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Building Java Programs
A Back to Basics Approach
Fifth Edition

Stuart Reges
University of Washington
Marty Stepp
Stanford University
SVP, Courseware Portfolio Management: Marcia Horton

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The authors and publisher of this book have used their best efforts in
preparing this book. These efforts include the development,
research, and testing of the theories and programs to determine their
effectiveness. The authors and publisher make no warranty of any
kind, expressed or implied, with regard to these programs or to the
documentation contained in this book. The authors and publisher
shall not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing,
performance, or use of these programs.

Copyright © 2020, 2017, 2014 and 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or

its affiliates. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of
America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission
should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited
reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise. For information regarding permissions,
request forms and the appropriate contacts within the Pearson
Education Global Rights & Permissions department, please visit
www.pearsonhighed.com/permissions/.

PEARSON, and MyLab Programming are exclusive trademarks in

the U.S. and/or other countries owned by Pearson Education, Inc. or
its affiliates.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, any third-party trademarks that

may appear in this work are the property of their respective owners
and any references to third-party trademarks, logos or other trade
dress are for demonstrative or descriptive purposes only. Such
references are not intended to imply any sponsorship, endorsement,
authorization, or promotion of Pearson's products by the owners of
such marks, or any relationship between the owner and Pearson
Education, Inc. or its affiliates, authors, licensees or distributors.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Reges, Stuart, author. | Stepp, Martin, author.

Title: Building Java programs: a back to basics approach / Stuart

Reges, University of Washington, Marty Stepp, Stanford University.
Description: Fifth edition. | Hoboken, New Jersey: Pearson, 2019. |
Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018050748 | ISBN 9780135471944 | ISBN

013547194X

Subjects: LCSH: Java (Computer program language)

Classification: LCC QA76.73.J38 R447 2019 | DDC 005.13/3—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018050748

1 19

ISBN 10: 0- 13-547194- X

ISBN 13: 978-0-13-547194- 4

Preface
The newly revised fifth edition of our Building Java Programs
textbook is designed for use in a two-course introduction to computer
science. We have class-tested it with thousands of undergraduates,
most of whom were not computer science majors, in our CS1-CS2
sequence at the University of Washington. These courses are
experiencing record enrollments, and other schools that have
adopted our textbook report that students are succeeding with our
approach.

Introductory computer science courses are often seen as “killer”

courses with high failure rates. But as Douglas Adams says in The
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t panic.” Students can master
this material if they can learn it gradually. Our textbook uses a
layered approach to introduce new syntax and concepts over
multiple chapters.

Our textbook uses an “objects later” approach where programming

fundamentals and procedural decomposition are taught before diving
into object-oriented programming. We have championed this
approach, which we sometimes call “back to basics,” and have seen
through years of experience that a broad range of scientists,
engineers, and others can learn how to program in a procedural
manner. Once we have built a solid foundation of procedural
techniques, we turn to object-oriented programming. By the end of
the course, students will have learned about both styles of
programming.

The Java language is always evolving, and we have made it a point

of focus in recent editions on newer features that have been added
in Java 8 through 10. In the fourth edition we added a new Chapter
19 on Java’s functional programming features introduced in Java
8. In this edition we integrate the JShell tool introduced in Java 9.

New to This Edition

The following are the major changes for our fifth edition:

JShell integration. Java 9 introduced JShell, a utility with an

interactive read-eval-print loop (REPL) that makes it easy to type
Java expressions and immediately see their results. We find
JShell to be a valuable learning tool that allows students to
explore Java concepts without the overhead of creating a
complete program. We introduce JShell in Chapter 2 and
integrate JShell examples in each chapter throughout the text.
Improved Chapter 2 loop coverage. We have added new
sections and figures in Chapter 2 to help students understand
for loops and create tables to find patterns in nested loops. This
new content is based on our interactions with our own students
as they solve programming problems with loops early in our
courses.
 Revamped case studies, examples, and other content. We
have rewritten or revised sections of various chapters based on
student and instructor feedback. We have also rewritten the
Chapter 10 (ArrayLists) case study with a new program
focusing on elections and ranked choice voting.
Updated collection syntax and idioms. Recent releases of
Java have introduced new syntax and features related to
collections, such as the <> “diamond operator;” collection
interfaces such as Lists , Sets , and Maps ; and new collection
methods. We have updated our collection Chapters 10 and
11 to discuss these new features, and we use the diamond
operator syntax with collections in the rest of the text.
Expanded self-checks and programming exercises. With
each new edition we add new programming exercises to the end
of each chapter. There are roughly fifty total problems and
exercises per chapter, all of which have been class-tested with
real students and have solutions provided for instructors on our
web site.
New programming projects. Some chapters have received new
programming projects, such as the Chapter 10 ranked choice
ballot project.

Features from Prior Editions

The following features have been retained from previous editions:
Focus on problem solving. Many textbooks focus on language
details when they introduce new constructs. We focus instead on
problem solving. What new problems can be solved with each
construct? What pitfalls are novices likely to encounter along the
way? What are the most common ways to use a new construct?
Emphasis on algorithmic thinking. Our procedural approach
allows us to emphasize algorithmic problem solving: breaking a
large problem into smaller problems, using pseudocode to refine
an algorithm, and grappling with the challenge of expressing a
large program algorithmically.
Layered approach. Programming in Java involves many
concepts that are difficult to learn all at once. Teaching Java to a
novice is like trying to build a house of cards. Each new card has
to be placed carefully. If the process is rushed and you try to
place too many cards at once, the entire structure collapses. We
teach new concepts gradually, layer by layer, allowing students to
expand their understanding at a manageable pace.
Case studies. We end most chapters with a significant case
study that shows students how to develop a complex program in
stages and how to test it as it is being developed. This structure
allows us to demonstrate each new programming construct in a
rich context that can’t be achieved with short code examples.
Several of the case studies were expanded and improved in the
second edition.
Utility as a CS1+CS2 textbook. In recent editions, we added
chapters that extend the coverage of the book to cover all of the
topics from our second course in computer science, making the
book usable for a two-course sequence. Chapters 12 –19
 explore recursion, searching and sorting, stacks and queues,
collection implementation, linked lists, binary trees, hash tables,
heaps, and more. Chapter 12 also received a section on
recursive backtracking, a powerful technique for exploring a set
of possibilities for solving problems such as 8 Queens and
Sudoku.

This year also marks the release of our new Building Python
Programs textbook, which brings our “back to basics” approach to
the Python language. In recent years Python has seen a surge in
popularity in introductory computer science classrooms. We have
found that our materials and approach work as well in Python as
they do in Java, and we are pleased to offer the choice of two
languages to instructors and students.

Layers and Dependencies

Many introductory computer science books are language-oriented,
but the early chapters of our book are layered. For example, Java
has many control structures (including for-loops, while-loops, and
if/else-statements), and many books include all of these control
structures in a single chapter. While that might make sense to
someone who already knows how to program, it can be
overwhelming for a novice who is learning how to program. We find
that it is much more effective to spread these control structures into
different chapters so that students learn one structure at a time
rather than trying to learn them all at once.
The following table shows how the layered approach works in the
first six chapters:

Chapters 1 –6 are designed to be worked through in order, with

greater flexibility of study then beginning in Chapter 7 . Chapter
6 may be skipped, although the case study in Chapter 7
involves reading from a file, a topic that is covered in Chapter 6 .

The following is a dependency chart for the book:

Supplements
http://www.buildingjavaprograms.com/

Answers to all self-check problems appear on our web site and are
accessible to anyone. Our web site has the following additional
resources for students:

Online-only supplemental chapters, such as a chapter on

creating Graphical User Interfaces
Source code and data files for all case studies and other
complete program examples
The DrawingPanel class used in the optional graphics
Supplement 3G
Our web site has the following additional resources for teachers:

PowerPoint slides suitable for lectures

Solutions to exercises and programming projects, along with
homework specification documents for many projects
Sample exams and solution keys
Additional lab exercises and programming exercises with
solution keys
Closed lab creation tools to produce lab handouts with the
instructor's choice of problems integrated with the textbook

To access instructor resources, contact us at

[email protected]. The same materials are
also available at http://www.pearsonhighered.com/cs-resources.
To ask other questions related to resources, contact your Pearson
sales representative.

