deg; but I cannot sit down to my own business, without pains in my head and eyes that overcome me in a moment. I cannot draw, I cannot compose,

or revise my old MSS., from physical as well as mora! causes; and I see no

end to my misery.

"The papers inform you of all that passes, for I cannot bring myself to have the attention necessary for the perusal of a newspaper.

"I will write to Minasi; but his correspondence ceases to give me pleasure, for the subjects he treats of, no longer interests me; indeed, 'man delights not me, nor woman either.' The only idea I can form now, not of happiness but of quiet existence, is to sit by your side all the time my health and duties do not require absence."

ART. IV.

1. History of Scots Affairs, from 1637 to 1641. By JAMES GORDON, Parson of Rothiemay. Printed for the Spalding Club.

2. Memoirs of Edward Alleyn, Founder of Dulwich College. By J. PAYNE COLLIER, Esq. F.S.A. Printed for the Shakspeare Society. A GOODLY number of societies now exist in this country, devoted to the purposes of throwing genuine and authentic light upon bygone ages, and rescuing from oblivion the literary antiquities which have either never before been printed, or have in that shape become so extremely scarce as to be unknown on the part of the public. In this way have many family documents and more general records been of late years edited, at a trifling expense to individual members, although the cost of publication in most cases would have altogether deterred any one single person from undertaking the task at his own risk. It is well, for the interests of history and literature of many kinds, that it has become a feature of this inquiring age to desire the fullest and the most correct knowledge of long by-gone periods, whether great national events or the manners of our ancestors be the object of study; and the societies of which we now speak have in not a few cases been of service in the work of elucidation and of handing down vivid pictures of much that was before dark in highly interesting departments; while they have tended to awaken the very sort of liberal curiosity that must lead to further and further discoveries and publications of national and family archives. In fact, the two clubs named at the head of this paper are but of recent formation, and the first-fruit offerings now before us not only hold out promises of a brilliant career, but offer to the world some very acceptable contributions.

Similar societies have for many years been in existence it is true; but so long as these were confined to two or three of the great cities of the empire, and were supported or supplied by only a comparatively small number of investigators, it is obvious that their services could only extend over limited portions of the country, and

only make inroads here and there, and as if at random. But in the increase which we gladly hail, we see grounds of hope for more, and the growth even of a spirit of rivalship, which must berefit the public, and furnish students with precious and solid treasures long hidden or forgotten.

It is but two years or so since the Camden society was constituted; and already it has published several valuable historical works. The Percy, which regularly puts forth some novelty of ancient poetry, has only been in existence a few months, and is said to consist of 500 members. We observe another society in the course of establishment with the Duke of Sussex at its head, which contemplates a distinct and a definite purpose; that is, as may be at once presumed from the name of its royal president, to print early and other documents illustrative of the history of the sciences at home and abroad; there being already mentioned as likely to be amongst its first contributions, an English tract on the making of oils and medicinal waters from a manuscript of the fourteenth century; proposals for mechanical inventions addressed to Queen Elizabeth by Bourne, from a manuscript in the British Museum ; a catalogue of the scientific MSS., formerly in the library of Dr. John Dee of Mortlake, from his own catalogue in the British Museum; a collection of early tracts on the method of illuminating, and on the materials employed in that art; Anglo-Saxon tracts of the tenth century on Botany and Natural History, with an account in Anglo-Saxon of the wonders of the East; together with some middle-age treatises on the same subjects, and a selection of figures of animals and plants from early MSS., to be edited with translations. These particulars we learn from a notice in a late number of "The Literary Gazette." And to come to the societies more immediately under consideration,-the Spalding Club has recently been formed at Aberdeen, the Earl of Aberdeen being president, with many of the most distinguished persons in that part of the country as members, for the printing of historical, topographical, ecclesiastical, genealogical, and literary remains of the north-eastern counties of Scotland; the first of three quarto volumes of the Parson of Rothiemay's History being the debut of the society.

