j^ainted in vivid colours by one
who held the same religious and political opinions as they
professed themselves.
The restoration of Cliarles was followed by the imprison-
ment of many of the "stiff" Presbyterians, in which nmn-
ber Sir James was included. By the influence of Primrose,
wl\o was made Lord Clerk Register, and whose life he had
saved after the battle of Phihphaugh, he not only procvu-ed
his liberation, but obtained a fine of five hundred pounds
that had been imjMjsed upon him renutte<l. Priini*ose had
procured a gift of it in Loudon, and on his rctiurn to Edin-
burgh, visited his friend in prison and told him. Sir Jimies
said that though he had been harshly used, " it was some
favour he was put in a friend's hand." "And as such I pro-
cured it," said the Lord Register, "and before you, instantly
discharge the debt. I'm sorry I could do no more in re-
quital of what I can never repay." Subsequently he was
again troubled on account of his intromissions with pubhc
money, for which he had not finally accounted as collector,
* Coltness Papers, p. 30.
148 ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTRATES.
receiver-general, and commissary for the army. Assisted
by his son James, afterwards Lord Advocate, he was able
to make out and vouch his accounts. Nevertheless his
persecution continued, and he could only ultimately
obtain his liberation on the 14th January 1G70 from the
prison of Dundee, whither he had been transported, on
payment of a siun of £1000. He died on the 31st of
March 1681, in his own house at Edinburgh, in the 7.3d
year of his age. " The body of the burghers and inhabi-
tants of Edinburgh did him honour at his death and buriell,
and said he had been the father of the city and a most
worthy magistrate. So he had a numerous and honourable
funerall, and was laid in his own burying ground in Grey-
Friars churchyard, and in his loving wife Anna Hope's grave,
and many sincere tears were dropped upon his turf at his
buriall."*
Durmg the tyrannical reign and persecutions of James
the Seventh, the family of Sir James was subjected to
much annoyance. His eldest son, Thomas, fled to Utrecht,
and subsequently to Eotterdam. He and his son, and
brother. Sir James, afterwards Lord Advocate, were for-
faulted, and when the sentence was pronounced. Sir George
Mackenzie in open court exclaimed, " This family are not
Stewarts ; their father. Provost Stewart, was a bare
M'Gregor, and changed his name when he came to town,
because of the act of parliament, and these forfault Stewarts
were all damned M'Gregors."
This extraordinary declaration by a Lord Advocate in
open court, is hardly credible, yet the anecdote is duly re-
corded in the Coltness Collections. There is no impossi-
bility that the ancestor of Sir James may have been one of
the proscribed race of M'Gregor, but the assertion, so far
as we can ascertain, has as little foundation as the alleged
descent of the Stewarts of Allanton from Walter, "filius
* Coltuess Papers, p. 44.
ELECTION OF KDINBURGII MAGI.STR.VTES. 149
Alani," and the mythical hero of the battle of Morningside ! !
a genealogical proposition that gave rise to the Salt-foot
controTCi'sy, in which that learned legal antiquary, the late
John Riddell, Esq., demolished the pretensions of the very
worthy but exceedingly credulous Sir Henry Stewart of
Allanton, Bart.
The revolution restored the Coltness family to the posi-
tion of which they had been deprived. Through the inMu-
ence of the first Earl of Seafield, Thomas, the eldest son of
Sir James, was made a baronet in 1G98, and the noble Lord
in transmitting the patent accompanied it by the following
letter:—" "WTiitehall, 19th February 1698,— Sir, 1 have this
night sent doune your jiatcnt as Knight Borronat. When I
did present it to his Majestic, I did give him ane account
of your sufferings in the late times, and of your fidelity to
him. This is a mark of his favoure not only to you, but to
your famUy, and therfor it is the more valouable. I have
always hade your f riendshipe, and therfor at all occasions I
shall be readie to doe you all the service in the pouer of
Sir, your most.humble servant, Ja. Ogilvie."
Of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, or as it was -s^ilgarly
termed Gutters, now Moredun, we shall have occasion to
speak afterwards.
Provost Tod must not be forgotten. Notwithstanding
the success of his rival in ejecting him, he was enabled to
recover his old position of chief magistrate of Edinburgh in
March 1652, and he held the oflBce for more than two years.
Nicoll informs us,* when Monk came to the Scotish metro-
polis, upon the 4th day of May 1654, to proclaim Cromwell
as Lord Protector, he arrived in great pomp, attended by
foot and horse, with "sex Trumpettouris sounding before
him," and proceeded to the Cross in person, having upon
his right hand the Judge Advocate, who read the proclama-
tion, ''and Archibald Tod, Provost of Edinburgh, on the
* Page 124.
150 ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTRATES.
left." This was followed by a second proclamation " auent
the unioun of Scotland to the Commonwealth of England."
Upon this occassion the Provost and Baillies, in their
scarlet gowns, met Monk at the Nether-bow Port, "the
Town Council walkhig before them in regular order. After
the ceremony was completed, Monk was convoyed to a
smnptuous dinner and feast prepared by the Town of
Edinbiu-gh for him and his special crouneris.* This feast
was sex dayis in preparing, quherat the Baillies of Edin-
burgh did stand and serve the haHl time of that dinner."
What became of the Town Council on this momentous
occasion ? Were the members excluded from the banquet ?
In the evening there was a great preparation " for fyi'e-
warkis, quliilk wes actit at the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh,
betuix nyne and twelf houris in the nycht, to the admira-
tion of many pepiU."
The next day the act of grace was proclaimed in a similar
manner. The noblemen and gentry forfaulted were numer-
ous, and the fines heavy ; for instance, the turncoat David
Leslie, afterwards Lord Newark, was fined £4,000 sterhng,
— the heirs of the Earl of Buccleuch £16,000 ; the Earl of
Panmure, £10,000, — enormous sums for the time. Monk
returned to Dalkeith, and on the 10th of the month ordered
his troops to the North.
Maitland, in his enumeration of the Edinburgh chief
magistrates, makes Tod a knight ; but NicoU does not say
in liis diary that he was one. In fact the evidence is con-
clusive against such a supposition, for there is nothing of
the kind on his monument in the Greyfriars churchyard,
which records the fact of his having had four wives — three
less than the Rev. David WiUiamson had, whose uxorious-
ness was the subject of many lampoons by the Jacobites —
* Crouneris here means the Colonels or Commanders of the
different corps. It is used in this sense by Baillie. See
Jamicson.
ELECTION OF EDINBURGH SLVGISTRATES. 151
that he had only one daughter, Katharine, wife of David
AVilkie, Lord Dean of Gield — and that he died on the third
of February KJoG, in the 7l8t year of his age. Nothing is
said as to his having been knighted, so that we suspect
Alaitland, who knew that before the Union titles were given
to the civic rulers, took it for granted that Archiljald Tod
had obtained one. The following elegy to his uioiuory is
given in Monteith :* —
" Here worthy Provost Tod doth ly,
Who dy'd, and yet who did not die
His golden name, in Fiune's Fair Roll
Claimes the Liferent Tack of a soul.
Edinburgh in this Man alone,
Lost both a father and a sou ;
For twice three Lustres that he sat,
In Council for her public State.
For two years' Care of late, which more
Avail'd than fifty tmce before.
For the great Fains he then did take
T' avert the city, Kill, Bum, and Sack.
Sure he deserves a Tomb of jet.
Or one of purest porphjTitc.
And ev'ry House should bring a Stone,
To build him a Mausoleum.
But outward Pomp he still did flye,
And thus in single Dust would lye."
eifctiott of etrinbuvfll) fHaflistratrs.
Tell me, James Stewart, is this toune yours 1
Or boste ye from superiour pouers,
Or have ye aue Elector's woyce,
Or wold you all our wottes ingrosse,
• Theater of Mortality, Edin. 1704, p. 27.
152 ELECTION OF EDINBURGH MAGISTRATES.
And all our liberties inhance 1
Forsuith James, that's a pretty dance,
Ye make such dirdum and such din,
With putting out and putting in,
That had ye got it we'd been shamed.
Your good father, King James, ne'er claimed
The lyke ; nor his old Lyon's paw,
Threttin as ye and your new law.
Was't you sent fourth yon man of God,
To make sick hunting on the Tod,*
From hole to busse, from bank to brae.
Too liote a chaisse, nothing to slae !
Bot, quhen the Tod he could not kill.
He ran the backe trade on Hartehill ;
And e'er he left him quher he stood,
He drench't his beard all in his blood,
From suche a place to hear such storey,
Such Law,t such Gospell directorey.
Might make the Pope.a jubilie call,
And burne the Covenanters all.
Goe, James, with Moyses law adwysse,
Bring in the army, holde upe the excise.
And lett poor Scotland neir be free,
Till no Scots man malignant be ;
So may your ryme by forged feares.
Hoodwinke us yet a thousand yeires,
Till God's Work be completely wroght,
Bot meane tyme serve him not for noght ;
Thrive or thrive not to the third heire,
A roche coate's better nor a bears.
* Tod means a fox in Scotland. \ Mungo Law.
KNIOHTS OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 1 53
KNIGHTS OF THE ISLE OF WICxIIT.
After the sale of the king to the English RepuLlicans
by the Scotish Patriots, he was transferred to the Isle of
Wight, and the reader wnll find in Clarendon a full account
of the endeavours diu-ing the sojourn of his majesty there to
accommodate matters between him and his subjects, all
which, as might be anticipated, ended in nothing. HLs
death, there can be little doubt, had already been resolved
on, and the conuuunings at Newport were intended to blind
the public, hj creating a belief in the sincerity of the
dominant party that they were eudeavom-iiig seriously to put
an end to all disputes.
Though otherwise sufficiently minute, the historian of the
Rebellion is silent as to the wholesale creation of knights,
which took place previous to his Majesty's removal to London.
Yet the fact seems to be true, but perhaps not to the ex-
tent represented in the pasquil. Balfour mentions a com-
munication he had received through Mr Laurence Oliphant,
minister of Newbiu-gh, who was informed by Lieutenant
General Leslie, of a meeting held privately 13th July 1659,
the object of which was to bring in Charles IL on certain
conditions. This was opposed by three of the parties pre-
sent, one of whom was " Sir John Chiesly the new iMaster
of Requests, a base fellow, borne in Clidisdail, lait Gierke
to the Scots Commissioners in England, Knighted by King
Charles L, at the Isle of Wight." Now as his majesty
knighted the Clerk, it is most probable that he would also
confer a similar honour upon the Commissioners. May
tliis not have been the time when Warriston and Stewart
received their respective titles V
154 KNIGHTS OF THE ISLE OF ^yIGHT.
"Welcome Sir James,"' welcome Sir Jolm,t
Most worsliiijful ; welcome one by one ;
You are the first fruits of the spring ;
Ane frost slaine knight's a feckless thing.
Come ye from Jeruselem or the Rhodes,
Or come ye from the antijjodes 1
Have you cleared the way of Joppa,
That pilgrims hereafter may trotta 1
Since you came from the Isle of Wight,
The place bespeaks you men of might,
Yet on your face ther are no scars.
Nor badge of honours in the wars ;
Yet you may say you'll fight as fast.
As others that were knighted last ;
So if we raise ane army here.
Our knights must take them to the reare,
Or stay at home and keep the bairns,
And ladyes from all forraiue harms.
Fortie knights more than ane hunder,
Dub'd in one day ; what a wonder !
Thanks to our sacred soverraine Charles,
They now be knights were lately carles.
The Baronets have their red seale,
Bot these have neither stamp nor beale,
To know them one by one afarre.
We'll mark them with a lick of tarre,
* Stewart? tCheiesly?
KNIGHTS OT THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
155
That when they walk, or when they sleep,
They may l)e known for knighted sheepe,
Let skin and bone when they are gone,
Like Jason's fleece hing on the throne :
Ana pretty emblem to set forth,
That riches were preferred to worth.
King Ceres* sent no word which we forebeare,
To transport corns out of our coast this yeare,
Autumne was unseasonable, Ave had nought to spare,
Yes we may barter knights for forraine ware.
The Lion cape Schivalt avance,
The sword of Justice gives a glance,
strange and admirable ftirce,
Number of asses start up horse.
* Sic iu MS. + Cheval ?
15G THE PRESBYTERIAN'S CAT.
THE PRESBYTERIAN'S CAT.
Braitliwaite says in his Barnabee's Journal, —
To Banbury, came I, propliane one,
Where I saw a Puritane one,
Hanging of his cat on Monday,
For killing of a mouse on Sunday.
Some very curious notes on this passage wiU be found in
the Prolegomena to the last edition of Barnabee, vol. i. p.
78. Reference may also be made to Hog's Jacobite ReUcs,
vol. i. p. 37, where another version of the ballad occui-s.
There was a Presbyterian's Cat,
Was looking for lier prey,
And in the house she catched a mouse,
Upon the Sabbath day,
Tlie goodman sitting at his booke,
Rose up with meilde pain,
And in his hands the cat he tooke,
And bound her in a chain.
Thou curst mahgnant creature thou,
Thou blood shedder, quoth he,
Tliink'st thou to bring to Hell below,
My holy wife and me 1
THE PRESBYTERIAN'S CAT. 157
But bo tliou wecll assured,
That blood for blood shall pay,
Because thou took the mouse's life.
Upon the Sabbath day.
Then unto execution,
Poor badrons* she was drawn,
And on a tree, there hanged she.
The minister sung a psalme.
Acrostic on Ujc ©tent ilamc of ^vclacie*
Proud persecuting, popish Protestant,
Kofomier for Rome's canonized saint.
Envy's foul flood, religion's coal to quench,
A plague to thrones, usurper of the bench,
Little false foxes, spoylers of the vine,
A branch of Eome, planted by hell's engine,
Cleave to false Avorship, choose with nail and tooth,
Yelp for the world, be tonguelcss for the truth.
A common name in Scotland for a cat.
158 MINOR PASQUILS.
MINOR PASQUILS, 1G37-8.
^ 0axae at eaivtfQ^ 1G37-8.
From Balfour's MSS.
We are a game at cairds, the Counsell dail,
The Lawers shufFell and the Clergie cut ;
The Kmg vnns from the lousing commonweill,
The Courte keipes stakes, the Nobles let and put.
The game is in the stocke, the play proves jump.
The' guid the game. Prerogative is trumpe.
Zftt ^c\3D (Bame at dartres.
From Balfour's MSS.
The stakes 3 crounes, four Nations gamestars are,
Tiler's 3 to one, and yet ther's none that darre
Take thesse grate oddes, the causse is ther's they say.
The 4 knowes both our stock, and cardes wee play;
Thesse turn the oddes, which makes some gamesters
think
Wee ar in iest, wee play our cardes and winke.
The sett goes hard quhen gamesters think it best.
That 3 does buy, the 4 does sett the rest.
MINOR PASQUILR. 159
©tt ti)C 53101)01)0, 1038.*
Thesse men that reull'il God's house, and drew liis
rent,
Why gave they not accompt ] Faith all was spent ;
And destitute of Houpe discharge to make,
They with the vniust Steuart counseill take.
I hold as Hiith, Quhat England's church
allowes,
Quhat Eome's church saith My conscience disavowes.
Quher the king's head. The people have no schame,^
The folks mislead That holds the pope
supreme.
Quher the altar's drest Tlie service scairssedewine,*
The people's blest With table bread and wine.
He's bot an asse Qulio the communion flies,
That schunnes the messe He's catholick and wise.
* MS. formerly belonging to the late Robert Grahame, Esq. ,
of Lynedoch.
' " The church shall have no schame." — Graharae's MS.
* " There is seruico tlix'ine." — Grahame's MS
100 POLITICAL PASQUILS.
POLITICAL PASQUILS, 1642, 3.
'file most curious portion of these Satires, " wented" as
Balfour has it in 1G42 and 1643, is that which relates to
John Pym, who died of the strange disease, commonly
called "Morbus Pediculosus" — in 1644 — a year after the
date of the last Pasquil. Clarendon's character of the
man who brought Strafford to the scaffold receives some
countenance fi'om these effusions, Avhich, however rude
in comj^osition, may be received to a certain extent as
evidence of pojiular opinion, and it must not be over-
looked that Sir James Balfour, who has preserved them,
was himself gTeatly opposed to the power of the church,
and held on this subject an opinion not very different
from that of Pym.
There is another satirical eifusion amongst the MSS. of
Balfour, of so little interest that it was not worth while
printing. It is called, " PasquiU wented in June this Zeir by
the CaueUeirs, as they ar named, of the King's Army against
some quho adhered to the Parliament 1642, and opposed ther
order anent the Mihtia." The first verse may be taken as a
specimen.
There is bot one Pyme, and no more,
I wold he wer cut in two,
His sister is ane errant ,
His mother a ston'd horee did doe,
Stamford's ane Asse,
And Varwick Basse,
And Holland's a Bastard too.
In the next verse Hamilton is called a " false Scot," and
Lord Brooke an "arrant sot," the remaining stanzas are
pretty much the same as the specimen we have given above —
abusive and without a particle of humour.
POLITICAL PASQUILS. ]C,[
(1) IJasgitttI mcnm in llobrmbcr, 1042.
Change Places, Charles, put thou on Fym's grave goun,
Quhill in the lower house he weares thy crounne,
Let him, be king a quhyle, and be thou Pym,
Then weill adore thee, as we now doe him.
Hange wjt the Bischopes, that so strongly strive
To aduance their oune and thy prerogative,
And be content since most of them are Komans,
To have some Traitors in the House of Commons,
Let ws doe quhat wee list; and thou shall see,
We'll all be Kingis, als weill as P}Tn or thee.
(2) anc otf)tv at tf^e same ®gme.
We fasted first and prayed that wars might cease,
Quhen fastings would not doe, we prayed for peace
And glad we had it soe, and gave God thankes,
AMiich makes the Irishe play the Scottishe praukes,
Is there no God 1 Lett's put it to a wote.
Is there no churche ] Some fooles say so by rotte.
Is ther no King bot Pym, for to assent,
Quhat shall be done by Acte of Parliament?
No God, no Churche, no King, then all wer well.
So they could make ane Acte ther wer no Hell.
Is ther no God, lett it be put to vottc,
Is ther no man but Pym, as some men dotte.
L
162 POLITICAL PASQUILS.
Is ther no Churche 1 — be it so — wee ar content
So it be done by Acte of Parliament
Is ther no God, no King, no Church ? it's well
If they could find at last there is no hell.
If ther's a God quhay does the Comons fool 1
If ther's a King quhay doeth then Pym beare reulel
Is ther a Church 1 quhay are members sent,
And not made upe againe by Parliament.
Is ther a God, a King, a Church ? Its even "
Als just as to enacte there is a heaven.
Unless that God, the Church, King, Hell, Heaven,
all
Lyke Strafford by one Pym, must stand or fall.
POLITICAL PASQUILS, 1643.
The two Pasquils of 1643 are much superior to those of
the preceding year, especially the last one, in -which there
is a considerable deal of humour.
The first of the Royalists named, Sir Thomas Lundsford,
was nominated in 1641 Lieutenant of the Tower, on the
removal of Sir William Balfour, who had betrayed his trust.
Clarendon speaks ill of him.* The second was Sir WilUam
Vavasour, who commanded the King's Guards at the Battle
of EdgehiU, where he and Lundsford were taken prisoners.
The third, Ruthwen was Lord Ruthven of Ettrick, afterwards
Earl of Forth in Scotland and Earl of Brentford in England.
His Lordship was one of the very few consistent and honest
men of the period.
* Histoiy, vol. ii., p. 122.
POLITICAL PASQUILS. 103
Of Lord Say, Clarendon remarks that he was the man
who had the deepest hand in the original contrivance of all
the calamities which befell the kingdom, " though he had
not the least thought of dissolving the monarchy, and less
of levelling the ranks and distinctions of men ; for no man
valued himself more upon his title, or had more ambition
to make it greater and to raise his fortune, which was but
moderate for his title. He was of a proud, morose, and
sullen nature." The portraits of his Lordship give the
impression of an ill-tempered and envious man. The Vis-
county is extinct, but the Barony of Say and Pere still
exists.
Robert Rich, second Earl of Warwick, born in 1587, was a
great patron of the Puritans ; he concurred in the persecu-
tion of Laud and Strafford. He was Lord High Admiral,
and ultimately an adherent of Cromwell, on whose inaugur-
ation as Protector he took part, and who was, till the Earl's
death, his fast friend. In the Library of the Faculty
of Advocates, there is a MS. entitled a " True Relation of
my Lord of AVarwick's Passage." The date is July 16-^7,
and gives an interesting account of his Lordship's escape
from capture by the " Spanish iVrmatho." It is apparently
written by himself, and entitles him to a place in the list of
noble authors. In the ^Miscellany privately printed for the
Members of the Abbotsford Club, Edinburgh 1637, 4to, a
copy will be found.
There is a poi-trait of the Earl prefixed to tlie eulogistic
account of him in Ricraft's Survey of England's Cham-
pions, London 1647, 8vo.
Francis, fourth Earl of Bedford, was desirous, according
to Clarendon, to save the Life of Strafford, and had dealt
with Pym on the subject, but was prevented by his death
from carrying out what was intended.
164 POLITICAL PASQUILS.
(1) ^asqttil mtnurj in Jffbruars* 1643.
Justice is now made upe of might
With tuo lefte handcs, hot neuer a right.
Wysse men quho are sharpe-sighted, find
That justice sitts with tuo eyes blind,
AU former lawes fall headlonge doune,
And are themselves now lawles grown.
Thus now from Chaos elder came,
Bot now ther orders Chaos frame
Bot not by the head, bot breeche is it
By which the Kingdome now does sitt.
The Lyon's trode on by the mouse,
The lower is the heigher housse,
In all humility they crave
Ther Souerane wold become ther slave,
Beseaching him that he wold be
Betrayed to them most loyally.
For it wer weeknesse sure in him
Not to be Viceroy to Pjtu.
And if he wold a c^uhyle lay doune
His Scepter, Maiestie, and Croune,
Then he should be in tym to come
The greatest King in Christendome,
Charles at this tyme not hauing neid
Thankes them als much as if they did.
They then put out the Protestations,
Making Lawes and Declarations,
Of them, all can be said, is this
The quhoU is bot a parenthesis,
POLITICAL PASQUILS. 1G5
For quhay, it seems without all douljt
Wold be no losse, wer all left out.
Petitions are to them presented,
And once a mounthe, they think it fitting
To fiist from iSinne, that is from sitting,
Then Blessings through the land ar sent
By preuiledge of Parliament.
(2) gittP otijrr at tf)c same Z^ine*
God preserve the Parliament*
And grant it longe to Keign,
From three years wnto three years end,
And then from three againe.
That neither King, nor Bishope Lord,
So long's they are alive.
Have power to rebuke ther soules,
Or hurte the member's fyve.
For they be good and godly men
No ^vicked pathes they tread.
For they are pulling Bishops do\\Tie,
And setting upe lloundhead.
From Lundesford and Vavasor,
Both ill aftected men.
From Kuthwen eik deliver ws
Who eatts wpe thy children.
* The celebrated Long Parliament.
166 POLITICAL PASQUILS.
For Holy Burton, BastAvick, Prynne,
Lord keep them in thy Bossome,
Keepe him, quho did keepe out the King,
Worshipfull Sir Johne Hotham.t
Pull doune the King and Hartsford X both.
And keep them doun for ay.
But sett thy chosen Pym on high,
And eik my good Lord Say.
For Warwick we entreat the Lord,
Be thou his strong defence.
For Bedford, Hollis, Fairfax, Brooke,
And als his Excellence. §
Bless once againe thy Parliament
And let thame sit secure.
And may their consultations
From aye to aye indure.
Lett all the people say amen,
Then lett ws praisses sing.
To God and to the Parliament,
And all that halt the King.
t Governor of Hull, wlio refused Charles admittance to that
Town. He was subsequently executed by the Commonwealth
Men for corresponding with the Marques of Newcastle.
J Marquis of Hertford, created by Charles II. Duke of
Somerset and K.G. § Pym.
PASQUILS ON ANNAND. 107
PASQUILS OX DEAN ANNAN.
Spectatum admissum risii teneatia amici.
The Reverend William Annan, who died Dean of Edin-
burgh after the Restoration, was originally the Episcopal
minister of Ayr, who, foreseeing what was to follow from
the constitution of the GlasgoAV Assembly of 1038, very
prudently loft his native county for the south previous to the
deposition which he knew was to follow. His successor was
the Reverend Robert Blair, Avho in his autobiography observes
that he ran away before he was summoned, " his conscience,
the lord's deputy within his breast, accusing and censuring
him."
The charitable reason for his flight assigned by his
successor did not occiu' to Baillie, for he refers to the treat-
ment Annan received at Glasgow, as the cause of his leaving
Scotland. " At the outgoing of the Church, about thirty
or forty of our Jioiicstest women in one voyce before the
Bishojis and Magistrats, did fall in rayling cursing, scolding
with clamours on Mr William Annan. Some two of the
meanest were taken to the Tolbooth. All the day over, up
and down the streets where he went, he got threats of sundry
in words and looks, but after supper, when needlesslie he will
goe to visit the Bishope, he is no sooner on the caus<ay, at
nine o'clock, in a mirk night, with throe or four ministers with
him, bot some hundred of enraged tcomen of all qualities are
about him with neaves and staves, and peats, but no stones.
They beat him sore, his cloake, ruff, hatt, were rent : how-
ever upon his cries, and candles set out from many windows,
he escaped all bloody Avounds ; yet he was in great danger
even of killing. ^^*
It is not siu^rising that such an attack, and not the lords-
* Vol. i. p. 21.
168 PASQUILS ON DEAN ANNAND.
deputy, suggested to the outraged clergyman the propriety
of removing himself from a country in which his life was
exposed to the fury of spiritual women, from whose tender
mercies he had little to expect. One fact emerging from
this and similar outrages is, that so far from checking the
insane violence of these pious furies, their infuriated zeal,
or rather religious madness, was apparently quite to the
taste of their reverend teachers, who, it is much to be
feared, led these infatuated women on to use violence,
whilst they indulged in the safer course of damaging the
characters of theii* opponents in every possible way by a
veiy free use of their tongue.
Dean Annan, sometimes called Hannan, at other tunes
Annand, was the author of various theological works,
printed both at Edinbiu^gh and London, the names of which
wiU be found in the catalogue of Scottish wiiters by the
Eev. Lawrence Charteris,* who also states, " He dyed about
the year 1688." He must have been advanced in years,
as he had been minister at Ayr previous to 1638, when he
fled for his life.
Of the estimation in which the Dean was held by the
Episcopalians there can hardly be better proof than is
afforded by his having been authorised to preach the funeral
sermon upon the death of the venerable and much esteemed
Bishop Sydserk, 29th Sept. 1663, wliich he did to the
satisfaction of his congregation "before nune."t The
Bishop of Edinburgh officiating in the afternoon, and per-
forming a similar duty with equal abUity and eloquence.
* Edinburgh 1833, 8vo, p. 52. + Nicoll's Diary, p. 400.
PASQUILS OX DEAN ANNAND. 169
pasqiuils on J3can ^nmntj.
Saw je the comredie that was acted
When Baall's priest was consekrated
B(ishoii) for Cajiphas.
Five Lords accompanied the beast,
They sold their honour for a feast.
Easau's a statesman.
Pluto's wassail in the west,
Sanct Johnstones ryben sets him best.
Welcome th' Alcorane.
The foxe's servants most ye know 1
Beare up, yea kysse his taill, why no.
Breuk well.
In pulpit, black mouthed Doeg next,
Basely adulterats the text.
Ichabod preaching.
The litanie serVd well that day.
Taucht thes learned rabbies what to say
Grammercie Apocrypha.
Then swears Balaam to adore.
Dagone, who tuyse fell the arke before.
Beware the thred tyine.
170 PASQUILS ON DEAN ANNAND.
He lyke Camelione feeds his flocke,
Alyke with his mouth and his dock.
No, galygayet.
Wliat if they starve through want of milk,
Their fleece Avill make him walke in sylke.
Wolfe in sheep's skin.
But Eabbies now that reul the roast,
How came you by the Holy Ghost.
Vile Rascalles.
He's not for mony to be had,
And tho' he wer, ye'r not so mad
As Simon Magus.
If he was given you from above.
His forme is changed, your actions prove
Not doves, but serpents.
Then sure your crafts ^ not worth a groat.
Boast not to give what you have not,
Bold Charletouns.^
Lastly, that Antichristian limb
Balks David's psalmes, and sings a hymne.
Scripture's phanatick.
1 Corrected in the original to another word jjerfectly unin-
telligible. It may stand either for "arts "or " acts," or for
any word of four letters.
- Out base Traytors.
ANOTHER TASQUIL OF DEAN ANNAND. 171
Thus ends the Popish consecration,
lu a fat fea-t and strong collation.
A health to Pope Burnet.*
Ede, bibe, dormi, post mortem nulla voluptas.
ANOTHER PASQUIL ON DEAN ANNAN.
In the answer to Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, a work
ascribed, and it is believed correctly, to George Kedpath, a
writer of some notoriety at the commencement of the last
century and termination of the preceding one, the anecdote
will be found which served a.s a foundation for this satire.
Of its truth Kedpath is a witness, but as he was a man of
little or no principle, serious doubts may be entertained of
its authenticity, more particularly when the next story by
that questionable gentleman, and which has here only been
pai'tially given, is taken into consideration.
" Mr Hannah, commonly called the dancing horse, be-
cause of his ridiculous gestures in the pulpit, once in his
sermon descanted on the word devil, thus — take away D, it
is evil, take away E and it is vil, (vile), take away V and it
is il, take away I and it is nothing." This is very silly,
if true, but it would have been satisfactory to have learned
the nature of the sermon in wliich tliis trash is said to have
been introduced.
The next story assuredly deserves Uttle credence. Annan
preaching before " the great officers of state," on the text,
"and Solomon builded the temple," took occasion to ask
* Burnet, Archbishop of St. Andrews, Primate of Scotland.
He succeeded Archbishop Sharp.
172 ANOTHER PASQUIL ON DEAN ANNAND.
a mimber of indelicate questions as to the physical powers
of the monarch, and he illustrated the fact of his having
so many wives, by referring to " The King of Cliina," who
had as many new wives every year as Solomon had altogether.
He Vv^as equally curious in his inquiries as to the consequences
of the intimacy between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
It is preposterous to imagine that Annan, a man of the
most respectable character, and an able theological writer,
could have made so great a fool of himself as he is on the
authority of Master George Redpath said to have done."
Nicol, mentioning that in November and December 1663,
one Joanne Baptiste made his appearance in Edinburgh,
and erectit " aue staige " betwixt Niddry's and Blackfriar's
"Wynd, and sold there his drogs, powder, and medicaments
for the quhilk he receivet a great abtmdance of money —
proceeds to say that " Zuill was not so superstitiously haldin
as of befoir." The drum only went through the city for-
bidding the shop-keepers, — called then in Scotland mer-
chants, from opening "their buithes that day being ane
Monday, and there was onlie ane sermond that day taught
in the New Ivirk of Edinburgh, be Mr Williame Annan, an
of the ordinar ministeris. "
It's not at all to preach, to analyze the Devill,
Such anagrams to make in pulpit is an evill ;
What can it eclifie, sure it is doctrine vile,
To spell quhen he should preach, proves them an
awful ill.
Flashes of roving words, may seem indeed as some-
thing,
This something poore removed, the empty man is
nothing.
ANOTHER PAKQUIL ON DEAN ANNAND. 1 73
Evill is his text, by devdll he did enlarge,
His consequence is vile, for use ill comes on stage.
Auditours are deceaved, for they exiiectcd something,
But Devill, evill, vile, and ill, turn'd Hauan quite to
nothmg.
Ill brings a man, you may be sure, that follows it to
nothing ;
Vile makes an ill in all men's eyes, what seem'd before
as soniethiug.
Wlien vile and ill together are, their gone before is
evill.
And when these four for Gospel comes, sure there is
preach'd the Devill.
Our parents quhen in innocence, then first began the
Devill
To preach the Gospell, and the text he preach'd upon
was Evill ;
Tho' Hanau he did seem to be, yet prov'd his doctrme
vile.
And they in their experience found, that quhat he
preach'd was ill.
He play'd the words, he them deceav'd, seeming to
promise something,
At last they knew the Devill did preach, and some-
thing turn'd to nothing.
1 74 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
This violent tirade against the family of Dalrymple — many
passages in whicli are not very intelligible — has been printed
from a MS. of Kobert Milne, who has illustrated it with
various short but certainly pithy notes, explanatory of a
variety of passages in it. These will be found at the foot
of the page where the matters which he thought reqixired
explanation, occur. In perusing both the text and the
elucidations, the reader will keep in mind that the transcri-
ber and annotator was an ultra Jacobite, who was accus-
tomed to call Russel and Sydney, " two arrant knaves,"
and one who rejoiced in throwing as much dirt as he could
upon the supporters of the Revolution.
As a specimen of intolerant abuse, this pasquil can hardly
be surpassed. Milne's MS. was the property of Sir Walter
Scott, who originally suggested its publication, as contain-
ing many facts and allusions, although distorted and highly
coloured, concerning the distinguished man who raised the
comparatively obscure race of Dalrymple to eminence.
Many of the statements, relative to the early career of pro-
bably the most distinguished lawyer that Scotland ever
produced, are substantially correct ; and that popular
rumour attributed supernatural powers to his wife, of which
the tradition even yet lingers in the mind of the ignorant,
is undoubted.
Of the rise of the first Viscount of Stairs — for such was
his original title — a satisfactory statement will be found in
the Historical, account of the Senators of the College of
Justice,* to which the reader is referred.
We need Hardly say, that his lordship figures under the
name of Sir William Ashton in the exquisite tale of the Bride
of Lammermoor.
» Page 3G1.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY. 175
His wife enjoyed the reputation of a witch during her
lifetime, and long after her death. Tradition has preserved
a variety of opposite tales about the marriage of the Lucy
Ashtou of tlie romance. One was, that tlie young lady's
choice, which had been approved by her father and the
friends of the family, did not meet with the sanction of the
mother, who told her daughter, " Weel, ye may marry him,
but sair shall ye repent it." On the nuptial night the
bridegi-oom and bride were locked in their chamber by her
ladyship, who took away the key, to prevent such pleasantries
jia were not unusual on such occasions. Shrieks and groans
were heard to issue from the apai'tment. The key was
reluctantly given up by its keeper. Upon opening the
door, the young lady was discovered on the bed bathed in
blood, and the husband in a state of inijauity, sitting in the
chimney with his eyes glaring, and laughing in a hideous
manner.
Another tradition bears some sort of resemblance to the ordi-
nary story. The marriage was a forced one, and after the
pair had retired to the chamber where they were to sleep, the
young lady attacked her husband with a knife, and wounded
him very severely. "When the door was opened, the youth was
found on the floor weltering in his blood; the wife in a
stiite of madness exclaiming, " Take up your bonuie bride-
groom ! " She never regained her senses, and died mad ;
her husband recovered, but he would give no explanation
on the subject, holding any reference, however triviiU, to the
event, as an affront on his honour.
Law in his Memorials* mentions that Sir John Dalrymple,
afterwards first Earl of Stair, the Viscount's eldest son and
heir himself suffered a dreadful domestic calamity. Two of
his sons playing with pistols, which were loaded, one of them
shot his brother, who died immecUately. This shocking event
is alluded to in the poem. The same authority adds, " The
* Page 225.
1 76 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
PresicJent had a daughter before this time. Being married,
the night she was bride in, she was taken out from her
bridegroom and hvirled through the house, and afterwards
died." He adds, "Another daughter was supposed to be
possessed with an evil spirit."
The reputed author of all this mischief — many allu-
sions to whose witchcraft will be found in the pasquil —
brought the President a good estate. She had the repu-
tation of being on very intimate terms with his Satanic
majesty. '' She lived to a great age, and at her death
desired that she might not be put under ground, but that
lier coffin should stand upright on one end of it, promising
that while she remained in that situation the Dalrymples
should continue to flourish." " It is certain her coflin
stands upright in the aisle of the chiu"ch of Kii-klistown, the
burial-place belonging to the family."*
Xewliston was originally the property of the Templarsj
and after them the Hospitallers. It came to the first Earl
of Stair through his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and
heiress of Sir John Dundas. Of his courtship and marriage a
strange account is given in the satire.
The supposition that his unhappy sister was attached to
a Lord Eutherford is corroborated in these verses, which
assert that,
"He (the President) knew what she did to her master
plight,
If she her faith to Rutherfurd should slight."
It would thus appear that it was Lord Stair, not his lady,
that caused the daughter to break her j^ledges to her first
lover. The punishment inflicted on the second lover is thus
given : —
* Law's Memorials, foot-note 22G.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY, 177
" Nick did Baldoon's* posteriors right deride,
And as first substitute, did scase the bride ;
Whate'er he to his mistress did or said.
He drew the bridegroom from the nuptial bed
Into the chimny did so his rival niaull,
His bruised bones ne'er cured but by the fall."t
It would seem from this that the lady had, when plight-
ing her faith to Rutherford, declared if she broke her vows
she wished the evil one to take her, a wish which in due
time was accomplished.
It is uncertain whether the Lord Rutherford was the tliird
or fom-th baron. The second lord having died in 1668,
the succession opened to his next brother, who may have
been Miss Dalrj'mple's first love. The patent of creation of
the title is a remarkable instance of the power of the crown
to give a subject the right to make a peer. Andrew
Rutherfurd was created a Scotch baron by the title of
Rutherford, with a destination to the heirs male of his body ;
whom failing, to such person of the name of Rutherford as
he might nominate as his successor by any writing executed
even in articulo morth. The patentee was sent out as
governor of Tangeir, and elevated to the Earldom of Teviot,
with remainder to the heirs male of his body. He died in
1664 without male issue, leaving a will, executed in the
English form, appointing his successor, which was proved
in the prerogative court of Canterbury. The Earldom, from
his having no male issue, became extinct.
Under this English deed, which conveyed the honour,
the beneficiary, Sir Thomas Rutherford of HunthiU, took
the barony, and was admitted to a seat in the Scotch
Parliament. He died in 1668, and his brother inherited
the barony. \Miat his age may have been at the time has
* Dunbar of Baldoon.
+ He was subsequently killed by a fall from his horse.
M
178 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
not been ascertained ; if young, it is probable he was the man.
Lord Stair's eldest son, afterwards Earl of Stair, was born
in 16-iO, and passed advocate in 1672. Assuming Miss
Dalrymple was a few years his junior, she would have been
under age when the third Lord Rutherford succeeded his
brother. The first meeting of Sir William Ashton and the
Master of Eavenswood following after the death of the
second Baron, the dates might answer, and brother could
be substituted for father.
Lord Stair was knighted 14th February 1G61; made
a Lord of Session 4th November 1662 ; Vice-President of
the Court in the absence of the President ; a Baronet 2d
June 1664; President 28tli October 1689; and Viscount
Stairs, Lord Glenluce and Stranraer 21st April 1690. He
died 23d November 1695.
Two writers of very different politics, Burnet and Mac-
kenzie, Whig and Tory, do not agree in their estimate of the
character of Stair. The Whig is unfavourable, the Tory
the reverse. Burnet says he was "a false and cunning
man and a great pervei-ter of justice, in which he had a
particular dexterity of giving some plausible colour to the
grossest injustice." Mackenzie asserts he was of excellent
parts, of an equal wit and universal learning, but most con-
siderable from being so free from passions, that most men
thought this equahty of spirit a mere hypocrisy in him.
This meekness fitted him extremely to be a President."
" But that which I admired most in him was, that in ten
years' intimacy I never heard him speak unkindly of those
that had injured him."*
Stair's Institute of the Law of Scotland has, for nearly
two centuries, been considered as the highest authority
on every subject treated by his Lordship ; and, without
doubt, it will continue to be so regarded in all time coming.
On all legal points to which Stair has given his attention,
* Mackenzie's History of Scotland, p. 214.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAJIILY. 1 7 'J
not altered by statute, there can be no soinicler adviser than
the lawyer who h;is been so uumercifulJy hished in the
ensuing satire.
His Lordship was severely dealt with and censured for his
signing the declaration against the League and Covenant and
tlie previous doings of its adherents, but very unreasonably,
as he qualified his signature by saying, " he was content to
declare against whatever was opposite to his Majesty's just
right and prerogative." His apology was reprinted for the
members of the Baimatyne Club by William Blair, Esq.
of Avonton, and it is also inserted in the edition of Stair's
Institute, so admirably edited by the late George Brodie,
Esq., her Majesty's Historiographer.
Satgrf ott ti)f Jfamflic of Stairs.
Stair's neck, mynd, wyfe, sons, grandson, and the rest,
Are wry, fiilse, Avatcli, pets, parricid, possest.
Curst be the cause of Scotland's constant woe,
That liinders Justice in even pathes to goe.
That slipperie Stairs, whose unstraight steps and high,
Doe, lyke his neck, turn his whole course aAvrie ;
That trape for publick place, that Jacob's ladder.
From Knaverie's Zenith to Disgrace's Xadir ;
Wrong colour'd angell's on that Stair attend,
Where ill men mount alwayes, and good descend —
Sure, of a settled throne that Prince despairs.
Who mounts his throne by crook'd and slidderie Stairs.
James's throne, by making high Stairs came to fall ;
Thrones should have steps — no pair of Stairs at all.
But whate'er steps a prince doth mount, in short,
A pair of Stairs cannot a throne support.
180 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
Tho' non can all Stair's turns and steps descrie,
Let not his Proteous troph^ be past by ;
How Captane Staires, in syllogistick feild,
Made Dominie Ronald ^ to liis vallour yield.
At that fii'st triumph, Glasgow Colledge saw
The juggler turn his sword to ferula.
Jeingo ! the tawes, Presto 1 begon, a mace, —
First Nol's ^ just power gave him a Eegent's place,
In Justice Colledge, Roule ^ made him pass
For PrincipaU, the whole Session for his class.
There he taught law, " shaw me the man," clear text,
Tho' all his printed comments be perplext ;
Our laws were by prophetick sarcasms so
Epitomised by Balmirrino ;
He chang'd one word of that short text of law,
Told not the man makes him the law to shaAv.
He hes a turning rota yett unworne.
Can his alleadgance to the Tender turne 1
Turne the Remonstrance to the Tolleration,
The Covenant into the Declaration,*
(He swore, and, rare ! keept, thrie kingdoms quat
For France tuo months befor he would doe that,)
Our Christian friedom to fanatick fetters,
Hague articles to arbitrarie letters,
* Mr Thomas Ronald, schoolmaster, first at Lithgow, then
at Stirlmg, father of Duncan Ronald, W.S. His mother was
sister of Livingston of Greenyards. R. M. See Historical
Account of Senators of College of Justice, p. 360.
« Oliver Cromwell. ^ King Charles II.
* He went to France two months, to save his oath that he
had sworne, that he would rather goe to France than take the
Declaration. R. M.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY. 181
Our propertie to that we do not know,
And Judges gifts to Bene Placito.
He twelve myles off from Bench the Bar did rent,
And turn'd the Session to a Parliament,
(" The " Bench inftillible you must believe,
Tlier acts ultimately definitive)
The King's power to frie quarter, when he wants
A purged host to one of Highland saints.
Deacons and elders into feckom Brogs,
Our settled preachers into vagrant Rogues ;
For his strict conscience, Anth blood pudings lac'd,*
Can for his place fanatick blood digest.
Subjects Lawborrowes to Iving's saifty, and
The Act of West Kirk to the Highland band :
And when his arme wes broke by Lawderdale,
He his subscription turn'd into a seale,
His Lordship turn'd, (to please his Grace's cronies,)
Judgment to wormwood, Law to Ens Bationis
Chas'd by ill conscience from hagg to night rj'ding,
Old liegent run old Student o're to Leyden !
Tlier his hagg haunts him, where they had halfe starv'd
By -wise wyles welcom'd, and by witches serv'd ;
Till Dutch Armado lands, this cavalier,
A true-blue conqueror, valid front and reare.
He had no pension, place, then to dispense
Unto his lords and lairds to page him thence.
"H-e jure postlimmii did transub
Himself to ball, the Parliament to club,
\Miich will him holl when right teased at ane blow,
Or els " Sir Patrick will be the shinnie goe.
» He did eat no blood. R. M. « MuiT.iy. K. M.
182 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
He turn'd the Clame of Right to compliment^
Our greatest grievance to the President.
The Lords unto whateer's of valets still,
A monstrous brood of Mother Shipton's guile.
Got by her- Syre 'gainst his Creator's will.
As long's the Bench is ruled by such a Stair,
No straight, or man of worth will covet her ;
For Judge and President the law's all one,
The cryme condemning him, did him repone,
(^Mio dureing pleasure did possess the chair,
And he had clias'd him thence, that thrust him ther)
Restore him to lash rumples, not to rule
A nation with a rod that sway'd a school.
His Delphick style, ambiguous, plainlie tells
What spirit acts him in his oracles ;
Just lyke his kirk in his apollogie,
Both for, and yitt reform'd from Prelacie ;
That to the Court, this to the Westward flies.
Thus he both church and state design'd to please,
'Twixt his pets jjro and con, curse on that name,
A Judge's son that takes his brybes, but shame —
AMiose pleading and advyce not worth a groat,
Ten dollars earns, joyn'd with ther patron's vote ;
Old Eentoun ^ keept one single protoplast.
Stairs first improv'd the number to a cast :
With the tuo least who could not reid, but give
Their dad a paper, folks tuo merks did leave.
That brood of cheaj) Gehazies came no speed,
Plagues worse than leprosie cleive to his seed !
No Jordan can wash off, for some to please
' Home, Justice-Clerk. R. M.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY. 183
His wyfe, lie to her gods doth sacrifice.
Let non into her oratorie peep,
They'le, like to pouse, o'ere the window leape ;
So pouse ® in majestic, from cloath of state
St Geills saw thrown by Huffie duke of late.
Tlio' she was hurt, yet e're she quate the place,
She reconceileed her kittelline to his Grace ;
She caus'd through f}Te Kelloch * to MoUoch pass.
That she might shoAv her power on Kett Dundas.
A clan so fair of them the female sex
With concave itch to grib, ther rumps convex ;
On shoulder clap made her Mess James embrace.
And lick the dreepings of his scouther'd face.
Impale her crescent sable, which who tryes,
To blazon, the strange field his skill defyes ;
For this halfe moon ne're falls, but still remaines,
Tho' not of changes frie, yet frie of wanes ;
How at its change his visage terrifyes !
In hell, Quevedo saw such fisnamies —
In Gallowlie you may lyke visions meet.
