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BRECHIN CASTLE.

For the Moto Mag & bôm'lterary Metrið., A is notable 2^c^^2 Nov 1600.

Eng by R. Scott

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Castle was principally built in the beginning of the last century by Patrick Earl of Panmure; and very considerable additions have been since made to it, particularly by the present proprietor.

The most celebrated event in the history of Brechin Castle was its defence under the gallant Sir Thomas Maule, who then governed it, against a no less distinguished character than Edward the 1st of England, who besieged it in person, with his whole army, in his famous expedition to the North anno 1303, with a view to the subjugation of all Scotland. Indeed, with the exception of Stirling Castle, this was the only place which at that time made any considerable resistance against that most formidable enemy of Scotland. The following description of the siege, extracted from Mathew of Westminster, the historian and eulogist of Edward, is so remarkable and curious, that we shall subjoin a literal translation of it.

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(Anno 1303.) And when he "(Edward) approached the Castle of "Brihyn, which held out against "him, he ordered it to be besieged. "But the commander of that Castle,

The Castle, in former times, ap-
pears to have been a place of great
strength, and was surrounded by a
very broad and deep ditch, or fosse,
which communicated with the river.
Of the ancient Castle, a very small
part is now remaining. The present"

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Sir Thomas Maille, no ways affraid "of his royal army, trusting in the firmness of his strong bul

"warks

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warks, despised the efforts of "the powerful battering engines. "For, whilst the potent batter"ing machines of the king of England threw stones incessantly "against the walls of the Castle, 66 yet were not able to beat down "the wall by their rebound, that 66 same Sir Thomas stood with a "towel in his hand, and wiped off "the dust, in contempt and derision "of the whole English army; and "when he had gallantly defended "the Castle during the space of "twenty days; on the eve of the "feast of St Laurence, whilst he "himself was standing near the projection of the wall, one of the en"gines being directed against the "said Sir Thomas, the stone struck

66

part of the bastion, and from its "impulse flying forwards, struck Sir "Thomas on the breast; who be

ing completely crushed thereby, "fell down on the ground. And

"whilst he yet breathed, some of his "people running up to him, asked, "whether they should now surren"der the Castle? at this proposal,

swearing at them, he expired with "the oaths on his lips. And imme"diately afterwards, on that same "day, the besieged being destitute "of all assistance, delivered up the "Castle to the king of England."

Lord Hailes, in his annals of Scotland, mentioning the above event, and the conduct of Sir Thomas Maule, adds the following judicious observation : "A governor, in our "days, imitating the conduct of Sir "Thomas Maule, would be ridicu"lous; but in the 14th century "this was considered as a sign of "bold defiance. In those days there "were certain affronts in the man

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ner of declaring war, and in the "mode of resisting an enemy, which "are now hardly intelligible."

Some Account of the Settlement of BUENOS AYRES.

FEW countries are less known to,

British readers in general, than that extensive and beautiful region in which Buenos Ayres is situated. Now, therefore, that recent political events have rendered it the object of such peculiar interest, a short view of its situation and productions, derived from the best authorities, may not be unacceptable.

We shall divide our account into two parts, Descriptive and Historical.

The country of Paraguay extends far through the centre of South America, having on one side Brasil, and on the other Peru, from which it is separated by the gigantic ridge of the Andes. It is 1500 miles in length, and 1000 in breadth. On

These are elsewhere described by Mathew, as being capable of throwing stones from 200 to 300 pound weight.

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the north, it is bounded by the district bordering on the river of the Amazons, which consists only of immense desarts, inhabited by a variety of savage tribes. The south is occupied by the tribes who reach to the Magellanic regions, a good deal celebrated for their gigantic stature, tho' this extraordinary fact bas in a great measure disappeared before a more careful examination.

This extensive tract of country is perforated, throughout its whole extent, by the prodigious river de la Plata;

to whose dread expanse, Continuous breadth, and wond'rous length of course, Our floods are rills.

THOMSON.

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