An introduction to Mr. James Anderson's Diplomata Scotiæ. To which is [sic] added notes, taken from various authors, and original manuscripts / By Thomas Ruddiman.

  • Thomas Ruddiman
Date:
1773
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to Mr. James Anderson's Diplomata Scotiæ. To which is [sic] added notes, taken from various authors, and original manuscripts / By Thomas Ruddiman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/252 (page 12)
    [ 12] *ferved in the Tower of London; but it is more “than probable, that by far the greater part of them, and among thefe fome, which perhaps were written in thofe ages whereof we have fpoken, ‘long ago, either -perifhed by the carelefinefs or malice of the enemy, which the Englith general- ly were. Fourthly, The reformation, put,-as it were, the finifhing hand to the deftruction of old writings a-: mong us: for although nothing was more-excel- lent, or more conducible for the public. good, than ‘ that divine worthip fhould-be called back to its pri- mitive ftate and purity. It happened however, that this thing was not gone about under the pro- tection of the fupreme power, but at the nod of the populace, in amobbilh manner: thence it came to pals, that the common - rabble, who are go- verned with a blind and unbridled fury, not. by fober refolutions, when they thought that the fu- perftitious rites of the.Papifts, could not be re- formed otherwife ;' led on: by a wicked fuperfti- ‘tion, poured forth their rage againit the monafte- ries; laid wafte with fimilar deftruction, the anci- ent books and charters, and other furniture found in them. When the miferable monks and priefts beheld what was a-doing ; defpairing of their af- fairs, emigrated from their country, and carried a- ‘way with them every thing of the moft valuable kind ' that could: be faved from that fhipwreck, and a- mong the reft, their chartulart ies, and other monu- ments of the like fort, carrying them away to foreign countries, never to return’ more ‘to Scot- “land. ; Ix, Thave dwelt longer, perhaps, than was proper, : in reviewing thefe cruel difafters, which have be- fallen