Towns > Dundee > 1822 - Dundee delineated; or, A history and description of that town, its institutions, manufactures and commerce

151
the first towns in Scotland that embraced the Reformed Re-
ligion, about tbe time of the Reformation ; as also, for having
given birth to several persons very remarkable for their emi-
nent learning and piety, in which number was Hector Boetius
or Boece, Principal of the King's College at Aberdeen; and
Mr Henry Scryinzeour, descended from the noble and anci-
ent family of the Scrymzeours of Dudhope, Professor of the
Civil Law at Geneva; as also, for having given education at
the grammar school to the incomparable Champion and Go-
vernor of Scotland, Sir William Wallace, of most glorious
and immortal memory.
An Account of the Storming of the Town of Dundee, Sept. 1st,
1651, extracted from Dr. Crumbles Life of General Monk.
Printed at London, in 8vo. Anno 1671, p. 42.
The next place he attacked was Dundee, whither the
southern Scots had conveyed their persons and most of their
goods and best moveables, and all the wealth of Edinburgh,
and many other places which were not fortified ; so that here
was the best plunder that was gotten in the wars, throughout
all the three nations. It being summoned to yield, the Go-
vernor, Robert Lumsden, a gentleman of a brave spirit, re-
turned answer, " That if the Commander and the rest of the
English officers would lay down their arms and submit them-
selves, he would give them passes to return peaceably to their
own homes;" which was an arrogant presumption, airimper-
tinent piece of gallantry at that time, to tender safety to them
that were able to give. And this did much irritate the be-
siegers, so that presently they fell to work with the town ;
and tho' its supposed there were more fighting men within
than the enemy without, yet the General, that had very good
intelligence by means of a Scots boy, who frequently used to
get over the works in the sight of their own centinels, in the
day-time, by way of sport and play, without being taken no-
tice of, resolved to fall on. And this youth, for he was very
young, did use to bring word in what condition the town was,
that at nine o'clock the strangers and soldiers used to take
such large morning draughts, (whether to make them forget
the misery that their country was in at that time, or their
own personal troubles and losses, is uncertain), that before
twelve they were most of them well drenched in their cups.
But they were more drunk with vain security and confidence.
This story I mention, to shew with what little engines great