Baron of Merchislon. 91 



The Scotch writers who have brought these fine things 

 (belles choses) to light at the present day, appear moved 

 towards us with the same compassion which Napier bore to 

 the Papists of his time. It is to be regretted that they have 

 not at their disposal such advantageous temporary circum- 

 stances for favouring their doctrines. It was then the good 

 times of sorcerers, sorceries, and burnings. Napier, accord- 

 ing to the confession of his biographer, was supposed to 

 hold conversations with Old Nick; and he even wished it 

 to be thought that this opinion was not without foundation. 

 But he was held in such high estimation that much dis- 

 quietude was not felt in this respect. He appears to have 

 been, in reality, occupied with mechanics and physics; for, 

 when the English were afraid of a new attack from the 

 Papists in 1596, Napier sent to the Scotch ambassador at 

 London, a list of inventions, after the manner of Archimedes.* 



These secrets are, burning mirrors, pieces of artillery on 

 a new construction, and a new method of navigating under 

 water ; but all this is only announced, not described. 



Unfortunately, he did not always make such a disinte- 

 rested use of his science, as the following contract shews, 

 which he formed with one of the most wicked men of the 

 time, called Robert Logan, of Restalrig, — a contract written 

 entirely with his own hand, and of which, the biographer 

 has taken care to present a fac simile. This Logan, of 

 Restalrig, had thrown himself, with ferocious audacity, into 

 the desperate party of Francis Stuart, Count Bothwell, in 

 1594 ; and, under this title of open war, went about robbing 

 and way-laying the roads in the neighbourhood of Edin- 

 burgh. The legality of these proceedings not being, un- 

 fortunately, recognised, he had been called to judgment 

 and outlawed for his non-appearance. But this gave him 

 little uneasiness ; having, upon the wildest shores of the 

 German ocean, an inaccessible retreat in Fast-Castle, since 

 celebrated, under the name of Wolfscrag, by Sir Walter 

 Scott, in the Bride of Lammermoor . There Restalrig, not 

 knowing what to do, recalled to mind an old tradition re- 

 specting some treasures buried under his castle ; and know- 



• This list is contained in a letter to Anthony Bacon, entitled, " Secret inven- 

 tions, profitable and necessary in these days for the defence of this island, and 

 notwithstanding Strangers, enemies to God's truth and religion," Dated June 2nd, 

 1.S96.— Edit. 



