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■c\ 


OF  THE  ^ 


BY 


cJIm    (luJ^yty 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  Toronto 


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LINDORES     ABBEY 


Burgij  of  0efofrurgft. 


PRINTED   BY   CRAWFORD   AND   M'CABE 
FOR 

EDHONSTON  &  DOUGLAS 

EDINBURGH. 
I.ONDON  -  HAMILTON,   ADAMS,   <fc  CO. 

CAMBRIDGE,  -  -  -  MACMILLAN   &   CO. 

GLASGOW,     -  -  -  -  JAMES  MACLEUOSE. 


IV    •   .-     -Ml 


MUGDRUM   <  ft  >SS 


Lindores  Abbey 


38urgj)  of  Jittobttrgj) 


THEIR  HISTORY  AND  ANNALS 


BY 

ALEXANDER    LAING,   F.S.A.Scot. 


Mankind 
By  empires  and  by  races  metes  its  life, 
And  each  to  each  bequeaths  its  legacy 
Of  lore  and  wisdom. 

W.Davy  Watson. 


«Ftnnl)urg6 

EDMONSTON    AND    DOUGLAS 

MDCCCLXXVI 


PREFACE. 


The  following  pages  are  the  fruit  of  leisure  hours  in  the 
intervals  of  business.  They  have  extended  to  a  greater 
length  than  I  contemplated,  and  yet  they  do  not  embrace 
all  that  I  originally  intended.  1'he  more  closely  I  studied 
our  ancient  records,  the  more  I  felt  that  '  the  early  life  of 
a  community  contains  the  seeds  of  its  greatness  or  of  its 
decay,'  and  that  no  mere  narrative  could  convey  half  so 
vivid  an  impression  of  the  state  of  society  in  the  past,  as 
the  contemporary  records  of  the  words  and  deeds  of  the 
men  and  women  who  died  and  suffered  at  the  time. 

These  considerations  induced  me  to  make  lengthened 
extracts  from  local  records,  which  may  prove  dry  and  unin- 
teresting to  the  cursory  reader,  but  are  nevertheless  the 
foundations  of  true  history.  These  records  bring  to  light 
customs  and  modes  of  procedure,  which  filled  a  large  place 
in  the  public  mind,  and  in  the  daily  life,  of  the  times  to 
which  they  relate ;  but  which  are  now  utterly  unknown. 
I   regret   that   in  printing  some    of  the   earliest  of  these 

b 


VI  PREFACE. 

extracts,  I  should  have  fallen  into  the  error  of  using  z  for  y, 
and  ye  for  the;  these  are  now  generally  admitted  to  be 
corruptions  of  the  forms  of  the  old  letters  g  and  ]?,  which 
are  equivalent  to  y  and  th  respectively. 

The  length  to  which  these  extracts  have  extended,  has 
induced  me  to  leave  out  biographical  sketches  of  men  born 
in  Newburgh,  or  connected  with  the  neighbourhood,  who 
acquired  distinction  in  their  respective  spheres ;  narratives 
of  adventures  and  escapes  incident  to  a  seafaring  popula- 
tion, and  events  illustrative  of  social  life  in  bygone  times. 
These  sketches,  if  health  and  leisure  permit,  may  form  the 
subject  of  a  separate  publication.  I  much  wish,  also,  that 
I  could  find  leisure  to  prepare  a  history  of  Abernethy ; 
more  especially  as,  in  a  Imrriedly  written  lecture  delivered 
some  years  since,  and  afterwards  published,  I  made  some 
statements,  which  I  would  now  alter. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  present  volume  I  have  re- 
ceived much  kindness  from  David  Laing,  Esq.,LL.D.,  of 
the  Signet  Library,  in  affording  me  information,  and  in 
putting  manuscripts,  from  his  ample  stores,  at  my  disposal. 
I  owe  a  like  acknowledgment  to  John  Stuart,  Esq.,  LL.D., 
for  his  uniform  help  and  encouragement.  To  Thomas  Dick- 
son, Esq.,  Curator  of  the  Historical  Department  of  the 
Register  House,   for  much  and  constant  aid  in  collating 


PREFACE.  vii 

manuscripts,  and  furnishing  information  otherwise  inacces- 
sible. To  Andrew  Jervise,  Esq.  of  Brechin,  for  counsel  and 
assistance,  and  for  the  sketches  of  Stob  Cross,  and  of  the 
window  of  the  ruined  chapel  at  Ay  ton ;  engravings  of  which 
appear  among  the  illustrations  of  this  volume.  To  all  these 
gentlemen  my  warmest  thanks  are  due.  My  best  thanks 
are  also  due  to  J.  D.  Marwick,  Esq.,  Town-Clerk  of 
Glasgow;  Arthur  Mitchell,  Esq.,  M.D.,  Edinburgh;  to 
Joseph  Anderson,  Esq.,  of  the  Museum  of  Antiquities, 
Edinburgh ;  to  Thomas  Ross,  Esq.,  Architect,  Edinburgh, 
for  the  ground-plan  and  drawings  of  Lindores  Abbey ;  and 
to  John  Young,  Esq.,  C.E.,  and  Architect,  Perth,  for  the 
ground-plan  and  section  of  the  Fort  on  Clachard  Craig.  I 
have  also  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  to  the  Magistrates 
and  Town-Council  of  Newburgh,  and  to  the  Ministers  and 
Kirk-Sessions  of  the  parishes  of  Newburgh  and  Abdie,  for 
the  ready  access  they  have  afforded  me  to  the  records  under 
their  charge.  I  beg  also  to  express  my  obligations  and 
thanks  to  the  Right  Reverend  Dr  Wordsworth,  Bishop  of 
St  Andrews,  for  the  elucidation  of  an  ancient  ecclesiastical 
practice  otherwise  unexplained.  To  William  Tullis,  Esq., 
Rothes,  Markinch,  for  notices  of  the  ancient  topography  of 
that  parish.  To  my  aunt,  Mrs  Charlotte  Anderson,  for 
reminiscences  of  old  customs.  To  Mr  John  Cameron, 
schoolmaster  of  Abdie,  for  the  etymology  of  names  of  places 


viu  PREFACE. 

in  the  neighbourhood  ;  though  it  is  right  to  state,  that  he  is 
not  answerable  for  all  the  derivations  from  Gaelic  that  have 
been  given  in  the  following  pages. 

My  especial  thanks  are  due  to  George  Wilson,  Esq., 
S.S.C.,  Edinburgh,  for  the  ready  access  he  has  afforded  me 
to  the  Mngdrum  archives.  To  John  Berry,  Esq.  of  Tayfield 
and  Inverdovat ;  Andrew  Walker  Buist,  Esq.  of  Berryhill ; 
and  Major  F.  W.  Balfour  of  Fernie,  for  putting  their  old 
charters  and  writs  at  my  service.  To  Sir  Patrick  Murray 
Threipland,  Bart.,  for  information  regarding  the  ancient 
possessions  of  the  Earls  of  Newburgh.  I  beg  also  to  express 
my  obligations  to  Thomas  Barclay,  Esq.,  Sheriff-Clerk  of 
Fife  ;  Walter  Malcolm,  Esq.,  North  Berwick  ;  and  to  Wil- 
liam A.  Taylor,  Esq.,  Cupar-Fife.  To  William  Ballingall, 
Esq.,  Engraver,  Edinburgh,  for  the  use  of  the  blocks  of  the 
engravings  of  Abdie  Old  Church,  and  of  the  view  from 
Cross  Macduff;  and  for  the  care  and  pains  which  he  has 
bestowed  on  the  engravings  which  illustrate  this  volume. 
Also  to  William  Proudfoot,  Esq.,  Perth,  for  the  drawing  of 
the  moulding  of  the  door-way  in  the  nave  of  the  Abbey 
Church  ;  and  to  the  Council  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of 
Scotland,  for  the  use  of  the  electrotype  of  the  carved  stone 
ball  and  blocks  of  the  engravings  of  the  Bos  primigenius 
belonging  to  the  Society. 

The  list  of  plants  in  the  Appendix  is  perhaps   more 


PREFACE.  LX 


copious  than  it  should  have  been  in  a  book  devoted  to  an- 
tiquities ;  but  I  was  specially  desirous  of  making  it  as  full 
as  possible,  and  of  giving  the  exact  habitats  of  the  plants 
growing  in  the  neighbourhood,  in  the  hope  that  the  youth 
of  both  sexes  may  be  induced  to  study  those  beautiful 
creations  of  God,  and  partake  of  the  ever-increasing  enjoy- 
ment which  the  study  of  any  department  of  His  works 
never  fails  to  afford.  I  have  been  enabled  to  supplement 
this  list  by  the  kindness  of  John  Sadler,  Esq.  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  Edinburgh,  in  supplying  me  with  a  note 
of  the  plants  gathered  by  Professor  Balfour's  class,  on  an 
excursion  to  Loch  Lindores  and  Marie's  Craig,  in  1873.  I 
have  also  to  thank  Charles  Howie,  Esq.  of  Largo,  for  addi- 
tions to  the  list. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  to  express  my  obligations  to  James 
A.  Smith,  Esq.,  London,  for  researches  made  expressly  in 
the  British  Museum,  and  for  assistance  in  compiling  the 
Index  appended.  I  tender  my  best  thanks  to  him  and 
to  all  others  who  have  assisted  me  from  the  beginning, 
without  whose  ever-ready  help  this  volume  would  have  been 
much  more  imperfect  than  it  is. 

Newburge-ON-Tav,  21s*  March  1876. 


inscription 

ON  THE  SEAL  REFERRED  TO  AT  PAGE  67,   WHICH  IS  NOT  THAT  OF 

ABBOT  THOMAS  AS  THERE  STATED,   BUT  THE  COMMON 

SEAL  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

*b    JjHjjtllum  £ante  fflatiz  WitQinisl  *u  iLtutfcore. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER   I. 

PREHISTORIC. 

Ancient  canoes  found  in  the  bed  of  the  Tay,  opposite  Lindores  Abbey — 
Skull  of  a  Bos  primigenius  discovered  at  Mugdruni — Still  entire — Its  size — 
Primeval  Circular  huts — Traces  of  early  cultivation — Raised  terraces — Hill 
forts — Entrenched  fort  on  Clachard — Carved  stone  ball  found  there,     Pp.  1-9 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE   ROHAN   INVASION. 

Appearance  of  the  natives  of  Britain  at  that  era — The  Horesti  inhabited  Fife — 
Cohort  of  them  served  on  the  Rhine — Tutelary  genius  raised  by  them — Still 
preserved — Roman  army  in  Fife,    .....      Pp.  10-13 

CHAPTER   III. 

CELT   AND    TEUTON. 

Early  occupation  of  Fife  by  the  Celtic  race — Evidence  of  this  in  the  oldest 
names  of  places — Instances  adduced — Remarkable  prevalence  of  the  prefix 
Pit  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Abernethy — Early  immigration  of  Frisians — 
Danish  names  and  terms  common  in  neighbourhood — Idiom  peculiar  to  South 
Jutland  prevalent  in  Newburgh,      .....       Pp.  11-17 

CHAPTER    IV. 

PAGAN   RELIGIONS. 

The  religion  of  the  Celtic  people  'Druidical' — Its  tenets — Scandinavians 
■worshippers  of  Odin  and  Thor — Their  funeral  rites — Buried  their  chiefs  on 
heights — Origin  of  term  'Law,'  applied  to  hills — Ancient  relics  found  at 
Nome's  Law — Cotemporary  description  of  a  burial  of  a  chieftain — Similar 
rites  among  ancient  Aryans,  .....      Pp.  18-27 


xii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   V. 

COLUMBA   AND   HIS    FOLLOWERS. 

Introduction  of  Christianity  into  Scotland— Voyages  and  labours  of  the 
early  missionaries— The  Culdees— Origin  of  the  term— Their  zeal  and 
declension,  ...•••••      Pp-  28-32 

CHAPTER  VI. 

DAVID,    EARL   OF   HUNTTNGDON. 

His  birth  and  descent — His  voyage  to  Palestine — Founds  Lindores  Abbey — 
Motives  that  prompted  it — Accpnres  the  Honor  of  Huntingdon— Resides  at 
Fotheringhay — At  the  funeral  of  his  brother,  William  the  Lion,  in  Arbroath 
Abbey— His  devotion  to  his  brother  and  to  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion — His 
death  at  Yardley— Buried  in  Sawtrey  Abbey— Two  of  his  children  buried  in 
Lindores  Abbey,      .  .  .  .  .  .  .      Pp.  83-14 

CHAPTER  VII. 

BENEDICTrNE   MONASTERIES. 

Origin  of  Benedictines— Their  rules— Obliged  to  work  at  whatever  handi- 
craft they  knew — Cultivated  their  own  fields — Promoted  agriculture — In- 
troduced improvements — Exhibited  the  benefits  of  settled  industry — Made 
copies  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  the  ancient  classics,  .  .      Pp.  45-49 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

FOUNDATION    OF    LLNDORES    ABBEY. 

Lindores  Abbey,  its  situation— The  Abbey  Church  of  the  '  Early  English 
Style' — Endowments  of  in  Scotland  and  England: — Dundee  first  mentioned 
in  Lindores  Foundation  Charter — A  Church  early  in,  and  first  recorded  pastor 
of  Duudee — Early  notice  of  schools  there — Vicar  of  St  Mary's  of  Dundee — 
Dispute  about  his  stipend  : — Revenues  of  Lindores  Abbey,  1295 — The  Monks 
promoted  horticulture — Various  kinds  of  pears  introduced  by  them  still 
flourish  in  jSTewburgh — Erected  corn  mills — Their  Grange — Their  grain 
stored  and  cattle  kept  there  —  Cottars  dwelt  around  the  Grange — The  size 
of  their  holdings,      .......       Pp.  50-G4 


CONTENTS.  XU1 

CHAPTER   IX. 

ABBOTS   GUIDO,    JOHN,    THOMAS,    JOHN,    AND   NICHOLAS. 

The  possessions  of  the  Church  of  Londors  bestowed  on  the  Abbey — Ety- 
mology of  the  name  —  Church  now  named  Abdie — Origin  of  this  name. 
Licker-stanes — Meaning  of  term  —  Grants  of  salmon  fishings  to  Lindores 
Abbey — Prior  of  Durham  at  Lindores  Abbey,  recalling  excommunication. 
Abbot  Guido,  his  last  exhortations  and  death  —  The  Monks  acquire  the 
'  peatery  '  of  Kinloch — Its  importance,  and  late  use  of  coal — Prince  Alex- 
ander dies  at  Lindores  Abbey,  .....     Pp.  65-82 

CHAPTER  X. 

EDWARD    AND    WALLACE. 

Edward  I.  at  Lindores  Abbey,  ad.  1291 — John  Baliol  there,  a.d.  1291 — Right 
of  free-warren  granted  by  him  at  Abbey  —  Preservation  of  rabbits  then 
esteemed  a  valuable  privilege — Edward  I.  again  visits  Lindores  Abbey — 
Remains  two  nights — Summons  all  classes  to  swear  allegiance  to  him — 
Wallace  stands  aloof— Takes  up  arms  against  Edward — Battle  of  Black  Earn- 
syde — Wallace  and  his  companions  in  the  Abbey  after  the  battle,       Pp.  83-90 

CHAPTER    XL 

ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS,  ROGER,  AND  JOHN  STEELE. 
THE  DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY. 

Vow  taken  at  Lindores  Abbey  to  defend  the  cause  of  King  Robert  Bruce — 
Lady  Mary  Abernethy  buried  in  Lindores  Abbey — Sir  David  Lindsay,  her 
husband,  burdens  his  lands  of  Pethfour  to  maintain  a  wax-light  at  her  tomb — 
Importance  attached  to  lights  at  tombs — The  poor  united  in  Gilds  to  provide 
them  for  each  other — David  II.  at  Lindores  Abbey — Large  retinue  that 
attended  him  and  other  dignitaries  in  travelling — Ancient  custom  of  travel- 
ling at  free  quarters  —  Laws  regulating  the  practice — David,  Duke  of 
Rothesay — His  Death— Buried  in  Lindores  Abbey,  .  .     Pp.  91-102 

CHAPTER  XII. 

PRE-REFORMATION   MARTYRS.      ABBOTS   JAMES,    JOHN,    AND    ANDREW  CAVEKS. 

James  Resby,  a  disciple  of  Wickliffe — Propagates  his  doctrines  in  Scotland — 
Arraigned  before  Laurence,  Official  of  Lindores — Condemned  and  burnt — 
Paul  Crawar,  a  Bohemian  physician  advocates  the  Reformed  doctrines  in 
Scotland  —  His   opinions   repelled   by    Laurence,    Official   of    Lindores.     Is 


xiv  CONTEXTS. 

condemned— The  Official  one  of  the  originators  of  St  Andrews  University — The 
Abbot  of  Lindores  offers  a  reward  for  the  more  solemn  performance  of  divine 
worship — And  for  greater  proficiency  in  psalmody — James  I.  and  James  III. 
admonish  Abbots  to  reform  the  abuses  of  their  monasteries — James,  ninth  Earl 
of  Douglas— His  troublous  life— Spends  his  last  years  in  Lindores  Abbey— 
The  Abbot  of  Lindores  founds  an  altar  to  St  Blasius  in  St  John's  Church, 
Perth — Bills  of  Exchange  granted  by  the  Abbot  and  Convent  for  purchases 
abroad — Exports  and  imports  of  Church  dignitaries  at  that  era,     Pp.  103-116 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

ABBOTS   HENRY,    JOHN   PHILIP,    AND   JOHN  LESLIE.       PATRICK   HAMILTON, 

MARTYR. 

Lands  of  Lindores  Abbey  erected  into  a  Kegality — Head  Court  held  at 
Newburgh  —  Abbot  Henry  sits  in  judgment  on  Patrick  Hamilton  in  St 
Andrew's  Cathedral — Hamilton  defends  his  opinions  —  Is  condemned — His 
last  words — Lindores  Abbey  sacked  by  a  mob  from  Dundee — John,  Abbot  of 
Lindores  takes  part  in  the  trial  of  Walter  Miln,  the  parish  priest  of  Lunan — 
John  Knox  visits  Lindores  Abbey — Reforms  the  Monks — John  Leslie,  Bishop 
of  Ross,  the  last  Abbot — His  devotion  to  Queen  Mary — Imprisoned  in  the 
Tower — Inscription  carved  by  him  on  the  wall  of  his  cell — Dies  near  Brussels — 
Inscription  on  his  tomb,      ......     Pp.  117-129 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE    COMMENDATOR. 

Patrick  Leslie  of  Pitcairlie  appointed  Commendator  of  Lindores — Revenues  of 
the  Abbey — Part  of  them  assigned  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Castle  of 
Edinburgh — Abbey  clock  sold  to  the  city  of  Edinburgh — The  Abbey  bells, 
one  of  them  of  silver — Their  names — Lands  of  the  Abbey  erected  into  a 
temporal  Lordship — Present  condition  of  the  Abbey  ruins — Notices  of  their 
spoliation  —  Coffins  of  two  infant  children  of  the  Founder  in  the  choir — 
Monuments  all  destroyed — Ancient  carved  oak  panels  and  other  relics 
preserved,    ........     Pp.  130-139 

CHAPTER   XV. 

THE    BURGH     OF    NEWBURGH. 

Condition  of  Society  when  Burghs  were  first  instituted — Burghs  afforded  bur- 
gesses mutual  protection — Xewburgh  erected  into  a  Burgh  by  Alexander  III. — 
Importance  of  the  concession — Privileges  of  a  Fair — Judicial  settlement  of 
disputes  by  personal  combat — Burgesses  bound  to  appear  sufficiently  armed — 
To  practise  Archery — And  hold  watch  in  town — Burgh  Court  Book  of 
Newburgh,  a.d.  1457-1180  preserved,       ....     Pp.  110-154 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

Condition  of  manufactures  in  Scotland  in  the  15th  century— Imports— Ex- 
tract from  Burgh  Court  Book — Assise  appointed — Their  names  and  duties — 
Burgesses  summoned  for  going  to  the  Abbot's  Court — The  chapel  not  to  be 
used  except  for  God's  service  —  Burgh  serjeands  —  Their  equipment  and 
duties — Cross  to  be  repaired — Distinction  between  a  burgess  and  a  freeman — 
Provision  made  for  saying  Placebo  and  Dirige  —  Burgh  Courts  held  every 
fortnight — Three  Head  Courts  yearly — Every  burgess  bound  to  attend  them — 
Hasp  and  staple — Mode  of  giving  possession  to  burgal  tenements — Instance 
of  it— The  Common-good,  .  .  .  .  .Pp.  155-176 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

st  Katharine's  chapel. 

Charters  making  endowments  to  it  preserved  in  the  Burgh  Archives — Decision 
of  dispute  between  the  Abbot  of  Lindores  and  the  Burgesses  of  Newburgh, 
by  the  Justiciar  of   Scotland— Decision  by  the  Provost  of  Perth  in  another 

dispute Enjoins  the  Burgesses  to  pass  to  the  King's  wars  under  the  Abbot's 

banner Magistrates  must  reside  within  the  Burgh — Seal  of  the  Chapter  of 

Lindores  Abbey — Bequests  for  providing  lights  for  St  Katharine's  altar— And 
for  distributing  bread  annually  to  the  poor — St  Katharine,  her  history — Cele- 
bration of  her  festival— Consecration  of  chapel  burying-ground,     Pp.  177-197 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   DISCIPLINE. 

Visitation  of  the  Kirk  of  Abdie  —  Eecommend  Saturday  holiday,  that  the 
Sabbath  may  be  better  kept — The  Schoolmaster  of  Newburgh,  a  Graduate  of 
St  Andrews  University — His  salary — Newburgh  erected  into  a  Parish — 
Ratified  by  Parliament — A  parishioner  excommunicated — No  one  to  converse 
with  him — The  Elders  publicly  censured  for  eating  and  drinking  with  him — 
Practice  of  hiring  shearers  on  the  Sabbath  denouuced — No  house  to  be  let  to 
any  stranger  without  a  certificate  of  his  good  character — Ordinance  of  kirk- 
session  against  cutting  the  communion  tables,  and  pastimes  on  the  Sabbath  — 
Marriages  of  parishioners  must  be  celebrated  in  the  parish  that  sellers  of 
ale  may  not  be  prejudiced — The  Bride  and  Bridegroom  required  to  lodge 
each  a  pledge  with  the  session  before  proclamation — Reconciliation  by  the 
kirk-session  of  parishioners  at  variance  before  communion  —  Unsuccessful 
instance,      .  .  ....     Pp.  199-210 


xvi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

"SVITCHCRAFT. 

Penal  Statutes  against  those  who  practise  it— Kirk- session  records  teem  with 
narrative  of  trials  for  it— Widow  belonging  to  Newburgh  tried  before  the 
High  Court  of  Justiciary— For  laying  on  sickness  by  enchantment  —  Con- 
demned —  Hanged  at  the  Castle  Hill,  Edinburgh,  and  burnt  —  Katharine 
Key  accused  of  witchcraft — Examination  of  witnesses  before  kirk-session — 
Acquitted— Several  women  belonging  to  Newburgh  burnt  for  witchcraft- 
Cruel  treatment  of  and  sufferings  of  those  accused— Instances  of,    Pp.  217-230 

CHAPTER  XX. 

PAROCHIAL     ANNALS. 

Sentence  for  breaking  the  Sabbath — Kirk-session  enjoin  that  children  be  put 

to  school Burial  of   a  '  Bluegown ' — Dress  and  privileges — Session  ordains 

branks  to  be  made  for  scolds — And  sackcloth  gown  for  penitents— Readers— 
Their  duties — Order  of  public  worship — Fasts  observed  for  the  removal  of 
the  plague  from  London  —  Payment  made  for  permission  to  bury  in  the 
church  —  Practice  prohibited  by  the  General  Assembly  —  Lady  Stormonth 
purchases  liberty  to  bury  her  mother  in  St  John's  Church,  Perth — Collection 
for  captives  among  the  Turks — Their  sufferings — Scolding  women  sentenced 
to  stand  in  the  joigs — Calamitous  fire  in  Newburgh — Collection  for  sufferers 
throughout  the  country — Allowance  by  kirk-session  to  help  two  sick  men  to 
go  to  Lady  Pitfirrane — Her  skill  in  medicine — Her  writings  —  Elders  visit 
the  town  during  the  time  of  public  worship,         .  .  .     Pp.  231-264 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

FROM   THE    REVOLUTION   TO    THE    '  FORTY-FIVE.' 

The  Minister  of  Newburgh  ejected  at  the  Revolution -Number  of  Ministers 
ejected  in  Fife — Parish  church  vacant  for  eight  years — Terrible  famine  and 
sufferings  of  the  poor — Highland  troops  quartered  in  Newburgh  in  1715— 
Severe  frost — Failure  of  crop  1740 — Kirk-sessions  purchased  meal  for  the 
poor,  and  lint  for  them  to  spin — Lychwakes,  provision  made  for  them  by 
kirk-session  —  Drinking  customs  at  funerals  —  Ordinance  of  Town  Council 
against  them— Highland  troops  in  Newburgh  1745— Lord  George  Murray, 
his  residence  at  Mugdrum — Fac-simile  of  letter  by  him  to  the  magistrates  of 
Newburgh— Ecclesiastical  records  show  constant  care  for  the  poor — For  their 
education — And  for  the  material  improvement  of  the  country,    .     Pp.  265-282 


CONTENTS.  XV  ii 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    AND    MAGISTERIAL   RULE. 

Fine  for  crossing  the  river  on  the  Sabbath — For  swearing  —  Parishioners 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  kirk-session  for  vaging  to  ale  houses  on  the 
Sabbath — For  carrying  in  water  —  Woman  put  in  the  stocks  for  her  misdy- 
manners — Another  branded  with  a  hot  iron  and  banished  the  town — Fine  for 
having  a  larger  company  at  a  marriage  than  the  law  allowed — Penny- 
weddings  denounced — Woman  drummed  out  of  the  town — Filthy  condition 
of  towns — Meeting  of  Commissioners  at  Newburgh  about  removal  of  St 
Andrews  University  to  Perth — Viva  voce  apology  at  Cross  for  slander — 
Youths  sentenced  to  stand  in  joigs  for  theft,  with  stolen  article  hung  around 
their  necks — Judicial  obligation  not  to  swear  within  the  Burgh,     Pp.  283-298 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

INDUSTRIAL    PURSUITS. 

Linen  manufacture  the  staple  trade  of  Newburgh  —  Weavers  brought  from 
abroad  to  teach  others— Cultivation  of  lint  encouraged — Spinning  afforded 
general  employment — Weavers  bound  to  manufacture  merchantable  goods — 
Stamp-master  to  inspect  all  linen  made  for  sale — Web  condemned,  and  mode 
of  procedure  —  The  dead  to  be  buried  in  linen  made  in  Scotland — Act  re- 
pealed, and  law  for  burying  in  woollen  passed — Violations  of  this  law — Spin- 
ning by  distaff — Recent  use  of  this  mode — Improvements  on  spinning-wheel — 
Gradual  disuse  of  it — Burgh  acres  apportioned  by  Runrig — Evils  attending 
this  system — A  '  Punier  '  appointed  to  watch  the  growing  crops — The  duty 
sometimes  performed  by  the  Burgh  heritors  in  turn — The  Town-herd — His 
duties  and  emoluments — Resolution  of  Town  Council  to  contribute  towards 
the  establishment  of  a  post  three  times  a  week  to  Perth,  .    Pp.  299-313 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES,  MUGDRUM  CROSS  ;    AND   CROSS    MACDUFF. 

Peculiar  symbols  on  '  Sculptured  Stones  '—Symbols  on  Lindores  Stone  common 
to  many  others — Mostly  confined  to  the  north-east  of  Scotland — Their  great 
antiquity — Supposed  import  of  symbols — Mugdrum  Cross — Sculptures  on  it  — 
Its  origin  —  Cross  Macduff  —  Traditionary  inscription  —  Wyntoun's  and 
Fordun's  narratives  regarding  Macduff  —  His  services  to  King  Malcolm 
Ceanmore — His  rewards  —  Law  of  Clan  Macduff  —  Cross  Macduff  said  to 
have  been  a  Girth  or  Sanctuary — Ancient  Girths  marked  by  Crosses — Stob- 
cross,  Markincb,  a  Girth   Cross — Fine   of    nine   kye  payable  by  those  who 


xviii  CONTEXTS. 

claimed  the  privilege  of  the  Law  of  Clan  Macduff— Superstition  attaching  to 
the  number  n  ine  —  Nine  -wells  near  Cross  Macduff— Instances  of  privilege 
of  Law  of  Clan  Macduff  claimed— Descendants  of  Macduff  to  place  the  King 
on  the  throne  at  his  coronation— Exercised  by  the  Countess  of  Buchan,  sister 
of  the  Earl  of  Fife,  at  Bruce 's  accession,  ....     Pp.  314-352 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

DENMILN     CASTLE. 

A  seat  of  the  Balfours— Sir  Michael,  Comptroller  of  the  Household  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  I.— Inscription  in  Abdie  old  Church  to  his  memory— Sir  James 
Balfour,  Lord  Lyon,  King  of  Arms — An  ardent  student  and  indefatigable 

collector Author  of    the  '  Annals  of  Scotland '  and  other  works — His  large 

collection  of  books  and  old  manuscripts  sold  after  his  death — Now  in  the 
Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh— Inscription  to  his  memory  in  Abdie  old 
Church— His  brothers— Alexander,  Minister  of  Abdie — Michael  of  Rander- 
ston— Sir  David,  Lord  Forret— Sir  Andrew,  selected  by  Charles  II.  to  travel 
with  Lord  Rochester,  the  poet— Founds  the  Botanic  Garden,  Edinburgh— 
Successfully  introduced  the  manufacture  of  paper  into  Scotland — Sir  Robert 
Balfour— Slain  in  a  duel — A  cairn  marks  the  spot  where  he  fell — Sir  Michael 
Balfour's  mysterious  disappearance— Never  afterwards  heard  of,     Pp.  353-377 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

OLD    CUSTOMS    AXD    FOLKLORE. 

Old  Norse  tale  and  expressions  still  current  in  Fife— Sportive  relics  of  serfdom — 
The  game  of  '  The  Cra,'  a  relic  of  an  ancient  judicial  proceeding— Spaewife 
appealed  to  —  The  Bairn's  Piece — '  Cried  back  ' — Withershins  —  Dread  of 
usino-  a  new  cradle — Slip  of  Rowan  tree  a  preservative  from  evil  influences — 
Origin  of  this  superstition — Horse  shoes  affixed  to  masts  of  ships  and  doors — 
Magpie  flying  over  a  house  where  one  lies  ill,  a  token  of  their  early  death — 
Extreme  antiquity  of  this  superstition— Old  customs  at  marriages— Riding 
the  Broose— Funeral  customs— Hallowe'en  —  Custom  of  knocking  at  doors 
in  Newburgh— Origin  of  this  custom — Hogmanay— Antiquity  of  going  about 
disguised — Still  practised  —  Old  ditties  still  sung  —  Specimens  of  them — 
Handsel-Monday  — Antiquity  of  its  observance  —  Remarkable  custom  kept 
up  by  boys  in  Newburgh  on  Handsel-Monday  —  Christmas  denounced  by 
Ecclesiastical  Courts  —  Public  penance  enforced  for  keeping  it  — Dress  of 
people  sixty  years  ago — Ale  formerly  the  common  drink  in  Scotland — Mode 
of  travelling— Periodic  literature  of  the  people  fifty  years  ago,       Pp.  378-402 


APPENDIX. 


i. 

ii. 

ni. 

IV. 

v. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 
IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 


xrv. 
xv. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 


XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 


Pedigree  of  the  Family  of  Leslie  of  Lindores, 

Rental  of  Lindores  Abbey  circa  1480, 

Another  Rental  circa  1580,    .... 

Topographical  and  Historical  Notes  to  preceding  Rental, 

Abstracts  of  Charters  by  and  in  favour  of  the  Abbot  and  Convent 

of  Lindores,        ..... 
Memorandum  of  the  Furnishings  of  Lindores  Abbey, 
Decreet  Arbitral  by  Patrick  Wellis,  Provost  of  Perth,  in  regard  to 

the  privileges  of  the  Burgesses  of  Newburgh, 
Rules  of  the  Society  of  Chapmen,    . 
Abstract  of   Charter   by  James  I.   erecting   the   possessions   of 

Lindores  Abbey  into  a  temporal  Lordship,  a.d.  1600, 
Court  Roll  of  the  Regality  of  Lindores,  a.d.  1695, 
Abstracts  of  Charters  preserved  in  the  Archives  of  Newburgh, 
Assedation  by  the  Abbot  of   Lindores,  and  other  Documents  in 

favour  of    David    Barclay  of    Cullernie,  as    Bailie  of    the 

Regality  of  Lindores.     ...... 

Abstracts  of  Charters  of  James  I.  and  Charles  I.  in  favour  of  the 

Burgesses  of  Newburgh,  ..... 

List  of  Abbots  of  Lindores,  ..... 

Altars  in  Lindores  Abbey,    ...... 

List  of  Chaplains  of  St  Katherine's  Chapel,  Newburgh,     . 
Additional  Notices  of  Irneside  Wood,  .... 

Notes  of  the  assignment  of  the  rents  of  Cullessy,  and  of  other 

lands  to  the  Lyon  King   of   Arms,  and  to   the   Ross   and 

Marchmont  Heralds,      .... 
Pedigree  of  the  Cathcarts  of  Pitcairlie, 
Pedigree  of  the  Hays  of  Leys, 
Pedigree  of  the  Livingstones,  Earls  of  Newburgh, 
Geology  of  the  Parish  of  Newburgh  and  Neighbourhood, 
List  of  Plants  growing  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  Newburgh, 


PAGE 

403 
410 
418 
428 

467 
489 

491 
495 

498 
505 
510 


521 

524 

527 
529 
529 
529 


530 
532 
534 

542 
548 
552 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


-*- 


I. 
II. 
in. 

IV. 

v. 

VI. 
VII. 

vm. 

IX. 

x. 

XI. 
XII. 
XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 


XXIII. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS  (Xorth  side),  .... 

GROUND-PLAN  AMD  SECTION  OF  FORT  ON  CLACHARD  CRAIG, 
CARVED  STONE  BALL,   ...... 

TUTELARY   genius  ERECTED    BY    SOLDIERS   BELONGING   TO   THE 

TRIBE  OF  THE  HORESTI,  .... 

SEAL  OF  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON, 

SLYPE,  OR  EXTRANCE  TO  THE  CLOISTERS  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY, 
G  ROUND  -RLAN  AND  MOULDINGS  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY, 
THE  GRANGE  OF  LINDORES,     ..... 
ABDIE  OLD  CHURCH  AND  ANCIENT  TOMBSTONE, 
CARVED  OAK  PANELS  FROM  LLNDORES  ABBEY, 
SEAL  OF  CHAPTER  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY, 
THE  OLD  MANSION  HOUSE  OF  CARPOW, 
FAC-SIMILE  OF  LETTER  FROM  LORD  GEORGE   MURRAY    TO   THE 

MAGISTRATES  OF  NEWBURGH,  1730,      . 
SPINNING  BY  SPINDLE  AND  DISTAFF  AND  SPINNING  -WHEEL, 
SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES,       .... 

mugdrum  cross  (Front  view),        .... 

CROSS  MACDUFF,  ...... 

STOB  CROSS,  MARKINCH,  ..... 

VIEW  FROM  CROSS  MACDUFF,  LOOKING  ACROSS  THE  TAY, 

DEXMILN  CASTLE,         ...... 

WINDOW  IN  EAST  GABLE  OF  OLD  CHAPEL  AT  AYTON, 

FAC-SIMILE  OF  PRECEPT  OF  SASLNE  BY  JOHN,  ABBOT  OF 
LINDORES,  AND  OF  CHARTER  SIGNED  BY  THE  ABBOT 
AND  MONKS     ...... 

MOULDINGS  OF  DOORWAY  LEADING  FROM  THE  CLOISTER-GARTH 
TO  THE  NAVE  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY  CHURCH,     . 


Frontisp: 

iece 

to  face  p 

.    7 

P 

.    9 

P- 

12 

P- 

44 

to  face 

P- 

50 

to  face 

P- 

52 

to  face 

P- 

62 

to  face 

P- 

67 

to  face 

P- 

139 

to  face 

P- 

185 

P- 

277 

to  face 

P 

278 

to  face 

p. 

305 

P- 

316 

to  face 

P- 

318 

P- 

321 

P- 

339 

P- 

352 

to  face 

P- 

353 

P- 

402 

to  face  p.  487 
p.  559 


CHAPTER    I. 


PREHISTORIC. 


What  aspect  bore  the  man  who  roved  or  fled, 
First  of  his  tribe  to  this  fair  vale — 
What  hopes  came  with  him?' 

Wordsworth. 


Modern  investigation  has,  in  comparatively  recent  times,  endea- 
voured to  make  up  for  the  lack  of  written  history,  by  the  study  of 
the  structure  of  language,  and  by  a  scientific  examination  of  the 
relics  of  the  past.  Students  of  language  affirm  that  the  affinity 
of  nations,  now  far  apart,  is  as  clearly  proved  by  the  science  of 
philology,  as  any  fact  in  modern  history;  and  modern  archasology, 
by  the  inductive  examination  of  existing  remains,  has  unquestion- 
ably thrown  light  on  the  occupations  and  condition  of  those  who 
fashioned  and  used  the  rude  implements,  that  have  from  time  to 
time  been  discovered. 

It  needs  no  evidence  to  prove  that  the  men  who  navigated  our 
shores  and  rivers,  in  canoes  hollowed  out  of  single  trees,  had  made 
but  little  progress  in  the  constructive  arts.  About  sixty  years  ago 
two  canoes,  so  made,  were  found  in  the  bed  of  the  Tay,  opposite 

1  Portions  of  this,  and  of  the  immediately  succeeding  chapters,  have  already 
appeared  as  a  contribution  to  Mr  Ballingall's  'Shores  of  Fife.' 

A 


2  PREHISTORIC. 

Linclores  Abbey,  the  largest  was  twenty-eight  feet  long,  and  was 
quite  entire.1 

Another  relic,  telling  of  a  condition  and  aspect  of  country 
widely  different  from  the  present,  was  discovered  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Newburgh,  in  the  end  of  the  last  century.  In  drain- 
ing what  was  called  the  Session  Loch,  at  Mugdrum,  the  skull  of  a 
'Great  Ox,'  Bos  primigenius,  or  Urns,  was  found.  So  huge  was 
this  skull,  that  even  in  that  unscientific  age  the  people  flocked  to 
see  it.  Dr  Fleming,  in  his  '  History  of  British  Animals,'  records 
that  it  was  27-|  inches  in  length.2  He  says  nothing  of  the  kind  of 
strata  in  which  it  was  found,  for  geologists  to  build  deductions 
on ;  but  the  cutting  was  carried  through  a  great  ridge  of  sand  and 
river  gravel,  and  the  head  was  discovered  at  a  considerable  depth 
below  the  surface.  The  Vrus  was  little  inferior  to  the  elephant  in 
size ;  one  skull  measured  by  Cuvier  gave  the  proportions  of  the 
animal  to  be  12  feet  in  length  and  6-^  in  height.  Other  skeletons 
have  been  found  of  much  greater  magnitude,  affording  indubitable 
evidence  of  the  gigantic  size  of  these  wild  denizens  of  the  ancient 
Scottish  forests. 

The  wild  ox  was  a  favourite  object  of  the  chase  among  our 
barbarian  forefathers,  and  it  was  counted  a  great  feat  for  a  young 
man  to  bring  home  the  horns  of  a  (Jrus ;  they  edged  the  finest  of 
these  horns  with  silver,  and  used  them  as  drinking  cups  at  great 
festal  gatherings.3     It  is  believed  that  the  Urus  existed  in  the 

1  These  canoes  were  taken  out  of  the  Cruive  bank  opposite  Lindores  Abbey. 
They  were  cut  up  and  used  for  lintels  in  the  erection  of  granaries  at  the  west 
shore  of  Newburgh.  The  largest  canoe  ever  found  in  Scotland  was  36  feet  long 
and  4  feet  wide, — it  was  discovered  at  Carron. — Wilson's  PreJiist.  Ann.,  Ed.  1851., 
p.  32.  Out  of  a  list  of  about  fifty  ancient  canoes,  recorded  as  having  been  dis- 
covered in  the  west  of  Europe,  only  three  are  mentioned  as  larger  than  the  largest 
found  in  the  Cruive  bank.  There  is  one  which  was  found  in  the  Rhone,  pre- 
served in  the  museum  at  Lyons,  41  feet  long. — Figuier's  Primitive  Alan,  p.  17. 

-  Wilson's  Prehist.  Ann.,  p.  2o,  Ed.  1851. 

3  The  representation  of  hunting  scenes,  on  so  many  of  the  '  Sculptured  Stones 
of  Scotland,' of  which  Mugdrum  Cross  is  an  instance,  is  enduring  evidence  of  the 
importance  of  the  chase  among  our  forefathers. 


PREHISTORIC.  6 

forests  of  Central  Europe  down  to  the  beginning  or  middle  of  the 
sixteenth  century ;  but  when  these  wild  oxen  ceased  to  exist  in 
Britain  is  nowhere  recorded.  Julius  Csesar,  in  speaking  of  them, 
says,  'Even  when  taken  young  they  could  not  be  tamed,  and  never 
were  domesticated.'  'Then  swiftness,'  he  adds,  'was  as  great  as 
their  strength,  and  they  often  attacked  both  man  and  beast.' l 

It  is  obvious  that  an  animal  so  huge  and  fierce  required  an 
extensive  range  for  concealment  and  pasturage,  and  that  the 
country  at  that  period  must  have  been  for  the  most  part  a  dense 
primeval  forest. 

In  a  district  so  thoroughly  cultivated  as  Fife,  most  of  the  traces 
of  primitive  occupation  have  been  obliterated  by  the  plough,  but 
on  the  southern  shoulder  of  the  hill  immediately  behind  Newburgh, 
a  little  west  from  Ormiston,  may  still  be  seen  the  foundation  of  one 
of  those  primeval  circular  huts,  of  which  numerous  clusters  remain, 
where  they  happen  to  be  out  of  the  range  of  cultivation.  The 
floor  of  the  hut  measures  thirty  feet  in  diameter,  and,  like  almost 
all  of  the  kind  that  have  been  discovered,  the  doorway  faces  the 
south.     There  seems  no  reason  to  doubt  that  this  is  the  remains 


1  Their  strength  and  fierceness  are  forcibly  set  forth  in  the  book  of  Job  (xxxix. 
9,  10),  where,  speaking  of  the  Unicorn  or  Reem,  which  has  been  identified  with 
the  Urus,  it  is  asked, 

•  Will  the  unicorn  be  willing  to  serve  thee, 
Or  abide  by  thy  crib  ? 

Canst  thou  bind  the  unicorn  with  his  band  in  the  furrow  V 
Or  will  he  harrow  the  valleys  after  thee '? ' 

W.  Boyd  Dawkins  quoted  Wood's  Bible  Annals,  p.  128.  Smith's  Diet,  of  the 
Bible,  Reem.  The  wild  cattle  protected  at  Chillingham  and  other  places  in  the 
country,  are,  in  the  opinion  of  scientific  men,  the  descendants  of  a  smaller  breed 
than  the  Bos  primigenius. — Proceedings  of  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  IX.  p.  587-671. 
'  It  is  worthy  of  mention,  that  when  new  magistrates  are  elected  in  the  Swiss 
Canton  of  Uri,  which,  it  is  understood,  derives  its  name  from  the  Urus,  two 
ancient  and  gigantic  horns  are  carried  in  solemn  procession  before  the  newly 
elected  magistrates.' — Wood's  Bible  Animals,  p.  127. 


4  PREHISTORIC. 

of  one  of  those  kind  of  huts,  having  a  tapering  roof  of  straw  or 
wattles,  which  Julius  Caesar  found  the  inhabitants  of  the  southern 
portion  of  the  island  occupying  at  the  time  of  his  invasion  (B.C.  55).1 
In  its  immediate  neighbourhood  we  have  evidence  that  its  occu- 
pants had  advanced  beyond  the  nomadic  state,  and  were  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  comforts  derived  from  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil.  Close  by,  where  there  are  patches  of  soil  of  that  rich  dry 
kind  to  be  found  on  the  shelves  of  the  trap  formation,  are  still  to 
be  seen  several  short,  narrow,  high-raised  ridges,  evidently  the 
remains  of  primitive  agriculture.  Close  at  hand  there  are  also 
yet  to  be  seen  traces  of  a  small  square  fold  for  cattle,  so  well 
chosen,  that  in  stormy  weather  the  flocks  still  seek  shelter  in  and 
around  it.  There  is  of  very  necessity  much  obscurity  regarding 
primitive  agriculture, — the  silent  on-goings  of  peace  taking  less 
hold  on  the  imagination  or  memory,  than  the  feats  of  war,  and 
they  are  therefore  left  unrecorded.  But  beyond  all  doubt,  there 
are  in  many  places  'marks  of  cultivation  at  a  height  above  where 
any  farmer  would  now  think  of  ploughing  or  sowing.'2  One 
explanation  of  this  may  be  found  in  the  fact,  that  the  low  lands, 
at  that  early  period,  were  either  in  a  state  of  morass,  utterly  unfit 
for  bearing  grain,  or  overgrown  with  wood.  As  usual,  when  the 
people  meet  with  any  work  of  antiquity  which  they  do  not  under- 
stand, they  attribute  it  to  supernatural  agency, — this  elevated 
tillage  is  accordingly  known,  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  as 
elf  furrows.  The  very  small  patches,  however,  which  exhibit 
evidence  of  cultivation,  show  how  circumscribed  were  the  agri- 
cultural operations  in  these  early  times,  and  how  dependent  the 

1  See  "Wilson's  Prehistoric  Annals,  chap,  iv.,  for  an  interesting  account  of  these 
primitive  dwellings;  also  '■Proceedings  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,'1  Vol.  VI.,  pp. 
402-410,  for  an  equally  interesting  account  of  groups  of  them  at  Balnabroch, 
in  the  parish  of  Kirkmichael,  Strathardle,  by  John  Stuart,  LL.D.,  Secy,  of  the 
Society  of  Antiq.  There  are  traces  of  the  foundation  of  a  smaller  hut,  20  feet  in 
diameter,  adjacent  to  the  one  mentioned  in  the  text. 

2  Cosmo  Innes,  Pro.  of  Soc.  of  Ant.,  Vol.  V.,  p.  203;  Sinclair's  Statist.  Acct., 
Vol.  II.,  p.  582. 


PREHISTORIC.  0 

population  must  have  been  on  their  cattle,  and  perhaps  in  no  less 
a  degree,  on  the  chase,  for  sustenance.1 

The  remains  of  the  dire  necessities  of  war  are,  however,  more 
prominent  than  those  of  the  arts  of  peace.  On  the  Black  Cairn, 
the  highest  point  of  the  Ochils  behind  Newburgh,  there  is  one  of 
those  rude  stone  entrenchments  named  in  Irish  Gaelic,  Cathair, 
encircling  the  summit  which  are  found  on  so  many  isolated 
heights  throughout  Scotland.  It  is  of  the  rudest  description, 
consisting  merely  of  loose  stones,  no  earthwork  having  apparently 
ever  been  cast  up.     It  exhibits  no  trace  of  vitrification,  and  there 

1  The  numerous  terraces  which  are  found  on  hillsides  in  Scotland  are  believed, 
■with  good  reason,  to  have  been  thrown  up  for  the  cultivation  of  grain ;  and  it  is 
obvious,  that  this  mode  of  treating  the  soil  must  have  had  the  same  effect  as 
draining  in  modern  times,  making  the  ground  thrown  up  not  only  deeper  but- 
drier,  and  fitter  for  bearing  crops. 

'There  are  few  hills,'  says  the  writer  of  the  Old  Statistical  Account  (of 
Buittle),  '  in  this  part  of  Galloway  where  cultivation  is  at  all  practicable,  that  do 
not  bear  distinct  marks  of  the  plough.  The  depth  of  the  furrows  too  plainly 
declare  that  this  tillage  has  not  been  casual,  or  merely  experimental,  but  frequent 
and  successive.'— Vol.  XVII.,  p.  115.  There  is  an  exhaustive  paper  on  the  subject 
in  the  first  Vol.  of  Proceedings  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  p.  127,  by  Robert 
Chambers. 

This  mode  of  cultivation  on  terraces  seems  to  have  been  prevalent  in  all  countries. 
Mr  Disraeli  says,  '  The  wide  plains  of  the  Holy  Land  are  as  fertile  and  as  fair  as 
in  old  days, — it  is  the  hill  culture  that  has  been  destroyed,  and  that  is  the  culture 
on  which  Judea  mainly  depended.  Its  hills  were  terraced  gardens,  vineyards, 
and  groves  of  olive  trees.'  In  the  Malay  Archipelago  this  mode  of  cultivation  is 
universally  adopted  by  the  natives  in  that  extensive  group  of  islands. 

On  the  hill  above  Strathmiglo  there  is  a  series  of  terraces  marked  on  the 
Ordnance  map,  which  were  evidently  for  cultivation.  But  all  the  existing  ter- 
races were  not  for  that  purpose, — some,  such  as  the  series  on  the  north  side  of 
the  height  behind  Markinck,  were  undoubtedly  formed  for  public  spectacles. — 
the  fact  of  the  field  which  they  overlook  being  still  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Playfeld,  corroborates  this,  and  shows  that  they  were  used  for  the  exhibition  of 
those  'miracle  plays'  which  formed  such  a  marked  feature  in  the  amusements  of 
the  people  in  mediaeval  times.  '  Few  towns  of  note  were  without  such  places, 
That  of  Cupar  was  on  the  Castle  Hill.'— Hugo  Arnot's  Hist,  of  Edinburgh,  Thou- 
sands of  all  grades  of  society,  from  royalty  downwards,  assembled  to  witness 
these  spectacles. 


fi  PREHISTORIC. 

is  not  the  slightest  defensive  skill  displayed  beyond  the  mere 
raising  of  a  rampart,  On  Norman's  Law,  in  the  adjoining  parish 
of  Abdie,  there  is  the  hill  fort  of  Dunmore  (the  Great  Fort),  of  the 
same  description,  but  much  more  extensive.  It,  however,  displays 
considerable  advance  in  the  art  of  fortification,  the  entrance 
having  bastions  for  defence,  though  the  ramparts  are  equally 
rude  in  their  construction,  being  merely  rubble  stones  thrown 
together.  The  frequent  notices  of  the  burning  of  these  hill-forts 
shows  that  there  were  dwellings  within  the  circuit  of  the 
entrenchments,  and  in  '  many  of  them  vestiges  of  circular  foun- 
dations may  yet  be  seen,  as  at  the  Catherthuns,  in  Strathmore ; ' ] 
but  no  traces  of  dwellings  are  visible  within  the  fort  on  Dunmore, 
or  on  the  Black  Cairn.  The  circular  huts  within  these  rude  forts, 
were  frail  tenements,  similar  to  the  one  already  described,  and 
they  constituted  the  dwellings  of  the  Caledonians,  down  at  least 
to  the  sixth  century.2  This  is  corroborated  by  numerous  passages 
in  the  Irish  records.  A  writer  well  acquainted  with  the  subject 
says,  'In  the  seventh  century  these  duns  and  raths  were  the 
abodes  of  kings  and  chieftains,  and  that  within  the  security  of 
the  entrenchments  there  were  dwellings  for  a  considerable 
population.'  3 

Since  the  plantation  on  the  Black  Cairn  has  grown  up,  the 
entrenchment  around  it  has  become  moss-covered,  and  it  is  now 
scarcely  known ;  but  in  the  last  generation  it  was  familiarly 
known  by  the  name  of  '  The  Ring'  (as  the  White  Catherthun  in 
Strathmore  is  to  this  day) ;  and  it  is  so  designated  (a.d.  1457) 
in   the   charter  by  the  Abbot   of  Lindores,   which   confirms  the 


1  Book  of  Deer.     Preface,  p.  lvii. 

-  Ibid.  The  Celtic  word  Cathair,  denotes  a  class  of  forts  formed  of  uncemented 
stone  walls,  and  is  the  same  as  the  British  Kcier. — Book  of  Deer,  p.  civ.  This 
seems  the  origin  of  the  name  Blackcairn.  'The  primary  meaning  of  the  Celtic 
word  dnn,  is,  strong  or  firm.' — Joyce,  p.  266.  And  as  fortified  places  were  almost 
invariably  thrown  up  by  the  native  tribes  on  hills,  the  Celtic  Dun  forms  a  prefix 
to  numerous  hills  in  Scotland. 

3  O'Donovan,  quoted  by  Joyce. — Irish  Names,  p.  257. 


m  1 

:x  1 1 

M    ■  '.''>>} /J,  'if? %%    5  / 


1  ■  fe      X 


I 


"•V      •  '      ■  ■  \\        \ 

if 


PREHISTORIC. 


possession  of  it  to  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh,  to  whom  it  still 

belongs.1 

On   the   picturesque  craig  of  Clachard,  almost    overhanging 
Lindores  Abbey,  there  is  a  stronghold,  displaying  in  its  construc- 
tion a  great  advance  over  the  ruder  defensive  works  of  the  Black 
Cairn    and   Norman's    Law.      The    entrenchments    are   skilfully 
adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  the  most  assailable  points 
having  a  succession  of  ramparts  of  great  strength.     On  the  west 
side  there  are  six  ramparts  in  succession,  some  of  them  from  five 
to  six  feet  in  height,  and  of  proportionate  thickness.     They  are 
now  covered  with  a  beautiful  sward,  but  internally  are  made  up 
of  earth  and  stones— many  of  the  latter  being  free-stones  brought 
from  the  valley  beneath,  and  must  have  been  carried  up  with 
great  labour,  the  ascent  being  very  precipitous  in  that  direction. 
Like  most  forts  of  the  kind,  the  pasturage  within  the  entrench- 
ments  is   nutritious,   and    capable    of  sustaining    a    considerable 
number  of  cattle  on  an  emergency.2     The  magnitude  and  extent 
of  the  defensive  works  of  Clachard  bear  unmistakeable  evidence 
of  the  condition  of  insecurity  which  prevailed  at  the  time  of  their 
construction ;   and  their  substantial  character  testifies  that  this 
insecurity  was  not  of  a  passing  nature,  but  seems  to  indicate  a 
condition  of  tribal  warfare,  which  it  was  necessary  at  all  times  to 
be  prepared  for.° 


i  Chartulary  of Lindores,  p.  6.  . 

*  In  other  forts  of  the  same  kind  there  is  almost  invariably  a  well,  but  in  that 
of  Clachard  there  is  none.  What  is  called  the  'Bluidy  Well;  which  the  rising 
veneration  look  on  with  mysterious  awe,  as  the  place  where  the  combatants 
washed  their  swords  after  a  battle,  is  merely  a  hollow  in  the  rock  which  retains 
rain  water  having  a  reddish  tinge  imparted  to  it  by  the  nature  of  the  rock 

3  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  notes,  says,  '  that  hard  adjoining  Denmill  there 
is  a  ereat  rock,  on  the  top  of  which  stood  a  strong  castle,  double  trenched,  which,' 
he'savs  '  was  levelled  with  the  ground  by  the  Romans  under  Martins,  commander 
of  tbeThracian  Cohorts,  under  the  Emperor  Commodus;  the  ruins  of  the  trenches 
mav  yet  be  seen.'-Sibbald's  Fife,  P-  70.  This  refers  to  Clachard,  which  is  close 
by  Denmiln,  but  the  slightest  inspection  of  the  ground  within  the  entrenchments 


8  PREHISTORIC. 

In  confirmation  of  this  insecurity  there  still  exists  the  remains 
of  an  enclosure  for  keeping  the  cattle  of  the  inmates  of  the  fort 
within  range  of  their  sight.  Beginning  at  the  outer  entrench- 
ment of  the  fort,  a  dyke  can  be  distinctly  traced  fully  one-third  of 
a  mile  up  the  side  of  the  sloping  hill  to  the  west,  but  before  it 
reaches  the  sky-line  it  turns  abruptly  to  the  south,  and  extends  a 
considerable  way  in  that  direction.  The  remains  of  this  dyke  on 
the  south  side  are  completely  obliterated  by  the  plough,  but  when 
the  circuit  was  complete  it  must  have  enclosed  a  large  space, 
sufficient  for  the  sustenance  of  a  very  considerable  herd.  This 
enclosing  dyke  appears  to  have  been  formed  of  earth  where  avail- 
able, and  of  stones  and  earth  at  other  places.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  of  the  object  of  this  extensive  and  laborious  work,  as 
similar  enclosures  have  been  noticed  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
hill-forts  of  a  like  description.  The  line  chosen  is  admirably 
adapted  for  the  purpose  intended,  as  no  spoiler  could  approach 
the  range  of  the  wall  without  being  distinctly  seen  against  the 
sky  by  the  watchers  in  the  fort.1 

The  remains  of  art  found  in  these  forts  are  an  indication  of 
the  period  of  their  construction.  Judging  from  the  only  relic  of 
the  kind  that  has  been  found  at  Clachard — a  carved  stone  ball, 
the  use  of  which  antiquarians  are  not  agreed  upon — the  origin  of 
the  fort  is  thrown  back  to  a  very  remote  period.  This  ball,  which 
unfortunately  has  been  lost  sight  of,  was  one  of  the  kind  that 
antiquaries  have  named  corn-crushers,  though  there  is  little  pro- 
bability of  their  ever  having  been  used  for  such  a  purpose ;  the 


shows,  that  the  castle  must  have  been  constructed  of  wood,  and  consumed  by 
fire.  See  antea,  which,  as  Mr  Hill  Burton  says,  '  is  to  be  inferred  from  the  numerous 
burnings  of  these  forts.'  See  also  Book  of  Deer,  p.  cxlviii.,  wherein  we  are 
informed,  'Edward  Bruce  burned  Rathmore  in  Ireland,1  a  similarly  constructed 
fort,  so  late  as  A.r>.  1315. 

1  For  the  information  of  the  curious,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  the  dyke  is 
very  observable  in  a  line  south  from  the  top  of  the  W  hitecraig, — a  range  of 
stones  standing  on  end  may  still  be  seen  there.  The  dyke  runs  690  yards  west 
from  Clachard,  and  can  be  traced  SCO  yards  south. 


PREHISTORIC. 


elaborate  ornamentation  on  some  that  have  been  found  positively 
forbidding  such  a  conjecture.  The  ball  found  at  Clachard  was  of 
hard  sandstone,  and  about  the 
size  of  an  orange,  elaborately 
carved  in  relief,  leaves  being  re- 
presented as  springing  from  the 
stalk  and  covering  the  lower  half 
of  the  sphere.  These  balls  may 
have  been  used  in  some  game  or 
amusement,  the  ornamentation 
serving  to  indicate  then  owner- 
ship ;  but  it  has  been  conjectured 
with  a  greater  degree  of  proba- 
bility, that  they  were  attached  to 
a  thong,  and  used  in  the  chase 
or  in  war  exactly  as  the  savage  races  of  South  America  use  their 
bolas  at  the  present  day.1  The  annexed  engraving  of  one  of  these 
balls,  found  in  the  parish  of  Towie,  Aberdeenshire,  and  preserved 
in  the  Antiquarian  Museum,  Edinburgh,  is  a  good  example  of  the 
exquisite  workmanship  expended  on  these  mysterious  imple- 
ments.2 


1  Evan's  Ancient  Stone  Implements  of  Great  Britain,  pp.  377,  379.  The  ball 
referred  to  in  the  text  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Dr  Anderson  of 
Newburgh,  but  was  not  found  in  his  collection  after  his  death.  A  massive 
finger-ring  of  gold  was  found  at  Clachard  when  the  railway  was  being  made. 
The  letters  cut  upon  it  are  so  rude  that  they  have  all  the  appearance  of  being 
Runic.  An  impression  of  the  seal  was  sent  to  Professor  Stephens  of  Copen- 
hagen, who  has  given  his  opinion  that  the  ring  is  mediaeval,  and  that  the  inscrip- 
tion is  I.  H.  S., — the  initial  letters  of  Jesus  Ilominis  Salvator.  The  ring  is  in 
the  Perth  Museum. 

2  Proceedings  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  III.,  p.  439. 

Ante. — Since  the  foregoing  was  in  the  press,  an  exhaustive  paper  on  the 
'  Ancient  Cattle  of  Scotland,'  by  J.  A.  Smith,  M.D.,  has  appeared.  From  it  we 
learn  that  the  skull  of  the  Urus  mentioned  at  p  2  was  found  imbedded  in 
marl,  and  that  it  is  preserved  in  the  Museum  of  the  New  College,  Edinburgh. 
The  circumference  of  the  base  of  the  cores  of  the  horns  is  14  inches. — Proceed- 
ings of  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  IX.,  pp.,  587-674. 


CHAPTER    II. 


THE    ROMAN    INVASION. 

An  iron  race,  who  bent  or  broke 
Surrounding  nations  to  their  sway  ! 
From  Rome  branch  out  to  distant  lands, 
Roads,  straight  as  the  arrow  to  the  mark, 
Which  still  remain  on  mountain  heights, 
Memorials  of  unswerving  aims  and  power 
On  strong  foundations  laid. 
Upon  these  roads,  for  war  prepared, 
Followed  the  apostles  of  the  Cross, 
Proclaiming  "Peace  on  earth,  goodwill  to  men! 
Bringing  a  light  so  strong  and  pure, 
That  men  may  see  that  "  God  is  love.*' ' 


Anon. 


With  the  advent  of  the  Romans  we  come  upon  the  domain  of 
written  history.  At  the  time  of  the  invasion  of  Scotland  under 
Agricola,  A.D.  80-85,  the  inhabitants  were  known  as  Caledonians. 
This  name  disappeared,  and  they  became  known  as  Picts.  Dr 
John  Stuart,  in  his  work  on  the  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland, 
says,  '  We  learn  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Britons  to  stain  their 
bodies  before  the  Roman  settlement.'  Herodian  (who  flourished 
in  the  middle  of  the  third  century)  says,  '  They  puncture  their 
bodies  with  pictured  forms  of  every  sort  of  animal.'  Thomas 
Innes  (the  learned  author  of  the  Critical  Essay  on  the  Ancient  Inha- 
bitants of  Scotland,  1729),  supposes  that  those  of  them  (the  Britons) 
in  the  south,  under  the  Roman  sway,  having  given  up  the  custom, 
the  term  'Picti' — the  painted — came  to  be  applied  to  those  in 
the  north,  who  '  continued  the  practice  towards  the  end  of  the 


THE  ROMAN  INVASION.  11 

third  century.'1     The  Historia  Britonum,  a  work  composed  in  the 
course  of  the  seventh  or  eighth  centuries,  says : 

•  From  their  tatooing  their  fair  skins 
Were  they  called  Picti.' 

The  appearance,  therefore,  which  our  forefathers  presented  to 
the  Roman  invaders,  must  have  been  not  very  dissimilar  to  that 
which  the  natives  of  New  Zealand  presented  to  the  Europeans 
who  first  landed  among  them.  ,      .     .  c   ,1 

We  learn  from   Bede,   who  wrote  in   the  beginning   of  the 
eighth  century,  that  the  Picts  inhabited  the  country  north  of  the 
Forth-3   they   therefore   occupied   this   portion  of  the   country. 
The  Romans  named  the  Pictish  tribe,  which  inhabited  what  is 
now  called  Fife,  and  the  lower  portion  of  Strathearn,  Horesti. 
Using  them  as  they  used  the  inhabitants  of  the  other  countries 
they  subdued,  and  as  we  have  used  the  native  tribes  of  India 
they  drafted  the  youth  of  the  Horesti  into  their  army,  andsent 
them  to  distant  countries,  away  from  kindred  and  patriotic  influ- 
ences, to  fight  the  battles  of  the  empn-e.*     Cohorts  °f  Horesti, 
serving  under  the  Romans,  have  been  traced  to  the  banks  of  the 
Rhine,_relics  of  their  occupation   having  recently  been   found 

i  Sculpd.  Stones  of  Scotd.,  Vol.  II.,  p.  124,  and  p.  iv 

•  Chron  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  p.  33.  Thomas  Innes  further  says  The 
Roman  namewas  continued  by  the  Welsh,  Saxon,  and  Irish  in  then-  different 
I  Tel  st  using  the  word  Chtifauadk,  from  Cruith,  winch  signifies  forms  or 
hgmes/such  as  the  Picts  used  to  paint  or  make  upon  themseM-Sculptured 
Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  p.  iv. 

3   Frr   History   Bk.  IV.,  cap.  26.  . 

■  Scald's  Fife,  p.  39.  Some  writers  are  of  opinion  that  the  Horesti  occupied 
the  dSttt  north  /the  Tay,  but  Chalmers,  in  his  Caledonia,  fixes  the*  seat  m 

Fif  ■  ^rdlng3™-^  Xotitia,  the  fourth  ala,  or  wing,  of  Britons,  -e  stationed 
in  Egypt.     The  twenty-sixth  cohort  of  Britons  occurs  in  Armenia     A  bod    ot 
«  >i  vincible  Younger  Britons'  were  stationed  in  Spain,  and  one  of  the    Elde 
BriW  in  lllyricun:    The  -  Younger  British  Slingers'  are  found  among       e 
Palatine  Auxiliaries.     Other  bodies  of   Britons  are  found  in  Gaul,  Italy, 


12 


THE  ROMAN  INVASION. 


seven  miles  above  Coblentz,  on  the  site  of  a  Roman  military 
station  at  Niederbieber,  two  miles  north  from  Neuwied,  on  the 
right  bank  of  that  river.  Among  the  remains  found  there,  and 
deposited  in  the  museum  of  Neuwied,  is  a  tablet  having  an 
inscription  on  it,  bearing  that  it  was  a 
votive  offering  raised  by  Opfius  Ibkiomarius 
to  the  tutelary  genius  of  the  numerus  or 
company  of  Britons  of  the  tribe  of  Horesti, 
stationed  there.1  This  interesting  monu- 
ment, as  will  be  seen  from  the  subjoined 
engraving,  copied  from  a  photograph  taken 
from  the  original,  is  surmounted  the  figure 
of  a  genius  holding  a  cornucopia  in  one 
hand  and  a  patera  in  the  other.2  The 
tablet  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

IDVSOCTO    BG    IINIo 

HORNBRITTONVM 

A-IBKIOMARIVSOPF] 

VSPOSITTVMQVINTa 

NIISIS    POSNTVHM. 

Filling  up  the  usual  conventional  con- 
tractions, the  inscription  reads  as  fol- 
lows : — '  Idus  Octobris  Genio  Horestorum 
Numeri  Brittonum,  A.  Ibkiomarius  Opfius 
Posuit  Titulum  Qiuntanences  Posuerunt 
Votum  Hoc  Monumentum.  The  numerous 
consonants  in  the  name  of  the  votive 
offerer  carries  strong  internal  evidence  of  his  Celtic  origin.  From 
other  relics   discovered   at  the  same  military   station,  it  would 


ft  c .1  r+.c  >:tj -o  it  UHl" r  nrf&l 
H  At  ■  c  n  t.  (o  i  qtiJKji  a  V  dm 


other  countries.'— Wright's  Celt,  Roman  and  Saxon,  p.  104.  There  is  a  strong 
probability  that  some  of  the  soldiers  of  these  cohorts  may  have  listened  to  the 
first  preachers  of  the  Gospel ;  but  as  the  Roman  troops  remained  long  at  distant 
stations,  they  may  never  have  had  the  opportunity  of  returning  to  tell  the 
'good  tidings'  they  had  heard. 

1  Roach  Smith's  Collectanea,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  133-4. 

2  The  monument  is  2£  feet  in  height. 


THE  ROMAN  INVASION. 


13 


appear  that  the  numerus  of  the  Horesti  must  have  occupied  it 
for  a  considerable  period  in  the  time  of  the  Emperor  Gordian, 
who  reigned  from  A.D.  238  to  251. 

Though  the  Romans  managed  to  enlist  some  of  the  natives 
of  this  district,  their  occupation  of  it  was  of  too  uneasy  a  nature 
to  permit  them  to  settle  down  into  peaceful  communities,  and 
latterly  the  attacks  of  the  natives  were  incessant.2     The  Roman 
historians  are  unanimous  in  stating  that,  during  their  whole  oc- 
cupation  of  this    portion  of   the  northern    province,  the  native 
tribes   'were   ever   ready  to  avail   themselves  of  the    slightest 
appearance    of  insecurity    or   of  intermitted  watchfulness.'  ^  In 
a   night  attack,   supposed  to  have   been  near  Lochore,  Tacitus 
records  that   the   Roman    troops  were   so   dismayed,  that   they 
begged  their  commander  to  retire  beyond  the  Forth,  rather  than 
be  driven  back  with  disgrace.3     And  on  the  final  retirement  of 
the  Romans,  the  Picts  '  crossed  the  sea  (the  Firth  of  Forth  was 
anciently  called  the  Scottish  sea),  broke  into  the  borders^  overran 
every  place  within  reach,  and  like  men  mowing  down  ripe  corn, 
bore  down  all  before  them.'4     The  Roman  invasion  had  this  good 
effect,  that  it  compelled  the  discordant  tribes  to  unite  for  their 
common  defence.      Tacitus,   the  historian  of  these  events,  says, 
:  Though  beaten,  the  Caledonians  did  not  give  up  any  of  their 
arrogancy;    transporting  then  wives   and  children   to  places   of 
safety  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Roman  arms,  they  armed  their 
youth,  and,  uniting  in  solemn  sacrifices  to  their  gods,  established 
and  confirmed  their  conspiracy.'     This  union  was  a  great  gain  to 
the  Caledonians,  independently  altogether  of  the  knowledge  of 
arts  which  they  would  necessarily  acquire  by  coming  in  contact 
with  a  highly  civilised  people. 

1  Roach  Smith's  Collectanea,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  13-1-4. 

2  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  1.,  p.  2. 

3  Tacitus,  cap.  39. 

*  Bede,  Bk.  I.,  cap.  12. 


CHAPTER    III. 


CELT     AND     TEUTON. 


Another  language  spreads  from  coast  to  coast : 
Only  perchance  some  melancholy  stream 
And  some  indignant  hills  old  names  preserve." 

Wordsworth. 


The  race  who  first  owned  land  iu  the  'Kingdom  of  Fife,'  were 
undoubtedly  of  Celtic  origin.1  This  is  apparent  from  the  fact, 
that  the  oldest  settlements,  as  well  as  the  prominent  features  of 
the  country,  bear  names  in   Gaelic,  in  most  cases  descriptive  of 

1  The  'Kingdom  of  Fife'  is  not  a  modern  appellation.  AVynton,  in  his 
'  Cronykil,'  written  about  a.d.  1380,  calls  Fife  a  '  Kynrick,'  or  Kingdom.  In  the 
tract  of  the  Scots  of  Dalriada,  Chronicles  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  p.  316,  the  follow- 
ing words  occur,  '  the  men  of  Fife  in  the  sovereignty.'  The  first  mention  we 
have  of  Fife  is  in  the  verses  ascribed  to  St  Columba — 

•  Seven  children  of  Cruthne 
Divided  Alban  into  seven  divisions. 
Cait,  Ce,  Cirig  a  warlike  clan. 
Fib,  Fidach,  Fotla,  Fortren.' 

lb.,  p.  25. 

'  This  legend  means  simply  that  the  territory  occupied  by  the  Cruthne  (see 
p.  11,  note)  consisted  of  seven  provinces  bearing  these  names.  Fib  is  obviously 
Fife.  Fotla  appears  in  the  name  Athfodla,  the  old  form  of  the  word  corrupted 
into  Athole ;  Cait,  Caithness ;  Circin  is  found  in  Maghcircin  (the  meadow  or 
plain  of  Circin),  now  corrupted  into  the  Mearns.' — lb.,  Pref.,  p.  ciii.  Doncad, 
Earl  of  Fib,  appears  as  a  witness  to  the  confirmation  of  the  freedom  of  the 
church  of  Deer,  a.d.,  1124-1153. — National  MS.  of  Scotland,  p.  ii.  Robertson,  in 
his  most  valuable  work,  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  gives  the  name  of  Fib,  or 
l'ibli,  as  'the  Forest,1  Vol.  L,  p.  32.     Fib,  in  the  speech  of  South  Jutland,  is 


CELT  AND  TEUTON.  15 

their  situation  or  appearance  j1  and  upon  good  grounds  it  may  be 
affirmed,  that  Gaelic  continued  to  be  the  spoken  language  of  this 
district  up  to  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century.2     It  is  noticeable, 

pronounced  almost  exactly  the  same  as  the  modern  Fife. — Atkinson's  Cleveland 
Glossary,  p.  76 

1  The  following  are  some  of  the  oldest  names  in  the  neighbourhood  : — 
Mugdrum,  anciently  Mukedrum — Gaelic,  Mue-druim — the  sow's  ridge.     It  is 
worthy  of  note,  that  one  of  the  compartments  of  Mugdrum  Cross  represents  a 
boar  hunt. 

Ballinbriech,  Bal-an-breac,   Town  of   Trouts.     It    is   still   celebrated   as   a 
salmon-fishing  station. 

Pitcairly,  anciently  Petcarlingis. 

Lumbennie,  .Lorn-bare,  beannan,  the  diminutive  of  bein,  a  height— '  The  bare 
little  height.' 

The  Bo'  Park— the  Cattle  Park. 

Clach-ard-Craig— The  Craig  of  the  High  Stone.  This  name  is,  or  rather 
was,  eminently  descriptive.  Before  the  railway  was  formed,  there  was  a  pro- 
jecting portion  of  the  rock  showing  two  sides  of  a  square,  upwards  of  ninety  feet 
in  height  and  about  twenty-five  feet  on  the  side,  known  as  the  '  High  Post.'  It 
rose  in  one  columnar  mass  from  the  base  to  the  summit  of  the  craig ;  the  other 
two  sides  closely  adjoined  the  rock,  but  the  pillar  was  so  much  disjoined  that  it 
was  thrown  down  by  one  charge  of  gunpowder  inserted  at  its  base.  There  was 
a  legend  attached,  on  the  never-wanting  authority  of  Thomas  the  Rhymer  (the 
predictions  attributed  to  him  being  generally  annunciations  of  improbabilities), 
that  it  was  to  stand  till  it  fell  on  a  white  horse  that  never  was  born;  and 
strangely  enough,  as  if  in  literal  fulfilment  of  the  prophecy,  the  grand  pillar 
stood  till  it  fell  before  the  'majestical  white  horse'  of  steam.  When  it  became 
known  that  the  'High  Post'  was  to  be  thrown  down,  several  thousand  people 
assembled  to  witness  its  downfall.  On  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  the 
3d  June  1846,  all  being  prepared,  the  match  was  applied,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
the  mighty  mass  rose  majestically  from  its  base,  and  then  slowly  fell  over  in  one 
unbroken  column.  The  pillar  leaned  towards  the  east,  and  almost  overhung  the 
old  public  road ;  and  many  who  had  looked  up  to  it  with  awe  from  their  youth 
wished  that  it  could  have  been  spared.  Dr  Anderson,  then  minister  of  Newburgh. 
made  application  for  its  perpetuation,  but  his  application  was  unsuccessful,  and 
'  The  High  Stone  of  the  Craig'  is  now  only  a  name. 

-  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol  II.,  p.  143.  There  is  an 
indication  that  Gaelic  continued  to  be  spoken  in  this  neighbourhood  after  the 
foundation  of  the  abbey  (a.D.  1178).  On  the  hill-side  above  Newburgh  there 
is  a  spring  still  called  'The  Monk's  Well.'  A  course,  evidently  an  artificial  one. 
Led  the  water  to  the  abbev     This  course  was  called  the  '  Rood-linn-burn,'  or  the 


16  CELT  AND  TEUTON. 

however,  that  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Newburgh, 
there  is  evidence  of  an  immigration,  and  early  settlement,  of 
Teutonic  or  Scandinavian  tribes.  The  term  'Law'  is  applied  to 
many  of  the  heights  in  the  neighbourhood.  '  Haiigh,'  a  purely 
Norwegian  term  for  an  alluvial  level  close  by  a  river,  occurs  ;  and 
the  suffix  son,  so  characteristic  of  the  same  language,  prevails 
largely  in  the  names  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  town,  as  far 
back  as  the  Burgh  Records  extend.1  There  is,  besides,  a  very 
peculiar  idiom  in  every  day  use  in  Newburgh,  which  can  be  traced 
to  South  Jutland,  and  which  could  only  have  originated  at  a 
remote  period.2  This  idiom  and  nomenclature  corroborates  the 
view  so  ably  stated  by  Mr  W,  F.  Skene,  that  an  immigration  of 
Frisian  tribes  began  early  in  the  latter  half  of  the  fourth  century, 
and  planted  themselves  along  the  estuaries  of  the  Tay  and 
Forth.3 

The  fact  of  an  immigration,  and  settlement  by  a  people  speak- 
ing another  tongue,  is  the  more  evident  from  the  contrast  afforded 

Holywell  burn.  The  inference  is,  that  the  monks  appropriated  the  spring — 
an  excellent  one — which  arose  on  their  own  ground,  for  the  use  of  the  abbey ; 
and  the  name,  part  of  which  is  Gaelic,  was  given  to  the  course  they  dug  for  it, 
in  the  vernacular  of  the  time.  The  burn  was  covered  up  about  twenty-five 
years  ago,  and  its  name  is  fast  being  forgotten. 

1  In  addition  to  the  names  mentioned  in  the  text,  the  following  occur : — 
'  Wodrife,  anciently  Vodrufe,  the  name  of  the  burgh  lands,  which  is  referred  to 
Vidr,  an  old  Teutonic  word  for  a  wood  or  forest ;  Goat,  a  trench,  or  gully,  where 
water  runs  out — hence  '  Katies-goat,'  a  deep  open  watercourse  near  the  abbey, 
now  covered  over.  Toft ,  etc.  Further  inland  '  The  Boose '  and  '  "Weddersby ' 
occur  ;  the  first  is  pure  Danish  for  '  The  Cattle  Stalls,'  and  the  latter,  Wedder 
or  Yeder,  a  man's  name,  still  common  in  Norway,  and  By  a  town. — See  Worsae's 
Danes  in  Scotland. 

2  For  instance,  it  is  quite  common  to  say,  in  answer  to  the  question,  '  Where 
is  he?'  Doon  ae  close,  ae  face  ae  brae,  ae  barn,  ae  house,  etc., — that  is,  down  the 
close,  on  the  face  of  the  brae,  in  the  barn,  in  the  house, — as  the  case  may  be. 
A  Danish  writer,  speaking  of  this  form  of  speech,  says:  'The  most  striking 
peculiarity  of  the  South  Jutland  dialect  is  the  e  or  ae,  which  is  used  prepositively, 
and  is  the  same  in  all  genders  and  numbers, — as  e  By,  e  Barn,  e  hele  has. — Atkin- 
son's Cleveland  Glossary,  pp.  xxiii,  xxiv. 

3  Pro.  o/Soc.  of  Ant.,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  1G9. 


CELT  AXD  TEUTON.  17 

by  the  names  of  places  in  and  around  Abernethy,  only  three  miles 
distant.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  that  ancient  Pictish  seat,  most 
of  the  holdings  (and  they  are  very  much  subdivided),  and  even 
some  of  the  tenements  in  the  town  bear  Celtic  names,  testifying 
unmistakeably  to  its  being  the  centre  of  a  numerous  and  settled 
Celtic  population.1 

1  The  following  names  of  places  are  copied  from  Lord  Douglas's  Abernethy 
Vassalage  of  1846 : — Abernetliy,  Iunernethy,  Aberargie,  Culfargie,  Carey,  Cor- 
don, Ballochmiln,  Balgonie,  Drummore,  Kemore,  Drumhead,  Colzie.  Gattaway, 
Tarduff,  Potie,  Muckley,  Carpow,  Wester  Clunie,  Balnacreuch,  Balehyrewell 
(corrupted  into  Broadwell),  Pitfersie,  Drums  of  Pitfersie,  Pitgrunzie,  Pitindie, 
Pitmedden,  Pitteubroigh  (one  of  the  tenements  of  the  town  is  described  as 
having  belonged  to  the  prebend  of  Pittenbroigh),  Pitcuran,  Pitcarrick,  Pitblae, 
Pitlour,  etc.  Such  a  number  of  places  having  the  prefix  Pit,  mostly  situated 
within  a  short  distance  of  one  another,  shows  that  they  were,  as  they  still  are, 
small  holdings,  and  that  the  meaning  ascribed  to  the  term  by  Mr  W.  F.  Skene  is 
the  correct  one.  He  says,  'The  old  form  of  Pit  or  Pitten,  as  appears  from  the 
Book  of  Deer,  is  Pette,  and  it  seems  to  mean  a  portion  of  land,  as  it  is  conjoined 
with  proper  names,  as  Pette  Mac-Garnait,  Pette  Malduib.  But  it  also  appears 
connected  with  Gaelic  specific  terms,  as  Pette  an  Mulenn,  the  Pette  of  the  Mill ; 
and  in  a  charter  of  the  Chartulary  of  St  Andrews  of  the  Church  of  Migvie,  the 
terra  ecclesize,  (the  church  land)  is  said  to  be  called  Pettentaggart — 'an  taggart' 
being  the  Gaelic  form  of  the  expression  'of  the  priest." — Skene's  Four  Ancient 
Books  of  Wales,  "Vol.  I.,  p.  157. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

PAGAN    RELIGIONS. 

'  Once,  while  the  name  Jehovah,  was  a  sound 
"Within  the  circuit  of  this  sea-girt  isle 
Unheard,  the  savage  nations  bowed  the  head 
To  Gods  delighting  in  remorseless  deeds.' 

Wordsworth. 

The  religion  of  the  Celtic  population  was  Druidical.  Of  the 
nature  of  its  tenets  we  have  only  the  accounts  of  strangers,  for 
the  priests  never  committed  them  to  writing,  though  they  knew 
and  practised  that  art.  They  transmitted  then*  system  through 
their  successors  by  oral  tradition,  perhaps  to  throw  a  greater  air 
of  mystery  around  then  rites  and  ceremonies,  and  to  inspire  the 
people  with  awe  for  their  decisions.  It  is  said  that  they  taught 
'  there  was  only  one  God,  that  the  souls  of  men  did  not  perish 
with  their  bodies,  and  after  death  men  were  rewarded  according 
to  the  life  they  led  on  earth.  Those  who  had  chosen  the  evil 
instead  of  the  good,  returned  after  death  to  the  state  of  evil,  and 
were  condemned  to  an  inferior  grade  of  animal  life,  low  in  propor- 
tion to  the  debasement  whereto  they  had  reduced  themselves.' 1 
There  is,  however,  much  uncertainty  regarding  their  doctrines ; 
but,  it  is  certain,  that  they  practised  most  cruel  rites.  '  When  any 
calamity  befell  the  people  they  sacrificed  human  victims,  and  they 
pretended  they  could  discover  by  the  manner  in  which  the  victim 
fell,  events  which  were  to  come.'  2 

It  is  in  this  latter  character  of  practising  magical  arts,  that  the 

1  Southey's  Book  of  the  Church,  p.  4.  "  lb. 


PAGAN  RELIGIONS.  19 

Druids  are  represented   by   the  Christian  missionaries  who  first 
came  in  contact  with  them.     The  '  Historia  Britonum '  says — 

'  Necromancy  and  idolatry,  illusion 

By  them  were  taught 
The  honouring  Sredhs  and  omens, 
Choice  of  weather,  lucky  times, 
The  watching  of  the  voice  of  birds 
They  practised  without  disguise.' ' 

The  same  authority  informs  us  that  they  taught '  bright  poems.' 
Their  vocation  of  bards  gave  them  great  influence  over  the  people, 
for  in  those  early  times  when  books  were  not,  the  man  that  could 
celebrate,  in  glowing  verse  and  rapturous  music,  the  deeds  of  their 
ancestors,  found  willing  listeners,  whom  he  moulded  to  his  will. 
The  terrible  powers  of  life  and  death,  which  Druidical  priests 
wielded  as  controllers  of  all  religious  rites  and  ceremonies,  and  as 
judges  of  every  cause,  whether  civil  or  sacred,  rendered  their 
authority  irresistible.  "When  their  mandate  went  forth,  their 
nearest  and  dearest  dared  not  afford  them  relief.  '  The  wretched 
outcast '  was  '  from  the  gift  of  fire  and  food  cut  off,'  and 

'  From  every  sympathy  that  man  bestowed.'' 2 

An  excommunication  so  terrible,  that  humanity  could  not 
endure  it  and  live,  and  from  which  the  '  mercy  and  love '  of  the 
Gospel  was  a  double  deliverance. 

The  Scandinavian  immigrants  worshipped  other  gods.  The 
lateness  of  the  conversion  of  the  Northern  Nations  to  Christianity, 
somewhere  about  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh  century,  and  the 
preservation  of  their  ancient  Sagas,  embodying  many  of  their 
heathen  beliefs,  have  helped  to  keep  the  nature  of  their  old  faith 
more  clearly  before  us.  There  is  therefore  no  uncertainty  as  to 
the  character  of  their  religion,  or  of  the  gods  they  worshipped. 

1   The  Chronicles  of  the  ]>kts  and  Scots,  p.  42.  :  "Wordsworth. 


20  PAGAN  RELIGIONS. 

Three  of  them,  Odin,  or  Woden,  Thor,  and  Freya,  have  stamped 
then*  names  on  three  days  of  the  week.  The  entrance  to  the 
everlasting  pleasures  of  Valhalla  was  through  battle  and  blood- 
shed, and  the  souls  of  all  who  were  slain  in  battle  were  received 
into  Odin's  palace,  their  highest  heaven.  There  they  passed 
their  time  in  the  continual  enjoyment  of  fighting,  of  cutting  each 
other  to  pieces,  and  drinking  out  of  the  skulls  of  their  enemies, 
reviving  next  morning  from  death  for  the  renewal  of  their  bloody 
orgies. 

Their  funeral  rites  were  in  accordance  with  these  beliefs.  When 
a  warrior  died  he  was  buried  in  his  armour,  or  with  his  arms  beside 
him,  to  be  ready  for  the  occupations  of  Valhalla,1  A  very  signi- 
ficant passage,  confirmatory  of  this  practise,  occurs  in  an  Icelandic 
Saga,  written  in  the  tenth  century,  when  men  worshipped  Woden 
and  Thor.  'Now  Gisli  made  ready  to  bury  Vestein  in  his  howe 
(mound  or  height),  and  they  meant  to  bury  him  on  the  sand-hill 

which  looks  down  on  the  tarn 

And  when  they  had  heaped  up  the  howe,  and  were  going  to  lay 
the  body  in  it,  Thorgrim  the  priest  goes  up  to  Gisli  and  says,  "  Tis 
the  custom  brother-in-law  to  bind  the  hell-shoon  on  men  so  that 
they  may  walk  on  them  to  Valhalla,  and  I  will  do  that  by 
Vestein." ' 2 


1  The  silver  armour  discovered  in  the  mound  on  Nome's  Law,  in  the  parish 
of  Largo,  about  the  year  1817,  is  a  notable  instance  of  the  practice  mentioned 
in  the  text.  Twenty  years  after  the  discovery,  when  the  knowledge  of  it  tran- 
spired, investigation  was  made  by  the  late  Dr  George  Buist,  who  took  an  active 
interest  in  all  that  related  to  the  history  and  natural  history  of  the  county, 
and  from  all  that  he  could  learn,  there  must  have  been  about  400  ounces 
of  pure  bullion.  All  that  escaped  the  melting-pot  were  a  few  fragments, 
which  Mrs  Durham,  formerly  of  Largo,  now  of  Polton,  has  generously  pre- 
sented to  the  Museum  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland.  The  value  of 
these  fragments  is  enhanced  by  the  circumstance  of  their  having  engraved  upon 
them,  the  same  mysterious  symbols  which  are  carved  on  the  ancient  sculptured 
stones  found  on  the  east  coast  of  Scotland  — See  Wilson's  J  Whist.  Annals,  p. 
511-515. 

-  Gisli,  th  Outlaw,  p.  44. 


PAGAN  RELIGIONS.  21 

In  these  old  Sagas  there  are  not  wanting  glimpses  of  still 
more  horrid  rites  ;  and  more  than  dim  hints  are  given  that  slaves 
and   domestic  animals  were  sacrificed  on  the  occasion  of  then- 
lord's  death,  and  buried  with  them  in  the  same  grave-mound, 
that  they  might  accompany  him  to  the  unseen  world.     In  one 
of  these   Sagas,  Brynhild,  when  drawing  near   her   death,  says 
to  her  husband,  '  and  now  I  pray  thee  Gunnar  one  last  boon — 
let  make  a  great   bale  on  the  plain  meads  for   all   of   us,    for 
me  and   for   Sigurd,    and  for  those  who   were  slain  with   him, 
and    let    that    be    covered   with    cloth    dyed   red   by  the    folk 
of  the  Gauls,   and  burn   me  thereon  on  one  side  of  the  King 
of  the  Huns  (Sigurd,  for  whom  in  dying  she  avowed  her  love), 
and  on  the    other  those  men  of  mine,  two    at   the   head    and 
two   at   the   feet,   and   two  hawks  withal,   and    even   so   is   all 
shared  equally,  and  lay  there  betwixt  us  a  drawn  sword,  as  in 
the  other  days  when  we  twain  stepped  into  one  bed  together, 
and  then  may  we  have  the  name  of  man  and  wife,  nor  shall  the 
door  swing  at  the  heel  of  him.    Nor  shall  that  be  a  niggard  com- 
pany if  there  follow  him  those  five  bond-women,  and  eight  bond- 
men whom  my  father  gave  me,  and  those  burn  there  withal  who 
were  slain  with  Sigurd.'  1 

In  the  Anglo-Saxon  poem  of  '  Beowulf,'  the  dying  hero  gives 
still  more  minute  directions  for  the  celebration  of  his  obsequies. 
'  Make,'  he  says,  enjoining  his  companions  and  followers, 

'  According  to  the  deeds  of  your  friend, 
on  the  place  of  the  funeral  pyle, 
the  lofty  barrow 
large  and  famous.' 


i  The  Story  of  the  Vokungs  and  Niblungs.  Ed.  1870,  p.  127.  The  horrid  custom 
of  sacrificing  slaves  to  accompany  their  master  to  the  next  world  still  survives, 
and  seems  to  have  been  as  wide  as  the  human  race.  '  Among  the  savage  Kayans 
of  Borneo,  slaves  are  killed  in  order  that  they  may  follow  the  deceased  and  attend 
upon  him.  Before  they  are  killed,  the  relations  who  surround  them,  enjoin  them 
to  take  great  care  of  their  master  when  they  join  him.'— Taylor's  Primitive  Culture, 
Vol.  L,  p.  414. 


22  PAGAN  RELIGIONS. 

They   accordingly  raised  a  mighty  funeral  pile   to  burn  his 
corpse ;  it  was 

'  hung  round  with  helmets 
with  boards  of  war  [shields] 
and  with  bright  byrnies  [breast-defences'] 
as  he  had  requested. 
Then  the  heroes  weeping, 
laid  down  in  the  midst 
the  famous  chieftain, 
their  dear  lord. 
Then  began  on  the  hills 
the  warriors  to  awake 
the  mightiest  of  funeral  fires.' 

After  the  fire  had  done  its  work,  the  companions  of  the  departed 
chief  proceeded  to  raise  above  his  remains 

'  A  mound  over  the  sea  ; 
it  was  high  and  broad, 
by  the  sailors  over  the  waves 
to  be  seen  afar. 
And  they  built  up 
during  ten  days 

the  beacon  of  the  war-renowned. 
They  surrounded  it  with  a  wall 
in  the  most  honourable  manner 
that  wise  men 
could  desire. 

They  put  into  the  mound 
rings  and  bright  gems. 

they  suffered  the  earth  to  hold 
the  treasure  of  warriors, 
gold  on  the  sand, 
where  it  yet  remains.' 

'  When  the  mound  was  completed  the  war-chiefs  rode  round  it, 
chanting  the  praises  of  their  departed  king.'1 

1   Wright's  '  Celt.  Human  and  Saxon,  pp.  400-1. 


PAGAN  RELIGIONS.  23 

Iii  these  lines  we  have  a  vivid  picture  of  the  ceremonies 
observed  on  funereal  occasions  among  the  Teutonic  races ;  they 
also  throw  light  on  the  origin  of  the  grave-monnds  that  are  found 
scattered  over  Britain,  and  the  building  up  by  the  devoted  fol- 
lowers of  the  departed  warrior — 

'  during  ten  days 
the  beacon  of  the  war  renowned,' 

sufficiently  accounts  for  the  many  large  tumuli,  or  grave-mounds, 
which  still  remain.  The  dying  request  which  the  hero  makes 
to  his  people,  throws  still  further  light  on  these  interesting 
memorials. 

'  Command  the  war-chiefs 

to  make  a  mound, 

bright  after  the  funeral  fire 

upon  the  nose  of  the  promontory, 

which  shall  for  a  memorial 

to  my  people 

rise  high  aloft 

on  Ilronesuess ; 

that  the  sea-sailors 

may  afterwards  call  it 

Beowulf's  barrow, 

when  the  Brentings 

over  the  darkness  of  the  Hoods 

shall  sail  afar.'  ' 


1  Wright's  Celt,  Roman  and  Saxon,  p.  404. 

It  may  appear  somewhat  irrelevant,  but  it  is  most  interesting  to  learn,  that 
a<res  before  the  date  of  the  poem  quoted  in  the  text,  our  forefathers,  ere  they 
left  their  original  home  in  Central  Asia,  practised  the  same  ceremonies  at  the 
burial  of  their  dead.  Max  Muller  has  recently  translated  from  the  Sanscrit, 
Hymns  from  the  Vedas;  poems  that  can  be  proved  to  have  been  written  upwards 
of  three  thousand  years  ago.  One  of  these  describes  the  mode  in  which  the 
funeral  ceremonies  were  performed,  and  they  correspond,  in  a  marked  manner, 
with  those  mentioned  in  the  text.  Baron  Buusen,  in  his  work  on  God  in  History, 
says :  '  A  serious  and  spiritual  view  of  the  world,  and  the  noble  dignity  of  the 
proud  Aryan   heroes  (from  whom   our  forefathers   and   the    Greeks,   Romans, 


24  PAGAN  RELIGIONS. 

We  have  in  this  injunction  an  explanation  of  the  reason  why  the 
term  Law  (Jilcew),  which  originally  signified  a  heaped  up  niound, 


Hindoos,  etc.,  etc.,  are  descended)  is  displayed  in   the  byrnns  relating  to  the 
dead,  and  used  on  the  occasion  of  their  incremation.' 

On  the  funeral   pile  of  the  deceased,  his  widow  and  bow  are  placed ;    the 
latter  is  taken  down  and  broken  while  reciting  these  words : 

'  The  bow  I  take  from  the  hand  of  the  dead, 
To  be  our  defence,  our  glory  and  shield ; 
Do  thou  lie  there,  we  remain  here  as  heroes, 
And  in  all  battles  we  smite  down  our  foes.' 

But  before  this  is  done,  the  brother,  or  foster-son,  or  old  servant,  leads  the 
widow  down  from  the  pile,  saying : 

'  Rise  up,  O  woman,  to  the  world  of  life  ! 
Thou  sleep'st  beside  a  corpse — come  down.-1 

"When  the  pile  was  lighted,  the  following  address  to  the  spirit  of  the  departed 
(of  which  we  quote  a  portion)  was  recited : — 

'  Depart,  depart,  along  those  ancient  paths, 
By  which  our  fathers  have  gone  home  to  rest ; 
The  god  Varuna  (JJranos)  shalt  thou  now  behold, 
And  Yania  (the  sun-god  or  sky-god)  the  two  kings  who  take  our  gifts. 

Go  to  thy  loving  mother,  home  to  earth, 

AVith  wide-spread  arms  and  blessing-bringing  hands, 

She  takes  the  pious  to  her  kindly  breast, 

As  'twere  a  maiden's  bosom  soft  as  wool, 

And  holds  thee  safe  from  danger's  threatening  edge. 

Open  thy  arms,  O  earth,  do  him  no  harm, 

Receive  him  gently  with  a  loving  kiss, 

And  wrap  him  round,  0  earth,  as  when  a  babe 

His  mother  in  her  garment  folds  to  rest.' 


1  It  is  most  pleasing  to  notice  that  we  have  here  '  a  direct  contradiction  to  the  horrible 
custom  wliich  the  Brahmans  upheld  so  long,  in  defiance  of  the  expostulation  of  a  Christian 
government,  on  tho  plea  that  the  burning  of  widows  was  commanded  by  the  Vedas.' 


PAGAN  RELIGIONS.  2o 


is  applied  to  so  many  heights  on  the  east  coast  of  Britain,  and  of 
which  Norman's  Law  (or  the  Northman's  Law),  in  the  north  oi 


After  the  obsequies  were  ended,  the  chief  officiating  priest  turned  to  the  living 

and  said : 

'  Travel  your  course,  rejoice  in  length  of  days, 
Ye  who  are  here  marching  in  due  array  ; 
Your  living  Lord  who  offers  you  good  increase, 
He,  the  Creator,  grant  you  long  to  live.' 

At  the  close  of  the  ceremony  the  mourners  return  in  procession  home  to  the 
village.  On  the  following  day  the  household  sit  around  a  fire  outside  the  house, 
singing  of  the  deeds  of  the  ancients,  on  into  the  silent  night. 

Then  the  leader  of  the  chorus  admonishes  the  relations. 

Be  pure  and  pious,  all  ye  who  have  joined  in  this  sacrifice,  that  your  way 
may  not  go  down  to  the  house  of  death,  but  that  you  may  enjoy  length  of  days, 
and  abundance  of  cattle  and  of  treasures. 

After  this  he  pours  libations  over  a  stone,  repeating,  amongst  others,  this 
prayer  in  the  ears  of  the  family  : 

'  As  days  succeed  days,  changing  seasons  with  seasons, 
Lo  give,  O  Creator,  these  here  to  live,  that  the  younger 
May  not  leave  their  parents  desolate.' 

The  priest  then  says  to  the  women  who  now  approach— 

'  Not  widows  they,  no,  proud  of  noble  husbands, 
First  to  the  altar  let  the  mothers  come 
In  fair  attire,  and  with  no  grief  or  tears.' 

Then  turning  to  the  men,  he  says  : 

'  The  torrent  flows  away  ;  bestir  yourselves, 
Rise  up,  and  go  your  ways,  ye  comrades. 
Let  us  now  leave  this  mourning  company, 
And  all  go  forth  to  new  and  joyous  strife.' 

And  the  whole  concludes  with  the  chanting  of  the  following  words  :— 
'  To-day  they  led  the  ox  around,  they  stirred  up  the 
bright  fire,  they  brought  to  God  a  sacrifice  of  praises 
and  thanksgiving.     Who  shall  dare  to  lay  hands  on  them  ?' 

Vol.  I.,  pp.  309-3H'. 


26  PAGAN  RELIGIONS. 

Fife,  and  Largo  Law  in  the  south,  are  prominent  examples.  Both 
of  them  meet  the  requirements  of  the  dying  warrior's  wish,  and 
are  distinctly  '  seen  afar,  by  the  sailors  over  the  waves.'  1 

Posthumous  honours  were  only  reserved  for  those  who  dis- 
tinguished themselves  by  their  bravery,  and  fell  in  battle.  Those 
who  died  of  sickness  or  old  age,  were  reckoned  cowardly  and 
vile,  and  were  consigned  to  the  goddess  Hel,  who  dwelt  in  a 
region  of  eternal  frost,  where  bitter  cold,  remorse,  famine,  and 
hunger,  were  their  portion.2  To  avoid  this  terrible  fate,  men  threw 
themselves  from  precipices,  and  rushed  on  death.  This  latter 
alternative  was  in  course  of  time  avoided  by  a  subterfuge.  When 
in  a  later  age  a  warrior  died  a  '  straw  death,' — as  death  on  a  bed, 
from  disease  or  age,  was  contemptuously  called,  he  received, 
before  life  was  extinct,  the  scratch  of  a  spear — Odin's  mark — to 
wipe  away  the  reproach,  and  that  he  might  have  a  passport  to 
Valhalla.3 

A  religion  which  so  directly  inculcated  battle  and  bloodshed, 
while  it  fostered  some  noble  qualities,  necessarily  begat  indiffer- 

1  In  Abdie  parish,  besides  Norman's  Law,  there  is  also  the  Green  Law,  a 
conical  height  near  Collessie,  on  which  there  is  unmistakeable  evidence  of  inhuma- 
tion. In  Newburgh  parish  we  had  '  The  Greenlaw,'  on  which  the  Madras  School 
is  now  built.  Upwards  of  forty  years  ago  skulls  and  other  portions  of  human 
skeletons  were  found  in  it.  When  the  '  Law  '  was  being  levelled  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  school,  instructions  were  given  to  preserve  carefully  any  remaius, 
— and  some  fragments  of  human  bones  and  of  metal  were  found,  but  the  latter 
were  so  much  corroded  that  their  original  form  was  utterly  undistiuguishable. 
There  is  on  the  Kaim,  or  ridge,  between  Inchrye  and  Lindores  Loch,  a  conical 
mound  called  'the  Watchman's  Tower,'  traditionally  said  to  have  been  used 
as  a  place  of  outlook  in  Covenanting  times,  to  guard  against  surprisal  during 
field-worship ;  but  it  has  all  the  marks  of  an  ancient  barrow,  or  burial-mound, 
and  is  identical  with  some  that  have  been  opened  in  England  (at  Bartlow,  Essex)  ; 
figured  in  Ferguson's  Rude  Stone  Monuments,  p.  83.  That  the  'Watchman's 
Tower'  is  not  what  its  modern  name  implies,  is  apparent  from  the  fact  that 
it  does  not  command  a  view  of  the  approaches  all  round,  which  a  height  a  few 
yards  distant  does. 

2  Southey's  Book  of  the  Church,  p.  42. 

3  Taylor's  Primitive  Culture,  Vol.  II.,  p.  82. 


PAGAX  RELIGIONS.  27 

ence  to  human  life ;  and  there  are  grounds  for  believing  that 
fathers  sacrificed  their  children  for  the  most  trivial  reasons.  In 
the  Saga  of  '  Gisli  the  Outlaw'  of  Iceland,  we  read :  '  They  landed 
just  beyond  the  farm  where  Hallstein  offered  up  his  son,  that  a 
large  tree  of  sixty  feet  might  be  thrown  up  by  the  sea,  and  there 
are  still  to  be  seen  the  pillars  of  his  high  seat,  which  he  made  out 
of  that  tree.'1  It  is  certain  that  these  fierce  warriors  enjoyed 
positive  delight  in  the  sufferings  which  they  inflicted.  They  gave 
Olver  the  Norwegian,  the  nickname  of  Barnakall,  or  Preserver 
of  Banns,  in  contempt,  because  he  abolished,  in  his  company  of 
Vikings,  the  custom  of  tossing  infants  on  their  pikes  for  amuse- 
ment, until  their  helpless  victims  died.2 

1  Gisli  the  Outlaw,  p.  87.  2  Southey's  Book  of  the  Cliurch,  p.  45. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GOLUMBA  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS. 