In Magie ^° Rosse's flaming windie sheet.
WTiat train of curses that base brood persues,
Where the young nephew weds old uncle's spouse !
To please Beelzebub, poor Charlie dyes,
A rare meat-offering made of Spanish flyes.
A thrid the thriftie dame to Pluto sent,^
* This pouse wes a catt that came on Duke Hamilton's
cushion while at sermon into the High Church of Edinburgh,
and wcs supposed to be the Lady Stairs assuming that shape.
R. M.
" Sir James Dalrymple of Kelloch. R. M.
'• The President's witch lady. R. M.
1 84 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
But f}Te or drugs, lyke came in close criell pent,
Thir tuo were tane in arles of the rest,
The Divell left them he knew would serve him best.
In tuo things Tom apes Chrj^st, in nought besyde,
He hugs the bairns, and on ane asse doth ryde.
So destine di\^'des the cursed best's nest,
The gouke gets one, the divell all the rest.
Yet kings as gods they can of nought creat,
Can make knaves honest, transubstantiat
The Cerberous Leivetennant, Eegent, Lawyer,
To Viscount Stairs, Lord Glenluss, and Stranrawer.
Tho' thir tuo signories desen^e a largess.
That for known guest, and this for unknown burgess.
The Galloway Lordship's equall in renoun.
The Divell's Abey and Sir^*' Patrick's toun.
The mailing Stairs, (but for the goodman's prats*
Ne'er kno^vn,) the tytle of (the) Viscount gets
That he may now, what he fear'd once, avow
His futie name at the address Avas true,
And that at Endor he might keep his prayer,
In the old style — Thy faithfid servant Stair.
For the hard knight his father doth outvye.
Whom no man els can reach in \dllame.
He only ceds to him in pedantrie.
Latine and Greek to him are algebra,
His mother's tongue learn'd him his father's law ;
" Sir Patrick Murray wes tlie representative of Stranraer in
Parliament, put in ther by the Lady Stairs, to whom she
promised Old Nick's assistance if he voted her way in Par-
liament ; and accordingly, she ordered his ball, as on the
preceding leafe, -while at golfe. R. M. See p. 181.
* The word "prats" means tricks. See Jamicson, Vol. I.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FA^MILY. 185
Lyke prentice taught the trade by ear, but book,
In seaven years p(;t.sliip e'er lie wrote or spoke.
He understands the Digests and tlie Cods,
As weell as peace of conscience — ther's no odds.
Thes tuo Dah')Tn})les for knaverie fand more
Then Scahgers for learning heretofore.
Ther stinking name doth so befitt ther race,
Ther foullest actions cannot it disgrace ;
Nor can ther tytles Doctor Oats'* stain deface.
Tuyse President, tuyse Advocat, a couple
Unmatch'd, for Tarbate is not halfe so souple.
Old Nick himself s outacted by young Stair,
His friend lie envys for so brave ane heir.
"Which of the rivells did impregnat, guess,
Whom Nick or Stair the incuba did press ;
The chylde's presumed the husband's not the less.
For the witch gate doth droll dedt incubus,
Seing a friend in every court's of use.
Nick gratis doth ad\yse, and then accuse.
But doth not lykewyse the judge office use.
Young Stairs to get Mackenzie's place advys'd,
What he would not, and so the King entyc'd,
To cass the laws, and then complies ; which done.
Our Advocate to Justice-Clerk strick soon 1
Swears fealtie to the borrowed babe,:}: proclames
Argjde delj^^erer, traitour to King James.
By blank commission from the last burgh sent,
As soon's he saw the game 'gainst King James went.
Sate in the state, accus'd, judg'd, and unca'd
Dethrou'd the King for doing what he bad.
* Titu8 Dates. t Decl, father. : Old Pretender.
186 PASQTHL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
"With terced estu* by mumjanc'd chosen post,
Tlie sufferer's restor'd to what he lost
AVith respect to the clame of right, because
He best could grind the clame that cass'd the lawes.
Then he cants o'er prerogative high straines,
AVith horizontall face, and o'er turn'd braines.
The royall separate interest sets out
As clear as e'er he did power absolute.
That wes without reserve, you must obey,
This is, come serve the King in his own way.
The King and people's saifty he dissects,
As that, not this, were the suprema lex.
The Spinosit to his own interest true,
Swears if a Trinitie, they have theirs too.
^ Solicitor and Advocat aggrie
In ther religion, love, and chivalrie.
Non of the tuo the others doe outvie,
For incest, batoning, ^^ and blasphemie.
The ancient kyndly way of love both choos'd
Sir John his sister, Will " good sisters us'd.
Law gave him tuo, tho' nature gave him none;
Wliat could Sir William do more to peill* Sir John ]
Both's dubly dub'd with sword and cane, but this
(Tho' that their honour gave) their saif-guard is ;
For Edinburgh Cross, Venetian Coffee Hous,
Batons in chiefe are armes that make them crouss.
Both scoff the Trinitie, believe no Gods,
* Estu ? Mumjanc'd — qu. Mumchanc'd.
»2 Sir William Lockhart. R. M.
" One of the two was battened. R. M., see next page.
" Lockhart. R. M. * Peill— equal.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIK FAMILY. 187
That them confounds, and this sets them at odds ;
For all the health, friends will farr feircer bee
Then Craig of Mutton, or Mongiimerie.^^
To make this brace a cast, weill ratifie the Aptist,
To the King's Chaplane doctor Cunabaptist.^"
Tho Tholous martyre " cannot fort * the three,
His lyfe wes better, tho' their faiths aggrie. —
This Advocat would not pursue but when
Mongrennan's wntnes, wher's Bargany then 1
The great grandchild resiles, eir Markie's fate
(Lyke reall vyce) hang'd at a stinger gate —
May not the club of the addresses fear
To be trode doun lyke bairns in his careir ]
He fretted at God's 'Menc Tekells, swore
That his hand wrytting sould turn God's hous o're.
^^^aich merlte made him secretare of state.
But pens and pistolls both are ruled by fate.
Tho' Danbigh be his Dedalus, I fear
"Will melt his surplise plums, he soars so farr,
And leave his hated name a curse to all
That hear his crjones, his plagues, his ryse, and fall.
He hates like Juno, tho' like Jove he lov'd,
And a kyud Camus to his Billie prov'd.
Tho' now his love to women's less than gold,
For Avhich volcntcs populos he sold.
He thought love faultles, Avanting fraud or force,
Amnon loves, ravishes, and then abhores ;
Hear she wes willing, be dissembled not —
'* Brother to Skelmorlie, batoned Sir John Dalrymple at
London. E. M. >« Probably Carstairs,
»• Probably Urbain Grandier. * Sic. in MS., qu. Sort.
188 TASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
Ther father fand, uot lost, such near friends got.
So Adam fand — lyke Avhom Sir John did wedd
And choyc'd a guarden for his church and bed.
His Eve '* sought ther no covering for bare thighs,
As she doth noAV, to hyde her coach glass'd eyes.
Mes Davie Mortoun blest them in the dawing ;
Off them ther sprang ane Abell and a Cain ;
Would Cain his father as his brother use,
It something would the former fact excuse ;
Would he give his grandfather the thrid shott,
The parracide ^^ would turne a patriot —
Famous for what cause, Stanipfield and Dalrye -°
Are branded with eternall iufamie. —
In all Stair's offspring we no difference know,
They do the females, as the males, bestow —
So he of ane of his daughter's mariage gave the ward,
Lyke a true vassal, to Glenlusse's Laird ;
He knew what she did to her master plight.
If she her faith to Paitherfurd should slight ;
WTiich, lyke his own, for greid he brak outright.
Nick did Baldoon's posteriors right deride.
And as first substitute, did sease the bride,
What e're he to his mistres did or said,
He threw the bridegroom, from the nuptial bed,
Into the chimney did so his rivall maull,
His bruised bones ne're cured but by the fall.-^
" Dundas, Lady Stair. R. M.
'9 Stair sliot his eldest brother. R. M.
20 Stampiield, that murdered Sir James his own father was a
cussLae of Sir John's : and Dairy murdered Sir George Lock-
hart, president. E. M.
^1 Baldoon. He fell and broke his neck at the Quarrell
Holes, near Edinburgh, from his horse. R. M.
PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY. IS'J
The airie fiend, for Stairs hath land in Air,
Possess anotlier daughter ^^ for ther share,
^\^lo, ■\\ntliout wings, can with her rumple flye.
No midding-foull did ever mount so high ;
Can skip o'er mountains, and o'er steiples soare,
A way to petticoats ne're known before.
Her flight's not useles, though she nothing catch :
She's good for letters when they neid despatch.
When doors and Avindows shutt, cage her at home,
She'le play the shittlecock through all the roume,
This high flown lady never trades a stair,
To mount her vryse Lord's castles in the air — ^'
It's not Stair's bairnes alone Nick doth infest,
His children's children lykewise are possest.
Penelope,-* on Avhom Batavia gaz'd.
Saw vice deceniall to perfection rais'd,
Bove both her sex and age, for Messaline ^*
Herselfe had ne're such furie uterin.
And Lord Cathcart whither elfes did comand
Her unseen vehicle to the fairie land.
Or if he to infantum limhis sainted,
Elias, antipods, or place enchanted.
From his dam's knee so cliverUe he went.
That his translation's our astonishment.
AVhat may these hardned Pharoahs then expect,
AVho do so many and sore plagues neglect]
But that lyke reprobates they shall be lost
« Lord Crich ton's Lc-uly. R. M.
«' He wes a fool. K. M.
** Countess of Dumfriess. K. M.
" This Messaline wes a vitioxis Queen. R. M.
190 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAMILY.
In Ihe Eed Sea, and ne're reach Canaan's cost.
Or if their blood's by stranghng, Justice spares,
And on a ladder mount that pair of Staires,
They'll mount no higher — fye, for that rarie show —
To Stair or the Staires when they'r falling low !
This will set right the wrey neck ■with more luck,
Which Salton's bottle did f'^ but while it struck
That serpent face, which now 'gainst heaven doth
braull,
Shall prostrate, then look whither it's to fall —
Wee then shall sie what Douglass did fortell ;
Then and no sooner — Scotland shall be well.'^^
On ilorti Statn
False Stair, lament ! Look, look what thou hast done
Lament thy country ! lament thy own estate !
Look, look, by doeing, how thou art undone :
Lament thy fall ! Lament thy change of state !
Thy faith thou broke ; by thee our freedom's gone.
See, see, too soon, what thou laments too late.
thou that wert so many men, nay, all,
Abridg'd in dust, how hes thy desp'rate fall.
Destroyed thy seed, distroyed thyself with all.
R. M.
« Fletcher. R. M.
2' Amongst Mylne's MSS. occurs tlie following Eintaph
" on tlie Viscount of Stair's sister :"
Here lyea my honest old Auntie,
Whom Death has put in his pockmantie.
Three score ten years God did gift her :
Here she lyes, and see who will lift her !
PASQUIL ON TllE STAIR FAMILY. 191
Wivon Ujc long totsTjfb for antr tjjimflg Dratl)
of tf)e UiQ\)t ^?onouvai)le Zije ilatrg Stair*
Mr Charles Kiikpatrick Sharpe printed these satirical lines
in his edition of Law's Memorials. Since then -a MS. of
Lord Fountainhall containing many corrections and emen-
dations was fonnd, which has considerably improved the
text. The "Jamie AYyHe," mentioned in the concluding
part of the Elegy, was Sir James Stewart, the son of Provost
Stewart, and brother of Sir Thomas Stewart of Coltness,
and Lord Advocate for many years. He was generally
considered a Trimmer who wished to stand weU both with
the excited Stewarts and their Dutch successor.
"N"eus ! neu8 ! my muse, on Friday being said,
It is confirm'd, the Witch of Endor'.s dead,
And men wonder what kinde devil thus
Off such a monster hath bereaved us ;
Now Cerberus at the door of hell, cries out,
"With hideous noise, and many a grevious shout.
Open your doors, you devils, and prepare
A room that's warm for honest Lady Stair.
Shall now my muse be longer silent then,
"\Mien every poet occupyes his pen :
Come on, come on, be quick, its no abuse
To whip about the Devil of Glenluce.
Cry out for joy, of whatsoever station
Whoe's for the poor and welfare of the nation.
Let peace possess your minds, your will you've gotten,
;My Lady Stair is dead, and almost rotten :
Be glad and joyful at this luckie death,
192 PASQUIL ON THE STAIR FAJMILY.
Great Melvin with his faction, Leven and Eaith,
Wlio for your sakes at Court did so prevail
To make a Secretary Privie Seal.
Rejoice old clubbers, Rosse and Skelmorlie,
Dalrymple's faction now hath lost ane eye :
The moon shall shortly change, be glad and merrie,
The Lady Stair is over Charon's ferrie.
Johnstoun rejoice with your friend Ormistoun,
And you Sir William,^ with Duke Hamiltoun :
That the cat that crost the cushen in the church
Is dead, and left her kitelings in the lurch ;
A strange unluckie fate to power befell,
"Wliich sent her thus a cateing into hell.
Will Baillie then with Commissar Monroe
Rejoice, for Auntie hes got the fatal bloe :
She will perplex nor trouble you no more.
Hells turn-keey now hath shut the fatal door.
Goe to now Mrs Turnbull when you please,
And sit upon your own coat tail at ease ;
Goe sit on your coat tail, for weel I wott
The dog is dead that toar your petticoat.
Court Parasites put on your mourning weed.
Hells plagued Emissaries, for she's dead
Who was the greatest stoup in all the nation
To Jamie Wylies cursed generation.
Your flying days are done, put on your pumps.
That Stair shall shortly fall here is a token.
Your strongest pillar's lately fallen and broken ;
Though it so very long has stood a gie,
Yet surely many shall its ruin see
And shortly, great the fall thereof shall be.
• Hamilton.
THE EPITAPH.
193
. €f)t Gpitapf).
Here lyes our aunties Coffine, I am sure,
But wliere her body is I cannot tell,
Most men affirm tliey cannot Avell toU where,
Unless both soul and body be in hell.
Its just indeed if all be true that's said.
The Witch of Endor was a wicked sinner,
And if her coffine in the grave be laid.
Her bodie's roasted for the Devil's dinner.
N
194 CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1673.
CIVIC EOUNDELAY, r673.
The folio-wing roundelay " on Sir Francis Kinloch and
other Old Baillies, seeking the removal of Sir Andrew
Ramsay from the Provost's Chair, 1673," was transcribed
from a manuscript entitled Poems, &c., by Thomas David-
son, wool merchant, Bowhead. Whether it is his own
composition, or merely a copy of the work of another, is
uncertain.
The proceedings to which these verses bear reference are
fuEy detailed in FountainhaU's Historical Notes.* Sir
Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall, who had been Lord
Provost for many years preceding, Avas appointed a Lord
of Session through the interest of the Duke of Lauderdale.
As he had never been an advocate, his elevation to a seat
on the bench created siur[3rise and distrust, and the union
of the two offices of a chief magistrate and of a Lord of
Session was considered incompatible. The consequence
was a process before the Supreme Court, the object of which
was to declare that no person of a higher rank than a
merchant was competent to exercise the office of chief or
other magistrate, and that Sir Andrew Ramsay, having been
advanced to be a Senator of the College of Justice, and so
of a higher quality and rank "than a trafficing merchant,"
ought to be declared incapable to be a magistrate ia all
time coming.
There was a farther conclusion, that no Provost should
be allowed to remain in office for more than two years.
Sir George Mackenzie was the counsel for the Pursuer,
and his pleading is amusing enough, but one not calculated
to give a high estimate of his abihty as a sound lawyer.
He compared Sir Andrew for his tyranny and cmiuing to
* Vol. i. p. 33, Bannatyne Club, Edin. 1848.
CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73. 195
Oliver Cromwell, and declared he was nmch more fitted to
be '• a Saltan or the Cham of Tartary," than I'rovost of
Edinburgh. AVhat this had to do with the legal jioint of
his incompetency to be a magistrate because he was a JiOrd
of Session, is not apparent.
After this introductory flourish of trumpets, Sir George
proceeded to show that Kamsay had already occujjied the
position of chief magistrate for upwards of ten years, in the
course of which he contrived to burden the city with a debt
of between six and seven hundred thousand merks. He
asked, "who dui-st ask a compt of this at Sir Andrew,
during his government ?" If the accounts of the Provost
are to be looked into by the Judge, what the result woidd be
is tolerably clear. Sir George introduces Petronius Arbiter
— to support him in his arguments — together with Petavius
— HoyUns' Cosmography — and the Prophet Nehemiah ! rather
an odd combination of authorities.
Sir George Lockhart (afterwards Lord President), for the
Defence enumerated the great benefits Edinburgh had re-
ceived during the rule of Sir Andrew — how he had redeemed
the credit of the city — how he had contended with the
bench as to " the precedency and grandeur of the Provost
of Edinbiu"gh, and had got two hundred pounds English
money annexed to the Provostry, payable from Exchequer."
Various other instances were adduced of the benefit the
town had received at his hands. But in neither of the
pleadings of these rival orators did they fairly discuss the
legal point, contenting themselves with oratorical displays
in which there was more sound than substance.
Perhaps the most valuable fact stated in this pleading,
wliich FountainhaU says, was " acted to the admiration of
all hearers with so much lustre and advantage, that though
in other things he surjjassed all his rivals, yet in this he
excelled, outdid, and surpassed himself," is the catalogue of
instances in which " Senators of the College of Justice and
196 CAIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73.
Officers of State" had executed "the office of Provostrie
vithin this city both of old aud of late tymes." The evi-
dence on this head is conclusive to a certain extent-^but not
absolutely — for there was no precedent directly applicable,
as in the instances adduced, the individuals promoted to the
bench were all lawyers : whereas Ramsay had never been
anything else than a trader, or shop-keeper. He was a son
of the Rev. Andrew Ramsay, whose deposition by the cove-
nanters has been already mentioned, and who was the author
of those Latin poems from which Milton is said to have bor-
rowed some of his brightest passages.
The Pursuers lost their cause — but with this quabficatiou,
that in future, the office of Provost could only be held for
two years.
Although Ramsay was successful in getting the action
dismissed, he was not equally successful in retaining his two
offices. Placed on the bench upon the 23d November 1671 he
was compelled by threats of impeachment to resign his legal
as well as his civic honours in November 1673. He departed
this life 17th January 1688, at his house at Abbotshall, —
upon which occasion, NinianPaterson, the Episcopal minister
of Liberton, printed an "Elegy to the memory of the in-
comparable Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall — Provost of
Edinburgh, Counsellor to His Majesty, Lord of the Session,
&c.,"* a production which docs not say much for the poetical
talent of its reverend author. Fountaiuhall mentions,
"22d January 1688, being Saturday, I went to Fyffe to
AbbotshaU's burial, who died the 17th before, aud returned
the 24th, being Sunday night."
This "incomparable" gentleman was, according to Mal-
colm Ijaing,t a bankrupt trader, " created a Lord of Session,"
in return for seventeen thousand pounds extorted as gifts
* Scotish Elegiac Verses, 1629-1728, Svc, Edin. 1849,
p. 62.
t History, vol. iv. p. 74, Third Edition, 1819, 8vo.
CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73. 197
from the town. Sir Andrew's son and heir was ruined by
Law of Lauriston, whose skill as a g;inibler was as notorious
as his ability as a financier. AVitli the assistance of the
celebrated Colonel Chai-teris, Abbotshall, with a rental of
£1200 per annum, was brought to the hammer, and its
owner retired to Florence "Avith his last hundred pound,"*
where he died.
It was not until the year 1677 that Francis Kinloch ob-
tained the object of his ambition, and became Lord Provost.
He got the estate of Gilmerton f in a manner not particu-
larly reputable. It had belonged to John Hepburn of
Wauchtou — but had been burdened by him in 1652, and he
had granted a wadset, a redeemable right which enabled
the borrower to got his estate back, upon repayment of
15,000 pounds Scots, and the expenses of buiklings, pro-
vided tliey did not exiceed a thousand merks Scots. John
Cockburn, the creditor, wjus an advocate, and in further
security took a disposition of the lands ex facie absolute.
Hepburn and his ci'cditor did not get on well together,
and one Henry Kinloch, a cousin of Francis Kinloch, who
Avas a domestic servant of Hepburn's, suggested that his
relation should pay the mortgage, and get a right from
Cockburn — which was done in the shape of an absolute dis-
position, and a relative back bond or letter of reversion
explaining, or pretending to explain, the true nature of the
transaction. Kinloch entered on possession of Gilmerton,
and built a fine house upon it. Hepburn died, and Sir
Andrew Ramsay's son having married his daughter, pro-
ceedings were adopted to redeem the lands. The equity
was clear enough — but by a cjisting vote, it was detennined
that the reversion was not sufticieutly explicit to qualify the
absolute disposition. Fountaiuhall, who gives the detail,
• Memoirs, Life, and Character of the Great Mr Law and
his Brother at Paris, Loudon, 1721, 8vo., p. 14.
t In East Lotliian.
198 CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73.
shows, in tolerably distinct language, the venality of the
bench, and we cannot omit his concluding remark: " This
decision, for its strangeness, surjM-ised all that heard of it ;
for scarce ever any who once heard the case, doubted but it
would be found a clear wadset ; and it opened the mouths
of all, to ciy out upon it as a direct and downright subver-
sion of all our rights and properties."
These proceedings fully verify what Lauderdale told to
the astonishment of an English gentleman : — " in Scotland
the rule is" — quoth his gi'ace, "shew me the man and I'll
shew you the law." From a passage in the Pasquil on the
Stair family,* it appears that Lord Balmerinowas the original
author of this admirable epitome of Scotch law, as admini-
stered in Ids time and long afterwards.
Eanloch, one way or another, amassed a vast fortune.
From the Roundel it is evident that he originally followed
the calling of a tailor, but unlike the celebrated English
tailor Sir John Hawkwood, raised himseK to a high posi-
tion—not by his sword, but his shears.
It may be presumed that he is the same person who, upon
the 16th January 1662, was served heir of his father, Henry
Iviuloch, merchant and burgess of Edinbui'gh, in some land
in " Coldbrandspath," in the county of Berwick. That he
was of humble parentage is evident from his having a cousin
of the name of Henry, a domestic servant in the family of
Hepburn of "Wauchton.
The late C. K. Sharpe, Esq., had a MS. poem in his
possession, with the following pedigree of one "Jacob Kin-
loch " — also a tailor, and probably a relative of the Provost.
It is entitled "A gentleman's turn to Jacob Kinloch for call-
ing him a Dunse in the Coflfee-house, 1674." It commences
thus : —
How could your baseness, so rash sentence pass,
As for to term me loggerhead and ass,
* Se*e page 180.
CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73. 199
I being but a stranger, yon tlierefore
Had never seen nor spoke to me before :
I'd never heard of you — so in this case
Of your acquaintance had not the disgrace.
I wonderM much, who and what could you be.
Till one did thus extract your pedigree.
" His guidsyre was a sexton fairie elf,
Liv'd on the dead, and digged graves for pelf
He left unto his son, whicli several years
He did augment by needle, thimble, shears,
Till pride that devill him threw, and did distill
Through needle eye, and made him Dean of Gild.
His ribbands theu he turn'd to boot and spurs
Of uuingrell half, he's neither hound nor curs ;
His spouse a litter bore, whereof the shee,
Were apes of gentrie, free of modesty," &c., &c.
One of his daughters had the Christian name of Manna,
and another was called Elizabeth, who
" Strove with gownes and petticoat to trail."
Fountainhall has noted a case in which Miss Manna
Kiuloch nearly got her husband iuto a law suit from her
love of finery. She was the wife of one James Charteris,
a writer in Edinburgh, and was brought before the Privy
Council for breaking the sumptuary laws " in regulating
apparell." The proof against her failed — but it was debated
amongst the Judges whether when a married woman is
convicted of the breach of a penal statute, the husband is
liable for the fine, or if the wife c;in herseK be punished by
imprisonment, and her effects attached after conviction.
Another question was, whether proof by female witnesses
of the transgression of the act was competent. Fountainhall
was of opinion that the wives ought not to be permitted to
burden their husbands, else many would break the act pur-
posely to affront or injure them.
200 CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73.
As both the Kinlochs were tailors, it is not improbable
that they were connected in trade ; indeed, Jacob may
have been the brother of the Provost. Sir Walter Scott
mentioned an anecdote which goes far to verify this con-
jecture. A young gentleman of the name was attending
a meeting of freeholders to elect a representative for the
county of East Lothian, when he met an old gentleman
clad in ancient vestments. The younger man, struck with
the odd appearance of his fellow freeholder, proceeded
to compliment him on the elegance of his attire. "You
may well be proud of it, my young friend," said the voter,
"for it was cut and sewed by your grandfather." This
occurred long before the Reform Bill had altered the system
of parliamentary representation in Scotland.
Sir Francis from time to time acquired large landed
estates in Edinburgh, Haddington, Fife, and Perth. The
Nova Scotia Baronetcy was procured 16th September
1686. He married a lady of the name of Macmath — by
whom he had a son of the same christian name as himself,
who was served his heir 8th November 1699, and who
married a daughter of that Protean worthy, David LesUe,
Lord Newark.
©tbtc Eountr^lcgt 1673.
Gilmurtoune he swears he'll have the Provist outt, .
By the chalk and the sheers, Gilmurtoune he swears,
By the wrong that he fears and he wants a clout,
Gilmurtoune he swears he'll have the Pro\ist outt.
The Provist he declairs he's for the town's good,
For himself and his aires the Provist he declairs ;
This taiUe was told to Stairs, and be it understood.
The Provist he declairs, he's for the town's good.
CIVIC ROUNDELAY, 1G73. L'Ol
Myne honest old Baillies 'gainst tlie Provist rebelle,
To seek out his faillcys, myne lionest ohl Baillies,
They would cut him all in talyes and eat him them-
selves,
MjTie honest old Baillies 'gainst the Provist rebelle.
Come let us be friens as when we came hither,
It's strange Avhat it means, come let us be friens,
Wee'l downe to Baillie Dean's* and drink all thegither,
Come let us be friens as when we came hither.
My Lord got the Cause to drink we abhor it.
Wee hate breaken our lawes my Lord got the cause ;
But Avee'l kiss your backsides if wee pay not for it,
My Lord got the Cause, to drink we abhor it.
Now I see cleare your malice is great,
Fient ane of you I fear now I see clear,
I'll stay still this year before that I flit,
Now I see cleare, your malice is great.
* Baillie Deans, it appears, was a vintner — very likely
related to the Deans — who at the time possessed Woodhouse-
lee. This beautiful estate next century had been so much
burdened, that the last of the Deans was compelled to part
with it. It was diWded into two portions, and one half was
purchased by WilUam Tytler, Esq., the vindicator of Queen
Mary, whose son, an accomplished gentleman and excellent
lawyer, became a judge of the Court of Session, and whose
grandson, the late Patrick Fraser Tj-tler, -was the author of
the History of Scotland, a work of great research and deep
interest.
202 riTCURN'S ROUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT SIBBALD.
PITCAIRN'S ROUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT
SIBBALD, 1G8G.
" SiBBALD," says Bishop Burnet, " who was the most learned
antiquary in Scotland, had lived in a course of philosophical
virtue, but in gi-eat doubts as to revealed religion, was pre-
vailed on by the Earl of Perth to turn Papist ; but he soon
became ashamed of having done so, on so little enquiry.
He went to London for some months, retiring from all com-
pany, and went into a course of study by which he came to
see into the errors of Popery. He then returned to Scotland,
and published his recantation openly in church."
In the autobiography, * printed for the first time in the
" Analecta Scotica," Sibbald gives a singular account of
the circumstances that induced him to turn Roman Catholic.
He had been on terms of intimacy with the Earl of Perth,
whose family physician he appears to have been. This led
to many discu.ssions on doctrinal subjects, and the autobio-
grapher was induced by his patron to write two books in
vindication of the antiquity of Scotland and her Monarchs
against the Bishop of St Asaphs.
The peer frequently said, during these conversations with
his physician, that he was opposed to many of the doctrines
of the Church of Rome, so that Sibbald thought he "was
secure on that head," but alas, the worthy doctor was no
match for the Jesuitical lord — as one Sunday, the noble
Earl having taken physic, fell a weeping, and announced the
fact, that he was a Papist, — that no consideration of worldly
interest had been the inducing cause — but the conviction that
the Roman Catholic was "the true and ancient Church."
This declaration was somewhat startling, — but Sibbald
did not then succumb to his patient. In September 1685,
* Edin. 1834, 8vo, p. 102.
PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD. 203
the Earl took his intended convert to Drunimond Castle to
attend the Countess, who was dying, and who on her death-
bed had been brought over to her husband's own way of
thinking. "Good lady; she, I believe, did it out of the
love she had for him," says the simple man, — all that he
hoard her say " was what any Protestant believed, and used
in the agonies of death to say. So she died, and ceremonies
were used at her death."
When Sibbald first came to the castle the Earl gave him
the Life of " CJregory Lopez and Father Davila" to study, —
whose piety and austerity of life greatly moved the reader.
Having thus prepared the way by weakening the outworks,
the zealous Earl carried the citadel by storm. He had pre-
viously assured his victim that the Eomanists beUeved that
any good man of a different way of thinking from them,
and who had a sincere love to God, would be saved. " I
said I was well pleased to hear that."
Sibbald should have asked his informer how this charitable
belief could be reconciled with the Fires of Smithfield or
the Massacre of St Bartholomew. But no time was appar-
ently given for any questions, as "about eleven o'clock he
called me up to his studio, and there he read me a paper
that the Duchess of York (Anne Hyde) had wrote upon her
embracing that religion, and discoursed very pathetically
upon it. I knew not how it came about. I felt a great
^\■armnes8 of my affections while he was reading and dis-
coursing, and therefore, as I thought cestro quodam pietatis
jiiotu.i, I said I would embrace that religion."
Delighted with the success of his scheme, the Earl took
the convert in his arms, and thanked God for the victory.
These facts were not generally known, and when the con-
version of Lord Perth was bruited about, Sibbald got the
credit of having been the cause; indeed, so enraged v/ere
the Edinburgh people, that the poor doctor was very
nearly murdered in consetjuence of this mistaken notion.
204 PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD.
He was attacked in his own house by some three or four
hundred miscreants, but contrived to escape by the back
door and jump over his " yard dyke." The wretches broke
into the house and nearly killed his wife — who was only
saved by some one declaring she was a good Protestant.
They searched the bed, and then departed, declaring they
would " Rathillet"* him. The pubhc feeling was so strong
against Sibbald, that he fled to Berwick, and thereafter got
safely to London.
From what Sibbald learned in the south he began to think
he had been too precipitate in his change. He found out
that the Jesuits had everything to say at court, and that the
people were beginning to show every indication of resisting
the restoration of Poi^ery. He had contracted a very bad
cold by his forced flight from his own house, and by lying
exposed in the field the night of the attack. He was at-
tacked by rheumatism, then came erysipelas, accompanied by
want of sleep. He resolved to return by sea, which he accord-
ingly did, and in eight days arrived at Leith. " When I
was come home I wrote to the chancellor my resolution, and
declared it to some who visited me, and I went no more to
the Popish service, but removed to the county, and went to
church ; and in September following, I was received by the
Bishop of Edinburgh upon my acknowledgment of my rash-
ness, in his house, and took the sacrament according to the
way of the Church of England."
This narrative, written not for publication, but to explain
his conduct to his friends, is probably true in substance, —
but perhaps slightly coloured, to remove any impression
which they might have entertained, that the learned phy-
sician was a somewhat weak-minded pereon. That the Earl
purposely set himself to seduce Sibbald is obvious. It must
* Meaning assassinate. — Ilalkerston of Rathillet having
been a chief actor in the murder of Archbishop Sharp.
PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD. 205
have been a vast triumph to his lordship — to convert " tho
most learned antiquary in Scothind," as tho Bishop of Salis-
bury calls him — to Popery. Nothing couM have ploaseil
James the VII. more than such a splendid religious triumph.
Hence the attention of the monarch to Sibbald when
he was in London. After all, there must have been some
httle vanity on the .part of the antiquary, from being placed
in so familiar a position by the court favourite. How
gratifying to be instructed by one of the noble race of
Drummond — a peer of the realm — one who had the King's
ear, and who could harangue on the superior excellence
of the old rehgion to that of the new one. Then to bo
permitted to listen to tho reasons wliy Anne Hyde became a
Papist, as they were disclosed by his Patron. No wonder
Sir Robert was moved to tears by hearing this Royal docu-
ment read to him by a person so elevated in position.
One tiling tells favourably for Sibbald, and it is, that he
never derived pecuniary benefit or promotion from his con-
version, — and that he did not for any length of time remain
estranged from Protestantism.
The verses by Pitcairn are taken from an original MS.
in the Wodrow collection, and it will be kept in view as
showing how strong the impression against Sibbald had
been, — that his witty and intimate friend, Archibald Pit-
cairn, had no scruple to attack him in this Roundell. Subse-
quently, when the pervert had returned to his original faith,
the old friends became reconciled, and Sibbald wrote a
Latin Epitaph on his death, which has been printed in the
" Analecta Scotica."*
The exact date of the demise of Sir Robert Sibbald is
uncertain, but his library was sold by auction in February
1723, when the Faculty of Advocates purchased most of his
MSS., and several of the more valuable printed books. Th
• Vol. ii., p. lo8.
206 PITCAIRN's roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD.
price paid came to £342, 17s. sterling, a large sum in those
days. Some difficulty arose in making the purchase from
the objections of a few Members of Faculty, who did not
think the fimds should be used for any such a purpose. At
a later date, an opposition of this description was more
successful, for Avhen the valuable collection of MSS. and
printed books used by Principal Robertson in writing the
Life of Charles V. was offered to the Faculty for the small
sum of £100, a venerable advocate, named M'Cormick, who
went by the sobriquet of Nicodemus, rose to oppose the
purchase, and as his reasons were so admirable as to carry
a majority of the learned faculty with him, we cannot
refrain from giving them. " To buy such a collection. Dean
of Faculty, would be a waste of our funds, — it would just be
like a person who, having devoiu-ed a most dehcious pudding,
would immediately afterwards set too and devour the shells
of the eggs of which it had been made." Of the verity of
this anecdote there is no doubt, as it came from the first
Lord Meadowbank, who was Faculty-Treasurer at the time,
and who advocated the purchase.
Archibald Pitcairn, M.D., was born in Edinburgh upon
the 25tli of December 1652. He was representative of an
ancient family of Scotland, and the direct descendant of
Andrew, the posthumous son of Pitcairn of that Ilk, who,
with seven sons, was killed at the fatal fight of Flodden.
The infant son by this melancholy event became owner
of the lands of his forefathers, and had the honour of being
progenitor of one of the many distinguished men who
flourished in Scotland at the time of the Union.
Though an adherent of the Stuart family, Pitcairn had
no leaning to Popery, and as little Uking to Presbyterianism,
which he took every opportunity of turning into ridicule,
Avith considerable humour, as those persons who have read
liis amusing comedy called the Assembly, and his satirical
poem termed Babel, can hardly deny. That there is much
PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD. 207
coarseness in both these productions may be conceded ; but
this was the fault of the time, and both Butler and ( "olvillo
are liable to a similar charge.
As a I^atin poet his abilities are universally conceded, and
although his Epigrams, from their personal allusions — not
easily oxplainod at the present date — are occasionally diffi-
cult to understand, they sparkle with wit. His Kpitaph on
the Viscount of Dundee has always been justly admired, and
no higher compliment can be paid to it than to say, that
Dryden has made it familiar by his spirited translation, to
those who have not studied the "humanities" as they are
called in the north.
Lord Hailes, whose political views were very different
from those of Pitcairn, and who, perhaps without knowing
it, allows them occasionally to coloiu- his critical opinions — is
not inclined to allow the Latin compositions, as some enthu-
siasts said, to be the most elegant that had been given to the
world since the Augustan age, and considei-s them inferior
to Buchanan, Johnston, Vida, and Sannazarius, but he
concedes that they possess considerable merit, not so much
for their flowing and easy numbers, as " for their humour
and poignant satire." *
As a physician, the great excellence of Pitcairn has
uniformly been allowed. He was the first medical man of
his time, and at tlie present day his name stands almost as
high in the estimation of the profession as it did in his own.
The late Archibald Constable, before his failure, projected
publishing the literary remains of Pitcairn, and he had col-
lected together a great many of his f vigitive pieces — these he
bound up in a foho volimie, which is now in the Library of
the Faculty of Advocates. It has a very fine impression of
the fine print of Pitcairn prefixed.
* Sibbald's Edinburgh Magazine — a periodical of great
value for the mass of original matter in it, and much superior
to the Scots Magazine.
208 PITCAIRN'S ROUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT SIBBALD, '
The clergy of the Established Church of Scotland and
Pitcairn were, as might be exj^ccted, continually at war.
TTebster, a popular minister, Avho used to say very odd
things from the pulpit, accused Pitcairn of being a Deist —
a charge, as Lord Hailes allows, altogether unfounded.
This led to a lawsuit at the instance of the injured party
against the reverend injurer. The cause arose out of these
circumstances — at a book sale, a copy of Philostratus' Life
of ApoUonius Tyanjeus was put up, and after a keen com-
petition bought at a high price. Afterwards a copy of the
Bible was put uj), and there were no bidders. When some
person present observed that it was a matter of regret that
the Holy Scriptures could not find a purchaser, ' ' No wonder,"
quoth the Doctor, " that it stuck in their hands, for is it not
said, ' Vcrhum Dei manet in eternum.^ " Lord FouutainhaU
reports the case (18th July 1712), and says — " The Lords
considered this process was managed with much zeal, and
that Mr Webster was willing to give reasonable satisfaction ;
therefore they recommended to the Justice- Clerk, the Lord
Ordinary in the cause, to endeavour to settle the parties
amicably." This was a judicious way of getting rid of a
cause which the Court did not probably wish to decide
against Webster, as it must have done had Pitcairn insisted
for a decision. In this manner further scandal was avoided.
Webster preached in what is called the "Tolbooth Kirk
of Edinburgh." Milne, in his MSS., has the following
roundel upon liim —
There is a man whom God ne'er made,
A minister nor wabster.
Who has a cracked, distracted head ;
There is a man whom God ne'er made.
Lord case him with his cap of lead,
Or knock him like a labster.
Nota. — He was once distracted, and wore a cap of lead. —
A. R. M.
PITCAIRN'S ROUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 20'J
There is another roundel upon this popular preacher —
The magistrates he did rebuke,
And gave them all a chargie
The common prayer for to hook.
The magistrates he did rebuke,
And to burn David Crawford's book
And persecute the clergie.
The magistrates adopted his advice as to persecution — for
the Episcopal ministers were treated in the worst possible
manner, and, until the revcrsjil by the House of Lords,
after the Union, in the case of tlie Kev. ^Ir Greenshields,
they were exposed to every kind of ojipression. "Webster died
17th May 1720. He may have had some excuse for his bitter-
ness, as, before the Revolution, lie had endured much j^erse-
cution, but the rulei-s and judges of the land deserve great
censure for giving sanction to the intolerance of the
Presbyterian clergy.
Pitcairn's detestation of the Dutch was greatly increased
by his dishke to the Prince of Oi-ange, whom he had great
difficulty in recognizing as King of England. His Ej^igram
upon the Dutch is " poignant," to borrow the expression
of Lord Hailes —
Amphibious wretches sudden be your fall,
May man uudamn you ; and G D you all.
The concluding line of his Elegy on Lord Viscount Dun-
dee has a sting in it —
LHtime Scotorinu, atque ultime Grame vale.
The last Grahame was intended as a censure upon the
heir of the great Montrose for having gone over to the
Revolution party.
In one of the northern jounials there is an amusing
O
210 PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD,
anecdote -which is possibly true enough, but for its authen-
ticity the editor cannot pretend to vouch. Pitcairn sel-
dom troubled the inside of any church, but every Sabbath
morning his jug of claret was to be seen on its way from
the tavern to his house, just as the more staid poi'tion of the
population was going to morning service. The kirk elders
were greatly scandalized, and under the pretence of pre-
venting Sabbath desecration, used to seize the jug, and
confiscate the claret. Pitcairn, having doubts of the purity
of the motive for this seizure, one morning put into the
wine a dose of tartar emetic. It was as usual seized. The
doctor, who was an Episcopalian, to the astonishment of
the Presbyterians on that eventful day, took his place in
the Kirk. His eyes were directed to the seat of the elders.
Worship had not proceeded far when one of the Sabbata-
rians I'ushed out of the church, as pale as death —
another followed, and in a few minutes the elders' seat was
empty, to the bewilderment of all but the contriver of the
mischief.
Tea at this time was not in use for breakfast, but claret
wa.s the ordinary drink in the north before the Union
led to the use of the former. Tea gradually came in its
place, a beverage which now even the poorest of the land
cannot dispense with.
By his first wife, a daughter of Colonel Hay of Pitfour,
Pitcairn had two children, a son and daughter, who died
young. On the death of his first wife, he espoused a
daughter of Sir Archibald Stevenson, a distinguished physi-
cian, and by her had one son, who, joining in the insurrec-
tion of 1715, only escaped the scaffold through the interest
of Dr Mead with Walpole, subsequently the minister of the
two first Georges. The youth, for he was a mere boy,
went to the Continent, where he died. There were four
daughters, one of whom became Countess of Kelhe. The
doctor's widow died in the year 1754, at a very advanced
PITCAIRN'S ROUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 211
age, and was remembered by her friends and acquaintance
with the highest respect and esteem.
Pitcairn died upon the 23d of October 1713, " regretted
by science as its ornament, by his country as its boast, and
by humanity as its friend." He had collected a most valu-
able library of books on all subjects, wliich was after his
death purchased by Peter the Creat.* It is singular that
Lord Orford's collection of paintings, and Robertson's
Spanish collection, should, at a subsequent period, to the
disgrace of this country, be allowed to pass into the posses-
sion of the Muscovite.
The Comedy of the Assembly has been thrice i5rinte<i.
The two early cditioust having become of great rarity, the
late eccentric David Webster, a vendor of second-hand
books — a strange character — much patronized by Sir "Walter
Scott, reprinted the play. Even this edition is scarce.
The poem of Babel, after remaining for a century and a half
in MS., Avas printed, with illustrative note by G. R. Kinloch,
Esq., as the contribution to the Maitland Chib, 1830, 4to.
Many of his Latin epigrams and verses, by himself and his
cotemporaries, were printed last century, with poems upon
the Royal Company of Archers, but a great number of his
pieces in the shape of broadsides are still to be found in the
collections of the curious.
* Starke's Biographia Scotica, Edin. 1S05. — A valuable little
volume, now little known.
t The following is the title of the Editio Priuceps, "The
Assembly, a Comedy, by a Scots Gentleman.
'• Glomorantur in unum
Innumeriv pestes Erebi, quascunque sinistro
Nox gcnuit Foeta,
London. Printed in the year 1722, 12mo." The second
edition is said to be "done from the original manuscript,
AVTittcn in the year 1002," and ))ears to be "printed in the
year 1752,"' but neither place or printer's name is given.
•212 PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT 8IBBALD.
1G8G.
J.
There is lost, there is lost
On the Catholic coast,
A quack of the college's quorum,
Tho' his name be not shown,
Yet the man may he known,
By his ojms viginti amiorum.
B.
How can he be lost
On the Catholic coast.
Who lately but turned Catholic ;
Unless it be clear
You can make him appear
Both Catholic and diabolic 1
Since his name is not shown
How can he be knowTi
One of a leam'd college's quorum,
'Mong learn' d men to be,
What pretensions has he ?
His opus sj)eaks no such things for him.
A.
With each wind he hath steer'd,
And hath often so veered,
That at last he split on ambition.
While the Whigs were in vogue,
PITCAIRiSi'S KOUNDEL ON SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 213
He was tli* arrantest rogue
Of that damnable tribe of sedition.
B.
It may bo admired
What winds he hath steer'd,
But not that he split on ambition ;
It was still my opinion,
For him to be a minion,
To be statesman was too high a station.
Pray do not suspect
That by this I reflect
On the statesman's choice oS. his change :
I'll not meddle with that,
Tho' I well know what
May be thought to be fully as strange.
If he proved an arrant rogue
AMiile the "Wliigs were in vogue
For his being more rogue (there was reason) i
His projects are greater,
His pretensions are better.
And he'll not be condemned for treason.
A.
Day and night did ho work
For erecting a kirk,
And gathering gold to a preacher ;
But he turn'd as soon
' The comer of a page is torn away in the Manuscript.
214 PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIEBALD.
As the Whigs were undone,
And left the poor desolate teacher.
B.
By the kirk he erected,
By the gold he collected.
By all that fanatical rabble,
He ne'er conld expect
Such wealth and respect
As he doth from the whore of Babel.
A.
From the Whigs he did come
Not the straightway to Eome,
But under our prelates found shelter :
He took the great test,
Wliich he j^erjur'd at last.
For which he deserveth a halter.
B.
From the Whigs he did run
In a by-way to Eome,
But ne'er from our prelates found shelter.
They could not endure
To protect or secure
Such rogues as he from the halter.
For his taking the test.
Which he forswore at last,
A pardon he'll get from the Pope ;
PITCAIRN'S roundel on sir ROBERT SIBBALD. 2 15
But though he so do,
I confess it to be true,
He very well merits a rope.
'Tis not the way to appear
A true cavalier
To quit the protestant road ;
To the king, I avow
He can never be true,
That so oft hath played booby witli God.
21 G DISPUTES BETWEEN THE
DISPUTES BETWEEN THE COURT OF
SESSION AND BAE, 1675.
" The question was, whether a party aggrieved by a
sentence of the Lords of Session, might lawfully appeal
from them to the Parliament of Scotland, yea or not? Many
of the Advocates maintained the affirmative for a time.
This higlily offended the Lords, uj^on which these scrupulous
advocates were put from their places, and forbid to reside at
Edinbm-gh ; whereupon one tribe of them went to live in
Hatidington, with their Captain, Sir George Lockhart;
another tribe went to Lithgow, with Sir .John Cunninghame :
and distinguished their body into conformity, who joined
with the Lords; and nonconformists who resolved to suffer
for their tender conscience in defending the truth, though
in point of abstract law. But after they had suffered a
while, many of them satisfied the offended Lords with
acknowledgement of their en-or and serious repentance; and
all of them, after they had tasted the bitterness of loss
of gain for a session or two, concluded the warre with
accommodation and submission." — Kirkton, p. 347. The
Lords did not long enjoy their victory ; for a short time
afterwards, in spite of their exertions to the contrary, ParUa-
ment began to entertain appeals, not fi"om any desire that
the con-upt practices of the Judges should be checked, but
that the influential membere might participate in the good
things going, and be enabled to assist their dependants.
