ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 9 



kingdom. The oppofite factions, under the in- 

 fluence of France and England, co-operating with 

 the druggies which fubverted the popifh religion, 

 exhaufted the internal flrength of the kingdom, 

 enfeebled the executive powers of government, 

 defolated the country, and laid in ruins thofe noble 

 edifices which it had been the work of ages to 

 ered. * 



But 



ig their pike points 

 thus each with other to nigh as fpace and place will fuffer, through 

 the whole ward, fo thick, that as ealily mall a bare, finger pierce 

 through the fkin of an angry hedge-hog, as any encounter the front 

 of their pikes" 



With the decline of the ancient military art in Scotland ended 

 alfo the Ihort-lived navy, which arofe in the reign of James III. and 

 difappeared after the death of James V. being buffered' to rot ia 

 the ports of France. 



* They coniifted of monafteries, abbeys, convents, priories, 

 colleges for fecular priefts, and provoftries for the chief perfons of 

 that order. Thefe buildings were the repertories of the public or 

 national annals ; of all eccleiiaftical charters, records, bulls of the 

 popes, and regifters of the national councils, diocefan fynods, 

 confecrations, and o:her canons of the reipective churches. 



The moft ancient of theie buildings was at Icolrakill, (a fmall 

 ifland on the weft coaft of Mull, in Argylemire) which was founded 

 or erected in the fixth century. From that time, to the death of 

 James V. the Scottim princes, nobility, and dignified clergy, 

 ieemedtovie with each other in raifing and endowing thofe numerous 

 monuments of piety, tafte, and national genius ; whofe fate 

 hath no parallel in the hiitory of civilized nations, and whofe 

 ruins are beheld with admiration by every ftranger. 



In 1559, the mob of Perth, inflamed by a declamatory fermonagainft 

 churches and convents, as monuments of idolatr. ,fir{l: began the 

 dreadful work of demolifhing the noble edifices of that place, and a 

 fpirit of devaftation inltantly pervaded the greateft part of the 

 kingdom. 



In this, the populace were openly encouraged by the leading men 

 of the reformation, who among other acts " palled one," fays Spotf- 

 wood, " for demolifhing cloifters and abbey churches, fiich as were 

 not yet pulled down ; the execution whereof was committed to the 

 moft violent men of the party ; thereupon enfued a moll pitiful devaf- 

 tation of churches, and church-buildings, throughout all parts of 

 the kingdom; for every one made bold to put their hands, the 

 meaner fort imitating the example of the greater. No difference 



E 3 wai 



