[81] In one of his queer _Epigrams_, after comparing the insatiable demands of his creditors to those of the grave and of the sea, he closes with the following alliterative litany: "Free me from Farcher, Fraser, Fendrasie." [82] "His subjects and familiars surnamed him [Esormon] ουροχἀρτοϛ, that is [to] say, 'fortunate and well-beloved'" (_Works_, p. 156). [83] Rabelais, p. xv. [84] _Acts of the Parliament of Scotland_, vol. vii. 479, _a_, _b_. [85] The parish of Cromartie consists of the north-east portion of the peninsula called the Black Isle, terminating eastward in the precipice called the Southern Sutor, and stretches for about four miles along the shore of the Moray Firth on the east, and about six along that of the Firth of Cromartie on the north and west. To the west of the parish of Cromartie were situated the joint parishes of Kirkmichael and Cullicudden, on the southern shore of the Cromartie Firth. In Sir Thomas Urquhart's time these were separate parishes, but they were united in 1662, and a new church was built at Resolis, in Kirkmichael, near the border of Cullicudden. The newly constituted parish bore and still bears the name of Resolis. [86] In his _Logopandecteision_ he speaks of the "stipauctionarie tide" which began to overflow the land. He thought "with sufficient bulwarks of good argument to have stayed the inundation thereof from two of his churches"; but, he says, "I was violently driven like a feather before a whirlewind, notwithstanding all my defences, to the sanctuary of an inforced patience" (_Works_, p. 352). He does not, however, appear to have stayed long in this sanctuary, or else the shelter it afforded was but imperfect. His "_stipauctionarie_" (_i.e._ stipend-increasing) reminds us of Mr Micawber's calling his salary his "_stipendiary emoluments_." [87] The attention of the reader is specially directed to the marvellous felicity and vigour of the above description. Sir Thomas himself has never written anything better in its way. [88] We fear that this is meant as a description of a presbytery. [89] The reference is to the process of "horning" described on p. 16. [90] _Works_, p. 280-282. [91] That Sir Thomas Urquhart is not exaggerating matters in speaking of such injunctions being given by ecclesiastical authorities, is proved by the following well-known passage in the memoir prefixed to the _Works_ of Archbishop Leighton:--"It was a Question asked at [of] the Brethren, both in the classical and provincial Meetings of Ministers, twice in the Year, If they preached the Duties of the Times? And when it was found that _Mr Leighton_ did not, he was quarrelled [_sic_] for this Omission, but said, _If all the Brethern have preached to the_ TIMES, _may not one poor Brother be suffered to preach on_ ETERNITY?" [92] _Works_, p. 280.