CORRECTIONS.

P. 137. 1. 19. On reconsulting Lord Hailes's catalogue, I find that, Dr Mackenzie has confounded two persons of the name of Henry Balnaves. They were successively distinguished by the title of Hallhill; and may be supposed to have stood in the relation of father and son.

2. For Christan read Christen.

160.

309.

For any read are.

2. After of insert the.

9. For Crawford-moor read Crawford. 311. 2. For Christiana read Christian. 13. For Bellay read Bellie.

353.

356.

17.

Instead of Camphire, Mr Good ought perhaps to have written Campvere. He has transfigured several other proper names; and I find that I have occasionally followed him without a sufficient degree of circumspection. 356. last. For Würzbur read Würzburg.

365. 1. For at Enzie in Fouchabers read near Foch

abers.

13. For Enzie read Fochabers.

THE

LIFE

OF

GAVIN DOUGLAS.

THE life of Bishop Douglas was virtuous and eventful. His political consequence has introduced his name into the public annals of his native country: and the intrinsic dignity of his private character is commemorated in simple terms by his official Alexander Myln".

Gavin Douglas was the third son of Archibald Earl of Angus, and of Elizabeth, the daughter of Robert Lord Boyd, a nobleman who for some time held the office of high chamberlain ". He appears to have been born about the year one

2 Alexander Myln was Canon and Official of Dunkeld, and afterwards Abbot of Cambuskenneth, and the first President of the College of Justice. His unpublished work entitled Vita Episcoporum Dunkeldensium may be found in the Advocates Library. This work is dedicated to Bishop Douglas and the chapter of Dunkeld.

b Crawford's Lives of the Officers of State, p. 315

thousand four hundred and seventy-four. His education was undoubtedly suitable to his noble birth, and to the honourable profession for which he was destined; but the seminary in which he completed his studies has not been mentioned by any of his biographers.

Having entered into holy orders, he was appointed Rector of Hawick. His early residence amid the beautiful scenes of Teviotdale must have tended in an eminent degree to foster in his warm imagination the genuine seeds of original poetry. The dormant energies of the human mind are at first awakened by external objects.

As early at least as the year 1509 he was, on the recommendation of his sovereign, nominated Provost of the Collegiate Church of St Giles in Edinburgh. This was a situation of no small dignity and emolument: and he appears to have enjoyed it in conjunction with his other benefice.

It was while he filled those less elevated stations that he composed the admirable works which have perpetuated his name. His family was afterwards exposed to many vicissitudes : and the latter part of his life, notwithstanding his eminent piety and learning, was rendered

C Sage, Mackenzie, and Keith, on the alleged authority of Myln, have styled him Rector of Heriot. But on consulting the MS. I find him denominated "Rector de Havich."

d Keith's Catalogue of the Bishops of Scotland, p. 57.

"

unquiet by the pernicious feuds which at that time prevailed.

His father, who is commonly denominated the Great Earl of Angus, followed the standard of his sovereign James the Fourth when he invaded England: but finding his prudent counsels disregarded, he excused himself on account of his advanced age, and returned towards his native country c. His two eldest sons, George Master of Angus, and Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie, with about two hundred gentlemen of the same name, were slain in the fatal battle of Flodden. This calamity to the nation in general, and to his own family in particular, made so deep an impression on his heart, that having retired to St Mains in Galloway, he died there within the space of twelve months. His title and estates were inherited by Archibald, the son of the late Master of Angus. This young nobleman, whose personal attractions stood unrivalled in the Scotish court, had the fortune to obtain the regard of the widowed queen; and their nuptials were solemnized within a shorter period than the rules of decorum require . The match,

* The Earl of Angus was at that time provost of Edinburgh. From the Records of the Town Conncil, as quoted by Mr Sibbald, it appears that on the thirtieth of September, 1513, his son Gavin Douglas was chosen a burgess, 66 pro communi bona villæ, gratis." (Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, vol. i. p. 423.)

f Hume's Hist. of the House of Douglas, p. 235.

& Buchanan. Rerum Scotic. Hist. p. 255. edit. Ruddiman.