with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp Engagement he obtained a signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Dutch Ships in that Fight He married Anne the Eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England which Lady is deceased by whom he had a numerous Issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary now Princess of Orange Born April 30. 1662. whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchess of Buckingham and Ormond His Royal Highnesses other Daughter is the Lady Anne Born in Feb. 1664. whose Godfather was Gilbert then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth This present Dutchess hath had several Children but are all dead Her Royal Highness is Daughter to the Duke of Modena in Italy The Titles of His Royal Highness are Duke of Albany and York Earl of Vlster Lord High Admiral of Scotland c. Of the Prince of Orange Next to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassaw Prince of Orange only Issue of the deceased Princess Royal Mary Eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641. to William of Nassaw Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was Born Nine daies after his Father's Death on the 14th day of November 1650. had for his Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delph Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then Wife to the Heer Van Hemvliet At Eight years of Age was sent to the University of Leyden His yearly Revenue is about 60000 l. sterling besides Military Advantages He is a valorous Prince and a great example of Valour and Courage besides a great lover of Souldiers Of the Princess Henrietra The next Heir after the fore named to the Crown of Scotland is the Princess Henrietta her Issue who we Born the 16th day of June 1664. at Exeter during the heat of the Late Rebellion After the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646. to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkeith she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the Age of sixteen was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Aujou till the death of the Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livers Tournois besides his Appanage Her Portion was 40000 l. sterl her Joynture to be the saâ—e with the Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess had one Daughter who is now married to the King of Spain Of the Prince Elector Palatine There being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of Scotland are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose Eldest Son was Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsegrave from the High Dutch Psaltzgraff Palatii comes was Born the 22d of Decemb. 1617. at Heydelberg and afterwards at the Age of three or four years conveyed thence into the Countries of Wittenberg and Brandenburg then into Holland and at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the Age of Eighteen years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel at Vlotta in Westphalia In the year 1637. passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke of Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by the quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes where after twenty three weeks Imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of Great Britain set at Liberty In the year 1643. he came again into England and with the King 's secret Consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilest the Rebels possest the greatest part of His Majesties Revenues made his Address to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murther of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinate according to the famous Treaty of Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his Right to the upper Palatinate and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of Time when the King of Great Britain had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all others at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest Advantages there In the year 1650. he espoused the Lady Charlotte at Cassele Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen he had one Son named Charles who is now present Prince Palatine of the Rhine a hopeful and magnanimous Prince He had likewise one Daughter named Charlotte This being all the Issue he left behind him Of Prince Rupert Next to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatine is Prince Rupert Born at Prague the 17th of December 1619. not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatine Family was for almost thirty years dispossest of all their possessions in Germany At Thirteen years of Age he marcht with the then Prince of Orange to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the Age of Eighteen he Commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in the Battel of Vlotta 1638. being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a Prisoner above three years In 1642. returning into England made General of the Horse to the King 's Fights and Defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester Routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-Hill took Cirencester raised the Siege of Newark recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham-house fought the Battel at Marston-Moor was created Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male-line of the Cliffords 1643. Finally The King's Forces at Land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterwards made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after several disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652. where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperour's Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of His Majesty now Reigning after which returning into England
