eg ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 



he inftituted the court of fefiion, upon the famt 

 plan in which it has remained, with little variation, 

 to the prefent time. 



But James, as hath already been obferved, did 

 not reft folely on the courts of law for civilizing hi* 

 fubjects. In imitation of former kings of Scotland, 

 he frequently penetrated into the mod barbarous parts 

 of the Highlands, for the purpofe of punifhing 

 delinquents, eftabliiliing peace, fecurity, and the 

 arts of civil life. Buchannan, who lived in that 

 reign, reprefents the young monarch as being fo 

 brave and daring in his perfon, that, flighting all 

 dangers, he would attack and break the moft for- 

 midable band of banditti, with inferior numbers; 

 that he would fit on horfeback for twenty-four 

 hours without intermiflion, fatisfying the calls of 

 nature with the meaneft food that was at hand; that 

 robbers feldom efcaped his activity, and were often 

 terrified into fubmiflion with the dread of his name* 



Tho' James's education had been neglected, his 

 memory was celebrated by Ariofto under the name 



freih waters ; and all ready for the banket. Syne were there prcv 

 per ftewards, cunning baxters, excellent cooks and potingers, with 

 confections and drugs for their deferts ; and the halls and chambers 

 ttere prepared with coilly bedding, vefiels and napery, according 

 for a king. The king remained in this wildernefs, at the hunting, 

 the fpace of three days and three nights, and his company, as L 

 have ftiewn. I heard men fay, it coil the earl of Athol, every day, 

 in expences, a thoufand pounds. 



The embaflador of the pope, ieeing this great banket and triumph, 

 which was made in the wildernefs, where there was no town near 

 by twenty miles, thought it a great marvel that fuch a thing 

 could be in Scotland, and that there ihoulcf be fuch honetty and 

 policy in it, efpecially.inthe Highlands, where there was but wood 

 and wildernefs. But, moft of all, this embaflador marvelled ta 

 fee, when the king departed, and all his men took their leave, the 

 Highlandmen fet all this fair place in a fire, that the king and the 

 embaflador might fee it. Then the embaflador faid to the king ? 

 4t I marvel, lir, that you {hould thole yon feir place to be burnt, 

 that your grace has been fo well lodged in. '* Then the king anfwered 

 the embaflador, and faid, " It is the ufe of our Highlandmen,, 

 though they be never fc well lodged, to burn their lodging, when 

 ikey depart." 



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