No country possessing any pretensions to civilization, ever
exliibited such disgraceful instances of judicial depravity as
Scotland did, whilst an independent kingdom. The Union
contributed mainly to the subsequent purity of the Bench
and the right of appeal to a controlling tribunal, where local
prejudices, private feelings, and family influence, could have
COURT OF SESSION AND liAIl. 217
little operation, effectually destroyed the old system of cor-
rujition.
"Farewell, fair Armida," was composed by Dryden on
the death of the Honourable Captain Dlgby, one of la belle
Stuart's lovers.* This ballad, unworthy of the author —
for it requires the strongest proof, to make Dryden's
poetical crime credible — is ridiculed in the Duke of Bucking-
ham's Kehearsid. It was very popukr, though the air to
which it was sung, which may be found in the musical
collections of the time, is every whit as dull as the song
itseK.
The names of the refractory Lawyers have been pre-
served in the Act of Sederunt, passed 25th January 1676,
re-admitting them to practice, in consequence of their con-
trition. The following list, therefore, may consequently be
relied on as correct: — "Sir George Lockhart, Sir John
Cunningham, Sir George M'lvenzie, Sir Kob^rt Sinclair, Sir
John Harper, Sir Colin Campbell, Mr Thomas Learmonth,
Mr David Dunmuir, Mr "Walter Pringle, Mr William Moui-
penny, Mr "William Hamilton, Mr James Brown, Mr Archi-
bald Hope, Mr John Lauder, Mr William Murray, Mr Colin
M'Kenzie, Mr Robert Bennet, ^h John BailUe, Mr George
Dickson, Mr Robert Deans, Mr WiiUam Clark,t Mr David
Dewar, Mr John Colvill, Mr William Dundas, Mr George
Gibson, Mr James Borthwick, Mr James Brisbane, Mr David
Cunningham, Mr Patrick Smyth, Mr James Grant, Mr Richard
* Some account of the circumstances which gave rise to the
song, will be foiuid in Scott's edition of Dryden, Vol. xi.,
page 161.
t This gentlemail was the author of "Marciano; or, the
Discovery." Edinburgh, 4to, 1613. It was acted with great
applause before the Earl, afterwards Duke of Rothes, his Ma-
jesty's High commissioner, and many of the Scotish nobility,
at the palace of Holyrood-house, ou St. John's night, by a
company of private gentlemen, of which the author waa one.
128 DISPUTES BETWEEN THE
Douglas, Mr James Falconer, Mr Roderick IM'Kenzie,
yomiger, Mr Alexander Campbell, Mr llobert Buchanan,
]\Ir Edward Wright, Mr Robert Stewart, Mr John Kincaid,
^Ir John Inglis, Mr John Eleis, and ]\lr Hugh Wallace."
The first set of verses on the President, from Sibbald's
MS., refers to his having been, before he came to the Bar,
a professor in Glasgow, and his teaching Greek and Latin.
The second set of verses will be found among the Foun-
tainhall MS., and is a parody on a song of the day which
begins thus :
As I go rambling all the night,
The Brewers jugs my brains do bite,
My head turns heavy and ray heels turn light.
And I like my humour well, boys.
And I like my humour well.
JStsputcs iirttdfftt t^e ©ourt of Session
antr Batt 1G75.
1. ^arotrg of ^^Saxe^ellt Saiv ^rmttra/*
Farewell, Craigie Wallace,* the cause of my grief,
In vain have I loved you, but found no relief,
Undone by your letters,t soe strickt and severe ;
You make but bad use of his Majesty's ear.
The scene of the play is in Florence. There is a copy of this
very rare drama in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
Clark did not confine himself to dramatic literature, as sub-
sequently he was author of a poetical paraphrase on the Book
of Job. Edinburgh, folio.
* Sir Thomas Wallace was appointed a Lord of Session
(upon the promotion of Stair to the Presidency), January 21,
1671 ; he took the title of Craigie.
t This was a letter dated 19th May 1674, which had l)een
COURT or SESSION AND BAH. 291
Now prompted by hatred, we know your intent
Is just to dissolve us like the Parliament ;
But we know, tho' we languish in two months delay,
"We shall all he restored on Martinmass day.
On hills and in vallies, mid paitricks and hares,
We'll sport, or we plead in continuall fears ;
The death Avounds ye gave us, our clients do know,
Who swear had they known it, it should not be soe.
If our wrongs some kind friend to our Prince should
convey.
And laugh at your soHtude when we're away —
The Barres in each house when ye empty shall see,
You'll say with a sigh, 'twas occasion'd by me.
2. ^nstofr.
Blame not Craigie Wallace, nor call him your grief,
It was Stairs, and not he, that deny'd you relief;
Abuse not his letter, nor call him severe,
Who never, God knows, had his Majesty's ear.
Its true ye may think we wer not content
When from us ye appealed to the Parliament,
But we grieve when we think that your gowns now
should pay
The expense of your folly on Martinmass day.
procured from Charles the II. expressing his dissatisfaction at
appeals to Parliament : it is printed at large in the Acts of
Sederunt, i^. 114.
220 DISPUTES BETWEEN THE
If to hills or to vallies ye chuse to repair,
It seems of our favour ye mean to despair ;
Of your joint resolution Ave daily do hear,
Yet grieve we to think that it cost you so dear.
But if malecontents to our Prince should convey,
And show we are useless when you are away —
We'll laugh at our fate, Avhich ye would not prevent.
And bid you appeal to the Parliament.
As when the generous wine's drawn off and gone,
The dregs in punchion a — e remain alone ;
And when the Lion's dead, base maggots breed
Upon his rump, and there do sweetly feed —
Even so, of Advocats you're but the Kump,
That noble Faculty's turn'd to a stump :
And so Dundonald does you much commend,
Because you are the Faculty's wrong end.
But since a Eumple President does sit.
That rumps at Bar should domineer was fit.
Yet, where the taill is thus in the head's place,
No doubt the body has a shitten face.
Thus, thus, some men reform our laws and gown,
As Taylors doe, by turning upsyde down.
COURT OF SESSION AND BAR. 221
4. tro Ujc pvtQirjtnU
Eemonstrant good I\Ias James,* how com'st to pass
Your once too tliick is now so thin a dass 1 —
Are your hids laureat, or have they plaid
The truant, since you them so tightly paid ? —
Ill-natured stinkard boys, who disobey
Your Regent thus ! — yet for excuse they say,
Your Tupto's and your Ergo's are so kittle,
Your Topicks and your Ethicks are so fickle,
Your Ferulas and Taws they are so sair,
The boys vow that they'll go to school na mair.
5. Vcvate on tf)c ^Urrsttrrnt.
The President with his head on one side.
He swears that for treason we all shall be trj-ed,
We tell him 'twas not so with Chancellor Hyde ;
And I like my humor weill, boyes,
And I like my humor weill.
The President bids us repent of our sin.
And SAvears we'll be forfault if we don't come in,
We answer him all, we care not a pin.
And I like my humor weill, boyes,
And I like my humor weill.
* President Stairs.
222 ROBERT cook's PETITION AGAINST THE PEATS.
ROBEET COOK'S PETITION AGAINST THE
PEATS.
The word " Peat " means " Pet," that is to say, a favoivred
individual attached to or hanging on a judge, through
whom suitors might inHuence his decision. In the North
Briton of the 17th September 1763, no very satisfactory
authority assuredly, considering its prejudices against Scot-
land, it was asserted that the Court of Session was very
similar to that of Paris, where the judges were got at by
suitors through this "Peat" or "Pat," a name which arose
from a Lord of Session "of the first character, knowledge,
and application to business," having a son at the Bar whose
name was Patrick. When a suitor came to the judge to
solicit, my Lord enquired, " Have you consulted Pat." If
the answer was the affirmative, the usual answer of his
JiOrdship was, " I'll enquire of Pat about it. I'll take care
of your cause. Go home and mind your business." In this
way the word Pat, came in use as indicating a person who
had influence with a judge, and who made a tolerable living
by taking douceurs from litigants. In one of the popular
rhymes about 1G90, the youngest son of the first Earl of
Melville, James Melville of Balgarvie, is called a Pate or
Peat, tolerable proof that then such an office was not con-
sidered disreputable.
In Scotland, Patrick is frequently called Peter, and Peter
Patrick, a circumstance not generally known in the south,
but which not many months since was explained in the House
of Lords during a discussion arising in one of the claims to
the Breadalbane Earldom. The Counsel alluding to a person
who had been mentioned, called him Captain Patrick
Campbell. The Chancellor said the Captain's name was net
Patrick, but Peter. His Lordship was assured they were
ROBERT cook's PETITION AGAINST THE PEATS. 223
convertible terms. " What, are St Patrick and St Pctor
the sanieV" "Ye.s,'' was the answer. Fortunately Lord
Colou&iy w;x.5 present and informed the Chancellor, •'• that
the learned counsel was right, as in Scotland Patrick wa.s
Peter, and Peter Patrick." His Lordship might have
added that his friend the late T^ord Kobci-tson who was
chrLjtened Patrick, w;us invariably called Peter.
If there be truth iu what the North Briton has stated as
to the origin of the word '' Peat," it derives some counten-
ance from the usage of Scotland, where the judge's son
Patrick would be uniformly called Peter, and this would
be shortened into Peat iu familiar parlance ; but we are very
sceptical as to the truth of the legend.
The word Peat is used by Shakspeare,
"A pretty Peat ! it is best put finger in the eye
An t>he knew why."
Johnson says the word is derived from Petit, French.
A little fondUiig, a darling, a dear plaything. It is now
commonly called " Pet." This we have no doubt is the true
meaning of a word used for indicating that the Judges in
Scotland had a "Pet," or favomite through whom they
might be approached.
In the Poor Client's Complaint, translated from Buchanan,
in 1707, by the Reverend Andrew Simpson, an Episcopal
Clergyman, in which amongst the hardshijDs imposed upon
suitors he enumerates, the taxes on his pocket which amount
to a " pretty sura."
" To maccrs, turnkeys, agents, Catchpoles, pates,
Servants, subservants, petty-foggers, cheats.
For morning drinks, four-houi-s, half -gills at noon,
To fit their stomach for the fork and spoon."
This shews that the word was at that date in common use.
Whatever may have been its origin, whether derived from
224 ROBERT cook's TETITION against the PKITS.
Pat the judge's son or from the French, it meant in Scot-
land, a i^erson who was in the habit of extracting what coukl
be got from the pockets of cHents, whether rich or poor, for
the purpose of perverting Justice.
Tlie person whose name is used in tlie Petition against the
"Peats" was in all likelihood the individual relative to
whom the following notice will be found in Fouutainhall.* —
" 2d June 1867. Mr Robert Cook and John Inglis, advocats,
formerly laid aside fc<r refusing the Test, doe now enter upon
its removcall without so much as a dispensation from the
King, or application by a bill to the Lords ; for the President
said to them, they needed none."
Uohtxt ©OoR^s Station to Ujt 2Lot:trs of
Sfggton against t^i^c f rats*
The humble petition of Master Eobert Cook,
Haveing spent all his money in following his book,
Now humbly doth shew to the Lords of the Seat,
That he's likely to starve unlesse made a Peat.
Yet first he must know whose peat he must be;
The Presidents^ he cannot, because he has three;
And for my Lord Hatton,^ his son now Sir John,
By all is declared to be Peattie Patron.
Its true my Lord Register^ at first did appear
A vacant place to have, bot your petitioner doth fear;
* Vol. ii., p. 796.
' Sir James Dalrymple, Vicount of Stairs.
« Mr Cliarles Maitland. ^ Sir Archibald Primrose.
ROBERT cook's PETITION AGAINST THE PEATS. :22.5
For noe other end did his brother of late
His Ensigiie's place sell, but to be made a peat.
Though ho themoclv ftxcultiojigiioranccsluiuld liiincast,
Yet a bill (with "he'.s my brother") will him in bring
at last.
Old Nevoy* by .all is judged such a sott,
That his peatship could never be thought worth a groat.
Yet John Hay of ]\Iurie, his peatry, as I hear,
By virtue of his daughter, makes thousands a year.
Newbyth heretofor went snips Avith the peats,
Bot haveing discovered them all to be cheats,
Eesolves for the future, his sone Willie Baird,
Shall be Peat of his house, as well as Young Laird.
My Lord Newton's" a body that gladly would live,
Is ready to take whate'er men would give ;
Who wisely considers, when peat to himself,
He avoyds all danger in sharing the pelf.
FoiTet,^ a nepotiane so extremely doth hate,
That from his own nephew he robb'd an estate ;
Yet his sone Mr James must not be laid assyde ;
A Christian's obliged for his own to provyde.
^ Sir David Nevoy. He was promoted to the bench .June
25, IG61, and retained his office for upwards of twenty-two
years. Lord Haile's mentions, " He had been a Professor in
St Leonard's College at St Andrews." At his first admission
he was termed Lord Ileiddlc.
* Sir John Baird maile a judge November 4, 1(304.
« Sir David Falconer. ' Sir David Balfour.
P
226 ROBERT cook's PETITION AGAINST THE PEATS.
For Collinstone,^ Pitmedclen,® Little Harcus,^" and
Eedfuird,"
Lord Selling- and Iladdo/^ and my good Lord
Strathurd,"
I lay them asyde, with their peaties unnamed,
Would the King do so too, he would never be blamed.
And now in respect your Lordships are served,
And your petitioner in hazard of being quite starved.
He doth humblie crave to be a peat to some peat.
Or, in Pittenweem's language, to make his peats meat.
The Lords of the Seat, having heard the bill.
Did remitt the petitione to my Lord Castlehill -^^
Castlehill, considering the supplicatione,
Declares that the peats are grievous to the natione.
They plead without speaking, consult without wryting,
And this they doe by some inspiratione,
And now they have found out a new way of flytting,
Which they doe call sollicitatione.
' Sir James Fotilis, Lord Justice Clerk, 1684.
' Sir Alexander Setou.
'" Sir Roger Hog, a judge of a very equivocal character.
See the curious tract, entitled " Oppression under the colour
of Law, or my Lord Hercarse his new praticks," by Robert
Pittilloch, Advocate.
'3 Sir George Gordon, afterwards Lord President (in place
of Stair), November 1, 1681. Created Earl of Aberdeen 1682.
n Sir Robert Nairne, created Lord Nairne 1681, with
remainder to his daughter Margaret, and her issue male.
" Redford, son of the Justice Clerk. '- Sir Antlrew Birnie.
'^ Sir John Lockhart.
ROBERT cook's TETITION ARAINST THE PEATS. 22
Zi
My Lords, your arbitrarie Avay,
In passing of lawes every day,
Doth soe perplex poor Kobcrt Cook,
That on this house he cannot look ;
Bot in ane fierie indignatione.
Bans you and the haill vocatione.
In conscience it would vex ane sant,
As holy as Mr Andrew Cant,
To see the methods that we use,
Foreignc students to abuse.
They goe abroad and spend thair means,
Tlien in forsooth comes Mr James Deans,^^
John Hay of Murie and Will Gordone ;
My Lords, I humbly beg your pardone,
In my friends cause, the truth to tell,
I trow I am concerned mysell.
Mr Cook haveing considdered the nature of the Star,
Doth finde it portends neither famine nor war,
But destnictione of the Peats, and confusione of the
Lords,
For which he doth pray in (the) following words ;
Most reverend Comet," with the worshipfull taill,
On the Lords soul-les peats come thunder and haill,
For he plainly doth see, if they be alive.
He can never expect to prosper or thryve.
" Deans of Woodliouslee, Hay, and Gordon, were all great
litigants.
" In a singular tract by George Sinclair, author of Satan's
Invisible World Discovered, entitled, "A Description of the
Weather Glass, &c., dated Leith, January 9, 1GS3," there ii
the following notice of the Comet: — "The fifth, seen over all
Europe with aduiii-ation, appeared lirst clearly to us Decem-
ber 14, 1C80. It continued till Februaiy 8, 1681."
228 ON THE DEATH OF LITTLE MR ANDREW GRAY.
ON THE TYMELIE DEATH OF LITTLE ME
ANDREW GRAY, LATE MINISTER OF
COUL, 1678.
The authorship of these verses has been ascribed, and with
some probability, to Charles the youngest son of the Marquis
of Huntly, who was created Earl of Aboyne, and Baron
Gordon of Glenleivit, by King Charles II., 10th September
1651, as a recompence for his services to that monarch and
to his royal father daring the great civil war and subsequentl;;
By the failure of the elder branches of the family, the Ducai
line of Gordon has become extinct, but the male descendant
of the Earl of Aboyne, by reason of his descent from the
second Marquis of Huntly, now enjoys that dignity.
Earl Charles married the Lady Elizabeth Lyon, by whom
he had Charles his successor, two other sons, and a daughter
Elizabeth who became the wife of John, second Earl of
Cromarty, but of this marriage there was no issue. The
Earl of Aboyne died in 1680.
From the vicinity of the parish of CouU in the County of
Aberdeen to Aboyne Castle, the residence of the Earl, he
must have had ''little Mr Andrew Gray" as his near
neighbour, and if his lordsliip remained of the rehgiou of
his ancestors, there could be little chance of much intimacy
between them. Indeed, after the usual fashion where a
religious antagonism exists, the probability is that the Peer
and the Parson would be on the worst terms with each other.
The Minister of Coul, if credence be given to these verses,
had a considerable resemblance to the Vicar of Bray, who
retained his benefice whatever changes occiu-red in the
national foi-m of worship. Grey's flexibility would find little
sympathy from one of a race that continued true to their
ancient faith.
ON THE DEATH OF LITTLE MR ANDREW GRAY. L'iO
The church of Coul is represeuted as roofless — which was
probably true. It had been dodiciited to Saint Nachlan,
who is allc'<(ed as having lived about "the year of our
Lord CCCCL.," and to have "built the cliurches of Jk'thelay,
Cowl, and Tullech, all afterward dedicated to his memory,
at the hxst of which he resided, and his relics were believed
to work cures ; his fe;ist was on the eighth of Jamuiry."*
He was " nobly born," but nevertheless followed the pri-
mitive employment of husbandry, giving away " his
increase to the Poor." The holy man who got his mitre
when at Rome forms a remarkable contrast to the versatile
little priest, "to whom the cure of souls, on the parish of
Cowl, had been entrusted," and "who roared fiercelie for
the covenant," perhaps within that "roofless" church which
owed its founcLitiou to the Saint.
Fountainhall has a copy of these verses amongst his MSS.,
in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates. The Editor was
favoured also with a cotemporary MS. in which the author-
ship was given to Lord Aboyne, which, if a fact, entitles
his Lordsliip to a place amongst the "noble authors" of
Scotland.
eiegg on Eittle ^ntrrcU) ©rag.
This narrow hous, and room of clay
Holds little Mr Andrew Gray ;
Who from this world disappears
Though voyd of witt yett full of yeires.
To point him forth requjTes some skill,
He knew so little good or ill,
♦Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and
Banir, Aberdeen, 18-12, p. 131.
230 ON THE DEATH OF LITTLE MR ANDREW GRAY.
Yet, that his memory may live,
Some small accompt I mean to give.
He had a church without a roof,
A conscience that was cannon proof;
He was Prelatick first, and then
Became a Presbyterian.
For he with Menzies,* Eow, and Cant,
Eoar'd fiercelie for the Covenant.
Episcopall once more he turn'd.
And yet for neither would be burn'd.
A Eechabite he did decline,
For still he loved a cup of wyiie.
No papist— for he had no merit —
No Quaker — for he wanted spirit.
No infidel — for he believed
That ministers by stipends lived,
No Jew he was — for he did eat
Excessivelie, all kynds of meat.
Although in pulpit still he had
Some smattering of the preaching trade.
Yet, at each country feast and tryst
Rav'd nonsense like an Antichrist.
* Probably John Menzies, minister at New Aberdeen, and
Professor of Divinity tbere. He wrote against the Papists,
and died in 1685. See Catalogue of Scotish Writers. Edin.
1833, Svo, p. 45.
ON THE DEATH OF LITTLE MR ANDREW GRAY. L'31
And lest ye think I doe him wrong,
He being short, to be too long.
No more, the matter to oljtrude
I with this Epitai)h conclude.
Here lyes Mr Andrew Gray,
Of whom I have no more to say ;
But fiftie years he preach'd and lyed.
Therefore God d — d him when lie dyed.
232 THE covenanter's ARMY
THE COVENANTER'S ARMY AT RULLIOX
GREEN, 28th NOVEMBER, 1GG6.
This is a curious description of the arming of the Covenan-
ters previous to tlieii- defeat by tlie royal troops ; it is we
fear not much over coloured, and may be taken as evi-
dence of the tirm belief of tliese enthusiasts that their
cause was just, and that they -svere called upon to suffer every
privation rather than yieltl. The memory of such men de-
serves to be respected, and their fate lamented by those
who, not concurring in their opinions, feel satisfied that
their actings were the result of conscientious scruples, and
not occasioned, as is too generally the case, by motives of
self -aggrandisement.
An accovmt of the battle, as it has been termed, will be
found in Kirkton's History of the Kirk of Scotland, p. 240,
and in the prefatory observations to the ballad on the
' Battle of Pentland Hills,' in Scotish Ballads and Songs,
Historical and Traditionary, vol. ii. p. 279.
The original MS. of tliese lines is in the library of the
Antic[uarian Society of Scotland.
^i)C ®obenantfr*0 Evm^* 28 jlobemiJi^r 1666.
It was in Januar or December,
Or else the eucl of cauld November,
Wlieu I did see the outlaw Whigs
Lye scattered up and down the riggs.
Some had hoggars, some straw boots,
Some uncovered legs and coots,
AT RULLION GREEN,
233
Some had lialbanls, some had durks,
Some had crooked swords like Turks,
Some had slings, azid some had Hails,
Knit with eel and o.ven tails.
Some had spears, some had pikes,
Some had spades which delvit dykes,
Some had guns with rustic ratches,
Some had fierie peats for matches,
Some had bows, but Avanted arrows,
Some had pistols without marrows.
Some the coulter of a plough,
Some had syths, men and horse to hough,
And some with a Lochaber axe
Resolved to gie Dalziel his paiks.
243 SATIIIE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE,
SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF
LAUDERDALE.
This is a parody upon a fasliionable song written by the
Earl of Dorset, called ' Black Bess." * It commences in the
following manner : —
" Methinks the poor Toun has been troubled too long
With PhULis and Cbloris in every song,
By Fools, who at once can both love and despair,
And AviU never leave calling 'em cruel and fair.
Which justly provokes me in rhime to express
The truth that I know of Bonny Black Bess.
" The Plowman and Squire, the arranter Clown,
At Home she subdued in her Paragon goAvn,
But now she adorns both the Boxes and Pit,
And the proudest Town-Gallants are forc'd to submit.
All hearts fall a leaping wherever she comes,
And beat day and night like my Lord Craven's drums.
" I dare not permit her to come to Whitehall,
For she'd outshine the Ladies, Paint, Jewels, and all.
If a Lord should but whisper his love in a crowd.
She'd sell him a harcjatn, and laugh out aloud.
Then the Queen, overhearing what Bessy did say,
Would send 3Ir Roper to take her away."
There are two other verses — one more than the parody.
The Duchess of Lauderdale was a daughter of WilHam
Murray, a son of the minister of Dysart, page " and whip-
ping boy "of Charles I. when Prince of Wales, who, when His
Koyal Highness could not say his lesson, or behaved naughtily,
* Works of the Earls of Rochester, Eoscommon, and Dorset,
&c. Lond. 1731, vol. ii. jj. 51.
SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDEKDALE. 235
was well whipped to let his yoiuig master kuow the ex-
treme pleaaiuitiiess of flagellation. This novel system of
punishment by proxy had the effect of creating a sincere
love by Ciiarles to Murray, and he ultimately made him
Earl of Dysart. Bishop Burnet tells his readers in the
Memoire of His Own Time, that in return for the kindness
and affection of tlie King, this new-fltHlgcd Earl sold his
benefactor's secrets to ParUameut for forty-thousand merks;
and privately informed the governor of Hull not to admit
the King into the town, as if he did, he would be sure to
be beheaded.
The Patent allowing the succession of heirs-general, the
eldestdaughterof this worthless renegade, became Countess of
Dysart in her own right, and married Sir Lionel Tollemache,
by whom she had a son, the ancestor of the still subsist-
ing family of Dysart. She wiis, accorduig to general
belief, under the protection of CromweU ; and had great
influence with that remarkable man. Sir John Keresby,*
upon the marriage of the Countess to the Duke of Lauder-
dale, visited them " at their fine hoase at Ham. After
dinner her Grace entertained me in her chamber with
much discourse upon affairs of state. She had been a
beautiful woman ; the supposed mistress of Oliver Crom-
weU ; and at that time a lady of great parts." This oc-
curred in 1G77. Her eldest son succeeded her Grace as Earl
of Dysart ; and Ham House, still the seat of the family,
is one of the most interesting old mansions in Great
Britain. She had no family by Lauderdale, whose successor
in the Earldom was his brother, better known as Lord
Hatton. Her daughter, the Lady Elizabeth Talmash or
Tollemache, became the wife of Archibald, Earl and subse-
quently Duke of Argyle. The marriage was au uiihaj)py
one, so much so, that a separation ultimately was the result;
* Memoirs, p. 49.
236 SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE.
latterly Argyle took up his r&sidence in the north of
England, and lived and died at Cliirton near North Sluelds
of wounds received in some midnight brawl. There is a
large collection of letters from his duchess preserved in the
liibrary of the Faculty of Advocates, of no very particular
interest, as they relate to family disputes, but they prove
that the lady was an imperious and passionate female, facts
which explain the cause of her husband's desertion. They
show also that in bad temper and in the art of tormenting,
the Duchess of Argyle was tlie legitimate representative of
her mother.
John, Duke of Argyle, and Archibald, Earl of Islay, were
the issue of this ill-matched couple ; the first-named nobleman
is one of the prominent characters in the Heart of Mid-
Lothian, but from the manner in which he and his mother
treated the female to whom Chirton had been given by Duke
Archibald, neitlier the one nor the other can be compli-
mented on their nobility of feeling.* In the case of the
mother, her conduct is intelligible, as the desertion of her
husband naturally made her vindictive ; but nothing can
extenuate the behaviour of the son in allowing the memory
of his deceased parent to be outraged by the proceedings
which followed unmeuiately upon his demise at Chirton.
The Earl of Islay ultimately succeeded liis brother John
in the Dukedom ; but as neither left male issue the
honours passed to a collateral, as the next heir-male under
the patent. Their only sister, Anne, married 1st, Jolm, 2d
Earl of Bute ; and 2d, Alexander Fraser of Btrichen, a Lord
of Session.
The Earl of Dysart, who inherited the title on the death
of his mother in June 1696, was as covetous as she was.
Mrs Manley, in that now almost forgotten satirical production,
the New Atlantis, styles him "an old curmudgeon " who
* See the Argyle Papers, Edin. 1834, small 4to.
SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDKKDALE. 237
kept a house "like the Temple of Famine," well nigh starv-
ing his son, Lord linntingtower, who married against his
inclination a natural daughter of the Duke of Devonshire.
What an extraordinary work a new edition of Mrs Manley's
book would be, if illustrated by cotemporaiy memoirs and
original documents.
(iilbert Burnet was at one period an obsequious admirer
of this strong-minded virago, whose graces inspired hini so
much that he actually perpetrated poetry on her account.
In 1G77, the future bishop presented the imperious lady
with verses, which were firet printed in the Catalogue of
Scotish Writers, p. SH, to which we have had occasion fre-
quently to refer, from a cotemporaiy MS., and were said
to be " written and presented to her out of his own hand.
The original I read." This delightfiU specimen of clerical
flattery commences thus : —
" "Where am I now ? tranc'd in deep extasie,
Or mock'd by Phansies wanton mimickrie?
My senses say, I wake, but reason tells
Ther's ground to fear some magick spells.
Is't real or a spectre I behold,
Or some angelic power in humane mold ?
Thy form and children call thee woman ;
Rut thy misterious soul is above man.
Cherub I doubt's too low a name for thee.
For thou alone a whole rank seems to be :
The onlie indiviilual of thy kynd.
No mate can titlie suit so great a mind.
But in this unitie such plunds doe
Combyne, that Quakers may desygne thee, you."
This exqui.site nonsense goes on in much the same style to
the length of about seventy-two lines ; in some of them the
writer appears to have entertained not an entirely Platonic
passion for this concentrated essence of cherubs. Burnet
soon recovered from his infatuation; the duchess was no
238 SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE.
longer angelic, and from a lover, as not uufrequently ba^j-
pens, her panegyrist became an enemy.
The Duke died in the year 1682, having been previously
induced to settle all he could on his wife. Upon his death,
the lady lost not a moment to commence legal proceedings
against her brother-in-law, Hatton, his successor in the
Earldom, the Dukedom having been limited to the heirs-
male of his Grace's own body. She very nearly ruined him.
Fountainhall, who has reported these suits, directly and
from his personal knowledge, charges the Duchess in order
to accompUsh her designs with perjury.
It appears that the Duke having been desirous of pur-
chasing Duddingston near Edinburgh, now belonging to
the Duke of Abercorn, burdened the estate of Ham belong-
ing to his wife, but by her authority, to the extent of £7000
sterling, by means of which he was able to carry through his
intended purchase. He applied the money so raised to buy
Duddingston : having done so, his grace conveyed it to his
wife, who, not contented with the gift, insisted that her
brother-in-law should reheve her own English property of
Ham of this burden, although the money thus raised had
come back to her in the shape of a Scotch estate.
The Earl incautiously referred to the oath of the lady the
fact that it was agreed by her that the English debt was to
be borne by herself, but this cherub, who constituted in her
own person "a whole rank" of celestials, swore negative,
to use a law expression, much to the astonishment of Foun-
tainhall, who personally was concerned in the transaction,
and of King James VH., who having, when Duke of York,
succeeded Lauderdale as Lord High Commissioner, was fully
cognisant of the fact, her Grace having " acknowledged to
him her undertaking the English debt."* The consequence
of this false oath was, that the Earl had to pay the price
of Duddingston, by relieving the burden on the estate of
Ham.
SATIRE 0\ THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE. 239
III aiKither of lier claims she was defeated. Althougli she
had got all the Duke's executry, the lady insisted that the Eai-1
should pay the Duke's funeral charges, wliich were very
large, but this the court refused to allow. She also im-
pudently asked, that his lordship should relieve her of
certain mortgages created by kernel/ over the estate of
Uam, but this preposterous demand was also rejected.
It was no fault of the Duchess that the family of
Lauderdale was uot reduced to beggary; as it Avas, — the
unlucky Earl was put to great straits, and his successors
after him had good reason for looking upon Bm-net's
" cherub" as an angel of darkness rather than of light.
Whatever her Grace got hold of, she kept. Thus the Lady
Boghall attempted to get out of her possession some jewels,
the bequest of the deceased Countess of Lauderdale who
died at Paris. When pursued for delivery, her Grace ob-
jected to the title of the pursuer, as it was only an extract of
the Lady's testament " out of ane Tabillion's booke at
Paris," and got the Lords to declare that it was not '• pro-
bative." Her descendant, Lady Anne Coke, a daughter of
her grandson, Duke John, inherited that appetite for
appropriation which formed so prominent a feature in the
character of her remarkable ancestress.
Connected with Duddingston an amusing law suit oc-
curred between her Grace and Sir James Dick of Priest-
field, the owner of the well-known loch which during the
skating-season affords so much gratification, to the inhabi-
tants of the northern metropolis.
The Duke of Lauderdale had placed five swans in this
piece of water, the right to which, it was understood, was
in Priestfield. The Duchess, upon her husband's death,
removed them, and keeping three, killed two, " whose skins
she had given to General Druumiond in his sickness to
warm his breast." A singular mode of curing disease it
must be confessed. Refusing to restore them. Sir James
240 SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE.
broke open the doors of Duddingstone, and carried ofF the
three remaining birds; for this the Duchess prosecuted him
for riot ; he defended himself on the ground that the right
of property was with him, as he was infeft in tlie loch, and
the swans must be viewed in the same way as the fish in
the lake, or as wild beasts in his parks, or on his gromids.
That, although placed there by Lauderdale, the swans
became the property of Sir James. The Privy Council
nevertheless found, that if the swans had come of their own
accord and " bigged " there, they belonged to Sir James;
but as the owner who put them there was known to be
Lauderdale, they belonged to liis Duchess. Tlie cause having
gone against Priestfield, he removed the swans from the loch.
But even here he was foiled, for the Duke of Hamilton, the
keeper of Holyrood, claimed the loch as belonging to the
Crown, and put the swans in again. Thus the real proprie-
tor found to his cost what it was to quarrel with so high
and mighty a dame of quality. Sir James was obliged
to bring a declarator of property to establish his right.
Duke Hamilton no doubt had been instigated by the fair one
to take this step, as she was admirably skilled in the science
of legal warfare.
The Editor entertains an idea that when "Wycherly wrote
his famous comedy of the Plain Dealer, he had the Duchess
of Lauderdale in his eye in sketching the character of the
widow Blackacre, the lady so well versed in law procedure.
He was a cotemporary and a courtier, and must have heard
much of the doings of this lady. He had espoused the Countess
of Drogheda — a rich widow who had fallen in love with the
"Plain Dealer" — a marriage that gave great offence at
Court, having been entered into without the permission of
royalty. His wife was unfortunately addicted to jealousy,
and the consequence was that, although passionately attached
to her husband, she by her suspicions made him very un-
happy. After her demise he got into difficulties, and was
SATIRE OX THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE. 241
put iu prison, from whence he was released by James II.,
who had gone to see the Plain Dealer performed, with
which he was so much delighted that, learning the mis-
fortunes of the author, he innnediately relieved him from his
difficulties, and .settled a pension of k-JOO upon him. This
monarch has had so little said in his favour, that it Ls
pleasant to mention an act of this description. Perhaps a
heart originally good had been hardened by priestly influ-
ence, — no uncommon occurrence. Wycherly was born iu
1640, and died on the first of January 1715.
A very excellent etching of the Duke and Duchess, from
a portrait by Sir Peter Lely, is prefixed to the edition of
Kii-kton s Chiu-oh History, edited by the late C. K. Sharp,
Esq.
©n ttjc Dufj^fss of Hiitttrrvtralf.
Methinks this poor land has been troubled too long
With Hatton, and Dysart, and old Lidington ;
Those fools, who at once make us love and despair,
And preclude all the way to his Majesty's ear,
While justice provokes me in rhyme to expresse
The truth which I know of my bonnie old Besse.
She is Besse of my heart, she was Besse of old Noll ;
She was once Fleetwood's Besse, now she's Bess of
Atholle ;
She's Besse of the Church, and Besse of the State,
She plots with her tail, and her lord with his pate.
With a head on one side, and a hand lifted hie,
She kills us with frowniing, and makes us to die.
Q
24:2 SATIRE ON THE DUCHESS OF LAUDERDALE.
The Nobles and Barons, the Burrows and Clownes,
She threatened at home, e'en the principall townes ;
But now she usurps both the sceptre and crown,
And thinks to destroy with a flap of her gown.
All hearts feel excited wherever she comes.
And beat day and night, lyke Gilmour his drums.
Since the King did permit her to come to Whytehall,
She outvies Cleveland, Portsmouth, young Frazer*
and all.
Let the French King but drop down his gold in a
cloud,
She'll sell him a bargain, and laugh it aloud.
If the Queen understood, what of her Besse did say,
She would call for Squire Dunt to bear her away.
* Afterwards Countess of Peterborough, daughter of Sir
Alexander Frazer of Durris, Bart., physician to Charles II.
Her picture as a beauty is at Hampton Court.
The Barony of Durris, commonly called Dores, in the
county of Kincardine, upon the death of Mary, Baroness
Mordaunt, early in the present century, came under an entail
to the ducal family of Gordon, in consequence of the marriage,
in 1708, of Alexander, the second Duke, to the Lady Henrietta
Mordaunt, daughter of the Earl of Peterborough.
t Dun, the hangman. If the Editor remembers right, he
was himself hanged for murdering his wife.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN LAUDERDALE AND TALM.V.SU. 243
DIALOGUE BETWEEN LAUDERDALE AND
SIK LIONEL TALMASH.
This coarse productiou is from Mylue's MS., and has the
following title : — " Epithalaniiura for the Duke of Lawder-
dale and the ^'^iscount of Strathallan, by way of Dialogue
between the Duke of Lawderdale and Sir Lionel Talmash,
first Husband to the Dutchess of Lawderdale."
General William Drummond, first Viscount Strathallan,
died in the year 1G88. He served in Muscovy dui-ing the
civil wars; returning to Scotland, he embraced the cause of
Charles II., and was at the battle of AVorcester, 1G51,
where he was taken prisoner, but escaping, went into the
service of the Elector of Brandenburgh, Foimtainhall,
under the date of the 7th September 1G86, notices " General
Drummond's patent to be Viscount of Strathallan (for
none willingly are Lords now, since Kinnaird was made
one) ; and thus he will not wait to succeed to his brother,
my Lord Matherdey, Mater Dei, but steps in before all
the Lords."* Why the conferring a barony on Kinnaird
was so unpalatable to the Scotish nobles is not explained.
Lord Stratliallan married a daughter of Johnston of
Warriston. He was in tliis way brother-in-law of James
Johnston, subsequently Secretary of State for Scotland. No
doubt he is the identical General Drummond the Duchess
attempted unsuccessfully to cure by the application of the
warm skins of the two swans in 1688, the year of his death.
The family of Talmash, or ToUemache, is one of consider-
able antiquity in England, going as far back as the reign of
King Edward the Fii"st By the union of a former Sir
Lionel with Anne, the heiress of Helmingham, in the county
of Suffolk, that estate came to the family of Talmash in the
reign of the first Tudor.
• Page 748.
244 DIALOGUE BETWEEN LAUDERDALE AND TALjVLASH.
^pitf^aUmimn for ti)C Mtxiie of Slatotr^rtrale
antr t\)c Ftscount of ^trat]^allatt> l)g Ujag
of dialogue i)ftU)i?ett tf^e MuUe anlr §hix
Lionel ©almasli*
Sir Lionel Talmash,
My Lord, disturb'd some years hath been my ghost,
To be reveng'd for life and honour lost
To that base , whom well thou knowest for pelf
Butcher'd thy fame, estate, and last thyself;
And look, from what damn'd dunghill first she crept.
Next, while unmarried, what intrigues she kept ;
Then, when my wife, what part 'mongst w s she
bore;
Last, when your owns, no less than what before.
Duke of Lauderdale.
To be revenged on that curst piece of earth,
Sent up from hell like serj^ents, to give death
To all Avho dare but tutch lier nimljle taUl,
Or stroake her cunning breast and act the maill.
That were but madnesse ; and of no effect.
While she doth live with such allurements deckt :
But when she's dead, no doubt. Sir Leonard,
She shall in hell receive her just reward.
I know her birth from naughty people came,
When term'd a maid it's sure she lost her fame ;
And while your wife, allace ! there I did tak
As mine, what others did behind your back.
The traitor Cromwell, Ross, and Broadalbine,
Can tell as well as Atholl and Strathalline,
DIALOGUE BETWEEN LAUDERDALE AND TALMASH. 245
"VVTiat life was led by that curst hated tiling,
Before and since God did restore our Kiuir.
Sir Lionel Talmash.
You name Strathallane, — it is said below
Tliat they are married, and they further show
That she hath liyr'd some cu.sing famed* kind.
To kill tlie heir, although the boy be blind.+
Duke of Lauderdale.
It's very likely that Drummond now may dott,
For so I did when age had turn'd me sott.
First thou, then I, these feathers wore at large,
\Miich, in their foreheads, bulls wear in this age ;
Now Drummond shall— 0, rusty, musty tub, —
At last in hell thou'll cuckold Belzebub.
* Sic in MS.
t Does this mean Strathallan's son and successor, William,
who married a daughter of the Earl of Melford ; and whose
only son predeceased his father. Upon the Litter's demise the
title went to Lord Maderty, who was attainted for his acces-
sion to the Eebellion 1715. The honours were restored, with
those of Kenmure, Naini, and Mar, upon occasion of the -snsit
of George IV. to Scotland ; his Majesty considering that these
restorations would be regarded by the Scotish nation as indi-
cative of the gratification he felt for the enthusiastic reception
he met -with on occasion of his visit to the northern portion
of Great Britain.
246 THE WHIGS' WELCOME FROM BOTHWELL BRIG.
THE WHIGS' WELCOME FROM BOTHWELL
BRIG.
The MS. from wliich the following verses are printed is a
cotemporary one, and the best version the Editor has met
with. It has this title,
" Your Welcome Whiggs
From Bothwell Briggs."
The popular song on the subject of this unlucky affair will
be found in the second volume of Scotish Songs and Ballads,
Edin. 1868, p. 293.
Ye're welcome Whiggs from Bothwell Briggs,
Your malice is but zeal, boys ;
Your holy sprites, the' hyiiocrits.
Its sack you drink, not ale, boys.
I must aver, you cannot err
In breaking God's commands, boys ;
Iff ye infringe Bishops and Kings,
You have heaven in your hands, boys.
Suppose you cheat, disturb the state,
And stain the land with blood, boys ;
If secretlie your treacherie
Be acted, it is good, T)oys.
THE WIIIGS' WELCOME FROM BOTHWELL liiUO. 247
Tlic Devil himsell, in midst of hell,
The Pope with his intrigues, boys;
You'll equalize in forgeries ;
Fair fa' you, pious \Miig boys,
From murderers to souldiers,
You have advanced weel, boys ;
Ye fought like devils you're only rebels
When ye were at Dunkell, boys.
Your wondrous things good laughter brings,
Ye kill'd more than ye saw, boys ;
At Pentland Hills, ye tooke your heels,
Tliough now you seem to craw, boys.
On Christmas day you will not pray.
But work as ye Avere mad, boys ;
Your women spin sack-cloath for sin,
Your men use pleugh and gad, boys.
You lye in lust, you break your trust.
Ye work all kind of evill.
Your covenant makes you a sant.
Although ye serve the Devil ;
Ye will no more, give God the glore.
Your groans ye will all mutter.
And ye will goe, as homelie to
Your God, as to your cottar.
You'll him beseech, -with godly speech,
From liis coat-tail you'll claime, boys,
248 THE WHIGS' \\^LCOME FROM BOTHWELL BRIG.
Lippies of grace, his gairsie face
Ye'll kiss, and not blaspheme, boys.
If one should drink, or shrewdly think
A bishop e're was saved,
Noe charitie from Presbyterie
Needs more for him be craved.
If one should pray, as Christ did say,
To shun a Popish evill,
Though he were Paul, ye'll give him soul
And body to the Devil.
Episcopie must quit the cause,
And let old Jack* carrear, boys,
With fire and sword, o'er land and lord,
And keep the State in steer, boys.
Let websters preach, and ladies teach
The art of cuckoldrie, boys,
Whose carnal zeal springs from the taill.
Then welcome Presbyterie, boys.
* John Cah^n.
A LITANY. 219
A LITANY, 1G71.
There is no date affixed to tliis Litany, which was found
amongst the MSS. of Lord Fountainhall. As Lauderdale was
Lord High Commissioner from 1GG9 to 1672, when he was
superseded by James VII., then Duke of York and Albany,
it must have been Avritten diu-ing the fonner's Vice-Koyalty.
Sharp Ls referred to as then living. He was consecrated
on the 15th December 1661 Archbishop of St Andrews, and
he held the see until his murder on Magus or Magask Moor,
on the ;5rd of May 1079, The period of its composition may
be placed with safety about the year 1671.
John Wliyte the hangman mentioned in the last Une was
dead in 1681, as Fountainhall mentions that the fii-st act of
his successor, Cockburu, on the 1st June 1681 was to bum
some bales of goods imported from England, by one George
Fullerton, contrary to the Act of Trade made in April 1680,
at 12 o'clock at the Cross of Edinburgh, which was accord-
ingly done. Fomitainhall slily noting that it was only the
worst bales that were burnt, " but the fyne clath was privily
preserved," doubtlessly for the benefit of the members of
the Privy Council who ordered the incremation.
Cockburn did not hold his office long, for upon the 16th
January 1682 he was brought before the Provost and Baillics
of Edinburgh, having Lord Fountainhall as their assessor,
for murdering in his own house " one of the Mcensed Blew-
gown beggars, called John Adanison, aVuts Mackenizie." The
proof was " slender," being only by women, a species of
evidence Fountainhall did not tolerate, and " was only
presumptious." The ''assize" found liim guilty, and " re-
ferred his wife, Bessie Gall, to the judges." Tlie Baillies
caused him to be hung in chains between Leith and Edinburgh
on the 20th of January, " for it seems they are not bound
to execute, but only to [ironounce sentence, within three
250 A LITANY.
suns after the delict." 'llie wife was banished, for what
reason is not explained.
Cockburn was succeeded by a man of the name of Monro,
who had also a taste for thrashing beggars, for which he
was, along vnih Mackenzie his " staffsman," deprived on
the 15th August 1684, and " thrust in the theiffs' hole ; and
one called Ormiston is created hangman."
From an elegy on the death of Hary Ormiston, in the
possession of the Editor, supposed to be unique, there seems
to have been two Ormistons, George and Harry, brothers,
both hangmen, for it commences thus :
" An' has auld Death come in his rage
Cut Hary's breath, and aff the stage
Has pull'd him now ? I dare engage
Few can fulfil
His j)lace, I'm sure in this age.
For art and skill.
" He serv'd his time to George his brother,
Who was more careful than another,
In every point for to discover
Folk for to kill.
And make them die without a fever
Against their will."
Sutherland was the successor of Hary Ormiston, for
another elegy says, —
" He's doubtless dead, and D — 1 me care,
For Sutherland's become his air,
Who thieves and robbers winna spair,
I'U pand a plack,
Nor of their spulzie taen a share.
To spair their back.
A LITANY. 251
a iLitang.
From a King without money, and a court full of
w s,
From an injur'd Parliament tuni'J out of doors,
From the Highlands set lowse on our countrie boors,
Libera nos, Domine,
From this huffing Hector^ and his Queen of Love,
From all his blank letters sent from above,
From a Parliamentarie Councill that doth rage and
rove.
Libera, &c.
