The student of Scottish history will find much useful and important information in Robertson's _Index of Charters_; Sir Joseph Ayloffe's _Calendars of Ancient Charters_; _Documents and Records illustrative of the History Of Scotland_, edited by Sir Francis Palgrave, 1837; Jamieson's _History of the Culdees_; Toland's _History of the Druids_; Balfour's _History of the Picts_; Chalmers' _Caledonia_; Stuart's _Caledonia Romana_; _History of the House and Clan Mackay_; _The Genealogical Account of the Barclays of Ury for upwards of 700 Years_; Gordon's _History of the House of Sutherland_; M'Nicol's _Remarks on Johnson's Journey to the Western Isles_; Kennedy's _Annals of Aberdeen_; Dalrymple's _Annals_, &c. &c.
[Footnote 1: See _Scottish Journal_, Edinburgh, 1847, p. 3., for a very interesting article on the Early Records of Scotland.]
Looking over Evelyn's _Diary_, edited by Mr. Barry, 4to., 2nd edit., London, 1819, I came upon the following. Evelyn being at Rome, in 1644, says:
"I was especially recommended to Father John, a Benedictine Monk and Superior of the Order for the English College of Douay; a person of singular learning, religion, and humanity; also to Mr. Patrick Cary, an abbot, brother to our learned Lord Falkland, a witty young priest, who afterwards came over to our church."
It immediately occurred to me, that this "witty young priest" might be Sir Walter Scott's _protégé_, and the author of "_Triviall Poems and Triolets_, written in obedience to Mrs. Tomkins' commands by Patrick Carey, Aug. 20, 1651," and published for the first time at London in 1820, from a MS. in the possession of the editor.
Sir Walter, in introducing his "forgotten poet," merely informs us that his author "appears to have been a gentleman, a loyalist, a lawyer, and a rigid high churchman, if not a Roman Catholic."
In the first part of this book, which the author calls his "Triviall Poems," the reader will find ample proof that his character would fit the "witty young priest" of Evelyn; as well as the gentle blood, and hatred to the Roundheads of Sir Walter. As a farther proof that Patrick Carey the priest, and Patrick the poet, may be identical, take the following from one of his poems, comparing the old Church with the existing one: