FORFAR, a royal borough, the capital of the county of Angus or Forfar, stands in the great valley of Strathmore, of which it commands a very rich and extensive view to the west ; and the prospect is terminated by the Sidlaw and Grampian mountains, some of which may not be less than 50 miles distant. In all writings respecting the pa tronage, tithes, &c. the parish is designed Forfar Restenet. The latter is the name of a priory, two miles distant from the town, and formerly surrounded by a lake, which is now drained ; the name of which is supposed to be expressive of the purpose for which it was built, viz. as a safe reposi tory for the charters of the monastery of Jedburgh.
In ancient times, Forfar was honoured with the residence of majesty. The ruins of a palace, or castle, are still to be seen on the top of a mount, which rises about 50 feet above the level of the plain. Here Malcolm Canmore held his first parliament, in the year 1057, immediately after the recovery of his kingdom from the usurpation of Macbeth. A figure of the castle, cut in stone, forms the device of the seal of the borough, though nothing but rubbish now re mains on the spot where it once stood. The lake of For far, formerly stretching two miles in length from east to west, and half a mile in breadth, and covering the palace on the north, afforded a plentiful supply of water, and add ed to the strength of the place. About 50 years ago, this lake was drained of 16 feet perpendicular depth of water, by which a very great quantity of moss and marl has been gained yearly. About a mile in length, and a quarter of a mile in breadth, of various depth, from 2 to 22 feet, still remains, and adds much to the beauty of the town. This lake proved fatal to the murderers of Malcolm II. in the year 1036. Having perpetrated the bloody deed in the castle of Glammis, about five miles distant, they attempted to cross the lake upon the ice, which gave way under them, and they all perished. Their bodies were after wards found ; and it being ascertained that they were the murderers of the king, they were hung on gibbets by the highway.
During the usurpation of Cromwell, a detachment of his forces pillaged the town, and burnt all its public records. By that wanton deed, every written memorial of its antiqui ties perished. The only charter which the town now pos sesses, is one granted by Charles II. after his restoration, confirming all its former rights and privileges. One me
lancholy evidence, however, of the ignorance and supersti tion of the times, still remains. From the record of trials, it appears, that nine women were condemned and burnt here for witchcraft betwixt the year 1650 and 1662. The witch-bridle, as it is called, by which they were led to exe cution, is still preserved. It is made of iron, in the shape of a dog's collar, with two pikes on the inside. The pikes were put into the mouth, and the collar tightly buckled round the head. To the collar is affixed an iron chain, by which the unhappy sufferers were conducted to a field adjoining to the town, which is still pointed out as the place of their execution. AnOther remarkable fact in the history of this borough is, that it obtained an act of the Scottish parlia ment, in the reign of James VI. changing the weekly mar ket-day from Sunday to Friday. At what time it was changed from Friday to Saturday, is not known.
The borough is governed by a provost, two bailies, twelve councillors, and four deacons of crafts, who repre sent their respective corporations. All are chosen annu ally, and the council thus constituted consists of nineteen members. In order to the election of these office-bearers for the year, some days before Michaelmas each magis trate names five burgesses, who, with the four new dea cons of craft elect, make up the number of nineteen addi tional electors; and by these thirty-eight the new magis trates and council are chosen. It may, and often does hap pen, that the number of electors falls short of thirty-eight, or twice nineteen ; because, if any of the old members die before the end of the year, and if one or more of the old deacons be re-elected, there are no substitutes for them on the new list. But if all the old nineteen be alive, and if four new deacons be elected, the number of electors must, by what is called the set of the borough, amount to thirty eight. The twelve councillors may be annually re-elected ; the provost and bailies too may thus be members of council for life. None of them, however, can be elected to the of fice of magistracy oftener than three successive years in one series. But, after having been one year out of office, and returning to the rank of common counciller, or private citizen, each may be re-elected for a new series of three successive years.