To refined taste Dougal had no pretensions. His indelicacy is notorious, his coarseness an abomination, but they are characteristic of the class for whom he wrote. He is thoroughly imbued with the national humours and peculiarities of his countrymen of the humblest class; and his pictures of their manners, modes of thinking, and conversation, are always sketched with a strong and faithful pencil. Indeed, the uncommon popularity his chap books have acquired, entitles them in many a point of view to the regard of the moralist and the literary historian. We meet them on every stall and in every cottage. They are essentially the library of entertaining knowledge to our peasantry; and have maintained their ground in the affections of the people, notwithstanding the attempt of religious, political, or learned associations to displace them by substituting more elegant and wholesome literature in their stead.” It is now about fifty years since Motherwell wrote the article quoted; and the _Waverley Novels_, _Chambers’ Journal_, and _The Tales of the Borders_ have accomplished what the religious and learned societies failed in doing. Of Dougal’s personal appearance some particulars have been already noted, but an edition of _John Falkirk’s Cariches_, which appeared soon after his death, contains a prefatory notice, in which, under the cognomen of _John Falkirk_, commonly called the _Scots Piper_, the popular contemporary ideal of him is given as “a curious, little, witty fellow, with a round face and a broad nose. None of his companions could answer the many witty questions he proposed to them--therefore he became the wonder of the age in which he lived. Being born of mean parents, he got no education; therefore, his witty invention was truly natural; and being bred to no business, he was under the necessity of using his genius in the composition of several small books, of which the following Cariches was one, which he disposed of for his support.” FOOTNOTES: [A] Glasgow and its Clubs. [B] Scottish Chap-Books, by John Fraser, New York, 1873. [C] Motherwell calculates his age to have been 65, supposing him to have lived to 1787. THE WITTY AND ENTERTAINING EXPLOITS OF GEORGE BUCHANAN, COMMONLY CALLED THE KING’S FOOL. [Illustration] GLASGOW: PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS. THE WITTY EXPLOITS OF MR GEORGE BUCHANAN. PART I. Mr. George Buchanan was a Scotsman born, and though of mean parentage, made great progress in learning. As for his understanding and ready wit he excelled all men then alive in the age, that ever proposed questions to him. He was servant or teacher to king James the VI., and one of his private counsellors; but publicly acted as his fool.