Agnews of Lochnaw

1633] REPRESENTATIVE BARONS. 267
Charles I., who was not partial to Parliamentary government,
summoned the Scottish Estates to meet for the first time in his
reign in 1633.
The Sheriff was elected to represent Wigtownshire : the county-
was entitled to two members, but the name of no other commis-
sioner for the barons is to be found among the rolls of Parliament
which, from this date, are kept with great precision. On the 18th
of June, Charles having been crowned at Edinburgh with unusual
pomp — many foreigners of rank being spectators of the ceremo-
nies — Iris Majesty and his Estates opened the session in due form
by " Riding the Parliament."
In these days of comfortable unpicturesqueness, our wealthiest
senators, even if advanced in age, are restrained by taste and
habit from any greater display of magnificence at the opening of
Parliament than may attach to a well-appointed brougham ;
whilst more youthful Lords and Commoners are either satisfied
by a Hansom cab, or may be seen on foot hurrying down to their
places in the house between a double row of the A division of
police who restrain the crowd.
These lords and gentlemen, who have rolled up from their
country seats in a few hours' time, find, on their arrival in town,
luxuries utterly unthought of two hundred years ago.
Our hardier forefathers rode on horseback from their feudal
towers to attend their duties in the capital ; and the journey
over, slept in uncarpeted rooms in crowded hostelries, where
tubs were not abundant. But what they lacked in comfort
they made up in style.
A knight of the shire in these days would as little have
thought of walking down to the Parliament House, as a modern
senator would think of riding through St. James' Street on his
way to the Old Palace Yard in a full court suit.
Let us try for a moment to recal how the Sheriff of Gallo-
way and his fellow-barons were wont to turn out on such occa-
sions, whilst simple folks gazed at the sight with wondering
eyes.
On the first day of meeting of the Scottish Parliaments, the