MyLab Programming
MyLab Programming is an online practice and assessment tool that
helps students fully grasp the logic, semantics, and syntax of
programming. Through practice exercises and immediate,
personalized feedback, MyLab Programming improves the
programming competence of beginning students who often struggle
with basic concepts and paradigms of popular high-level
programming languages. A self-study and homework tool, the MyLab
Programming course consists of hundreds of small practice
exercises organized around the structure of this textbook. For
students, the system automatically detects errors in the logic and
syntax of code submissions and offers targeted hints that enable
students to figure out what went wrong, and why. For instructors, a
comprehensive grade book tracks correct and incorrect answers and
stores the code inputted by students for review.

For a full demonstration, to see feedback from instructors and

students, or to adopt MyLab Programming for your course, visit the
following web site: www.pearson.com/mylab/programming

VideoNotes

We have recorded a series of instructional videos to accompany the

textbook. They are available at the following web site:
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/cs-resources

Roughly 3–4 videos are posted for each chapter. An icon in the
margin of the page indicates when a VideoNote is available for a
given topic. In each video, we spend 5–15 minutes walking through a
particular concept or problem, talking about the challenges and
methods necessary to solve it. These videos make a good
supplement to the instruction given in lecture classes and in the
textbook. Your new copy of the textbook has an access code that will
allow you to view the videos.

Acknowledgments
First, we would like to thank the many colleagues, students, and
teaching assistants who have used and commented on early drafts
of this text. We could not have written this book without their input.
Special thanks go to Hélène Martin, who pored over early versions of
our first edition chapters to find errors and to identify rough patches
that needed work. We would also like to thank instructor Benson
Limketkai for spending many hours performing a technical proofread
of the second edition.

Second, we would like to thank the talented pool of reviewers who

guided us in the process of creating this textbook:

Greg Anderson, Weber State University

Delroy A. Brinkerhoff, Weber State University
Ed Brunjes, Miramar Community College
Tom Capaul, Eastern Washington University
Tom Cortina, Carnegie Mellon University
Charles Dierbach, Towson University
H.E. Dunsmore, Purdue University
Michael Eckmann, Skidmore College
Mary Anne Egan, Siena College
Leonard J. Garrett, Temple University
Ahmad Ghafarian, North Georgia College & State University
Raj Gill, Anne Arundel Community College
Michael Hostetler, Park University
David Hovemeyer, York College of Pennsylvania
Chenglie Hu, Carroll College
Philip Isenhour, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Andree Jacobson, University of New Mexico
David C. Kamper, Sr., Northeastern Illinois University
Simon G.M. Koo, University of San Diego
Evan Korth, New York University
Joan Krone, Denison University
John H.E.F. Lasseter, Fairfield University
Eric Matson, Wright State University
Kathryn S. McKinley, University of Texas, Austin
Jerry Mead, Bucknell University
George Medelinskas, Northern Essex Community College
John Neitzke, Truman State University
Dale E. Parson, Kutztown University
Richard E. Pattis, Carnegie Mellon University
Frederick Pratter, Eastern Oregon University
Roger Priebe, University of Texas, Austin
Dehu Qi, Lamar University
John Rager, Amherst College
Amala V.S. Rajan, Middlesex University
 Craig Reinhart, California Lutheran University
Mike Scott, University of Texas, Austin
Alexa Sharp, Oberlin College
Tom Stokke, University of North Dakota
Leigh Ann Sudol, Fox Lane High School
Ronald F. Taylor, Wright State University
Andy Ray Terrel, University of Chicago
Scott Thede, DePauw University
Megan Thomas, California State University, Stanislaus
Dwight Tuinstra, SUNY Potsdam
Jeannie Turner, Sayre School
Tammy VanDeGrift, University of Portland
Thomas John VanDrunen, Wheaton College
Neal R. Wagner, University of Texas, San Antonio
Jiangping Wang, Webster University
Yang Wang, Missouri State University
Stephen Weiss, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Laurie Werner, Miami University
Dianna Xu, Bryn Mawr College
Carol Zander, University of Washington, Bothell

Finally, we would like to thank the great staff at Pearson who helped
produce the book. Michelle Brown, Jeff Holcomb, Maurene Goo,
Patty Mahtani, Nancy Kotary, and Kathleen Kenny did great work
preparing the first edition. Our copy editors and the staff of Aptara
Corp, including Heather Sisan, Brian Baker, Brendan Short, and
Rachel Head, caught many errors and improved the quality of the
writing. Marilyn Lloyd and Chelsea Bell served well as project
manager and editorial assistant respectively on prior editions. For
their help with the third edition we would like to thank Kayla Smith-
Tarbox, Production Project Manager, and Jenah Blitz-Stoehr,
Computer Science Editorial Assistant. Mohinder Singh and the staff
at Aptara, Inc., were also very helpful in the final production of the
third edition. For their great work on production of the fourth and fifth
editions, we thank Louise Capulli and the staff of Lakeside Editorial
Services, along with Carole Snyder at Pearson. Special thanks go to
our lead editor at Pearson, Matt Goldstein, who has believed in the
concept of our book from day one. We couldn’t have finished this job
without all of their hard work and support.

Stuart Reges
Marty Stepp
Location of Video Notes in the
Text
http://www.pearson.com/cs-resources

Chapter 1 Pages 31, 40

Chapter 2 Pages 65, 76, 92, 100, 115

Chapter 3 Pages 146, 161, 166, 173, 178

Chapter 3G Pages 202, 220

Chapter 4 Pages 248, 256, 283

Chapter 5 Pages 329, 333, 337, 339, 362

Chapter 6 Pages 401, 413, 427

Chapter 7 Pages 464, 470, 488, 510

Chapter 8 Pages 540, 552, 560, 573

Chapter 9 Pages 602, 615, 631

Chapter 10 Pages 679, 686, 694

Chapter 11 Pages 723, 737, 745

Chapter 12 Pages 773, 781, 818

Chapter 13 Pages 842, 845, 852

Chapter 14 Pages 897, 904

Chapter 15 Pages 939, 945, 949

Chapter 16 Pages 982, 989, 1002

Chapter 17 Pages 1048, 1049, 1059

Chapter 18 Pages 1085, 1104

Brief Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to Java Programming 1

Chapter 2 Primitive Data and Definite Loops 63

Chapter 3 Introduction to Parameters and Objects 142

Supplement 3G Graphics (Optional) 201

Chapter 4 Conditional Execution 243

Chapter 5 Program Logic and Indefinite Loops 320

Chapter 6 File Processing 392

Chapter 7 Arrays 447

Chapter 8 Classes 535

Chapter 9 Inheritance and Interfaces 592

Chapter 10 ArrayLists 667

Chapter 11 Java Collections Framework 722

Chapter 12 Recursion 763

Chapter 13 Searching and Sorting 840

Chapter 14 Stacks and Queues 892

Chapter 15 Implementing a Collection Class 931

Chapter 16 Linked Lists 975

Chapter 17 Binary Trees 1028

Chapter 18 Advanced Data Structures 1083

Chapter 19 Functional Programming with Java 8 1119

Appendix A Java Summary 1161

Appendix B The Java API Specification and Javadoc Comments

1176

Appendix C Additional Java Syntax 1182

Index 1191
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to Java Programming 1
1.1 Basic Computing Concepts 2
Why Programming? 2

Hardware and Software 3

The Digital Realm 4

The Process of Programming 6

Why Java? 7

The Java Programming Environment 8

1.2 And Now—Java 10

String Literals (Strings) 14

System.out.println 15

Escape Sequences 15

print versus println 17

Identifiers and Keywords 18

A Complex Example: DrawFigures1 20

Comments and Readability 21

 1.3 Program Errors 24
Syntax Errors 24

Logic Errors (Bugs) 28

1.4 Procedural Decomposition 28

Static Methods 31

Flow of Control 34

Methods That Call Other Methods 36

An Example Runtime Error 39

1.5 Case Study: DrawFigures 40

Structured Version 41

Final Version without Redundancy 43

Analysis of Flow of Execution 44

Chapter 2 Primitive Data and Definite Loops 63

2.1 Basic Data Concepts 64
Primitive Types 64

Expressions 65

JShell 67

Literals 68

Arithmetic Operators 69

Precedence 72
 Mixing Types and Casting 74

2.2 Variables 76
Assignment/Declaration Variations 81

String Concatenation 84

Increment/Decrement Operators 87

Variables and Mixing Types 90

2.3 The for Loop 92

Tracing for Loops 94

for Loop Patterns 98

Nested for Loops 100

2.4 Managing Complexity 103

Scope 103

Pseudocode 108

The Table Technique 110

Class Constants 113

2.5 Case Study: Hourglass Figure 115

Problem Decomposition and Pseudocode 115

Initial Structured Version 117

Adding a Class Constant 119

 Further Variations 122

Chapter 3 Introduction to Parameters and Objects 142

3.1 Parameters 143
The Mechanics of Parameters 146

Limitations of Parameters 150

Multiple Parameters 153

Parameters versus Constants 156

Overloading of Methods 156

3.2 Methods That Return Values 157

The Math Class 158

Defining Methods That Return Values 161

3.3 Using Objects 165

String Objects 166

Interactive Programs and Scanner Objects 173

Sample Interactive Program 176

3.4 Case Study: Projectile Trajectory 178

Unstructured Solution 182

Structured Solution 184

Supplement 3G Graphics (Optional) 201

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Kennedy’s dochter; whilk, by intercession of friends, [was]
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We shall hear more of this feud hereafter (see under December 11,
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Under a commission from the king, the provost

