Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/20

Rh ABEKDEBV. 10 AI'.KKDEEX. The earliest historical I .on to the town b, that it was mail- ' '' " '" ' i During the early part of the 1. buill a paia.-c, ami occasionally resided here, an did also Alexander 111 Both these sovereigns conforrcil van. the town, and, amongst others, the right of holding fairs 1 j 1 1 it was burnt down, with seven other towns in Scotland the same year. Its inhabitants were in that age, and have always been, distinguished ir liravery. The town was defended by gatesand acsji; the death of Alexander III. in 1298, ips kept possession of the castle for Edward I., '.Vallacc failed in hi* attempt to reduce the Aitor the betrayal and execution of the patriot warrior, f his "quarters" was exposed to view here. In 1308 the citizens bravely and zealously aided Robert Bruce, defeating the forces of the E"g'' h in battle, and after- wards driving the garrison out of the town. The pre- sent privileged of the borough are founded upon a charter granted by Kobert Bruce in 1319, in ackr.-iw- lodgmcnt and requital for the important services ho had received fr"iu tin- > iti:ns. The trade of the town was Ith century, and was carried on, not only with England, but with Holland, FUuidors, Brabant, and rtcd at that time dried fish, salmon, corn, and bacon. Indeed, there is evidence of its being known rway as a commercial town in the latter hal: 13th cc nturv. In the 1 Ith century a curiously mixc lect was sp< rosence of a French element is indi- ^ ********* ** W** J/*-u // ** .-t>idi vna which was citizens who in one night liah garrison. In lorth of Scotland, and laid >urnt Aberdeen, and put B .. ,. .: ... :: . i :..
 * .u.l lILraTmeed

waste the district of Mar, many of its inhabitants to headed by Provost Da vidst.. selves by their courage and impetnoaity at the battle of iw, where Donald of the Isles was defeated town must at that period have been known to bo wealthy, as it was selected, with three other burghs, to bo security .:.inu for the ransom of King James I. A mint was established and maintained here during the - of James I., James II., and James III. The lane stood is still called Exchequer Row. J! the Scottish monarch*, from Bruce to James V I. own, or resided in it. James II. visited it in 1 1 iS. James IV. was frcqu marci.

James IV., and daughter of Henry VII., was i Margaret was commemorated in a poem by V, incrsct, invaded Scotland in i ". 17. tin- ! an p-'rt in tho decisive battle of Pink . had a cannon called the " groat fal> 
 * ; . ' I ' ''
 * i -- |. :

baptisms. law wa i i

u particularly snch occasions. i:. ; ni! .:.!.. : <cclcaiastii-.il usures J. In. James VI. was a frequi nt visitor of the city. In the Aberdonians refused to join in taking it ; for which refusal Churlos I. gave them his tKanlo, and conferred fresh privileges on their city. In 1647 the plague broke out and raged in tho city, t.nninu accompanied the ; hu number of deaths in one year was 1,600. There had been previous visitations of the plague in l-ill .. 1 1 .1!'!. It was not till the year 1022 that a print ing-pross was established at Aberdeen. The first -..ird Raban. In 162.5 he printed here the tirt almanacks published in Scotland, bearing the A Prognostication for this Year of our Redemption 1625," &c. As tho monopoly of almanack printing was secured for many years to Aberdeen, the name " Aberdeen Almanacks " became established, and is still retained and applied to those which are hawked about the streets in Scotland, although they are printed elsewhere. The Abtrden Journal was the first newspaper publish Scotland. It appealed on tin- 6th January, 1748. This journal U still published. During the 17th century raft was supposed to ) '.< red death on account years 1596 and 1697, not less than twenty-three old women were burnt to death at tho Castle Hi" Tho >1 mild was presented by the city with a sum of money for " his extraordinarie talon' pains " in tho
 * ii38, when the famous Covenant was adopted, tho
 * In the year 1644 the city was taken, and i_

up to pillage by Montrose, the greater number of tln< inhabitants being at that time Covenanter.-, and wi re put to tin- -word. A regu. ;-ween Aberdeen and Edinburgh was establish journey being performed three limes a week. Th<' postage was at the rate of two shillings per letter, and ijllinirs for a don ,'0 was proclaimed at Abci tribm.. milcil ..]' tli I .M.ir. In Decci <"' ' "i li i,: .. 1 in..:un '.1 '''. n, ; " };l...ui v. Ih! il.i,' the sup].rt of nutny of tin ' occupkil in 17!-i by Lord IA.-WIS Uordun tenant Charles. Itwascvacua- on the approach of tho Duke At the commencement of tin- i expenses wore incurred in iaiiyini>; out in in tin 'in-, and the roads, in <
 * li;li wa.-i il t in 1817.

Trustees w < <!. who, by their pru- dent plans and ' i the cour^ fow years succec" ing off the debts, and .- tho tfiwn . parliament, both for ti New towns ; which, 11; ' d within the li: ninth, in distinct ;
 * s and

privil to bo dc^ Mparati ly. rncd
 * . and

the li'greo y in .i- in I 'Id d T li iiiidi-d ' (1 church buudingi, which are 1 t.uilt in a (has r. an, I iliite sides < -. liic'li ha- 1 J united with King's CoHc^e in Old
 * im and an c .1,-,, v.itory in the lentral