From old Noll's whore' to govern our land,
From her bastards innumerable as the sea-sand,
From her pyking our pockets by way of a band,
Libera, &c.
From ane Archbishop* graft on ane Puritan stock,
From the Declaration built on ane Covenant dock,
From opposite oaths* that would cause a man choak.
Libera, &c.
From crook-legged la\vyer3 and wry-necked judges,*
From all your two-faced subterfuges.
From soldiers who serve without set wages.
Libera, &c.
' Duke of Lauderdale. « Duchess of Lauderdale.
' Sharp. ' The Test. - .Stair.
252
A LITANY.
From the BlanketjTs with their boots of straw,
From the Highlaud-Gospel and the Cannon-Law,
From a west-couutrie Committee to preach it with a',
Libera, &c.
From the Archbishop's Hector, readie at a call,
From his carabine, charged with a double ball.
From John Whyte the hangman, who is last of all.
Libera nos, Domine.
THE Presbyterian's .iDDRESs. 253
THE prp:.sbyterian's address.
These verses are described in Mylne's MS., as " The
Presbyterian's address to liis grace the Duke of Hamilton,
upon his friendship with Secretary Johnston."
The Duke of Hamilton was President of the Convention
when James VII. vacated the throne. Upon the assembling
of the Parliament, he became Lord High Commissioner. He
was by birth a Douglas, and Earl of Selkirk. Having be-
come the husband of Anne Duchess of Hamilton in her own
right, he was created Duke of Hamilton for life. This
was one of the few instances of liferent peerage in Scotland,
upon which so much was said in the unconstitutional
attempt to seat the late Lord Wensleydale in the British
House of Lords as a liferent peer.
Defective in English precedents, reference was made to
Scotish cases, but they had little appUcatiou. Prior to
the Restoration of the Stuarts in 1(J6(), wlienever a com-
moner married a peeress he by courtesy acquired her title
during the period of his natural hfe, and after her demise
he still continued to enjoy the dignity, although the issue
of the marriage were of age to take tlie honour. The peer
by courtesy could not, if he married again, transmit the
title to the cliildren of his second marriage ; the honour was
extinguished quoad him, and on his death his first wife's
lawful heir took it as a matter of right.
It thus happened by the intenentiou of the Law of
Courtesy, that the claims of the heii- were suspended
during the survivance of the husband. To remedy this,
without attempting to legislate on the subject, the device
was resorted to of creating a liferent peerage, which en-
abled the Lord by courtesy to be a peer irr&spective of his
lady. Thus the hu-sband of Lady Semple was made Lord
Glasfoord for life; and in like manner the husband of the
254 THE Presbyterian's address.
Countess of Wemyss got tlie title of Lord Burntisland. A
curious instance occurred in the instance of the Countess of
Buccleugh ; she was contracted to marry Scott of High-
chester, and on this footing he was made Earl of Tarras,
but the Lady died before the marriage, and her title and
estates past to her sister, who married the Duke of Mon-
mouth, who Avas created Duke and his wife Duchess of
Buccleugh ; a fortunate circumstance for the family, as the
creation in favour of tlie Lady preserved, notwithstandijig
the forfeiture of the Duke, the title to her and her issue.
The Duke of Hamilton died at Holyrood House on the
14th of Api-il 1694; he was a proud and overbearing man,
and inclined to get unreasonably angry with those who
differed from him. Through him the Dukes of Hamilton
inherit the MarquLsate of Douglas, as heirs-male of that
family ; whereas the Duke of Abercorn is heir-male and chief
of the Hamiltons; whilst the Earl of Derby is heir of line.
James Johnstoune or Johnston was a son of Warriston,
and a kinsman of Bishop Bin-net, who in his Memoirs of
His Own Time mentions that he had "formed" him, and
had recommended him to the brother of Algernon Sidney,
as he "knew him to be both faithful and diligent." This
praise was thus qualified in the original ^IS., " He was
indeed hot and eager, too soon possessed with jealousy, and
too vehement in aU he proposed, but he proved very fit."
In the Oxford edition of the Memoirs this and the other
suppressed passages have been restored.* Swift describes
Johnston " as an aiTant Scotch rogue." Carstairs observes,
" he is honest, but something too credulous and suspicious."t
The object in view was to influence the Prince of Orange
to save the liberties of Great Britain and Ireland, and to
induce him to come over. The enterprise was somewhat
* Oxford Edition, 1833, 8vo., vol. vii., p. 278.
t State Papers, i>. 93.
THE Presbyterian's address. 255
dangerous, and no wonder that it wa.s not ontcit'd upon
witliout due consideration. It never could liave succeeded
had James shown anything like common sense ; but when he
gave himself up to priestcraft of a kind so hateful to English-
men, in whose minds the remembrance of the burnings and
oppressions of Mary Tudor were not as yet effaced, his doom
was scaled.
Johnstone's fortunes prospered after the Revolution ;
King ^\'illiam sent him as his envoy to the Elector of Bran-
denburgh, afterwards the first King of Prussia. On his
return, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in
1690. Queen Anne conferred upon him the office of Lord
Clerk Register in 1704. He died at Bath in May 1737,
at the advanced age of ninety-five.
Johnston's sister, Elizabeth, Avas the wife of Viscount
Strathallan, and mother of AVilliam the second Viscount,
the heir to whom the satire on the Duchess of Lauderdale
refers; whatever may have been the vnsh of her Grace to
put him out of the way, it was extinguished by the death
of his father in 16«8, the Lady's attempt to cure him of
a fever by her sti-ange method of ti-eatmg it proving un-
successful.
Welcome, great Duke, with all the joy that's due
To the blest union of our friends and you ;
The Lord has don't, is all that we can say,
But first to reverence, and next to pray;
Not free of fears, we beg in the first place
For grace of perseverance to your Grace ;
For when with holy zeal we think upon
The old malignant house of Ilaniilton,
256 THE PRESBYTERIAN'S .VDDRESS.
Who our reforming course at first witlistood,
At Langside batlied themselves and us in blood,
Whilst the next lieir the nation made consent
To the five articles in Parliament.
And his two sonnes that quarrel scorn'd to yeeld
To any but to fate in open field ;
For a just axe and a keen bullet sent
Them both to their deserved punishment.
But what almost would move us to despair
If these unhappy men should have an heir,
Wlio with bold thoughts their fatall steps pursues
Their blood, their principals, and our fears renewes.
These are the godles fears, but quickly gone
AVlien the great son of martyr'd Warriston
Does fill the cup of blessings to the brim,
And you're content to truckle under him.
I
The righteous seed, who else should enterpose
With you, who for your patron Bradshaw shows
And in a strain of glory him outdone.
He judged the father, you forfault the son.^
Not only soe, but in your justice sign
The act that did exterminate the line,
And those that nicely parallel the cause,
Sayes your Sir William was your Dorislaus.''
1 D. Hamilton, when President of the Convention of Estates
in 1689, forfeit K. James the VII.— R. M.
2 Sir William Hamilton. R. M.
THE Presbyterian's address. 257
Go on, great Duke, your liaixl is at tlie plougli,
For looking back's both sin and folly now;
Let Cra^vford,* Cardross,t Melvin you advise,
Let Polwart^ flourish out the enterprise ;
Here and hereafter both malignantts damn,
DowTi o'er their throats the new alledgence cramm ;
First fill the prisons till they'll hold no more,
Then let the scaff"olds, reeking with their gore,
Be the fam'd theatres that shall express
Your pious princely zeall to be no less
Than old Argyle, when he the maxim prov'd
That it was safer to be fear'd than lov'd.
Thus we take leave, and all with one accord
Does rest your Grace's servants in the Lord.
* William, Earl of Crawford. The Lord Whigridden of
Pitcaim's Comedy of the Assembly.
+ Henrj' second Lord Cardross, a zealous supporter of the
Covenant. His Lordship sustained great losses for his own
and his Lady's attachment to Presbytery — so much so that
lie was compelled to leave Scotland and Hy to Carolina. His
wife, 19th July 1687, applied to the Privy Council agaiust
her stepmother Elizabeth Dickson, the relict of her father. Sir
James Stewart of Kirkhill, for aliment. The jointure out of
Kirkliill was only 1200 merks, but lady Cardross insisted this
was too much, as she was "of a mean quality," and this
was sustained as an excellent reason for dividing it between
them ! ! An account of the losses of Lord Cardross, founil
amongst the Wodrow ilSS., has been privately printed, and
forms No. 7 of the Nugae Scoticje, Edin., 1829, Svo.
* Sir Patrick Home, afterwards Earl of Marchmont.
K
258 CORONATION SONG.
CORONATION SONG, 1689.
From Mylne's MS. It is there entitled ''The Coronatioa
Song, 1689 ; or a dainty fyne King indeed. To the tune
of the Gaberhiny Man."
The music to which " The Gaberlunzie Man " is now sung
would not suit the versification of this abusive production,
a few words from which have been omitted in the second
part. The caricature desci'iption of William III. shows to
what extent political feelings will caiTy partizans.
The attack on Queen Mary is unjust. She was a de-
voted wife, and her phlegmatic spouse loved her as much
as his cold nature would permit. She was bound by her
duty to adhere to the fortmies of her husband, and would
have been guilty of a grave crime if she had deserted him
to follow the fortunes of her infatuated parent. Had
William not arrived opportunely in England, there can be
very little doubt that a new civil war would have followed,
in wliich oceans of blood would have flowed. Even at the
present date any attempt to restore the power of the pope
would be followed by similar results. There can be no
doubt that William saved the monarchy.
The reference to the queen's descent from Hyde would
tell more in 1689 than at present, as it was then well known
that her Majesty's grandmother was of very humble origin.
Wi)e ©orotiation Song^ 1689.
The eleventh of April has come about,
To Westminster went the rabble rout,
In order to crown a bundle of clouts ;
A dainty fine king indeed.
CORONATION SON(J. 259
Descciuled lie is from the oranfre-tree ;
But if I can read his destiny,
He'll once more descend from another tree ;
A dainty, &c.
He's half a knave and half a fool,
The Protestant joyner's crooked tool,
Oh ! its splutters, and nails shall such an one rule ;
A dainty, &c.
He has gotten jxart of the shape of a man,
But more of a monkey, deny it who can ;
He has the head of a goose, but the legs of a cran ;
A dainty, &c.
In Hide Park he rides like a hog in armour,
In Whitehall he creeps like a country farmer.
Old England may boast of a goodly reformer ;
A dainty, &c.
Have you not seen upon the stage, come tell !
A strutting thing call'd Punchinello,
Of all things it's the likest this fellow ;
A dainty, Sec.
A carcass supported by a rotten stump,
Plaistered about the back and tlie rump ;
But altogether it's ane hopefuU lump ;
A dainty, &c.
And now, brave mobile, shout aloud.
You've gotten a king of whom ye may be proud ;
There's not such another in all the crowd.
A dainty, &c.
20)0 CORONATION SONG.
You've viewed enough of his ugly shape,
I'll tell you the qualities of the ape —
There's none of his rogueries shall escape.
A dainty, &c.
He is not qualified for his wife,
Because of the midwife's cruell knife,
But does please to the life.
A dainty, &c.
He twice to the states did solemnly swear
That he would not be statholder there ;
Tho' they tied him with oaths they were never the near.
A dainty, &c.
Some people were glad of the monster's invasion.
Had he but stood to his declaration ;
But now it's plain he hath cheated the nation.
A dainty, &c.
Cromwell did but smell at the crown through the
rump ;
But though three were before Orange, he with a jump,
Did venture his neck to saddle his bump.
A dainty, &c.
The Habeas Corpus Act was quickly suspended,
That instead of his body his nose might be mended,
And leading by the nose might for wit be intended.
A dainty, &c.
CORONATION SONG. 201
To his father and uncle, ane unnatural beast,
A churle to his wife, which she makes but a jest,
For she in requittal will add to his crest,
A dainty, &c.
One lucky presage on's coronation day
Fell out in the midst of anointing, they say ;
The heroic Mogen himself did bewray
A dainty, &c.
Queen Moll and her sister Nanny so bright,
As soon as they found his laxative plight,
Tho' he nodded and frown'd they giggled outright
At a sad s — n king indeed.
Lo ! this is the darling of the town,
The nation's Jack pudding that wears the crown ;
Come, rabble, stand off and make room for the clown ;
A dainty, &c.
^i)c CfitrD Part
Huzza to King William and his delicate mate.
She was a most lovely princess of late.
But now a contemptible object of hate ;
A dainty fine queen indeed.
0' the father's side she had honour I grant,
But duty to parents she barely does want —
\Miicli makes her a fiend instead of a saint ;
A dainty, &c.
262 CORONATION SONG.
Her virtues all cited by the convention,
Are too invisible to find any mention ;
The hinting thereof was but ane invention ;
A dainty, &c.
If fraud and ambition, curst falsehood and pride,
And a swarm of unnatural vices beside.
Be sanctified virtues in the offspring of Hyde,
She's a dainty, &c.
Then may the confusion that hither hath brought us,
Alway attend them, until it has wrought us
To bring back King James, as loyalty taught us.
Our gracious king again.
Our gracious king again.*
* The following ' ' Epitaph on William of Orange, usurper,
who died 8th March 1702," is from Mylne's MS.
Howl, howl ye fiends, your sables deeper die.
For here interr'd your greatest friend doth lye ;
Your William dead, hurl'd by Jehovah's hand,
Flies headlong down, your legions to command.
Yet much I doubt the potentate of hell
Dare trust his legions to a fiend so fell,
But rather use him as ane useless thing,
Who, now he's dead, can no more serve your king.
I
A SHORT SCOTISII LITTANY. 2G3
A SHORT SCOTISH LITTANY.
This attack upon the Duke of Hamilton has been pre-
served by Wodrow. As his Grace was Lord High Cornuiis-
sioner immediately after the revolution, the date may be
fixed in 1G«8 or 1689.
The Duke did not retain his oflice for any length of time,
as he was superseded in 1690 by George, Earl of Melville,
a title now merged in that of Leven. His lordsliip, who
had previously the Barony of MelviUe, was forfeited in
1683 — but was restored in 1689, and created an Eai-1 the
next year.
at Sbf^ott BcotiQf^ SLittang.
From our new kings' vicegerent that blustering Hector,
More fitt to be a factor or custome collector,
Who huffs and adjourns us like Noll the protector,
Libera nos Domine.
From our late king adjureing, sole knight of the
garter.
Who loyalty and honor for proffit doth barter,
AVho for his religione will scarce die a martyr,
Libera, &c. .
From him whose achievements were ne're worth a louse.
Who furiously cross'd the designs of the house,
Wlio made our big mountain bring forth but a mouse,
Libera, &c.
From a Laodicean's hodge-podge reformation,
Wlio banish'd dear prelacy out of the nation.
Then left our cliureh sitting without a foundation.
Libera, c^c.
' Duke of Hamilton.
264 A SHORT SCOTISH LITTANY.
From him whose ambition would rule all alone,
\Mio turns with all parties, yet is trusted by none,
Whose fall few -wise men will be found to bemoan,
Libera, &c.
That it may please thee to restore
Our wonted courage yet once more,
That we may tame this foaming boare,
Qusesumus.
Tliat for religion we may stand,
And freedom of our native land.
And all may fall who these withstand,
Qusesumus.
That Satan's agents these years past,
Who Israel held in bondage fast,
Haman's reward may find at last,
Qusesumus.
That peace and truth may meet again.
Among us ever to remain.
Let those desires never prove vain,
Qusesumus.
#i!l'%
AN ADDRESS FltOM TlIK GEESE. '2Q^)
AN ADDRESS FROM THE GEESE TO THE
PRESBYTERIAN PREACHERS.
This and the pasqiiil that follows are from Mylne's MS. —
The minister whose extraordinary comparison of the Deity
to a " dreeping goose" is mentioned, was the Rev. Robert
Blair, minister at St. Andrews. The anecdote is thus told
in "Scotish Presbyterian Eloquence Displayed:" — It is
given merely, be it observed, as an un dit. " It is reported
of Mr Robert Blair at St Andrews that he had this
expression in his prayers, " Lord, Thou art a good goose,
for thou art stUl dreeping," and several in the meeting-
houses of late have made use of it. To wliich they add
— Lord thou rains down "middingsof blessings upon us."'
This familiar manner of treating the Deity is hardly
credible ; yet it has occurred even in the present century.
Some forty-five years since, a popular itinerating performer,
who preached in St. Cecilia's Hall, was in the habit of
saying very odd things. On one occasion, in liis prayer,
he said, — " Oh Lord, I have been pestered with anonymous
letters — put it in the hearts of those that send them to pay
the postage." On another, after giving out a text from
one of St. Paul's Epistles, he paused, as if he was con-
sidering the meaning of the passage he had read. He then
exclaimed in a loud voice, "you're wrong, Paul, you're
wrong, I'll bet you half-a-crown, you're wrong," '"Done,"
quoth St. Paid in a lower voice, '' Done," quoth tlie
preacher. After placing half-a-crown on the pulpit, he
proceeded with a clever argument pro and co)i in which
the Apostle came off Aictor — " you've conquered, Paul, your
right — I'm wrong — there's your half-crown," which he re-
moved from the place he had put it and returned to his
pocket.
These religious indecencies are usually confined to the
266 AN ADDRESS FROM THE GEESE
popular orators who have no connection with the educated
and respected members of the Established Chiu"ch of
Scotland,
Kennedy was the brother of Hugh Kennedy, the ]\Ioderator
of the General Assembly, who has been accused of receiving
one hundred pounds as his share of the money paid for the
sale by the Covenanters of Charles I. The former once,
praying in Clydesdale, said, " Lord grant that all the kings
of the world may fall down before Thy Son, and kiss his
soals, not the Pope's soals, &c., no, nor his stinking pantons*
neither."
an atrtrrfBS 6Pttt from tf^e 0eeQe to t\)eix
Dear dwining brethren, we the keckling crew
With hopes puff'd up address ourselves to you,
That pray you faill not in benevolence,
To us that put in you such confidence.
Ye have the rulmg power in hand, tho' we
Did suffer more in tyme of prelacie,
For by their coalls, their teeth, their knives, their
wives,
We were deprived of our poor harmless lives —
Though we were ne'er in armes against the king,
This did not shelter us from suffering,
We suffered in our names, for every sot
Was call'd a silly goose or idiot ;
But ye dear brethren honour'd us so farr
That God himself to us ye did compare.
Thus did a brother in a meeting-house,
Boldlie declare that God's a goodlie goose,
* Slippers.
•|'() THE PRESBYTERIAN PREACHERS. 2G7
For " still he's dreciping," said tin; Icarn'd divine ;
This daintie figure made his preaching fyne.
Noe mortall man amongst you payed soe dear,
As we in scorching flames, save Major Weir.
A man had hated the Doxologie,
The Creed, Lord's Prayer, as weel as ye or we,
Dear fellow-sufferers pray you plead our cause.
And doe prevent the sanguinarie laws.
On Yule that fatal superstitious day.
On which the brethren ^viseHe fast and pray.
In end think this, Ave seek not all our due,
Tho' we be elder brethren than you,
For, our fraternity we reckon thus,
Ye'r .come of Calvin, we are come of Huss,
But yet the older shall the younger serve,
Which like yourselves we wittilie observe,
This is the way that ye did guide a text,
And Ave goe on in our relation next.
In our assemblies Ave resemble you.
Where twenty speak at once, e'en as we doe.
We both indeed make such a gibble-gabble.
And such confusion as was heard at Babell ;
Think us no Papists, in earnest, or in droll,
Tho' our ancestors sav'd the Capitoll.
Keep in their homes all of these Christmas ranters.
And act like rare and Avorthie Covenanters,
Search murdering roumes where your dear brethren are,
Let no malignant hands your interest mar ;
We'er hussars both, ye know, see then that ye
FolloAv your grandsir, Mr Kennedie :
Fight for your brethren, ere they be de\oured,
And call such fights the battles of the Lord.
268 ADDRESS FOR THE CAMERONIAN GEESE.
ADDRESS FOR THE CAMERONIAN GEESE.
The following is in the title prefixed by !Mylne to this
satire : " The address of the true and sober geese of the Kirk
of Scotland for themselves, and in name and behalf of the
wild Camerouian geese, to the brethren of the General
Assembly." This witty satire, and the preceding one —
are very much in the style of Dr Archibald Pitcaim, and
from their nature and the vein of humour runnuig through
them, are just such compositions as may be conjectured to
have proceeded from his pen.
We fellow-sufferers for the good old cause,
Beg your protections of the present lawes ;
All we demand, as ye will find on sight,
Is in your grievances and claime of right ;
To you we think we need not rejjresent
The treatment of the former government.
How many were in pyes incarcerat,
And for no cryme but that of being fatt ;
Wliich, if it were sustain'd as relevant,
It would goe hard with many a modern saint.
Some were, in contradiction to the lawes.
Hung by the heels, and tortured without cause ;
Others, against their conscience, which was worse,
Were brought to feast at Christmas by (main) force ;
While they bedrencht us with malignant wyne.
And never a drop of honest forty-nyne.
Base popish angells, which first keept that day
I
ADDRESS FOR THE CAMERONIAN GEESE. 2G9
And ^vith the herds sung the first Hogiiemennay.
Our livings taken from us, -svere bestowed
On pamper'd pullets, that prelatick brood ;
Thus we were Ixitcher'd, persecut, opprest.
And all because we could not take the test.
'Twere criminal to doubt of your assistance,
Who 'gainst despotick power make such resistance ;
Who've rais'd ane army, and depos'd a king,
Upon this pious, important designe ;
That men on Yule -without a goose might dyne,
And much of generous Christian blood have spent,
To hinder feasts on Yule, and fasts in Lent,
This for ourselves, now one word if you please
For our dear brethren, Cameronian geese.
We act not by wild principles like them,
Nor shun all converse with malignant men ;
For, rather than our benefices loose,
A kind indulgence we could ne'er refuse.
Yet these our brethren cannot be forgot,
W\\o Ij^e exposed to malignant shot ;
And to the violence of wind and weather,
^^^len persecute in one place seek another.
They are by Gilliecrankies much persu'd,
"Who do without relenting shed their blood ;
Kelieve them, then, according to your powers,
Their case is just the very same with ours.
270 THE trouper's prophesie.
THE TROUPEE'S PROPHESIE.
Tins is entitled iu Mylne's MS. " The Trouper's Prophesie
of the Presbyterian Downfall."
To the tune of " Hold fast thy Crown."
Mylne has in one of his MS. collections the following
" Coat of Arms " of Sir John Presbyter : —
" He beareth parti per pale indented, God's Glory and
his own interest, over all honour, profite, and pleasure,
counter-charged ; enseigned with a helmet of Ignorance,
opened with Impudence befitting his degree, mantled with
Gules and Tyrannic ; doubled with Hypocrisy, over a
^\Teath of Pryde and Covetousness ; for his crest, a smister
hand holding up a solemn League and Covenant reversed
and torn ; in a scroU imderneath the shield, these words for
his motto, xiut hoc, aid nihil.
" The Coat of Anns is du-paled with another of four
pieces, signifying thereby his four matches.
" The first the family of Amsterdame : She bears for her
arms on a field, ToUeratione, three Jewes head jjroper, with
as many blew caps on them.
" The second is the House of Geneva : She bears for her
armes, in a field of Separatione, marginal! notes of the
Bible falsely quoted.
" The third is the country of New England : She bears
for her arms in a field of Sedition, a prick't-eared preacher
preaching upon a jDulpit, proper, holding forth to the
People a schismatical doctrine.
" Tlie fourth and last is of Scotland : She bears in her
escutcheon the field of Rebellion, charged with a Stoole of
Repentance.
THE trouper's PROPIIESIE. 271
" To make him chicff of kinn, he ouj^ht to have sup-
porters : which may be a schoolboy or a meclianick, armed
proper for the rable ; and for a motto under all these —
Per fas aid nefas.
Soft, soft Sir Prcsb}i;er, ye spur
Your speavie mear too fast,
As formerly, so it will be.
Your Covenant she'll cast;
The burden of that bloody bond .
It clog'd that beast before ;
She stagger'd long, tlio' she was strong,
Tlien choak'd ■with blood, gave o'er.
Build now your meeting-houses large.
But let them be of timber ;
Believe this rhpne, they'll last your time,
Altho' they be but limber.
Preach down the prelates, meek Mass John,
Ye'll Avith my lady dine ;
Yet here the grace hath little place.
Where no man saith. Amen.
Pray for our gracious King, pray on.
Yet villany still foster,
Wliile ye neglect all due respect.
Unto the Paternoster.
272 , THE trouper's prophesie.
Sing psalms, sing praises, sing aloud,
Yea, hallelujahs hie.
Your Avhining tone, will ne'er expone,
Without Doxologie.
Dear Presbyter, that mysterie —
Declare, upon what score
You pray for king, and yet did hing,
Rather than pray before 1
Vivat, Vivat, now is your song,
To morrow you'll cry, die.
And down with Kings, those heavenly things.
Most irreligiouslie.
Your great confusions never will
Agree with Monarchy,
That heavenly way, abhorr'd you ay,
And therefore down go ye.
Now when in falling you do groan,
Then hanging by the crupper,
You'll sigh and say, this dismal day
Foretold was by a trouper.
SATYRE UPON THE DUKE OF HAMILTON, ETC. 273
8ATYKE UPON THE DUKE OF HAMILTON
AND EARL OF BREAD ALBANE.
The first Earl of Breadalbane exercised almost a kingly-
power over a great part of the Northern Higlilaiiils of
Scotlaud. Free from all scruijles of couscience, he with-
out hesitation appropriated to hiuiself whatever he thought
it worth his while to take. Whildtonly Laird of Glenurquhay,
he had resolved to possess himself of the Earldom of
Caithness, and with this intent circumvented the degenerate
Sinclair in possession at the time, and got from hiin a right of
succession, to the prejudice of the male heir. According
to Fomitainhall, the matter stood thus: — "The last Earls
right by which he bruiked the title, was not as air served
and retoured, but as a singular successor who had bought in
a comprising." In other words, the Eai'l of Caithness, who
intended to make Glenurquhay his successor, had not taken
the Earldom in the usual and proper form by being served
heir to his predecessor, but had obtained a right to a
comprysing or adjudication affecting it. Hence it was
contended that no resignation in the hands of the Crown
by a compriser could validly transfer the title to any one.
Upon the demise of this compriser, Sinclair of Keiss, the
next heir made up his title by a regular service to the Earl
last feudally vested in the Earldom.
Glenurquhay got himself created Earl of Caithness in
September 1677, by charter or patent from the Crown. His
opponent in virtue of the recognised rule, that atitle of honour
in Scotlaud vests in tiie next heir jure smujuinis, assumed
the title, and brought a reduction of Glcnurquhay's
cliarter or patent before the Court of Session. Scotish
Parliaments had no original jurisdiction to f^djudicate in
c
274 SATYRE UPON THE DUKE OF HAlillLTON
such competitions : and committees of privileges were
under that name unknown in the North.
The Privy Council interfered, and in March 1680
Glenurquhay was recognised as Earl of Caithness, and an
order was made that in his travels to repossess himself of
the lands of which he had been dispossessed by the other
Earl, he was to be furnished with "meat and drink."
On the 11th November of the same year, the Privy
Council had the pleasure of considering a precognition,
that is, to an investigatien " of the affair of the two Earles
of Caithness." The two peers, unUke the two monarchs of
Brentford, did not smell at the same nosegay ; so far from
tliis, Earl John, alias Glenurquhay, on the one hand, was
abusing the power, by " fire and sword," given him by the
Privy Council ; whilst on the other, Earl George, alias
Sinclair of Keiss, amused himself by fire-raising, and
" wilfuUy burnt doune " his opponent's "principal mansion
house."
The Privy Council, no doubt heartily tired of these mutual
complaints, wisely, upon the 9th of December following,
remitted "the two Earls of Caithness" to the Court of
Justiciary. — a proceeding wliich apparently brought the
rivals to their senses.
Glenurquhay was ultimately defeated in his attempt upon
the Caithness dignity, and he was compelled, no doubt with
many hearty curses, for he was not very particular in this
respect, to accept a modem Earldom, with precedence only
from the date of the Creation. Accordingly, 13th July
1681, the Privy Council decided " betuixt George Sinclair
Earl of Caithness, and Jolin Campbell, likewise Earl of
Caithness," "that George should take the place due to that
Earl, and Glenurquhy should be created Earl of Braydalban,
Lord Pentland, Holland, and Glenurquhy, and of a new
date only." It is understood that this decisioniwas brought
about by the instrumentality of the Duke of York, who then
controlled the kingdom of Scotland.
AND EARI, OF BHEADALRAXK. 2/0
The original Caitluioss cliartt r, of 1 10><, \v;is a territorial
one, without any special creation of a Peerage, conferring
only the Comitatus, nothing more. Under it the Sinclairs,
originally Earls of Orkney, sat in the Scotish Parliament
as Earls of Caithness until the tleath of the assignee to the
comprising. AVhereas the Glenurquhay charter of a modern
date, with special creation of the Earldom, was held to be
inoperative in competition with the older deed, which
merely granted the Comitatus.
Glenm-quliay thus beciuue Earl of Breadalbane, and from
the extensive remainders in the patent it is not likely that
the title will ever be extinct. He obtaiiiefl a pri\nlege
to select which of his sons was to be liis successor.
This he exercised, and for reasons which have never
transpired, nominated his second son, who became in due
time the second Earl of Breadalbane, oJthough his elder
brother was then alive, and Uved many years afterwards.
An alleged descendant of the disinherited heir is at present
claiming the title and estates. His claim to the honours is
presently before the House of Lords.
Lord Breadalbane is, it is almost unnecessary to mention,
associated with the massacre of Glencoe, and the curse upon
his descendants for his participation in that lamentable
business is still remembered in the north. It can hardly be
denied that the character of his Lordship given in tliis
satire, is tolerably correct. He died in March 1716, in the
eighty-tii-st year of his age. His male issue faded upon the
death of John, the third earl, upon 26th Januaiy 1782, at
the age of eighty-six. Under tiie patent the earldom
passed to Campbell of Carwhin, who became fourth earl,
and was created a marquis in the peerage of Great Britain.
AVith his son the marquisate failed, and the extinction of
the Carwhin branch in the male line let in tiie male heii- of
Campbell of Glenfalloch.
The following motto is prefixed to the satire by Mylne: —
•• I>jtiicile est Satyrain non scribcrc."
276 SATYRE UPON THE DUKE OF HAMILTON
Mt'sve upon if)e Quite of Hamilton antt
eavX of Broatralbtotu
Fie for a heraulcl to proclaim a warr
Betwixt a Highland and a Lowland Czarr.
Th' one vaccats thrones, despiseth higher powers,
Without reserve proves absolute by tours.
This, hero like, disdains all sacred things,
Ungrate to all, he boldly forfeits Bangs.
Money's the only Ood he does adore,
For which he grinds the faces of the poor,
And changeth every shape to hoard up more.
He's biggest now, because they^ bear the sway,
And they have promis'd fifty pound a day ;
For which he'll serve the deill, and God betray.
And that he may neglect no mean to thrive,'
All his unjust appeals he must revive;
But if he miss of what his avarice claims.
Then he'll again take pardon of King James ;
And in a pett even from the councell run.
And baull, and make a noise of all that's done.
This is the very game he lately play'd.
And so by turns he hath both Kings betray'd.
The other hero, cloath'd in a sheep's skin.
Gives smoother words, but's as much wolf within ;
' Sic in MS.
AND EARL OF BUEADALBAXE. 277
As prone to cast about to th' other sliore,
AVlieu once he's sure the stormy blast is o'er.
He knows the time, and bargaine when to make,
Of each conjunction doth advantage take.
At a good rate he sokl a Highhmd peace,*
AMiich of its self would serve but a short space,
And to the bargaine got himself a place.
Of old these champions for their first essay.
In martial feats did run a contrair way ;
The one whose courage never yet was sunk,
When upmost, prov'd a Highland star to Monk ;
The other briskly followed Monroe,
When forced to tiee from a prevailing foe,
But to a charge he scorned e'er to goe.
For tho' he baulls and hectors all by's word,
Yet he grows pale, and trembles at a sword.
The Hattoun Crow,- cliaced from her native seat
By her own brood, creats this great debate ;
Spcrmaticks sink, true mother of discord,
Inflam'd these Hectors at the councell board.
* This refers to the general belief that Breadalbine had
pocketed a great part of the money remitted from London to
pacify the Highland chieftains.
^ Lord Hatton, after Earl of Lauderdale, was said to be
cuckolded by ane Crow, and 1)y many more. R. M.
•27 S " JACK BOWLES' RANT.
•JACK BOWLES' EANT.
Redpath bas the following anecdote in his veracious
clu'onicle of the actings and doings of the curates during
the ascendancy of Episcopacy. "The second curate of
Stirling, being accused by his elders of being di'unk when
administering the sacrament, was, notwithstanding, con-
tinued in his charge by the bishop." Not a very likely
story assTiredly. "Nay," continues the writer, " drunken-
ness was so ordinary amongst them, that a drunken fellow
of Edinburgh, called Jack Bowles, when reproved for being
drunk in the morning, answered, that he would not get
room to drink in the afternoon, for then the best ale-
houses in the town were filled with curates." This charge,
asserted to have been made by a drunken blackguard, is too
absurd to be beUeved.
Mylne's Key renders only a few additional explanations
requisite. Forester is meant for James, Lord Forester, who
was, upon the 26th of August 1679, stabbed with his own
sword in his garden at Corstorphine, by Christian Hamilton,
wife of Andrew Munro, merchant in , Edinburgh, and
daughter of Hamilton, the Laird of Grange. She was the
neice of the first Lady Forrester, and pleaded provocation,
the noble Lord having, while in a state of intoxication,
used very improper language towards her. There seems
little doubt that an improper intimacy subsisted be-
tween them. She pleaded pregnancy, but the medical men
negatived her assertion. Her cousin, another of the Grange
family, had previously murdered her husband, and it was
also asserted that the Lady of Warriston, who nearly a
hundred years before had strangled her husband, was of tlie
same race.
The murderess escaped from prison on the 29th of Sep
JACK BOWLES' RANT. 'J 70
teiiiber, in male attire, but next day was captured, and on
the 1st of October executed.
Gilbert Rule was nicknamed Doctor Guiltus, from an
exliibition he made of himself in a public lecture, where he
remarked, "Si aliquis Virus colebit falsura Deum, seu
verum Ueum, ut non prjescriptum est, iste virius est guiltus
Tdolatria)." This ignorant and presumptuous man was
actually placed in the University of Edinburgh, upon the
removal of Dr Monro, a gentleman by birth, a thorough
scholar, and an able head of the institution from which he
had been extruded by religious fanaticism. Kule Ls drawn
with much cleverness by Pitcairn under the name of Mr
Salathiel littleseme, in his comedy of the Assembly.
Argyle was at a later period created a Duke. His morals
were none of the best, and his Lady, the daughter of the
Duchess of Lauderdale, was not the person calculated to
improve them.
The Marquis of Douglas was the hiisband of Lady Barbara
Erskine, from whom he was separated by means of scan-
dalous insinuations conveyed to him by his chamberlain,
Weir of Blackwood. See the Ballad on the subject, Scotish
Ballads and Songs, Edin., 1868, vol. ii., p. 362.
Take Melville's chin, and Lothian's eye.
Join '(I to Squire Weddell's ^ nose and ears>
Which head on Raithie's ^ shouklei-s tye,
Held by the crooked neck of Stairs :
' This Wcddel was a WTjiier, ami had a verj' big reid nose ;
he was pilloried for somt; forgerie. - Lord Kaith-
280 .TACK BOWLES' RANT.
Let hiin, like Mortarpiece,^ have gutts,
And Mr James Melville's * thighs and knees ;
And let his genitals he such
As are King William's privities.
Let him be arsed like Sutherland,
And have the legs of Tittle Tattle ;
And let him gormandize like Anne, ^
And take, like George, ^ the other bottle.
Let him have Cassill's feet and toes,
On's bum put Mr Kirkton's'' breeches ;
And on his legs great Monro's * hose,
Useing the Marquis of Douglas' speeches.
Let him have Forfar's livery coat.
And like to Dr Eule be smart ;
AVith a short Moderator's cloak.
And liberall as a Councell Clerk.
With Cardross' and Lord Crawford's sense,
And Mr Kennedie's ® moderation —
And if we may without oiFence, .
We shall allow him Leven's discretion.
^ Monro of Fowlis. ■• A son of E. Mel\411e's.
^ After, Queen Anne. « Prince of Denmark.
' A Presbyterian JMinister.
* Major General Monro wore large hose, for hiding bad legs.
* This Kennedie was Moderator of the General Assembly ;
his two sons were banisht for prophesying, and he fell do\^i
in the street himself e dead.
JACK BOWLKS' RANT. 281
And let him have M'Kay" his valour,
And General Douglas' " gratitude,
And hardiness of Cornet Lawder,
Who at Kuuroric swam in blood.
And let him have Argyle's religion,
And the Lord Seaforth's faithfulness.
And chaste like sweet Mass David \Yilliamson,'-
With RoUo and Forrester's pleasures.
Let him have Morton's devotion ;
Wlien angrie, like the Duke to huff ;^^
And let him with Captain M'Kay his motion
Artificially take a snuff.
Let him have ^vit like Annandale,
And be as politick as Ross ;
First let him plott, and then reveal,
Like children when they are cross.
Let him be loyall like a Campbell,
And trusty like Duke Hamilton ;
And be as courteous as that female
Who uses some besides her own.
'" Tie fled away from Killiecranky.
" This rogiie treacherouslie deserted King James 7th.
'« A Presbjiierian Minister that had seven wives.
'» Duke of Hamilton. Balcarres complains that the Jacobites
were outvote^l in every thing, and were compelled to sit and
hear the Duke "bawl and IJuster, his u.iiial cuskmi."
Memoirs, 2d Edition, p. 99.
282
JACK BOWLES RANT.
Let him, that he may be compleat,
Be pious like Blackbarronie ;*
Tliis done, let him but walk the street,
And deill a boy shall follow me.
Sic scritur. Jack Bowles.
* Murray of Blackbarony.
mac-queen's AI'OLOGETICAL LEITKR. 283
MAC-QUEEN'S APOLOGETICAL LETTER.
Amongst the Scotish Prelates who were most disliked by
the Presbyterians, there was no one more persistently abused
than John Paterson, who was promoted to the See of Gallo- .
way on the 23d of October 1674, and thereafter translated to
the See of Edinburgh on the 29tli of March 1G79, which he
held until the year 1687, when he was elevated to the Arch-
bishojn-ick of Glasgow, of which he was deprived by the
Revolution of 168S, and the abolition of Episcopacy in
Scotland. He died at Edinburgh on Wednesday the 8th of
December 1708, In the 76th year of his age.
Amongst his detractors the principal was George Redpath,
who, in his answer to Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, has ac-
cused Paterson of the grossest immoralities ; and if crecht were
to be attached to half of what he said about him, the prefer-
ment of such a man to ecclesiastical places of the highest
description was an insult to Scotland of the gravest nature.
Judging from the virulence which seems invariably to attend
reUgious as well as political controversialists in their disputes,
we ventiu-e to place Uttle credit in these defamatory fabri-
cations, in which there may occasionally be some few atoms
of truth disguised and perverted by an infinity of falsehood.
In 1822 Sir Walter Scott edited a work called " Chrono-
logical Notes on Scottish Affairs from 1680 till 1701,
chiefly taken from the Diary of Lord Fountamhall," Small
4to. This description was to a certain extent true, but in
reality it was Fountainhall expurgated by Robert Mylne, —
that is to say, the former, a Whig, is corrected and altere<l by
the latter, a rabid Jacobite, so that the work is one of the
most curious pieces of historical patch-work in the world ;
and its value has not suffered from the volumes prepared
from Lord Fountainhairs papers for the Bannatyne Club,
284 mac-queen's apologetical letter.
■which are amongst the most important and interesting
liistorical records of the times to which they relate.
In the work above noticed, there is the following anecdote,
•"^[r John Macqueen, one of the ministers of Edinburgh,
in Edinburgli in December 1683, having by trapane got a
petycoat of Euphame Scott's (after Lady Eyemonth, and
spouse to "Wynram of Eymouth, who is now broken and
she dead) with whom he was deadly in love, though she
hated him ; he made thereof a wastecoat and drawers, for
which he was suspended, but the Bishop of Edinburgh,
Paterson, reponed him in February 1684."
On this entry Sir Walter in a note observes that he has,
in a collection of libels and lampoons of this period, one
which is entitled, "The Apologetical Letter sent from Mr.
John Mac-Queen, Second Minister of the College Kirk at
Edinburgh, to His Ordinary, John Paterson, Bishop of
Edinburgh ;" and he quotes a passage which refers to the
text. The collection is in the -handwriting of Mylne ; and
the following is a full copy of the letter which has, though
in many places not particularly delicate, a great deal of
humour.
The reference to band-strings is one of the stories which
Eedpath took the opportunity of propagating ; what the
true state of matters may have been cannot now be inves-
tigated Avith any prospect of success. It may be mentioned
that a ballad on the subject is to be found in a collection of
fugitive pieces named "Excerpta Scotica" of which only
sixteen copies were privately printed, taken from an
original MS. in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
i^a(=^ufCtts ^poloQctical Urttcr*
^...
— My Lord, I hereby do narrate
My love contrivances, and state
mac-queen's APOLUGETICAL I.EITER. 285
Tho' not by wiiy of theologie,
But rather an apoloj^ie ;
Hoping ye'll be no more offended,
At nie, who justly was suspended ;
For tliey who sternly bell the catt,
May be turn'd out, and then laugh'd att.
I swear on word of sacerdott,
I was in love with Effie Scott,
Call't love, or lust, or what j'ou will.
Since the event of both proved ill.
I shall not here, with burlesque jjenners,
Cai-p at her beauty, wit, or manners ;
But know, that I'm of different mind
From what I was, for Cupid's blind :
Yet never the less, I do assure thee.
My greatest motive Avas her dowrie.
But not to linger any more,
This femiall brat I did adore.
Her courted, suited — she refus'd.
And slighted all the means I us'd
Whereby to gain on lier good graces ;
Affronted me in severall places
In horrid manner — such like, no man
Was ever used by any woman.
For not to mention raills quite' often
On those who hard hearts try to soften,
I met with such as might have quench't
Love's hottest flames, but I was trench't
So deep in Cupid's snare, that, trow me,
I did what God did not allow me ;
' In MS. realls — meaning probably rails or scolds.
286 mac-queen's ai'OLogetical letter.
For when the compliments and fleaiclies
Which used to gain our Irish wenches
Had not the grace to work upon
This Scotish adamantall stone,
I then indeed fell on a fancie
Wliich reaches nigh to necromancie.
■ Into this town there lives a matron,
Who, 'tis said, takes Circe for her patron.
It was the councell of this Sophie
I should get clothes were worn by Effie,
The Avhich if I ol^tain'd, and put on
The chief part of this love sick mutton,
'T Avould instantly, in spite of fate,
Cause her to love where she did hate.
This course I took, and forthwith got
With greatest difficulty, a coatt
Term'd pettie, as the vulgar speech is.
Or ye may call them female breeches.
Of part of it I first compos'd
That which my sickly heart inclos'd.
And of the rest, and its absurdies
I made a jacket for my hurdles.
Yea, more than this, and it's as stringe,
I mounted gloves with its silk fringe.
And after all my work and pain
I mist my mark, and not till then
I found too late, when thought upon,
'Twas wrong to go to God of Ekron.
But yet, my Lord, Avhen all is said,
I'm not the first such pranks has play'd ;
For not to favour poet's fancies,
mac-queen's apologetical i.etter. 287
Nor remnant fables and romances,
Balking those shapes which the great Jove
Took to himself when he's in love.
Tho' mongst them all I much resembled
That wherein he at first dissembled,
With Juno on the mountain Ida,
You look like it as well as I do,
Being yet unmarried, but I grant
My frolicks such success did want.
Nor is it need we cross the seas
For instances to prove the case,
Yea, scarce to go as far as Surrey,
For if you search you'll find in Murray-
Some that a good while have been wediled,
And yet ensnar'd by that blind Godliead.
Yea, who have done and suffered more
Than all that I have told before.
My failings, I confess, are horrid.
But I was ne'er in love so torrid
As to miscarry with my mate
Before we were in marriage state.^
Neither did she me once upbraid
As unchaste, or in mascarade
Went she in search of me, or yet
We got entrapt in Vulcan's net.
Nor did I e'er explain this text
Of Samuel, 2 chapter, verse the sext,
■^ A woman of that name. See Kirkton, p 182.
3 It was said that the Bishop lay with his spouse before
R. M.
288 mac-queen's apologetical letter.
Nor any such like paradox —
I gave a nut mill, not a box.*
I went avow'dly from the street,
And never up back stairs to meet
Her, whom I sought the winning after.
, I was bedued with virgin water,
Yet I'm a stranger to the fountain,
As great as you were to the mountain
Parnassus named, where the Muses
Enjoy themselves in their recluses.
<^ But to conclude, I hope you see
I'm not as ill as I could be ;
And also, that there are. some things^
Worse than the kissing strap or strings,
"\Miicli I abhore, yet, on my souU,
I swear I have been playing the fooll.
And consequently he is rather
Surely more guilty, reverend father.
For none who wears a coat, which black is,
Should favour Ladies or their lackies ;
And that I may win to a period
Of this umgumsler,*^ I pray to God
To give repentance unto all
Who sinners are ; so add I shall
No more, — but rests, as I have been,
Your Lordship's servant, John MacQueen.
* This was in a fancy. R. M.
* This was band-strings, which he got from another of his
Uames, which he put in the pulpit while preaching. R. M.
" Confused stuff.
THE WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN'S ADDRESS. 289
PEESBYTERIAN ADDRESS TO THE
PRINCE OF ORANGE.
These very severe and clever verses on the Presbyterian's
address to the Prince of Orange were found amongst Mylne's
MSS. The author's name has not been preserved — but
from the severity of the attack, and the general cleverness,
it is not unlikely tliat Dr. Archibald Pitcairn had some share
in their composition.
Zf)e mmtxn ^vcQh^ittvian'Q atrtir^ss, ig89.
Wlien sacred monarchy was tumbling do^vn,
And bold usurpers seized upon the crowTi,
On tlic last day of fatal eighty-eight
The holy brethren of the Western seat
Together heavily, and all at once,
From hollow hearts did echo forth their groans ;
With prayers of devout nonsense inspir'd.
With sacred sack and holy brandy fir'd,
To God they first ane information bring.
