Memorialls for the government of the royal-burghs in Scotland with some overtures laid before the nobility and gentry of several shyres in this kingdom : as also, a survey of the city of Aberdeen with the epigrams of Arthur Iohnstoun, Doctor of Medicine, upon some of our chief burghs translated into English by I.B. / by Philopoliteious (or,) a lover of the publick well-fare.

Englished thus.

NEW-ABERDEEN enrich'd by Dees clear streams All praise from Ancient Cities justly claims; It's bless'd with Churches famous in all lands, And Temples framed by no mortall hands. Muses alse famous as once Rome did grace, Have hallowed a House into this place. A Colledge may be seen not far from thence, Where Learning fixed hath its residence. The Mercat-place where men resort for gain, Is stretched out into a spacious Plain: There you the stately Judgement-House may view Whose Battlements are of a Starry-Hew: There Palaces of Peers you may espy, Whose Lofty-Tops approach unto the Sky, And Towns-Mens-Houses there you may behold, Which garnish'd are and shining like the Gold. What need I further the three Hills to name, Which as three-Bulwarks fortifie the Same. Like these on which that City doeth stand, Which once as Head did all the Earth cōmand. The Wool-man-hill which all the rest out-vyes In pleasantness, this City beautifies:

There is the Well of Spa, that healthfull Font, Whose Yr'ne-hew'd-Water colloureth the Mount. Not far from thence a Garden's to be seen, Which unto Jameson did appertain: Wherein a little pleasant House doth stand, Painted (as I guess) with its Masters hand. Dee doth afford of Salmon wondrous store, The Neighbour-Sea brings up into the Shore. The Riches whereof Egypt makes her boast, And Indian-Treasures come into this Coast. A Bridge doth reach along the River Dee, Wherein seven double stately Arches be: Who built this sumptuous-Work if ye would know, The Myter which is carv'd thereon doth show. But let the Vulgar sort these things commend, The Citizens to praise I do intend. If all these things with them compared be, They do deserve no praise no memorie: That Martiall-mind which oft appeared hath, That golden Vertue and unstained Faith Which lodges in them all these joyntly doe Concur to raise their Name and Fame on high: They are a courteous People and a Kind, Men of aspiring Spirits, and noble Mind: Riches which doth the baser sort enslave, They have them; but they them as servants have If Worth have place, of Cities this may be Entitled-Queen, and claim Sov'raigniti'. All other Cities Mortalls bear; but This, Of Demi-Gods and Hero's Parent is.

I could add many more Verses in Latine and English upon ABERDEEN; but being loath to nauseat the Reader I forbear; I have some Verses made in Latine by Mr. JOHN JOHN∣STOUN, and also some Latine-Verses upon the Learned-Men that lived in this same Age; but shall forbear to multiply these Poeticall-Elogies: let these suffice to stir up the Citizens and their Posterity so to behave themselves in all their de∣portments, as they may most imitat their Wor∣thy-Ancestors in every Vertue purely imitable, and not be accessory to occasion the old Re∣nown and Esteem that ABERDEEN had gained, to fail in their Persons.