The city of Aberdeen boasts that her Market Cross is the finest in the land. It was built in 1688 by a country mason named John Montgomery, and was placed opposite the Tolbooth. In 1842 it was moved to the present site in Castle Street, and was at the same time somewhat altered. It is hexagonal in plan, six wide arches supporting the upper platform, round which runs a circular balustrade garnished with shields of arms and medallions of Scottish kings. The pillar rising from the midst is handsomely carved, and supports a unicorn in white marble holding the national shield. All the British sovereigns since its erection have been proclaimed from this Cross, as well as the two Pretenders in 1715 and 1745. Near the spot now occupied by this erection originally stood the Flesh Cross, close to which were the shambles; lower down Castle Street was the Fish Cross, or Laich Cross, indicating the position of the fish market. Prestonpans possesses a Market Cross of the same type as those already described, and still in good condition, as also does Elgin; similar Crosses at Perth and Dundee have been unhappily destroyed. Amongst other notices of the Town Cross at Linlithgow is a record of punishment inflicted upon an unfortunate burgess, for "in his great raschness and suddantie destroying the head of the Toun's drum." This unmusical citizen was deprived of the freedom of the burgh, fined L50 Scots, and ordered to "sitt doune upon his knees at the Croce at ten houres before noone, and crave the provost, baillies, and counsall pardone." Drums were evidently of more account in Scotland in the seventeenth century than crosses or tombstones. The ceremony of beating the bounds, or as it is called in Scotland "riding the marches," is still observed in some burghs, and the procession usually starts and terminates at the Cross if there be one. At Lanark before separating the company sings "Scots wha hae" beneath the Cross, near which stands what would two centuries since have been called "an idolatrous statue" of William Wallace. At Linlithgow the function begins by drinking the sovereign's health at the Cross, and the procession returns thither before breaking up. At Kilmarnock Fastern's Eve (in English, Shrove Tuesday) used to be celebrated by a large amount of horse-play round the ancient Cross; the town fire-engines and their hose being called into requisition for the drenching of the crowd with water, who probably drenched themselves with something rather stronger later in the day.