They cheat the people and they curse the King.
Then they address or do command the Prince
To give them his most speciall defence ;
And that 'gainst law and reason he would try
To settle them in Church democracy,
^\^^ch brmgs alongst with it, without debate,
Endless confusion to both Church and State :
His Highness they call chosen of the Lord,
And singularly fit to draw the sword
T
290 THE WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN'S ADDRESS.
Against the Prelates their chief enemies,
And consequently God's ; they do despise
All differing parties, swell'd Avith spiritual pride.
Blind to themselves, they damn the world beside ;
To us all threatenings in the Scriptures they,
But to themselves the promises, apply ;
So if the Prince refuse, anon he'll see
His name torn from the absolute degree.
These rabble drivers raise the hue and cry
For shaking off the yoke of Prelacie,
Most grievous in itself, that neither they.
Nor their forefathers ever could obey.
So A^th applause that general cant goes on
To raise Christ's kingdom when its but their own,
To which they give the name of the Good Cause ;
Thus wanton grown by kicking at the laws,
They openly or secretly oppose
\Miate'er diA-ine or human laws impose.
This pamper'd tribe, half villains and half fools.
Against the settled peace most dangerous tools ;
At many meeting a petition make.
Although to God extemporie doth speak,
Which comes near a fanatic sermon's length.
And senseless gibberish wrung out by the strength
Of heated fancie, with a grave pretence,
\\niich justifies the author's want of sense ;
But this address so penu'd, deserves in short
To go to Bedlam rather than to court!
But, holy brethren, I would gladly see
How this address does with the last agree.
I grant you serve the king now as before
THE WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN S ADDRESS.
1^9 1
According to your principall and power ;
So thus in short we most exactly see
The sober Presbyterian's modesty,
If any such in all this world there be.
In fine, from tliat jjcrplfxed religion
Whose government is mere confusion,
i Whose doctrine doth destroy moralitie,
Of thy great goodness, Lord deliver me !
292 . LITANY, 1690.
LITANY, 1G90.
This Litany and the ensuing one were found in " The New
Almanack, or New Prognostication, for the year of our Lord
1690," " by an expert Mathematician," (James Paterson.)
Of these iVlmanacks, a most curious collection, commencing
1685, and ending in 1710, was presented to the Society of
Scotish Antiquaries, by the late James Swan, Esq., W.S.
In the one for 1692, occiu'S the following advertisement.
" The Ancient CUdesdail Society, called the Whinbush, is
now revived, and kept at Robert Clarksons, in the south
side of the Land Market, (in Edinburgh), a Uttle below the
Weigh-house well, every Friday, from 6 till 8 at night.
Paterson has prefixed these lines to his " Common Prayer
Book for aU those that fain would have one, but dare not
use it." " (Borrow this) Litany."
iLitang> 1690.
From underminers and cut throats,
And those who use gun-pouder-plots ;
From those who subtile counsel gives,
All for to take their neighbours lives ;
From those who are sworn to do evil,
And have their reward from the Devil ;
From those that swear for to be rich,
Although they rob it off the church ;
From those who by pretence of grace,
Do cheat their neighbour of their place ;
From those that mock at the good Cause,
And laugh at all the Holy Laws ;
From those that swear and think it not,
And in their heart there is a plot ;
ANOTHER LITANA', 1090. 293
From Gi-umbletonians who desire
That Popery may rule this Empire,
Good Lord deliver us.
From those that counsel our King and Queen
To slave their subjects, as they have been,
Let their last end at Tyburn be seen.
Amen.
^notfjrr llitang, leoo.
From all these apparent Atheists,
Call'd Protestants, defending Papists ;
From oaths so made against the Pope,
That brings true Protestants to rope ;
From Friers, Priests, and Jesuits,
And these new cut-throat proselytes ;
From all those of a wavering mind.
That change their judgment ^ like the vnnd ;
From those who live by cheats and quirks,
And those who organs bring to kirks ;
From those that useth holy water,
And secretly, their beads do patter.
From cuckolds that wear gilded horns.
And those who raise the price of corns ;
And those their neighbours that backbite,
And in the same do take delitrht ;
From those that lie for scant of news.
From those in Atholl that wear trews ;
From those that hate our I^ng and Queen,
Or any way molest their reign,
Libera nos Domine.
' Religion.
29-t MOCK LINES ON
MOCK LINES ON KING WILLIAM'S
COWARDICE.
Upon the 5tli of March 1696, King William embarked at
Margate, and landed in Holland on the 7th of the same
month. He returned to England on the 6th of October
following, nothing decisive having been done on either side —
tlie French not having attempted any siege, and not entering
upon any considerable action during this inglorious campaign.
The reason assigned for the inactivity of the English, was
the scarcity of money in England from recoining the silver
this year. Both the confederate and opposing armies chiefly
subsisted on the plunder they got from the inhabitants of
those countries which were the seat of war.
The Jacobites, as might be expected, gladly availed them-
selves of such an excellent excuse for turning the King
into i-idicule, and he was accordingly unjustly accused of
cowardice. Mybie was an ultra Jacobite, as has already
been mentioned, and no doubt felt great pleasure in writing
down the ensuing stanzas which he calls, " Mock Lines on
King William. Three staves sung in the Parish Church of
^\"[estminster] last thanksgiving day (in imitation of Mister
Hojikin's) composed by the Reverend Mr. Vicar."
The idea in the last four lines of the second stanza is very
like the .celebrated one attributed to Butlei" —
" The man that fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day ;
But he that is in battle slain.
Will never rise to fight again."
KiNc William's cowaudice. 295
£Qock Utttfs on ^UxQ MilliamG ©ctoarirtcf,
liejoyce ye peojile all, and some
Throughout this happie nation
Our King is woundless now come home,
Save in his reputation.
The merv^elous deeds that he hath done,
AVould please you much to see 'em,
And for the battles he has -svone,
The French now sing Te Deum.
The seas most rough, and foes most fell,
The first -with ease he past,
But when the foe he could not quell,
He them outran at last.
But when there is no remedie.
That man doth honour get,
Who uses heels most manfullie,
And stayes not to be beat.
Then let us all with mirth and glee.
Sing and drink with merry hearts,
For we have had such victory,
As best suits our deserts.
Now to conclude, let all that's here
Join in this pious wish.
That the success of this nixt year
Mav be the same with this.
296 PROPHECIE CONCERNING THE PRAYER BOOK.
PROPHECIE CONCERNING THE PRAYER
BOOK.
Mylne describes these lines " as ane prophecie concerning
the prayer book against the Whiggs."*
The ritual of the Church of England is undoubtedly one
of the most beautiful compilations in existence, and has been
thought so by many of the sincerest members, clerical and
laick, of the Church of Scotland. With an anxious wish to
detect error and to cavil at words, many captious followers of
Calvin have endeavoured to impugn, but ineffectually, this ad-
mirable companion of the Bible. Perhaps in these times, when
change has such a charm for the public, one or perhaps two
of the forms of worship for particular days might be omitted
without material injury to the volume ; but the Editor
cannot find any sufficient reason for this castration : if it
be injudicious to return thanks to the Deity for the dis-
covery of the Gimpowder Plot, or the restoration of the
extruded family of the Stewarts, such services might
be dispensed with, without touching the book itself.
There is an old proverb, "let weU alone," which should be
duly considered before amateur religionists are allowed to
tamper with the prayer book.
* Mylne has these lines also upon the Whigs —
"Great Guttous,
Stealls Muttons,
Bellied Gluttons,
Fudling Drinkers.
" False Teachers,
Whigg Preachers,
Wealth Leachers,
Wanton Jinkers."
PROPHECIE CONCERNING THE PRAYER BOOK. 297
^top^Hit cottcnnitiQ Vt)e Eraser Uooft*
Filthie leachers,
False teachers,
Cursing preacliers,
Never calme ;
Be hook or crook
Ye'll never brook
The Sen-ice Book,
In this reahne.
Spyte of the "Whigs,
Your cantings, jiggs,
And Bothwell Briggs,
And all your worth,
The Common Prayer
Shall mount up stair.
Both here and there,
In South and North.
RaUeing Ranters,
Covenanters,
For all your banters
This I fortell,—
The book shall spread.
And shall be read,
Spjle of your ded
The deUl of hell.
298 PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE
STEWAET.
Siu James Stewart has had the misfortune of incurring the
displeasure of both Jacobites and of Revolutionists, — both
parties considering him to be a trimmer, and both applying
to him the significant sobriquet of " Jamie TVylie." There
appears, so far as materials exist, no sufficient reason for
branding him with a nickname indicating cunning and
duplicity.
James Stewart was the second son of the Lord Provost of
Edinburgh, whose controversy with Provost Tod forms the
subject of a Pasquil which will be found in a previous part
of this Collection, and where some account of the worthy
magistrate, his admirable wife Anne Hope, and his family, is
given. After the Restoration, the Provost was subjected to
great hardship. He found the assistance and advice of the
future Lord Advocate of infinite service, and it may be truly
said that it was to the exertions of his anxious son that he
ultimately was liberated from the unjust imprisonment to
which he had been subjected by the tyramiy of those to
whom the administration of public affairs in Scotland had
been entrusted by Charles 11.
The successful defence of the father by the son rendered
the latter obnoxious to Lauderdale, and he thought it prudent
to remove himself from Scotland and seek shelter elsewhere.
He had been educated for the bar, and had every prospect
of rising high in his profession, but in the existing state of
tilings, it was in vain for him to meet with justice in a
Court where the decision of a cause depended not on the law
but on the venaUty and caprice of the judge. Show me
the man and I will show you the law, was a maxim
originating with Balmerino and recognized by the arbitrary
PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART. 299
Uuke, aud no person would h<ave been so very imj^rudent
as to entrust his cause to an Advocate known to be offensive
to Govorninent.
Stewai-t therefore went abroad and took up his residence
at Kouen, with a view to assist his father and his brothers,
Henry and Robert, in their commercial speculations. He
did not remain lou<^ in France. Thinking he might return
with safety to his native country, he again proposed to
remain in Edinburgh, but finding Government continued
hostile, for he had been outlawed after his flight, — and
learning that a warrant for his api)reheusion had been
issued in the month of February in that year, which he
fortunately got notice of, — he fled to London, where he re-
mained several years under the name of Lawson. He was
suspected, — and it is believed truly, to have been either the
author of, or to have had some share in the composition of
a tract entitled "An Account of Scotland's Grievances by
reason of the Duke of Lauderdale's Ministiy, humbly
tendered to his Sacred ]\Lajesty." This work, which is
occasionally still found in the libraries of book collectors,
is a forcible and convincing account of the tyranny of
this imperious nobleman.
The exile found, whilst in London, the benefit of his
legal education. " 'Tis said he placarded ane office for
solving intricat law caiises of any kind, at half fees, or half-
a-guinea ; his clerk Thomas Spence was to take the caises
put, and return the caise with the solution, upon receiving
the fee."* Unfortunately, he was too successful, as the
celebrity of his expositions led to inquiries about the person
givmg them, aud he was obliged to change his lodgings and
dismiss his clerk.
"When the influence of his enemy Lauderdale waned, the
prosecution against him, by the interposition of friends,
was quashed, but the test-oath proposed in 1081 was a
* Coltness Collection, p. 363.
300 PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
barrier in his ■way, and his having given professional advice
to the unfortunate Earl of Argyle, caused him to seek
refuge in Holland. This flight was followed by his for-
feiture in absence by the Court of Justiciary.
The vicissitudes of this ever-changing state of existence
must naturally have induced Mr Stewart to take such
measures within his reach as might enable him to leave
Holland and resume his professional duties so perpetually
interrupted. He had formed an acquaintance with the
celebrated William Penn, who has so recently been so
fiercely attacked by Lord Macaulay, and through his
influence with King James VII, he obtained his pardon,
Whether he foresaw what was to follow we cannot say,
but certain it is, that while received in favour in England,
he had the prudence to preserve a friendly relation with
the Prince of Orange, These actings are assigned as the
reason of the nickname of Jamie WyHe, When it is recol-
lected that the party so named had for upwards of twenty
of the best years of his life been subjected to persecutions
and annoyances of every description, it was but natural and
prudent for him, without earning the epithet of "Wylie,"
that he should endeavour to arrange with his persecutois in
such a way as to enable him to pursue a profession for which
he was so peculiarly qualified. That he compromised his
principles in any way does not appear. He was always
moderate, although a resolute opponent of tyranny of every
description. Neither can his conciliating William of Orange
afford any j ust ground of offence. Knowing, as so clever a man
as Stewart is confessed at all hands to have been, that the
course pm^ued by James must lead to serious consequences,
how could blame attach to him for seeking to be on good
terms with a potentate who was regarded as the uncom-
promising defender of the Protestant faith. Had Stewart
been a party to any plot to dethrone James, whilst he was
seeking William's protection, he might have been justly
PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART. 301
censured, but, excepting the hannlcss fact of his propitiating
the Prince, and wishing to stand well with Mm, nothing
further can be proved against hiiu.
The abdication of James was not followed by the promo-
tion of Stewart ; Hamilton had no fancy for him, and he was
equally distasteful to Melville, his Grace's successor as Lord
High Commissioner.* It was not until 1692 that this sound
Lawyer obtained the situation of Lord Advocate, for the
duties of which office he was pailicularly fitted, and the
duties of which he performed so effectively. He held this
high position until 1708, when he was removed and was suc-
ceeded by the Hon. Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, a son of
the first Viscount of Stair. He was displaced in 1711, when
Sir James was reappointed.f He died upon the 1st of ]May
1713, at the advanced age of seventy-eight. He was twice
married. He was only a knight himseK, but his eldest son
and successor, James, was created a baronet 22d December
1705. He was Solicitor-General for Scotland, and died in
1727.
For sLx years and a half before his death the Lord
Advocate was in a very helpless state, Wodrow says, his
preservation "has been next to a miracle, a man of his
bulk, business, and infirmity, for so long a time to be con-
fined to a chair, and never able to move except when Ufted
by his servants ; yet still clear in his head and judgment,
and as fit for business as ever in his life time. The last
time ever he was out on his own feet — and it was even then
much for him to move them, and was supported by two —
was when the first article of the Union was voted in Parlia-
ment. He was put upon to speak upon it — but declined ;
and after that night he fell very ill, and every body expected
* Mch-ille opened the Scotch Parliament 1.5th April 1690.
On the 30th of the same month he was created an Earl.
t Coltnesa Collection, p. 367.
302 PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
that winter he should have died ; yet it pleased the Lord he
recovered some sort of health, but never his hmbs."
The repvitation of Sir James as a sound lawyer was
universal. He was the author of a work of great value,
although now somewhat obselete, entitled, "Answers to
Lord Dirleton's doubts on some Abstract Points of Scotish
Law," folio 1715. A second edition in 8vo appeared at a
later date. Some copies of the folio edition of the Answers
contain a fine portrait of Sir James Stewart, after an
original painting by Sir John Medina. Several of his letters
will be foimd in Carstair's State Papers. The sketch prefixed
of his character in that collection describes him as " one of
the best civilians of his age, who, with natural fine parts,
affects great plainness, affability, and familiarity in his
manners."
In 1712, he purchased from his nephew, Sir David, the
second Baronet of Coltness, the family estate. He had
previously inherited Goodtrees, vulgarly called " Gutters,"
and now possessing the more poetical name of ^Moredun, in
the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. This had been his
mother's estate which had passed to liim as a second son —
his father's estate having gone to his elder brother.
When abroad. Sir James, without neglecting the interests
of his family in their commercial transactions, communi-
cated such information as he thought might be inter-
esting. In one of his letters from Rouen, to his father, he
tells him that he had "caused make two Perrucks for your
Lordship, one of dark haire, which is the mode heire, and
light is going out, and another faire haire, the dark is very
cheap, and cost bot 16 Kb, the other is a verie fine fashion-
able one, and cost 36 lib."
The pounds could hardly be sterlijig, and as the writer
was accustomed to pounds Scots, and kept regularly a book
for his mercantile correspondence with Scotland, it is evi-
dent that it was these he meant. The vagaries of fashion
I'ASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART. 303
are amusing enough. lu 1G72 fair hair was "vcrie fashion-
alyle," in 18G8 golden locks are the rage. "Dark haire,"
carried the day at Kouen — and light haire "is going out."
In the preceding century red hair was in request, and
Queen Mary in her portraits is represented as having it,
neverthele.'is we suspect her majesty had a fine collection of
wigs of various colours, which she used according to the
exigencies of fashion, whatever might have been the natural
colour of her hair.
The last article, entitled Gall and Honey, is said to have
proceeded from the pen of Mr Robert Calder— sometimes
called Caddel— who was one of the presumed authors of the
Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Displayed.
Major AVeir, who is introduced by Calder into this satire,
was a distinguished warlock of hLs time, and a very particu-
lar friend of " Sathan." This intimacy was productive of
fatal results, as it led to his being burnt for crimes, of which
witchcraft was the least, in the year 1670. " He was
dreafled for his sorceries, and admired for his gift of prayer."*
After his apprehension, "Weir desired the presence of the
minister of Ormiston, to whom he confessed his manifold
iniquities— an exceedingly fooli;<h step on his part, as the
reverend gentleman was a principal witness against him on
his trial. There was evidence without it of his other
criminal offences, irrespective of the absurd charge of
sorcery.
Weir's reputation for sanctity and his facility of praying
had for a number of years rendered his presence a conafort
to those who were sick and in trouble. Upon occasion of
his visits he always took his cane, without which he was
unable to give religious consolation, and he uniformly leant
upon it when in the act of praying. Common report asserts
that this cane was his familiar spirit, and the devil had told
him, that so long as he had it in his hand no eartiily power
* Amot's Criminal Trials, p. 348.
304 PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
could hurt him. "When carried from prison for execution, he
held it in his hand ; and when the fagots were attempted
to be set on fire which were placed around him, they would
not burn, although every effort was made to raise a flame,
to the astonishment of the crowd assembled to witness his
death. The executioner was told to remove the major's
cane. It was forcibly wrenched from his grasp, and the
torches applied to the wood, which instantly ignited, and
in due time the uuhapjDy wretch was reduced to ashes.
The stick, when removed from Weir, flew up in the air and
disappeared.
Sinclair, in his " Satan's invisible world discovered,"
asserts that the stick was consumed with its owner ; but the
traditionary account now given, the editor heard some fifty
years since from an old lady who, when a girl, resided near
the scene of the major's abominations.
Aruot says that in his time, 1785, " so great was the
horror entertained for Major Weir, so general was the
belief that his house was possessed by devils, that almost
for a hundred years no person would inhabit it. At this
minute it is not occupied as a dwelling house, but as a smith
and wool-comber's shop." Fifty years after the date of
this work, the same feeling of horror prevailed ; and even
now, although modified, the impression that there is some-
thing unearthly about it remains. It was situated near the
top of the West Bow. The tenement above it was in the
lower part used as a bookseller's shop by a person of the
name of Main, who was weU versed in the traditions of
the place, and after he left it by the Messrs Nelson, who
carried on there originally the business of publishers.
Weir was born near Lanark in Clydesdale, and had
originally held a lieutenancy in a regiment which served in
Ireland. Of his promotions no record has been preserved.
It is very likely that he was with CromweU when he over-
ran that unhappy country. Sinclair says he had som
PASQUILS ON THE LORD .VDVOCA'fE STEWART. .V);")
public command in JOdinburgh, but how lie got the title of
major he did not know.
From his covenanting opinions, ■which were the same aa
those of "VYeir, alias Lowiie of Blackwood, of whose lineage
nothing is known, it is not unlikely they may have been con-
nected. They flourished about the same time, Lowric
having been chamberlain of the Marquis of Douglas, and the
traducer of the Marchioness. They both were natives of
Lanarkshii-e.
The ^^ajor was burnt between Edinburgh and Leith, at a
place called the Gallow-lee, on Thursday, the 14th of April
1670. He was then seventy years of age. His sister, who
was not very much younger, was not hanged until afterwards.
iltnrs ott Sir Jamrs Strtoart, ilorti
^Ijbocatf,
Quam formosa tua et facies tenebrosa Stewarte,
Qiiam simplex, duplex, quam falsum pectus honesti,
Quam verax, mendax, Oh ! quam suavis, amarus,
Quam celeste tecum meditans terrestria pectus,
Tuque colens Christum, coelum nee Tartara credis,
Non mirum quamvis ludis utraque manu.
Paraphrased. ^
How wonderous are the features of thy face, ■^^^
Where smyles and frowns by turns assume their place.
That gloomy cloud which on thy brows does sit,
Speaks thy deep judgement and thy dangerous watt.
Thy visage is an emblem of thy heart.
Where every passion acts a different parte.
A subtile serpent, now a harmless dove,
All rage and furie — in a moment love.
u
3UG I'ASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
By nature false, yet honest if thou please,
Honey or gall, speak truth or specious lyes,
Such Proteus shapes you can put on with ease.
A Saint in show, but in a carnall niynd,
A slave to mammon's drossie part inclyn'd.
Heav'n thou pretends to seek, but heaven does knoAV,
All thy desires are centered here below.
"Wheedling's thy trade, and spite of all commands.
Thou findst the art to play with both the hands.
(Qtfftx ItJtfs on Sir Satnes,
Sir James Stewart thou'lt hing
in a string,
Sir James Stewart, knave
and rogue thou art.
For thou ne'er had a true heart
to God or the King,
Sir James Stewart thou'lt hing
in a string.
mm ox l^ottfg for %iv SamtQ %te^ax% f^tx
Gall.
My heart, my heart, take this propyne,
Sent by a stipendless divyne ;
Who, when he goes to Aberdeen,
Must seik iirotection from the Queen,
Against your Presbyterian currs ;
AVho to our stipends sticke like burs ;
PASQTTILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWAltT. .'507
So tliou to mammon sticks like birkie,
And keeps the Wliigs in ev'ry kirkie,
Thou plotting trickic Laird of Gutter,
Tlie honest clergies persecutor,
And this thou does for worldly pelf,
Its nyne years since thou hang'd thyselfe.
Of law thou makes a Welchman's hose,
(I fear this line be true in prose ;)
Thou hast a pleasant face and hue,
Tho' shame a word of this be true ;
Thou pleads the cause of Core and Dathan,
Thou'rt suljtill like old Nick or Satlian ;
Thy shoes are cloven like his foot,
Thou'rt souple tho' thou hes the gout.
Thou calls tliy clients all thy hearties,
Yet you'll take money from both parties ;
Thou may be drown'd for all thy geir,
Or else be burnt like Major Weir;
Or hang'd 'twixt Edinburgh and Leith,
Take thou this T d, to pyke thy teeth;
Thou silver gulfe, thou money glutton,
Thou swallowes gold like beefe or mutton.
For worldly pelfe thou still does gape,
Sathan might think shame of thy shape,
For if the Devil assumed thy corpes.
And travelled through the Holand Dorps,
Thou would terrify the Souterkines,
More than a gyzard in black sheep skines.
Vex not thy scull nor pia mater
But give a guinea for this Satyr ;
It is a thing thyselfe hes sought,
308 PASQUILS ON THE LORD ADVOCATE STEWART.
No reason I should work for nought ;
I can A^Tite verse lyke Gall or Honey,
As you plead any cause for money.
Honey.
Poets (my Lord) have liberty to lie,
Satyre and Praise are both alyke to thee ;
Such is the temper of thy joviall spirit,
For thou'rt known to be a man of witt and merit,
Its known thou art weill vers'd in politicks,
And so thou art in all the sacred criticks ;
Thou can clear things mysterious and dark,
We know thy byte is not so ill's thy bark ;
In justice then, I doe give thee thy due,
And yet there's something in my satyre true.
VERSES ON BREADALBANE AND QUEENSBERRY. 309
VERSES ON BREADALBANE AND
QUEENSBERRY.
The following is the title given by Mylne to the fol-
lowang pasquil, " Lines upon the Earl of Broadalbion and
the Duke of Quceusberry, the pretended son of George
Bkir."
This Pasquil refers to the money placed at the disposal of
Breadalbane for the pacification of the Highlands. In the
Melville and Leven papers, presented to the members of the
Bannatyne Club in 1843 by the Honourable William Leslie
Melville, many interesting particulars will be found relative
to a measure which the Earl of Melville, the King's Commis-
sioner at the time, considered to be injudicious. But King
William, thinking as Simon Lord Lovat, next century did,*
that money would go a far way in the Highlands, took his
own way, and Breadalbane, as the distributor of what was
remitted, considering that charity begins at home, no doubt
took very good care of himself.
William's autograph letter to the Earl is in French, and
does not show that his majesty was very proficient in that
language. It is dated
Kinsinton ce f§ de Mors 1690.
Par la lettre jointe, vous vaires mes intensions a I'eguard de
I'adjournement de mon Parlement en Ecosse, jusques a ce
que celle d'Angletere sera leve dont la cession ue sera que
d'envirou trois semaincs. II sera necessaire que vous tachies
a gagner Mr liredalbin, aihu que par son moieu I'on tache a
separer les Rebelles. Et je suis contant de donner une
bonne somme d'argent, ay jait remestre les 4000 lb. que le
* Letter from Lovat to Lochiel.
310 VERSES ON BREAD ALBANE AND QUEENSBERRV.
committie des affaires de geiirre m'avoit demaude, pour
executer ce qu'ils ont projette. L'espere que les fregattes
qui sont parti il y a si long temps feront arrive. Aujourdliuy
est parti Slezer avec I'artillerie et munitions de geurre. Sores
asseure de la continuation de mon amitie.
WILLIAM R.
The Earl Jfelville, having better means of forming an
opinion as to the propriety of entrusting Breadalbane with
money, and doubting its effect exceedingly even if properly
and fairly distributed, was disposed to advise very different
steps, and so far as can now be judged, preferable to those
adopted. His Lordship well knew that if the King and
his ministers were suffei'ed to be so very "squeezable,"
to borrow a designation not long since applied to weak
governments, there would be perpetual di'ains upon the
Public purse, and " honest Broadalbion," as he is called in the
satire, would be speedily demanding more " secret service
money."
Colonel Hill, who had the command of the forces in the
Higlilands, addressed a letter, 26th June 1691, from Fort
"William to Melville, in which occurs this passage: "My
Lord Broadalbiue is come to the countrey, haveing his
remissione in his pocket, as also my Lord Athole, and they
have obtained aCommissione, and have imdertakin to settle
the Highlands. Breadalbine is the manager, and hath mett
with M'Leane, Lochiel, and some others, but I find he hath
done nothing with them, they, especially his cousine Lochiel,
will not trust him. He tells them, the money he has for them
is^locked up in a chist at London, but they believe (iff he
say true in that) he wiU find a way to help a good part off
it to himself. Buchan, Glengary, Sir George Barclay, and
others, are gone through the Braes to liis house at Glenur-
chy. This {prima fucu^ looked somewhat strange, that a
man who had been bouyingthem up all this while in rebellione,
and keept constant correspondence with Buchan, should now
VERSES ON BKEADALBANE .AND QUEENSBEKRY. 311
be trusted to settle them." Hill objects unhesitatingly to
payment of any money to these slippery gentry.
Melville lost the confidence of the King, but the cause has
never been a.scertained. In 1691 liLs Lordship prepared a
very elaborate and distinct narrative of his actings as his
Majesty's representative, from which a paragraph relating
to the " honest " Earl has been extracted.
"As for the business of Breadalbaus treaty with the
Highlanders, I shall presume to say, that tho' before your
Majestic came from Holland and since, before you was putt
to so great expense as you have since been putt to, that it
was fitt to take off by money some of the chieff of the
Highlanders, and that it was youi- Majesty's interest to have
as many of the Highland superiorities in your own hand as
could be fairly purchassed without doing violence to any
particular person ; But I must take tlie boldness also to say,
that I did and doe think that the obligeing of the heads of
the Clans to give good security for the peaceable behaviour
of their dependants, would have been a surer foundation of
peace amongst men, who can be tied by no faith, and this
was that which the law did allow. 1 do not see indeed any
great prejudice to the publick interest by Breadalbans
articles in so farr as they relate to particular persons, nor
do I take upon me to coudemne the granting of an indemnity
to the Highlanders for their rebellion against your Majesty's
government ; but I durst never have atlvised the freeing of
them from all obligations to make Sixtisf action for the depre-
dations and robberies committed by them against your
Majesty's best subjects, this being the thing which is
grievous to your Majesty's faithful servants. As for the
affronts which some did putt upon me in the management
of that and other businesses, though I could not but be
sensible of them, yet respect to your Majesty's service did
make me burie in silence my resentments, though I regrated
more upon a nationall account than my own."
312 VERSES ON BREADALBANE AND QTTEENSBERRY.
Monarchs are usually disftleased when ministers speak
their mind, as Melville did in respectful opposition to the
project of subjugating the Highlanders by money. On this
and some other matters the monarch and his commissioner
disagreed. Melville was removed from his high position,
and appointed to the insignificant ofBce of Keeper of the
Privy Seal about the end of the year 1691, and in 1695 was
made President of the Council. He retired from public life
in 1701, upon the demise of William, and died in 1707.
The precise amount of money obtained by Breadalbane
cannot be ascertained, but it must have been very consider-
able, and the distrust of Lochiel his cousin and the general
belief, that whether it was kept in a " chist " in London or
elsewhere, a great part would be retained by the " honest"
nobleman, has every appearance of being well founded.
Robert Mylne, in a note, calls Queensberry the son of
George Blair, This refers to a person of that name who was
chamberlain to the Queensberry family, and who, in 1677,
was also factor for the city of Edinburgh. These chamber-
lains were apparently persons of influence, for Weir, alias
Lowrie of Blackwood, the chamberlain of another Douglas,
had suflBcient address to induce the weak-minded and
puritanical Marquis, to separate from his young, beautiful,
and loving spouse, upon a charge which the silly husband
never attempted to prove, when pursued for aliment. The
individual whose paternity the zealous Jacobite was pleased
to question, M^as the third Earl of Queensberry, and an able
and energetic man. He was created Marquis of Queensberry
and Earl of Drumlanrig 21th Feb. 1680, and Duke of
Queensberry 3d Feb. 1683. He died in 1694 at the age of
68, and was buried with much funeral solemnity at Duris-
deer, where a stately monument was erected to his memory.
In the " Scots Compendium," London 1756, sixth edition,
he is described as " One of the greatest and worthiest men of
that age." He rebuilt the Palace of Drumlanrig and
VERSES ON BRE.U)ALBANE AND QUEENSBERRY. 313
embellished the environs. His garden is represented to
have been the finest in North Britain. He furnished his
residence with a noble library, which was sold in Edinburgh
in 1810, after the death of the last male descendant of the
body of the liuilder, upon whose demise the Dukedom of
Dover became extinct. The Marquisate of Queensberry
pa.s8ed to Douglas of Kelhead, together with a portion of
the entailed lands as heir male. Tlie March Estates went
to the Earl of AVemyss, and the Queensberiy Dukedom and
the Druiulanrig property to his grace of Buccleugh.
In the collected works of Robert Ker of Gilmerton, there
occui-s the ensuing curious account in verse of the '' Spring
and Rise of the house of Queensberry," occasioned by seeing
Drumlaiu-ig built by the first Duke.
I came some further on my way,
A fair palace I did espy !
I said, what way was this foundation laid,
By the oppression of some lairds ;
The superstructure was carried on.
By shedding of the blood of men !
And then the capestone its put on,
And this does make men sigh and groan.
Altho' that house shoidd reach the sky,
God's judgement will make some men cry ;
My Lord Drumlenrick is in his stile,
That Traitor did Scotland beguile ;
If you would read the coat of arms.
You'll see he's com'd of bastard bairns ;
He is but of a Bastard sort.
And they'll prove nothing but as Scots-
There is some Parks they have inclos'd,
And many families they raz'd :
They have join'd house and house together,
There's a curse upon him, and some other.
He has a monument at Disdcar,
Himself sliall become one some year.
314 VERSES ON BREAD ALB ANE AND QUEENSBERRY.
These lines are worthy of Scott of Satchcll, whose genea-
logical lucubrations in verse seem to have inspired the
Gilmerton feuar with a desire to become his rival.
The Earl of Drumlanrig succeeded to the Dukedom, and
was so much esteemed by Queen Anne, that she created
him Duke of Dover in England. He was Secretary of State
for Scotland, an office he held until his death in July 1711.
Sir George Mackenzie, Lord Clerk Register and Justice-
General, was made Viscount of Tarbet by King James VII.,
and Earl of Cromarty by Queen Anne. He died in August
1714, in the 84th year of his age. He was the author of a
Dissertation on the Gowrie Conspiracy.
Linlithgow, was George the 4th Earl. He was a Privy
Councillor of William III. and one of the Commissioners of
the Treasury. He married Henrietta, daughter of Alexander
first Lord Duffus, but had no surviving issue by her. In a
letter dated 9th July 1689, addressed by the Duke of Hamil-
ton to Lord Melvill, mentioning certain designs against gov-
ernment, his Grace refers to the confession of "one Scott,"
who he states to be " the Goldsmith's sone whoes mother E.
Lithgow maryed." This probably was a second wife, but
the jjcerage writers afford no information on the subject.
They are much too "polite," as Lord Hailes says, to record
mesaUiances. He died in 1695. His nephew and successor,
joining in the rebellion of 1715, was attainted of high treason
and hiii estate forfeited.
Qiiotli honest Broadalbion, to the son of George Blair,
" Since the gear is agoeing, let's e'en take our share,
Should the scarecrow of Loyalty, Heaven or Hell,
Make a man such a fool as forget him nain-sell 1
VERSES ON BRE.\DALBANE AND QUEENSBEUKY. 315
" Na, be God," quoth the Duke, " we'll be no longer
sham'd,
I'd ratlier see all the Kings of Christendome damn'd,
Let Tories or Whigs, knaves or atheists us call,
My estate is my God, my King, and my all."
Says Lithgow, " You. know my fiithcr's old way,
Shall we be tram[)led by dogs 1 — is all I can say.
Then down the burn, Davie,* I'll follow you tuo,
And forget all the Bishops of all long agoe."
I )rumlanrig persues with ane air that's obledging,
His uncle's true honour,t and his father's religion,
"Let the king save Namure, or be mockt by his foes,
I'd rather be here with my Lady Montrose. "|
But thou, George, Lord of Tarbet, art a plain honest
man.
Never works, nor plots mischief, let say it who can.
Cares as much for a God, as for Mahomet's pigeon,
Yet canst talk, like old wives, of the French and
Religion.
Silly Crawford was nothing to you, mighty men,
He slew but his thousands, as you have your ten,
Why should Tories live free from death and damna-
tion.
More than the first Peers and wise men of the nation?
♦ The Rev. David Williams.
t General Douglas, an eminent Turn-coat.
X Proljably the widow of James, third Marquis of Montrose,
who died in the prime of life in 16S4. She was a daughter of
the only Duke of Rothes.
316 DE JURAMENTO ILLICITO.
DE JURAMENTO ILLICITO.
From the MSS. of Sir Robert Sibbald. Both the Latin
verses, and their translation by Dr Archibald Pitcairn, are
equally excellent. Their preservation by Sibbald shows
that the intimacy, which had subsisted between these
two Physicians, did not suffer much interruption by the
knight's temporary Roman Catholic mistake, and the Doctor's
roundel on the subject. The attachment of both these per-
sons to the cause of the Stewarts, tended materially to a
renewal of their friendship.
I3e Suramento Ulltcito*
Qui principem abjurat animo lucrandi,
Nee jus nee verum curat,
Qui principem abjurat,
Hoc, ei, ut rem acquirat est causa prsedicandi
Qui principem abjurat animo lucrandi.
Est regula scripturse, sua cuique dentur,
Hoe quibus non est curae
Regula Scripturse,
Mentis sunt impure et stigmate notentur.
Est regula Scripturse, sua cuique dentur.
Qui primo proposuerat foedus abjurandi
Gentem abhorruerat.
Qui i^rimo proposuerat,
Nam lites iste moverat et causas altercandi
Qui primo proposuerat foedus abjurandi.
Ad sanitatem regis tibi propino.
Est Dux nostri gregis,
DE JURAMENTO ILLICITO. 317
Ad sanitatem Regis,
Est fons nostri Legis Jure Divino
Ad Sanitatem Regis tibi propino,
Englished.
Who takes the abjuration, for love of filthy gain,
To keep his post and station ;
Who takes the abjuration.
WHien comes a restauration, he'll take his word again
^Vho takes the abjuration, for love of filthy gain.
The Scripture doth enjoin, give ev'ry one their due ;
AMiy then for love of coyn,
Since Scripture doth enjoin,
Should falsely one purloyn, and swear against what's
true,
Since Scripture doth enjoin, Give ev'ry one their due.
\\nioever first did state the oath of abjuration,
Did Church and Nation hate ;
Whoever first did state,
For he's caused much debate, 'mongst people of each
nation,
WTioever first did state the oath of abjuration,
A health to the King I do thee propine,
Wlio over us shoidd reign,
A health to the King,
He's of our laws the spring
And that by Right Divine,
A Health to the King I do thee pro})ine.
Vivat Kex !
318 LINES ON THE EARL OF CRAWFORD.
LINES ON THE EARL OF CRAWFORD.
"WiLLL^M, Earl of Crawford, was one of the chief opponents
to the continuance of Episcopacy in Scotland, and on that
account was ridiculed and satirized by its supporters. Lord
Tarbet, better known afterwards as Earl of Cromarty, in
a memorial relative to the state of the church in June 1689,
for the use of government, commences with stating that " the
matter of church government hath been made a pretence
for the troubles of Scotland now for 100 years. Episcopacy
appears insufferable by a great party, and Presbytery is as
odious to the other. The one the more zealous and hotter, the
other more numerous and powerfid. The present parlia-
ment is more numerous of Presbyterians by the new method
of election of binrrowes ; but the major part of the nobility
and barones are not for Presbytrey."*
Crawford was one of the very " hot" and '* zealous"
Presbyterians, and as the greater part of the nobility and
barons were favourers of Episcopacy, it was- no small
advantage for its opponents to have on their side a nobleman
of ancient lineage, whose zeal might make up for mental
deficiencies. He had, moreover, the advantage of being
supported in the Parliament of 1689 by the burrows, where
the vote of any one member was as good as that of
another. In this way the Earl, by supporting the majority
in point of numbers, had a political weight which he never
would otherwise have possessed.
Amongst the Leven and Melville Papers a great number
of Crawford's letters, dm-ing the years 1689 and 1690, have
been printed, which, taken as a test of his lordship's
* Leven and Melville Papers, p. 125.
LINES ON THE EARL OF CRAWFORD. 310
acquirements, are not calculated to produce any high opinion
of his intellect. They are tedious and dull — filled with
scriptural ejaculations— ill spelt, and teeming with flattery
towards Melville, who was treated as if he was something
more than liuman. Despite of all the writer's endeavoui-s to
palliate the treatment of the Episcopal clergy — the truth that
they were very ill-used frequently peeps out. There is very
little to instruct or amuse in any of them. The following
anecdote relative to an unfortunate curate is curious enough.
The Reverend Mr Aird, Crawford says, was represented as
a man of gi-eat piety, and " turned out by a streach." His
lordship justifies his extrusion by asserting that he not only
prayed for the late king, but that he wished " the Lord to
put a hook in the nose of the usurper, and send him the way
he came." " If," continues his lordship, " ignorance be the
mother of devotion, he is the most religious man I know."
" Preaching one day on these words, ' and there was silence
in heaven about the space of half an hour,' he was silent
about as long, and then told his congregation he did not
doubt that they were sm-prised, but that during the whole
time he had been in such raptures, that he wondered he liad
ever spoken again."*
Through Melville, in May 1689, the earl was appointed,
to his infinite delight, President of the Parliament that was
to follow, but not to the gratification of the Duke of
Hamilton — the Lord High Commissioner — who seems to
have had a thorough contempt for him.
In the comedy of the Assembly he is, as Lord Whigridden,
described in the Uramatui personie as an empty fool ; whilst
the Earl of Leven is called Lord Huffy, and characterised as
a madcap. lu the preface to the second edition of this
play, Crawford is treated with the greatest possible con-
tempt. Many instances of his stupidity are mentioned, of
which one instance may be given. '' When the brethren
Leven and Melville Papers, p. .319.
320 LINES ON THE EARL OF CRAWFORD.
were speaking about the terms of communion with the
Episcopal party, he took it they meant the Lord's Supper,
whereupon he made a ridiculous speech to that effect."
The bretliren who had no respect to his dignity told him
roughly that he did not know what he was saying ; "for they
think ill manners as essential to religion as want of sense."
The preface, after other instances of his lordship's ignor-
ance, thus concludes, " For all his pretensions to reUgion,
yet to oblige a friend or compliment one he is afraid of, he
will do things both against his conscience and reason, for
so he lately told the Viscount of Tarbet he had done, in
subscribing an act for his pension. His malice and injustice
to the Episcopal clergy, even to those who complied to the
civil government, is well known in this kingdom ; and that
his sense is as httle as his estate, which is none at all, no
man with any sense doubts."
Lord Crawford was grandfather of the gallant field-
marshall,'^whose life, as compiled by Rolt, is one of the most
execrable attempts at biography that ever issued from the
press.
By the extinction of this branch of the Crawfords, the
earldom devolved on the Earl of Balcarras, who claimed
it successfully before a Committee of Privileges, having
been enabled by the aid of the late John Riddell, Esq., the
learned antiquary and genealogist, to extinguish the male
representatives of the different families who stood between
his lordship and the last Earl of the name.
In the course of the evidence laid before the Lords on
the Committee of privileges, it was proved that Lindsay of
Edzell, the undoubted male heir of this ancient race, was
reduced before he died to the humble position of a menial.
LINES ON Tilt; EARL OF CRAWFORD. 321
3Lgttfs on Ujc e.ivl of eraUjfortr.
Of all the worthies who advanced the cause,
There's one indeed deserves the chiefe applause ;
A genuine Saint, a Whig without allay,
Not tainted with the least malignant clay,
A true Nathaniel in Presbytrie.
Cant, Henderson, and all that yet hath been.
Are but forerunners and dark tyijes of him.
Ane homi-omrie of fanatique span,
Justling by chance, made up the wondrous man,
Each atom was a Presb}'terian.
Brought from a garden and obscure retreat,
Abdolomenus like, to rule the state.
Sick herbage now and fading flowers declare
The ftitall loss of such a gardiner's care ;
Yea, the poor tender imps begin to fail,
And suffer sadly through their master's zeall^
And though he always something doth retaine,
As it's no wonder, of the gardiner's mien ;
Yet for a modern statesman he was fit.
For both were small — his fortune and his witt ;
The two constituents of phanatick Peer
Are want of sense, and scarce twelve pounds a-year.
Witt was a dangerous tooll in former reigns
For arbitrarie councells and designs ;
And a bad fortune well may reckon'd be
To being forfeit, just the next degree.
X
322 IJXKS 0\ THE EARL OF CJ^AWl'OltD.
He was the restless Puritan's posthorse ;
Old sighing hags did chalk him out his course,
And zealous Websters were his counsellors.
Then lie became knight-errant of the cause,
And fought his Avay through all the kingdom's laws ;
Sense and religion both in triumph led,
While armies of lewd curates vanquished,
Would gain his point in spite of policie,
And conquer by the absolute decree.
One trusty Squair* he had for all his train,
WTio did a virtual troop of guards contain ;
He, not being used to plenty, glutts his panch,
Forsook God's laws, and lusted for a wench ;
Or if in sacred phrase you needs must have it,
Went in unto a sister who conceived.
Farewell, my lord, who ne'er shall be forgot
Till Whigs cease to perjure, lye, cheatt, and plott ;
Till Struther parks,+ as they before have done.
Produce a tree can laden sixty tun ;
Till all this come to pass thy name shall be
Bless'd with a happy immortality ;
T'oor famished curates shall thy praise proclaim.
And crying orphans echo forth thy name.
* This was Young of Kirkton, R. M.
t Called Crawford Priory, belonging to the Earl of ( Masgow,
as heir of line of Earl William.
P(H»ULAR lUIYMFS. 323
POPULAR RHYMES, 1089-90-91.
In the first of these it is obvious that the Duke " full
of pryde" was his Grace of Ihuniltou, who is uuifonnly
represented as an imperious and haughty man. The
"monkey out of Fife" seems to have been meant either
for Lord .Melvill or his son Lord Raith, botli Fifeshire
men. In Lord Newbottle's '' Bannocks o' Bear-Meal,"
the son is specially designated " Kaithy the monkey."
The popular rhyme in question evidently refera to the
displacing of Duke Hamilton as Commissioner, and the
appointment of Lord Melville to that high office. The cause
of this removal, as stated in a very curious pamphlet, entitled
"The justice of resuming the Bishop Rents in Scotland,"
8vo, London, 1714, p. 3, was his Grace's refusal to concur
in the Presbyterian Church estabhshment, unless the inferior
Episcopal clergy should be allowed to continue in their
livings. Lord Melville and his sons, " Raithy " and Leven
(rigid Presbyterians), had then King William's ear, and
took this opportunity of getting the Duke laid aside. When
the matter came before Parliament, his Grace supported
his opinion with great good sense and feeling. " We have
now," said he, "before iis the case of four hundred unfor-
tunate clergymen, wlio have spent any little patrimony they
had in fitting themselves for holy orders ; they have come
in upon the faith of the nation, and are possessed of livings;
the laws are still standing unrepealed in their favour, and
they have as good a right to their benefices as I have to my
estate, for I have no security but the law of the land."
There is good sense and justice in the Duke's argument,
but then and since, neither the one nor the other is con-
sidered when the chief object is to disjilace a man in power.
His exei-tions were fruitless; but his rival did not long
enj<^y Iiis plaw. as lie was very soon after dismis.sed. It
324 POPULAR RHYMES.
will be kept in remembrance that tlie Duke was in general
•a steady adherent of King William, and was consequently as
obnoxious to the tories as either Lord Melville or "Eaithy
the monkey."
The subsequent rhymes all refer to the three sons of
the Earl of Melville, who married Katheriiie, daughter of
Alexander Lord Balgony, eldest son of Alexander, first Earl
of Leven. Besides his three sons, ^Melville had a daughter
married to Robert Balfour, the fourth Lord Burleigh.
His lordship's eldest son, Lord Raith, held the high
office, and sat in Parliament as Lord " Thesaure deput" until
his death, w^hich took place before 21st of j\Iay 1700, when
Adam Cockburn of Ormiston was appointed his successor.
Lord Raith had no issue.