'  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains 

Are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace  ; 
That  bringeth  good  tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation.' 

Isa.  lii.  7. 

The  first  successful  efforts  that  were  made  to  christianize  our 
heathen  forefathers  were  undoubtedly  those  of  St  Xinian  and  St 
Columba.  The  one  preached  the  Gospel  to  the  southern  Picts 
(a.d.  398-432),  and  the  other  to  the  northern  (a.d.  562).  They 
were  both  of  royal  descent ;  but  the  nobleness  of  then-  labours  in 
the  cause  of  truth,  has  added  a  lustre  to  their  names,  which  no 
ancestry,  however  noble  or  illustrious,  could  have  conferred.  More 
ample  details  of  the  life  and  labours  of  St  Columba  have  been 
preserved  than  those  of  St  Xinian ;  and  the  narrative  of  his  life 
bears  testimony  to  the  greatness  of  the  labours  undergone,  and 
the  perils  encountered  by  the  early  missionaries  of  the  Gospel  in 
Scotland.  They  dared  the  dangers  of  the  northern  seas  in  frail 
boats  of  skins,  penetrating,  in  these  slender  and  diminutive  vessels, 
to  the  Orkney,  Shetland,  and  Faroe  Islands,  and  even  to  distant 
Iceland  ; *  and  centuries  afterwards,  '  when  the  Norwegians  went 
first  to  Iceland,  they  found  no  traces  of  civilization  there,  but  the 
crosses,  bells,  and  books  of  the  monks  of  Iona.' 2 

1  '  Currachsf  as  these  frail  boats  are  named,  made  of  a  framework  of  light 
■wood,  covered  with  tarred  canvas,  are  still  used  by  the  Clare  fishermen  in  Galway 
Bay.  From  their  extreme  buoyancy,  they  dance  lightly  over  the  waves,  and  they 
are  quite  safe  even  in  rough  weather,  when  dexterously  managed  by  an  ex- 
perienced boatman.' — West  of  Ireland  and  its  Cities,  p.  53,  a.d.  1863. 

-  limes'  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ayes,  p.  101. 


OOLUMBA  AXD  HIS  FOLLOWERS.  29 

Bede  has  left  a  beautiful  picture  of  the  self-denying  and  suc- 
cessful labours  of  Aedan,  a  disciple  of  Columba,  among  the  heathen 
inhabitants  of  Northunibria  (a.d.  635).  Besides  bringing  them 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  he  exemplified  his  religion  in  his 
life,  and  realized  to  the  letter  the  picture  of  a  faithful  pastor, 
drawn  in  a  later  age  : 

'  This  noble  ensample  to  his  shepe  lie  gaf, 
That  first  he  wrought  and  afterwards  be  taught. 
Out  of  the  Gospel  he  the  wordes  caught, 
And  this  figure  he  added  yet  therto. 
That  if  gold  ruste,  what  shuld  iren  do  ? ' ' 

'  It  was,'  says  the  venerable  historian,  '  the  highest  commen- 
dation of  his  doctrine,  that  he  taught  no  otherwise  than  he  and 
his  followers  lived ;  he  neither  sought  nor  loved  anything  of  this 
world  for  its  own  sake,  but  delighted  in  distributing  among  the 
poor  what  was  given  him  by  the  rich.  Wherever  in  his  journey- 
ings  he  met  either  rich  or  poor,  he  invited  them,  if  unbelievers,  to 
embrace  the  Gospel ;  if  they  were  believers,  he  strengthened  their 
faith,  and  stirred  them  up,  by  example  and  exhortation,  to  charity 
and  good  works.  If  he  received  money,  he  used  it  in  ransoming 
such  as  were  unjustly  sold  for  slaves ;  and  many  of  these  he 
taught  and  sent  them  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel.'2 

The  disciples  of  Columba  continued  for  centuries  to  keep  alive 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  to  shed  abroad  the  light  of  reli- 
gion in  Scotland.3     '  The  number  of  places  to  which  his  name  and 

1  Chaucer's  Poore  Persone. 

2  Bede,  Bk.  3.  cap.  5.  Aedan  died  on  31st  August  A.D.  651.  It  may  beguile 
the  tedium  of  the  wind-bound  mariner  at  Holy  Island  to  remember,  that  within 
its  little  cemetery  was  laid  the  dust  of  him  who  first  brought  the  light  of  Reve- 
lation to  the  neighbouring  land. 

3  In  comparatively  recent  times,  the  successors  of  Columba  came  to  be  known 
as  Culdees.  As  much  controversy  has  arisen  regarding  their  name  and  tenets, 
the  opinion  of  Dr  Reeves,  as  given  in  his  work  on  The  Culdees  of  the  British 
Islands,  is  subjoined, — a  work  so  exhaustive,  that  it  must  for  ever  set  at  rest  all 
controversy  on  the  subject.     'The  devotion  and  self-denial  which  characterized 


30  COLUMBA  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS. 

that  of  his  followers  are  attached,  bear  witness  to  the  zeal  and 
success  of  their  labours.'1  But  unhappily,  it  can  be  said  of  them, 
as  of  too  many  others,  that  if  they  were  '  pure  in  the  spring,  they 
were  miry  in  the  stream.'  When  we  come  upon  the  domain  of 
written  record,  we  find  that  their  zeal  had  died  out,  and  '  in  many 
instances,  the  entire  religious  character  of  their  monasteries  had 
perished,  except  in  name.'2  The  offices  of  the  Church  had  become 
hereditary ;  the  son  succeeding  the  father  without  any  regard  to 
spiritual  fitness  for  the  charge,  till  at  last  even  the  semblance  of 
religion  was  thrown  aside,  and  laymen  assumed  the  office  of  abbot, 
and  kept  possession  of  the  lands  which  had  been  bequeathed  to 
the  Church.  No  stronger  evidence  of  the  thorough  declension  of 
the  clergy,  and  of  the  corruption  of  society,  could  be  adduced 
than  the  fact,  that  the  Lord's  Day  was  not  merely  neglected,  it 

monastic  life  upon  its  introduction  into  the  Latin  Church,  procured  for  those  who 
adopted  it  the  special  designation  of  Servus  Dei  (servant  of  God),  which,  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  acquired  a  technical  application,  so  that  Servus  Dei  and  Monachus 
(Monk)  became  convertible  terms,' — p.  119.  '  Familiarized,  therefore,  to  the 
expression  Servus  Dei,  it  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  Irish  would  adopt, 
in  their  discourse,  and  find  a  conventional  equivalent  for  it  in  the  language  of 
their  country.  To  this  origin  we  may  safely  refer  the  creation  of  the  Celtic 
compound  Cele-de  (two  Irish  words;  or,  in  the  Scottish  Gaebc,  Gille-de,  signifying 
servant  of  God),  which,  in  its  employment,  possessed  all  the  latitude  of  its  model, 
and  in  the  lapse  of  ages  underwent  all  the  modifications  or  limitations  of  mean- 
ing which  the  changes  of  time  and  circumstances,  or  local  usage,  produced  in  the 
class  to  whom  the  epithet  was  applied,' — p.  120.  'When  at  last  Cele-de  does 
become  a  distinctive  term,  it  is  only  so  as  contrasting  those  who  clung  to  the  old 
conventual  observances  of  the  country,' — p.  121.  Besides,  it  may  be  added,  the 
old  priests  who  spoke  the  Celtic  language,  would  come  to  be  known  by  the  Celtic 
appellation,  in  contradistinction  to  the  Saxon  preachers  introduced  by  Queen 
Margaret.  As  regards  their  tenets,  Dr  Reeves  continues:  'During  the  range  of 
time  in  which  the  term  is  on  record,  we  discover  the  greatest  diversity  in  its 
application, — sometimes  borne  by  hermits,  sometimes  by  conventuals;  in  one 
situation  implying  the  condition  of  celibacy,  in  another  understood  of  married 
men ;  here  denoting  regulars,  there  seculars,' — diversities  great  enough  surely, 
to  show  the  futility  of  attempting  to  liken  them  to  any  existing  ecclesiastical 
institution. 

1  1  iincs'  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ages,  p.  108.  2  Reeves'  Culdees,  p  117. 


COLUMBA  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS.  31 

was  disregarded ;  and  the  toil-worn  serf  was  obliged  to  labour 
without  intermission  all  the  days  of  the  week.1 

The  declension  of  zeal  and  true  piety  from  the  time  when 
Columba  and  his  followers  multiplied  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
when  men  flocked  to  Iona  for  instruction,  is  painfully  apparent. 
The  entire  absence  of  native  manuscripts,  with  a  single  excep- 
tion, up  to  the  foundation  of  the  abbeys  in  the  twelfth  century, 
unless  the  violent  character  of  the  proceedings  at  the  Reforma- 
tion in  part  accounts  for  it,  shows,  more  especially  when  the  rich 
stores  of  Irish  manuscripts  of  the  same  period  is  kept  in  mind, 
how  totally  learning  and  zeal  for  the  propagation  of  the  truth 
had  died  out,  and  how  deeply  the  priesthood  had  sunk  into 
ignorance  and  apathy.  The  work  therefore  of  Queen  Margaret 
was  in  reality  a  Reformation,  though  it  might  have  been  wiser 
to  have  endeavoured  to  revive  the  ancient  spirit  within  the 
existing  institutions,  instead  of  establishing  a  new  order  in  their 
place.  Still,  her  object  was  to  disseminate  true  religion,  and  to 
bring  the  blessings  of  civilization  to  her  husband's  people ;  and 
in  her  days  no  instrument  was  reckoned  so  effectual  for  this  pur- 
pose, as  the  monastic  institutions,  then  springing  up  in  renewed 
favour  all  over  Europe. 

'  However,'  said  Cosmo  Innes,  '  it  may  have  become  the  fashion 
in  later  times  to  censure  or  ridicule  the  sudden  and  magnificent 
endowment  of  a  Church,  the  poor  natives  of  Scotland  of  the 
twelfth  century,  had  no  cause  to  regret  it.  Before,  they  had 
nothing  of  the  freedom  of  savage  life,  none  of  the  picturesque- 
ness  of  feudal  society.  For  ages  they  had  enjoyed  no  settled 
government.  Crushed  by  oppression,  without  security  of  life  or 
property,  knowing  nothing  of  the  law  but  its  heavy  gripe,  alter- 
nately plundering  and  plundered,  neglecting  agriculture,  and 
suffering  the  penalty  of  famine  and  disease,  the  churches  vener- 
ated by  their  forefathers  had  gone  to  ruin,  and  religion  was  for 
the  most  part  degraded  and  despised.     At  such  a  time  it  was 

1  Statuta  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  xxiii. 


32  COLUMBA  AND  HIS  FOLLOWERS. 

undoubtedly  one  great  step  in  improvement  to  throw  a  vast  mass 
of  property  into  the  hands  of  that  class  whose  duty  and  interest 
alike  inculcated  peace,  and  who  had  interest  and  power  to  com- 
mand it.  Repose  was  the  one  thing  most  wanted,  and  the 
people  found  it  under  the  protection  of  the  crozier.'1 

The  foundation  of  an  abbey,  therefore,  in  those  days,  was  a 
work  not  of  piety  merely,  but  of  patriotism.  Around  it  grew  up 
the  arts  of  peace,  and  it  was  a  blessing  to  the  neighbourhood  in 
which  it  was  placed.  Agriculture  flourished,  learning  was  fos- 
tered and  protected, — there  and  there  only  were  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures copied  and  multiplied.  The  studious  and  peaceful  found 
there  a  refuge  from  the  seething  turbulence  without,  and  the  poor 
and  the  miserable  sought  and  found  relief  and  consolation  at  its 
gates. 

The  awakening  which  took  place  in  the  era  of  the  Crusades 
had  much  to  do  with  the  revival  of  religion  at  the  time.  A  lofty 
spirit  was  evoked,  men  threw  themselves  and  their  substance 
with  unselfish  devotion  into  the  cause  of  God,  and  churches  were 
endowed  and  monasteries  founded.  A  new  order  of  architecture 
was  developed,  which  for  sublimity  and  grandeur  has  never  been 
surpassed,  and  which  still  testifies  to  the  loftiness  of  the  aspira- 
tions and  the  grandeur  of  the  conceptions  of  the  men  of  those 
times. 

The  numerous  magnificent  abbeys  and  churches  that  arose  in 
those  days,  show  the  wide-spread  enthusiasm  that  prevailed ;  and 
when  we  look  on  even  the  little  that  is  left  to  us  in  Scotland  of 
the  stately  structures  that  they  raised;  how  meanly,  with  a  few 
princely  exceptions,  does  the  stunted  benevolence  of  modern 
times  contrast  with  the  lofty  and  magnanimous  liberality  of 
theirs  ? 

1  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ages,  p.  113. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

DAVID,    EARL    OF    HUNTINGDON. 

'  He  halsed  and  kissed  his  dearest  dame,  that  was  as  sweet  as  May, 
And  said,  '  Now  lady  of  my  heart,  attend  the  words  I  say. 
Tis  I  have  vow'd  a  pilgrimage  unto  a  distant  shrine, 
And  I  must  seek  Saint  Thomas-land,  and  leave  the  land  that's  mine.' 


Scott. 


DAVID,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  the  founder  of  Lindores  Abbey,  was 
born,  circa,  A.D.  1144.1  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Prince  Henry, 
son  of  David  I.2  According  to  Fordun,  our  earliest  historian, 
he  founded  Lindores  in  the  same  year  (1178)  that  his  brother, 
William  the  Lion,  founded  the  Abbey  of  Aberbrothick.  Hector 
Boece,  in  his  '  Chronicles  of  Scotland,'  gives  the  following  account 
of  its  origin :  '  King  Richard  (Coeur  de  Lion)  after  his  coronation, 
full  of  curage  and  spirits,  gaderit  ane  strong  army  to  pas  in  the 
Holy  Land ;  and  maid  peace  with  all  nichtbouris,  that  na  troubill 
sulci  follow  in  his  realm  in  his  absence.  Afore  his  journey  he 
randerit   Berwik,    Roxburgh,    and    Striveling   to  King    \Yilliam; 


i  Fordun.     Bk.  V.,  cap.  33. 

2  The  following  exhibits  the  descent  of  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  : — 
Malcolm  Canmore  m.   Margaret. 


Edgar.        Alexander  I.        David  I ,  m.  Maud,  the  daughter  of  Waltheof,  son 

of  Siward,  Earl  of  Northumberland, 
Henry,  and  of  Judith,  niece  of  William, 

the  Conqueror. 


Malcolm.         William,  David, 

the  Maiden.  the  Lion.     Eurl  of  Huntingdon. 

C 


34  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

with  sa  mekil  of  Northumberland  as  wes  tane  fra  him  afore  in  his 
last  battal  at  Anwick.  He  gaf  ouer  all  the  landis  of  Cumberland 
and  Huntingtown,  undir  thir  conditionis :  "  The  munitionis  and 
strenthis  thairof  sail  remane  undir  his  capitanis ;  and  the  remanent 
landis  thairof  to  be  inhabit  be  the  Scottis.  Attoure  to  have  the 
more  benevolence  of  the  Scottis,  he  dischargit  the  residew  of  King 
Williamis  ranson,  except  X.M.  (10,000)  poundis  to  support  his 
weris.  And  quhen  King  William  had  resavit  all  his  landis  and 
castellis  on  this  maner,  he  maid  his  brother  David,  Erie  of  Hunting- 
town,  and  send  him  with  V.M.  (5000)  men,  to  support  King  Richard 
in  his  weris.  Nocht  long  after  King  Richard  come  with  mony 
nobil  men,  dukis,  erlis,  baronis  to  Massilia  (Marseilles),  anp  port 
of  Provence,  quhare  he  pullit  up  salis,  with  ane  hundreth  and  fifty 
schippis  to  pass  to  Jerusalem."  .  .  .  .  "  And  when  he  had 
deliverit  the  He  of  Cypre  (Cyprus)  to  Cristin  pepil,  he  pullit  up 
salis  to  meet  King  Philip  (of  France)  at  Achon." 1  .  .  .  .  "  The 
sege  continewit  lang  time  at  this  town,  throw  great  defence  that 
the  Sarrayenis  maid  with  the  samin  ....  At  last  King  Philip 
fell  in  sic  infirmitie  that  he  was  constraint  to  return  in  France. 
Nochtheless  King  Richard  determinit,  nocht  to  depart  fra  the  sege 
of  Achon,  quhill  the  same  were  expugnat.  In  the  mene  time 
hapnit  ane  Scot,  namet  Oliver  to  be  in  the  said  town ;  for  he  was 
banist  afore  out  of  Scotland,  and  fled  to  the  Sarayenis,  and  be 
lang  conversatioun  with  thaim  he  had  their  perfite  language,  nane 
of  them  knowing  quhat  he  wes.  This  Oliver  was  thair  sodjour  in 
ane  tour  of  this  town,  quhare  na  trinschis  nor  out  wallis  wer 
beyond  the  samin.  He  happinit  be  aventure  to  se  amang  the 
wache  of  Erie  David  of  Huntington,  ane  of  his  kinsmen  namet 
John  Durward,  with  quhome  he  was  lang  time  afore  acquentit ; 
and  incontinent  he  cryit  on  him  be  name,  desiring  under  assurance 
to  commoun  with  him.  Efter  certane  commoning,  this  Oliver  set 
ane  hour  to  geif  entres  to  Erie  David  with  all  his  army,  in  the 
town,  sa  that  Erie  David  wald  restore  him  to  his  land  and  heritage 

1  Judges  i.  31. 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON.  35 

in  Scotland.  The  houre  set,  Erie  David  came  with  ane  gret 
power  of  men,  to  the  toure  afore  rehersit,  quhare  he  gat  enteres 
with  his  army ;  and  incontinent,  with  gret  noyis  and  clamonre  he 
came  throw  the  town,  to  the  gret  slanchter  of  all  pepill  founclin  in 
it.  King  Richard  seand,  on  the  morrow,  the  Scottis  standart  on 
the  wallis  enterit  in  the  town,  and  within  a  short  time  after  brocht 
ane  gret  castell  to  rewine."  ....  "At  last  quhen  King  Richard 
had  destroyit  this  town  of  Achon,  and  was  returnand  in  Italy,  ane 
suddand  tempest  severit  his  navy,  throu  qnhilk  he  was  destituit  of 
freindis,  and  finaly,  be  treasoun  of  certane  evill  cristin  men,  he  was 
brocht  to  Hary,  Emprioure.  The  schip  that  Erie  David  was  intil, 
be  rageand  tempest  was  sa  broken,  that  many  of  thaim  quhilkis 
was  in  her  perist,  and  he  narrowly  eschapit  with  his  life.  Efter 
this  he  was  tane  be  the  inhabitantis  of  this  land,  and  brocht  to 
Alexandria,  quhare  he  was  haldin  lang  in  preson,  quhill  he  at  last 
was  coft  be  marchandis  of  Venice,  and  brocht  to  Constantinople. 
Nocht  lang  efter  he  was  brocht  to  Venis,  quhare  he  was  redemit 
be  marchandis  of  Ingland  and  brocht  to  Flanderis ;  and  thair  he 
pullit  up  salis  to  returne  in  Scotland ;  quhen  he  was  littill  departet 
fra  the  land,  he  was  drevin  be  unmercifull  tempest  nocht  far  fra 
NoiTOway  and  Schetland,  with  incredibill  dangeir.  Finaly  quhen 
he  had  maid  ane  voit  to  big  ane  kirk  in  honore  of  the  Yirgine  Mary 
gif  he  was  fortunate  to  eschape  the  dangeir  of  seis, — he  arrivit  in 
Tay,  beside  Dunde,  not  far  fra  Sanct  Nicholas  chapell,  but  ony 
rudder  or  tackill,  and  gaif  thankis  to  God  and  the  Blissit  Virgine 
for  delivering  him  fra  sic  extreme  perill.  The  place  quhare  he 
arrivit  was  callit  Allectum ;  but  after  his  dimming  it  changit  name, 
and  was  callit  Dunde,1  quhilk  signifys  in  our  language  the  Gift  of 
God.  King  William  heirand  the  returning  of  his  brother,  quhome 
he  belevit  mony  yeiris  deceissit,  come  with  maist  diligence  to 
Dunde  and  embrasit  him  ;  syne  gaif  thankis  to  God  and  the  Blissit 


1  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  this  origin  of  the  name  of  Dundee  is  one 
of  those  fanciful  derivations  frequently  found  in  old  -writers.  The  origin  of  the 
name  must  unquestionably  be  looked  for  in  the  spoken  language  of  the  country. 


36  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

Virgin  Mary,  that  deliverit  his  brothir  fra  sa  mony  dangeris. 
Efter  this,  he  gart  maik  generall  processionis  throw  the  realme, 
to  geif  thankis  to  God  for  the  happy  returning  of  his  brother." 

'  Sic  thingis  done,  ane  conventioun  was  maid  at  Dunde,  in  the 
quhilk  license  was  gevin  to  Erie  David  to  big  ane  abbay  in  quhat 
place  he  plesit  of  Scotland,  and  to  dotat  it  with  landis  and  rentis 
at  his  pleseir.  King  William  gaif  mony  privileges  to  Dunde,  quhilk 
induris  to  thir  dayis.  David  nocht  refusing  the  benevolence  of  his 
brothir,  biggit  ane  abbay  callit  Lundoris,  efter  the  ordour  of  St 
Benedict.' * 

Such  is  the  romantic  story  of  Boece,  who  unquestionably  had 
access  to  documents  which  are  now  lost ;  but  his  accuracy  is  not 
to  be  entirely  relied  on,  and,  unfortunately,  his  narration  is  unsup- 
ported by  any  other  testimony.  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  accepted  it 
as  true,  and  has  made  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  the  hero  of  the 
'  Talisman  ;'  placing  him  in  circumstances,  however,  which,  unfor- 
tunately for  the  verisimilitude  of  the  romance,  are  contradicted  by 
the  Earl's  real  history.  Fordun,  who  lived  a  century  earlier  than 
Boece,  and  within  a  century  and  a  half  of  the  Earl's  death,  makes 
no  mention  of  a  voyage  to  Palestine,  or  of  any  escape  from  ship- 
wreck.2 He  merely  states  that  William,  after  his  release  from 
captivity  (a.d.  1175),  gave  to  his  brother  David  'the  Earldom  of 
Huntingdon,  to  be  held  of  him  ;  likewise  the  Earldom  of  Garvioch, 
the  town  of  Dunde,  the  town  of  Inverbervie,  and  the  lordship  of 
Langforgonde,  together  with  many  other  lands.' 3 

1  Bellenden's  Boece,  Bk.  13,  cap.  7. 

2  On  the  other  hand,  Fordun,  at  the  date  of  Malcolm  the  Maiden's  accession 
to  the  throne  (a.d.  1153),  states,  'that  his  brother  William  was  abroad,  fighting 
for  the  Church  against  the  heretics'  (Albigenses).  This  statement  is  most  im- 
probable, as  William  at  that  time  could  not  have  been  more  than  twelve  years  old. 

3  Hist,  of  Scot.,  Fordun's  Annals,  chap.  xxx.  This  bestowal  of  William,  in 
1175,  seems  to  be  a  re-investiture,  as  it  is  distinctly  stated  that  the  Earldoms 
of  Huntingdon  and  the  Garioch  was  conferred  on  David  at  the  time  of  his  brother 
Malcolm's  accession  to  the  throne,  a.d.  1153. — Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  2-49.  Besides 
the  estates  mentioned,  Fordun  elsewhere  specifies  Londoris  and  Inchmartin  as 
forming  part  of  the  Earl's  possessions. — Vol.  II.  p.  42. — a  Goodall. 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON.  37 

In  addition  to  this  silence  on  the  part  of  Fordun,  it  tends  to 
throw  a  doubt  on  Boece's  narrative,  that  the  Foundation  Charter 
of  Lindores   makes  no  mention  of  any  such  escape  from  ship- 
wreck.     The  Charter  sets  forth  explicitly,  that  Earl  David  had 
founded  the  Abbey  '  for  the  honour  of  God  and  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
for  the  honour  of  the  Apostle  St  Andrew,  and  of  all  the  Saints  ; 
and  for  the  weal  of  the  soul  of  his  grandfather  King  David,  of  the 
soul  of  his  father  Earl  Henry,  of  his  mother  Ada,  of  his  brother 
King  Malcolm,  of  his  brother  King  William,  and  his  Queen  Arme- 
garde,  and  of  all  his  ancestors,  and  for  the  safety  of  his  own  soul, 
and  of  that  of  his  wife  Matilda,  of  that  of  his  son  David,  and  of  all 
his  descendants,  and  of  all  his  brothers  and  sisters.'     Seeing  that 
the  Earl  is  so  particular  in  naming   those  for  whose  safety  he 
cared  for,  it  is  only  reasonable  to  conjecture,  that  had  any  vow, 
or  special  deliverance,  been  the  moving  cause  to  the  pious  act,  it 
would  have  been  mentioned.     We  have  an  instance  of  this  in 
'the  chartulary  of  Lindores  '  (Charter  No.  V.),  where  Duncan,  Earl 
of  Fife,  specially  gives  the  Church  of  Auchtermuchty  to  the  abbey 
«  out  of  gratitude  for  his  escape  from  death  at  the  battle  of  Durham 
(17th  Oct.  1346),  and  for  his  subsequent  deliverance  from  captivity. 
Besides  this  silence  on  the  part  of  the  charter,  a  difficulty  has 
been  found  in  the  circumstance,  that  the  Earl  had  scarcely  time 
to  proceed  to  Palestine,  and  be  present  at  the  siege  of  Acre   (the 
Achon  of  Boece)  between  the  date  of  his  marriage  and  that  of  the 
fall  of  that  town.      He  married  Matilda,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 
Chester,  on  the  26th  August  1190,  and  Acre  fell  on  the  12th  July 
1191. 1      Richard,  whom  he  is  said  to  have  accompanied,  did  not 
leave   Sicily  till  October  1190.2       The  Earl   had   therefore   two 
months  to  come  up  with  the  King,  and  it  was  quite  in  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  the  age,  to  leave  a  newly  wedded  wife  for  the 
deliverance  of  the  Holy  Land. 

There  is,  however,  a  difficulty  in  reconciling  the  fomidation  of 


t  Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Vol.  II.,  page  10— note. 
-   Fuller's  Iiohj  War,  p.  137. 


38  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

the  abbey  in  the  year  A.D.  1178,  not  merely  with  the  narrative  of 
Boece,  but  with  the  date  of  the  charter.  It  needs  no  evidence  to 
prove  that  a  shipwreck  in  A.D.  1191,  conld  not  have  been  the 
moving  cause  to  a  foundation  in  A.D.  1178.  But  the  charter  itself 
bears  internal  evidence  that  it  was  not  executed  earlier  than  A.D. 
1196.  1  Another  circumstance  tending  to  throw  doubt  on  the 
foundation  having  been  so  early  as  1178,  is  the  fact,  stated  by 
Fordun  himself,  that  Guido,  the  first  abbot,  'ruled  the  monastery 
for  nearly  twenty  eight  years  from  its  foundation.' 2  Guido  died 
in  A.D.  1219,  this  brings  down  the  date  to  A.D.  1191,  and  gives 
more  consistency  to  Boece's  story.  But  so  far  as  relates  to  that 
portion  of  his  narrative,  that '  his  brother  belevit  him  many  years 
afore  decessit,'  the  Earl's  entire  absence  could  not  have  been  more 
than  three  years  and  a  few  months  ;  for,  as  already  stated,  his  mar- 
riage took  place  in  August  1190,  and  he  was  present  at  the  siege  of 
Nottingham  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1194.3 

The  Honor  of  Huntingdon,  so  often  mentioned  in  the  history  of 
the  time,  came  originally  into  the  royal  family  of  Scotland  by  the 
marriage  of  Prince  David,  afterwards  David  I.,  with  Maud,  daugh- 
ter of  Waltheof,  son  of  Siward,  Earl  of  Northumberland  (a  name 
which  the  pen  of  genius  has  placed  on  imperishable  record4),  and 
of  Judith,  niece  of  the  Conqueror.  Waltheof  received  with  Judith, 
the  Earldoms  of  Northampton  and  Huntingdon,  but  on  the  accu- 
sation of  treason,  he  was  beheaded  at  Winchester,  and  his  vast 
estates  confiscated.  The  Conqueror  gave  Waltheof  s  only  daughter 
in  marriage  to  Simon  St  Liz,  a  Norman  nobleman,  and  bestowed 
on  him,  as  her  dowry,  a  large  part  of  her  father's  possessions.  St 
Liz  built  the  Castle  of  Fotheringhay,  somewhere  about  the  end  of 

1  The  late  Joseph  Robertson  assigns  it  to  1202-6. — Collections  on  the  Shires  of 
Banff  and  Aberdeen,  p.  246.  It  is  with  extreme  diffidence  that  I  venture  to  differ 
from  Dr  Robertson ;  but  this  date  would  place  it  after  the  confirmation  by  the 
Pope,  in  a.d.  1198. 

2  Vol.  II.,  p.  34. 

3  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  I.,  p.  397. 

4  See  '  Macbeth.' 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON.  39 

the  eleventh  or  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century,  and  on  his 
death  David  I.,  then  Prince  of  Scotland,  married  his  widow,  and 
acquired  her  large  possessions ;  these  he  transmitted  to  his  de- 
scendants, and  eventually  his  grandson  David,  the  founder  of 
Lindores,  succeeded  to  the  Honor  and  estates.1 

Earl  David,  was  not,  however,  allowed  to  remain  in  undisturbed 
possession  of  the  Honor  of  Huntingdon.  In  the  year  1213,  in  the 
troublous  times  of  King  John  of  England,  he  was  required  to  give 
up  the  Castle  of  Fotheringhay  to  the  Crown.  The  Earl  refused  to 
comply,  but  the  Sheriff  of  the  county  was  directed  to  raise  the  posse 
comitatus  with  the  townsmen  of  Northampton,  and  by  force  of  arms 
to  compel  him  to  surrender  it.  The  castle  was  strongly  situated 
on  a  steep  projecting  ridge  having  the  river  Nene  in  front,  and 
a  wide  deep  moat  surrounding  the  other  sides. 

It  must  therefore  have  been  a  very  strong  force  that  compelled 
the  Earl  to  give  up  his  proud  Norman  keep.2  He  seems  to  have 
spent  some  happy  years  of  his  life  there,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
society  of  his  grand-children.  Devoirguilla,  the  daughter  of  his 
eldest  daughter  Margaret,  lived  so  much  with  him,  that  she  was 
known  as  the  Lady  of  Fotheringhay,  and  it  was  there  that  John 
Baliol  wooed  and  won  her  as  his  bride.3  It  was  a  strange  link 
in  fortune  that  brought  his  ill-fated  descendant,  Mary  Stuart, 
after  so  many  changes  in  the  place  of  her  imprisonment,  to  die 
there.  The  ancient  story  of  domestic  happiness  is  forgotten,  and 
all  interest  in  the  now  bare  mound  is  centred  in  the  tragic  fate 
of  her,  who,  after  long  years  of  sorrow,  there  '  reposed  her  head 
upon  the  block.' 4     The  Earl  appears  shortly  afterwards  to  have 


i  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  394-5.  2  lb. 

3  Macdowall's  Hist,  of  Dumfries,  p.  39. 

*  Wordsworth.  Not  a  vestige  of  the  walls  of  Fotheringhay  Castle  remains, 
excepting  a  large  block  of  firmly  compacted  rubble,  which  appears  to  have 
tumbled  from  the  height  to  the  edge  of  the  river.  An  impression  prevails,  that 
James  I.  ordered  the  castle  to  be  razed,  to  efface  the  remembrance  of  his  mother's 
execution,— this  is  a  mistake.  On  the  3d  April  1625  it  was  surveyed  and 
described.     '  Soon  after  this  it  seems  to  have  been  consigned  to  pillage  and  ruin, 


40  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

re-acquired  Fotheringhay,  for,  on  his  death,  it  fell  to  his  son  John, 
surnamed  the  Scot,  and  after  him  to  his  grand-daughters  Devoir- 
guilla  and  Christian.  The  moiety  which  fell  to  Devoirguilla 
passed  to  her  son  John  Baliol,  the  unfortunate  occupant  of  the 
Scottish  throne  ;  and  on  his  rupture  with  Edward,  it  became  the 
property  of  the  English  crown.1  During  the  time  it  was  in  the 
possession  of  the  Baliols  they  endowed  an  '  Ermytage '  with  a 
messuage  of  land  to  provide  for  a  chaplain,  under  the  neighbour- 
ing Abbey  of  Sawtrey,  to  perform  divine  services  there  on  Mon- 
day, Wednesday,  and  Friday,  in  every  week,  for  the  soul  of  John 
Baliol,  and  the  souls  of  his  ancestors,  the  Kings  of  Scotland.2 
Devoirguilla  founded  the  Abbey  of  '  The  Sweet  Heart ,'  in  Dum- 
friesshire, that  her  husband's  heart  might  rest  there  ;  and  there  she 
was  laid  beside  him.  The  services  at  the  Ermytage  have  long  since 
ceased,  and  the  Abbey  of  '  the  Sweet  Heart '  is  ruined  and  deso- 
late, but  the  memory  of  the  rude  Galloway  chieftain's  daughter  will 
be  fresh  and  green  so  long  as  her  grand  foundation  of  Baliol  Col- 
lege, Oxford,  continues  to  fulfil  the  purposes  of  the  pious  foundress. 

'  Who  from  out  an  age  of  wildness, 
Lawless  force,  unbridled  crime, 
Reached  forth  wise  hands  in  mildness 
Helpful  to  the  coming  time.'3 


for  Sir  Robert  Cotton,  the  well-known  antiquary,  purchased  the  hall  in  which 
the  Queen  of  Scots  was  beheaded,  and  removed  it  to  Connington  Park,  Hunting- 
donshire. The  last  remains  of  the  walls  of  the  castle  were  used  for  the  purpose 
of  repairing  the  navigation  of  the  river  Nene.' — Bonney's  Hist.  Notices  of  Fotker- 
inghay, p.  31.  The  parish  church,  which  is  at  a  very  short  distance  from  the  ruins 
of  the  castle,  is  a  noble  structure ;  the  tower  is  visible  for  many  miles  up  the 
valley  of  the  Nene,  and  forms  a  prominent  object  in  the  landscape.  Several 
members  of  the  Royal  Family  of  England  are  buried  within  its  walls,  and  the 
fact  that  it  is  unchanged  since  long  before  the  days  of  Mary,  throws  an  additional 
interest  around  it.     a.d.  1868. 

1  Bonney's  Hist.  Notices  of  Fothcringliay,  pp.  18-20. 

'-'  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  450. 

3  Shairp's  Kilmahoe,  p.  154. 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON.  41 

After  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon's  expulsion  from  Fotheringhay,  he 
seems  to  have  removed  to  Yardley,  now  Yardley-Hastings,  about 
eight  miles  north-east  from  Northampton.  Yardley-Castle  stood 
on  a  height  overlooking  the  noble  domain  of  Yardley-Chase,  which 
stretches  out  for  miles  in  front  of  it.  A  portion  of  an  ancient 
building,  with  the  roof  entire,  known  by  the  people  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, as  '  The  Court  Parlour,'  still  remains  ;  but,  though  of 
great  antiquity,  it  is  very  questionable  whether  it  formed  a  part 
of  the  castle  in  which  the  Earl  lived.  The  style  of  the  building 
does  not  indicate  so  early  a  date  as  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth 
century.  There  can,  however,  be  little  or  no  doubt,  that  the 
massive  Norman  tower  of  the  parish  church,  which  stands  close 
by,  is  as  old  as  the  time  of  the  founder  of  Lindores  Abbey, 
and  it  remains  an  interesting  link  between  the  present  and  the 
past.  Under  its  shadow  the  Earl  spent  his  last  days,  and  there  he 

died.1 

The  Earl  of  Huntingdon  bore  an  active  and  prominent  partem 
the  affairs  of  his  time,  and  the  incidents  recorded  .of  him  prove  him 
to  have  been  of  a  chivalrous  spirit  and  of  devoted  loyalty.  When 
his  brother  William  the  Lion,  by  his  fool-hardy  chivalry,  was  taken 
at  Alnwick,  and  carried  captive  in  the  train  of  Henry  II.  of  Eng- 
land to  France,  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  exerted  himself  for  the 
restoration  of  his  brother's  freedom,  and  ever  afterwards  stood  at 
his  side  against  all  the  assailants  of  his  throne.  On  the  release 
of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  from  his  Austrian  dungeon,  he  was  the 
first  to  declare  in  his  favour,  and  take  up  arms  on  his  behalf;  and 
on  the  occasion  of  Richard's  coronation,  he  was  honoured  to  bear 
one  of   the  swords  of  state,  incidents  manifesting  a  friendship 


1  Yardley  Church  itself  is  of  the  early-pointed  style,  and  is  of  a  later  date 
than  the  tower.  The  porch  door  is  of  a  most  antique  description,  and  has  all  the 
appearance  of  being  coeval  with  the  church,— there  is  a  small  wicket  in  it,  closed 
by  a  most  antique  latch,  and  the  door  itself  is  secured  by  a  bolt  drawn  from  a 
recess  in  the  wall,  the  same  as  may  be  observed  in  the  abbeys  of  the  period.  In 
the  aisle  there  is  a  rude  piscina  and  an  alinry,  almost  identical  in  design  with 
those  in  Lindores  Abbey  (18G8). 


42  DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 

which  tends  to  give  support  to  the  story  of  Boece,  and  which  may 
have  been  cemented  on  the  fields  of  Palestine.1 

The  last  occasions  on  which  the  Earl  appeared  in  public  life, 
was  at  the  coronation  of  his  nephew,  Alexander  II.,  A.D.  1214,  and 
at  the  funeral  of  his  brother,  the  deceased  King.  Though  bowed 
down  with  years  and  infirmities,  he  hastened  to  Scone,  and 
loyally  assisted  at  all  the  ceremonials  of  the  coronation,  which 
was  celebrated  with  more  than  accustomed  splendour,  and  then 
accompanied  by  the  young  King,  tinned  to  discharge  his  duty  to 
the  dead.  At  the  bridge  of  Perth  he  met  the  funeral  cortege  of 
his  departed  brother,  proceeding  in  solemn  state,  on  its  way  to  the 
then  newly  erected  pile  of  Arbroath  Abbey,  which  King  William 
had  selected  as  his  burial  place.2  Accompanied  by  most  of  the 
nobility  of  Scotland,  they  buried  the  chivalrous  monarch  before 
the  high  altar  of  his  own  great  foundation.3 

The  Earl  did  not  long  survive  his  brother.  After  a  lingering 
illness  he  died  at  Jerdelay,  now  Yardley-Hastings,  in  North- 
amptonshire, on  Monday,  the  17th  June,  A.D.  1219.     It  was  often 

1  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  I.,  p.  397.  Richard's  restora- 
tion of  the  independence  of  Scotland,  which  had  been  extorted  by  Henry  II.  as 
part  of  the  price  of  William  the  Lion's  freedom,  produced  the  happiest  effects. 
'  There  was,'  says  Fordun,  '  so  hearty  a  union  and  so  great  a  friendship,  that  the 
two  peoples  were  reckoned  as  one  ....  The  English  could  roam  scathless 
through  Scotland  as  they  pleased,  and  the  Scots  could  do  so  throughout  Eng- 
land, though  laden  with  gold  or  any  ware  whatever.' — Hist,  of  Scotland,  Fordun, 
Vol.  II.,  p.  271.  This  friendship,  perhaps,  tended  to  induce  the  prompt  aid 
given  by  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  in  Richard's  behalf.  A  facsimile  of  the  treaty 
of  the  Restoration  of  the  independence  of  the  kingdom,  is  given  in  the  First  Part 
of  the  National  Manuscripts  of  Scotland,  No.  46. 

2  Hist,  of  Scotland,  Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  276. 

1  Innes'  Sketches  of  Early  Scottish  History.  With  touching  minuteness  the  old 
chronicler  tells,  that  when  the  aged  Earl,  verging  on  his  eightieth  year,  met 
the  body  of  his  departed  brother,  he  alighted  from  his  horse  '  at  the  head  of 
Perth  bridge,  took  upon  his  shoulder  one  arm  of  the  bier,  and,  with  the  other 
Earls,  devoutly  carried  the  body  as  far  as  the  boundary,  where  a  cross  was 
ordered  to  be  set  up  ;'  and  afterwards,  at  the  entombment,  broke  down  in  sor- 
row, as  the  grave  closed  over  his  brother's  remains.' — Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  276. 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON.  43 

his  expressed  desire  '  that  his  body  should  be  taken  down  to  his 
own  monastery  of  Lindores,  but  by  the  advice  of  some '  (the 
great  distance  probably  prompting  the  advice)  '  he  was  taken 
down  to  the  neighbouring  Abbey  of  Sawtrey,  and  was  buried 
there  in  state  on  the  following  day.'  Of  this  abbey,  founded  and 
endowed  by  his  ancestral  connection  the  son  of  Simon  St  Liz, 
not  a  vestige  remains  above  ground,  and  its  very  name  is  for- 
gotten in  the  neighbourhood.  The  Earl's  last  resting-place  has, 
therefore,  fared  worse  than  his  foundation  of  Lindores,  which  he 
fixed  on  as  the  burial  place  of  his  offspring,  and  where  the  coffins 
of  two  of  his  infant  children  rest  in  the  choir  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  in  the  very  spot  where  they  were  laid,  nearly  seven 
hundred  years  ago.  l 

The  Earl  of  Huntingdon  left  one  son  and  four  daughters. 
John,  his  son,  surnamed  the  Scot,  was  (it  was  alleged)  poisoned  by 
his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Llewellyn,  Prince  of  Wales ;  he  died  at 
Dernhall  without  issue,  and  was  buried  in  the  Chapter  House  of 
Chester  Cathedral.2  On  the  failure  of  the  line  of  William  the 
Lion,  by  the  death  of  the  Maiden  of  Norway  (a.d.  1290),  the  right 


1  Hist,  of  Scot.,  Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  277.  Sawtrey  Abbey  was  situated  in  the 
parish  of  Sawtrey  Judith,  in  the  county  of  Huntingdon,  in  a  level  expanse,  about 
four  miles  south-west  from  Holm  Station,  on  the  Great  Northern  Railway.  The 
field  in  which  it  stood  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  '  Abbey  Park.'  The  uneven- 
ness  of  the  surface  testifies  to  a  considerable  extent  of  foundations  beneath, 
but  the  antiquary  looks  in  vain  for  a  single  stone  remaining  above  ground.  In 
a  straw-shed,  forming  part  of  the  farm  buildings,  however,  may  be  seen  standing 
on  end,  four  stone  coffins,  which  were  dug  out  of  the  '  Abbey-field  '  a  few  years 
ago.  They  are  hewn  out  of  solid  blocks  of  white  sandstone  ;  one  of  them  is  more 
elaborate  than  the  others,  having  a  circular  niche  hewn  out  for  the  head  ;  but 
there  is  no  inscription  or  symbol  on  any  of  them,  to  indicate  whether  they  were 
the  resting  places  of  warriors  or  ecclesiastics.  Surely  these  receptacles  of  the 
dead  are  deserving  of  more  reverential  usage,  and  of  a  safer  place  for  their  pre- 
servation. '  Sir  Richard  Cromwell,  one  of  the  visitors  of  monasteries,  great 
grandfather  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  received  Sawtrey  Abbey,  besides  six  other 
religious  houses,  from  Henry  VIII.'— Blunt's  History  of  the  Reformation. 

2  Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Vol.  II.,  p.  32 ;  Records  of  Bruces  and  Cummings. 


44 


DAVID,  EARL  OF  HUNTINGDON. 


of  succession  to  the  throne  opened  to  the  descendants  of  the 
daughters  of  his  brother  David.  The  contests  which  ensued  have 
inscribed  such  a  glorious  page  in  the  history  of  Scotland,  and  are 
so  well  known,  that  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  Robert 
Bruce,  the  grandson  of  Isabella,  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon's  second 
daughter,  eventually  obtained  possession  of  the  Scottish  crown, 
and  his  descendants  have  ever  since  occupied  the  throne. 

The  annexed  engraving  is  a  fac  simile  of  the  seal  of  the  Earl 
of  Huntingdon,  appended  to  a  charter  in  the  office  of  the  Duchy 
of  Lancaster : — 


The  completed  legend  reads  as  follows : — 

SIGILL  DAVID   COMITIS   FRATRIS   REGIS   SCOCIE. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

BENEDICTINE     MONASTERIES. 

'  Behold  a  stately  fane  !  by  pious  builders 
Eaised  of  old,  for  worship  of  Jehovah. 
Within  its  long-withdrawing  aisles 
Attendant  monks  in  slow  procession  go, 
Chanting  the  praise  of  Him  who  died  upon  Cross. 
On  festal  days  the  people  crowd  its  sacred  courts, 
And  join  in  that  triumphant  hymn  of  praise, 
To  "God,  the  Father,"  and  to  "  Christ,  the  King  of  Glory !" 
Which  still  swells  the  heart  of  gladden'd  worshippers, 
And  sends  them  home  renewed  in  vigour  for  their  daily  life.' 

Anon. 

LlNDORES  Abbey  was  founded  and  endowed  for  monks  of  the 
Tironensian  or  Reformed  class  of  the  Benedictine  order.  The 
Benedictines  derived  their  name  from  Benedict  (an  Italian  monk), 
who  founded  a  monastery  (A.D.  528),  in  which  '  he  proclaimed  the 
rule,  which  became  the  model  for  all  subsequent  rules,  and  which 
the  restorers  of  discipline  after  it  had  decayed,  were  always  seek- 
ing to  bring  back.'  '  What  he  did  was  to  lead  men  away  from 
their  farms  and  their  merchandise,  that  they  might  become  the 
teachers  of  the  nations  and  the  assertors  of  a  spiritual  and  divine 
foundation  for  the  culture  of  Western  Europe.'  '  Idleness, '  he 
said,  '  is  the  enemy  of  the  soul.  Therefore  at  certain  times  the 
brethren  must  be  occupied  in  the  labours  of  the  hands,  and  again 
at  certain  times  in  divine  study.  We  think  that  both  ends  may 
be  accomplished  by  this  arrangement.  From  Easter  to  the 
Calends  of  October,  let  them  go  out  in  the  morning,  and  from  the 
first  hour  till  nearly  the  fourth  hour,  let    them    labour  for  the 


46  BENEDICTIXE  MONASTERIES. 

procuring  of  that  which  is  necessary.1  Again,  from  the  fourth 
hour  to  the  sixth,  let  them  be  at  leisure  for  reading.  Rising  from 
the  table  at  the  sixth  hour,  let  them  have  an  interval  of  rest  upon 
their  beds ;  or,  if  any  one  should  wish  to  read,  let  him  so  read  that 
he  may  not  disturb  his  neighbour.  At  the  ninth  hour  let  them 
again  work  till  the  evening,  if  the  necessity  of  the  place,  or  their 
poverty  require  it,  and  let  them  gather  the  fruits  of  the  earth, 
seeing  that  those  are  true  monks  who  live  by  the  labour  of  their 
hands,  as  our  fathers  and  apostles  did.  But  let  all  things  be  done 
moderately,  and  in  measure  on  account  of  those  that  are  feeble. 
From  the  Calends  of  October  till  the  beginning  of  Lent,  let  them 
be  at  leisure  for  reading  till  the  second  horn*,  then  from  the  third 
to  the  ninth  hour,  let  all  labour  at  the  work  which  is  enjoined 
them.  In  the  days  of  Lent,  let  them  be  at  leisure  for  their  read- 
ings, from  the  early  morning  to  the  third  hour,  from  thence  to  the 
eleventh  hour,  let  them  do  the  work  which  is  enjoined  them.'2 
An  eyewitness  of  the  labours  of  the  monks,  writing  more  than 
eight  hundred  years  ago,  says — '  You  might  see  the  abbot,  when 
the  office  was  done  in  the  church,  carrying  the  seed-corn  on  his 
shoulder,  and  a  rake  and  mattock  in  his  hand,  going  forth  to  the 
field.  The  monks  were  busy  with  labour  all  day ;  they  cleaned 
the  land  from  thorns  and  brambles ;  others  brought  dung  on  their 
shoulders.  They  hoed,  they  sowed,  no  one  ate  his  bread  in  idle- 
ness, and  at  each  hour  of  prayer  they  assembled  for  services  at 
the  church.  But,'  he  adds,  '  what  is  most  carefully  to  be  at- 
tended to  is,  that  the  things  without  which  the  soul  cannot  be 
saved  shall  be  maintained  inviolate  ;  I  mean  faith,  contempt  of  the 
world,  charity,  purity,  humility,   patience,  obedience,  sorrow  for 

1  The  first  hour  is  six  o'clock  a.m. — the  same  as  the  mode  of  computation  in 
the  New  Testament. 

2  Quoted  in  F.  D.  Maurice's  Learning  and  Working,  pp.  50-2.  The  members 
of  the  Reformed  Order  of  Benedictines  were  obliged  to  perform  their  devotions 
seven  times  in  the  twenty-four  hours  ;  the  whole  circle  of  which  had  reference  to 
the  passion  and  death  of  our  Lord.  When  they  went  out  they  were  obliged  to 
walk  two  and  two  together. 


BENEDICTINE  MONASTERIES.  47 

faults  committed,  and  then,  humble  confession,  frequent  prayer, 
fitting  silence  (meditation),  and  such  like.  Where  these  are  pre- 
served then  most  rightly  may  the  rule  of  St  Benedict  and  the 
order  of  the  monastic  life  be  said  to  be  kept.'  * 

It  is  obvious  that  so  long  as  the  rules  of  the  founder  were  acted 
up  to,  the  corruptions  incident  to  indolence  could  not  overtake 
the  brotherhood  of  the  monastery ;  but  history  tells  too  surely 
that  sloth  and  indulgence,  vices  which  seclusion  from  the  world 
are  apt  to  engender,  gradually  crept  in,  and  undermined  the 
bright  ideal  which  the  early  founders  had  set  up. 

Even  in  the  worst  of  times,  however,  there  are  never  wanting 
some  spirits  desirous  of  bringing  back  to  the  institutions  under 
which  they  have  grown  up,  the  purity  of  more  pristine  times. 
Bernard  of  Abbeville,  a  monk  of  the  Benedictine  order,  dissatis- 
fied with  the  practices  which  he  saw  prevailing  around  him, 
retired  to  the  woods  of  Tiron,  in  France,  and  in  the  year  1109, 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  monastery  which  has  given  the  name  to 
the  Reformed  class  which  he  instituted.  The  task  which  he  set 
before  himself  was  the  revival  of  the  original  spirit  of  the  order  of 
St  Benedict.  Deviating  from  the  letter,  he  adhered  to  the  spirit 
of  the  original  founder,  by  enlarging  the  sphere  of  industrial 
labours  in  the  monastery.  All  who  joined  the  brotherhood  were 
compelled  to  practise  whatever  handicraft  they  knew.  A  Tiron- 
ensian  monastery,  therefore,  was  an  assemblage  of  masons,  car- 
penters, smiths,  carvers,  painters,  and  husbandmen.2  Besides  these 
there  were  brethren,  whose  special  duty  it  was  to  educate  and 
instruct  the  young,3  and  the  numerous  rare  and  medicinal  plants 
which  still  flourish  round  their  old  abodes,  show  that  they  practised 
the  healing  art  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  monastic  orders. 

The  discipline  of  the  Benedictines  exhibiting  religion,  not  in 
acts  of  devotion  merely,  but  in  the  business  of  every-day  life,  had 


1  Lanfranc,  quoted  in  Life  of  St  Anselm,  Church,  pp.  29-45. 

2  Morton's  Monastic  Annals  of  Teviotdak,  p.  77. 

3  Joseph  Robertson.     Spahl.  Christ.  Mis.,  Vol.  V.,  pp.  73,  74. 


48  BENEDICTINE  MONASTERIES. 

a  greater  and  more  direct  influence  in  a  rude  age  (or  in  any  age), 
than  a  life  divided  between  devotional  exercises  and  contempla- 
tion. This  was  the  error  of  the  Cistertians,  forgetful  of  the  great 
truth,  that  '  in  the  theatre  of  the  world,  God  and  angels  only  can 
be  lookers  on.'  They  held  it  sinful  to  converse  with  each  other, 
except  upon  religious  subjects,  not  realizing  that  it  is  the  spirit  of 
our  conversation,  and  not  the  words,  which  constitutes  its  guilt  or 
innocence.  The  consequence  of  their  dismal  system  was,  that  they 
invented  a  language  of  pantomimic  signs  to  express  then  bodily 
wants.1 

One  of  the  great  necessities  of  that  age,  when  more  than 
half  the  land  was  lying  waste,  was  the  encouragement  of  peaceful 
industry.  At  the  time  of  the  rise  of  the  monastic  system,  labour 
in  the  fields  was  accounted  beneath  the  dignity  of  free  men; 
it  was  work  for  serfs  only.  The  rule  of  the  Benedictine  monks, 
many  of  whom  at  the  outset  were  of  exalted  rank,  binding  them 
to  work  with  their  hands,  rescued  labour  from  this  degradation, 
and  was  the  first  application  of  free-labour  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil.  It  was  therefore  of  importance  to  have  a  body  of  free 
men  in  a  neighbourhood,  setting  the  much-needed  example,  and 
who  had  leisure  to  continue  their  operations  undisturbed  by  the 
violent  and  harassing  services  of  war.  That  the  exertions  and 
example  of  the  founder  of  the  Reformed  order  of  Benedictines 
(Tironensians)  were  successful  in  evoking  this  spirit  and  setting 
this  example,  is  evident  from  the  numerous  munificent  founda- 
tions that  philanthropists  (as  they  would  be  called  in  our  days) 
raised  and  endowed  for  carrying  on  the  good  work.  It  is  said 
that  David  I.,  the  grand-father  of  the  founder  of  Lindores  Abbey, 

1  Two  of  the  lists  of  signs,  or  dictionaries,  of  the  Cistercians  referred  to  in 
the  text,  are  printed  in  the  collected  edition  of  Leibnitz's  works. — E.  B.  Tylor's 
Researches  into  the  Early  History  of  Mankind,  p.  40.  In  consequence  of  the  evil 
effects  of  this  seclusion  from  the  world,  many  of  the  Cistercian  monasteries  were 
closed  before  the  Reformation.  About  a.d.  1440  the  Cistercians  were  extruded 
from  Pluscardine  Abbey,  and  Benedictines  introduced  in  their  place. — Records  of 
the  Monastery  of  Kinhss,  p.  xl. 


BENEDICTINE  MONASTERIES.  49 

went  to  France  to  satisfy  himself,  how  far  the  reports  of  their 
success  were  true.  All  over  Europe  wise  princes  encouraged 
them  as  the  best  promoters  of  civilization.1  Around  the  monas- 
teries, the  turbulent  warriors  by  whom  they  were  surrounded, 
saw  the  effects  of  settled  industry,  in  richly  cultivated  fields, 
marshes  drained,  wastes  reclaimed,  abundant  crops,  and  in  im- 
provements promoted ;  and  the  poor  experienced  the  blessing  of 
living  under  masters  whose  interests  lay  in  the  maintenance  of 
peace. 

In  addition  to  these  benefits,  posterity  is  under  another  great 
obligation  to  the  monks  for  the  preservation  of  the  waitings  of 
antiquity.  The  Scriptorium,  or  writing-room  of  the  abbey,  was  a 
quiet,  but  busy  scene  ;  it  was  the  printing-press  of  those  days,  and 
froni  it  emanated  all  the  light  of  the  knowledge  that  wras  then  in 
the  world.  The  patient  monks  there  multiplied  copies  of  the 
word  of  God,2  and,  as  a  relaxation,  perhaps,  gave  a  spare  hour  to 
the  great  works  of  the  ancient  classics,  which  they  thus  '  saved 
for  all  posterity.'  There  also  they  penned  those  chronicles  which 
have  proved  such  precious  bequests  to  history. 

1  Southey's  Book  of  the  Church,  p.  59. 

2  '  Iu  the  thirteenth  century  a  copy  of  the  Bible  cost  from  ,£40  to  £60  for 
the  writing  only,  for  it  took  an  expert  copyist  about  ten  months  labour  to  make 
one.' — Smiles'  Huguenots,  pp.  1,  2.  Estimated  by  the  price  of  grain,  the  cost  of 
a  Bible  was  enormous.  '  In  1388  barley  was  commuted  in  Norfolk  at  twenty 
pence  the  quarter,  English  Gilds.'1 — Old  English  Text  Society,  p.  123. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

FOUNDATION  OF  LIXDORES  ABBEY GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT. 

'  A  house  of  prayer  and  penitence — dedicate 
Hundreds  of  years  ago  to  God,  and  Her 
Who  bore  the  Son  of  Man  !     An  abbey  fair 
As  ever  lifted  reverentially 
The  solemn  quiet  of  its  stately  roof 
Beneath  the  moon  and  stars.' 

Wilson. 

LlXDORES  Abbey  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary  and  to  St 
Andrew  the  Apostle.  Its  ruins  stand  on  a  gentle  rise,  almost 
close  by  the  Tay,  abont  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  from  the  town 
of  Newburgh.  The  site  is  of  great  fertility,  and  commands  a 
prospect  of  exceeding  beauty. 

'  The  Tay  roll'd  down  from  Highland  hills, 
There  rests  his  waves,  after  so  rude  a  race, 
In  the  fair  Carse  of  Gowrie.' 

* 

The  Sidlaws  rise  beyond  the  long  rich  level  of  the  Carse,  on 
the  north ;  the  Ochils,  in  picturesque  crags,  rise  close  behind  the 
abbey  on  the  south  ;  and  the  broken  outline  of  the  giant  Gram- 
pians on  the  west,  closes  in  a  scene  which,  for  loveliness  and 
grandeur,  is  scarcely  equalled  in  Scotland. 

Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  in  his  '  History  of  Fife,'  says,  '  almost  con- 
tiguous to  Newburgh  East,  and  anciently  within  Earnside-wood, 
are  the  ruins  and  seat  of  the  Abbacy  of  Lundoris,  a  right  sweet 
situation,  and  of  most  rich  soil ;  witness  the  vastly  big  old  pear 
trees  there.'  In  addition  to  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  it  had  two 
prime  requisites  for  a  monastery,  wood  and  running  water.     The 


FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY — GUTDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT.       51 

water  that  issues  from  Loch  Lindores  flowed  past  the  abbey 
garden,  and  tinned  the  abbey  mill ;  and  Earnside-wood  afforded 
abundance  of  fuel  close  at  hand.  The  '  vastly  big  old  pear 
trees  '  still  survive  to  attest  the  fertility  of  the  soil ;  one  of  them 
is  believed  to  be  the  largest  pear  tree  in  Scotland;  it  measures 
within  two  inches  of  eighteen  feet  in  circumference,  round  the 
trunk  one  foot  from  the  ground ;  is  of  proportionate  height,  has 
a  spread  of  branches  of  fifty-three  feet  from  side  to  side,  and  is 
still  in  bearing,  yielding  large  crops. 

Boece,  speaking  of  Lindores  Abbey,  says,  '  Ane  thing  is  thair 
richt  marvellous — na  man  is  hurt  in  that  abbay  witli  eddiris. 
Thir  eddiris  lyis  in  the  middis  of  ane  vale  circulit  with  wood  and 
rinnand  water,  throw  quilk  thay  burgeon  with  rnair  plenteous 
nowmer  than  evir  was  sene  in  ony  ither  parts.  Howbeit  na  man 
gets  skaith  thairof,  for  we  have  sene  young  barnis  play  amang 
thaim  but  (without)  danger  or  hurt  following.'1  Sir  James 
Balfour  gives  a  very  graphic  account  of  the  same  phenomenon. 
'  This  place,'  he  says,  '  was  wearie  (very)  famous  of  old  for  the 
budge  number  of  serpentis  in  it,  without  stinges  creeping  about 
mens  bodies  without  harming  of  them  at  all.' 

'  The  wearie  (very)  sleeping  chalmers  of  the  monkis  being  full 
of  them.  How  they  ingendered  heir  in  suche  aboundance,  and 
how  they  wair  destroyed,  tak  a  memorandum  of  ane  abbot  of 
this  place  (as  he  himself-callis  it),  wreittin  in  his  awin  Legir  booke 
as  it  is  extant  by  me.' 

'Memorandum  that  in  the  zeir  of  our  Lordis  Nativitie  1316, 
this  place  was  sore  affray ed  with  hudge  swarmes  of  Stintes  aderes 
that  bred  in  a  great  heap  of  draff  that  had  layand  at  the  great 
entrie  that  luikes  to  the  towne  of  Newburgh,  and  that  for  many 
zeiris ;  we  war  frecl  (freed)  of  them  by  the  help  of  the  Blissed 
Virgine  Marie,  our  glorious  patroness  in  the  zeir  1330  ' — the  pious 
monk  guilelessly  adding — <  having  tormentit  them  with  both 
watter  and  fyre.' 2 

1  Hist.,  chap.  7.  ■  Balfour  MSS.,  Advocates'  Library. 


52  FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

What  Boece  recounts  as  a  marvel  akin  to  the  miraculous,  is  a 
simple  fact  in  the  natural  history  of  the  collared  snake,  which  is 
perfectly  harmless,  having  no  poison  fangs  ;  it  is  very  common  in 
moist  places  in  England,  and  the  low  damp  ground  near  to  the 
abbey  seems  to  have  suited  the  nature  and  habits  of  the  animal.1 
The  same  ignorance  of  natural  history  attributed  Divine  protec- 
tion, under  similar  circumstances,  in  other  parts.  It  is  recorded 
of  St  Godric  of  Finchale,  near  Durham,  1099-1128,  that  he  al- 
lowed swarms  of  these  snakes,  attracted  by  the  warmth,  to  lie  by 
the  fire  of  his  cell  on  winter  nights,  and  that  he  caressed  and 
handled  them  with  impunity.  The  people,  believing  them  poison- 
ous, attributed  their  harmlessness  to  miraculous  interference  in 
the  saint's  behalf. 2 

Most  of  the  buildings  of  the  abbey  were  erected  under  the 
superintendence  of  Guido,  the  first  abbot,  who  was  previously 
prior  of  Kelso.2  The  ruins  still  testify  that  the  buildings  were 
spacious  and  magnificent,  but  there  is  not  one  entire  portion 
remaining.  The  church  was  195  feet  in  length,  and  the  transepts 
were  110  feet  from  north  to  south.  The  most  perfect  portion  of 
the  abbey  remaining  is  the  groined  arch  of  the  porch  which 
formed  the  entrance  to  the  abbey  through  the  cloister  court. 
The  ruins  have  recently  been  cleared  of  superincumbent  rubbish, 
and  the  ground  plan,  and  style  of  the  buildings,  are  now  clearly 
seen;  they  belong  to  the  'Early  English,''  or  'first  pointed  style,' 


1  The  snake  referred  to  is  the  Natrix  Torquata,  or  collared  snake :  it  measures 
three  to  four  feet  in  length,  and  feeds  on  frogs,  field-mice,  etc.  It  is  generally 
found  in  woods  in  the  neighbourhood  of  moist  places. 

•  Kingsley's  Hermits,  p.  310.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  the  same  manuscript, 
adds,  '  Boetius  wreittis  that  if  any  venemous  or  poysonable  creature  be  brought 
thither  it  will  not  live,  and  that  this  place  can  nourische  non  suche'  '  wche 
(which)  indeed  is  a  great  mistaking,  Daylie  experience  proveing  the  contrair  to 
be  true.'  A  popular  belief  akin  to  this  prevails,  that  the  black  soil  around  Lin- 
dores  Abbey  was  originally  brought  from  Ireland. 

3  Fordun — a  Goodal,  Bk.  9,  cap.  27 ;  Liber  de  Metros,  p.  35. 


.j'j-la  tv  it  ore  ,?      "1  a  c>  &y 
JFif» 


&4_( — rrrrrrrrrri    i — i — i — I 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT.  53 

which  prevailed  in  Scotland  at  the  period  of  their  erection.1  But 
none  of  the  graceful  shafts  of  the  piers  of  the  arches,  or  the 
mullions  of  the  windows,  which  characterize  that  style,  remain 
entire.  The  abbey  was  chiefly  built  of  red  sandstone,  from  the 
Founder's  '  quarry  of  Hyrneside,'  to  which  he  gave  '  his  monks 
of  Lundoris '  a  perpetual  right  to  take  as  many  stones  as  they 
required  for  the  use  of  their  house.2  The  pillars  and  ornamental 
parts  of  the  building,  were,  however,  mostly  of  gray  sandstone, 
brought  from  a  distance. 

Lindores  Abbey  was  most  munificently  endowed ;  the  Founder 
not  only  laid  his  Scottish,  but  his  English  estates,  under  contribu- 
tion for  its  support;  he  bestowed  on  it  'the  churcb  Londoris  and  all 
the  lands  belonging  to  it;  the  church  of  Dunde  and  every  thing 
pertaining  to  it,'  and  the  churches  of  Fentrith  (Fintray),  Iirverurin, 
with  the  chapel  of  Munkegin  (Inverurie  and  Monkegie),  Durnach 
(Logie-Dornoch),  Prame  (Premnay),  Radmuriel,  Inchmabanin 
(Insch),  Culsamuel  (Culsalmond),  and  Kelalcmund  (Kennethmont), 
in  his  Earldom  of  Garioch.3  Besides  these  churches,  the  Bull  of 
Pope  Innocent  III.,  dated  19th  April  1198,  confirming  the  privileges 
of  the  abbey,  specially  mentions  '  the  church  of  Mothel,  hi  the 
bishopric  of  Stratheren,'  and  the  churches  of  '  Cuningroue  and 
Wissinden,  in  the  bishopric  of  Lincoln,'  as  pertaining  to  Lindores 
Abbey.4  No  record  has  appeared  showing  who  bestowed  the  an- 
cient Culdee  Church  of  Mothel,  now  Muthil,  on  Lindores  ;  but  the 
monks  continued  to  draw  revenues  from  the  lands  of  '  Ardoche, 
Bennie  and  Eister  Feddellis,'  all  formerly  within  the  parish  of 
Muthil,  down  to  the  suppression  of  the  monastery ;  and  those  of 
Wester  Feddellis  were  held  under  the  burden  of  conveying  two 


1  See  Plan,  p.  52. 

2  Chartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  24.  The  quarry,  which  is  now  covered  up.  was  (if 
old  red  sandstone, — it  was  about  a  mile  east  from  the  abbey,  on  the  farm  of 
Parkhill.  The  track  of  a  small  canal  for  conveying  the  stones  to  the  abbey  was 
said  to  be  discernible  in  recent  times. 

;  (  Tiartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  38.  4  lh.,  p.  40. 


54  FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

horse-loads  of  herring  from  Glasgow  to  the  abbey  yearly.1  A  sub- 
sequent opportunity  will  be  afforded  for  further  notice  of  the  other 
Scottish  endowments  ;  but  as  the  English  churches  are  not  again 
mentioned  in  the  abbey  charters,  it  may  be  proper  here  to  state 
that,  unless  Cuningroue  is  Cotgrave  in  Nottinghamshire,  it  cannot 
be  identified  with  any  existing  church.  No  doubt  however  exists 
of  Whisendine  in  Rutlandshire,  being  the  Wissinden  of  the  char- 
ter. It  existed  in  Saxon  times ;  immediately  after  the  Conquest  it 
was  held  by  Earl  Waltheof ;  in  the  time  of  the  survey  it  was 
the  property  of  his  widow  Judith,2  and  through  this  ancestral 
connection  the  church  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Abbey  of 
Lindores.  '  It  is  curious  to  find  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  (1272— 
1307),  the  advowson  or  patronage  of  the  church  was  in  the  Mo- 
nastery of  Lindores.  Sir  John  Swinburne,  Knt.,3  and  Friar  John 
of  Lindores,  as  procurators  for  that  monastery,  presented  to  it, 
but  in  the  succeeding  reign  it  was  alienated  to  the  prior  and 
convent  of  Sempringham  in  Lincolnshire.' 4  The  breaking  out  of 
the  war  of  Independence,  consequent  on  Edward's  attempted 
subjugation  of  Scotland,  sufficiently  accounts  for  the  abbey  being 
deprived  of  its  property  in  England.  The  Church  of  AVhisendine 
is  a  fine  old  structure,  and  one  portion  of  it,  at  least,  is  coeval  with 
the  time  when  it  belonged  to  Lindores  Abbey  ;  its  lofty  and  mas- 
sive tower  forms  a  conspicuous  object  over  a  wide  extent  of 
beautifully  undulating  country." 


1  Perth  Retours,  Xo.  504. 

2  Brewer's  Beauties  of  Eng.  and  Wales,  Vol.  II.,  p.  2. 

3  Sir  John  de  Swynbourne  was  frequently  employed  on  church  matters  about 
this  time.  In  the  year  1295,  in  the  reign  of  John  Baliol,  he  was  joint -collector 
of  the  revenues  of  the  Bishopric  of  St  Andrews,  '  the  bishop  at  that  time  being 
in  foreign  parts,  and  against  the  peace  of  the  king.' — Hist.  Doc.  Scotland,  1286  ; 
1306,  Vol.  II..  p.  17. 

*  Brewer's  Beauties  of  England,  Vol.  II.,  p.  2. 

6  Mr  Scott,  son  of  Sir  Gilbert  Scott,  the  eminent  architect,  who  had  the 
charge  of  the  restoration  of  Whisendine  Church  (1868),  '  is  of  opinion  that  the 
north  transept,  which  still  stands,  was  built  about  a.d.  1220.'    Most  of  the  church 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT. 


55 


The  charter  by  which  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  conveyed  all 
these  churches  to  the  Monastery  of  Lindores,  was  certainly  exe- 
cuted before  A.D.  1198,  and  it  is  in  it  that  the  town  of  Dundee  is 
first  mentioned  in  authentic  record.  For  some  reason  which  does 
not  appear,  unless  the  territory  on  which  the  town  is  built  was 
a  special  appanage  of  the  Crown,  Dundee  is  almost  invariably 
styled  in  ancient  records  'the  Royal  Town'  (regiam  villam). 
There  are  many  stories  in  Boece  and  other  writers,  of  a  romantic 
character,  regarding  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon's  connection  with 
Dundee  ;  of  his  landing  there  after  his  return  from  the  Holy  Land, 
and  of  his  building  a  chinch  in  the  town ;  but,  unfortunately, 
there  are  no  authentic  records  to  support  them.  The  one  thing 
certain  is,  that  there  was  a  church  in  Dundee  in  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  century,  which  the  Earl  bestowed  on  his  new  foundation 
of  Lindores. 

Though  there  is  no  direct  mention  of  Dundee  in  any  more 
ancient  record,  it  must  have  been,  from  the  fertility  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood and  its  admirable  position  as  a  port,  a  place  ^  of  im- 
portance from  very  early  times.  Considering  too,  its  proximity  to 
Invergowrie,  one  of  the  early  centres  of  Christianity  of  Scotland, 
there  is  every  probability  of  there  having  been  a  church  in  the 
town  from  a  time  almost  coeval  with  the  first  introduction  of  the 
Gospel  into  eastern  Scotland.  Whether  it  was  such  an  ancient 
church,  that  is  mentioned  in  the  charter  to  Lindores,  or  whether 
it  was,  as  tradition  has  it,  a  church  built  by  the  Earl  of  Hunting- 
don in  gratitude  for  his  escape,  is  uncertain;  no  portion  of  the 
ancient  structure  remains.  What  constituted  the  most  ancient 
portion  of  the  mother  church  of  Dundee  was  wholly  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1841,  and  all  that  is  left  is  the  grand  old  square  tower 
('one   of   the    noblest   in   Great    Britain')   which   has   been    so 


has  been  rebuilt,  but  the  whole  building  bears  the  marks  of  venerable  antiquity. 
In  the  north  aisle  there  is  a  series  of  life-sized  grotesque  human  figures  in  oak, 
forming  brackets  for  the  support  of  the  rafters  of  the  opeu  roof.  There  is  no 
such  "rand  old  parish  church  in  Scotland. 


56  FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

munificently  restored,  but  which  certainly  is  not  older  than  the 
middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.1 

'  The  first  recorded  pastor  of  Dundee  was  William  of  Kerneil, 
a.d.  1214.'  2  About  A.D.  1220,  Gregory,  Bishop  of  Brechin,  in  a 
license  or  decree  preserved  in  the  chartulary  of  Lindores  Abbey, 
confirms  the  right  of  the  monks  of  that  abbey  to  the  church  and 
chapels  of  Dundee  ;  the  mention  of  these  latter,  for  the  first  time, 
affords  evidence  of  an  increasing  population.  In  the  license, 
Gregory,  as  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  consents  to  the  appointment 
of  a  vicar  by  the  monks  of  Lindores,  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
church,  on  condition  that  they  pay  him  a  stipend  of  ten  pounds 
sterling  ;  a  large  allowance,  considering  the  value  of  money  at  the 
time,  and  an  additional  collateral  evidence  of  the  growing  im- 
portance of  the  town.  In  the  same  document  the  Bishop  gave 
the  monks  permission  to  plant  schools  in  the  parish.3  This  is 
one  of  the  earliest  notices  of  schools  in  Scotland ;  the  very 
earliest  is  contained  in  a  charter  of  Ethelred,  Abbot  of  Dun- 
keld,  and  Earl  of  Fife,  son  of  Queen  Margaret  and  Malcolm 
Canmore,  by  which  he  bestows  the  lands  of  Admore  (Auchmore 
on  the  Leven)  on  the  Culdees  of  Lochleven,  A.D.  1093 — 1107,  to 
which  Berbeadh,  '  Rector  of  the  schools  of  Abernethy,'  is  one  of 
the  witnesses.4 

The  ancient  Pictish  capital  has,  therefore,  the  precedence :  but 
the  permission  given  to  the  monks  to  plant  schools  in  Dundee  in 
the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century,  confirms  the  statement, 
that  they  set  apart  one  or  more  of  then  number  for  the  important 
duty  of  educating  the  young,  and  testifies  to  the  pleasing  fact, 
that  they  had  not  then  forgotten  that  the  great  purpose  of  their 
princely  foundation  was  the  education  and  elevation  of  the  people.0 


1  Gilbert  Scott's  Report. 

'  Jervise's  Memorials  of  Angus  andMearns,  p.  181. 

3  Chartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  17. 

4  Reeve's  Culdees  of  the  British  Islands,  pp.  245,  6. 

5  Joseph  Robertson,  Miscell.  Spald.  Club,  Vol.  V.,  p.  68. 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT. 


57 


These  provisions  were  ratified  by  Pope  Gregory  IX.,  on  the  17th 

April  1239.1 

On  the  appointment  by  the  monks  of  Lindores  of  Mr  William 
Mydford,  as  vicar  of  Dundee,  instead  of  allowing  him  a  fixed 
stipend,  the  monks,  apparently  to  be  freed  from  the  trouble  of  an 
accounting  for  the  baptismal  and  burial  fees,  and  to  avoid  all 
disputes  about  these  casual  payments,  agreed  to  allow  the  Vicar 
to  uplift  the  whole  altarage  in  name  of  vicarage,  both  parties 
leaving  it  to  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  to  fix  how  much  should  be 
rendered  to  the  Abbot  and  convent  as  their  share  of  these  fees, 
as  Rectors  of  the  parish.  The  Bishop  decided  that  the  Vicar  should 
pay  them  ten  merks  sterling  at  Pasch.2  The  Vicar  felt  himself 
aggrieved  by  this  decision,  and  appealed  to  the  Pope,  alleging  that 
it  did  not  leave  him  '  a  suitable  portion  for  the  due  performance 
of  the  sacred  duties  of  his  office.'  He,  however,  did  not  follow  up 
his  appeal,  and  on  a  petition  by  the  Abbot  and  convent,  Pope 
Alexander  IV.  confirmed  the  Bishop's  decision  by  a  Bull,  dated 
17th  April  1256,  in  which,  for  the  first  time,  the  name  '  the  church 
of  St  Mary  of  Dundee,'  is  mentioned.3 

The  Vicar,  however,  would  not  submit,  and  the  Abbot  and  his 
brethren  again  appealed  to  the  Pope,  who  granted  letters,  em- 
powering the  Prior  of  (the  Isle  of)  May,  and  the  Provost  of  the 
church  of  St  Mary  of  St  Andrews  to  enforce  the  decree.  After  a 
lengthened  litigation,  the  Vicar  agreed  to  submit  to  the  decision  of 
the  Bishop  of  Dunblane  and  other  prelates,  who,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  the  chapter  house  of  Arbroath  (20th  September  1256), 
gave  sentence  against  him;  the  monks  agreeing  to  forego  a 
large  portion  of  the  interest  and  expenses  for  the  sake  of  re- 
storing harmony,  and  bringing  the  dispute  to  an  amicable  con- 
clusion.4 To  make  sure  that  this  portion  of  the  revenues  of 
the  church  should  not  be  encroached  upon,  the  monks  obtained 
(11th   February  1257)  a  decree  from  the  Pope  exempting  their 


Chartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  18.  "  //>.,  p- 10. 

lb.,  p.  13.  4  lb;  P-  u- 


58  FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

share  from  the  diocesan  burdens,  which  the  Vicar  was  bound  to 
bear.1 

These  details  may  be  reckoned  too  minute,  but  the  whole 
transaction  is  a  noticeable  instance  of  the  injurious  effects  of  the 
abstraction  of  the  revenues  of  a  parish  church  from  their  primary 
and  legitimate  uses.  It  was  a  weak  point  in  the  abbey  system, 
and  entailed  the  appointment  of  a  Vicar  at  a  diminished  stipend 
with  consequent  diminished  influence.2  The  absorption  of  the 
revenues  of  so  many  parish  churches  by  the  abbeys,  tended 
ultimately  to  swell  the  discontent  against  monasteries,  which 
ended  in  their  suppression. 

The  revenue  derived  from  the  various  churches  and  estates 
belonging  to  the  abbey,  was  estimated  for  the  purpose  of  taxa- 
tion in  the  year  1275  by  the  Koman  Legate  at  i  myjc.  lxvj.  li. 
xiij.  s.  iiij.  d.  It  is  difficult  to  arrive  at  the  relative  value  of 
money  at  that  period ;  but  when  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  a  cow 
could  be  bought  for  five  shillings,  sheep  at  tenpence  a  head,  and 
that  a  chalder  of  oatmeal  cost  exactly  a  pound  Scots 3  (twenty 
pence  sterling),  it  will  be  seen  that  the  wealth  at  the  disposal  of 
the  monks  was  very  great,  and  rightly  expended,  capable  of  ex- 
ercising a  most  beneficial  influence.4  This  was  of  importance,  as 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  monasteries  were  productive  of 
greater  benefit  in  a  social,  than  in  a  strictly  religious  point  of  view. 

1  Char  hilar y  of  Li  adores,  p.  16. 

-  '  When  the  revenues  of  a  church  or  parish  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  monastery, 
it  became  the  duty  of  that  monastery  to  perform  the  religious  services  of  the 
parish.  But  inasmuch  as  the  monastery  was  a  corporate  body,  they  appointed 
one,  whom  they  denominated  their  vicar,  to  discharge  those  offices  for  them.' — 
F.  W.  Robertson.     Sermons,  Third  Series,  p.  101. 

3  Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  280. 

*  Preface  to  the  '  Statuta  Ecclesise  Scoticase,'  by  the  late  Joseph  Robertson, 
p.  cciii.  A  work  full  of  condensed  information  and  of  great  research.  Its  very 
excellency  adds  poignancy  to  the  sorrow  for  the  early  death  of  the  author.  It 
gives  an  idea  of  the  relative  wealth  of  the  abbey,  to  learn  from  the  same  source 
that  Arbroath  Abbey  was  valued  at  £1000,  Balmerino  at  £533,  6s.  8d.,  aud  the 
Ministry  at  Scotland  Well  at  £83,  6s.  8d. 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT.  59 

The  monks,  in  their  corporate  capacity,  undoubtedly  exercised 
a  beneficial  influence,  by  carrying  the  spirit  of  religion  through 
all  their  social  relations,  and  by  exhibiting  to  then  turbulent 
neighbours  the  benefits  arising  from  peaceful  avocations.  Bring- 
ing with  them  a  knowledge  of  the  most  approved  modes  of 
cultivation  ;  the  luxuriant  crops  of  then-  fields,  and  the  rich  fruits 
of  then-  gardens  soon  became  standing  evidence  of  what  undis- 
turbed industry  could  effect.  They  were  the  pioneers  of  improve- 
ment, and  were  the  first  to  adopt  every  discovery  calculated  to 
increase  the  productiveness  of  the  soil,  of  which,  from  their  inter- 
course with  their  brethren,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  they  had 
the  earliest  intelligence.  To  this  source  can  be  traced  the  excel- 
lence of  the  fruit,  especially  of  many  of  the  admirable  varieties  of 
pears,  for  which  the  orchards  of  Newburgh  are  so  justly  cele- 
brated.1 

There  is  every  reason  to  believe  too,  that  the  monks  were  the 
first  to  introduce  the  grinding  of  corn  by  machinery  into  this  neigh- 
bourhood, and  that  before  their  time  the  handmill,  or  quern,  was 


1  The  names  of  many  of  these  kinds  of  pears  bear  witness  to  their  foreign 
origin.  In  a  treatise  on  Fruit  Trees,  printed  in  Paris,  a.d.  1548,  the  following 
notice  of  the  Bon-Chreton  (Good  Christian)  pear  occurs :— '  They  are,'  the  author 
says,  '  of  surpassing  sweetness,  and  so  tender  and  juicy  that  they  dissolve  in  the 
mouth  ;  they  sometimes  grow  to  the  weight  of  a  pound,  and  bear  every  year;'  a 
description  which  is  still  applicable.  The  author  says,  that  '  the  Bon-Chreton 
was  first  brought  from  Campania,  near  Naples,  in  the  time  of  Charles  VIII. 
(a.d.  149-1).  The  Bergamot  pears,'  he  says,  'are  much  to  be  commended ;  they 
began  to  be  cultivated  in  our  recollection  (i.e.  before  1548),  and  are  juicy  and 
excellent  in  flavour.'  For  the  use  of  this  rare  volume,  which  is  of  beautiful  type, 
the  writer  is  indebted  to  Mr  Milne  of  Hill  Park.  It  is  interesting  to  learn  the 
origin  of  trees,  which  are  flourishing  in  our  orchards,  and  which,  after  an  inter- 
val of  nearly  four  hundred  years  from  their  first  production  from  the  seed,  are 
still  propagated  by  grafting.  There  are  several  very  old  Bon-Chreton  and 
Bergamot  trees  in  the  orchards  of  Newburgh,  still  bearing  large  crops.  From 
the  frequent  mention  made  of  vineyards  in  old  records,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  monks  were  also  successful  in  growing  grapes.  In  Lord  Douglas' 
Vassalage  of  Abernethy  (a.d.  184G)  there  is  a  feu  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that 
ancient  ecclesiastical  seat  designated  'The  Vineyard.' 


60  FOUNDATION  OF  LIXDORES  ABBEY. 

tlie  sole  mode  by  which  meal  was  ground.  In  1284,  in  the 
reign  of  Alexander  III.,  it  was  enacted  that  na  man  sail  presume  to 
grind  quheit,  rnaishlock  (mixed  grain),  or  rye  with  kands-mylne, 
except  he  be  compelled  be  storm,  or  be  lack  of  mills,  quhilk  sould 
grind  the  samen.  Gif  a  man  grinds  at  hand  mylnes  he  sail  gif 
the  threttein  measure  as  multer ;  and  gif  onie  man  contraveins 
this  our  prohibition  he  sail  tyne  his  land  mylnes  perpetuallie.'  1 
This  enactment  was  obviously  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the 
erection  of  mills  wrought  by  machinery  and  driven  by  water, 
which  was  rightly  deemed  an  important  invention,  deserving- 
encouragement.  The  domestication  of  bees,  which  was  early 
attempted,  was  also  actively  encouraged  and  promoted  by  the 
clergy.  The  foundation  charter  of  the  abbey  (circa  1196  or  7), 
which  conveys  '  The  church  and  lands  of  Lonclors,'  makes  no 
mention  of  a  mill ;  but  two  years  later,  the  confirmation  by  the 
Pope    expressly  specifies  'the  mill  of  Londors,'  as    part  of  the 


1  Wilson's  Prehistoric  Annals,  Ed.  1851,  p.  150.  In  the  outlying  islands  of  the 
Hebrides  the  primitive  hand-mill  is  still,  or  at  least  very  recently  was,  in  use. 
In  the  year  1847,  Captain  Dall  (a  native  of  Xewburgh,  now  of  Chicago,  United 
States),  after  a  walk  of  fourteen  miles  in  the  island  of  Lewis,  in  the  early  morning, 
felt  the  need  of  something  to  satisfy  his  hunger.  He  asked  the  master  of  a  house 
on  the  shore  for  something  to  eat  till  he  could  reach  his  vessel,  which  lay  some 
miles  out  in  the  bay.  The  latter  said  he  had  no  bread,  but  he  would  soon  get  it. 
He  immediately  spoke  a  few  words  in  Gaelic  to  two  young  women,  who  went  to  a 
barley  stack,  and  took  out  three  sheaves,  which  they  threshed  by  beating  them 
with  a  stick  each.  They  winnowed  the  grain  by  tossing  it  up  in  the  wind  to 
drive  away  the  chaff;  they  afterwards  put  it  in  a  pot  on  the  fire  till  it  was 
sufficiently  dried,  and  then  cooling  it  in  the  open  air  for  a  few  minutes, 
they  set  down  with  a  hand-mill,  or  quern,  between  them,  exemplifying  the 
verse,  '  two  shall  be  grinding  at  the  mill,  the  one  shall  be  taken  and  the  other 
left.'  The  pure  meal  gradually  came  forth,  and  in  little  more  than  an  hour  the 
anxious  waiter  on  the  operations  was  presented  with  a  barley  bannock,  which  his 
previous  fast  made  doubly  sweet.  Still  later — in  1851 — Mr  Ross  of  Bachilton, 
while  on  an  agricultural  tour  in  Ireland,  saw,  in  the  wilds  of  Connemara,  the 
same  primitive  operations,  and  had  an  oaten  cake  given  to  him  in  less  than  two 
hours. 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT.  61 

monks'  property ;  the  legitimate  inference  being,  that  it  had  been 
erected  by  them  in  the  interval.1 

The  farms,  which  are  still  found  throughout  the  country  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  old  abbeys,  named  '  The  Grange, '  were  the 
farm-steadings  where  the  monks  carried  on  their  farming  opera- 
tions, and  where  the  grain  and  cattle  derived  from  their  more  dis- 
tant possessions  were  stored  and  housed.  Around  the  '  Grange ' 
were  clustered  numerous  cottages  for  the  labourers  and  then*  fami- 
lies, and  the  whole  was  under  the  charge  of  a  monk,  or  lay  brother, 
named  from  his  office — '  The  Granger.'  From  details  afforded  by 
Cosmo  Innes,  in  his  valuable  Sketches  of  Early  Scotch  History, 
we  learn  that  '  the  situation  of  cottars  was  far  above  the  class 
now  known  by  that  name.'  At  Kelso  each  of  "  the  Grange " 
cottars  occupied  from  one  to  nine  acres  of  land,  and  a  class 
above  them,  the  husbandi,  or  husbandmen,  possessed  small  farms 
of  twenty-six  acres  each.  The  latter  kept  two  oxen,  and  six  of 
them  united  then  twelve  oxen  to  draw  the  ponderous  plough  of 
those  days.  They  paid  their  rent  in  money  and  services,  and 
it  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  no  service  was  imposed  on  women, 
except  harvest  work.' 2 

1  The  original '  mill  of  Londors,'  appears  to  have  stood  in  the  Den  of  Lindores, 
exactly  where  a  fall  could  be  obtained  with  least  labour.  The  foundations  of  an 
old  mill  were  removed  from  that  spot  within  the  last  few  years. 

2  Small  holdings  continued  in  this  neighbourhood  till  the  end  of  the  last 
century.  Descriptive  of  a  state  of  society  utterly  past  away,  it  is  worthy  of  being 
recorded  that,  in  the  memory  of  some  yet  alive  (a.d.  1871)  there  were  resident 
in  the  hamlet  of  Kinloch,  in  the  parish  of  Collessie,  upwards  of  fifty  men,  young 
and  old,  where  there  is  now  only  one  cottage.  Each  cottar  of  the  hamlet  rented 
as  much  land  as  maintained  a  horse  and  two  kye ;  a  class  above  these  had  as 
much  land  as  maintained  two  horses  and  several  kye, — these  larger  holders  were 
called  by  the  others  '  The  Tenants.'  The  same  gradation  apparently  continuing 
as  in  the  abbey  Granges.  In  such  hamlets  and  homesteads  were  brought  up,  in 
rough  comfort,  a  healthful  population,  who  were  a  tower  of  strength  in  the  hour 
of  their  country's  need ;  and  from  the  larger,  but  still  small  homesteads,  arose  a 
great  proportion  of  the  students  of  the  Scottish  Universities  in  the  preceding 
century,  many  of  whom  rose  to  distinction,  and  brought  honour  to  their  country. 
It  may  be  that  the  physical  comforts  of  ploughmen  are  now  much  superior  to 


62  FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY. 

The  Grange  of  Lindores  exhibits  in  its  outward  features  many 
of  the  characteristics  of  primitive  times^around  the  steading  are 
still  to  be  seen  straw-thatched  cottages  with  straw-bound  chim- 
neys, each,  with  its  patch  of  garden,  standing  in  most  picturesque 
irregularity,  and  showing,  in  some  degree,  the  appearance  of  a 
Grange  of  the  olden  thne. 

In  these  Granges  there  arose  a  peaceful  population  of  free 


those  of  the  small  tenants  of  former  days,  and  it  is  evident  that  the  increasing 
application  of  machinery  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  which  has  tended  so  much 
to  the  improvement  of  agriculture,  renders  the  management  of  small  farms  more 
and  more  difficult.  Still  their  extinction  has  a  depressing  effect  on  the  plough- 
man ;  it  blots  hope  out  of  his  horizon,  and  widens  that  chasm  which  separates 
the  employer  and  employed,  already  too  wide,  and  is  one  of  the  most  uudesirable 
features  in  the  social  condition  of  modern  times. 

Connected  with  one  of  these  small  hamlets,  that  of  Lochend,  in  the  parish  of 
Abdie,  is  an  incident  which  throws  light  on  the  condition  and  mode  of  life  of 
students  in  the  end  of  last  century,  and  it  is  so  creditable  to  one  who  afterwards 
rose  to  distinction,  that  it  deserves  to  be  recorded.  In  the  end  of  the  year  1776, 
a  student  from  Cairn,  a  small  farm  in  the  parish  of  Muthil,  Strathearn,  plodding 
his  way  on  foot  to  St  Andrews,  was  overtaken  by  a  snow-storm  a  little  beyond  the 
village  of  Lindores.  The  storm  raged  so  furiously  that  he  was  in  imminent  peril 
of  his  life  ;  struggling  on  through  the  drift,  darkness  came  on,  and  he  was  all  but 
exhausted,  when  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  light  from  a  cottage  window,  to  which 
he  fought  his  way.  The  inmates,  awakened  by  his  knocking,  at  once  arose  and 
bestowed  on  the  stranger  the  attention  which  he  required,  and  the  comforts 
which  their  humble  dwelling  afforded.  This  student  was  John  Barclay,  after- 
wards the  famous  anatomist.  Forty-six  years  afterwards,  when  in  the  height  of 
his  fame,  having  ascertained  from  a  young  man  belonging  to  Newburgh,  who 
attended  his  lectures  in  18:22,  that  the  worthy  couple  who  had  sheltered  him 
were  alive,  he  sent  by  this  student  (David  H.  Lyell,  M.D.)  a  set  of  silver  tea- 
spoons to  the  wife,  and  a  silver  snuff-box  to  the  husband,  the  latter  bearing  the 
appropriate  inscription,  '  To  James  Wilson  from  Dr  Barclay.'  '  I  was  a  stranger 
and  ye  took  me  in.'  The  box  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr  William  Wilson,  draper, 
Newburgh,  grand-nephew  of  James  Wilson ;  the  spoons  were  parted  among 
the  female  relatives,  and  are  carefully  preserved  as  heirlooms,  precious  for  their 
associations.  The  brothers  Bethune,  who  dwelt  for  many  years  in  the  same 
hamlet  where  the  illustrious  professor  found  shelter,  have  made  the  incident  the 
subject  of  a  pleasing  tale.  It  appeared  among  the  Tales  of  the  Borders,  under 
the  title  of  the  '  Bewildered  Student.'— Vol.  III.,  pp.  90-98. 


GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT.  63 

labourers  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  but  the  records  of 
the  abbeys  show  that  the  monks  had  descended  from  then-  high 
original,  and  must  bear  the  opprobrium  of  keeping  serfs  to  assist 
in  field  labours.1  Still  the  monastic  movement  accelerated  the 
death  of  serfdom.  The  monks,  in  common  with  all  men  at  that 
time,  recognised  slavery  as  an  existing  fact,  but  in  principle  their 
doctrines  were  hostile  to  its  continuance  ;  their  very  union  as  a 
brotherhood  acted  as  a  protest  against  it.  '  They  taught  that  all 
men  were  the  children  of  one  father,  and  brothers  of  one  family,' 
and  as  this  teaching  of  the  church  prevailed,  the  condition  of  the 
slave  was  ameliorated.  The  terrible  power  of  life  and  death, 
which  masters  exercised  by  law  over  slaves  in  the  old  Roman 
world,  disappeared  before  the  mild  spirit  of  Christianity.  It  may 
be  that  labour  by  freemen  was  found  to  be  more  economical  than 
that  by  bondmen.  Evidence  of  this  is  not  wanting  in  the  manu- 
mission of  serfs  by  churchmen,  for  an  annual  payment  instead  of 
constant  enforced  labour.  About  the  year  1340  the  monks  of  Dun- 
fermline granted  freedom  to  their  men  of  Tweedale  on  payment 
of  an  ox  of  two  years  old,  or  four  shillings  yearly.2  Little  by 
little  the  shackles  of  the  serf,  and  the  rigours  of  slavery,  were  re- 


1  Records  of  the  genealogy  of  serfs  were  kept,  that  they  might  be  reclaimed, 
in  case  they  attempted  to  escape.  In  the  Chartulary  of  Dunfermline  Abbey,  there 
is  a  record  of  the  residences  of  serfs  belonging  to  that  abbey,  which  is  locally 
interesting,  as  it  mentions  the  names  of  farms  in  this  neighbourhood  where  their 
serfs  resided :  '  Galf  (GalfridJ  of  Dunberauch  at  Dunberauch  (Dumbarrow  in  the 
parish  of  Abernethy)  ;  Cristin,  the  son  of  Ada,  at  Wester  Urchard  (in  the  parish 
of  Strathmiglo)  ;  Oenene  Freberner  at  Hicher-mokedi  (Auchtermuchty)  ;  Patrick 
his  brother,  at  Renkelouch  (Rankeilour,  in  the  parish  of  Collessie) ;  Maurice 
Colms  at  Fettynkyr.'  It  adds  touching  interest  to  this  list  to  find,  that  the 
monks  were  equally  careful  in  recording  the  place  of  death  and  burial  of  their 
bondmen.  Under  the  head,  'Genealogy  of  Maurice  Sutherliu,'  the  following 
occurs:  '  Alwin  Cambrun,  son  of  William  Fleming,  died  at  Tolibrench,  and 
was  buried  (jacet)  in  the  churchyard  (cimiterio)  of  Markynchs ;  Eugene  his  son, 
died  at  Kynglassie,  and  was  buried  there.' — Registrum  de  Dumfermelyn,  pp. 
220,  221. 

2  Reykt.  de  Dunfermelyn,  p.  192  ;  Innes'  Sketches  of  Early  Scotch  Hist.,  p.  14-4. 


64     FOUNDATION  OF  LINDORES  ABBEY — GUIDO  THE  FIRST  ABBOT. 

laxed  ;  the  monks  practically  showing  that  all  men  were  brethren, 
by  admitting  slaves  into  their  brotherhood,  whose  bonds  fell  from 
them  at  the  abbey  door.1 

The  encouragement  too,  which  the  monks  gave  to  the  erection 
of  burghs  in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  abbeys,  tended  to  the 
same  result.  In  these  communities  there  arose  an  industrial  popu- 
lation, whose  activity  and  energy  accumulated  wealth,  and  whose 
freedom  and  increasing  influence  gradually  led  to  the  extinction 
of  the  bondage  of  serfdom,  and  to  the  personal  liberty  which  now 
prevails. 

1  Sigerseii'sHislory  of  the  Land  Tenures  of  Ireland. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

'  Watch  and  be  firm  !  for  soul -subduing  vice, 
Heart-killing  luxury,  on  your  steps  await 
To  sap  your  hardy  virtue,  and  abate 
Your  love  of  Him  upon  whose  forehead  sate 
The  crown  of  thorns  ;  whose  life-blood  flowed,  the  price 

Of  your  redemption.' 

Wordsworth. 

Considering  the  length  of  time  the  monks  occupied  the  abbey, 
the  amount  of  wealth  at  their  disposal,  and  the  powerful  territorial 
influence  they  exercised,  it  is  curious  that  not  a  single  tradition 
of  them,  either  good  or  bad,  survives  in  the  neighbourhood,  save 
one  that  has  passed  into  a  proverb.  A  recalcitrant  bell-ringer  of 
the  abbey  threw  up  his  place,  under  the  impression  that  his 
services  could  not  be  dispensed  with ;  but  he  had  not  gone  far, 
when,  hearing  the  bells  ringing  as  usual,  he  was  fain  to  admit, 
'  The  bells  o'  the  abbey  will  aye  be  gotten  rung.' 1 


1  The  name  for  shortbread  in  Newburgh  is  so  exclusively  local,  that,  combined 
with  its  origin,  it  seems  to  be  a  relic  of  proximity  to  the  abbey,  and  of  '  Abbey 
times.'  It  is  invariably  designated  '  Pentie.'  Various  explanations  have  been 
given  of  the  name, — that  the  bread  was  originally  made  in  the  form  of  a  pen- 
tagon,— that  it  was  used  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost ;  but  these  are  mere  conjec- 
tures. The  true  etymology  is  from  the  name  pain-demayn.  The  editor  of  the 
Book  of  Days  (Vol.  I.,  p.  119)  says,  '  This  word  has  given  considerable  trouble 
to  commentators,  but  which  means  no  more  than  '  bread  of  our  Lord,'  from  the 
figures  of  our  Saviour,  or  the  Virgin  Mary,  impressed  upon  each  round  flat 
loaf,  as  is  still  the  usage  in   Belgium  with  respect  to  certain  rich  cakes  much 

E 


66  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

There  are  however  in  the  chartulaiy  of  the  abbey,  records 
extending  over  a  period  of  more  than  three  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  from  which  can  be  gleaned  something  of  its  internal,  as 
well  as  its  external  history.  From  the  foundation  charter,  we 
learn  that  the  first  bequest  to  the  abbey,  was,  '  the  Church  of 
Londors,'  and  the  lands  belonging  to  it ;  the  Church  of  '  Dunde,' 
and  the  Churches  in  the  Garioch.  The  church  and  lands  of 
Londors  are  described  as  formerly  belonging  to  Master  (Magister) 
Thomas ;  this  appellation  denotes  an  ecclesiastic,  and  there  can 
be  little  doubt  that  the  Church  of  Londors,  now  Abdie,  in  which 
the  old  cleric  ministered,  was  of  Culdee  origin,  and  one  of  the 
early  religious  settlements  of  the  country.  It  was  dedicated  to 
St   Magridin,    whose    name   appeared    on   Cross  Macduff.1     The 


esteemed  there.'  Other  writers  simply  assert  that  it  was  the  name  for  the  finest 
bread.  Pentie  is  clearly  the  two  first  syllables  of  the  name  pain-de-m&jn. 
Dunbar,  in  his  poem  of  '  The  Freires  of  Berwick,'  more  than  once  alludes  to  this 
kind  of  bread  as  a  great  dainty,  but  in  doing  so,  instead  of  retaining  the  French 
pain,  he  names  it  '  bread  of  mane.'  Presumably  this  bread,  like  shortbread,  was 
unleavened, — which  latter  was  used  for  communion  purposes  in  St  Michael's 
Church,  Dumfries,  up  to  the  year  1864,  in  all  probabiUty  because  of  unbroken 
custom  from  pre-Reformation  times. 

i  W.  F.  Skene,  Pro.  of  Soc.  of  Ant.,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  318.  The  parish  church 
of  Flisk  was  dedicated  to  the  same  saint,  and  in  that  parish  there  is  a 
hill  known  as  St  Muggan's  Seat.  There  are  several  names  of  places  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Abdie  Church  indicative  of  antiquity,  as  the  Lecturer's 
Inch,  the  Priest's  Burn,  the  Teind  Knowe ;  and  at  the  foot  of  Lindores 
bank,  St  Andrew's  Well,  now  covered  up.  There  were  also  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  Abdie  Church  two  upright  stones,  known  as  The  Lickerstanes,  whose 
origin  and  use  are  both  alike  lost  in  antiquity.  They  consisted  of  unhewn 
boulders  about  three  feet  high,  somewhat  square  on  the  sides  and  flat  on  the 
top.  They  stood  like  pillars,  one  on  each  side  of  the  footpath  leading  from  the 
Den  of  Lindores  to  the  churchyard,  just  where  the  path  met  the  road  from  the 
Grange  to  Lindores.  They  were  removed  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  and  it  is  said  were  applied  to  some  utilitarian  purpose  in  effecting  some 
repairs  on  the  out-buildings  of  the  manse.  Stones  bearing  the  same  name  are 
found  in  other  places  in  Scotland,  and  invariably  on  the  side  of  the  road  leading 
from  the  outskirts  of  the  parish  to  the  churchyard.     There  are  Lickerstanes  in 


VBDTE   •  '•  D   CHTRCB 


I     [N  CHi 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 


67 


etymology  of  the  name  Londors  tends  to  throw  back  the  origin  of 
the  church  to  an  early  period.  Lon,  or  Lun,  hi  which  way  the 
first  syllable  continued  to  be  spelt  down  to  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  is  the  Gaelic  equivalent  for  the  Welsh  Llan,  which  signi- 
fies a  church,  and  dwr  from  the  same  language,  signifying  water, 
which,  anglicised  Lundore,  is  the  earliest  form  of  the  name,  and  is 
thus  spelt  on  the  seal  of  Abbot  Thomas,  who  died  in  A.D.  1273. 
Neither  of  these  terms  is  common  in  Scotland,  and  the  fact  that 
the  Gaelic  dobhar,  water  (pronounced  dore),  has  long  been  obsolete, 
goes  to  show  that  the  old  Church  of  Lundores  is  very  ancient. 
The  name,  '  The  Church  by  the  Water,'  is  admirably  descriptive  ; 
the  little  knoll  which  constitutes  the  churchyard  almost  jutting 
into  the  Loch.1     In  Abdie  Church  there  was  an  altar  dedicated  to 


the  parish  of  Abernethy,  and  there  was  a  Lickerstane  in  the  parish  of  Falkland, 
but  it  has  been  removed ;  the  place  is,  however,  known  by  the  name  of  '  Licker- 
stane.'    There  was  also  a  '  Likkerstane'  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Pittenweem.— 
Fife  Ketours,   508.     In   a   record  of  the  marches  of  the  lands  of  Kirkness,  as 
bestowed  on  the  Culdees  of  Lochleven  by  Macbeth  and  his  Queen  Gruoch,  pre- 
served in  the  Register  of  the  Priory  of  St  Andrews  (p.  1),  entered  certainly  not 
later  than  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  '  a  heap  of  stones  called  in  the 
vulgar  tongue  lykyrstyne '  ( '  unum  acervum  lapidum  qui  dicitur  in  vulgari  lykyrstyne '), 
is  specially  mentioned  as  one  of  the  points  of  the  march  or  boundary.     This 
notice  proves  the  antiquity  of  the  name,  but  unfortunately  there  is  nothing  on 
record  to  show  the  purpose  for  which  these  stones  were  erected.     Tradition 
however  is  uniform  that  the  corpse  carried  to  burial  was  laid  on  them,  and  that 
the  priest  there  met  the  funeral  procession,  and  began  the  service  for  the  burial 
of  the  dead.     From  this  traditionally  assumed  reading  of  the  service,  it  has  been 
conjectured  by  some,  that  the  name  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  Lector,  signi- 
fying a  reader;   but  the    oldest  orthography,  coupled   with  the  fact   that    it 
is    expressly  said  to    be   known    in   the    vulgar    tongue    as    the    Lykyrstyne, 
goes  to  prove  that  the  name  is  derived  from  the  old  English  or  Saxon  word 
lie  or  lycli,  a  corpse,  hence  Lychstane,  and  that  these  stones  were  connected  with 
the  burial  of  the  dead.     The  covered  gateway  to  many  of  the  old  churchyards 
of  England  is  uniformly  known  as  the  Lychgate,  because  the  funeral  service 
begins  there.    The  seal  of  the  town  of  Lichfield  shows  a  field  strewn  with  corpses. 
1  Mr  W.  F.  Skene,  in  his  most  valuable  notes  to  the  Four  Ancient  Books  of 
Wales,  says :  '  A  curious  illustration  of  two  different  terms,  lying  side  by  side, 


68  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

St  Ninian,  the  apostle  of  the  Southern  Picts,  still  further  showing 
its  connection  with  the  Early  Scottish  Church. 