round And a Dukes Coronet only Leaves without Pearls They are more especially distinguisht by their Robes of Parliament by their several Guards on their Mantles or short Cloaks about their shoulders A Baron hath but two Guards a Viscount two and a half an Earl three a Marquess three and a half and a Duke four Precedence Touching the Places or Precedences among the Nobility of Scotland it is to be observed that Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquesses Dukes Eldest Sons Earls Marquesses Eldest Sons Dukes Younger Sons Viscounts Earls Eldest Sons Marquesses Younger Sons Barons Viscounts Eldest Sons Earls Younger Sons Barons Eldest Sons Viscounts Younger Sons Barons Younger Sons The Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and no further having the Precedency of all the Nobility Yea the natural or illegitimate Sons of the King after they are acknowledged by the King take Precedency of all the Nobles under those of the Blood Royal. Moreover observe that all Nobles of the same degree take place according to the seniority of their Creation all Dukes Eldest Sons have the title of Earls and the Eldest Son of an Earl hath the title of the Earls Barony and sometimes of the Viscountry according to the Patent Of His Majesties Privy Council in the Kingdom of Scotland The Privy Council is chiefly imployed about publick Affairs and are Judges of Riots and any disturbance given to the Peace of the Kingdom Antiently the Lords oâ— the Session were the King's Council and so are stiled Lords of Counciâ— and Session The Power of the Privy Council hath been most raised since King James got the Crown of England that by reason of the King 's necessary absence from Scotland the King hath lodged much of His Power with His Privy Council Lawyers do plead the Causes of Riots before them and when sentence is to be given every Privy Councillor gives his Vote and the major Vote carries it Lords and others of His Majesties present Privy Council of SCOTLAND His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany c. John Duke of Rothes Lord Chancellor Alexander Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate John Duke of Athol Lord Privy Seal John Duke of Lauderdale Presid of the Council William Marquess of Douglass James Marquess of Montross Alexander Earl of Murray Secretary of State Archbald E. of Argile John E. of Errol George E. of Marischal Charles E. of Marr. E. of Linlithgow E. of Pearth Patrick E. of Strathmore Robert E. of Roxburgh E. of Queensbury E. of Ancram James E. of Airly E. of Balcarras William E. of Dondonald E. of Kintore E. of Broadalbine Archbald Lord Lorn John Lord Livingstone John Lord Bishop of Edinburgh James Lord Elphinstone John Lord Rosse Sir Charles Maitland of Haâ—tone Treasurer Deputy Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick L. Clerk Register Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh L. Advocate Richard Maitland Esq L. Justice Clerk Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Sessions Sir George Gordon of Haddo Sir George Mackenzy of Tarbot John Drummond of Londy Lieutenant General Dalziel Sir George Kinnard of Rossy Sir John Wachop of Nidry Of the Supreme Court of Judicature The Supreme Court of Judicature about the Property of the Subject is called the Colledge of Justice or the Session which was antiently an ambulatory Court but was settled as it is now by King James the â—ifth Anno Christi 1532. to consist of fourteen who are called Senatours of the Colledge of Justice or Lords of Council and Session and a President to whom are added the Lord Chancellor and four Lords of the Nobility or as they usually call them Lords Extraordinary The Extraordinary Lords have no Salary and are not obliged to Attendance but when they come they have a Vote This Court sits from the first of June till the last of July and from the first of November till Christmas-Eve and from the first of January till the last of February But now by Act of Parliament the Summer Sessions are taken away and in stead thereof are henceforth to be kept in March They sit from Nine of the Clock in the Morning till Twelve all the daies of the week except Sunday and Monday There is an Outer-house and an Inner In the Outer-house there is a Bench where one of the Senators sits a week and all of them except the President have their Turns in it who hears all Causes originally and where the case is clear he gives sentence But if it be difficult or if either party desires it he reports it to the rest of the Senators who either send out their Answer by him or if it be very intricate and the parties or either of them desire it do appoint it to be heard before themselves This is a Court of great dispatch But besides the Judge upon the Bench there is a side Bar to which one of the Judges comes out by turns weekly as in the former and receives and answers all Petitions and Bills The Inner-house where all the rest of the Senators sit is a Court of great State and Order The Senators sit in a semicircle in Robes under them sit their Clerks who write all the most material heads of all that is pleaded at the Bar where the pleadings are long and very learned When the the Senatours have after all the parties are removed considered their arguments they give their sentence and the major part carries it Their final sentence determines all business in their Court there lying no Appeal from them only the Parliament as the Supreme Court may review and repeal their sentence their decisive sentence are called Decreets from the Latine Decreta Senators of the present Colledge of Justice The Lords Extraordinary The Lord Chancellor The Duke of Athol The D. of Lauderdale The Earl of Murray The Earl of Argile The Lords Ordinary not Noblemen Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Session Charles Maitland of Hatton Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick Sir James Foulis of Collington Sir John Lockart of Castlehill Sir Robert Nairn of Strathurd Sir James Foulis of Redford Sir David Nevoy of Nevoy Sir David Balfour of Torret Sir David Falconer of Newton Sir John Gordon of Pitmedden Sir Roger Hogg of Harcus Sir Andrew Birny of Saline Sir George Gorden of Haddo Of the Justice Court The next Supreme Court is the Justice Court where all Criminals are tryed It consists of a Lord Justice General and of a Lord Justice Clerk who is his Assistant The Earl of Argile had this Office by Inheritance but King Charles the First agreed with the said Earl and gave him the hereditary Justiciariship of of the High lands for which he laid down his pretensions to the other The Lord Justice General is not obliged to serve in person but may do it by Deputies and he commonly named two This Order was changed Anno 1669. and by Act of Parliament four Judges were appointed to sit
