114
NOTES.
pation of the bards during the latter periods of their history. Buchanan of Auchmar seems to deduce the origin of Douglas from the famous Thane Macduff of Fife[1]. Defoe thus celebrates the clan:
Douglas, with native dignities adorned,
Ancient beyond record: records they scorned:
The world's the general record of their house,
When histories are silent and abstruse.
A race of princes from their fruitful stem,
Has been a living history to them.
The nations willing honours did afford,
And these cut out their glory by the sword:
For, 'twas the early fortunes of their blood
To have their worth both crowned and understood.
Princes by their strong swords possest their crowns,
And grateful France their ancient glory owns[2].
Ancient beyond record: records they scorned:
The world's the general record of their house,
When histories are silent and abstruse.
A race of princes from their fruitful stem,
Has been a living history to them.
The nations willing honours did afford,
And these cut out their glory by the sword:
For, 'twas the early fortunes of their blood
To have their worth both crowned and understood.
Princes by their strong swords possest their crowns,
And grateful France their ancient glory owns[2].
Jonston, in his Heroes Scot. has also borne ample testimony to their fame:
Unde mihi surgunt tot Martia nomina gentis?
Quis locus his, aut qua parte locanda feram?
Scipiadæ, Decii, hîc, assertoresque Camilli,
Et quotquot celebrat Martia Roma duces.
Hos ubi jam sistam? vel quonam carmine cunctos
Exequar? an paria his me dare posse putem[3]?
Quis locus his, aut qua parte locanda feram?
Scipiadæ, Decii, hîc, assertoresque Camilli,
Et quotquot celebrat Martia Roma duces.
Hos ubi jam sistam? vel quonam carmine cunctos
Exequar? an paria his me dare posse putem[3]?
P. 54. v. 408. According to some antiquaries, the ancestor of Somerville accompanied Edgar Atheling, the