The  abbey,  though  built  at  a  distance  of  two  miles  from  the 
original  church,  was  within  the  parochia,  and  therefore  rightly 
named  Londors  ;  the  monks  wisely  endeavouring  to  transfer  the 
hallowed  associations  which  had  grown  up  around  the  ancient 
church  to  their  new  erection.  Even  so  late  as  the  middle  of  the 
last  century,  the  lands  around  the  mansion  house  of  Lindores  were 
named,  in  legal  documents,  '  Auld  Lundores.' 2 

'  It  was,  doubtless,  from  his  brother,  William  the  Lion,  that 
Earl  David  received  the  grant  of  Lindores.' 3  This  property  was 
extensive  and  of  great  value  ;  it  embraced  within  its  limits  at 
least  the  modern  farms  of  Grange  of  Lindores,  Berryhill,  Ormiston, 
Lindores,  Lindores  Abbey,  Craigmill,  and  the  Burgh  Lands  of  New- 
burgh,  a  stretch  of  about  four  miles  in  length,  and  upwards  of 
two  miles  in  breadth,  of  fine  upland  pasture,  and  of  rich  and 
diversified  arable  soil. 

The  name  of  the  parish,  Londors,  occurs  in  a  list  of  churches 
in  the  Deanery  of  Fife,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the  reign  of  William 
the  Lion  (1176).4  'In  the  modern  name  of  Abdie,  it  seems  not 
improbable  that  we  are  to  recognise  Abthen  or  Abden,  the  terms 
by  which  the  lands  belonging  to  our  early  monasteries  came  to  be 


which  are  derived  from  the  same  word,  undergoing  different  changes,  will  be  found 
in  Forfarshire,  where  the  term  Llan,  for  a  church,  appears,  as  in  Luntrethin.  It 
is  a  phonetic  law  between  Latin  and  Celtic,  that  words  beginning  in  the  former 
with  pi,  are,  in  the  latter  //.  The  word  Planum  in  Latin,  signifying  any  cultivated 
spot,  in  contradistinction  from  a  desert  spot,  and  which,  according  to  Duncauge, 
came  to  signify  Cimiterium,  becomes  in  Celtic,  Llan,  the  old  meaning  of  which 
was  a  fertile  spot  as  well  as  a  church.1 — P.  159.  The  topography  of  Wales 
abounds  with  places  beginning  with  Llan,  and  among  them  is  Llandoi'e,  near 
Swansea. 

2  Abbot  Thomas's  seal  is  engraved  on  the  frontispiece  of  the  Liber  Sancle 
Marie  de  Lundoris. 

3  Preface  to  Tlie  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland. 
*  Sibbald's  Fife,  p.  207. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  69 

designated.' *  The  first  time  that  the  name  '  Ebedyn '  occurs, 
is  in  a  list  of  churches  dedicated  by  Bishop  David  de  Bernhame, 
A.D.  1242.2  It  next  appears  as  'Vicaria  de  Ebde'  in  Boiamund's 
Tax  Roll  of  Scottish  Church  Benefices  ;  a  roll  that  was  made  up 
in  the  year  1275,  for  the  purpose  of  imposing  a  tax  of  a  tenth  part 
of  their  revenues  for  the  support  of  a  Crusade.3  That  the  old 
Church  of  Londors  was  all  but  despoiled  of  its  revenues  for  the 
endowment  of  the  abbey,  is  apparent  from  the  fact,  that  it  is  the 
only  church  in  the  deanery  returned  in  Boiamund's  Roll  as  beneath 
the  tax ;  benefices  having  less  annual  revenue  than  forty  merks 
being  exempt.  In  the  same  Roll,  the  rectory  of  Flisk,  a  much 
smaller  parish,  the  revenue  is  put  down  at  one  hundred  pounds  ; 
facts  which  corroborate  what  is  said  in  a  previous  page,  of  the 
depreciation  of  the  revenues  of  vicarages. 

The  change  in  the  name  of  the  parish  seems  to  have  been 
brought  about  by  the  absorption  of  the  old  name  by  the  abbey, 
while  popularly  the  old  church  came  to  be  known  by  the  designa- 
tion of  the  lands  which  formerly  belonged  to  it,  Abthen,  Abden, 
Abdie.  The  roofless  old  church  (used  for  the  last  time  on  the 
11th  November  1827),  which  forms  such  a  picturesque  object  on 
the  margin  of  Loch  Lindores,  does  not  however  date  back  to 
Culdee  times.  In  a  writing  of  the  thirteenth  century,  on  a  fly- 
leaf of  a  volume  preserved  in  the  Imperial  Library,  Paris,  it  is 
recorded  that  the  consecration  of  '  Ebedyn '  Church  by  David  de 
Bernhame,  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  took  place  on  the  5th  day  of 
September  A.D.  1242,  a  date  which  corresponds  with  the  style  of 
its  architecture.4 


1  Sculp.  Stones  of  Scot.,  Vol.  II.,  Preface. 

2  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  Appendix  to  Preface,  pp.  cciii-ccc. 

3  lb.,  p.  ccciv. 

*  lb.,  p.  ccc  ;  Old  Church  Architecture,  pp.  57,  58.  After  the  old  church 
of  Abdie  ceased  to  be  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  there  was  found  in  digging 
a  grave  in  the  chancel,  a  tombstone  having  a  cross  of  a  beautiful  floreated 
design   incised   upon   it.       The   style   indicates  an   origin   not   later   than    the 


70  ABBOTS  GUIUO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

The  monks  of  Lindores  had  not  been  long  in  their  new  abode, 
when  their  generous  benefactor  bestowed  on  them  the  island  called 
'  Redinche  '  (Reedinch),1  now  Mugdrum  Island,  with  the  whole  of 
the  fishings  around  it,  excepting  'his  own  yhare  at  Colcrick.' 
The  charter  which  conveys  this  grant  was  confirmed  by  the  Pope 
in  1198,  and  it  contains  one  of  the  earliest  notices  of  fishing  by 
yares  in  Scotland.  Colcrick  seems  to  have  been  a  valuable  fishing 
station,  as  a  few  years  later  (1198-1237),  David  de  Haya  of 
Errol  bestows  on  the  monks  of  Lindores,  the  thud  share  of  the 
drawings  of  his  nets  on  the  sandbank  of  Glasbannyn  (now  Clash- 
bennie)  opposite  Colcrick,  '  saving,'  however,  '  his  fixed  or  stake 
net  fishings  and  then  waters.' 3   With  the  exception  of  '  a  carucate' 


fourteenth  century.  This  interesting  relic,  of  Avhich  an  illustration  is  given,  is 
carefully  protected  within  the  chancel  of  the  old  church.  There  is  also  in  the 
chancel  a  recumbent  figure  of  a  woman  with  her  hands  folded  across  her  breast ; 
it  is  of  sandstone.  Formerly  this  statue  lay  unprotected  in  the  churchyard,  and 
it  is  much  defaced. 

1  So  named  from  the  immense  extent  of  Reeds,  Phragmites  Communis,  which 
grow  around  it,  an  exceedingly  graceful  plant,  of  sometimes  10  to  11  feet  in 
height.  It  was  formerly  used  exclusively  for  thatching.  On  this  point  Sir 
James  Balfour  (M.S.  Advocates'  Library)  says  '  thairwith  they  thack  houssis 
quhos  induring  with  the  smallest  supplie  will  near  out-brave  ane  hundreth  years.' 
The  reeds  are  now  bought  up  for  the  manufacture  of  paper,  a.d.  1873. 

2  Bk.  of  Lindores  Charter,  No.  4. 

3  Shortly  afterwards  David  de  Haya  gi-anted  to  the  monks  of  Coupar  in 
Angus,  to  whom  the  family  of  Errol  were  great  benefactors  '  the  right  to  draw 
a  net  betwixt  Lornyn,  and  Randulf  de  Haya's  march,'  which  also  must  have 
been  near  the  fishing  of  Colcrick.  The  charter  which  conveys  this  privilege 
contains  a  reminiscence  of  an  interesting  phase  of  religious  life,  which  is  worthy 
of  notice  ;  besides  the  right  of  fishing  it  bestows  on  the  monks  of  Coupar  '  the 
hermitage  which  Gillimichael  the  hermit  possessed,  and  the  three  acres  of  land 
lying  beside  it.'  It  is  interesting  to  know  that  the  farm  on  which  the  hermitage 
stood  retains  the  name  of  the  old  recluse,  and  is  still  called  '  Inchmichael.' — 
Spalding  Club  Miscei,  Vol.  II.,  p.  307.  That  the  spot  where  the  hermit  dwelt 
was  the  residence  of  man  from  very  early  times,  appears  from  the  fact  that 
when  the  railway  though  the  Carse  of  Gowrie  was  being  made,  a  very  consider- 
able number  of  stone  implements  were  found  in  a  gravel  mound  on  the  farm, 
none  of  which,  it  is  to  be  feared,  passed  into  any  public  collection.     One  of 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  71 

of  land  in  Neutile,  another  in  Pert  (Perth),  and  the  Church  of 
Mothel,1  the  only  other  property  conferred  on  the  abbey  in  the 
lifetime  of  the  founder,  seems  to  have  been  '  a  toft '  in  each  of  the 
'  burghs  of  Berevic,  Strivelin,  Karel,  Pertht,  Forfare,  Munros,  and 
Aberdene,'  by  his  brother  William  the  Lion.2 

The  frequent  appearance  of  Guido,  the  first  abbot,  as  a  witness 
to  various  charters,  shows  that  he  took  an  active  part  in  public 
life.  He  attended  a  council  of  the  church  held  by  Cardinal  John  of 
Salerno,  at  Perth,  in  December  1201.  None  of  its  enactments  have 
come  down  to  us,  except  that  '  no  priest  who  had  been  ordained 
on  the  Lord's  day  should  continue  to  officiate  at  the  altar.3     This 


them,  a  stone  cruse  or  lamp,  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr  Davie  of  St  Fillans 
Hotel,  Loch  Earn.  It  has  no  ornamentation  whatever,  but  is  of  the  same 
shape,  though  more  rude,  than  the  stone  lamps  used  at  this  day  in  the  Faroe 
Islands,  one  of  which  figured  in  Warings  '  Stone  Monuments,  etc.,  of  Remote  Ages, 
PL  5,  p.  41,'  was  presented  to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland  by  Sir 
W.  C.  Trevelyan. 

Clashbennie,  celebrated  for  its  fossils,  is  named  '  Egclisbannyn,'  in  the  Errol 
Charters,  the  name  indicating  that  there  had  been  a  church  there.— Spalding 
Club  Miscellany,  Vol.  II.,  p.  308.  Colcrick  cannot  now  be  identified.  The  fishing 
stations  in  the  estuary  of  the  Tay  shift  with  the  shifting  of  the  sands,  and  their 
names  change  accordingly.  But  further  up  the  river  the  same  names  have  con- 
tinued for  centuries.  In  a.d.  1178-1180,  William  the  Lion  bestowed  on  Arbroath 
Abbey,  '  one  net  upon  his  water  of  Pert  (Perth)  called  the  "  Stoc."  In  1431  the 
monks  of  the  Priory  of  the  Isle  of  May  claimed  from  the  monks  of  Scone  the 
tithes  of  four  fishings,  viz.,  '  Sleples  and  Elpenslau,  and  Chingil,  and  Inchesiryth, 
within  the  bounds  of  the  parish  of  Kind  (Rhynd).'  All  these  fishings,  with  the 
exception  of  Elpenslau,  are  still  known  by  the  same  names.— Arbroath  Chartulary, 
p.  11.  Records  of  Priory  of  Isle  of  May,  p.  30.  The  rent  of  the  '  Stoc  '  fishing  for 
the  season  of  1873  was  £550  sterling. 

1  Bull  of  Pope  Innocent,  Book  of  Lindores,  p.  39.  The  Caruca,  so  often  met 
with  in  old  records,  meant  a  team  of  eight  oxen,  supposed  to  be  required  for  the 
tillage  of  a  ploughland,  which  was  subdivided  accordingly  into  eight  '  ox-gangs,' 
or  Bovata.  From  a  charter  of  William  the  Lion,  we  gather  that  a  ploughgate,  or 
carucate  of  land,  in  Scotland,  contained  104  acres.— E.  W.  Robertson's  Essays, 
pp.  89,  133. 

2  lb.,  p.  9.  3  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  xl. 


72  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

enactment  arose  out  of  the  example  set  by  the  primitive  church 
on  the  occasion  of  Barnabas  and  Saul  being  ordained  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  the  Gentiles.  It  is  recorded  (Acts  xiii.  v.  3),  that 
'  when  they  had  fasted  and  prayed,  and  laid  then  hands  on  them, 
they  sent  them  away.'  In  conformity  with  this  example,  fasting 
was  deemed  an  essential  element  in  the  act  of  ordination  ;  and  as 
the  Lord's  day  was  a  joyful  festival  (because  commemorative  of 
the  resurrection),  on  which  fasting  was  strictly  forbidden,  ordina- 
tions takhig  place  on  that  day  were  wanting  in  this  scriptural 
requirement,  and  were  therefore  declared  invalid.  The  abbot 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Council  held  at  Perth  in  A.D.  1212, 
convoked  by  the  Bishops  of  St  Andrews  and  of  Glasgow,  under 
the  authority  of  Pope  Innocent  III.,  for  the  purpose  of  sanction- 
ing a  Crusade  for  the  relief  of  Jerusalem.  Great  privileges  and 
encouragements  were  held  out  as  inducements  to  join  the  Crusade, 
and  multitudes  took  up  the  Cross,  but  few  of  the  rich  or  great 
embarked  in  the  enterprise.1  It  was  given  as  a  reason  for  this 
backwardness,  that  many  of  the  rich  had  previously  earned  a  pro- 
mise of  paradise  in  reward  for  then-  services  against  the  Albigen- 
ses,  and,  as  has  bitingly  been  remarked,  '  perhaps  they  feared  be- 
ing put  in  possession  thereof  too  soon,  by  losing  then  lives  in  that 
service.' 2 

The  next  incident  in  the  History  of  Lindores  is  of  a  character 
calculated  to  give  weight  to  the  accusation  of  those  avIio  charge 
abbeys  with  being  fostering  places  of  luxury  and  self-indulgence. 
Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  'Annals,'  says,  'In  the  zeire  1217,  Guallo, 
the  Pope's  Legat,  comes  to  Scotland,  excommunicats  K.  Alexander 
II.,  and  lies  quhole  nobility  and  gentrey,  and  interdicts  the  king- 
dom from  the  usse  of  aney  religious  exercise,  and  solemnly  with 
book  and  bell,  cursses  all  of  quhat-sumever  degree  or  quality  that 
had  carried  armes  against  K.  John  of  England,  now  Pope's  wassal 
and  feodatary,  wich  interdiction  lasted  from  February  1217,  to 
February   1218,  a  quhole  zeire;   about  wich  tyme  the  Prior  of 

. ^ 

i  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  xlii.  -   Fuller's  Holy  War.  p.  156. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  73 

Dursorne  (Durham),  and  the  Dean  of  York  came  to  Scotland,  being 
sent  by  the  English  legat,  making  their  progress  from  Berwick 
to  Aberdein,  and  absolved  the  kingdom  from  Guallo's  cursse 
and  interdictione  ;  and  in  return  home  to  England,  being  lodged 
in  the  Abbey  of  Londors,  the  Prior  of  Durseme  was  burnt  to 
death  in  his  chalmer,  wich  took  fyre  hi  the  night  by  chance  '  (his 
chamberlain  being  very  drunk)  and  he  fast  asleep.'  f  The  curse 
which  the  prior  and  his  colleague  came  to  remove,  was  pronounced 
because  of  the  assistance  rendered  by  King  Alexander  to  the 
Barons  of  England,  when  they  extorted  the  famous  Magna  Charta 
from  King  John.'2  Sir  James  Balfour  is  in  error  in  stating  that 
the  Prior  of  Durham  died  at  Lindores.  He  was  able  to  proceed 
on  his  journey  homeward;  but  he  suffered  so  much  from  the  effects 
of  the  fire,  that  his  health  was  seriously  affected,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  he  got  as  far  as  the  Priory  of  Coldingham,  where 
he  became  much  worse,  and  died  on  the  loth  May  1218. 

The  ceremony  of  excommunication  was  performed  with  awful 
solemnity,  and  it  required  more  than  ordinary  firmness  and  en- 
lightenment to  be  able  to  brave  the  terrible  sentence.  While  the 
dread  words  were  bemg  pronounced,  bells  were  solemnly  tolled, 
and  the  Cross  inverted,  '  By  the  authority  of  Almighty  God  the 
King  was  cursed  in  soul  and  body,  in  his  going  out  and  in  his 
coming  in,  sleeping  and  waking,  day  and  night,  at  every  hour 
and  in  all  places.  None  were  to  compassionate  him  in  his  suffer- 
ings, and  none  to  relieve  him  in  his  sickness.'  Torches  prepared 
for  the  purpose  were  cast  down  and  trampled  out,  symbolical  of 
the  awful  adjuration,  '  unless  he  repent  may  his  light  be  put  out 
before  Him  who  liveth  for  ever  and  ever.' 4  '  No  priest  dare 
officiate  in  public  or  private,  save  only,  that  baptism  was  allowed 

1  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  41.  -  Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Vol.  11.,  p.  2. 

3  'The  prior,  Thomas  de  Melsonby,  was  a  man  of  refined  taste,  and  some  of 
the  finest  parts  of  Durham  cathedral  owe  their  origin  to  him.' — llunter"s  History 
ofth  Priory  of  <  'oldingham. 

1  Southey's  Book  of  tin  Church,  p.  115;  Morton's  Monastic  Annuls  o/Teviot- 
dale,  p.  84. 


74  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHX,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

to  infants,  and  confession  to  those  at  the  point  of  death.     The 
dead  were  deprived  of  Christian  burial.' 1 

'The  church  by  mandate  shadowing  forth  the  power 
She  arrogates  o'er  heaven's  eternal  door, 
Closes  the  gate  of  every  sacred  place. 

Bells  are  dumb  ; 
Ditches  are  graves — funereal  rites  denied. 
And  in  the  churchyard  he  must  take  his  bride 
Who  dares  be  wedded.' 2 

Alexander  was  personally  released  from  this  sentence  on  his 
submission  to  the  Pope  ;  but  the  churches  were  not  opened  or  his 
people  absolved,  until  they  had  contributed  largely  to  the  officiat- 
ing cardinal.  This  functionary's  behaviour  and  extortions  were 
so  oppressive,  that  they  roused  the  Scottish  clergy  into  a  combined 
determination  to  send  deputies  to  Rome  to  complain  of  his  con- 
duct ;  but  though  Guallo  was  obliged  to  disgorge  part  of  his  ex- 
actions, the  spoil,  it  is  said,  was  shared  between  himself  and  his 
master.  The  Scottish  deputies  were  therefore  obliged  to  be 
content  with  a  Bull  from  the  Pope,  confirming  the  privileges  and 
future  independence  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.3 

It  was  during  these  troublous  times  that  the  life  of  Guido,  the 
first  Abbot  of  Lindores,  was  drawing  to  a  close ;  and,  singularly 
enough,  his  spirit  passed  away  on  the  same  day  that  the  Earl  of 
Huntingdon,  the  founder  of  the  abbey,  breathed  his  last  in 
England.  They  both  died  on  Monday,  the  17th  June  1219. 
The  historian,  in  recording  the  abbot's  death,  says,  '  he  ruled 
the   monastery  with   firmness,  and   left  behind    him  twenty-six 

1  Southey,  Bk.  of  the  Church,  p.  117.  2  Wordsworth. 

3  Spottiswoode's  History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  85.  A  fac- 
simile of  the  Bull  is  given  in  the  first  part  of  The  National  Manuscripts  of  Scot- 
land, No.  47.  The  late  Joseph  Robertson  says,  '  its  writing  may  be  regarded  as 
one  of  the  triumphs  of  the  Roman  chancery.'  Guallo  built  the  church  of  Sant 
Andrea,  still  extant  at  Yercelli  in  Piedmont,  his  native  country,  with  the  money 
he  levied  in  England  and  Scotland. — Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Yol.  II.,  p.  8, 
note. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  75 

monks  in  it,  instructed  in  the  ordinances  of  religion.  In  his  last 
moments  he  exhorted  them  all  to  mutual  charity,  and  with  his 
head  leaning  on  the  hand  of  one  of  the  brethren,  his  countenance 
shadowing  forth  inward  peace,  he  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord.' l  Of 
Guido's  successor,  John,  almost  nothing  is  known,  excepting  that 
he  was  a  monk  in  the  abbey  before  his  promotion.2  He  must 
have  held  the  office  of  abbot  at  least  twenty-five  years ;  for,  on 
the  28th  April  1244,  he  was  a  witness  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
Aberdeen,  to  a  Charter  conveying  the  Church  of  Bourdyn  (Bourtie) 
to  the  Church  and  Canons  of  St  Andrews.3 

John  was  succeeded  by  Thomas,  of  whom  it  is  recorded,  that 
he  was  remarkable  for  the  holiness  of  Iris  life,  vir  magna  sanctitatis} 
He  and  the  prior  of  the  abbey  were  appointed  by  Pope  Alexander 
IV.,  A.D.  1257,  to  settle  a  dispute  between  the  monks  of  Reading, 
in  Berkshire,  as  superiors  of  the  priory  of  the  Isle  of  May,  regard- 
ing a  tenement  in  North  Berwick.  'After  a  litigation  involving 
much  argument,  labour  and  expense,'  they  pronounced  their  de- 
cision '  in  the  Conventual  Church  of  St  Andrews,  on  Monday 
after  the  feast  of  St  Luke  the  Evangelist  (18th  October),  in  the 
year  A.D.  12 61.5 

In  the  time  of  Thomas,  or  that  of  his  predecessor,  Roger  de 
Quincy,  Earl  of  Winchester,  and  Constable  of  Scotland,  bestowed 
on  the  monks  of  Lindores,  the  right  of  taking  '  two  hundred  cart 
loads  of  brushwood  or  heather  (bruere) ;  and  as  many  peats  as 
they  require  for  the  use  of  their  house,  from  that  peatery  which 
is  called  Menegre,  in  the  moor  of  Kindelouch,  none  else  having 
right  to  dig  peats  there  without  their  permission  ;  together  with 
an  acre  of  land  to  dry  their  peats  on,  and  two  acres  on  w7hich 


1  Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  34,  and  Bk.  IX.,  cap.  27. 

2  Fordun — a  Goodal,  Ilk.  IX.,  cap.  27. 

3  Collect,  of  Aberdeen,  etc.,  Spald.  Club,  p.  5G5.  He  appears  as  second  witness 
to  the  charter  to  the  Earldom  of  Fife,  granted  at  Perth  by  Alexander  II..  on  the 
21st  March  1225.— Nat.  MS.  of  Scotland,  Fart  1.,  No.  50. 

*  Fordun,  Bk.  X.,  cap.  33. 

6  Recwds  of  th*  Prioi'y  of  May,  pp.  xxii.-xxvii. 


76  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHX,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

to  stove  their  peats  and  heather,  with  pasturage  for  ten  ewes  and 
two  kye  for  the  use  of  the  keeper  of  their  fuel  on  the  moor.'1 

The  family  of  De  Quincy,  from  whom  the  monks  acquired  the 
right  to  the  moor  of  Kinloch,  appears  in  Scottish  history  for 
three  generations,  and  then  suddenly,  by  the  failure  of  heirs  male, 
the  name  became  extinct  in  Scotland.2  Their  appearance  and 
rise  in  Scotland  is  accounted  for  by  their  close  relationship  to  the 
Royal  Family,  their  direct  ancestor,  Seher  De  Quincy,  having  mar- 
ried Maud  St  Liz,  the  daughter  by  her  first  marriage  of  Queen 
Maud,  wife  of  David  I.  Robert  De  Quincy,  the  first  of  the  name 
that  occurs  on  record  in  Scotland,  married  Orabile,  Countess  of 
Mar,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Nes,  the  son  of  William,  owner  of  the 
lands  of  Locres  (Leuchars)  in  Fife,  and  of  Duglyn  (Deuglie),  in 
Perthshire.3  Through  his  marriage  with  this  rich  heiress,  Robert 
De  Quincy  acquired  these  properties,  besides  other  estates  in  Scot- 
land, of  which  that  of  '  Kindelouch '  appears  to  have  been  among 
the  number.4 

It  may  be  affirmed,  almost  with  certainty,  that  we  owe  to  the 


1   Chartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  41. 

-  Thomas  De  Quincey,  the  well-known  author,  claimed  to  be  a  cadet  of  this 
family. 

3  Chartulary  of Cambuskenneth,  pp.  91-93. 

4  Charter  records  carry  back  evidence  of  the  ownership  of  the  properties  of 
Leuchars  and  Deuglie  to  a  very  early  period,  certainly  to  the  beginning  of  the 
twelfth  century,  if  not  even  earlier.  From  the  Chartulary  of  Cambuskenneth  we 
learn  that  Seher  De  Quincy,  Earl  of  Winchester,  sitting  in  his  court  at  Locres, 
circa,  1207,  bestowed  on  the  Church  St  Mary  of  Sniveling,  afterwards  Cambus- 
kenneth,  the  lands  of  Duglyn,  all  as  they  were  marched  by  the  same  bounds  as 
when  they  were  held  by  his  grandfather  Nes,  the  son  of  William. — Cambuskenneth 
Chartulary,  pp.  91-93.  At  a  subsequent  period,  'between  1210  and  1219,  Earl 
Seher,  with  consent  of  his  son  Roger,  bestowed  on  the  canons  of  St  Andrews 
three  merks  of  silver  yearly  from  his  mill  of  Lochres,  for  the  weal  of  the  souls  of 
his  grandfather  and  grandmother,  of  his  father,  Robert  De  Quinci,  and  his 
mother  Orabile.'  Before  this,  '  about  the  year  1180,  Nes,  the  son  of  AVilliam, 
and  Orabile,  his  daughter  and  heir,  gave  the  church  of  Losresch  in  Fife,  to  the 
canons  of  St  Andrews.' — Antiquities  of  Aberdeen  ami  Banff,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  C92. 
This  latter  appears  to  be  the  modern  Lathrisk. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  77 

De  Quincys  the  fine  old  Church  of  Leuchars.  Symone  de  Quinci, 
evidently  a  cadet  of  the  family,  who  had  two  clerics  under  him, 
was  parson  (persona)  of  Louchres,  circa  1210-1219,1  and  the 
enriched  details  of  the  beautiful  romanesque  style  of  the  church 
corresponds  with  the  architecture  of  the  period  during  which  they 
held  their  courts  at  Leuchars,  as  lords  of  the  estate  ; 2  reasons 
which  may  be  held  as  conclusive  on  the  point. 

Seher  De  Quincy,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Orabile.  succeeded  to 
his  mother's  large  estates.  He  was  created  Earl  of  Winchester 
in  1207,  and  was  one  of  the  celebrated  twenty-five  barons  who 
were  appointed  to  enforce  the  observance  of  Magna  Charta.  In 
accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  age,  he  set  out  on  a  crusade,  and 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Damietta  in  1219.  He  died  shortly 
afterwards  in  the  Holy  Land,  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.3  He 
was  succeeded  in  his  honours  and  estates  by  his  son  Roger,  who 
married  Helen,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Alan  Fitz  Roland,  Lord 
of  Galloway,  and  by  her,  besides  acquiring  large  accessions  to 
his  estates,  he  became  Constable  of  Scotland.4 

Between  the  years  1235  and  1264,  Roger  De  Quincy,  Earl  of 
Winchester,  and  Constable  of  Scotland, '  from  motives  of  piety,' 
conferred  on  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lindores,  in  addition  to  the 
grant  of  the  moor  of  Kindelouch,  the  further  favour  of  the  patron- 
age and  revenues  of  the  Church  of  Cullessy ;  a  right  which  was 
confirmed  by  Pope  Nicholas  IT.,  on  the  13th  December  1288,  on 
condition  that  a  suitable  portion  of  the  revenues  be  reserved  for 
a  perpetual  Vicar.5 

Roger  De  Quincy  died  in  1264,  and  his  vast  estates  in  Scotland 
descended  to  three  daughters,  who,  by  marriage,  carried  them  into 
the  families  of  Comyn,  De  Ferrars,  and   De   La  Zouche,  whose 


Reg.  Priory  of  St  Andrew's,  pp.  254-257. 
Characteristics  of  Old  Church  Architecture,  pp.  11-13. 
Historic  Peeragi  of  England,  by  Sir  Harris  Nicolas,  p.  Mo. 
Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  II.,  p.  25. 
Historical  Documents  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  CO. 


(  8  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

representatives  forfeited  the  whole, -by  espousing  the  cause  of  Baliol 
in  the  Wars  of  the  Succession.1 

The  privilege  which  Roger  De  Quincy  bestowed  on  the  Monks 
of  Lindores,  of  digging  peats  in  the  moss  of  Kinloch,  was  one  of 
great  value,  as,  even  in  districts  where  coal  now  abounds,  peat  at 
that  period,  and  for  long  afterwards,  formed  the  common  fuel  of 
the  country.2  '  iEneas  Sylvius,  afterwards  Pope  Pius  II.,  records 
the  wonder  with  which  he  beheld,  in  the  year  1435,  not  far  from 
Edinburgh,  coal  which  he  took  for  stones,'  'joyfully  received  as 
alms  by  the  half-naked  beggars  who  stood  shivering  at  the  church 
doors.'3  The  abundance  of  brushwood  over  the  whole  country 
supplied  ready  fuel,  and  it  is  natural  to  suppose  coal  would  only 
be  extensively  dug  for  after  the  wood  was  exhausted.  The 
'  Moor  of  Kindeloch,'  after  the  Earl  granted  it  to  the  abbey,  was 
known  as  the  Monks  moss}  It  is  curious  also  to  notice,  that  the 
far-off  grant  of  an  English  nobleman  has  given  its  name  to  the 
neighbouring  railway  station  of  Ladybank,  now  so  familiar  to 
travellers  through  Fife.  Lindores  Abbey  was  dedicated  to  the 
Virgin  Mary,  and  in  honour  of  her  the  monks  fondly  named  their 
newly  acquired  possession,  '  Our  Lady's  Bog ; '  latterly  it  was 
known  as  Ladybog,  and  shortly  before  the  station  was  erected, 
Ladybank. 

The  charter  to  the  moss  contains  names,  now  obsolete,  of 
places  in  the  neighbourhood.  One  of  these  names  Thors-ton,  is 
indicative  of  Norse  origin,  while  the  existing  names  of  Orkie, 
Kettle  (Ketil  is  a  name  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Iceland),  Wed- 
dersby,  and  the  Boose,  all  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  point  to  an 
early  and  somewhat  extensive  Danish  settlement. 

The  Monastery  of  Lindores  had  the  honour  of  a  visit  from 
Alexander  III.,  on  the  14th  March  1265.  The  King  was  accom- 
panied by  Alexander  Comyn,  Earl  of  Buchan,  Justiciar  of  Scot- 


'  Notes  awl  Queries,  4  th  S.,  Vol.  X.,  p.  3G6. 

2  Innes's  Sketches  of  Early  Scot.  His.,  pp.  101-131,  and  note,  p.  132. 

J  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  pp.  93,  94.  4  Sibbald's  Fife,  p.  385. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.      79 

land,  and  William,  Earl  of  Mar,  Great  Chamberlain.  The  presence 
of  these  officials  make  it  all  but  certain,  that  Alexander  was  on 
one  of  those  annual  circuits  for  the  administration  of  justice,  for 
which  he  is  so  justly  celebrated.     It  is  said  of  him  :— 

'  The  Lawch  he  gert  be  kepyd  welle, 
In  all  his  Kynryk  ilka  dele.1 

At  that  period  the  abbeys,  then  in  their  first  new  splendour, 
afforded  accommodation  superior  to  that  of  the  castles  of  the 
nobles.      The  numerous  Royal  Charters  dated  from  monasteries, 
show  that  the  Sovereigns,  in  their  journeys  through  the  country, 
very  frequently  took  up  their  abode  in  them,  where,  during  their 
temporary  sojourn,  in  addition  to  the  comfort  of  the  abbey,  they 
had  the  advantage   of  meeting   and  conversing  with  the   best 
educated  men  of  the  time.     Not  unfrequently,  however,  the  monks 
received  substantial  favours  in  return  for  their  hospitality.     On 
the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  Lindores,  the  King  repaid  his  hosts  by 
bestowing  on  them  the  privileges  of  a  '  Free  Forest '  over  their 
woods  ofLundoris.2     'Forest,'  in  charter  language,  'signifies  a 
range   having   certain   legal   privileges   for  the  preservation   of 
game.' 3     The  penalty  for  infringing  these  rights  is  fixed  by  the 
charter  at   ten   pounds;    a  heavy   fine   when   estimated   by   its 
equivalent  in  grain,  and  shows  the  value  that  was  set  upon  the 
privilege  conferred  by  the  Royal  Charter. 

Thomas,  the  third  abbot,  died  A.D.  1273,  and  was  succeeded  by 
John  the  Prior,  who  died  the  following  year,  and  was  buried  in 
JCelso.     Previous  to    John's  appointment  as  abbot,  he  and  the 


i  Wyntoun,  Bk.  VII..  c.  x.  -  Bk.  of  Lindores  Chart.,  No.  9. 

>  L3x  /•-'/'  -M  Iros,  Pref.,  p.  xv. 

4  Wyntoun  says,  in  the  time  of  King  Alexander  III. 
■  A  Bolle  of  aits  pennys  foure 
Of  Scottis  mone  past  noucht  oure  ; 
A  Bolle  of  Bere  awcht  or  ten 
In  comowne  prys  sawld  wes  then.' 

Bk.  VII.,  cap.  x. 


80  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

Abbot  of  Dunfermline,  and  two  bishops,  were  selected  by  the 
clergy  of  Scotland  to  represent  them  in  London,  before  the  Papal 
Legate,  who  had  been  peremptorily  refused  admission  into  the 
kingdom  by  Alexander  III.  The  representatives  of  the  clergy 
showed  themselves  worthy  of  the  trust  confided  to  them  ;  they 
withstood  the  demands  of  the  Legate,  resolutely  withholding  then- 
sanction,  and  refusing  obedience  to  canons  which  he  procured, 
affecting  the  privileges  and  liberties  of  the  Chinch  of  Scotland.1 

It  was  either  in  the  time  of  John,  or  that  of  his  successor,  that 
the  monks  solicited  permission  from  the  Pope  to  wear  caps  or 
bonnets,  while  engaged  in  celebrating  the  solemn  festivals  of  the 
church,  and  in  processions.  The  Pope  acceded  to  their  request, 
'  because  the  coldness  of  the  climate  of  Scotland'  rendered  many 
of  them  unable  to  celebrate  the  divine  services  of  the  monastery ; 
but  during  the  '  reading  of  the  Gospels,  and  the  elevation  of  the 
body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  he  strictly  enjoined  that  the  heads 
of  all  be  uncovered  and  due  reverence  be  paid.2 

The  successor  of  John,  the  trusted  representative  of  his 
brethren,  was  Nicholas,  the  cellarer  of  the  abbey.8  '  The  cel- 
larer ought,'  says  the  rule  of  the  Benedictine  Abbey  of  Bee  in 
Normandy,  '  to  be  the  father  of  the  whole  congregation,  to  have  the 


i  Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  19. 

2  Book  of  Lindores,  p.  24.  The  monks  had  to  take  other  precautions  against 
cold.  '  Having  daily  to  recite  long  offices  in  cold  churches,  at  early  hours  of  the 
morning,  they  found  it  expedient  to  adopt  long  coats  of  skins  as  part  of  their 
choir  costume.  These  were  called  '  pellicese '  (Latin,  pellis,  a  skin).  In  1200 
a.d.,  a  Synod  at  London  restricted  the  Black  Monks  and  Nuns  (Benedictines)  to* 
lamb,  cat,  and  fox  skin,'  to  restrain  luxury  in  dress. — Contemp.  Reinew,  Vol.  I., 
p.  2G7.  As  these  '  pellises,'  from  continued  use,  became  unsightly,  the  monks 
began  to  wear  linen  tunics  over  them  while  celebrating  divine  service ;  these 
were  called  super-pelliccse,  hence  surplice.  In  the  inventory  of  articles  given  in 
Liber  Sancte  Mark  de  Lundores,  belonging  to  the  abbey,  a.d.  1530,  it  is  worthy 
of  note,  that  only  the  permitted  kind  of  skins  are  enumerated  amongst  them, 
'V  quhyt  cat  skyns  \vl  diuss  (divers)  furryngs  of  hwds  and  brok  blak  cla1.' — 
P.  33. 

3  Fordun — a  Goodal,  Bk.  X..  cap.  34. 


ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS.  81 

care  both  of  these  in  health,  and  also,  and  especially  of  the  sick 
brethren  ' x  It  is  not  known  how  long  Nicholas  held  the  office  of 
abbot,  neither  is  anything  known  of  his  history  or  administra- 
tion •  he  appears  as  a  witness  to  a  charter  conveying  the  lands  ot 
Galuflat  to  Nichol  de  Haya  of  Enrol;2  and  also  to  a  charter  of 
Patrick  Earl  of  Dunbar,  relieving  the  monks  of  the  Isle  of  May 
from  the  payment  of  a  cow  for  their  lands  inLambermor  (Lammer- 

U  While  Nicholas  was  abbot,  Prince  Alexander,  the  son  of 
Alexander  III.,  and  heir  to  the  throne,  for  some  reason  which  is 
not  recorded,  came  to  Lindores  Abbey,  and  after  a  lingering  ill- 
ness died  there.  Only  a  few  months  before,  his  marriage  had 
been  celebrated  with  great  splendour.  This  marriage  was  the 
subject  of  great  rejoicing  throughout  Scotland,  as  it  gave  promise 
of  the  removal  of  the  possibility  of  a  disputed  succession.  These 
hopes  were  rudely  dashed  by  the  tidings  of  his  illness,  and  the 
old  chroniclers  can  scarcely  find  words  to  express  the  sorrow  and 
gloom  which  overspread  the  land.  It  is  on  record  that  the  Prince 
was  filled  with  forebodings  of  the  dangers  to  which  Scotland 
would  be  exposed  by  his  death,  and  'upon  the  night  before  he 
died  he  talked  wildly  about  an  approaching  contest  with  nis 
uncle  (Edward  I.),  and  suddenly  exclaimed, «  Before  to-morrows 
sun  rise  the  sun  of  Scotland  will  have  set.' 4 

'In  after  years  of  misery  and  woe,  those  who  stood  around  his 
death-bed,  and  listened  to  his  words  of  warning,  deemed  that  he  had 
been  inspired  in  his  dying  hours  with  prophetic  visions  of  the 
future  ' 5  He  died  on  the  feast  of  St  Agnes  (21st  January  128o-4), 
in  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  among  his  ances- 
tors, in  the  Abbey  Church  of  Dunfermline. 


i  St  Anselm,  R.  W.  Church,  p.  65. 
*  Spald.  Club  Mis..  Vol.  I!.,  p.  810. 
a  Records  of  Priory  of  May,  p.  13. 
i  Chronicon  de  Lanercost,  p.  Ill  ;  Fordun,  Bk.  X..  cap. 
■  Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Vol.  II.,  p.  116. 
F 


82  ABBOTS  GUIDO,  JOHN,  THOMAS,  JOHN,  AND  NICHOLAS. 

There  are  some  letters  of  Prince  Alexander  addressed  to  his 
uncle  Edward  I.,  preserved  in  the  Tower  of  London.  They  throw 
no  light  on  contemporary  history,  but  they  are  of  interest,  as  show- 
ing the  friendly  feelings  which  subsisted  between  the  two  coun- 
tries at  the  time.1 

The  calamitous  death  of  Alexander  III.  filled  the  cup  of 
Scotland's  sorrow.  The  prosperity  which  the  country  had  enjoyed 
under  him,  was  quenched  in  strife  and  bloodshed,  in  the  me- 
morable struggle  which  ensued  on  the  failure  of  direct  heirs  to 
the  throne,  and  centuries  elapsed  ere  the  country  regained  the 
prosperity  which  it  had  attained  in  his  days. 

'  Scotland  inenyd2  hym  fill  sare, 
For  wilder  hyui  all  his  Legis  ware 
In  honore  Qwyete,  and  Pes.'3 

The  change  from  this  happy  and  prosperous  condition,  to  the 
long  years  of  misery  and  bloodshed  which  ensued,  gives  a  touch- 
ing pathos  to  the  oldest  of  all  the  extant  songs  of  Scotland ;  and 
which  '  wes  made  of  hym.' 

'  Quhen  Alysander  our  Kyng  was  dede, 
That  Scotland  led  in  luive  and  le, 
Away  was  sons  of  ale  and  brede, 
Of  wyne  and  wax,  of  gamyn  and  gle. 

'  Our  gold  wes  changyd  into  lede, 
Cryst,  borne  in-to  virgynte, 
Succour  Scotland  and  reniede 
That  stad  is  in  perplextye.'4 


1  A  fac-simile  of  one  of  the  Prince's  letters  is  given  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
ffalional  MS.  of  Scotland  (No.  65).  The  monkish  chronicler,  in  recording  the 
statement  in  the  text,  says  :  '  I  have  received  this  relation  from  those  who  stood 
by  his  bedside  at  death, — one  of  them  was  a  soldier,  and  the  Prince's  tutor 
(magister),  and  the  other  a  rector  of  a  church  and  his  chaplain  (sacerdos).' — 
Chronicon  de  Lanercost,  p.  37. 

-  Moaned — mourned.     Mein,  to  grieve  or  pity,  is  still  in  use  in  Fife. 

»  Wyntoun,  Vol.  I.,  p.  399.  4  lb. 


CHAPTER  X. 


EDWARD  AND  WALLACE. 


'  Powers  depart, 
Possessions  vanish,  and  opinions  change; 
But  by  the  storms  of  circumstance  unshaken, 
And  subject  neither  to  eclipse  nor  wane, 
Duty  exists.' 


Wordsworth. 


The  fears  the  lamented  Prince  expressed  of  his  uncle's  ambitious 
designs,  were  strikingly  fulfilled  in  the  very  place  where  they 
were  uttered.  On  the  23d  July  1291,  Edward  I.  came  to  Lindores 
Abbey,  and  it  is  recorded  that  John,  the  Abbot,  Sir  "William  of 
Fenton,  and  Sir  Simon  of  Freschele  (Fraser),  '  touched  the  Host, 
kissed  the  Gospels,'  and  swore  upon  the  great  altar  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  allegiance  to  Edward.1 

Two  years  later  John  Baliol  visited  Lindores  Abbey,  accom- 
panied by  his  officers  of  state,  John  Comin,  Earl  of  Buchan,  Con- 
stable of  Scotland,  Alexander  de  Baliol,  chamberlain,  and  other 
attendants.  The  result  of  this  visit  is  preserved  in  a  charter 
granted  by  Baliol  in  favour  of  Nicholas  de  Haya  of  Errol,  erecting 
'  the  lands  of  '  Errol,  Incheshech,  Kilspinedi,  Dronlawe,  Pethponti, 
Gaskengrai,  and  of  Fossewy  in  free  warren.'  The  seals  of  the 
noblemen  named  were  attached  to  the  charter  at  Lindores,  on  the 
1st  August  1294,  the  second  year  of  Baliol's  unhappy  reign.2 
Warrens  (from  wahren,  German  to  preserve)  seem  mainly  to  have 


1  Ragman's  Rolls,  p.  16.  '  Spald.  Club  Missl,  Vol.  II..  p.  313. 


84  EDWARD  AND  WALLACE. 

been  for  the  preservation  of  rabbits.  Contrary  to  what  might 
have  been  expected,  rabbits  were  very  scarce  in  the  thirteenth  and 
fourteen  centuries,  their  flesh  was  esteemed  a  delicacy,  and  the 
right  to  protect  them  was  regarded  as  a  most  valuable  privilege,1 
In  the  year  1296,  Lindores  Abbey  had  the  questionable  hon- 
our of  another  visit  from  Edward  I.  Baliol  had  just  completed 
his  humiliation,  by  resigning  the  crown  into  Edward's  hands,  and 
there,  as  at  every  place  where  he  stopped  in  his  progress  through 
the  kingdom,  Edward  compelled  all  classes  to  assemble  and  swear 
allegiance  to  him.  He  remained  for  this  purpose  at  Lindores 
longer  than  usual.  The  record  of  his  journey,  which  is  interesting 
from  its  local  allusions,  tells  us,  that '  on  Monday  (6th  August)  he 
was  at  Dunde  ;  on  Tuesday  at  Baligerny,  the  red  castle ;  on  Wed- 
nesday at  Perth  ;  on  Thursday  at  the  Abbey  of  Lundores ;  and  there 
he  remained  the  Friday,  St  Laurence's  day  (10th  August).  On 
Saturday  he  was  at  the  city  of  St  Andrews,  a  castle,  and  a  good 
town ;  on  Sunday  at  Markinch,  where  are  only  the  Minster  and 
three  houses,'2  on  Monday  he  was  at  the  Abbey  of  Dunfermline, 
where  nearly  all  the  kings  of  Scotland  lie,' 3  and,  it  is  added,  '  he 


1  Roger's  History  of  Agriculture,  quoted  Edin.  Review,  No.  257,  p.  52. 

2  The  '  Minster,'  as  the  writer  of  King  Edward's  itinerary  designates  Markinch 
Church,  has  been  replaced  by  a  modern  structure,  but  the  Minster  Tower  still 
stands.  It  is  '  pure  Norman,  one  of  five  of  the  same  character  to  be  found  in 
Scotland,'  and  is  anterior  to  the  time  of  Edward.  The  author  of  '  Characteristics 
of  Old  Church  Architecture,'  whose  opinion  we  have  quoted,  says,  'the  tower  at 
Markinch  is  a  good  and  nearly  perfect  specimen  '  of  its  kind.  Topping  the 
dome-vaulted  roof,  '  there  was  originally  a  low  pyramidal  stone  capping,  sur- 
mounted by  a  rod  and  weather-cock ;  but  in  1807,  this  characteristic  feature  was 
removed  to  make  way  for  the  present  incongruous  structure,'  pp.  20,  21. 

3  The  tombs  and  monuments  of  the  ancient  Scottish  Kings,  and  the  monuments 
which  were  raised  to  the  memory  of  warriors  and  statesmen,  of  whom  Scotsmen 
are  now  justly  proud,  have  all,  with  scarcely  one  exception,  been  utterly  demo- 
lished. Not  a  vestige  of  the  Royal  tombs  at  Dunfermline  remains,  excepting 
several  very  small  fragments  of  the  tomb  of  King  Robert  Bruce,  preserved  in  the 
collection  of  Mr  Paton  of  Dunfermline,  to  whom  the  country  is  indebted  for  the 
preservation  of  many  relics  of  historic  value.     These  fragments,  which  are  of 


EDWARD  AND  WALLACE.  85 

conquered  the  realm  of  Scotland,  and  searched  it,  as  is  above 
written,  within  twenty-one  wreeks  withat  any  more.' l 

It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Edward  carried  off  the  Coronation 
Stone  from  Scone.  Lists  of  those  who  swore  fealty  to  Edward  in 
the  Parliament  held  by  him  at  Berwick,  a  few  weeks  later,  are 
still  preserved  among  the  English  archives,  and  the  number  of 
names  recorded  shows  the  extent  of  the  humiliation  effected ; 
amongst  others  Thomas,  Abbot  of  Lundores,  Adam  of  Lumbyny, 
Patrick  of  Dundemor  (Dunmore),  William  of  Latheresk  (Lathrisk), 
Henry  of  Monimel  in  this  neighbourhood,  are  ingloriously  enrolled. 

Edward's  triumph  was  of  short  duration.  Within  a  year  of 
his  '  conquest'  of  the  country,  a  spirit  of  opposition  manifested  it- 
self, which  he  was  never  able  afterwards  effectually  to  quell.  The 
leader  in  this  movement  was  the  illustrious  hero,  William  Wallace, 
whose  name,  an  English  poet  has  truly  said,  '  is  found,  like  a  wild 
flower,  over  all  his  dear  country.' 3     Burning  with  indignation  at 


pure  white  marble,  exhibit  most  elaborate  workmanship,  and  show,  from  the  small 
fractions  of  carving  that  remain,  that  the  monument  must  have  been  of  an  ex- 
quisitely beautiful  Gothic  design.  Xo  Scotsman  but  must  now  regret  that 
fanaticism  should  have  been  allowed  to  wreak  its  rage  on  a  monument  which 
would  now  be  of  such  great  historic  value.  Even  the  massive  slab  of  niountain- 
lime-stone  which  formed  the  base  on  which  stood  the  tomb  of  Queen  Margaret, 
in  what  was  the  Lady  Chapel  of  Dunfermline  Abbey  Church,  has  not  escaped. 
Though  about  twelve  inches  in  thickness  it  has  been  split  asunder :  neither  the 
sanctity  of  the  grave,  nor  the  saintly  character  of  the  Queen,  proved  any  protec- 
tion. It  is  a  strange  anomaly,  and  much  to  be  deplored,  that  a  race  so  proud  of 
their  country  and  of  its  history,  should  have  demolished  the  monuments  of  the 
men  who  made  the  country  great.  The  tomb  of  Aymer  de  Valence,  the  brave 
opponent  of  Wallace  at  the  battle  of  Black  Earnside,  of  exquisite  design  ami 
workmanship,  is  still  preserved,  with  religious  care,  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

1  Hist.  Documents,  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  pp.30,  31. 

'-'  Ragman  Rolls,  p.  116-141. 

:  Wordsworth  Prelude.  This  holds  good  in  the  Highlands  as  well  as  the 
Lowlands.  The  twin  Lomonds  in  Fife,  whose  tops  are  seen  from  the  Highlands, 
peering  over  lesser  heights,  are  known  by  the  Highlanders,  as  Cuispairn  BhaUist, 
•  Wallace's  Marks'  at  quoits,  a  lasting  memorial  of  the  honour  in  which  the  name 
of  the  Scottish  hero  is  held. 


86  EDWARD  AND  WALLACE. 

the  utter  humiliation  of  his  country,  Wallace  gathered  around 
him  a  band  of  kindred  spirits,  and  within  a  few  months  wrenched 
stronghold  after  stronghold  from  Edward's  hands.1  Unsupported 
by  the  great  or  powerful,  who,  with  few  exceptions,  had  sworn 
fealty  to  Edward,2  the  success  of  Wallace  and  his  compatriots  is 
the  more  surprising,  and  proves  the  depth  of  patriotism  which  is 
to  be  found  among  the  people,  and  the  power 

'  "Which  a  brave  people  into  light  can  bring, 
For  freedom  combating.'3 

One  of  the  battles  of  the  war  of  independence  took  place  in  the 


1  Wyntoun,  Vol.,  II.  p.  120. 

'-'  For  the  nobles  it  ought  in  justice  to  be  stated,  that  Edward  had  contrived  to 
obtain  possession  of  the  eldest  sons  of  the  most  powerful  and  influential,  and  he 
held  them  as  hostages  for  the  good  conduct  of  their  fathers. 

3  Wordsworth.  Under  the  year  1300,  Sir  James  Balfour  in  his  '  Annals,'  gives 
an  account  of  a  great  battle  fought  on  the  north-western  declivity  of  Cairneyhall 
hill,  near  the  margin  of  Loch  Lindores.  He  says,  'In  this  zeire  John  Comyne 
the  Governour  defait  the  English  armey  two  several  times,  and  the  same  zeir 
K.  Edward  sent  a  great  armey  to  Fyffe,  and  miserably  wastit  the  same.  The 
Governour  sent  Sir  John  Fraser  with  4000  men  in  their  reire  quho  often  cut 
them  short,  and  in  Junij  in  a  battell  neir  the  Castell  of  Lindores,  assisted  by  Sir 
William  Wallace  ouerthrew  them  quyte,  and  killed  their  Generall  Sr  John 
Pseworth.  This  battle  is  called  Dillicarrew  Field  (Dal-a-cairidh,  dh  silent,  Gaelic, 
the  Field  of  the  Carey  ;  signifying  a  mound  at  a  bend  of  a  river  requiring  pro- 
tection from  the  encroachments  of  the  stream),  quherein  3000  Englishe  were 
killed  and  500  takin  prissoners.  The  Scots  lost  not  above  300,  in  respecte  the 
woods  and  passages  of  the  montans  and  quagmires  were  weill  knowen  to  them, 
only  Sir  John  Syntone,  Sir  Thomas  Lochore,  and  Sir  John  Balfour,  Shriffe  of 
Fyffe,  werwoundit  and  hurte.'  The  Castle  of  Lindores  mentioned  by  Sir  James 
stood  on  the  summit  of  the  high  ridge  at  the  east-end  of  Lindores  village. 
Boece  records  that '  Edward  I.  of  England  came  and  relieved  the  Castle  of  Loch- 
indore  (Loch  Lindores),  with  4000  souldiers,  and  then  destroyed  and  overcam 
Fyff '  (Book  XIV).  About  seventy  years  ago,  portions  of  the  foundations  of  the 
castle  were  excavated,  and  in  doing  so,  a  small  apartment,  in  which  was  a 
shelved  recess,  was  discovered.  On  the  shelves  lay  what  seemed  folded  cloth, 
which,  on  exposure,  soon  dissolved  and  disappeared.  The  site  of  the  castle  is 
known  by  the  villagers  as  'Macduff.1 


EDWARD  AND  WALLACE.  87 

neighbourhood  of  Lindores  Abbey,  within  the  limits  of  the 
'  Forest  of  Irnsyde,'  and  hence  it  is  known  by  the  name  of  the 
'Battle  of  Black  Irnsyde,'  or  Earnside.  Later  historians  find 
difficulty  in  reconciling  the  date  assigned  to  this  battle  (12th 
June  1298),  with  other  facts  in  Wallace's  history  ;  but  Blah*,  in  his 
•Relationes'  (believed  to  have  been  written  A.D.  1327)  distinctly 
states,  that  '  on  the  12th  June  1298,  the  guardian  of  the  king- 
dom (Wallace)  vanquished  the  English  in  battle  at  Ironside  in 
Fife,  with  their  general  and  leader  Aymer  de  Valence,  Earl  of 
Pembroke.' * 

Blind  Harry,  the  minstrel,  in  his  account  of  the  battle, 
says,  that  Wallace  and  a  hundred  of  his  followers  were  sur- 
rounded by  superior  numbers,  in  the  wood  of  Black  Irnsyde  and 


1  P.  7.  The  name  '  Black  Irnsyde,'  lias  given  rise  to  various  conjectures 
to  account  for  its  origin,  as  it  is  the  Tay  which  flows  past  the  scene  of  the 
fight,  the  Earn  being  merged  in  the  Tay  about  four  miles  further  up.  ^  It  has 
been  attempted  to  account  for  the  name  by  supposing  that  the  Earn,  in  some 
long  past  age,  flowed  in  a  separate  channel,  and. met  the  Tay  much  farther 
down,  and  therefore  the  '  Forest'  or  '  Wood '  was  on  the  Earn  side.  But  there 
can  be  little  doubt  the  name  is  derived  from  Fearn,  the  Gaelic  term  for  the  alder 
tree,  which  is  still  retained  in  am,  the  Scottish  appellation  of  the  alder.  The 
then  marshy  condition  of  the  low  grounds,  which  are  of  considerable  extent,  would 
be  peculiarly  favourable  for  the  growth  of  this  kind  of  tree ;  and  the  sloping 
sides  of  the  adjoining  '  Forest'  would,  in  consequence,  be  called  Earn  or  Arnside, 
the  latter  approaching  nearer  in  pronunciation  to  the  most  ancient  form  of  the 
name.  In  the  district  of  Aldearn  in  Moray,  there  is  a  place  named  Earnside, 
so  named  from  the  Earn  or  Alder  burn  which  runs  through  it.  Near  Hexham 
there  is  a  place  also  of  the  same  name.  The  river  Earn  itself  seems  to  derive 
its  name  from  the  same  root.  The  term  appears  in  Fernie  and  Collairnie— 
Cul-eamle— in  this  neighbourhood. 

Sir  James  Balfour,  who  died  A.D.  1657,  describes  the  Forest  of  Earnside  as 
'  scarce  ane  myle  in  length  of  bramble  and  hazel-nut  trees,  intermixed  with  some 
few  oaks,  was  of  old  great  and  beautiful,  and  four  miles  in  length  and  three  in 
breadth.'  In  the  end  of  the  last  century  some  parts  of  the  ground  had  much  the 
appearance  described  by  Sir  James,  but  it  is  now,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
portion  of  hill,  all  in  a  state  of  high  cultivation,  and  not  a  single  tree  or  shrub 
remains. 


88  EDWARD  AND  WALLACE. 

were   cut   off   from   all   communication   with   their   friends  ;    his 
words  are — 

•  To  Fyfe  he  (Wallace)  past,  to  wesy1  that  countre, 

Bot  wrangwarnyt  off  Inglissmen  was  he. 

Schyr  Jhon  Sewart  quhen  thai  wer  passyt  by, 

Fra  the  Ochell  he  sped  him  haistely  ; 

Upon  Wallace  folowit  in  all  his  rtiycht, 

In  Abernethy  tuk  luging  that  first  nycht. 

Apon  the  morn,  with  fiftene  hundredth  men, 

Till  Black  Irnsyde  his  gydis  couth  them  ken. 

Thar  Wallace  was,  and  mycht  no  message  send 

Till  sanct  Jhonstoun,  to  mak  this  jornay  kend.'2 

They  had  therefore  no  resource  left  but  to  fight  for  their  lives,  for 
Wallace  was  expressly  excluded  from  all  terms  of  amnesty  by 
Edward.  Hastily  throwing  up  a  stockade  of  trees  and  wattles, 
they  so  intrenched  themselves  that  their  foes  could  not  approach 
them,  excepting  to  almost  certain  death. 

'  A  rowm  was  left,  quhar  part  in  f rount  mycht  fayr, 
Quha  entrit  in,  agayn  yeid  nevir  mar.' 

Thus  set  at  bay,  their  assailants  ceased  their  attack ;  in  the 
interval  the  ministrel  tells  us  that  Wallace  bravely  ventured  out 
for  water  to  refresh  his  wounded  followers,  who  '  bled  full  mekill 
blud,  and  feblyt  fast  for  want  of  fuel.' 

'  Other  refut  (refreshment)  as  than  he  wyst  of  nayn, 
A  littil  strand  he  fand  that  ran  hym  by  ; 
Of  cler  watter  he  brocht  haboundandly, 
And  drank  him  selff,  syn  said  with  sober  mud,3 
"  The  wyn  of  Frans  me  thocht  nocht  halff  so  gud  "  "4 

Tidings  of  the  jeopardy  of  Wallace  and  his  followers  having 
spread,  five  hundred   of  his  countrymen  hasted  to  their  rescue. 

.  Wesy— vuk  "  Bk.  IX.,  lines  779-788.  3  Bk.  IX.,  Hues  974-978. 

*  The  '  littil  strand  '  still  runs  '  clear,'  not  far  from  what  was  once  the  site  of 
the  small  homestead  of  Mount  Ilalie  Butts.  The  field  is  still  known  by  that 
name. 


EDWARD  AND  WALLACE  89 

Thus  reinforced,  and  their  enemies  having  also  received  aid,  the 
fight  was  renewed  and  bravely  contested,  but  after  a  fierce  and 
determined  struggle  the  Scots  remained  masters  of  the  field.  Sir 
John  Graham  was  wounded,  and  Duncan  of  Balfour,  Sheriff  of 
Fife,  was  killed  in  the  battle.1 

The  name  of  '  Wallace's  Den,'  that  immemorially  attached  to  a 
deep  gully  on  the  farm  of  Parkhill,  which  has  disappeared  in  the 
course  of  agricultural  improvement,  affords  a  certain  amount  of 
presumptive  evidence  of  the  site  of  the  battle.  This  den  was  a 
little  to  the  eastward  of  Lindores  Abbey,  and  so  near  that  its  in- 
mates could  not  fail  to  hear  the  noise  of  the  fight  The  wearied 
warriors,  after  then  desperate  struggle,  repaired  to  the  abbey  for 
refreshment  and  rest. 

•  Wallace,  Crawfurd,  and  with  them  gud  Guthre, 
Rychard  Wallace  had  long  beyn  in  melle, 
And  Longaweill  in  to  Lindoris  baid  still : 
Fastyt  thai  had  to  lang  agayn  thar  will. 
Wallange  thai  maid  thar  St(e)wart  for  to  be  ; 
Off  meit  and  drynk  thai  fand  aboundandle, 
The  Priour  fled,  and  durst  na  reknyng  bid  ; 
He  was  befor  apon  the  tothir  syde."J 

The  arched  gateway  by  which  the  warriors  entered  Lindores 
Abbey  still  stands,3  and  surely,  it  is  pardonable  to  hold  in  venera- 
tion the  ground  once  known  to  have  been  trodden  by  one,  whose 
heroism  and  unselfish  devotion,  have  indissolubly  linked  his  name 
with  the  annals  of  his  country,  and  the  affections  of  the  people.4 


1  Blair's  Relationes,  pp.  7-76. 

*  Harry  tJie  Minstrel,  15k.  IX.,  lines  1117-1124.  3  See  Frontispiece. 

'  On  another  occasion,  in  an  early  period  of  his  career.  Wallace,  accom- 
panied by  his  mother,  came  from  Kilspindie,  in  the  ("arse  of  Gowrie,  by  lin- 
dores.    The  words  of  the  Blind  Minstrel  are — 

•  Besyd  Londoris  the  ferrye  our  thai  past. 
Syn  thro  the  Ochell  sped  thaim  wondyr  fast.' 

The  remains  of  an  ancient  pier  may  still  be  seen  at  ebb  tile,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  POW  of  Lindores,  which  undoubtedly  was  the  landing-place  for  the  abbey. 


90  EDWARD  AXD  WALLACE. 

Wallace   went    down   to    death   with   his    country    undelivered, 
but— 

'  The  greatest  gift  the  hero  leaves  his  race 
Is  to  have  been  a  hero.*1 

It  is  an  imperishable  bequest.  The  patriotism  of  Wallace  has 
infused  a  spirit  of  heroism  into  the  hearts  of  the  humblest  of  his 
countrymen,  which  has  roused  them  to  deeds  of  daring  in  the 
hour  of  then  country's  need ;  and  his  noble  struggle  still  forms  the 
subject  of  conversation  at  many  a  lowly  fireside.  But  his  fame  is 
so  exclusively  linked  in  the  popular  mind  with  warlike  feats,  that 
it  throws  light  on  his  character,  and  shows  the  true  source  of  his 
courage  to  know  that  when  his  neck  was  laid  bare  for  the  execu- 
tioner's axe,  there  fell  from  his  bosom  a  copy  of  the  Psalms  of 
David,  the  gift  of  his  mother,  and  the  companion  of  all  his 
wanderings. 

1  The  Spanish  Gipsy,  p.  153. 


CHAPTER    XL 

ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS,  ROGER  AND  JOHN  STEELE. 
DUKE  OP  ROTHESAY. 

1 A !  fredome  is  a  noble  thing ! 
Fredom  mayss  (makes)  man  to  haiff  liking ; 
Fredome  all  solace  to  man  giffis  : 
He  levys  at  ess  that  frely  levys ! 
A  noble  heart  may  haiff  nane  ess 
Na  ellys  nocht  that  may  him  pless 
Gift  fredome  f ailyhe ;  for  fre  liking 
Is  yharnyt  our  all  other  thing. 
Na  he,  that  ay  hass  levyt  fre, 
May  nocht  knaw  weill  the  propyrte, 
The  angyr,  na  the  wrechyt  dome, 
That  is  cowplit  to  foule  thyrldome, 
But  gyff  he  had  assayit  it, 
Than  all  perquer  he  suld  it  wyt ; 
And  suld  think  fredome  mar  to  pryss. 
Than  all  the  gold  in  warld  that  is.' 

The  Bruce,  Barbour. 

Within  six  months  after  the  execution  of  Wallace,  Robert  Bruce 
asserted  his  claim  to  the  throne  of  Scotland.  Those  who  rallied 
around  him  in  his  all  but  desperate  enterprise,  were  few  in  number, 
and  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  were  not  of  high  position  or  rank. 
One  of  these  exceptions  was  Sir  Gilbert  de  Hay  of  Errol,  and 
through  him  the  Abbey  of  Lindores  has  the  honour  of  being  con- 
nected with  the  deliverance  of  the  country  from  usurped  dommation. 
Sir  James  Balfour, in  his  Annals,  records,  'This  zeire(1306)  there  was 
a  mutuall  endenture  made  betwix  Sr  Gilbert  Haye  of  Erol  and  Sr 
Neill  Campbell  of  Lochaw,  and  Sr  Alexander  Setton,  knights,  at 


92  ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS, 

the  Abbey  of  Londors,  to  defend  the  King  Robert  Bruce  and  hes 
crowne  to  the  last  of  ther  bloodes  and  fortunes;  upon  the  sealling 
of  the  said  indenture  they  solemnly  toke  the  sacrament  at  St  Maries 
altar  in  the  said  Abbey  Church.-1  This  vow  involved  a  contest 
with  the  overwhelming  power  of  England,  but  it  was  nobly  ful- 
filled. The  three  compatriots  adhered  to  Bruce  with  unswerving 
devotion,  and  were  his  inseparable  companions  in  all  his  reverses 
and  wanderings.  Sir  Gilbert  had  the  honour  of  leading  a  thou- 
sand horse  at  the  final  victory  of  Bannockburn,  a  victory,  which 
a  true-hearted  Englishman  has  said,  was  'one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  which  ever  befell  England,  while  that  of  Strongbow,  in 
Ireland,  has  savoured  of  a  curse.'2  The  knight  of  Errol  was  one 
of  the  most  devoted  of  Bruce's  followers,3  and  for  his  faithful  and 
valiant  services  the  grateful  monarch  bestowed  on  him  the  office 
of  High  Constable  of  Scotland,  an  honour  which  his  descendants 
still  enjoy.4  It  ought  not  to  be  forgotten  too,  that  he  was  one  of 
the  thirty-eight  barons  who  subscribed  the  memorable  letter  to 
the  Pope  in  Arbroath  Abbey,  on  the  6th  April  1320,  in  which  they 
manfully  declared  that  if  his  Holiness  continued  to  show  favour  to 
England  at  the  expense  of  Scotland,  '  he  would  be  answerable  to 
the  Most  High  for  all  the  blood,  loss  of  souls,  and  other  calamities 
that  would  follow,'  and,  while  one  hundred  of  them  remained 
alive,  they  would  fight  for  the  liberty  and  independence  of  their 
country.'"  The  brave  old  knight  died  A.D.  1330,  and  was  laid 
among  his  ancestors  in  the  Abbey  of  Cupar,  in  Angus,  where,  how- 
ever, not  a  vestige  of  any  of  their  tombs  remains.6 

Sir  Neil  Campbell  was  the  grandson  of  Gillespie  Campbell, 
who  was  a  witness  to  the  charter  of  the  erection  of  Newburgh 
into  a  burgh  by  Alexander  III.,  and  son  of  Sir  Colin  Campbell  of 
Loclniw,  known  as  Macalan-More,  ancestors  of  the  family  of  Ar gyle. 


1  Vol.  I.,  p.  89.  -  Dr  Arnold.  »  Fordun,  Bk.  XII.,  cap.  11. 

•  Spald.  Club  Mis.,  Vol.  IT.,  p.  211. 

5  Hill  Burton.  Hist,  of  Scot.,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  401-G. 

6  Douglas'  Peerage,  Wood — Err<>l. 


ROGER  AND  JOHN  STEELE.      DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY.  93 

'  Sir  Neil  swore  fealty  to  Edward  L,  A.D.  1296,  but  afterwards  he 
joined  Bruce,  and  adhered  to  him  in  prosperity  and  adversity.  He 
fought  by  his  side  in  almost  every  encounter,  from  the  defeat  of 
Methven  to  the  victory  of  Bannockburn.'  Bruce  valued  his  ser- 
vices so  highly,  that  he  gave  him  his  sister,  Lady  Mary,  in  mar- 
riage, and  dowered  her  with  the  estates  forfeited  by  David  of 
Strathbogie,  Earl  of  Atholl.1 

Sir  Alexander  Seton  of  Seton  came  of  a  race  that  fought 
bravely  and  suffered  much  for  the  independence  of  Scotland.  He 
signed  the  famous  letter  to  the  Pope,  and  his  whole  career  shows 
how  faithfully  he  fulfilled  the  vow  he  had  made.  Alexander,  sup- 
posed to  be  his  eldest  son,  was  killed  in  opposing  the  landing  of 
Edward  Baliol  near  Kinghorn  (6th  August  1332).  His  second  son 
Thomas,  a  comely  and  noble  looking  youth,  a  hostage  in  the  lands 
of  Edward  III.  for  the  surrender  of  Berwick  if  not  relieved,  was 
hanged  before  the  gate  of  that  town,  so  near  that  his  father  the 
governor,  could  witness  his  son's  execution  ;  but  with  unswerving 
patriotism  Sir  Alexander  refused  to  save  his  son  by  the  betrayal 
of  his  trust ;  and  he  saw  his  thud  son  William  drowned  in  a 
gallant  attack  on  the  English  fleet,  near  Berwick.2  The  fate  of 
Seton's  sons  brings  painfully  before  us  the  heroic  sacrifices  by 
which  the  independence  of  the  country  was  maintained. 

On  the  6th  November  1314  the  Abbot  of  Londors,  four  months 
after  the  battle  of  Bannockburn,  appears  in  the  Parliament  sum- 
moned by  King  Robert  Bruce  at  Cambuskenneth  Abbey.  He  af- 
fixed his  seal  to  the  statute  then  enacted,  holding  and  declar- 
ing that  all  who  did  not  come  into  '  the  peace  of  the  king '  and 
acknowledge  him  as  then*  sovereign,  would  be  held  as  traitors 
and  their  estates  confiscated.3  If  the  abbot  was  Thomas  who 
swore  fealty  to  Edward  in  1296,  as  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe,  the  overwhelming  power  of  Edward,  and  the  violence  and 


1  Douglas'  Peerage,  Wood's  Ed. — Argyle. 

'-'  Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  171 ;  Douglas1  Peerage,  Wood's  Ed.—  Seton  of  Winton. 

3  Scott's  Poems,  Ed.  L857,  Vol.  X.,  p.  347. 


94  ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS, 

divisions  which  prevailed  formed  a  better  apology,  and  a  more 
valid  excuse  for  his  change  than  the  thinly  disguised  ambition  of 
modern  politicians.  Thomas  was  succeeded  by  Abbot  Adam, 
whose  name  appears  as  a  witness  at  Dundemor  (Dunmore,  errone- 
ously Dunmuir),  to  a  charter  in  1331  of  John  of  Dundemor,  con- 
veying to  the  monks  of  Balmerino  the  right  to  the  water  which 
runs  through  the  lands  of  Dunberauch  (Dumbarry)  in  the  parish 
of  Abernethy,  for  the  use  of  then  mill  of  Petgornach.1  He  also 
appears  as  a  witness  to  a  charter  of  David  II.,  A.D.  1342.2 

In  Abbot  Adam's  time,  Sir  David  de  Lindsay  of  Crawford, 
another  of  the  sturdy  barons  who  signed  the  famous  letter  to  the 
Pope,  retired  to  Lindores  Abbey,  and  spent  the  last  of  his  days  in 
the  quiet  of  its  retirement.  '  He  was  the  tried  friend  of  Bruce, 
who  bestowed  on  him  a  hereditary  annual-rent  of  one  hundred 
merks,  then  a  very  large  sum,  from  the  great  customs  of  Dundee.3 
He  was  intrusted  at  one  time  with  the  custody  of  Berwick  Castle, 
and  at  another  with  that  of  Edinburgh  ;  and  it  is  specially  men- 
tioned by  Wyntoun,  in  praise  of  his  orderly  and  prudent  conduct 
while  in  that  office, 

'  Intil  his  time  with  the  countrie 
Na  riot,  ita  rta  strife  made  he.' 

Towards  the  close  of  his  career  I  find,  says  his  distinguished 
descendant  and  biographer,  Lord  Lindsay,  '  him  mortifying,  as  it 
was  then  called,  two  marks  annually  out  of  the  lands  of  "  Peth- 
four,"  near  Cairnie,  in  the  parish  of  St  Madoes,  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  wax-light,  to  be  kept  burning  though  all  future  time,  at  the 
tomb  where  the  Lady  Mary,  his  late  wife,  lay  buried,  and  where 
he  hoped  to  be  laid  beside  her,  in  the  choir  of  the  Abbey  Church 
of  Lundors,  for  the  benefit  of  both  their  souls.'  The  charter  mak- 
ing this  provision  is  dated  at  the  monastery  on  the  19th  Novem- 
ber 1355.4 

1  Book  of  Balmerino,  pp.  40,  41.  2  Bk.  of  Lindores,  p.  iv. 

3  Lives  of  the  Lindsays,  Vol.  I.,  p.  48. 

4  lb.  Vol.  I.,  pp.  49,  50;  Charlulary  of  Lindores,  Charter  No.  VI. 


ROGER  AND  JOHN  STEELE.      DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY.  95 

Much  religious  importance  was  attached  to  the  burning  of  wax- 
lights  at  the  tomb  of  the  deceased  in  mediaeval  times.  What  the 
rich  were  able  to  procure  for  themselves,  the  poor  united  then  con- 
tributions to  provide  for  one  another.  In  the  same  century-  as  the 
bequest  of  Sir  David,  the  numerous  gilds  of  craftsmen  established  at 
that  peiiod  in  England,  made  this  one  of  the  special  objects  of  their 
fraternities.  One  of  the  rules  of  the  '  Gild  of  St  Katerine  in  the 
ate  of  Londone,  which  is  founden  in  the  Churche  of  Saint  Botulf 
with-oute  Aldrichesgate,'  A.D.  1389,  is  in  these  words :  '  Gif  it  so 
bifalle  that  a  symple  brother  dye,  that  may  nought  finde  himselve 
no  light,  than  the  V  tapres  of  the  weight  of  XX  li  of  wex  schul 
be  mad  newe,  and  set  aboute  the  body,  and  the  torches  also ;  and 
when  any  brother  is  ded,  that  he  have  the  torches  redy  to  bryng 
hym  withe  to  cherche  gif  ned  be.'1 

Lady  Mary,  the  wife  of  Sir  David  Lindsay,  for  whom  post- 
humous provision  for  lights  was  made,  was  descended  from  the 
Lay  Abbots  of  Abernethy,  a  family  whose  origin  is  lost  in  anti- 
quity, The  first  who  appears  in  record  is  '  Orm,  the  son  of  Hugh,' 
styled  of  'Abernithi,'  about  A.D.  1160,  and  Lawrence,  the  son  of 
Orm,  about  1230.  Sir  Alexander  of  Abernethy,  the  fourth  in 
descent  from  Lawrence,2  dying  without  male  hens,  the  great 
Lordship  of  Abernethy  was  divided  between  his  two  daughters, 
of  whom  Lady  Mary  was  the  younger.3    She  married  Sir  Andrew 


i  English  Gilds,  p.  8.  The  great  weight  of  the  wax-lights  provided  at  deaths 
and  funerals,  accounts  for  the  numerous  bequests  and  fines  payable  in  wax.  A 
stone  candlestick,  apparently  for  these  great  wax-lights,  was  found  in  a  window 
of  the  nave  of  Lindores  Abbey,  in  propria  situ. 

■  Spalding  Club  Misc.,  Vol.  V.,  p.  63. 

3  Lady  Margaret  of  Abernethy,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  of 
Abernethy,  married  John  Stewart,  Earl  of  Angus— (Hist.  Rec.  of  the  Fam. 
of  Leslie,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  18-37),— and  her  descendant,  the  Countess  of  Home, 
is  still  feudal  superior  of  the  lands  around  Abernethy.  These  lands  formed 
part  of  the  great  lordship  of  Abernethy,  and  were  originally  bestowed  on 
the  Church  by  Ncctan,  King  of  the  Picts,  '  perhaps  as  early  as  the  sixth  cen- 
tury, in  the  time  when  Columba  was  yet  alive.'— (Innes'  Scotland  in  the  Middle 


96  ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS, 

de  Leslie  (A.D.  1312),  and  her  eldest  son  by  this  marriage  succeeded 
to  her  estates  ;  and  through  him  the  family  of  Leslie,  now  repre- 
sented by  the  Countess  of  Rothes,  acquired,  besides  other  posses- 
sions, the  barony  of  Balliiibriech.  On  the  death  of  her  first 
husband,  Lady  Mary  married  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Crawford,1  who 
in  all  probability,  in  accordance  with  his  own  wish,  was  buried  in 
the  choir  of  Lindores  Abbey  Church,  beside  his  wife. 

During  the  incumbency  of  Adam  as  abbot,  Duncan,  Earl  of 
Fife,  out  of  gratitude  for  his  escape  from  death  at  the  battle  of 
Durham,  and  subsequent  deliverance  from  captivity,  bestowed  on 
the  monastery  of  'Lyndores'  the  Chmch  of  '  Uchtermukedy' 
(Auchtermuchty),  and  the  lands  which  have  pertained  to  it  from 
of  old.'  The  incapacity  and  folly  of  David  II.  provoked  a  war 
with  England,  which  ended  in  his  defeat  at  Durham  hi  1346. 
The  Scottish  nobles  loyally  threw  themselves  around  their  king, 
and  bravely  defended  him.  Thirty  of  them,  among  whom  was 
David  de  la  Haye  of  Errol,  the  Constable  of  Scotland,  were  slam 


Ages,  p.  108),— certainly  not  later  than  the  beginning  of  the  eighth  century. 
The  territory  around  Abernethy  given  to  the  church  by  Nectan,  ad  diem  judicii, 
is  the  first  grant  of  land  on  record  in  Scotland,  and  therefore  it  is  all  the  more 
interesting  to  endeavour  to  trace  its  boundaries  and  extent.  It  is  defined  as 
lying  within  these  bounds  :  '  A  lapide  in  Apurfeirt  usque  ad  lapidem  juxta  Ceirfuill 
id  est  Lethfoss,  et  inde  in  altum  usque  ad  Athan' — (Chronicles  of  the  Picts  and 
Scots,  p.  6), — that  is,  from  the  stone  in  Apurfeirt  (conjectured  to  be  the  modern 
Aberargie),  to  the  stone  near  Ceirfuill  (Carpow),  thence  to  the  height  or  water- 
shed of  the  Ochils,  and  along  as  far  as  Athan,  which,  in  Gaelic,  signifies  a  little 
ford.  The  stone  at  Apurfeirt  has  not  been  identified,  though  diligent  search  has 
been  made  for  it ;  but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  large  fragment  of  rock  or 
boulder  which  still  forms  the  upper  march  between  the  lands  of  Carpow  and 
Clunie.  called,  from  its  being  split  in  two,  '  The  Cloven  Stone,'  is  the  stone  '  nigh 
Ceirfuill,'  mentioned  in  the  ancient  grant  of  the  Pictish  King,  and  that  the 
ford  over  the  Farg  at  Greenend  of  Aberargie,  is  '  the  Athan '  of  the  record. 
Assuming  these  boundaries  to  be  correct,  of  which  there  is  every  probability, 
the  lands  extended  from  the  river  Farg  to  Carpow  on  the  east,  and  from  the 
Earn  to  the  watershed  of  the  Ochils  on  the  south,  comprising  a  goodly  territory 
of  about  four  miles  long  by  three  miles  broad. 
1  Hist.  Rec.  of  the  Fam.  of  Leslie,  Vol.  L,  p.  23. 


ROGER,  AND  JOHN  STEELE.      DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY.  97 

at  his  feet ;  but  notwithstanding  their  gallant  defence,  the  King 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  with  his  captive  nobles,  was  marched  in 
triumph  through  London,  amid  great  rejoicings  of  the  citizens, 
escorted  by  20,000  soldiers,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tower.1 

The  charter  conveying  the  Church  of  Auchtermuchty  to  the 
Lindores  Abbey,  which  expressly  sets  forth  the  motives  of  the 
Earl's  pious  dedication,  was  executed  at  the  abbey  on  the  17th 
March  1350-1.2  Robert,  the  Steward  of  Scotland,  afterwards  King 
Robert  II.,  was  one  of  the  witnesses,  and  Laurence  Bell,  Provost 
of  the  Collegiate  Church  of  Abernethy,  another.3  In  virtue  of  this 
charter  feu-duties  are  still  collected  from  the  lands  which  belonged 
to  the  Church"  of  '  Uchtermukedy,'  by  the  proprietor  of  Lindores 
Abbey. 

William  of  Angus  succeeded  Adam  as  abbot.  His  name  appears 
as  a  witness  to  a  charter  by  Thomas,  Earl  of  Mar,  of  lands  in 
his  Lordship  of  the  Garioch,  A.D.  1355-7,  and  it  also  appears  in  a 
charter  in  favour  of  David  Aberkirder,  conveying  annual  rents 
from  various  properties  in  the  town  of  '  Dunde '  by  the  abbot 
and  convent  until  the  sum  of  forty  merks  sterling,  which  he  had 
advanced  for  the  use  of  the  monastery,  was  repaid.  This  charter 
was  confirmed  by  Robert  III.  on  the  23d  March  1392-3,  but  no 
date  is  given  in  the  charter  itself,  and  it  therefore  affords  no 
clue  to  the  length  of  time  William  of  Angus  continued  abbot.4  He 
was  one  of  the  clerical  members  of  the  Parliament  summoned  to 
meet  at  Scone  on  the  27th  September  1367,  to  consider  the  con- 
dition of  the  kingdom.5  The  infatuation  and  misrule  of  David  II. 
had  brought  the  country  almost  to  the  verge  of  ruin  ;  internal 
dissensions  and  war  hindered  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  famine 
and  pestilence  ensued,  and  the  people  were  brought  to  a  condition 
of  wretchedness  that  exceeds  belief.  To  such  straits  were  they 
reduced,  that  they  greedily  devoured  {more  porcorum,  like  swine, 


1  Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  192.  2  Book  of  Lindores,  p.  43. 

:;  Spald.  <'hil>,  Collections  of  Aberdeen,  etc.,  pp.  537,  8. 

1  Bk.  if  Lindores,  p.  48.  5  Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  376. 

G 


98  ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS, 

are  the  words  of  the  old  chronicler),  any  herbs  or  nuts  they 
could  pick  up  in  the  fields  or  woods.1  Besides  these  privations,  an 
eminent  ecclesiastic,  writing  a  few  years  later,  says,  '  slaughters, 
robberies,  fire-raisings,  and  other  crimes  passed  unpunished,  and 
outlawed  justice  was  banished  the  realm.' 2 

Two  years  earlier  (on  the  3d  August  1365)  David  II.  visited 
Lindores,  and  during  his  stay  confirmed  the  charter  of  Sh*  David 
Lindsay,  previously  referred  to.3  On  a  subsequent  occasion  the 
King  celebrated  Christmas  in  the  abbey,  and,  in  keeping  with  his 
character,  and  perhaps  his  necessities,  left  his  expenses  unpaid. 
David  de  Barclay,  Sheriff  of  Fife,  who  had  advanced  the  amount 
for  the  Royal  festivities,  was  refunded  by  the  Chamberlain  of 
Scotland  after  the  king's  death.4 

It  was  no  easy  matter  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  cavalcades 
that  attended  dignitaries  and  official  personages  in  those  days. 
It  is  recorded  that  David  II.,  A.D.  1343,  travelled  with  forty  at- 
tendants, and  his  Queen  with  sixty,  all  on  horseback ;  such  large 
numbers,  in  the  entire  absence  of  wheel-carriages,  being  in  great 
part  necessary  for  carrying  about  whatever  was  requisite  on  the 
journey.  The  same  authority  records  that  Alexander  Lesley  had 
seventy  in  his  retinue.5  The  whole  of  these  composing  such  a 
numerous  train,  and  their  horses,  were  generally  quartered  in  the 
abbeys,  and  on  the  neighbouring  farmers  and  parochial  clergy ; 
the  farmers  being  bound  by  the  terms  on  which  they  held  their 
lands,  to  provide  the  required  accommodation,  and  to  maintain  a 
specified  number  of  travellers  for  a  fixed  number  of  nights  in  the 
course  of  a  year.6 

1  Fordun,  Bk.  XIII.,  cap.  39.  -  Preface,  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  78. 

3  Bk.  of  Lindores,  p.  45.  4  lb.,  p.  vi. 

5  Transactions  of  the  Soc.  of  Antiq.  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  278. 

«  This  obligation  on  the  part  of  the  farmers,  in  virtue  of  which,  and  other 
obligations,  they  held  their  lands,  was  called  Can  and  Cuiart,  or  tribute  and  free 
quarters,  or  visitation.  The  word  Can  or  Kain  still  survives  as  the  name  for 
payment  in  kind,  which  is  yet  a  condition  of  some  leases.  The  terms  are  of 
great  antiquity. — See  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  I.,  p.  10,  et 
passim. 


ROGER,  AND  JOHN  STEELE.      DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY.  99 

The  custom  of  travelling  at  free  quarters  had  its  origin  in  pri- 
mitive times  ;  but  in  an  altered  and  more  complex  state  of  society, 
it  became  vexatious  and  burdensome,  and  laws  had  to  be  enacted 
for  its  regulation,  and  for  the  prevention  of  abuses  attending  it. 
In  the  reign  of  David  II.  it  was  enacted, — '  Gif  anie  cum  tc  the 
Kings  Court'  (the  greater  Barons  were  bound  to  attend  these 
courts  every  forty  days),  he  sail  not  waist  the  lands  perteining  to 
the  King,  Bischops,  or  others,  with  ane  great  and  superflous  multi- 
tude in  his  compaine.' 

'  Item,  Quhen  they  cum  at  even  before  nicht  to  anie  man's  house 
in  their  way,  they  sail  desire  herberie  fra  him,  and  thereafter  quhen 
their  men  or  companie,  at  his  command,  are  distribute  severallie 
in  sundrie  houses,  to  be  lodged  conforme  to  the  use  of  the  cuntrie, 
they  sail  not  desire  meat  nor  drink  violentlie  fra  their  hosts  aboue 
their  power.'  On  the  other  hand, — '  Gif  any  of  them  quha  be  the 
ordinance  of  the  Lord  of  the  ground  is  commanded  to  receauve  them 
in  herberie,  casts  furth  or  ejects  any  ane  of  them  to  the  dore,  and 
causes  him  to  fast  without  the  house,  he  sail  give  to  his  maister  ane 
kow.'  '  The  King  likewaies  commands  that  within  his  realm  for 
charities  cause,  convenient  and  lauchful  hospitalitie  sail  be  keiped. 
And  that  all  hostile  waisting  and  destruction  be  violence  sail  be 
utterly  extinguished,  and  that  na  man  presume  to  use  it  in  time 
cumming.' 1 

These  regulations  form  a  picture  from  real  life,  and  bring  before 
us  an  extinct  condition  of  society,  as  vividly  as  the  fossil  remains 
exhumed  by  geologists  reveal  the  former  condition  of  the  earth. 
They  show  that  privileges  so  vague  and  undefined  as  travelling  at 
free  quarters  implies  (depending  so  much  on  individual  character 
and  mere  caprice),  were  necessarily  productive  of  constant  disputes 
and  oppression ;  a  state  of  matters  which  was  happily  exchanged  for 
fixed  and  determinate  payments.  Itwas  in  virtue  of  this  change  that 
the  expenses  of  the  Royal  festivities  at  Lindores  had  to  be  refunded. 
The  next  abbot  to  William  of  Angus  of  whom  we  have  any 

1   Regiam  Majesl.  Stat,  of  David  II,  chap.  XI. 


100  ABBOTS  ADAM,  WILLIAM  OF  ANGUS. 

record,  is  Abbot  Roger.  His  name  does  not  occur  in  any  of  the 
recovered  charters  of  the  abbey,  and  it  is  omitted  in  the  list  of 
abbots  by  the  Editor  of  the  Chartulary  of  Lindores.  He  appears 
as  a  witness  to  a  charter  '  by  Sir  Andrew  Leslie  of  that  Ilk,' — the 
grandson  of  Lady  Mary  Abemethy,  in  favour  of  Sir  Hugh  Bar- 
clay of  Kilnairn  (query  Culairnie),  of  24  merks  yearly  ont  of  the 
barony  of  Ballinbriech.'  This  charter,  from  internal  evidence,  must 
have  been  granted  between  A.D.  1373  and  1381. x 

John  Steele,  who  previously  held  the  office  of  Prior  of  Colding- 
ham,  is  the  next  who  appears  in  record  as  Abbot  of  Lindores.2  It 
was  probably  in  his  time  that  the  unfortunate  Duke  of  Rothesay, 
the  eldest  son  of  Robert  III.  and  the  first  who  bore  the  title,  was 
buried  in  Lindores  Abbey.  The  touching  narrative  of  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  death  of  the  unhappy  Prince,  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  in  the  '  Fan  Maid  of  Perth,'  has  made  his  miserable  fate 
familiar  to  all,  and  yet  it  may  be  doubted  if  the  genius  of  Scott  has 
added  anything  more  truly  affecting  than  the  simple  words  of  the 
chronicler.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  Annals  under  A.D.  1401—2,  says, 
'  King  Robert  being  now  old  and  decrepit,  hering  the  deboshit  liffe 
and  demeanour  of  his  eldest  sone  David,  Duck  of  Rothesay,  Earl 
of  Carrick,  sends  his  two  trustie  counsellouris  Sr  William  Lindesay 
of  Rossie,  Sr  John  Ramorney,  knights,  with  letters  to  the  gover- 
nor, the  Duck  of  Albany,  commanding  him  to  apprehend  the  said 
Duck,  and  imprison  him  till  he  was  sensible  of  his  guilt  carnage, 
and  promissed  to  amend.  He  was  taken  betwix  Nydin  and 
Strathtyrin,  and  led  captive  to  St  Andrews,  but  shortly  thereafter 
removed  to  the  Castell  of  Falkland,  quher  he  was  committed  to 
the  custody  of  two  of  the  Duck  of  Albany e's  ruffians,  John  Selkirke 
and  John  Wright,  quho  handled  him  so  roughly  that  he  deyed  on 
the  7th  Aprile,  as  they  gave  out,  of  a  dissentery,  but  the  truth  was, 
that  through  extream  hunger  and  famine  he  eat  of  his  awen 
fingers.'3     The  place  where  the  Prince  came  to  this  fearful  end, 


1  His/.  Records  of  the  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  I.,  p.  25. 

'-'  Fordun  Bk.  XI.,  cap.  2L — Xote.  3  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  139. 


ROGER,  AND  JOHN  STEELE.      DURE  OF  ROTHESAY.  101 

could  not  have  been  that  which  is  pointed  out  in  the  garden  of  the 
palace  of  Falkland,  for  it  was  not  then  built,  but  in  the  dungeon 
under  the  western  tower  of  the  old  castle  of  the  Earls  of  Fife,  to 
which  the  buildings  of  the  palace  have  since  been  added.  Tradi- 
tion tells,  that  a  woman  passing  near  the  place  of  his  confinement, 
heard  his  moaning  cries,  and  with  true  womanly  compassion, 
assuaged  his  hunger  by  milk  from  her  own  breasts.  She  after- 
wards managed  to  minister  to  his  necessities,  by  slipping  thin 
cakes  into  his  dungeon ;  but  her  visits  were  discovered,  and  the 
unhappy  Prince  was  left  to  his  terrible  fate.  He  was  not,  however, 
unlaniented.  In  conformity  with  the  beliefs  of  the  age,  King  Robert 
made  provision  for  the  weal  of  his  son's  soul.  '  A  chaplain  of  St 
Salvator,  in  the  parish  Chmch  of  Dundee,  had  five  pounds  from  the 
customs  of  Dundee  allowed  yearly  in  exchequer  to  pray  for  the  soul 
of  the  Duke  of  Rothesay.  Besides  this,  the  chaplain  had  the  third 
part  of  the  lands  of  the  Milton  of  Cragy,  and  of  the  lands  of 
Westfield,  by  grant  of  Patrick  of  Inverpeffer ; '  a  grant  which  was 
confirmed  by  the  father  of  the  unhappy  Prince.1 

The  accusation  recorded  by  Sir  James  Balfour  against  Rothe- 
say is  unfortunately  not  without  foundation ;  but  it  is  worthy 
of  special  notice,  that  Wyntoun,  who  was  cotemporary  with  the 
Prince,  speaks  of  him  in  terms  of  high  commendation.  In  the  pas- 
sage cited  from  Wyntoun  below,  he  dwells  with  such  apparent 
delight  on  his  many  engaging  qualities,  his  courteous  disposition, 
his  taste  for  literature, — rare  in  those  days, — and  on  his  manly 
appearance,  that  his  description  bears  the  impress  of  having  been 
written  from  personal  knowledge  of  the  ill-fated  Prince.  It  is 
noticeable  th;tt  "Wyntoun,  evidently  from  prudential  motives,  omits 
all  notice  of  the  cause  of  the  Prince's  death.     He  says — 

'  All  before  as  ye  herd  done, 
Oure  Lorde  the  Kingis  eldest  sone 
Suete  aud  virtuous,  yong  and  fair, 
Aud  his  nearest  lauchful  Ayr, 

1  Report  by  Cosmo  Innes,  in  causa— 'The  Presby.  agt.  the  Magistrates  of 
Dundee,  1855. 


102  THE  DUKE  OF  ROTHESAY. 

Honest,  habil  and  aveuand  l 

Oure  Lord,  oure  Prince  in  all  pleasand. 

Cunnand  in  to  Letterature > 

A  seymly  persone  in  stature, 

Schir  Davy  Duke  of  Rothesay, 

Of  March  the  sevyn  and  twentyd  day 

Yauld  his  saule  til  his  Creatoure, 

His  cors  til  halo  wit  sepulture, 

In  Lundores  his  body  lyis, 

His  spirite  until  Paradys.'  2 

Everything  that  is  recorded  of  the  Prince,  whatever  may  have 
been  his  faults,  shows  that  he  was  above  deceit,  and  that  he 
scorned  all  that  was  base  and  treacherous.  His  chivalrous  resolu- 
tion not  to  betray  the  unprincipled  ruffian  who  proposed  to  him 
the  assassination  of  his  uncle  Albany,  and  which  was  no  doubt  the 
proximate  cause  of  his  own  death,  places  his  character  in  an 
honourable  light,  and  goes  far  to  justify  the  commendation  which 
Wyntoun  bestows  upon  him. 

The  stone  coffin  which  lies  in  the  extreme  end  of  the  north 
transept,  has  traditionally  been  pointed  out  as  the  one  in  which  the 
unfortunate  Prince  was  buried ;  chiefly,  perhaps,  from  the  circum- 
stance that  it  was,  until  comparatively  recent  years,  the  only  coffin 
that  was  discovered  in  the  abbey.  The  exact  place  in  the  church 
where  he  was  buried  is  not  recorded,  and  is  not  known, — no  in- 
scription having  been  found  on  any  of  the  tombs  in  the  abbey, 
but  the  presumption  is,  that  a  Prince  of  the  blood  royal,  and  the 
heir  to  the  throne,  was  buried  within  the  chancel. 


1  Habil,  strong  ;  avenand,  from  the  Latin  a  venio,  approachable,   courteous ; 
cunnand,  learned. 

2  Cronykil,  Vol.  II..  p.  397. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PRE-REFORMATION     MARTYRS. 
ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN,  AND  ANDREW  CATERS.      EARL  OF  DOUGLAS. 

'  Bodies  fall  by  wild  sword  law, 
But  who  would  force  the  soul,  tilts  with  a  straw 
Against  a  champion  cased  in  adamant.' 

Wordsworth. 

The  translation  of  the  Bible  by  Wickliffe  in  the  end  of  the  four- 
teenth century  (A.D.  1380-1389),  and  the  spread  of  his  writings 
impugning  the  errors,  and  assailing  the  corruptions  of  the  Chinch, 
excited  a  spirit  of  inquiry  which  begat  many  earnest  disciples. 
Among  these  was  James  Resby,  an  English  priest  who  came  to 
Scotland  to  propagate  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformer.  This  open 
aggression  on  the  received  faith  aroused  opposition.  Resby  was 
apprehended  and  arraigned  before  a  council  held  at  Perth  (A.D. 
1407)  under  Laurence,  official  of  Lindores,  Inquisitor  of  here- 
tical pravity  for  Scotland.  After  trial  he  was  condemned  as  a 
heretic,  and  burnt  at  the  stake.  Lindores  Abbey  has  therefore 
the  unenviable  distinction  of  being  connected,  through  its  official, 
with  the  death  of  the  first  martyr  for  the  reformed  religion  in 
Scotland.1 


1  '  Laurence  of  Lindores  was  Abbot  of  Scone  in  1411,  and  was  the  first  Pro- 
fessor of  Law  in  the  newly  erected  University  of  St  Andrews.  In  July  1492, 
when  elected  Dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Arts,  he  is  styled  Rector  of  Creich,  Master 


104  PRE-REFORMATION  MARTYRS. ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN, 

Tradition  tells  us  that  Resby  was  extremely  tall,  spare,  of 
commanding  aspect,  and  with  an  eye  which  burned  with  earnest- 
ness and  enthusiasm.  Even  the  monk  who  records  the  fact  of  his 
martyrdom,  and  who  bore  him  no  good  will  as  a  heretic,  was  con- 
strained to  admit  that  '  he  was  held  in  the  highest  reputation  by 
the  people  for  the  simplicity  of  Ins  preaching  ;'  but,  he  added,  '  his 
teaching  contained  most  dangerous  doctrines.'  The  first  of  these 
'  dangerous  doctrines'  was,  '  that  the  Pope  is  not  the  vicar  of 
Christ ;'  and  the  second,  '  that  no  one  is  Pope  or  vicar  of  Christ 
except  he  be  holy.  He  held,'  continues  the  monkish  chronicler, 
'  forty  doctrines  of  a  similar  or  worse  character,  derived  from  John 
Wykliff,  an  arch-heretic,  condemned  at  London  in  England.' 
Wherever  Resby  went  he  courageously  maintained  the  truth  of 
his  opinions ;  and  the  crowds  which  assembled  to  hear  the  un- 
wonted doctrines,  listened  with  eager  and  wrapt  attention  to 
the  impassioned  eloquence  with  which  he  urged  on  his  hearers 
the  truths  which  he  inculcated.  The  courage  of  this  remarkable 
man  stands  out  in  bold  relief  against  the  surrounding  darkness, 
and  occupies  a  loftier  and  more  intrepid  sphere  than  the  Reformers 
whose  names  fill  a  much  wider  page  at  the  consummation  of  the 
Reformation. 

In  Resby's  days  the  adherents  of  the  opinions  he  advocated 
were  few,  and  for  the  most  part  concealed,  acquiring  their  know- 
ledge of  these  opinions  from  the  writings  of  Wickliflfe,  circulated 
in  manuscript,  secretly  from  hand  to  hand.  The  whole  power  of 
the  Church,  and  of  the  Governor,  Albany  (who  had  already  perse- 
cuted, and  '  all  Lollards  haitit'),  was  arrayed  against  them.  At 
the  era  of  the  Reformation  the  corruption  of  the  Church  had  in- 
creased, and  the  vices  of  the  clergy  had  been  unsparingly  lashed 


of  Arts,  Licentiate  of  Theology,  Inquisitor  for  Scotland,  etc.  This  office  of 
Dean  be  held  till  his  death  (1437)' — Laing's  Knox  History  of  the  Reformation,  Vol. 
I.,  p.  497.  lie  is  said  to  have  written  a  work  entitled,  Examen  Haereticorum  Lol- 
lardorum ;  or,  Examination  of  Lollard  Heretics  :  whom  it  is  added,  '  he  drove  out  of 
the  whole  kingdom." — Liber  de  Scon,  p.  xii. 