David, the second son, through his mother, became Earl
of Leven, wliich ultimately took jsrecedence of the Melville
title. The third son James was a peat, or pet, of which
occupation explanation has already been given. From the
high position of his father and the influence of his brother,
he no doubt made a very good thing of it.
Lord Balgony, who predeceased his father, the first Earl of
Leven, married Lady Margaret, daughter of John, sixth Earl
of Rothes, and by her had, besides Lady Melville, Alexander,
second Earl of Leven, who espoused Margaret, sister to
Charles, Earl of Carlisle. Lamont notices, July 15, 1664,
the death of the Earl, " being bot a young man, at his
seat of Balgonie. He died of a high fever after a large
carouse with the p]arl of Dundie,* att Edinburgh and the
Queensferry." It was reported that on crossing the Firth,
they drank sea-water, " one to another," and after landing
were dreadfully sick. He was buried at Markinch, 3d August
following. His funeral sermon, being, says Lamont, "the
first one in Fyfe for the last twenty-four years past or
more." was preached by Mr. John Robertson, minister of
* Scrj-mgeour, who lived till June 1068.
POPULAR RHYMES. 325
Kiliiihmgh, who luul formerly been his chaphiin. His
Countess, " a tender weake woman," speedily followed liiui,
afi she died at Edinburgh, on the 30th of September there-
after. Her body was brouyiit to Wemyss, and from thence
transferred to Markinch. They hat] no son, and only two
fhiur^htere, ^largaret and Katherine. The former died in 1G74.
In this way Katharine became Countess of Leven in her own
right. She was the wife of Mr Francis ^fontgomery, but
survived her marriage a very short time. Ujaon her death,
David Melville was served heir to her in April 1682, and
succeeded to the Earldom of Leven. He brought with
consent of his father, for he was a minor, a reduction of her
contract of marriage upon the gi-ound of minority and lesion.
It was averred that the Lady had been forced to marry
^fontgomery, by her uncle the Duke of Kothes, although
" she was diseased," and according to the ojdnion of learned
physicians, incapable of having children. Kothes threw
everything he could in tlie way of preventing the Earl being
served heir of entail to his cousin, and at one time, 2l)th
February* 1677, was able to stop the service during "the
possibility of a second son of my Lord Chancellor's body, for
the Devil must byde his day." On pronouncing the inter-
locutor in favour of the Chancellor, this Kouudell was
made : —
Ens Reale (id est Melville's, 2d son) craves to be preferred,
Ad quantum et ail quale, Ens Reale,
But I (id est the Chancellor) say, nihil tale
Uules T be interr'd.
Ens Reale craves for to be serv'd.
ifelville asked a further hearing and waited patiently till
the arrival of Lauderdale, who " turnes the chasse," on the
24 til Jidy following, by his overawing the Chancellor's
friends, and obtaining letters of administration from the
* Historical Notes, vol. i. p. 140.
32G POPULAR RIIYMP.S.
Crown (1st August) to Melville as Pater Pahim, to his secoud
son David. Thus Ens Reule, ultimately came off victorious to
this extent, though unable to reduce the marriage contract,
by means of which the Leveu estate was seriously injured.
Next came the great competition between Montgomery
and Earl David, as to the family jewels, in which one inter-
esting point was the subject of much discussion. The
first Earl of Leven, before his elevation to the Peerage of
Scotland, had been one of the chief generals of Gustavus
Adolphus, the Lion of the North, as Major Dalgetty calls hiin.
who had presented Lesley with " the Great Jewell, called
the Jewell of the Family." This, it was contended, was not
only aii-ship, " but the Earl by his Testament, had prohibited
alienation extra familium and ordei'ed it to remain as the
Jewell of the house."
The decision was, 27th July 1683: "That the Great
JeweU gifted by the King of Sweden must belong to the
Family, and that the Jewell is the airship Jewell, and tliat
the rest of the Jewells are not airship moveables."
popular Eijgmcs,
I.
There was a duke so full of pryde
There durst no man come neeria,
Till cam a monkey out of Fife,
And dang him tops o're tiria.
IT.
Three brave chins as any man may see, sir —
There's huffie chin, and muffie chin, and chin of
gravitie, sir ;
And if your chin be out of mod, goe ye to the baillie,
sir.
I
POPULAR RHYMES.
327
TIT.
Three brave .sons, and all gallant .state.snicn —
'I'here's crooked .son, and wicked .son, the third son is
a pate, man ;
And if your pur.se he full enough, it will end all
debate, man.
IV.
Three brave laws, and all weell keeped —
The perjur'd law, the iissurance law, and all your
chimney sweeped.
>*'
328 IIANNOCKS OF BEAR-MEAL.
BANNOCKS OF BEAR-MEAL.
In the Jacobite Relics this satire on the Whigs is ascribed
to Lord Newbottle, and in all probability correctly, for
although Hogg does not say from what MS. he procured
the copy printed, there is no doubt that it was from one of
Robei-t Myhie's, whose notes are tolerably accurate, although
not unfrequently tinged by a strong party feeling for the
Stewarts.
Robert, Earl of Lothian, Earl of Aucrum, and Lord
Newbottle, was the eldest son and successor of William, the
third earl. Notwithstanding this clever but violent attack
on the Revolution party, his Lordship was open to con-
viction, and, after due con.sideration, thought it better, both
on his own account and that of his country, that he should
obtain increase of dignity and comfortable places under
the government of the king defacto^ than waste his talents
in solitude and obscurity lamenting the exile of the king de
jure. He accordingly gave his services to the public, as
Lord Justice General and Lord High Commissioner to the
Church of Scotland, and in 1701 was rewarded by AVilliam
with the Marquisate of Lothian. He married a daughter of
the Earl of Argyle, and by her, who died 31st July 1712,
had his successor William, who, as the following extract
from AVodrow's Analecta indicates, did not stand very high in
the reverend gentlemans estimation: — "I am told," says
Wodrow, in 1725, " the young Marquis of Lothian is one
of the most promising of our young noblemen. He was
still sober, but now is recoued religious. May it hold, as,
alace ! his father's did not."*
In the printed version, Chinnie is called Clunie, an error
no doubt arising from Mylne's autograph, which occasionally
is rather crabbe<l. Cliinnie of course means Lord Melville
* Vol. iii.
BANNOCKS OF BEAR-JIEAL. 329
— a noblcuiaii very distasteful to the Jacobites — who was
so calletl from hia chin projecting rather more than is
usually the case. It is somewhat remarkable that this pecu-
liarity should still be rebiined by some of his lordship's
descendants. It seems, hke the Austrian lip, to be an
indubitable mark of origin, but with this recommendation,
that it does not disfigure, but rather improves the facial
appearance.
The following explanation is "from an old commentator,",
as Hugg calls Mylne : —
" Cliinnie, Lord Melville, from the height of his features
(chin it should be). Raithy, Lord Raith. Little Pitcunkie,
Melville's thiid son. Leven the hero (Melville's second son),
who whipt lady Mortonhall with his whip. He is the Lord
Huffie of Dr Pitcairn's Assembly, where he is introduced
beating fi Hers and horse-hirers. Cherrytrees Davie, Mr
David WiUiamson, who did lie with Murrey's (of Cherry-
trees) daughter, when pursued by the troopers (having been
hid in her bed). Greenock, Dickson, Houston, taxtueu of
the customs. They were Sir J. Hall, Sir J. Dickson, and
Mr R. Young ? Borland is Captain Drummond, a great
turn-coat rogue. Grave Burnet, Old Gribto (Bishop Burnet,
it is presumed). Mennie, Willie, and xVnnie, Prince and
Princess of Orange and Princess of Denmark. Argyle he
was killed (received his death wound) in a brothel near
North Shields." Geordie, means George, the Prince of
Denmark, who is said to have been fond of his glass, and to
have couununicated this partiality to his wife, who was
sometimes called by her enemies Brandy Nan.
It is presumed that Gabriel Semple, minister of Jedburgh,
is the clergyman meant. Wodrow mentions that he had
"ahabite when preaching of putting out his tongue and
licking his lips very frequently. There was a fellow that
used to ape him, in a way of mock, and one day, in a
drunken caball, he was aping hiui and putting out liis
330 BANNOCKS OF BEAR-:\rEAL.
tongue, and it turned stiff and senseless, and he could not
draw it in again, but in a few days died." * Wodrow is
not very sure about this judgment on the foolish drunkard
for ridiculing the reverend gentleman, and wishes some
confirmation, but as nothing more is said on the subject,
it may be inferred that he was not successful in his
inquiries. In another part of his amusing collection, our
author gives an anecdote about the Jedburgh minister, in
which three gentlemen were prematurely cut off, because
they left the church one Sunday during sermon ! !
According to Jamieson, " Soudie means a gross heavy
pereon, one who is big and clmnsy." Crowdie, meal and
water in a cold state naixed together, so as to form a thick
gruel. Bannock means an oat cake kneaded with water
only, and baked on a girdle.
2$attnocft0 of UenxfSieah
Chinnie the deddy, and Rethy the Monkey ;
Leven tlie hero, and Little Pitcunkie ;
where shall ye see such, or find such a soudy 1
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
Deddy on politicks dings all the nation,
As well as Lord Huffie does for his discretion ;
And Crawford comes next, with his Archie of Levy,f
Wilkie, and Webster, and Cherrytree Davy.
There's Greenock, Dickson, Houston of that ilkie,
For statesmen, for taxmen, for soldiers, what think ye 1
Where shall ye see such, or find such a soudy 1
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
* Analecta, vol. ii. p. 187. t Young of Kirktuu.
BANNOCKS OF BEAR-MEAL. 331
There's honest AFass Thomas and sweet Geordie Brodie,
W'eel kend ^\'illiam Veitcli and Mass John Goudy,
For preacliing, for drinking, for playing at noudy,
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
There's Semple for pressing the grace on young lassies.
There's Hervey and Williamson, two sleeky a-s-ses ;
They preach well, and eat well, and play well at
noudy.
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
•
Bluff Macky for lying, lean Lawrence for griping.
Grave Burnet for stories, Dalgleish for his piping,
Old Ainslie the proi)het for leading a dancie.
And Borland for cheating the tyrant of Francie.
There's Menie the daughter, and Willie the cheater.
There's Geordie the drinker, and Annie the eater ;
Where shall ye see such, or find such a soudy 1
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
Next comes our statesmen, these blessed reformers.
For lying, for drinking, for swearing, enormous ;
Argyle and l)rave Morton, and Willie my Lordie ;
Bannocks of bear meal, cakes of croudy.
My curse on the grain of this hale refonnation,
The reproach of mankind and disgrace of our nation ;
Deil hash them, deil smash them, and make them a
soudy,
Knead thoni like bannocks and steer them like crondv.
332 PASQTJIL ON LORD LEVEN'S MARRIAGE.
PASQUIL ON LORD LEVEN'S MARRIAGE.
As previously mentioned, the Earl of Leven, a zealous
Presbyteiian, is introduced in the Comedy of the Assembly
as Lord Huffie. Mylne says that his Lordship, having been
reproved by the Lady Mortonhall for hunting in her park
Avithout her permission, "switched" her "with his rod."
The noble Lord was, at the time, Governor of Edinburgh
Castle.
These "lines on Lord Lea tine's marriage with the
Countess of Weemes daughter," are from Mylne's MSS.
The Countess was a peeress in her own right, and her
mother Margaret, after whom she was called, was, 1st, the
widow of Lord Balgony, and, 2nd, of Francis Scott, Earl
of Buccleugh. Her third husband was David, third Earl of
Wemyss. The only cliild of this last marriage succeeded
her father in 1C79, and married Sir James Wemyss,
created Lord Burntisland for life, who died in 1681,
leaving by the Countess his wife, one son, and two
daughters, the eldest of whom, the Lady Anne, married
the Earl of Leven. Her mother was consequently sister
uterine of Alexander, second Earl of Leven, and of
Catherine, wife of George, Lord Melville.
Mass David Williamson, who sang the " Nuptial Hymne "
after the bedding of the noble couple, was the Hero of
Cherrytrees. Before coming to Edinburgh, he was a preacher
in Aberdeen, and Wodrow says that whilst there, instigated
by the Jacobites and Episcopalians, on a Sunday, a crazy
feUow, during the minister's progress to the church, danced
and sang before him the song of " Dainty Davy," for which
offence the poor wretch died in the evening. This, whether
true or the reverse, affords a curious confirmation of the
PASQUIL ON LORD I.EVEN's MARRIAGE. 333
lefjend that the song was originally composed u^wu
AVilliaiiison.
AVodrow has also this anecdote of Williamson. Whilst
l)reaclung in Edinburgh, "a ratton " suddcidy made its
ap])earance, and very coolly sat down on the Bible, from
whence the preacher had selected his text, and which lay
open on the desk beside him. Astonished by this unusual
apparition, he stopped in the middle of his discourse and
declared it to be a messenger from heaven to warn him
of his approaching dissolution — dismissed his congrega-
tion, and sickened. This took place some months before
February 1702, but as he did not die until the Gth of
August 1706, the rat must have been a device of Satan
to frighten the worthy man.
Williamson must have recovered from his alann speedily,
for he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly
which sat on the 6th of the following month. Upon this
occasion a Latin epigram was circulated, which Mylne thus
desci'ibes: — "On a Star appearing at noon, when the General
Assembly sat down, Gth March 1702, and Mr. David William-
son being Moderator chosen thereto."
Solus ut hie Phoebus, solitum astra vicissim
Nunc simid alma Venus, suus et Moderator Apollo.
^asqiutl on 3LoYts ilfbrn^s iHarn'agr.
In fertile Weemes, that souU-refreshing place,
Under the droppings of the dew of grace,
Doiinda lives, the honour of her race,
Pride of our kirk, and glory of our aige.
Her all and every part was formed so weill,
3;U I'ASQUIL ON LORD LEVEN'S MARRIAGE.
Xo pielat member did tlie rest excell,
But parity in every limb did dwell.
So perfect all did justly her account
A transumpt of the patron of the mount.*
Dorinda — only fit for Ajax love —
Ajax, who thunders from his rock of Jove —
Ajax, who doth with birchen sceptre reign
O'er all the frighted ladyes of the plaine.
No superstitious rite or idle jest,
But godly psalms did grace the nuptiall feast ;
Instead of garter los'd, or stocking flung,
Sex double verse to Martyr's tune were sung.
The bride was bedded by the word of God,
Ane patron of reformed kirks abroad.
In the next place, a posset made of sacke.
Which gravely as the sacrament they take,
After some disputes, curious and nice.
About postures in the time of exercise,
Sex loud Precenters solemnly did sing;
The sacred crowd danced in a holy ring,
Until good sweet Mass David did begin.
Inspired with sack to sing his nuptiall hymne.
* Edinburgh Castle, of which the Earl of Levon was
Governor. The "birchen sceptre" was the "switch " which
he used to chastise the Lady Mortonhall.
SONG ON WEMYSS AND LEVKN. 335
SONG ON WEMYSS AND LEVEX.
Tin: following " Song on the Earl of Weems being made
lligli Admiral, and the Earl of Leven, General], March
1706," is from Mylne's MSS.:—
The Earl of Wemyss was the brother-in-law of the Earl
of Leven, whose marriage with Lady Anne ^Yemyss is the
subject of the preceding lines. He was oi»e of the com-
missioners for the treaty of union with England, and was
thereafter one of the sixteen peers for Scotland in the first
and second parliaments of Great Biitain. He received the
office of Lord High Admiral in 1706 from Queen Anne,
and after the Union held the office of Vice-Admiral from
1708 until 1714, He died in 1720, leaving, by his Lady
Ann, a daughter of William, first Duke of Queensberry,
James, his successor, who, by marriage with the daughter
of the notorious Colonel Charteris, acquired a vast increase
of estate.
The Earl of Leven was one of the Privy Council of King
William III. On the accession of Queen Anne, he was con-
tinued in his post of Governor, and was made Master of
Ordnance. He was a commissioner for the L^nion, and sub-
8e<iuently one of the sixteen Scotish peers. In 1708, he
wiis commander-in-chief of ail her majesty's forces in Scot-
land. He died in June 1728.
The French invasion upon this occasion, ended in
smoke. There had been a serious intention to attempt a
landing, and anuameuts were prepared at Dunkirk for that
piu-pose. It appeai-s that Lord Leven did all he could for
the safety of Scotland, but that the government of England
had been negligent.— See < 'iiamborlaine'.s History of Queen
Anne. Folio, Lond. 171)8.
33G SONG ON WEMYSS AND LEVEN.
Song on Mcm^QS atttr iL^bftt.
Let all our foreign enemies
Attack us, if tliey dare — a,
Since Weems is Neptun of our seas,
And Leven the God of War — a.
Let the bold boasting King of France
Send out his mighty fleet — a,
Weems with his Tritons shall advance,
And all the navy meet — a.
The Triton Hamilton shall show
His skill in sea affairs — a ;
He'll sink the great Tholouse, and blow
Their vessels up by pairs — a.
Gordon, Avhen thus the fight begun.
With Campbell shall advance — a ;
They'll sink a ship, with ever}^ gun,
And chace the rest to France — a.
But if our English neighbours dare
The river Tweed to cross — a,
Leven, the thundering God of War,
Shall drive them back with loss — a.
Lothian the great shall lead the van,
And Grant bring up the rear — a.
Grant bred in arms, a valiant man.
And Lothian a worthie peer — a.
DIALOGUE ON THE DEATH ( »F KFNC WIIJ.I AM. :i:'.7
DIALOr.UE ON THE DEATH OF
KING WILLIAM.
1703.
According to Nisbet,* the first of the surname of Brody,
or Brodie, " was one Michael, son of Malcolm," who got
" the Lands of Brody in the reign of King Robert 1., and
from the Lands took the surname of Brodie." His authority
for this are the manuscripts of Sir George Mackenzie. He
then continues, " from him is descended the present Laird of
Brody. The family, it seems, has been in use, as chief of
the name, to carry supporters, viz. : — Two mvafjca wreathed
about the head and middle, with laurel ; and for the Crest,
a right hand holding a bunch of arrows^ all jDroper, with
the motto — Unite."
If the acquisition of the lands of Brodie, in the shire of
Moray or Elgin, gave the surname to this Michael, the son
of Malcolm, it follows that the antiquity of the family could
not be esteemed great in the reign of James the fifth ; and
explains that line, the meaning of which was somewhat
obscure in the ballad ascribed to that monarch, and
entitled the "Jolly Beggar," t in whicli the goodman's
" dochter," after her mistake, exclaims in a rage —
" I took ye for some gentleman, at least the Laird o' Brodie ;
dool for the doing o't ! Are ye the poor bodio ? "
The young lady was speedily and satisfactorily enlightened,
that the beggar was of higher rank than any " gentleman,"'
or " at least the Laird of Brodie." A family obtaining
lands for the first time in the reign of Robert the Bruce,
could not, in the reign of James Y., be regarded as among
the old Baronial Lairds of Moray. Hence the not ^'e^y
complimeutiiry way in which the proprietor at that date
* Vol. i., p. 261. Folio, 17-2'2.
t Ritson's Scottish Songs, p. 168, vol. i. Lou. 171*4.
Y
338 DIALOGUE ON THE DEATH OF KING WILLIAM.
was named by the young lady, who would, nevertheless,
have made no complaint even had her lover been " at
le;ist " the Laird of Brodie, although she was in anger
when she thought she had been beguiled by a beggar.
At the date of the ballad, Alexander Brodie probably was
in possession of the estate. His son, David, was born in the
year 1553, and died in May, 1627, at the age of seventy-
four. He was succeeded by his son, also named David, who
was born in the year 1586, and who died at the early age of
forty-six, upon the 22d September, 1632.
His successor was Alexander, the most distinguished man
of his race. He was born on the :^5th July, 1617, and
maiTied, 28th October, 1635, a daughter of the Laird
of Innes, who died 12th August, 1640, when only twenty-
three years old. Their only son, James, was born 13tli
September, 1637. Upon the 28th July, 1659, he married
Lady Mary Ker, who, " on the 31st July, 1659, did sub-
scribe her covenant to and with God, and became his, and
gave herself up to him." *
Alexander Brodie was appointed a Lord of Session on 22d
June, 1649, and took his seat on the Bench 1st of November
following. He was held in great esteem by Cromwell, who,
in June, 1653, invited him to Loudon to treat of an union
of the kingdoms ; but, according to his diary, he resolved,
with the strength "of the Lord, to eschew and avoid
employment under Cromwell."
Lord Brodie is represented as a gentleman of shining
piety. His diary, even as originally printed, is tedious and
uninteresting ; and the enlarged echtiou by the Spalding
Club is still more so. That he was an able and honest
man is undoubted, and his brethren, tlie C'ommon wealth
Judges, are generally reputed to have been equally so ;
but Brodie, from being a Scotchman, and having many
relations and friends, is entitled to more praise, than those
* Diary of Alexander Brodie, Esq. Edin. 1740, 8vo, p. 19.
DIALOGUE 0\ THE DEATH OF KINC WILLIAM. '.VM)
who, l)t.'iii;f unconnected witli the country wlicre they
administered justice, had neither kith nor kin to provide
for. His Lordsliip died in 1(506, and was survived by his
son, James, -who, in August, 1(!80, was served heir to liim
in the lands of Hrodie.
This gentleman entertained the same strong religious
opinions as his parent, and, as a necessary consequence,
was obnoxious to Government. From Fountainhall we learn
tliat the "Brodies" were punislied, with other Moray.shire
proprietors, "for their hidies' Conventicles;" and that
the Laird of Grant was the only one of the number
wlio got off. The tines were disjwscd of after the usual
fashion of such things in Scotland. In vindication of tlie
law, it was necessary to send some pei-son of rank to the
nortli. The Earl of Kintore was selected for that purpose,
and he discharged his duty well and promptly. Having
mulcted the offenders pretty smartly, he, by the help of
Queensberry, — and the Earl of Strathmore, by the influence
of his brother-in-law, the Earl of Middleton,— got a gift of
the fines between them. Thus, Kintore, the Judge who
laid on the fines, — subsequently, as King's Donator, pocketed
one half of them— the other going to Strathmore, who had,
so far as appears, nothing to do ^\^th their imposition.
The hues that follow are from Mylue's MSS., and are
called "A Dialogue betwixt the Laird of Brodie and
Lillias Brodie, auent King William, pro and con."' Tliis
is followed by the name of the sjteakei-s, thus —
" Laiiu) ok Bkoadlaxd and LiLi.iAS Brodik."
As Mybie had previously designed the male party to be the
Laird of Brodie, it would have been better if he had kept to
the original designation. Who Lillias Brodie was he does
not mention ; but she seems to have been a fierce Jacobite,
which was not consistent exactly with the politics of a
family which had been so severely fined for their religious
opinions.
340 DIALOGUE ON THE DEATH OF KING WILLIAM.
Qtalogue ti^ttofi'tt tf)e ilairtr of Brolrtp antf
iLiUta0 Brotri(?,
B. Here lyes the greatest Prince e'er Europe bred ;
L. Had lie not James, his father, banished.
B. A most affectionate and lo\'ing Prince ;
L. Had not ambition thi-ust his uncle hence.
B. A most religious Prince, and most devout ;
L. Had he not crown and mitre both thrown out.
B. The chastest e'er on British throne did mount ;
L. Of him Myn-heer* can give the best account.
B. A most religious keeper of his word ;
L. His manifestoes still are on record.
B. He never promised once, and after broke it,
L. Save that he fought with articles in his pocket.
B. No innocent blood in all liis reign was shed,
L. Save all Glencoe in one night murdered.
B. He saved our country, and advanced our trade ;
L. Witness such product we from Darien had.
B. He acted still with Parliament's advice ;
L. Witness the private Articles of Peace, t
B. His ministers were still most true and just ;
L. Argyle and Stuart for avarice and lust. |
B. But since he's gone, God save our Sovereign Lady.
L. Amen, says Lillias, she had best pray for Dady.
* Bentinck. R.M. f Of Ryswick.
X The first Duke of Argyle's immoralities were as notorious
as the imperious and abominable temper of his wife, which
drove him from her arms. Sir James Stewart, the Lord-
Advocate, was a respectable married man, so that the
" avarice" mentioned must refer to him.
THE TWELFTH ODE OF HORACE. .{ 1 1
THE TWELFTH ODE OF HORACE.
[IMITATED.]
This is the transhition of one of Dr. Pitcaini's Latin
poems. It is thus titled—" In imitation of the XII. Ode of
the first Book of Horace ; transferring the Scene from Old
Rome to the New Constitution of Scotland." It is to be
sung to the tune, "Hark! I hear the thundering cannons
roar." It was found amongst the US. collections of Robert
Mylne.
E\i)c\ftf) mt of Horace.
[nilTATED.]
What Hogan hero, statelie muse,
Cargill or Cameron, wilt thou choose,
Their praise ^v'ith bag-pipes to diffuse,
Till all the fields resound them.
In Pentland hills, or Largo links —
Li Struther's parks,* and Leven's brinks, —
A\liile Kaithie on his fiddle jinks
Till all the trees dance round him.
He by material art can bind,
The people wavering as the wind ;
And by the holy league refin'd,
Send Bishops all a grazing.
With Father Melville let's began.
For Church and State, when's hand was in,
* Now Crawford Priory— then possessed by the Earl of
Crawford.
342 THE TWELFTH ODE OF HORACE.
He govern'd so, that a shake o's chin
Set all the town a-gazing.
Tlian he, none greater ; like him, none ;
His wit and parts adorn'd the throne ;
But next to him his godlie son
Dear Jamie had the honour.*
And thou, brave Leven, who still aspires
To kindle zeal at Bacchus fires,
If Lady cross but thy desires.
Thou '11 draw thy whip upon her.
And thou, stout David Williamson,
Alcides-like, with club comes on,
As Jove on Leda lights upon
My Ladies fine young daughter.
When thy bright burning star appears,
It soon dispells all doubts and fears,
Dreeps holyness instead of tears.
And turns her sighs to laughter.
Next shall I praise our founder Knox,
Or Kirkton, preaching all in jokes,
Or Managers of Jugs and Stocks,
Stirlin, or Sir John Hall, too ;
Or shall I sing of zealous martyrs,
Mitchell and Weir, who died in halters ;
Or Cleland, who by Highland Tartars,
Had a severe downfall too.
* He was Lord Treasurer-Depute.
THE TWELITH ODE Oi' IIOKACE. 34:3
Raemore and Orrok,* props of the Cause,
Who use no combs but their shaq) claws,
And liungry Brae, sliall have ai)plause,
From every Covenanter.
Crawford, like his own trees shall rise,
Rules t Roman stile shall ^vreath him bays,
Blest hands to plant a paradise.
And preach religious banter.
But Kennedie, for his moderation,
Shall have eternal commendation ;
He rais'd the honour of the nation
By a Newcastle Mercat. J
High Prince, refoi-mer of our State,
To thee committed is by fate
Great Kennedie, who is thy mate,
Whom all maliiinants bark at ?
'o'
His conquests every^vhere are seen.
From Kelso even to Aberdeen ;
He spares not Curates, though the Queen
Hath often it requested.
He next to thee doth govern, while
Th(ni quells the Tories of this Isle ;
And thundering flashes of thy zeal
Old prelacie hath blasted.
* Orrok, a Presbyterian minister, preached ii^jainst Episco-
pacy, April 1G88. Fountainhall, ii., page 8G3.
t See Pitcairn's Play, and the Pamphlets of the time, for
jests on Rule's execrable Latin.
t Kennedie was accused, in the Pamphlets of the Kevolu^
tion, of getting a share of King Charles the First's blood monej\
344 IWSQUIL ON ARGYLE AND HAMILTON.
PASQUIL ON ARGYLE AND HAMILTON.
The monster mentioned in these verses is thus described by
Lindsay of Pitscottie : — " Ane bairne was borne rekoned to
be ane man child, who, from the waist up, was tuo fair per-
sonages, with all members and portraitours perteaning to
two bodies ; and the back of one was fast to the other, but
fra the wast doun they were bot on persone. The King
caused tak great cair upoun the vpbringing of their bodies
in on personage, and caused learne thame to sing and play
upoun instrumentis, who within schort quhill became verie
ingenious and cunning in the art of musick that they could
play upon any mstrument, the one the tenor, and the other
the tryble, very melodiouslie, quhilk moved the people to
treit them verrie weiU. Also they could speak sundrie
leadis ; that is to say, Latine, French, Italianes, Spanisch,
Duch, Dense, Inglish, and Irisch. Thir tuo bodies lived
twentie aucht yeires, and thean the one of them depairted,
quhilk was verie dollorous to the other, quhilk was the
longest leiver ; for the quhilk men bad him be merrie, he
would answer, " How can I be mirrie that has my brother
as ane dead carcase upoun my back who was wont to sing
;ind play with me : quhen I was sad he would comfort me,
and I richt so to hun ; bot now I have nothing but dollour
in bearing so heavie a burtheine, dead cold and dissolved on
my back ; thairfoir I pray the Almightie God to delyver me
out of this lyffe, that we may be laid in the earth togidder
quhair fra we came." *
Finnie, the author of the Pasquil, was, according to Red-
path, " curate of Dornoch, and carried himself smoothly with
his parishioners till the first year of King James, when he
* Chronicles of Scotland, by Robert Lyndsay of Pitscottie.
Edin. 1814, vol. i., p. 246.
PASQUIL ON AKGYLE AND HAMILTON. 345
preached downright Popery, alle<lf,niig to the people that
they must ronoiuice Protestantism if they would be saved."
Whereupon the parish ejected him. He went to Edin-
burgh, " and sent a party to plunder them for his tithes ;
but missing of his exi^ectation from his turning Papist, he
spent his money, and turned vagabond." * This story about
Fiimie preaching Popeiy is evidently a fiction, invented by
Redpath to explain away Finale's compulsory exclusion
from his curacy.
The Duke of Argyle was the celebrated John, who suc-
ceeded to the title on the death of his father, 28th September,
1703, and whose introduction in the Heart of Midlothian as
the protector of Jeanie Deans, has placed him in a much more
favourable light with the world than he merits. Glover, the
author of Leonidas, who knew him well, in his political
memoirs thus describes him : — " He was, in his own person, a
most shameless prostitute to power, and extremely avaricious ;
he would sell nothing but liimself, which he continually did
with every circumstance of levity, weakness, and even
treachery." Wodrow, whose political principles were the
same as those of his Grace, had little confidence in him.
To the Duke of Hamilton the Jacobites anxiously looked
forward as the individual on whom they might depend
should an opportunity arise for restoring the Stewart
dynasty. Had he survived the Queen, it is not easy to cal-
ciUate what might have been the consequence — but it ^\■as
otherwise ordained. His Grace perished in a duel with
Lord Moliun, a profligate young nobleman, who was him-
self killed in the encounter. The po])ular belief was that
the Duke was unfairly dealt with, and that Mohuii's second,
Macartney, was his assassin. Had he been captured at
the time, his fate may readily be predicted ; but he
made his escape, and continued concealed until the recogni-
• Answer to the Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence.
34G I'ASQUIL ON ARGYLE AND HAMILTON.
tion of the House of Hanover enabled him to return with
safety.
On the other hand, the Whigs rejoiced in the removal of
so popular an opponent. The following lines were circu-
lated by them after the duel, which shew what they thought
of " the brave antelope : " —
Lord Mohun, the Glory of the Age,
Has like a Hero left the Stage ;
If in good humour, or in rage,
Is doubtful surely.
But Hamilton, we know full well,
Instead of France, is tript to H — — ,
Where he his Embassy will tell
Most jjurely. *
If the Glory of the Age of Queen Anne was profligacy, Lord
Mohun was facile princeps ; for, as Scriblerus remarks, in
his immortal treatise —
" None but himself could be his parallel."
atsgle atttr f^amtlton ©omparelr.
The Monstre in King James the Fourth his time,
Was the great wonder of this northern clime.
It had two heads and bodies two unite,
The Senate is a greater wonder yet :
It hath two heads, one bodie in two split,
The one head is a monster, par ma foy,
A compound of a female and a boy ;
* ' ' Political Merriments, or Truths told to some Tune.
London 1715, 12mo, \). 48.
PASyUIL ON ARGYLE AND HAMILTON.
347
Which, if we Scripture riglitly understand,
Prognosticats a curse upon this land.
The boy, and his brib'd squadron, can't escape
His predecessors exit on a rape.
They all deserve to die a violent way.
Who both their Country and their King betray.
The other head is the brave Antelope,
Tlio' enemie to Bishops and the Pope.
He, and his noble Cavalcade, designe
To right their native Country and the King.
Heav'ns jirosper their efforts ! and us rescue
From English thraldom and Hanover too.
348 PARODY ON THE 1 37TH PSALM.
PARODY ON THE 137th PSALM.
This parody is usually ascribed to Dr Archibald Pitcairn.
It was to be suug to " the Tune of the Broom of the
Cowdenknows," which, as regards the firat part, might
answer well enough, but it would require a refrain or second
part to make it complete.
It is an early instance of a parody in Scotland upon the
Psalms of David. The Book of Godly Ballads was a serious
work, intended to withdraw the public from the use of
secular songs, and to mduce the adoption of religious ones.
Pitcairn was just a man to take pleasure in tormenting the
Presbyterians ; and as they did not scruple to tax him with
misound religious opinions and Jacobitism, he was quite
reckless in what he said or did. His wit and humour, his
ability as a physician, his liberaUty to the poor, his generosity
to his friends, and his sincerity as an Episcopalian, effectu-
ally sustained him in all he either said or did.
At a later date, the hundred and thirty-seventh Psalm
was parodied with more success by that very excellent and
accomplished Scotchman, of whose soimd religious faith
there never was a question, — who, so honourably to himself,
and so beneficially to his country, discharged the arduous
duties of Ambassador to the foreign Courts of St. Petersburg
and Berlin. It was the composition of Sir Robert Murray
Keith K.B., who styles it "a Paraphrase made at Saa Van
Ghent when the Regiment was very sickly."
I.
By Sas's sickly stream we sat,
And ay we grain'd and ay we grat
When Scotland we thought on ;
Our bag-pipes hung neglected by,
The bag was toome, the whistle diy,
And silent was the drone.
I'AKolJY ON THE 137TI[ PSALM. 349
II.
Now they who brought us to this town
Cry'd "Lads, why are ye a' cast down,
Come gie's a Scotish sang."
But surely we'd be sair to blame,
To sing our saugs sae far frae hanie
To sic a scurvy gang.
III.
Auld Reekie I can ne'er forget
For ony town that I've seen yet
In a' their foreign lands.
Gin e'er I do, in time to come,
I pray that I may be struck dumb.
And powerless be my hands.
IV.
How happy would the Dutchman be
If Britain were sunk in the sea,
'Twould better their condition.
But let's gang on as we've begun,
'Tis to be hop'd we'll spoil their fun,
And nick them of their fishing.
V.
Oh, then we'll gar them a' repent
The sending us to Sets ]'aii Ghint,
We'll pay them for their pains.
We'll spare them neither young nor auld,
We'll tak their gaytlings by the spauld *
And dad them to the stanes.
Sir Robert's parody on Barbara Allan is excellent. It was
made on the Regiment to which he was attached receiving
* Shoulder. See Jamieson.
350 PARODY ON THK 137TJI J'SALM.
orders to march from Maestriclit* to Sets Van Ghent, ] in
Dutch Flaudera.
I.
It fell about the month of June,
Or in the month of July,
That Jan de Bach* in the low country,
Did use us very cruelly.
II.
A letter by the post he sent
With news that was right dreary.
That we nuist march to Sax Van Ghent^
Of which we'll soon be weary.
III.
" Rise up, rise up, young men," he said,
" 'Tis time that ye were stepping ;
Of the bad air be not afraid —
Tak' ay the other chappin.
IV.
" For dinna ye mind as well as me,
Breda, where ye were lying,
The lads that drank came off Scot free,
While the sober folk lay dying."
* Maestricht, the capital of the Province of Linburgh, and
situated on the river Maese. It is one of the strongest places
in the Netherlands.
t A small town and fort — situated on a canal leading from
the city of Ghent to the Scheldt. It is provided with sluices,
by means of which the country could be laid under water.
The change from so agreeable quarters at Maestricht, to such
a wretched damp village, must have been very disagreeable to
the regiment.
X Secretary at War.
I'AItoDY ON TIIK \?>7TU I'SAI.M. 3»1
Many yeare have now passed away since William Hone was
jirosecuted criminally for printing and circulating political
religious parodies. Of the impolicy of such a measure, there
can sin-oly be little difference of opinion. It was injurious
to the Crown, as indicating a determination to put down a
man whose opinions were offensive to those in power for
doing tliiit which had been done without objection for more
than a century previously. Lord Ellenborough, Avho tried
the three separate indictments, never, it is said, recovered
from the effects of the verdict of the Jury against his charge.
At Athole's feet we sat and w ept
When Bothwell Ave thouglit on,
And Pentland Hills, where we were wont
To randesvouze upon.
II.
When he required of us a sang,
A song of our own nation,
The de'el a sang had we to sing
-But the Oath of Abjuration.
III.
Our gracious Queen, she is not lyke
Our griefes for to turne over ;
But we maun flee to our elect,
The Emperour and Hanover.
352 pitcairn's .\ddress tu gkay.
PITCAIRN'S ADDRESS TO GRAY,
"VTIRSiriED.
From Fountainhall's MSS. : — " The following poem is a
burlesque upon Dr. Gregory's Elegy, writ by Dr. Archibald
Pitcairn, and inscribed to Dr. Robert Gray. Dr. Brown of
Dolphington (a man of a whimsical fancie) is author of the
said merry poem."
Brown was author of the " Character of the True Public
Spirit," and a tract, in two parts, entitled " Essay on the
Xew Process for a Land Mint," 8vo, Edin. 1705.
ROBERTO GRAIO, Scoto, Loncliiii, Medicinam profitenti,
ARCH. PITCARXIUS, ScotuS. S.*
Die, qui terris latitat Britannis,
Solus, aut nuUo sapiens amico,
Ille quam debet miser inquefelix
Vivere, Grai ?
Audiit nunquam, meditante Stoto
Carmina Eoas domitura tigres,
Proximum aut Plioebo Priorum canentes
Dulce Camoenas.
Ille quid credat redeuntia astra
Solus ac Lunse sibi dedicari,
Se nisi ut solum miserumque possit
Ssepe videre ?
* Selecta Poemata Archibald! Pitcarnii et aliorum. Edin-
burgi 1727. F. 46.
I'lTC'AIRN's ADDRESS TO OKAV. 35.3
pttcatrn*0 SlUUrfBs to ©rag, brrsiflflr i)g
Broun of Qolpfjtngton.
Archy Pitcairn, the Scot's address,
To Robie Gray, a Scot beguess,
At Loudon pliysick does profess,
Sends the great letter S,
Quod est — healthiness.
He who alone in Brittain's land darn'd lies.
Or wants a friend with whom he may be wise,
How mis'rable un and happy lives he, pray
Tell me, Rob Gray ?
For he ne'er heard the umqiihile sweet singing Stot,
Who Eastern tygers could quail with his nott,
Nor how wont to Apollo, prayers, praise.
Sweet Muses raise.
Why should he think the course of Sun and Moon,
Are dedicat to him, but that he thereby soon
Himself alone — and wretched too to be
As often seen.
How can it by my lonely mind be borne,
From ])Oor wretched me so many comrades torn.
That none almost is left but thee, my dea-
rest Gray, but thee '?
z
354 pitcairn's address to oray.
Quid putes ml nunc auimi esse soli,
Postque tot raptos inopi sodales,
Te fer^ solo superante, te ca-
rissime Grai ?
Namque nos liquit decus illud sevi
Scotici, sic Dl voluere, liquit
Regies stirpis decus atque fama
Gregoriauae.
Ille Neutonum incolumem lubenti
Narrat Euclidi, siculoque Divo.
Miraque augusti docet almus Angli
Coepta stupentes.
Deinde Pergaeum reducem novumque
Acris Halleii studiis, sed ipse,
Quam graves nuper tulerit labores
Dicere parcit.
Ista nequicquam memoramus : ille
Immemor nostri, patruoque gaudens,
Nos ope et curd sapientis orbos
Liquit amici.
riTCAIRN S ADDRESS TO GRAY. 355
For fled's the honour of the Scottish age,
The Gods so wish'd — I fear they're in a rage —
Of Gregory's Royall lyne, the fame and glore
Shines here no more.
Now gracious he, Euclid and Archimede,
Which the ricli news of Ne^vton's health makes glad,
With wonders th' august English man hath done,
He doth them stain.
Then how Pergfeus restor'd is and made new,
By the smart Hally's pains, too, he doth shew.
But how of late himself hath laboured
Not a word said.
But we these mind in vain, forgot by him are we,
Who's gone, his Uncle to enjoy, not see.
And needy we of a mse friend to boot.
Left destitute.
35 G THE COUNTESS OF WEEMS AND
ON THE COUNTESS OF WEEMS HER MATCH
WITH THE VISCOUNT OF TARBET.
The Countess of Wemyss's mamage with Lord Tarbet,
(afterwards Earl of Cromarty), which took place 11th April
1700, afforded some merriment on account of the disparity
in the ages of the parties — after all it was not such as to
create much astonishment. His Lordship was a vigorous
old man of seventy, undoubtedly — but his I^ady could not
have been much under forty — if indeed she was not above
it. Had she been twenty years younger there might have
been some cause for censure. Strange to say, Lord
Cromarty survived his wife (who died in the year 1705)
nine years, and departed this life, the 17th day of August
1714, aged eighty-four.
The verses are spirited — the allusion to one of the
strange exploits of St. Francis is very happy. This holy
personage, as we are informed in the ' ' Alcoran des Cor-
deliers," — " fut tente de prendre femme, et lors il s'encourout
tout nud au milieu de la neige, se faisant une femme et des
enfans de neige." Upon another occasion, when tempted
by order of the Emperor Frederic, who caused a beautiful
female to be concealed in his bed-chamber, the Saint
adopted an opposite course, and as the explanation sub-
joined to the ciirious print on the subject tell us, " II se mit
au milieu d'un grand feu, lui disant que c'etoit la son lit."
Vol. ii. p. 68. Amsterdam, 1734.
©n tf)c ©ountess of Wiecm& f^ev mutcf^ tDtt]^
tfic Fiscount of EavheU
With Tarbet match'd, the gods betrayed your charms,
A victim to his cold and wither'd arms.
THH VISCOUNT OF TARBET. 357
TIio' liaughtie you, whose proud but beauteous eyes
Did all your noblest blood, your slaves, despise ;
Whose rigid cruelty with scorne did treat
The young and brave that languish'd at your feet ;
Even your contempt the captive Strephon bore.
That noble youtli could give you two times more
Thau e're you felt within your zone before.
And now to wed ane old unsavory thing.
Who to your bed will cramps and stitches bring,
Will serenade in coughs the niglit away,
And then present a ghastly sight all day.
A\Tiat is't, fool dame? what ^vild, what strange pretence
Has in that aukward choice debauch'd your sense 1
AVas't with the frigid lump to quench the fire,
When thoughts of pleasure but renew'd desire,
And the young did your softer breasts inspire 1
The good St. Francis did your cure allow,
He hugged and tumbled with his Avife of snow ;
Thus quell'd the heat with which his breast did glow.
Was it (his) wit and humour you pretend.
Scorning the lover to possess the friend 1
Then caged by your bed, he might have hung.
Where you'd enjoyed his only gift, — the tongue ;
But for to stain your sheets he ne'er was meant,
I swear by all the gods there's witchcraft in't.*
* His Lonlskip's marriage gave rise to the following lines :
Fortunate senex nusquam non numine notiis
Siccinc amore senem, te coluere dese.
Thou soncie aulil carle, the world hes not thy like.
For ladies fa' in love with thee, tho' thou be ane :uild tyke.
358 JOHN plain's representation.
JOHN PLAIN'S REPEESENTATION.
The following Pasquil is entitled " The humble Repre-
sentation and Petition of John Plain, unto the Deacon
Conveiner, and the remanent Deacons of all the Incorporate
Trades in this City." It occurs in Davidson's MS., and gives
a curious picture of the corrupt civic election practices in
1700.
Renouned Burghers, now into September,
The tyme approaches as wee may remember,
When toyles are made amongst Incorporations,
Which have their end in pretty large collations.
Wlien in Conveining-houses tradesmen meet.
And o'er a mutchkin whUes doe make their leit ;
When proud aspiring Romans through ambition.
In pynts of wyn to Deacons make petition ;
When nightly such caballs our taverns fill,
And votes are bought and sold for double gill ;
By such unmanly, base, and droucken actiones,
Our free election is oerturned with factions.
By men, whom a just God for such hath sent.
To plague us with unhappie government,
A mixed Councell, of ill polished tools.
Some knavish witts, and other some stark fools.
Some weighed so with will, they neither dow.
Nor able are, to bear it up the bow.
Frantikly furious and taking quick offence,
And some so silly they can scarce speak sence ;
JOHN plain's reprksentation. 359
Some honest men, indeed, thougli with sore heart,
Wee must confess these form the smallest part.
Alas ! for such are dayly passing hence ;
Witness old Thomson, and brave Master Spence,
Wlio's zeal and faithfulness did so appear,
For Edinburgh, as made the rogues to fear.
Our noble Provost, of renowned name.
With severall whom I need not name,
Have as our cities circumstances craved,
For ought we know, most honestly liehaved.
But sure there have been, and are knaves among us,
Or whence was all the copi of Muir and Menzies,
From copper turners, turned to golden guinea.s,
WTiose stock not long ago of goods and geir.
Was not worth half, is now their rents l)y th' year ;
A\liy are a great part of our guards discharged.
Although our stents and burdens are inlarged ?
Pray how is all our common good destroyed
And to what uses is that good employed ?
Our debts instead of lessening are increased.
The proud exalted, and the poor oppressed ]
Our publick servants, to our great disgrace.
Are most pert knaves, or such as need no place,
Who's crimson noses which in taverns haunt.
Declare they feed, whilst more deserving want.
We've needles Hospitals contrived by those,
AMio lead our burgher-masters by the nose.
To please some tradesmen, and to toom our purses,
And stead of Ijlessings win the poor folks curses :
And some affirme that it is no reflectione,
That F— — * did libb our volluntar collectione ;
* Bailie Ferg\ison.
360 JOHN plain's representation.
And sure M'Lellancl's* trade did never thrive,
So well before as since the nyntie-five ;
A\niich tilings, and many men we right well know,
Before John Hunter's cock left off to croAv,
Have made our citizens to think, I fear.
Our Michael Musick stands us very dear.
Therefore, my brethren, let me now exhort you.
