With respect to the Annotations, it was the Translator’s original intention to have confined himself to a mere explanation of the obsolete Terms. But, anxious to render the work more extensively useful, he has not unfrequently departed from his first design. Among the works occasionally referred to, the Reader will recognise the Regiam Majestatem—so termed from the words with which it commences. This work has been sometimes received, as containing the genuine ancient Law of Scotland—sometimes rejected, as a mere spurious fabrication. Among the names in collision on this point are those of Skene, Erskine, Lord Kaims, Houard, Dalrymple, Craig, Lord Stair and Dr. Robertson. Nor has there been less dispute whether Glanville, or the Regiam Majestatem be the original work. But this question is said to be satisfactorily disposed of by Mr. Davidson, who has published a pamphlet expressly on the subject, and has proved, if it were necessary to prove, what is rendered indubitable by the internal Evidence of the two Works, that Glanville is the original; observing, at the same time, “that Glanville is regular, methodical, and consistent throughout; whereas the Regiam Majestatem goes out of Glanville’s method for no other assignable reason, than to disguise the matter, and is thereby rendered confused, unsystematical, and in many places contradictory.” The Translator has not been able to meet with Mr. Davidson’s work, but is indebted to the preface attached to the last Edition of Glanville for this Summary of it. “To this observation upon the method of the Regiam Majestatem,” says Mr. Reeves, “it may be added, that, on a comparison of the account given of things in that and in Glanville, it plainly appears, that the Scotch Author is more clear, explicit, and defined; and that he writes very often with a view to explain the other, in the same manner in which the writer of our Fleta, explains his predecessor Bracton. This is remarkable in numberless instances all through the Book, and is, perhaps, as decisive a mark of a copy as can be. The other Scotch Laws, which follow the Regiam Majestatem in Skene’s collection, contribute greatly to confirm the suspicion. These, as they are of a later date than several English Statutes which they resemble, must be admitted to be copied from them; and so closely are the originals followed, that the very words of them are retained. This is particularly remarkable of the Reign of Robert the Second, in which is the Statute of _quia Emptores_, and others plainly copied from our Laws, without any attempt to conceal the imitation. These Laws, at least, can impose upon no one; and when viewed with the Regiam Majestatem at their head, and compared with Glanville and the English Statute Book, they seem to declare very intelligibly to the world, that this piece of Scotch Jurisprudence is borrowed from ours.”[25] Nor is the enlightened and liberal Historian Dr. Robertson more favorably