the family of the Stewarts and is now in the Person of King Charles the Second His Majesties Title is Dei Gratia of Scotland England France and Ireland King defender of the Faith whom God long preserve in the Throne of his Ancestors upon the Death of a King there is no Inter-Regnum the next Heir is presently King the Coronation being only a solemn Instalment in that which was his right before before their Coronation they hold only convention of Estates but no Parliaments before they are Crowned A Convention of Estates is made up of the same Members that constitute a Parliament but can make no Laws only they can lay impositions on the Subjects They do not sit in State they have been most used before the Kings were Crowned the Lord Chancellor is president in the Convention of Estates as well as in Parliaments When a King is Crowned he swears the Oath appointed to be taken at the Coronation which before the Reformation was no other than that set down in the Roman Pontificial sworn by Kings for there is no provision made about it in our Law but at the Reformation it was enacted That all Kings at the time of their Coronation should make their faithful promise by Oath to govern according to Law and maintain the Protestant Religion c. which Oath is to be found in that Act of the first Parlia Jac. 6. C. 8. Anno 1567. Prerogatives of the Crown The Prerogatives of the Crown are great as Power of Peace and War the Power of raising and arming the Subjects the Power of the Mint the nomination of all Officers both of State and of War and of Justice except some Sheriffs that are such by Inheritance the Power of calling adjourning Prorogation is not in our Law and dissolving of Parliaments the giving the Votes of Parliament the Authority of Laws the executing of the Law and the pardoning of offences are wholly and only in the Crown Church Government But to these since His Majesties Happy Restauration great additions hath been made In the Reign of King James the sixth the Power of general Assemblies was raised very high by Law which occasioned the sad disaster in the Church and laid a foundation to all the late troubles of the State notwithstanding the Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Affairs was alwaies in the Crown since the Reformation yet it was pretended as contrary to Law for the King to introduce any thing into the Church without the consent of the general Assembly It was therefore enacted in Parliament Act 1. 2. Parl. held by the Duke of Lauderdale That the external Government and polity of the Church was wholly in the King's Power and that his Order sent to the Privy Council and published by them about all Ecclesiastical Matters Meetings and Persons were to be obeyed by his Subjects any Law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding So that in all matters that relate to the Church-Government the King's Power is absolute Militia The second point is concerning the Militia By the Antient Laws of Scotland all the Kings Subjects were to assist him in Wars upon which a great Enlargement of the King's Prerogative was grafted at last by two Acts of Parliament The Kingdom of Scotland offering to the King to Raise and Arm twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and to furnish them with forty daies Provision to march into any of His Majesties Dominions of Scotland England or Ireland for suppressing any Forein Invasions Intestine Trouble or Insurrection or for any other Service wherein His Majesties Honour Authority or Greatness may be concerned And these Forces by another Act are to give due Obedience to all such Directions as they shall receive from His Majesties Privy Council Trade A third point is The ordering and disposing of Trade with Forein Nations and the laying of Restraâ—nts and Impositions upon Forein Imported Commodities which is declared a Prerogative of the Crown With these Sacred Prerogatives is the Crown of Scotland invested not inferiour to any Crown in Europe for its Dignity and Power The King only and the King alone by His Royal Prerogative hath Power without Act of Parliament to declare War to make Peace make Leagues and Treaties with any Forein States give Commissions for levying Men and Arms by Sea or â—â— Land yea for pressing Men 〈…〉 The King only and the King alone disposes of all Magazines Ammunitions Castles Fortresses Ports Havens and publick Moneys The King appoints the Metal Weight purity and value of Money and by his Proclamation any Forein Coin may be lawful The King by His Royal Prerogative of His meer will and pleasure may convoke adjourn remove and dissolve Parliaments may to any Act passed in Parliament refuse to give without rendring any reason His Royal Assent without which a Bill is a meer Chimera May at His pleasure encrease the number of the Members of Parliament as daily experience testifieth by creating more Barons and bestowing priviledges upon other Towns to send Burgesses to Parliament Yea may call to Parliament by Writ whom His Majesty thinketh fit and may refuse to send His Writ to others that have sate in other Parliaments His Majesty alone hath the Choice and Nomination of all Magistrates Counsellours and Officers of State of all Bishops and other High Dignities of the Church the bestowing of all Honours both of the higher and lower Nobility of Scotland It is in