[10] This is now amongst the Gardenston papers, having been formerly in the possession of Mr. Dunbar. All account of its contents is given in _Antiquarian Notes_, by C. Fraser Mackintosh, p. 195. An independent corroboration of the above date of the marriage is by a document now in the Register House in Edinburgh (_Aberdeen Sasines_), in which Sir Thomas Urquhart, senior, gives sasine of the barony of Fisherie to Lady Christian Elphinstone. The "precept," or clause in the marriage-contract, which directs the notary to give sasine of the estate settled on the bride, is also dated the 9th of July, 1606, and in it she is described as being _in suâ purâ virginitate_. Probably the marriage took place either on that day or very soon afterwards. The bridegroom was just of age, while Lady Christian was under sixteen, the date of her birth being 19th December, 1590 (_The Lords Elphinstone_, Fraser, i. 167). The issue of this marriage were at least the following sons and daughters:--(l) THOMAS; (2) Alexander; (3) George; (4) John; (5) [name unknown]; (6) Henry; and (7) Jane, _m._ Sir Alexander Abercromby of Birkenbog; (8) Helen, _m._ Sir James Gordon of Lesmoir; (9) Annas, _m._ Alexander Strachan of Glenkindie; (10) Margaret, _m._ John Irving of Brucklay; (11) [name unknown], _m._ ---- Campbell of Calder. [11] Fisherie is about six miles from Banff. [12] It is quite possible, however, that, in the parish school of King-Edward, our author could have got the rudiments of a classical education. In 1649 (15th Nov.), Mr James Petrie, who was school-master there, applied for the school of Banff and, as a test of his power, "was ordeined to teache the sext satyr of Persius to-morrow in the school of Banf be nyne hours in presence of the bailyies and others in the toune who wer scholars." He passed through the test successfully, and was appointed to the office (_Annals of Banff_, ii. 30, New Spalding Club). [13] The entry of his name as a student on the roll is in the following terms: "In Academiam regiam Aberdonensem recepti sunt adolescentes quorum nomina sequuntur, præceptore Alexandro Lunano, Anno 1622. . . . Thomas Urquhardus de Cromartie. . . . _Fasti Aberdonenses, 1854._" [14] _King's College: Officers and Graduates_, by P. J. Anderson, M.A., pp. 347, 348. [15] An "eminent Yorkshire educationist" introduced the same rules into the establishment under his charge. It is probable, however, that in Mr Squeers's case the arrangement was the result of independent research into methods of education, rather than a hint borrowed from Andrew Melville. "No holidays--none of those ill-judged comings home twice a year that unsettle children's minds so!" (_Nicholas Nickleby_, chap. iv.).