Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

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said Mr. Park, that they could not prain admittance last week, and
for that reason Avould not lett Mr. Colingwood send uncle word—but
now I hope they are satisfied we might not hear them, etc.
1717/8. Jan. 11th. ^^^ Prince banished the court and all those
that go to visit him. They talk of a comprehension. Mr. Lawson
sent for by a messenger—to know the reason of his absence.
1717/8. Jan. 12th. The reason of the quarrel between king and
prince occasioned by the prince refusing to ask the king of Prussia's
pardon in the person of the duke of Newcastle, who should have
represented him at the christening of the prince's child. When the
prince first refused him, the king called a council of lords to consult
whether the king of England had not power to nominate godfathers
for the prince of Wales's children—they could return him no positive
answer, and so he writt to the prince, etc. Second-sight common in
Scotland, hereditary in some families—^Mr. Hall says the first of
Dalrymple's family was principle of Glascow^'^s—supposed to deal
with the devil—one of his daughter's could fly up and down the
house^—another being married was found dead the morning after the
marriage, her belly open, and her bowels about her husband's neck,
in a corner of a room, etc. He was told by one gent, that was
in the company, that a gent, looking out of the window saw three
men walking by—and turning to the company sighed, they asked
him what was the matter—he said there were three gentlemen gone
by the window, which he particularly described, and said he in the
middle would be murdered before two of clock, the man on the right
hand would be the murderer and he on the left would be taken—accordingly
it was done in the park—at Edinburgh—He said this faculty
of the second sight was hereditary—his great grandfather covenanted
to give him his first child upon this condition, and he had the
first of every family after—his grandmother being informed of this
league, went and gott some divines at her delivery, who immediately
baptized her child and it lived and was the finest in the family—this
woman was second wife to his grandfather.
1717/8. Jan. 19th. Preached on Psalm CI.—God's goodness
uncle fell foul on it>—did not take notice of the Psalmist's wish— that
men would, etc., did not speak of the duty of thanksgiving, etc.
Michael Fowler says Severn and Humber are called [a space left
here], when the tide goes out, it leaves, ships 6ry, when it comes
again, one flow will be 15 foot deep of water, that is in Severn.
Rattle-snakes—when 3 year old have one rattle grow, and one every
3^ear after—he killed one with 13 rattles at the tail of it—they have
a bladder under the tongue, and Avhen thej bite it bursts and poisons
the man they bite and themselves too, till they runn immediately
144
Three lines are very cai'efully crossed out here.
James Dalrymple (1619-1695), created Viscount Stair, a Scottish lawyer
'**
and statesman, was appointed regent of the University of Glasgow in 1641, and
held that office for six years. Cf. Dictionary of National Biagraphy. Scott,
The Bride of Lammermoor.