prosecution of his praiseworthy design, that we are indebted for the first rays of Scottish history. And had he not interfered with the first emigration of the Scots in the days of Moses; with the form of the universe; with the partition of the world among the three sons of Noah; and the exact situation of Paradise, he would have been a great man. In this respect, however, he was by no means singular; even Buchanan, so late as 1582, in his history "unfortunately adopted too many of the fables of his predecessors."

ERRORS.

That an occasional error has crept into the present work, I am ready to admit, notwithstanding the utmost care taken to guard against it. Where is absolute perfection to be found? not among the angels. Nevertheless, I challenge the carping critic, generally the most ignorant in society, to point out another work on the subject with as few errors. The atrabilarian paragon of mensuration has objected to the agricultural division of land being less than the area of the respective parishes. In his wisdom, he overlooks the surface required for towns, villages, hamlets, commons, lakes, rivulets, roads, and abrupt rocks. He has, moreover, selected one of the least important instances. What would he say of Monimail, where the area is 10,240 acres, while the agricultural and wooded portion are only 5500 acres. As to his resentment, I shall only say

"Spare me thy vengeance,

In quiet let me live;

I ask no kindness at thy hand,

For thou hast none to give."

In reference to real errors on the point at issue, I must admit of an egregious one, as regards Aberdour, where the area is 1610 acres, exclusive of the village and roads, less than the agricultural and wooded portion of the parish; account for the difference who may. I do not hold myself responsible for the fact, as the statement there given was taken from three of the most unexceptionable authorities, and there was no other standard to go by.

REGENTS.

The EARL OF ARRAN, who was of royal descent, the next heir to the crown, was the first Regent chosen during the minority of Queen Mary. This was in December, 1542. Though possessed of many private vir

tues, he wanted the strength of judgment and firmness of character necessary to govern Scotland. He became contemptible in the eyes of his own subjects, and the Reformers disliked him as an apostate. He was alternately bribed and threatened to resign. He at last solemnly abdicated the regency in favour of the Queen-mother, and for which he was rewarded by the King of France with the dukedom of Chatelherault. This was in April, 1554. In other eight years the Earl became suddenly mad. REGENCY OF MARY OF GUISE, MARY OF LORRAINE, the Queen-mother, mother of Queen Mary, or Queen-dowager of James V.-The Queenmother was installed in the Regency in 1554, a dignity which had long been the object of her ambition. She manifested considerable abilities, an accurate discrimination of character, and wonderful address in conciliating her opponents, and in retaining the confidence of her adherents. She was gentle and humane, without weakness. But with all these qualities, as formerly stated, she was void of honour, and did not scruple to violate the most solemn promises. This, when added to repeated intrigues, and bad counsellors, were productive of consequences disastrous to the peace of the country, as well as to the interests of the house of Stuart, the consequence of which was that on the 21st October, 1559, she was deposed from the Regency.

REGENT MURRAY.-The Earl of Murray was appointed Regent of the Kingdom, so long the object of his guilty ambition, in August, 1567. This was the Lord James, Prior of St Andrews, natural son of James V., and brother of Queen Mary. Though in early life he was intended by man for the church, nature had chosen him for a consummate politician, and conferred upon him great and commanding talents. The events of his Regency brought into play his varied and unquestionable abilities. His knowledge of human nature was profound. "He was brave almost to rashness; his address was dignified; his countenance noble and kingly." But with all these transcendent qualities he certainly was not "The Good Regent" so much lauded by certain authors. Did Queen Mary not accuse him in her proclamation of aiming at the Crown? Did he not basely offer to deliver up the unfortunate Earl of Northumberland to Elizabeth of England for execution, after promising him protection? Did he not consent to the murder of Rizzio, and tacitly approve of the murder of Darnley? and did he not bretray Norfolk? What was his conduct to James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh; and by whom he was shot? And many more acts could be brought forward to darken the life

of this consummate hypocrite. Who can admire his mean servility to Elizabeth? To secure the object of his policy he courted popularity, and for which he put on the convenient and useful cloak of religion, having prayers and family worship in his house twice a day. Such with the sincere Christian is godly, but otherwise is a profane mockery! His whole public conduct as recorded in history, must be judged upon the old but sure principle-" By their fruits ye shall know them." He was shot in February, 1570; in the fortieth year of his age, and the third of his government.

