Note 22 — VERSES IN MEMORY OF DUNBAR COLLEGIATE CHURCH.

“Sir George Home was in great credit with king James, after his going to England, and by him was created first Lord of Berwick, then Earl of Dumbar. He got all these offices erected in his person, and was made treasurer, comptroller, and collector, and was sent many times to Scotland, as the king’s commissioner, to execute justice on the Borders, which he did with great rigour; but, by the hatred of some of the courtiers there, he was not suffered long to enjoy that extraordinary favour; for with some tablets of sugar, given him for expelling the cold by Secretary Cecil, he was poisoned; which was well known by the death of Martin Sougir, a doctor, who, by laying his finger on his heart, and touching it with his tongue, died within a few days thereafter; and by the relation of his servant of his chamber, Sir James Bailie, who saw him get the tablets from the said secretary, and who having eaten a small parcel of them himself, struck all out in blisters; but by strength of body he escaped death.”—Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet’s Staggering State, p. 34.