[For a circumstantial account of the origin of Freemasons, see a curious pamphlet published in 1812, entitled Jachin and Boaz; or an authentic Key to the Door of Freemasonry, both Ancient and Modern, &c.; also, Oliver's Antiquities of Freemasonry. A very interesting historico-critical inquiry into the origin of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons, from the pen of the English Opium-eater, who in it has abstracted, arranged, and in some respects re-arranged the German work of J. G. Buhle, Ueber den Ursprung und die vornehmsten Schicksale der Orden der Rosenkreuzer und Freymaurer, will be found in the London Magazine for January and February, 1824.
We believe it is perfectly true that the Hon. Miss E. St. Leger was made a mason, and that she always accompanied her lodge in its processions.]
Replies.
CONQUEST OF SCOTLAND.
(Vol. iv., p. 165.)
In an article of A. C. in "NOTES AND QUERIES" for 30th August last, under the head "Plowden of Plowden" from Burke's Landed Gentry, I find this paragraph:
"The names of the followers of William the Conqueror are often alluded to; but the 'comers over' at the CONQUEST of Wales, SCOTLAND, and Ireland are but seldom thought of, though they lend to their descendants' pedigree a degree of historical interest."
I do not read this paragraph without pain, mingled with indignation. Who ever before heard of the conquest of Scotland? It is true, that, on repeated occasions, the English made successful inroads into that kingdom, sometimes of a larger, sometimes of a less extensive character; but the Scottish nation never did "lie at the proud foot of a conqueror."
Though Edward I., by means of intrigues unworthy of his high character, did for a short period, during the interregnum consequent on the death of the Maid of Norway, assume the government of the Scottish realm, and put to death some of the most distinguished of her defenders, yet his successor paid the penalty of this unjust assumption in the battle of Bannockburn; a battle having justice on the side of the victorious party, and regarded by all Scotsmen as to be ranked in military prowess with those of Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt.
It is not generally known, that upon the marriage of Mary to the Dauphin in 1558, Scotsmen were naturalised in France by an ordonnance of Henry II.; and that, in like manner, by an act of the parliament of Scotland, all Frenchmen were naturalised in that country. The ordonnance granting these privileges to Scotsmen within the realm of France, is printed in the Scottish statute-book along with the Scottish act granting similar privileges to Frenchmen within Scotland.
One of the most distinguished writers on the law of Scotland, when dedicating his work to King Charles II., reminds him of the inscription on the palace of Holyrood: "Nobis hæc invicta miserunt centum sex Prouvi."