and bailies of Aberdeen commenced a series of Feb. 17. 1596-7.
witch-trials of a remarkable kind. The first
delinquent, Janet Wishart, spouse of John Lees, stabler—a woman
considerably advanced in life—was accused of a great number of
maléfices perpetrated, during upwards of thirty years, against
neighbours, chiefly under a spirit of petty revenge. In the greater
number of cases, the victim was described as being seized with an
ailment under which he passed through the extremes of heat and
cold, and was afflicted with an insatiable drouth. In several cases the
illness had a fatal conclusion. For instance, James Low, stabler,
having refused Janet the loan of his kiln and barn, took a dwining
illness in consequence, ‘melting away like ane burning candle,’ till he
died. John, in his last moments, declared his belief that, if he had
lent Janet his kiln and barn, he would still have been a living man.
‘By the whilk witchcraft casten upon him, and upon his house, his
wife died, his only son [fell] in the same kind of sickness, and his
haill geir, surmounting three thousand pounds, are altogether
wrackit and away.’ It was considered sufficient proof on this point,
that sundry persons testified to having heard James lay on Janet the
blame of his misfortunes. Another person had been ruined in his
means, in consequence of his wife obeying a direction of Janet for
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wheat and a piece of rowan-tree, and putting them in the four nooks
of the house. Janet had also caused a dozen fowls belonging to a
neighbour to fall from a roost dead at her feet. She raised wind for
winnowing some malt in her own house, at a moment of perfect
calm, by putting a piece of live coal at each of two doors. She
caused a neighbour’s cow to give something like venom instead of
milk. A Mart ox which she wished to buy, became furious; wherefore
she got it at her own price, and on her laying her hands on it, the
animal became quiet. There is also a terrible recital of her causing a
neighbour to accompany her to the gallows in the Links, where she
cut pieces from the various members of a dead culprit, to be used
for effecting some of her devilish purposes. This story was only
reported by one who had received it from the woman herself, now
deceased; but it passed as equally good evidence with the rest. It
was alleged that, twenty-two years ago, she had been found sitting
in a field of green corn before sun-ris, when, being asked what she
was doing, she said: ‘I have been peeling the blades of the corn: I
find it will be ane dear year; the blade of the corn grows withershins
[contrary to the course of the sun]: when it grows sungates about
[in the direction of the sun’s course], it will be ane cheap year.’ One
of the last points in the dittay was that, for eight days before her
apprehension, ‘continually there was sic ane fearful rumbling in thy
house, that William Murray, cordiner, believit the house he was into,
next to thy house, should have fallen and smoorit him and his haill
bairns.’ This poor woman appears to have been taken to the stake
immediately after her trial.
Her son, Thomas Lees, was accused of having aided her in her evil
deeds, and being ‘ane common witch and sorcerer,’ and his trial
(February 23) brings out some curious points. He was accused of
having been one of a large company of witches and sorcerers who
had gone to the Market and Fish Crosses of Aberdeen at midnight of
the previous Halloween (All Saints’ Eve), ‘under the guiding and
conduct of the devil ... playing before you on his kind of
instruments.’ The company were all transformed, some as hares,
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two crosses and the meal-market a long space of time, Thomas
being the leader of the ring. One Catherine Mitchell being somewhat
laggard, he beat her to make her go faster; a fact to which
Catherine herself now bore witness. A woman with whom Thomas
had been too intimate also testified to his having offered to take her
to Murrayland and marry her, telling her that by the way, at the foot
of a particular mountain, he could raise a spirit able to provide them
with all necessaries. This poor fellow was also condemned to the
flames. The husband and daughters of Janet Wishart—the latter of
whom are taxed as well known to be ‘quick gangand devils’—
narrowly escaped with banishment from the city.
Helen Fraser, who was tried in April, was accused
of many witchcrafts of common kinds, and of some 1597.
less common. For instance, she had translated a
sickness from a man’s horse to his cow, and, worse than that, the
affection of Andrew Tullideff from his wife to a woman called
Margaret Neilson, ‘and sae michtily bewitchit him, that he could
never be reconceillit with his wife, or remove his affection frae the
said harlot.’ Another man, Robert Merchant by name, who had been
married happily to Christian White for two years, being taken to sow
corn for a widow named Isobel Bruce, at the Murihill of Foveran,
where Helen Fraser was then living, ‘fand his affection violently and
extraordinarily drawn away from the said Christian to the said Isobel,
ane great luve being betwixt him and the said Christian always
theretofore, and nae break of luve or discord falling out or
intervening upon either of their parts: whilk thing the country
supposit to be brought about by the unlawful travelling of the said
Helen’—and was further testified by Robert himself. Helen was
likewise convicted, and of course burnt.
Isobel Cockie took from cows the power of giving
healthful milk, making them give a poisonous stuff 1597.
instead. She also prevented good milk from
‘yirning.’ Horses had fallen dead under her touch.
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sicknesses in consequence, or suffered a decay in their worldly
means. Her house being ruinous, the proprietor, Alexander
Anderson, had come in her absence, and was proceeding to mend
the roof, when she came home, and finding he had uncovered her
pantry, where her valuables lay, she said: ‘I shall gar thee forthink it,
that thou hast tirrit my house, I being frae hame,’ and glowrit up at
him. Immediately Alexander’s speech went from him, and he retired
to bed sick, and could get no rest or sleep. Under the threats of his
son, she was induced to come and charm this sickness away from
him, and ‘gave him droggis, that his speech came to him again.’221
By the confession of the recently burnt Thomas Lees, Isobel Cockie
had been second to himself in the infernal dance at the Fish Cross,
‘and because the devil playit not so melodiously and weel as thou
cravit, thou took his instrument out of his mouth, then took him on
the chafts therewith, and playit thyself thereon to the haill company.’
Isobel was likewise condemned.
It would be tedious to enter into the long series of
trials which extended over this year in and near 1597.
Aberdeen; but a few particulars are worth giving.
The case of Andrew Man, an aged person, formerly of Tarbrugh, in
the parish of Rathven, involves a more imaginative style of warlockry
than is common. According to his own confessions—that is to say,
the hallucinations which he described—the devil came sixty years
ago to his mother’s house, in the form of a woman, called the Queen
of Elfen, and was delivered of a bairn; at which time, he being a boy,
bringing in water, was promised by this distinguished stranger ‘that
thou should know all things; and should help and cure all sorts of
sickness, except stand-deid, and that thou should be weel
enterteinit, but wald seek thy meat ere thou de’ed, as Thomas
Rhymer did.’ Thirty-two years before, he had begun a guilty
intercourse with this Queen of Elfen, at whose first coming, ‘she
caused ane of thy cattle die upon ane hillock called the Elf-hillock,
but promised to do him good thereafter.’ Andrew, according to his
own account, could ‘cure the falling-sickness, the bairn-bed, and all
other sorts of sickness that ever fell to man or beast, except the
stand-deid, by baptising them, reabling them in the auld
corunschbald, and striking of the gudis on the face, with ane fowl in
thy hand, and by saying thir words: “Gif thou will live, live; and gif
thou will die, die!” with sundry other orisons, sic as of Sanct John
and the three silly brethren, whilk thou can say when thou please,
and by giving of black wool and salt as a remeid for all diseases and
for causing a man prosper and that his blude should never be
drawn.’ He had cured several persons by his enchantments, one
mode being to put the patient nine times through a hasp of
unwatered yarn, and then a cat as many times backward through
the same hasp, the effect of which was to translate the sickness
from the patient to the cat.
The devil, whom Andrew called Christsonday, and believed to be an
angel, was raised by the word Benedicite, and laid again by taking a
dog under his armpit, casting the same in the devil’s mouth, and
speaking the word Maikpeblis. ‘The Queen of Elfen has a grip of all
the craft, but Christsonday is the guidman, and has all power under
God, and thou kens sundry deid men in their company, and the king
that died at Flodden and Thomas Rhymer is there.’
‘Upon Rood-day in harvest, in this present year, whilk fell on a
Wednesday, thou saw Christsonday come out of the snaw in likeness
of a staig [young male horse], and the Queen of Elfen was there,
and others with her, riding upon white hackneys.’ ‘The elves have
shapes and claithes like men, and will have fair covered tables, and
they are but shadows, but are starker [stronger] nor men, and they
have playing and dancing when they please; the queen is very
pleasand, and will be auld and young when she pleases; she makes
any king whom she pleases.... The elves will make thee appear to be
in a fair chalmer, and yet thou will find thyself in a moss on the
morn. They will appear to have candles, and licht, and swords, whilk
will be nothing else but dead grass and straes.’ Andrew denied his
guilt, but was nevertheless convicted, and doubtless burnt.
In the dittay against Marjory Mutch, it was alleged that, having an
ill-will against William Smith in Tarserhill, she came to his plough and
bewitched the oxen, so that ‘they instantly ran all wood [mad], brak
the pleuch, twa thereof ran over the hills to Deer, and other twa
thereof up Ithan side, whilk could never be tane nor apprehendit
again.’ This woman was said to have destroyed much cattle, laid
sickness on many persons, and attended all the witch conventions of
the district. In token of her being a witch, there was a spot under
her left ear, into which a gentleman had thrust a pin without
producing any pain.
Margaret Clark, being sent for by the wife of Nicol
Ross, when she was in childbed, ‘cast the haill 1597.
dolours, sickness, and pains whilk she should have
susteinit, upon Andrew Harper, wha, during all the time of her
travelling, was exceedingly and marvellously troubled, in ane fury
and madness as it were, and could not be halden; and how soon the
said gentlewoman was delivered, the pains departed frae the said
Andrew.’
It is alleged of Violet Leys, that, her husband, a mariner, being
discharged from William Finlay’s ship, she and her late mother
bewitched the said ship, ‘that, since thy husband was put forth of
the same, she never made one good voyage, but either the master
or merchants at some times through tempest of weather, were
forced to cast overboard the greatest part of their lading, or then to
perish, men, ship, and geir.’ Several of the other culprits are accused
of raising and calming the wind at pleasure.222
It appears that at this time twenty-two unfortunate men and
women, chiefly the latter, suffered in Aberdeen and its
neighbourhood. Such a tremendous sacrifice to superstition would in
itself be worthy of special notice here; but it becomes the more so
from a probability which appears that Shakspeare must have been
acquainted with the details of these trials. It will be found that the
chief of his company, Lawrence Fletcher, was in Aberdeen with a
party of comedians in October 1601. That Shakspeare was of the
party is not certain; but there is no fact to militate against the
probability that he was. Mr Charles Knight223 has shewn that in
these trials there occur many things which strongly recall passages
in the witch-scenes of Macbeth—as if those scenes had been written
by one who had thoroughly studied the dittays against Janet Wishart
and her associates. Nearly all of those women—and it is very much a
special feature of this group of cases—had laid heavy disease on
those whom they held at ill-will, causing them to suffer fearful pains,
and their strength to decay.

