“Yhwmen, pewere Karl, or Knáwe, Dat wes of mycht an Ox til hawe, He gert that man hawe part in Pluche; Swá wes corne in his Land enwche; Swá than begowth, and eftyr lang Of Land was mesure, ane Ox-gang. Mychty men, that had mà Oxyn, he gert in Pluchys gá. A Pluch of Land eftyr that To nowmyr of Oxyn mesur gat. Be that Vertu all hys Land Of corn he gart be abowndand. A Bolle of átis pennys foure Of Scottis Monè past noucht oure; A boll of bere for awcht or ten In comowne prys sawld wes then; For sextene a boll of qwhete; Or fore twenty the derth wes grete. This fályhyd frá he deyd suddanly.” B. vii. c. x. 507-525. If the beautiful specimens of architecture which were produced in this age may be regarded as furnishing certain criteria for judging of the general state of the arts, we would be warranted in assigning to them a much higher degree of perfection than many of our readers would be inclined to admit. It is, however, difficult to believe, that a nation could have arrived at a high degree of excellence in an art which required a superior knowledge of the principles of science, as well as the greatest refinement in taste, without having made a corresponding proficiency in those of a subordinate character. The exquisite workmanship which adorned the crosses and monuments within the sacred precincts of the Island of Iona, commands at once the admiration and respect of strangers; and the fragments which have escaped the ravages of modern Vandalism, display a neatness of execution in the figures, lettering and embellishments, which may justly claim competition with the productions of the present day. Some, who will not look further than the subsequent poverty and degradation of Scotland, insist that these crosses and monuments are French manufacture, and were imported from France. This conjecture will not admit of a moment’s reflection. They might as well inform us that the Abbey of Melrose, the Cathedral of Glasgow, and all the rest of our sacred edifices, were importations from the same quarter. With more propriety, however, it may be alleged, that the most elegant of our Ecclesiastical structures were erected by a band of ingenious architects and workmen belonging to various countries, who associated together about this time, under the name of Free Masons, and wandered about Europe, offering their services where they expected the most liberal encouragement. Of these men, it is presumed Scotland has a right to claim a fair proportion.