SCOTLAND.

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bo “ a species of lace made with thread.” In the old Scotch songsit frequently occurs 25

“ Then round tho ring sho dealt them ane by ane,

Clean in her pearlin keck, and gown alane.”

Rons Ilelonora.

Again—

“ Wo maun liae pearlina and mabbies and cocks,

And some other things that ladies call smocks.”

As the latter articles may appear more familiar to the worldin general than “ kecks,” and “ mabbies,” and “ cocks,” we mayas well explain a “ pearlin keck ” to signify a linen cap with alace border; a “ mabbie,” a mob; a “ cock,” or cock-up, no moreeccentric head-dress than the lofty fontanges or commode of thelast century.

Again, in “ Bob Eoy,” we have the term “ pearlin ” : whenBailie Nicol Jarvie piteously pleads to his kinswoman, HelenMacgregor, he says—

“ I lino been serviceable to Ilob before now, forbye a sot of pcnrlins I sent yoursellwhen you were guun to be murried.”

The recollection of these delicate attentions, however, has littleeffect on the Highland chieftainess, who threatens to have himchopped up, if ill befalls her lord, into as many square pieces ascompose the Macgregor tartan, or throw him neck and heels intothe Highland loch.

The brave Montrose, we read, sent his lace ruffles to he starchedand dressed before they were sewn on the embroidered sark hehad made only to wear at his execution. “ Pearlin ” was providedfor him which cost above 10Z. an ell.

The close-fitting velvet cap, enriched with lace, appears in theseventeenth century to have been adopted by the lawyers of theScotch courts. An example may be seen in the portrait of SirThomas Hope, Lord Advocate of Scotland, who died in 1046,which hangs in the Hall of the Advocates of Edinburgh. Another(Pig. 145) appears in the engraving of Sir Alexander Gibson,Bart., Lord Lurie, one of the lords of session, who died two yearspreviously.

In 1072, when lace—“point lace made of thread”—came

25 1633. In tbo “ Account of Expenses “2 ells of Perling at 30a., tlie utbor atfor tbo young I,ord of Lome,” we find :— 33a. 4tf., 31. 3s. id.”—Irenes Sketches of

“ 2 ells Cnmbridg’ at 8s. tlie ell for Early Scotch History.ruffles, Ids.