There is hardly a district of Scotland that can be richer in the sort of materials which the Spalding club will search for than that of which Aberdeen may be called the capital. That part of the country has been the scene of many signal events, the birthplace and residence of many eminent men; and is closely connected with curious recollections. The old families are numerous in that quarter of the United Kingdom; while their family chests, as well as the University library, must contain many valuable manuscript documents, although we can hardly expect that many of them can either be so bulky or worthy of publication as the "His

fory of Scots Affairs, from 1637 to 1641," a period so distinguished for the violent conflict which episcopacy had with the Covenant. The manuscript is in the Library of the King's College and University of Aberdeen, and has found a competent editor, who satisfactorily establishes its authenticity. Before extracting some portions of the first volume, we shall cull a few particulars concerning the author from a prefatory statement.

James Gordon was the son of Robert Gordon of Straloch, an antiquary and a geographer of celebrity in his time, and who left many writings behind him, which are well known by the name of "the Straloch MSS." The author of the present history, on the mother's side, was descended from the family of Drum, a distinguished house in Scotland, and was appointed minister of Rothiemay in 1641; his predecessor having been ousted for refusing to subscribe the Covenant, of which, from some of the passages to be quoted, the deposed parson's immediate successor does not appear to have entertained the most hearty approval.

But whatever were his ecclesiastical opinions, or his abilities as a preacher, we may be sure that he was zealously devoted to literature, on considering the nature and amount of his labours; at a period too when the country was in a distracted state, as there were few in Scotland who took a deep interest in purely literary pursuits, and disjoined from ecclesiastical and political warfare. He not merely assisted his father in those important productions in which that accomplished gentleman was engaged, such as the geographical work entitled the "Theatrum Scotia," but he contributed independently to the same science, then truly in its infancy in Scotland. For example, he constructed a large map of Edinburgh, which was engraved in Holland, and which has always been regarded as a valuable and curious work. On the margin are "two prospects" of the city, which, with some drawings of the principal buildings, entitle him to the praise of being the first person who is known to have preserved views of particular places or edifices in Scotland. He appears to have been engaged in similar undertakings in relation to other parts of the country, not only of the character of maps and plans, but of description. The Brave Town," viz. Aberdeen, was thus distinguished by him, the written illustration being about to be printed for the first time, by the Spalding Club. He died in 1686, and an old author says of him, that "The stoicism which has been observed in that family (besides expressing strong sense in ordinary conversation in broad Scots) was likeways observed in him. He is said to have been a dealer in judicial Astrology." One thing is seen in the volume before us, whether this last allegation speak the truth or not, the parson was not superior to the snperstitious notions of many of his enlightened countrymen at that age; for he minutely describes the reports given by "eare witnesses,

souldiers of credite, &c.," about various supernatural omens, prodigies which "foretold the followinge warre and miseryes;" such as "visiones of armyes and things of this nature that wer noysed to have been seen and heard in diverse places." "My own wyfe" is among the number of reporters and witnesses. But we must proceed to quote some passages of considerable length, from any one of which it will be soon felt that the parson is perspicuous and racy, as well as weighty and apparently impartial. We begin with a minutely yet forcibly drawn picture of the opposition and its growth to fierceness, made to Laud's attempt to force upon the Scotch the New Service-book, and when tardy or incomplete concessions by the king only caused the people to rise in their demands, and become more sturdy; just as perhaps the nonintrusionists will do in the struggle which is at present distracting the Kirk. Our historian thus writes, referring to the year 1638 :-

