SIR ROBERT SIBBALD. 31 



obtained, they were married on Thursday, April 

 25, 1677> he being at that time thirty-six years 

 of age, and the lady twenty-two. 



This marriage, contracted under such favourable 

 auspices, was productive of but short-lived happi- 

 ness. His wife, coming from the bed-room in 

 slippers the following October, fell down stairs, 

 and miscarried of twins : on the 12th October, 

 1678, she again gave birth to a daughter, but two 

 months afterwards Mrs Sibbald caught a malig- 

 nant fever, which, in spite of the best advice, 

 terminated fatally on the llth day, being Decem- 

 ber 27, 1678. She was buried in the Greyfriars 

 churchyard ; her husband records, that " she was 

 a virtuous, and pious, and loving wife, and had 

 just kindness for all my relations, and was much 

 esteemed by them." 



About this time he formed an intimacy with 

 the Earl of Perth, who, on the death of his family 

 physician, appointed Dr Sibbald to succeed to 

 that office. The Earl, being a man of literary taste, 

 frequently consulted Sibbald on topics of litera- 

 ture and science, and was earnestly persuaded 

 by him to adopt a life of philosophic retirement ; 

 but he had otherwise determined. Being poor he 

 threw himself into the court, with an intention of 

 improving his fortune, and soon obtained the 

 appointment of Lord Justice General, which was 

 followed by the Chancellorship. This change of 



