THE present Work consists of a series of Historiettes, or
Narratives connected with Scottish History, which, it is hoped, will not be
deemed uninteresting to the experienced reader; while to young persons, and
those of mature age, who have not access to many books, or leisure to peruse
them, it will supply them with much valuable information concerning the
several localities with which they are acquainted. These HISTORICAL TALES
are constructed on the same principle as Sir Walter Scott's "TALES OF A
GRANDFATHER," differing only in this circumstance, that, as every Narrative
is complete, no chronological arrangement is followed. This may be alleged
as injudicious by some readers, but the plan was adopted to combine variety
with agreeable information. The Work pretends to nothing new, nor does it
interfere with any of the existing Histories of Scotland ; and as it is
designed for general use, the great object is to condense the substance of
many large and valuable volumes in a convenient compass, the whole being
carefully selected and compiled from the most authentic Histories,
Chronicles, Diaries, and original MSS. preserved in the public Libraries and
in private Collections. These Narratives are designated HISTORICAL TALES,
for the same reason that Sir Walter Scott calls his History of Scotland, for
such it is on a small scale, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER. There is neither
fiction nor romance introduced, and the Authorities are laid before the
reader at the commencement of each Narrative.
Although the leading subject of the Work is Tales of the
Scotish Wars, and of those on the Continent under the great Gustavus
Adolphus, King of Sweden, and other Sovereigns, in which Scotsmen were
engaged, numerous individual anecdotes, private encounters, and biographical
sketches, are introduced. While the wars with the English, the battles of
Wallace and of Bruce, and the exploits of the great Montrose, are
prominently brought forward, the Border Raids, Forays, and Conflicts, the
chivalrous inroads into the Lowlands of the indomitable Highland Clans, and
their mutual battles, encounters, and attacks, are not omitted. On the
whole, it is humbly hoped that the Work will be received with favour by the
Public, as much on account of its cheapness as of any merits it may possess.
