Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

174 Degrees and 'Titles of Honour^ &cc.
In that part of Regiam Majeftatem which af-
certiiias the different Mcrcherae Mulierum, the
Vaccc^, or large C ;w, is valued at fix iblidi, or
fhillings. The real amount of that folidus cannot
well bd determined. If an Englifn one, the price
of a cow IS confiderably greater than the eftimate
alread) given : if a Scottilh, it finks down to a
fmall matter.
A s I have entered upon the explication of law
terms, it is proper to give fome folution of one
of them, which, as it is now underflood, leaves
a reproach upon our anceftors. The meaning of^
Mercbeice Mulierum is, according to Ibme, found-
ed upon a cuftom which did great dilhonour to
the ancient civil government of Scotland.
Some of our b^ll hiftorians give the following
account of the introduction of the Merchetce Mu-
lierum among the ancient Scots. Evenusthe Thirdy
a King of Scotland, cotemporary with AuguftuSy
made a law, by which he and his fuccefibrs in the
throne were authorized to lie with every bride, if
a woman of quality, before her hulband could
approach her : and in confequence of this law, the
great men of the nan'on had a power of the fam*^
kind over the brides of their valfals and fervants.
We are told further by the fame grave and learn-
ed hiftorians, that this law was llrid:ly obferved
throughout the kingdom ; ror was it difcontinued
or repealed, till afcer a revolution of more than
ten whole centuries. It was near the end cf the
eleventh age, that the in^portunities cf St. Mar-
garet prevailed with her hufband, Malcolm Cane-
more, to aboliih this uijuflifiable cuftom. From
that time forward, inftead of the fcandalous liber-
ty given to every Superior by virtue of Evenus's
law