The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abbot, The

ABBOT, The, by Sir Walter Scott. A sequel to ‘The Monastery,’ but dealing with more stirring situations. The time of the action is 1567–68. While the action goes on partly at Avenel Castel, and Halbert Glendinning of ‘The Monastery,’ as well as his brother Edward (now an abbot) figure prominently in the story, the reader finds that he has excnahged the humble events of the little border vale by Melrose for thrilling and romantic adventures at Lochleven Castle on its island in the lake, north of Edinburgh, where Mary Queen of Scots is imprisoned. The chief interest centres around the unfortunate queen. The framework of the tale it is claimed is historically true.