220 Transactions of the [Sess. 



both historically interesting, for it has been transmitted down to 

 our own times that it was within the sombre enclosure of the former 

 that the Darnley plot was hatched ; while the latter, according to 

 tradition, at one time accommodated a congregation of several 

 hundreds under the arching canopy of its branches, when John 

 Knox was the preacher. There are, besides, the historic English 

 Yews of Fountains Abbey, Gresford, Ankerwyke, and Darleydale, 

 described by Loudon, which are all undoubtedly over 1000 years 

 old. But every one of these trees, and many others which might 

 be mentioned, must give place to the Fortingall Yew. " This 

 Yew," in the words of the late Professor Christison (to whom it was 

 an object of great interest), " stands within the churchyard, four 

 miles by road above the confluence of the Tay and Lyon, and about 

 400 feet above sea-level, in a valley very favourable to tree life. It 

 is quite within the churchyard, in a walled enclosure thirty-three 

 feet by twenty. But depredation has thiis not been altogetlier 

 prevented. Two railed openings and a railed gate allow inspection 

 from outside of a mass of vegetation so confused, that the whole 

 enclosure seems simply full of young Yews and vigorous spray. It 

 is only by brushing through this mass on obtaining entrance into 

 the interior, and not easily even then, that an adequate idea can 

 be formed of what is still extant of the ancient tree." This tree 

 was believed by De Candolle to be " possibly the most venerable 

 specimen of vegetation in Europe," and this celebrated botanist 

 estimated its age as over 2500 years ; while Sir Eobert Christison 

 made a most minute and painstaking inquiry as to the growth of 

 the Yew and other trees at various ages, in order to be able to 

 arrive at an approximate estimate of the age of this particular tree. 

 The result of his labours will be noted by-and-by, when we have 

 glanced at the various published accounts of former visitors. 



Though the Fortingall Yew is so noteworthy, there does not 

 appear to be any very early notice of it. One would have ex- 

 pected to find it mentioned in the ' Black Book of Taymouth ' ; but 

 though severe storms and other natural phenomena are there duly 

 chi'onicled, this wonderful curiosity is not once alluded to by the 

 compilers — at least, in the published portions of the MS. Nor does 

 Evelyn, in his ' Silva,' refer to any Scottish trees whatever, though 

 he mentions several ancient Yews : all his specimens are English. 

 The early troubles of Scotland may in part account for such paucity 

 of scientific observation ; while as regards the Highlands, up to 

 a comparatively recent period this part of the kingdom was re- 

 garded by Southrons as a region full of frightful mountains and 

 precipices, and inhabited by savages no less frightful. It may, 

 therefore, have been considered rather a bold adventure — the Great 

 Magician not having yet arisen — when in 1768 the Honourable 

 Daines Barrington (the " Judge Barrington " of the Welsh Bench) 



