royal and parliamentary burgh of Scotland, and capital of the county of the same name, in the valley of Strathmore, near the railway from Aberdeen southwards. Forfar is of considerable antiquity, having been constituted a burgh before A.D. 1500. It was at one time the residence of royalty; and in the accounts of the chamberlain of the royal household, in the reign of Alexander III., and of some preceding monarchs, a charge is entered for the king's gardeners at Forfar. The town was protected by a castle, which stood on a mound on the north side. Its origin is uncertain, but it is believed to have been the place where, in 1057, the first parliament of Malcolm Caemore assembled after the defeat of Macbeth.

The site of this ancient fortress is now marked by the town-cross. The castle, which was surrounded with water, was occupied and strongly garrisoned by the English in the beginning of the fourteenth century; but in 1307, King Robert Bruce, on his way through Angus, captured, and, as was his custom in such cases, destroyed it, after putting the English to the sword.

It is rather a singular incident in the history of this town, that the weekly market-day previous to the reign of James VI. occurred on Sunday, when it was changed by act of parliament to Friday. In 1661, a special commission was appointed by the crown to try several parties accused of witchcraft, some of whom were condemned to be burnt; and the bridle which was put into their mouths in leading them out for execution is still preserved in the burgh. Further, it is recorded, that John Ford, for his services as a "witch pricker," was on the same occasion admitted a burgess along with Lord Kinghorn. Previous to the middle of last century, the town was composed of very few two-story houses; and notwithstanding its proximity to good gray slate quar-