AND  ANDREW  CAVERS.   EARL  OF  DOUGLAS.         105 

by  writings  both  in  prose  and  verse.     Printed   copies   of  these 
writings  and  of  the  Bible    in   the  vulgar  tongue,   revealing    he 
wide  divergence  of  the  lives  and  teachings  of- toe .many  of  the 
clergy  from  the  divine  precepts,  were  circulated  throughout  the 
land,  and  both  in  Church  and  State  the  Reformers  at  that  era 
had  powerful  favourers  of  their  opinions,  both  secret  and  avowed. 
Resby  had  no  such  friendly  supporters,  and  nothing  short  of  a 
martyr's  spirit  could  have  dared  the   risk  that  he  encountered. 
The  success  of  his   preaching   roused  the  vigilance  of  the  able 
Inquisitor  for    Scotland,  and  it  is   recorded   that  < the  writings 
(the  forty  theses  which   Resby  maintained),  and   the   author,  he 
refuted  and  consigned  to  the  fire  and  reduced  to  ashes.       No 
pen,  friendly  or  unfriendly,  has  told  us  of  the  last  moments,  or 
recorded  the  last  utterances  of  the  brave  Englishman;  but  his 
submission  to  an   agonizing  martyrdom  testifies  more  s trong  y 
than  any  words,  to  the  depth  of  his  convictions  and  the  strength 

of  his  faith.  -  ,, 

Notwithstanding  the  terrible  fate  of  the  proto-martyr  of  the 
Reformation,  the  opinions  of  the  Lollards  continued  to  spread,  and 
stringent  repressive  measures  were  adopted  to  meet  them.  Mas- 
ters of  Art  of  St  Andrews  were  called  upon  to  take  oath  that  they 
did  not  hold  these  opinions,  and  that  they  would  withstand  them 
(KV  1416)  and  in  1425  the  Scottish  Parliament  passed  an  Act 
having  the  same  end  in  view.2  But  there  have  been  in  every  age 
of  the  Church  men  to  whom  truth  is  dearer  than  life,  and  unde- 
terred by  the  perils  which  awaited  him,  Paul  Crawar  a  Bohemian 
physician,  came  to  Scotland  to  make  known  what  he  held  to  be 


■Fordun-a-Goodall,Bk.CXV.cap.XX.  Bower,inhis  continua  ion  o fFordun, 
devotes  a  whole  chapter  to  Laurence  of  Lindores'  refutation  of  Resby  s  doc- 
trfnT  The  whole  narrative  is  curious;  it  shows  that  texts  which  are  no* 
'ted  fa.  support  of  the  Reformed  opinions  were  then  quoted  aga.ns  th,m; 
and,  as  is  too  often  the  case  in  controversy,  denunciation  is  made  to  do  the  duty 

of  argument. 

2  Grubb's  Be.  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  305. 


106  PRE-REFORMATIOX  MARTYRS. ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHX, 

the  truth.  The  old  chronicler  says,  '  It  was  reported  he  was  sent 
by  the  Pragensian  heretics  of  Bohemia,  whose  impious  opinions 
infected  Scotland  too  much  at  that  time,  and  was  recommended 
by  them  as  excelling  in  the  art  of  medicine.  Crawar  was  tho- 
roughly conversant  with  sacred  learning,  and  most  apt  in  quot- 
ing the  Holy  Scriptures  in  support  of  his  opinions  ;  but  though  he 
pertinaciously  held  to  the  opinions  of  Prague  and  Wickliffe,  he 
was  confuted  by  that  venerable  man,  Laurence  of  Lindores.'  He 
was  brought  to  trial  in  St  Andrews  on  23d  July  1433,  was  found 
guilty,  condemned  as  an  obstinate  heretic,  and,  like  his  precursor, 
burnt  at  the  stake.1 

A  sentence  so  inhuman  shows  us  how  far  the  best  are  apt  to 
go  astray  whenever  charity  ceases  to  regulate  our  actions.  Lau- 
rence of  Lindores  was  not  only  a  man  of  great  learning,  but  also, 
we  are  told,  of  '  great  sanctity,'  and  yet  we  see  his  zeal  for  truth 
led  him  to  acts  which  charity  forbids.  It  may  temper  our  judg- 
ment to  remember,  that  toleration  was  not  understood,  certainly 
was  not  practised  until  within  very  recent  times.  The  coronation 
oath  of  Scotland  '  bound  the  King  and  his  successors  to  do  their 
utmost  to  root  out  of  their  kingdom  and  dominions  all  whom  the 
Church  should  denounce  as  heretics.'  This  was  exacted  by  the 
Pope  in  1329  as  the  price  for  permitting  the  Bishops  of  St  Andrews 
to  anoint  and  crown  the  kings ;  a  new  feature  in  the  investiture 
of  the  kings  of  Scotland,  who  formerly  were  merely  set  upon  '  the 
Lia  Fail,  or  Stone  of  Destiny,'  at  Scone,  and  proclaimed  as  King 
without  being  anointed.  The  oath  (says  the  late  Joseph  Robert- 
son), with  this  persecuting  clause,  '  outlived  both  the  Reformation 
and  the  Revolution.  It  might  have  been  cited  to  justify  the  doom 
of  Wishart  to  the  flames  and  of  Knox  to  the  galleys,  yet  Knox 
would  have  aggravated  its  terms,  and  they  were  ratified  by 
the  Parliament  which  established  the  Protestant  religion.  They 
might  have  been  used  to  vindicate  the  severities  of  the  reigns 


1  Fordun,  Bk.  XVI.,  cap.  20. 


AND  ANDREW  CAVERS.   EARL  OF  DOUULAS.        107 

of  King  Charles  II.  and  King  James  VII,  yet  the  convention 
which  adopted  the  claim  of  Right  stamped  them  with  its  de- 
liberate approval.'1  In  contemplating  all  this,  well  may  we  say 
with  the  poet — 

'  Whate'er  we  look  on,  at  our  side 
Be  charity — to  bid  us  think, 
And  feel  if  we  would  know.'  * 

Laurence  of  Lindores  appears  in  a  far  more  estimable  light  as 
the  enconrager  of  learning.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  of  St 
Andrews  University  ;  and  so  zealous  was  he  for  the  spread  of  know- 
ledge, that  he  taught  the  students  for  some  years  without  remu- 
neration. It  would  not  be  just  to  him  therefore,  or  to  the  men 
of  that  age,  to  forget  that  we  are  indebted  to  them  for  most 
of  the  universities  of  Europe.  Those  of  St  Andrews,  Glasgow, 
and  Aberdeen,  in  our  own  country,  were  all  founded  before  the 

Reformation.3 

Abbot  James,  whose  name  does  not  occur  in  the  list  of  abbots 
given  by  the  editor  of  the  '  Liber  Sancti  Marie  de  Lxmdoris^  suc- 
ceeded John  Steele.  In  the  Brechin  Chartulary  (A.D.  1443)  he  is 
stvled  James  of  Rossy.4      In  his  time  the  Convent  of  Lindores 


»  Joseph  Robertson  Pre/,  to  Stat.  Ec.  Scotland,  p.  48-49.  William  III.  refused 
to  take  the  oath,  saying,  '  I  will  not  lay  myself  under  any  obligation  to  be  a 
persecutor.'  He  only  agreed  to  take  it  on  being  publicly  assured  that  'neither 
the  words  of  the  oath  nor  the  laws  of  Scotland  laid  him  under  any  such 
obligation.  The  Union  happily  relieved  all  following  Princes  from  a  cruel  and 
impossible  obligation,  by  substituting  a  more  merciful  declaration.'— Joseph 
Robertson,  Preface  to  Concilia  Scotia,  p.  xlix.  And  yet  so  slow  was  the  growth 
of  religious  liberty  and  real  toleration,  "  I  have,"  says  the  same  author,  "  before 
me  an°  able  and  laborious  dissertation  on  the  Absurdity  and  Perfidy  of  all 
authoritative  Toleration,"  published  at  Glasgow  in  1780  by  John  Brown  of 
Haddington,  the  most  popular  Nonconformist  divine  in  Scotland  of  his  day.' 
lb  ,  p.  xlviii. 

-  Wordsworth. 

3  Spottiswoode.  His.,  Vol.  I,  p.  113.  4  !'•  389. 


108  PRE-REFORMATION  MARTYRS.— ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN, 

entered  into  an  arrangement  with  the  provost  and  burgesses  of 
Dundee,  by  which  the  latter  took  upon  themselves  the  construction 
and  reparation  of  the  choir  of  then  parish  church.  The  monks,  as 
having  right  to  the  rectorial  tithes,  were  bound  to  maintain  the 
fabric  of  the  choir,  agreeing,  on  their  part,  to  allow  the  burgesses 
five  merks  yearly  out  of  tenements  belonging  to  them  in  Dundee. 
This  agreement  was  made  in  Dundee  in  presence  of  the  Bishop  of 
Brechin  (10th  March  1442-3),  and  the  annual  rent  was  resigned 
by  Sir  John  Scrymgeour,  constable  of  Dundee  and  bailie  of  the 
Monastery  of  Lindores,  in  the  hands  of  William  de  Strathachyne, 
the  provost,  for  behoof  of  the  burgesses.1 

From  the  express  mention  of  the  erection  of  the  choir  in  this 
document,  it  seems  almost  certain  that  the  East  Church  (anciently 
the  choir)  which  was  burnt  down  in  1841,  was  erected  immediately 
subsequent  to  the  ratification  of  this  agreement. 

Nothing  further  is  known  of  Abbot  James,  excepting  that  he 
was  one  of  the  clergy  who  met  at  Edinburgh  (28th  June  1445),  and 
signed  the  transumpt  of  the  Bull  of  Pope  Gregory  XI.  disallowing 
the  claim  of  the  Crown  to  the  personal  estate  of  deceased  Bishops. 2 
The  ground  on  which  tins  claim  of  the  Crown  was  preferred,  seems 
to  have  been  on  the  principle,  '  that  what  was  acquired  through 
the  Church  should  abide  with  the  Church,'  and  therefore  could  not 
be  bequeathed  to  relatives.  James  was  succeeded  by  an  Abbot 
named  John,  in  whose  time  James  II.  confirmed  the  right  of 
the  abbey  to  the  lands  of  Parkhill,  and  renewed  the  privileges  of 
the  'Forest  of  Irnside'  (a.d.  1452).3  In  the  year  1457  John 
granted  a  charter  confirming  the  ancient  privileges  of  the  bur- 
gesses of  Newburgh,  and  a  few  months  later  he  granted,  in  their 
favour,  a  charter  to  the  lands  of  Vodrufe  (Wodrife)  and  the  hill 
adjacent ;  which  lands  still  form  part  of  the  property  of  the  burgh 
of  Newburgh.4 


1  Reg.  Episc.  Brechinen,  p.  90.  2  Pref.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  cciv. 

3  Lib.  de  Lwulores,  p.  18.  4  lb  ,  pp.  3-7. 


AND  ANDREW  CATERS.   EARL  OF  DOUGLAS.         109 

Iii  the  chartulary  of  the  abbey  there  is  preserved  a  letter  by 
the  same  abbot,  which  displays  a  commendable  anxiety  for  the 
becoming  celebration  of  divine  worship.     The  abbot  had,  no  doubt, 
seen  and  felt  that  slovenly  or  hurried  reading  impairs  the  effect  of 
the  simplicity  and  grandeur  of  the  Scriptures,  and  that  imperfect 
psalmody  fails  to  raise  worshippers  to  adoration.     To  remedy  this 
evil  he  offered  a  reward  to  any  of  the  brethren  who  read  the  ser- 
vice most  devoutly,  and  by  the  cultivation  of  sacred  music,  led  the 
praises  of  the  congregation  most  effectively.1     This  offer  exhibits 
on  the  part  of  the  abbot  anxiety  to  correct  what  was  evidently  a 
prevailing  evil,  and  a  desire  to  infuse  a  more  solemn  and  more 
earnest  spirit  into  the  daily  worship  of  the  brethren.     This  effort 
on  the  part  of  the  abbot  met  the  hearty  approval  of  the  bishop  of 
the  diocese,  Patrick  Graham,  whose  zeal  for  the  reform  of  abuses 
brought  him  much  molestation  and  suffering.     Bishop  Graham 
was  the  son  of  Lord  Graham,  by  his  wife  Mary,  daughter  of  King 
Robert  III.,  and  the  lending  the  weight  of  his  authority  to  the 
abbot's  praiseworthy  effort,  is  in  keeping  with  all  that  is  known 
of  his  character  and  history.     He  was  the  first  that  was  raised  to 
the  dignity  of  archbishop,  in  Scotland.     This  appointment  was 
not  a  mere  personal  elevation,  it  gave  power  to  him  and   all 
succeeding  archbishops  to  summon  a  council  of  the  Church  with- 
out the  intervention  of  the  Pope.     '  So  long  as  they  had  no  Metro- 
politan, the  Scottish  clergy  could  meet  in  council  only  by  authority 
of  the  Pope,  exercised  by  a  Legate  in  Scotland,  or  transmitted  by 
a  rescript  from  Rome.'2     Notwithstanding  this  important  advan- 
tage to  the  Church,  Bishop  Graham's  elevation  to  the  archiepis- 
copal   throne,  coupled  with  his  express  desire  for  the  reform  of 
abuses,  gave  offence  to  many  of  the  influential   clergy,  and  at 
their   instigation   a   Papal  Nuncio  was    sent  to  investigate   the 
charges  which  they  had  laid  against  him.    This  functionary  found 
that  the  archbishop  had  blasphemed  the  Holy  See,  that  he  had 


'  Lib.  de  Lundores,  p.  23.  -  Cuncilix  Scotim.    Pref.  p.  xx>  i. 


110  PRE-REFORMATION  MARTYRS. ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN, 

said  he  '  was  chosen  of  God  to  reform  the  Church,'  and  that  he 
had  revoked  indulgences  granted  by  the  Pope,  affirming  that  they 
had  been  granted  for  filthy  lucre.  For  these  offences  he  was 
denuded  of  all  holy  orders,  and  condemned  to  captivity  within 
the  walls  of  a  monastery  for  life.  'His  first  prison  was  Inch- 
colm,  in  the  Firth  of  Forth;  then  Dunfermline,  and  latterly 
Lochleven.'1  Worn  out  by  suffering,  his  reason  at  last  gave  way 
— he  died  in  St  Serfs  Inch,  and  was  buried  in  the  ancient  priory 
of  that  island.  No  stone  marks  his  grave,  and  so  completely  has 
the  hand  of  the  spoiler  passed  over  that  venerable  seat  of  reli- 
gion and  learning,  that  neither  grave  nor  graveyard  are  now 
discernible.2 

The  efforts  of  the  abbot  to  infuse  a  higher  and  more  devout 
spirit  into  his  monastery  were  not  without  cause,  for  existing 
records  show  that  the  corruption  of  the  monastic  orders  in  Scot- 
land had  become  general  at  this  period.  The  Bishop  of  Ross, 
the  last  Abbot  of  Lindores,  whom  no  one  will  accuse  of  unfriend- 
liness to  the  Church  of  Rome,  writing  in  the  year  1571,  fixes  the 
year  1473  as  the  time  when  'the  Abbayis  came  to  secular  abusis, 
the  Abbotis  and  Priouris  being  promovit  furth  of  the  Court,  quha 
levit  courtlyk  secularlye  and  voluptuouslye,  and  then  ceissit  all 
religious  and  godly  myndis  and  deidis,  quhairwith  the  secularis 
and  temporal  men  beand  sklanderit  with  thair  evill  example,  fell 
fra  devotion  and  godlyness  to  the  warkis  of  wickednes,  quhairof 
daylie  mekil  evill  did  increase.'3 

The  worst  accusation  ever  made  against  the  clergy  by  their 
enemies   finds   ample  confirmation   hi  the  records  of  their  own 


1  Prcf.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  pp.  115, 116. 

2  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  ruins  of  this  most  ancient  seat  of  reli- 
gion are  not  excavated,  and  the  ground  plan  traced  out;  the  probability  is, 
that  tombstones,  and  other  remains  of  great  antiquity  would  be  found,  similar 
to  those  which  the  excavation  of  the  Kirkheugh,  St  Andrews,  has  brought  to 
light. 

a  Pref.  Stat.  /•>.  Scot.,  p.  90. 


AND  ANDREW  CAVERS.   EARL  OF  DOUGLAS.         HI 

councils  at  this  period,  and  in  the  canons  passed  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  evils  which  many  of  them  deplored.1  These  records  re- 
veal a  condition  of  almost  incredible  licentiousness,  and  they 
more  than  justify  the  unsparing  denunciations  of  Lindsay,  or  all 
that  Wordsworth  has  more  mildly,  but  not  less  truly  said,  of 
monastic  voluptuousness.  James  I.  immediately  after  his  long 
captivity  in  England,  addressed  a  letter  (a.d.  1424-5)  to  the  Abbots 
and  Priors  of  the  Benedictine  and  Augustinian  monasteries  in 
Scotland,  '  exhorting  them  in  the  bowels  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
to  shake  off  their  torpor  and  sloth,  and  set  themselves  to  work  to 
restore  their  fallen  discipline  and  rekindle  their  decaying  fervour.' 2 
Forty  years  later  the  exhortation  was  repeated  by  his  grandson 
James  III. 

Many  among  the  clergy  deplored  the  corruptions  which  pre- 
vailed, and  strove  to  correct  them.  '  They  bewailed  with  grief 
and  indignation  that  rich  livings  with  the  cure  of  thousands  of  souls 
were  held  by  boys,  by  infants  even ;  by  men  imbecile  in  mind, 
hardened  in  ignorance,  old  in  wickedness  and  vice,'3  but  these 
evils  continued  unabated.  Unfortunately  the  death  of  most  of  the 
leading  noblemen  at  the  disastrous  defeat  of  Flodden,  deprived 
the  young  king  (James  V.)  of  councillors  from  the  lay  estate,  and 
gave  the  clergy  a  predominance  in  the  councils  of  the  nation, 
which  has  left  its  mark  to  the  present  day. 

Andrew  Cavers  succeeded  John  as  abbot.  Nothing  is  known  of 
his  family  connections,  but  he  must  have  been  a  person  of  influence, 
as  twenty  years  later  he  was  appointed  by  James  IV.  keeper  of 
Linlithgow  Palace,  a  situation  generally  bestowed  on  those  in 
favour  with  the  reigning  sovereign.4     He  must  have  succeeded  to 


1  Pref.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  149,  158-205. 

2  lb.,  p.  99.  3  lb.,  p.  ccvi. 

*  Reg.  Privy  Seal,  Vol.  I.,  fol.  97,  a.d.  1498.  Sir  Robert  Melville  of 
Murdocairney,  afterwards  Lord  Melville  of  Monimail,  was  appointed  by  Queen 
Mary  keeper  of  Linlithgow  Palace  in  1566-7. — Spottiswoode  Miscellany,  Vol.  I., 
p.  359. 


112  PRE-REFORMATIOX  MARTYRS. ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN, 

the  Abbacy  of  Lindores  not  later  than  1476,  for  on  the  8th  April  of 
that  year,  he  granted  a  life-tack  of  the  lands  of  Eglismagwl  (now 
Exma girdle  hi  the  parish  of  Dron)  to  George  Muncrefe  of  Tyber- 
mollocke.'1  With  the  lands  he  had  also  the  teind  sheaves,  altarages 
and  small  tithes  of  the  Church  of  Eglismagwl,  together  with  the  mill 
and  the  multures  of  it,'  the  stipulated  rent  was  forty  merks  Scots 
and  four  dozen  of  capons  '  fat  and  well  fed,'  at  Christmas  and  Pasch 
(Easter),  or  twelve  pennies,  equal  to  one  penny  sterling,  for  every 
capon.  Three  years  later  Abbot  Andrew  grants  another  life-tack 
of  the  fourth  part  of  the  '  town  of  Grange '  to  Dionisius  Cameris 
(Chalmers)  and  his  son  William,  excluding  the  tofts  possessed  by 
David  Kernour,  Andrew  Hall,  and  Symon  the  granary-keeper,  and 
reserving  the  right  of  pasturage  for  sixty  wedders  annually.  The 
yearly  rent  was  sixteen  pounds  thirteen  shillings  and  four  pence 
Scots,  services  used  and  wont,  and  one  well-fed  pig,  two  dozen 
capons,  and  two  dozen  hens,  commutable  at  eight  shillings,  eight 
pence,  and  four  pence  Scots,  each  respectively.  These  particulars 
are  interesting  as  showing  the  relative  value  of  agricultural  pro- 
duce at  that  period. 

In  Abbot  Andrew's  time,  James,  ninth  Earl  of  Douglas,  sixth  Duke 
of  Turenne,  spent  the  last  years  of  his  chequered  life  in  Lindores 
Abbey.  Goaded  into  rebellion  by  the  base  assassination  of  his 
brother  by  James  IL,  Douglas  nailed  a  placard  to  the  door  of  the 
Parliament  House,  renouncing  his  allegiance.  He  declared  war 
against  the  king,  and  so  great  was  the  number  of  adherents  he 
brought  into  the  field,  that  it  trembled  in  the  balance  whether  the 
family  of  Douglas  or  the  Stewarts  were  to  occupy  the  tin-one  ;  but 
the  Earl  was  routed ;  he  was  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  England,  and 
his  immense  possessions  were  confiscated.  On  the  4th  August  1455, 
the  Scottish  Parliament  passed  an  Act,  '  that  nane  receipt  James 
Douglas,'  and  on  the  18th  March  1481,  another  Act  was  passed 
'  for  resisting  of  the  traitour  James  Douglas.'     Douglas  continued 


1  Lib.  Sancte  Marie  Ic  Lindores,  p.  19. 


AND  ANDREW  CATERS.   EARL  OF  DOUGLAS.         113 

in  open  hostility,  and  embraced  every  favourable  opportunity  of 
attacking  the  Scottish  king.  In  a  hostile  incursion  which  he  made 
into  Scotland  in  the  year  1484,  he  was  wounded  near  Lochmaben, 
and,  after  thirty  years  of  weary  struggle  to  retrieve  his  fallen  for- 
tunes, surrendered  to  Kirkpatrick  of  Closeburn.  Kirkpatrick,  it  is 
said,  '  loved  the  Earl  entirely  in  his  heart ;  he  conveyed  him  out  of 
the  field,  and  kept  him  in  a  poor  cottage  until  he  had  spoken  with 
the  King.  The  King  granted  him  the  Earl's  life  and  gave  him 
as  reward  the  lands  of  Kirkniickael  in  Dumfriesshire.' l  It  is  said 
when  James  saw  the  venerable  aspect  and  grey  hairs  of  him  who 
had  so  long  troubled  him  and  his  house,  he  was  touched  with  pity 
for  his  misfortunes,  and  with  true  kingly  compassion  frankly  and 
at  once  forgave  him.  The  sole  punishment  inflicted,  if  it  was  a 
punishment  to  the  war-worn  chieftain,  was  that  he  must  quit  the 
world  and  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Lindores  Abbey.  It 
is  said  when  the  aged  Earl  heard  his  sentence,  he  tinned  to  those 
behind  him,  and  with  a  bitter  smile,  used  the  proverb,  '  He  that 
can  do  no  better  must  needs  be  a  monk.'  But  after  the  bitterness 
of  exile  endured  for  thirty  years,  the  quiet  seclusion  of  Lindores 
would  afford  him  that  peace  and  rest  to  which  he  had  been  so  long 
a  stranger.  Adversity  had  not  been  without  its  uses  to  him;  it 
taught  him  resignation,  and  the  value  of  the  blessings  of  order  and 
peace.  In  the  end  of  the  reign  of  James  III.,  Douglas  was  solicited 
by  the  malcontents  of  the  nobility,  no  doubt  with  the  promise  of 
restoration  to  his  honours  and  estates,  to  come  forth  and  espouse 
their  cause  against  the  King;  but  he  resolutely  refused,  and  did  all 
he  could  to  dissuade  them  from  then  rebellion ;  he  wrote  to  the 
chiefs  of  his  kindred,  and  urged  them  loyally  to  adhere  to  their 
allegiance.  The  King  also  solicited  him  to  come  out  and  lend  him 
the  support  of  his  name  and  presence,  but  he  playfully  answered 
—hoarding  being  one  of  the  accusations  against  James— 'You 
have  kept  me  and  your  black  box  too  lung  under  lock  and  key 


1 1  nine's  Douglas  and  Angus. 

H 


114  PRE-RE FORMATION  MARTYRS. ABBOTS  JAMES,  JOHN, 

to  be  of  any  use  to  you.'  After  five  years1  residence  in  Lindores 
Abbey,  he  died  there  on  the  15th  April  1488,  and  in  him,  the 
ninth  Earl,  ended  the  first  branch  of  the  ancient  house  of  Douglas. 
It  is  not  said  where  the  Earl  was  buried ;  but  in  an  arched 
niche  in  the  south  end  of  the  transept,  there  was  found,  when  the 
ruins  were  being  cleared  out,  a  small  fragment  of  sculptured  stone, 
which,  it  is  thought,  formed  part  of  the  armorial  bearings  of  the 
house  of  Douglas.1 

•  In  the  year  1490  (March  2)  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lindores 
founded  an  altar  hi  the  Church  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  Perth,2  in 
honour  of  St  Blasius,  and  endowed  it  with  ten  pounds  fifteen  shil- 
lings yearly  out  of  the  abbey  property  in  Perth.3  The  erection  of 
altars  to  special  saints  was  a  popular  mode  of  promoting  religion 
at  that  period.  St  Blasius,  Bishop  of  Sebaste,  in  Armenia,  was 
patron  samt  of  the  wool-combers ;  he  suffered  martyrdom  in  the 
year  316,  and  his  festival  is  held  on  the  3d  February.4  The 
founding  of  an  altar  to  him  in  Perth  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
there  was  a  considerable  number  of  the  fraternity  of  wool-combers 
in  the  '  Fair  City  '  at  that  time. 

Eight  years  later,  in  the  year  1498,  Andrew  Cavers,  Abbot  of 
Lindores,  provided,  by  an  endowment  of  thirteen  shillings  and 
fourpence  yearly,  to  pay  the  chaplains  and  choristers  of  St 
John's  Church,  Perth,  for  the  celebration  of  the  service  for  the 
dead  on  the  3d  November  yearly.5  Subsequent  to  this  endow- 
ment he  purchased  for  the  convent  the  half  of  the  lands  of 
Pitcaithly,  from  John  Oliphant  of  Dron.  There  is  no  record  of 
this  purchase  in  the  chartulary  of  the  abbey,  but  it  was  con- 
firmed by  James  IV.,  by  a  charter  under  the  Great   Seal,   on 


1  Douglas's  Peerage,  Wood's  Ed.,  Douglas,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  431-2. 
-  'the  fine  interior  of  St  John's  Church,  Perth,  is  completely  marred  by  the 
unsightly  pews  with  which  it  is  crowded. 
3  Book  of  Perth,  p.  64. 

1  Butler's  Lives  of  the  Saints,  Vol.  II..  p.  31-2. 
5  Book  of  Perth,  p.  71. 


.VXD  ANDREW  CAVERS.   EARL  OF  DOUGLAS.         1 1 5 

the  6th  November,  A.D.  1500.1  Andrew  Cavers  must  have  died 
sometime  between  17th  October  1502  and  the  20th  March  1503-4, 
for,  in  the  chartulary  of  Lindores  there  is  recorded  an  obligation 
by  him  to  Andrew  Charters  of  Cuthilgurdi,  and  Alexander  Tyrie, 
and  Robert  Clerk  or  "Wobster,  burgesses  of  Perth,  for  one  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds  Scots,  of  the  first  mentioned  date ;  and  another 
for  one  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds  ten  shillings  of  the  latter 
date,  by  Henry,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  who  succeeded  him.  to  John 
Quhitsum,  burgess  of  Perth.  These  obligations  were  simply  bills 
of  exchange,  though  more  lengthy  than  the  forms  now  in  use.  The 
first  was  payable  forty  days  after  sight  of  the  'acquittance'  of  the 
factor  for  the  Abbey  hi  Zealand  or  Flanders.  In  one  of  the  obliga- 
tions recorded  (A.D.  1502),  Stephen  Orme,  in  all  likelihood  one  of 
the  Ormes  of  Mugdrum,  and  afterwards  one  of  the  bailies  of  New- 
burgh,  is  named  as  the  abbey  factor  abroad,  and  the  amount  re- 
mitted was  clearly  in  payment  of  goods  purchased  there  for  the 
use  of  the  monastery.2  There  is  no  mention  made  of  the  kind  of 
goods  purchased  by  Stephen  Orme,  but  in  the  '  ledger  of  Andrew 
Halliburton,'  at  that  time  conservator  of  the  privileges  of  the  Scot- 
tish nation  in  the  Netherlands,3  there  is  a  voluminous  record  of  the 
imports  and  exports  of  church  dignitaries,  as  well  as  of  merchants, 
and  the  details  show  that  every  article  requiring  skill  in  handi- 
craft had  to  be  brought  from  abroad.  In  the  account  of  the  Dean 
of  Dunk  eld  (1501-2),  there  are  some  interesting  particulars  re- 
corded. He  had  sent  to  'Bruges'  15  barrels  of  salmon  from  his 
fishings  hi  the  Tay  ;  they  were  disposed  of  hi  '  Lyill '  (Lisle)  '  for 
14  li  fre  mony,'  it  behig  particularly  recorded  that '  off  thir  15  br  thar 
was  2  rottin  and  castyn  in  the  water  at  Lyill.'  The  Dean  received 
in  exchange  vardone  [tapestry],  pendens  [curtains],  hats,  wearing 
apparel  of  various  kinds,  and  besides  articles  of  household  furni- 
ture, '  an  inioch  for  which  3  li  13  sh.  was  paid,  and  2  bukis  that 


1  Reg.  Mag.  Sig.  Lib.,  13  No.  416. 

*  See  appendix  No.  IV.  for  abstract  of  charter.        3  Bk.  of  Lindores,  p.  26-29. 


llfi  PRE-REFORMATIOX  MARTYRS. 

Master  Patrick  Panter  sent  hym  cost  1  li.' l  Unfortunately  the 
conservator,  with  thorough  commercial  brevity,  does  not  mention 
the  names  of  the  books,  otherwise  we  might  have  had  some  in- 
sight into  the  Dean's  predilections,  and  the  literature  that  was  then 
current.2 


1  Ledger  of  Andrew  Halliburton,  p.  254. 

2  Patrick  Panter,  or,  as  he  spells  bis  name,  Paniter,  was  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  scholars  of  his  time.  It  was  while  he  was  prosecuting  his  studies 
abroad  tbat  he  executed  the  literary  commission  mentioned  in  the  text,  for  the 
Dean  of  Dunkeld.  After  he  returned  to  Scotland,  he  was  appointed  Rector  of 
the  Church  of  Fetteresso,  then  to  the  Preceptory  of  the  Church  of  Brechin,  and 
subsequently  he  was  appointed  Abbot  of  Cambuskenneth.  He  acted  as  Secretary 
of  State  in  the  reigns  of  James  IV.  and  V.  The  letters  written  by  him  in  that 
capacity  to  foreign  princes,  were  published  (a.d.  1722)  under  the  title  of  Epistolse 
Regum  Scotorum,  and  are  distinguished  both  for  their  elegance  and  their  ability. 
It  is  recorded  of  Abbot  Patrick  Panter,  that  '  had  his  life  been  prolonged  he  in- 
tended to  have  undertaken  the  task  of  reforming  the  abuses  which  prevailed  at 
Cambuskenneth,  as  in  other  monasteries,  and  of  restoring  it  to  its  primitive  zeal 
in  the  cultivation  of  piety  and  letters  and  purity  of  manners.'  On  this  point  it 
is  worthy  of  note,  that  several  of  the  monks  of  Cambuskenneth  embraced  the 
principles,  and  became  preachers,  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  which  is 
the  more  remarkable,  as  Patrick  Panter's  successor  was  a  strenuous  advocate  and 
upholder  of  the  principles  of  the  Roman  Church.  Abbot  Patrick  Panter  died  in 
Paris  in  1519,  at  an  early  age. — Chartulary  of  Cambuskenneth,  p.  lxxxviii.  Lorimer's 
Precursors  of  Knox,  pp.  1G9-176. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

ABBOTS   HENRY,   JOHN  PHILP,   AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 
PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR. 

'  Unbounded  is  the  might  of  martyrdom.' 

Wordsworth. 

The  successor  of  Andrew  Cavers  to  the  abbacy  was  Henry,  whose 
surname  does  not  appear.  He  held  the  office  of  abbot  from  1502 
or  3  to  the  year  1527—8.  In  his  time  the  lands  and  possessions 
of  the  abbey  were  erected  into  a  regality,  under  the  name  of  the 
'  Regality  of  Lindoris.' *  This  concession  conferred  on  the  abbot 
exclusive  criminal  jurisdiction,  and,  as  the  name  implies,  almost 
regal  power  over  all  within  the  territories  of  the  abbey.  An  Act 
was  passed  in  the  reign  of  James  II.,  obviously  for  the  purpose  of 
restricting  the  extension  of  these  excessive  powers,  which  enacted 
that  no  regality  be  erected  without  the  express  sanction  of  Parlia- 
ment. Yet  to  such  an  extent  were  these  privileges  conferred, 
'  that  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  kingdom'  was  absorbed  by 
them,  'and  when  contrasted  with  what  retained  the  name  of 
royalty,  may  justly  be  regarded  as  having  stripped  the  Crown  of 
the  better  half  of  its  highest  prerogative.' 2  The  regality  of 
Lindores  was  erected  in  the  reign  of  James  IV.  (a.d.  1510),  and 
was  confirmed  by  Parliament  a  few  months  after  the  fatal  field 
of  Flodden ;  the  weakness  of  the  Crown  at  that  disastrous  period, 
from  the  death  of  so  many  of  the  ablest  lay  advisers  among  the 

1  Reg.  Mag.  %.,  Lib.  18,  p.  47. 

-  Report  on  Municipal  Corporations,  Scotland,  1835,  p.  20. 


118  ABBOTS  HENRY,  JOHN  PHTLP,  AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 

nobility,  affording  a  favourable  opportunity  for  the  furtherance  of 
ambitious  aims. 

Newburgh  was  the  head  burgh  of  the  Legality  of  Lindores, 
and  at  its  Cross  proclamations  affecting  the  whole  Regality  were 
made,  and  in  its  Tolbooth  '  sumoundis  were  maid  aganis  any 
person  dwelling '  within  the  Regality. 

On  the  alienation  of  the  abbey  estates  by  the  lay  proprietor, 
Lord  Lundores,  an  Act  was  passed  in  the  reign  of  James  VI.  (a.d. 
1621)  in  favour  of  William  Forbes  of  Craigiewar,  'erecting  all  the 
lands  within  the  parochines  of  Christiskirk,  Premnay  and  others,' 
into  a  burgh  of  barony,  under  the  name  of  the  'Barony  of  Lo- 
gy ffintrey.'  The  same  Act  declares  the  barony  to  be  separated  'from 
the  Regality  of  Lundoris;'  and  enacted  that  the  'Courts  of  the 
barony  be  held  by  the  said  William  Forbes  at  the  Haltoun  of 
ffintrey.'  It  was  further  enacted,  that  all  dwelling  within  the  barony 
'  na  wayis  be  haldin  to  compeir  in  na  courtis  of  the  said  Regalitie  of 
Lundoris  haldin  at  Newburgh  in  tyme  cuming,  and  that  na  exe- 
cutiounes   or  proclamatiounes  be  usit  aganis  them  att  the  said 
Mercat  Croce  of  Newburt1.     But  the  sarnyn  to  be  done  at  Haltoun 
of  ffyntrey     ...     as  the  samyn  wes  done,  or  micht  haif  been 
in  tyme  bygane  att  the  said  Croce  and  in  the  said  Tolbuith  of 
Newburgh.' l     The    privilege  of  regality    conferred  on   Lindores 
Abbey  was  swept  away  on  the  abolition  of  heritable  jurisdictions 
in  the  reign  of  George  II. 

Abbot  Henry,  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age,  resigned  in 
favour  of  a  successor  named  John,  in  March  1522,  reserving  to 
himself  the  revenue  of  the  benefice,  an  arrangement  which  was 
sanctioned  by  the  Pope.2  Though  Henry  resigned  the  administra- 
tion of  the  abbey  to  his  coadjutor  and  successor,  he  continued  to 
exercise  the  judicial  functions  appertaining  to  the  office  of  abbot. 
In  this  capacity  he  took  part  in  the  trial  of  Patrick  Hamilton,  and 
signed  his  condemnation.    Hamilton,  though  styled  Abbot  of  Feme 

'  Scots  Acts,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  685. 

-  Knox's  Hist,  of  the  Reformation,  Vol.  II.,  p.  599.     David  Laing— Notes. 


PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR.  119 

(Ross-shire),  was  not  in  holy  orders.  While  only  a  youth,  he  was. 
according  to  the  corrupt  practice  of  the  time,  appointed  commen- 
dator  or  titular  abbot  of  that  abbacy.  His  father,  Sir  Patrick 
Hamilton  of  Kincavel,  in  Linlithgowshire,  was  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  chivalrous  knights  of  his  time.  Lindsay  of  Pitscottie  says 
of  him,  '  he  was  a  right  noble  and  valiant  man  all  his  days.'  By 
his  mother,  Patrick  Hamilton  the  younger  was  great  grandson  of 
James  II.  When  little  more  than  fourteen  years  of  age  he  went 
to  Paris  to  attend  the  university  there,  and  was  distinguished 
among  his  fellow  students  for  his  abilities,  and  for  his  love  of  the 
newly-revived  Greek  and  Latin  literature,  which  had  begun  to 
exercise  a  powerful  influence  on  the  students  of  that  period. 
Hamilton  subsequently  returned  to  St  Andrews  for  the  prosecution 
of  his  theological  studies,  where  he  seems  to  have  been  on  terms  of 
friendship  with  the  authorities  of  the  Church,  as  they  gratified  his 
musical  tastes,  by  allowing  a  musical  composition  of  his  to  be  per- 
formed in  the  cathedral  service.1  The  introduction  of  the  English 
translation  of  the  Bible,  and  of  the  writings  of  Luther,  into  St 
Andrews,  concealed  in  great  numbers  in  bales  of  goods,  showed 
that  there  were  secret  students  of  them  in  that  city.  The  number 
of  monks  of  the  Augustinian  Priory  of  St  Andrews,  and  of  the  same 
order  at  Cambuskeimeth,  who  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Re- 
formation, shows  that  they  were  of  those  who  studied  the  Bible 
and  the  writings  of  the  Reformers.2  Hamilton  was  suspected,  and 
summoned  to  answer  for  his  opinions ;  but  not  being  then  nerved 
for  the  fight,  he  fled  to  Germany.  He  met  there  William  Tyndale, 
the  translator  of  the  Bible,  and  John  Frith,  both  destined  to  die  as 
martyrs  at  the  stake  ;  he  also  attended  the  prelections,  and  listened 
to  the  burning  eloquence  of  Luther,  and  the  milder  teaching  of 
Melancthon.  Inflamed  by  their  zeal,  and  fired  with  a  martyr's 
spirit,  he  returned  to  Scotland  within  less  than  twelve  months 
of  his  flight,  and  openly  and  unflinchingly  proclaimed  what  he 
believed  to  be  the  truth.     Invited  from  his  native  county  to  St 

1  Lorimer1s  Life  of  Hamilton,  p.  59.  *  ll>.,  pp.  163-17-'. 


120  ABBOTS  HENR5T,  JOIIN  PHILP,  AXD  JOHN  LESLIE. 

Andrews,  be  was  allowed,  for  weeks  to  declare  his  opinions,  but  at 
last,  on  tbe  29th  February  1528-9,  he  was  arraigned  in  the  cathedral 
church  to  answer  for  the  doctrines  he  taught,  and  face  to  face 
with  his  judges  before  the  multitude  assembled  in  its  crowded 
aisles,  he  boldly  maintained  his  opinions.  '  Brother !'  he  said  to  his 
accuser,  'I  have  never  read  in  the  Scripture  of  God  of  such  a  place 
as  purgatory,  nor  yet  believe  I  that  there  is  anything  that  may 
purge  the  souls  of  men  but  the  blood  of  Christ  Jesus,  which  ransom 
standeth  in  no  earthly  thing,  nor  in  soul-mass,  nor  in  dirigie,  nor  in 
gold  nor  in  silver,  but  only  by  repentance  of  sins  and  faith  in  the 
blood  of  Christ  Jesus.'1 

Sentence  of  condemnation  was  pronounced  against  him ;  and 
the  same  afternoon,  with  unpitying  haste,  he  was  marched,  guarded, 
for  fear  of  rescue,  by  several  thousand  armed  men,  from  the  cathe- 
dral to  the  place  of  execution,  at  the  gate  of  St  Salvador's  College, 
and  burnt  at  the  stake  ; — his  sufferings  were  long  and  agonizing, 
and  his  last  audible  words  were — '  How  long,  Lord,  shall  darkness 
overwhelm  this  kingdom  ?  How  long  wilt  Thou  suffer  the  tyranny 
<>f  men?  Lord  Jesus  receive  my  spirit!'2  It  may  well  be  asked, 
How  long  ?  Immediately  after  the  principles  of  the  Reformation 
were  established  by  the  legislature,  an  Act  was  passed  by  the 
Scottish  Parliament  (24th  August  1560),  ordaining  that  'if  any  say 
mass  or  hear  mass,  they  were  to  be  punished  with  confiscation 
and  imprisonment  for  the  first  offence,  banishment  for  the  second, 
and  death  for  the  third  offence.'  '  Such  strangers,'  is  the  indignant 
comment  of  Principal  Robertson,  '  were  men  at  that  time  to  the 
spirit  of  toleration  and  to  the  laws  of  humanity, — and  with  such 
indecent  haste  did  the  very  persons  who  had  just  escaped  the 
rigour  of  ecclesiastical  tyranny  proceed  to  imitate  those  examples 
of  inhumanity,  of  which  they  themselves  had  so  justly  complained.'3 

1  Pitscottie,  Hist.,  pp.  133,  134. 

2  Loriiner's  Life  of  Patrick  Hamilton,  p.  154. 

Pref.  Stat.  /•>.  Scot.,  pp.  clxiii.-iv.  'More  than  fifty  years  afterwards'  (says 
Joseph  Robertson),  '  another  Scottish  historian  and  divine  had  to  give  an  account 
of  the  same  statute.     If  the  friends  of  religious  liberty,  of  Christian  charity, 


PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR.  121 

The  martyrdom  of  Hamilton  had  the  very  opposite  effect  from 
what  his  persecutors  intended,  his  youth,  his  illustrious  descent, 
his  noble  defence,  and  his  constancy  in  death,  made  a  powerful 
impression  on  the  public  mind,  and  within  fifteen  years  of  his 
martyrdom,  '  the  Parliament  of  Scotland  enacted  (1 5th  March 
1543),  that  it  should  be  lawful  to  all  men  to  have  and  to  read 
Holy  Scripture,  both  in  the  New  and  Old  Testament  in  the  vul- 
gar tongue.' * 

'  The  sacred  Book, 

In  dusty  sequestration  wrapt  too  long, 

Assumes  the  accents  of  our  native  tongue ; 

And  he  who  guides  the  plough  or  wields  the  crook. 

With  understanding  spirit  now  may  look 

Upon  her  records,  listen  to  her  song, 

And  sift  her  laws — much  wondering  that  the  wrong 

Which  Faith  had  suffered,  heaven  could  calmly  brook.'2 

Previous  to  the  passing  of  this  law,  however,  John,  Abbot  of 
Lindores,  was  called  to  sit  in  judgment,  with  other  church  digni- 
taries, in  the  cloisters  of  St  Andrews,  on  Sir  John  Borthwick  (28th 
May  1540),  for,  among  other  charges,  having  the  New  Testament 
in  English  in  his  possession,  and  for  circulating  heretical  books.3 
Borthwick  knowing  what  awaited  him,  fled  to  England ;  but  he 
was  condemned  in  absence  and  burnt  in  effigy.  He  was  em- 
ployed by  Henry  VIII.,  in  important  services  with  Protestant 
sovereigns  abroad,  and  lived  to  return  to  St  Andrews,  where  he 
obtained  a  reversal  of  his  sentence,  and  died  there  in  peace.4 

John,  the  successor  of  Henry,  was  a  monk  and  presbyter  at  the 


should  regret  that  he  has  no  word  of  rebuke  for  such  sanguinary  intolerance, 
they  must  at  least  acknowledge  the  pious  care  with  which  he  seeks  to  conceal  it 
from  his  readers.'  '  On  the  24th  August  the  Parliament  abolished  the  Papal 
jurisdiction,  prohibited,  under  certain  penalties,  the  celebration  of  mass,  and  re- 
scinded all  the  laws  formerly  made  in  support  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  against  the  Reformed  faith.' — Dr  M'Crie's  Life  of  Knox,  p.  162 — Edit.  1857. 

1  Pref.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  cxli.  '-'  Wordsworth. 

3  Pref.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  p.  cxli. 

1  Knox's  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  533-4;  Keith's  His*.,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  337-341. 


122  ABBOTS  HENRY,  JOHN  PHILP,  AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 

time  he  undertook  the  administration  of  the  abbey.  His  surname 
appears  to  have  been  Philp.  In  a  charter  granted  by  him  as 
abbot,  on  the  2d  March  1564,  in  favour  of  James  Philp  of  Ormes- 
toun,  he  describes  the  latter  as  '  his  beloved  cousin,'  a  designa- 
tion which  may  be  held  conclusive  on  the  point.  The  frequency 
of  the  occurrence  of  the  surname  of  Philp  in  the  records  of  New- 
burgh  in  the  preceding  century,  tends  also  to  show  that  he  was  a 
native  of  the  neighbourhood.1  He  is  spoken  of  as  an  excellent 
and  tried  man,  and  must  have  been  a  person  of  some  importance, 
as  he  was  coadjutor  and  administrator  of  the  Abbey  of  Kelso 
during  the  minority  of  Lord  James  Stewart  (natural  son  of  James 
V.),  the  commendator.  In  1540,  and  in  subsequent  years,  he  had 
a  seat  in  Parliament ;  in  1544  he  was  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session,2 
and  in  1549  he  sat  as  Abbot  in  the  General  Convention  and  Pro- 
vincial Council  of  the  Church,  held  at  Edinburgh  in  the  refectory 
of  the  Blackfriars.  At  this  council  a  great  number  of  canons 
were  enacted,  having  for  their  object  the  reform  of  the  lives  and 
manners  of  the  clergy.  '  Heretical  books,  especially  poems  and 
ballads  against  the  church  or  clergy,  were  to  be  diligently  sought 
after  and  burned.' 3  Though  not  named,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  poems  of  Sir  David  Lindsay  are  here  aimed  at;  his 
scathing  satire  and  unsparing  exposure  of  the  vicious  lives  of 
too  many  of  the  clergy,  exercised  a  most  powerful  influence  on 
public  opinion  and  on  the  progress  of  the  reformation. 

Various  events  occurred  about  this  period  which  tend  to  show 
that  the  opinions  of  the  Reformers  were  gaining  ground.  From 
a  report  of  the  English  ambassador  to  his  master  Henry  VIII. , 
we  learn  that  in  1543,  destructive  attacks  were  made  on  the 
abbeys  by  the  populace.  It  is  unfortunate  that  we  have  not 
the  ambassador's  own  announcement  of  them,  but  only  a  memor- 

1  An  abstract  of  this  charter  is  given  in  the  Ajipendix.  In  1481,  Sir  James 
Philp  was  curate  of  Ibdy  (Abdie);  and  in  1615  John  Philp  was  clerk  of  the 
Regality  of  Liudores. 

2  Knox's  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  392  ;  Vol.  II.,  p.  599.— D.  Laing's  Notes. 

3  Pref.  Stat.  Ec.  Scot.,  pp.  cxlvii-cl. 


PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR.  123 

andum  of  its  substance  in  these  terms :  '  Sir  Ralph  Sadler  (the 
ambassador)  shows  that  the  work  began  at  Dundee  by  destroying 
the  houses  both  of  the  Black  and  Gray  Friars ;  that  afterwards 
the  Abbey  of  Lindores  was  sacked  by  a  company  of  good  Christ- 
ians, as  they  were  called,  who  turned  the  monks  out  of  doors.' l 

Notwithstanding  this  violent  warning  of  the  Dundee  reformers, 
the  clergy  persisted  in  repelling  the  new  doctrines  by  force,  in- 
stead of  meeting  them  by  argument.  In  April  1558  the  prelates, 
among  whom  was  John,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  summoned  Walter 
Miln,  the  aged  parish  priest  of  Lunan  in  Angus,  before  them  for 
heresy,  and  condemned  him  to  death.  The  sympathies  of  the 
people  were  with  the  old  man,  when  he  exclaimed  from  the  flames, 
'  I  trust  in  God  I  am  the  last  that  shall  suffer  death  hi  Scotland 
for  this  cause.'2     A  prayer  which  was  happily  fulfilled. 

The  ejection  of  the  monks  from  Lindores  Abbey  in  1543,  which 
the  English  ambassador  has  recorded,  was  only  temporary.  In 
a  letter  of  John  Knox,  dated  the  23d  June  1559,  he  says,  '  we'  (the 
Protestants  who  had  united  together  under  the  name  of  the  Con- 
gregation) 'came  to  the  Abbey  of  Lindores,  a  place  of  Black 
monkes,  distant  from  St  Andrewis  twelve  myles,  we  reformed 
them,  their  altars  overthrew  we,  then  idols,  vestments  of  idolatrie, 
and  mass  books  we  burnt  hi  then  presence,  and  commanded  them 
to  cast  away  their  monkish  habits.' 3     The  moderation  displayed 

1  Hill  Burton's  Hist,  of  Scotland,  Vol.  III.,  p.  453. 

2  Tytler,  Vol.  III.,  p.  86. 

3  M'Crie's  Life  of  Knox,  Vol.  II.,  p.  383— Ed.  1814.  The  following  note 
affords  some  idea  of  the  destruction  of  manuscripts  at  the  period  of  the  Refor- 
mation. In  A.D.  1549,  John  Bale,  a  vigorous  anti-Romanist,  but  a  man  of 
learning,  writing  on  this  subject,  says  :  '  I  know  a  merchant-man,  which  shall  at 
this  time  be  nameless,  that  bought  the  contents  of  two  noble  libraries  (of  English 
monasteries)  for  forty  shillings  price, — a  shame  it  is  to  be  spoken !  This  stuff 
hath  he  occupied  instead  of  gray  paper  by  the  space  of  more  than  these  ten 
years,  and  yet  he  hath  store  enough  for  as  many  years  to  come.' — Blunt's  History 
of  tin  Reformation,  p.  388.  Every  student  of  history  knows  that  many  of  these 
manuscripts  were  beautifully  illuminated,  and  were  worthy  of  preservation  as 
works  of  art. 


124  ABBOTS  HENRY,  JOHN  PHILP,  AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 

at  Lindores  is  in  marked  contrast  -with  what  happened  at  St 
Andrews  only  eight  days  before,  where  the  monasteries  were 
ruthlessly  destroyed.1  Perhaps  the  forbearance  was  shown  be- 
cause the  abbot  was  believed  to  have  a  leaning  to  the  principles 
of  the  reformers  ;  this  much  is  certain,  that  the  Queen  Regent 
gave  intimation  that  he  should  not  receive  any  part  of  his  living 
in  the  north  from  the  churches  belonging  to  the  abbey  hi  the 
Garioch,  because  he  had  '  submitted  himself  to  the  Congregation, 
and  had  put  some  reformation  to  his  place.' 2  Of  the  nature  and 
extent  of  the  reformation  introduced  we  are  left  in  ignorance,  but 
the  probability  is,  that  the  second  book  of  Edward  VI.  was 
adopted  in  the  daily  services  of  the  abbey,  as  it  is  known  that 
it  was  used  in  Scotland  for  some  years  after  the  Reformation.3 
That  the  prayers  introduced  into  the  service  of  the  abbey  at  this 
juncture  were  Protestant  in  then  character,  is  evident  from  the 
fact,  that  the  Queen  Regent  subsequently  '  dischargit  the  common 
prayeris,  and  foirbad  to  gif  ony  portion  to  sic  as  war  the  princi- 
pall  young  men  quha  redde  thame.'4  In  August  1560  John, 
Abbot  of  Lindores,  sat  in  the  convention  which  sanctioned  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  and  assented  to  it ;  those  prelates  who  did  so 
were  to  enjoy  the  revenues  of  then  benefices  during  then  life,  on 
condition  that  they  upheld  in  the  chinches  belonging  to  their 
abbeys  the  ministry  and  ministers  under  the  new  order  of  things.5 


1  M'Crie's  Life  of  Knox,  Vol.  I.,  p.  270. 

2  Knox's  Hist.,  Vol.  EL,  p.  291. 

Keith"s  Hist.,  Vol.  III.,  p.  100. — Note.  On  this  point  the  editors  of  The 
Book  of  Common  Order  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  say:  In  1557  the  Scottish 
Protestant  Lords  in  Council  resolved  as  follows,  that  'the  Common  Prayers  be 
read  weekly  on  Sunday  and  other  festival  days,  publicly  in  the  parish  kirks, 
with  the  lessons  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  conform  to  the  Order  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayers.'  The  Book  of  Common  Prayers,  thus  authorized, 
was  the  Second  Book  of  King  Edward  VI.,  and  it  was  in  use  accordingly,  to 
some  extent,  till  it  was  superseded  by  the  Book  of  Geneva.' — P.  xiii. 

*  Knox's  Hist,  of  the  Reformation,  Vol.  I.,  p.  392. 

*  Keith's  Hist.,  Vol.  III.,  p.  24. 


PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR.  125 

He  resigned  the  abbacy  in  favour  of  John  Leslie,  on  the  24th 
February  1566,  'but  as  commendator  of  Lindores  he  is  named  as 
having  been  present  at  the  General  Assembly,  25th  June  1566, 
and  probably  did  not  long  survive.' 

John  Leslie,  the  last  Abbot  of  Lindores,  occupies  a  more  con- 
spicuous place   in  history   than    any   of  his   predecessors.      His 
father,  Gavin  Leslie,  Rector  of  Kingussie,  in  Badenoch,  and  Judge 
Official  or  Commissary  of  the  Diocese  of  Moray,  was  one  of  the 
family  of  Leslie  of  Cults,  a  branch  of  the  Leslies  of  Balquhain, 
who,  in  their  turn,  were  an  offshot  of  the  Leslies  of  Leslie,  now  re- 
presented by  the  Countess  of  Rothes.    John  Leslie,  being  the  son  of 
a  priest,  was  illegitimate,  for  which  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope 
was  afterwards  received,  to  enable  him  to  enter  into  holy  orders. 
He  was  born  on  the  29th  September  1527,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  where  he  took  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts.     In  1550  he  was  appointed  canon  of  the  cathe- 
dral  church  of  Aberdeen  and  Ellon,  the    emoluments  from  this 
preferment    enabling   him   to    prosecute  his  studies  abroad.     He 
studied  divinity  and  languages  in  Paris,  devoting  himself  especially 
to  Greek  and  Hebrew.     He  afterwards  went  to  Poitiers,  where, 
for  nearly  four  years  he  studied  civil  and  canon  law.     In  Toulouse, 
where  he  resided  for  some  time,  he  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws,  and  for  a  year  read  lectures  on  Canon  Law,  in   that  Uni- 
\  ersity. 

In  April  1554,  Leslie  returned  to  his  native  country,  where  his 
learning  and  ability  soon  obtained  for  him  many  preferments.  He 
was  appointed  Professor  of  Civil  Law  in  the  University  of  Aber- 
deen ;  and  in  the  year  1558  the  bishop  and  chapter  of  that  diocese 
chose  him  for  their  official,  a  situation  which  required  a  knowledge  of 
both  Canon  and  Civil  Law,  and  for  which  he  was  eminently  fitted 
by  his  studies  and  training.  Previous  to  this,  however,  he  became 
parson  of  Oyne  (a  title  by  which  he  is  frequently  designated  in 
the  history  of  the  time)  and  Morthlack,  and  prebendary  of  the 
cathedral  of  Aberdeen.  But  these  preferments  were  not  to  last  ; 
the  Reformation  was  shortly  afterwards  accomplished,  and  he  ami 


126  ABBOTS  HENRY,  JOHN  PHILP,   AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 

others  were  summoned  to  Edinburgh  (January  1561),  to  give  an 
account  of  then  faith  and  opinions.  In  April  of  the  same  year  he 
was  despatched  to  France  by  the  Roman  Catholic  noblemen  of  the 
north  of  Scotland,  to  endeavour  to  prepossess  Mary  in  their  favour. 
He  returned  to  Scotland  in  the  same  vessel  with  the  young 
Queen,  when  she  came  to  take  possession  of  the  Scottish  throne, 
and  ever  afterwards  adhered  to  her  with  unshaken  fidelity.  Mary 
appointed  him  one  of  her  Privy  Council,  and  in  1564  he  took  his 
seat  as  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session.  On  the  24th  February  1566, 
her  Majesty  bestowed  on  him  the  Abbacy  of  Lindores  in  com- 
mendam.  Subsequently  he  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Ross,  and  by 
a  Papal  dispensation  was  allowed  to  hold  both  appointments. 
Leslie  was  present  in  the  palace  of  Holyrood  on  that  fatal  even- 
ing when  Riccio  was  murdered.  From  his  known  partiality  for 
the  Queen  he  was  looked  upon  with  disfavour  by  her  opponents, 
and  was  exposed  to  some  risk  on  that  occasion.  In  a  contem- 
porary record  it  is  said,  that  '  Atholle  had  leave  of  the  Kinge 
(Darnley),  with  Flyske,  and  Landores  (who  was  lately  called 
Lyslaye,  the  parson  of  Oyne),  to  go  where  they  wolde,  and  were 
convoid  out  of  the  courte.'1 

After  Mary's  flight  to  England,  Bishop  Leslie  followed  her,  and 
never  afterwards  returned  to  reside  in  Scotland.  During  the 
whole  of  his  after  life  he  was  indefatigable  in  the  Queen's  behalf, 
and  one  of  the  most  zealous  defenders  of  her  rights  and  reputation. 
For  his  complicity  in  her  proposed  marriage  with  Norfolk,  he  was 
sent  as  a  prisoner  first  to  the  Isle  of  Ely,  and  afterwards  to 
the  Tower,  where  he  suffered  great  hardships.2     In  his  imprison- 


1  Knox's  Hist.,  Vol.  II.,  p.  601. — Appendix. 

2  On  a  stone  in  the  splay  of  a  window  of  the  cell  in  the  Bloody  Tower, 
where  Bishop  Leslie  was  confined,  there  is  a  Latin  inscription  hewn  by  him  in 
Roman  capitals,  with  his  name  and  date  appended.  Both  the  inscription  and 
the  beading  by  which  it  is  surrounded,  are  neatly  cut ;  it  measures  8|  by  6  inches. 
The  letters  are  for  the  most  part  legible,  but  the  inscription  has  been  destroyed 
in  several  places  by  the  sharp  cut  of  a  plasterer's  trowel,  and  it  is  in  consequence 


PATRICK  HAMILTON,  MARTYR.  127 

ment  he  wrote  his  Piae  Consolationes,  which  he  was  permitted 
to  send  to  his  unfortunate  sovereign,  who  derived  comfort  and 
support  from  them,  and  in  the  weary  hours  of  her  lengthened 
captivity  endeavoured  to  turn  his  pious  lucubrations  into  French 
verse. 

After  a  long  imprisonment  it  was  put  hi  the  Bishop's  option 
either  to  return  to  Scotland  or  to  go  to  France, — he  chose  the 
latter  alternative.  During  his  exile  he  wrote  his  History  of  Scot- 
land, which  was  published  in  Rome  in  1578,  whence  he  had  gone 
on  a  mission  at  the  request  of  the  Queen.  On  the  day  before  her 
execution,  Mary  wrote  to  Philip,  King  of  Spain,  beseeching  him 
to  show  kindness  to  the  Bishop  of  Ross  for  his  faithful  and  devoted 
services  to  her.  The  Queen's  dying  request  met  with  a  ready  re- 
sponse, and  the  faithful  prelate  was  provided  for  in  his  declining 
years.  His  labours  and  sufferings  on  behalf  of  his  Royal  mistress 
had,  however,  so  seriously  unpaired  his  health,  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  give  up  the  active  duties  of  the  preferment  to  which  the 
Kmg  of  Spam  had  promoted  hhn,  and  he  retired  to  the  monastery 
of  the  order  of  St  Augustine  at  Gertrudenberg,  about  two  miles 
from  Brussels,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  tran- 
quillity. He  died  there  in  June  1596,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his 
age,  and  was  buried  in  the  monastery  under  a  monument  erected 

not  easily  deciphered.  The  following  is  an  accurate  copy  of  the  inscription  as  it 
now  appears.     The  obliterated  letters  are  indicated  by  dots  : — 

.  E.    EGO    .  RO    PATRI.    INCIPE    TOT    MALA 
.  E.    TIBI    .  .  E    DE..    .  NS    ME    .  IN    SAT    EST 
.  A.    PATRIAE    REQVIE..    .    T.STA    SVB    PRINCIP 
PACE    FRVANTVR    AGO    VIGILA    ME    .   .  HIBENT 
VT.    RERE.    PR^ESTAS    IN    .  .  SPE    G.  .  ERE    SIBI 
QV..    VIDE.T    GR.TV.    S..    MIHI    V..E    TVVM 
CV.    PLACVERIN.    DOMINO    VLE    HOMINIS 
INIMICOS    EIVS    CNVERTET    ..    PACEM 

Jo.  Eps  Rosse.  Scot.s. 
1572- 


128  ABBOTS  HEXRY,  JOHN  PHILP,  AND  JOHN  LESLIE. 

to  his  memory  by  his  nephew  John  Leslie,  bearing  the  following 
inscription — 

'  SOLA  VIRTUS.'  ' 

Joannes  Leslaeus,  Episcopus  Rossensis,  Scotus,  ex  illustri 
familia  Leslaeorum,  omnis  generis  scientiarum  cultissimus,  Orator 
ad  Regem  Gall.  Fransciscam  II.  Consiliarius  Mariae,  P.M.  Scoto- 
rnm  Reginae,  Catholicae  religionis  propugnator,  post  immensis  pro 
avita  fide  labores,  presertim  in  Regno  Scotiae  restituenda,  post 
defensam  in  Anglia  Mariam  Regmam  post  varies  smnma  cum 
laude  gesta,  tranquillisime  excessit  Bruxel  prid.  Kalend,  Junii, 
A.D.  mdxcvi  Aetatis  suae  70. 

'Avunculo  grato  ne  superesset  ingratus,  Joannes  Leslaeus 
Nepos,  haeres  moestus  posuit  et  pro  eodem  anniversarium  p.  p., 
fundavit  in  hoc  coenobio  Gertrudenberguensi  prid.  Kal.  Junii  cele- 
brandum  Natatum  Locum  et  Diem  scimus,  sepulchri  nescimus.'1 

It  is  said  that  during  Bishop  Leslie's  administration  of  Lindores 
Abbey  he  obtained  a  royal  mandate,  and  took  an  active  part  in  re- 
gard to  the  confirmation  of  various  feu-fermes  of  lands  pertaining 
to  the  abbey.2     This  statement   receives  confirmation  from  the 


1  Irving's  Scottish  Writers,  pp.  122-146  ;  Knox's  Hist.,  Laing's  Amiot.,  Vol.  II., 
pp.  600-1 ;  Hist.  Rec.  of  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  402-406.  Besides  the 
works  previously  mentioned,  the  Bishop  of  Ross  published  '  A  Defence  of  Mary, 
Queen  of  Scotland ;  and  that  the  Regiment  of  Women  is  conformable  to  the 
Law  of  God  and  Nature,  1569.'  '  A  Discourse  conteyning  a  Perfect  Account 
given  to  the  most  vertuous  and  excellent  Princesse  Marie,  Queen  of  Scots,  and 
her  nobility.'  He  wrote  also  in  the  vernacular,  a  '  History  of  Scotland  from  the 
death  of  James  I.,  1436  to  1561,'  which  was  only  published  in  1830,  from  a 
manuscript  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Leven  and  Melville.  The  Bishop  wrote 
also  some  smaller  works,  chiefly  in  defence  of  his  royal  mistress.  In  the  library 
of  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  there  is  a  portrait  of  Bishop  Leslie,  in  excellent 
preservation.  There  is  a  relic  of  the  Bishop  in  the  possession  of  Dr  John 
Stuart,  consisting  of  a  volume  of  the  works  of  a  German  divine,  Weceiius, 
whose  writings  were  much  esteemed  by  those  who  were  in  favour  of  reformation, 
but  did  not  wish  to  break  with  Rome. — Rec.  of  the  Monastery  of  Kinloss,  p.  lv. 

-  Knox's  Hist,  of  the  Reformation,  Vol.  II.,  p.  601. — Note. 


ABBOTS  HENRY,  JOHN  PHILP,  AND  JOHN  LESLIE.  129 

fact  that  John  Leslie  of  New  Leslie,  son  of  Andrew  Leslie  and 
Janet  Leslie,  daughter  of  the  Bishop,  was  served  heir  to  his  father 
in  the  lands  of  '  Insch,  Chrystiskirk,  Eddirleck,'  and  other  lands 
in  Aberdeenshire,  which  formerly  were  the  property  of  Lindores 
Abbey.1  Previous  to  this,  however,  William  Leslie,  grandfather  of 
John  Leslie,  of  New  Leslie,  had  acquired  in  feu  the  lands  of  Insch 
and  Chrystiskirk,'  by  his  wife  Margaret  Cowie  (rather  Calvie), 
daughter  of  James  Calvie  of  Newburgh,  in  Lindores.' 2 


1  Retour — Aberdeen,  No.  178. 

2  Historical  Records  of  the  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  III.,  p.  342.  The  family  of 
Calvie  was  long  resident  in  Newburgh,  and  seem  to  Lave  been  of  considerable 
position  and  influence.  On  the  23d  March  1589,  John  Calvie  was  served  heir  to 
his  grandfather,  John  Calvie,  in  seven  acres  and  a  half  of  arable  land,  with  the 
third  part  of  the  '  Almeriecruik ; '  and  on  the  23d  October  1614,  John  Calvie 
was  served  heir  to  his  great-grandfather,  John  Calvie,  in  fifteen  and  a  half 
burgage  crofts  within  the  regality  of  Lindores — (Fife  Retours), — a  very  large 
extent  of  burgage  property  to  be  in  the  hands  of  one  person. 


CHAPTER    XI  V 


THE    COMMENDATOR. 

'  Ryse  !  say'd  ye  King  richt  blythe,  and  here 
For  brave  discharge  off  thye  devoir, 
Thye  guerdon  taik — this  hand  so  fair 
And  Baronye  off  fayre  Lundore.' 

M.S.  of  Elizabeth  Leslie,  a  descendant  of  Lord  Lindores. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Bishop  of  Ross  with  his  Royal  mistress, 
Patrick  Leslie  of  Pitcairlie,  seconds  on  of  Andrew,  fourth  Earl  of 
Rothes,  was  appointed  Commendator  of  Lindores.1  As  a  layman 
he  could  only  hold  the  abbey  in  commendam,  or  in  trust,  hence  the 
title  of  Commendator.  Many  of  the  abbeys  at  that  period,  and 
even  before  the  Reformation,  were  disposed  of  in  this  manner. 
From  the  record  of  a  '  confirmation  of  a  pension  granted  by* 
Patrick,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Lundores  to  Johne  Bbnar, 
lawfull  sone  to  umquhill  William  Bonar  of  Rossey,  13  December 
1569,' 2  we  learn  that  Patrick  Leslie  must  have  received  this 
valuable  appointment  some  time  before  that  date.  In  addition  to 
this  substantial  benefit,  the  King  (James  VI.)  shortly  afterwards 
conferred  the  honour  of  knighthood  upon  him. 

How  long  after  the  Reformation  the  monks  continued  to  oc- 
cupy their  old  abode,  is  nowhere  recorded.  Judging  from  the  com- 
plaints they  made,  then  position  seems  to  have  been  most  unen- 

A  notice  of  the  pedigree  of  the  family  of  Leslie  of  Lindores  is  given  in  the 
Appendix  No.  I. 

■  Presentation  of  Benefices,  1569. 


THE  COMMEXDATOR.  131 

viable,  and  the  pittance  allowed  them  most  grudgingly  paid  by 
the  lay-proprietors  who  obtained  possession  of  the  abbey  estates.1 
That  there  was  just  cause  for  the  complaints  of  the  monks,  is 
corroborated  by  the  difficulty  the  Reformed  ministers  had  in  ob- 
taining the  stipends  voted  to  them.  Zealous  reformers,  who,  Knox 
tells  us,  '  had  greedilie  grippit  the  possessiounis  of  the  kirk,'  would 
scarcely  disgorge  as  much  as  would  suffice  for  their  maintenance. 
From  the  zeal  manifested  hi  promoting  the  Reformation,  it  may 
seem  as  if  all  were  animated  by  a  sincere  desire  for  the  cause  of 
pure  religion ;  but  the  after-lives  of  too  many  of  the  laymen,  who 
took  an  active  part  in  it,  showed  that  a  desire  for  power,  and  the 
hope  of  obtaining  a  share  of  the  property  of  the  Church,  lay  at  the 
bottom  of  their  zeal.  They  used,  as  men  still  use,  the  convictions 
and  passions  of  others  to  help  themselves  to  power  ;  they  readily 
assented  to  the  suppression  of  the  dignitaries  of  the  Church,  and 
depressed  the  clergy,  that  there  might  be  less  chance  of  powerful 
claimants  re-appearing  to  demand  restitution  of  the  properties 
which  they  had  obtained.  '  Thair  was  none,'  says  Knox,  '  within 
the  realme,  more  unmerciful  to  the  poore  ministeris  than  wer  thei 
which  had  greatest  rentis  of  the  Churches.' 2 

In  December  1561,  the  Privy  Council  decreed  that  the  hold- 
ers of  ecclesiastical  benefices  should  give  up  one-third  of  the 
revenues  derived  from  them  for  the  public  service,  and  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  mhiisters  of  the  Reformed  Church.  In  further- 
ance of  this  decree,  they  were  required  to  produce,  within  a 
specified  time,  rentals  of  then  various  benefices,  and  collectors 
were  appomted  by  government  to  uplift  the  rents  of  the  abbeys. 
Many  of  these  '  Rentals '  have  been  preserved,  and  they  form 
a  valuable  record  of  the  possessions  of  the  Church.  That  of 
Lindores,  now  published  for  the  first  time,  is  more  minute  than 
any  hitherto  published  of  it,  and  is  specially  interesting,  as  showing 
the  localities  of  the  extensive  possessions  of  the  abbey,  and  the 
rental  hi  those  days  of  many  well  known  properties.  From  the 
circumstances  of  the  third  part  of  the  revenues  being  appropriated, 


Keith  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  389.         *  Knox  Hist..  Vol.  II.,  p.  128,  129. 


132  THE  COMMEXDATOR. 

these  accounts  are  known  by  the  name  of  the  'Assumption  of 
Thirds.' x 

By  an  Act  of  Parliament  passed  in  the  reign  of  James  VI.,  in 
the  year  1584,  '  The  haill  thrid  of  the  quheit  of  Lindores,  three 
chalders,  four  bolles,  three  peckes;  out  of  the  third  of  the  beir, 
saxe  chalders,  nine  bolles  ane  flrlot ;  out  of  the  thrid  of  the  meal, 
four  chalders,  XI.  bolles,  three  firlotes  two  peckes '  were  as- 
signed for  keeping  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  '  one  of  the  four 
chief  strengths  of  the  Realme,  maist  necessar  to  be  keepit.'  Pay- 
ment from  lands  which  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Lindores,  in  this 
neighbourhood,  is  still  made  to  the  Crown  in  virtue  of  this  Act  of 
Parliament,  and  is  known  by  the  name  of  Castle  Rents.  About 
this  period  the  dismantling  of  the  abbey  seems  to  have  begun. 
On  the  21st  April  1585,  the  Town  Council  of  Edinburgh  purchased 
the  abbey  clock.  The  following  is  the  entry  in  the  city  records 
sanctioning  the  purchase — '  Vigesimo  primo  Aprilis  1585.  The 
same  day,  &c,  Ordainis  Nicoll  Uddert,  dene  of  gild  to  refound  and 
pay  to  Henry  Nisbet  bailzie  the  soum  of  fyftie  fyve  pund  debursit  be 
hyrn  for  the  pryce  of  the  knok  of  Lindores,  and  the  same  sail  be 
allowit  to  the  said  dene  of  gild  in  his  comptis,  and  the  said  dene 
of  gild  to  intromett  with  the  said  knok  and  to  be  comptabill  for 
the  sani.'  Unfortunately  the  entry  does  not  mention  to  whom  the 
price  was  paid,  and  its  silence  regarding  any  bell  is  conclusive 
that  no  bell  was  sold  at  that  time.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his 
manuscript  collections  preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  says, 
'  They  '  (the  monks)  '  had  ancientlie  in  this  abbay  4  great  bellis, 
Michael  and  Raphael,  Mary  bell  and  Gabriell,  of  which  Mary  bell 
was  of  silver,  the  gift  of  ther  first  founder.'     The  '  Mary  Bell '  was 


1  The  rental  of  Lindores  Abbey,  referred  to  in  the  text,  is  in  the  hand-writing 
of  Mr  John  Nicolson,  collector-clerk,  and  is  attested  by  him ;  the  original  was 
submitted  to  David  Laing,  LL.D.,  and,  from  internal  as  well  as  other  evidence, 
he  is  of  opinion  that  it  was  drawn  up  about  the  year  1580.  It  belongs  to  the 
present  proprietor  of  Lindores  Abbey,  Edmund  P.  Balfour  Hay,  Esq.,  and  by  his 
kind  permission  is  now  published  with  notes  in  the  Appendix  No.  II. 


THE  COMMENDATOR.  133 

of  too  valuable  material  to  escape  being  speedily  commuted  into 
coin  ;  but  what  became  of  it  and  the  others  is  not  recorded. 

On  5th  November  1587,  Patrick  Leslie  granted  a  tack  of  the 
teind  sheaves  of  the  parish  of  Dudhope  to  James  Scryrngeour  of 
Dudhope,  constable  of  Dundee,  and  John  Scryrngeour  his  son,  for 
their  lives  and  nineteen  years  after  then  decease.  It  runs  in  these 
terms — '  Be  it  known  till  all  men,  Patrick,  be  permission  of  God, 
Commendator  of  Lundores,  with  express  consent  and  assent  of  our 
convent  of  the  said  abey,   the  weill  proffit  and  utilitie  thereof 

.  .  and  considerit  after  lang  advisement  and  mature  delibera- 
tion, and  for  certain  great  sum  of  silver  defressit  and  payit  to  us 
in  name  of  grassum,  be  ane  honourable  man  James  Scryrngeour, 
of  Dudhope,  constable  of  Dundee,  to  be  warit  and  applyit  towards 
ye  reparation  of  our  Abbey  Kirk  of  Lundores.' 1  Of  the  applica- 
tion of  this  '  great  sum  of  silver '  to  the  reparation  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  grave  doubts  may  be  entertained  ;  the  probability  is,  that 
the  tack  sets  forth  what  should  have  been  done,  rather  than  what 
was  done. 

The  Commendator  seems  to  have  been  too  needy  to  spend 
'  the  great  sum  of  silver '  for  such  a  purpose,  and  he  was  ad- 
venturous enough  to  run  some  risk  to  acquire  more.  In  1599 
he  and  a  set  of  gentlemen,  chiefly  belonging  to  Fife,  associated 
themselves  together  as  adventurers,  '  to  take  possession  of  the 
islands  of  Lewis  and  Harris,  which  had  been  confiscated  by  go- 
vernment, in  consequence  of  the  turbulence  of  the  chiefs.  The 
islanders  attacked  the  settlement  of  these  colonisers,  killed  most 
of  their  people,  took  the  leaders  prisoners,  and  only  released  them 
eight  months  after,  on  promise  that  they  should  never  return.'2 

Shortly  after  the  Commendator's  return  frorn  this  luckless 
expedition,  James  VI.  bestowed  on  him  the  lands  of  Lindores  : 
and  on  15th  November  1600,  Parliament  '  ratifies  and  apprevis 
and  confermes  the  infeftment  of  feu-ferme   grantit   be  his  mat16 

1  From  the  original  deed  in  the  possession  of  Miss  Graham  of  Duntrune. 
-  Chambers's  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  308-9. 


134  THE  COMMEND ATOR. 

to  Patrick  Leslie  of  Pitcarlie  his  airis  maill  and  assignais.'  On 
Christmas  day  1600,  James  created  him  Lord  of  Parliament,  by  the 
title  of  Lord  Limdores,  to  him  and  all  his  heirs  male.'  This  was 
confirmed  by  Parliament  on  the  11th  July  1606.  Doubts  have 
been  expressed  as  to  whether  it  was  the  Commendator  or  his  son 
that  was  created  Lord  Lundores ;  but  the  following  extract  from 
the  Act  of  Parliament  mentioned,  seems  to  show  conclusively  that 
it  was  the  Commendator  who  first  enjoyed  that  honour.  The 
grounds  of  the  erection  being  '  the  mony  gude  trew,  thankfull  and 
profitable  services  mony  ways  done  to  his  mat16  be  Patrik,  now 
Lord  of  Lundoris,  sumtyme  Commendator  thereof.  .  .  And  to 
the  effect  above-written,  our  said  soverane  Lord  and  estattis 
forsaidis  dissolvis,  suppresses,  extinguishes  and  abolisches  the 
foirsaid  abbey  and  monasterie  of  Lundoris,  Memorie  and  name 
thairof,  with  the  haill  ordouris,  institutiones  and  foundationes  of 
the  samn  simpliciter  and  forevir.'  And  so  closed  the  magnificent 
foundation  of  David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon. 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  Lindores  Abbey,  it  ought  to  be 
borne  in  mind,  that  the  object  of  the  institution  of  monasteries 
was  to  accomplish  a  social  regeneration  rather  than  a  strictly  re- 
ligious one.  At  the  period  of  their  great  revival  in  the  eleventh  and 
twelfth  centuries,  such  asylums  where  peaceful  men  could  exhibit 
the  benefits  of  undisturbed  industry,  were  real  blessings  in  the  land. 
But  when  law  and  order  began  to  prevail,  and  right  was  stronger 
than  might,  their  purpose  had  been  achieved  and  their  vocation 
had  ceased.  The  very  amelioration  which  the  monasteries  had  so 
powerfully  helped  to  produce,  was  an  argument  for  their  being  no 
longer  required.  It  would  have  been  true  wisdom  to  have 
devoted  them  to  a  purpose  calculated  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  age.  Unfortunately,  the  noble  piles  which  the  munificence 
of  their  pious  founders  had  reared,  were  not  spared,  as  they  ought 
to  have  been,  for  places  of  education  for  the  youth  of  coming 
generations.  Within  their  walls  young  men  might  have  been 
trained  to  the  highest  mental  culture  of  the  time,  and  sent  forth 
to  meet  the  ever  varying  phases  of  error,  and    do  battle  for  the 


THE  COMMEND ATOR.  135 

truth.  Even  in  the  first  fervour  of  the  Reformation,  such  a  purpose 
was  pointed  out  for  them,  and  then  preservation  enjoined  ;  but 
unfortunately  the  corruption  of  the  monasteries  had  brought  them 
into  such  bad  odour,  that  the  excited  populace  wrecked  their  rage 
on  what  ought  to  have  been  spared.1 

There  is  no  entire  portion  of  Lindores  Abbey  remaining ;  and 
until  within  the  last  few  years,  so  completely  were  the  ruins 
hidden  under  mounds  of  their  own  rubbish,  that  even  the  most 
experienced  in  ecclesiastical  structures,  could  with  difficulty  make 
out  the  ground  plan  of  the  building.  The  ruins  were  so  com- 
pletely overgrown  with  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the  place  was  in 
such  a  state  of  utter  desolation  and  neglect,  that  it  was  known 
in  the  neighbourhood  solely  by  the  name  of  'The  Wilderness.' 
This  is  now  all  changed ;  the  rubbish  has  been  cleared  away  down 
to  the  basement,  the  plan  of  the  building  is  distinctly  seen,  and 
the  stumps  of  pillars  which  have  been  uncovered,  exhibit  the 
graceful  form  and  the  clustered  shafts  of  the  early  English  or  First- 
pointed  style.  The  solidity  and  the  gracefulness  of  their  design 
remain  to  attest  the  grandeur  of  the  original  building.  About 
twenty-five  years  ago,  the  foundations  of  a  range  of  pillars,  to  the 
height  of  several  feet,  running  along  the  north  side  of  the  nave,  were 
laid  bare  by  the  partial  removal  of  the  rubbish  by  which  they  had 
been  concealed.  They  were  of  the  same  elegant  design  as  those 
fragments  which  remain;  but  very  shortly  after  their  discovery 

1  'If,'  says  a  living  scholar,  'a  more  generous  and  fairer  treatment  had  been 
extended  to  the  Church  and  the  Universities  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  there 
might  have  been  in  Scotland,  as  there  is  in  England,  adequate  rewards  for  learn- 
ing, of  which  at  present  there  are  next  to  none.  Will  it  be  bebeved,  that  apart 
from  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  there  are  two  public  schools  in  England,  the 
annual  income  of  either  of  which  exceeds  that,  not  of  one,  but  of  all  the  Scottish 
Universities.' — Professor  Geddes,  'Address  to  the  University  of  Aberdeen,  Oct.  1869.' 
Cardinal  Wolsey,  several  years  before  the  Reformation  in  England,  carried  out  a 
wise  reform  of  the  monastic  system  ;  and  with  a  statesmanlike  appreciation  of  the 
wants  of  the  times,  appropriated  the  revenues  of  twelve  small  monasteries  (pro- 
viding for  the  inmates  at  the  same  time)  for  the  endowment  of  Christ  Church 
College,  Oxford.— Blount  Hist,  of  Reformation  in  England,  Vol.  I.,  p.  69. 


136  THE  COMMEND ATOR. 

they  were  ruthlessly  removed.  Part  of  the  walls  of  the  chancel, 
to  a  considerable  height,  are  still  standing,  but  they  are  thoroughly 
stripped  of  all  ashlar  and  ornamental  work,  and  not  a  vestige  of 
the  mullions  of  any  of  the  windows  remains,  excepting  in  broken 
fragments  found  among  the  rubbish.  The  walls  of  the  great 
western  tower,  to  the  height  of  about  eight  feet,  remain  in  better 
preservation  than  almost  any  other  portion  of  the  abbey.  The 
buttresses  are  of  immense  thickness,  and  show  that  the  tower 
must  originally  have  been  of  great  strength.1  But  the  most  per- 
fect portion  of  the  abbey  remaining  is  the  groined  arch  of  the  prin- 
cipal entrance  leading  into  the  cloister-court,  of  which  an  illustra- 
tion from  a  photograph  is  given ;  the  cloister  walls,  like  almost 
every  portion  of  the  building,  have  been  thoroughly  peeled,  and 
only  the  skeleton  remains. 

That  grand  old  structures  were  destroyed  at  the  outburst  of 
the  Reformation,  history  attests ;  but  the  demolition  of  most  of 
them  was  the  work  of  a  later  age.  Unoccupied  and  neglected, 
the  abbeys  especially  became  quarries  for  the  neighbourhood, 
until,  in  some  instances,  scarcely  one  stone  remained  above  another. 
The  work  of  spoliation  has  gone  on  so  gradually,  that  it  has  gene- 
rally escaped  observation  and  record ;  but  in  the  charter  chest  of 
Newburgh,  there  is  preserved  a  record  of  an  appropriation  and  de- 
struction of  such  an  extensive  character,  that  the  hens  of  the  per- 
petrator had  to  refund  the  then  proprietor,  Alexander,  Lord  Lun- 
dores.  Slates,  timber,  stones,  hewn  and  unhewn,  were  carried  off 
for  the  erection  of  a  house  in  Newburgh,  the  mouldings  of  the 
doors  and  windows  of  which  still  bear  witness  from  whence  they 


1  The  great  western  tower  appears  to  have  an  exact  counterpart  of  the 
existing  square  tower  of  the  parish  church  of  Brechiu,  only  more  massive.  About 
twenty  years  ago,  a  portion  of  a  spiral  stair,  leading  to  the  top  of  the  tower,  was 
discovered,  but  shortly  afterwards  the  whole  (excepting  two)  of  the  steps  were 
removed.  A  heavy  iron  key  of  antique  shape,  was  found  at  the  same  time,  but 
it  also  has  disappeared.  When  the  floor  of  the  tower  was  recently  being 
cleared,  several  stone  and  iron  cannon  balls  were  found  among  the  rubbish. 


THE  COMMEND ATOR.  137 

were  obtained.1  On  the  18th  April  1743,  the  following  occurs  in 
the  records  of  the  kirk  session  of  Newburgh  : — '  To  James  Bissatt 
for  bringing  the  free  stone  from  the  Abby  for  John  Black's  House 
00.  03.  00 ;'  an  entry  which  shows  that  the  abbey  was  used  and 
recognised  as  the  quarry  for  the  neighbourhood. 

A  demolition  so  sordid  and  so  unsparing  had  but  scant  respect 
even  for  the  tombs  of  the  departed.  The  niches,  where  elaborate 
monuments  stood,  are  distinctly  visible,  but  the  monuments  them- 
selves have  been  ruthlessly  destroyed,  and  not  a  fragment  remains. 
Nine  stone  coffins  have  been  discovered  in  Lindores  Abbey  from 
time  to  time  ;  the  lid  which  covered  the  coffin  at  the  door  of 
the  chapter  house,  has  the  figure  of  an  ecclesiastic  sculptured 
upon  it.2  Another  had  a  small  incised  cross  on  the  lid  ;  but  none 
of  the  coffins  bore  any  inscription  to  indicate  who  was  buried  in 
them.  It  is  recorded  that  Lady  Mary  Lindsay  was  buried  in  the 
chancel ;  but  the  exact  spot,  where  the  wayward  and  unfortunate 
Duke  of  Rothesay  was  laid,  is  unknown.     It  is  not  a  little  remark- 


1  In  the  deed  referred  to  in  the  text,  the  following  occurs,  '  Moreover  dureing 
the  time  above  mentioned  '  (before  Alexander  Lord  Lundores  got  his  right  to  the 
estate  fully  established),  '  and  on  pretence  of  having  a  right  and  warrand  from  the 
said  factor  on  said  estate,  as  said  is.  He,  the  said,  ...  did  also  demolish 
and  take  down  the  principall  part  of  the  mansion  house  of  Lundores,  carried  off 
the  whole  slates,  lofts,  jests,  and  timber  thereof,  and  a  great  many  stones  there- 
from, both  hewn  and  unhewn,  and  made  use  of  the  same  for  building  a  house 

in  Newburgh,  and  a  maltbarn  in  the  toune  of  Grange  of  Lindores.'  The 
same  deed  conveys  the  road  from  the  east  port  to  the  foot  of  the  gardens  to  the 
community,  and  is  signed  by  Lord  Lundores,  at  Newburgh,  on  25th  May  1741. 

In  the  front  wall  of  a  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  street  of  Newburgh  there 
is  a  stone,  doubtless  from  the  abbey,  representing  a  Bear  chained  to  a  ragged 
staff,  sculptured  upon  it ;  above  this  is  apparently  a  mitre,  surmounted  by  the 
head  of  a  pastoral  staff.  The  Bear  chained  to  a  ragged  staff,  George  Seton, 
Esq.,  the  learned  author  of  '  The  Law  and  Practice  of  Heraldry  in  Scotland,1 
informs  me,  is  the  well-known  badge  of  the  Beauchamps,  Earls  of  Warwick  ; 
but  what  connection  any  member  of  that  family,  either  ecclesiastically  or  other- 
wise, had  with  Lindores  Abbey,  nowhere  appears. 

2  An  engraving  of  this  lid,  copied  from  a  drawing  by  Mr  Thomas  Ross,  architect, 
Edinburgh,  is  given  with  the  ground  plan  of  the  abbey,  p.  52. 


138  THE  COMMEXDATOR. 

able,  that  of  all  who  were  buried  in  the  abbey,  the  coffins  of  two 
infants  lying  in  front  of  the  high  altar,  in  the  exact  spot  where 
they  were  found,  and  perhaps  the  very  first  who  were  buried 
within  the  walls  of  the  abbey,  certainly  upwards  of  six  hundred 
and  seventy  years  ago,  are  the  only  two  that  can  be  identified.1 
Fordun,  our  earliest  historian,  tells  us  that  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon 
selected  his  own  foundation  of  Lindores  as  the  burial  place  of  his 
offspring,  and  that  an  infant  son  of  the  Earl,  named  Robert,  was 
buried  there,  amid  the  lamentations  of  the  people  of  England  as 
well  as  of  Scotland.2     It  gives  a  deeper  significance  to  the  little 

1  The  two  small  coffins  are  hewn  out  of  solid  red  sandstone ;  they  measured 
respectively  27|  and  30^  inches  in  length  ;  when  discovered  in  18-46,  infants'  bones 
were  found  in  them. 

2  Fordun,  Vol.  II.,  p.  277.  When  the  work  of  clearing  out  the  ruins  was 
progressing,  an  opening,  rudely  built  up  by  the  side  of  an  almry  in  the  side 
chapel  of  the  north  transept,  was  discovered.  On  removing  this  rude  mason- 
work,  two  piscinfe  were  discovered  side  by  side,  one  round  and  the  other  fluted, 
both  as  fresh  and  clean  as  when  newly  hewn.  The  mason-work  which  concealed 
them  bore  no  mark  of  a  tradesman's  hands,  but  had  all  the  appearance  of  having 
been  executed  for  the  purpose  of  concealing  the  sacred  receptacles,  and  pre- 
serving them  from  sacrilegious  uses.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  there  are  two 
piscinae  exactly  similar  to  those  found  in  Lindores,  in  the  ancient  church  of 
Yardley-Hastings,  where  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  died.  Another  piscina  has 
since  been  discovered  in  the  south  transept. 

With  the  exception  of  three  very  small  fragments,  no  stone  with  any  in- 
scription has  been  found.  One  of  these  fragments  has  part  of  the  figure  of  an 
ecclesiastic,  and  the  letters  J.  A.  L.  (conjectured  to  be  the  initials  of  John,  Abbot 
of  Lindores)  incised  upon  it.  The  inscriptions  are  so  fragmentary  and  so  defaced, 
that  they  have  not  been  deciphered.  In  the  year  1839,  a  massive  gold  signet 
ring  '  was  turned  up  by  the  plough  immediately  north  of  the  abbey  wall.  It 
was  richly  chased,  and  in  as  perfect  condition  as  if  new  from  the  jewellers.  It 
was  of  more  than  usual  circumference,  passing  with  ease  over  the  thumb-joint  of 
a  powerful  man.  The  signet,  which  was  about  the  size  of  a  fourpenny-piece, 
was  an  amethyst,  having  a  head  of  Janus  cut  on  it  in  intaglio.  There  was  an 
inscription  in  black  letter  round  the  ring,  which  was  not  very  legible,  but  the 
words  "  Johannes  "  and  "  Sacer  "  were  made  out.' — Leigliton's  History  of  Fife,  Vol. 
II.,  p.  169.  There  were  three  Abbots  of  Lindores  of  the  name  of  John,  but  as 
John  Leslie  was  only  Commendator,  it  is  not  likely  that  he  ever  resided  at  the 
abbey.     The  probability  is,  that  the  ring  belonged  to  Abbot  John,  who  renewed 


THE  COMMENDATOR.  139 

coffins  to  know,  that  had  the  infants  who  were  buried  in  them 
lived,  the  course  of  history  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been 
changed ;  their  descendants  would  have  been  hens  to  the  throne 
of  Scotland,  and  Edward  I.  would  have  had  no  pretence  on  which 
to  found  his  claims  to  the  Scottish  crown. 

Kings,  warriors,  statesmen,  who  have  borne  a  conspicuous  part 
in  history,  have  trod  the  courts  of  the  Abbey  of  Lindores.  These 
are  desolate  and  ruined;  but  the  place  where  brave  men  have  trod, 
where  brave  words  have  been  spoken,  and  where,  for  centuries,  men 
worshipped  and  praised  God,  can  never  become,  in  the  eyes  of 
thoughtful  men,  mere  common  ground. 


the  charters  to  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh  in  1457,  in  which  case  it  was  nearly 
400  years  old  when  found.  The  person  who  found  the  ring  left  the  neighbour- 
hood shortly  afterwards  for  another  part  of  the  country,  and  if  it  is  still  extant, 
it  has  in  all  likelihood  passed  into  hands  ignorant  of  its  history.  More  recently 
fragments  of  a  chalice  of  Venetian  glass,  of  beautiful  design  and  workmanship,  was 
found  among  the  lime-rubbish  of  the  ruins.  About  the  same  time  portions  of  a 
latticed  window,  containing  seven  or  eight  lozens,  with  the  leaden  casing  entire, 
were  also  discovered.  The  glass  is  of  coarse  quality,  thick  and  opaque ;  only 
one  or  two  of  the  lozens  have  anything  like  staining  or  colour  upon  them.  Several 
small  square  floor  tiles  have  been  found,  they  are  of  a  dim  red  hue ;  on  some  of 
them  a  pattern  in  cream-colour  can  be  traced.  Besides  these  fragmentary 
remains,  there  are  three  carved  oak  pannels  in  the  possession  of  Mr  Paton  of 
Dunfermline,  which,  he  was  assured,  came  out  of  Lindores  Abbey.  Mr  Shepherd 
of  Strathmiglo,  from  whom  Mr  Paton  acquired  these  relics,  was  a  man  of  probity ; 
and  when  it  is  considered  how  comparatively  recent  the  spoliation  of  the  abbey, 
mentioned  in  a  preceding  page,  took  place,  there  is  nothing  improbable  in  such 
relics  being  preserved.  The  pannels  bear  all  the  marks  of  antiquity,  as  the 
engraving  given  shows.  The  style  of  the  carvings  is  the  same  as  the  Stirling 
heads ;  the  form  of  the  letters  on  the  scrolls  are  ancient,  and  the  words  are  pure 
Scottish.  They  read  as  follows :  '  quhat  DOTH  lat  FLEIIS  ME — AS  I  AM  SA 
SAL  YOU  be — aganis  deid  is  na  remeid.'  The  centre  pannel  measures 
9£  inches  by  15J,  the  other  two  are  one  inch  narrower. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE   BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH. 

Yet  more  ;  around  these  Abbeys  gathered  towns 
Safe  from  the  feudal  castle's  haughty  frown's  ; 
Peaceful  abodes,  where  Justice  might  uphold 
Her  scales  with  even  hand,  and  culture  mould 
The  heart  of  pity,  train  the  mind  in  care 
For  rules  of  life,  sound  as  the  time  could  bear.' 


1  Vordsivorih. 


In  these  days  of  perfect  freedom,  where  there  is  scarcely  any  re- 
striction to  our  personal  liberty,  save  that  we  shall  do  no  wrong 
to  our  neighbour,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  realize  the  condition 
of  society  when  charters  were  first  granted  to  burghs  in  Scotland, 
or  of  the  necessities  which  called  them  forth.  Men  owned  men, 
as  men  own  cattle,  with  this  difference,  that  the  former  could  not 
be  removed  from  the  soil.  The  over  lord,  or  '  baron,  was  supreme 
criminal  judge  within  his  own  barony,  and  possessed  the  power 
of  life  and  death,  and  of  imprisonment  within  his  own  dungeon,'1 
and  it  too  often  happened  that  the  authority  of  the  crown  was 
powerless  to  prevent  these  excessive  privileges  being  exercised 
without  hardship  and  caprice. 

It  helps  us  to  comprehend  the  condition  of  society  more  vi- 
vidly, to  have  before  us,  as  it  were,  the  very  documents  which 
completed  the  purchase  of  the  freedom  of  a  serf  and  his  children, 
and  to  look  upon  the  very  warrant  that  was  issued  for  the  capture 
of  a  run-away  bondman. 

In  that  most  valuable  publication,  the  '  National  Manuscripts  of 


Tytler,  Vol.  I.,  p.  251. 


THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH.  141 

Scotland,'  there  are  fac-similes  of  such  warrants,  and  of  deeds  of 
sale  of  serfs,  in  the  reign  of  Alexander  II.  (1247).  Osulf  the  Red, 
and  his  son  Walter,  are  sold  for  ten  merks.  The  freedom  of  Regi- 
nald the  provost,  and  his  children,  is  bought  '  for  twenty  merks  of 
sterlings,  so  that  he  and  his  wife  and  children  and  all  descending 
from  them,  may  go,  return,  and  stay  wherever  they  please,  like 
other  freemen.1  Later  still,  in  the  reign  of  David  II.  (a.d.  1369), 
Brice  Wych  had  conveyed  to  him  the  lands  of  Balloch  in  Kinross- 
shire,  together  with  the  bondagiis  et  nativis,  natives  or  serfs,  on  that 
land.'2 

It  was  therefore  a  boon  of  no  common  order  when  men  were 
permitted  to  unite  together  in  free  communities,  and  to  govern 
themselves.  It  would  be  a  mistake,  however,  to  imagine  that  the 
burgesses  were  originally  of  the  trading  class  ;  the  very  name 
Burg  herrs  (herr — Lord  or  Sir — German)  implies  that  they  were 
men  capable  of  defending  the  burg,  or  fortified  place,  raised  for 
defence  against  invaders.  Under  their  protection,  and  that  of  the 
castle  which  they  defended,  the  trading  class  sought  shelter  for 
the  prosecution  of  their  industry  and  the  sale  of  then  merchan- 
dise. It  was  then  as  now,  commerce  and  the  industries  of  peace 
flourished  where  the  strong  arm  was  ready  to  defend  them.  Gra- 
dually these  communities  became  thriving  centres  of  trade.  En- 
lightened monarchs  encouraged  them  as  sources  of  national  wealth, 
and  as  a  means  of  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 

It  would  therefore  be  erroneous  to  suppose  that  the  granting 
of  a  charter  called  trading  communities  into  existence ;  it  found 
them  existing,  associated  together  for  mutual  help.  The  history 
of  the  early  Gilds  brings  out  this  latter  point  most  clearly,  and  it 
is  refreshing  to  find  that  these  gilds  set  up  something  higher  than 
personal  gain  as  the  main  object  of  then  union.  Besides  regulat- 
ing trade,  their  laws  proceed  on  the  assumption  that  men  and 
women  are  brothers  and  sisters,  brethren  and  sistern  as  they  call 


1  Part  I.,  National  MS.  of  Scotland,  p.  31. 
-  Robertson's  Index  to  Charters,  85-201. 


142  THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH. 

them.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  these  laws  having  merely  the 
sanction  of  mutual  agreement,  could  only  bind  those  who  chose  to 
continue  members  of  the  associated  community  ;  but  the  granting 
of  a  charter  immediately  invested  these  internal  regulations  with 
the  force  of  law,  from  which  there  was  no  escape,  and  the  obtain- 
ing of  a  charter  was  therefore  a  great  step  in  social  and  political 
progress. 

The  churchmen  were  not  slow  to  encourage  these  rising  com- 
munities, and  they  granted  or  secured  charters,  conferring  the 
privileges  of  burghs  on  the  towns  which  had  arisen  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  their  abbeys  and  cathedrals.  Many  of  the  most  im- 
portant cities  in  the  kingdom  owe  their  origin  to  tins  connection. 
The  monks  of  Lindores,  in  the  year  1266,  obtained  from  Alexander 
III.  a  charter,  erecting  '  their  town,  which  is  called  the  new  burgh,' 
into  a  free  burgh.  The  following  is  a  translation  of  the  charter, 
'  Alexander,  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of  the  Scots,  to  all  good 
men  of  his  whole  land,  Greeting,  know  that  we,  from  affection  have 
given,  granted,  and  by  this  our  present  charter  have  confirmed  to 
the  religious  men,  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lundoris,  that  they 
and  then  successors  may  have  forever  their  town,  which  is  called 
New-Burgh,  nigh  the  monastery  of  Lundoris,  a  free  burgh,  and  a 
market  in  the  same,  any  day  in  March,  with  the  liberties  of  burgh 
and  market.  Saving  in  all  things  the  liberties  of  our  burghs. 
Witnesses,  William,  Earl  of  Mar,  chamberlain,  John  of  Lambertoun, 
John  of  Lyndes,  John  de  Hay  and  Gillascope  Cambell  and  William 
Biseth,  witnesses,  at  Stirling,  the  4th  day  of  March  in  the  17th 
year  of  our  reign'  (a.d.  1266).1  The  clause  saving  'the  liberties 
of  our  burghs,'  was  inserted  to  protect  the  rights  of  royal  burghs, 
some  of  which,  such  as  Perth,  had  privileges  of  trading  over  ex- 
tensive districts. 

1  William,  Earl  of  Mar,  the  ninth  of  that  name,  was  one  of  the  most  eminent 
statesmen  of  the  time  in  Scotland.  Gillascope  Cambell  is  the  first  of  the  family 
of  Argyle  whose  name  appears  in  charter  record ;  and  the  charter  to  Newburgh 
is  the  first  and  only  charter  in  which  it  occurs. 