‘He shall live a man forbid:

Weary seven nights nine times nine,
He shall dwindle, peak, and pine.’

Such are the dread words of the Macbeth hags.

We see that the Aberdeen witches had power over 1597.
the winds; so had those of Macbeth. Banquo says
to the weird sisters:

‘If you can look into the seeds of time,

And say which grain will grow, and which will not,
Speak then to me.’

This, it must be acknowledged, is wonderfully like a suggestion to

the imagination from such a fact as that of Janet Wishart’s
vaticinations among the growing corn. The witch-dance at the Fish
Cross is much like those under the guidance of Hecate; and
Wishart’s dealing with the malefactor’s corpse at the gallows on the
Links, might well furnish a hint for the incantations over the caldron.

‘Grease that’s sweaten

From the murderer’s gibbet, throw
Into the flame.’

And perhaps even the humble cantrip of Marjory Mutch with William
Smith’s oxen, might suggest the fine passage descriptive of the
conduct of Duncan’s horses at his death; when they

‘Turned wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,

Contending ’gainst obedience, as they would
Make war with mankind.’

‘If it be not,’ says Mr Knight, in concluding this curious speculation,

‘to inquire too curiously, may we not trace one of the most striking
passages in Othello to the humble source of an Aberdeen
superstition?’

“That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it,
’Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father
Entirely to her love.”

In the information against Isobell Straquhan, it is

alleged that “the said Isobell came to Elspet 1597.
Mutrey in Wodheid, she being a widow, and asked
of her if she had a penny to lend her, and the said Elspet gave her
the penny; and the said Isobell took the penny, and bowit [bent] it,
and took a clout and a piece red wax, and sewed the clout with a
thread, the wax and the penny being within the clout, and gave it to
the said Elspet Mutrey, commanding her to use the said clout to
hang about her craig [neck], and when she saw the man she loved
best, take the clout, with the penny and wax, and stroke her face
with it, and she so doing, should attain in to the marriage of that
man whom she loved.”
The “clout” sewed “with a thread” wants, indeed, the poetical
colouring of the “handkerchief” of Othello; but still

“There’s magic in the web of it.”

More curious in the effects produced is another example of the
“prophetic fury” of the “sibyl” Isobell Straquhan. She could not only
produce love, but remove hatred: Walter Ronaldson had used to
strike his wife, who took consultation with Scudder (alias
Straquhan), and ‘she did take pieces of paper, and sew them thick
with thread of divers colours, and did put them in the barn amongst
the corn, and from henceforth the said Walter did never strike his
wife, neither yet once found fault with her, whatsoever she did. He
was subdued “entirely to her love.”’

The duellium seems to have been particularly in

vogue at this time. ‘There chanced a single combat 1596-7. Mar. 11.
betwixt James Hepburn of Moreham and one
Birnie, a skinner in Edinburgh [at St Leonard’s Craigs]. They were
both slain [and buried the morning after]. The occasion and quarrel
was not thought to be great nor yet necessary. Hepburn alleged and
maintained that there was seven sacraments; Birnie would have but
two, or else he would fight. The other was content with great
protestations that he would defend his belief with the sword; and so,
with great earnestness, they yoked, and thus the question was
decided.’—P. And.
There was a traditionary tale in Edinburgh, which
Sir Walter Scott had heard in his youth, and which 1596-7.
he narrated to the author of this work in 1824, to
the effect that, a gentleman having been foully murdered by a man
of formidable repute as a swordsman, his widow brought forward
two sons in succession to challenge the murderer to mortal combat,
and when these had fallen, did not scruple even to send a third, her
youngest and favourite, to avenge the slaughter of the rest; thus
imitating, as Sir Walter remarked, the conduct of Don Arias Gonzalo,
in sending his three sons in succession to meet Don Diego Ordoñez,
when the latter challenged the people of Zamora for sheltering the
traitor Vellido—as related in the Chronicle of the Cid.224 The two first
youths, like the sons of Don Diego, ‘died like good men in their
duty;’ but the third slew the murderer. The last fight, said Sir Walter,
took place on Cramond Island in the Firth of Forth, and since then
there has been no such combat permitted. Apparently the basis of
this story is as follows:
James Carmichael, second son of the Laird of
Carmichael, had killed Stephen Bruntfield, captain Mar. 15.
of Tantallon, in a duel at St Leonard’s Craigs, 22d
December 1596. Adam Bruntfield, brother of the deceased, ‘allegit
that James Carmichael had slain his brother by treason, having
promisit to meet him hand to hand, and had brought others with
him to his slaughter, and therefore was a traitor. The other stood to
his denial, and they baith seyit [tried] their moyen [influence] at his
majesty’s hands for ane license to fecht, whilk with great difficulty
was granted by his grace.’ They met on Barnbougle Sands or
Links,225 in the presence of a great multitude, and with the Duke of
Lennox, the Laird of Buccleuch, Sir James Sandilands, and Lord
Sinclair, to act as judges. ‘The one was clothed in blue taffeta, the
other in red sattin.’ Carmichael, who was ‘as able a like man as was
living,’ seemed at first to have great advantage over Adam
Bruntfield, who was ‘but ane young man, and of mean stature;’ and
at the first encounter he struck Adam on the loin. To the surprise of
all, however, Bruntfield ‘strikes him in the craig [neck], and syne
loups aboon him, and gives him sundry straiks with his dagger, and
sae slays him. Adam Bruntfield is convoyit to Edinburgh with great
triumph as ane victorious captain; and the other borne in deid.’—Bir.
Pa. And. C. K. Sc.