the power of the King alone to chuse and name all Commanders and other Officers at Sea or Land The power of determining Rewards for Services and Punishments for Misdemeanours The King by His Letters Patent may erect new Counties Bishopricks Universities Cities Burroughs Hospitals Schools Fairs Markets Courts of Justice and Free Warants c. The King by His Prerogative hath power to enfranchise an Alien whereby he is enabled to purchase Houses or Lands and to bear some Offices Hath power to grant Letters of Mart or Reprisal No Proclamation can be made but by the King The King only can give Patents in case of Losses by Fire to receive the Charitable Benevolences of the people without which no man may ask it publickly The King by His Prerogative is Vltimus Haeres Regni and is the Receptacle of all Estates when no Heir appears For this cause all Estates for want of Heirs or by forfeiture fall to the King All Spiritual Benefices for want of Presentation by the Bishop are lapsed at last to the King all Mony Gold Silver Plate found and the owners not known belongs to the King so all Wayfs Strays Wrecks not granted by him or any former Kings all wast Ground or Land recovered from the Sea all â—ands of Aliens before Naturalization and all things whereof the property is not known all Gold and Silver Mines in whose Ground soever they are found The King's Power in the Church In the Church the Kings Prerogative is great he only hath the Patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen whom he
Royal Palace of St. James's over which house the same day at noon was seen by thousands a Star and soon after the Sun suffered an Eclipse a sad presage as some then divined that this Princes power should for some time be Eclipsed as it hath been and some Subject signified by a Star should have extraordinary splendor Baptized Was Christened the 27th of June following by the then Bishop of London Dr. Laud. Had for his Godfathers his two Uncles Lewis the 13th King of France and Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhein then called King of Bohemia represented by the Duke of Richmond and Marquis of Hamilton His Godmother being then the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond Had for Governess Mary Countess of Dorset In May 1633. he was first Knighted and immediately after he was made Knight of the Garter and installed at Windsor Education At the Age of Eight he had for Governour the Earl afterwards Marquis now Duke of Newcastle and after him the Late Earl of Barkshire and for Tutor or Praeceptor Dr. Duppa then Dean of Christ Church after Bishop of Salisbury and lately of Winchester At the Age of Twelve was with the King his Father at the Battel of Edge Hill and soon after at Oxford was committed to the care of the Marquis of Hertford About Fourteen years old was in the Head of an Army in the West of England At the Age of Fifteen a Marriage was proposed between him and the Eldest Daughter of the King of Portugal the Infanta Joanna since deceased Two years after was from Cornwal transported to the Isle of Scilly and after to Jersey and thence to his Royal Mother to St. Germains near Paris At this time the Parliament in England being at variance with the King A little time after he was at Sea with some Naval Forces endeavouring to rescue the King his Father then in the Isle of Wight out of the wicked hands of his Rebellious Subjects Not many months after upon the sad news of the horrid Murther of his Royal Father he was in Holland first saluted King and soon after proclaimed in Scotland being not yet nineteen years of Age. At the Age of Twenty from Holland he landed in Scotland June 1650. and in January following to the joy of His Loyal Subjects there he was Crowned at Scoone the place where his Ancestors had been Crowned At his Coronation there was this Solemnity A Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. Robert Douglass preaching a Sermon concerning the Dignity and Honour due to Kings all the Nobility being present he was invested with the Regalia The Crown being put upon his Royal Head he was by the joyful Acclamations of his people saluted King all of them present with one voice crying out God save the King God save the King God save the King These precise times not allowing the ordinary Rites of Coronation The third of September 1651. fought the Battel of Worcester whence after the unfortunate loss of his whole Army wandring in disguise about England for six weeks and most wonderfully preserved he was at length transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Feccam near Havre de Grace in France in which Kingdom with his Royal Brothers and divers Scotish and English Nobility Cleâ—gy and Gentry he was for some years received and treated as King of Scotland and England Afterwards he passed his time in Germany Flanders and Spain in the studies and exercises most befitting a Prince until the year 1660. at which time being at Brussels in the Spanish Territories perceiving a general inclination of his Subjects in England to receive him he providently removed himself to Breda within the Dominions of the United Provinces in the Netherlands and thence in May to the Hague After a little abode there by the humble invitation of his Scotish and English Subjects he imbarked at Scheveling the 23 of May 1660. and with a gallant Fleet and gentle gale of wind landed the 25th at Dover and on the 29th following being his Birth-day and then just 30 years of Age he entered into London being attended with most of the Nobility and Gentry of the Three Kingdoms where he was received with the greatest and most universal Joy and Acclamations and Magnificence that could possibly be expressed And on the 23d of April 1661. was Crowned with great Solemnity Ceremony at Westminster His Majesties life hath been full of wonders But three passages especially seem miraculous First at his Birth a bright Star seen over him at Noon-day by many thousands Secondly His escape in and after