and established himself upon the throne of his an * cestors. It is remarkable, that Scotland hath owed its civilization to two of its greatest and most patriotic Princes, who both of them received their education at the English court. Before the time of King Malcolm Caenmore, the universal language over Scotland, to the north of the river Forth, was the Gaelic. Malcolm, while he resided at the court of King Edward, had made himself master of the Saxon, or English language. On his return to Scotland, he introduced that language into his kingdom. He was the first of the Scottish Princes who fixed his residence in the low country of Scotland. The more ancient Scottish Kings usually held their residences at their castles, in the northern and western parts of Scotland; at Kildrimmie in Marr; the castle of Inverness, in that county; Dunstaffnage, on the western coast of Argyleshire; the castle of Glammis, in Angus; and at Stirling, and St. Johnston, now Perth, the two last situated in the entries of the Grampian Mountains. That noble edifice, the Abbey and royal palace of Dunfermline, on the north of the river Forth, built by King Malcolm, was his chief residence. + * 1057. The cathedral church of St. Cuthbert's at Durham was also A remarkable occurrence, soon after his restoration, greatly contributed to the cultivation of the English language in Scotland. Edgar Atheling, the heir of the Saxon line to the English crown, together with his mother and sister, and many illustrious persons, the followers of their fortunes, having, upon the conquest of England by William the Norman, left that kingdom, were driven by a storm into the mouth of the river Forth. There they found an hospitable reception from the Scottish Prince. Malcolm espoused the Princess Margaret, and endowed with honours and lands their illustrious friends. From these last, are derived many of the present noble families in Scotland. By this intercourse, the Saxon, or English language, was established, and, in time, became the general language over the low country of Scotland. With the language, it is not to be doubted that the more advanced and civilized manners, together with the arts and sciences then in England and on the Continent, came into Scotland, and were cherished and cultivated under the patronage and protection of built by King Malcolm. The counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, then belonged to the crown of Scotland, as feus holden of the Kings of England. King Malcolm, and his Queen Margaret, who, according to the Scottish historians, were two of the most illustrious characters that flourished in that age. To return to King James. The luxury said to have been introduced into Scotland in his reign, was the natural attendant on the civilization of manners then established by him. A change in the mode of living among a rude people, from some degree of barbarity to simple convenience, will be dignified with the appellation of Luxury. Boetius, and other historians of these times, expatiate upon the luxury which was then introduced into Scotland, and, according to them, occasioned the enacting of sumptuary laws, particularly restraining the expence of the table, prohibiting baked meat, and such like dainties, to be used, except at the tables of the nobles, and there only upon holidays. Some modern critics treat this with great ridicule, and are very severe upon Boece, Hauthornden, &c. for pretending absurdly and falsely, as they allege, to represent the Scots, at that early period, as opulent, and addicted to luxurious entertainments. True it is, indeed, that, amongst the printed acts of parliament of that reign, the sumptuary act alluded to by Boece is not to be found. The fact may, nevertheless, be true. To confute our old historians, the following record from Rymer's Foedera * is quoted with great triumph. In it we find a license granted by King Henry VI. for transporting by sea to Scotland the following articles, for the use of King James I. viz. Uno cloath sack; duodecim ulnis de scarlatto; viginti ulnis de worsted, rubri coloris; octo duodenis vasorum de peuter; mille et ducentis ciphis ligneis; tribus duodenis de Coverliis,' &c. With submission to our modern critics, I cannot think even this commission, plain and homely as it may seem at this day, sufficient to discredit the authority of Boetius, as to the introduction of what might be reckoned, at that time, luxury of the table and dress, into Scotland. A sack or bale of English broad cloth, twelve ells of scarlet, for the King's own use, and twenty butts of wine, which is also in the grant, was no such contemptible commission; nor was even eight dozen of pewter vessels, for the use of his table. Pewter was then a novelty even in England, and used in the houses of the great only, where plate likewise was used. By the household-book of the Duke * Tom. 10. p. 470. of Northumberland, it appears, that, in King Henry VII.'s time, more than a hundred years after the above era, pewter was used in that family, then the most opulent in England; but, what is remarkable, it also appears that it was lent out to them for hire.* It may seem ridiculous, that, in that rude age, when the arts of industry were very little understood or practised, when not only most of the articles of dress, but of household furniture, used by the great, must have been imported from foreign parts, a more pernicious species of luxury than that of the table should then have been introduced into Scotland. How absurd, (may a modern say), to imagine, that our rude ancestors, in the beginning of the fifteenth century, not only ate baked meat at Christmas, and other holidays, but to go a strain higher, wore silk clothes, pearls, and embroidery! The fact, however, is certainly so. The 118th act of James I. enacts, • That ná man sall wear claiths of silk, nor furrings, bot only 6 knights and lords of £200, at the least of year ly rent, and their eldest sons, and their heirs, ⚫ but special leave of the King askit and obteinit ; * Hume's Hist, vol. 3. note at the end, 8vo. edit. |