As you would have your conscience to comfort you,
Upon a deathbed be persuaded then,
To mind your trust and quit yourselves like men ;
Let private interest and base selfish ends,
Which through all corners of our land extends.
Be laid aside ; let it be understood
You'll sacrifice such for the publick good ;
Vote wicked men to doores, and all who wrong you.
And purge the publicans quite from among you,
Be zealously couragious ; sett your face
Against all such as are not fit for place ;
Of qualified and faithful men make choice,
Who's government may make us to rejoice ;
And he who does of all things take inspection,
Will aid your Counsell in this Election.
This is a speech made by John Plain,
To Magdalen Chapels honest men.
And to all tradesmen of the town,
Except the rogue and the baboon.
Edinburgh, 1700.
* Sir James Maclellan, Provost of Edinburgh ; his son
James claimed the Peerage of Kircudbright in 1741, but never
l)ronght the matter before the House of Peers.
ON THE DEATH UF IIA.AHLToN OF WHYTLAW. 3GI
OX THE DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON
OF WHYTLAW.
LoCKHAirr of Carnwath's account of Lord Jiistice-Clerk
Whytlaw is imfavouiable. He owed his elevation to his
jx)litical zeal; he "displayed a forward haughty mind.
Betwixt man and man, where he had no particular concern,
he was just, but extremely partial where his friend or his
own politics interfered. He had a sound, solid judgment,
but all his actions were accompanied with so much pride,
vanity, ill-nature, and severity. But he was odious to
everybody." * He only held the office of Justice-Clerk a
few months before his death, which happened in December
1704.
Lord AMiytlaw amassed upwards of seven thousand ster-
ling, a large sum in 1704, all which he left to his wife, in
order to enable her to buy, as was said, a young husband.
epttap!) on 22l|)gtlaU3,
Stand, passenger, and pass not by,
Till that ye know who here doth lye.
A Lord he was, some t\iiie ago deceast,
Abhorer of King, Prophet, and of Pi-iest.
And of Archbishops, Bishops, and their kynd ;
Brawler of men who were not of his mynd.
His means were still his God, his dog his child,
His wife the Dalilah who him beguiled ;
♦ Lockhart's Papers, vol. i., p. 107. This was (Jeorge, the
President's eldest sou. — He died in March 1732.
302 ON THE DEATH OF HAMILTON OF WHYTLAW.
His Scripture- creed, and his new Gospel light,
Were all confined into his claim of right ;
For which he's damned, and his body rotten ;
He's mock'd by the age, and his practiques forgotten.
In hell for ever, he ryves the claim of right,
And giv'st King William for liis a to dight.
©n tije Banfe anlr smj^gtlato*
II.
When bank is broak, and Whytlaw dead.
The rump will run ow'r the head ;
When credit's gone, our laws are under,
Scotland's low, who can wonder 1
When we're Glencoed by land and sea,
Who will relieve us 1 What think ye 1
III.
Old Nick was in want of a Lawyer in Hell,
To preside o'er the Court there of Session ;
So old Wliytlaw he took, for he suited him well
For his tyranny, pride, and oppression.
'Twixt the Devil and Wliytlaw, the poor wretches
damned.
Will be sore put about in that hot land ;
For since the fierce Justice-Clerk's got the command,
They could hardly be worse oft" in Scotland.
t)N I'llIESTFIELD's LEAD CUFl'lN. 3G:]
ON PRIESTFIELD'S LEAD COFFIN.
Of Sir Jamos Dick of Piiostfiekl, now called Prestonfield,
the reader has already heard, in the amusing account
of his lawsuit with the Duchess of Lauderdale, relative
to the swans in Duddingston Loch. He was an extensive
speculator, and held at one time the office of Lord Provost
of Edinburgh. He used to purchase at the Exchequer sales,
a right to such taxes as were exposed to auction, and endea-
voured to get a good bargain if he could. In 1G86, tlie
InLvnd Excise upon the breweries having been exposed to
competition. Sir James would only offer £19,000 sterling for
it, and as this sum, with the excise upon foreign commo-
dities, would not make up the King's quota of £40,000,
his offer was rejected. But the Lords, who were the ex-
posers, judiciously put the thing right by subdividing the
tax, and in tliis way some became tacksmen for the excise of
the ale of one shire, and some for the ale of another — thus
the deficiency was made up. The Lord-Clerk Register, Sir
George Mackenzie, afterwards Viscount Tarbet and Earl of
Cromarty, thought fit to claim £30 from each of the tacks-
men ; but " the Loi'ds Exposera " ordered him to subscribe
the tacks without any gratuity, the buyers "having it so
dear ; tho' he called it his due." *
A curious proceeding occurred in December 1684, very
different from our modern notions of Parliamentary usage.
Sir James Dick, and WUliam Borthwick, a surgeon, had
been conmiissiouei's to Parliament for Edinburgh, and it had
been the practice that he who had been " chosen for a burgh
in the beginning of a Parliament, contuiues during the whole
sessions and cm-rency of that Parliament." f Nevertheless
* Fouutainhall. vol. ii.. p. 703. t Il>i'l., p. 586.
364 ON PRIESTFIELD'S LEAD COFFIN.
both were summarily set aside, and Sir George Drummond,
the then Provost of Edinburgh, and William Watson, a
" Cordiner," put in their place. The pretences were — 1st,
that Sir James, in August 1682, more than two years
before, had offered a bribe to Lord Hatton " at Privy
Council; " and that, 2dly, Sir James could not sit in " the
Convention of Royal Burrows," but only the actual Provost;
and that it was " unreasonable he should represent them in
Parliament who cannot be present at the Convention of
Burrows." As to Borthwick, it was not considered necessary
to assign any reason whatever for his expulsion.
Amongst other speculations of Sir James, was that of
importing playing cards from abroad. One Peter de Braweis
had procured from the Privy Council the sole right of
making playing cards, and an order discharging theii- im-
portation after the 1st of April 1682. This person was, it
seems, not a Protestant, but a Papist ; and the gift was in
contravention of the Act 1660.* Nevertheless, Braweis pro-
secuted Sir James, and one Thomas Young, who appears to
have been a sharer in the speculation, who defended them-
selves on the ground that they had imported the cards before
the gift from the Privy Council. The Privy Council refused
to allow the foreigner to take possession of the cards thus
imported, but found, lest it should wrong his manufacture,
that " Su- James and Young should either sell them to De
Braweis (who sought two pennies to affix his mark to every
stock of them) if they could agree on a price, or to export
them, or to keep them at home and sell none of them, under
the pain of escheat, for a year or two, tiU it might appear
whether De Braweis will be able to furnish the country with
that commoditie himself." From this it may be gathered
that gambUng with cards was prevalent in Scotland
before the Revolution ; and that previous to the gift to De
* Fountainhall, vol. i., p. 377.
OS TRIESTFIELD'S LEAD COFFIN. 3G5
Braweis, their importation from abroad miist have been
profitable.
rriostfield was burnt about eight at night, 11th January
1G81, by the students of Echnburgh College, during the
riots occasioned by the apprehension of the re- establishment
of Popciy. Sir James was at the time Provost of Edin-
burgh, and it was falsely reported that he had set fire to it
himself, but why he should have done so, is not very intelli-
gible.
Wipon prtfBtfifltr'B iLratr eoflSn.
Death works great wonders now the Miser's dead,
And he that fed on silver 's turned to lead ;
We fear he will not rest, because we're told
He ne'er sleept sound, except 'mongst baggs of Gold.
Perhaps he has retired, through perfect greed,
To extract quick-silver from tlie buried lead.
366 THE TREATY OF UNION.
A SONG ON THE TREATY OF UNION,
16th April, 1706.
From Mylne's MSS., who prefixes this fitting notice —
" There were 31 rogues following that put the bryd in her
bed." He adds it is to be sung to the tune of " Fy, let us
all to the Wedding." A version of the song was pubUshed
in the Jacobite Relics.
^f)t Errats of Slnt'on,
Fy, let us all to the treaty,
As there "will be wonders there,
For Scotland's to be a bryde,
And married be the Earle of Stair.
There's Queensberry, Seafield, and Marr,
And Morton comes in by the by ;
Tliere's Lothian, Leven, and Weems,
And Sutherland, frequently dry.
V
Tliere's Roseberry, Glasgow, and Dupplin,*
Lord Archibald Campbell,! and Ross ;
The President, Francis Montgomerie,
WTio'll amble like any pac'd horse.
There's Johnston,]: Daniel Campbell and Stewart, §
Whom the Court has still in their hench ;
* Earl of Kinnoul. t Earl of Islay.
X Provost of Edinburgh.
§ Campbell of Shawfield and Lord Advocate Stewart.
Tilii TREATY OF LNIOX. 3G7
There's solid Pitmedden and Forglcn,*
Who minds to jump on the bencli.
There's Onnistone, and Tilliecoulry,
And Smollett for the town of Dumbaiton ;
There's Amiston, and Carnwath,
Put in by his uncle, Lord ^Vharton.t
There's young Grant, and young Pennycook,
Hugh Montgomerie, and David Dalrymi)le ;
And there is one who will shortly bear bouk,
Prestongrange, that indeed is not simple.
Now, the Lord bless the gimp one-and-thirty,
If they prove not Traytors in fact ;
But see their bryde weil dressed and pretty.
Or else — the Deel take the pack !
* Two Judges of the Court of Session.
t Afterwards Marquis of AMiarton. His Lordship's sister,
Philadelphia, became the wife of Sir George Lockhart of
Carnwath. The articles of marriage bear date the 2d Septem-
ber 1679, and are recorded in the Books of Session 1 1th January
1715. The lady's tocher was five thousand pounds, in return
for which she was pro\'ided with a jointure of six hundred
pounds sterling a-year. Sir George was an eminent lawj'er
and Lord President of the Court of Session. He was mur-
dered by Chiesloy of Dairy, .31st March 1089, on a Sunday
lunrning, from motives of private revenge. There is a very
beautiful painting of Sir George belonging to the Facultj' of
Advocates. His widow married Captaui John Ramsay, son
of James, Lord Bishop of Ross, Mho was deprived of his See
at the Revolution, and died at Edinburgh, '22d Octoder 1G96.
368 A CURSE AGAINST THE UNIONISTS
A CURSE AGAINST THE UNIONISTS AND
EEVOLUTIONISTS.
Mylne calls this " A Curse against those that were for
the Union and late Revolution." It is severe enough in aU
conscience.
Scotland and England now must be
United in one nation ;
So we again perjur'd must be,
And taik the abjuration.
The Stuarts', antient true bom race.
We must now all give over ;
We must receive into their place
The mungrells of Hanover.
Curst be the Papists who first drew
Our King to their persuasion ;
Curst be that covenanting crew.
Who gave the first occasion,
To a stranger to ascend the throne,
By a Stuart's abdication !
Curst be the wretch who seiz'd his throne.
And marr'd our Constitution ;
Curst be all those who helped on
Our cursed Revolution !
AND REVOLUTIONIST.
300
Curst be those treacherous traitors who,
By their perfidious knaverie,
Have brouiirht the nation now unto
Ana everlasting slaverie !
Curst be the Parliament that day
They gave the Confirmation ;
And curst for ever be all they
Shall swear the abjuration.
370 EPITAPH ON THE FIRST EARL OF STAIR.
EPITAPH ON THE FIEST EAEL OF STAIR.
This nobleman was the eldest son of the Viscount of Stair,
and was raised to the dignity of an Earl in 1703, by Queen
Anne. He was very unpopular, and his participation in the
Glencoe Tragedy made him so deservedly. He married
Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir John Dundas of New-
liston, in the county of Linlithgow. His exertions during
the long debates on the Union, were, it was asserted, the
cause of his death in January 1706.
His eldest son, John, the second Earl, was a man of dis-
tinguished merit. He served under IMarlborough, and was
Ambassador Extraordinary to France ; was appointed a
Field-Marshal of the forces, and Commander-in-Chief of the
allied forces, in 1743, till George H. personally took the
command at the battle of Dettingen. He died at Edinburgh
in May 17-47.
©pitaj)]^ on t}f( first &atl of ^tair.
Stay, passenger, but shed no tear,
A Pontius Pilat lyeth heir,
'Wliose Lineage, Lyfe, and finall state,
If ye'll have patience I'll relate.
A bratt of ane unhurried Bitch,
Gott by Belzebub on a witch,
Whose malice oft was wreck't at home,
On the curst cubs of her own womb.
This her old sone, and treu born heir,
Of (his) parents vice, had double share ;
Bred up in treacherie and trick,
By crook'd Craigie,* and Old Nick ;
Wherein he hes such progress made,
• "Crook'd Craig'd Dadie" in another MS.
EPITAPH UN THE FIRST KARL OF STAIR. 371
As to outstripe both Devil and Duid,
Ungrate, rebellious, and unjust,
A slave to Avarice and Lust.
Wlio alwayes turnetl his spyte and scorne,
'Gainst head wher he had planted home ; *
He mock'd at muithoring a single man,
His noble aime roachit a whole clan. +
Lest ought but hell sould equal's guilt,
Man, Wyfe, and Bairnes blood must be spilt ;
Tho' they were innocent, no mater,
The complement to a friend the greater.
But these being crymes below his station,
He's bravelie since murdered his nation.
All thes being done by his advyce.
He hes ridden post to gett his pryce ;
For tho' religione allwayes cloak 'd him,
Yet now at last the Devil has choak't him ;
For of him he had no more neid
Since Cain his heir was to succeid,
Now Passenger, pass off with speid.
For seldome lyes the Devil dead ;
Make haste, if thou thy safety prize.
For legions haunt wherever he lyes.
* Nota. He cuckolded Lord Raith, yet wes ane inveterat
enemie to his father, Lord Melville. — R. M.
t Massacre of Glencoe. Fletcher of Salton said of him in
Parliament, that had there been an Act against Ministers of
State for giving bad advice to the King, and acting contrary
to Law, ' ' his Lordship had long ere now been hanged, for the
ad\'ices he gave King James, the murder of Glencoe, and his
conduct since the Union."
372 ON THE UNION PARLIAxMENT.
©tt ti)e Union parliament*
From a MS. which belonged to late J. A. ilaconochie, Esq.
Our senate has had many (a) fiery debate,
About settling the kirk and securing the state,
But if its decrees "will determine their fate,
They're wiser than I can tell.
It's a split into parties and different factions,
And managed by secret caballing and factions,
What the public will gain by these cunning
transactions,
He is wiser, &c.
Each party pretends they're for serving the crown.
And for that dear interest they'd renounce all their
own.
But who speaks sincerely, or who plays the loun,
He is wiser, &c.
The staunch revolutioners pretend all their care
Is securing religion by a Protestant heir.
But if they'd vote for a Papist who offered them mair,
He is wiser, &c.
All the pretence of the Torian class
Is that laws for our honour and interest may pass.
But whether or no there's a snake in the grass,
He is wiser, &c.
ON THE UNION PARLIAMENT. 373
The crosier and crown to fix sicut ante,
Is the noble pretence of squadron^ volante,
But whether they'll prove brigada constajite,
He is wiser, &c.
If the proto deserter who now rules the roast,*
Be true to his country in his eminent post,
Or if he serves England at old Albion's cost.
He is \viser, &c.
If the traitor by whom our trade was undone,*
Instead of repenting be still sinning on.
Or if he'll do something his crimes to atone,
He is wiser, &c.
If the border protester^ be as wise as he's bold,
If his zeal be inspired by conscience or gold,
Or if he'll turn stout or honest when old.
He is wiser, &c.
If the Highland seal keeper* deal faithful and just.
Or if all having cheated, any party should trust
A man who is honest, but when he needs must,
He is wiser, &c.
If the gallant and great but mysterious Duke,*
Designe the true heir his (own) kingdom should bruik,
Or if coin and commission be the bait for his hook.
He is wiser, (fee.
> Duke of Queensberry. ■ Earl of Seaficld.
' Probably Annandale. * Athol. * Hamilton.
374 ON THE UNION PARLIAMENT.
If the traitor spawned Duke/ and the hackney whore
lover,
His soul and estate will redeem by Hanover,
Or if both are too deeply engaged to recover,
He is wiser, &c.
If the charming young Marquis'' with the innocent
face,
Will equal the glories of his honoured race.
Or if honour and Presbytrie can thrive in one place,
He is wiser, &c.
If the east country Marquis^ with the politick air,
Will atone for the crimes of Monsieur son Pere,
Or if of the spoil he's but seekmg a share,
He is wiser, &c.
If the Marquiss Dragoon ^ bona fide doth move
In religion or loyalty, friendship or love,
Or if traytors ex tradice can honest men prove.
He is wiser, &c.
* If the crafty old Peer,^" whom both jiarties suspect,
With his youthful bravados and seeming neglect.
Designs to crown all by a finishing trick,
He is wiser, &c.
* Argyle. ' Montrose. * Tweedale. * Lothian.
* In another copy thus : —
If the crafty old Peer who keeps the black box,
Will go through and not brmg his friend upon blocks,
Or if he has most of the serpent or fox,
He is wiser, &c.
'" Tarbet,
ON THE UNION PARLLUIENT. 375
If the Gard de Corj^s Count,'^ with the very dull air
Of prudence and politicks has got a good share,
Or if his head and his coffers be equally bare,
He is wiser, &c.
If the crouch backed Count,'^ and cunning deceiver,
Will follow the steps of his once worthy father,
Or if he'll be honest, or loyal, or neither.
He is wiser, &c,
* If the Count'* who of yore at St Germains has been
From trimming and treason has kept himself clean,
Or if he be a leper both without and within,
He is wiser, &c.
If the Count'* who married the coquette his daughter.
Will by his intrigues afford us more laughter.
Or if he'll be wise and more prudent hereafter,
He is wiser, &c.
If the long chin'd Count '^ who murdered his brother,
Did atone for his crimes by's vote for Hanover,
Or if doing the one was as ill as the other,
He is wiser, &c.
" Perhaps Crawford. " Mar.
* In another MS. it runs thus : —
If the Saint German Earl with the scurf on his skin,
Designed any harm by his franlc conung in, &c.
" Colin, third Earl of Balcarras.
" Lord Wigtou divorced his first wife, a daughter of Lord
Balcarras, for an amour with Lord Belhaven (1708). (Com-
missary Court Record). — She had previously eloped with the
Duke of Montrose (Carstair's Letters), hut her kind Lord for-
gave her. '* Melville.
376 ON THE UNION PARLIMIENT.
If the madcap his son '* will fill's father's place,
By acting the crimes of his villanous race,
Or if these be the signs of your true babes of grace,
He is wiser, &c.
If the Merchian Count " who stood out so long,
Has stumbled on treason amid all this throng.
Or if he be willing his treason to own.
He is wiser, &c.
If the Count ^^ who the eldest baton doth sway.
Be as good at politicks as making of hay,
Or if Madam thinks most of what Monsieur doth say.
He is wiser, &c.
If the Count ^^ who the second baton doth wear.
Be as free of debauch erie as treason or fear,
And as chaste as he's thoughtless in getting of gear,
He is wiser, &c.
If the Count ^^ who in Flanders had used to carouse,
At home be considering what party to choose.
Or if constant debauch any thinking allows.
He is wiser, &c.
If the Count ^^ who proposed the abjuring his prince,
Be still on a level with the Monarch of France,
Or if God has deiDrived the rogue of his sense,
He is wiser, &c.
" Leveii. '' Hume. '" Errol. " Marishal.
'■'* Sutherland. " Marchmont.
ON THE UNION PARLIAMENT. 377
If the Peer *^ that thought murder would for loyalty-
pass,
Htis been guilty of worse among the Hanover class,
Or if guilt can be fixed on a rattle-brained ass.
He is wiser, &c.
If Koxburgh the young, the rich, and the wise.
Be true to his country, and parents despise,
Or if Saltoun and Johnstone has taught him the guise,
He is, &c.
If the potent red Earl, whase badge is the rose,'"
By the Rumplean race be led by the nose.
Or if patent be the bribe the country to expose.
He is, &c.
If the new mounted Earl of antient repute.
Plays the rogue for little, and gets to the boot.
And thinks by what means his estate to recruit,*
He is, &c.
-' Perhaps Stair. « Probably Roseberry.
* This, it is presumed, means Sir James Stuart of Bute,
Baronet, who was created, by Queen Anne in 1703, Earl of
Bute, Viscount Mountstuart and Kingarf, Baron Cumra and
Inchmarnock. The baronetcy of Nova Scotia was conferred
on the Earl's ancestors in 1G27.
The Earl was the male representative of Sir John Stuart, a
natural son of King Kobert II. , as Duncan Stewart honestly
discloses, but according to the polite compilers of the Scotish
peerage, the illegitimacy is struck out, and the Earls of Bute,
by this sUfjht omission, are converted into the male repre-
sentatives of the royal house of Stuart.
The Bute earldom is now merged in a marquisate, and tha
378 ON THE UNION PARLIAMENT.
If old Jamie Wylie ^* to his mistress prove true,
Or as he did his master, betray her not too,
Or if catching of money be all in his view,
He is wiser, &c.
If Saltoun ^ for freedom attd property cry,
While tyrant may be read in his tongue and his eye ;
If shagrin and oppression did give him the lie,
His tenants and servants can tell.
If the Galloway Earl had mounted the stairs.
To get places of profit for himself and his heirs,
If providing it be not for his country he cares,
He is wiser, &c.
estate "recruited " so much, that it is at the present date one
of the finest in Great Britain.
^ Sir James Stewart, Lord Advocate.
** Andrew Fletcher of Salton.
Ul'UiN THK KUGUES IN PARLlAilENT. 37U
HjJOtt tf^t tslogufs t'n ^avliamcnU 1704.
Our Parliament is met on a hellish designe ;
'Gainst God and the true heir knaves doe combine,
To play the game over of old forty-nine,
But unless they repent they'll be damn'd.
Some the son of a whore * would have placed on the
throne.
Which makes each Cavalier pray, sigh and grone,
And damn the whole pack who to this are now prone,
Since without Repentance they're damn'd.
And cursed for ever be the sixth of July,
If that Hanover come in so unduly,
And those who excluded the heir viro soli,
Without Repentance are damn'd.
When thrones are disposed of by Atheists and Knaves,
Who their countrie have sold, and to England are
slaves.
And the true Royall heir of all just right bereaves.
Such cannot escape a damnation.
Thou false misled Twedale, thy fiither thou'lt trace,
By abjureing the true heir of the old Royall race,
And damn your owii soull to purchase the place,
For which good morrow repentance.
• The Duke of Monmouth.
380 UPON THE ROGUES IN PARLIAMENT.
Thou turn about Chancellour,* trimmer and wheedler,
Now honest, now knave, unfixt and a medler,
In thy honour and soull thou'rt like a Scots pedler,
Like the bush to each wind a readie complyer,
Thou base blustering Annandale, false and unjust,
Unfaithful to all and unworthy of trust ;
To kings and friends false, slave to oaths, drink, and lust^
For which sin on and be damn'd.
Thou old dotterel Georget whom we thought mysteri-
ous,
It's plane you're ane old fool, a damn'd knave and
serious,
And since your tricks are so black and damn'd
deleterious.
Sin on, your fate is the gallows.
Thou troaker, thou traytor, thou false Jamie Wylie,
Who endeavours to break king Fergus' old Tailzie,
Thy sins for damnation do call without failyie,
^^^le^efore sin on and be damn'd.
Thou Johnstoun,! thou spawn of a villain and traytor,
A varlot by birth, education and nature.
Old Scotland's base cut-throat and false England's
creature,
For which sin on and be damn'd.
* James Ogilvie Earl of Seafield, last chancellor of Scotland,
t George, Earl of Cromarty, previously Viscount of Tarbet.
X Secretary Johnston, son of Sir Archibald Johnston,
better kno^vn as Lord Wariston.
UPON THE ROGUES IN PARLIAMENT. 381
Thou snarling base Rothes, brave Fyfe's great disgrace,
These desemblers thy good father and grandiather
thou'lt trace,
False to the brave Duke* whilst rogues you embrace,
Ther's great odds betwixt market dayes.
You Roxburgh, you Haddington, thou knave, and
thou fooU,
You're a Deist and thou's for the ABC schooll,
And both joined in one your Hanover's toole,
Ungrate Robt and Thorn of the Cowgate.|
You Melvill, you Leven, you're original! traytors,
Whose villanie's plain from your practice and
features,
You're hearth-money cheats, to the king you are
haters.
So nought but atonements can save you.
Balcarras, thou casts off all honour and law,
Not conscience, but pension keeps thee in awe.
Your estate is crackt, in your head there's a flaw,
For morrow your Lordship and
Abjureing old Marchmont, Jack Presbyter's darling,
The spawn of ane old rotten Geneva carling,
* Hamilton.
t Afterwards second Duke of Roxburgh.
X The sobriquet of the first Earl of Haddingtou.
382 UPON THE ROGUES IN PARLIAMENT.
Not worthy to drink \vith Luckie M'Farling,*
You see an young rogue is ane old one.
Ye, John, Earl of Stair, Hugh and David Dalrym-
ple's,
Who plague the whole nation with your damn'd tricks
and whimples,
Pleadings, decreets, and Glenco, are excellent samples.
How much of your fathers you trace.
Thou apostate Hamilton, John, Lord Belhaven,-|-
Who to thy countrie's interest hes bide good even,
And entered the league with the damn'd factious seven.
Thy last year's speeches will damn thee.
Thou Atheist, thou factious, thou infidell Yester,J
Thy grand-sir's true heir ; old Noll is thy master,
Tliy sores are beyond all physick and playster.
Wherefore sin on and be damn'd.
Thou furious reprobate pratling Wliitelaw,§
Who with streatches and false claimes does bluster
and blaw.
Thou mocks Eeligion, Succession and Law,
Wherefore sin on and be damn'd.
* This is evidently the lady who afterwards shot Commis-
sioner Cayley. See note on " Peveril of the Peak," vol. 28,
page 93. Best edition, 12mo.
t Lord Belhaven, according to Lockhart, "was moved by
avarice and ambition to desert his party." — See Lockhart
Papers, vol. I., page 115.
t Charles, Lord Yester, subsequently the Marquis of
Twoedale. § See page 361, ante.
UPON THE ROGUES IN PARLIAMENT. 383
Morose Jerviswood and affected Sir John,
And vain Will Bennet* are to the enemie gone,
Their country they have sold, their honours undone,
Wherefore sin on and be damn'd.
Ye Sutherland, Lawderdale, and the Forbes the tall.
Ye Glencairn, ye Lothian, and Ilyndford, ye're all
A drunken, rebellious and senseless caball,
And unless ye repent ye'U be damn'd.
You Maxwell and such as ne'er had pretence
To honour, good manners, or any grain of sense,
Twixt heaven and earth you'll be in suspense.
If timber and rope can be had.
Thou Francis:}: of Giffan, thou's bigot as hell,
And Brodie § in nonsense in this does excell,
For rebellion ingrained, you may each bear the bell,
Wherefore sin on and be damn'd.
Ye Lamington, Stevenston, Gib, and Cavers too.
Your equalls in villainie you quite outdoe,
For the rising sun to a phantom you bow,
You'll forfaulted be and then hanged.
• Bennet, younger of Gruhbet.
t Montgomery, second son of Hugh, seventh Earl of
Eglington.
§ Brodie of that Ilk.
384 UPON THE ROGUES IN PARLIAMENT.
Ye Campbells, ye Johnstons, by yourselves you're a
sect.
You're false robbers and thieves none should you pro-
tect,
From Go,d and from Csesar you remove all respect,
Your slughons are falsehood and plunder.
In such an array of rogues Argyle may come in,
Whose blood bears the stain of originall sin.
And if he's like to goe on as they did begin.
Then he'll follow the fate of his grandsire.
Thou Queensberry,* once the abjuration did slight,
And now gives thy squadrone to defend Scotland's
right.
For which we'll excuse your youthful old plight,
If your father's advice you will follow.
* "The Duke of Queensberry,'" Lockhart remarks, "did
not think fit to come to the beginning of this session of Parlia-
ment, being desirous to see how affairs would go before he
ventured himself in a country where he was generally hated
and abhorred ; and therefore he sent the Duke of Argyle down
as commissioner, using him as the monkey did the cat in
pulling out the hot roasted chestnuts." — Lockhart Papers,
vol. I., page 114.
VERSES ON TIIK SCO'l'S PKEItS. :\f<5
Frrsfs on tl^e Scots ^tevQ, 170G.
From an anonymous MS. in the Advocate's Library.
A somewhat mutilated version occurs in Davidson's MS.
Our Duiks wer deills, our Marquesses were mad,
Our Earls were evills, our Viscounts yet more bade,
Our Lords were villains, and our Barons knaves,
Quho with our burrows did sell us for slaves,
They sold the church, they sold the State and Natione,
They sold ther honour, name and reputatione,
Tliey sold ther birthright, peerages and places,
And now they leave the house with angrie faces.
And now they frowne, and fret, and curse their fate.
And still in vain lost libertie regrate,
And are not these raire merchants nycelie trick't,
Quho wer old Peers, but now are deils belikt,*
Barons and burrows equally rewar<led,
They wer cajoU'd by all, but now by non reguarded.
may our God, who rules both heavene and earth,
Avert sad judgements, — from us turne his WTath,
Let all true Scots with God importunat be,
That he may yet restore our pristine libertie ;
That he who rules the hearts of kings alone.
May settle Jamest at length upon the tlnone.
* But are not these sad merchants fairly nicked,
Who once were Peers, now Commoners betricked,
Daridtion'.'i MS.
t The old Pretendei' — called by the Jacobites Jaint-s ^'1I.
2 B
386 A LITANIE ANENT THE UNION.
^ Minnie attent t|je Winion.
From a forced and divided Union,
And from the church and kirk communion,
WHiere Lordly prelates have dominion.
Libera nos Domine.
From a new transuhstantiation,
Of the old Scots into ane English nation
And from all foes to Eeformation.
Libera nos, &c.
From selling Kingdoms, Kings and Crowns,
For groats ill payed by Southern lowns,
From mitres, surplice, long sleev'd gowns.
Libera nos, &c.
From a November powder treason.
To blow up Parliament at this season,
Tho' without powder, rhyme or reason.
Libera nos, &c.
From Pets, and men of Posts and Pensions,
Sole managers of state conventions.
And from all interest in contentions.
Libera nos, &c.
From heavie taxes laid on salt,
On blinked* ale, on beer or malt,
And herrieing us without a fault.
Libera nos, &:c.
* Sour.
A LITANIE ANENT THE UNFOX. 3S7
From trading with anc emptie purse,
And meriting the old wife's curse,
And from all changes to the Avorse.
Libera nos, &c.
From paying debts we doe not owe.
Equivalents we do not know,
From being mad and still kept low.
Lil)era nos, &c.
From Patriots to Presbytery,
Who to it bear antipathy.
And such friends as old Cromarty,*
Libera nos, &c.
From Patriots who for pious ends,
Keep kirks unplanted that the teinds
They may secure to their best friends.
Libera nos, &c.
From bartering the ancient nation,
For a new trade communication,
From English acts of navigation.
Libera nos, &c.
From Burrows, Barons, and our Peers,
Who bring ane old house o'er their ears.
For which they shall pay, some folk swears.
Libera nos, &c.
* George Mackenzie, created by James VII. Viscount of
Tarbet, and by Queen Anne, Earl of Cromarty.
388 A LITANIE ANENT THE UNION.
From holy wars and hellish plots,
From faithless Christians, brutish Scots,
And the disease that noses rots.
Libera nos, &c.
From rebell ruleing corporations,
And headles Mobs governing nations.
And acting out of their stations.
Libera nos, &c.
From paying us our Darien costs.
By laying on cess, and new imposts,
From the English ruling Scots rosts.
Libera nos, &c.
From a free trade with prohibitions,
Eestriction's heavie impositions,
Union on base unjust conditions.
Libera nos, &c.
From Peers whose state's a sepulchre,
Who vote the nation to interre.
And enemies to fast and prayer.
Libera nos, &c.
From pillor'd Poets and Scots Pedlars, *
For souldering kingdoms, busie meddlers,
From Organs and .Cathedral Fiddlers.
Libera nos, &c.
* De Foe and Paterson. — T^. M. Patersou was the founder
of the bank of Scotland.
A LITANIE ANENT THE UMUN. 38'J
From old Scots nobles in the rear
Of each new upstart English Peer,
And rouping Parliament robes next year.
Libera nos, &c.
From Oaths and Tests, which bar the just
From Offices of place and trust,
To satisfy the Clergy's lust.
Libera nos, &c.
From Esau Merchants and Trustees,
Who serve them best, who give best fees,
And men whose heads are full of bees.
Libera nos, &c.
From Pride, Poverty and greed
United, and from old Scots feed.
From making more haste than good speed.
Libera nos, &c.
From all religious compositions
Of old and modern superstitions,
From boots and thumbkin inquisitions.
Libera nos, &c.
From innocent men lajnng snares,
And killing Glenco-men by pairs,
From sudden death, like the Earl of Stairs.
Libera nos domine.
390 LINES ON THE FIRST DUKE OF MONTROSE.
LINES ON THE FIRST DUKE OF MONTROSE.
Upon the accession of George I., Montrose recovered his
influence at Court, and was made Secretary of State in place
of John, Earl of Mar. He also held the office of Keeper of
the Great Seal, and was elected Chancellor of the University
of Glasgow. Wodrow says, he was " no bright man," an
opinion also entertained of him in London. His Grace died
in 1741.
The Duke was the son of the third ]\Tarquis of Montrose,
by Lady Christian Lesly, daughter of John Earl of Rothes.
The following accoimt of him is given in the work passing
under the name of Mackay's Memoirs of Secret Service, but
supposed to have been really written by De Foe.
The first Duke of Montrose, the great grandson of the great
Marquis, was, upon attaining majority, made in 1705
Admiral of Scotland and received a ducal coronet from
Queen Anne in April 1707. He concurred in the union
between England and Scotland, and was elected one of the
sixteen Scotch Peers. He was appointed Lord Privy Seal
in place of the Duke of Queensberry, and held the office
until 1713, when he was removed by the influence of Harley,
Earl of Oxford and Moiiimer.
In the Analecta,* an account is given by Wodrow, of
the causes that brought about his dismissal, which is proba-
bly correct enough. Montrose came up to London, beiug
desirous, in concert with some of his friends, to have an
interview with the Queen, and was anxious that Oxford
would use his influence with her Majesty, and give him his
support. " Oxford told him, he did not use either to intro-
duce or doe anything till he knew the business ; whereupon
the Duke told him he had a memorial to present to the Queen.
*Vol. ii, p. H)2.
LINES ON THE FIRST DUKE OF MONTROSE. 391
This was concerted among tho nobility at London, especially
those of the Squadrone ; and contained a representation of
the grievances the Peers in Scotland were under, both in
the matter of their Sovereign being bound up from creating
them British Peers, and the matter of elections in Scotland,
and other breaches as they reckoned of the Union. A copy
of it he gave to the Treasui-er (Oxford) to read, and when he
had read it, he said, ' My Lord, this is a lybell against the
ministry and not a memorial,' and thereon he reckoned him-
self a party and could not introduce his Grace to the Queen
upon any such matter, and immediately he went away to
the Queen. AVhat he did there he knows himself ; but when
the Uuke tried some other way to get access to the Queen, at
length she sent him word, she had no further service for him,
and he might go home when he pleased, and accordingly he
never afterwards was allowed to see the Queen." His post
was then given to the Duke of Athol.
"He inherits," says Mackay, "all the great qualities of
those two famihes (Itothes and Montrose), with a sweetness
of behaviour which charms all those who know him ; hath
improved himself in most foreign courts ; is very beautiful
in hLs person, and about twenty-five years old."
Lockhart, after admitting that Montrose might have been
the head of the Cavaliers, from the popularity of his family
and his own good behaviour after his return from his travels,
contmues thus — " that being of an easy, mean-spirited
temper, governed by his mother, and her relations of the
family of Rothes, and extremely covetous, he could not resist
the first temptation the Court threw in hisway." In conse-
quence he lost cast with the Jacobites. " He was a man of
good understanding," but easily led. His courage upon
some certain accounts was much questioned, " but his
insincerity and falseness [were] allowed by all." *
* Lockhart Papers, vol. i., p. 119.
392 LYNES ON THE FIRST DUKE OF MONTROSE.
Itsnc0 on ti)t JFiVQt Bnfie of ISontfose*
\Anio can believe thy meanness, and suppose
Thy pigmy soul sprang from the great Montrose,
He bravely fought, and vanquished to maintaine,
What thou dost stryve to sink, but striv'st in vain,
For if there's truth in heaven, as sure there must,
God will support the race of James the just.
Could thy brave ancestor unlock the womb,
Of his unspotted everlasting tomb.
And raising up his head, unveil hs eyes.
He'd view thy stains with horror and surprise,
And stabb'd with the dishonour of thy crime,
Would beg to leave the world a second time.
Base miscreant to thy Prince, thy soul too vile.
Denotes the genuine issue of Argyle,
For Weill we know the lust of Calvin's train,
(Thy mother's god) makes the conjecture plain.
Hence we conclude, to quench her holy fire,
Some pious Campbell must have been thy sire.
VKKSES ON THE DEATH OF LOUIS XIV. 393
ON THE DEATH OF LOUIS XIV.
LuLis the Fourteenth, whose demise gave rise to tlie
ensuing verses, died on the 1st September 1715.
The Tinclarian Doctor, in one of liis singular pamphlets,
addressed to the French King, and commencing " Old Louis,
may it please your Majesty," asks, " I would fain ken Lewis
if ever you heard of me, for many time I have heard of you,
and more in the pulpits than any where else ; and if you
were as oft in your own kirks in France, as you are in
our pulpits in Scotland, you'd be very sib to the kirk, as
nearest the kirk, nearest the Devil." A specimen of the
manner in which the subject was handled may here be
added. Mr Lining, a popular orator, in his prayers is
reported to have cursed Lewis, in the following very
energetic manner : — " Lord curse him, confound him, and
damn him ; dress him, and guide him as tliou didst Pharoah,
Senacherib, and our late king James and his father."
&n m Sratf) oi Houis tijf JFonxtccntf).
WHien \Miigs for want of matter were perplext,
Lewis le Grand was still their theme and text ;
In all their thundering prayers they damn'd and curst
him,
And said Dee'l knock, Dee'l sink, Dee'l ryve and burst
him.
Now he is gone, what will you Whigs do next.
Take Orleans gloss, that did destroy the text.t
* An allusion to the unfounded accusation against the Regent
Orleans, that he had poisoned the King.
394 COLVILLE'S ode on bishop BURNET.
COLVILLE'S ODE ON BISHOP BUENET.
This is called " a Pindarique Ode in answer to the Dials of
Gilbert Burnet, by Samuel Colville."
The " Dials " seem to be the "modest and free conference
between a conformist and a non-conformist about the
present distempers of Scotland," written in the form of
Dialogues by Burnet, and to which reference is made by
Colville in his AThigs Supplication :
" Compesce * me, Muse, these stout bravadoes,
Of these stiff-necked reformadoes,
Whose stubborn hearts cannot be turned.
By the Dialogues of Gilbert Burnet."
Gilbert, ye say this book of yours,
Was the result of idle hours,
And that ye did conceive and dyte it,
As fast as any man could wryte it.
To make folks think that ye do merit
The name of a prodigious spirit.
The old adage is true indeed,
Who makes fools haste, he comes no speed;
For here ye pleed against the Whigs,
As if your brains were dancing jigs.
With desulterious levitie,
Hei da, Gilbert, who but ye 1
Your own deserving still you prate on,
And speak to Statesmen with your hat on;
And covered, rounds in ladies' ears,
Instead of wheat, there ye sow tares ;
* Restrain.
CUL\ ILLE's ode UN BISHOP BURNET. 3D5
Aud when ye clatter then, and claver,
Ye sprinkle all their necks with slaver,
But wliat thanks get ye for your pains ;
Some say that ye want solid brains ;
And that ye look not Graham school like ;
Others affirm that ye look fool like.
Some say ye savour of the schism e
Of Popeiy and Arminianisme,
Some call ye linsey woolsey brother.
Half one religion half another,
Soifte say ye broach a new religion.
As Mahomet did with his pigeon,
Some say the head of Mr Gilbert,
Is like a hazel nut or filbert,
With a round shell and rotten kernel.
Or mytie meal in a new girnell.
When wives from spinning on their rocks come,
And read on you, they call you coxscorabe ]
And to conclude they say in few words,
That Gilbert is not worth two cow t — ds,
Because when he has crack't so crouse,
His mountains just bring forth a mouse.
Gilbert, I hope you will excuse
This ode, ye first provok'd my muse,
Since she has you engag'd in so far,
Answer her, Gilbert, if ye dare.
She will reply you as I suppose.
As it pleaseth you, in rhyme or prose.
As yet, Gilbert, such is your hap.
To get from her a fox tail flap ;
But, if ye set her breast a fire on,
She'll scourge you Avith a rod of iron.
396 SATAN'S DISPUTE.
DISPUTE BETWEEN SATAN, AND THE DEVIL
OF CLERKENWELL FOR BISHOP BUR-
NET'S SOUL.
Bishop Burnet, " a man more sinned against than sin-
ning," died in the month of March 1715, and the following
clever verses were privately circulated on the occasion. The
present copy is taken from an ]\IS. in the Advocates' Library,
in which the ensuing explanatory notice precedes the poem.
N.B. " That at Clerkenwell, where Gilbert Burnet, Bishop
of Salisbiuy, Aves biu-ied formerly ther wes still the rudest
noyce, twixt the deviU of Clerkenwell (called the parson for
appearing in parson's habite), and old Satan of HeU ; but
because this noyce ceased when Gilbert was buried there,
therefore, its supposed, that he pleased and pacif yed both the
said devils by ane equaU division of his soul to the one and
his body to the other."
Old Gilbert, they say, is now gone away,
There's the devil and all to doe,
For the deill of Hell and of Clerkenwell,
Have fallen by the ears of new.
" I'm sure he is myne, by a right that's divyne,"
Quoth the deil of the Stygian ferrie.
But the devill of Clerken, to that would not hearken,
So they scolded till they were both wearie.
" I'll ne'er," quoth the parson, " wear trousers myne
a — on,
If I han't brawny Gil to my share,"
Satan's dispute.
397
" But," <iuoth Satan, " I trow, to hell he must goe,
For all his Scots clan is gone there."
Now to maik them both friends, old Sarum commends
His soul to the devill of Hell,
And his body in trust, to be laid in the dust.
By the devill of Clerkenwell.
And now who can doubt, after all this d — d rout,
But it needs must be marvellous true.
That since Sarum is dead, it may truly be said.
That both devills lies gottine their due.
398 WHARTON AND BURNET S
THE MARQUIS OF WHARTON AND BISHOP
BURNET'S RECEPTION INTO HELL.
From an anonymovis MS. in the Advocate's Library.
There is another version in the Jacobite Relics.
Lord Wharton was an able politician, and from the share
he had in the Revolution, and in all the Whig administrative
measures of the succeeding reigns, he obtained first an
Earldom and afterwards a Marquisate. He died m April
1715. He was as celebrated for his profligacy as his talent ;
in the former of which he was only exceeded by his son
Phihp, the last Marquis and only Duke of the name, with
whom all the titles expired, — excepting the Barony of Whar-
ton, which being a barony by \STit, is presently in abeyance,
between the representatives of his sisters.
The first wife of the Marquis has been, by a strange
mistake of Park — in which he has been followed by Dyce
— elevated to the rank of a Marchioness, whereas she was
never even Lady Wliarton, having died before her father-in-
law, Philip, fourth Lord Wharton. She was a daughter
and co-heir of Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley, in the comity
of Oxford, and, judging from her writings, was evidently
embued with strong and genuine religious feelings — a most
unsuitable wife for such a man as the future Marquis.
Mrs Wharton has great merit as an authoress. She
wrote a tragedy entitled, " Love's Martyr, or Witt above
Crowns," the original autograph of which, formerly in the
Strawberry Hall collection, and subsequently in that of C.
K. Sharp, Esq., is now before the editor.
The following character of the Marquis occurs in a tract
(written by Dean Swift), entitled " a short character of his
Excellency T(homas) E(arl) of W(harton), L(ord) L(ieu-
tenant) of I(reland)," London 1711, 8vo. His Lordship, "by
RECEPTION INTO HELL. 399
the force of a wonderful constitution, had some years past his
grand cliraactcrick without any visible effects of old age,
either on his body or his mind, and in spight of a continual
prostitution to those vices which usually wear out both.
His behaviour is in all the forms of a young man of five and
twenty, — whether he walks, or Avhistles, or swears, or talks
bawdy, or calls names, he acquits himself in each beyond a
Templar of three years' standing. With the same grace,
and in the same stile, he will rattle his coachman in the midst
of the street, where he is Governor of the Kingdom ; and all
this is without consequence, because it is his character, and
what everybody expects. He seems to be but an ill dis-
sembler and an ill liar, though they are the two talents he
most practices and most values himself upon. He swears
solcnmly he loves you, and will serve you, and your back is
no sooner turned, but he tells those about him, you are a
dog and a rascal. He goes constantly to prayers in the
forms of his place, and will talk bawdy and blasphemy at
the chapel door. He is a Presbyterian in politicks, and an
Atheist in religion, but he chuses at present to whore with
a Papist. With a good natural understanding, a great
fluency in speaking, and no ill taste of wit, he is generally
the worst companion in the world, his thoughts being
wholly taken up between vice and politicks, so that bawdy,
prophaneuess, and business, fill up his whole conversation."
A note prefixed to the MS. says, "When the Marquis and
the Bishop dyed, they, (who dyed both at once) were both
graciously received into Pluto's Stygian Netherlands,
[where] their dialogue wes thus, \az."
Mijatton anlr Burnrf reception tg
Fra the day of Gib's birth, whilst he lived on the earth,
He's a weathercock still, yea and warse,
400 WHARTON AND BURNET'S
AVhen he came here to hell, then our weathercock fell,
He's set up vrith the pyk in his a — e.
Tlaen a cursed old Peer and a Bishop I hear,
About going to hell made a rout,
Tho' they both had observ^ed, it was what they
deserved.
Yet who first should goe in was the doubt.
This swore and that lyed, both hypocritis tried,
And it's hard to know which was the worst.
Give the devil his due, two worse he ne'er knew.
But however the Bishop went first.
Since his graceless grace, upon earth had the place.
The precedency's due to himsell.
Who dare then contend, or Wharton defend.
So Gib gott the first place in Hell.