This spring, there was ‘sic increase of sawing, that

the like has not been heard of before. Ane man of 1597. Mar. (?)
Libberton, callit Douglas, had, of ten pecks of beir
sawn thirty-one thrave, and every threif had ane boll of beir and ane
peck.’—Bir.

‘At this time, one Sir James Mac Oniel [Mac

Connel], alias Sorley Buie, a great man in Ireland, Apr. 20. 1597.
being here for the time to complain of our chief
islesmen, was knighted, and went with his train and dependers to
visit the Castle and provision therein, and gave great and noble
rewards to the keepers.’—Pa. And. ‘The 7th of May, he went
homeward, and for honour of his bonalley226 the cannons shot out
of the Castle of Edinburgh.’—Bir. ‘This Sir James was ane man of
Scottis bluid, albeit his lands lies in Ireland. He was ane braw man of
person and behaviour, but had not the Scots tongue, nor nae
language but Erse [Irish].’—C. K. Sc.

There was a proclamation ‘that no man take upon

hand to give out money any dearer nor ten for the June 6.
hundred [ten per cent. interest], or victual
according thereto, under the pain of confiscation of their goods, and
punishing of their bodies as usurers.’—Bir.

Died Hugh Rose of Kilravock, at an advanced age.

A descendant describes him as ‘ane excellent June 10.
person.’ ‘He found the fortune [of the family] low,
and under great burden, which he not only defrayed, leaving it free
to his son, but also acquired the whole lands now holden of the
Bishop of Moray. He had seventeen sisters and daughters, all whose
portions, mediately or immediately, he paid, though their very
portions were a considerable debt. He lived in a very divided factious
time, there falling out then great revolutions in church and state;
religion changed from popery to protestant, and the queen laid
aside, living in exile; yet such was his even, ingenious, prudential
carriage, that he wanted not respect from the most eminent of all
parties. He had troubles from neighbours, which he prudently
carried, and yet knew how discreetly to resent them, as appears,
that a debate being betwixt him and two neighbours, he subscribed:
“Hucheon Rose of Kilravock, ane honest man, ill guided betwixt them
both.” This was ridentem dicere verum.
‘He was a man that could make good use of his troubles, as appears
by his answer to King James, who, being in Kilravock in his progress
to the north (in the year 1589, as I suppose), inquired how he could
live amongst such ill turbulent neighbours; [he] made this reply:
“That they were the best neighbours he could have, for they made
him thrice a day go to God upon his knees, when perhaps otherwise
he would not have gone once.” And at the same time, as I have
learned many years ago from old persons, the king was pleased to
honour him with the name of Father, and desiring he might be
covered.
‘As to his person, I have had it from such as knew
him, that he was of a tall, and of a square well- 1597.
compact body, but not corpulent. He was of a
venerable grave aspect; his beard white and long in his old age. He
died full of days, not so much of sickness as nature being worn out.
The night before his death, he went forth to his orchard, and there
supped upon a little broth, and then going to his bed, died the next
morning, without trouble, muttering these words in Latin at his
expiring: “In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.”‘227

This was a day of great joy to the friends of the

reformed faith, for the Earls of Huntly and Errol June 26.
had at length been wrought upon to make profession of the true
religion, and so be relaxed from the pains of excommunication.
Though the pressing nature of the motive was obvious, no dread of
insincerity seems ever to have entered the minds of the honest
zealots who left these lords no other course for their preservation.
The affair took place in the kirk of Aberdeen, and was in several
respects noticeable. The evening before, the Earl of Huntly shook
hands in token of reconciliation with Lord Forbes and young Irvine of
Drum, and signed the articles of the established religion, swearing
not to decline therefrom. On the Sunday, which was observed as a
fast, on account of the importance of this conversion, the two nobles
appeared in the marriage desk or pew in the Old Kirk, where was ‘sic
a confluence of noblemen, barons, gentlemen, and common people,
as that the like was never seen in that kirk.’
To pursue the narrative of an eye-witness: ‘The
bishop preached, and made a godly and excellent 1597.
sermon. The sermon being concluded, the earls
rises furth of their desk, comes in before the pulpit, make ane open
confession of their defection and apostasy, affirms the religion
presently confessed to be the only true religion, renounces all
papistry, &c., and of new swears never to decline again, but to
defend the samen to their life’s end. The Earl of Huntly confessed his
offence, first to God, next to his majesty, to the kirk and country, for
the slaughter of the Earl of Moray. And sae the bishop pronounces
openly their sentence of absolution frae the sentence of
excommunication. The earls are then received by the haill ministry,
being in number twelve or thirteen persons, wha, during all the time
of the sermon, sat at the table in the mids’ of the kirk, and with
them the provost, bailies, and maist part of the council. And after
the earls were received by the ministry, then Patrick Murray,
commissioner for his majesty, received them in his hieness’ name;
next the provost, bailies, and council. And sae they were received to
the bosom of the kirk. At the samen time, the Laird of Gight, before
the pulpit, sat down on his knees, and askit God, his majesty, and
the kirk pardon and forgiveness for the receipt of the Earl of
Bothwell, for the whilk he was excommunicate; and he was absolved
frae the excommunication. This being done, the twa earls, with
mony mae gentlemen and barons, all the ministry, communicate
together at the table of the Lord.’...
Next day, the Market Cross was solemnly hung with tapestry, and in
a small house close by a band of musicians was placed. Four score
of the young men of the town, in their best habiliments, with
hagbuts, took their station around. There also were placed the
magistrates and council, with six maskers. On a table set out in the
street were wine, glasses, and sweetmeats. The earls’ pacification
was then formally proclaimed by Marchmont herald. ‘The twa earls
sat at the Cross in chairs, with his majesty’s commissioner and the
ministry. The wand of peace delivered to them by Patrick Murray, he
receives them in his majesty’s name; next the ministry embraces
them, and then the provost, bailies, and magistrates. Hagbuts
sounded, that day nor dur could not be heard; wine drunk in
abundance; glasses broken; sirfootfeats casten abroad on the
causey, gather whaso please! After this the earls and their kin
passes to the Tolbooth, with the haill ministry; all are made
burgesses of this town, the ministry with the rest. At even, naething
but waughting.’228
Of course, all was a forced hypocrisy on the part of the two lords,
merely to avoid the legal consequences of their excommunication.
Most curious it would be to know if there were no misgivings on the
subject among the clergy: certainly none appear. Huntly, as might
have been expected, quickly relapsed to his popish professions, and
was again excommunicated in 1606. Nevertheless, he was some
years later accepted once more as a Protestant, and restored to his
civil rights.

A deputation of ministers went this summer

through the provinces of Aberdeen, Moray, and 1597.
Ross, to complete as far as possible the planting of them with
ministers. The chief of the Clan Mackintosh surprised the deputation
by the zeal and cordiality he shewed towards the object. He met
them at Inverness, exhibited a plan for settling ministers in his
country, and subscribed it in their presence. ‘Now,’ said he, ‘it may
be thought I am liberal because nae minister will venture to come
amang us. Get me men and sey [try] me. I will find sufficient
caution in St Johnston, Dundee, or Aberdeen, for safety of their
persons, obedience to their doctrine and discipline, and guid
payment of their stipend.’—Ja. Mel. We have seen enough of the
leading men of this age in Scotland not to be too much surprised on
learning that this was the same Highland chief who had sent out his
clan on a wild ravaging expedition in 1592, when the hospitable old
baron of Brackla was one of their victims, and who is summed up in
the Historie of King James the Sext, as ‘a man unconstant, false, and
double-minded, by the report of all men.’

