ANNALS 



O F 



SCOTLAND. 



SCOTLAND having been long harrafled by 

 hoftile invafion, and fometimes embroiled in 

 civil commotipns, the profeflion of arms became 

 both a neceffary, and a favourite employment 

 amongft the great body of the people. Every man 

 was a foldier, ready to march at the command of 

 his chieftain, or upon the fummons of his prince. 

 The nation, thus inured to the habits of war, in 

 defence of their country and liberties, and always 

 prevailing in the fequel, gained a military reputa- 

 tion abroad - } while the valour and fidelity of the 

 auxiliary Scots, in the armies of contending princes, 

 procured their native kingdom various commercial 

 privileges and exemptions, which it enjoyed until 

 the accefiion of James VI. to the crown of En- 

 gland, when thofe nations, the mart at Campvere 

 in Holland excepted, alledging that Scotland was 

 no longer a feparate kingdom, fubjected its com- 

 merce to the fame regulations and reftrictions as 

 that of England. The Scots of the middle ages, 

 fenfible of the benefits to commerce whicji thofe 

 diftinguifhed privileges beftowed, began to avail 

 themiclves of the riches which their leas and exten- 

 five coafts afforded, and to import, chiefly by 

 means of the rlfheries, not only the produce of more 

 luxuriant climates, but alfo fpecie in confiderable 



plenty j 



