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The work which is now
presented to the world assumes, by its comprehensively national title,
that the various and diversified information it contains is so
illustrative of the Scottish nation, and of the origin and constitution of
modern Scottish society, as to justify the adoption for it of a
designation so conspicuous. Of any other country, it is true, an account
of its surnames, families, and honours, would cast little or no light over
the constitution of the society existing therein. Such au account would
probably tell next to nothing of the earlier races out of which society
was formed, because, in the case of any other nation, whatever might
elsewhere be found to illustrate that part of its history, few indications
in the names now borne by individuals or families, or in its titles of
honour, will be found to mark the tribes or institutions whence they
sprung, or to be otherwise identified with the commencement of its
national unity. This is a result to be found in Scotland alone; not
uniformly, indeed, nor always without admixture of doubt, but certainly in
a greater degree than in any other kingdom or state.
Modern Scottish
society, and Scottish nationality in its proper sense, may be said to have
come into existence together. Hereditary monarchy, hereditary surnames,
families, and honours, hitherto unknown among its peoples, wore their
common instruments for consolidation, for conservation, and for
progress. To the Cumbrian, the Pict, the Scot, Norwegian, Dane, or Saxon,
who, at various times and in various degrees, were spread over its soil,
those distinctions were exceptional and comparatively unknown.
In the early
part of the twelfth century, the greater part of the country now
constituting Scotland was in a state little better than that of chaos, and
worse than that of anarchy. A contemporary document of a solemn character
describes the southern portion (and it may be held as equally true of the
northern) as having till then been occupied rather than inhabited “by
diverse tribes of diverse nations coming from diverse parts; of dissimilar
language, features, and modes of living, not easily able to hold converse
among themselves, practically Pagans rather than Christians, living more
like irrational animals than as worthy of the name of a people,” [Diversae
tribus, diversarum nacionum, ex diversis partibus affluentes, regionem
prefatum habitaverunt. Sed dispari gente et dissimuli lingua, et varia
more viventes, haut facile (inter) sese consencientes, gentilitatem potius
quam fidei cultum tenuerunt. Quos infelices et damnate habitacionis,
habitatores, more pecudum irrationabiliter degentes, dignatus est Dominus,
... visitare. —Inquisition by David Prince of Cumbria (circa 1116).]
and even deducting from this picture for the exaggerations of a Churchman,
enough remains to confirm the foregoing remark. The arrival of a new
people of polished manners, military discipline, and Christian zeal by
giving new institutions and, for a time, a new language to this
incongruous mass, created a nation and a nationality, yet without a
so-called revolution or even a change of dynasty. The new race, whose
presence was so beneficially felt in Scotland, came through England, yet
were not of it. They were the Normans, -- a people of the same original
stock as many of the tribes above referred to, but refined and instructed
by familiarity with the institutions of the South.
This new order
of things, however, might have attained to no permanence, or even if
permanent, to no historic significance--- at least in the sense which our
title assumes---had not the silent but ceaseless immigration of the new
race continued without interruption for nearly two centuries, in the
course of which they identified their fortunes with those of a dynasty
which, although sprung from an elder settlement of the population, was led
by sympathy, education, and the necessities of their position, to cherish,
enrich, and loan upon this new people for the preservation of their crown
and prerogatives, and to cement their union by numerous family alliances.
A revolution, which placed first one and then another family of the new
race upon the throne of Scotland, completed the solidarity of the social
union of races in Scotland, while it prevented fresh admixtures of foreign
blood; and lastly and chiefly the practice of bestowing hereditary
surnames and honours, and of holding all lands from the Crown, which
obtained generally throughout this period, and found a permanent and
faithful record in charters and other public deeds, many of which are
still in existence, insured to Scotland the integrity and continuity of
its social annals.
The surnames traceable
to immigrant Norman chiefs, or to the lands bestowed upon their retainers,
constitute by far the greater portion of those peculiar and pertaining to
vast numbers of individuals forming modern Scottish society. Under those
derived from lands, not a few Danish and Norwegian names are to be found,
which, in like manner as those of Celtic and Norman origin referring to
personal or local distinctives, are to be recognised by their composition;
yet, while of this latter class, even in the remote North we find in the
names Frazer, Grant, Cameron, and others, undeniable proofs,
notwithstanding their present use of the Celtic tongue, of a Norman or
French immigration, the composition of the southern population is
singularly manifested when the distinctive of an individual of the more
ancient lineage is there, as in the case of a Fleming or an Ingles,
expressed by the simple name of Scott. An account of the origin or of the
original holders of these surnames of the forefathers of the present
Scottish people, cannot fail to be highly interesting to all classes at
the present day.
But, a mere
explanation of the origin of surnames alone would lack completeness unless
accompanied with some account of the families by which they were borne,
--- of the distribution of those families over the country,--- of their
subdivision into new families,--- and of the distinguished individuals who
sustained their reputation and promoted their influence: and such an
account it is one of the objects of this Work to supply. ‘The
Scottish Nation’ professes to present the succession, the
affiliations and alliances, and the leading incidents in the history of
the families whose surnames have obtained distinction and influence
through Scotland since the reign of Malcolm Canmore.