The Lanarkshire lead-mines, under the care of

Thomas Foulis, goldsmith in Edinburgh, and Bewis June 14.
Bulmer, an Englishman, whom Thomas had
assumed as partner, were now beginning to be a Oct. 11.
source of profit. The lead was transported on the
backs of horses to sundry parts of the realm, but the greater part of
it to Leith, where it was disposed of for exportation. Just, however,
as all the mining difficulties had been overcome, the enterprisers
found troubles of a different kind. The broken men of the Borders
had heard of this valuable metal passing along the uplands of
Clydesdale, and it seemed to them not too hazardous an adventure
to cross the hills, and make a dash at such a booty. We therefore
now hear of the carriers of the lead, servants of Thomas Foulis,
being occasionally beset on their way, and robbed by the borderers
of ‘horses, armour, clothing, and their haill carriage.’ Nearer
neighbours, too, respectable men, burgesses of Lanark and Glasgow,
were accused of lawlessly helping themselves to the lead and lead
ore, won from the mines in Crawford Muir, not scrupling for this
purpose to seize it in its passage to Leith, and dispose of it for their
own benefit. Nay, these persons, it was said, had appropriated two
horse-load of rye and white bread on its way to the mines, and
within six miles of them, thus seriously hindering the progress of the
work itself.
The Council issued a threatening proclamation against the first class
of spoliators. As the latter set represented themselves as having
lawfully purchased the lead in question, an order was issued that
they should return or pay for it to Thomas Foulis.—P. C. R.

Owing to the fame of Andrew Melville, the

university of St Andrews was this year attended by 1597. June.
a considerable number of foreign youth, Poles,
Danes, Belgians, and Frenchmen: ‘whilk crabbit the king mickle,’
Andrew being no favourite of his.—Ja. Mel.
‘Much about this time, there was a great number of witches tried to
be in Scotland, as the like was never heard tell of in this realm,
specially in Athole, both of men and women. There was in May at
ane convention upon a hill in Athole, to the number of twenty-three
hundred, and the devil amongst them. A great witch of Balwery told
all this, and said she knew them all well enough, and what mark the
devil had given severally to every one of them. There was many of
them tried by swimming in the water, by binding of their two thumbs
and their great toes together, for, being thus casten in the water,
they floated ay aboon.’—Pa. And.
This ‘great witch of Balwery’ was one Margaret Aiken, who, being
tortured on suspicion, not only confessed her guilt, but, for the
saving of her own life, informed upon others, stating that they had a
secret mark in their eyes, by which she could at once tell that they
were witches. For three or four months, she was carried about the
country detecting witches. At Glasgow, owing to the credulity of the
minister John Cowper, several old women suffered in consequence of
her accusations. In time it was found that she was a deceiver; for
the same persons whom one day she declared to be guilty, she
would next day, when they appeared before her in different clothes,
affirm to be innocent. ‘At her trial, she affirmed all to be false that
she had confessed, either of herself or others, and persisted in this
till her death; which made many forthink their too great forwardness
that way, and moved the king to recall the commissions given out
against such persons.’—Spot.
In November we find the presbytery of Glasgow taking notice of
‘divers persons wha traduces and slanders the ministry of the city, as
the authors of putting to death the persons lately execute for
witchcraft;’ and it ordains that any person hereafter uttering this
slander ‘shall be put in the branks at the judges’ will.’229
As a natural consequence of the deceptions of
Margaret Aiken, there was now in some quarters 1597.
an apprehension that, in the late proceedings
against witches throughout the provinces, some injustice had been
done. Some had complained ‘that grit danger may ensue to honest
and famous persons, gif commissions grantit to particular men
beiring particulars [that is, having anger] again’ them, sall stand and
be authorised.’ The king professed to see the reality of this danger,
and although it was his purpose to persevere in his efforts to
extirpate that ‘maist odious and abominable crime,’ the Council
(August 12) revoked all the lately granted commissions, certifying to
such as hereafter ‘proceeds to the execution of persons to the deid,
or melling with their guids or geir, that the same sall be repute
slauchter upon forethocht, felony, and spulyie.’
At this time, the enthusiastic section of the church was in a state of
discouragement; otherwise the king might not have been able to
concede to the representations made to him against witch-
commissions. It is too remarkable to be overlooked, that the heat of
persecution against these unfortunates was generally in some
proportion to the influence of the more zealous clergy, either
through their direct agency or through the fear for their reproaches
in others.

‘Between eight and nine in the morning, there was

an earthquake which made all the north parts of July 23.
Scotland to tremble; Kintail, Ross, Cromarty, Mar,
Breadalbane, &c. A man in St Johnston [Perth] laying compts with
his compters, the compts lap off the buird; the man’s thighs
trembled; one leg went up, and another down.’—Cal.
This earthquake happening at the time when King James
‘interrupted Mr Robert Wallace and undid the ministry of St
Andrews,’ James Melville likens it to that which God sent to punish
Uzziah, king of Judah, for usurping the priestly office—which rent
the Temple of Jerusalem, and caused a beam to hurt the king in the
face, the beginning of a leprosy with which he was afflicted. He adds
what he calls a Dix-huitaine on the subject, concluding in the
following strain:

‘King James the Saxt, this year thou fast aspires

O’er Christ his kirk to compass thy desires.
Oh, weigh this weel, and here exemple tak;
Lest Christ, wha this year shook thy north-wast parts,
And with eclipsed sun amazed the hearts
For kings to come thee just exemple mak.’

‘The pest began in Leith’ (Bir.), and soon ‘infected

sundry parts about Edinburgh, so that many fled Aug. 6. 1597.
out of the town.’—Cal. It raged during this year in
England, 17,890 persons being carried off in London alone. A fast
was held in Edinburgh on account of this visit of the pestilence, from
the 7th of August till the end of harvest, when it ceased.
Notwithstanding the scarcity of food from October 1595 down
almost to this time, the mortality in Scotland does not appear to
have been great—a result probably owing in the main part to the
abundant harvest of the present year.

‘Ane trouble betwixt certain servants of the

Drummonds and Oliver Young, then one of the Aug. 27.
bailies of Perth, within the Hie Gait [High Street] of
the said burgh; when the greatest number of the pursuers leapt the
town’s walls, and so few number of them as escapit came to the
Tolbooth. The agreement was made in the South Inch, the 1st of
September thereafter.’—Chron. Perth.

‘The Earl of Cassillis marries Dame Jean Fleming,

wha was wife to the last chancellor [Lord Nov. 3.
Thirlstane], ane very unmeet match, for she was
past bairns-bearing, and he was ane young man not past twenty-
three years or thereby, and his lands unheired. The king and court
mockit the same marriage, and made sonnets in their contempt; and
specially his majesty took his pastime of that sport.’—C. K. Sc.

‘... it pleased God to tak the Laird of Bargeny in his

mercy; wha was the nobillest man that ever was in Nov. 7.
that country [Carrick] in his time. He was endued
with mony guid virtues. First he fearit God, and was fra the
beginning on the right side of religion. He was wise and courteous,
and therewith stout and passing kind; and sic ane noble spender in
outings with the best-halden house at hame that ever was in the
land. He was never behind with na party, and keepit himself ever to
the fore with his living. He had ever in his household twenty-four
gallant gentlemen, double-horsit, and gallantly clad; with sic ane
repair to his house, that it was ane wonder where the same was
gotten that he spendit.’—Ken.

While so much lawless violence prevailed

throughout the country at large, it was not to be Nov. 1597.
expected that the Borders should be quiet. In
truth, the greatest disorders prevailed in that district, particularly in
the west, where certain broken clans—Armstrongs, Johnstons, Bells,
Batisons, Carlyles, and Irvings—lived in a great measure by robbing
and oppressing their neighbours. Occasionally, too, they would make
predatory incursions into England, and thereby endanger the peace
existing between the two realms. The king was at length roused to
make a vigorous effort for the repression of this system of violence.
He came at the beginning of this month to Dumfries, ‘of resolution
not to return therefra till that turn was effectuate, as indeed his
majesty did meikle to it.’—Moy. In the course of four weeks, which
he spent in the town, ‘he hangit fourteen or fifteen limmers and
notorious thieves.’ From every branch of the guilty clans, he took
one or two of the principal men, ‘as pledges that the haill stouths
and reifs committed by them, or any of their particular branch,
should be redressed, and that they and all theirs should abstene
from sic insolency in time coming, under pain of hanging.’230
For the reception of such persons in general, there was a pledge-
chalmer—a sort of honourable jail, we presume—in Dumfries. On
this occasion, however, the pledges, thirty-six in number, were
distributed over his majesty’s houses, where it was ordained they
should each pay 13s. 4d. weekly for their maintenance.
The arrangement for the Court of Redress at Dumfries was in
characteristic terms. It was to be composed of ‘aucht special honest
gentlemen of the country, least suspect, maist neutral and
indifferent, and the best inclined to justice,’ with ‘twa or three of his
majesty’s council appointit to be present with them.’—P. C. R.
Lord Ochiltree, whom the king appointed as warden of the west
Border, ‘remainit five or six months at Dumfries, halding courts of
redress, and pacifying the country. He hangit and slew three score,
with the more notable thieves ... and kept the country in great
quietness and guid order all this time.’—Moy.
There is a small silver toy at Dumfries, in the form of a fusee or
musket, which King James is represented as having gifted to the
Seven Incorporated Trades in 1598, that it might be the prize of an
annual shooting-match. ‘The siller gun,’ as it is called, has till recent
times accordingly been carried by the trades in procession to a
shooting-field near the town, whence the victor used to bring it
home stuck in his hat. Most probably, it was while spending this
month in Dumfries, and not during 1598 (when he certainly did not
visit the town), that he conferred this mark of his favour.

