nd the
excitement associated with such pilgrimages, not to speak of the power
of faith, based though it was on error. From this point of view we may
in some respects regard the modern hydropathic establishment as in the
line of development with the holy well of old.

It is a testimony to the universality and the popularity of the holy
wells in this country, and to the persistency of the superstition,
after it had been condemned by the Reformation, that a public statute
had to be enacted in 1579 prohibiting these pilgrimages, and that this
having been ignored or defied, they had again to be denounced in the
strongest terms in 1679. "It seems not to be enough," says this edict,
"that whole congregations were interdicted from the pulpit preceding
the wonted period of resort, or that individuals humbled on their knees
in public acknowledgment of their offence were rebuked or fined for
disobedience. Now it was declared for the purpose of restraining the
superstitious resort in pilgrimage to chappellis and wellis, which is
so frequent and common in this kingdom, to the great offence of God,
the scandall of the Kirk, and disgrace of His Majestie's government,
that commissioners diligently search in all such pairts and places
where this idolatrous superstition is used, and to take and apprehend
all such persons, of whatsoever rank and quality, whom they sall
deprehend going pilgrimage to chappellis or wellis, or whom they sall
know themselves to be guilty of that cryme, and to commit them to waird
until such measures should be adopted for their trial and punishment."
It is further of especial interest to note the local effort made to
suppress these pilgrimages. In the records of the Synod of Perth there
is a minute to the following effect:--

"It is found that there is frequent repairing on certain days
superstitiously to some wells within this province, as to one called
Dumlorn, in Comrie. In the meantime the Synod ordains and entreats all
the gentlemen of these bounds where these wells, or any other of that
kind are, that they would use all diligence against these abuses as
they may according to the Acts of Parliament made thereanent."

Those who have an antiquarian turn of mind will, on visiting the top of
Dundurn, where the original well is supposed to have been, find
themselves expatiating upon other features of interest surrounding
them. The hill itself, it will be remarked, is covered all round, with
the excep