38 
MEMOIR OF 
wait on his Royal Highness the following day, 
after morning service, they supposed it was upon 
business relating to the new college ; but, says 
Sibbald, “ to our surprisal, there was a carpet 
laid, and we were ordered to kneel, and were 
each of us knighted hy his Royal Highness, then 
Commissioner.” They were indebted to the 
Earl of Perth and Sir Charles Scarborough for 
the honour. 
Sir Robert Sibbald was requested by the 
college to return thanks, in their name, to his 
Royal Highness, for the charter — which occa- 
sioned him, he says, « much envy, that he was 
taken notice of at the court.” He soon after pre- 
sented the new society with three shelves full of 
books, among which were the works of Galen and 
Hippocrates, and Gesner’s History of Animals. 
And now, having remained four years a widower 
he again married, in November, Anna Orrock, 
youngest daughter of the Laird of Orrock. 
On the 20th March, 1684, Sir Robert suffered 
a serious loss by the burning of his house. The 
fire originated in the flat overhead ; and by Sir 
George Mackenzie’s advice, he instituted an action 
against the tenant, to recover the amount of the 
damage sustained, but afterwards was advised to 
withdraw the suit. He estimates his loss at ten 
thousand merks. In the course of this year, his 
Scotia Illustrata, upon which he had been long 
