To his grace James, duke of Hamilton.

May it please your grace,

UPON my return from Zetland, as bound in duty, I paid my respects to your grace, who was pleased to ask if I had kept a diary ? which I acknowledged, but could not shew it, till the remarks tlierein contained were transcribed, which when done, your grace should have them to glance at some leisure hour. Thus your command giving rise to this undertaking, I have presumed to make the dedication to your grace.

The noble and illustrious family of Hamilton, the first in the nation, standeth in no need of panegyrics from me, to set forth its eminency. His grace, your father, was very instrumental in settling the peace and quiet of this kingdom at the late merciful and wonderful revolution, as became a patriot of his country ; under whose presidency, in the convention of estates, the government of our church was restored, which since hath been confirmed by the subsequent parliaments.

In his surviving consort, your pious mother, these endowments and qualifications requisite in the consort of a prince have eminently shined forth, which will embalm her name to succeeding generations : her likewise being so very helpful to many afflicted ones, both in the former years of this church's distress and trouble, and in the latter of great scarcity and dearth, she knowing how valuable are the blessings of those who were ready to perish.

Your grace's honourable appearance for, and acknowledgment of, presbyterian government in the last session of parliament, was acceptable to many ; and I hope your grace shall never have cause to repent of your continuing to favour the ancient government of this church, which, as it is conform to the scripture plan, so the Lord hath been graciously pleased to own and countenance it, in the great things he hath done for and by the ministers and professors thereof.

Among these things, for which you stand obliged to the wise conduct of providence, one is, that you have been so well directed in the happy choice of your consorts. Your present lady of a sweet and gentle temper ; her carriage obliging and discreet to all ; her loving to entertain pious and religious discourse ; her modest and exemplary dress : I wish she may prove a blessing to your illustrious family, and be as Rachel or as Leah, which two did build up the house of Israel.

Your noble brother lord George hath been created, by our present gracious king, earl of Orkney, for his heroick appearances, under the auspicious conduct of our king, who was pleased to take notice thereof, some of these being under his majesty's view ; and in testimony of his royal favour, dignify him with this honourable title, which in the years of ancient times hath blazoned the escutcheons of kings.

The branches of your illustrious family do flourish in several parts of the nation, though God in his holy providence hath made lately a breach thereupon, to your grief, and the nation's loss.

Your Grace's relation to the ancient and honourable family of Douglas gives me occasion to mention that old alliance betwixt that house and the princes of Orkney. William Lord of Niddisdale, commonly called the Black Douglas, by Egidia or Giles, daughter of King Robert II. had a daughter of the same name married to Henry Sinclair, usually styled Knight of the Cockle, of the Garter, and Prince of Orkney. To him succeeded his son William Sinclair, married to Elizabeth Douglas, daughter to Archibald Earl of Douglas, sirnamed Tineman ; whose titles were, Knight of the Golden Fleece and of the Cockle, Prince of Orkney, Duke of Holdenburgh, Earl of Caithness, Lord Sinclair, Lord of Niddisdale, Great Admiral of Scotland, &c.

My Lord, the knowledge of history is that which the most of men are taken with, as being both pleasant and useful ; and it cannot but stain the reputation of any, though able to give account of what is rare in other countries, if they be ignorant of their own, and places which depend thereupon, where things no less remarkable do occur, which may both exercise the ingenious, and edify the gracious inquirers.

But above all, blessed are they who make a religious improvement of natural observes, and use all arts and sciences as hand-maids to religion and piety. The knowledge of Christ is the queen of sciences ; hence a learned Paul " determineth to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified and those who in all ages have been wise unto salvation, have preferred Christ's cross to the world's crown : and, with Moses, " reckoned his worst things better than the world's best." The knowledge of all other things, without the knowledge of Christ, is asa shadow without the substance, and a body without the head, as some have instituted the comparison ; yea, they are Wm without mind and judgment : the cardinal virtues, as they are called, may be attained in shew, but not in truth, Quid enim illis cum virtutibus qui Dei virtutem Christum ignorant ? all the glory and grandeur of the world, laid in the balance with this piece of saving knowledge, is but as a grain weight to counter-balance a huge mountain : hence a notable saying of a truly noble lord, when set upon by the Jesuits to change his religion, tempting him with splendid and rich offers, " Let their money (saith he) perish with them, who think all the glory of the world worth one day's communion with Jesus Christ." And truly it is but small gain the roost painful and able student doth reap, if, after all his labour in the records of antiquity and researches of nature, and it may be through the maze of intricate disquisition, he lose his soul, and notwithstanding of all his learning be thrust into hell, being forced to cry out on death-bed, as it is reported the learned Grotius once did, Ah vitam perdidi, operose nihil agendo.

My Lord, I hope it will not prove unsavory to your Grace that I have a little enlarged this epistle, in commending of Christ and religion, which so much transcendeth our commendation and praise, whence so many advantages do accrue to us, and among others, when there are early impressions of piety on any, the conscience for ever after useth to hang about them, notwithstanding the tenor of their lives hath been assaulted with manifold temptations. That your Grace may still continue to be a true lover of your country, and a zealous assertor of her rights and liberties, is and shall be the desire of him, who is,

   May it please your Grace,
 Your Grace's most humble and most dutiful servant,

JOHN BRAND.