2  Lib.  de  Lundores,  p.  8. 


THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH.  143 

Such  is  the  first  charter  of  '  the  New  Burgh  of  Lindores,'  which, 
notwithstanding  its  apparently  modern  name,  is  of  no  mean  anti- 
quity.    It  may  seem  strange  that  a  charter  was  needed  to  confer 
the  right  of  holding  a  market,  when  all  that  is  now  required  is 
to  advertise  that  a  fan*  is  to  be  held ;  but  fairs  at  that  time  were 
the  subjects  of  special  privileges.     The  fair  was  a  day  of  perfect 
liberty,  even  the  fugitive  bondman  was  free  from  arrest  on  that 
day,  and  though  his  owner  met  him  in  the  fair,  he  dared  neither 
'  chace  nor  take  him.' 1     From  the  moment  that  '  the  pece  of  the 
fair  was  cryit  thar  sal  na  man  be  takyn,  na  attachyt  within  that  ilk 
fair,  bot  gif  he  breck  the  pece  of  that  fair,  towart  it  cummande  or 
within  it  duelland,  or  fra  thir  passand,  bot  gif  he  was  the  king's 
traytour,  or  gif  he  war  suilke  a  mysdour  that  gyrth  of  halykyrk 
an  nocht  to  sauffe  hym/     None  but  the  outlaw,  the  traitor  or  male- 
factor of  the  deepest  dye,  could  be  taken  during  its  continuance.2 
It  was  therefore  a  day  of  licence,  all  the  more  prized  that  liberty 
was  at  other  times  so  much  restricted.     In  the  Saga  of  '  Grettir 
the  Strong'  (a.d.  1029),  there  is  an  incident  recorded,  which  is  so 
illustrative  of  the  sacredness  in  which  '  the  Peace'  was  held  after 
it  was  openly  proclaimed,  and  shows  so  unmistakeably  where  this 
germ  of  freedom  arose,  that  it  is  here  inserted — Grettir  had  long 
been  outlawed,  and  for  safety  was  obliged  to  live  concealed.     But 
he  longed  to  go  to  the  usual  spring-tide  gathering  for  the  annual 
sports.     Disguised,  he  sat  among  the  spectators,  till  they  prayed 
him,  a  stranger,  '  to  wrestle  with  some  one.'     He  said,  '  well,  if  ye 
are  so  fain  ye  must  handsel'  ('promise,  sanctioned  by  the  clasping 
of  hands')  'me  peace  here  at  the  Thing,  and  until  such  time  as  I 
come  back  to  my  home.'     They  all  sprang  up  and  said  that  so 
would  they  do  indeed.     One  of  those  present  then  proclaimed  '  the 
peace.'    '  Herewith  I  establish  peace  betwixt  all  men  and  this  same 
guest,  who  sits  here,  and  so  is  named ;  that  is  to  say,  all  men  of 
rule,  and  goodly  bonders,  and  all  men  young  and  fit  to  bear  arms, 


1  Leges  Burgorum,  88. 

2  lb.,  No.  86 ;  and  Robertson's  Early  Kings,  Vol.  I.,  p.  304. 


144  THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH. 

and  all  other  men  of  the  country  side  of  Heron-ness  Thing  whence- 
soever  any  may  have  come  here,  of  men  named  or  unnamed.  Let 
us  handsel  safety  and  full  peace  to  that  unknown  new-comer, 
yclept  Guest,  by  name  for  game,  wrestling  and  all  glee,  for  abiding 
here  and  going  home,  whether  he  has  need  to  fare  over  water,  or 
over  land,  or  over  ferry ;  safety  shall  he  have,  in  all  steads  named 
and  unnamed,  ever  so  long  as  he  needs  for  his  coming  home  whole, 
under  faith  holden.'  When  Grettir  threw  off  his  disguise  they 
saw  the  dreaded  outlaw  before  them,  and  'they  gazed  on  one 
another,'  enraged  that  they  had  been  duped.  Grettir  taunted 
them  and  said, 

'  Round  about  lay  head  to  head 
For  belike  they  heard  my  name, 
And  must  balance  peace  and  shame.' 

Then  spake  Hialti  the  son  of  Thord,  '  So  shall  it  not  be,  we  shall 
hold  to  our  peace  and  troth  given  though  we  have  been  beguiled, 
for  I  will  not  men  shall  have  such  a  deed  to  follow  after,  if  we 
depart  from  that  peace  that  we  ourselves  have  settled  and  hand- 
selled. All  thanked  him  therefor,  and  deemed  that  he  had  done 
as  a  great  chief.'1 

As  soon  too  as  the  '  Peace  of  the  Fair '  was  proclaimed,  the 
special  privileges  of  the  burghers  were  in  abeyance,  and  the 
humblest  trader  who  exposed  his  goods  in  the  market  was  on  an 
equality  with  them  for  the  time ;  a  regulation  which  purchasers 
would  value,  as  it  broke  in  upon  the  monopoly  which  at  other  times 
prevailed.  So  jealously  were  the  liberties  of  the  Fail-  guarded,  that 
if  any  stranger  trader  broke  the  laws  or  '  Peace  of  the  Fair,'  he 
was  tried  and  punished,  not  by  the  magistrates  of  the  burgh,  but 
with  the  true  Norse  principles  of  justice,  in  a  temporary  court  of 
'  his  peers,'  the  community  for  the  time  being  of  the  Fair.  It  was 
also  provided,  '  gif  a  mute  (a  plea  in  court)  be  raisyt  betwene  a 
burges  and  a  marchand,  it  sail  be  endyt  wythin  the  thud  flud  of 


1  Grettir  the  Strong,  pp.  212-216. 


THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH.  145 

the  sea.'1  The  latter  provision  is  one  of  which  modern  litigants 
would  be  only  too  glad  to  have  the  advantage. 

It  will,  however,  give  a  better  idea  of  the  privileges  of  burghs, 
and  of  the  rights  and  duties  of  burgesses,  to  quote  some  of  the 
laws  which  regulated  them.  These  laws  (Leges  Burgorum)  date 
as  far  back  as  the  reign  of  David  I.  (1124-1153),  whose  enlightened 
policy  did  so  much  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  kingdom. 

One  of  the  first  of  the  'laws  of  the  burghs'  exhibits  the 
burgess  in  a  very  different  capacity  from  that  of  a  peaceful 
trader.  It  secures  to  him  the  right  of  combat  for  the  settlement 
of  disputes.  A  defender,  instead  of  submitting  his  case  to  the 
judgment  of  an  assize,  could  demand  that  it  be  tried  by  single 
combat  between  himself  and  the  pursuer.2  However  incredible 
it  may  now  appear,  our  forefathers  deemed  trial  by  single  combat 
an  appeal  to  the  justice  of  God.  They  reckoned  the  advantages  of 
superior  strength,  and  dexterity  in  the  use  of  arms  of  no  account, 
in  the  firai  belief  that  the  righteous  cause  would  prevail.  In 
narrating  the  preparation  for  a  trial  by  single  combat,  Sir  Walter 
Scott  makes  one  of  the  characters  of  his  story  of  '  The  Talisman,' 
say,  'What  if  he  should  lose  the  day?'  'It  is  impossible,'  is  the 
immediate  reply,  'his  opponent  is  guilty.'  From  this  barbarous 
mode  of  deciding  the  justice  of  his  cause,  a  burgess  when  '  passit 
elde'  (above  sixty  years  old),  could  only  be  excused  from  fighting 
his  challenger  'by  the  athis  of  xii  men  suilk  as  himself.'3 

According  to  an  old  authority,  a  man  who  lawfully  declined 
battle,  '  is  oblissed  to  acquit  and  charge  himself  be  the  judgement 
of  God ;  that  is  be  hote  iron  if  he  be  a  friernan,  or  be  water  if  he 
be  ane  husbandman,'  apparently  proceeding  on  the  assumption 
that  hot  iron  could  not  burn,  or  water  drown,  the  innocent/ 


1  Leges  Burgorum,  Nos.  54  and  6;  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings, 
Vol.  I.,  p.  304. 

2  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  13.  :!   lb.,  No.  22. 

1  Regiam  Majestatim,  Book  IV.,  cap.  III.  Trial  by  the  ordeal  of  hot  iron  is 
still  practised  in  Ilindostan.  In  1873  the  Rao  of  Kurapore  caused  one  of  his 
subjects  to  prove  his  innocence  of  an  offence  with  which  he  was  charged,  by 

K 


146  THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH. 

A  second  law  declares  that  '  na  man  may  be  the  kyngis  bnrges, 
but  gif  he  may  do  service  to  the  kyng.1  The  service  here  meant 
military  service,  in  which  the  burgess  was  bound  to  appear  armed, 
and  to  follow  the  king's  host  into  battle. 

By  the  statute  of  James  I.,  cap.  123,  A.D.  1429,  it  was  enacted 
that  '  every  burgess  having  fifty  pounds  in  gudes  sail  be  armed  like 
a  gentleman,  and  a  burgess  with  twenty  pounds  in  gudes,  with  hat, 
habergeon,  sword  and  buckler,  bow,  shaif  [of  arrows]  and  knife. 
And  he  that  is  na  bowman  have  a  gude  axe  and  sure  weapons.' 
By  statute  James  II.,  cap.  64,  A.D.  1457,  it  was  enacted  that  '  a  pair 
of  bowbutts  be  set  up  in  every  parioch  and  schuting  be  usyt,  and 
that  ilk  man  withyn  fiftie  and  past  twelve  schute  six  schottes  at 
the  least  under  pain  of  two  pennies,  to  be  given  to  them  that 
comes  to  the  bow  marke  to  chink,  and  this  from  Pasch  to  All- 
hallowemes,'  i.e.  from  about  April  to  the  end  of  October. 

The  place  known  as  The  Butts,  at  the  west  end  of  the  north 
gardens,  marks  the  place  where  archery  was  practised  in  Newburgh. 

Burgesses  were  also  bound  to  hold  watch  and  ward  during  the 
night,  and  from  every  house,  that  of  widows  excepted,  '  thar  sal 
ane  wachman  be  haldyn  to  cum  furth,  when  the  wakstaff  gais 
fra  dure  to  dure  wha  sail  be  of  eylde,  and  sail  gang  till  Ins  wach, 
with  tua  wapings  at  the  ryngyng  of  the  curfeu,  and  sail  wach  till 
the  dawyng  of  the  daye.'2  Another  law  provided  that  '  gif  a 
burges  be  attachyt  ututh  the  brugh  for  det,  or  ony  mysgilt,  his 
nichtburis  sal  pas  to  borrow  hym  [become  bail  for  him]  in  their 
own  proper  dyspence.'3  A  provision  which  shows  they  were 
leagued  together  for  mutual  defence,  and  supports  the  correct- 
holding  a  red-hot  ploughshare  in  both  his  hands,  after  four  or  five  pepul  leaves 
tied  over  with  thread  had  been  placed  in  them.  The  accused  had  to  repeat 
the  following  words  with  his  face  towards  the  sun : — '  Thou  sun-god,  if  I  am 
guilty  of  the  crime,  punish  me  ;  if  not,  let  me  escape  unscathed  from  the  ordeal.' 
— Bombay  Gazelle. 

1  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  49. 

-  lb.,  No.  81.     This  primitive  custom  continued  in  Stirling  down  to  the  year 
1855. — Scotland,  Social  and  Domestic — Dr  C.  Rogers,  p.  45. 
3  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  51. 


THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH.  147 

ness  of  the  meaning  ascribed  to  the  name  burgh.  '  The  word 
broch,'  both  hi  England  and  lowland  Scotland,  meant  one  who 
pledged  himself  for  another,  or  became  bail  for  him.  The  '  brough' 
or  'burgh'  was,  therefore,  a  community  united  together  in  a 
common  lot  or  cause,  pledges  and  securities  for  each  other.'1 

All,  however,  who  dwelt  hi  the  burgh  were  not  on  the  same 
footing.  None  could  enjoy  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  burgess, 
unless  he  was  owner  of  a  rood  of  land  within  it.  On  this  point  it 
has  been  said  the  burgesses  'were  old  free  landed  proprietors, 
partly  of  the  neighbouring  estate,  but  chiefly  of  land  within  the 
territory  of  the  towns  themselves.  Most  of  them  earned  on  trade, 
some  probably  also  handicrafts.  But  the  possession  of  town-land 
is  the  distin guishing  mark  of  these  earliest  burghers.  To  this 
possession  alone  was  full  citizenship  everywhere  attached  in  the 
first  movements  of  civic  life.' 2  Those  who  were  not  burgesses 
appear  to  have  been  as  summarily  dealt  with  as  they  were  else- 
where. If,  for  instance,  '  ony  kemstaris  [wool-combers]  levis  the 
burgh  to  dwell  with  uplandys  men,'  it  did  not  matter  whether  it 
was  for  better  wages  or  better  treatment,  they  might  at  once  be 
'  takyn  and  prysonit,'  on  the  ground  that  there  was  '  sufficient 
worke  to  occupie  thaim  within  burgh.'3  Such  was  the  primitive 
mode  in  which  our  forefathers  dealt  with  strikes  in  their  days. 

Absolute  freedom,  however,  attached  to  the  burgess.  In  Royal 
Burghs  every  new-made  burgess  swore  fealty  to  the  king,  to  the 
bailies,  and  to  the  community  of  which  he  was  admitted  a  bur- 
gess. He  was  amenable  to  no  other  authority.  If  attacked  and 
carried  before  another  court,  he  could  claim  '  hys  awen  cros  and 
market ; '  in  other  words,  he  could  demand  to  be  tried  before 
the  court  of  his  own  burgh  by  his  fellowT-burgesses.  This  boon 
was  too  valuable  to  be  left  unclaimed,  and  continued  in  force 
until  the  abolition  of  heritable  jurisdictions,  hi  the  reign  of 
George  II.     Another  element  of  freedom  pertained  to  burghs.    If  a 


1   Burton's  Histonj  <>f  Srotlanil,  Vol.  IT.,  p.  170. 

-  English  Gilds,  p.  xciii.  J  Leges  Burgorum,  Xo.  10:3. 


148  THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH. 

thryll1  or  bondman  came  into  a  burgh,  and  possessed  a  burgage 
property  for  twelvemonths  and  a  day,  he  was  thenceforth  free. 
This  important  privilege  runs  hi  these  words — '  Gif  oney  mannis 
thryll  barounis  or  knychtis  cummys  to  burgh  and  byis  a  borowage, 
and  duellis  in  his  borowage  a  twelfmoneth  and  a  day  foroutyn 
challange  of  his  lorde,  or  of  his  bailye  he  sail  evir  mare  be  fre  as  a 
burges  withm  that  kingis  burgh,  and  joyse  the  fredoiune  of  that 
burgh;  2 

Privileges  so  valuable  were  justly  prized  and  jealously  guarded. 
'  In  evir  ilk  burgh  of  the  Kynrick  of  Scotland,  the  mare  or  alder- 
man of  that  ilk  burgh  sail  ger  xii  of  the  lelest  burges  and  of  the 
wysast  of  the  burgh  swer  be  thair  gret  athe,  that  all  the  lawys 
and  the  usyt  custumys  lauchfully  thai  sail  yeme  and  maintene 
efter  thar  powar.'3 

The  burgh  of  Newburgh  was  not  at  first  a  Royal  Burgh.  It 
held  under  the  Abbot  of  Lindores.  Its  courts  were  opened  in  his 
name,  and  the  burgesses  were  bound  to  do  the  abbot  service ;  just 
as  in  Royal  Burghs,  the  courts  were  opened  in  the  king's  name, 
and  the  burgesses  were  bound  to  do  the  king  military  service. 
In  a  list  in  the  chartulary  of  Lindores,  headed,  '  John  Chahnaris 
acowmpt  of  ye  geir  he  hes  in  keipping  in  0r  Chalmr  and  wardrop 
xvij.0  Augu  Anno  Do1  Mill0  vc  xxx°  the  following  occurs  : — '  Item 


1  Thyrll,  afterwards  Thrall,  was  originally  one  who  had  his  ear  drilled  or  bored 
in  token  of  servitude.  In  Exodus,  chap.  xxi.  ver.  6,  we  read,  '  Then  his  master 
shall  bring  him  unto  the  judges ;  he  shall  also  bring  him  to  the  door,  or  unto  the 
door-post ;  and  his  master  shall  bore  his  ear  through  with  an  awl ;  and  he  shall 
serve  him  for  ever.'  An  older  English  version  has  the  latter  clause,  '  Thirlie  his 
eare  with  an  awl.'  In  England  the  ears  of  serfs  were  publicly  bored  at  the 
church  door. — Ellis's  Old  English  Poets — Richardson  Dictionary,  voce  Thrall. 
Churchyards  seem  to  have  been  the  recognised  place  for  deciding  questions 
affecting  thralls  or  serfs.  On  the  12th  May  1340,  Sir  David  of  Wemyss,  sheriff 
of  Fyff,  and  an  assize,  assembled  in  the  churchyard  (cimiterio)  of  the  parish 
church  of  Katel,  decided  that  '  Alan,  son  of  the  deceased  Constantine,  and  his  two 
sons,  Richard  and  Alan,  were  the  bondmen  of  the  Abbot  of  Dunfermelyn. — 
Registrum  dt  Dunfermelyn,  p.  261. 

2  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  15.  3  Ibid.,  No.  112. 


THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH.  149 

twa  bowss  w*  hare  &  glw  [gloves].  Item  ix  French  halberts. 
It,  vi  Scotts  halberts.  It.  x  aksis  [Lochaber  axes].  It.  ix  ged- 
ward  staves  [Jedburgh  staves].  It.  xvij.  speirs  &  ane  bagall 
heft.' x     Anns  evidently  kept  in  store  for  the  abbot's  men.2 

The  charter  of  Alexander  erecting  the  burgh  is  in  very  general 
terms,  no  constitution  being  prescribed.  It  depended  therefore 
entirely  on  the  abbot  and  convent  what  privileges  were  conferred 
on  the  new-made  burgesses.  They  appear  to  have  immediately 
conveyed  to  them  the  town  rudes  and  the  lands  of  Wodrife,  and 
to  have  granted  them  ample  freedom  in  the  management  of  their 
own  affairs.  From  the  preamble  of  the  charter  executed  by  the 
abbot  and  convent  in  favour  of  the  burgesses  in  1457,3  a  transla- 
tion of  which  is  given  in  the  appendix,  it  appears  that  the  original 
charter  and  the  muniments  of  the  burgh  had  been  lost  or  destroyed 
during  the  devastating  wars  which  commenced  with  the  struggle 
for  independence  ;  and  at  the  earnest  and  continued  entreaties  of 
the  burgesses  for  a  renewal  of  their  writs,  the  monks  granted  the 
renewal  charter,  which  is  still  preserved.  It  confirms  the  rights 
of  the  burgesses  to  then  tenements  by  all  then  ancient  marches ; 
grants  them  the  privilege  of  using  and  enjoying  the  '  Laws  ol 
the  Burghs,'  of  electing  their  own  magistrates,  of  holding  courts, 
of  punishing  transgressors,  of  banishing  the  unworthy,  and  con- 
firms them  in  the  exercise  of  then  rights  and  liberties,  as  freely  as 
any  burgh  of  the  same  kind  in  the  kingdom. 

A  notarial  transcript  of  the  charters  in  favour  of  the  burgesses, 
was  made  by  John  Wyntoun,  who  designs  himself  presbyter  of  the 
diocese  of  St  Andrews,  Bachelor  in  Decrees,  and  notary  public. 
The  preamble  sets  forth  that  the  abbot  and  convent  in  chapter 

1  Chartulary  of  Lindores,  p.  32.    See  Appendix  No.  IV. 

-  The  whole  list  is  curious,  embracing  almost  every  article  necessary  for 
household  use.  Among  other  articles,  '  ane  clairschew '  (Gaelic,  dorsadi),  or  harp 
is  mentioned.  The  names  of  many  of  the  articles  indicate  a  foreign  origin, 
affording  another  proof  how  dependent  Scotland  was  at  that  time  on  foreign 
countries  for  articles  requiring  skill  and  design  in  their  manufacture. 

3  Chartulary  of  Lindores,  pp.  3,  4. 


150  THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH. 

assembled,  received  the  burgesses  in  the  chapter  house  of  the 
abbey,  ou  the  13th  July  1457,  and  produced  the  abbey  duplicates 
of  the  charters,  which  the  notary,  hi  his  official  capacity,  declared 
were  entire  and  undefaced.  The  notary  having  read  first  the  one 
conferring  the  privileges,  and  the  other  the  lands  of  the  burgh,  to 
the  burgesses ;  and  afterwards  explained  them  in  the  vulgar 
tongue,  they  acknowledged  them  to  be  the  real  charters,  and  the 
transcript  which  had  been  previously  prepared  was  then  formally 
ratified.  This  transcript  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  New- 
burgh  ;  and  it  has  this  additional  interest  attached  to  it,  that  it 
contains  the  names  of  the  monks  and  of  the  owners  of  the  burgh 
lands  at  the  time.  From  it  we  learn  that  the  burgesses  did  not 
acquire  the  lands  of  Wodrife  in  1457,  as  is  commonly  supposed, 
but  had  held  them  previously,  most  probably  from  a  time  almost 
coeval  with  the  charter  of  Alexander  III.,  a.d.  1266.1 

1  The  names  of  the  monks,  and  of  the  owners  of  the  burgh  lands  mentioned 
in  the  charter,  and  also  a  translation  of  the  charter  to  the  burgh  lands,  are 
inserted  in  the  appendix.  There  are  several  verbal  inaccuracies  in  the  copy  of 
the  charter  printed  in  Liber  Marie  de  Lundoris.  In  the  twelfth  line,  stat  is  printed 
for  scatet  (bursts  forth),  the  latter  word  describes  the  rising  or  bursting  out  of 
the  spring  most  accurately.  In  the  fifteenth  line  juxta  crag  is  printed  instead  of 
M/jl  crag,  the  name  by  which  the  crag  is  still  known.  With  two  exceptions,  the 
lauds  forming  the  boundary  of  the  burgh  are  still  known  by  the  names  men- 
tioned in  the  charter.  The  first  of  these  names  is  the  lands  of  St  Katharine, 
now  known  by  the  name  of  the  'White  Park,'  and  the  other  is  the  Brodland, 
now  obsolete.  The  '  Horn  and  the  King  of  the  Blakarne'  are  also  now  unknown 
by  these  names,  but  in  the  preceding  generation  they  were  familiar  terms.  The 
'Horn'  is  the  projecting  craig  on  the  north-east  of  the  Blackcairn,  and  the 
'  Ring1  is  the  entrenchment  encircling  the  summit  of  the  hill  described  in  a  pre- 
vious page.  The  nest  point  in  the  line  of  march  is  the  South-running  well.  At 
the  perambulation,  or  redding  of  the  marches  of  the  burgh,  the  head  of  the  last- 
admitted  burgess  has,  from  time  immemorial,  been  '  washed '  at  this  well,  and  is 
generally  made  the  occasion  of  fun  and  frolic.  Superstitious  virtues  used  to  be 
attached  to  the  waters  of  a  spring  whose  stream  runs  southwards.  In  the  year 
L623,  Thomas  Greave  was  tried  before  the  High  Court  of  Justiciary  for,  among 
other  offences,  'cureing  be  sorcerie  and  witchcraft,  and  making  of  certain  croces 
and  singes  (signs)  off  David  Chalmer  in  Lethame,  and  be  causeing  wasche  his 
sark  in  ane  south-rynnand  watter,  and  thairefter  putting  it  upone  him,  quhairby  he 


THE  BURGH  OF  NEWBURGH.  151 

James  VI.  by  royal  charter  confirmed  (25th  November  1593) 
to  the  community  their  right  to  the  lands  of  Wodnfe  and  lull 
adjacent;  and  on  29th   January  1631,  Charles  L  not  only   con- 

ressauit  his  helthe/    '  Item,  at  Martimcs  1621,  Elspeth  Thomesone,  sister  of  John 

T  om  sot,  poHioner  of  Pitwar,  being  visseit  with  ane  grevo^  «ta»  ftj  — 

Thomas  promeist  to  cure  hir  thairof .'     For  this  purpose  he  and  her  t*  o  brothers 

walked  during  the  night  from  Corachie  to  Burley,  a  distance  of  twelve  mdes 

in  absolute  silence  the"  whole  way.     'And  at  the  We  be-«-B^,m« 

south-rvnnin-  watter,   he  thair  wusche  hir   sark     .     .     .     and   cuining  hauie 

witi the sa 1:  pat  the  samyn  upon  hir,  and  cureit  hir  of  ^/^-^^ 
wita  the  saiK  x  jr       i  F  ime  Qut  of  mmd  the  family  of 

H^te^v?pi^ 

arHm^ed  with  madness,  the  Black  Penny  is  dipped  ^J^^jf^ 
which  runs  towards  the  south  (this  is  indispensable).  Sufficient  water  is  then 
Irawn  and  X n  to  the  animals  infected.  Popular  belief  still  formally  upholds 
t  X otL  remedy  (1866). -Henderson's  Folk  Lore  ^^*££ 
of  England  and  the  Borders,  p.  132.  It  is  more  than  P~bable  ^  ^e  ™S. 
the  head  of  the  new-made  burgess  at  the  South-running  well  of  the  Blackca  in 
had  its  oXin  in  a  similar  superstitious  belief.  There  are  several  names  on  the 
Hue  of  tl  boundary  of  the  burgh,  which,  though  not  mentioned  m  the  charter, 
re  of  SSS2  antiquity  that  they  deserve  notice.  Craigspaxrow -.  , . «j- 
\°rt  \f  thP  Gaelic  Craio--bearnach  (ch  is  silent  in  pronunciation),  the  craig 
™    7a     ?£?*  £2.  «**  anguishes  it.  .  Do;an-s  D-.i"-^ 

is  a  rock  called  Lraig  sneacn,  Fairies,'— the  sole  remaining 

the  east  end  of  C™=s"  ?T  ' .°  \  from  Al40ric,  mHm8  a  fcound  or  limit,  and 

Soc  0/A,,n.,  \  ol.  1    .    p  bou  Qf  gome  baro      or 

Sa.r%Io;ta«re„  rTnovod  riU.  the  memory  of  the  present  genor„„„„. 


152  THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH. 

firmed  their  rights  to  these  lands,  but  also  to  their  tenements  in 
the  burgh,  and  to  all  their  privileges,  used  and  wont,  of  electing 
magistrates  and  serjeands,  holding  courts,  punishing  and  banish- 
ing offenders,  and  of  proclaiming  a  free  fair  within  the  burgh 
yearly  on  the  day  of  St  Katharine  the  virgin,  to  continue  for  two 
days. 

Before  the  first  generation  of  burgesses  had  passed  away,  they 
had  a  dispute  with  then  lords  superior ;  the  burgesses  objecting 
to  pay  a  merk  yearly  for  every  brew-house  with  an  acre  of  land 
within  the  burgh.  The  case  was  deemed  of  so  much  importance, 
that  a  jury  of  barons,  free-holders,  and  others  worthy  of  trust 
{dignos  fide)  was  summoned  by  Sir  Robert  of  Keth,  Mareschal  of 
Scotland,  Justiciar  benorth  the  Forth,  to  decide  the  point  at  issue  ; 
and  it  has  been  cited  to  show  that  trial  by  jury  was  in  use  in 
Scotland  at  that  period  (a.d.  1309).  The  court  met  in  the 
chapter-house  of  Lindores  on  the  Thursday  before  the  feast  of  St 
Peter  (29th  June),  and  besides  the  jury,  there  were  present  on  the 
occasion, — the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  Thomas  de  Ranulph,  lieutenant 
from  the  Forth  to  Orkney  ;  the  Abbot  of  Arbroath,  at  that  time 
Chancellor  of  Scotland,  the  Official  of  St  Andrews,  Sir  Michael  of 
Wemyss,  knight,  and  John  of  Dundemore,  all  of  whom  appended 
their  seals  to  the  award  of  the  jury.  The  decision  and  the  names 
of  the  jury  are  recorded  in  the  chartulary  of  the  abbey,  and  from 
it  we  learn,  among  other  circumstances,  that  Robert  of  Perth  and 
William  the  baker,  obtained  permission  from  the  Justiciar  to 
appear  and  speak  for  all  their  neighbours  in   Newburgh.1     The 


1  Robert  of  Keth  acted  as  joint -Justiciar  'between  the  Forth  and  the  Moun- 
tains,' under  Edward  I.  A  writ,  still  preserved,  for  the  payment  of  his  salary  of 
40  marks,  was  issued  on  25th  October  1305. — Bis.  Doc*,  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  p. 
492.  Sir  Robert  afterwards  espoused  the  fortunes  of  Bruce,  who,  in  reward  for 
his  faithful  services,  bestowed  on  him  large  possessions.  In  virtue  of  his  office 
of  Great  Mareschal  of  Scotland,  he  led  the  horse  at  Bannockburn,  and  by  his 
prowess  eminently  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  day.  He  signed  the  famous 
letter  to  the  Pope.  In  the  humiliating  reign  of  David  II.,  he  fell,  with  many  of 
his  kindred,  at  the  disastrous  battle  of  Dupplin,  12th  August  1332. 


THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH.  153 

representatives  of  the  burgh  challenged  Adam  Gray,  one  of  the 
jurors,  because  he  was  frequently  employed  in  the  abbot's  service ; 
then  objection  was  sustained,  but  the  assize  decided  that  the  bur- 
gesses were  justly  bound  to  pay  the  ferme  which  they  had  appealed 
against.1 

The  wars   and  devastations  which  had  destroyed  the  charters 
seem  also  to  have  been  fatal  to  the  other  records  of  Xewburgh. 
"With  the  exception  of  the  charter  to  the  lands  of  Wodrife  and  hill 
adjoining,  the  earliest  record  preserved  is  a  court  book  beginnhig 
a.d.  1457  and  ending  1480.     It  consists  of  109  leaves  of  narrow 
folio,   and  contains  a  record  of  judicial  proceedings  before  the 
magistrates,  embracing  also  the    proceedings  at  the  head  courts, 
and  transfers  of  property  in  the  burgh.     Unfortunately  the  indi- 
viduals who  recorded  these  proceedings  seem  to  have  been  for  the 
most  part  very  imperfectly  educated.     The  spelling  is  much  more 
inaccurate    than   that    ordinarily   met   with    in   the    writings    of 
the  period,   partaking  more  of  a  phonetic  character  than   of  a 
regular  rule,  and  the  penmanship  is  so  bad  that  it  is  difficult  to 
decipher. 

The  period  embraced  by  this  court  book  extends  from  the  last 
years  of  the  reign  of  James  II.,  to  nearly  the  end  of  that  of 
James  III.;  but  not  once  is  there  the   slightest  allusion  to  any 


1  Charlulary  of  Lindores,  pp.  11-13.  An  abstract  of  the  case,  and  the  names 
of  the  jury,  are  given  in  the  appendix.  The  Bishop  of  St  Andrews  mentioned 
as  being  present  was  William  Lamberton.  He  was  one  of  the  small  band  of 
patriots  who  joined  the  standard  of  Bruce  when  he  threw  down  the  gauntlet  to 
Edward  I.  About  two  years  before  the  meeting  of  the  jury  at  Lindores  Abbey, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  (immediately  after  the  battle  of  Methven),  and  being  found 
in  armour,  he  was  carried  in  fetters  to  England,  and  imprisoned  in  "Winchester 
Castle.  Edward  was  much  exasperated  against  him,  and  petitioned  the  Pope  to 
depose  him,  as  he  had  supplied  Bruce  not  only  with  money,  but  men,  from  the 
estates  belonging  to  the  bishopric.  His  sacred  functions  alone  saved  him  from 
beino-  executed.  "While  a  prisoner  in  "Winchester  he  was  allowed  for  his  daily 
expenses  6d.,  for  one  man-servant  to  attend  him  3d.,  one  boy  £d.,  and  a 
chaplain  to  say  mass  daily  l$d.  It  was  Bishop  Lamberton  who  completed  the 
Cathedral  of  St  Andrews,     lie  died  A  D.  1328. — Keith's  Bishops,  \>.  22. 


154  THE  BURGH  OF  XEWBURGH. 

matter  of  general  history,  or  even  to  laws  affecting  trade,  or  the 
internal  government  of  the  country.  There  are,  however,  many- 
notices  illustrative  of  burghal  life,  and  in  the  following  pages 
selections  have  been  made  of  those  that  throw  light  on  the  con- 
dition of  society,  or  on  the  customs  and  forms  of  procedure  of  the 
period. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  BURGH  COURT,   A.D.   1457-1480. 

1  Within  the  narrow  bounds  of  home 
Their  cares  were  fixed.     But  all  the  more 
They  prized  their  chartered-freedom, 
And  with  jealous  hold  maintained 
The  precious  gift ;  that  justice  might  prevail, 
And  law  and  order  reign  supreme.' 

Anon. 

IN  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century  manufacturing  pursuits  were 
at  a  low  ebb  in  Scotland.     With  the  exception  of  small  quan- 
tities of  coarse  woollen  cloths  called  '  Scottis  gray,'  and  '  Pabyllis 
[Peebles]  quhit,'  almost  the  only  other  articles  exported  were  — 
wool,  hides,  salmon,  and,  occasionally,  some  native  furs,  or  other 
raw  produce.     The  imports  from  the  Netherlands  (to  which  the 
foreign  trade  of  Scotland  at  that  period  was  almost  exclusively 
confined)    embraced    every   article   beyond    the    commonest  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  in  quantities  now  to  be  found  in  every  country 
town,  but  which   had  then  to  be  specially  commissioned  from 
abroad.    In  the  '  Ledger  of  Andrew  Halyburton,  Conservator  of  the 
Privileges  of  the  Scotch  nation  in  the  Netherlands  (1492-1503),' 
there  is  preserved  a  most  valuable  record  of  the  exports  and  im- 
ports of  the  period,  and  a  careful  examination  of  it  shows  that 
manufacturing  pursuits  were  then  in  a  backward  state  hi  Scotland. 
When  cloth  had  to  be  dyed  of  some  prized  colour  it  could  not  be 
done  at  home.     Under  date  March  1502,  the  following  entry  occurs, 
'Item  lyttit  [dyed]  a  stek  [piece]  of  this  cloth  red  in  Medilburgh, 


156  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

and  sent  it  him  again  in  the  barg  of  Dundye.'1  The  necessity  for 
this  transaction  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  dyeing  was  a  household 
art,  which  has  only  fallen  into  disuse  in  the  present  century ;  and 
more  especially,  as  the  making  of  tartan  in  the  Highlands  required 
a  knowledge  of  dyeing  shades  of  varying  brightness.  In  the 
same  accomit,  however,  there  is  a  charge  for  '  4  pipis  tassyl ' 
(Dipsacus  Fullolum),  which  shows  that  the  native  manufacturers 
had  attained  and  practised  the  art  of  dressing  woollen  cloths. 
But  everything  requiring  skill  in  its  manufacture,  '  pottis,  pannys, 
yetlin  (cast-iron  utensils),  paper,  canvas,  bedsteads,  and  when  ela- 
borate workmanship  was  required,  tombstones  had  to  be  brought 
from  abroad.2  Even  so  late  as  the  year  1724,  the  following  entry 
occurs  in  the  Council  Records  of  Newburgh  :  '  October  21st,  Sicklyk 
it  was  moved  to  rectiffie  the  weights  and  to  cause  bring  them 
from  abrod  of  brasse  mettall,  from  ane  stan  to  ane  halfe  pound.' 

In  the  unskilled  condition  of  home  manufactures,  the  main  de- 
pendence of  the  inhabitants  of  small  burghs  was  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  burgh  lands.  That  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh  were  humble 
tradesmen,  having  no  foreign  dealings,  unless  Stephen  Orme,  the 
abbey  factor,  be  reckoned  an  exception,  is  apparent  from  the  fact 
that  the  abbot  and  monks  of  Lmdores  had,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  sixteenth  century,  to  employ  burgesses  of  Perth  and  of  Aberdeen 
to  purchase  goods  for  them  abroad.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
therefore,  that  the  Burgh  Records  of  Newburgh,  in  the  end  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  should  almost  exclusively  be  taken  up  with 
judicial  proceedings  affecting  the  internal  affairs  of  the  burgh, 
and  with  enactments  for  the  management  of  their  common-good 
lands,  on  the  produce  and  pasturage  of  which  they  mainly  de- 
pended for  subsistence. 

It  serves  still  further  to  show  the  humble  position  that  New- 
burgh occupied  in  the  trading  and  commercial  world  in  the  end 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  to  know  that  the  convention  of  Royal 
Burghs,  which  at  that  time  apportioned  the  taxation  leviable  from 


1  Halyburton's  Ledger,  p.  275.  -  lb.,  pp.  161-163,  215-270. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  157 

the  trading  community,  laid  a  tax  of  five  pounds  thirteen  shillings 
on  Abernethy,  a  burgh  of  barony  in  1579,1  and  it  was  not  until 
1613  that  Newburgh  was  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  be 
worth  taxation.    On  the  15th  of  September  of  that  year,  the  follow- 
ing entry  occurs  in  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  : 
'  The  quhilk  day,  the  saids  commissionars  of  burrowes,  understand- 
ing that  the  burghs  of  Falkland  and  Newburgh,  and  certane  other 
burghs  arfrie  regall  burrowes,  and  injoyes  all  the  liberties  of  frie 
regall  burrowes,  and  as  zitt  ar  nether  enrolled  with  the  remanent 
frie  regall  burrowes  of  this  realme  nor  beirs  anye  portabell  chairges 
with  them ;  thairfore  they  ordeane  James  Winrahame  thair  agent 
to  caus  summond  the  said  burghs  to  compeir  before  thame  the  next 
generall  conventione  of  burrows  to  be  haldin  at  the  burgh  of  Kirk- 
caldie,  to  the  effect  they  may  inroll  themselfis  with  the  saidis  re- 
manent burrowes  and  beir  all  portabell  chairges  with  thame  accord- 
inglie,  and  the  agent  to  produce  his  diligence  heiranent  the  nixt 
general  convention.'2     Notwithstanding  this  resolution,  Newburgh 
does  not  appear  even  to  have  been  '  enrolled,'  or  to  have  sent  a 

representative  to  the  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs ;  a  circumstance 

which  still  further  corroborates  the  un-importance  of  its  trade  at 

that  period. 

The  following  selections  have  been  extracted  from  the  oldest 

volume  of  the  Burgh  Records  of  Newburgh,  as  calculated  to  throw 

light  on  the  occupations  and  social  condition  of  burghal  society 

four  hundred  years  ago. 

It  may  be  premised,  that  the  Chapel  of  St  Katherine,  in  which 

the  burgh  courts  were  held,  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  parish 

church. 

'  Ye  burrow  curt  of  ye  Newburgh  haldyn  in  ye  chapel  of  Sant 
Katryn  ye  xxiii  day  of  Januarye  yeir  of  godMCCCCLix  yeirs 
be  henry  of  Kynglassy  &  John  of  Kynhard  balziesof  ye  said 


Records  of  ( 'onvention  of  Royal  Burghs,  a.d.  1295-1597,  p.  93. 
lb.,  1597-1614,  p.  432. 


158  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

burgh  ye  quhylk  day  ye  soytts  callit  ye  curt  affirmyt  ye 
absens  ar  patent.' 

'  Ye  quhylk  day  Alexr  Robertson  was  in  amerciate  for  he 
wrangwyssly  hylde  fra  hary  of  Kynglassy  ye  baize  xx  sh 
of  usual  monay  of  Scotland  quh  ye  assyis  fand  ye  said  Alexr 
awand  be  his  awn  grantyn.' 

'  New  assise  ipo  [imprimo]  Stevyn  phylp,  John  Thomson, 
John  of  Weines,  James  lyndsay,  John  blak,  John  souzour, 
David  Anderson,  John  of  hawkston,  John  Phylp,  Smy1 
nicol  of  bat,  James  Cordon,  Symon  Cawart,  John  Jolly.' 

'  Ye  quk  day  it  west  fundyn  be  ye  assyis  yat  Wat  of  ross 
wranguessly  analzit  part  of  ye  wodiif  wytout  lyfe. 

The  expression  '  ye  soytts  callit,'  signifies  that  the  names  of 
the  soytours,  or  vassals  who  were  bound  to  attend  the  court  of  their 
over-lord,  had  been  called  over.  In  the  case  of  a  burgh  court, 
every  burgess  was  bound  to  attend,  and  if  absent  without  a  law- 
ful excuse  was  fined.  Every  '  Soytour  was  oblished  to  make 
aith  that  he  sail  leallelie  pronounce  lauchful  and  trew  sentence 
according  to  the  knowledge  given  him  be  God:  Skene,  from 
whom  this  quotation  is  made,  says,  '  the  office  was  verie  pro- 
fitable for  furthering  of  justice.' l  The  law  regulating  the  'assise' 
has  already  been  quoted.  The  absence  of  surnames,  both  in  the 
case  of  the  bailies,  and  in  some  of  the  members  of  the  assize, 
shows  that  they  had  not  become  universal  at  that  period  ;  but  we 
have  in  the  list  an  indication  of  how  a  class  of  surnames  arose,  as 
in  a  subsequent  generation  the  descendants  of  John  of  Wemes  and 
John  of  Hawkston  would  in  all  likelihood  be  known  simply  by  the 
names  of  Wemyss  and  Hawkston,  now  Haxton. 

'  Ye  quhylk  day,  23  AjDiil  1460,  app*  [appeared]  in  plain 
curt  befor  ye  balzie  and  ye  communytic  Wylzeam  gren- 
hom  and  his  wyf  batht  togyddr  on  yr  awin  fre  wyll  and 


//,    Verborum  Signljicatione. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457—1480.  159 

resyngit  fra  ym  in  ye  balzeis  hands  John  Kynhard,  twa 
rads  of  land  lyand  on  ye  suth  half  of  ye  stret  betweyn  ye 
lands  of  rob*  Smytht  ayres  on  ye  est  part  and  ye  lands  of 
Scher  patrik  of  Kyrk   Chapellan  on  ye  west  part  in  ye 
favour  of  John  Andyrson,  inhabitant  of  Kynhard  and  ye 
said  Wylzeam  and  his  wyf  Marion  swoyr  ye  gret  bodily 
atht   finally   yat   yai   snld   hald   al   thyngs   spokyn   and 
poyntyt  anent  ye  said  resyngnacion  fenn  and  stabyll  and 
wad  nar  revok  word  yrof  na  yit  nan  by  on  yr  behalf,  and 
yr  upon  ye  said  John  rasyt  an  instrument.' 
'  Ye  quhylk  day  Henry  of  Kynglassy  &    John  of  Kynhard 
balyeis  of  ye  said  burth  comyng  toggdder   after   nwyn 
wytht  ye  officiaris  and  nyburs,  and  gaf  seissyng  frely  and 
frankly  of  ii  rudes  of  land  ('hand  as  above')  tyl    ane 
worthy  man  John  Anderson  and  tyl  his  wyf  jonet  and 
yr  ayrs  executors  and  assygneis  as  use  of  burgth  befor  yr 
wytnes  John  Thomson,  Symon  bell.' 

The  foregoing  is  an  example  of  the  mode  of  transferring 
heritable  subjects  in  those  days.  It  had  its  advantages ;  taking 
place  before  witnesses  in  open  day,  and  on  the  ground,  in  a  small 
community,  a  transfer  of  property  thus  made  was  known  to  all. 

23  April  1460,  '  ye  quk  day  Thomas  Sclater  amerciate  for  he 
wrangyssly  brak  ye  arestment  mad  be  ye  official's  of  ye 
burgth  for  ye  lords  mayll.' 

This  refers  to  the  maill  or  feu-ferme  which  every  owner  of 
a  rood  or  croft  of  land  hi  the  burgh  was  bound  to  pay  to  the 
abbot  and  convent  of  Lindores,  in  terms  of  the  charter  of  the 
burgh,  and  in  virtue  of  which  they  held  their  crofts.  The 
words  of  the  charter  are,  '  rendering  to  us  and  our  successors 
yearly  in  firm  burgage  six  pennies  of  current  money  for  every 
rood  of  land  at  terms  used  and  wont,'  Had  the  '  mauls '  which 
are  now  payable  to  the  schoolmaster,  been  specified    in  gram, 


1G0  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

the  amount  exigible   from  each  croft  would  have  now  been  very 
considerable. 

'13  June  1460,  'ye  quk  it  was  ordand  and  assentit  be  ye 
comunytie  of  ye  burgh  yat  nan  suld  be  resavyt  in  hospi- 
talite  in  hevy  schaht  of  nytburs  oncler  ye  pain  of  viij.  s.' 

It  was  one  of  the  '  Laws  of  the  Burghs  '  that '  na  man  wonnande 
in  burgh  aw  to  herbery  ony  strangear  in  his  house  langar  than  a 
nycht,  bot  gif  he  becum  borch  for  hym  as  a  lauchfull  man.' l  That 
is,  cautioner,  pledge  or  surety,  for  him.  This  was  the  more 
necessary,  as  the  king's  chamberlain,  when  he  held  his  justice-air, 
or  circuit  court,  made  special  inquiry  whether  any  strangers  were 
harboured  in  the  burgh,2  obviously  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  that 
none  who  had  fled  from  justice  were  concealed. 

4  June  1461.  'It  Andu  lambert  hath  put  hym  in  the 
balzeis  wyl  for  ye  wrangous  passyng  to  ye  lordes  curt.' 

This  was  a  direct  infringement  of  the  rights  of  a  burgess,  and 
a  surrender  of  the  valuable  privilege  of  being  tried  by  his  peers. 
One  of  the  laws  of  the  burghs  provided  that  if  a  burgess  '  be 
smnmonde  to  apper  in  the  kyngis  (or  Lord  Superior's  Court)  he 
aw  to  cum  thar  and  essoinye  hym  be  the  court  of  the  burgh  befor 
his  bailze,  he  sail  do  full  rycht.'3  And  another  provided  that  '  he 
aw  and  sail  be  demyt  be  his  peris  in  burgh  be  law  of  burgh.'4 
These  privileges  were  most  properly  jealously  guarded,  and  the 
infringement  of  them  summarily  punished.  So  late  as  the  year 
1725,  Harie  Coupar,  dyster,  was  summoned  before  the  magistrates 
of  Newburgh  '  for  going  to  another  court  contrair  to  the  Acts  of 
the  brough,  and  compeiring  and  acknowledging  he  did  goe  by  the 
court ;'  he  was  fined  in  the  sum  of  four  pounds  Scots. 


Leges  Bnrgorum,  85.  2  Ancient  Laws  of  the  Burghs,  p.  122. 

Leges  Burgorum,  No.  56.  J  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  7. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  1G1 

Sederunt  22  June  1463.  '  It :  ye  samyn  day  John  of  Rossy, 
James  Cordinar,  Nycoll  of  Bat,  John  Wylson  ilk  ane 
amerciamet  for  ye  wrangess  brekyn  of  ye  statutes  of  ye 
Wedurouf  and  y*  wes  gewyn  for  dom  be  ye  deliveras  of 
a  syss  :  It :  all  ye  nithburres  has  statuit  yl  na  schep  cum 
w*  in  ye  Wydrouf  quhil  ye  corne  be  of  ye  grand  and 
ilka  nia11  suld  hald  on  his  awyn  grys  a  kow  or  a  horss  in 
tedyr,  and  gyfF  yai  war  foundyn  loss  ye  pownd-lan  sould 
be  iiij.  d. 

The  poiond-lan  here  mentioned  is  the  pand  or  poind  for  tres- 
passing on  a  neighbour's  ground  and  destroying  his  crops.  Burgh 
land,  indeed  much  of  the  land  of  the  country  was  held  in  run-rig, 
and  disputes  arising  from  trespass  were  endless.  In  a  subsequent 
period  of  the  history  of  the  burgh,  we  shall  have  occasion  to 
notice  the  measures  that  were  adopted  for  the  prevention  of 
encroachments,  and  for  the  protection  of  the  rights  and  crops  of 
individuals. 

'  It :  ye  sam  day  John  blak  and  Symon  Cullward  wes  mayd 
flfrends  in  ye  chapell,  and  Symon  Cullward  sould  pay 
betwix  y*  and  Wytsonday  nixt  to  cum,  a  pownd  of  wax 
and  John  black  a  haff  a  pownd  to  Sant  KattV 

2  June  1466,  'ye  q^  day  apr1  John  ye  ramsay  son  and  ayr 
to  ye  lard  of  Clatt  and  of  ye  lords  behalf  Abbot  of 
lundors  and  mad  ye  balzeis  requist  to  rasave  angus 
paterson  in  fawar  tyl  a  n*bour  and  gyf  hym  cast  of  ye 
lands  w*  ye  ptinents  ye  qlk  Jonet  Kay  gaff  in  fa  wars  to 
ye  Thorn  rogerson  in  fawars  of  ye  forsaid  angus  and  ye 
forsaid  balzeis  and  comunite  grantit  to  rasawf  hym  thank- 
fully for  ye  lords  cause.' 

'  1466,  14  January,  Stewyn  phylp  and  William  Smitht 
balzheis,  alswa  ye  samyn  day  Thorn  rogerson  askit  at  ye 
balzheis  gyf  he  had  lawborows  of  ye  lard  of  Mugdrowm 

L 


162  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

and  he  ordand  yr  w*  &  lie  tuk  wytness  of  ye       .... 
and  of  Sir  Andrew  Lesly  and  Davy  Lesly.' 

The  Leslies  of  Ballinbriech  held  numerous  properties  all  round 
the  neighbourhood,  and  though  no  residence  is  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  names  of  the  two  witnesses  adduced,  the  pro- 
bability is,  that  they  were  members  of  that  family. 

'  Ye  xvii.  day  of  ye  moneth  of  October  [1466]  yir  p-sons 
hav  fund  pfyt  and  spedfull  and  has  enactit  for  to  set  ye 
WodrifFe  for  vii.  yeir  to  xx.  tents  for  lx.  b  of  beir  and  ye 
Threpland  for  v.  yeir  for  iii.  b.  to  ye  common  pfyt  and  xx. 
akars  of  ye  hyl  abowt  ye  fyridcraig  and  ye  blakcarn,  ye 
first  yher  mail  fre  and  for  ye  iv.  yher  tak  ii.s  ye  akr.' 
'  Henry  Smyth,  John  Anderson,  Bailies.' 

The  '  Threpland '  lay  to  the  west  of  the  town,  but  from  the 
complete  alteration  ot  the  boundaries  of  the  fields  the  name  is 
now  obsolete.  The  word  threp  or  throp  in  old  English,  signifies 
'  The  meeting  of  the  cross  roads.' x  There  are  many  places  in 
Scotland  of  the  same  name,  and  from  it  the  surname  of  Threipland 
is,  without  doubt,  derived.  On  the  1st  August  1259  Thomas,  Abbot 
of  Lundoris,  concluded  a  composition  with  Kichard,  Bishop  of 
Aberdeen,  regarding  '  the  land  which  is  called  threpland,  between 
the  land  of  Bondynton  and  the  burn  of  Gethyn.' 2  The  '  Fynd- 
craig' [Fincraig]  from  the  Gaelic  Fion,  white,  fair,  or  beautiful, 
still  retains  its  name. 

Sed\  26  August  1467.  'Alswa  ye  curt  akwardit  y*  yar  be 
na  lawt8  in  ye  chapell  and  na  thyng  intill  it  bot  godds 
service  and  it  y*  it  is  in  it  be  deludit  w*  in  lawefull  day 
under  ye  pain  of  viif 


,-d  ' 


Edmunds'  Traces  of  History  in  Names  of  Places,  p.  269. 
Registrant  Aberdonense,  Vol.  I.,  p.  26. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  163 

The  foregoing  decree  is  not  without  its  lessons  in  the  present 
day ;  it  shows  that  our  fathers  felt  that  the  employment  of  the 
house  of  God  for  the  transactions  of  daily  life  had  a  tendency,  by 
the  power  of  association,  to  weaken  the  solemnity  of  the  meeting 
between  God  and  His  creatures  therein,  and  decreed  accordingly. 

Sed*.  13  January  1467.  'ye  quylk  day  Stephyn  Phylp 
grantit  y*  he  wess  burgess  of  Edinburth,  be  ye  tenor  of  ye 
comyssi11  ye  qk  he  pnt  in  ye  curt.' 

The  frequent  mention  of  persons  of  the  name  of  Philp  in  the 
Burgh  Records  shows  that  they  were  an  influential  family  at  this 
period,  in  the  town  and  neighbourhood.  A  century  later  the  last 
person  who  exercised  authority  as  resident  Abbot  of  Lindores, 
was,  there  is  reason  to  conclude,  named  John  Philp. 

10  Feby.  1467.  '  John  of  Kynhard  and  Thomas  Rogson, 
bailies.  John  of  Rossy  ye  ar  amerciate  forspekyn  in  ye 
curt  w*  optenyt  lyff,  and  y*  wess  gyffen  for  duym.' 

'  20  July  1468,  John  of  Kynhard  &  Thomas  Rogerson  bal- 
zeis,  ye  s~  day  Thomas  Rogerson  accusit  Stewyn  phylp  for 
ye  wrangus  accusyn  of  ye  ballze  I  to  ye  lords  curt  ye  qk 
suld  be  cureckit  be  his  newburhs,  alswa  ye  sayd  Stewyn 
was  accus*  y*  wrangusly  he  hayd  brocekyn  ye  hath  and 
ye  obligato11  y1  he  had  mayd  to  ye  coite  off  ye  town,  and 
he  declynyt  ye  baize,  and  sayd  he  wayd  not  be  cureckyt 
be  hym.  It :  ye  baize  charth  ye  serjandys  lay  yar  wandys 
on  hym,  and  chargh  hym  to  reman  in  ye  towbuthe  tyl  he 
shwth  a  ransuably  caws  why  he  declynyt  his  baize,  and 
he  sayd  he  wald  pass  furth  w*  all  ye  charghiis  off  law  ande 
he  wuld  not  obey  to  baize,  no  serjands  nadyr.' 

The  'wandys'  of  the  Serjeants  here  referred  to  were  part 
of  the  equipment  of  scrjeand.     By  Act  of  Parliament,  James  I., 


164  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457—1480. 

1426,  'it  was  statute  and  ordained  that  ilk  officiar  of  the  kingis,  as 
maire,  or  kingis  serjand  and  Barrone  serjand  sail  not  pass  in  the 
countrie  nor  Ban-one  serjand  in  the  Barronie,  but  ane  home  and 
his  wand,  and  that  sail  be  in  this  manner.  The  kingis  official*  sail 
have  an  home  and  ilk  ane  a  read  wand  of  three  quarters  of  ane 
zairde  lang  at  the  least,  and  the  official's  of  the  regalitie  ane  wand 
of  the  samin  length,  the  ane  end  reade  and  the  other  end  quhite, 
and  an  home  quhair  he  passes  within  the  Regalitie.  The  Barron 
serjand  ane  home  and  ane  quhite  wand  of  ane  elne  lang.  The 
serjand  of  the  Burgh  ane  read  wand  allanerlie  like  the  Kingis 
officiar,  and  as  oft  as  he  beis  fundin  without  his  wand  in  the  Burgh 
hee  sail  pay  audit  shillings  unforgiven  to  the  king.' 

The  title  of  serjeant  is  not  now  used  in  connection  with  officers 
of  burghs,  but  at  the  time  of  the  translation  of  the  authorized 
version  of  the  Bible,  they  were  so  designated.  Acts  chap.  xvi. 
ver.  35.  '  And  when  it  was  day,  the  magistrates  sent  the  Serjeants, 
saying,  Let  those  men  go.' 

Sed.  5  Oct.  1468  '  ye  quhylk  day,  John  Aytkyn  wess  mayd 
burges  wn  ye  plein  curt  and  mayd  ye  hath  yar-to  and 
to  pay  xxxd  to  ye  repairs  off  ye  cors.' 

The  cross  which  John  Aytkyn  became  bound  by  oath  to  repair 
was,  it  is  much  to  be  regretted,  destroyed  when  the  present  parish 
church  was  erected.  It  was  a  slender  pillar  of  grey  freestone, 
about  eight  feet  high,  somewhat  of  an  oval  shape,  and  about  nine 
inches  in  diameter.  It  stood  on  a  pedestal  of  the  same  material, 
fixed  to  the  eastern  corner  of  a  range  of  small  houses,  which  stood 
in  front  of  the  old  church,  and  which  were  generally  occupied  as 
fleshers'  shops.  The  stone  composing  the  cross  was  of  a  friable 
nature,  and  had  several  iron  bands  around  it  to  hold  it  together, 
and  to  keep  it  in  its  place.  The  last  time  it  was  officially  used  was 
on  the  accession  of  George  IV.,  when  the  then  chief  magistrate, 
John  Adamson,  stood  on  the  pedestal  and  read  aloud  to  the  as- 
sembled people  the  edict  of  the  proclamation. 


THE  3URGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  165 

4  July  1469.  '  It :  ye  sam  day  Willzam  Cuk  was  mayde  burgess 
i  ye  chapell  of  Sane  Katn  i  plain  curt,  and  ye  sayde  Willzam 
gyff  i  Alexander  Mytchyson  ye  ballzheis  hand  and  buk  ffor 
x  sh8  for  his  fredom  o  ye  ton.' 

23d  Oct.  1471.  John  of  Kynhard  &  Alexander  Mytchyson 
ballzeis.  'It:  ye  sam  day  Alexander  Mitchyson  ffand 
a  bourtht  y*  John  of  Kyhard  sowlld  be  nay  ballzhe  on 
ffawt  ye  crafft  y*  he  owssis.' 

The  '  craft '  which  John  of  Kynhard  used  is  not  stated,  but  by 
the  'Laws  of  the  Burghs'  '  Nane  provost,  bailye  nor  beddel,  sail 
bake  brede,  na  brew  ale  to  sell  wythin  thair  awin  propir  house 
durand  the  time  that  thai  stand  in  office.'1  The  obvious  reason 
being  that  the  magistrates  were  bound  by  statute  to  see  that  both 
ale  and  bread  were  of  proper  weight  and  quality. 

Besides  this,  however,  the  regulation  manifests  the  tendency 
that  gradually  prevailed,  especially  in  the  larger  burghs,  that 
merchant-burgesses  only,  to  the  exclusion  of  burgesses  exercising 
a  handicraft,  be  eligible  to  the  magisterial  dignity.  Originally  all 
burgesses  were  eligible,  but  gradually  when  men  began  to  employ 
others,  those  so  employed  were  excluded  from  the  magistracy.'-' 

8  Jany.  1471.  'It:  ye  sam  day  Alexander  Mytchyson  was 
chosyn  tresurer  for  to  kyp  ye  coites  guds  of  Newburtkt.' 

Sed.  10  March  1472.  '  Alswa  ye  sam  day  Archbalt  off  Carney 
was  mayd  burges  in  ye  plein  [curt]  be  ye  ballyhies  and  cote, 
and  ye  forsayd  Archbalt  bownde  be  his  hand  to  kyth  y1  ye 
cosell  am  [erciate].' 

'  Alswa  ye  sam  day,  Rytchart  ramsay  was  mayd  fireman  in 
ye  plein  curt  be  ye  balzheis  and  ye  cote   and  Rycharl 


1  Leges  Bunjorum,  No.  59.  '  English  Gilds,  p.  cxv. 


166  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

ramsay  to  pay  iiij  sh.  off  sylar  betwix  is  and  Wytsonday 
next,  for  to  cii  to  ye  com11  pfth.' 

In  the  two  foregoing  entries  there  is  a  distinction  indicated 
between  a  burgess  and  a  freeman,  the  freeman  being  called  upon 
to  pay  the  highest  sum  for  his  privilege ;  but  in  what  the  differ- 
ence consisted  there  is  no  evidence  in  the  record  to  show,  though 
there  are  several  entries  of  the  same  kind  in  the  volume  from 
which  the  extracts  are  taken.  The  probability  is,  the  freeman 
was  admitted  to  the  privilege  of  trade  within  the  burgh,  without 
having  burgage  property,  or  being  liable  to  the  use  and  wont 
services  of  a  burgess.  This  conjecture  is  confirmed  by  the  fact, 
'  that  handicraftsmen,  who  were  not  full  citizens,  had  to  buy  from 
the  lords  of  the  town  the  right  of  carrying  on  trade,  and  had  to 
purchase,  by  various  burdens  and  imposts,  the  privilege  of  using 
the  market-places  and  other  institutions  established  for  buying 
and  selling.'1 

Sed.  16  June  1473.      '  Stevyn  Phylp  and  David  Scot  balzeis. 

It :  ye  sam  day  James  Cuk  was  mayde  a  burges  and  ffre- 

man  in  ye  plein  curt  beffor  ye  balzeis  and  ye  cotie.' 
'It :  ye  sam  day  Robyn  of  hill,  you  are  amerciate  for  wranouis, 

stroblans  off  ye  serjands  and  ye  town  and  yl  was  gyffn  ffor 

dowm.'  • 

Sed.  14  Sepr.  1473.  '  It :  ye  sam  day  in  plein  curt  cper1 
mastr  John  of  Wintown  and  resingit  iiij.  sh.  and  vid  off 
annowell  rent  in  ye  hands  of  Alexander  Mychysson  ballze, 
and  ye  fforsaycle  land  lyand  in  ye  nourth  p*  off  ye  burth 
between  ye  land  of  Sr  James  phylp  on  ye  est  p*,  and  John 
Joly  on  ye  west  p*  and  ye  iiij.  sh.  to  be  pay1  to  Sant  Katn 
effter  ye  dewsess  his  ayre  and  ye  vjd.  to  be  gyffyn  in  ya 
day  off  commendato11  of  souls  for  hym  and  his  gude  deurss, 

English  Gilds,  p.  cxv. 


THE  BUKGH  COURT,  A.D.  1467-1480.  ' '" 

and  ye  ohapellan  on  ye  eyn  off  Us  obit,  to  say  placebo  and 
dgy,  and  on  ye  moryn  a  mess  ppetually  to  be  down. 

'Placebo  Domino'  is  the  first  antipbon  or  alternate  chant  in  the 
evenLgservioe  of  the  'Office  for  Dead,'  in  the  Kornan  Cathohc 
S    Dirige,  nomine  Deue  „uuS  are  the  first  words  of  the  fi 
antiphon  in  the  morning  service  m  the  same  office.     The  test 

::!;:;  of  tins  ***  ^^  is  **  o&*<*  the  r»^j 

Derate  given  to  the  feast  still  customary  m  some  parts  of  Scotland 
ff  fa  fiuieral.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  Placebo  consis  s  of 
the  first  nine  verses  of  the  116th  Psalm-the  whole  of  th  120th 
121st  130th  138th,  the  Magnificat  and  prayers.  The  test  pait  ot 
he  «  IT  insists  of  the  5th,  6th,  and  7th  Psalms,  and  selections 
tm  the  7th  and  10th  chapters  of  the  Book  of  Job,  and  prayers 

The  title  of  Sir,  given  to  James  Phylp,  wh o_ was  curate  of 
Abdie  we  learn  from  the  valuable  annotations  by  David  Laing  to 
W-M^  of  Ike  Reformation, was  usual ly  apphe  d  to  pi ^ 
at  this  period,  in  England  as  well  as  Scotland.    He .mjB     11ns 
title  appears  to  have  been  given  to  persons  in  priests   orde.s 
who  had  taken  their  bachelor's  degree,  but  was  not  an  academical 
Htle  in  itself     Those  priests  who  received  the  appointment  of 
chaplain     were  chiefly 'persons  who,  either  from  want  of  means 
ortflull,  bad  not  leu  able  to  prosecute  fire,  studies  he&U 
time  at  the  University  to  obtam  the  higher  rank  of ^Master jtf 
Arts-  and  therefore   the  title  Sir  was  given  them,   but  simp  y 
to^Tthe  absence  of  that  academic  rank  which  was  long  held 
m  great  respect,  and  led  to  the  practice  both  among  clergy  and 
Taify  until  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century  of  signing  Mast 
before  their  names.'1     The  foregoing  note  explains  why  the  title 
^constantly  applied  to  the  chaplains  ef  St  Katharine  s  m the 
subsequent  pagel    As  most  clergymen  up  to  nearly  he  itedd fr  of 
the  last  century,  passed  the  degree  of  Master  of  At  , h ejM vere 
uniformly  addressed  by  the  title  of  Master.     Gradually  the  title 

.  Knoz's  History  of  O,  Reformation,  Vol.  1-  pp.  bb6-S.-Note. 


168  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

was  given  to  those  who  had  no  claim  to  it,  and  on  its  being  given, 
as  is  now  the  case  indiscriminately,  the  appellation  of  Reverend, 
as  applied  to  clergymen,  came  into  use  in  Scotland. 

20th  Oct.  1473.  '  It :  ye  samyn  day  John  of  Kynhard  enti1 
in  ye  plein  curt  befoir  ye  balzheis,  Alexander  Mytcyson 
and  Henry  Chalmrs,  in  protestation  for  Master  Thomas 
Newman  and  his  resignation  in  his  hand  and  mayde 
rasuygnation  of  iiij.  rudes  of  land  in  ye  hand  of  Alexander 
Mychyson,  lyand  on  the  north  p*  of  ye  gayt  of  ye  New- 
burtht,  betwin  the  land  of  Ade  Cheap  on  ye  west  p*,  to 
gyff  erytabyll  stat,  and  sysyn  of  to  James  Newman 
and  tyll  his  ayres  and  ye  forsayd  James  Newman  was 
sworen  and  mayde  ye  g  eytht  at  to  be  loyll  and  trow  to 
ye  kyng  and  to  ye  Abbot  of  lowndors  and  ye  convent, 
and  to  ye  ballyheis  and  cote  of  ye  Newburtht,  and  fowrth 
wytht  ye  forsayd  James  was  mayd  burges  and  ye  freman 
in  ye  curt.' 

33  Novr  1473.  '  ye  burrow  curt  off  ye  Newburth  haldyn  in  ye 
chapell  off  Sant  Katn  wyf  ye  sayd  burth  haldyn  be  ye 
wordy  man  y*  is  to  say  Alexander  Mychyon  and  Henry 
Chalmrs  ballzheis.' 
'  In  ye  sam  day  appert  my  lord  Lundors  [the  abbot]  in  ye 
plein  curt,  and  myd  itymaton  to  ye  cote  ;  y*  he  had  chosn 
Henry  Chalmr  till  a  neudr  off08  to  hym,  and  he  may  not 
beyr  ye  offce  of  balzhery  as  ffor  is  yheir.' 

2  March  1473.  '  It :  ye  sam  day  ye  balzheis  sittd  i  ye  chapell 
of  Sant  Katn,  Alexander  Mychyson  and  John  Crysty  and 
ye  cosell.  John  Phylp  eldr  aper*  befoir  yham  and  sayd 
he  ffor  thowt  ye  grewancyss  y1  he  hayd  grewd  ye  balzheis 
fforsayd  and  ye  newburhs  and  fourtwy*  ye  balzheis  gard 
ye  fforsayd  John  Phylp  pas  to  ye  dowr  and  yay  war 
awyssit  and  gard  call  hym  i  again,  and  ramytit  him  and 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.   1457-1480.  160 

fforgyff  him  hall  things  by-gayn  and  fourthwy*  ye  fforsayd 
John  Pkylp  mayde  resignato11  1  ye  hand  of  John  Cristy, 
balzhe  hall  ye  land  and  ye  gudes  it  he  hayd  i  ye  fawr  of 
Sr  James  his  sown  be  staff  and  battown  to  gyff  hym 
honssis  i  bonrth  and  ye  fforsayd  Sr  James  ramytit  his 
gndes  and  say  he  wald  kyep  and  sowpli  hym  and  his 
wyff  and  his  bairnys  wth  his  gudes,  and  ye  fforsayd  John 
was  raster1  tyll  his  landes  and  his  ffredom  agayn,  and  next- 
to-cum  curt  nay  plai"t  nay  mayr  pot  ye  fforsayd  Sr  James 
till  on  an  an  anoyr  c"sent  I  ye  burh  as  ows  is  i  ye  burtht.' 

The  staff  and  baton  here  spoken  of  '  were  the  symbols  of  re- 
signation by  a  vassal.  "When  a  vassal  resigned  his  feu  into  the 
hands  of  his  superior,  either  for  the  purpose  of  remaining  perman- 
ently with  him,  or  for  the  purpose  of  being  transferred  to  a  third 
party  (or  in  favorem,  as  it  was  called),  it  was  done  originally  by 
the  delivery  of  a  pen,  but  afterwards,  and  for  many  centuries,  of 
staff  and  baton.' 

25  January  1474.  'ye  samyn  day  Jhon  Chyld  and  yliza- 
byth  his  wiff  entrit  in  plein  curt  and  rasyngit  ye  rud  off 
land  in  ye  balyzeis  hands  to  giff  sturt  to  Jhon  of  Rossy 
his  fay1"  als  for  as  he  gaff  it  befor  till  hym ;  and  ye  forsaid 
Jhon  sail  giff  to  his  dochr  yis  saymy11  day  iiij.  mks  off 
usual  monie  off  Scotland,  and  be  ye  Witsonday  cii  xii 
moneths  oyr.  iiij.  mks. 

This  transaction  gives  an  idea  of  the  value  of  a  croft  in  New- 
burgh  at  that  period;  a  merk  Scots  being  equal  to  Is.  1-id.  of 
the  present  currency.  It  also  gives  an  indication  of  the  adoption 
of  a  surname,  the  son  having  taken  the  name  of  Chyld,  while  the 
father  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  place  of  his  birth  or  abode. 

2(5  April  1475.  '  ye  saymy  day  John  of  Covintre  lard  of  Mug- 
drum,  cperit  befor  ye  baylze  and  askit  y'  na  man  suld 


170  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

rassett  na  set  houss,  ua  harbr  to  nay  folk  y*  tuk  his  gudes 
mid1*  pay  off  law  loss  yai  wald  rastor.' 

The  Law  of  the  Burghs  l  under  which  the  laird  of  Mugdrum 
made  his  demand,  continued  to  be  put  in  force  in  Newburgh 
down  to  a  comparatively  recent  period,  as  is  shown  by  numerous 
entries  in  the  court  books  of  the  burgh,  of  which  examples  will 
be  given  subsequently. 

5  May  1475.  William  Graundiston  resigned  two  roods  of 
land  into  the  hands  of  the  bailies  to  give  '  possession  to 
ye  supors  Den  Wylzam  dissart,  Den  Wylyam  halywell  and 
Den  John  of  Balfour  in  fawours  and  in  naym  of  ye  con- 
vent of  Lundors  before  ya  witness  Master  Thomas  Rossy, 
Mastr  John  of  Wemyss,  Jamys  Anderson,  Henry  Lawson, 
Wilyum  ....  Jamys  litiljohn  w*  oyrV  [Den  or  Dean 
was  the  ordinary  appellation  of  a  monk.] 

26  July  1475.  'ye  saymy  day  ye  haill  curt  was  wardyt 
by  ye  gret  ayth,  and  al  ye  curt  fand  speidful  and  ordynit 
y*  ye  hyll  suld  be  broky11  betwix  ye  est  march  by  lnch- 
malow  and  ye  Sely  Stan  quhar  ye  cossell  ffynds  mast 
spedfull: 

The  foregoing  extract  is  chiefly  interesting  for  the  reminiscen- 
ces of  Celtic  topography  which  it  contains ;  both  of  the  names  men- 
tioned are  descriptive,  as  Celtic  names  generally  are,  and  both  of 
them  are  extinct.  Maladh,  Gaelic,  pronounced  Malaw,  signifies  the 
brow  of  a  hill.  Inchmalow  would  therefore  be  an  inch  in  the  midst 
of  some  spongy  place  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  above  the  Woodrife. 
The  '  Sely-stane'  was  a  huge  block  of  sandstone  that  lay  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  hill  north  of  the  Fincraig  ;  it  was  broken  up  about 
fifty  years  ago  by  one  of  the  tenants  of  the  land,  like  many  other 


'   Leges  Burgorum,  No.  85. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A  D.  U67-MS0.  1 '  1 

relics  of  the  past,  to  make  way  for  agricultural  improvements. 
sl  Uadh  Gaelic,  pronounced  Sely,  signifies  a  view,  and  it  was  well- 
^mX'for  from  the  place  where  it  lay  there  is  a  most  extended 
prospec  of  the  valleys  of  the  Tay  and  Earn  from  then-  junction  to 
Z  oLant  Grampians.  The  site  of  the  stone  com^etdy  over- 
looks  Cross  Macduff,  and  no  one  could  have  approached ^  the ,  latter 
unobserved  by  a  watcher  there.  Assummg  the  cross  to  have  been 
"W  or  Sanctuary,  there  may  have  been  some  connectron  be- 
tween  it  and  the  '  Selystane.' 

1-    October   1476.     'ye  borow  hed   curt   of  ye   Newburth 

haldyn  by  Stevyn  Phylp.' 

•  ye  saym  day  was  chossyn  balzeis  be  ye  grit  ay  h  wy  cosent 

5  off  ye  haill  nythburs,  jl  is  to  say  Alexander  Mychyson  and 

Michell  of  Inch.'  t      . 

'ye  saym  day  ye  haill  curt  wardit  be  ye  gret  ayth  y  yai 

^vaTddefend  ye  com"  lands  off  ye  to*  V  f  body  and  f 

0*11  (I  PS 

< ve  saym  day  ye  haill  curt  akit  be  ye  grit  ayth  quliat  sum- 
yever^ytbbui  at  war  not  and  wald  not  byd  ^  ye  bake, 
and  cote  suld  be  expellit  f*  all  fredom  and  pfts  of  ye  to 
for  yer  and  day.' 

A  court  or  mote  was  held  in  burghs  every  fortnight,  where 
iustice  was  administered,  burgesses  admitted,  and  property  trans- 
fe    ed,  and  at  which  every  resident  burgess  was  bound  to  appeal 
Besides  these,  there  were  three  head  courts  held  m  the  course 
of    h     year,  at  which  every  burgess  whether  recent  or  non- 
resident was  bound  to  attend  under  a  heavy  P^%-      *£*£ 
to  wv'  that  three  hcvyd  mutis  are  thruch  the  yhere  that  behohs 
Ike  burges  for  to  be   at.     That  is   to  wyt  the  first   eftyr  the 
east  of  lanct  Michael,  the  tother  next  efter  Yoill,  the  thru!  eftyr 
Pasch.1    The  enjoined  appearance  at  these  courts  is  a  remnant  ot 

1  Leges  Burgorum,  No.  40. 


172  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

the  obligation  of  the  burgesses  to  undertake  military  service  when 
called  upon  to  do  so.  The  preceding  entry  at  a  Michaelmas  Head 
Court  seems  to  have  been  an  occasion  when  these  services  were 
likely  to  be  required.  Unfortunately,  the  cause  is  not  stated,  but 
the  circumstances  of  the  burgesses  being  called  upon  to  stand  by 
the  magistrates,  at  the  risk  of  '  their  body  and  gudes,'  shows  that 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  biugh  were  believed  to  be  in 
jeopardy. 

These  Head  Courts  continued  to  be  held  in  Newburgh  down 
to  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  but  latterly  they  became  so  only 
in  name.  Had  they  continued  as  originally  instituted,  many  of 
the  evils  attending  the  close  system  would  have  been  mitigated,  as 
all  matters  affecting  the  interests  of  the  community  would  have 
had  the  advantage  of  public  discussion,  and  anything  savouring 
of  malversation  would  have  been  exposed. 

It  will  be  noticed  in  the  preceding  entry,  that  the  magistrates 
were  elected  with  the  consent  of  '  ye  haill  nythburs.'  This  is  the 
more  remarkable,  as  seven  years  before  (a.d.  1469),  by  an  Act 
passed  5  Par.  James  III.,  cap.  29,  the  election,  which  was  for- 
merly in  the  hands  of  the  burgesses,  was  put  into  the  hands  of 
the  existing  councillors,  who  had  each  the  right  of  nominating  a 
burgess,  from  among  which,  and  the  old  council,  the  new  council 
alone  could  be  elected.  The  pretext  for  passing  this  Act  was 
the  '  great  contention  zeirly  in  chusing  of  the  baillies  and  other 
officiares,  throw  multitude  and  clamour  of  commounes.'  This 
mode  of  election,  justly  styled  the  close  system,  continued  in  force 
until  the  year  1833,  when  the  election  was  put  into  the  hands  of 
the  ten  pound  householders.  This  latter  enactment,  in  its  turn, 
has  been  repealed,  and  after  four  hundred  years,  the  privileges 
of  which  the  burgesses  were  denuded  has  been  restored  by  the 
enactment  of  1868. 

1  Octr  1476.  'ye  saym  day  ye  baylze  Stevyn  phylp  chargit 
Henry  Baxter  to  forbeyr  all  freman  occupayssions  off  ye 
town,  for  ye  dissobeying  and  sclandering  off  ye  assise, 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  173 

quhill   ye  thyni  lie  lied  maid  amends  to  ye  assise  and 
ye  town.' 

11  Decr  1476.  'ye  saym  day  Stevyn  rodger  was  delivt' 
to  ye  hesp  and  ye  stapill  off  his  fayrs  la"ds  be  ye  baylze 
Stewyn  pliylp  and  ye  officiars,  before  ye  witness  Jamys 
Anderson,  Dd.  Anderson,  Henry  Lawson,  Nycholl  of  bayt, 
John  Phylp,  and  w*  oyrs  sundry.' 

'  Hasp  and  staple  was  the  old  form  of  entering  an  heir  in 
burgage  subjects.  The  bailie,  the  town  clerk,  and  the  heir  went 
to  the  property,  when  the  claimant  preferred  his  claim  and  sub- 
stantiated it  by  witnesses.  When  the  bailie  was  satisfied,  he 
declared  the  claimant  to  be  the  heir,  and  directed  him  to  take 
hold  of  the  hasp  and  staple  of  the  door,  as  a  symbol  of  possession. 
The  heir  then  entered  the  house,  and  shut  and  bolted  himself  in. 
On  coming  out,  the  town  clerk  made  a  notarial  record  of  the 
whole  transaction,  known  as  an  instrument  of  cognition  and 
sasine.  This  and  similar  forms  of  entering  hens  in  burghs  was 
abrogated  in  1847.  Hasp  and  staple  were  the  symbols  appli- 
cable to  houses,  earth  and  stone  to  land,  clap  and  happer  to 
mills,  net  and  coble  to  fishings,  a  sheaf  of  corn  to  parsonage 
teinds,  a  psalm  book  and  the  keys  of  the  church  to  patronage, 
and  the  books  of  the  court  to  jurisdictions.'  The  uce  of  symbols 
in  the  transference  of  property  had  its  origin  in  times  when 
written  records  were  unknown, — a  sod  cut  from  a  field  and 
laid  on  the  altar  before  witnesses,  was  a  proof  that  the  field 
was  conveyed  to,  and  was  thenceforth  the  property  of  the 
church. 

1G  July  1477.  'ye  say  day  And0.  Kyd  burges  off  ye  tun 
off  Sant  and"  cperit  i  pla  curt  befor  ye  baylzeis  and 
askit  lawborrowis  of  John  of  Moncreiff,  lard  of  that  ilk 
and  his  ptys  of  ye  kyngs  behawff  or  ye  abbot  and  con- 
vent, as  he  y*  dreidit  ye  said  lard  and  his  ptys.' 


174  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

5  Febyr  1477.  'ye  say  day  ye  baylze  Michell  of  Inch 
coperit  befor  ye  baylze  Alexander  Mickyson  and  ye  cosell 
and  askit  amends  off  ye  stroblanss  of  Dd.  blyt  stroblyt  ye 
said  baize  Michell  in  his  office.' 

'Ye  saym  day  ye  cosell  ordand  y*  Dd.  bly*  suld  oyss  na 
fremans  lawbr.  quhil  ye  tym  y*  he  co  and  pffert  amends 
to  ye  baize  and  ye  coite.' 

18  Feb.  1477.  'ye  saym  day  ye  haill  curt  ordand  y1  ye 
cossell  suld  com  and  gadr  on  Sant  Mathow  day  [a  mistake 
for  St  Matthias  day,  24th  February,  St  Matthew's  day 
21st  Sep*,  being  too  late  to  let  land  for  cultivation]  next 
to  cum  tyll  sit  and  distrybow  ye  lands  at  ar  vacand  in  ye 
baylzeis'  hands  till  ye  nythburs,  or  at  ar  mast  speidful  tyll 
ye  pffit  of  ye  thon.' 

17  June  1478.  'ye  saymy  day  John  Malcomson  eldr  and 
Henry  Thomson  were  taychit  be  ye  offcars  in  ye  curt,  be 
in  ye  lords  curt  next  eft  pasch  for  bludweit,  and  John 
Stob  was  borth  for  ye  said  Henry  and  John  under  pan  be 
his  awon  hand.' 

The  apprehension  of  these  offenders  in  the  Bailie  Court  was 
not  only  in  conformity  with  the  burgh  charter,  but  in  strict  accord- 
ance with  the  '  Laws  of  the  Burghs.'  By  the  former,  the  Abbot 
of  Lindores  reserved  power  to  hold  three  Head  Courts  in  the  burgh 
yearly,  for  the  trial  of  offences  excluded  from  the  magistrates' 
jurisdiction,  at  which  the  burgesses  were  bound  to  appear  to  do 
homage  to  him  as  his  vassals ;  and  by  the  latter  it  was  expressly 
declared  that '  in  burgh  sail  nocht  be  herde  bludewyt  na  yet  stokis- 
dynt,  na  merchet1  na  hereyelde,  na  nane  suilk  maner  of  thyng.' 

1  With  regard  to  Merchet,  it  is  startling  to  find  that  a  uniform  tradition  (to 
which  names  are  attached)  prevails  in  this  neighbourhood,  that  the  exaction  was 
not  commuted  ;  but  all  evidence  goes  to  show  that  it  was  merely  a  fine  paid  on 
the  marriage  of  a  vassal's  daughter  to  the  superior. 


THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480.  175 

Bludewyte,  as  the  name  implies,  was  an  offence  to  the  effusion  of 
blood.  StoMsdynt  meant  a  stroke  with  a  baton  or  stick.  Merctet, 
the  tax  or  fine  paid  by  a  vassal  on  the  marriage  of  his  daughter 
beyond  the  bounds  of  the  barony.1  Hereyelde,  that  paid  to  the 
superior  on  the  death  of  a  vassal,  usually  the  best  horse  or  cow. 

Sed1  3  Novr  1479.  '  ye  saym  day  ye  haill  c'sell  grantit  y* 
ony  off  yam  y*  wer  warnyt  to  cum  to  ye  cossell  and  cum 
not,  and  he  had  not  a  lawfull  excowaze  suld  pay  halff  a 
gallowne  of  ayll.' 

'ye  v  day  of  ye  moneth  off  November,  ye  yerh  off  owr  lord 
MOCCO  seventy  and  ix  yers,  ya  bayllzeis  and  c  sell  quenit 
and  gaderit  into  ye  chapell  of  Sane  Katrin  wy*  in  ye  sayd 
burgh  and  be  ye  gret  aiytht  sworne  ye  said  balzeis,  and 
c-sell  ackyt  and  decret  y*  quhatsover  frema11  f  rass  in  ony 
action  in  ctrar  off  ye  sayd  balzies  an  c  sell  but  consent  on 
ye  heall  comunitie  suld  tyne  all  fredomys  in  ye  burgh  as 
for  y*  yer.' 

Sed*  23  Jany.  1479,  John  Thomson  and  Henry  Chalmr  balzeis. 

It-  ye  sam  day  Thorn8  Wenton,  yew  ar  amerciate  ffor  ye 

wrangess  borth  y*  yow  fand  upon  wat  of  lethyn  and  y 

was  eyfyn  f°r  dowm.' 
« It :  ye  sam  day  ye  c5ite  fand  speydfull  f  inhab*.  off  ye  hyU 

suld  com  to  Sane  Katn  chapell  upon  Sane  Bdes  day  l>t 
Brides,  1st  February]  yarefter  and  pay  yar  mayh,  or 
quhat-suer  f  comys  not  f  day,  his  takks  sail  be  vakant 
and  nan  denyand  in  acts,  and  quhat  neyburths  y  comys 
on  ye  morn  sail  hayff  his  wyt  ye  consent  ye  commute. 

'The  conimon-gude,  or  property  of  Scottish  burghs,  was,  until 
the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  let  to  the  burgesses  on  short 


E.  \V.  Robertson,  Historical  Essays,  p.  liii. 


176  THE  BURGH  COURT,  A.D.  1457-1480. 

leases  and  advantageous  terms.  To  be  deprived  of  their  "takks" 
was,  therefore,  equivalent  to  excluding  them  from  any  share  in 
the  revenue  of  the  corporation,  and  which,  in  the  absence  of 
manufactures  and  commerce  was  to  deprive  them  of  their  main 
dependence  and  support.' * 

1  Analecta  Scotica,  Vol.  II.,  p.  294,  note. — Joseph  Robertson. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

ST     KATHARINE'S     CHAPEL. 

•  Well  may  the  villagers  rejoice  ! 
Nor  heat  nor  cold,  nor  weary  ways, 
Will  be  a  hindrance  to  the  voice 
That  would  unite  in  prayer  and  praise  ; 
More  duly  shall  wild-wandering  youth 
Receive  the  curb  of  sacred  truth, 
Shall  tottering  age,  bent  earthward,  hear 
The  promise  with  uplifted  ear  ; 
And  all  shall  welcome  the  new  ray 
Imparted  to  their  Sabbath  day. 

'  Heaven  prosper  it !  may  peace  and  love, 
And  hope,  and  consolation,  fall, 
Through  its  meek  influence,  from  above, 
And  penetrate  the  hearts  of  all, 
All  who  around  the  hallowed  Fane, 
Shall  sojourn  in  this  fair  domain.' 


Wordsworth. 


From  the  year  1480  to  1697,  the  court  books  of  Newburgh  have 
unfortunately  disappeared.  For  two  hundred  and  seventeen 
years,  therefore,  embracing  the  momentous  period  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, there  is  no  continuous  record  to  elucidate  the  history  of 
the  town,  or  to  throw  light  on  the  condition  of  society.  In  the 
Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh,  there  is  a  protocol  book  of  John 
Kilgour,  town  clerk  of  Newburgh,  containing*  entries  from  1584 
to  1589  ;  and  another  of  John  Philip,  clerk  of  the  regality  of 
Lindores,   extending  from  1611  to  1626. 1     Both    of  these  books 

1  Proceedings  of  the  Soc.  ofAntiq.  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  p.  532. 

M 


178  ST  KATHARINE  S  CHAPEL. 

seem  to  have  been  preserved  by  the  care  of  Sir  James  Balfour  of 
Denmiln,  but  they  do  not  contain  records  of  any  special  interest. 
Fortunately,  since  the  year  1697,  an  unbroken  series  of  volumes, 
contaming  full  records  of  proceedings  in  the  Burgh  courts,  has 
been  preserved.  There  are  also  a  considerable  number  of  char- 
ters and  other  documents  in  the  archives  of  Newburgh,  extending 
from  the  year  1470  to  the  dawn  of  the  Reformation.  From 
one  of  these  we  learn  that  St  Katharine's  chapel,  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  was  erected  in  the  year 
1508 ;  others  record  endowments  for  its  support.  Not  the  least 
interesting  of  the  documents  preserved  is  a  decision  by  John, 
Lord  Glammys,  A.D.  1493,  at  that  time  Justiciar  of  Scotland, 
of  a  dispute  between  the  Abbot  of  Lindores  and  the  burgesses 
regarding  their  respective  rights  and  privileges.  Eight  tags  for 
the  seals  of  the  Justiciar  and  his  councillors  are  attached  to  the 
parchment,  but  the  seals  are  entirely  worn  away.  As  many  points 
are  touched  upon  in  this  decision,  which  are  entirely  obsolete,  it 
is  here  printed  entire. 

'  At  Lundoris  the  ffyfFteine  day  of  the  moneth  of  Januarr 
the  yere  of  God  a  thousand  four  hundreth  nynte  and  thre 
yeris.  We  Johnne  Lord  Glammys  with  the  avys  and 
consale  of  master  Wilyam  Scott  of  Flaw-crag,  Alexander 
Seton  of  Parbroath,  Alexander  Spens  of  Pettyncreff, 
James  of  Drummond,  John  of  Rettra,  Patryk  of  Wellis, 
and  Wilyam  Quhitbron  to  me  consalouris  be  me  in  that 
part  specially  chosyn  to  conclude  deliver  and  fmaly 
determyn  in  all  actionis,  debatis,  contraversiis,  harmys, 
hiiuris,  complenzeit  and  allegit  be  ane  venerabill  fader 
Andro,  be  the  permissione  of  God  Abbot  of  Lundoris  and 
convent  of  the  samyn,  allegit  to  be  done  to  thaim  be  thare 
men,  tenentis  burgis  and  comunite  of  thare  burgh  of  the 
Newburgh  twiching  the  paying  of  thare  feu-ferm  of  the 
landis  of  the  Wodruff  and  the  hill  with  the  comon  mett 
and  for  common  service  and  homage  to  be  done  to  thaim 


st  Katharine's  chapel.  179 

be  tlie  said  comunite  for  the  saidis  landis,  and  anentis  the 
making  of  out  men  bnrges  bnt  licens  of  the  said  abbot 
and  convent,  contrare  tbare  enfefftment  and  for  the  pro- 
cnrin  of  out  men  to  cum  to  the  said  burgh  in  the  suple  of 
thair  oppynion  aganis  thair  awin  enfefftment,  contraire  the 
lawis  of  the  burgh  and  actis  of  parleament,  and  anentis 
the  bludwitis  that  happynnis  in  the  said  burgh,  quihilkis 
the  knawlag  punissioun  and  profite  thereof  pertenys  to 
the  said  abbot  and  convent  as  is  allegit,  and  als  upon  the 
inordinate  procedings  of  the  electione  of  the  officeris  of  the 
said  burgh  at  this  last  Michalmes  allegit  be  the  said 
abbot  and  convent  to  be  done  be  the  said  communite 
contrare  the  kingis  lawis  and  actis  of  parleament,  and  als 
anentis  the  breking  oppyning  and  off  takinge  of  the  lokkis 
of  than-  common  kyst  and  out  taking  thareof  of  the 
sele  charteris,  and  otheris  diuers  writes  and  moneth  put 
in  the  keping  thare  in  deposit  to  the  vtilite  of  the  said 
burgh,  and  upon  diuers  contemptionis  and  dysobeysans 
allegiit  to  be  done  be  the  said  communite  to  the  said 
abbot  and  convent  thare  superiors,  and  anent  the  resay- 
inge  and  in  haldinge  of  certane  personis  beand  convictit 
be  ane  assis  hi  the  last  chammerlane  ayr  and  bannyst 
thareffter  the  said  burgh  for  thare  demeritis,  anentis  the 
forsaidis  poyntis  of  complaynt  the  forsaid  hale  convent 
with  ane  consent  and  assent  in  the  affermyt  justice-ayr 
of  the  regalitie  of  Lundoris  haldin  and  begvn  be  me  in  the 
said  Newburgh,  the  xiiiith  day  of  the  moneth  and  yere 
beforesaid  purly  and  simply  referryt  compromittit  and 
oblist  thaim  for  thaim  and  thare  successouris  to  vnderly 
do  and  fulfyll  the  decrete  ordinans  deliverans  and  consale 
of  vs  the  said  Johne  Lord  Glammys  and  personis  forsaid 
of  consale  till  vs  chosyn,  in  all  and  sindrye  the  forsaidis 
actionis  and  poyntis,  and  to  mak  and  tak  reformation  and 
correctione  into  quhat  wys  and  maner  sene  to  vs  mast 
expedient,  for  the  gude  of  pece  gude  rewl,  concord  and 


180  ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL. 

cherite,  and  to  be  haicl  betuix  the  saidis  partyis  in  tym 
cunmiyng,  quhar  throw  we  procedand  in  the  forsaid 
thingis  the  forsaid  day  and  place  athir  of  the  partyis  and 
thare  desiris  thare  petitionis  charteris  writts  witnessyngis 
be  vs  at  length  resavyt  and  vnderstandin,  we  beand  weil 
and  riply  avisit,  hafand  God  before  E  pronnncis  decretis 
deliverys  ordanis  and  for  finale  consale  gevis,  that  the 
said  connnunite  sail  pay  and  deliver  to  the  said  abbot 
and  convent,  thare  vitale  and  ferine  aucht  be  thaim  to  the 
said  abbay  of  the  foresaid  landis  of  the  "Wo draff,  and  the 
hill  with  the  samyn  met  and  mesure  that  Willyam  Quhit- 
bron  brocht  with  him  fra  the  lafe  of  the  kings  burowis, 
and  delyuerit  be  hyrn  in  the  chamerlane  ayr  of  the  New- 
brugh,  haldin  be  Schir  Alexander  Guthre,  ay  and  quhill 
the  measui'e  and  stand  devisit  and  ordanit  be  the  com- 
missaris  of  four  burowis  be  affermyt  be  the  parleament  to 
haf  cours  vniversale  throw  all  the  realme,  and  than  with 
that  stand  the  said  fermys  to  be  mett  and  payit  to  the  said 
abbot  and  convent ;  as  twichinge  the  poyntis  of  homage 
and  service  we  ordane  the  said  homage  to  be  maid  be  the 
said  comnmnite  to  the  said  abbot  and  convent  effter  the 
form  of  thare  enfefftment,  and  for  common  service  the 
declaracion  tharof  and  fasson  we  continew  to  the  next 
parleament  with  consent  of  bath  the  partys  but  preuidice 
of  ony  party  ;  and  as  to  the  makinge  of  burges  we  ordane 
that  na  outman  be  maid  burges  but  consent  of  the  said 
abbot  and  convent,  according  to  thare  enfefftment,  and  as 
to  the  procurin  and  purchessing  of  out-folkis  bringing 
thaim  to  the  burgh  in  the  oppressioune  of  thar  nychtbouris 
or  in  contrar  the  lord  and  his  priuilege,  we  ordane  the 
actis  of  parleament  maid  in  syk  casis  to  be  obseruit  and 
kepit  in  all  poyntis ;  as  to  the  actione  of  blude,  we  ordane 
that  the  said  communite  nor  thare  officeris  vs  nor  intromett 
with  na  actione  of  blude  quhilk  is  nocht  specifyit  in  thar 
enfefftment ;  and  to  the  electione  of  the  officeris  that  in 


ST  Katharine' s  chapel.  181 

tym  cummyng  the  day  affixit  in  the  kingis  lawis  of  bur- 
rowis  tharapon  be  obseruit  and  kepit ;  and  as  twiching 
the  electioune  of  George  Nicholson  baize  we  fynd  and 
ordanes  that  all  process  led  in  court-is  and  be  him  lauch- 
fully  done  to  be  of  avale,  and  because  he  was  chosyn 
baize  after  the  day  lymit  in  the  law,  we  ordane  hym  to 
cess   in  the  executioune    of  the   said   office   quhill   new 
electioune  proceid  and  in  the  said  electioune  that  na  fors 
be  leid,  na  yit  na  outman  to  hafe  voce  therein,  na  yit  na 
burges  maid  as  for  this  new  electioune,  bot  fra  thin  furth 
to  hafe  voce  and  jos  all  priulege  as  afferis  of  law,  and  als 
at  the  said  day  of  the  electioune  that  the  common  kyst, 
commoun    charteris,    sele   and   bukis,    moneth,    and   all 
other  thingis  beand  in  the  said  kyst  be  brocht  hale  lokkyt 
as  it  was  of  befor,  and  the  communite  to  dispone  there- 
upon as  is  sene  speidfull  to  thaim,  and  gyff  thar  be  ony 
vnganand  persons  resett  in  the  burgh  that  has  been  con- 
victit  or  beis  convictit  be  ane  assys  and  banyst  the  tovne, 
that  thai  persons  incontinent  at  the  tym  of  this  election 
be  removit  the  tovne  and  the  resettowris  punist  as  efferis 
apon  law,  and  as  to  the  displeser  contempcione  and  disobey- 
sans  allegyit  to  be  done  to  the  said  abbot  and  his  convent 
be  the  said  communite,  we  ordane  the  said  communite  now 
in-continent  that  thai  sail  syt  doune  apon  thar  kneis  in  pre- 
sens  of  vs  barheid  besekand  the  said  abbot  and  convent  sa 
far  as  thai  haff  offendyt  ony  faultis  maid  be  thaim  in  tymes 
bigane  to  remytt  and  forgiff  and  in  tym  cumming  to  be 
to  the  said  abbot  and  convent  lmmill   and  obedient  leil 
trew  men  and  tenandis  as  thai  suld  be  to  thare  lord,  and 
apon  thare  gude  bering,  he  to  be  gude  lord  to  thaim  and 
this  to  all  thaim  that  efferis  or  may  affer  suthfastly.     This 
our  deliuerans  we  mak  it  knawin  be   thir   our  present 
lettres.     In  witnes  of  the  quhilk  thing  we  haff  set  to  our 
selis  at  the  abbey  of  Lundoris  with  the  subscriptions  of 
our  awin  handis  yer  day  and  place  aboon  written  befor 


182  ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL. 

thir  witnes  master  David  Setoune  persoime  of  Federkarne, 
Thomas  Fresale,  son  and  apperand  ayr  to  Lord  Fresale, 
David  Nam  of  Sandfurd,  Sir  Johne  Lyndesay  vicar  of 
creych  and  notar  public,  with  divers  otheris.  Willelmas 
Quhitbron,  manu  propria. 

The  size  of  the  measure  of  the  barley  payable  by  the  burgesses 
to  the  abbey,  as  feu-ferme  for  the  Wodriff  lands  formed  an 
important  point  in  the  dispute.  The  court  of  the  Four  Burghs  re- 
ferred to  in  the  decision  (at  that  period  Edinburgh,  Stirling, 
Lanark,  and  Linlithgow),  which  had  the  regulation  of  all  matters 
affecting  trade,  had  not  been  able  to  bring  about  the  desirable 
result  of  a  uniform  standard.  'The  innumerable  variations  of 
Tron,  or  public  weight  in  Scotland,  was  in  consequence  a  source 
of  constant  irritation  and  of  endless  disputes.' 1 

The  justice  of  the  abbot's  complaint  regarding  the  non- 
payment of  feu-ferme,  and  the  refusal  of  homage  and  common 
service  by  the  burgesses  was  manifest.  By  the  charter  of  the 
burgh  which  converted  them  from  merely  precarious  tenants  into 
proprietors  of  their  tofts  and  crofts,  and  conferred  upon  them  the 
common-good  lands,  which  latter  they  held  as  a  trust  estate, 
strictly  unalienable,  they  were  bound  to  pay  the  feu-ferme  speci- 
fied, and  to  do  homage  and  common  service.  The  charter  also 
expressly  prohibited  the  bailies  from  making  out-men  burgesses, 
without  the  consent  of  the  abbot, — and  the  harbouring  of  banished 
persons  was  expressly  against  the  law.  The  inordinate  proceed- 
ings complained  of,  as  having  taken  place  at  the  election  of  the 
magistrates  are  not  specified.  Judging  from  a  decision  in  a  dis- 
pute about  eight  years  later  by  Patrick  Wellis,  provost  of  Perth, 
and  a  jury,  preserved  among  the  archives  of  Newburgh,  there  is 
reason  to  think  that  the  abbot  was  endeavouring  to  exercise  an 
undue  control  over  the  election.  At  the  same  time  the  burgesses 
seemed  to  have  attempted  to  evade  the  obligations  of  the  burgh 

1  E.  W.  Robertson's  Historical  Essays,  p.  68. 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL.  183 


charter  Five  year,  after  the  passing  of  the  act  introducing  the 
cC^tem,  it  was  enacted  that  in  burghs  -there  ^e  four  rf 
the  aula  eouncell  of  the  yeir  before  chosen  yenly  to  the  new 
conned  ..•     to  sit  with  them  for  that  yeir,  and  have  powr 

"^it  dimedlhe  right  of  nominating  these  four  persons, 
and  haffrom  them  the  council  should  choose  the  ^0  tabes  for 
the  year.  The  object  of  the  enactment  was  to  prevent  the  com 
plete  and  sudden  displacement  of  the  council ;  but  t he  abb ote 
claim  was  clearly  a  usurpation,  and  the  only  justification  that  can 
t  pll  for  it,  is  the  circumstance  that  the  bailies  were  the  col- 
lectors of  the  abbot's  revenue  arising  ftom  the  burgh  mafib Mjri 
fines  of  court,  which  were  paid  to  bun  as  superior  of  the  burgh 
The  abbot  had  therefore  a  special  pecuniary  interest  in  the 
rVmvfloter  of  the  persons  elected." 

The  decision  of  the  provost  of  Perth  and  his  fellow-arbfters, 
which  is  inserted  in  the  appendix,  is  in  many  respects  interesting. 
Much  of  the  ill-feeling  and  'rancour'  which  it  discloses  as  having 
mevaifod  between  the  Abbot  of  Lindores  and  his  vassals  m  New- 
bm-gh  a  ose  from  the  inbringing  of  out-men  and  mveatag  them 
with  the  privileges  of  burgesses  and  giving  fl».™»j^ 
affairs  of  the  burgh.    This  was  a  dnect  mfringement  of  the  charter 
unl      wlicl  the  burgesses  held  their  property  and  privileges. 
Thtle  had  been  conferred  upon  them  by  the  abbot  on  the  express 
condition  that 'the  baillies  counsale  and  commumte  quhen  thai 
L]  reqnirit  to  the  kingis  weris  sail  pas  m  «W£*J£ 
Lid  abbotis  bailie  and  remane  under  his  baner  all  the  tyme 
1,;!:!,f,  U«.  thai  baif  maid  sewte  to  the  saidis  abbot  mid  con- 
vent, and  haldis  tl.ar  landis  of  hym  in  homage  and  service. 

1  ££Z  ;,":;,,ir;.LZ  fteXer,  who  eoUected  the  revenue,  rtfened 

appointed  by  the  Crown.'-Beport  on  Mumvpal  t  „ri»n,l.o,„.  p.  13. 
3  Appendix  No.  V I . 


184  st  katharixe's  chapel. 

The  right  to  erect  a  burgh  on  their  lands  conferred  by  the 
royal  charter,  enabled  the  abbot  to  acquire  a  greater  number  of 
vassals  than  he  could  otherwise  have  obtained,  and  was  justly 
esteemed  an  important  privilege,  as  it  called  into  existence  a  body 
of  resident  vassals  at  hand  and  ready  whenever  required.  The 
bestowal  of  the  rights  of  burgesses  on  non-resident  or  out-men 
was  therefore  a  direct  frustration  of  the  purposes  for  which  the 
abbot  bestowed  the  lands  and  privileges  '  on  his  men  of  Newburgh,' 
as  he  could  only  have  a  very  slender  hold  on  those  living  at  a 
distance,  and  could  not  depend  on  them  coming  to  his  banner  when 
required.  Besides  this,  the  increasing  wealth  and  trade  of  the 
burghs  had  given  them  increased  weight  in  the  state  ;  it,  therefore, 
became  a  source  of  power  and  influence  for  a  neighbouring  pro- 
prietor to  hold  the  office  of  chief  magistrate  of  a  burgh,  a  power 
which  was  not  unfrequently  exercised  adversely  to  the  interests  of 
the  superior.  To  prevent  this  power  passing  into  the  hands  of 
ambitious  individuals  living  out  of  and  having  no  direct  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  burgh,  an  Act  was  passed  in  the  reign  of  James 
IV.  expressly  against  this  'maistership,'  as  it  was  called,  declar- 
ing that  none  could  hold  the  office  of  provost  or  bailie  unless  they 
wore  merchants  dwelling  therein,1 — a  principle  which  then  as 
now  has  this  great  recommendation,  that  it  places  the  governing 
power  in  the  hands  of  those  whose  interests  are  interwoven  with 
the  prosperity  of  the  burgh  over  which  they  preside. 