"The Kinge complained that the oftner they did petitione and protest, they did still enlarge their demaundes and adde to greivaunces. But little did he know, that they wer animated thereunto by such as the King tooke to have been for him and not a little by his sitting still qwyett at London, without studying at this tyme how to represse ther tumultwary conventions any other way but by proclamationes; which, if they be not seconded with power, are but buggbeares; for the wysest who saw this manner of proceeding judged that it had been better for the Kinge not to have commanded them to disband under no lesse penaltye then treasone, when he knew no present waye for to force them, in caise of disobedience. Heerby his commandes wer first rendered contemptible and ridicolouse; heerby lyckewayes ther was laide opne Arcanum Imperii. For both these petitioners saw the Kinge's weacknesse, which made them sleight his commandes, discovered his intentiones towards them, and the sence that he had of other actinges, which he judged for the tyme past high misdemeanours; and now, by his Edicte, had engadged himself to punishe exemplarly in the following tyme, in caise they shoulde remaine obstinate; whiche did but putt them upon ther gwarde for to provyde tymouslye for ther own defence and securitye, ⚫and for putting home of that which was so prosprously begunne, and so successfully hitherto carryed on. XXXV. To which purpose, much about this tyme and therafter, ther was aboundance of armes began to be brought over out of Holland, pairtly for privatt use, and afterwardes for publicke service; towards which pourpose, one Thomas Cunninghame, then a factor at Campveer, in the Isle of Walker, was one of the cheefe provisors, and afterwards, for his faithfullnesse in the following yeares, he was made Lord Conservatour, by ther means who, from the beginning, had employed him, they having ousted of that employment one Sir Patrick Drummond, for enclyning too much the Kinge's waye. And as armes beganne to be called home from Germany in some numbers: and amongst others Sir Alexander Lesly, of whom I spocke befor. Thir things I mention now, although mostly done this summer and the yeares following, for it was about this tyme that thes things began to be done. And as they beganne

to looke about them for arms and souldiours, so lykwayes by all meanes to sollicite all such as might be helpefull to them, in caise it should come to a warre betuixt the Kinge and them, as afterward shall be related; for they had gottne some advertishment from Courte, that it was suggested to the King for to cut off the heades of cheife men. This made them looke about them for to defend themselves ever after, as they pretended it to be the reason why suche as came to protest at Stirling conveened in such multitudes, least ther chiefe men should be suprysed and made prisoners. XXXVI. From this convention at Stirling they goe towards Edinburghe; and twer the delegattes or Tables, of whom I made mention before, began to turne from delegationes to consultationes; a fyft generall Table being added, which consisted of commissioners chosne from the other four tables. The four Tables consulted of such thinges as wer meete to be proposed at the generall Table; and whatever was concluded at the general Table was directed to the severalle Tables of the gentrye in all the several shyres, and ther receaved and putt in practise."

The grand result of the Tables was the immediate subscription, by multitudes of all ranks, of the Covenant, beginning at Edinburgh. Concerning the earliest subscribers we have these particulars :

"The first (as I am credibly informed) was Johne Gordon, Earle of Sutherlande, and the next was Sir Andrew Murrey, Lord Balvard, minister at Ebdy, in Fyfe: two noblemen who, out of zeale to ther professione, without any by ende, thought it ane happinesse to be amongst the first subscribents and swearers to the Covenant. After them all that wer present ranne to the subscriptione of it, and then through the reste of the cittye it went, evry one contesting who might be first; and others without furder examination or questioning the articles therof, following the example of others, women, young people, and servant maides, did sweare and hold upp ther handes to the Covenant. All who wer present at Edinburgh at that meeting in the moneth of Februarye, subscrybed and swore to the Covenante befor they went from thence; and, at ther parting, ministers and noblemen, and gentlemen, who wer weal affected to the cause, carryd coppyes therof along with them, or caused them to be wryttne out after ther return to ther severall paroshines and counteys of Scotland. Which coppyes wer ordinarily wryttne upon great skinnes of parchement (for which cause at that tyme, in a written pasqwell, the Covenant was termed The Constellatione upon the backe of Aries). And such as took coppyes along with them for to be subscrybed, caused ordinarily such as had sworne or underwrytne ther names alreadye (if they were noblemen or ministers of note), for to sett too their hands anew to the severall coppyes, that, wher themselves could not be present to invitte others, ther hand wrytte might be ther proxye."

We are next told that for some months the work of subscribing was earnestly gone about, and "in purchasing handes therunto. The account of the increasing boldness of the Covenanters thus continues: