22 Transactions. 



II. — Captain Franch's Tour in Scotland in 1657. By E. J. 

 Chinnock, LL.D., Hon. Secretary. (Abridged.) 



A reprint was published by Sir Walter Scott in 1821 of a 

 remarkable book entitled " Northern Memoirs, calculated for the 

 meridian of Scotland, to which is added the contemplative and 

 practical ang-ler, writ in the year 1658, but not till now made 

 public, by Eichard Franck, Philanthropus, Plures necat Gula quam 

 Gladius. Printed for the author. To be sold by Henry Mortclock 

 at Phenix in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1G94." It consists of a 

 fishing tour through Scotland, described in dialogue between 

 Arnoldus (Franck) and his companion Theophilus. The journey 

 must have taken place in 1656 or 1657, when Scotland was peace- 

 ful under the iron hand of General Monk, Cromwell's deputy. 

 Franck had served as a cavalry officer in Cromwell's army during 

 the war in Scotland, and he is addressed by a friend in some 

 commendatory verses as captain. He was an Independent of a 

 mystical kind, as his remarks throughout the book show. He was 

 born at Cambridge, and seems to have been educated at the 

 University, for though his style is very pedantic and obscure, it is 

 that of an educated man of the period. He says he had lived 

 through five kings' reigns, so he must have been born in that of 

 James I., i.e., before 1625. If he were born in 1624 he would 

 have been 70 years of age when he published the book. Near the 

 end of the book Theophilus says : " You writ the book in '58 and 

 spread the net in '85." Arnoldus replies : " What if I do ; I lived 

 in the reign of five kings and in the time of four great worthies." 

 Theophilus : '' Was O.P. {i.e., Oliver Protector) one ? " Arnoldus : 

 " I leave that bone for you to pick. But this I assert, that great 

 English hero was exemplary in piety, eminent in policy, prudent in 

 conduct, magnanimous in courage, indefatigable in vigilancy, in- 

 dustriously laborious in watchings, heroic in enterprise, constant 

 in resolution, successful in war ; one that never wanted a presence 

 of mind in the greatest difficulties ; all the world owns him for a 

 great general that influenced all Europe, gave laws to all neigh- 

 bouring nations, and disciplined France with English arms." In 

 the dedication to Mr J. W., merchant, in London, he says : " In 

 Cambridge, it's true, I had my education ; but travel having the 

 ascendent over me, I afterwards rambled the remote northern 

 tracts of Scotland, where to admiration I inspected that little 

 artick world and every angle of it. For you are to consider, sir. 