REGENT LENNOX.-Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, and nearly related to the crown, succeded Murray in the office of Regent of the kingdom in July, 1570; and began his administration with great vigour. The Regent was shot by one of a party of Kirkcaldy of Grange's men, who fought in defence of Queen Mary, at Stirling, on the 4th of September, 1571. Calder, an officer, who shot the Regent, was afterwards broken on the wheel. In the same year Lennox had hanged and quartered Hamilton, Archbishop of St Andrews, for having been accessory to the murder of the late Regent. He was condemned to death without the least formal trial.

REGENT MAR.-The Earl of Mar was chosen Regent the day after the death of Lennox. He had hitherto had the charge of the young King's education, (James VI.) History states that he was an honest and patriotic nobleman, who sank under a load of grief for the state of Scotland, at which he looked with horror, and was unable to prevent. His death occurred after a few days' illness, at Stirling, in October, 1572.* How are we now to reconcile the odious fact of Mar having formally signified, along with Morton, his consent to put Queen Mary to death?† As the evidence against Mar is undeniable, I hold him to have been an infamous character; and with such men, with whom poor Mary was surrounded, who were predetermined for her death, she had not the remotest chance of life. That unfortunate sovereign was doomed to die, and that by a party who had sealed her fate by unchristian bigotry; a Queen who once for a few short days was

"Followed, flattered, sought, and sued."

REGENT MORTON.-The Earl of Morton followed Mar as Regent, in November, 1572; being the fourth who had exercised the office within five years. He possessed a vigorous, determined, but turbulent mind, with talents of a superior order. He disgusted the people with his un

* Robertson, vol. II., p. 37; and Aikman's Buchanan, vol. II. p., 630.
Tytler, vol. VII., p. 323.

scrupulous rapacity, was detested by the clergy for his oppression of their body; and dreaded by the nobility. He had all the remorseless cruelty of the tiger, with the cunning of the fox. (See LоCH LEVEN.) Besides having brought scores of innocent victims to the scaffold, his life was stained by some atrocious crimes. In his confession he said :-"Because I acknowledge myself, of all sinners, to have been one of the greatest." He was at last accused of having been one of the murderers of Henry Darnley, found guilty, and executed in June, 1581. With all his immense ill-gotten wealth, he had not twenty shillings on the scaffold; so much had his enemies plundered him, while in prison.*

In the few remarks I have made on the above six Regents, we cannot but be forcibly struck with the finger of God pointing to the guilty. The celebrated reformer, John Knox, died on the day that Morton was elected Regent.

EARL OF LENNOX.

He was connected with the royal family both of Scotland and England. He married Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of the Princess Margaret, Queen-dowager of James IV., and sister of Henry VIII. by her second husband, Archibald, Earl of Angus; and by this marriage he became the father of Lord Darnley, who was thus the grandson of Henry VII. of England, the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and the cousin (by halfblood only) of Queen Mary of Scotland.

"GO TO FREUCHIE."

As the origin of this phrase may not be known to the general reader, though made use of over all Scotland, when it is wished to get quit of a troublesome opponent, I shall give the explanation of it. In former ages Freuchie was a penal settlement, "where all those who transgressed the municipal laws of the ancient burgh of Falkland were transported to." The poor culprits stood aghast when the presiding magistrate, with all becoming solemnity, pronounced the dread sentence in those three ominous words, "Go to Freuchie."

In addition to what has been said at p. 170, I may state that Freuchie stands at the N.E. base of East Lomond hill, on the road from Falkland to Kettle. It has a sub-post-office. From a register kept by a worthy inhabitant, I find the population to be "about 1100."

*Calderwood, vol. III. ;-Spottiswood ;—Crawford's Memoirs.-Tytler, vol. VIII.-Aikman's Buchanan, vol. III.-and Robertson, vol. II.

INDEX.

Note.-Anecdotes, narratives, graphic sketches, traditions, historical notices,
murders, incidents, and adventures, will be found under Anecdotes, alphabetically
arranged.

The contractions of Vil. and Ham., imply Villages and Hamlets.

A Supplement to the Index was found indispensable to make it complete, because
useful on some occasions.