A homicide committed at this time brings out a

remarkable illustration of the exclusive rule of Dec. 7. 1597.
master over man which then prevailed. On the first
day of the sitting of parliament, Archibald Jardine, servitor and
master-stabler to the Earl of Angus, was slain negligently by Andrew
Stalker, goldsmith, at Niddry’s Wynd head. The said Andrew was
apprehendit and put in prison. The young men of the town being all
in arms, as they use to be in the time of the parliament, they came
to his majesty, and desirit grace for the young man wha had done
ane reckless deed. The king’s majesty desirit them to go to my Lord
of Angus, the man’s master, and satisfy and pacify his wrath, and he
should be contentit to grant his life. James Williamson, being captain
to the young men, came to my Lord of Angus, offered him their
manreid to be ready to serve him gif he had to do: upon the whilk,
he grantit them his life, and sae the said Andrew was releasit out of
prison upon the said day at even.’—Bir.

‘Thomas Foulis conceivit sickness.’—Bir. One who

knew nothing more of Thomas Foulis than what 1597-8. Jan. 16.
Birrel tells, might be surprised to find the simple
fact of his becoming sick entered in this pointed way by the old
diarist. As we have already had Thomas several times under our
attention, and know him for a great goldsmith, banker, and
speculator in mines, we can imagine his indisposition as a public fact
of that degree of consequence that a diarist might well think worth
chronicling. The truth is, King James had gone deeply into debt
towards Thomas for goldsmith work and ready money advanced; his
creditors were now pressing him, and he had nothing wherewith to
satisfy them. The unhappy man consequently fell into a ‘phrensie.’ It
would appear from one chronicler as if the king had not acted
humanely towards his creditor under these circumstances. It is
alleged that Thomas’s offices were taken from him, and he was
obliged to surrender a certain jewel of note, called the H, which he
had in pledge from the king231 for the sum of twelve thousand
pounds. But all this is scarcely in harmony with the fact that, in June
next, one of the doings of a convention parliament was to arrange
‘that the debt awaud by his majesty to Thomas Foulis be payit in six
years, namely, thirty thousand merks every year.’—Bir. Thomas was
at the same time made master of the cunyie-house (mint).
It appears on the 28th May 1601, that the king
owed ‘nine score thousand punds money’ to 1597-8.
Thomas Foulis, goldsmith, Robert Jowsie,
merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, and Thomas Acheson, master-
cunyier, who were in consequence subject to infinite complaints from
their creditors. His majesty professed ‘guid affection and desire to
the payment thereof,’ and arranged that it should be discharged in
the course of eleven years by a preferable power over the receipts of
the royal rents. ‘His majesty als promittis to give to Thomas, his wife
and bairns, during their lifetime successive after others, ane yearly
pension of ane thousand punds money.’—P. C. R.
In December 1602, a piteous complaint was made before the Privy
Council by Andrew Lockhart, regarding the hardship he underwent
as a creditor of Thomas Foulis and Robert Jowsie, through the effect
of a supersedere they had obtained for their debts. He speaks of
having been, ‘with his wife and aucht bairns,’ reduced to misery,
through the non-payment of what these men owed him, ‘he being
ane aigit gentleman, and a brother of ane honourable house,’ The
Council could not interfere, but engaged that when the present
supersedere run out, which it would do erelong, no other should be
granted.—P. C. R.

The impunity of numberless murders and other

atrocious crimes in this reign is not more Feb. 8.
remarkable than the severity occasionally exhibited
in comparatively trifling cases. For making a false writ in a matter of
three hundred merks, five citizens of Edinburgh were condemned to
death. Such, likewise, was the issue of the trial of John Moscrop,
writer in Edinburgh, for giving himself out as a notary, and
subscribing divers papers as such, he not being one. The six men
appear to have all been tried on one day, and the end of the affair is
chronicled by Birrel: ‘John Windieyetts, John Moscrop, Alexander
Lowrie, John Halliday, and Captain James Lowrie [were] all hangit at
the Cross of Edinburgh for counterfeiting false writs; whilk was great
pity to see.’—Bir.
It was now five years since the tragic death of the
Earl of Moray, and yet his corpse lay unburied. So Feb. 16.
also did that of the late Lord Maxwell, killed in a
conflict with the Johnstons, in December 1593.
Stigmatising this as an abuse that ‘of late has croppin in,’ and in
order to prevent the example from being followed, the king and
Council issued an order to the respective relatives of the two
noblemen, that they have the bodies buried in their ordinary places
of sepulture within twenty days, under pain of rebellion.—P. C. R.

On this day, being Saturday, occurred an eclipse of

the sun, total at Edinburgh, and probably so Feb. 25. 1597-8.
throughout the country generally. No event entirely
similar had occurred within the memory of living people in Scotland,
and the impression which it was naturally calculated to produce in an
age when such things were regarded as prodigies, was aggravated
by the critical state in which the favourite Presbyterian institutions
were then believed to be placed. Men regarded it as the omen of a
dark period for the Kirk of Scotland.232
‘Betwixt nine and ten forenoon,’ says Calderwood, ‘began a fearful
eclipse, which continued about two hours. The whole face of the sun
seemed to be covered and darkened about half a quarter of an hour,
in such measure that none could see to read a book. The stars
appeared in the firmament. Sea, land, and air was still, and stricken
dead as it were. The ravens and fowls flocking together mourned
exceedingly in their kind. Great multitudes of paddocks [frogs] ran
together, making an uncouth and hideous noise; men and women
were astonished, as if the day of judgment had been coming. Some
women swooned. The streets of Edinburgh were full of cries. Some
men ran off the streets to the kirk to pray.’
‘In the session-house or college of justice, no letter nor book could
be read nor looked upon for the space of an hour for darkness, and
yet in the north-east there appeared two stars. After this, the space
of eight days fair weather [which] ensued, was admirable. But the
day after, yea Friday and Saturday, there fell out the greatest rain
that might be, in such a manner that neither plough nor harrow
could gang a long time after.’—Pa. And.
‘I knew,’ says James Melville, ‘out of ephemeridis and almanack, the
day and hour of it ... also, by natural philosophy, the causes. I set
myself to mark the proceedings of it in a basin of water mixed with
ink, thinking the matter but common. But yet, when it came to the
extremity of darkness, and I myself losit all the sun, I was strucken
with such fear and astonishment, that I had no refuge but to
prostrate [myself] on my knees, and commend myself to God, and
cry for mercy.’
‘The like fearful darkness was never seen in this
land, so far as we can read in our histories, or 1597-8.
understand from tradition. The wise and godliest
thought it very prodigious, so that from pulpit and by writ,
admonitions were given to the ministers, that the changeable and
glittering show of the world go not in betwixt them and Christ, the
Sun of Righteousness, and remove the clear light of the gospel from
the kirk.’—Cal.
A Presbyterian diarist is careful to tell us the ‘notable effects of this
eclipse’ in the year following; namely, the death of those famous
‘lights of the Kirk of Scotland, Mr Thomas Buchanan, Mr Robert
Rollock, David Ferguson, &c.’—Ja. Mel.

