xxii MEMOIR OF SIR J. G. DALYELL. 



siderable service in the Reformation struggle. Though some of them are 

 ridiculous enough, yet there are not a few good psalms and hymns scat- 

 tered throughout. From the frequent allusion in them to the Queen- 

 Regent, the Pope, and the priesthood, it is evident that many of them 

 ■were wi-itten in the heatof the first Reformation. 



The other poems in this volume consist of " Ane Tragedie, in forme 

 of ane Diallog betwix Honour, Gude Fame, and the Author heirof, in ane 

 trance, 1570 :" "The Lamentatioun of Lady Scotland, compylit be hir- 

 self, speiking in maner of ane Epistle," 1572: "The Testament and 

 Tragedie of umquhile King Henrie Stewart, of gude memorie," 1567 : 

 " Ane Declaratioun of the Lordis Just Quarrel," 1567 : "Ballat," 1571 

 — (in reference to Edinburgh Castle and the Civil wars) : " The Sege 

 of the Castle of Edinburgh, 1573 :" "The Legend of the Bischop of 

 .St Androis Lyfe, callit Mr Patrick Adamsone, alias Cousteane :" " The 

 Battell of Balrinnes, foughtin betuixt Archibald Earll of Argyll, against 

 Francis Earll of ErroU, and George Earll of Huntlie, in anno 1594." 

 These were introduced and explained by cursory remarks on the " Booke 

 of Godly and Spiritvall Songs," in which Sir John gives a succinct ac- 

 count of the Reformation in Scotland ; by " some Incidents in the Life 

 of James Earl of Murray, Regent of Scotland," which form an interesting 

 outline of his career ; by " Biographical Sketches of Sir William Kirkaldy 

 of Grange, Governor of Edinburgh Castle," and " a Faithful Narrative of 

 the Great and Miraculous Victory, obtained by George Gordon, Earl of 

 Huntly, and Francis Hay, Earl of Errol, Catholic Noblemen, over Archi- 

 bald Campbell, Eail of Argyle, Lieutenant : at Strathaven, in the north 

 of Scotland, 3 October 1594." This last, a translation. 



The two pi'evious works were dated from " Binns." — This, the third, 

 and succeeding volumes, emanated from the family town-house, which 

 Sir John found more convenient for his studies. 



In 1803 we have another translation of the Abbe Spallanzani's " Tracts 

 on the Natural History of Animals and Vegetables," in 2 vols. 8vq., pub- 

 lished by William Creech. It contains a preface and an essay, entitled "Phy- 

 siological Reflections on the Natural History of Animals and Vegetables," 

 in which numerous instances of the phenomena of animal and vegetable 

 life are recorded and explained. 