In  a  different  phase  of  burgal  life,  when  it  became  the  interest 
of  the  burgesses  to  maintain  their  trading  privileges,  they  pro- 
tested against  what  in  a  previous  age  the  abbot  had  objected  to. 
On  the  14th  April  1529  the  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs  'Ordinit 
that  all  thame  that  ar  maid  burges  within  the  burgh  that  vsis 
bying  and  selling  of  merchandeis  that  tha  cum  and  duell  within 
the  burgh  and  hald  stob  and  stack  within  40  dais  nixt  heirefter 
and  that  oppin  proclamatioun  be  maid  at  the  merket  croces  of 
every  burght,  that  all  sic  burges  cum  within  the  said  burght  and 

1  Par.  6,  cap.  80,  1503. 


SEAL  OF   CHAPTER   OF  LINDORES   ABBEY 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL.  185 

mat  thai-  habitatioim  and  dwelling  within  the  said  40  dais  under 
the  pane  of  tinsaill  of  thar  fredom.'1 

Similar  enactments  '  to  put  remeid  and  ordour  to  burgessis, 
firemen,  nocht  duelland  nor  beirand  commoun  chairgis  within  thair 
brughis '  continued  to  be  made  for  a  long  series  of  years.2 

A  glimpse  is  given  of  the  mode  of  transferring  property  by  a 
charter  dated  18th  October  1470.  The  preamble  states  that  the 
bailies  and  community  were  assembled  in  the  chapel  of  St 
Katharine  at  the  sound  of  the  bell,  to  witness  the  transfer  to  a  co- 
burgess  named  John  Vallange  of  a  piece  of  land  '  which  from  old 
times  belonged  to  the  chapel,'  on  the  condition  of  payment  of 
eight  shillings  yearly  for  the  maintenance  of  the  chaplain.  An 
abstract  of  this  and  the  other  charters  in  Newburgh  charter-chest 
are  given  in  the  appendix.3 

The  next  charter,  dated  the  20th  August  1478,  exhibits  the 
abbot  and  monks  in  a  pleasing  light.  By  it  they  convey  a  rood 
of  land  in  the  burgh  to  their  old  quarrier,  David  Hathinton,  for  his 
faithful  services. 

The   charter  in  favour  of  the  old  quarrier  is  the  only  one 
among  the  archives  of  Newburgh  which  has  the  seal  of  the  chap- 
ter of  the  abbey  remaining ;  it  is  so  exquisitely  cut  that  an  engrav- 
ing of  it  is  given.    The  obverse,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  engraving, 
bears  the  legend:  <S.  CAPITVLI  ECCLIE  SCE  MARIE  ET 
SCI  ANDREE   DE   LUNDORS.'      The  Virgin  and  Child  are 
represented  beneath  an  elaborate  canopy ;   on  then  right  is  the 
representative  figure  of  an  abbot,  in  an  attitude  of  adoration,  with 
a  scroll  above  his  head  bearing  the  words  'AVE  MARIA.'     On 
the  left  of  the  Virgin  and  child  is  a  group  of  monks,  also  in  the 
attitude  of  adoration,  having  a  scroll  above  them  inscribed  with 
the  words  '  SALVE  SCE  PARENS.'     The  reverse,  of  which  an 
engraving  is  given  in  the  'Supplemental  Catalogue  of  Scot ti si. 
Seals,'   by   Henry   Laing   (Plate    XIIL,    Fig.    4),   represents    St 


/;,  cords  of  <  'onvi  ntion  of  Royal  Burghs— 1295-1597,  p.  510. 
lb.,  1597-1(111,  p.  11.  3  Appendix  No.  VII. 


186  st  Katharine's  chapel. 

Andrew  being  nailed  to  a  cross  (of  the  form  known  by  his  name) ; 
a  half-length  figure  of  a  monk  appears  beneath,  with  his  hands 
raised  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  and  on  the  right,  a  group  of 
people  are  represented  as  if  listening  to  the  dying  words  of  the 
saint;  this  side  bears  the  legend,  'BIDUO  PENDENS  IN  CRUCE 
BEATUS  ANDREAS  DOCEBAT  POPULUM.'  The  head  of 
the  abbot  and  of  several  of  the  monks  on  the  obverse  side  are  so 
artistically  cut,  and  the  features  and  expression  are  so  distinct, 
that  in  all  probability  they  are  portraits  of  persons  known  at  the 
time.  The  matrix  of  another  seal  of  Lindores  Abbey  was  exhibited 
to  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London  by  Mr  Brereton,  their 
secretary,  on  the  11th  May  1797,  and  an  engraving  of  it  is  given 
in  the  Archaslogia  of  that  Society.  The  Virgin,  with  the  infant 
Saviour  in  her  lap,  is  represented  holding  an  olive  branch  in  her 
right  hand,  and  the  Abbey  of  Lindores  in  her  left.  The  inscription 
runs  thus:  'SIGILLUM  SANCTE  MARIE  ET  SCI  ANDRE 
DE  LUNDO.'  The  matrix,  which  was  of  bone,  and  formed  a 
seal  of  an  oval  shape,  was  broken  when  exhibited,  but  part  of  the 
next  letter  was  visible,  leaving  no  doubt  of  its  being  the  fount  of 
a  very  old  seal  of  Lindores  Abbey.1  The  matrix  is  not  in  the 
Museum  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London,  and  it  is  not 
known  what  has  become  ef  it. 

The  record  of  the  monks'  care  for  their  old  servant,  bears  out 
the  character  which  they  had  for  being  considerate  to  then-  tenants 
and  dependants.  After  the  Reformation,  when  the  lands  belong- 
ing to  the  abbey  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  monks,  the  '  kindly 
tenants,'  whose  tenures  had  come  down  from  father  to  son  under 
their  sway,  had  to  be  protected  from  the  avidity  of  the  new  pro- 
prietors by  special  enactments  of  the  Parliament. 

A  charter  (dated  25th  May  1481)  brings  before  us  the  bequest 
of  '  John  Wynton,  Presbyter  of  St  Andrews  and  burgess  of  New- 
burgh.'  He  bequeaths  to  his  brother  Thomas  and  his  children, 
whom  failing,  to  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lindores,  his  tenement 

1  Archaeologia  of  the  Soc.  of  Antiq.  of  London,  pp.  19G-8. 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL.  187 

in  Newburgh  under  the  burden  of  two   shillings  yearly  for  the 
maintenance  of  lights  and  other  ornaments  of  the  blessed  virgin 
St  Katharine,  and  three  shillings  to  be  distributed  in  bread  to  the 
poor  at  the  sight  and  discretion  of  the  chaplain  of  St  Katharines 
altar  annually,  by  the  hands  of  the  owner  of  the  tenement  for 
ever.'      To   insure   the   continuance    of  the   bequest,  the   donor 
imposes  a  penalty  of  twenty  pounds  on  the  owner  of  the  pro- 
perty in  case  of  his  failure  to  comply  with  these  conditions,  one 
half  to  go   '  to  the  fabric  of  the  chapel  of  the  said  burgh,'  and  the 
other  half  to  go  to  '  the  common  purse  of  the  town.'     Unfortun- 
ately, with  two  exceptions,  there  are  no  distinctive  names  attached 
in  the  title  deeds  to  any  of  the  tenements  of  Newburgh;  the 
croft  which  the  monks  bestowed  on  then  faithful  servant  m  his 
old  age,  as  well  as  to  that  of  the  pious  priest  who  took  such 
stringent   means   to   secure   the   continuance   of  his   benevolent 
bequest,    cannot    now   therefore   be    identified.      In    the    parish 
church  of  Westham,  Essex,  bread  is  distributed  to  the  poor  every 
Lord's  day,   after  the  conclusion  of  the  service,  from  a  similar 
bequest,  and  a  like  charity  is  dispensed  in  many  parish  churches 

in  England. 

One  tenement  is  named  'The  Prince's  House,     and  another 
adjoining  the  Town  House  on  the  east,   '  The  Smiddy  Stoop. 
This  latter  name  is  an  evidence  of  connection  with  the  'Low 
Counties,'  stoop  in  Dutch  signifying  an  open  porch.    Why  the  other 
was  named  'The  Prince's  House'  there  is  no  tradition  to  show. 

The  next  document  in  the  order  of  date  is  an  Instrument  of 
Sasine,  dated  the  5th  April  1508.  The  formalities  of  mfeftment 
by  the  delivery  of  earth  and  stone  were  gone  through  by  one  of 
the  bailies  in  presence  of  Andrew  Cavers,  abbot,  styled  in  the 
Sasine,  'pensionary  of  Londoris,'  and  in  this  document  the  fact  is 
recorded  that  the  chapel  which  served  as  the  parish  church  until  it 
was  taken  down  in  1832,  to  make  room  for  the  present  church,  was 
then  being  erected.  In  a  subsequent  deed,  abbot  Andrew  Cavers 
is  named  as  the  founder  of  the  new  chapel,  which  was  simply  a 
narrow  oblong  edifice,  built  chiefly  of  red  sandstone,  and  roofed 


188  st  Katharine's  chapel. 

with  gray  slate;  it  had  no  architectural  ornament  whatever,  ex- 
cepting a  very  unpretending*  belfry  on  the  western  gable.  Had 
no  chapel  existed  in  the  town,  the  probability  is  that  the  nave  of 
Lindores  Abbey  Church  would  have  been  kept  up  for  the  use  of 
the  people  of  Newburgh,  as  the  nave  of  abbey  churches  was  in- 
variably set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  parishioners,  the  monks  retain- 
ing the  choir  for  then-  own  especial  use.  This  arrangement  ac- 
counts for  the  preservation  of  the  nave  of  many  of  the  old  churches, 
and  for  the  demolition  of  the  choir,  as  at  Brechin  and  elsewhere ; 
the  choirs  ceasing  to  be  used  after  the  expulsion  of  the  monks  at 
the  Reformation.  The  older  chapel,  to  which  reference  is  so  often 
made  in  the  oldest  Burgh  Court  Book  of  Newburgh,  and  which 
must  have  been  of  considerable  antiquity,  was  dedicated  to  St 
Katharine,  but  the  new  one  was  dedicated  in  addition  to  St 
Duthac  and  St  Mary  Magdalene ;  of  the  latter  saint  it  is  unne- 
cessary to  speak. 

St  Katharine  was  a  young  lady  of  Alexandria,  of  illustrious 
descent,  who,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  her  age  suffered 
martyrdom  in  the  time  of  a  terrible  persecution,  A.D.  306,  under 
Galerius  Valerius  Maximums,  who  rose,  from  being  a  shepherd 
lad  in  Illyria,  through  the  various  grades  of  the  army,  to  be  co- 
Emperor  of  Rome,  and  reigned  over  Syria,  Egypt,  and  Asia  Minor. 
He  was  a  brutal  and  profligate  tyrant  and  a  furious  persecutor  of 
the  Christians.1  The  purity  of  the  lives  of  converts  to  Christianity 
stood  out  in  such  marked  contrast  with  the  unbridled  licentious- 
ness of  those  around  them,  in  that  most  licentious  age,  that  it  was 
sufficient  to  arouse  suspicion  that  they  belonged  to  the  hated  sect. 
The  high-born  St  Katharine  was  suspected,  and  it  is  narrated  of 
her,  that  when  confronted  with  her  persecutors,  she  unflinchingly 
avowed  herself  a  Christian,  though  she  knew  that  tortures  and 
death  awaited  the  confession.  So  eloquently,  it  is  said,  did  she 
defend  herself  and  her  faith  in  her  Saviour,  that  she  baffled  her 
opponents  and  put  them  to  silence  ;  but  the  persecutor's  argument 

1  Baring  Goulds  Lives  of  the  Saints,  Vol.  T.,  p.  257. 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL.  189 

'  the  heretic  must  suffer  that  heresy  be  stayed,'  was  at  hand,  and 
the   young  martyr  was   condemned  to  suffer  death  by  rolling 
over  her  body  a  wheel  set  with  sharpened  spikes.     Her  learn- 
ing and  devotion  has  made  her  the  patron  saint  of  philosophers, 
and  the   manner  of  her  martyrdom  has  given  the  name  of  '  St 
Katharine's  Wheel'  to  the  round  windows  in  Gothic  cathedrals. 
Her  festival  was  celebrated  on  the  25th  November.     A  fair  used 
to  be  held  in  Newburgh  yearly  on  that  day  ;  but  so  utterly  had  St 
Katharine  and  her  '  faith  unto  death '  been  forgotten,  that  latterly 
it  was  known  by  the  name  of  '  the  Haggis  Market.'     The  modern 
name  apparently  arising  from  the  abundance  of  this  national  dish 
consequent  on  the  slaughter  of  sheep  bought  in  the  fair  for  winter 
provision.    The  market,  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  was 
frequented  by  pedlars  of  respectability  and  of  comparative  wealth, 
who  in  character  might  have  stood  for  the  type  of  Wordsworth's 
'  honoured  Pedlar'  of  '  The  Excursion.'1     It  long  continued  to  be  a 
great  annual  gathering,  and  was  the  occasion  for  the  inhabitants 
supplying  themselves  with  clothing  and  articles  of  household  use. 
One  huckster,  the  last  representative  of  her  class,  exhibited  her 
wares  in  1869,  but  since  then  the  Fair  has  sunk  into  entire  neglect. 
St  Duthac,  more  properly  Dubthach,  was  a  very  popular  saint 
in  Scotland  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  chapel  in  Newburgh. 
He  nourished  in  the  north  of  Scotland  in  the  beginning  of  the 
twelfth  century.2     So  great  was  the  trust  reposed  in  the  sacredness 
of  his  principal  shrine  at  Tain,  that  the  queen  of  Robert  Bruce,  in 
the  time  of  her  husband's  greatest  extremity  (A.D.  1306),  forsook 
the   strong  castle  of  Kildrummy  for  the  greater  security  of  St 
Duthac's  shrine  ;  but  the  sanctuary  was  violated,  and  the  queen 
;  1 1 1  ( 1  1 1 .  a-  companions  were  basely  given  up  to  Edward  I.     St  Duthac 
con!  inued  t  o  retain  his  popularity  for  centuries.    '  In  the  year  1505 
James  IV.  went  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Tain  to  St  Duthac's  shrine,  and 
on  his  way  he  lodged  in  the  Abbot  of  Lindores'  country  house  at 
Fintray.    From  the  records  of  the  king's  pilgrimage,  we  can  realize 

1  See  appendix,  No.  VIII.        2  Reeve's  Adanmaii's  Life,  of  St  Culumba,  p.  401. 


190  ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL. 

the  curious  union  of  devotion  and  dissipation  which  characterized 
a  pilgrimage  of  that  age.'  An  organ  was  carried  to  Tain  and  back 
for  the  celebration  of  divine  worship  ;  alms  were  bestowed  on  the 
poor,  and  in  strange  contrast  with  a  religious  pilgrimage,  payments 
were  made  '  to  the  maddins  of  Forres  that  dansit  to  the  king.'  * 

It  was  only,  however,  in  accordance  with  his  tastes  that  James 
IV.  caused  the  organ  to  be  carried  to  Tain  and  back.  He  was 
passionately  fond  of  poetry  and  of  music.  He  had  musical  instru- 
ments brought  from  abroad,  and  whenever  the  king  went  in  his 
journeyings  through  the  country,  the  accounts  of  the  Lord  High 
Treasurer  teem  with  records  of  payments  to  minstrels  and  musi- 
cians of  all  kinds — '  to  harpers,  fithelars  and  lutaris.'  One  of  these 
'Lundoris  the  lutare,'  who,  in  that  age  when  surnames  were 
mostly  given  from  the  place  of  birth  or  residence,  was  in  all  pro- 
bability either  a  native  or  resident  of  Lundores,  received  '  at  the 
kingis  command  xiiij's,  on  the  x  Julij  1496.'  'Lundoris  and 
numerous  other  menstrallis,'  received  gratuities  as  their  Pasch 
reward  in  March  following.  Another  local  musician  received  a 
similar  reward  from  the  king.  On  'the  fift  day  of  Maij  1497,  the 
brokin-bakket  titular  of  Sanctandris  was  paid  ixs.'  Previous  to 
this,  in  1489,  the  king  commanded  the  large  sum  of  x  li.  to  be 
paid  'to  Wilyeam  Sangster  of  Lythgow  for  a  sang  buke,'  a 
collection  that  would  now  be  invaluable.  James  was  more  than 
a  lover  of  music,  he  was  a  munificent  patron  of  the  fine  arts  and 
an  encourager  of  genius.  He  was  the  friend  of  Dunbar,  who  stands 
in  the  front  rank  of  Scottish  poets ;  and  the  rude  but  patriotic 
rhymes  of  Blind  Harry,  the  minstrel,  were  frequently  rewarded 
by  the  king.2  These  entries  are  interesting  as  showing  the 
encouragement  that  was  given  to  poetry  and  music  at  the  time. 


1  Records  of  the  Priory  of  May,  preface,  p.  xlviii.  Dissipation  as  great  pre- 
vailed in  the  third  decade  of  the  present  century  at  out-door  preachings  on  com- 
munion occasions  in  Scotland,  till  it  was  happily  lashed  out  of  existence  by  the 
well-known  satire  of  Burns. 

2  The  Ballads  of  Scotland,  Aytoun,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  lxxx-lxxxvi.  Poems  of  Scottish 
Kings,  Chalmers,  pp.  118,  119. 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAFEL.  191 

Modern  burgesses  can  only  form  a  very  inadequate  conception 
of  the  homage  paid  to  patron  saints  of  parish  churches  in  pre- 
reformation  times.  The  yearly  festival  was  not  only  an  occasion 
of  imposing  solemnity,  but  of  great  rejoicing,  and  it  was  the 
gatherings  on  these  occasions  that  was  the  origin  of  the  various 
fans  throughout  the  country;  traders  and  those  who  had  any- 
thing to  sell  taking  advantage  of  the  crowds  that  assembled 
to  vend  their  wares  and  produce.  When  the  saint's  day  came 
round  the  magistrates,  accompanied  by  the  burgesses  and  burgh 
officials  walked  in  procession  with  the  insignia  of  office  to  the 
church  for  worship.  In  the  larger  burghs  the  different  crafts 
joined  the  procession,  with  banners  and  the  symbols  of  their 
patron  saint,  each  vying  with  the  other  who  would  make  the 
most  imposing  display.  The  commemoration  was  the  great  day 
of  the  year  in  the  burgh,  and  the  evening  was  given  over  to 
hilarity  and  festivity. 

The  rules  of  the  medieval  gilds  affords  a  glimpse  of  the  proceed- 
ings on  these  annual  festivals.  In  the  city  of  Bristol  '  On  Seynt 
Kateryns  even  the  mane  and  shireff  and  their  brethren  to  walk 
to  Seynt  Kateryns  Chapel,  there  to  hire  [hear]  even-song,  and 
from  even-song  unto  the  Kateryn  halle '  for  social  enjoyment.  ^ '  In 
a  religious  and  social  gild,  established  A.D.  1355,  it  was  ordained 
that  '  all  the  sisteryn  of  the  gild  shall  follow  the  virgin,  and  after- 
wards the  bretheren ;  and  each  of  them  shall  carry  a  wax  light 
weighing  half  a  pound,  and  they  shall  go  two  and  two,  slowly 
pacing  to  the  church,  and  when  they  have  got  there  .  .  . 
all  the  sisteren  and  bretheren  shall  offer  their  wax  lights  together 
with  one  penny  each.  All  this  being  solemnly  done,  they  shall  go 
home  again  with  gladness.' 1 


1  The  freemasons  are  the  only  body  who  keep  up  these  customs  in  this 
country.  There  were  gilds  of  almost  every  kind  of  craft,  having  for  their  object 
social,  charitable,  and  religious  purposes,  in  the  rules  of  many  of  them  there 
were,  like  the  freemasons,  special  statutes  for  securing  secrecy.— Early  English 
Gilds,  pp.  422 ;  149  55,  58,  61,  etc. 


192  st  Katharine's  chapel. 

Repeated  attempts  were  made  in  many  places  by  the  people 
after,  the  Reformation,  to  celebrate  their  accustomed  festivals, 
but  eventually  they  were  suppressed.  Even  yet  there  is  a  pas- 
sion for  pageantry  on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  any  proces- 
sion that  has  an  historical  character  about  it,  attracts  great 
crowds. 

The  burgesses  of  Newburgh  manifested  commendable  libe- 
rality in  endowing  their  new  chapel,  and  many  of  them  bur- 
dened their  properties  with  an  annual  payment  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  ordinances  of  religion.  This  is  the  origin  of 
the  altarage  money,  which  is  still  payable  to  the  minister  of 
the  parish.  On  the  5th  June  1508,  Sir  John  Malcomson,  one 
of  the  chaplains  of  '  the  new  church  of  Newburgh,'  is  infeft  in 
two  roods  of  land  resigned  by  James  Chawmere,  with  consent  of 
Thomas  Chawmere,  his  apparent  heir,  in  favour  of  the  chaplain  of 
St  Katharine  and  his  successors,  '  for  praying  for  the  donor,  his 
heirs,  ancestors  ; '  and  with  a  broad  charity,  '  for  the  souls  of  those 
to  whom  the  roods  may  belong.'  Three  years  later  (25th  Feb- 
ruary 1510-11),  'Michael  Anderson  and  John  Kawe  bailyies  of  the 
burcht  of  Newburcht  bewest  Lundoris,'  constitute  then  'weill- 
belovit  nychbour  James  Philpe,'  their  procurator  for  the  resigna- 
tion of  two  roods  of  land  in  excambion  '  for  four  shillings  yearly 
to  be  tane  up  be  us,  or  our  successouris,  factoris,  assignais,  or 
chaplainis  of  our  kirk.'  On  the  24th  September  1511,  Sir  John 
Malcomson,  the  chaplain,  receives  infeftment  by  the  delivery  of 
pennies,  of  a  tenement,  in  exchange  for  an  annual ;  the  only  thing 
noteworthy  in  the  document  is  that  the  infeftment  took  place  '  at 
the  monastery  of  Londoris  near  the  stone  dial  at  the  eleven  of  the 
forenoon  or  thereby.' 

An  Instrument  of  Sasine,  dated  19th  August  1513,  brings  the 
old  faith  more  vividly  before  us  than  any  previously  brought 
under  notice.  '  Sir  John  Malcumsone,  chaplain  of  the  altar  of  St 
Dionysius  founded  within  the  monastery  of  Londoris,  is  infeft  in 
an  annual  of  five  shillings,  leviable  from  a  tenement  in  the  town, 
which  belonged  to  Archibald  Carno,  in  favour-  of  the  blessed  virgin 


ST  katharixe's  chapel.  193 

St  Katrine,  and  of  the  chaplain  ministering  in  the  church,  founded 
within  the  burgh,  for  perpetual  prayers  for  himself,  his  father, 
mother,  and  for  Andrew  Cavers,  formerly  Abbot  of  Londoris,  the 
founder  of  the  church.'  '  There  were  several  saints  of  the 
name  Dionysius,  among  them  Dionysius  the  Areopagite,'  but  the 
most  illustrious  of  the  name,  and  the  one  most  likely  to  have  been 
commemorated  at  Lindores,  was  Archbishop  of  Alexandria.  His 
writings  were  highly  esteemed  by  the  early  church,  and  in  the 
time  of  a  violent  persecution  he  was  rescued  from  martyrdom  by 
the  peasantry  of  his  diocese.  He  died  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
265.  The  bailie  put  several  pennies  in  '  the  hands  of  the  image  of 
the  virgin  St  Katrine '  (which  must  have  been  carried  to  the 
ground  for  the  purpose),  in  token  that  the  annual  was  '  in  all  time 
coming  to  be  levied  in  the  name  of  her  image.'  We  are  left  in 
ignorance  as  to  the  nature  of  this  image,  but  frequently  they  were 
of  considerable  material  value.  One  belonging  to  the  Cathedral 
of  Aberdeen,  delivered  to  John  Leslie,  Parson  of  Oyne,  and  last 
Abbot  of  Lindores,  contained  114  ounces  of  silver.  The  seal  of 
John  Kawe,  the  officiating  bailie,  was  attached  to  the  sasine,  but  it 
is  entirely  worn  off. 

In  these  provisions  '  for  perpetual  prayers '  for  the  dead  we 
have  an  expression  of  that  '  tender  pity  which  is  of  no  avail'  for 
the  loved  departed. 

'  From  this  sad  source  have  sprung 
Rites  that  console  the  spirit  under  grief, 
Which  ill  can  brook  more  rational  relief  ; 
Hence  prayers  are  shaped  amiss,  and  dirges  sung 
For  souls  whose  doom  is  lixed.' ' 

The  endowment  of  the  new  chapel  having  been  provided  for  by 
the  liberality  of  the  burgesses,  a  commission  was  granted  by  the 
Archbishop  of  St  Andrews  for  its  dedication,  and  for  the  consecra 
lion  of  the  btrrying-ground  attached  to  it.     The  original  document. 


Wordsworth,  Eccles.  Sonnets,  Pari  I.,  No.  XX. 

N 


L94  st  Katharine's  chapel. 

which  is  the  earliest  written  on  paper  among  the  public  records  of 
Newburgh,  had  the  large  seal  of  the  archbishop  affixed,  but  the 
same  fate  has  attended  it  as  has  befallen  most  of  the  other  seals 
of  the  collection,  it  is  entirely  worn  off.  The  following  is  a 
translation  of  the  commission  : — 

Andrew  by  divine  mercy  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  prhnate 
of  the  whole  kingdom  of  Scotland,  legate  by  virtue  of  his 
position,  and  legate  with  the  power  and  authority  of  a 
legate  from  the  Lateran,  throughout  the  whole  foresaid 
kingdom,  and  perpetual  commendator  of  the  monastery  of 
Dmifermline  to  our  beloved  brother  James,  by  the  Grace 
of  God  and  the  Apostolical  see,  Bishop  of  Dunblane,  salva- 
tion and  mutual  love  in  the  Lord.  As  our  beloved  clerk 
Mr  Henry  Quhit,  Canon  of  the  Church  of  Morray  has  shown 
to  us  by  his  petition  that  he  has  hi  honour  of  the  Sahits, 
St  Michael  the  Archangel,  St  Andrew  the  apostle,  Nicholas 
and  the  blessed  virgin  and  Martyr  Katharine  endowed  a 
certain  church  or  chapel  founded  and  built  in  the  burgh  of 
Newburgh  near  the  monastery  of  Lundores  with  certain 
lands  and  annual  rents  for  the  support  of  a  chaplain  there- 
in who  shall  celebrate  divine  service  in  all  time  coming. 
Wherefore  he  has  forthwith  humbly  petitioned  us  for  the 
better  celebration  of  divine  worship,  and  that  the  devotion 
of  the  people  therein  may  be  increased,  that  we  should 
deign  to  dedicate,  or  cause  to  be  dedicated  the  said  Chapel 
or  Church  founded  and  endowed  as  foresaid.  We  there- 
fore considering  this  request  to  be  just  and  agreeable  to 
reason,  and  wishing  to  accede  to  the  just  desires  of  the 
petitioners  by  the  tenour  of  these  presents  commit  and 
impart  to  you  our  brother  foresaid  our  lawful  power  and 
authority  of  dedicating  and  erecting  into  a  church  or 
chapel  for  ever  the  said  chapel  founded  and  endowed  as 
foresaid,  the  ceremonies  and  solemnities  being  observed 
which  of  right  ought  to  be  observed  in  the  dedication  of 


st  Katharine's  chapel.  195 

Churches,  and  inquest  first  being  held  concerning  the  said 
foundation  and  endowment  and  other  circumstances  requi- 
site, and  provided  that  the  parish  church  be  not  defrauded 
of  its  privileges  and  lights,  so  that  in  the  same  church  or 
chapel,  and  its  alloted  cemetery  free  sepulture  may  in 
future  be  had  for  all  who  choose  or  wish  to  have  sepulture 
there,  and  of  doing,  carrying  out  and  exercising  all  other 
things  which  to  the  dedication  of  a  Church  or  Chapel  of 
this  sort  are  known  to  belong.  Given  under  our  round 
seal  at  our  city  of  St  Andrews,  the  second  day  of  the 
month  of  April  in  the  year  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
sixteen. 

By  the  foresaid  most  reverend  Archbishop  and  legate, 

Jo.  Saxchar. 

On  the  12th  April  1522,  Isabella  Hadingtone  conveys  a  rood  of 
land  in  Newburgh  to  the  bailies  and  council  and  community 
under  the  yearly  burden  of  nine  shillings  to  her  and  her  heirs,  and 
of  twelve  pence  to  the  altar  of  St  John  in  the  monastery  of 
Lindores;  if  the  bailies  cease  or  refuse  to  pay  these  sums,  her 
heirs  are  to  resume  possession  of  the  property.  On  15th  January 
1522-3,  Alison  Tod  resigns  a  rood  of  land  'in  favour  of  the  blessed 
virgin  St  Katrine  and  her  church  for  the  weal  of  her  own  soul  and 
the  souls  of  her  forbears.'  On  the  10th  February  1522-3,  James 
Tode  conveys  a  rood  of  land  '  to  God  and  all  the  saints,  the  blessed 
virgin  Mary,  and  especially  the  church  of  the  blessed  virgin 
Katrine  within  the  town  of  Newburgh  near  Londoris,  for  the  wel- 
fare of  his  own  soul  and  the  souls  of  his  father  and  mother,'  under 
burden  of  a  payment  of  five  shillings  yearly  by  the  abbot  and 
convent  of  Londoris  to  the  altar  of  St  Ninian  in  the  church  of 
Ebde.'  St  Ninian,  to  whom  the  altar  was  dedicated,  has  been 
already  referred  to  as  the  apostle  of  the  Southern  Picts ;  portions 
of  the  walls  of  his  church  of  Candida  Casa,  built  in  the  fourth 
century,  near  Whithorn  in  Galloway,  are,  on  not  very  satisfactory 
evidence,  conjectured  by  some  still  to  be  seen. 


196  st  Katharine's  chapel. 

In  a  Sasine,  dated  the  IStli  June  1520,  the  interesting  fact  is 
recorded  that  there  was  a  school  in  Newburgh  at  that  period. 
The  narrative  sets  forth  that  the  formalities  of  infeftment  were 
gone  through,  besides  other  witnesses,  'before  all  the  scholars  of 
the  school.'  In  every  monastery  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
one  or  more  of  the  monks  were  set  apart  to  teach  the  young,1  and 
it  is  not  likely  that  Lindores  was  an  exception;  but  the  notice  in 
the  Sasine  is  the  earliest  mention  of  an  educational  institution  in 
Newburgh. 

The  latest  document  preserved  in  the  charter  chest  of  New- 
burgh preceding  the  Reformation,  is  a  charter  dated  20th  June 
1542  ;  it  is  remarkable  for  the  firm  trust  in  the  old  faith  which  it 
displays,  at  the  very  time  when  that  faith  was  being  so  vehemently 
attacked.  By  this  charter  Michael  Tod,  one  of  the  burgesses  of 
Xewburgh,  conveys  two  roods  of  land  to  the  bailies  and  burgesses 
'  patrons  of  the  chaplaincy  of  St  Katrine,  founded  by  their  pre- 
decessors within  the  new  church  of  the  burgh,  and  to  Sir  John 
Richartson  alias  Cuk,  chaplain,  and  his  successors  for  money  dis- 
pensed to  him  in  his  urgent  necessity,  by  the  bailies  and  chaplain, 
for  the  augmentation  of  the  stipend  of  the  chaplaincy,  and  for 
prayers  in  behalf  of  the  souls  of  the  founders  of  the  monastery  of 
Lundoris,  superiors  of  the  burgh  of  Xewburgh,  and  for  the  souls 
of  the  venerable  father  John,  the  present  abbot,  and  his  successors 
in  the  monastery,  and  for  the  souls  of  his  own  father  and  mother, 
of  his  ancestors  and  descendants,  and  for  the  souls  of  all  the  faith- 
ful defunct  for  ever.'  This  deed  was  executed  at  Newburgh  in 
presence  of  '  the  honourable  and  venerable  masters  Robert  Lowson 
and  John  Philp,  Sir  Alexander  Richartson,  and  James  Philp.  It 
is  not  without  significance  that  this,  the  latest  deed  preceding  the 
Reformation,  preserved  in  the  collection,  displays  so  great  anxiety 
for  the  continuance  of  prayers  for  the  dead,  at  the  very  time  that 
their  efficacy  was  being  so  keenly  canvassed.  The  very  compre- 
hensiveness of  its  injunctions,  embracing  so  much  within  its  scope, 

1  M  Vol.  V.,  Append,  to  Pref.,  p.  72.  Joseph  Robertson. 


ST  KATHARINE'S  CHAPEL.  197 

and  at  the  same  time  being  so  specific  in  its  directions,  show  that 
a  sense  of  insecurity  was  aroused  by  the  attacks  which  within  a 
brief  period  triumphed  in  the  Reformation.  The  last  document 
bearing  on  the  internal  history  of  Newburgh  in  connection  with 
Lindores  Abbey,  is  an  obligation  by  Patrick,  commendator  of  Lin- 
dores,  conveying  the  customs  of  the  burgh  (which  belonged  to  him 
as  successor  to  the  abbacy)  to  the  bailies  and  community  of  New- 
burgh, because  they  had  at  his  desire  consented  to  the  resignation 
of  the  burgh  in  favour  of  Patrick  Leslie  his  eldest  son.  This 
document,  which  is  preserved  among  the  archives  of  Newburgh,  is 
signed  by  the  commendator,  and  it  completes  the  entire  severance 
of  the  burgh  from  the  dominion  of  the  abbey. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    DISCIPLINE. 

'  Meet  is  it  changes  should  control 
Our  being,  lest  we  rust  in  ease. 
We  all  are  changed  by  still  degrees, 
All  but  the  basis  of  the  soul.' 

Tennyson. 

The  ecclesiastical  records  of  the  parish  of  Newlmrgh,  which  have 
been  preserved  from  the  year  1652  downwards,  furnish  vivid 
pictures  of  the  social  life  of  our  forefathers ;  the  value  of  which 
are  enhanced  by  the  circumstance  that  Ecclesiastical  Courts  at 
that  period  took  cognizance  of  offences  which  are  now  entirely 
beyond  then  sphere.  Unfortunately  the  volume  containing  the 
proceedings  of  the  kirk  session  from  the  erection  of  the  parish 
in  1622  to  the  year  1652,  extending  to  upwards  of  six  hundred 
pages,  has  disappeared. 

What  now  constitutes  the  parish  of  Newburgh,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Mugdrum,  Pitcairly,  and  Easter  Lumbenny,  which  belonged 
to  Abernethy,  originally  formed  part  of  the  parish  of  Abdie.  Pre- 
vious to  its  disjunction  from  Abdie,  a  visitation  of  the  parish  was 
held  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cupar,  the  following  record  of  which 
has  been  preserved  in  the  Books  of  the  Synod  of  Fife. 

'The  visitation  of  the  Kirk  of  Ebdie  holden  at  Newburgh  2 

September  1611.' 
'  Eftcr  invocation  of  Godis  holy  name  and  doctrine,'  '  Mr  Jhone 

Caldcleuch,  minister,  is  found  to  teach  hi  the  kirk  of  Ebdie 

anes  upon  the  sabboth  in  winter  and  twys  in    summer. 

He  is  appointed  to  tak  to  him  an   ordinar  text,  and  or- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  100 

dained  that  ilk  saboth  after-noou  ane  portion  of  the  people 
sal  be  catechised  either  in  the  kirk  of  Ebdie  or  Newburgh 
as  the  sessione  sail  find  meitt,  and  as  the  people  may 
most  commodiously  resort ;  and  for  this  effect  thei  ar  orde- 
nit  to  devyd  the  parochyne  in  convenient  portions.  The 
minister  removed'  [out  of  the  court  while  his  conduct  was 
being  judged],  '  wes  allowed  in  doctrine,  but  it  was  re- 
graitted  that  he  did  not  kyth  himself  forward  and  zealous 
in  censuring  and  punishing  offenders,  quhilk  being  for 
want  of  ane  commission,  they  are  ordained  with  all  dili- 
gence to  purchase  ane  commissioune  to  the  minister,  the 
guidmen  of  Denmuir,  Woodmlyne  and  Denmylne,  the 
bailyies  of  Newburgh  and  James  Leslie.' 

The  commission  to  be  purchased  appears  to  have  been  a  dele- 
gation by  the  Court  of  High  Commission,  erected  in  each  of  the 
provinces  of  the  church,  granting  authority  to  call  before  them  all 
persons  accused  of  scandalous  offences  in  life  and  religion,  and  with 
power  to  enforce  their  sentences  by  fine  and  imprisonment.  The 
powers  usurped  by  these  courts  were  both  arbitrary  and  illegal, 
never  having  received  the  sanction  of  Parliament,  and  were  often 
made  instruments  of  oppression.1  The  territorial  distinction  of 
1  Guidmen,'  applied  to  such  as  held  their  lands  of  a  subject,  though 
they  were  large,  and  their  superior  very  noble,  only  those  who 
held  their  lands  of  the  prince  were  called  lairds.2 

'Saboth.— The  Sabboth  day  keiped  be  gifting  the  Satterday 
to  the  tenantis,  except  in  my  Lord  of  Rothes  his  boundis, 
quhilk  James  Leslie,  oversier  of  my  Lordis  turnes  in  theis 
boundis  promised  to  sie  amendit.' 

'  It  appears  to  have  been  the  custom  of  farm  labourers  under 


1  Grub's  Ecclesiastical  History,  Vol.  II.,  p.  291. 
-  Sir  George  Mackenzie's  Works,  Vol.  II.,  p.  583. 


200  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

the  designation  of  cottars,  or  tenants,  to  receive  from  the  proprie- 
tor or  tacksman,  a  portion  of  ground  in  lieu  of  wages,  which  they 
cultivated  for  their  own  use.  As  their  time  was  devoted  to  their 
master  during  the  week,  Sunday  was  the  only  day  they  had  for 
labouring  their  own  land.  The  ordinance  of  the  Synod  was  to 
prevent  the  breach  of  the  Sabbath,  by  obtaining  for  them  a  week 
day  (Saturday)  for  that  purpose.'  This  was  a  praiseworthy  effort. 
Previous  to  the  Reformation,  Saturday  afternoon,  and  the  eve  of 
every  festival,  were  observed  as  a  holiday,  on  which  no  work  was 
done.  The  Craft  Gilds  in  England  had  regulations  enjoining  this. 
The  following  rule  of  the  Fullers  of  London,  1297,  is  one  instance 
out  of  many  of  the  same  kind,  '  None  of  them  [the  brethren]  shall 
work  after  dinner  on  Saturdays,  nor  on  any  days  which  they 
ought  to  keep  as  festivals  according  to  the  law  of  the  church.' x 
The  forbidding  of  work  on  Saturday  afternoon,  and  the  eve  of 
festivals,  was  common  to  all  countries,  and  had  its  origin  in  a 
custom  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  to  solemnize  the  eve  of 
festivals  and  Sundays  by  religious  services.  This  boon  of  leisure 
to  attend  to  domestic  and  other  duties  was  lost  at  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  it  is  only  within  the  last  ten  years  that  workmen  have 
regained  their  lost  holiday.2  The  records  of  the  visitation  con- 
tinues as  follows  : — 

'  Xa  non-communicants.  Alexander  Philp  excommunicat  for 
the  slaughter  of     .     .  Durie.' 

'Na  disabedientis  to  discipline.  Na  Papistes,  or  resettaris  {i.e. 
of  papists.)' 

'  The  Kirk  of  Ebdie  is  reported  to  be  in  good  caice.  It  was 
regraitted  that  the  towne  of  Newburgh,  containing  four 
hundredth  communicantis,  or  thairby,  is  so  far  distant  from 
thair  paroche  kirk,  that  they  can  not,  without  gryt  difficultie 
resort  thairto,  and  in  winter  it  is  altogether  impossible. 
Mairover  the  inhabitantis  declared  themselvas  willing  to 

1  Eitylith  Gilds,  p.  180.  2  7//.,  p.  cxxxi. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  201 

bestow  and  contribute  for  the  sustentation  of  ane  minister 
according  to  tliair  power.  The  work  wes  thocht  verie 
guid,  if  thair  may  be  ane  settled  ministrie  at  then-  awin 
Kirk  within  the  town  of  Newburgh.  But  in  respect  of 
my  Lord  Lundores  his  minoritie,  seeing  no  present  deal- 
ing may  be  had  it  is  continowed  to  be  alwayes  remem- 
britt  when  ocasion  sal  be  offred.' 

'  Scole.  It  is  found  that  thai  have  ane  commoune  Scole 
taught  by  Mr  James  Leslie,  scolmaister,  who  past  his 
cours  of  philosophic  in  St  Salvatouris  Colleg  in  St  Androis. 
Being  removed  was  allowed.  His  stipend  is  paid  as  fol- 
lowis,  viz.,  be  the  toune  of  Newburgh  xL  libis,  be  the 
minister  xx.  merkis,  by  my  Lord  of  Lundoris  xx.  merkis. 
It  is  ordanit  that  ilk  pleuch  of  the  pariochine  sail  pay 
xiiis.  iiijd.  yeirlie  to  the  scolmaister  according  to  commoune 
ordour,  quhilk  the  gentilmen  and  parochinaris  present  pro- 
mised thankfullie  to  do  their  awin  pairtis,  and  likewayes 
the  bailzies  of  Newburgh  thankfull  payment  alsweill  of  by- 
gannis  as  in  all  time  cuming.1 

Kirk-dykes.  '  Item  they  ar  ordained  to  big  thair  kirk  dykes 
according  to  the  Act  of  Parliament,' 

In  the  reign  of  James  VI.  it  was  enacted,  that  the  Parochinaris 
repair  the  kirk  yard  dykes  with  stone  and  mortar,  to  the  height 
of  two  ells,  with  sufficient  stiles  and  entries.' 1 

'  Mylnes.  Item  the  minister  is  ordained  ilk  Saboth  to  tak 
exact  tryall  if  any  milnes  gang  thairon,  and  to  convein 
the  transgressouris  befoir  thair  commissionaris,  and  to 
convict  them  in  20s.  penaltie.' 

'  Provisioune.  The  minister  possesses  mans  and  gleib  and  is 
resident  thairupon.  And  hes  for  provisioune  10  bolles 
2  firlottis  quheit,  24  bollis  beir,  15  bollis  2  firlottis  meill 


1  Parliament  21,  cap.  1. 


202  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

and  38  merkis  money,  and  that  out  of  the  thrids  of  Lim- 

doris,  the  vicarage  being  erected.' 
'  Register.     The  minister  is  censured  and  rebuiked  because 

he  has  nocht  ane  register  of  the  defunctis,  and  ordained 

to  have  ane  with  all  formalities.' 
'  Byble.     They  are  ordained  to  buy  ane  common  byble.    Item 

to  gather  almes  for  the  poor  in  the  tyme  that  they  sing  the 

psalme.' ] 

In  consequence  of  the  distance  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newburgh 
from  then  then  parish  church  of  Abdie,  and  the  impassable  state 
of  the  roads  thither  in  winter,  the  proposition  which  was  made  in 
1611  to  erect  the  town  of  Newburgh  into  a  separate  parish  was 
carried  out  eleven  years  afterwards,  and  the  old  chapel  of  the 
town  was  made  the  parish  church.  The  following  is  the  deliver- 
ance of  the  Synod  on  the  occasion  : — 

'  Synod  Holden  at  S*.  Androis,  1st  October  1622.  Plantation 
of  Ebdie  and  Newburgh,  in  the  presence  of  Mrs  Andrew 
Murray  and  James  Leslie. 

'  The  day  foirsaid,  anent  the  supplication  proposed  by  the 
inhabitants  the  brugh  of  Newbrughe.  That  quhairas 
they,  and  the  remanent  persons  of  the  paroche  of  Ebdie, 
with  the  speciell  advyce  consent  and  assent  of  the  patrons 
having  power  of  the  presentation  of  ane  minister  to  the 
said  kirk  of  Ebdie,  efter  the  departure  of  umquhill  Mr 
Jhone  Caldcleuch  last  minister  to  the  said  kirk,  for  sundrie 
grave  and  wechtie  considerations  moving  them  thairunto, 
specified  at  lenth  in  thare  foirsaid  supplication,  have  with 
ane  comoun  and  uniforme  consent  thoucht  meet  and  ex- 
pedient for  the  speciell  wiell,  profite  and  commoditie,  both 
of  the  saids  inhabitants  the  said  brugh  of  Newburghe,  and 
parochiners   of  the   said   kirk   of  Ebdie,  that  the   saids 

1  Si  Ice  l  ions  from  the  Minutes  of  (he  Synod  of  Fife,  p.  31. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  203 

parochins  heirafter  sal  be  devydit  and  separat  in  maner 

following,  viz.,  That  the  place  of  Lundors  and  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  said  brugh  of  Newburgh  sal  be  designed 
and   apoynted  to  resort  ordinarlie  to  the  kirk  alreadie 
bnildit  within  the  said  brugh,  and  the  remanent  persons  of 
the  paroche  of  Ebdie  for  ordinar  hearing  of  God's  word 
preached,  and  participation  of  the  sacrament  theirin.    ^  And 
for  that  effect,  twa  sufficient  ministers  sal  be  provydit  for 
serving  the  cuir  at  the  saids  twa  kirks  severalie  in  al  tym 
dimming,  upon  such  reasonable  and  competent  conditions 
as  efferis, — and  thairfoir  did  crave  that  my  Lord  Arch- 
bishop and  his  present  synod  suld  give  and  declair  their 
approbation,  and  consent  to  the  division  and  separation 
of  the  saids  twa  kirks  in  maner  foirsaid,  and  to  the  admis- 
sion of  Mr  Andrew  Murray  to  be  actual  minister  of  the  said 
paroche  kirk  of  Ebdie,  and  Mr  James  Leslie  to  be  actual 
minister  of  the  said  kirk  within  the  said  burgh  of  New- 
brughe,    conform  to  both  their  presentations  grantit  to 
them  theiranent.     Quhairupon   the   Archbishop    and  the 
present  Assemblie  having  dewlie  ponderit  and  considerit 
the  expediencie  and  necessitie  of  the  said  division  and 
separation;    as  also,  the  people  and  commoditie  quhilk 
may  redound   theirby  to   the   haill  parochiners  of  both 
parochis   respective,   did   ratine,   approve  and  allowe  the 
said  separation  in  all  poynts.     And  my  Lord  Archbishop 
having  receaved  sufficient  testimonie  of  the  sufficiencie 
and  qualification  of  the  saids  Mrs  Andrew  Murray  and 
James  Leslie  for  the  work  of  the  holy  ministrie,  did  pro- 
ceid  to  their  admission  to  the  cuir   at  the  kirks  above 
designed,  and  gave  unto  them  the  imposition  of  hands 
according  to  the  ordour.'1 

This  arrangement  was  ratified   by  Parliament    on  the  28th 


1  Selections  from  tin  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  p.  97. 


204  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

June  1633.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Act  passed  on  this 
occasion:  — 

'  Our  Soverane  Lord  and  time  estates  of  this  present  Parlia- 
ment hes  ratifiet  and  approvine.  And  be  the  tenner  heirof 
ratifies  and  approues  the  separatioune  and  disunion  of  the 
kirkes  of  Ebdie  and  Newburgh  within  the  Shirefdorne  of 
ffyfe  maid  be  speciall  consent  of  the  patrone  gentlemen 
of  the  parochines  heretors.  And  all  vther  pairties  haveand 
enteris  for  the  tyme  possest  be  tua  ministers,  Ratifiet  be 
act  of  Synodall  assemblie.  And  Act  of  the  Lords  Commis- 
sioners for  the  surranders  and  teinds  alredie.  And  als  the 
maintenance  and  provisione  of  the  kirk  and  parochine  of 
Newburgh  convenit  aggreit  vpon  alreadie  or  to  be  mo- 
difiet  heireftir.  And  ordaines  the  samyne  kirk  of  New- 
burgh and  parochine  thairof  To  be  ane  severall  kirk  and 
parochin  be  itself  In  all  tyme  coming  seperat  from  the 
said  kirk  of  Ebdie.'1 

Mr  Andrew  Murray,  mentioned  in  the  deliverance  of  the  Synod 
of  St  Andrews,  was  minister  of  Abdie.  He  received  the  honour  of 
knighthood  at  the  coronation  of  Charles  I.  on  the  18th  of  June 
1633;  and  subsequently,  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  the  Lord  Chief 
Commissioner,  '  having  reported  that  Sir  Andrew  had  been  service- 
able in  allaying  the  heats  and  differences  of  the  Assembly  of  1638,'2 
the  king  raised  him  to  the  peerage  by  the  title  of  Lord  Balvaird. 
Balvaird,  from  which  Sir  Andrew  took  his  title,  formed  part  of  the 
barony  of  Arngask,  his  ancestral  property ;  and  ^t  still  belongs  to 
his  descendant,  the  Earl  of  Mansfield.  The  old  castle  of  Balvaird 
is  situated  in  an  opening  among  the  hills  on  the  east  side  of  Glen- 
farg ;  it  is  unique  in  having  a  court  and  offices  still  extant  around 
it,  and  is  worthy  of  care  and  preservation.     Lord  Balvaird  died 


1  Selections  from  tin  Minutes  qftfa  Synod  of  Fife,  pp.  102-3. 

2  Scott's  Fasti  Eccles  Scot.,  Vol.  II.,  p.  2. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  205 

at  the  early  age  of  forty-seven,  He  was  succeeded  as  minister  of 
Abdie  by  Mr  Alexander  Balfour,  son  of  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of 
Denmiln. 

Mr  James  Leslie,  also  mentioned  in  the  deliverance  of  the 
Synod,  was  the  first  minister  of  the  newly-erected  parish  of  New- 
burgh.  He  was  schoolmaster  of  Newburgh  from  the  2d  September 
1611  until  his  ordination  as  minister  on  the  1st  October  1622. 

After  the  disjunction  of  Newburgh  from  the  parish  of  Abdie, 
the  following  extract  shows  that  the  community  of  Newburgh 
had  brought  themselves  under  spiritual  censure,  which,  in  these 
days,  involved  serious  civil  consequences. 

'  1647,  March  11,  Quheras  it  is  reported  by  Mr  Lawrence 
Olyphant,  minister  at  Newburgh  that  most  pairt  of  the 
elders  and  inhabitants  of  the  paroche  of  Newburgh  had 
conversed  with  Andrew  Andersone  who  was  excommuni- 
cate three  yeir  since  in  the  said  paroche,  the  Presbyterie 
being  deeply  affected  with  the  said  miscarriage,  and  con- 
sidering how  much  of  that  kynd  abounds  in  the  land 
whiles  so  many  are  excommunicate  doe  refer  the  matter 
to  the  consideration  of  the  Provinciall  Assemblye,  that  a 
solide  course  may  be  taken,  both  for  punishing  this  so 
haynous  ane  offence,  and  for  preventing  the  lyk  in  tym 
comeing,  and  discharge  Mr  Lawrence  to  give  the  commu- 
nion whil  the  Provincial  be  past.'1 

The  following  is  the  deliverance  of  '  the  Provincial  Assembly 
on  the  subject  held  at  Dunfermline  on  the  6th  April  1647.' 

'  Purivch  of  Newhurgh.  Anent  a  reference  to  the  Presbyt*  rie 
of  Couper.  "What  shal  be  the  censure  of  the  most  part  of 
the  paroche  of  Newbrough  for  conversing  with  Andro 
Anderson,  ane    excommunicato  persone?     The  Asscniblir 

ctionsfrom  tin  Minutes  of (!<>  Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,p.  1"'.' 


206  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

ordains  that  they  be  cited  before  the  Presbyterie,  that  thei 
may  receive  thair  sentence  viz*.,  that  the  severall  elders 
known  to  have  conversed  with  the  said  excommunicated 
persone,  shall  make  their  public  repentance  in  the  face  of 
the  Congregatione,  upon  a  Lord's  day.  Lykwayes  the 
Assemblie  ordains  a  solemn  fast  and  humiliation  to  be  kept 
that  day,  that  the  rest  of  the  parochinaris  foirsaid  may 
mourne  for  so  great  ane  offence.'1 

In  obedience  to  the  injunction  of  the  Synod,  the  Presbytery 
met  at  Newburgh  on  the  13th  May  1647,  and  pronounced  the 
following  decision  : — 

At  Newburgh  loth  May  1647— Elders  of  Newburgh  their 
confessione  and  censure. 

'  The  quhilk  day  the  presbyterie  held  at  Newburgh  for  exe- 
cution of  the  ordinance  made  the  last  day  at  Cupar.  And 
after  sermon  made  be  Mr  John  Dime  and  incalling  on  the 
name  of  God,  Mr  James  Wedderburne,  Moderator,  for  the 
tyme,  asked  Mr  Lawrence  Olyphant  whether  or  not  he  had 
made  intimatione  of  the  appoyntment  of  the  Presbyterie 
made  the  last  day  ?  answered  he  had  done  the  same,  and 
gave  in  the  names  of  the  elders  who  eate  and  drank  with 
Andrew  Andersone  excommunicate  viz.  David  Wentone, 
John  Laying,  Thomas  Andersone,  Patrick  Birrell ;  Johne 
Low,  Mr  David  Fairfull,  and  Patrick  Ramsay,  and  Andrew 
Andersone  his  father,  who  prayed  with  his  sone  excom- 
municate. The  foirsaid  persones  being  particularlie  in- 
terrogate be  the  Moderator  declaired,  they  drank  with 
him.  As  also  the  said  Mr  Lawrence  gave  in  the  names  of 
thes  who  confessed  they  did  take  him  by  the  hand,  but  did 
not  drink  with  him  viz.  John  Philp ;  Patrick  Beatt,  John 
Birrell.     The  Moderator  shewing  to  the  saids  Elders  the 


i  Selections  from  tic  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  p.  151. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  207 

greatnes  of  ther  sine  with  the  foirsaid  excommunicate 
persone,  appoynted  Mr  Lawrence  Olyphant  to  intimate 
out  of  pulpit  next  Sabboth,  a  day  of  humiliatione  to  be 
keepit  on  Sunday  come  audit  dayes  therafter,  be  the 
whole  parish  of  Newburgh,  that  all  and  everie  one  of  them 
may  be  humbled  for  so  great  a  sine.  And  in  particular 
the  foirsaid  elders  ar  appoynted  to  sit  befor  the  said 
pulpit  the  said  day,  and  everie  one  of  them  particularie  to 
acknowledge  thir  syne  in  conversing  -with  the  foirsaid 
excommunicate  persone,  and  Andrew  Andersone  for  pray- 
ing with  him.  And  therafter  the  said  Lawrence  is  ap- 
poynted to  receive  them.  All  which  is  done  according  to 
Act  of  Synod  made  thereanent.'1 

'June  24,  Mr  Lawrence  Olyphant  declaired  that  Andro 
Anderson,  elder,  had  satisfied  the  kirk  according  to  the 
ordinance  of  the  presbyterie,  for  praying  with  his  sone 
excommunicate.' 

None  of  the  foregoing  extracts  specify  the  offence  of  which  the 
unhappy  person,  who  was  the  cause  of  all  this  trouble,  was  guilty, 
but  whatever  it  was,  the  proceedings  show  the  iron  rule  under 
which  the  people  were  held  in  those  days  by  then  ecclesiastical 
superiors.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  ministers  of  the  gospel 
of  '  Peace  and  goodwill,'  could  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  a 
father  should  not  pray  with  a  wayward  and  erring  son,  or  how  the 
people  could  stifle  then  natural  affections,  and  submit  to  such  a 
tyrannous  sentence ;  but  there  is  too  much  reason  to  believe  that 
the  people  were  at  one  with  their  ecclesiastical  rulers,  and  that  the 
spirit  which  dictated  the  decision  was  the  same  as  that  which 
lighted  the  fires  of  the  Inquisition  in  a  preceding  age. 

That  the  clergy,  however,  had  a  hard  task  in  reforming  the 
manners  of  the  people,  is  evident  from  the  records  of  presbyteries 

1  &  lection  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  p.  112.  '  lb.,  p.  116. 


208  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

and  kirk  sessions,  which  teem  with  details  of  licentiousness  and 
abuse.  The  following  in  regard  to  the  violation  of  the  Lord's  day 
cannot  fail  to  strike  with  surprise  readers  who  are  accustomed  to 
believe  in  the  strictness  of  our  forefathers  in  holy  things,  and  who 
are  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  quietness  of  a  country  Sabbath. 

'9th  April  1641.  Hyring  of  shearers  on  the  Sabbath.' 
'Anent  the  fearfull  and  inordinat  abuse  of  the  Sabbath 
day  at  Cupar,  and  divers  other  partis  by  mercatis  of  men 
and  women  offering  themselves  to  be  hyred  for  the  harvest 
everie  yeir,  with  such  obstinate  boldness  that  it  cannot  be 
restrained,  recommended  to  this  synod  by  the  ministeris 
and  magistratis  of  this  burgh.  It  was  thoght  meit  by  the 
whole  synod,  that  it  should  be  earnestlie  represented  to 
Parliament  for  the  civill  restraint.' 

'August  6,  1(349,  this  day  we  received  a  letter  from  the 
Presbyterie  of  Perth,  desyring  our  concurrence  for  taking 
away  the  scandalous  and  sinful  tying  of  shearers  on  the 
Sabboth  day  at  Abernethy.  The  Presbyterie  ordeines  the 
same  to  be  discharged  publickly  out  of  pulpit,  and  that 
ther  be  no  tying  of  shearers  upon  the  Lords'  day  at  Aber- 
nethy, nor  Couper,  nor  any  wher  else  within  our  bounds.' 

There  are,  however,  frequent  records  of  a  more  pleasing  cha- 
racter. The  following  is  a  notice  of  a  contribution  by  the  churches 
in  the  presbytery  of  Cupar  for  the  people  of  Argyle,  who  seem 
to  have  come  under  some  heavy  calamity,  and  is  one  of  those 
many  benevolent  acts  to  which  the  church  was  so  often  minis- 
trant.  The  minister  of  Newburgh  had  been  entrusted  with  the 
transmission  of  the  fund  collected,  and  at  a  meeting  of  presbytery 
held  on  the  9th  March  1648,  he  presented  a  discharge  signed  by 
Sir  James  Stewart  as  follows  : — 

■  J.  James  Stewart,  merchant  of  Edinburgh,  graunts  me  to  have 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  209 

ressauit  from  Mr  Laurence  Olyphant,  minister  of  Newburgh,  in  the 
Presbyterie  of  Cuper,  the  soume  of  six  hnnclreth  four  scoir  and  four- 
tene  libs  as  the  collection  above  specifeit  for  the  distressed  people 
of  Argyle,  quherof  I  discharge  the  said  Mr  Laurence  in  name  of 
the  said  presbyterie,  by  wertue  of  ane  warrant  of  the  Generall 
Assembly  ordaineing  me  to  receave  the  severall  contributions. 
Witness  my  hand  at  Edinburgh,  the  19  of  Feb.  1648.  J.  Stewart.' x 
The  following  case  of  delinquency  is  from  the  same  record  : — 

'May  9  1650,  James  Duiy,  in  the  paroche  of  Newburgh, 
being  called,  compeirs,  and  was  declared  be  the  minister, 
to  have  been  out  of  the  Kirk  eight  sabaoths,  and  becauce 
he  would  no  ways  give  satisfaction,  by  submitting  to  the 
discipline  of  the  Kirk  he  is  recommended  to  the  civile 
Magistrate  to  be  put  in  firmance  till  he  fand  sufficient 
caution  to  give  satissfaction  to  the  order  of  the  kirk.' 

The  following  incident  connected  with  Cromwell's  invasion  is 
of  local  interest.  After  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  which  was  fought 
on  the  3d  September  1650,  andin  wrhich  Cromwell  was  so  completely 
victorious,  Charles  II.  quitted  Dumfermline,  and  assembled  a  Parlia- 
ment at  Perth,  which  sat  there  from  the  13th  to  31st  March  1652. 
The  king  endeavoured  to  retrieve  his  fallen  fortunes  by  raising 
troops  to  join  the  remains  of  General  Lesly's  army  near  Stirling, 
and  by  sending  forward  supplies.  The  following  order,  preserved 
in  Sir  James  Balfour's  Annals,  brings  before  us  a  commissariat 
very  different  from  the  requirements  of  modern  armies  : — 

'  1651,  Saterday  15  March.  His  Mati0  and  pari*  ordaines  the 
Com:  of  Wane  of  FyfFe  to  prowyde  horsse  for  can-inn g 
700  bolls  meal  from  Newbrughe  to  Stirling  with  all 
possible  diligence.' 2 

i  Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Si  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  119. 
-  Balfour's  Annals,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  264. 

O 


210  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

Cromwell  crossed  the  Forth  and  over-ran  Fife.  Charles  led 
his  troops  southward  to  be  defeated  at  Worcester,  only  to  return 
nearly  ten  years  afterwards.  General  Lesly  was  the  youngest 
son  of  Patrick,  first  Lord  Lindores,  well  known  as  one  of  the 
ablest  commanders  of  his  time. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  records  of  the  kirk  session 
of  Newburgh — 

'  This  act  apointed  by  the  Session  to  be  regte  the  Tennor 
qrof  follows ' — 

'  The  qlk  day  Patrick  Pecock  and  Thomas  Anderson, 
baillzies  sittand  in  judgement  w1  the  Counsel  and  neigh- 
bours frequentlie  convenit  inacts  statuts  and  ordanis  yt  no 
heretor  or  possessor  of  the  borrow  ruds  of  the  burgh  sail 
sett  any  house  to  strangers  incomers  to  the  burgh  unles 
they  be  tryed  be  honest  people  and  have  sufficient  testi- 
monialls  from  qure  they  cam  or  else  livd  w*  in  .  .  .  seven 
yeires  without  sclander,  under  the  penaltie  of  four  lib 
Scottis  to  be  payit  be  the  setter  of  the  house  and  fourtie 
shillings  be  taken,  or  tennant  of  the  house  TOTIES  QUOTIES 
wtout  leave  askit.'  Extract  by  me,  David  Fairful, 
Clerk.' 

'  1G52  March  21,  The  whilk  day  Mr  Laurence  Oliphant  payed 
to  the  Session  of  ye  Kirk  of  Newburgh  sextein  libs:  usual 
money  of  this  realm,  twa  yeiris  annual-rent  off  twa  hun- 
dred merkes  money  foirsaid  left  to  the  kirk  of  Newburgh 
be  umquhyll  Patrick  Philp  sumtime  burges.' 

'Apryle  11.  The  Minister  advertysed  the  people  for  thair 
better  information  in  the  knowledge  off  the  groundis  off 
the  Christian  religion  he  was  to  have  every  sabbath  after- 
noon catachetical  doctrine.' 

'April  25,  1G52.  The  Minister  intimated  anevoluntar  contri- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  211 

bution  to  be  collected  for  the  supplie  of  sojouris  officiaris 
and  gentillraen  imprisoned  in  Tinmontli  and  about  New- 
castle.' 

The  prisoners  for  whom  this  contribution  was  made  undoubtedly 
belonged  to  the  army  which  Charles  II.,  when  he  failed  to  dis- 
lodge Cromwell's  forces  from  Fife,  led  into  England,  and  was 
defeated  at  Worcester  in  September  preceding  the  date  of  collec- 
tion. Charles  himself,  it  will  be  remembered,  only  escaping  by 
concealment,  and  by  the  aid  of  faithful  adherents.1 

'  May  9.  The  Minister  declaired  from  the  pulpit  that  thair  was 
ane  ordinance  sett  down  be  the  session,  that  who  sail  be 
deprehended  taking  sneizing,  clatering,  making  tumult, 
trouble  or  din,  cuting,  carving  the  comimion  tables,  or 
playing  at  the  bowlls,  casting  bullets  or  trying  ony 
pastyme  upon  the  sabbath  day  shall  testyfie  than  repent- 
ance befoir  the  pulpit  in  presens  of  the  people,  and  pay 
ane  pecuniall  soum  according  to  the  determination  of  the 
session.' 

'1652,  June  20.  The  comunion  should  have  been  celebrated 
this  day  but  the  coming  to  the  towne  of  three  hundereth 
Inglishmen  hnpeded  both  people  and  pastor.  Communion 
God  willing  was  to  be  celebrated  next  Sabbath.' 

The  '  three  hundereth  Inglishmen'  were  part  of  the  forces  of 
Cromwell. 

'August  28  1652.  This  day  the  Presbyterie  againe  takeing 
to  ther  consideration  the  vyle  and  horrid  murther  com- 
mitted by  John  Heburne  of  Atheirstane,  in  killing  James 
Laing,  servant  to  the  Land  of  Rankilour  Makgill,  younger, 

"  Grub's  Ec.  Hist,  Vol.  III.,  p.  15G. 


212  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

as  is  confessed  by  the  said  Laird  of  Atlierstane  in  his 
letter  written  to  the  Presbyterie, — the  Presbyterie,  after 
due  and  grave  deliberation  anent  the  said  matter,  and 
considering  the  many  weighty  aggravating  circumstances 
of  that  murther,  doe,  for  the  atrocity  of  that  fact  ordane 
the  said  John  Heburne  of  Atlierstane  to  be  summarlie 
excommunicated  by  Mr  Alexander  Balfour  in  the  Kirk  of 
Ebdy,  in  the  quhilk  parish  the  said  murther  was  com- 
mitted, as  the  said  Laird  of  Atlierstane  was  travailing  by 
the  way,  upon  the  next  Lord's  day  being  the  31  of 
August.1 

'  1652  Sep.  5.  The  whilk  day  compeired  Sir  Robert  Crichtoun 
in  name  and  behalf  of  Ludovick  Leslie  of  Mugdrum  desyr- 
ing  the  Session  [of  Newburgh]  that  they  wuld  apoint 
some  seat  in  the  church,  or  desyne  some  pairt  in  the 
church  for  him  and  his  familie  to  sett  up  ane  seat  intill, 
since  the  lands  was  annexed  to  the  parochine  of  New- 
burgh and  had  no  seat  designed  for  that  familie  to  sitt  in. 
As  also  compeired  George  Orme  desyring  the  foresaid 
session  they  wald  declair  the  seat  belonging  to  the  lands 
he  had  boght,  to  be  appropriated  to  him  and  his  familie.' 

Ludovic  Leslie  was  fourth  son  of  Patrick,  first  Lord  Lindores. 
He  commanded  a  regiment  of  Scots  in  the  Swedish  army,  and 
served  with  great  distinction  under  the  famous  Gustavus  Adolphus. 
His  younger  and  more  celebrated  brother  David,  afterwards  Lord 
Newark,  was  an  officer  in  the  same  service.2  Shortly  after  his 
return  Colonel  Ludovick  Leslie  bought  the  '  Reid  Inch '  [Mugdrum 
Island]  from  William  Oliphant  of  Balgonie  (10  June  1647),  and 
afterwards  the  estate  of  Mugdrum  from  George  Orme,  whose 
family  had  possessed  Mugdrum  for  several   generations.      This 

1  Selections  from  tin  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  165. 
-  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  56-57. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  213 

latter  transaction  explains  why  both  of  them  made  application  for 
seats  in  the  church  at  the  sametime.  Colonel  Ludovick  Leslie 
was  Governor  of  Berwick  in  1648,  then  a  most  important  trust, 
and  was  alive  as  late  as  1663-4,  as  he  resold  the  Reid  Inch  and 
Mugdrum  to  William  Arnot,  brother  of  James  Arnot  of  Wood- 
milne,  in  the  beginning  of  that  year.1 

'  1653  Januar  9.  The  Session  taking  to  thair  consideration 
sundrie  women  of  this  parochine  orderlie  contracted  three 
several  Sabbaths  orderlie  proclaimed  within  the  kirk  of 
Newburgh  concerning  thair  promiss  of  marriage  w*  thair 
future  husbands.  The  saids  weomen  goeth  to  other  Kirks 
to  perfyt  and  accomplish  thair  promise  of  marriage, 
whairby  ye  poor  of  this  parochin  are  prejudged,  the  selleris 
of  aill,  bread,  flesh  and  other  victuals  are  damnified. 
Thairfor  ye  Session  with  ane  assent  and  voice  hes  ordained 
whosoever  off  that,  .  .  .  our  awen  minister  being- 
present  in  health  able  ane  willing  to  perfyt  thair  promise 
of  marriage  y*  they  shall  goe  to  ony  other  church  for  the 
effect  foirsaid  they  shall  pay  ten  merkes  usuall  money  of 
this  realme.' 

This  entry  speaks  volumes  for  the  marriage  festivities  at  that 
time,  and  shows  that  bridal  had  not  lost  its  original  signification 
of  bride-ale  in  those  days.  It  would  appear  that  before  proclama- 
tion of  marriage  was  made  in  the  church,  both  bride  and  bride- 
groom were  obliged  to  lodge  a  pledge  in  the  hands  of  the  session, 
which  was  redelivered  to  them  on  the  consummation  of  their 
marriage.  These  pledges  are  the  origin  of  the  term  wedding,  ap- 
1  died  to  a  marriage.  '  The  wedding  was  the  civil  contract,  deriv- 
ing its  name  from  the  weds,  pledges  or  securities  that  passed  be- 
tween  the  bridegroom  and  the  parents  or  guardians  of  the  bride. 
The  giving  away  represented  the  final  com],],  lion  of  the  marriage 


1  Mugdrum  <  TiarU  rs. 


214  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

after  tlie  necessary  arrangements  had  been  concluded  ;  and  upon 
this  occasion,  according  to  an  ancient  regulation,  a  priest  was  to 
be  present  in  order  to  sanctify  the  legal  union  by  his  blessing.'1 
The  following  entries  are  instances  of  this  custom  : — 

'  1653  Januar  16.     Robert  Sorroh  his  pledge  viz.  4  lib  rede- 
livered.' 
'  Alison  Maire  hir  gold  ring  redelivered.' 

The  next  entry  shows  not  only  an  open  disregard  of  the 
Lord's  day,  but  an  irreverence  for  the  dead  which  it  is  difficult  to 
conceive  in  a  people  who  clung  with  tenacity  to  the  desire  of 
being  buried  in  the  graves  of  their  ancestors. 

'  16  Januar  1653.  The  maister  maid  intimation  from  ye 
pulpit,  that  na  person  play  at  ye  football,  or  use  ony  gams 
or  pastyme  in  ye  kirkyard  upon  ye  Sabbath  day,  whilk 
give  they  doe  they  shal  be  conjured  be  ye  session.' 2 

'  1653  Januar  16,  Qlk  day  Sir  James  Balfour,  Kn1,  de- 
syred  the  Session  to  concur  with  him  to  ye  expulsion  of 
some  notorious  thieves  remaining  in  the  towne  of  New- 
burgh.'     On  the  6th  March  following,  the  session  agreed 


1  E.  W.  Robertson's  Historical  Essays,  p.  173. 

-  The  same  disregard  for  the  graves  and  memorials  of  the  dead,  coupled  with 
a  longing  for  being  buried  in  the  graves  of  their  forefathers  prevails  in  Ireland. 
In  1863  the  fimeral  procession  of  a  small  farmer  was  met  on  its  way  to  Clonmac- 
noise ;  it  had  come  upwards  of  twenty  miles,  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of 
neighbours,  yet  in  that  churchyard  were  to  be  seen  beautifully  sculptured  stones 
of  extreme  antiquity  ruthlessly  smashed,  destroyed,  it  was  said,  by  burying  parties 
to  make  room  for  a  grave.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in  the  west  of  Ireland,  in  the 
churchyard  of  Kilmacduagh,  the  graves  are  covered  with  small  stones,  although 
there  is  abundance  of  grassy  sod  at  hand.  This  is  apparently  a  relic  of  the  primi- 
tive custom  of  burying  under  a  cairn.  One  grave  was  so  covered  while  the  writer 
was  in  the  churchyard. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE.  215 

to  the  learned  knight's  request,  and  "  eoneludit"  y*  all  the 
honest  men  of  the  town  convein  together,'  on  the  following 
Wednesday  for  that  purpose. 

'  Feb.  27.  It  is  eoncluded  f  Patrick  Ramsay  put  out  Robert 
Gourlay  and  his  familie  from  his  toft  befoir  ye  sext  day  of 
March  next,  or  else  the  said  Patrick  Ramsay  be. put  off  ye 
Session  upon  ye  said  sext  day  of  March  1653.' 


Apryl  17,  given  to  Middletoun's  trumpeter 


6s. 


Middleton,  was  John,  first  Earl  of  that  name;  sprung  from  a 
family  owning  a  small  estate  in  Kincardineshire,  he  had  entered  life 
as  a  pikeman  in  Hepburn's  regiment  in  France,  but  soon  was  called 
to  take  a  part  in  the  civil  wars  in  his  own  country.     Serving  first 
the  English  Parliament  and  Scottish  Estates,  and  afterwards  prov- 
ing an  active  and  vigorous  partisan  of  the  king,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  Scottish  Peerage  after  the  Restoration  for  his  loyal  ser- 
vices.1   At  the  battle  of  Worcester  he  was  taken  captive,  severely 
wounded,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  in  a  condition  to  be  removed, 
was  imprisoned  in  the  Tower.     Cromwell  was  greatly  incensed 
against  him,  and  designed  to  have  him  tried  for  his  life,  but  he 
contrived  to  make  his  escape.     Middleton  afterwards  returned  to 
Scotland  to  receive  the  command  of  the  Royalist  army,  and  it  was 
when  he  held  that  appointment  that  the  kirk  session  of  Newburgh 
displayed  their  loyalty  and  their  generosity  to  his  trumpeter. 

L653,  August  3.  The  Qlk  day  ye  session  being  eonveined 
for  ye  reconciling  persons  at  variance  befoir  ye  giving  of 
the  communion/  Compeired  William  Blyth  younger  and 
Elspeth  Ballingall,  the  said  William  being  inquyred  if  he 
was   contenl    to  be  reconciled  with   Elspeth   Ballingall. 


I    CMmbers's  Domestic  Annuls,  Vol.  11.,  l'.  '501. 

Peerage  of  Scotland,  "Wood's  Ed.— Middleton. 


216  ECCLESIASTICAL  DISCIPLINE. 

answered  lie  was.  The  said  Elspeth  being  inqiiyred  if 
she  was  content  to  be  reconciled  with  William  Blyth,  she 
answered  not.  Qrupon  the  Session  did  resolve  to  admitt 
the  said  William  to  the  participation  of  the  sacrament  in 
respect  of  his  willingness  to  be  reconciled  with  the  said 
Elspeth,  and  to  dischairge  the  said  Elspeth  from  coming 
to  the  Lord's  Table  in  respect  of  her  refusing  to  be  recon- 
ciled. Which  being  intimat  to  the  foirsaid  persons,  Elspeth 
Blyth  replyed  these  wordis,  if  so  be  Wm  Blyth  go  tak  his 
comnnion,  '  The  niuckle  divell  stand  up  betwixt  him  and 
it.'  For  this  outrageous  speech  she  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  session,  where  boldly  justifying  her 
conduct,  she  was  cited  to  appear  before  the  Presbytery, 
and  again  and  again  before  the  Session,  till  on  the  29 
March  1654,  it  is  recorded  that  '  Elspeth  Ballingall  apeared 
befoir  ye  pulpit  and  gave  evidence  of  hir  repentance.' 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

WITCHCRAFT. 

'  Superstition  rears  her  baleful  form, 
And  o'er  the  landscape  casts  her  dismal  shade. 
Strong  men  shrink  with  fear,  and  quail, 
Frenzied  by  the  dread  of  powers  unseen  ; 
And  on  accusations  vague  as  their  own  fears, 
Doom,  to  torture  and  to  death, 
Victims  of  a  people's  blinded  rage.' 

Anon. 

'  Old  nature  here  (she  pointed  where  there  stood 
An  aged  lady  in  a  heavy  mood), 
Doth  break  her  staff,  denying  human  race 
To  come  of  her,  things  born  to  her  disgrace. 
The  dove,  the  dove,  the  swan  doth  love  the  swan. 
Nought  so  relentless  unto  man  as  man.' 

Drummond. 

The  belief  in  witchcraft,  or  the  supposed  possession  and  exereise 
of  superhuman  powers,  the  most  recent  writer  on  the  subject  says, 
'  is  part  and  parcel  of  savage  life.' l  It  is  universal  as  the  human 
race,  and  is  the  protest  of  humanity  against  mere  materialism. 
The  belief  in  the  exercise  of  invisible  power  filled  men  with  dread, 
and  this  dread  was  all  the  more  terrible  from  its  vagueness.  A 
man  under  the  influence  of  superstitious  fears,  saw  the  working  of 
unhallowed  power  at  every  occurrence  in  life  ;  at  a  birth,  at  death, 
at  home,  and  on  the  road,  and  more  especially  when  any  calamity 
happened.     Entertaining  not  the  slightest  doubt  of  the  possession 


1   E.  I>.  Taylor's  Primitm  ''"li'/re,  Vol.1.,  p.  125-6. 


218  WITCHCRAFT. 

of  supernatural  and  unhallowed  powers,  men  wreaked  their 
vengeance  on  those  who,  they  believed,  exercised  them.  This 
belief '  sat  like  a  night-mare  on  public  opinion  throughout  Europe 
from  the  13th  to  the  17th  centuries.'  Penal  statutes  were  passed 
in  consequence,  which  is  all  the  more  astonishing,  as  'laws  of 
Charlemagne  (A.D.  768-800)  are  actually  directed  against  such  as 
shall  put  men  or  women  to  death  on  a  charge  of  witchcraft ;  and 
in  the  11th  century  ecclesiastical  influence  discouraged  the  super- 
stitious belief  in  sorcery.  But  a  reaction  set  in,  '  mainly  due,'  it  is 
said,  by  those  who  have  investigated  the  subject  '  to  the  spirit  of 
religious  persecution  which  arose  in  the  Roman  Church  in  the  loth 
century,' x  and  it  continued,  as  the  popular  persecution  of  witches, 
both  in  England  and  in  Scotland  testify,  down  the  opening  years 
of  the  18th  century. 

In  Scotland  an  Act  was  passed  by  Parliament  four  years 
after  the  Reformation,  dooming  all  to  death  who  used  or  sought 
the  aid  of '  witchcraft,  sorceries  or  necromancie,'  the  Act  '  to  be  put 
in  execution  by  Sheriffs,  Stewarts  and  Baillies  with  all  rigour.' 2 
Under  this  Act  an  unrecorded  number  of  human  beings  were 
brought  to  trial  and  suffered  death  in  Scotland.  The  justiciary 
records,  and  those  of  the  kirk  sessions,  teem  with  trials  and 
examinations.  Were  the  accusations  contained  in  the  latter  all 
published,  they  would  exhibit  an  appalling  list  of  helpless  old 
women  living  in  constant  apprehension  of  death,  either  under  the 
forms  of  law,  or  by  a  violent  outbreak  of  popular  fury  ;  and  society, 
haunted  by  a  dread  of  unseen  powers,  which  modern  opinion  could 
only  faintly  realize.  The  following  judicial  declaration  before 
the  Presbytery  of  Cupar  is  one,  out  of  many  records,  that  show 
how  firmly  these  delusions  had  taken  possession  of  the  popular 
mind. 

'  llU9,  September  13.     Margaret  Boyd  declares  that  her  good- 

1  E.  B.  Taylor's  Primitive  Culture  under  the  Roman  Church,  Vol.  I.,  p.  l'2b-6. 

2  Mary,  Par.  9,  cap.  73. 


WITCHCRAFT.  219 

man  Robert  Brown,  wente  to  deathe  with  it,  that  Elspetk  Seith 
and  other  two  did  ryde  him  to  deathe  ;  which  he  declared  before 
the  ministers  wyfe,  Mr  James  Sibbald,  schoolmaster  and  David 
Stennous,  elder.'1 

Grizzel  Gairdner,  a  widow,  belonging  to  Newburgh,  was  one 
of  the  victims  of  the  terrible  delusion.  She  was  tried  before  the 
High  Court  of  Justiciary  in  Edinburgh,  for  '  laying  on  of  seikness 
upon  men,  women,  bairnis  and  bestiall.'  The  belief  at  that 
period  was  universal  that  witches  possessed  the  power  of  laying 
on,  or  transferring  sickness.  It  was  firmly  believed  that  '  they 
could  sicken  one  at  will,  and  could  restore  him  to  health ;  they 
could  hold  his  malady  in  suspense,  or  lay  it  dormant,  to  be 
excited  or  let  loose  as  occasion  should  require  ;  or  they  could 
transfer  it  immediately  from  one  animated  being  to  another.' 2  The 
record  of  Grizzel  Gardner's  trial  brings  out  very  strongly  these 
beliefs,  and  the  terrible  delusions  which  brought  so  many  innocent 
victims  to  a  cruel  and  untimely  end.  The  following  account  of 
her  trial  is  extracted  partly  from  Pitcairn's  Criminal  Trials,  and 
partly  from  the  original  records  : — 

lA.D.  1610,  Sep:  7.  The  quhilk  day  Grissell  Gairdner,  relict 
of  vmqle  Johnne  Baud  burges  of  Newburgh  being  enterit  vpone, 
pannell  dilaitit,  accuset  and  persewit  be  dittay  at  the  instance 
of  Mr  Robert  Foullis,  advocat,  substitute  to  Sir  Thomas  Hamil- 
toun  of  Bynnie,  knight  and  advocat  to  our  soverane  lord  for  his 
hienes  enteres,  and  at  the  instance  of  Alexander  Wentoun,  in 
Newburgh  for  himself  and  as  informer  to  our  soverane  lordis 
advocat  off  the  erymes  vnderwritten ;  in  the  first  for  onlaying  be 
witchcraft  and  Inchantment  of  ane  grevous  diseas  and  seiknes 
vpone  the  said  Alexr  Wentoun  ;  quhairin  he  lay  in  a  feirfull  madnes 
and  furie  the  space  of  ten  oulkis  togiddcr ;  and  in  end,  for  af-taking 

1  Selections  from  ih<  Minutes  of  th  Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  148. 
-  Dalyell's  Darker  Superstitions  of  Scotland,  p.  103. 


220  WITCHCRAFT. 

of  the  said  diseas  and  grevous  seiknes  af  him  be  certane  directiones 
gevin,  and  utheris  practizes  vset  be  hir  for  his  recoverie ;  coni- 
mittit  be  hir  in  the  moneth  of  febrnare  last  bypast.    Item  for  her 
devillisch  soreerie  and  witchcraft  practizet  be  hh-  In  laying  on  the 
lyk  feiriull  diseas  and  vnknawin  seiknes  npone  William  Andersone, 
wricht  in  Newburgh  for  certane  allegit  Iniureis  done  be  him  to 
Andro  baird  hh*  sone.     In  the  qnhilk  grevons    seiknes  he  con- 
fine wit  the  space  of  ten  day  is  togidder,  tormentit  in  maist  feirfnll 
maner;    and  af-taldng  of  the  same  seiknes  be  hh-  be  repeiting 
thryse    of  certane   woirdis,   qnhilk  scho    termet   prayeris.     And 
sicklyk  for  bewitching  of  ane  kow  perteining  to  the  said  "William, 
quhairthrow  the   haill  milk  that   scho  thairefter  gaif  was  bluid 
and  worsam ;  committed  be  hir  devilrie  and  inchantment  in  the 
monethe  of  May  last  by-past.     Item  for  the  bewitching,  be  her 
devillrie   and  Inchantment  of  James   Andersone   sone    to   Mar- 
garet Balfour  in  Newburcht,  in  onlaying  of'  ane  grevons  seiknes 
and   diseas  upon  him ;  quharof  in  ane   grit  ffurie   and    madnes, 
within  foure  dayis  eftir  onlaying  thairof,  he  decessit ;  and  thair- 
throw  for  airt  and  part  of  his  murthour  and  deid  committed  be  hir 
in  the  zeir  of  God  jm  vjc  and  fyve  years.     Item  for  ane  cowmone 
and  notorious  witche  and  abusear  of  the  people,  be  laying  on  of 
seiknes  upone  men,  wemen,  bairnes  and  bestiall,  and  be  geving  of 
drinkis  and  useing  of  uther  vngodlie  practizes  for  aftaking  of  the 
saidis  seiknessis  and  diseasis,  and  be  consulting  with  the  Devill 
and  seiking  of  responssis  fra  him  at  all  tymes  this  fourtene  or 
fyftcne  zeir  byane,  for  effectuating  of  hir  devillisch  Inventiones. 
Quhilk  being  red  to  hir  and  scho  judiciallie   accuset  tharupoun 
denyit  the  samyn  altogidder  to  be  of  veritie.     The  Justice  [Sir 
William  Heart]  tharfoir  referrit  the  samyn  crymes  to  the  knawlege 
of  the  persones  of  assyse  following.    William  Ramsay,  burges  of 
Newburgh,    chancellor;    Robert  Ballingall,    thair;  Robert  Allan, 
thair  ;   George  Henderson,  thair ;  James  Cuik,  thair  ;  John  Allan, 
thair ;  John  Lambhird,  thair  ;   John  Potter,  thair  ;  Andro  Ander- 
soun,    thair ;    William   Smyth,    thair ;    David    Baveradge,    thair ; 
Johne    Blithe,    thair:    Henrie  Pitcairne,    thair.;    Henrie   Tod,   in 


WITCHCRAFT.  221 

Burnesyde ;  David  Blithe  in   Ormestoun  and  William  Ballingall, 
portioner  of  Berriehill.' 

It  will  be  observed  that  contrary  to  the  modern  practice,  the 
assize  were  summoned  from  the  locality  to  which  the  accused 
belonged.  Mr  John  Russell,  her  advocate,  raised  objections  'to 
Stevin  Philp  because  he  was  sib '  to  the  pursuer ;  'to  Robert 
Allane  because  he  was  thridis  of  kin'  to  one  of  those  said  to  have 
been  injured  by  the  accused,  and  to  George  Henderson  '  because 
the  pannel  had  lettres  of  lauborrus  against  him.'  James  Durie  was 
repellit  be  the  Justice  because  he  admitted  '  that  he  buir  the 
pannell  na  guid  will.' 

'  The  advocat  desyres  for  forder  information  to  the  assyse  of 
the  pannellis  giltiness  of  the  haill  crymes  lybellit,  that  the  minis- 
teris  declaration  anent  hir  lyfe,  tred  and  conversatioun,  as  also 
David  Orme  bailzie  of  Newburghtis  ayth  and  declaratioun  of  that 
part  of  the  dittay  concerning  Andersones  wyfe  and  bairnis  be 
ressavit. 

'  Mr  Russell,  procurator  for  the  pannell,  objected  to  their  de- 
claratiouns  being  received,  "  except  thai  war  insert  as  perse  waris 
in  the  summondis."  And  the  pannell  protestit  that  the  declara- 
tioun to  be  maid  be  Mr  John  Cauldcleuche,  minister  in  this  matter 
quherupon  scho  is  dilaitit  be  nawayis  respectit,  or  advertit  vnto 
be  the  assyse.' 

'  Mr  John  Cauldcleuche,  minister,  being  sworn  maist  solenmlie 
be  the  Justice,  deponis  that  a  fourtene  zeir  syne  this  Grissell 
gairdncr  was  than  suspect  to  be  ane  wicket  woman  and  ano 
sorcerer,  and  be  the  depositiones  of  the  witches  execute  for 
sorcerie  and  witchcraft  at  Abernethie,  Falkland  and  Newburcht 
scho  was  reput  to  be  ane  manifest  witch ;  bot  becaus  ther  was 
na  precedent  fand  qualifeit  aganis  hir,  the  presbiterie  thairfoir 
delayit  hir  tryell  and  accusatioim.  And  as  concerning  hir  lyfe 
and  conversatioun  sen  syne  scho  lies  bene  suspectit  to  be  ane 
veme  cvill  woman ;  and  for  hir  privat  revenge  aganis  sic  as  scho 
buir  ony  malice  vnto,  lies  uset  devillisch  and  vngodlie  measirs  be 
sorcerie  and  incantatioun   to  lav  on   divers  erevons   disease  on 


222  WITCHCRAFT. 

thame  ;  and  speciallie  on  the  persones  set  domi  in  her  Indytement; 
quhair  throw  the  cuntrie  and  parochin  qnherin  scho  dwellis  hes 
bene  gritlie  sclanderit  in  sufFering  sic  ane  persone  vnpuneist,  fFor 
the  quhilk  caus  the  presbiterie  eftir  tiyell  of  the  former  offences 
done  be  hir  alsweill  to  the  persones  contenit  in  hir  dittay,  as 
vpon  dyuers  vtheris  that  ar  nocht  nominat  therin,  directit  the 
deponer  as  thair  moderatour  to  notifie  the  treuth  of  the  premissis 
to  the  counsell,  that  sum  ordour  mycht  be  tane  anent  hir  tryell 
and  punishment.' 

After  accusation  of  the  accused,  'of  new  agane  in  their  presenis,' 
the  jury  '  removet  altogidder  furth  of  Court  to  the  assyse  house 
quhar  thai  be  pluralitie  of  voitis  elected  and  choisit  the  said 
"William  Ramsay,  burges  of  Newburgh,  chancellor  of  the  said 
assyse.  Ressonit  and  votit  upone  the  haill  pointis  of  the  dittay 
above  specifeit.  And  being  ryplie  and  at  length  advisit  thairwith. 
Reenterit  agane  in  Court  quhair  thai  for  the  maist  part  be  the 
mouth  of  the  said  chancellor  in  presens  of  the  said  Justice  pro- 
nuncit  and  declairit  the  said  Grissell  to  be  fylet  culpable  and 
convictit  of  the  haill  crymes  above  mentionat;  fFor  the  quhilk 
caus  the  said  Justice  be  the  mouth  of  Alex1'  Kennydie,  dempster  of 
Court,  ffand  pronuncet  and  declairit  the  said  Grissell  to  be  fylet 
culpable  and  convictit,  and  decernit  and  ordanit  hir  to  be  tane  to 
the  castell  hill  of  Edinburgh,  and  thair  to  be  wirreit  at  ane  staik 
quhill  scho  be  deid,  and  thereftir  hir  body  to  be  brunt  in  ashes, 
and  all  hir  moveabill  guidis  and  geir  to  be  escheit  and  inbrocht  to 
our  souerane  lordis  use,  as  convict  of  the  saidis  crymes ;  quhilk 
was  pronunced  for  dome." 

The  following  extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Presbytery  of 
St  Andrews,  where  two  natural  marks  on  the  person  of  a  woman 
accused  of  witchcraft,  were  gravely  held  as  convincing  proof  of 
her  guilt,  is  a  glaring  instance  of  the  popular  delusion,  and  of  the 
superstitious  dread  under  which  the  wdiole  population  laboured. 

1  Pitcairn's  Criminal  Trials,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  95-98. 


WITCHCRAFT.  223 

'  1644  August  21.  Roch  not  to  be  enlarged  :  Compeired  befor 
the  Presbyterie,  James  Richiesone,  baillie  of  Pittenweenie  and 
James  Airth,  clerk  therof,  requyring  the  advyce  of  the  Presbyterie, 
anent  one  Christian  Roch  incarcerate  there  for  a  -witch  upon  thrie 
severall  dilations  of  thrie  confessing  witches,  quho  have  all  suffered; 
as  also,  a  fama  clamosa  for  the  space  of  twentie  yeirs,  and  since 
her  incarceration,  they  have  found,  by  the  search  of  the  hangman, 
two  markes ;  whether  or  not  they  might  enlarge  her  upon  the 
earnest  dealing  of  her  husband  quho  is  useing  all  means  for  ob- 
taineing  heirof.  The  Presbyterie,  having  taken  the  matter  to 
their  serious  consideration  thoght  the  foresaid  presumptions  so 
pregnant  that  they  could  not  bot  advyse  not  to  enlarge  her  till 
farther  tryale.'1 

In  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  kirk  session  of  New- 
burgh,  there  is  a  record  of  the  examination  of  a  woman,  named 
Katharine  Key,  on  a  charge  of  witchcraft,  and  '  for  cursing  the 
minister.'  An  imprecation  from  a  reputed  witch  at  that  period 
was  heard  with  dread,  and  wTas  believed  to  be  followed  by  certain 
fulfilment ;  Katharine  Key  was  therefore  brought  to  trial,  and  but 
for  a  concurrence  of  circumstances  favourable  to  her,  she  would 
have  suffered  the  same  or  a  worse  fate  than  Grissell  Gairdner,  for 
many  were  burnt  alive  under  the  same  accusation.  No  apology 
is  offered  for  the  length  to  which  the  account  of  these  trials  ex- 
tends, as  authentic  records  are  really  the  history  of  the  period. 

'  1653  Sep.  4.  Katharine  Key  appointed  to  be  summond 
against  Sunday  next  for  cursing  of  ye  minister  because  of  de- 
barring her  from  the  communion.' 

'Sep.  11,  Compeired  Katharine  Key  denyed  that  she  cursed 
the  minister,  but  that  she  cursed  '  these  who  wrere  cause  the 
minister  debarred  her,  nevertheles  it  was  declaired  by  several  y* 
hard  sitting  in  the  Session  y*  it  wes  the  minister  she  cursed  and  y* 

1  Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  22. 


224  WITCHCRAFT. 

openly  throughout  the  streitt,  and  upon  her  bair  knees.'  '  The 
whilk  also  ye  minister  gave  in  against  her  severall  pointis  y*  had 
come  to  his  hearing  which  he  desyred  might  be  put  to  try  el.' 

'  1.  That  being  refused  of  milk  from  Christian  Orme,  or  some 
other  in  David  Orme's  house,  the  kow  gave  nothing  but  bluid, 
and  being  sent  for  to  sie  the  kow,  she  clapped  the  kow  and  said 
the  kow  will  be  weil^and  theirafter  the  kow  became  weil. 

'  2.  That  John  Philp  having  ane  kow  new  calved,  that  ye  said 
Katharine  Key  came  in  and  tookfurthe  ane  peittfyre  and  yr  after 
the  kow  became  so  sick  that  none  expected  she  would  have  lived, 
and  the  said  Katharine  being  sent  for  to  sie  the  kow,  she  clapped 
the  kow,  and  said  the  kow  will  be  weill  enough  and  she  amendit.' 

'  3.  That  the  minister  and  his  wyfe  havemg  purpose  to  take  ane 
chyld  of  theiris  from  ye  sd  Katharine  which  she  had  in  nursing, 
the  chyld  wold  sucke  none  womans  breast,  being  only  ane  quarter 
old,  bot  being  brought  back  againe  to  the  said  Katharine  presently 
sucked  her  breast.' 

'  4.  That  theirafter  the  chyld  was  spayned  she  cam  to  see  the 
chyld  and  wold  have  the  bairn e  in  her  armes,  and  yrafter  the 
bairne  murned  and  gratt  hi  the  nyght  and  almost  the  daytyme, 
also  that  nothing  could  stay  her  untill  she  died,  nevertheles  befoir 
her  coming  to  sie  her,  and  her  embracing  of  her  took  as  weill  w* 
the  spaining  and  rested  as  weill  as  any  bairne  could  doe. 

'  5.  That  she  is  of  ane  evil  brutte  and  fame  and  so  wes  her 
mother  befoir  her. 

'  The  Session  summonds  Katharine  Key  personally  present  to 
compeir  against  Sunday  next  to  answer  to  the  afoirsaid  pointis, 
and  ordainis  the  beddell  to  summond  the  witnesses  against  afoirscl 
day.' 

The  charges  embodied  with  so  much  minuteness  hi  the  fore- 
going deliverance,  now  appear  so  trivial  and  childish,  that  they 
only  provoke  a  smile ;  but  at  the  time  they  were  recorded  they 
were  a  terrible  reality,  fraught  with  serious  consequences  to  the 
accused;  life  or  an  agonising  death  depending  on  the  issue.     The 


WITCHCRAFT.  225 

accusation  contained  in  the  fifth  charge  of  the  indictment,  that 
'  her  mother  befoir  her  was  of  evil  bruit  and  fame,'  was  of  moment- 
ous import ;  judge,  jury,  and  people  firmly  believing  that  occult 
powers  descended  by  blood  from  mother  to  child. 

'  Sept.  18,  Compeired  Katharine  Key  to  answer  to  the  pointis 
given  in  against  her,  as  also  the  witness  being  called  compeired 
Christian  Orme,  Katharine  Gaddes  for  the  proving  of  the  first 
point.' 

'  The  said  Katharine  wes  inquyred  if  she  had  ony  thing  to 
object  against  the  afoirsd  witnes,  who  answered  not.  The  witness 
were  sworn  to  declair  the  veritie.  Christian  Orme  depones,  that 
she  had  ane  kow  sick  and  y1  Katharine  Key  bad  her  gett  ane  hand- 
full  of  rough  bear  and  syth  it  to  her  and  y*  she  did  no  more.' 

'Katharine  Gaddes  depones  that  Christian  Orme  had  ane  sick 
kow  denyeth  the  rest.  The  rest  of  the  witness  being  called  com- 
peired not,  ordained  to  be  summond  against  Sep1"  25,  and  Katha- 
rine Key  ordained  to  be  present  against  the  said  day.' 

'  Sepr  25,  Compeired  Katharine  Key  and  Marg*  Philp  for  the 
proving  of  the  second  point,  the  said  Marg*  was  sworn  to  declair 
the  veritie.  Marg1  Philp  declairis  that  her  father  had  ane  sick  kow 
butdenyes  the  rest,  the  rest  of  ye  witness  compeired  not, — ordained 
to  be  summoned  against  Tuesday  next.' 

'  The  aforesaid  day  Katharine  Key  is  challenged  upon  these 
wordis  who  meitting  Patrick  Beitt,  younger  and  George  Millar 
upon  the  way  said,  '  their  goes  the  kirkmen,  the  divell  take  the 
pack  of  you ; '  being  enquyred  if  she  spak  such  speechis  denyed 
the  samyn.  Patrick  Beatt  and  George  Millar  ordained  to  be 
summond  for  the  proof  of  them  against  Sunday  next.' 

'  Oct1-  2,  Compeired  Katharine  Key,  being  inquyred  if  she  had 
any  thing  to  object  against  the  witness,  answered  not.  All  of  them 
being  sworne  depones  as  followis — David  Smyth  depones  that 
Christian  Orme  had  ane  sick  kow  but  denyes  the  rest.' 

'Agnes  Stirk  being  examined  anent  the  third  poynt,  depones 
that  the  bairne  did  suck  her  bot  would  not  suck  upon  ane  Sunday 
after  noone.' 


226  WITCHCRAFT. 

'  Katharine  M'Larane  being  examined  anent  the  third  poynt 
depones  y*  ye  bairne  would  suck  none  until  y*  she  was  had  to 
Kathrine  Key.' 

'  Christian  Freebairne  being  examined  depones  y*  she  hard  ye 
bairne  greitt  very  sore  often  tymes,  but  could  not  tell  the  reason 
of  it.' 

'  Kathrine  and  Margarett  Layngs  being  examined  declairis  as 
Christian  Freebairne  that  they  hard  the  bairn  greitt  sore  baith  day 
and  night  but  could  not  tell  the  reason  of  it.  Marg*  Peacock 
declaires  sicklyke.' 

Kathrine  M'Larane  examined  upon  the  4  points  declairis  that 
the  bairn  restett  weill  enough  befoir  Kathrine  Key  cam  to  see  her 
bot  gratt  ever  after  untill  her  dying  day.' 

'  Kathrine  Key  was  called  upon,  and  Patrick  Beatt  younger, 
and  George  Millar  to  witness  the  truth  of  the  wordis  spokin  be 
Kathrine  Key,  to  wit,  '  Their  goes  the  kirkmen  the  divell  take  the 
pack  of  you.'  Kathrine  Key  being  inquyred  if  she  had  any  thing 
to  object  against  the  afoirsaid  witnes,  answered  not, — they  being 
sworn  depones  asfollowis — Patrick  Beatt  being  examined,  depones 
he  hard  Kathrine  Key  speak  the  wordis  lybellit.  George  Millar 
being  examined  depones  he  hard  Kathrine  Key  speak  the  wordis 
lybellit.' 

'  The  session  taking  to  then-  consideration  the  afoirsaid  pro- 
cess, in  respect  Janet  Andersone  one  of  the  witness  wes  sick; 
Annas  Philp  anoyr  of  the  witness  was  resyding  in  Falkland ; 
Margarett  WmSone  was  in  Edinburgh,  found  that  the  afoirsd 
proces  wes  not  fully  tryed,  yrfoir  delayed  to  determine  yrin  untill 
it  wes  more  fully  tryed  be  the  witness  to  be  examined.  Kathrine 
Key  called  upon  and  was  shewed  her  be  the  minister  y*  her  pro- 
cess was  not  as  yett  fully  closed.  But  y*  advertisement  sould  be 
given  unto  her  q11  she  sould  compeir  againe  to  heir  sentence.' 

'  1654.  19  March.  The  qlk  day  ye  session  taking  to  considera- 
tioun  the  afoirsaid  process  of  Kathrine  Key  which  had  layn  so  long 
over  for  further  tryel  and  finding  y*  yr  was  no  further  lyt  to  be 
had  in  ye  afoirsd  particulars,  the  process  being  read  over  be  ye 


WITCHCRAFT.  227 

minister  as  it  is  now  extracted  the  whole  Elderis  in  ane  voyce 
declaired  y*  it  was  ye  very  process  as  it  was  led  on  against  Kath- 
rine  Key,  and  yrfoir  they  thought  good  jl  ye  afoirsd  sould  be 
referred  to  the  presb:  Lykas  in  one  voyce  they  did  refer  the  samyn 
to  be  judged  and  censured  according  as  they  found  her  fault 
deserve,  and  summond  Kathrine  Key  to  appear  befoir  ye  presb: 
to  be  holden  at  Cupar  ye  23  of  yis  instant.' 

'May  3,  1655,  Mr  David  Orme  reports,  that  he,  with  Mr 
Alexander  Balfour,  had  delt  with  Kathai'in  Key  and  found  her 
sensible  of  hir  guiltinesse  of  cursing  hir  minister.  The  minister  is 
appointed  to  intimat  to  the  parish  if  any  had  anything  concerning 
witchcraft  to  object,  that  they  come  to  the  sessioun,  and  give  it 
in  ;  and  if  nothing  be  found  of  that  kynd,  she  shall  declare  hir 
repentance  in  the  publict  place  of  repentance  for  cursing.' * 

'  3d  Junii  Kathrin  Key  compeired  befoir  ye  session  having  been 
befoir  the  presb:  the  minister  declaird  he  was  appointed  be  the 
presb:  to  intimatt  out  of  the  pulpitt  anent  Kathrin  Key  if  any 
person  had  any  thing  to  lay  to  her  charge  anent  witchcraft,  or 
relating  yrto  they  sould  compeir  befoir  ye  session,  and  yrafter 
she  to  be  admitted  to  her  repentance  for  cursing  the  minister  and 
session  if  nothing,  anent  the  former  came  in  against  hir.' 