‘... the Duke of Holstein, the queen’s brother, came

through England to Edinburgh, and was conveyed 1598. Mar.
the first night to the Palace of Holyroodhouse,
where he was received and welcomed very gladly by her majesty,
and used every way like a prince. His majesty hasted to Edinburgh
to meet with the duke, and at his coming saluted and entertained
him ... as appertained to his rank. The duke made a progress from
Holyroodhouse to the other side of the Forth, the first night to
Ravensheugh, Lord Sinclair’s house, and from thence to Balcomie,
Pittenweem, Anstruther, St Andrews, Dundee, Foulis, Stirling, and
Linlithgow, and returned again to Edinburgh. He was honourably
received and banqueted all the way. His majesty gave him banquets
in Holyroodhouse and Stirling sundry times, and entertained him
with pastime, and all other things to his great liking and
contentment; likewise he was very largely complimented by their
majesties.’ That is, they gave him large presents.—Moy. R.
May 2. ‘The Duke of Holstein got ane banquet in Macmoran’s
lodging,233 given by the town of Edinburgh. The king’s majesty and
the queen being both there, there was great solemnity and
merriness at the said banquet.’—Bir.
June 3. ‘The Duke of Holstein took his leave of the king and queen,
and shipped at Leith, having got great propines [gifts]; to wit, a
thousand five-pound pieces, a thousand crowns, with a hat and a
string valued at twelve thousand pounds, besides other rich chains
and jewels.’—Pa. And. ‘To his bonalley, sixty shot of ordnance shot
off the bulwark of Leith.’—Bir.

Fynes Moryson, gentleman, who had travelled in

most of the countries of Europe, being at Berwick, Apr. 1598.
felt an earnest desire, before returning
southwards, to see the king of Scots’ court. He therefore entered
Scotland, and in one day rode to Edinburgh; after which he
proceeded to Falkland, and designed to visit St Andrews and Stirling,
but was prevented by unexpected business, which recalled him to
England. He tells us little that is remarkable about the localities he
visited, but makes some general observations regarding travelling in
Scotland, which are not devoid of interest.
‘In Scotland,’ he says, ‘a horse may be hired for two shillings the first
day, and eightpence the day till he be brought home; and the horse-
letters used to send a footman to bring back the horse. They have
no such inns as be in England; but in all places some houses are
known where passengers may have meat and lodging; but they have
no bushes or signs hung out, and for the horses, they are commonly
set up in stables in some out-lane, not in the same house where the
passenger lies. And if any man be acquainted with a townsman, he
will go freely to his house, for most of them will entertain a stranger
for his money. A horseman shall pay for oats and straw (for hay is
rare in those parts) some eightpence day and night; and he shall
pay no less in summer for grass, whereof they have no great store.
Himself at a common table shall pay about sixpence for his supper
or dinner, and shall have his bed free; and if he will eat alone in his
chamber, he may have meat at a reasonable rate. Some twenty or
thirty years ago, the first use of coaches came into Scotland; yea,
were they rare even at Edinburgh. At this day, since the kingdoms of
England and Scotland were united, many Scots have been promoted
by the king’s favour both in dignity and estate, and the use of
coaches became more frequent, yet nothing so common as in
England. But the use of horse-litters hath been very ancient in
Scotland, as in England, for sickly men and women of quality.’
He tells that the Scotch eat much colewort and
cabbage, and little fresh meat. ‘Myself,’ he says, 1598.
‘was at a knight’s house, who had many servants
to attend him, that brought in his meat with their heads covered
with blue caps, the table being more than half furnished with great
platters of porridge, each having a little piece of sodden meat. And
when the table was served, the servants did sit down with us; but
the upper mess [those sitting above the salt-vat], instead of
porridge, had a pullet with some prunes in the broth. And I observed
no art of cookery or furniture of household stuff, but rather rude
neglect of both, though myself and companion, sent from the
governor of Berwick about Border affairs, were entertained after
their best manner.... They vulgarly eat hearth-cakes of oats [girdles
for toasting the cakes over a fire were subsequently invented at
Culross], but in cities have also wheaten bread, which for the most
part was bought by courtiers, gentlemen, and the best sort of
citizens.... They drink pure wines, not with sugar, as the English; yet
at feasts they put comfits in the wine, after the French manner; but
they had not our vintners’ fraud, to mix the wines....’
‘Their bedsteads were then like cupboards in the wall, with doors to
be opened and shut at pleasure; so we climbed up to our beds. They
used but one sheet, open at the sides and top, but close at the feet,
and so doubled [still practised, and a comfortable custom it is]....
When passengers go to bed, their custom was to present them with
a sleeping-cup of wine at parting.’
‘The husbandmen, the servants, and almost all in the country, did
wear coarse cloth made at home, of gray or sky colour [hodden
gray], and flat blue caps very broad. The merchants in cities were
attired in English or French cloth, of pale colour or mingled black and
blue. The gentlemen did wear English cloth, or silk, or light stuffs,
little or nothing adorned with silk lace, much less with lace of silver
or gold, and all followed at this time the French fashion, especially in
court. Gentlewomen married did wear close upper bodies, after the
German manner, with large whalebone sleeves, after the French
manner, short cloaks like the Germans, French hoods, and large
falling bands round their necks. The unmarried of all sorts did go
bareheaded, and wear short cloaks, with most close linen sleeves on
their arms, like the virgins of Germany. The inferior sort of citizens’
wives, and the women of the country, did wear cloaks made of a
coarse stuff, of two or three colours in chequer-work, vulgarly called
plodan.’234

‘... Lord Home came to Lauder, [and] asked for

William Lauder [bailie of that burgh, commonly May.
called William at the West Port], being the man
who hurt John Cranston (nicknamed John with the
gilt sword). [William] fled to the tolbooth, as being 1598.
the strongest and surest house, for his relief. But
the Lord Home caused put fire to the house, and burnt it all. The
gentleman remained therein till the roof-tree fell. In end he came
desperately out amongst them, and hazard[ed] a shot of a pistol at
John Cranston, and hurt him. But [it] being impossible to escape
with life, they most cruelly without mercy hacked him with swords
and whingers all in pieces.’—Pa. And.
Lady Marischal, sister of Lord Home, ‘hearing the certainty of the
cruel murder of William Lauder, did mightily rejoice thereat, and writ
it for good news to sundry of her friends in the country. But within
less than twenty-four hours after, the lady took a swelling in her
throat, both without and within, after a great laughter, and could not
be cured till death seized upon her with great repentance.’235—Pa.
And.
A remission for this barbarous slaughter was granted by the king, in
1606, to the Earl of Home, Hume of Hutton Hall, Thomas Tyrie, tutor
of Drumkilbo, John Hume in Kells, and other persons.236

It does not appear that any effectual order was

taken with the Laird of Johnston for his resistance June 5.
to the royal authority at Dryfe’s Sands and the
slaughter of Lord Maxwell (December 6, 1593). His turbulent
proceedings at length caused him to be denounced as a rebel. A few
days before this event, his portrait was hung, head downwards, on
the gibbet at the Cross of Edinburgh, and he declared ‘a mansworn
man.’—Bir. He was restored to his honours in 1600.
The king gave a letter of patent to Archibald
Napier, apparent of Merchiston, for an invention of June 22.
his, a ‘new order of gooding and manuring of field-
land with common salt, whereby the same may bring forth in more
abundance, both of grass and corn of all sorts, and far cheaper than
by the common way of dunging used heretofore in Scotland.’ That
nothing came of this plan need not be told.
The Merchiston Napiers must have been a theme
of some curiosity and no little remark at this time, 1598.
seeing that three generations were now living, all
of them busy-brained, ingenious, and original-minded persons. First
was the laird himself, master-general of the cunyie-house, still in the
vigour of life, being not more than sixty-five years of age. Second
was John Napier, the fiar or heir, only sixteen years the junior of his
father, constantly engaged in puzzling out profound problems in
mathematics and prophecies in the Apocalypse. Finally, this
grandson of the laird, a youth of four-and-twenty, and already, as we
see, exhibiting the active intellect of the family.
Archibald became a favourite courtier of James VI. and Charles I., by
the latter of whom he was raised to the peerage. He joined the anti-
covenanting party, and endured some adversity in his latter days.

The carboniferous formation, as is well known, does not extend in

Scotland beyond the Ochils; but in the remote county of Sutherland,
on the coast at Brora, there is a patch of oolite, in the lower section
of which is a workable bed of coal, between three and four feet
thick. John, tenth Earl of Sutherland, had discovered this valuable
deposit, but being cut off by poison (anno 1567), he had no
opportunity of trying to turn it to advantage. The Sutherland estates
were now under the management of a woman of some force of
character, and who has by accident a place in our national history—
Lady Jean Gordon. Being divorced by Bothwell, in order to admit of
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