MEMOIR OF SIR JAMES DALRYMPLE FIRST VISCOUNT STAIR PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF SESSION IN SCOTLAND AND AUTHOR OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE LAW OF SCOTLAND " A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND AND SCOTCH CONTENTS. PREFACE, CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, CHAPTER I. 1619-1637. Ancestry of James Dalrymple, afterwards Lord Stair-William Dalrymple, a cadet of the Dalrymples of Dalrymple, acquired the small estate of Stair in Ayrshire by marriage with Agnes Kennedy in reign of James II.-Their son William married Marion Chalmers of Gadsgirth, one of the Lollards of Kyle-The greatgrandson of Marion Chalmers, great-grandfather of Lord Stair, James Dalrymple of Stair, belonged to the party of the Assured Lords, and was an adherent of the Reformed Faith-His son, James Dalrymple, also a Protestant, joined the association of 1567 in favour of James VI.-Neither the grandfather nor father of Stair notable-His mother, Janet Kennedy, sprang from a family which had taken the side of the Reformers-Stair born in 1619 at Drummurchie-His father died when he was five years old-Soon after which he was sent to Mauchline Grammar School by his mother-Groundless tradition of his father's murder-Stair went to Glasgow University in 1633, and graduated in Arts in 1637-Description of Glasgow at this period, CHAPTER II. 1638-1647. PAGE xiii xvii . 1 Early manhood-Stair in Edinburgh-Sketch of political position at this period-Stair serves in the Earl of Glencairn's regiment in the civil war-Elected a regent or professor in Glasgow University-Subjects of instruction at this time in the University-His contemporaries as professors-Principal Strang, Robert Baillie, David Dickson-Overture as to the college rents-Takes part in Baillie's settlement as professor-Stair marries Margaret Ross of Balneil, and is re-elected regent-Sent to Edinburgh to claim exemption from excise for the University-Resigns office of regent-Influence of University training on Stair, b 10 |