'  10  Junii  ye  session  sitting,  ye  beddell  was  desyred  to  call 
at  ye  church  door  if  y*  yr  wer  any  yt  had  any  thing  to  say  against 
Kathrin  Key  they  sould  compeir,  he  having  called  3  severall 
tymes,  and  none  compeiring  ye  session  appoints  her  to  compeir  on 
the  publict  place  of  repentance  ye  next  Saboth,  for  cursing  the 
minister  and  Session.' 

'24  Junii.  This  day  Kathrin  Key  appeared  in  the  place  of 
publict  repentance  for  cursing  ye  minister  and  session,  she  declaird 
her  griefe  for  ye  same.  No  dittay  being  anent  her  for  witchcraft 
as  so  is.' 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  accused  was  thus  leniently 

1  Selections  from  tin  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  170. 


228  WITCHCRAFT. 

dealt  with,  from  the  salutary  influence  of  the  English  judges 
appointed  by  Cromwell  at  this  very  period  to  administer  the  law 
in  Scotland ;  they  having  expressed  their  determination  to  inquire 
into  the  tortures  that  were  used  to  extort  confession  from  the 
unhappy  victims  of  popular  superstition.1  All  '  the  witches '  in 
Newburgh  did  not,  however,  escape  so  easily.  In  '  Lamont's  Diary,' 
under  date  November  1661,  it  is  recorded,  'This  month,  the  two 
weoman  in  the  Newbrought  that  were  apprehended  above  a  yeire 
agoe  for  burning  Mr  Lawrence  Oliphant,  minister  of  Newbrough's, 
his  house,  were  hanged  at  Cuper  in  Fyffe,  being  found  guilty  by 
the  cyse ;  also  they  were  accused  for  witchcraft,  because  delated 
by  some  of  ther  owne  nighbours  in  the  towne,  who  wer  brunt  a 
littell  befoir  this  execution ;  but  ther  weomen  did  confesse  nether, 
bot  still  pleaded  innocence  as  frie  both  of  burning  the  house  and  of 
witchcraft.'  A  little  further  on  he  says,  '  1661,  This  yeire  ther 
were  divers  persons  both  men  and  women  apprehended  for  witch- 
craft in  Lowthian  and  Edinboroughe,  and  sundrys  of  them  brunt ; 
also  some  were  taken  in  Newbrough  in  FyfFe  and  brunt  likewyse.'2 

The  following  extract  from  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  of 
St  Andrews,  is  another  proof  of  the  very  great  number  of  victims 
that  were  executed  at  the  time  that  the  persecutions  for  witch- 
craft was  at  its  height. 

'  1643  October  18.  Attend  burning  of  witches.  Mr  Robert  Blair, 
Mr  Colein  Adams,  Mr  Robert  Traill  and  Mr  James  Wood  are 
appointed  to  goe  to  Craill  on  Fryday,  and  attend  the  execution  of 
some  witches,  and  to  give  ther  advyce  to  the  judges  concerning 
the  dilations  of  others,  if  they  may  be  apprehended  and  tried.3 

Such  is  the  indefinite  way  in  which  the  judicial  murder  is 
spoken  of.  After  accusation  before  the  kirk  session,  the  second 
step  in  the  process  seems  to  have  been  to  hand  the  accused  over 


1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  219.  2  Lainont's  Diary,  p.  178-9. 

3  Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  16. 


WITCHCRAFT.  229 

to  the  civil  authorities  for  further  examination,  and  for  torture  to 
extort  confession.  '  The  whole  proceeding  was  of  a  most  cruel 
description,  and  often  the  worst  sufferings  of  the  accused  took 
place  before  trial,  when,  dragged  from  home  by  an  infuriated  mob, 
tortured  to  extort  confession,  and  half  starved  in  gaol.  A  wretch, 
called  John  Kincaid,  acted  as  pricker  of  witches,  that  is,  he  pro- 
fessed to  ascertain,  by  inserting  pins  in  the  flesh,  whether  they 
were  truly  witches  or  not,  the  affirmation  being  given  when  he 
pricked  a  place  insensible  to  pain.  Often  they  were  hung  up  by 
the  two  thumbs,  till  nature  being  exhausted,  they  were  fain  to 
make  acknowledgment  of  impossible  facts.'1 

Such  also  was  the  process  by  which,  and  the  trivial  charges  on 
which  fellow-men  and  women  were  deprived  of  life  in  the  cruellest 
of  all  forms  for  an  imaginary  crime.  "We  too  often  pass  over  such 
a  narration  without  a  thought,  but  if  we  could,  in  imagination,  call 
up  the  actual  realities  of  the  scene,  we  should  see  a  crowd  of  ap- 
proving spectators,  surrounding  a  poor  unhappy  woman  writhing 
and  shrieking  in  agony,  until  death  released  her  at  one  and  the 
sametime  from  her  torturers  and  her  sufferings. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive  that  men  professing  to  believe 
in  the  message  of  '  peace  on  earth  and  goodwill  towards  men,' 
could  subject  then  fellow-men  to  such  atrocious  treatment.  It  can 
only  be  accounted  for  on  the  supposition  that  the  whole  popula- 
tion was  seized  with  a  frenzy,  which  deprived  them  of  the  use  of 
their  better  reason.  For  it  was  not  the  work  of  one,  two,  or  three 
arch-criminals,  such  as  are  met  with  in  history,  but  of  the  whole 
population,  who,  it  is  recorded,  many  times  wreaked  their  venge- 
ance on  those  whom  they  thought  ought  not  to  have  escaped 
judicial  condemnation. 

So  late  as  the  year  1705,  a  poor  woman  of  Pittenween,  accused 
of  witchcraft,  was  Let  off  by  the  authorities  of  that  town  ;  but  she 
was  seized  by  the  inhabitants,  dragged  along  the  street  by  the 
heels,  and  put  to  death  under  circumstances  of  savage  cruelty.2 


1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annuls.  Vol.  II.,  p  278.  -  Jl>,  Vol.  [II.,  p.  30] 


230  WITCHCRAFT. 

The  persecution  of  witches  raged  fiercely  also  in  Roman  Catholic 
countries.  About  the  year  1524,  one  thousand  were  burnt  in  the 
diocese  of  Como  in  Italy  in  one  year,  besides  numberless  deaths 
in  other  places.  But  in  countries  where  the  spirit  of  Puritanism 
was  dominant,  the  persecution  seems  to  have  been  fiercest.  In 
Geneva  about  five  hundred  were  burnt  in  three  months,1  and  it 
was  under  what  is  called  the  second  Reformation  (1638),  that  the 
persecution  attained  its  greatest  height  in  this  country.2  In  Fife 
alone,  in  the  year  1643,  thirty  women  were  put  to  death  for  witch- 
craft. So  many  executions  in  one  county  indicates  an  appalling 
number  of  victims  throughout  Scotland  at  that  era.3 

Happily  all  that  remains  in  this  neighbourhood  to  remind  us  of 
the  terrible  infatuation  is  the  name  (fast  becoming  obsolete)  of 
'  The  Witch  Wells,'  where  it  is  probable  the  unhappy  victims 
belonging  to  the  parish  of  Newburgh  suffered.4 


1  Hadyn's  Dictionary  of  Dates. —  Witchcraft. 

2  Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  St  Andreivs  and  Cupar,  pp.  3, 
12,  107-130— et  passim. 

3  Chambers's  Domestic  Annuals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  149-154,  et  passim. 

4  The  '  Witch  Wells  '  were  near  the  farthest  off  house  on  the  Wodrife  Road. 
There  was  also  '  The  Witch  Tree,'  on  the  side  of  the  old  road  beyond  Clatchard, 
now  covered  over  by  the  line  of  railway,  under  whose  branches  it  was  firmly 
believed  witches  held  their  nocturnal  meetings. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

PAROCHIAL   ANNALS. 

'  Watch  what  main-currents  draw  the  years  ; 
Cut  prejudice  against  the  grain, 
But  gentle  words  are  always  gain  : 
Regard  the  weakness  of  thy  peers.' 

Tennyson. 

The  Kirk  Session  Records  of  Scotland  teem  with  vivid  pictures 
of  many  phases  of  the  social  condition  of  the  country  in  the 
seventeenth  and  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  centuries ;  and  it 
only  requires  that  selections  be  made  and  published,  to  show 
the  value  and  importance  of  these  Records.  The  following  ex- 
cerpts are  from  the  minutes  of  the  .Kirk  Sessions  of  Abdie  and 
Newburgh : — 

'1653  Octob:  9,  The  Sessioune  wes  apointed  to  meitt  upon 
the  12th  of  October  for  provision  to  ane  Schoolmaister.' 

'  16th  Their  was  alleadged  against  Patrick  Beatt  younger  yl 
he  had  drawn  leather  furth  of  ye  pott  upon  ane  Sabboth 
day  being  clerk  to  the  Sessioune  in  the  tyme,  he  wes  in- 
quyred  if  he  had  done  such  a  thing,  ansuered  y*  he  had 
never  done  the  lyke.'  Evidence  being  led  on  several 
successive  Sundays.  On  the  30th  'James  Bell  depones 
yl  he  [Patrick  Beatt]  took  neither  hyd  nor  half  ane  hyd, 
but  ane  speild  of  ane  hyd,  and  caried  it  to  the  house  and 
y*  he  bought  it  from  him.'  '  The  Session  finds  the  offence 
proved  and  ordains  that  both  Patrick  Beatt  and  James 
Bell  sould  declair  their  repentance  befoir  ye  pulpit  for  ye 


232  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

samyn ; '  and  on  the  4  Decr  they  compeired  in  presence 
of  ye  congregation  befoir  ye  pulpitt  and  confessed  ye 
breach  of  ye  Saboth  w*  yr  griefe  for  ye  same.' 

'  6  November.  Given  out  to  buy  coals  and  peatis  for  ye  Schoolm1" 
his  use  befoir  his  coming  which  the  Sessioun  gave  frely 
and  would  not  have  repayment  yrof  3  lib.  12/V 

'  27  November.  The  elderis  appointed  to  visit  yr  quarteris  for 
putting  children  to  ye  scool.' 

At  a  subsequent  date  the  following  entry  occurs  on  the  same 
subject : — 

'Decemb:  9  1666.  The  same  day  the  Sessioune  condiscended 
and  concluded  that  the  schoolmaster  should  receive  from 
them  y  earlie  the  soume  of  fyftie  merks  as  part  of  his  stipend, 
payable  be  them  to  him  in  all  tyme  comeing.' 

These  entries  are  worthy  of  special  note.  It  was  this  super- 
vision and  encouragement  on  the  part  of  the  church  that  made 
education  so  general  in  Scotland. 

'  27  Novr.  Mr  Andre\y  Tailyesier,  Scoolm1"  produced  ane 
testimoniall  from  Forgoundeny  for  himself  and  Christian 
boswell  his  spous  which  wes  accepted  as  being  every  way 
sufficient.'  On  the  '  4  December  ye  Sessioun  laid  it  upon 
Gavin  Adamson  to  dischairge  Agnes  Graham  from  keiping 
any  scoole.'  The  object  of  this  enactment  being  to  main- 
tain one  efficient  parish  school  where  all  classes  could  ob- 
tain good  education. 
'  1654—12  Feb,  payed  for  Andrew  Homes  sones  qrter  payment 
to  ye  scoolm1-  wh  began  ye  28  Nov1-  1653,  and  wes  to  end 
ye  28  Feb.  1654-13/8  4d.' 
'  2  Aprylis.  Given  for  ye  mort  cloath  to  a  blewgown  .    .     10/s 

The  privileged  class  of  '  Blue-gowns,'  to  one  of  whom  the  last 
rites  of  humanity  are  here  recorded  as  having  been  paid,  has  been 
rendered  so  famous  by  Scott's  delineation  of  '  Edie  Ochiltree,'  that 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  233 

it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  anything  of  their  habits  and  char- 
acter. The  order  having  been  abolished  in  1833,  their  once 
familiar  forms  have  long  disappeared,  and  their  dress  and  ap- 
pearance are  totally  unknown  to  the  present  generation.  It  may 
not  be  out  of  place  therefore,  to  mention  that  the  Blue-gowns 
consisted  of  a  number  of  old  men  (chiefly  soldiers  past  service), 
corresponding  with  the  number  of  years  that  the  reigning  king 
was  old.  They  were  called  '  the  King's  Bedesmen,'  from  the  old 
English  worde  bede,  to  pray  ;  their  original  function  being  to  pray 
for  the  king.  Each  of  these  bedesmen  received  annually,  a  long 
blue  coat  or  gown,  reaching  almost  to  the  heels,  with  a  large 
round  pewter  badge  w^'n  on  the  left  breast,  inscribed  with  the 
wearer's  name,  and  tin  ;-ds — '  Pass  and  Repass;  This  badge 
was  the  warrant  for  t  -~i±  ^ght  to  solicit  alms,  all  laws  against 
beggars  and  vagrants  notwithstanding. 

The  old  laws  against  beggars  were  most  stringent  and  severe. 
In  the  reign  of  James  L,  A.D.  1424,  all  betwixt  '  fourteene  and 
three  score  ten  yeires,'  were  prohibited  from  begging  without 
tokens  (of  permission)  '  under  the  paine  of  burning  on  the  cheike, 
and  banishing  of  the  countrie.' 1  A  still  more  severe  law  was 
passed  in  the  reign  of  James  VI.,  A.D.  1579,  '  for  the  suppressing 
of  strang  and  idle  beggrs,'  who  are  '  to  bee  committed  in  waird  in 
the  commoun  prison,  stokkes,  or  irons.  .  .  And  gif  they  happen 
to  be  convicted,  to  be  adjudged  to  be  scourged,  and  burnt  throw 
the  eare  with  ane  hot  irone.  .  .  Except  sum  honest  and  respon- 
sall  man  will  of  his  charitie  be  contented  to  act  himself  befoir  the 
Judge  to  take  and  keip  the  offender  in  his  service  for  ane  hail] 
yeir  nixt  following  .  .  .  but  gif  hee  be  founden  to  be  fallen 
againe  hi  his  idle  and  vagabond  trade  of  life,  then  being  appre- 
hended of  new,  he  sail  be  adjudged  and  suffer  the  paines  of  death 
as  a  thief.' 2  From  all  these  severities  the  favoured  '  Blue-gowns ' 
were  exempt.  They  had  their  stated  rounds,  and  were  received 
with  a  consideration  which  was  seldom  accorded  to  the  common 

James  I.,  Par.  1,  cap.  25.  2  Janicd  VI..  Par.  6,  cap.  71. 


234  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

beggar.  The  accustomed  dole  to  the  '  Blue-gown  '  was  bestowed 
with  feelings  of  willingness  that  did  good  both  to  giver  and  re- 
ceiver. The  severe  laws  quoted  were  enacted  because  of  the  in- 
creasing '  multitude  of  maisterful  and  Strang  beggers.'  They  are 
in  marked  contrast  to  the  more  merciful  enactments  of  an  earlier 
period.  In  the  reign  of  David  IL  (a.d.  1329-1370)  it  was  '  Statute 
anent  pure  and  weak  folk  that  all  they  quha  are  destitute,  and 
wants  the  help  of  all  men  sail  be  under  the  King's  procuration 
and  protection  within  his  realme.  And  gif  anie  man  grants  and 
affirmes  that  he  violentlie  without  law  or  judgement,  hes  taken 
anie  thing  fra  the  pure  folk,  he  sail  restore  that  quhilk  he  tuke, 
and  for  ane  mends  sail  pay  aucht  kye  to  the  King.' 

Before  the  introduction  of  the  Poor  Law  Amendment  Act  the 
country  was  over-run  with  beggars.  Some  of  the  parish  poor 
made  stated  weekly  rounds  with  a  meal  pock  around  their  neck  to 
receive  the  invariable  dole  of  a  handful  of  oatmeal.  It  was  not 
uncommon  for  a  dozen  or  more  strangers  to  solicit  alms  daily  ;  and 
down  to  a  comparatively  recent  period  there  were  some  com- 
passionate residenters  in  the  country  who  provided  sleeping- 
places  in  their  premises,  and  a  supper  of  oatmeal  porridge,  for  these 
vagrant  poor.  They  told  their  stories  at  the  kitchen  fire,  and 
were  seldom  guilty  of  any  misdemeanour — kindly  treatment  be- 
getting kindly  feeling.  It  is  recorded  in  '  The  Blair  Adam  Book ' 
by  Sir  Adam  Ferguson,  that  when  Sir  Walter  Scott  came  to  visit 
Cross  Macduff  he  was  Aactimised  by  one  of  this  wandering  fra- 
ternity. Sir  Adam,  who  was  present,  gives  the  following  jocular 
account  of  the  incident : — '  On  the  arrival  of  the  party  at  the  west- 
end  of  Newburgh,  Sir  Walter,  with  his  right  hand  in  his  waist- 
coat pocket  in  pursuit  of  a  sixpenny  piece,  asked  a  very  old  and 
infirm  man,  who  approached  leaning  on  his  staff,  'if  he  knew 
anything  of  Macduff's  Cross?'  The  old  one  said  he  could  tell  him 
'  'a  aboot  it.'  '  Upon  which  Sir  Walter  put  the  sixpence  in  his  hand, 


1  Reffiam Majestatem,  David  II.,  cap.  XIII. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  235 

which  it  no  sooner  reached,  than  the  old  man  sprang  up  in  the  air 
like  a  youth  of  sixteen,  and  twisting  his  staff  (poising  it  horizon- 
tally on  the  tips  of  his  fingers)  round  his  head,  commenced  a 
circular  dance,  or  saraband,  accompanied  by  a  wild  jargon  of  a 
song ;  and  nothing  else  could  be  got  out  of  him.'  The  old  man 
who  was  a  stranger  and  knew  nothing  of  the  Cross,  was  quite 
overjoyed  at  the  success  of  his  trick,  and  would  have  been  still 
more  so,  had  he  been  capable  of  comprehending  that  he  had  over- 
reached the  Great  Minstrel  of  the  Border.  There  are  many  who 
remember  the  old  man  ;  he  had  been  a  soldier  in  his  youth,  and 
was  known  in  the  towns  he  visited  by  the  refrain  of  the  song,  '  Neet, 
Nat  Nindie!'  which  he  repeated  when  performing  the  evolu- 
tions described  by  the  worthy  baronet.  Sir  Walters  discomfiture 
seems,  from  Sir  Adam's  description  of  the  scene,  to  have  been  a 
subject  of  merriment,  at  what  he  calls  '  the  ambulatory  repast ' 
partaken  of  by  the  party  at  Cross  Macduff.  Sir  Walter's  poem  of 
'  Macduff's  Cross,'  which  was  the  result  of  this  visit,  contains  lines 
and  passages  of  great  beauty. 

'  2  Aprylis.  A  bill  given  in  be  Helen  Paterson  ag*  John 
Clunie  her  husband  read,  and  ye  said  Johne  apointed  to 
be  s™*1  and  ye  said  Helen  to  be  present.' 

'  16,  John  Clunie  compeired  and  acknowledged  ye  pointis  of 
ye  bill  given  agst  him  be  his  wife,  as  also  he  sd  he  my* 
doe  with  his  wife  y*  he  pleased,  as  also  to  break  her  back 
if  he  lykit.'  '  Qlk  ye  Sessioun  taking  to  yr  consideration 
and  because  they  had  not  had  the  lyk  befoir  ym  at  any 
tym  preceding  referris  ye  samen  to  ye  presb: ' 

'  14  May  qlk  day  ye  Sessioun  ordained  y*  John  Clunie  nor 
his  wife  sould  have  no  house  in  the  toune  because  they 
were  frequentlie  troubled  w*  ym,  and  if  any  sould  sett 
them  ane  house  to  yr  perrill  be  it.' 

'  16  July,  Janet  Adisone,  Euphan  Blyth  and  Alison  Blyth 
having  been  sumd  for  ye  scandalous  cariage  in  scolding  and 
flyting  w*  oyr  apeard  befoir  ye  Sessioune.' 


236  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

'  Andro  Williamson  compeired  to  declair  ye  truth  y*  he  hard, 
— depones  he  hard  Limer  and  witch  between  Janet 
Adison  and  Euphan  Blyth,  as  also  y*  Alison  Blyth  cam 
runing  in  and  took  amends  of  Jenet  Adisone  at  her  own 
handis.' 

'  Qr  upon  ye  Sessioune  apoints  Euphan  Blyth,  and  Jenet 
Adison  to  appear  befoir  ye  pulpit  for  satisfaction  and 
Alison  Blyth  to  goe  to  ye  pillar  for  repentance.' 

Alison  Blyth,  however,  subsequently  appeared  before  the  ses- 
sion, '  and  desyred  she  my*  be  received  befoir  ye  pulpit  and  pro- 
mised to  give  somq*  to  ye  poor.' 

There  is  nothing  in  the  record  to  show  the  difference  between 
appearing  before  the  pulpit  and  on  the  pillar.  That  the  latter  was 
the  most  distasteful  is  evident  from  the  offer  made  by  Alison 
Blyth ;  this  is  corroborated  by  a  verse  of  a  song  which  long  con- 
tinued popular : — 

'  And  she  maun  mount  the  pillar, 
And  that's  the  way  that  they  maun  goe, 
For  puir  folk  hae  nae  siller.' 

'  26  July,  given  to  a  poore  lass      .     .     .     2/V 

'  6  Aug:  The  Session  apointed  such  as  were  absent  from  ye 

comunion  to  be  sumd.' 
'26  ye  Elderis  wer  apointed  to  visit  ye  toune  ye  tym  of 

sermon.' 

After  a  violent  case  of  '  scolding  and  fly  ting,'  of  which  instances 
occur  in  almost  every  page,  the  following  significant  entry  ap- 
pears : — 

•  This  day  ye  Sessioun  apointed  y*  ane  pair  of  brancks  sould 

be  mad  for  offenders.' 
'The  branks  consisted  of  an  iron  frame  for  enclosing  the 


PAROCHIAL  AXXALS.  237 

head,  from  which  projected  a  spike,   so  as  to  enter  the 
mouth  and  prevent  speech.' l 

Those  sentenced  to  make  public  repentance  were  obliged  to 
appear  clothed  in  sackcloth.  So  late  as  the  18th  August  1747,  the 
following  entry  occurs  in  Newburgh  Session  Records  : — 

'  To  4  yards  sakine  to  be  a  sake  goun  10     0 

Augt.  22.  To  the  making  of  the  sack  goun  0  12     0.' 

'3  Sep:  1654.  This  day  ye  searchers  of  ye  toun  reported 
they  fand  these  persons  drinking  ye  tyme  of  afternoon 
sermon,  to  wit  Patrick  Scott,  James  Bennettie,  Robert 
Scott  and  David  Jacksone,  in  Henrie  Mairs  house.' 

'  8  Octob:  This  day  ye  minister  read  to  ye  sessioun  James 
Philp  his  letter  will  givin  a  thousand  pounds  to  ye'  . 
[the  rest  wanting]  but  the  following  entry  shows  that  the 
bequest  was  for  behoof  of  the  poor,  '  3  Decemb.  1654. 
The  minister  was  to  wrett  James  Balfour,  anent  the 
thousand  pound  left  by  James  Philp  to  ye  toune  of  New- 
burgh poore.' 

James  Balfour  here  mentioned  was  the  learned  Knight  of 
Denmilne,  so  well  known  for  his  antiquarian  tastes  and  zeal  in 
collecting  ancient  records.  The  following  extracts,  curious  for  the 
light  which  they  throw  on  the  customs  and  charges  in  law  pro- 
ceedings iu  the  17th  century,  show  also  that  the  zealous  antiquary 
was  not  allowed  to  pursue  his  studies  undisturbed  by  pecuniary 
anxieties. 

'  4  Martii  1655 — Given  out  this  day  for  ye  extracting  of  the 

decreit  against  James  Balfour  befoir  ye  sreff       16, s  8d. 
'  Item  for  decerning    .....  10/8  8d. 

'  Ite  to  ye  judge  for  decerning  and  sentence  money,  and  to  ye 

■  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  17. 


238  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

clerk  for  extracting  of  ye  sd  decreit,  and  drink  money  to 
ye  clerks  man 13  lib:  13/s  4d. 

'  Ite  for  procur  fie 48/s. 

'  Ite  for  the  mans  charges  who  went  in         .         .  20/3. 

'  18  Mai:  given  ont  to  raise  letters  of  horning  against  James 
Balfour,  and  for  ye  charging  of  him  .         .  4  lib. 

'22  Ap:  given  to  ye  beddell  to  goe  to  falkcoland  to  sie  if  the 
letteris  against  James  Balfour  be  put  in  execution     6/V 

'  20  May  Alexander  Clunie  being  sumd  pro  3°  to  compeir  befoir 
ye  presb:  on  Thursday  last,  compeired  not,  ye  minister  de- 
clared he  wes  apointed  by  the  presb:  to  sum  him  out  of 
pulpitt.' 

The  ordinary  mode  of  summoning  was  citation  by  the  beadle  ; 
but  in  cases  of  persistent  contumacy,  after  three  warnings  by  that 
official,  the  accused  was  summoned  by  name  by  the  minister  from 
the  pulpit,  in  face  of  the  congregation. 

'  Sam  day,  '  Given  to  John  Dempster  for  his  drink  qn  he  wes 
slokin  ye  lym  and  mixing  it  wl  sand  .  .  .  6/V 

'  27  May.  The  Sessioun  continued  Patrick  Beat  and  his  wife 
and  Alexander  Clunie  because  of  the  English  being  in 
Church.' 

'  This  day  Sir  James  Balfour  produced  a  band  sub*  be  himself 
and  witness,  of  the  soume  of  ane  thousand  poundis  and 
wes  assigned  to  the  soume  of  ane  thousand  poundis  w* 
wes  left  to  the  Sessioune  be  James  Philp  deceased  conform 
to  his  testament.' 

'  1  July.  This  day  the  Sessioun  concludit  in  one  voyce  y* 
every  partie  to  be  married  sail  consigne  8  lib.  of  pledge 
in  money,  or  else  pledge  double  aught  pund.' 

'  15  July.  The  Fast  intimat  to  be  next  Lords  day  and  the 
causes  read.' 

The  causes  are  not  stated,  but  '  a  severe  frost  which  set  in 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  239 

early  in  the  year,  and  continued  to  the  middle  of  April,  to  the 
interruption  of  all  farm  work,  was  undoubtedly  the  cause.1  A 
lengthened  frost  in  spring  was  a  serious  calamity,  from  the  want 
of  food  for  bestial,  neither  clover  nor  turnips  being  then  cultivated 
in  the  fields  in  Scotland.2 

'  29  July.  This  day  ye  Minister  declared  in  face  of  Sessioun  to 
Janet  Donaldson  y*  she  wes  apointed  by  the  presb:  to 
stand  3  severall  Saboths  at  the  Kirk  door  barfoot  and 
after  to  go  to  ye  publict  place  of  repentance,  and  pay 
her  penaltie.' 

'  1656,  May  11.  This  day  the  collection  for  the  brunt  landis 
in  Edinburgh,  apointed  to  be  intimat  be  this  day  fifteen 
days.'  The  sum  collected  was  '  5  lib.  10/s'  but  it  was 
'  made  up  out  of  the  box  to  6  lib.' 

'  20  July.  This  day  compeired  Euphan  Williamson  being  sumd 
was  challenged  for  breach  of  Sabboth  in  laying  out  cloathes 
on  the  Sabboth  day,  having  confessed  the  samyn,  she  was 
ordained  by  the  Sessioun  to  appear  befoir  the  pulpit  to 
signifie  her  repentance  yrfoir  on  Setterday  next  being 
sermon  of  preparation  to  ye  communion  then  to  be.' 

'  23  July.  This  day  Patrick  Lyell  and  James  Wilson  being- 
sum11  for  yr  variance  on  with  anoyr,  and  Elderis  having 
dealt  with  ym  for  agrienient,  yett  notwithstanding  they 
persisted  in  yr  malice  on  towards  another,  having  com- 
peired befoir  ye  Sessioun  they  wer  willing  to  agrie,  and 
in  tokin  yrof,  took  oyr  by  the  hand  and  promised  after  y* 
not  to  wrong  on  anoyV 

'  9  November.  Given  to  buy  a  sand  glass  for  the  use  of  the 
church.' 

'  1657,  3  May.  This  day  Maister  Andro  Tailyesier,  Scool- 
maister  did  demitt  his  charge,  desyrhig  the  Sessioun  to 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  23-i. 
-  Ih.,  Vol.  III".,  p.  11s. 


240  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS 

provyde  themselves  of  a  scoohnaister  against  Whitsunday 
next  ensuing  1657,  because  he  wes  purposed  to  remove  at 
the  said  term,  and  nothing  was  objected  at  that  tyme 
against  his  removall.' 

'  1 7  May.  Given  to  the  Collector  of  the  contribution  of  the 
brunt  landis  of  Northampton 18/s.' 

'  August  23.  Whilk  day  the  Sessioun  appointed  ane  meetmg 
to  be  for  ane  schoolmaster,  and  Intimation  to  be  made 
from  the  pulpit  ye  next  Lord's  day  for  that  effect.' 

'  Decemb :  6,  Whilk  day  the  minister  recommended  to  the 
Elders  what  bairnes  are  within  their  respective  quarters 
that  they  may  be  put  to  the  comon  school  of  the  parishe, 
otherwayes  they  will  be  complained  upon,  and  ordained 
that  Agnes  Graham  be  desired  to  forbear  from  teaching 
any  lasses  in  tyme  coming.' 

On  the  13th  December  of  the  same  year  (1657)  a  case  is 
recorded  of  no  special  interest  except  in  the  mention  of  terms 
that  are  now  entirely  disused.  John  Bickerton  is  spoken  of  as  a 
worker  of  '  nvirings,'  and  John  and  William  Williamson  are  desig- 
nated by  their  trade  of  '  braboners ; '  which  signifies  menders  of 
old  shoes,  and  is  the  origin  of  the  surname  of  Brabner  or  Brebner. 
4  Uviring '  from  '  river,'  upper,  is  evidently  a  coverlet,  the  weaving 
of  which,  in  woollen  only,  ceased  to  be  practised  in  Newburgh 
towards  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  century. 

'  1658,  April  25,  Whilk  day  the  Sessione  did  conclud  that  in 
tymes  coming,  becaus  of  ye  disorder  that  was  committed 
befor  the  minister  came  to  the  pulpit,  that  there  should 
be  some  verses  of  ane  psalme  be  sung  betwixt  ye  second 
and  third  bell  afternoon,  and  intimation  thereof  made  ye 
next  Lord's  day.' 

The  enjoining  of  the  praise  of  God  'befor  the  minister  came 
to  the  pulpit,'  is  so  different  from  the  modern  form  of  worship, 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  241 

that  a  few  words  explanatory  of  former  usages  will  not  be  out  of 
place.  This  portion  of  public  worship  was  presided  over  by  the 
Reader.  The  duties  of  this  official  are  very  clearly  set  forth  by 
the  authors  of  the  'Introduction  to  the  Book  or  Common  Order.1 
'  The  Bell  having  rung  an  hour  before,  was  rung  the  second  time 
at  8  o'clock  for  the  Reader's  Service.  The  congregation  then 
assembled  and  engaged  for  a  little  in  private  devotion.  So  rever- 
ential were  they,  that  it  was  the  custom  for  the  people  entering 
the  church  to  uncover  their  heads,  and  to  put  up  a  short  prayer 
to  God,  some  kneeling  some  standing.  The  Reader  took  his 
place  at  the  '  lectern,'  read  the  Common  Prayers,  and  in  some 
churches  the  Decalogue  and  the  Creed.  He  then  gave  out  large 
portions  of  the  Psalter,  the  singing  of  which  was  concluded  with 
the  Gloria  Patri,  and  next  read  chapters  of  Scripture  from  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments,  going  through,  in  order,  any  book  that  was 
begun,  as  required  by  the  First  Book  of  Discipline.  After  an  hour 
thus  spent,  the  bell  rang  the  third  time,  and  the  minister  entered 
the  pulpit,'  and  conducted  the  remainder  of  the  service  according 
to  the  usage  of  the  time.  The  afternoon  service  was  begun  by 
the  Reader  in  the  same  way.  These  usages  continued  with  more 
or  less  uniformity  down  to  A.D.  1638  or  1640.1 

Subsequent  to  the  date  mentioned,  the  duties  of  the  Reader  in 
the  time  of  Episcopacy  are  particularly  defined  in  the  following 
extract  from  the  records  of  the  Synod  of  Aberdeen : — '  21st 
October,  1662.  It  is  enacted  by  the  Lord  Bishope  with  consent  of 
the  bretherine  of  the  Synod  that  [there]  shall  be  readers  of  the 
scriptures  in  everie  congregatione,  and  the  reader  shall  begin  with 
a  sett  forme  of  prayer,  especially  with  the  Lord's  prayer.  There- 
after they  ar  to  read  some  psalms  with  some  chapteris  of  the  Old 
Testament,  thereafter  they  ar  to  rehearse  the  Apostolick  creed 
publicklie,  and  in  rehearsing  of  it  stand  up,  afterwardis  that  they 
read  some  chapteris  of  the  New  Testament  according  to  the 
appointment  of  the  respective  ministers ;  and  last  of  all  they  are 

1  Book  of  Common  Order,  Edition  18G8,  pp.  xxxiii.,  iv. 


242  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

to  rehearse  the  Ten  -  Commandments  publicklie.'  An  English 
clergyman,  chaplain  to  a  Scotch  regiment,  who  published  an 
account  of  his  visit  in  1715  says,  'the  precentor  about  half  an 
hour  before  the  preacher  comes,  reads  two  or  three  chapters  to 
the  Congregation  of  what  part  of  the  Scripture  he  pleases,  or  as 
the  minister  gives  him  directions.'  1 

'May  16.  Mr  Johne  Bayne  of  Pitcairlie  compeired  befor  the 
Session,  and  gave  in  a  supplication  for  a  place  for  a  dask, 
that  the  tenants  of  Pitcairly  and  Easter  Lumbeny,  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  hearing  the  "Word  as  they  had 
befor  these  lands  were  annexed  to  the  parish.' 

The  seats  in  churches  at  this  period  were  moveable,  and  were 
provided  by  those  who  sat  in  them ;  this  continued  to  be  the 
custom  down  to  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

The  following  notice  of  the  allotment  of  'Stances'  in  New- 
burgh  church  at  a  subsequent  date,  shows  this  usage  : — 

'  1686.  Feb.  the  15.  The  Minister,  Hereters  and  Elders  .  .  . 
mett  for  settling  the  seatts  in  the  Kirk  ...  it  was 
agreed  that  the  Kirk  be  peued  be  west  the  pulpit,  and  that 
the  communitie  should  choose  four  men  and  the  Session 
other  four  for  settling  the  same  pews.  The  seatts  wer 
settled  as  follows : 

'  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of  Denmylne  his  seat  being  nixt  the 
pulpit  on  the  west  side,  was  lifted  and  sett  befor  Bailie 
Wenton  his  seatt  forgainst  the  pulpit,  ther  to  stand  in 
time  coming. 

'  The  former  stance  of  the  said  seat  ordained  to  the  Laird 
Rossie,  younger. 

'  Next  to  said  stance  ane  double  pew  for  Alexr.  Spence  of 
Berrieholl,  James  Todd,  etc'     Other  allotments  follow. 

1  Selections  from  the  Records  of  the  Synod  of  Aberdeen,  pp.  lxvii.,  262. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  243 

'  1689,  July  the  29.  It.  to  the  men  that  caried  the  Communion 
tables  into  the  kirk     ....     00.  02.  08.' 


'  Oct.  31  1658.  Whilk  day,  intimation e  made  from  the  pulpit 
anent  ane  solemne  fast  to  be  keeped  the  next  Lord's  day 
befor  ye  comunion  be  celebrated  or  administered.' 

The  foregoing  notice  of  a  Fast  on  the  Sabbath  is  one  which 
frequently  occurs  in  the  Session  Records  at  this  period.  The 
practice  of  fasting  on  the  Lord's  day,  contrary  to  the  usage  of  the 
early  Christian  church,  which  held  that  day  as  a  joyful  festival, 
commemorative  of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord,  was  made  the 
subject  of  biting  verses,  published  at  the  time,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing is  a  part : — 

'  From  fasting  one  the  Lord's  auen  day, — 
Fasting  without  wairand,  I  say. 

Almighty  God  deliver  us.'  ' 

'  1659  Junij  12.  The  same  day  Robert  Blyth  compeared  befor 
the  Sessione  in  sackcloath,  having  been  at  the  presbyterie 
and  gotten  his  last  Intimation,  qrfor  he  was  appointed 
to  goe  to  the  publict  place  of  repentance,  and  sit  other 
three  Sabbath  dayes,  and  the  third  Sunday  to  be  received.' 

Robert  Blyth  had  previously  appeared  before  the  congrega- 
tion twenty-four  several  Sabbaths  for  his  offence.  This  lengthened 
period  of  public  penitence  was  inflicted,  because,  as  an  official  of 
the  church,  he  had  brought  scandal  on  religion. 

'July  1.  1660.  Intimation  was  made  from  the  pulpit,  anent 
ane  day  of  thanksgiving  to  be  on  Thursday  next  for  the 

1  Maidment's  Scot.  Pasquils,  p.  51. 


244  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

Kingis  Majesties  [Charles  II.]  preservation  and  safe  returne 
to  his  wonted  liberties.' 
Aug*  12.  The  same  day  Mr  Jhone  Bayne  of  Pitcairlie's  came 
to  the  Sessioune  and  did  accept  of  the  office  of  ane  elder.' 

Mr  John  Bayne  was  a  Writer  to  the  Signet,  and  acquired  the 
lands  of  Pitcairly  by  a  decreet  of  apprising  of  the  Lords  of  Session, 
from  John,  fourth  Lord  of  Lindores,  having  made  large  advances 
to  that  nobleman.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  learned  and  able 
man.1  In  the  Kirk  Session  Records  of  Newburgh  (18th  July  1687) 
there  is  a  notice  of  a  legacy  by  him  to  the  poor  of  the  parish  of 
one  hundred  pounds  Scots.  He  died  on  the  28th  January  1681, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Greyfriars  Churchyard,  Edinburgh,  where 
there  is  a  monument  to  his  memory,  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription : — 

MEMORISE  DOCTISSIMI  VIRI  MAGISTRI  JOANNIS  BAYNE  DE 
PITCARLIE,  SIGNETO  REGIO  SCRIBE  INSIGNI  EUPHEMJA 
AIRMAN,  EJUS  VIDUA,  SIBIQ.  UTRIUSQ.  ET  CONJUGIS  COGNATIS, 
MONUMENTUM  HOC  ERIGI.  CURAVIT.  OBIIT,  QUINTO  CALENDAS 
FBRUARII  MDCLXXXI  jETATIS  SU^E  LX. 

The  monument  also  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

SACRED    TO    THE    MEMORY    OF    JAMES    CATHCART    ESQUIRE 
OF  CARBIESTON  AND  PITCAIRLIE,  WHO  WAS  INTERRED  HERE 

25  March  179s.2 

'Novemb  18  1661.  Whilk  day  compeired  Jhone  Kirk  and 
desired  libertie  from  the  Sessione  to  be  contracted  with 
another  woman  than  Hellene  Scott  whom  he  had  alreadie 
contracted.' 


1  In  1658  J.  Bayne  acted  as  Receiver  General  for  Oliver  Cromwell  in  Scot- 
land. Hist.  Records  of  the  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  II.,  p.  109.  In  all  likelihood 
this  was  John  Bayne  of  Pitcairly. 

2  Epitaphs  and  Monumental  Inscriptions,  Greyfriars.     Brown,  p.  66. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  245 

'Decemb.  9.  The  said  Hellene  being  thrise  cited  and  not 
compeirand,  the  Sessione  after  deliberatione  gave  libertie 
to  the  said  Jhone  Kirk  to  goe  on  in  purpose  of  marriage 
with  another  woman.' 

'  Novemb  15  1G63.  Quhilk  day  Intimatione  was  again  made 
from  pulpit  .  .  .  and  after  sermon e,  the  Sessionne 
being  conveined  in  their  ordinar  place  of  meeting,  they 
caused  their  beddell  againe  call  at  the  kirk  door,  to  see  if 
there  were  any  person,  or  persons  that  had  anything  to 
object  against  Barbara  Andersone,  Alesone  Andersone, 
and  Jennet  Ballingall,  daughters  to  the  said  Barbara, 
relating  to  witchcraft,  and  they  should  be  heard,  and  for 
sa  meikle  as  non  did  compeir  haveing  relevant  reasones, 
the  minister  and  Elders  takeing  the  matter  to  serious  con- 
sideratione,  it  was  votted  whether  or  no  the  sd  persones 
might  be  admitted  to  the  ordinances,  they  all  unanimouslie 
aggried  that  in  tyme  comeing  they  may  be  admitted  to 
ordinances.' 

'Junii  30  1664.  The  presbyterie  appointed  Mr  Lawrence 
Olyphant  to  baptise  Jhone  Burrell  his  child  he  holding  up 
the  same,  and  finding  sufficient  cautione  and  giveing  bond 
for  a  hundred  pounds  Scotts  money  that  he  sail  mak 
declaratione  of  his  repentance  in  the  church  of  Newburgh.' 

'Martij  12  1665.  Collected  no  almes  because  there  was  no 
preaching  in  respect  of  the  unseasonableness  of  the 
weather.' 

In  Lamont's  Diary  it  is  recorded  under  the  year  1665.  '  About 
the  beginning  of  Januar  ther  fell  mutch  snow  and  the  frost  began 
six  days  before  ;  this  storm  continued  till  near  the  middle  of  March 
or  thereby,  and  some  snow  was  sein  after  the  1  Aprill  in  some 
places,  so  that  some  begane  to  say  their  would  hardly  be  any  seid 
tyme  this  yeire,  bot  it  pleased  the  Lord  out  of  his  gratious  good- 
ness on  a  sudden  to  send  seasonable  weather  for,  the  seid  tyme, 
so  that  in  many  places  the  oatte  seide  was  sooner  done  this  yeire 


246  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

than  many  yeiris  formerly,  for  the  long  frost  niade  the  ground 
very  trie,  and  the  whole  husbandmen,  for  the  most  pairt  they 
never  saw  the  ground  easier  to  labour.  This  yeire  ther  dyed 
many  sheipe  in  many  places  of  Fyffe.  .  .  .  And  this  storm 
blasted  mutch  broome  in  many  places,  as  also  whinns  in  divers 
pairts.' x 

'Junij  4  1665,  Quhilk  day  Intimation  was  made  from  the 
pulpit,  anent  a  solemne  fast  to  be  upon  wedensday  the 
seventh  day  of  this  Instant,  and  the  causes  of  the  fast 
were  publicly  read  out  of  the  pulpit  to  wit.  That  God  of 
his  mercie  would  bless  and  preserve  our  Kingis  majesties 
navall  forces  by  sea.' 

The  people  were  so  alarmed  by  the  dread  of  invasion  that  '  the 
Towns  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Firth  of  Forth  had  daily  and 
nightly  watches  for  their  defence  in  case  they  should  be  surprised 
by  the  Hollanders.'2  Lamont,  in  mentioning  the  Fast  says,  '  With- 
in two  or  3  dayes  after,  newes  came  that  the  two  fleitts  viz. :  the 
English  and  Dutch  had  engaged.  June  the  3  and  4  and  that  the 
English  had  carried  the  day,  and  that  six  of  the  Dutch  Admiralls 
were  taken  and  some  of  them  brunt,  and  that  only  one  of  the 
admiralls  had  escaped  namely,  Ebertsone  with  43  vessels  to  the 
Texell.  Also  24  more  vessels  taken  and  brunt,  with  about  9  or 
10  thousand  men  taken,  as  both  printed  and  wretten  peapers 
affirmed,  and  only  one  vessell  called  the  Charitie  lost  to  the 
English,  with  about  400  men,  and  some  noblemen  and  others  of 
note.' 3 

■  1  065  Sep1-  10,  Intimation  was  made  be  ye  minister,  anent  a 
solemn  fast  and  humiliation  to  be  upon  the  threttrine  day 
of  this  ins*,  being  Weddensday,  whilk  was  indicted  and 


1  Lamont's  Diary,  p.  224.  2  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  302. 

i  Lamont's  Diary,  p.  22G. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  247 

commanded  be  ye  counsell.  1st  That  it  would  please  God 
of  his  infinit  mercie  to  remove  the  plague  of  the  pesti- 
lence from  ye  citie  of  Lundon  and  ye  suburbis  yr  about. 
2dlie  that  it  would  please  God  to  preserve  and  keep  Scot- 
land from  that  fearfull  plague  of  pestilence ;  and  thirdlie 
that  it  would  please  God  to  send  fair  and  seasonable 
weather  for  collecting  and  ingathering  of  the  fruites  of  the 
ground  for  the  sustentation  of  man  and  beast.' 

January  27:  1667.  Quhilk  day  there  was  debursed  to  the 
glassen  wright  for  glassen  windowes  and  for  repairing  the 
samen 9  libs. 

'  August  9  1668.  Quhilk  day  Intimation  was  made  anent  the 
celebration  of  the  holie  supper  of  the  Lord,  to  be  upon 
the  next  Lords'  day,  and  of  ane  sermon  of  preparatione  to 
be  upon  Saturneday  befor  the  Sabbath.' 

This  was  in  the  time  of  Episcopacy,  under  which  no  public 
Fast  appears  to  have  been  appointed  previous  to  the  communion. 

'April  25  1669.  Quhilk  day  the  Sessione  has  condiscendet, 
that  there  shal  be  a  voluntar  collectione  to  be  next  Lords 
day,  for  to  help  George  Leslie  that  he  might  be  cutt  of 
the  stone,  and  the  people  were  exhorted  to  extend  thair 
charitie  yrunto.' 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause,  there  seems  to  have  been 
a  prevalence  of  this  disease  in  Scotland.  Thirty  years  later  a 
'  chirurgeon '  advertised  that  he  had  '  cutted  nine  score  persons, 
without  the  death  of  any  except  five.' *  Still  later  there  are  entries 
in  the  Session  Records,  which  show  that  children  were  afflicted 
with  this  painful  disease.  In  the  Books  of  Abdie  Kirk  Session 
the  following  occurs  viz. : — 


Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  III.,  p.  2G0. 


248  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

'  1720,  Oct.  16.     To  Michael  Hog  to  help  to  bear  the  expenses 

of  cutting  his  child  of  the  gravel.  .  06      14     06 

'  1721  April  27.    To  the  physician  to  help  to 

pay  for  it  .  .   '       .  .  .  02      08      00 

And  on  the  '  15th  Xovr  1739 '  the  following 

appears  in  Newburgh  Kirk  Session  books. 

'  To  a  poor  lad  with  the  stone  gravel.'     .  00     04     00 


'  1670-8  day  of  May.  The  qnhilk  day  the  minister  did  inti- 
mat  to  the  congregation  that  George  pattillo  and  Agnes 
mitchell  wer  excommunicat,  and  accordingly  advertised 
them,  that  non  of  them  should  have  anie  felowship  with 
them.' 

'  Sicklyke  he  intimat  William  Scot,  one  of  the  paroch  of 
Dunino  was  fugitive  from  the  discipline  of  the  church,  and 
therefor  ordained  if  any  knew  of  him  to  give  notice.' 

'  Collected  the  29  day  of  May  9  lib.'  which  collection  was 
given  to  repaire  the  breach  by  fire  at  Coupar,  the  .  .  . 
day  of  Apprile  1669.' 

'  1671,  19  day  of  Feb.  'The  same  day  the  discharge  for  the 
supplie  of  those  who  wer  distressed  by  fire  in  Kilmarnock 
and  put  in  the  box.' 

'  The  eleventh  of  Aprill  1672.  The  quhilk  day  the  presbyterie 
mett  at  Newburgh  for  admission  of  Mr  Robert  Bayne  to 
the  function  of  the  holie  ministrie  in  the  said  paroch, 
which  was  don  accordingly  in  decency  and  ordour  accord- 
ing to  the  practise  of  this  church,  the  heritors  and  elders 
of  the  paroch  being  conveined  of  purpose  to  countenance 
his  admission.' 

4 1673,  25  May.  The  same  day  the  Session  and  heritors  did 
condescend  and  ordaine,  that  the  two  old  bells  should  be 
carried  to  Kirkcaldie  with  all  convenient  dilligence,  that 
they  might  be  converked  thence  to  Holland  or  some  other 
convenient  pleace  for  makeing  them  in  a  new,  and  that  ther 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  249 

should  be  an  100  weight  mor  added  to  the  sds  bells,  and 
that  the  bellkony  should  be  fitly  repared  for  careing  a  bell 
of  such  a  quantity  as  is  afforesaid.' 
'  28  Decemb.  Whilk  day  David  Blyth  compeared  and  gave  4  lib, 
and  8d.  In  part  of  payment  of  10  merks  for  David  Win- 
touns  buriall  in  the  Church.' 

The  custom  of  burying  in  churches  began  at  an  early  period. 
The  author  of  the  extremely  curious  tract,  entitled,  '  The  Blame 
ot  Kirk-buriall  Tending  to  Perswade  Cemiteriall  Civilitie,'  pub- 
lished in  1606,  says,  '  So  soon  as  the  Kirk-ground  came  by  the 
opinion  of  holy  prerogative  for  souls  helpe,  the  opportunity  and 
privilege  was  both  sought  and  boght  to  ly  there,'  and  he  de- 
nounces those  who  practise  '  Kirk-buriall,'  in  quaint  and  vigorous 
language.1  Shortly  after  the  Reformation,  on  the  24th  October 
1576,  the  General  Assembly  had  proposed  to  them  the  question, 
'  Qwither  if  burialls  sould  be  in  the  Kirk  or  not  ?  Ansuerit,  Not ; 
and  that  ye  contraveiners  be  suspendit  froni  ye  benefites  of  the 
Kirk,  quhill  they  make  publick  repentance.'  On  the  6th  August 
1588,  the  Assembly  passed  another  ordinance,  containing  among 
other  enactments  the  following :  '  The  minister  that  gives  his 
consent  [to  burials  in  his  church]  and  discharges  not  his  conscience 
in  opponeing  them  therto  salbe  suspendit  from  his  function  of  the 
ministrie.' 2 

The  desire  to  be  buried  in  the  graves  of  then  forefathers  was 
stronger  than  the  fear  of  these  ordinances,  and  there  are  instances 
on  record  of  burials  in  churches  having  been  effected  by  mam 
force.3  The  customary  way,  however,  notwithstanding  the  pro- 
hibitory ordinances  of  the  Assembly,  was,  as  in  the  case  cited  from 
Newburgh  Kirk  Session  Records,  to  purchase  permission.  An 
interesting  instance  of  this  mode  occurs  in  Perth  Session  Records, 
under  date  '  Saturday,  February  25  1657.     Whilk  day  the  Minister 

J  The  Blame  of  Kirk-buriall,  Chap.  XIII. 

-  The  Book  of  the  Universall  Kirk  of  Scotland,  pp.  378,  733.  3  lb.  L'7i\ 


250  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

and  Elders  convened  in  the  Revestry  immediately  after  morning 
prayers,  the  minister  propounded  that  Lady  Stormonth  earnestly 
desired  license  to  bury  uinquhil  Dame  Margaret  Crighton,  Lady 
Bahnanno,  her  mother  in  the  east  end  of  the  kirk  beside  the 
corpes  of  unicpihil  the  Earl  of  Gowry :  And  that  she  would  pay  to 
the  hospital  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  money  for  her  buriall 
leave.'  The  session  consented,  and  the  money  was  paid  to  the 
hospital.1 

'  1674,  9th  August.  As  also  it  being  intimated  to  the  Sessione 
that  the  Boatmen  haveing  passed  over  the  water  on  the 
Lords  day  and  broken  the  Sabbath,  should  be  summoned 
against  the  nixt  day  to  answer  for  the  breach  of  the  same.' 

'  30  Aug*,  given  to  ane  stranger  on  the  said  day  called  Dame 
Geils  Moncrief,  4  merks  according  to  the  Bishop's  order.' 

'  7th  March  1675.  On  which  day  the  minister  intimated  from 
the  pulpit  that  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lords'  Supper  should 
be  celebrated  the  next  Lords'  day,  and  for  that  effect  that 
he  would  examine  those  of  the  Landert  after  the  afternoon 
sermon,  and  those  in  the  towne  on  monday  and  tuesday, 
as  also  that  they  should  have  for  better  preparatione  ser- 
mon on  Saterday.' 

1 1675  Sep:  18.  The  qlk  day  given  to  Henrie  Arnott  for  carieng 
a  crippell  woeman  to  Abernethie  .  00     02     00.' 

The  practice  of  leading  blind,  and  carrying  cripple  beggars 
from  house  to  house,  by  one  neighbour  to  that  of  his  next  neigh- 
bour, is  fresh  hi  the  remembrance  of  many  still  alive.  The  mode 
of  carrying  the  cripple  was  on  a  hand-barrow,  and  it  continued 
down  to  the  introduction  of  the  Poor  Law  Amendment  Act. 

'  1675  Decr  18.  No  collection  because  ther  came  feu  people,  it 
being  a  very  foule  day.' 


Blame  of  Kirk-buriall,  Editor's  Preface,  p.  via. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  251 

'  The  winter  of  1675-6  being  singularly  mild,  was  followed  by 
a  favourable  spring,  and  there  consequently  was  an  abundant  har- 
vest. The  characteristic  mutability  of  our  climate  was,  however, 
shown  immediately  after.  There  was  drought  in  latter  autumn, 
and  about  the  18th  of  December  the  temperature  fell  to  an  extra- 
ordinary degree,  the  most  aged  people  never  remembered  the  like. 
The  birds  fell  down  frae  the  air  dead,  the  rats  in  numbers  found 
dead ;  all  liquors  froze,  even  the  strongest  ale,  and  the  distilled 
waters  of  apothecaries  in  warm  rooms  froze  in  whole  and  the 
glasses  broke.'  * 

'  The  qlk  day  ther  was  intimation  made  conforme  to  the  act 
of  synod  of  an  collection  for  the  Relief  of  the  Captives  in 
Asia.' 

'  1678,  Feb.  12. — A  Collection  for  the  distressed  merchants  of 
Monros  being  intimated  the  forgoing  Sabbath  was  collect- 
ed, which  is  18.  s.  and  delivered.' 

'  Feb  26.  The  same  day  given  out  of  the  box  4  lib.  6.  s.  as  the 
charitie  allofied  be  the  session  for  the  reliefe  of  the  chris- 
tians taken  prisoners  with  the  Turks. 

'  1679,  May  18.  Sicklike  Intimatione  was  made  from  the 
pulpit  for  tiio  Collections  for  repairing  ye  harbours  of 
Eeymouth  and  Piterhead.' 

'  June  ye  8.  Collect  for  Piterhead  ....  16/V 

'  Aug'  23.  Sicklike  yis  day  the  Collectione  for  Eeymouth, 
was  augmented  and  sent  to  the  receiver,  being  three 
pounds  scots         .  .  .  .  .  .  3  lib : 

'  1680,  August  ye  fourth — the  famine  of  Lundores  was  cate- 
chised.' 

'  This  day  given  to  a  poor  man  called  John  Boigie,  who  had 
been  tennant  in  Buspie,  and  his  goods  all  wasted  by  the 
malefice  of  a  Witch  as  his  testificat  bears    .  .  4/V 

'  Septr  1,  given  to  Alexr  Innes  ane  Indigent  Gentleman  in  ye 

1   Chambers's  Domestic  Annuls,  Vol.  I.,  p.  373. 


252  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

paroch  of  Tannadice  in  Angus,  who  had  formerly  been  in 
ye  Kings  troupe  and  now  reduced,  resolves  to  plenish  a 
roome 12/V 

The  expression  '  to  plenish  a  roome '  is  now  obsolete  in  the 
sense  in  which  it  is  used  in  the  foregoing  extract ;  it  then  signified 
to  stock  land  for  its  cultivation.  On  the  10th  September  1657,  Mi- 
David  Orme,  minister  of  Monimail  was  accused  of  neglecting  his 
duty  '  by  labouring  of  land  ; '  he  admitted  '  that  he  had  land  in 
his  own  hand  in  Newburgh,  and  that  he  was  a  conjunct  tutor 
and  curator  for  two  pupills  in  the  parish  of  Collessy,  his  sister's 
children,  who  had  neither  father  nor  mother,  and  that  he  had 
furnished  some  cornes  for  plenishing  ther  rowme.  The  Presbytery 
advyse  him  to  set  that  land,  and  to  acquite  himselfe  of  those  bur- 
dines  of  that  tutory  and  curatory  to  the  other  unqlle  by  the  father's 
syde.' x 

'Oct.  17.  The  same  day  ther  was  an  Intimatione  from  ye 
pulpit  of  ane  thanksgiving  sermon  to  be  ye  nixt  Lord's 
day  for  ye  good  harvest  weather,  ye  people  exhorted  to 
yr  dutie.' 

'Nov.  8.  Given  to  ane  Indigent  Gentelman  Thomas  Game, 
who  had  sometime  been  in  Claverish  troup  and  being  sick 
was  in  necessitie  ....  00.     13.     04. 

'1681,  June  ye  26,  Sicklike  ane  intimation  from  the  pulpit, 
the  Counsels  order  ordaining  a  fast  for  the  long  drought 
to  be  on  Wednesday  following,  the  twentie  ninth  the 
sd  fast  was  keept  and  sermon  tuo  dyetts.' 

'  From  March  up  to  this  date  [24th  June]  there  was  a  cold 
drought,  which  at  length  inspired  so  much  dread  of  famine  and 
consequent  pestilence,  that  a  fast  was  proclaimed  throughout  the 
kingdom  for  deprecating  God's  wrath  and  obtaining  rain.     The 

1  Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews  and  Cupar,  p.  180. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  253 

evil  was  generally  regarded  as  an  effect  of  the  great  comet  of  the 
past  winter,  '  and  certainly,'  says  Fountainhall,  '  it  may  drain  the 
moisture  from  the  earth  and  influence  the  weather,  but  there  is  a 
higher  hand  of  Providence  above  all  these  signs,  pointing  out  to 
us  our  luxury,  abuse  of  plenty,  and  other  crying  sins.'  He  adds, 
'  God  thought  fit  to  prevent  our  applications  and  addresses,  and 
on  24  June  and  following  days  sent  plentiful  showers.' 1 

'1681  July  ye  10.  This  day  Intimatione  was  made  and  the 
order  read  for  ane  voluntary  Contribution  for  the  Captives 
amongst  ye  Turks  belonging  to  Pittenweem.' 

On  the  12th  March  following  a  collection  was  made  for  '  James 
Johnston  in  Burntisland  under  the  Turks  slaverie.'  Many  others 
of  a  similar  kind  appear  in  Newburgh  Kirk  Session  Eecords.  The 
Algerine  corsairs  were  the  scourge  and  terror  of  sailors  in  the  seven- 
teenth century;  but  the  collections  which  were  made  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  their  captives,  proved  the  very  temptation  which  induced 
them  to  set  out  on  their  piratical  expeditions.  Just  as  vessels  leave 
our  shores  on  voyages  of  legitimate  commerce,  these  pirates  yearly 
set  out  for  the  capture  of  Christian  sailors,  feeling  certain  that  they 
would  reap  a  rich  reward  in  the  collections  that  would  be  made 
for  the  redemption  of  those  who  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into 
their  hands.  The  sufferings  of  these  captives  were  well  calculated 
to  call  forth  the  sympathy  of  the  compassionate.  In  1637  one 
unfortunate  man  presented  a  petition  to  the  Privy  Council  '  setting 
forth  his  pitiful  estate  among  the  Turks  in  Algiers.  He  had  been 
forced  to  carry  water  on  his  back  through  the  town  with  an  iron 
chain  about  his  leg  and  round  his  middle  .  .  .  and  no  food 
but  four  unce  of  bread  daily  as  black  as  tar,  while  obliged  to 
endure  forty  or  three  score  of  stripes  with  ane  rope  of  four  inches 
great  upon  his  naked  body,  sometimes  on  his  naked  back,  and 
sometimes  on  his  belly.     When  the  ship  is  to  go  to  sea  he  must 


Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  4.26. 


254  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

go  perforce  and  sustein  the  like  misery  there, — and  all  because 
he  will  not  renunce  his  faith  in  Christ,  and  become  ane  Turk.  His 
cruel  maisters  having  offered  to  liberate  him  for  twelve  hundred 
merks,  the  Privy  Council  recommended  his  case  to  the  charity  of 
his  fellow  countrymen,  and  appointed  David  Corsaw  in  Dysart, 
the  captive's  uncle  to  administer  the  money  for  his  relief.' x  On 
the  23d  April  1739  the  following  harrowing  entry  occurs  in  the 
Records  of  the  Kirk  Session  of  Newburgh.  Given  '  to  a  poor  man 
that  had  his  Tongue  cutt  out  among  the  Algerins  .  0.  06.  00.' 
This  nefarious  traffic  was  never  effectually  checked  until  Ad- 
miral Lord  Esmouth  bombarded  Algiers  in  1816  ;  he  completely 
destroyed  the  Algerine  fleet,  and  demanded  and  obtained  the 
immediate  release  of  every  Christian  captive  in  the  territory. 
The  strong  hand  of  war  in  this  case,  as  in  many  others,  being 
not  only  true  policy  but  true  mercy. 

'  On  the  29th  October  1682.  The  Minister  advertysed  ye 
Heritors  to  ammend  the  kirk  before  ye  winter  come  on, 
but  it  was  not  done.'  On  the  19th  February  following, 
'  it  was  appointed  that  the  Minister  should  represent  ye 
ruinous  conditione  of  ye  fabrick  of  ye  Church,  which  hath 
been  formerly  maintained  upon  ye  poors  money,  to  my 
Lord  Archbishop.' 

Thirty  years  subsequent  to  the  foregoing  representation,  the 
Reverend  Thomas  Morer,  Chaplain  to  a  Scotch  Regiment,  published 
[1715]  'A  Short  Account  of  Scotland.'  Speaking  of  the  churches 
in  the  north,  he  says  : — '  In  the  country  they  are  very  poor  and 
mean  covered,  no  better  than  then  ordinary  cottages  .  .  .  but 
in  the  burghs  and  cities  they  are  bricked  and  tiled  and  well 
enough  furnished  with  galleries  and  other  conveniences.'  2 


1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  93. 

2  Quoted  Selections  from  the  Records  of  the  Kirk  Sessions  of  the  Presbytery  of 
ylberdeen,  Spald  Club,  App.  p.  lxvii. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  255 

1683,  feb:  25.  This  day  Mr  James  Smart,  reader,  delivered 
up  ye  key  of  the  box,  but  refused  to  fill  up  ye  Sessione 
book  or  give  any  satisfactione  for  the  offence  done,  but 
went  out  in  a  contemptible  maner,  was  therefore  referred 
to  ye  presbyterie.' 
'  Appryll  ye  8.  The  sd  day  an  act  was  read  for  ane  voluntar 
contributione  for  ye  building  ane  bridge  upon  ye  water 
of  Leven  near  Dumbartone  to  be  collect  next  Lords'  day. 
'  15th  collecte  for  ye  sd  Bridge     ...  01.     13.     4.' 

'August  the  5.  Allison  Mair  and  Janet  Williamsone  being 
summonded  befor  the  Sessione  for  mutuall  scolding,  the 
said  Allison  calling  Janet  Williamsone's  daughter-in-law 
ane  thief  for  stealing  ane  psalm  book,  the  other  replying 
with  cursing  and  prophanatione  of  the  name  of  God,  that 
by  his  name  she  would  throw  a  stone  at  her  head ;  both 
persons  compeired  are  found  guiltie  of  scolding  and  swear- 
ing, and  so  lyable  to  the  penalties  contained  in  the  acts 
of  the  Sessione  viz.,  the  said  Allison  Man  in  two  shillings 
sterling  being  a  relapse,  and  to  appear  before  the  Congre- 
gatione  and  make  public  satisfactione,  or  else  to  the  cock- 
stool  or  joigs,  and  sicklike  the  forsd  Mair  having  defamed 
the  sd  Janet  Williamsone's  daughter-in-law  with  thift  is 
also  found  lyable  according  to  the  former  acts,  in  four 
pounds  scotts  and  to  go  to  the  cockstool.' 

The  'joigs'  of  Newburgh  were  fixed  to  the  porch  which 
formed  the  entrance  to  the  churchyard.  They  disappeared  when 
the  '  Porch  '  was  taken  down  for  the  erection  of  the  new  church. 
They  were  comparatively  slender,  and  had  the  appearance  of  being 
much  worn.  There  is  a  much  more  perfect  specimen  of  this  in- 
strument of  punishment,  with  padlock  attached,  fixed  to  the 
Round  Tower  of  Abernethy,  at  the  entrance  to  the  churchyard  of 
that  parish. 

'  1683,  August  the  26.     Collect  8/s  4d.    which    was   given   to 


256  PAROCHIAL  AXXALS. 

John  Dempster,  as  drink  money  when  he  was  working  on 
the  kirk.' 
'  Septr  the  9th  collect  12/s  8d.  being  the  thanksgiving  day  for 
the  discoverie  of  the  conspiracie  against  his  Majestic' 

The  conspiracy  here  referred  to  was  what  is  usually  called  the 
Rye  House  Plot,  part  of  the  design,  it  was  alleged,  being  the  as- 
sassination of  Charles  II.  and  the  Duke  of  York,  to  secure  the 
succession  of  the  Duke  of  Monmouth  to  the  throne,  in  preference 
to  the  Duke  of  York,  afterwards  James  II.  Many  thought  the 
Plot  was  a  sham,  simulated  for  political  intrigue,  and  in  conse- 
quence some  ministers  would  not  read  the  proclamation  from  the 
pulpit. 

'  Sept:  16th  Qlk  day  the  Minister  intimated  from  the  pulpit  ane 
collectione  to  be  collected  the  nixt  Sabbath  for  helping  the 
bridge  of  Aberdeen.'     Collect  13/s  2d. 

'  1684,  May  the  4  qlk  day  ther  was  ane  proclamatione  read 
anent  ane  solemne  fast  for  the  long  storm  in  winter,  and 
the  great  disdaine  of  the  ordinances,  to  be  keept  on  wed- 
ensday  nixt.' 

The  frost  began  in  November  preceding,  '  and  lasted  with 
great  severity  till  March,  with  storms  and  snow  now  and  then. 
The  rivers  at  Dundee,  Borrowstounness,  and  other  places,  where 
the  sea  ebbs  and  flows,  did  freeze,  which  hath  not  been  observed 
in  the  memory  of  man  before,  and  thereby  the  cattle,  especially 
the  sheep,  were  reduced  to  great  want.'  .  .  .  '  This  frost 
prevailed  equally  in  England  and  Ireland,  producing  ice  on  the 
Thames  below  Gravesend.' 1 

In  the  year  1685  Newburgh  was  visited  with  a  calamitous  fire 
which  destroyed  eighteen  houses,  and  rendered  upwards  of  thirty 
families   houseless,   they    therefore    required   the    aid    which  the 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  p.  454. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  257 

previous  pages  show  they  had  bestowed  on  the  inhabitants  of 
Edinburgh,  Northampton,  and  other  places,  when  they  had  been 
overtaken  by  a  similar  calamity.  Insurance  against  fire  being  un- 
known in  those  days,  the  sufferers  had  nothing  to  fall  back  upon 
but  the  compassion  of  the  public,  and  in  their  distress,  they  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council,  beseeching 
them  to  give  authority  for  a  voluntary  contribution  being  made  on 
their  behalf,  in  the  parish  churches  of  the  neighbouring  shires. 
'  The  Council  acceded  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition,  and  passed  an 
Act  accordingly,  which  is  here  given  from  one  of  the  printed  copies 
circulated  at  the  time.' 

On  obtaining  this  Act,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Provost 
and  Council  of  '  Edinburgh,  beseeching  that  they  would  sanction 
a  contribution  in  the  churches  within  then  jurisdiction ;  and  on 
the  identical  petition  which  was  presented  to  the  Council,  the 
words,  '  17  Feb17  1686  grants  ye  desyre,'  are  written. 

ACT 

FOR  A  VOLUNTAR  CONTRIBUTION  IN  FAVORS  OF  THE 
DISTRESSED  INHABITANTS  OF  NEWBTJRGH. 

At  Edinburgh  the  twentieth  eight  day  of  January  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  eighty  six  years,  anent  a  Petition  pre- 
sented by  the  poor  and  distressed  People  and  Inhabitants 
of  the  burgh  of  Newburgh  in  Fife  shewing,  that  where  it 
having  pleased  God  upon  the  fifteenth  day  of  Apryl  last, 
to  visit  the  Petitioners  with  an  accidentall  fyre,  which 
burnt  down  seventeen  or  eighteen  large  Tenements,  all 
for  the  most  part  lofted,  and  thacked  with  Keed  which 
contained  about  thirty  families  and  upwards  ;  Each  Tene- 
ment having  all  office  houses  relating  thereto,  Thacked 
and  Lofted  as  said  is,  and  burnt  all  that  was  therein ; 
whereby,  through  the  suddenness  of  the  fyre,  and  the 
greatnes  of  the  wind,  burned  all  that  was  therein,  and 
nothing   is  left  unto  them  but  what  may  come  by   the 

R 


258  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

Charitable  supply  of  well  disposed  and  compassionat  Chris- 
tians :  as  a  Testificat  under  the  neighbouring  Gentlemens 
hands  doeth  testify.  And  it  alwise  having  been  the  Coun- 
cils laudable  custome  upon  the  occasion  of  such  distresse 
and  misery,  to  interpose  their  authority  for  a  Voluntar 
Contribution,  towards  the  repairing  of  the  losse  of  such 
sufferers  as  the  Petitioners  are.  And  therefore,  Humbly 
Supplicating,  that  the  Council  would  out  of  the  bowels  of 
pity  and  compassion  Consider  the  distressed  condition  of 
the  Petitioners  and  grant  Order  for  a  voluntar  contribution 
for  repairing  them  of  their  said  Loss,  in  such  places  as  their 
Lordships  shall  think  fit,  since  thereby  they,  and  all  good 
Christians,  will  be  encouraged  to  help  others  whose  Lot 
it  may  fall  to  be  in  their  condition.  The  Lords  of  His 
Majesties  Privy  Council,  having  heard  and  considered  the 
foresaid  Petition  Do  hereby  give  Order  and  Warrand  for 
a  Voluntar  Contribution  to  be  collected  for  repairing  the 
Petitioners  Loss  and  Dammage,  furth  of  the  Shires  of  Fife 
and  Kinross,  Perth,  Angus  and  Mid  Lothian  ;  and  Recom- 
mended to  the  most  Reverend  the  Arch-bishops,  and  Right 
Reverend,  the  Bishops,  in  their  respective  Diocesses,  to 
cause  Intimation  to  be  made  hereof  by  the  ministers  in 
their  several  Parodies,  upon  a  Sabbath  forenoon,  after 
Divine  Service  ;  And  Appoints  Mr  George  Arnot,  Brother- 
german  to  James  Arnot  of  Wood-milne,  to  be  Collector  of 
the  foresaid  voluntar  Contribution,  in  regard  he  hath  found 
sufficient  Caution,  to  make  the  same  forth-coming,  accord- 
ing to  the  Petitioners  their  several  losses  and  damages, 
and  to  make  compt  and  reckoning  accordingly  to  the 
Council  when  required.     Extracted  by  me — 

Will.  Paterson,  Cler  sti  Concilii. 

Edinburgh,  Printed  by  the  Heir  of  Andrew  Anderson,  Printer 
to  His  most  Sacred  Majesty,  Anno  Dom  :  1686. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  259 

'  1685  Sepr  the  20.  The  Minister  from  the  pulpit  exhorted  the 
parishioners  to  be  charitable  against  the  next  Sabbath 
for  these  that  had  suffered  losse  by  the  fire  in  the  Towne, 
to  be  collected  both  forenoon  and  afternoon.' 

'  Sep*  the  27th,  Collect  7  lib.  ll/s  4d.  for  the  forsd  sufferers.' 
'  The  sd  collectione  was  given  to  Mr  George  Arnott  to  go 
about  the  Collection  for  the  sd  sufferers. 

'  1685  Oct:  11  Qlk  day  ther  was  ane  act  read  for  the  celebra- 
tione  of  his  Maties  happie  birth  day  [James  II.]  to  be  keepit 
upon  Wedensday  nixt  and  so  furth  yearly.' 

'  Octr  the  18th,  Collect  15/8  8d.  of  the  which  given  to  John 
Smart  Beddell  for  his  extraordinary  pains  on  the  Kings 
birthday  .  .  .  r  *      .  00     06     08.' 

'Decr  the  27.  The  sd  day  ther  was  ane  act  read  for  ane 
voluntar  contribution  for  Balbirnie  Bridge.'  On  the  9th  Oct 
1687,  there  was  collected  and  delivered  17     02     00.' 

The  largeness  of  the  collection  shows  the  importance  attached 
to  the  erection  of  a  bridge  on  the  direct  road  to  Edinburgh. 

'1686  May  the  9th  Qlk  day  the  Minister  and  Elders  conde- 
scended that  Mr  James  Smart  their  schoolmaister  should 
have  in  time  comeing,  for  teaching  the  poor  thretteen 
shillings  and  four  pennies  for  each  of  them.' 

'  May  the  29th,  Given  out  to  [a]  distressed  Gentlewoimian  called 
Elizabeth  Nairn,  recommended  to  us  by  the  Archbishop 
who  as  her  testificat  bears  was  robbed  of  her  goods,  and 
her  husband  deadly  wounded         .  .  00     12     00.' 

'  It  to  two  sick  men  going  to  the  Lady  Pitfirrane 

to  be  cured  of  the  sicknes     ...  00     06     00.' 

Lady  Pitfirrane,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Murray,  was, 
at  the  date  of  the  mention  of  her  name  in  the  Records  of  the  Kirk 
Session  of  Newburgh,  the  widow  of  Sir  James  Halket  of  Pitfirrane, 
Bart.     By  her  father,  Mr  Robert  Murray,  she  was  descended  from 


260  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

the  family  of  Tullibardine,  and  by  her  mother  Jane  Drnmmond, 
from  the  family  of  Drummond,  Earl  of  Perth.  Her  father  was 
appointed  by  James  VI.  preceptor  to  his  second  son,  afterwards 
the  unhappy  Charles  L,  and  subsequently  became  Provost  of  Eton 
College. 

The  parents  of  Anna  Murray  superintended  the  education  of 
their  daughter  with  pious  care,  and  bestowed  on  her  a  higher 
culture  than  was  usual  for  women  in  that  age.  Charles  I.  entrust- 
ed her  with  the  education  of  two  of  his  children,  the  Duke  ©f 
Gloucester  and  the  Princess  Elizabeth  ;  a  task  which  she  was  well 
qualified  to  fulfil.  Her  cultivated  mind,  and  the  deep  religious 
feeling  which  was  the  pervading  principle  of  her  life,  made  her 
eminently  fitted  for  forming  the  minds  of  the  pupils  committed  to 
her  charge.  The  hard  fate  of  the  Princess  Elizabeth  required  all 
the  consolation  which  religion  and  a  religious  education  could  con- 
fer. She  suffered  in  her  father's  sufferings,  and  untended  and 
alone  was  found  dead  on  the  floor  of  her  prison  in  Carisbrook  Castle, 
with  her  head  resting  on  a  Bible,  open  at  the  text,  '  Come  unto  me 
all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.' 
Queen  Victoria,  with  true  womanly  feeling,  has  caused  a  monu- 
ment, commemorative  of  the  Princess'  death,  to  be  erected  in  New- 
port Church  (Isle  of  Wight),  where  the  unhappy  Princess  was 
buried.  The  monument,  which  is  of  pure  white  marble  and  of 
exquisite  design,  represents  the  Princess  as  she  was  found  in  her 
cell ;  with  this  difference,  the  bars  of  her  prison  are  represented  as 
broken,  the  body  captive  but  the  spirit  at  liberty. 

Anna  Murray  long  survived  her  young  pupil.  Throughout 
her  life  she  devoted  herself  to  the  then  popular  study  of  theo- 
logy, and  has  left  behind  her  many  manuscript  volumes  of 
meditations  on  scriptural  subjects.  But  her  religion  did  not  con- 
sist in  mere  meditation  ;  from  her  very  early  years  she  gave  her- 
self to  the  study  of  '  Physick,'  that  she  might  be  able  to  alleviate 
the  sufferings  of  the  poor.  In  this  work  she  was  eminently 
successful.  It  is  recorded  of  her,  that  after  the  disastrous  battle 
of  Dunbar,  coming  accidentally  to  Kinross,  '  she  and  her  women 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  261 

dressed  about  thrie  score  poor  wounded  soldiers,'  many  of  whose 
wounds  were  in  a  sad  festering  condition  from  neglect.  With 
compassionate  forethought  she  had  provided  herself  with  things 
necessary  for  this  purpose,  having  anticipated  occasion  for  their 
employment.  Lines  addressed  to  Florence  Nightingale,  whose  de- 
votion to  the  relief  of  the  suffering  and  diseased  has  added  lustre 
to  womanhood,  may  be  truthfully  applied  to  Anna  Murray,  '  Lady 

Pitfirrane.' 

1  O  sweet  Lady  !  thou  indeed, 
Where  thy  saintly  virtues  shine, 
Dost  exalt  thy  Christian  creed, 
By  those  holy  works  of  thine.' ' 

Lady  Halket  spared  no  pains  to  add  to  her  knowledge  in 
medical  science,  both  by  converse  and  by  study  of  the  best  works 
on  the  subject,  until  her  skill  became  so  highly  appreciated,  that 
invalids  of  rank,  both  at  home  and  from  abroad,  sought  her  opinion 
and  advice.  She  was  a  woman  of  unaffected  simplicity  of  charac- 
ter and  kindliness  of  disposition,  ever  ready  to  give  the  benefit  of 
her  skill  to  all  who  applied  to  her ;  and  it  was  this  trait  in  her 
character  which  induced  the  two  sick  men,  who  were  aided  by  the 
kirk  session  of  Newburgh,  '  to  go  to  Lady  Pitfirrane.' 

Lady  Halket  bore  four  children  to  her  husband,  all  of  whom 
died  young,  except  a  son  named  Robert,  born  in  1660.  In  Feb- 
ruary 1674  she  went  with  him  to  St  Andrews  to  enter  him  to  the 
college,  '  offering  him  up  to  God  and  begging  the  conduct  of  His 
good  Spirit  to  lead  him  and  bless  him  in  his  studies,  and  preserve 
him  from  all  evil ;  resolving  if  she  lived  to  see  him  safely  returned, 
after  the  finishing  of  his  Courses  to  make  some  Donative  to  the 
College,  in  token  of  her  gratitude  to  God.'  On  the  completion  of 
Robert's  college  career,  '  she  caused  a  Communion-cup  be  made  of 
very  good  workmanship  for  the  Church  of  St  Leonard,  out  of  thank- 
fulness for  her  son  having  returned  with  good  testimony.'  This 
votive  offering  was  sent  to  Dr  Skein,  then  Provost  of  the  old 

'   1'.  (J.  Hamilton,  Isles  of  Loch  Aire. 


262  PAROCHIAL  ANNALS. 

college,  who  had  been  her  son's  regent.  It  is  still  preserved,  and 
bears  the  following  inscription  :  'THIS  CUP  IS  DEDICATED  TO  THE 
USE  OF  THE  HOLY  TABLE  IN  ST  LEONARD'S  CHURCH  ST  ANDREWS, 
BY  A  DEVOUT  WIDOW  AS  A  FREE-WILL  OFFERING  FOR  THE  RETURN 
OF  PRAYER  UPON  THE  XIII  DAY  OF  APRIL  MDCLXXXI.'  This  son, 
the  object  of  so  much  motherly  care,  entered  the  army,  and  died 
on  the  continent  in  1693.  His  mother  survived  him  several  years, 
and  died  in  1699,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-seven,  esteemed 
and  lamented  both  by  rich  and  poor.  In  the  words  of  her  bio- 
grapher :  '  She  was  one  whose  conversation  was  in  Heaven,  whose 
thoughts  and  desires  were  ever  towards  God ;  whose  dayley  ex- 
ercise was  to  dispose  and  fit  herself  for  the  blessed  society  above, 
by  daily  growing  in  grace,  in  holiness  and  charity,  and  in  eminent 
humility, — which  was  the  ornament  of  all  her  other  virtues.'  * 

The  writings  which  Lady  Halket  has  left  behind  her,  extend  to 
upwards  of  twenty-one  volumes  of  manuscript,  and  consist  chiefly 
of  meditations  on  passages  of  Scripture.  Two  only  of  her  treatises 
have  been  published.  One  of  these,  '  The  Mother's  Will  to  the  Un- 
born Child,'  she  wrote  under  the  impression  that  she  would 
not  survive  the  delivery  of  her  first-born  child.  This  work  was 
published  in  Edinburgh  in  1788.  In  1701  a  small  quarto  volume 
was  published  (also  in  Edinburgh),  containing  'Meditations  on  the 
25th  Psalm,'  and  other  treatises.  An  interesting  biography  of 
Lady  Halket  is  prefixed  to  this  work,  from  which  this  notice  of 
her  life  has  been  mainly  derived.  The  '  Meditations  '  and  the  '  In- 
structions for  Youth,'  contained  in  the  same  volume,  are  pervaded 
by  devout  and  fervent  feeling,  and  testifiy  to  her  having  been  an 
able  and  thoughtful  student  of  Scripture.  The  'Instructions' 
abound  with  good  sense,  and  are  well  worthy  of  being  republished. 

Lady  Halket  was  strongly  attached  to  the  Royal  family.  When 
resident  in  London  she  materially  aided  in  the  escape  of  James, 
Duke  of  York  (in  his  youth),  at  the  time  of  his  father's  great 


i  Memoir  of  Lady  Halket,  L701.     Chambers's  Scottish  Biography, Y 61.  II.,  p.  560. 


PAROCHIAL  ANNALS.  263 

troubles.     la  her  old  age  she  had  the  misery  of  seeing  him,  by  his 
own  folly,  again  a  fugitive  and  an  exile. 

'1686  Septr  the  5th  John  Tod,  Bailie,  on  of  the  Elders  de- 
lated John  Smart,  Beddell  and  Hew  Patrick  for  talking 
loud  in  the  Kirkyard  about  ther  ordinar  discourse  in  time 
of  Divine  Service,  and  the  minister  and  Elders  ordained 
them  to  stand  before  the  paroch  the  nixt  Lords  day  and 
satisfie  for  ther  fault.'  They  both  appear,  confess  their 
fault,  and  '  crave  Gods  pardon.' 

'1686  Sep.  the  19.  The  Minister  and  Elders  hearing  that 
ther  were  severall  abuses  comitted  in  the  time  of  Divine 
Service,  ordained  for  the  time  cumeing  that  some  of  the 
Elders  should  go  through  the  Town  for  the  prevention  of 
the  sd  abuses.' 

'1688  Feb  the  12th,  qlk  day  the  minister  mad  intimatione 
that  a  thanksgiven  sermon  for  the  Queen's  being  with 
child  was  to  be  keeptthe  next  Lords  day,  don  accordingly.' 

'  June  the  28,  thanksgiving  sermon  for  the  young  Prince  was 
observed.' 

The  young  prince,  afterwards  known  as  the  Pretender,  the 
father  of  Prince  Charles  Edward  Stuart,  was  born  on  the  10th 
June. 

'  Sep  the  qlk  day  ane  proclamatione  was  read  against  the 
vending  and  importing  of  seditious  books  and  pamphlets.' 

'  Sepr  the  23  ane  proclamation  was  read  appointing  the 
Randezvous  of  the  militia  Regiments  and  calling  out  the 
Heritors.' 

'  Sep  the  30.  Ane  advertisement  was  given  to  the  Heritors 
anent  the  out-reak  of  the  foot  militia.' 

On  Oct  7th  an  advertisement  was  read  calling  on  '  the  Heri- 
'  tors  to  attend  the  Kings  Host  at  Burntisland  on  Wednes- 
day next,'     And  on  the  21st  October  the  heritors  of  Fife 


204  PAROCHIAL  AXNALS. 

and  Kinross-shire  were  warned  to  meet  at  Kirkcaldy  on 
the  22d  '  for  his  majestys  speciall  service.' 

The  frequency  of  these  proclamations  at  this  period  show, 
with  unmistakable  distinctness,  the  apprehension  with  which 
James  and  his  ministers  regarded  the  aspect  of  the  times  ;  appre- 
hensions, which  events  in  a  few  days  proved  to  have  been  only  too 
well  founded.  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  landed  in  Torbay  on 
the  5th  November  1688,  and  on  the  13th  December  following  James 
abdicated  the  throne  by  flight. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIYE.' 
'  The  old  order  changeth,  yielding  place  to  new.' 


Tennyson. 


In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1689  a  Convention  of  Estates  was 
assembled  for  the  settlement  of  the  Crown.  The  following  entry 
regarding  it  appears  in  Newburgh  Kirk  Session  Records  : — 

'  1689  Feb.  24.  Qlk  day  ther  was  an  order  read  for  a 
meethig  of  the  Shyre  for  choicing  the  Commissioners  to 
the  Convention  the  fourteenth  day  of  sd  moneth'    [March]. 

This  convention  passed  an  act  enjoining  that  'all  ministers 
of  the  Gospel  within  the  Kingdom  publickly  pray  for  King 
William  and  Queen  Mary,  as  King  and  Queen  of  this  Realm,  and 
to  read  this  proclamation  publickly  from  their  pulpits  under  the 
pain  of  being  deprived  and  losing  their  benefices.'1  The  minister 
of  Newburgh,  Mr  William  Grant,  who  was  a  native  of  Morayshire, 
refused  to  read  the  proclamation,  conscientiously  adhering  to  his 
own  convictions,  and  thereby  incurred  the  certainty  of  deprivation. 
The  last  time  he  appears  to  have  officiated  in  the  pulpit  of  New- 
burgh was  on  the  2d  September  1689.  He  was  deprived  on  the 
Tuesday  following.  Though  he  would  not  renounce  his  allegiance 
to  James,  he  made  public  intimation  from  the  pulpit,  as  enjoined 
by  the  convention,  that,  '  a  thanksgiving  sermon  was  to  be 
keeped  on  Tuesday  next  [9  May  1689]  for  our  preservation  from 
Popery;'  and,  it  is  recorded,  '  it  was  observed.'     Mr  Grant  con- 

1  Acts  of  Edates  of  Scots,  Cap.  1G. 


266        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.' 

tinued  to  reside  in  Newburgh  for  upwards  of  eleven  years  after 
bis  ejection.  Judging  from  the  actions  against  him  for  debts, 
recorded  in  the  Court  Books  of  Newburgh,  he  appears  to  have 
been  reduced  to  great  straits.  The  latest  of  these  actions  is 
dated  the  26th  March  1701.  Mr  Grant  subsequently  removed  to 
Edinburgh,  and  died  there  on  the  21st  January  1715,  in  the  fifty- 
sixth  year  of  his  age.1 

The  number  of  clergy  who  were  ejected  froni  then  pulpits  at 
this  period  was  very  great.  Out  of  the  twenty  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Cupar, — of  which  one  charge  was  vacant, — all  but 
one  suffered  ejection  rather  than  take  the  oaths  imposed.  In  St 
Andrews  Presbytery,  seventeen  out  of  twenty-one  were  deprived, 
and  in  the  whole  of  Fife  and  Kinross-shire  only  sixteen  ministers 
adhered,  fifty-five  were  deprived.  In  the  Presbytery  of  Perth, 
seventeen  out  of  twenty  ministers  were  ejected ;  in  that  of 
Auchterarder,  fourteen  out  of  fifteen;  in  Dunblane,  ten  out  of 
twelve ;  six  ministers  only  adhering  in  these  three  Presbyteries. 
A  self-sacrifice  so  great  and  so  general,  shows  a  deeper  and  more 
wide-spread  attachment  to  the  House  of  Stuart  and  to  the  existing 
ecclesiastical  polity,  than  is  commonly  supposed.  A  like  propor- 
tion of  ejections  prevailed  in  many  other  Presbyteries.  The 
ministers  of  Cupar,  Auchtermuchty,  Kettle,  Logie,  and  Strathmiglo, 
were  ejected  on  Wednesday,  the  29th  August  1689;  those  of 
Dairsie,  Creich,  Flisk,  Dunbog,  Abdie,  and  Newburgh,  on  the  Tues- 
day following.2 

These  deprived  ministers  were  not  allowed  to  exercise  then- 
ministerial  functions  without  hindrance,  as  in  modern  times. 
On  the  22d  July  1690,  an  Act  was  passed  by  Parliament,  'dis- 
charging and  prohibiting  them  from  preaching  or  exercising  any 
part  of  their  ministerial  functions,  either  in  churches  or  elsewhere, 
until  they  present  themselves  before  the  Privy  Council,  and  in 
their  presence  take  and  subscribe  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  also 
engaged,  under  their  hands,  to  pray  for  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary,  as  King  and  Queen  of  the  Realm.     .     .     .     Certifying  such 


H.  Scott's  Fasti  Scoticana,  Fife.  2  lb..  Fife. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.'        267 

ministers  as  shall  do  in  the  contrary  that  they  shall  be  pro- 
secuted as  persons  disaffected  and  enemies  to  their  Majesties 
Government  with  all  rigor.' 1  Three  years  later,  they,  in  common 
with  all  official  personages,  were  called  upon  to  make  the  prescribed 
Declaration  of  Assurance,  that  William  and  Mary  were  de  jure, 
as  well  as  de  facto  King  and  Queen.  Preachers  not  provided  with 
Kirks  who  refused  to  take  the  oath  and  make  the  Declaration, 
to  be  punished  by  banishment  or  otherwise,  as  the  Council  shall 
think  fit.'2  The  deprived  ministers  refused  to  forswear  them- 
selves by  taking  the  oath,  and  they  were  in  consequence  called 
non-jurors.  The  punishment  imposed  by  the  Acts  mentioned  was 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  Privy  Council ;  but  in  July  1695  an 
Act  was  passed,  which  left  no  option  to  the  presiding  magistrate. 
This  Act  strictly  prohibited  and  discharged  any  outed  minister 
from  baptizing  any  children,  or  solemnizing  any  marriage  under 
pain  of  imprisonment,  '  ay  and  while  he  finds  caution  to  go  out  of 
the  kingdom,  and  never  to  return  thereto.3 

The  closing  of  the  pulpits  against  so  many  of  the  clergy 
necessarily  deprived  many  parishes  of  public  worship.  For  nearly 
eight  years  (1689-1697)  there  is  no  record  of  public  worship 
having  been  observed  in  Newburgh  Church,  and  similar  neglect 
occurred  in  numerous  other  parishes.  In  May  1697,  Mr  James 
Haddo,  minister  of  Cupar,  met  the  magistrates  and  elders,  and 
'declaired  that  the  Presbytery  were  willing  to  give  their  con- 
currence to  the  planting  of  this  place  with  a  minister  as  mutch  as 
possible  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.' 

One  of  the  first  entries  in  the  Session  Books  under  the  new 
order  of  things,  is  a  record  of  the  purchase  of  meal  for  distribution 
among  the  poor  (January  and  May  1697)  and  thereafter  imme- 
diately follows  entries  of  payments  '  for  mort-chists  for  the  poor,' 
proving  that  Newburgh  did  not  escape  the  terrible  famine  which 
prevailed  for  several  successive  years  towards  the  end  of  the 
sevententh  century.  A  cotemporary  writer,  speaking  of  the  dearth, 


1  1st.  Pari.  William  and  Mary,  2d  Sess.  Chap.  35.  2  lb.  4th  Sess.  Chap.  G. 

"  lb.  5th  Sess.  Chap.  12. 


268        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.' 

says, '  these  unheard-of  manifold  judgements  continued  seven  years, 
not  always  alike,  but  the  seasons,  summer  and  winter,  so  cold  and 
barren,  and  the  wonted  heat  of  the  sun  so  much  withholden  that 
it  was  discernible  upon  the  cattle,  flying  birds  and  insects  decay- 
ing, that  seldom  a  fly  or  cleg  was  to  be  seen.  Our  harvests 
not  in  ordinary  months,  many  shearing  in  November  and  Decem- 
ber, yea  some  in  January  and  February,  many  contracting  their 
deaths,  and  losing  the  use  of  their  feet  and  hands,  shearing  and 
working  in  frost  and  snow,  and  after  all  some  of  it  standing  still, 
and  rotting  upon  the  ground,  much  of  it  for  little  use  either  to 
man  or  beast,  and  which  had  no  taste  or  colour  of  meal.'  The  same 
writer  continues :  '  Through  the  long  continuance  of  these  mani- 
fold judgements,  deaths  and  burials  were  so  many  and  common 
that  the  living  were  wearied  with  burying  the  dead.  I  have  seen 
corpses  drawn  in  sleds.  Many  got  neither  coffins  nor  winding- 
sheet.  I  was  one  of  four  who  carried  the  corpse  of  a  young 
woman  a  mile  of  way,  and  when  we  came  to  the  grave,  an  honest 
poor  man  come  and  said,  "you  must  go  and  help  me  to  bnry  my 
son,  he  has  lain  dead  these  two  days,  otherwise  I  shall  be  obliged 
to  bury  him  in  my  yard.'"1  The  sufferings  of  these  years  must  have 
been  terrible,  and  the  entry  '  for  mort-chists '  tell  with  unequivocal 
certainty  that  the  famine  did  its  fearful  work. 

The  subsequent  entries  in  the  Kirk  Session  Records  are  of  a 
more  common-place  character;  still  there  are  notices  connected 
with  events  of  historical  importance,  which  possess  more  than 
local  interest.  Under  the  year  1715,  but  unfortunately  without 
any  more  special  date,  the  following  entry  occurs:  — 

'  Altho  sermon,  yet  no  collection  because  of  disturbance.' 

The  following  account,  presented  by  the  magistrates  of  New- 
burgh  to  the  commissioners  of  supply  for  the  county  of  Fife, 
throws  some  light  on  this  '  disturbance,'  and  affords  a  glimpse  of 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  19G-7. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.'        2G9 

the  movements  of  the  Highland  troops,  and  of  the  frequency  of 
their  visits  to  the  neighbourhood  : — 

'  Accompt  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the  toune  and  inhabitants 
of  Newburgh  by  the  rebells  dureing  the  tyme  of  the  late 
Rebellion,  as  Follows:1 

'  Imp1-  Payed  of  Cess  to  John  Smith,  Collector 

to  the  rebells  conforme  to  his  discharge  yrof        lib    sh.     d. 
dated   20  Oct,  1715'  .  .  .  .       85  12     2 

'  It.  There  was  quartered  of  Strathmores  men 
Sevintein,  John  Strachan  being  commander, 
and  that  for  the  space  of  twenty  ffour  hours, 
who  took  frie  quarters.  Referred  to  ye 
Judges  modification  .  .  .  .  5     6     0 

It.  There  was  quartered  fifty  seven  men 
twenty  four  hours,  also  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain e  Far  quars  one '     .  .  .  .  17     4     0 

'  It.  there  was  twenty  men  took  frie  quarters 
also,  for  two  days,  commanded  by  Ensign 
Ogilvie'  12     8     0 

'  It.  there  was  twenty  seven  took  frie  quarters 
also  sixtein  days,  commanded  by  Alexander 
McKenzie' 69   12     0 

'  It.  there  was  seven  men  for  three  days  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  McKenzie '        .  .  7  16     0 

'  It.  Captain  McKenzie  and  seventein  men  for 

five  days  got  frie  quarters  also'  .  .        27     0     0 

'  It.  A  large  Drum  and  Drumsticks,  taken  of  by 
the  party  of  gentlemen,  when  they  came  first 
to  Fife  about  Michaelmas  last,  referred  to 
the  judges  modificatione '2    .  .  .  .600 

£230  10     2 


1  The  original  was  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Thos.  Shaw,  Cupar. 
"  Lcightou's  History  of  Fife,  Vol.  II.,  p.  164. 


270        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.' 

'This  is  the  generall  accompt  relating  to  the  toune,  but  each 
particular  person's  loss  sustained  by  them  is  to  be  given 
in  by  then-  Accompts  signed  with  their  hands.  As  witness 
qrof  this  signed  by  the  baillie's  att  Newburgh  the  ffour- 
teen  of  March,  jajvijc  and  sixtein  years.' 

R.  Smith.    John  Lyell. 

Several  of  the  proprietors  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Newburgh 
were  friendly  to  the  Stuarts  in  the  rising  of  1715.  The  most 
prominent  was  Major  Henry  Balfour  of  Dunboig,  son  of  Lord 
Balfour  of  Burleigh.  He  was  severely  satirised  at  the  time  for 
having  deserted  the  cause  ;  but,  notwithstanding  his  defection,  he 
was  seized  and  imprisoned  in  Edinburgh  Castle,  and  his  estates 
confiscated.1  He  was  one  of  the  members  for  Fife  in  the  last 
Scottish  Parliament,  and  strenuously  opposed  the  union.' 

The  following  entry  in  Newburgh  Session  Books  records  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion  : — 

1716  June  7  being  thanksgiving  for  the  defeat  of  the  Rebels 
.      .      .      [Collected]      .  .  .  02     17     00 


4  1739  January  22.     Given  for  mending  of  the  Kirk  after  the 
excessive  wind.' 

'  This  was  a  hurricane  from  the  southwest,  commencing  at  one 
in  the  morning  of  the  14th  January,  and  accompanied  by  light- 
ning ;  it  swept  across  the  south  of  Scotland,  and  seems  to  have 
been  beyond  parallel  for  destructiveness  in  the  same  district  before 
or  since.  It  tore  sheet  lead  from  churches  and  houses,  and  made 
it  fly  through  the  air  like  paper.  Houses  were  thrown  down, 
trees  uprooted  by  hundreds,  and  corn  stacks  scattered.  At  Loch 
Leven  great  shoals  of  perches  and  pikes  were  driven  a  great  way 

1  SpottiswoocTs  Miscellany,  Vol.  II.,  p.  435. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.'        271 

into  the  fields,  so  that  the  country  people  got  horse-loads  of  them, 
at  one  penny  per  hundred.'  l 

'  1740,  January  31.     For  meal  and  coals  to  the  poor  under 
the  storm 9       04       00 

'  June  21.  To  Peter  Miller  for  two  Bolls  of 
Oatmeal  at  7  lib  per  boll,  and  two  Bolls 
of  Peasmeal  at  4  lib  8  sh  per  boll  dis- 
tribute among  the  poor  under  the  storm        22       16       00 

The  storm  here  referred  to  was  a  severe  frost,  '  which  began 
on  the  26th  December  1739  ;  it  lasted  till  the  end  of  January,  and 
was  long  remembered  for  its  severity.  .  .  .  The  principal 
rivers  of  Scotland  were  frozen  over  [the  Tay  at  Perth  was  frozen 
nearly  to  the  bottom],  and  there  was  such  a  general  stoppage  of 
water-mills,  that  the  knocking  stones  usually  employed  in  those 
simple  days  for  crushing  grain  in  small  quantities,  and  of  which 
there  was  one  at  nearly  every  cottage  door,  were  used  on  this 
occasion,  as  a  means  of  grinding  it.  Such  mills  as  had  a  flow  of 
water  were  worked  on  Sundays  as  well  as  ordinary  days.  Food 
rose  to  famine  prices,  and  large  contributions  were  required  from 
the  rich  to  keep  the  poor  alive.  People  perished  of  cold  in  the 
fields,  and  even  in  the  streets/  2 

This  trying  calamity  was  followed  by  a  failure  of  the  crop  of 
the  ensuing  season  (1740),  which  was  productive  of  great  distress. 
Many  were  reduced  to  absolute  want,  and  starving  men  ravenously 
seized  on  any  food  within  their  reach  for  themselves  and  their 
children.  The  magistracy,  both  in  the  towns  and  the  country, 
made  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  meet  the  fearful  emergency ; 
and  the  rich  came  liberally  forward  with  their  means  to  procure 
meal  to  retail  to  the  poor  at  comparatively  low  prices,  but  still 
the  fearful  distress  prevailed.  The  Kirk  Sessions,  as  guardians  of 
the  poor,  were  most  indefatigable  in  their  exertions.3     The  Kirk 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  III.,  p.  G0:j.  -  lb.,  p.  605.  3  lb.,  p.  606. 


272        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.' 