the Battel of Worcester when being in the very heart of England forsaken by all a summ of money by publick Act promised to those that should discover him and penalty of High Treason to any one that should conceal him when he was seen and known by many persons of all sorts and conditions whereof divers were very indigent and so very subject to be tempted with the proposed Reward and divers of the Female Sex and so most unapt to retain a secret When he was necessitated to wait so many weeks and appear in so many places and companies before a fit opportunity of Transportation could be found Thirdly His Majesties Restauration quippe impossibile fuit filium tot precationum tot lacrymarum tot miraculorum periisse that after so many years dispossession his most inveâ—erate potent subtle enemies in full and quiet possession on a sudden the desire of him should like Lightning or a mighty Torrent run over his Kingdoms in such a manner that he should be solemnly invited magnificently conducted and triumphantly received without blood blows bargain or any obligation to any Forein Prince or Potentate This was the Lord's doing and must for ever be marvellous in our eyes Justly might the Great Turk hearing of His Majesties Restauration declare if he were to change his Religion he would adore and worship the God of the King of Great Britain Of His Sacred Person of His Life and Safety the Laws of Scotland are so tender that it is High Treason only to imagine or intend the Death of the King And because by imagining or conspiring the Death of the King's Counsellors or great Officers of his Houshold the destruction of the King might ensue the Law hath provided they should be punished with Death The King's Person is in so high an esteem that to offend against those persons that represent the King as to kill some of the Crown Officers or the King's Judges or to counterfeit the King's Seal or his Moneys is made High Treason because by all these the King's Person is represented and High Treason is so horrid that besides loss of Life and Honour Real and Personal Estate to the Criminal His â—â—irs also are to lose the same for ever and to be ranked amongst the Peasantry and Ignoble till the King shall please to restore them The Law by no means will suffer an Idiot or Lunatick to go
inclined to Bruce his Right he dealt with him promising to invest him in the Kingdom so as he would hold the same Crown of England Bruce answered that he was not so desirous of Rule as he would therefore prejudice the Liberties of the Kingdom being it was sufficiently known that Scotland from the first Foundation of the State had been a Free and Independent Kingdom and not subject to any other power whatsoever The like offer he made to the other who being more greedy of a Kingdom than careful of his Honour did yield thereunto Afterwards Baliol assisted with the Nobility did meditate upon a Revenge of King Edward's proceedings with him in that Juncture of Time by forcing Baliol to swear subjection to him at which the Nobility were so much displeased About this Time King Edward sent to crave a supply of men to be sent him by virtue of the Late Allegiance sworn by Baliol which was utterly rejected as unjust he having then War with France Upon this defection of Baliol King Edward entered into Scotland with a mighty Army and prevailed Baliol being overthrown King Edward his Course for Extirpating the Scots And now did the State seem to be wholly ruined for Edward intending to make sure his Title led away captive all that had the least ability to stir and to extinguish if it had been possible the very memory of the Nation He abolished all the Antient Laws of Scotland traduced the Ecclesiastical Rites to the Forms of England destroyed the Antient Monuments erected either by the Romans or their own Progenitors buâ—nt all the Registers with that famous Library of Restennoth wherein besides many other Volumes were reserved the Books which King Fergus the Second brought with him from Rome removed the Marble Chair in which as the Vulgar believed the Fate of the Kingdom did consist In fine left nothing which might incite generous spirits to remember their former Fortunes or encourage them in any sort to virtue worthiness which makes any account of the Kingdom as to its Registers the less voluminous This is not a place to declare how the English afterward at Banockbâ—rn were wholly defeated without leaving any to carry the News thereof into England but this would be too great a digression The next thing to be considered is What that Monster of Rebellion Cromwell I mean thought fit as a very valuable pledge to send to the Tower of London viz. all the publick Registers Records and Rolls of the Kingdom which lay there till His Majesties happy Restauration after which by the King's Orders they were sent down by Sea to be laid up in the Castle of Edinburgh but the Ship that was loaden with them was cast away near the Holy Island so they were all irrecoverably lost and sunk Dempster in his Apparatus to the Scottish History promised a great many things to the World which he never performed Some have thought that he only amused the People by the undertaking he mentions in that Book Others believed that he knew a great many Manuscripts beyond Sea which were carried thither by Monks and Friers at the Reformation In most Religious Houses there was a Chronicle written of the Times some in Rithme English and Latine some in Prose but there cannot be much made out of them they being full of Legends and Stories There are besides very considerable Manuscripts in Scotland that relate to private Families and give an account of several publick Transactions as the Histories of the Families of the Drummonds Gordons and Duglass's c. But they all come far short of what might have been expected from these Registers that have been lost and destroyed Therefore we must rely upon the Credit of our Antient Historians being there are no means left to correct them by FINIS