But aff'ronted in hell, whereat I cant tell,
He stood dumb never opened his mouth.
But soon the bright Marquiss, who now in the dark is,
As he used, he began with this oath,
" God d — n you, old Nick, we'll play you a trick,
For monarchie always we hated.
We shall also disowne your right to the croAvn,
And swear too that ye have abdicated."
" Right, Marquis of Wliarton, it's just what I thought
on,
His right neither you nor I know,
RECEPTION INTO HELL. 401
It would be a rare thing, to make such a king,
And I'm sure that's not jure divino."
Then straightway the devil, turned wonderful civil.
At the sayings of each hopeful imp,
He cried — " hold up your faces, ye both shall have
places,
Sarum's my porter— and Wharton's my pimp."
Then they bow'd, went along, and they whisper'd the
throng,
"Now we're in, of our powers we'll make use.
We shall march the old whelp, if you'll lend but youi'
help.
And who knows but all hell may break loose."
Then Wharton did say, " if we can't get away.
Of one thing we'll give you our words,
We shall have, by and by, with Sarum and I,
Full two thirds of the Bishops and Lords."
" And with these helps we hope, spite of devil and
Pope,
If the whole honest damned Avill come over.
Then my friend's zeal and mine, for the Protestant
line.
Shall bring in the house of Hanover."
402 DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARGYLE AND MAR.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARGYLE AND MAR.
A Dialogue between his Grace the Duke of Argyle, and
the Earl of Mar.
Or an excellent New Song, to the Tune of the Hare
Merchants Rant, &c. From an original MS. in the Library
of the British Musem.
Argyle was the Hero of Sheriffmuir — and the Earl of Mar
was the Jacobite commander. He was attainted by George
I. — and received a ducal coronet from James HI., usually
called the Old Pretender — The Title of ]\Iar was restored by
George IV. in 1824, to the heir of line of the attainted Earl.
Argyle and Mar are gone to War,
Which hath bred great Confusion,
For Church and State they do debate
Through Difference and Division,
And yet for what [I] know not that,
I hope I speak no treason,
Some say its Self, some say its Pelf,
And some say its religion,
Which e'er it be, I tell to thee
And^that I will not spare, Sir,
The l^lades come from the Braes of Mar,
They have us every where. Sir.
Argyle.
Says great Argyle, within a while,
I'll make Mar for to me, Sir,
Tliat such great folly in his brain
Did happen for to brew. Sir,
blAI.nOl'E IIKTWEEN ARGVLF, AND MAIt. lO.'i
Tho' Mar's men do ramble throw
The North both here and there, Sir,
I'll make them to draw up their Trews
And whip their buttoc'KS bare, Sir.
Mak.
Says good Lord Mar, do you so dare.
Both me, yea, and my Men, Sir,
While I have might I will you Fight,
And from Stirling Flit you Den, Sir.
Argyle.
The la.'^t time that I flitted it
You had no cause to boast. Sir,
For any thing that then you wan.
It was unto your cost, Sir,
Wien at Dumblain unto your Pain,
We fought it very fair. Sir,
When that Mar's Men were forc'd and fain
To run like any hare. Sir,
Some to the Hills, some to the Houghs,
And some to Allan Watter,
And unto some it was no mow's.
Their sculls were made to clatter,
And those that did escape the Sword,
Did we not them suiTound, Sir,
When that fourscore of Highland Men
Were in the water dro\vn'd, Sir,
Mar.
Though my Men do ramble througli
The North both here and there. Sir,
404 DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARGYLE AND MAR.
The half of what's said is not true,
The truth I do declare, Sir,
It's said they pillage and plunder all,
In places where they come. Sir,
But by this they soon would catch a fall,
And unto ruin run, Sir,
And 'twas for that when at Dumblain,
We lost so many Men, Sir,
Perhaps we may recruit again,
And that we'll let you ken. Sir ;
If that once more we shall engage,
We shall know how it goes, Sir,
Whiskie shall put our brains in rage,
And snuff shall prime our nose, Sir,
With swords and guns into our hands
We'll stoutly venture on, Sir,
Yea, durks and targets at command.
Of these we shall not want, Sir.
Argyle.
Do what you can to prove the Man,
Your attempts shall prove in vain, Sir,
For sure Argyle shall lead the Van,
And the victory shall gain, Sir,
Tlio' like a cock. Mar in the North,
Abroad hath sent his crow, Sir,
Clapping his wings now beyond Forth,
Perhaps he'll get a blow, Sir,
Argyle like to a lyon bold.
Will gri]> him in his paws, Sir^
DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARUYLK .\S\> -MAR.
405
And that perhaps ere it Ije long,
We'll make him stand in aw, Sir ;
For lo, a conjunct company,
Both of Scots and Dutch Men,
They're at call, on Mar to fall.
There never sure were such men.
Besides great numbers of gentlemen.
Whom they call Volunteers, Sir,
The most and best whereof consist,
Of valiant Scotish Peers, Sir.
t^*^' V MINOR SATIRICAL VERSES.
Minov Satirical Fevscs
The following iniaor satirical verses have been, except
when otherwise mentioned, collected from the memoranda of
Robert Mylne, many of which were written on the fly leaves
of books formerly in liis Library.
PASQUINADE.
From Balfour's MSS.
To save a maid St George a dragon slew,
A brave exployt if all that's said is true,
Some think there are no dragons, nay, 'tis said,
There was no George ; pray God there be a maid.
ON THE AMOURS OF CHARLES SECOND, AT TIME OF
THE DUTCH WAR.
Imbelles, imbellis amas, belloque repugn,a,s,
Et bellatori sunt tibi, bella Thori.
ON THE FLIGHT OF LORD CHANCELLOR HYDE.
Our Lord is pleased when he avengeth him.
The world is pleased when that a knave doth die,
The Devil is })]ea8ed when he a soule doth win.
Now all are pleased when Chancellor Hyde doth fly.
MINOR SATIRICAL VERSES. 407
UN MR PATRICK FALCONER OF M0NKT(JWX.
Hard is thy name, but harder is thy fate,
Choak'd with great wealth, yet in a stormy state,
Kyud heaven has blest thee with this world's pelfe,
Just heaven will damn thee for murderyng thyselfe.
ON KING JAMES VIL, BY MR TAILZEOR.
King James the seventh's mortality's laid down,
No Nassau now can rob him of his crown.
Reader no more, for as the Times goe now.
None dare give God, nor dare give James his due,
ANOTHER EPITAPH ON KING JAMES VIL, BY
MR C^VLDER.
King James the seventh, alas, is dead,
And gone to good St. Paull,
These thirteen years I wanted bread,*
King James the seventh, alas, is dead,
Good Lord turn Willie heills o'er head.
And send him to king Saiill,
King James the seventh, alas, is dead,
And gone to good St Paull.
* Another MS. has this line : —
His nephew strove to baik his Vnoad.
408 MIXOR SATIRICAL VERSES.
ON WILLIAM III.
Benting^ the goblet hold's,
Carmarthen^ the goblet fills,
And Gilbert^ he consecrates,
And William the liquor swills.
Tlie goblets full of treason and sedition,
The health's damnation to the true succession,
In this carouse the health goes round the hall,
But few observe the writing on the wall.*
EPITAPH ON WILLIAM III.
From an anonymous MSS.
Here lyes the unnaturall nephew, sone,
Ambitious as wes Absolom,
For which all good men did him hate,
From horse he fetch'd a fall by fate,
Of which at last he did expire,
A sacrifice to God's just ire,
Scotland rejoice, now quyt of a most cruel foe.
Oh ! starv'd in Caledon, and martyr'd in Glenco,
The ambitious monster's name accurst may it be,
Abym'd in deepest gulfs of blackest infamie.
' Bentinck, the Earl of Portland.
^ Afterwards Duke of Leeds.
' Bishop Burnet. * Mene Tekell, R. M.
MINOR SATIRICAL VERSKS. 409
LYNES TO JOHN CARNAGIE.
Oh ! John Carnagie in Dunlappie,
Thou hes a wyfe both blythe and sappie,
A bottle that is both wliyte and nappie ;
Tliou sits, and Avith thy Httle cappie,
Thou drinks, and never leaves a drappie,
Until thou sleepest lyke a tappie,
! were I John, I would be happie.
LINES ON DAVID BAILLIE.
Lines on David Baillie, pilloried for Argyle's plot and
Queensberry's against the Dukes of Hamilton and Athol,
1704. He was execut for killing his own brother at London,
AprU 28, 1708.
This I to Jamie Wylie ' owe,
And to the curs'd DalrjTnples,
Curst with the murder of Glencoe ;
This I to Jamie Wylie owe.
And to that cripple bitch - alsoe.
Whose gi-andsire cut cow's rumples.'^
' Sir James Stewart, R. M.
■^Marques, i.e. Marchioness of Annandale. R. M.
' This was Thomson, a flesher, father of Sir William
Thomson, Town ( "lerk of Edinburgh, R. M.
410 MINOR SATIRICAL VERSES.
THE BLESSING WITH THE BLACK SELVIDGE.
From aa anonymous MSS.
When Israel's sires invoked the living Lord,
He scourged their sins with famine, plague, and sword,
They still rebell'd — He in his wrath did fling,
No thunder bolt among them, but a king,
A George like king was Heaven's avenging rod.
The utmost fury of an angry God.
God in his wrath sent Saul to punish Jewry,
But George to Britain in a greater fury.
For he in sin as far exceeded Saul,
As Gibby Burnet did the great St Paul.
ON THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND.
The Jacobites are foppish, our Jacobites are foppish,
Our King, Defender of the Faith, both Protestant and
Popish ;
But let them say and do on, but let them say and do
on,
Our kirk which never had a head, hath now both she
and he one.
MIKOK SATIRICAL VERSES.
ON THE GRAND PLOT.
Short lifed was our grand plot,
Noe man did ever .see it,
Till Johnston christened* it by vote,
And Ormistount said so be it.
THE FRENCH KING'S CONSPIRACY.
The French King is not saucie, the French King is not
saucie,
AMio with M'Lurg and his wife hath made a con-
spiracie.
The same in Latin.
Rex Gallise se prostravit, Eex Gallise se prostravit,
Cum Lurgio et Lurgia uno conjuravit.
THE CALL.
If there be any traytor, viper, or wigeon,
That will fight against God for the true religion,
That to maintain the Parliament's votes
Of all true subjects will cut the throats,
* Secretary Johnstone, the son of Lord Wariston.
t The Loril-Justice-Clerk Cockbuni of Ormistou. He was
agreat whig, and made himself "uuivcrsally liated in Scotland ;
and when ladies were at cards playing the nine of diamonds,
commonly called the Curse of Scotland, they called it the
Justice-Clerk. He was indeed of a hot temper, and violent
in all his measures." Houston's Memoirs, p. 92. London
1747, 8vo.
412 MINOR SATIRICAL VERSES.
That for the King and his countries good,
Will consume all the land with fyre and blood.
I SAY
If any such traitor, viper, mutineer be born,
Let him repair to the Lord* vdth the double gilt
home.
EPIGRAM.
One seing an Irish babie (bawbee) witli Georgius Rex,
without the words Dei Gratia, made the following lynes
thereon. R. M.t
Oh, German Prince, whose character is odd,
Georgius Eex without the Grace of God.
THANKSGIVING, 7TH JUNE 1716.
Mylne prefixes the following note : — Lines put into the
bason of tlie Tron church on the thanksgiving day for
Perth and Preston, 7th June 1716.
BY CHRISTIE FKANK.
Did ever men play such pranks,
As for murder to give thanks ;
Hold Damned Preacher, go no furder,
God accepts not thanks for murder.
* Marlborough. R. M.
t Is this Mylne's own composition ?
POPULAR RHYMES.
ON THE ABJURATION.
Our fathers took oaths as men take their wyves,
For better for worse the whole lease of their ly^'es ;
Now like common strumpets, we take 'em for ease,
And whore and rogue part whenever they please.
Popular Jxfjgnteo*
Fools out of favour, grudge at knaves in place,
And men are always honest in disgrace.
Court preferment makes men knaves by course,
If tliosc that's out were in, they would be worse.
Wise men slight favour and preferment scorn,
WHien knaves can claim it and better serve the turn :
AMiat have the just to do, where rogues take place,
Or who would purchase honours with disgrace.
AVhen King and Laws begin to disagree.
And Court and Countrie advocat the plea ;
Knaves here are hjT'd it's true but are not made.
They're sent befoir, and serve bot as they're paid.
Wise men suffer, good men grieve.
Knaves decrie and fools believe ;
Help, Lord ! send aid unto us.
Else knaves and fools will quite undoe us.*
• These last four lines are given in the Gentlemen's Magazine
for 1733, as original and applied to the Ministry then in power.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
LETTER FROM JAMES V., KING OF SCOTS, TO Slli
THOMAS WHARTON, WARDEN OF THE WEST
MARCHES.
To our well-belouit Schir Thomas Warthoun Wardane, of
the West Merches of Inglaad foraneat Scotland. —
These
WElL-beloiiit frend we gret you well. And forsamekil
as we have considerate be your vrytings, sic ballats and
buks of deffamatioun as ye allege ar made be oure legis to
the despleasoure of our derrest vncle, quhairof we ar rycht
miscontentit gif sua beis ; and hes presentlie directit scharpe
charges to all partis of our bordours to defend sic thiugis
to be wsit be ony [of] oure legis, and to get knawledge of the
auctors of it ye WTit is done, to the intent that thai may be
punyschit for their demerits as accords. Bot because we
ueuer hard of sic thingis of befoir, we suspect rather the
samyn to be imaginate, and deuisit be sum of your awin
natioun and leigis of our derrest uncle. Farther in this
behalfe, we haue geuin charge to the Lord Maxwell, Wiirden
of oure West Merchis, as he will schaw you, quhame Grod
conserue. At oiu-e palace of Linlytgow, the last day of
Januar.
2d
418 APPENDIX.
II.
LETTER FROM JAMES V., KING OF SCOTS, TO
JOHN HOLGATE, BISHOP OF LANDAFF.
Reuerend father in God, — This clay we resauit youre
writing send vnto us of the cietie of York, the 26th of
Januare by past, hes sene and cousiderettlie Tennoure thairof
omittand all uther circumstancis of wordis. We thank you
as ane treu and faithfull counsalloure to oure derrest vncle
youre souerane, and gude freynd unto us, wishland as we
persaue cleirlie, the sincere and faithful lufe and tenderness
standing betwix oure said derrest vncle and us baith be maist
tender knott of blude and uther wais band, consideratioun to
remane perpetuallie vnuiolat vnbroken and unassalit be ony
manner of occasioun, throw quhatsomeuer euill ingynis and
malicius myndis, and speciallie of youre aduirtisement of
certaine despitfull and slandarus ballads maid be sum of
oure legis, as is beleuit to the displesoure and detractioun of
oure said derrest vncle, his honoure and ryall maiestie, and
be the expreinyng of wane and fantastic prophecyis as zoure
saidis letteris mair amplie proports. We beand aduertiset of
this mater of before be Schyr Thomas Wartoun, Knycht,
Wardane to oure said derrest vncle on his west Marches, gart
incontinent direct oure scharp charges and commandis to all
oure officiaris outhrouch all the bordour and utheris in wart
partis within oure realme to have serchit and soucht quhare
ony sic injurius and displesand ballads and rymis and
makaris thairof could be gotten and apprehended, and to
this houre we could get nane aduertisement thairof, nor can
get ony man in oure realme that evir hard, red, or saw ony
sic lyke quhill the copy thairof wes now presentit. Quairfore
we can nocht presume bot the samyn ar deuisit be the con-
sait of sum invious personis one of oure said derrest vncles
APPENDIX. 419
subjects vpouii the l)ordours, or be ouie rehullLs resident and
iuterteyuit witliin his realm, qiihais niyndis will neuer cei.ss
be tliair crafty toill and subtile wayis that is in thaiue to
ingener, and mak nuiter and occasiouu to bring cure saiil
derrost vncle and us to caiddness and besynis quhilk (Jod
willing sail nocht be in thair power. We, heirfure, for the
declaratioune of oure uiynde, and be the lufe that we bi'ir
unto oure said derrest vncle, hes send oure vther scharp
chargis and comandLs to ceis and destroy all sic slanderous
baUadis and ryniis, and that naue be fundin within oure
realme, proponyng gude reward to ony ane tliiit will schaw
to ws and oure otticiaris of justice the consauiris, niakars and
deuisars; and frathis forth the liauars of the samyu certifyuig
you, it is nocht less heuy and thouchtful unto ws to here sic
despleasour, or (it) may be vnto cure said denest vncle or
to you and quhat suld be oure cayre to the extinguishing of
all thir occasiouns of desplesoiu", ye sail nocht alanerlie
knaw this tym be our provisioun and letteris past there-
upon, bot (in) tym to cum, be effect and deid putting our
scharp chargis to scharp executioun. Exhortand you, oure
gude freind, and all oure derrest vncles trew counsiillouris
and serwandis. nocht to gif regard nor to be pensive of sic
trumporyis, proceding as apperis of Ucht myndis. And as to
thir fantastic prophecyis, we neuir lak or sail lak regard
to thame as thingis proceding without foundmeut and agauis
the gude Christin faith quhair intill we leif assuritlie : and
thus, reverend fader and gude freynd, faire ze weill. At
oure palice at Edinburgh, the fifth day of Fcbruar, and of
oure regue the XXVI. zeir.
To ane reverend fader in God,
The Bischop of Landeth,
President of the north partis of England.
420 APPENDIX.
III.
ANE ACT ANENT DEFAMATOURIS.
Register of Acts and Decreets, under the date May Slst
1543, volume 1st, foUo 368 :—
"Anent the artiklis proponit for remeid of sclanderous
billis, writings, ballatis, and bukis that ar dalie maid,
writtin, and prentit to ye defamatioun of all estatis baith
spirituale and temporale, and gevis occassioun ilk ane to
leische and contem vtheris, and for remeid heirof it is Sta-
tute and Ordanit yat na maner of man tak upoun hands to
mak, write, or iraprent ony sic billis, wiitings, ballatis
defamatiouris or sclanderous bukis, vnder the pane of deid
and confcscatioun of all thir gudis movable, and also ordanis
all prentoui-is and vtheris that hes sic bukis that yai destroy
and burne the samin within xlviij houris nixt after thai be
chargit, be opin proclamatioun at the market croce of Edin-
burgh, and at the market croces of vtheris buiTOwis and in
speciale ye new dialogue callit Pasculus and ye ballait caUit
the bair that ar als prentit and sett furth, and all utheris
siclik that nane haif, hald privatlie or apart ony bukis or
warkis of condampnit heretikis and of thair appimzionis of
liereseyis conforme to ye aetis of Parliament maid thair
vpoune of befoir and under ye pains contenit in ye samin."
IV.
ACT AGAINST SCANDALOUS SPEECHES AND
LYBELLIS, 24 June, 1609.
Our Suveragne Lord, foirseeing that there is nathing sa
necessair for the perpetuall weill and quietness of all his
subjcctis of this monarchie, as the fui'therauce and accom-
pleshment of tlie unioun of his twa famous and iiuiist ancient
APPENDIX. 421
kingdomes of Scotland and England, whereof his majostie
out of his fiithoilie care of the peace and liappiness of his
good and faitlifiil people, and haveing raaist instantUe and
earnestlie solicited the perfectiouu, and by the worthiest
meuaberis of baith kingdomes, sa eflfectuallie advanced the
samen, as lie hojics (God willing) in his regne to see the
wished end of that great work, quhilk in his royall persoue
lies ressauit sa miraculous and happie a beginning ; and
neuirtheless finding therein sic maUcious lettis, as the Devill
and his supportis do usuallie suggest to the hinderance of
all just and godlio interj)rises, speciallie by false and calum-
nious bruttis, speeches, and wryttis craftelie vtterit and
dispersit be some lawles and saules people of this realms,
alsweill in privat conferences, as in their meittings at
tavornis, aillhousis and playis, aud by their pasfjuillis,
lybellis, rymes, cokalanis, commedies, and siclyk occasionis
whereby they slander, maUigne, and revile the people, estait,
and country of England, and diverse liis maiesties honourable
counsalloi's, magistratis, and worthie subjectis of that his
majesties kiugdome, the continuance wheirof being liable to
incense the people of England to just greif and niiscontent-
meut, may uocht onlie hinder the intendit vnioun of all the
good subjectis of tliis monarchie, bot stirre vp in them sic
inconcUiable ewill will, as with tyme micht bring f urth maist
dangerous aud hairmfuU effectis; forremede and preventing
wheiroff his majestic remembering how strait and seveir
puuishement hes by the laws and actis of his maist noble
progenitoure, Kings of this reahne heiretofore bene ordanit
to be inflictit vpoun sic as sould devyse or utter false and
slanderous speeches aud wryttis, to mak dissentionis betwene
the Prince and his subjectis, or raiss seditioun in the realme,
and Considering that all sic pui-poses and wrytis as may
breed dislyking betwene the Inhabitants of the saidis king-
domes of Sootlaml and England, being now all become his
Majesties liege people equalie subject and cqualie belowed
422 APPENDIX.
by bis higbnos teiidis to maist dangerous disseusioun and
Beditioun amongis liis subjectis: Tbairfoir, bis majestie witb
advyse and consent of the haill estaitis of this Parliament
Statutes and ordainis, that -whasoever shall heirefter be word
or wryt devyse vtter or publishe ony fals slanderous or
reproachful speeches or wryttis of the estate people or
countray of England, or of ony counsellor thair, tending to
the rememberance of the ancient grudges borne in tyme of
biepast troubles ; the occasioun whereof is now happilie
abolished by the blessed Coniunction of the saidis kingdomes
vnder his majestie's souereignitie and obedience, or to the
hinderancc of the wished accompUshment of the perfyte
uuioun of the saidis kingdomes, or to the slander and
reproche of the estait, people, or country of England, or dis-
honor or prejudice of ony counsallour of the said kingdome,
whereby haitrent may be f oistered or entertauy t or mislyking
raisit betwene his majesties faithf uU subjectis of this He :
theauthoris of sic seditioas, slanderous and injurious speeches
or wryttis or dispersaris thairof, efter tryell tane of thair
offence either before his majesties Justice, or the Lordis of
his heighnes privie Counsall sail be seueirlie punished in
thair persones and goodis, by Imprisonment, banishment,
f ynning, or mair rigorous Corporal pane, as the quahtie of the
offence shall be foundin to merite at his majesties plesure :
and all sic as heiring and getting knawledge of ony sic
speeches or wryttis shall conceil the samyn and nocht revile
them to his majesties ordinar ofBciaris, magistratis, or
counsaillouris whereby the authouris and disperseris thereof
may be punished shall underly the lyk tryell and pane.
V.
SOME ACCOUNT OF ROBERT MYLXE.
It is to this gentleman that the preservation of the greater
proportion of the political satires of the reigns of Charles
APPENDIX. 423
II., James II., William and Mary, and Queen Anne, is
principally owing. There is in the Ubrary of the Society of
Antiquaries for Scotland a MS. compiled by a son of Mylne,
entitled " The Descent Probative, Branches, and Relations of
K(obert) M(ylne), engraver in Edinburgh, by tlie Mother,"
containing a genealogical account of the different families
with which the writer was maternally connected. This MS.
was corrected by the elder Mylne, and it states that upon
the 29th of August 1G78, Robert Mylne, writer in Edin-
burgh was married in the Tolbooth Church betwixt the
hours of 8 and 9 at night, by the Rev. Wm. Meldrum, to
Barbara, second daughter of the Rev. John Govan, Minister,
at Muckart. Of this marriage there were twelve childi-en,
Mrs Mylne died after having "laboured under the palsy for
six years," upon the 11th of December 1725. Her husband
survived her two-and-twenty years and departed this life
on the 21st day of December 1747. The following entry of
his death is to be found in the British Magazine, or London
and Etliuburgh Intelligencer for the year 1747. — " Robert
Mylne, writer, aged 103. He enjoyed his sight and the
exercise of his undei-standing till a little before his death,
and was buried on his birth-day." The Scots Magazine, in
noticing his demise, states his age to have been 105. Of late
there has been a great controversy about centenarians, and
serious doubts have been ventilated as to authenticated
instances of individuals surviving their hundredth year. The
longevity of Robert Mylne however affords evidence of at
-least one authentic instance of the fact.
Mylne survived all his family with the exception of his
daughter Margaret, who married John M'Leod, writer iu
Edinburgh. AVhen Robert the yoimger died has not been
ascertained, but a notice in the handwriting of his parent,
in the genealogical MS. previously mentione<l, and in which
Margaret is billed his only surviving child, suthciently
establishes the fact that his sou pre-dcceascd him.
424 APPENDIX.
The political opinions of Mylne were Jacobite. He was a
zealous supporter of the Stewarts, and was indisposed to
think favourably of persons high in rank and station who
entertained opinions opposite to liis own. Hence he calls
William Lord Kussell and Algernon Sydney " two arrant
rogues," an appellation not usually applied to individuals
whose poUtical honesty was never questioned, until the
discovery by Sir John Dalrymple, that both patriots were
pensioners of Louis the Fourteenth. With all his prejudices
he was on terms of intimacy with many persons high in
position who politically differed from him. So much was he
respected and so much influence had he that he was enabled
to procure livings in the Church of Scotland for two of his
wife's relations. With persons of his own. way of thinking
he lived in habits of great intimacy. The witty and able
Pitcairn was his especial friend, and despite his Jacobitism,
he was held in estimation by all who knew him.
The persecution of the Episcopal Clergy after the abdica-
tion of James the Second, and the countenance it received
from the administration of William of Orange, was not very
consistent with the pure doctrines of Christianity, and
Mylne felt himself very much grieved by the treatment
which his wife's relative, the Rev. Robert Geddie, the
Episcopal minister at Arngask, met with at the Revolution.
This gentleman was related to the famous Bee-master of the
same name, whose estabUshment for the rearing and cultiva-
tion of Bees at Falkland, was patronised by royalty. The
following account of the manner in which this Reverend
gentleman was used, will be found in the younger Mylne's
MS. — " Mr Robert being of the Episcopal communion, was
rab})led by the Revolutionists in 1 688, who, putting first his
gown on him in derision, barbarously tore it off again, giving
him many reproachful words in his own house at Arngask,
which, and other bad treatment, occasioned him, in June or
APPENDIX. 425
.Fuly 1690, to scud the following letter to Lord, afterwards
Karl Melville, whereof the teuor runs thus : —
" My Lord, — I am necessitate to give your Lordship the
account, that 1 have been most violently expelled from my
church of Arnicitsk by a disorderly party, who used me, my
wife and chili hen, very barbarously, its the inclosed petition,
which was presented to liis Grace the King's Commissioner,
and read in Council, bears. — My Lord, the Petition contains
the circumstances and particulai's of my oppressions ; and
your Lordship knows how ready and willing I was always
to serve your Lordship, at all occasions, to the utmost of
my power ; and seeing my age is great, being 73 years, and
my family immerous, having nothing but the stipend to
support us from being miserable, (which was but 500 merks
yearly). And albeit this Petition was read, yet the Council
having many other affairs before them which are prefen-ed
to me, and having none that I can presume upon, or confide
in, so much as yoiu" Lordship, may you be pleased to recom-
mend my case and conditions to any of the King's Council
your Lordship shall think best, that I may be restored to
my church and congregation, from whom 1 have been so
unjustly debarred and expelled, as the Petition more fully
contains, and which will be an act of great charity, and
oblige him (to implore the Majestic of Heaven in your behalf)
who is, and ever shall be, my Lord, your Lordship's most
faithful and obedient servant."
The result of this application to Lord Melville is unknown,
but it may be suspected to have been unsatisfactory from
the cii-cumstance that Mylne in his AISS. treats Lord
Melville, his son, Lord Kaitli, his second son, the Earl of
Leven, and the third son, the Hon. James, "the peat, or
pet ■' with little resi)ect.
Mylnc, in 1725, got involved in a lawsuit, which must have
42G APPENDIX.
been exceedingly annoying to liiin. At this period he was
upwards of eighty years of age, and he was called upon by
au action of count and reckoning in the court of session to
account for certain claims said to be created by an assigna-
tion in trust dated as far back as the 19th December 1682.
This vexatious process originated out of the following cir-
cumstances : John Hall, an Edinburgh shopkeeper, had been
prosperous in his vocation, — had got into the Town Council,
— been Provost, and at last attained the honour he had long
coveted, of receiving a Baronetcy from James VII. the year
before his abdication. He had purchased the beautiful
estate of Dimglas in the County of Berwick, which had
belonged to the noble family of Home, and which had subse-
quently been acquired by Sir William Euthven.
As a trader, Sir John had many doubtful debts, some of
them supposed desperate, many small and some large. It was
desirable that they should be realised, and he therefore wished
his agent Robert Mylne to take the trouble of recovering
them, giving him authority to use his discretion in obtaining
payment. With this view Sir John granted an assignation*
in favour of Mylne of debts nominally amounting to 2,800
pounds Scots, receiving in return a back bond stating the
nature of the transaction. ]\Iylne was to do " diligence,"
that is to say, adopt legal compulsitors against the debtors,
onlij after an order under Sir John's " hand to that effect,"
and he was bound at any time to re-assign when desired,
\x\)on being paid " his necessary debursements."
Mylne, before the 7th day of April 1683, recovered the
whole siuns assigned, with the exception of an insignificant
balance due by persons unable to pay. He says, he paid
what he got from time to time to Sir John. During the
lifetime of the father, it was never questioned that Mylne
had done his duty and properly accounted to his employer.
* 19th December 1682.
APPENDIX. 4L'7
Hut when Sir James came to his kingdom, he endeavoured
to have everything opened up, and tbo' the long prescription
had elapsed he insisted in making tliis venerable and respect-
able man, liable not only for bad debts, aa well as interest
at the rate of six per cent, but to have the accounts dealt
with, as if the business had been transacted recently and not
forty years before.
What the ultimate issue of the suit was, has not been
ascertained, as the case is not a reported one. But it is
plain that, if successful to any extent, the victory of Sir
James would not be to his credit. The idea of calling an
old man of eighty to an accomit, — as if his intromissions
had been a thing of yesterday, — when the lapse of time
must have made it difficult to vouch or instruct every
item, does not create a favourable impression in favour of
Sir James, who evidently took advantage of the death of
liis father, the original client, — to wliose oath Mylne might
have made a reference, had he been in existence, and had
disputed the accounts.
Notwithstanding his professional avocations, Mylne was
one of the most indefatigable collectors of books, and tran-
scriber of ancient writings in his own hand, that Scotland
ever produced. In the preface to Crawford's History of
Renfrewshire, after mentioning that Mylne "was a person
well known to be indefatigable in the studies of Scots
antiquities," he aclmowledges " the obligations he was
under to him for allowing him access to his vast collection
from the public records." Of his industry, his innumerable
note books, written both carefully and closely, bear ample
testimony.
His MSS. after his demise were, with his library, dispersed
over the country, and even now books with his well-known
autograpli turn up in the most remote places in Great
Britain. Some of the Pa.«;quils here printed were procured
from Aberdeen: a valuable MS. of satires entirely holograph
428 APPENDIX.
was bought in London for the Abbotsfonl Chib, but was
subsequently lost, having been imprudently lent to one of
the members, upon whose death no trace of the volume could
be found. His collection of fugitive pieces of the time was
unrivalled. One small 4to volume containing twenty of the
rarest black letter tracts was some twenty-five years ago pur-
chased at a sale consisting chiefly of law books. One of these
was an unique edition of Robin Goodfellow, different from the
ones in the Bridgewater and Daniel collections. His carefully
preserved collections of Broadsides, veree, and prose, now
broken up, ought to have been deposited in the Advocate's
Library, where there is a manuscript copy of a catalogue
of his printed books. During the early part of last
century, there were sold in Edinburgh a great many valu-
able collections of books belonging to members of the Faculty,
then highly educated gentlemen, but no Library until that
of George Paton, at the commencement of this century, ever
could be put in competition for rare books and manuscripts
of every kind, vrith the one formed by ' ' Robert Mylne,
wryter in Edinburgh," and disposed of by auction after
liis demise.
VL
VERSES IN HONOUR OF ROBERT MYLNE.*
1 . On my dearly beloved friend, Robert Mylne.
ane acrostick.
Rare bird on earth, a breast from lust set free !
O that my Muses duely could praise thee.
Brave Robert, and most gratfull branch, whose stock
Endurest with honour, by thy pen's sweit stroak.
* These encomiastic productions possess no other merit
tlian that of shewing the high opinion entertained of Mylne
by those who knew him.
Al'PENDlX. 429
Rather tlum that thy friends sliouM want, thou'lt shew
Them to releeve, thou caust thine oun bestow.
Will then my verse prove silent of thy merit,
Since your favour, my brother duth inherit ?
Much joy remains lock't up in the pole for thee.
In whose joy only's the poores jollitie,
Light while enjoyed ; sight in this book shall sie
Ne're ending,' fame, thy worth ascryves to thee,
Who with thy tender quill, the indigent
Supports, for Heaven, God signe them evident.
2. Other verses on the ingenious ■svrtter, Robert
Mylne.
On this good writer, let it written be,
Long hist that Mylne wher friends grind multure frie ;
And as thy pen, my friend's just cause doth clear
In heaven, so let then evidence appear.
3. On the piett of my dear friend, Robert Mylne.
Renounce the world, and imitate his way,
! let me now give him due praise, and say,
Beginning with the world, which he disdaines,
Excluding fleshly lusts, he Godliues maintains,
Kemembring alwayes that in sin he was bonie.
The divell and flesh to renounce he was swoni.
^fakeing the will of God to be his law,
In Godly fear he much doth stand in awe,
Leaving no duty to his power undone,
Now let me end, and lest I too far run
Envye him not, for non he doth envy.
And this in short take his Epitome :
He loveth God, and hath no known evill.
Disdains the flesh, the world, and the devill.
Composuit Ro. Gordon, son to Gurdonston'.
430 API'KNDIX.
4. Carmen extemporanium compositum per jacobum
campbell de auchincloch.
Immortale decus patriae, clarissirae Mille,
MiLLONiEQUE tu0e Lausque jubarque domus,
Suscipis impigre tu solus Mille labores.
^NfiLLE modis, patris, ut clarior esses honos,
Mille arcana situ quae Mille sepvilta jacebant.
Seclis tu lucem cernere Mille facis.
Mille tegant nigri quam tua colla capilli,
Unde nigri Milli nomina Millus habet.
Mille tamen fulgent radiantes pectore Mille
Virtutes, veluti sydera Mille polio.
Firma fides ^Iilli sceptro sacreque tiare
MiLLiA cum obsequium descernere manet.
Vivas Mille diu tua sit sine fine propago.
Mille jEVIS vigeat Milleniana domus.
Mr. Ja. Campbell,
Sheriffe Deput of Argyle.
5. On my NEAR AND DEAR FRIEND ROBERT MyLNE, THE
INGENIOUS SEARCHER INTO THE ANTIQUITIES
OF HIS COUNTRIE.
Industrious Milne, forward fly,
Raise up thy nation's ancient worthy fame.
Bear on thy wings ther glory up on high,
And raise the reputation of the same.
Sweet soul-enriching knowledge, reason's guest,
Which doth distinguish man from brutish beast.
R. M.
APPENDIX. 431
6. Acrostic on Robert Mylxe, wryter.
By Mr David Sympson.
Rise up my Muse, anrl mount Parnasus hill,
On labour think, ami describe Master Mill.
Born to support depressed Loyalty,
Even when knaves acted highest villany.
Return to dnty is thy common Theme,
Turn to your King ; escape eternall shame.
My thoughts of thee deserves a better poet,
Your true friend then, Pitcairn,' will surely doe it.
Let praise and palms alwayes crouu your head,
Next to thes signs you Uve when you are dead,
Even take this from him in whom is no feed.
7. James Spexce having promised Robert Mylne a
highland ri.aid, and having only sent him
A HALKE PLAID, Mu ROBERT CaLDEU MADE
THE FOLLOWING LYNES TIIERON.
Jamie Spence,^ thow art not true.
Nor did perfonne the halfe,
rie never trust the Whiggish crew ;
Jamie Spence thow art not true.
You promis'd me a good fatt cow.
But jiave a scabbed calfe.
Jamie Spence thow art not true,
Nor did perform the halfe.
The Generall Assemblie knaves
Have taught thee still to trick ;
' This was the admirable Dr. Pitcairn. M. M.
' This was Mr Spence, Minister. R. M.
432 APPENDIX.
To Mammon all your AVliigs are slaves,
To General Assemblie knaves ;
Like Mr Wyllie,^ thou deceaves :
Tlicn pack you to Old Nick.
The General Assemblie knaves
Have tauorht thee still to trick.
8. The following sent by mr Spence of alves, when he
SENT ME HALFE A HIGHLAND PLAID, HE OFFERED ME THE
HAILL, WHICH REFUSEING, TITT AFTER GOT IT ABOUT.
1711.
Master Robert Mylne,
I send you this plaid,
My word Fie fulfill,
Master Robert Mylne,
For fear of your ill,
Because I so said ;
Master Robert Myle,
I send you this plaid.
But he having bein check't by the lynes on the preceiding
syd, for sending the half plaid in place of the haill, he wrote
what foUowes : —
The offer that I franklie made,
As very weell you know,
Was for to give you all the plaid.
The offer that I franklie made,
Why should yow then me thus upbraid,
As if it were not so.
The offer that I franklie made,
Yow very weill do know.
3 Sir James Stewart, Queen's Advocate. R, M.
APPENDIX. 1:53
Hilt when you told you never wa.s,
TliL- same both out and in.
That and that only was the cause,
But when you told you never was,
That it was parted into halves.
Which other wayes had n't beni.
Hut when yow told you never was,
The same both out and in.
As far your poetaster, he
.Makes it his dayly .study,
To make both of his sydes agrie.
As for your poetaster, he
Is nothing else but what we sie,
A witless silly body.
As for your poetaster, he
Makes it his dayly study.
VI 1.
S0.MK ACCOUNT OK THK RevEKEND JohN GoVEAN, MlNI.STlIH
OF MUCKART, FATHER- IN-LAW OF RoBERT MyLNE.*
Mr Grovean died of a fever in the month of June 1656, at
Edinburgh, to which city he had been compelled to go, in
order that some disputes he had with his heritors as to
repayment of certain sums of money expended by him in
building the manse, might be brought to an issue, and was
buried " in the Henderson's alley, in the Gray Friars
Church-yard of this city, having discharged the pastoral
oUice in the said paroch of Muckart, the space of 12 years
and a month, most faithfully, witli good success and appro-
bation, the integrity and probity of his life being unsullied."
" He was (continues his grandson) a man of sharp witt
and candid mind, upright life, prudent councill, and sweet
behaviour. He had an excellent command of the pen, and
* From the MS. of Robert Mylne, Junior.
2 E
434 APPENDIX.
could have wrote most of the appioven hands iu Europe
admirably tine ; as likewayes he was exquisite in dashing
and flourishing of letters, his fancie being extremely quick
and ready, iu short there was non in Britain at that time
would have gone beyond him in the art, and being of a
gentle and pleasant conversation, Avas courted and rewarded
by the best quality and gentrie in the nation, to write their
borebreifes, which he did on parchment or vellum, mostly
performed with shell gold, which made a glorious appearance.
He also wrote several coppies of the Covenant very fine.
He could have wrote also in a print character the Lord's
Prayer, Creed, and heads of the Commands, within the
circumference of a Turner. Many rare pieces of his handy-
work are extant. In short, he was endowed with all the
gifts of nature and grace ; and being (as God would have it)
called out of this world when but a young man, this loss was
regrated by all good and ingenious men."
Mr Govean took to wife, anno 1646, Helen, (who survived
him) daughter to Mr Andrew Rind, minister at Tullicultrie,
by Anna Geddie his spouse, and by this marriage had two
sons, John and Patrick, and two daughters, Anne and Bar-
l)ara. His widow married her own cousin-german, Mr
Patrick Geddie.
The following " Memorable " Lines to the memory of Mr
John Govean, are the composition of his grandchild, Robert
Mylne, junior.
He was a man that always us'd to fly
Upon the wings of true solidity ;
Was always active, for he still inclined
His thoughts to goodness, holy was his mind ;
He was compleat and rich in every part ;
His tongue was never tray tour to his heart;
But now, ah now ! (I shall make death too proud
To speak it) he hath left the folly and the croud
()i this vain world, and hath gone to inherit
Those joys which wait upon a noble spirit.
APPENDIX. 435
VIII.
LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN EDINBURGH TO
A RELATIVE IN THE COUNTRY, GIVING AN
ACCOUNT OF SOME PROCEEDINGS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Edin. Oct. the 30lh 1G90.
All the news I cau write to you is about the General
Assembly which are plea.sant and diverting enough. On
Tuesday, by a vote of the House, they gave a call to Mr
Campbell, but gave him time to consMer until Lambas next.
Rule is to teach the corrupt youth in the meantime in the
wayes of godliness. On AYeduesday there was a great deal
of business done, for the Assembly sat both afternoon and
forenoon. In the forenoon Mr Gabriel Semple was, by a
vote, made minister at Jodbm-gh. Mr Gabriel Cunninghame
said, that before the vote past, it was fit to pray that they
might drown the noise, since there was a great gabble
amongst the brethren. The motion was obeyed, and a
prayer bended up, which they use to do when there's a great
dinn iu the House. Kirkton* was angry at the motion, and
said, what needed all that fool praying, for it was never
before the custom. Then six overtm-es were read. The
first was that the Confession of Faith should be subscribed
(thats taught and believed) by all ministers. 2. That they
should take Papist bairns from them, and breed them Pres-
byterians; some would likewise have added Quakers and
Prelatical Atheist's sons. 3. That the Communion and
Baptisme should not be administered in private, according
to an Act of the General Assemblies, which Act being read
it was against all the 5 Articles of Perth. Rule said these
" The PiCverencl James Kirkton, author of the History of
the Church of Scotland, a valuable and interesting work.
Etlin. 1817. 4to. Edited by the late 0. K. Sharps, Esq.
436 APPENDIX.
things were very reasonable, and that private Communion
was charming, and sorcery was against Scripture and
Antiquity. Kirkton said that was very disputable and he
could heckle them on that head. He said that pubUck
baptisme had made 6 of his parishioners of considerable
note leave him ; and he added that although they should
make many Acts about publick baptisme, yet he would
baptise privately before the curates got the children to
baptise. 4. That none should be married but after three
Sabbath-day's proclamation. 6. That schoolmasters, chap-
lains, and pedagogues should be men approven by the
Presbytery. 6. That none should travail or sail on the
Sabbath day. These articles were referred to the Committee
to make acts on them, and then to pass in full Assembly.
Afternoon they read two canting letters, the one to their
old brethren abroad, the other to their young brethren.
Some of those brethren whom they named were dead, and
others in the King of France's prison. After this, they
deposed Mr M'Kenzie of Kirkliston, with a great pomp in
a manner against the Commissioner's mind. This day they
have ordained 4 old men and 12 expectants to goe to offer
the Gospel to Angus, (as their own words are) and also 3
old men and 11 young men are to goe to Orknay and to
the Isles to convert these men. There are a great many
other little debates which I cannot now write ; but I shall
keep them on record. Grame is also superseded or de-
prived for giving a pass to a Calso man, which Mess Jo.
Bannatyne liad. I am yours, &c.
IX.
PROSPECTS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS IN 1712.
The following letter is said to have been addressed to
his Hohness Pope Clement XL, by Cardinal Guateri, who,
under the appointment of the Old Pretender, called by the
APrENDix. 437
Jacobites, James the VIII., wsis ''Guardian and Protector
of the British Nation," of the hopes he conceived of its
return to the Popery. If genuine, it is a remarkable docu-
ment. If it is not, it is worthy of preservation as a clever
Pasquil.
" May it please your Holiness, llie English are extremely
divided in their affections and interests, and give way to
the Chmcli of Home, not out of any zeal which they have
for her, but the intestine jare and diasensions under which
they labour, divert their minds from their danger in general,
and allow them to fear nothing but from each other. I take
upon me to say, that though I cannot afhrm I have intro-
duced the Roman Catholic truth, I have gone some length
in working up an implicit regard to the word Church, with-
out affixing any certain idea to it, and pursuing it with the
utmost heat and rage, without examining into the truth or
mefit of the cause before them.
" The injured Prince, my master, who has your Holiness's
permission to recover the possession of his dominions by the
extirpation of heretics, w^ho expelled him wlien an infant, has
ordered me to omit no occasion of representing the state of
those his apostate territories to your Holiness ; and that the
nation is reduced and perplexed into the mistake of words for
things, and persons for ojiinions. There remains no more
but to keep up this mistake, for which there is abundant
occasion from their own hatred and animosity to each other.
My master. Sir, though he may Ije driven out of the terri-
tories of France, may have the formidable Duke of Ix)rrain
for his friend and patron, and favoiu-able conjunctures may
arise, whereby aU the heretical interests in Great Britain mav
be impaired and brought low. There is a growing party called
the New Converts, from whom everything is to be expected.
They pretend not to new light, miracles, or sanctity, but
elude the force of all principles, by having no principles
at all.
438 APPENDIX.
" If such kind of men should ever get into any credit, they
who are addicted to no persons or principles may take out
of the abandoned of all professions, proper accomplices to
carry on any design they shall undertake ; and wiser heads
in other nations may profit by their absurdities. The new
converts are entirely neither fools nor knaves, but capable
of perplexing the wisest councils, and not able to conduct
the ordinary affairs with decency and credit. When such
abandoned wretches (I call them so amongst ourselves)
who can err and go on without being dismayed, have sense
enough to fall in with the ambitious of our order, they wiU
be more wicked from that instigation and assistance. When
men who should be more particularly pure of life, break
through bounds of virtue, like fearful women in burglaries,
they generally add bloodshed to theft."
X.
PAPIST AND PRESBYTERIAN.
Anno 1730.
In a New Miscellany, London 1730, the " difference
between the Papists and Presbyterians" is thus determined.
They in an unknown Tongue are said to pray,
Ye in an unknown Sense your prayers do say,
Between ye both this difference does ensue.
Fools understand not them, nor wise men You.
TUKNBLT.L AND SPEAES, PRINTERS, EDINBDRGH.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last date stamped bel
ow.
DISCHA ., .„i
DEC 2 3 1980
\i,
ITO m'^^ I
Jl)N241^B!5
Porni L9-Serie8 444
1
m.
3 1158 00647 3945
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACIL^^^^^
lllllllliill
AA 000 659 868 4