ments, mixed with the battered monuments of Knights and Prelates. Boethius fays that Duncan, who was killed by Macbeth at Inverness, lies buried here. Numbers of modern tomb-ftones alfo crowd the place; a proof how difficult it is to eradicate the opinion of local fanctity, even in a religion that affects to despise it. The The cathedral was founded by Andrew de Moray* in 1224, on a piece of land granted by Alexander the II. : and his remains were deposited in the choir under a tomb of blue marble in 1244. great tower was built principally by John Innes, Bishop of this See, as appears by the infcription cut on one of the great pillars: Hic jacet in Xto Pater et Dominus, Dominus Johannes de Innes bujus ecclefiæ epifcopus-qui hoc notabile opus incepit et per feptennium edificavit +. This town had two convents; one of Dominicans, founded in 1233 or 1244, by Alexander II.; another of Obfervantines, in 1479, by John Innes. About a mile from hence is the caftle of Spinie; a large fquare tower, and a vast quantity of other ruined buildings, still remain, which fhews its antient magnificence whilst the refidence of the Bishops of Murray: the lake of Spinie almost washes the walls; is about five miles long, and half a mile broad, fituated in a flat country. During winter, great numbers of wild fwans migrate hither; and I have been told that fome have bred here. Boethius fays they refort here for the fake of a certain herb called after their name. • Keith's Bishops of Scotland. 81. + M. S. Hift. of the Innes family. Scotorum Regni Defcr. ix. SPINIE. PLUSCAIRDIN KINLOSS ABBY. Not far from Elgin is a ruined Chapel and Preceptory, called Maifon Dieu. Near it is a large gravelly cliff, from whence is a beautiful view of the town, cathedral, a round hill with the remains of a castle, and beneath is the gentle stream of the Loffie, the Loxia of Ptolemy. Three miles fouth is the Priory of Plufcairdin, in a most sequestered place; a beautiful ruin, the arches elegant, the pillars well turned, and the capitals rich *. Crofs the Loffie, ride along the edge of a vale, which has a strange mixture of good corn, and black turberies: on the road-fide is a mill-ftone quarry. The upper Arrive in the rich plain of Murray, fertile in corn. parts of the country produce great numbers of cattle. The view of the Firth of Murray, with a full profpect of the high mountains of Rofsfbire and Sutherland, and the magnificent entrance into the bay of Cromartie between two lofty hills, form a fine piece of scenery. Turn about half a mile out of the road to the north, to fee Kinlofs, an abby of Cistercians, founded by David I. in 1150. Near this place was murdered by thieves Duffus, King of Scotland: on the discovery of his concealed body it was removed to Jona, and interred there with the refpect due to his merit. The Prior's chamber, two femicircular arches, the pillars, the couples of feveral of the roofs afford fpecimens of the moft beautiful gothic architecture, in all the elegance of fimplicity, without any of its fantastic ornaments. Near the abby is an orchard of apple and *As I was informed, for I did not fee this celebrated abby. pear pear trees, at left coeval with the laft Monks; numbers lie proftrate; their venerable branches feem to have taken fresh roots, and were loaden with fruit, beyond what could be expected from their antique look. Near Forres, on the road-fide, is a vaft column, three feet ten GREAT COLUMN. inches broad, and one foot three inches thick: the height above ground is twenty-three feet; below, as it is faid, twelve or fifteen. On one fide are numbers of rude figures of animals and armed men, with colors flying: fome of the men feemed bound like captives. On the oppofite fide was a crofs, included in a circle, and raised a little above the furface of the ftone. At the foot of the cross are two gigantic figures, and on one of the fides is fome elegant fretwork. This is called King Sueno's ftone; and feems to be, as Mr. Gordon * conjectures, erected by the Scots, in memory of the final retreat of the Danes it is evidently not Danish, as fome have afferted; the cross difproves the opinion, for that nation had not then received the light of christianity. On a moor not far from Forres, Boethius, and Shakespear from him, places the rencountre of Macbeth and the three wayward fifters or witches. It was my fortune to meet with but one, which was fomewhere not remote from the ruins of Kyn-Eden: fhe was of a fpecies far more dangerous than thefe, but neither withered, nor wild in her attire, but fo fair, She look'd not like an inhabitant o' th' Earth! Itin. Septentr. 158. Boethius Boethius tells his ftory admirably well: but entirely confines it to the predictions of the three fatal fifters, which Shakespear has fo finely copied in the IVth scene of the 1ft act. The Poet, in conformity to the belief of the times, calls them witches; in fact they were the Fates, the Valkyria* of the northern nations, Gunna, Rota, and Skulda, the handmaids of Odin, the arctic Mars, and styled the Chufers of the flain, it being their office in battle to mark thofe devoted to death. We the reins to slaughter give, (Weave the crimson web of war). † Boethius, fenfible of part of their business, calls them Parce: and Shakespear introduces them just going upon their employ, When fhall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the battle's loft or won. But all the fine incantations that fucceed, are borrowed from the fanciful Diableries of old times, but fublimed, and purged from all : From Walur, fignifying the flaughter in battle, and Kyria to obtain by choice for their office, befides selecting out those that were to die in battle, was to conduct them to Valhalla, the Paradife of the brave, the Hall of Odin. Their numbers are different, fome make them three, others twelve, others fourteen; are described as being very beautiful, covered with the feathers of fwans, and armed with spear and helmet. Vide Bartholinus de cauf. contempt. mortis. 553, 554, & nota vet. Stephanii in Sax. Gramm. 88. & Torfæus. p. 36. + Gray. that that is ridiculous by the creative genius of the inimitable Poet, of whom Dryden fo juftly speaks: But SHAKESPEAR's magic cou'd not copied be, Within that circle none durft walk but he. We laugh at the magic of others; but Shakespear's makes us tremble. The windy caps of King Eric, and the vendible knots of wind of the Finland + magicians appear infinitely ridiculous; but when our Poet dreffes up the fame idea, how horrible is the ftorm he creates ! Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Confound and fwallow navigation up; Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down ; Though caftles topple on their warder's heads; Though palaces and pyramids do flope Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure Even till destruction ficken, answer me Lay at Forres, a very neat town, feated under fome little hills, • King Eric was a great magician, who by turning his cap, caufed the wind to blow according to his mind. + Solebant aliquando Finni, negotiatoribus in eorum littoribus contraria ventorum tempeftate impeditis, ventum venalem exhibere, mercedeque oblata, tres nodos magicos non caffioticos loro conftrictos eifdem reddere, eo fervato moderamine et ubi primum diffolverint, ventos haberent placidos; ubi alterum, vehementiores; at ubi tertium laxaverint ita fævas tempeftates fe paffuros, &c. Olaus Magnus de Gent. Sept. 97. FORRES. |