The ancient
baronies of Scotland, associated as they were with hereditary
jurisdictions only short of regal, had all a significancy in that country
unequalled in any others where the feudal regime obtained. The holders of
these honours were regarded as heads of its name as well as of their
vassals; and to promote the honour of the one as well as the welfare of
the other was their business and their strength. An account of these
honours is an account of the territorial supremacy of a name and of a
family, among the members of which the lands under the jurisdiction of
their heads were in course of time parcelled out.
A history of
Scottish titles is a necessary supplement to that of families, and a key
to many of the social and political incidents in that kingdom as well as
in the history and fortunes of its families. Such a history forms,
therefore, another and it is hoped a valuable topic of the present Work.
Immeasurably
beyond all these social facts in importance, although greatly illustrated
by the lights they furnish, the biographies of its distinguished natives
become, when properly treated, the topic which illustrates and shows forth
in its strength and peculiarities
‘The Scottish Nation.’ The poorest country in Europe, occupied by a
hardy race trained to military exercises, struggling for centuries to
maintain their national independence, and ever contending for mastery
amongst themselves, Scotland has beheld her sons loving and honouring the
country that gave them birth with a high and pure patriotism; and clinging
to each other with a proverbial partiality, yet not alone on account of
their common relationship, but also for those qualities of endurance,
energy, and intelligence which their common struggles and even social
feuds drew forth and incorporated as it were with the national character.
At a comparatively early period she sent forth many of her sons to obtain
distinction and honours in other lands; and when more peaceful times had
arrived and milder institutions obtained, she saw them launch into the
arts of civil life, for which their hereditary qualities, animated by the
lessons of a simple but sincere piety, had well prepared them, and assert
for themselves a front rank among the leaders of mind and intellect in
Europe, in numbers altogether unexplained in the social development of
other nations. Of such men is Scotland’s pride and glory, and their lives
and deeds constitute the truest account of the Scottish nation.
In its general
biography the present work embraces a wider range than is contemplated in
any of those specially devoted to that subject, comprising many names not
to be met with in history, yet of men whose skill, genius, or labours have
added to the comfort, the knowledge, or been borne down by undeserved
obliqueness have been restored to their proper position; while others,
upheld by misstatement or exaggeration at an undue elevation, have been
placed on a lower pedestal. In all cases the truth has been stated,
without reference to party feelings or sectarian misrepresentations.
In the
department of literature great attention has been bestowed upon the
articles relating to men distinguished by their writings. By appending the
titles and dates of their works, and sometimes when these were numerous,
classifying the subjects treated of, easy reference is combined with great
economy of space. In a word, as respects the productions of its literary
characters, ‘The Scottish Nation’
becomes as it were a Bibliotheca Scotia corrected and brought down
to the present day.
For a work of
this character it is evident that an Alphabetical arrangement, or what is
generally although incorrectly known as the Dictionary form, is the only
one compatible with clearness, order, and facility of reference, and
accordingly such a form has been adopted, with some peculiarities which it
is hoped will be found to improve it in these respects. In all other works
of this kind, when several articles or parties of the same name came to be
described, the sub-alphabetical order, or that of the initial letters has
obtained. In the case of biographies, however, on this principle, the
ancestor is placed often at a distance from and not unfrequently long
after his descendants. Throughout long lists of similar surnames the
strictly alphabetical arrangement mixes up epochs, and mars all attempts
to present the connection which distinguished individuals bearing them had
to one another. This inconvenience, except in a few unimportant cases, has
been obviated by a double arrangement. In narrating isolated biographies
of individuals of the same surname the order in time is followed; they
succeed each other according to the epochs in which the parties lived.
Where, however, a lineal descent is traceable, the biographies are
introduced and continued in a direct succession. The order of the series
is here chronological but in the order of families, and not by
individuals.
To the student
of Scottish history the value of the assistance furnished by a work of the
character of ‘The Scottish Nation’
need not be dwelt upon. In the accounts given of every family or title of
antiquity and note, numerous indirect and incidental lights are thrown
upon its pages. The direct additional matter it supplies, is, however,
perhaps of still more importance. In this, as well as in many other
points, it will be found a more accurate and complete exhibition of the
Earlier History of Scotland than any that has yet been presented to the
public.
In the course of
his labours the author was necessarily obliged to enter into an extensive
correspondence with noblemen and gentlemen in all parts of the kingdom,
and with some families out of it, and he now returns his acknowledgments
to all for the kindness and promptitude with which they answered his
applications, furnished valuable information, and, in many cases, placed
their family records, for the time, at his perusal. It may give some idea
of the care and research bestowed upon this work when it is stated that
the author was altogether nearly twelve years occupied in its composition
and correction.
The Autographs,
Seals, Genealogical and Titular tables, and other illustrative objects, as
well as the Portraits on wood and steel with which the work is so
profusely embellished, have all been taken from original or other
authentic sources.
A National
Gallery of Scottish Portraits has long been pointed out as a desideratum,
and learned societies have recently brought the matter strongly before the
public. In the case taken to make the Portrait illustrations authentic and
numerous in a degree far beyond those in any collection heretofore
presented to the world, the Publishers anticipate that the first
exhibition of a National Portrait
Gallery worthy of the name will be found in the pages of ‘The
Scottish Nation.’
The Biographies
that were required to be added during the publication of the work by
demise of distinguished individuals, are given in the form of a
Supplement.
W.A. |
