Page:The Construction of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms.djvu/17

Rh Elizabeth on 24th March 1603, and the accession of King James to the throne of England.

The threatened invasion of the Spanish Armada led Napier to take an active part in Church politics. In 1588 he was chosen by the Presbytery of Edinburgh one of its commissioners to the General Assembly. In October 1593 he was appointed one of a deputation of six to interview the king regarding the punishment of the “Popish rebels,” prominent among whom was his own father-in-law. On the 29th January following, 15934, the letter which forms the dedication to his first publication, ‘A plaine discovery,’ was written to the king.

Not long after this, in July 1594, we find Napier entering into that mysterious contract with Logan of Restalrig for the discovery of hidden treasure at Fast Castle.

Another interesting document written by Napier bears date 7th June 1596, with the title, ‘Secrett inuentionis, proffitable & necessary in theis dayes for defence of this Iland & withstanding of strangers enemies of Gods truth and relegion.’

The versatility and practical bent of Napier’s mind are further evidenced by his attention to agriculture, which was in a very depressed state, owing to the unsettled condition of the country. The Merchiston system of tillage by manuring the land with salt is described in a very rare tract by his eldest son, Archibald, to whom a