374 NOTES ON 



Note XXXII. 

 Tayn in Ross, sacks all their malefactors, so swims them to their 



graves. P. 213. 



Punishment, by drowning, was once universally practised through 

 Scotland. An old Strathnaver Highlander of this period, is said to 

 have bemoaned himself and his neighbours, advising all men to take 

 care of themselves, for the law had come as near them as Tain. 

 The Regent Murray drowned seven men at St Andrews, for piracy. 

 I suppose the prevalence of this custom was founded on economy. 

 The sack in which the criminals were tied, would serve the same 

 purpose again, which a halter could not. They were held down with 

 poles, till life was extinguished. 



Note XXXIII. 

 Urquart.P. 217. 



The author speaks of the translator of Rabekis, Sir Thomas 

 Urquhart of Cromarty, and of his father, the older Sir Thomas. 

 The number of forty children, assigned in the text to the former, is 

 at least as remarkable, and probably as fabulous, as any thing in the 

 genealogy compiled by the son, who establishes Adam in the cha- 

 racter of the first Urquhart of Cromarty. A tinge of insanity is vi- 

 sible in Sir Thomas Urquhart's writings, which did not, however, 

 disqualify him from the task of translating Rabelais with the ut- 

 most spirit. Our author seems to have established his own style, in 

 some degree, upon the same model with Sir Thomas. 



Note XXXIV. 



Old Chanery, hung about with charms.- P. 21 7. 

 Channery, a town in Ross-shire, situated on the sea shore, de- 

 rives its name from the establishments of Canons Regular, which 

 long flourished there. How the place came to be peculiarly renown- 

 ed for sorcery, does not appear ; but it is so celebrated in the "Fly- 

 ting of Polwart and Montgomery," where Nicneven, the Hecate of 

 Scottish necromancy, is thus introduced : 



Nicneven and her nymphs, in number anew, 

 With charms from Caitness, and Chanrie in Ross. 



