HISTORICAL SKETCH. 41 



the invasion of Edward I., Inverness was the frequent residence of the kings, 

 whose presence was so often necessary to repel northern encroachments, and 

 suppress the violence of faction at home. After the accession of Bruce, it 

 was long held in despotic subjection to the constables of its own castle ; while 

 the constant inroads upon its territory, the heavy imposts levied upon its 

 inhabitants, and its civil broils and battles with the neighbouring clans, rerder 

 its early history replete with the disasters of a barbarous warfare, 



Eminently adapted by nature as a seat of mercantile enterprise, Inverness 

 appears to have been the early resort of those Flemish merchants who had 

 their colonies on almost every shore where ships could receive or dispose of 

 their lading. In proof of their Flemish origin, the old houses were erected 

 with large courts, arched gateways, steep roofs, and gables turned towards the 

 street ; and, till the middle of last century, many of them were thatched with 

 heath or straw. It is only within the last few years that the hanging balconies, 

 round turnpike stairs, and towers projecting in front of the houses features 

 which gave several of the streets an appearance highly picturesque have 

 disappeared. Of the citadel, built by Cromwell, and dismantled at the Restora- 

 tion, part of the ramparts still remains. For the erection of this fortress, England 

 furnished the oak planks and beams, and Strath-glass the fir. The monasteries 

 of Kinloss and Beauly, the bishop's castle of Chanonry, the Grey Friars' church, 

 and St. Mary's chapel, in Inverness, supplied materials for the stone-work. It 

 was built at the time when religious houses were converted into " stone 

 quarries," when altars were demolished to erect the most humble domestic 

 offices, and, in its turn, became a " quarry" for municipal improvement. Part 

 of the house in which Queen Mary resided during her visit to Inverness, still 

 exists. The object of this visit was to quell an insurrection raised by the earl of 

 Huntly, whose lieutenant, the governor of the castle, she caused to be executed. 

 Till the legislative measures of the disarming act were put in force, every 

 Highlander, even at church, appeared as if equipped for battle the dirk and 

 pistols at his belt, and broadsword at his side. But does not every levee and 

 drawing-room in the present day present a similar spectacle ? So slow was the 

 progress of fashion, and so cautiously were its maxims adopted by the ladies 

 of Inverness, that, little more than sixty years ago, only three appeared at the 

 High church in straw bonnets : but it may be added with great justice, that 

 the ladies of Inverness need not the foreign aid of ornament.* 



The municipal authorities consist of a provost, four bailies, a dean of guild, 



* ' Quid de matronis dicam tenerisque puellis ! 

 Si modo fas. dixeris es^e deas." 



VOL. U. M 