Session  of  Abdie,  with  the  commendable  object  of  affording  work 
to  the  poor  in  their  distress,  and  at  the  sametime  maintaining  a 
proper  spirit  of  independence  and  self-respect,  bought  flax  to  be 
given  out  to  spin.  On  the  19th  January  1741,  the  following  entry 
occurs  in  their  records  : — 

'  ffor  one  hundred  weight  of  lint  to  be  given  out  to  the  poor 
people  of  the  paroche  to  spine    .  .  27       00       00' 

'  ffor  the  carriage  from  Dundie  of  two  hun- 
dred weight     00       18       00' 

Both  in  the  records  of  the  Session  of  Newburgh  and  of  Abdie, 
entry  after  entry  occurs  during  the  year  1741,  '  for  meal  bought 
to  the  poor.'  On  the  1st  of  June  the  Kirk  Session  of  Abdie  paid 
the  unusually  high  price  of  thirty  six  pounds  for  three  bolls  of 
bear,  the  average  price  at  that  time  being  about  four  pounds 
fifteen  shillings  the  boll.  So  late  as  the  3d  October,  when  the 
harvest  ought  to  have  been  gathered  in,  the  following  touching 
entry  occurs  in  Newburgh  Session  Book : — '  To  several  of  the 
Poor  when  there  was  not  meal  for  them  1  07.  00.'  Notwith- 
standing the  bounty  of  the  rich,  and  the  active  exertions  of  the 
magistracy  and  of  the  Kirk  Sessions,  the  famine  did  its  fearful  work, 
and  disease  and  death  followed  in  its  wake.  In  the  Records  of 
the  Kirk  Session  of  Abdie  the  following  significant  entry  occurs  : — 

1 1741  August  10.     to  John  Wilkie  in  full  pay*  of  all  the  poors 
coffins  to  this  date        .  .  .  .        08       13         0 


'  1742  Dec  20.  To  candle  and  other  charges 

when  Margaret  Peatt  was  a  corpse         .  0       12       00 

'  1750,  Oct.  5.     To  John  Laing  for  Isabel 

Clow's  coffin 4       10        0 

'  To  sake  [sack]  and  sugar  before  her  death, 

and  ale,  bread,  and  candle  after  funeral  2       18         6 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE."        273 

These  records  of  the  countenance  of  lychwakes  (so  called 
from  the  old  English  word  li/ch,  a  corpse,  and  ivake  to  watch)  by 
the  Kirk  Session,  is  a  relic  of  a  custom  now  quite  obsolete  in  this 
neighbourhood,  but  which,  at  the  dates  mentioned,  must  have 
universally  prevailed,  as  the  providing  funds  for  the  wakes  of  those 
on  the  roll  of  paupers  proves.  It  would  naturally  be  supposed 
that  the  custom  of  burning  lights,  and  watching  by  a  corpse,  sprang 
from  the  desire  of  mourners  to  be  near  the  object  of  their  affection, 
and  from  the  assembling  of  neighbours  to  sympathise  with  them 
in  then*  affliction.  Feelings  so  natural  and  so  commendable, 
tended  to  keep  alive  the  custom ;  but  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  it  had  its  origin  in  primeval  times,  and  out  of  a  very  different 
set  of  feelings,  affording  one  more  evidence  of  the  vitality  of  cus- 
toms having  their  origin  in  the  childhood  of  the  human  race.  'It 
is  a  prevailing  belief  in  countries  widely  separated,  that  especially 
in  the  dark,  harmful  spirits  swarm.  In  broad  daylight  the  Hindu 
lights  lamps  to  keep  off  demons.  In  Europe  the  details  of  the  use 
of  fire  to  keep  off  demons  and  witches  are  most  explicit.  The 
people  of  the  Hebrides  continued  till  recent  times  to  protect 
mother  and  child  from  evil  spirits  by  carrying  fire  round  them 
before  baptism,  and  in  Bulgaria  candles  are  still  lighted  on  the  feast 
of  St  Demetrius  in  stables  and  sheds,  to  prevent  evil  spirits  from 
entering  into  the  domestic  animals.'1  The  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  finding  this  belief  so  deeply  rooted,  endeavoured  to  give 
it  a  Christian  direction,  and  it  instituted  a  special  office  for  bless- 
ing candles  so  used,  which  were  held  as  symbolical  of  the  True 
Light.  Great  importance  was,  in  consequence,  attached  to  the 
binning  of  lights  beside  an  unhuried  corpse  in  medieval  times; 
and  as  in  the  case  of  providing  lights  at  the  tomb  after  burial, 
craftsmen  united  to  secure  candles  for  binning  at  the  Lychwake 
of  one  another.  The  Gild  of  the  Holy  Cross,  established  at  Strat- 
ford-on-Avon  A.D.  1389,  ordained,  'that  when  any  of  the  bretheren 
or  sisteren  of  the  Gild  dies,  one  large  and  eight  small  wax  lights 

1  E.  B.  Tylor's  Primitive  Culture,  Vol.  II.,  p.  17s. 
S 


274        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.' 

shall  be  carried  from -the  church  to  the  house  of  the  dead,  and 
there  they  shall  be  kept  alight  before  the  body  until  it  is  carried 
to  the  church,  and  the  waxes  shall  be  carried  and  kept  alight 
until  the  body  is  buried.'1  Though  funerals  at  that  period,  and 
for  long  afterwards,  almost  invariably  took  place  after  sunset, 
rendering  torches  necessary,  yet  superstition  largely  mingled  with 
the  practice.  It  was  firmly  believed  that  the  lights  had  a  potent 
effect  in  shielding  the  dead  from  the  malevolence  of  evil  spirits. 
A  medieval  writer  says  : — 

'  A  wondrous  force  and  might 
Doth  in  these  candels  lie,  which  at  any  time  they  light, 
They  sure  beleve  that  neyther  storme  or  tempest  dare  abide, 
Nor  thunder  in  the  skies  be  heard  nor  any  devil's  spide, 
Nor  fearfull  spirites  that  walk  by  night. ' 2 

Notwithstanding  the  religious  direction  given  to  lychwakes  by 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  which  among  other  things  enjoined 
the  offering  up  of  prayers  and  singing  of  psalms  at  these  meetings, 
they  became  occasions  of  intemperance  and  debauchery,  from 
which  every  sacred  feeling  was  banished.  So  early  as  the  middle 
of  the  13th  century,  the  church  protested  against  these  excesses, 
and  threatened  excommunication  against  all  who  joined  in  them. 
These  threats  were  unavailing ;  and  both  in  Roman  Catholic  and 
Protestant  countries,  lychwakes  became  mere  gatherings  for  un- 
bridled license,  from  which,  in  Scotland,  even  superstitious  feelings 
were  latterly  thoroughly  eliminated.3 

From  the  Records  of  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews,  under  date 
20th  March  1644,  we  learn  that  it  was  the  custom  when  a  death 
took  place  in  a  family,  for  '  confused  multitudes'  to  frequent  the 
house  of  the  deceased  uninvited,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
share  of  the  meat  and  drink  that  was  provided  on  the  occasion. 
And  that  it  was  usual  to  distribute  money  among  the  poor  at  the 

1  Old  English  Gilds,  p.  215. 

2  Brand's  Popular  Antiquities,  Vol.  I.,  p.  46.         3  lb.,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  226,  230. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.'        275 

time  of  the  funeral.  The  Presbytery  issued  an  ordinance  for- 
bidding these  excesses,  and  recomineiidea  that  the  money  to  be 
distributed,  should  be  given  to  the  Kirk  Session  of  the  parish  for 
distribution,  and  not  '  in  so  great  a  tumult  of  beggars  as  vse  to  be 
at  the  buriall  place,  when  they  that  cryes  most  and  have  least  neid, 
come  often  best  speed.'1 

The  following  extract  from  the  Records  of  the  Town  Council 
of  Newburgh,  shows  the  extent  to  which  the  drinking  customs  at 
lychwakes  and  funerals  were  carried  in  Scotland  in  the  last 
century : — 

18th  Aprile  1759.  This  day  the  Counsel  mett  after  calling  of 
the  Pasch  Head  Court,  and  there  was  laid  before  them  a 
Long  Petition,  signed  by  the  Plurality  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Burgh  representing  and  holding  forth  the  many 
Disabuses  that  are  committed  at  Burials  both  before  and 
after  the  corps  is  interred,  whereby  many  become  mor- 
tally drunk,  to  the  scandal  of  the  Burgh,  and  Therefore 
the  said  Petitioners  earnestly  require  that  the  Bailies  and 
Counsel,  shall  make  an  Act  for  regulating  such  Disabuses, 
and  against  drinking  before  the  Interment  or  at  Dargies.' 

The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  passed  : — 

t  -jmo.  That  no  Inhabitant  within  the  Town  of  Newburgh  shall 
invite  either  one  or  other  of  the  Inhabitants  to  drink 
before  the  Corpe  be  interred,  nor  shall  any  of  them  go  in 
under  the  penalty  following. 

'  2d0-  They  also  discharge  all  publick  Dargies,  excepting  Rela- 
tions and  near  neighbours,  or  those  that  may  be  ser- 
viceable to  the  concerns  of  the  Defunct, — But  that  the 
country  people  may  be  taken  in  before  the  lifting  of  the 
corpse  if  they  please.' 

Selections  from  the  Records  of  th  Presbyteries  of  St  Andreios  and  Cupar,  p.  20. 


276        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE. ' 

'  3ti0,  That  any  of  the  Inhabitants  transgressing  the  foresaid 
Regulation  whether  the  Inviter  or  the  Invited  of  them 
shall  pay  twenty  pounds  scots  Toties  Quoties,  and  ordains 
this  to  be  intimate  to  the  Inhabitants  by  the  tuck  of 
drum,  that  none  pretend  ignorance.' 

This  public  movement  was  the  dawn  of  a  better  day,  and  for 
more  than  one  generation  back,  absolute  sobriety  at  funerals  has 
prevailed. 

Before  the  country  had  time  to  recover  from  the  calamitous 
effects  of  the  storm  of  1740,  came  the  troublous  era  of  the  'Forty- 
five.'  The  following  entry  in  Newburgh  Kirk  Session  Records, 
shows  the  anxiety  with  which  the  anticipated  approach  of  the 
Highlanders  was  contemplated  : — 

'  1746  Januar  24.  To  Robert  Ferrier  to  bring  news  from 
Stirling 3       00       00' 

A  party  of  Highlanders  came  to  Newburgh  on  a  Sunday  while 
the  people  were  in  church ;  the  congregation  dispersed  immedi- 
ately, and  instead  of  going  home  by  the  middle  of  the  street,  as 
was  then  wont,  they  kept  along  by  the  sides  of  the  houses.  One 
man  named  Thomas  Kinloch,  said  he  would  not  be  turned  out  of 
his  way  by  rebels,  and  he  kept  his  accustomed  path  on  the  crown 
of  the  causeway  ;  but  he  had  to  learn  the  Falstaffian  maxim,  that 
'  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valour ; '  for  the  Highlanders, 
seeing  his  temper,  pricked  him  on  before  them  to  Lindores,  a  dis- 
tance of  two  miles,  and  would  not  allow  him  to  return  until  he 
cried  aloud,  '  Prince  Charlie  for  ever.'  This  episode  seems  to  have 
been  a  subject  of  merriment  in  aftertimes,  when  all  danger  was 
past.  An  eye-witness  of  the  entry  of  the  Highlanders  into  New- 
burgh in  1745,  in  narrating  the  incident,  laughed  heartily,  nearly 
eighty  years  after  the  event,  as  he  recounted  the  stern  old  whig's 
discomfiture.     Prince  Charles  Edward  did  not  come  to  Newburgh, 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE. 


277 


but  there  is  a  tradition  that  he  slept  one  night  in  the  old  mansion- 
house  of  Carpow,  two  miles  to  the  westward,  then  the  residence 
of  John  Oliphant,  whose  kindred  were  all  staunch  adherents  of 
the  Stuarts.  The  room  which  the  Prince  is  said  to  have  occupied 
is  still  pointed  out. 


the  old  mansion  house  of  carpow.     (From  a  Photograph.) 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  Highlanders  made  search  for  the 
magistrates  of  Newburgh,  to  compel  them  to  swear  allegiance  to 
the  '  rightful  King, '  and  not  finding  them,  they  threatened  to  burn 
their  houses  when  they  came  back  ;  but  Culloden  intervened,  and 
the  threat  remained  what  it  was  intended  to  be,  unfulfilled. 

Lord  George  Murray,  Princes  Charles's  ablest  adviser,  lived  at 
Mugdrum  (a.d.  1730),  of  which  he  was  proprietor,  and  to  him  the 
inhabitants  of  Newburgh  are  indebted  for  the  right  of  property, 
which  still  affords  them  the  only  access  to  the  river  that  they  can 
claim  as  then  own.  He  was  the  fifth  son  of  the  first  Duke  of 
Athol,  and  ancestor  of  the  present  duke.  He  had  served  abroad, 
and  had  acquired  that  knowledge  of  his  profession  which  fitted 


278        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  '  THE  FORTY-FIVE.' 

him  for  the  command,  of  an  army.  Like  almost  all  his  family  and 
clan  he  was  devotedly  attached  to  the  exiled  Koyal  family.  He 
joined  the  Chevalier  at  Perth,  who  immediately  appointed  him 
Lieutenant-General  of  his  forces.  Lord  George  acted  in  that 
capacity  all  through  the  expedition,  and  occupied  the  post  of 
danger  in  bringing  up  the  rear  in  the  retreat  from  England.  '  He 
was  tall,  robust,  and  brave,'  and  humane  as  he  was  brave.  After 
the  battle  of  Prestonpans  there  was  difficulty  in  finding  accom- 
modation for  the  wounded  on  both  sides.  Lord  George  busied 
himself  in  finding  and  providing  food  and  lodgings  for  the  wounded 
officers  of  Cope's  army,  and  when  no  better  could  be  had  purchased 
dry  straw  for  them  to  sleep  on,  and  at  then  earnest  entreaty  slept 
beside  them  on  the  floor  for  their  protection.1  It  was  said  by  one 
who  took  part  in  the  expedition,  that  '  had  the  Prince  slept  during 
his  entire  Scottish  residence,  at  least  for  a  proper  time  after  the 
battle  of  Preston,  and  left  the  entire  guidance  of  his  affairs  to 
Lord  George  Murray,  when  waking,  he  would  have  found  the 
diadem  on  his  father's  brows.' 2  After  the  defeat  of  Culloden,  Lord 
George  escaped  to  the  continent  never  to  return  to  his  native  land. 
He  was  attainted  for  high  treason,  and  died  at  Medenblinck  in 
Holland,  on  the  11th  October  1760.  There  is  preserved  among 
the  public  documents  of  Newburgh,  a  letter  written  by  him  to  the 
magistrates;  a  fac-shnile  of  which  is  annexed  as  a  memorial  of 
one  who  bore  so  prominent  a  part  in  the  chivalrous  enterprise  of 
the  '  Forty-five,'  and  of  his  peaceful  avocations  at  Mugdrum.  One 
who  had  conversed  with  those  who  were  present  at  the  scene,  used 
to  tell  that  during  Lord  George  Murray's  residence  at  Mug- 
drum,  in  negotiating  some  matters  with  the  magistrates  and  coun- 
cillors of  Newburgh,  about  their  respective  marches,  a  rude  remark 
was  made  to  his  lordship  by  a  burgess  named  David  Blyth,  better 
known  as  '  Earl  Davie.'  Lord  George  resented,  by  asking  if  he 
knew  to  whom  he  spoke  ?     '  I'm  speaking  to  a  Lord,  but  ye  ought 


Browne's  Highlands,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  87-8. 
Spottiswoode,  Miscellany,  Vol.  EL,  pp.  484-5. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  '  THE  FORTY-FIVE.'        279 

to  ken  ye're  speaking  to  an  Earl,'  was  the  reply  ;  a  hearty  laugh 
ensued,  and  good  humour  was  restored. l 

The  exactions  of  the  Highlanders  in  Newburgh  seem  to  have 
been  more  of  a  trivial  than  an  oppressive  character.  Tradition 
tells  that  a  pair  of  good  shoes,  whether  off  the  feet  or  on  the  feet 
of  a  burgess  were  immediately  appropriated.  It  is  said  that  a 
party  of  Highlanders  went  into  Arngask  church  on  a  Sunday,  sat 
down  beside  the  worshippers,  and  quietly  relieved  them  of  their 
shoes,  leaving  them  to  find  their  way  home  barefooted  as  they  best 
could. 

The  troubles,  however,  paralyzed  business,  and  the  markets 
were  unfrequented.  The  following  entry,  which  occurs  in  the  Re- 
cords of  the  Town  Council  of  Newburgh,  gives  abundant  evidence 
of  this,  and  testifies  to  the  sense  of  insecurity  which  prevailed  : — 

'  1746  Decr  31.  JohnDall,  Customer,  [Tacksman  of  Customs] 
to  be  discharged  to  six  pounds  scots,  instead  of  twelve 
pounds,  on  account  of  the  troublesome  times  during  ye 
late  Rebellion.' 

The  events  connected  with  the  last  attempt  of  the  Stuarts  to 
regain  the  throne  of  then*  ancestors,  are  separated  from  the  present 
time  by  such  a  wide  gulf  in  modern  thought,  that  it  seems  like 
stepping  back  centuries  to  recall  them ;  and  yet  there  was  one 
alive  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  year  (1874),  who  had  con- 
versed with  the  last  representative  of  the  family.  John  Christian 
Schetky, 2  well  known  in  the  brilliant  literary  society  of  Edinburgh 


1  The  family  to  which  David  Blyth  belonged  is  invariably  designed  in  the 
public  records,  for  nearly  two  centuries,  as  Blyth  Earle.  The  last  of  the  family 
died  in  1814 ;  he  was  known  to  all  as  '  Earl  Davie.' 

2  Mr  Schetky,  descended  from  an  ancient  Transylvanian  family,  was  born  in 
Edinburgh  (where  his  father  had  come  to  reside)  on  the  11th  August  1778,  and 
died  at  his  residence,  11  Kent  Terrace,  Regent's  Park,  London,  in  the  96th  year 
of  his  age,  on  the  29th  January  1871.  He  was  the  contemporary,  at  the  High 
School  of  Edinburgh,  of  Walter  Scott,  Lord  Brougham,  and  many  others,  after- 


280        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.' 

of  sixty  years  ago,  accompanied  by  bis  friend  Francis  Home 
(afterwards  Colonel  Home,  tbe  brave  defender  of  Hougoumont) 
went  in  1801,  during  tbe  sbort  peace  of  Amiens,  on  an  excursion 
to  Italy,  to  see  tbe  art  treasures  so  long  sbut  to  tbe  Britisb  world. 
Tbey  walked  from  Paris  to  Rome  ;  wben  near  tbe  latter  city,  in  tbe 
Campagna,  tbe  pedestrians  bad  to  get  out  of  tbe  way,  at  a  narrow 
part  of  tbe  road,  to  allow  one  of  tbe  beavy  coacbes  of  those 
days  to  pass ;  wben  it  approached  where  they  stood,  tbe  oc- 
cupant ordered  the  driver  to  halt,  and  immediately  saluted  tbe 
young  travellers,  by  asking  if  they  were  Englishmen.  On  then 
answering  in  the  affirmative,  he  immediately  said,  '  I  love  to  see 
Englishmen.'  Inquiring  the  object  of  then  journey,  he  expressed 
the  hope  that  their  anticipations  would  be  realised,  and  that  they 


wards  the  great  men  of  their  day.  In  after  life  he  and  Sir  Walter  were  bosom 
friends,  and  at  the  request  of  the  latter  he  published  a  volume  of  illustrations  of 
the  scenery  described  in  the  '  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel.'  Besides  meeting  with 
'  the  last  of  the  Stuarts,'  Mr  Schetky  used  to  tell  with  pride  that  he  had  been  in 
the  company  of  Robert  Burns ;  the  poet,  by  his  intercession,  saved  him  from  a 
flogging  from  his  father  (with  whom  Burns  was  intimate)  for  playing  truant  to 
sail  a  boy-made  ship  at  Leith.  This  incident  in  his  life  shows  the  bent  of  his 
genius,  for  in  his  later  years  Mr  Schetky's  most  admired  paintings  were  naval 
scenes  ;  many  of  which  are  of  great  excellence ;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
for  many  years  previous,  he  was  Marine  Painter  to  the  Queen.  Mr  Schetky,  in 
1848,  accompanied  the  late  Duke  of  Rutland  in  a  cruise  in  the  duke's  yacht  round 
the  coast  of  Scotland,  and  in  conjunction  with  Lord  John  Manners,  the  duke's  son 
(who  furnished  the  letter-press),  published,  in  a  large  folio  volume,  a  series  of 
chromolithographic  views  of  the  scenes  they  visited.  Mr  Schetky  cruised  on 
more  than  one  occasion  with  her  present  Most  Gracious  Majesty,  for  whom  and 
the  late  Prince  Consort,  he  executed  at  various  times  many  commissions.  Besides 
being  an  accomplished  artist,  Mr  Schetky  was  an  excellent  musician,  and  both  sung 
and  played  old  Scotch  ballads  and  songs  with  exquisite  taste  and  pathos.  He  was 
an  early  and  esteemed  friend  of  Professor  Wilson's.  In  the  Noctes  Ambrosianx, 
Wilson,  in  the  character  of  Christopher  North,  speaking  of  him,  says,  '  In  his 
company  care  loses  her  name  and  forgets  her  nature ; '  and  the  Shepherd  adds, 
'  I  howp  I'll  no  gang  to  my  grave  without  forgathering  wi'  John  Schetky.'  It 
was  indeed  a  pleasure  to  '  forgather '  with  him.  Mr  Schetky  retained  his  elas- 
ticity of  spirits  in  his  advauced  years. 


FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  '  FORTY-FIVE.'        281 

would  enjoy  their  visit  to  Rome.  He  then  asked  them  of  the 
state  of  affairs  in  Britain,  and  said,  '  How  are  my  fleets  and  armies 
getting  on  ?  '  Noticing  then  surprise  at  the  question,  he  imme- 
diately added,  '  I  mean  of  Great  Britain.'  He  parted  from  them 
with  a  kindly  farewell,  and  almost  immediately  after  he  left,  they 
learned  that  the  person  they  had  conversed  with,  was  Cardinal 
York,  the  last  of  the  Stuarts. 

The  study  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Records  from  which  most  of  the 
foregoing  selections  have  been  made,  is  suggestive  of  varied  re- 
flections. The  indulgence  in  violent  and  abusive  language,  in- 
stances of  which  occur  in  almost  every  page,  and  the  open  disre- 
gard of  the  Lord's-day,  of  which  there  are  such  frequent  notices, 
come  upon  the  reader  with  surprise,  and  rudely  dispel  the  idea  of 
greater  sanctity  in  those  times.  Toleration  was  utterly  imknown  ; 
not  the  slightest  indulgence  being  shown  towards  any  opinion 
that  differed  from  the  principles  of  those  who  were  in  power  at 
the  time ;  but  through  all  the  intolerance  it  is  most  pleasing  to 
find  that  the  church,  through  its  local  courts,  whether  under 
Episcopacy  or  Presbytery,  ever  appears  as  the  friend  of  the  poor ; 
caring  both  for  then  temporal  and  spiritual  interests.  Every  page 
of  the  Records  bears  evidence  of  solicitude  for  the  comfort  of  the 
distressed. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken,  at  distant  intervals,  from 
Newburgh  Session  Records : — 

'  Jan.  the  3,  1686.     Given  to  James  Ciiick  on  of  our  paroch 
being  tristed  with  sicknes     .  .  .  01     04     00.' 

'1729,  March  10,  To  Matthew  Davidson,  Glas- 

cow,  a  poor  man  .  .  .  .  00     12     00.' 

'  1747,  To  a  poor  man  with  a  Dropsie  .  00     12     00.' 

As  instances  of  the  church's  concern  for  the  education  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  destitute,  such  entries  as  the  following 
constantly  occur : — 


282        FROM  THE  REVOLUTION  TO  THE  'FORTY-FIVE.' 

'1739  June  28,  Payed  to  the  schoolmaster  for  teaching  poor 
scholars,  preceding  27  Aug*  1738  .  .  3     18     00.' 

'  Decr  30.    Payed  to  Mr  Taylor,  Schoolmaster,  for 

poor  scholars  from  3  Octr  1738  to  3  Septr  1739    4     03     00.' 

'  1742  Nov.  24  ffor  a  bible  to  a  poor  lass     .  01     04     00.' 

Page  after  page  tells  of  similar  payments  to  the  schoolmaster 
for  the  instruction  of  poor  children,  evincing  laudable  anxiety  lest 
any  should  grow  up  uneducated. 

With  a  still  wider  philanthropy,  the  church  was  instrumental 
in  promoting  the  material  improvement  of  the  country,  by  raising 
contributions  for  the  making  of  harbours  and  building  of  bridges, 
those  sinews  of  commerce  and  trade.  And  there  is  scarcely  a 
town  or  district  in  the  kingdom,  however  great  and  opulent  it 
may  now  be,  that  has  not  at  one  time  or  other,  partaken  of  the 
substantial  benefits  conferred  on  it  by  the  enlightened  patriotism 
of  the  church. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   AND   MAGISTERIAL   RULE. 

'  A  land  of  settled  government, 
A  land  of  just  and  old  renown, 
Where  freedom  broadens  slowly  down 

From  precedent  to  precedent. 

'  And  let  the  change  which  comes  be  free 
To  ingroove  itself  with  that,  which  flies, 
And  work,  a  joint  of  state,  that  plies 
Its  office  moved  with  sympathy.' 


Tennyson. 


On  the  abolition  of  hereditary  jurisdictions  in  1747,  personal 
authority  gradually  disappeared  from  the  exercise  of  magisterial 
functions,  and  the  majesty  of  the  law  became  the  great  regulating 
power  between  man  and  man  in  public  life.  In  the  transition, 
lingering  traces  of  the  older  system  continued,  and  in  the  public 
records  of  the  period  there  are  many  notices  of  customs  and  regu- 
lations Avhich  are  now  entirely  obsolete.  The  following  extracts 
from  the  Comt  Books  of  Newburgh,  beginning  with  some  anterior 
to  the  date  mentioned,  throw  light  on  the  social  life  of  our  fore- 
fathers, and  are  sufficiently  curious  to  merit  attention : — 

'  27  Feby  1706.  In  causa  Kirk  Session  contra  John  Bet  for 
crossing  the  water  [the  Tay]  on  the  Sabbath  day,  compear- 
ed John  Bet  and  confest  the  samen,  the  baillies  fines  him  in 
four  pounds  scots  as  the  penaltie,  as  he  enacted  himself 
not  to  row  on  the  Saboth  day.' 


284  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

'9th  Septr  1707.  James  Sword  enacts  himself  that  he  shall 
not  admitt  of  any  Table  reckoning  late  on  Sabbath  night 
or  early  hi  the  morning  above  ane  chappin  of  eall  the 
piece,  under  the  pain  of  four  pounds  Scotts  toties  quoties. 
James  Sword.' 

1  August  18,  1708.  In  causa  proketor  fiscal  against  David 
Blyth  eldr  Earle,  for  being  drunk  upon  the  twelfth  and 
thretteenth  instant,  and  did  curse  and  swear  and  abuse  his 
neighbours  and  his  own  familie  contrair  to  the  Acts  of 
Parliament,  and  being  frecmentlie  convict  of  the  said 
faults  formerly  and  therefore  craves  that  he  may  be  punish- 
ed conform  to  law.' 

The  Act  of  Parliament  referred  to  is  that  of  Charles  II.,  A.D. 
1661,  chap.  XIX.,  which  imposed  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds  on  a 
nobleman  for  cursing  or  swearing;  on  a  baron  twenty  merks, 
gentleman,  heritor,  or  burgess  ten  merks,  a  yeoman  forty  shil- 
lings, a  servant  twenty  shillings,  and  a  minister  the  fifth  part  of 
his  stipend.  Any  judge  or  magistrate  refusing  to  put  the  law 
in  force,  '  shall  be  liable  and  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  hundred 
pounds  Scots  for  the  poor  of  the  parish  where  the  scandal  hap- 
pened.' 

John  Bet  appears  to  have  been  a  confirmed  offender,  for  on  the 
31st  May  1710,  he  is  brought  before  the  magistrates,  'confessing 
that  he  had  crossed  the  water  with  Mr  David  Nairn,  who  obtained 
leave  from  the  Minister.  Therefore  the  Baillyies  considering  the 
same  assoilzie,  the  said  John  Bate  and  his  servant'  [the  words  in 
italics  are  deleted], — then  follows,  'And  the  minister  also  com- 
pearing and  denying  that  he  gave  any  liberty  to  the  said  Mr 
David,  and  declares  that  the  said  John  never  sought  leave  from 
him  to  that  effect.'  '  Therefore  considering  the  minister's  declara- 
tion, fines  the  said  John  Bate  conform  to  the  Act  made  yr-anent, 
which  is  dated  21st  March  1705.' 

The  following  cases  of  breaches  of  the  Sabbath  occur  in 
Abdie  Session  Records  about  the  same  period  : — 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  285 

'  1704  Nov.  12.  George  Paterson,  Milner  of  Denmyln,  John 
Lilburn  and  Michael  Hog  delated  for  grinding  corns  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  behig  cited,  compearing  and  examined 
Denyed  the  charge.' 

'  1705  April  22.  John  Lilbum  compeared  not,  being  sick, 
but  George  Paterson  did  confest  his  fault,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  public  rebuke  next  Sabbath.  And  this  day- 
Michael  Hog  appeared  publicly  and  was  rebuked.' 

'  1710  May  18.  Mungo  Neish  and  Michael  Wilkie  delated  for 
scandalous  drinking  and  vaging  to  ale-houses  on  the  Sab- 
bath day,  they  compeired  and  were  rebuked  for  Sabbath 
breaking.' 

'1711  April  29th.  Margaret  Murray  hi  the  Grange  being- 
delated  for  bringing  in  water  on  the  Sabbath,  is  ordained 
to  be  rebuked  by  an  Elder,  and  if  obstinate  to  be  cited 
before  the  Session.' 

'  1713,  Feb.  29.  Complaint  being  this  day  entered  against 
the  people  of  Grange,  their  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  by 
a  scandalous  crowding  together  in  heaps  after  sermons, 
about  worldly  discourses  and  diversions,  and  suffering  then- 
children  to  play  that  day  openly  before  then  feces  without 
rebuke.  ........ 

The  Beadle  to  summon  them  to  the  Session  to 
be  rebuked  for  such  a  scandalous  practice.' 

A  few  years  previous  to  the  breach  of  the  Sabbath  by  the 
Grange  folks,  the  following  threatened  exercise  of  a  law  appar- 
ently in  force  at  the  time,  occurs : — 

'  1708  October  31.  James  Scot  entered  the  pillar  and  was 
rebuked.' 

'  1709  Feb.  20.  The  Beadle  ordered  to  tell  James  Scot  that 
if  he  pay  not  his  penalty  instantly,  and  subject  to  disci- 
pline, They  will  give  him  up  to  be  a  Sojor,  according  to  the 
Proclamation.' 


286  ECCLESIASTICAL  AXD  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

James,  however,  was  not  ambitious  of  military  honours,  for 
on  the  13th  March  folio  whig,  he  'granted  bond  for  his  penalty 
and  satisfaction,  and  was  appointed  to  the  stool  on  Sabbath 
next.' 

Reverting  to  Burgh  Records  of  Newburgh,  the  following 
occurs : — 

'1709  May  19.  The  Qlk  day  Gavin  Spens  lait  Bailie  ther 
gave  in  ane  complaint  upon  Katharin  Baxter  that  where- 
as ther  was  depositat  in  his  hands  with  consent,  ane  con- 
tract of  marriage  betwixt  her  and  James  Imbrie,  and  the 
said  Katharin  desyring  to  hear  the  said  contract  read,  she 
violently  took  the  said  contract  out  of  the  hands  of  John 
Houg  tennant  hi  Mugdrum,  whom  she  brought  along  to 
read  it,  and  she  brunt  the  samen  .  .  .  The  Baillies 
taking  this  business  to  their  serious  consideration  appoints 
the  said  Katharin  to  be  confynd  to  the  Tolbooth  till  sutch 
tyme  as  she  shall  make  up  the  sd  contract  in  all  its  heads 
and  contents,  and  till  she  return  to  her  husband,  James 
Imbrie,  and  cohabit  with  him.' 

As  there  was  no  escape  from  such  a  sentence,  '  Katharin '  com- 
plied, '  made  up  the  contract  anew,'  and  offered  to  return  to  her 
husband.'  The  magistrates,  therefore,  went  to  the  domicile  of  the 
refractory  couple,  and  in  their  presence,  the  town  officer  formally 
announced  to  the  husband  the  magistrates'  decision,  and  the  of- 
fending wife's  willingness  to  return  to  his  house. 

'15  day  of  June  1709.  'In  causa  ag*  Katharin  Smart  the 
Baillies  appoints  her  to  be  putt  in  the  stocks  for  ane  certain 
short  space,  as  a  punishment  for  her  misdy-manners.' 

On  the  5th  Oct.  1709,  David,  Lord  Lundores  appears  as  a  wit- 
ness in  a  case  before  the  magistrates,  and  signed  his  deposition. 
On  the  same  day  the  following  entry  occurs : — 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  287 

'David,  Lord  Lundores  protested  that  there  should  be  no 
Magistrates  elected  for  this  burgh  without  his  warrand 
and  Commission,  To  which  the  Councillors  Electors  replied 
that  they  were  not  oblidged  to  have  his  warrand  and  Com- 
missione.  In  respect  they  have  their  surbys  under  ye 
Abbott  of  Lundores  hands,  and  after  him  by  Confirmation 
of  his  Majestie  the  year  of  God  1632  and  yrfor  they  would 
proceed  conform  to  their  Chartours  use  and  wont.' 

'1711  May  30th.  The  said  day  anent  ane  complaint  given  in 
by  ye  Fiscall  and  John  Lyell  younger  informer  ag*  Margt 
Ballingall  for  scolding  abusing  and  using  most  hellish 
expressions  ag*  the  said  John  Lyell  and  his  wife,  and  ag* 
oyr5  in  ye  Burgh.  And  ye  Baillyies  considering  the  samen, 
and  she  confessing  she  made  use  of  some  base  expressions. 
And  furder  considering  ane  act  made  off  before  for  banish- 
ing her  fourth  of  ye  toune  for  thift,  yet  ye  said  toune  is 
furder  molested  with  her  by  retourning  again  to  ye  Burgh. 
Therefore  the  Baillyies  ordain  her  to  find  caution  and  al- 
lows her  tyme  to  write  to  her  husband,  with  this  express 
provision  that  if  the  saids  Baillyies  shall  be  instrumented, 
by  any  person  leased  or  who  shall  suspect,  for  ane  act  of 
banishment,  or  ye  former  to  be  yet  put  in  execution  ag* 
her,  then  and  at  the  same  tyme  the  said  Baillyies  enacts 
and  ordains  that  she  be  presently  thereafter  banished 
furth  ye  toune.  And  if  she  shall  return  they  ordain  her 
yrafter  to  be  burnt  [branded  with  a  hot  iron]  and 
scourged  out  att  ye  ports.  And  furder  enacts  that  after 
ye  said  act  shall  be  put  in  execution,  any  person  who  shall 
resett  her  shall  be  held  and  repute  as  airt  and  pant  with 
her,  and  shall  be  lyable  to  make  up  all  damnadge  and  losse 
any  person  may  sustain  by  her.  And  finder  ordains  all 
her  moveable  goods  and  gear  to  be  confiscatt  either  in  her 
custody,  or  where  it  can  be  found,  and  to  be  Escheit  and 
inbrought  to  her  Majesties  use. — 

David  Bickertox.' 


288  ECCLESIASTICAL  AXD  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

'  1726,  Decr  7.  In  the  action  Wmson  Pror  ffiscal  agl  William 
Watsone,  shoemaker  in  Newburgh  and  James  Fother- 
ingham,  weaver  there,  for  haveing  within  these  few  clays 
bygone  a  numerous  company  att  their  marriaclge  con- 
trair  to  the  Law.  Defrs  called  and  both  of  them  com- 
peared and  judicially  acknowledged  they  had  upwards  of 
thirty  persons  att  each  of  their  weddings.  The  Baillies 
considering  the  same  finds  both  to  have  contravened  ye 
act  of  parliament,  and  that  that  number  is  more  than  the 
Law  allows.  Therefore  the  baillies  fines  each  of  them  for 
these  facts  conform  to  act  of  parliament,  and  ordains  them 
to  make  payment  wtin  form  of  Law. ' 

'The  said  day  compeared  William  Watsone,  Shoemaker 
.  .  .  desyring  to  be  admitted  burges  of  Newburgh, 
which  being  considered,  the  baillies,  with  consent  of  the 
Councill,  Doe  hereby  admitt  him  to  be  Burges  of  the  said 
burgh  '  and  after  taking  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  common 
form.     He  requyred  act  of  Court  and  took  instruments. ' 

In  the  Burgh  Records  there  are  many  entries  similar  to  the 
foregoing,  recording  decisions  against  offenders  for  having  more 
than  the  legal  number  at  their  marriage,  and  almost  invariably,  as 
in  this  instance,  there  follows  an  application  by  the  prosecuted 
person  craving  to  be  admitted  a  burgess.  It  would  seem  as  if 
becoming  a  burgess  mitigated  the  fine,  but  it  is  nowhere  so  ex- 
pressed. The  Act  of  Parliament  referred  to  is  that  of  Charles  II.,  13 
Sep.  1681,  intituled — 'Act  restraining  the  exorbitant  expenses 
of  Marriages,  Baptisms  and  Burials.'  The  enactment  regarding 
marriages  is,  'that  besides  the  married  persons,  their  parents, 
children,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  the  family  wherein  they  live, 
There  shall  not  be  present  at  any  contract  of  marriage,  marriage 
or  In-fare  or  meet  upon  occasion  thereof  above  four  friends  on 
either  side  with  their  ordinary  domestic  servants,  and  that  neither 
Bridegroom,  nor  Bride,  nor  their  parents  or  Relations,  Tutors,  or 
Curators  for  them,  and  to  their  use,  shall  make  above  two  changes 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  289 

of  raiment  at  that  time,  or  upon  that  occasion,  certifying  such  per- 
sons as  shall  contraveen,  if  they  be  landed  persons.  They  shall  be 
liable  in  the  fourth  part  of  their  yearly  valued  rent,  and  those  who 
are  not  landed  persons  in  the  fourth  part  of  their  moveables. 
Burgesses  according  to  their  condition  and  means  not  exceeding 
five  hundred  merks  scots.  And  if  there  shall  be  any  greater  num- 
ber of  persons  than  aforesaid  in  any  House  or  Inn  within  Burgh, 
or  suburbs,  or  within  two  miles  of  the  same,  where  Penny  Wed- 
dings are  made.  That  the  master  of  the  House  shall  be  fined  in 
the  sum  of  Five  hundred  merks  scots.' 

Besides  the  question  of  expense,  which  was  excessive,  and  en- 
tailed in  many  cases  a  heavy  burden  of  debt,  and  much  subsequent 
privation,  both  among  rich  and  poor,  there  were  evils  attending 
Penny  Weddings,  which  the  ministers  of  religion  set  their  faces 
against,  and  strove  to  correct.  The  ministers  alleged,  and  there  is 
reason  to  believe  justly,  that  these  meetings  were  often  the  occa- 
sion of  immorality,  and  that  '  the  piping  and  dancing  and  profane 
ministrellmg  tended  to  desboshry.'  To  make  sure  that  their  edicts 
for  the  repression  of  irregularities  were  enforced,  some  kirk  sessions 
and  presbyteries  enacted,  '  that  nane  be  married  till  ten  pounds  be 
consigned  for  the  better  security  that  thar  be  nae  mair  taen  for  an 
bridal  lawing  than  five  shillings  according  to  order,  with  certifica- 
tion, gif  the  order  of  the  bridal  lawing  be  broken  the  said  ten 
pounds  sail  be  confiscate  *  The  efforts  of  the  church  to  restrain 
'  deboshry'  were  praiseworthy,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
they  had  some  effect  in  restraining  the  grosser  irregularities 
complained  of;  but,  besides  the  suppression  of  immorality,  they 
attempted  to  restrain  the  rejoicings  which  are  so  natural  and  so 
universal  on  marriage  occasions,  and  there  they  failed.  Though 
edict  after  edict  was  issued,  '  the  pipmg  and  the  dancing  and  the 
minstrelling'  continued,  and  still  continues,  at  marriage  festivities. 

'27  Nov.  1728.     In  causa  David  Jack  ag*  Ami  Robertson 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  333. 
T 


290  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

servitrix  to  Margaret  Robertson,  who  fied  herself  with  the 
said  complainer  from  Mart8  1728  to  Mart3  1729  at  ten 
pounds,  ane  pare  of  shoes  and  ane  eln  of  lining  .  .  . 
The  Baillies  decerns  Margaret  Robertson  with  whom  she 
continues  servant  to  pay  the  half  of  the  above  years  fie 
being  ffyve  pound,  nyne  pence  for  on  shoe  and  a  groat  for 
ye  half  eln  linning, ' 
'1st  January  1729.  The  Baillies  haveing  considered  the 
complaint  exhibited  by  James  Wilkie  as  to  his  haveing 
sheep  stollen  from  him,  and  thereupon  craveing  warrand 
for  a  search,  which  search  was  accordingly  made,  and  also 
considering  ye  mutton,  sheep  skins,  and  oyrs  mentioned 

in  ye  minute  were  found  in  ye  house  of  Richard  

in  Newburgh,  and  the  saids  Baillies  have  also  considered 
that  R. had  deserted  and  fled,  and  haveing  also  con- 
sidered ye  judiciall  confession  of  Margaret  Bett  his  spouse 
the  pannell  and  ye  haill  oyr  minuts  of  proces,  and  being 
with   the   whole   affair   Deliberately   and  weill    advised. 

They  find  that  R. has  been  guilty  of  stealling  sheep 

and  other  things,  and  that  he  has  had  a  practise  in  so 
doeing  for  sometyme  bygone,  and  that  his  spouse  Margaret 
Bett  ye  pannell  has  been  airt  and  pairt  with  him  in  the 
stealth  for  this  while  bygone  and  has  connived  wt  him  yrin, 
Resett,  and  made  use  of  ye  stollen  goods  equally  with 
himself.  And  therefore  they  decern  and  ordain  out  of  the 
first  end  of  his  moveable  effects,  household  plenishing  and 
debts  dew  to  him,  that  the  haill  debts  dew  by  him  and 
contained  in  ye  minuts  be  payed,  and  ye  remander  therof 
to  belong  to  the  prorr  ffiscal  and  to  be  intromitted  with 
and  disposed  upon  by  him  for  ye  use  of  ye  members  of 
Court ;  And  decerns  and  ordains  Margaret  Bett  ye  pannell 
to  be  punished  by  being  immediately  putt  in  ye  stocks 
there  to  remain  with  a  sheep's  skin  about  her  att  ye  cross 
for  ye  speace  of  two  hours  and  yrafter  to  be  putt  in  ye 
jougs  there  to  remain  with  a  sheep's  skin  about  her  for  ye 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  291 

speace  of  on  hour,  and  thereafter  to  be  banished  ye  toune 
by  touck  of  drum  to  ye  westport  yrof  never  to  return  to 
ye  same  in  any  tyme  corneing,  and  att  ye  said  west  port 
to  be  burnt  on  ye  hand  and  dismissed.  The  Baillies  not 
haveing  thought  fitt  to  cause  scourge  her  in  reguard  it  is 
informed  she  is  with  child  and  hereby  discharge  any  per- 
sons within    ye  burgh  to   give  any  harbry  or  residence 

to    ye  said   Richard  and   his    said   spouse    in  any 

tyme  comeing  under  ye  penalty  of  twenty  pound  scots 
toties  quoties,  seeing  that  both  he  and  she  are  both 
banished  ye  toune  in  all  tyme  comeing,  and  ordains  this  to 
be  advertysed  by  touck  of  drum,  and  if  any  person  can 

hereafter  apprehend  Richard upon  then  delyvering 

him  to  the  ffiscall  they  shall  have  a  crown  of  reward. — 
William  Axdersox,  William  Ballingall.' 
'Februar.  the  27th  1729.  Court  off  the  brough  Newbrugh  holdn 
be  Wm  Anderson  and  William  Ballingall  present  bailies.' 
'Anent  ane  complaint  given  in  to  ye  Bailies  be  David 
Anderson  portioner  of  Newburgh  shewing  that  David 
Blyth  alias  Earl  hath  his  midden  stead  before  his  entrie 
to  his  house  which  is  greatly  to  his  prejudice.  The  said 
Baillies  called  men  to  boun  the  ground  off  the  two  midden 
steads,  and  then  tooke  in  then  report  how  they  should  be 
marched  for  both  ther  conveniency.  The  men  are  as  fol- 
lows David  bickertoun, — Mathew  Lyal, — John  Halibour- 
toun, — William  Ballingall, — David  Spence, — who  judged 
it  ffitt  that  David  Anderson  have  the  miden  stead  west- 
most  before  his  own  door,  that  belonged  formerly  to  David 
Blyth,  and  David  Blyth  the  eastmost  midden  stead,  and 
both  are  equally  to  be  divided.  And  David  Anderson 
is  oblidged  to  feace  up  the  brae  above  the  eastmost  mid- 
den-stead on  the  westmost.  And  that  the  stones  of  the 
westmost  midden  are  to  be  still  as  they  ar  till  the  Bailies 
find  convenience,  because  David  Blyth  owned  he  toock 
them  off  the  Cassa.     The  Bailies  haveing  taken  the  men's 


292  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

verdict  to  their  consideration,  do  decern  and  ordain  the 
westmost  midden  stead  to  belong  to  David  Anderson 
without  any  trouble  or  molestation  to  any  of  the  parties, 
under  the  paine  of  ten  pound  scots  to  be  payed  in  to  the 
treasurer,  and  the  said  midden-steads  to  be  marched  at 
the  sight  of  honest  men  of  the  bailies  apoynting.' 

This  grave  judicial  decision,  there  is  too  much  reason  to 
believe,  presents  a  faithful  photograph  of  the  condition  of  the 
streets  of  Newburgh  and  other  Scottish  towns  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago.  It  corroborates  to  the  letter  the  representation 
which  James  VI.  made  to  the  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs  in  1608. 
Among  other  matters  he  says :  '  In  regard  that  the  lying  of  the 
muk  and  fewell  in  grit  heapis  and  myddingis  upoun  the  hie 
streitis,  or  within  ony  uther  place  of  our  saidis  burghis  and  city  is, 
is  nocht  only  noysum  to  all  strangeris  and  passengeris  bothe  in 
smell  and  sicht,  bott  is  dangerous  also  in  tyme  of  plague,  being  a 
speciall  neurescher  thair-of,  that  thairfor  thai  sould  appoint  the 
streitis  of  thair  tounis  to  be  keipit  cleyne ;  as  also  that  within 
thair  gret  cityis  and  tounis  skaviengeris  may  be  appointit,  efter 
the  form  usit  hen  [England]  for  carying  furth  of  these  tounis  all 
sort  of  filth  that  so  the  cuntrey  people  attending  us  in  our 
intendit  journay  thither  the  next  yeir  may  nocht  reproche  the 
uncleynes  of  the  touns  and  cityis  of  that  our  kingdome ;  and  als 
that  all  filthie  beastis,  such  as  swyne,  be  nocht  sufferit  to  hant  in 
the  oppin  streetis.'  l 

The  records  of  the  negotiation  in  1697-8  for  the  removal  of  the 
University  of  Andrews  to  Perth,  bring  before  us  the  filthy  state  of 
the  streets  of  St  Andrews  at  that  period, — the  eighth  reason  given 
for  the  change  is  as  follows : — '  This  place  [St  Andrews]  being 
now  only  a  village,  where  most  part  farmers  dwell,  the  whole 
streets  are  filled  with  Dunghills,  which  are  exceedingly  noisome 
and  ready  to  infect  the  air,  especially  at  this  season  when  the 

1  Record  of  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs,  1597  ;  1G14,  p.  253. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  293 

herring  gutts  are  exposed  in  them,  or  rather  in  all  corners  of  the 
Toune  by  themselves,  and  the  season  of  the  year  apt  to  breed 
infection,  which  partly  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  occasion  of 
last  year's  dysenterie,  which  from  the  beginning  here  raged 
through  most  part  of  the  Kingdom.'  1 

It  is  worthy  of  mention,  that  the  Commissioners  appointed  for 
the  removal  of  the  University  to  Perth,  held  a  number  of  meetings 
for  the  purpose.  One  of  these  meetings  was  held  at  the  village  of 
Glenduckie,  and  another  was  held  at  Newburgh  on  the  21st  March 
1698  ;  but  as  the  continuance  of  the  University  at  St  Andrews 
attests,  their  deliberations  came  to  nought,  which  is  the  more  sur- 
prising, as  the  preliminaries  were  all  but  arranged,  and  both  sides 
were  desirous  for  the  change.2 

It  was  long  ere  the  streets  of  country  towns  were  brought 
into  a  condition  even  approaching  to  cleanness.  In  1793  the 
Magistrates  of  Newburgh  issued  an  order  that  dung  was  not  to 
be  allowed  to  lie  on  the  street  longer  than  forty-eight  hours ; — 
and  even  thirty  years  later,  the  inhabitants  were  duly  warned  by 
tuck  of  drum,  to  remove  all  accumulations  of  manure  from  the 
street  in  front  of  their  houses  previous  to  the  half-yearly  fairs. 
The  street  of  Newburgh  is  wide  and  spacious,  but  the  following- 
decision  of  the  Town  Council,  on  a  petition  from  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants,  presents  us  with  a  picture  more  like  a  scene  in  pas- 
toral life,  on 

'  Some  flowrie  holnx  between  twa  verdant  braes 
Where  lasses  used  to  wash  and  spread  their  claes,'  3 

than  the  High  Street  of  a  Royal  Burgh. 

'June  29th  1771.  The  Councill  being  mett,  the  within  Peti- 
tion was  read  and  being  considered,  the  voats  called,  they 
were   unanimous  that  none  shall   be  allowed  to  bleach 


1  Perth, — its  Annah  and  Archives,  p.  341.  -  10.,  pp.  345-351. 

3  Gentle  Shepherd. — Scene  11. 


294  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

weabs  on  the.  high  street  or  tramp  cloath  of  any  kind 
within  six  yards  and  even  that  at  the  under  side  of  the 
wells,  and  .  .  .  the  Councell  orders  their  act  to  be 
published  by  tuck  of  drum  that  none  may  pretend  ignor- 
ance, and  that  transgressors  shall  be  punished  according 
to  Justice,  in  terror  to  others,  signed  by  the  Baillie  in 
name  of  the  Councell. — David  Ballingall.' 
'  1729,  Sepr  22.  George  Sim  hi  Newburgh  is  accused  of  steal- 
ing wheat  and  bringing  it  from  the  Cars  of  Gowry  .  .  . 
the  Bailies  finds  him  guilty  of  theft  and  therefore  decerns 
and  ordains  him  to  be  taken  immediately  from  ye  tolbooth 
and  to  be  put  in  ye  jougs  there  to  remain  for  ye  speace 
of  ane  hour,  and  immediately  thereafter  to  be  banished 
and  putt  from  ye  cross  out  at  ye  east  end  of  the  toune  by 
ye  touck  of  drum,  and  there  to  be  burnt  on  ye  hand  with 
ane  burn-iron  and  ordains  his  wife  and  family  immediately 
to  remove  forth,  off  ye  toune  also,  and  never  any  of  them 
to  return  yrunto,  and  if  any  person  in  tyme  coming  shall 
harbry  or  reset  the  said  George  Sim  his  wife  or  family 
within  ye  burgh,  or  entertain  them  with  meat,  drink  or 
house-roome,  they  shall  for  each  such  transgression  incur 
the  penalty  of  twenty  pounds  Scotts  toties  quoties,  and 
ordains  the  same  to  be  published  and  intimate  to  ye 
inhabitants  by  ye  bell  or  oyr  ways.  And  decerns  and 
ordains  the  haill  moveable  goods  and  gear  of  the  said 
George  Sim  to  be  escheat  at  the  instance  of  the  pro1-  Fis- 
cal], and  ordains  ye  inhabitants  to  see  and  witness  his 
above  punishment  and  banishment  forsaid  put  to  dew 
Execution.' 

The  following  is  one  of  the  latest  prosecutions  for  breach  of 
the  Sabbath : — 

'9  Feb:  1743.  A  complaint  being  exhibit  ag*  Andrew  Currie, 
William   Winton,    Alexr  Currie,  Alexr  Clow,  John   Tod, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  295 

Alexr  Hoy,  David  Lyell  and  Robert  Dowie  for  committing 
abuse  on  ye  Sabbath  day  in  ye  church  and  oyr  young  boys 
in  this  Burgh.  The  Baillies  enacts  statutes  and  ordains 
that  not  only  they  but  all  other  young  people  within  the 
Burgh,  shall  not  in  thne  comeing  goe  to  church  either  fore- 
noon or  afternoon  till  ye  ringing  of  ye  last  bell,  and  that 
they  goe  along  to  church  with  then*  parents  or  master, 
and  behave  civilly  therein  during  the  whole  time  of  wor- 
ship, and  that  if  they  doe  otherways,  they  shall  be  fined 
in  ten  pounds  scots  for  each  transgression.  And  ye  mas- 
ters to  be  lyable  for  their  servants,  and  parents  for  their 
children  for  ye  said  fines  and  penaltys  and  ordains  this 
Act  to  be  published  through  the  brough  by  the  Bell  or 
Drum.  And  that  besides  if  any  abuse  be  committed  in 
tyme  of  worship  the  Committer  shall  be  corporally  pun- 
ished besides  paying  such  fines.' 

The  formula  of  'parents  being  liable  for  then  children,  and 
masters  for  then  servants,'  continued  to  be  proclaimed  by  the 
town  officers  when  publishing  a  magisterial  edict,  down  to  about 
the  year  1830.  This  was  a  far-off  echo  of  a  principle  which  lay  at 
the  foundation  of  society  among  all  the  Teutonic  races.  'Teutonic 
Law  based  itself  on  the  family  bond.  The  commimity  in  which  a 
man  was  born  and  lived,  the  gild  to  which  he  had  bound  himself, 
the  master  he  had  served  were  responsible  for  citizen,  craftsman, 
or  servant.'  So  thoroughly  did  this  principle  of  responsibility 
pervade  the  law,  that  '  if  a  man  entertained  a  merchant  or  stranger 
for  the  night,  and  supplied  him  with  food,  and  the  guest  commit 
a  ciime,  the  host  was  bound  to  bring  him  to  justice,  or  answer  for 
it  himself.'  x 

The  following  extract  from  the  Burgh  Court  Book  of  New- 
burgh,  shows  the  mode  of  procedure  in  cases  of  defamation  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  century.     James  Beatt  having  been  accused  of 


J.  M.  Kemble,  quoted,  Hughes's  Alfred  the  Great,  pp.  28,  29. 


296  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

defaming  the  character  of  Mr  Taylor,  the  schoolmaster,  was 
brought  before  the  magistrates ;  who,  after  hearing  the  evidence 
adduced,  pronounced  the  following  sentence  : — 

'  1748  April  14.  James  Beatt  found  guilty  of  taking  away 
the  reputation  of  Mr  Taylor,  and  therefore  not  only  fines 
him  in  the  sum  of  foure  pounds  sterling,  but  Ordains  him 
betwixt  and  Sabbath  next,  in  fan*  sunshine  and  before  a 
good  many  famous  honest  men  in  the  place,  to  goe  to  the 
public  Cross  of  Newburgh,  When  Mr  Taylor  is  called  to  be 
present,  and  there  beg  Mr  Taylor's  pardon,  and  acknow- 
ledge he  had  injured  him  in  his  reputation  and  say,  "  False 
tongue  he  lyed,"  and  that  under  the  penalty  of  foure 
pounds  sterling.  And  hereby  grants  warrant  to  the 
officers,  who  are  to  call  the  assistance  of  Burgesses  to 
apprehend  the  person  of  the  said  James  Beatt  and  to  put 
him  in  closs  prison,  there  to  remain  while  the  whole  sen- 
tence is  fulfilled,  and  with  certification  if  any  burgess 
refuse  to  assist,  each  of  them  so  doing  shall  be  lyable  to  a 
fine  of  ten  pounds  Scots.  —  John  Small,  David  Lyell, 
Bailies.' 

The  latest  case  that  occurs  in  the  Burgh  Court  Books  of  the 
use  of  the  '  Jougs '  as  an  instrument  of  punishment,  is  that  of 
Peter  Gibb.     It  is  as  follows  : — 

'1757  20  July.  The  Baillies  considering  the  complaint  and 
the  judicial  acknowledgement  of  Peter  Gibb  yr  son  of 
Peter  Gibb,  Taylor, — and  also  of  Peter  McClachlan,  son  to 
Sousan  Dewar  finds  that  they  are  both  guilty  in  being 
airt  and  pairt  in  breaking  in  on  John  Smiton's  house  and 
carrying  off  his  kypper,  and  therefore  decerns  and  ordains 
that  each  of  them  stand  two  hours  in  the  jugs  with  the 
kypper  tyed  about  their  necks.  And  their  parents  as  they 
are  under  non  age  bind  and  oblidge  themselves  for  then- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE.  297 

honest  and  good  behaviour  in  tyme  coming  under  penalty 
of  being  banished  the  toune ;  And  further  Decerne  that 
the  said  Peter  Gibb  and  Sousan  Dewar  shall  be  fined  for 
then  interests  of  a  crown  each  and  remain  in  prison  while 
payment  shall  be  made.' 

The  practice  of  compelling  those  guilty  of  theft  to  appear  hi 
public  with  the  article  stolen  tied  about  them,  was  an  ancient  one. 
'In  1327,  several  bakers  in  London  were  accused  of  stealing 
dough,  by  making  holes  in  the  baker's  moulding  boards.  They 
were  sentenced  to  stand  in  the  pillory  with  the  dough  hung  about 
their  necks,  until  vespers  at  St  Paul's  should  be  ended.' x 

The  somewhat  arbitrary  sentence  pronounced  by  the  Magis- 
trates of  Newburgh  on  Peter  Gibb  and  his  companion,  fitly  closes 
our  extracts  from  the  Judicial  Records  of  the  Burgh.  Since 
then  then  decisions  are  more  in  accordance  with  modern  ideas 
of  justice,  than  a  sentence  of  indefinite  imprisonment  until  the 
fine  is  paid. 

Arbitrary  though  this  sentence  was,  it  was  merciful  when  con- 
trasted with  the  judicial  decisions  of  an  earlier  age.  In  the  Records 
of  the  Burgh  of  Edinburgh,  the  following  enactment  occurs  : — '  22 
December  1515.  Ane  Minor  of  less  aige  airt  and  part  with  ane 
common  theif  adjugeit  to  be  scurgeit  to  the  gallows  and  thair  his 
lug  takkit  to  the  beame,  and  banist  this  toune  and  four  myle 
about  for  all  the  dayes  of  his  lyfe,  and  neuir  to  cum  thairin  under 
the  payne  of  deid  [death].'2 

The  following  quaint  obligation,  preserved  in  the  Town's 
Charter  Chest,  shows  that  Peter  Gibb,  junior,  nearly  thirty  years 
after  his  early  offence,  continued  to  require  magisterial  attention : — 

'  I  Patrick  Gib,  Carter  in  Newburgh  hereby  bind  and  oblige 
myself,  and  my  heirs  acted  in  the  burrow  Court  Books  of 


1  LougAgo,  Vol.  I.,  p.  264. 

2  Extnicts  from  the  Records  of  the  Burgh  of  Edinburgh,  1403-1528,  p.  159. 


298  ECCLESIASTICAL  AND  MAGISTERIAL  RULE. 

Newburgh  that  I  shall  keep  his  Majesty's  peace  in  all  time 
coming,  and  that  I  shall  behave  and  cany  myself  decently 
and  soberly  as  becomes,  and  that  I  shall  abstain  from 
insulting,  maltreating,  injuring  any  person  within  the 
Burgh  of  Newburgh,  and  from  cursing  and  swearing 
within  the  said  Burgh  in  all  time  coming,  under  the 
penalty  of  Five  pounds  Sterling. — P  K.  Gibb.' 

Notwithstanding  this  obligation,  there  is  reason  to  believe, 
from  what  is  known  of  the  culprit's  history,  that  if  he  forbore  to 
swear  within  '  the  Burgh,'  he  did  not  seem  to  think  the  obligation 
was  binding  beyond  it. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

INDUSTRIAL   PURSUITS.1 

'  Blest  is  this  Isle, — our  native  land 
Where  battlement  and  moated  gate 
Are  objects  only  for  the  hand 
Of  hoary  Time  to  decorate ; 
Where  shady  hamlet,  town  that  breathes 
Its  busy  smoke  in  social  wreaths, 
No  ramparts'  stern  defence  require, 
Nought  but  the  heaven-directed  spire 
And  steeple  tower  (with  pealing  bells 
Far  heard)  our  only  citadels.1 


Wordsworth. 


AFTER  the  suppression  of  the  rising  in  favour  of  the  Stuarts  in 
1745,  the  country  made  rapid  strides  in  material  progress;  manu- 
factures were  developed  and  agriculture  improved.  The  improve- 
ment was  sometimes  faster  and  sometimes  slower,  but  ever  since 
then,  the  blessings  of  immunity  from  invasion  and  freedom  from 
civil' war  have  manifested  themselves  in  increased  prosperity  and 
comfort.  The  manufacture  of  linen  was  considered  of  prime 
importance  at  that  period,  and  the  government  held  out  great 
encouragement  for  its  extension  and  improvement.  Bounties 
were  offered  for  every  yard  of  Scottish  linen  exported ;  penalties 
were  imposed  on  the  importers  of  damaged  seed,  and  a  bounty  of 

1  The  substance  of  what  is  said  in  this  chapter  regarding  manufactures,  was 
delivered  as  a  lecture  in  the  Town  Hall,  Newburgh,  and  was  afterwards  published, 
under  the  title  of  '  The  History  of  Linen,  and  of  Linen  Weaving  in  Newburgh.' 


300  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

fifteen  shillings,  which  was  afterwards  increased  to  twenty  shil- 
lings, was  paid  for  every  acre  of  ground  sown  with  lint  or  hemp. 
The  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  for 
Manufactures,  brought  weavers  from  abroad  to  exhibit  and  teach 
others  the  most  improved  methods  of  weaving.1  Large  rewards 
were  offered  for  the  improvement  of  looms,  and  other  manufactur- 
ing utensils ;  prizes  were  given  to  housewives  for  the  best  made 
pieces  of  linen,  and  aid  was  given  towards  the  establishment  of 
spinning-schools  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  in  the  art  of 
spinning.  The  following  entry  on  this  subject  occurs  in  the 
Records  of  the  Burgh  of  Peebles  : — 

*  27  May  1633.  Appointis  Weddinsday  nixt  to  convene  the 
haul  persones  and  parentis  of  these  bairnes  gevin  up  in 
roll  to  be  bound  for  ane  yeir  to  the  small  quheill  in  the 
hous  to  be  erectit  to  lerne  the  young  anes  to  spyn.'2 

The  efforts  made  to  establish  manufactures  in  Scotland  at  this 
earlier  period  failed,  through  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  wars 
shortly  afterwards ;  those  of  the  eighteenth  century  fell  on  happier 
times,  and  were  more  successful.  The  encouragement  given  by 
the  Board  of  Trustees  for  Manufactures,  induced  an  extension  of 
the  cultivation  of  lint ;  there  was  not  a  farm  in  this  neighbourhood, 
or  in  the  country  generally,  on  which  there  was  not  more  or  less 
of  it  sown.  It  was  cultivated  largely  on  the  Burgh  Acres ;  the 
cottar  had  his  little  plot ;  and  so  much  did  it  enter  into  social 
arrangements,  that  domestic  servants  had  a  small  patch  (two  lip- 
pies-bounds,  equal  to  about  five  and  a  half  poles)  allotted  to  them, 
and  even  herd-boys  had  their  wages  paid  in  lint.  A  corresponding 
activity  was  manifested  in  its  manufacture ;  one  or  more  spinning- 
wheels  were  in  active  operation  in  every  house, — female  servants 
were  bound  to  spin  two  spindles  and  a  half,  or  thirty-six  thousand 


1  Records  of  the  Convention  of  Royal  Burghs,  1597-1614,  pp.  116,  117. 

2  Charters  and  Documents  of  the  Burgh  of  Peebles,  Burgh  Record  Society,  p.  372. 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  301 

yards  of  yarn  weekly,  besides  performing  their  usual  work.  Cot- 
tar wives  assembled  under  tlie  eye  of  the  mistress  of  the  home- 
stead, and  had  a  'rockin,'  striving  who  could  spin  the  greatest 
quantity  in  a  given  time.  Such  scenes  of  household  industry  have 
utterly  past  away, — few  of  the  present  generation  have  seen  a 
spinning-wheel,  and  even  the  terms  used  in  speaking  of  the  art, 
which,  up  to  the  third  decade  of  the  present  century,  were  familiar 
as  household  words,  are  now  utterly  unknown.  But  it  was  by 
this  domestic  industry  that  all  the  linen  manufactured  was  pro- 
duced, and  it  brought  comfort  and  independence  to  many  a  hum- 
ble home.  The  drying  up  of  this  industry  had  this  injurious  effect, 
that  it  tended  to  depopulate  the  rural  districts,  by  driving  the 
people  to  seek  for  work  and  livelihood  hi  the  towns,  which  they 
could  no  longer  find  in  the  country. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  last,  and  even  in  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  most  of  the  ordinary  clothing  of  both  young 
and  old  hi  this  neighbourhood  was  of  home-made  woollen.  The 
cottar-folk,  who  were  unable  to  have  a  whole  web  of  their  own, 
joined  together  for  a  warp,  and  each  had  their  own  weft  woven  on 
it.  This  was  called  a  mein,  or  common  web.  If  it  was  of  woollen, 
it  was  sent  to  the  litster,  or  dyer,  of  whom  there  was  one  or  more 
in  every  district,  to  be  waulked  (fulled),  and  then  dyed ;  but 
hodden-grey  (which  was  simply  the  natural  colour  of  the  wool) 
for  common  use  prevailed.  The  getting  of  a  new  gown  at  that 
era  was  a  matter  involving  much  time  and  preparation;  the  lint 
had  often  first  to  be  sown  in  the  field,  then  spun,  woven,  bleached, 
and  latterly  sent  to  the  printfield,  to  be  printed  of  a  selected 
pattern.  As  may  readily  be  conjectured,  a  gown  so  prepared  was 
not  often  replaced  by  a  newer  fashion. 

In  the  year  1749  linen  manufacture,  which  has  ever  since  been 
the  staple  trade  of  the  town,  received  a  great  impetus  in  New- 
burgh.  At  that  period  an  enactment  required  that  every  master- 
weaver  should  become  bound  to  manufacture  faithful  and  honest 
goods,  the  object  being  the  production  of  cloth  that  would  secure 
a  good  name  for  the  linen  manufactures  of  Britain  in  the  markets 


302  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

of  the  world.  The  regulations  for  securing  this  have  so  utterly 
passed  out  of  memory  as  to  make  them  curious.  The  Act  required 
'  that  no  weaver  shall  set  up  for  himself  as  Master-Weaver  until 
he  give  security  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  or  Magistrate  within 
any  Burgh,  under  such  penalties  as  the  Justice  or  Magistrate  shall 
think  fit,  that  neither  he  nor  any  person  to  be  employed  by  him 
shall  weave  any  linen  cloth  for  sale  or  otherwise  than  according 
to  the  Rules  and  Directions  prescribed  by  this  Act.  And  if  any 
person  shall  set  up  for  himself  as  Master- Weaver  without  giving 
such  security,  he  shall  forfeit  for  every  web  of  linen  cloth  so 
wrought  or  wove  by  him,  or  them,  or  any  employed  by  them, 
the  said  web  or  piece  of  cloth,  or  the  value  thereof  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Informer,  and  shall  further  forfeit  the  sum  of  Five 
pounds.' * 

The  first  entry  that  occurs  in  the  Court  Books  of  Newburgk, 
in  terms  of  this  Act,  is  on  the  31st  January  1749,  and  is  as 
follows : — 

'  Compeared  before  John  Small  and  John  Lyell,  younger, 
baillies  of  the  Burgh  of  Newburgh,  Alexander  Lyell, 
weaver  and  present  stamp-master  there,  Thomas  Spence, 
Weaver  there,  who  in  terms  of  ye  Act  Enter  themselves 
as  Master-Weavers .  and  became  bound  each  of  them 
Cautioners  for  the  other  in  terms  of  the  Act  of  Par- 
liament.' 

This  is  followed  by  twenty-eight  other  weavers  coming  forward 
on  the  same  day,  and  becoming  bound  in  like  manner. 

The  duty  of  the  stampmaster,  whose  name  is  incidentally 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  extract,  was  to  examine  all  the  linen 
cloth  woven  hi  the  town  and  neighbourhood,  and  to  impress  it 
with  a  stamp  specially  entrusted  to  him,  if  he  deemed  the  web 
honestly   and   properly   manufactured.     The   following   process, 

1  Act  Geo.  I.,  1727. 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  303 

preserved  in  the  archives  of  Newburgh,  exhibits  the  form  of 
procedure  when  the  stampmaster  refused  to  stamp  the  cloth 
presented : — 

'  Complains  Alexander  Lyell,  Stampmaster  in  Newburgh  upon 
James  Thomson,  younger  weaver  in  Newburgh,  That 
upon  ye  day  and  date  of  thir  presents,  the  said  defender 
presented  a  Brown  web  of  Linnen  Cloath  containing  fyftie- 
thrie  yeards  of  lenth  to  be  stamped,  and  after  inspecting  ye 
same  the  said  complainer  found  it  altogether  insufficient. 
Therefore  may  it  please  your  Lordships  the  Magistrates 
of  Newburgh  to  appoint  tradesmen  to  inspect  the  same, 
and  if  found  insufficient  the  said  web  ought  to  be  con- 
demned in  terms  of  ye  act  of  parliament,  and  the  defender 
ought  to  be  fined  according  the  said  act.  "  Court  held  5th 
March  1753.  The  Bailies  appoint  John  Lyell  yr.,  weaver 
at  the  west  port  of  Newburgh,  James  Nairn  in  the  said 
Brugh,  James  Anderson,  Weaver  yr.,  and  Joseph  Lyell 
to  goe  and  inspect  the  said  web  and  to  Retourn  their 
verdict  to  them.  Having  inspected  and  considered  the 
said  web  unanimously  declare  upon  oath  that  the  same  is 
insufficient,  and  spoilt  in  the  working  and  not  merchant- 
able goods."  The  Bailies  have  received  this  verdict 
"  condemns  the  said  web  and  decerns  ye  same  to  be  cutt 
in  six  elns  according  to  the  act  of  parliament  and  fines 
the  defender  in  terms  of  the  act  of  parliament. 

'  W*.  Ballixgall,  John  Lyell.' 

Long  before  these  provisions,  however,  for  the  manufacture  of 
'  honest  and  merchantable  goods,'  it  was  enacted  in  the  reign  of 
James  VII.  (1686),  'for  the  encouragement  of  the  Linen  Manu- 
factures of  this  Kingdom,  and  prevention  of  the  exportation  of 
monies  thereof  by  importing  of  linen,  that  no  corps  of  any  persons 
whatever  shall  be  buried  in  any  shirt,  sheet,  or  any  thing  else 
except  in  plain  linen  or  cloth  of  hards  made  and  spun  within  the 


304  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

kingdom  under  a  penalty  of  £300  Scots  for  a  nobleman,  and  £200 
for  each  other  person.'  This  Act  was  ratified  by  the  first  Parlia- 
ment of  William  and  Mary,  with,  among  other  additions,  '  that  the 
nearest  Elder  or  Deacon  of  the  parish  with  one  neighbour  or  two 
be  called  by  the  persons  concerned  and  present,  to  the  putting  of 
the  dead  corps  in  the  coffin  that  they  may  see  the  same  done ; ' 
and  they  were  required  to  subscribe  a  certificate  to  that  effect. 

This  Act  was  repealed  in  the  last  Scottish  Parliament,1  '  and 
for  the  encouragement  of  the  manufacture  of  woollen'  (which  was 
depressed  at  the  time),  it  was  enacted,  '  that  hereafter  no  corps 
of  any  person,  of  what  condition  or  quality  soever  shall  be  buried 
in  linen  of  whatever  kind,  but  plain  woollen  cloth  or  stuff  shall  be 
made  use  of,  and  that  under  the  same  penalties  as  were  imposed 
by  the  Act  anent  Linens.'  This  law  did  not  remain  a  dead  letter, 
In  the  Court  Books  of  Newburgh  the  following  entry  occurs  : — 

'  At  a  Court  holden  by  Richard  Smith  baillyie  upon  ye  14 
May  1712,  Court  lawfully  fencit.  The  qlk  day  ye  ffiscall 
of  Court  ag*  ye  persons  afternamed,  for  winding  of  their 
dead  in  Lining  since  ye  Act  of  Parliament  made  ag* 
winding  of  dead  in  Lining ;  And  that  contrair  to  the  said 
Act  of  Parliament,  viz*.,  John  Small  for  winding  his  wife, 
Janet  Stinnes  for  winding  John  Smith  her  husband  in 
Linning ;  John  Brown  for  winding  two  of  his  children, 
Robert  Allan  for  winding  his  wife,  Jean  Daniel  for  her 
daughter,  Rebecca  Stinnes  for  Thomas  Matheson  her 
husband,  John  Blyth,  talyeour,  for  his  father, — All  for 
winding  in  Linning  contrair  to  the  said  Act  of  Parliament. 
And  they  being  all  summoned  to  this  day  personally 
apprehended,  John  Small,  John  Brown,  Janet  Stinnes, 
Jean  Daniel  all  confessed,  and  John  Blyth  absent,  held 
as  confessed,  and  Rebecca  Stinnes  absent,  held  as  con- 
test.    And  Robert  Allan  not  being  able  to  come,  and  it 


>  Anne,  Cap.  XIV.,  1707. 


IXDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  305 

being  attested  and  verified  by  sundrie  honest  men  that  he 
was  not  guilty,  Therefore  the  baillyie  fines  those  guilty 
conform  to  Act  of  Parliament,  and  assoilzies  Robert 
Allan.' 

The  prejudice  in  favour  of  burying  in  linen  must  have  been 
strong,  to  have  induced  so  many  to  run  the  risk  of  the  heavy 
penalty  which  the  act  imposed  ;  and  yet,  in  all  likelihood  in  con- 
sequence of  this  very  act,  a  white  woollen  stuff  (called  burial 
crape)  continued  to  be  used,  especially  by  the  rich  for  winding 
their  dead,  so  late  as  the  year  1820.  John  Wesley,  on  his  death- 
bed, gave  instructions  that  his  body  should  be  buried  in  woollen.1 

It  is  an  interesting  instance  of  the  tenacity  with  which  old 
habits  and  customs  keep  their  hold,  that  primitive  modes  of 
spinning  and  weaving  should  have  continued  in  use  so  long  after 
improved  methods  were  discovered.  We  have  evidence,  in  a 
manuscript  in  the  British  Museum,  written  early  in  the  14th 
century,  of  the  use  of  a  spinning  wheel  at  that  date.2 

Two  centuries  later,  in  1533,  a  wheel  at  which  the  spinner  sat 
and  turned  with  her  foot  by  a  crank  was  invented.3  In  or  about 
1764  the  two-handed  wheel,  which  enabled  the  spinner  to  spin  two 
threads  at  once,  was  discovered,  and  yet  most  of  the  old  people  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Newburgh  and  in  the  country  generally  con- 
tinued to  spin  by  the  spindle  and  distaff  up  to  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  A  weaver  of  Newburgh,  still  alive  (1874),  wove  in 
his  youth  a  web  of  linen  spun  entirely  by  the  Balk  and  Rock,  as  the 
spindle  and  distaff  were  named  in  Scotland.4     The  spinning-wheel 

1  Southey's  Life  of  Wesley,  Vol.,  II.,  p.  566. 

2  Wright's  History  of  Domestic  Maimers, -p.  238. 
'  Chambers's  Book  of  Days,  Vol.  I.,  p.  68. 

4  This  primitive  mode  of  spinning  continued  much  longer  in  more  secluded 
districts.  Dr  Arthur  Mitchell,  whose  knowledge  of  archaic  usages  is  so  exten- 
sive, has  seen  the  spindle  (but  not  the  distaff)  in  practical  use  '  in  Fetlar  in 
Shetland  ;  on  the  west  coast  of  Sutherlandshire  ;  in  the  parish  of  Daviot,  near 
Inverness,  and  in  the  parish  of  Balmaclellan,  in  Galloway,  besides  other  places  in 

U 


306  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

lingered  in  this  neighbourhood  until  somewhere  between  1820  and 
1830,  but  it  has  now  as  entirely  disappeared  as  the  Balk  and  Rock 
which  preceded  it.  The  fly-shuttle,  which  greatly  increased  speed 
in  weaving,  was  invented  in  1738,  and  yet  so  late  as  the  beginning 
of  this  century,  all  the  old  weavers  in  this  neighbourhood  con- 
tinued to  use  the  hand-shuttle,  driving  it  first  with  the  right  hand 
and  then  with  the  left,  as  in  ancient  times.  One  old  man  con- 
tinued to  use  it  to  about  the  year  1820. 

Though  so  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newburgh  enrolled 
themselves  as  master- weavers  in  1749,  yet  for  a  long  time  the 
manufactures  of  the  town  were  of  limited  extent.  Dr  Stuart, 
minister  of  Newburgh,  in  his  admirable  Statistical  Account  of  the 
Parish,  written  in  1792,  says,  'no  trader  has  yet  appeared  whose 
extensive  transactions  in  commerce  would  entitle  him  to  the  name 
and  character  of  a  merchant,  though  perhaps  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  many  will  be  found  of  that  respectable  description.'1 
That  time  has  since  arrived, — but  up  to  the  end  of  the  last  century 
the  main  occupation  and  dependence  of  the  burgesses  was  in  the 
grazing  of  their  cattle  on  the  common  hill,  and  on  the  cultivation 
of  their  share  of  the  burgh  lands. 

These  lands,  in  common  with  a  great  portion  of  the  arable  land 
of  the  country  generally,  were  cultivated  under  the  system  of 
run-rig.  This  system  sprang  from  a  principle  of  fair-play  ;  each 
burgess  having  alloted  to  him  a  portion  of  the  good  land,  then  a 
portion  of  middling,  next  of  inferior,  and  last  of  all  a  portion  of  the 
worst,  each  lot  running  side  by  side  with  that  of  a  neighbour,  hence 
the  term  run-rig.     One  lot,  perhaps  at  one  extremity,  another  it 

Scotland,  within  the  last  ten  years.'  And,  he  adds,  'in  Fetlar  and  other  parts  of 
Shetland  it  is  common.'  The  term  Balk-ami- Rock  does  not  occur  in  Jamieson's 
Scottish  Dictionary.  Balk  signifies  a  beam  ;  we  still  say  iveigh-balk,  Anglice, 
weighing-beam.  Bock  originally  meant  a  bundle  of  anything  loosely  thrown 
together ;  hence  we  speak  in  Scotland  of  a  nick  of  hay.  Latterly  Bock  came  to 
signify  the  piece  of  wood  round  which  the  flax  or  tow  to  be  spun  was  loosely 
twisted  ;  hence  the  name  tow  staff  or  distaff. 

1  Sinclair's  Statistical  Account,  Vol.  VIII.,  p.  182. 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  307 

may  be  in  the  centre,  or  at  some  corner,  and  another  at  the  other 
extremity  of  the  lands.  Though  springing  from  such  a  commend- 
able principle,  the  run-rig  system  was  a  source  of  endless  disputes. 
It  has  been  thus  described  as  seen  in  operation  in  the  west  of  Ire- 
land a  few  years  ago,  where  it  seems  to  have  prevailed  (if  it  does 
not  still)  in  a  very  aggravated  form.  '  In  some  instances  a  tenant 
having  any  portion  of  a  town-land,  had  his  property  in  thirty  or 
forty  different  places,  and  without  fences  between  them,  it  being 
utterly  impossible  to  have  any,  as  the  portions  were  so  numerous, 
and  frequently  so  very  small,  that  not  more  than  half  a  stone  of 
oats  were  required  to  sow  one  of  these  divisions.  Trespasses,  con- 
fusions, disputes,  and  assaults,  were  the  unavoidable  consequences 
of  this  sytem.'1  The  Wodrife  or  burgh  acres  of  Newburgh  were 
divided  into  portions  called  half-parts,  containing  usually  about 
two  acres  each ;  these  were  made  up  of  five  or  six  rigs,  scattered 
in  as  many  different  places,  intermixed  with  those  of  others  in  the 
manner  described,  the  whole  sixty-four  half  parts  containing  in 
all  156  acres,  were  subdivided  into  upwards  of  350  patches. 

In  addition  to  the  evils  attending  this  minute  subdivision — the 
burgesses  had  a  right  to  send  their  cattle  from  a  certain  day  in 
autumn  to  a  certain  day  in  spring  to  pasture  over  the  whole 
arable  lands  of  the  burgh.  Such  a  system  was  a  bar  to  all  im- 
provement; and  had  it  continued,  the  sowing  of  clover  or  the 
cultivation  of  turnips,  or  of  any  winter  crop,  would  have  been 
impossible. 

To  remedy  such  a  state  of  matters,  an  Act  was  passed  in  the 
reign  of  William  I.  (1695),  but  burgh  acres  were  expressly  ex- 
cluded. The  burgh  lands  of  Newburgh  therefore  remained  under 
the  system  of  run-rig,  till  the  increasing  importance  of  the  linen 
manufactures,  towards  the  end  of  the  last  century,  made  it  more 
profitable  to  devote  attention  to  them,  and  gradually  the  much- 
divided  half-parts  of  the  Wodrife,  with  four  or  five  exceptions,  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  neighbouring  proprietor. 

1  Coulter's  West  of  Ireland,  p.  182. 


308  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

So  long  as  the  main  dependence  of  the  burgesses  was  on  the 
cultivation  and  pasturage  of  their  lands,  the  records  of  the  burgh 
teem  with  enactments  for  preventing  trespasses  and  encroachments. 
An  instance  occurs  in  the  very  first  page  of  the  oldest  Court  Book 
of  the  Burgh. 

'  1471,  May  8.  It  was  ordand  be  ye  ballyeis  i-ye  Cossell  of 
ye  ton  y*  John  Layll  sulci  keip  ye  corn  of  ye  wyddr-off, 
and  ye  by  11,  and  all  ye  grysse  of  ye  com11  fra  Whytsonde 
to  ye  tym  y*  ye  corn  ye  leyde  i.' 

The  corn  and  grass  were  '  pryssed'  at  the  entry  of  the  person  en- 
trusted with  charge  of  them,  and  if  found  damaged  '  be  ye  pryssere/ 
the  keeper  was  bound  to  make  it  good  out  of  his  '  pay*  to  hym  at 
Sanct  Katryn-day.'  For  upwards  of  three  hundred  years  similar 
appointments  continued  to  be  made,  and  very  frequently  the 
town-herd  was  the  person  appointed,  but  it  also  frequently  oc- 
curred that  the  heritors  did  the  duty  in  person.  Whoever  was 
appointed  to  the  office  was  empowered  to  poind  cattle  found 
among  the  growing  corn,  hence  he  was  named  the  Punier.  The 
following  is  one  of  many  records  of  an  appointment  under  this 
primitive  institution  : — 

'1717  May  29.  This  day  being  appointed  for  choising  of  a 
Punier,  and  ye  heritors  being  advertyssed  for  that  effect, 
and  they  not  compearing  only  David  Lyell  acknowledged 
that  he  had  ye  punier  staff,  and  yrfor  in  respect  of  ye 
heritors  not  compearing  to  give  their  vote  for  a  punier, 
Therefore  the  Baillzies  statutes  enacts  and  appoints  that 
David  Lyell  begin  to  punle,  and  so  that  he  delyver  the 
staff  to  his  nixt  neighbour  concerned  that  he  may  punle 
nixt,  and  that  accordingly  it  goe  round  thorrow  the  whole 
heritors  concerned,  and  that  they  punle  each  of  them  per 
vices  day  about  for  the  present  year,  and  who  shall  refuse 
or  neglect  their  duty  as  it  comes  to  their  door,  that  they 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  309 

be  liable  to  a  fine  at  ye  Baillzies  modification  and  discre- 
tion.' 

The  latest  appointment  of  such  an  officer  occurs  in  1777. 

The  silent  on-goings  of  peace  pass  un-noted  by  tradition,  and 
it  is  only  by  comparing  results  at  distant  periods  that  the  great 
advances  and  improvements  in  agriculture  is  perceived.  For  years 
after  the  last  rising  in  favour  of  the  Stuarts,  the  mode  of  convey- 
ing manure  to  the  fields  of  the  Wodrife  was  in  creels  or  panniers, 
strung  across  a  horse's  back.  Potatoes,  which  now  form  such  an 
important  crop,  and  have  become  such  an  indispensable  necessity 
in  modern  life,  were  not  introduced  to  this  neighbourhood  till 
some  years  after  the  'Forty-five.'  One  who  was  born  in  1743  re- 
membered the  introduction  of  potatoes  to  this  neighbourhood. 
He  used  to  tell,  in  the  third  decade  of  the  present  century,  that 
when  a  boy  he  went  and  searched  the  ground  after  the  crop  was 
lifted.  He  found  two  or  three  not  bigger  than  small  plums,  which 
he  took  home,  and  after  they  were  boiled,  they  were  divided,  that 
all  the  household  might  taste  them.  Balks  (waste  stripes  betwixt 
ridges)  continued  till  after  that  period,  and  it  was  only  by  slow 
degrees,  and  within  comparatively  recent  times,  that  the  country 
became  so  highly  cultivated,  and  assumed  that  garden-like  appear- 
ance which  it  now  presents.1 

When  enlarged  spheres  of  industry  had  opened  up  and  brought 
the  inhabitants  within  the  range  of  commercial  activity,  old  modes 
of  life  and  primitive  institutions  disappeared.  This  is  notably  the 
case- with  the  town-herd  ;  this  functionary  and  his  duties  are  as 
utterly  unknown  to  the  present  generation,  as  if  he  had  never 
existed.  And  yet  so  late  as  the  year  1830,  he  continued  to  drive 
out,  twice  a  day,  the  town-kye  to  the  pasturage  of  the  Common 
Hill.  The  blowing  of  his  horn,  and  the  lowing  of  his  charge,  as 
he  collected  them  one  by  one,  was  a  sight  and  sound  as  familiar 
as  the  returning  summer  morn,  and  yet  it  is  as  completely  buried 

1  Appendix  No.  X. 


310  INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS. 

in  the  past  as  the  fossil  formations  of  a  past  era.  Generally  it 
was  an  old  man  who  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  town-herd  ; 
and  so  important  was  the  trust  considered,  that  there  was  fre- 
quently a  contest  for  the  situation ;  the  appointment  depending 
on  the  votes  of  the  Wodrife  Heritors.  The  last  who  held  the 
office  (George  Bin-ell)  wore  a  broad  blue  bonnet  of  the  old  Cove- 
nanter type,  and  his  picturesque  appearance,  as  he  followed  his 
charge  along  the  street,  would  now  be  eagerly  seized  by  artists 
as  a  subject  for  their  pencil. 

The  following  .extract  from  the  Town  Council  Records  of  New- 
burgh  brings  the  duties  and  emoluments  of  this  extinct  official 
vividly  before  us  : — 

'  Court  of  the  brough  off  Newburgh  holdn  be  the  baillies  the 
eighth  day  off  December  1725  lawfully  ffenced.  .  .  . 
'  The  whilk  day  being  apoynted  for  choysing  ane  nolt- 
heard  ffor  the  inshewing  yeir  1726.  .  .  .  The  wholl 
heretors  and  others  conserned  being  uarnd  to  this  dyet,  to 
give  ther  vots  who  shall  keep  the  kyn  the  fforesaid  yeir 
publickly  by  the  bell  as  use  is.' 

'And  who  shall  succeed  to  the  said  kyn  keeping  ar  to  enter 
with  said  service  att  the  25*  off  march  nixt  and  to  continoii 
till  mertimis  therafter  and  cairfully  to  keep  them  and  not 
to  preffer  on  by  ane  other  in  baiting,  or  his  oun  Cou  and  to 
tak  them  out  in  the  morning  tymously  and  bring  them  in 
betwixt  elevn  and  tiiell  and  tak  them  out  betwixt  tuo  and 
three  afternoon,  and  give  uarning  by  ane  horn  morning 
and  att  noon,  and  that  he  shall  not  cast  any  toiiffs  bot 
only  whair  the  rest  of  the  heritors  casts  ther  oun,  and  also 
to  tiait  on  the  saids  goods — alsueel  in  the  harvest  as  any 
other  tym  in  his  oun  person  (he  having  his  health)  and 
keep  the  grasse  from  others.' 

'  The  bailies  and  all  conserned  ar  to  pay  the  said  herd  ffor 
ilk  beast  off  Cou  six  lippies  off  good  and  sufficient  bear  the 
on   halfe   at  bear-seed  closing,   the   other   halfe   betwixt 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  311 

mertimis  and  yooll  and  any  other  deiis  conform  to  use  and 
viont.  D.  Bickerton.  Ri :  Smith.' 
« The  uhilk  day  after  a  ffull  and  ffree  vot  of  all  conserned  in 
ehoysing  ane  nolt  heard  ffor  the  insheuing  yeir  jajvij  and 
tuentie  and  sixe  yeirs  and  Gorge  f other  en  gham  leat 
sheepheard  in  parkhill  caried  the  vot  by  nynteen  vots  and 
Ingadges  to  the  said  service  on  The  terms  above  tirytn 
and  tilth  him  John  Tod  as  Cautioner  ffor  the  said  Gorge 
ftbtherengham  and  that  he  shall  perfTorm  his  pairt  and 
that  the  said  gorge  shall  keep  the  gress  from  other  mocks 
in  goesomer.  And  on  the  other  pairt,  the  bailies  and  ther 
sucessors  oblidges  Them  in  name  of  the  rest  ffor  payment 
of  the  fforsd  bole  at  the  terms  above  tirytn,  and  That  he 
shall  have  his  oiin  Cous  grasse  uithe  therest  alenerly,  and 
iff  any  beis  deficiant  The  bailies  is  to  give  sentance  in 
his  ffavors  against  them  gratis,  and  bothe  pairties  have 
subscrivit  thir  presents  as  ffollows.  D.  Bickerton,  R1  Smith, 
Georg  fotherengahm,  John  Tod.' 

On  the  10th  December  1740,  Patrick  Glass,  pyper  in  New- 
burgh,  after  competition  between  him  and  another,  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  Cow-herd,  on  the  condition,  however,  '  that  he 
shall  goe  to  no  wedding  to  play  thereatt  with  his  pypes,  unless 
he  put  a  sufficient  man  in  his  Roumc  to  bird  for  him,  who  shall 
satisfy  the  Baillies.'  Besides  the  emoluments  mentioned,  there 
was  a  'rig'  of  land  in  the  burgh  acres  allotted  to  the  herd.  It  is 
still  known  as  the  Cow-herd's  rig. 

From  the  very  earliest  record  of  the  burgh  life  up  to  the  year 
1830,  the  bestial  of  the  burgesses  (those,  however,  who  were  owners 
of  lands  in  the  burgh  acres  having  a  special  claim  to  it)  pastured 
daily  on  the  Common  Hill ;  but  for  reasons  which  seemed  good  to 
many  at  the  time,  the  hill  was  alloted,  and  turned  to  arable  pur- 
poses, and  the  burgesses  generally  were  denuded  of  a  privilege 
which,  though  those  who  kept  cattle  were  gradually  becoming 
fewer  and  fewer,  eked   out  the  means  of  living,  and    diffused   an 


312  INDUSTRIAL  rURSUITS. 

amount  of  comfort  among  the  inhabitants,  which  has  no  equivalent 
in  modern  life. 

The  increasing  activities  of  manufactures  required  more  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world,  but  the  unmade  state  of  the  roads 
up  to  the  end  of  the  last  century,  rendered  travelling  difficult,  and 
excepting  on  foot  or  horseback,  next  to  impossible.  Wheel- 
carriages  were  consequently  all  but  unknown.  The  visits  of 
strangers  were  few  and  seldom.  The  little  world  lived  within 
itself,  and  news  from  the  outside  came  only  by  some  chance  visit- 
ant, or  the  arrival  of  a  vessel  at  the  port.  But  in  the  year  1782, 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Town  Council, — 

'  Oct.  24th  It  was  moved  by  Mr  Brown,  Clerk  of  Court,  that 
he  had  some  hopes  of  procuring  a  bye-post  bag  for  convey- 
ing letters  and  other  dispatches  betwixt  Perth  and  this 
Town  three  times  a  week,  and  it  being  put  to  the  vote  it 
was  carried  unanimously  that  the  town  pay  sixpence  per 
week  towards  defraying  the  expense  of  that  bye-bag  for 
one  year's  duration  after  its  commencement,  and  appoint 
the  Treasurer  to  pay  the  same. — Joseph  Ltell,  Henry 
Hardie." 

A  brass  plate,  which  the  postman  used  to  wear,  engraved  with 
the  words  '  Newburgh  Post,'  and  the  date  1792,  is  preserved  among 
the  Town's  Records. 

Little  by  little  the  old  life  gave  way.  The  ports  or  gates  of 
the  town,  were  the  boundaries  within  which  none,  however  power- 
ful, dare  pass  without  becoming  amenable  to  the  authority  within 
— they  were  raised  perhaps  more  to  mark  the  limits  of  the  burghal 
jurisdiction  than  for  protection  against  any  hostile  force.  But 
what  in  a  former  age  was  looked  upon  with  special  pride  as  the 
insignia  of  authority  and  privileges,  in  the  widening  spheres  of 
industry,  were  condemned  as  incumbrances. 

On  the  '  4  January  1785  It  was  moved  in  the  Council  that  the 
West  port  cheeks  and  the  north  cheek  of  the  East  port  were  in- 


INDUSTRIAL  PURSUITS.  313 

cumbrances  and  a  nausianee  to  the  Town,  and  it  would  tend  to  the 
ease  and  conveniency  at  the  going  out  and  the  coming  in  to  the 
Town  if  they  were  removed.  It  is  therefore  agreed  that  the  said 
three  cheeks  shall  be  removed,  and  that  the  same  be  sold  by 
public  Roup  for  the  use  of  the  Common  Good,  only  it  is  agreed 
that  the  north  cheek  of  the  West  Port  shall  not  be  removed  till 
the  passage  on  the  west  port  burn  be  widened  more  towards  the 
north,  for  fear  of  danger  to  passengers  there. — ANDREW  FERNEY, 
John  Anderson,  Bailies.' 

Besides  marking  the  limits  of  burghal  jurisdiction  and  privi- 
leges, the  burgesses  perhaps  felt  a  fancied  security  within  the  frail 
defences  of  their  Posts,  but  the  time  had  come  when  all  civil 
commotions  had  ceased,  when  equal  freedom  prevailed  within  and 
without  the  Burgh  Gates  ;  when  the  feudal  castle  wTas  deserted, 
and  allowed  to  crumble  into  decay,  and  greater  security  was  felt 
in  the  supremacy  of  law,  than  in  walls  and  battlements.  Hence- 
forth there  is  nothing  peculiar  in  the  Records  of  the  Burgh,  and 
therefore  its  ancient  history  happily  closes  in  the  triumph  of  in- 
dustry and  peace. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES  ;    MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS 

MACDUFF. 

'  Homeward  let  us  take  our  path, 
Through  the  glowing  purple  heath, 
O'er  the  height  that  looketh  down, 
On  loch  and  river,  strath  and  town, 
Past  the  cairn  where  legends  tell, 
Of  passions  fierce  and  violence  fell ; 
By  the  Cross  whose  storied  name 
Is  blazon'd  on  the  roll  of  Fame.' 

Anon. 

THERE  are  three  remarkable  ancient  monuments  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Newburgh.  A  '  Sculptured  Stone,'  Mugdrum  Cross,  and 
Cross  Macduff.  The  sculptured  stone  is  one  of  the  class  peculiar 
to  the  east  coast  of  Britain,  and  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  found 
solely  north  of  the  Forth.  It  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the 
public  road  near  the  village  of  Lindores,  formerly  it  stood  on  the 
crest  of  the  adjoining  ridge  called  the  Kaim  Hill,  until  it  was  re- 
moved to  its  present  situation,  when  the  ridge  was  brought  under 
the  plough  about  thirty  years  ago. 

The  interest  that  attaches  to  the  class  of  monuments  to  which 
the  stone  at  Lindores  belongs,  arises  from  the  peculiarity  of  the 
symbols  sculptured  upon  them,  and  the  mystery  which  surrounds 
them ;  nothing  exactly  similar  having  been  found  in  any  other 
part  of  the  world. 

The  fact  that  these  peculiar  symbols  are  only  found  in  the 
eastern  parts  of  Scotland,  tends  to  show  that  they  are  the  work  of 


SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES.  315 

the  people  who  inhabited  that  district,  which  '  we  learn  from  the 
venerable  historian  of  the  Angles  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighth 
century,  was  known  as  Pictavia  and  Alba,  the  country  of  the  Picts, 
whose  southern  boundary  was  the  Firth  of  Forth.'1  It  seems  also 
reasonable  to  conclude  from  the  absence  of  any  Christian  symbol 
on  very  many  of  these  stones,  that  the  earliest  and  rudest  of  them 
were  raised  in  heathen  times.  This  conjecture  is  strengthened  by 
the  fact  of  a  fragment  of  one  of  these  peculiarly  sculptured  stones 
having  been  found,  forming  part  of  a  cist  in  a  burial  mound  (at 
Cairn  Greg,  in  the  parish  of  Monifieth)  of  acknowledged  heathen 
character.  In  the  cist,  a  bronze  dagger  was  found  lying  be- 
side an  urn  very  rudely  made,  containing  the  ashes  of  the  in- 
dividual over  whom  the  mound  was  raised.  The  dagger  laid 
beside  the  deceased  clearly  points  to  heathen  usages  and  beliefs, 
and  the  appropriation  of  the  '  Sculptured  Stone '  towards  the 
formation  of  the  cist,  is  a  convincing  proof  that  it  was  carved 
when  these  usages  and  beliefs  prevailed.2  Putting  all  these 
circumstances  together,  it  may  reasonably  be  assumed  that  the 
oldest  of  these  '  Sculptured  Stones '  dates  back  to  a  period  pre- 
ceding the  introduction  of  Christianity  to  the  eastern  coast  of 
Scotland,  and  as  far  back,  if  not  even  earlier,  than  the  third 
century  of  our  era. 

What  is  called  the  crescent  and  sceptre,  which  appears  on  the 
stone  at  Lindores,  is  found  with  various  modifications  on  a  very 
large  proportion  of  this  class  of  monuments,  and  the  constant  re- 
petition of  these  figures  has  led  many  to  entertain  the  opinion  that 
these  and  the  other  figures,  which  so  frequently  occur,  are  symbols 
having  a  religious  meaning.  Mr  Ferguson,  in  his  4  Tree  and 
Serpent  Worship,'  speaking  of  the  symbols  on  the  sculptured 
stones,  says,  'among  them  the  serpent  appears  frequently,  and  so 
prominently  that  it  is  impossible  to  doubt  that  it  was  considered 


i  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Prcf.  p.  iii. 

2  Proceedings  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  VI.,  pp.  9S-103. 


316 


SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES  ; 


an  object  of  veneration  by  those  who  erected  those  monuments.' 
He  conjectures  that  the  broken  sceptre,  which  occurs  so  frequently 
and  appears  on  the  stone  at  Lindores,  '  may  be  a  hieroglyph  for 
God  or  King  .  .  .  We  shall,'  he  says,  '  probably  not  err  far,  if 
we  regard  these  traces  of  serpent  worship,  as  indicating  the  pre- 
sence in  the  north-east  of  Scotland  of  the  head  of  that  column  of 


SCULPTURES    STONE   AT    LINDORES. 


migration,  or  of  propagandism,  which,  under  the  myth  of  Wodenism, 
we  endeavoured,  in  a  previous  chapter,  to  trace  from  the  Caucasus 
to  Scandinavia.  The  Edda  seems  sufficient  to  prove  that  a  form 
of  serpent  worship  did  certainly  prevail  in  the  latter  country  in 
the  early  centuries  of  the  Christian  era ;  and  nothing  seems 
more   possible,    or   more   in   accordance  with    Tictish   traditions, 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  317 

than  it  should  have  passed  thence  into  Scotland,  and  should 
have  left  its  traces  everywhere  between  the  Orkneys  and  the 
Friths.'1 

These  are  some  of  the  most  recent  speculations  of  those  who 
entertain  this  view,  but  the  generally  received  opinion  now  is  that 
of  the  author  of  the  '  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,'  who  has  made 
the  subject  his  special  study.  He  says  in  his  second  volume,  pub- 
lished many  years  after  the  first,  '  the  result  of  wider  investigation 
and  further  thought  has  led  me  to  believe  that  the  peculiar 
symbols  of  the  Scotch  pillar-stones  are  to  be  ascribed  to  the 
Pictish  people  of  Alba,  and  were  used  by  them  mainly  on  their 
tombs,  as  marks  of  personal  distinction,  such  as  family  descent, 
tribal  rank  or  official  dignity.'2  In  support  of  the  opinion  that  the 
figures  on  the  sculptured  stones  are  symbols  assumed  by  families, 
Dr  Stuart  cites  '  the  ancient  Ditmarshers  as  having  a  symbol  or 
sign  by  which  they  distinguished  their  lands,  their  houses,  their 
stalls  in  the  Church  and  their  graves.'3  This  opinion  receives  con- 
firmation from  an  unexpected  quarter.  In  the  course  of  the  recent 
systematic  exploration  of  the  desert  of  Sinai,  remains  of  primeval 
dwellings  and  ancient  tombs  almost  identical  with  those  of  Great 
Britain,  and  also  large  stones  set  up  of  old  by  the  inhabitants  to 
mark  the  boundaries  of  their  land,  have  been  discovered ;  each 
stone  having  cut  upon  it  the  symbol  of  the  tribe  to  which  the  dis- 
trict belonged.4  The  conclusion  arrived  at  by  Dr  Stuart  does 
not,  however,  preclude  the  supposition  that  some  of  the  mysterious 
figures  on  the  sculptured  stones  were  originally  hieroglyphs  or 


1  Ferguson's  Tree  and  Serpent  Worship,  pp.  31,  32. 

2  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Pref.  p.  iii. 

3  lb.,  p.  29. 

4  E.  II.  Palmer's  Report  to  the  University  of  Cambridge,  18G9.  A  recent  writer 
says,  '  I  noticed  mystic  signs  on  an  ancient  bridge  on  the  borders  of  the  Dead 
Sea  ;'  and,  he  adds,  '  I  have  seen  similar  signs  on  the  flanks  of  Jellahin  camels, 
and  believe  it  to  be  a  Bedouin  mark  for  the  district  or  tribe.' — Quarterly  State- 
ment.    Palestine  Exploration  Fund,  18G9,  p.  148. 


318  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES  ; 

symbols  of  religious  import ;  just  as  the  cross  in  various  forms  ap- 
pears as  a  cognizance  in  modern  heraldic  distinctions.  The  fact 
of  their  being  so,  would  make  them  all  the  more  prized  by  families 
who  claimed  descent  from  deified  ancestors. 

Mugdrum  Cross,  situated  on  a  ridge  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  Xewburgh,  within  the  grounds  of  Mugdrum,  is  of  more  recent 
date  than  the  Lindores  stone,  though  undoubtedly  of  great  anti- 
quity. It  is  of  yellow  sandstone,  about  eleven  feet  high,  firmly 
fixed  in  a  socket  or  pedestal  of  the  same  material.1  The  sculptures 
for  which  it  is  distinguished  are  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  shaft. 
On  the  lower  and  larger  compartment  there  is  a  representation  of 
a  boar  hunt.  In  the  compartment  immediately  above,  are  the 
figures  of  two  men  on  horseback,  anned  with  hunting  spears.  In 
each  of  the  two  upper  compartments,  the  head  and  fore-quarters 
of  a  horse  bridled  and  represented  as  if  in  the  act  of  moving,  are 
very  artistically  cut,  but  the  figures  of  the  riders,  and  of  the  hind 
quarters  of  the  horses  are  entirely  eroded  by  the  wasting  of  the 
stone. 

The  sides  of  the  shaft  are  sculptured  with  the  interlaced  work 
characteristic  of  the  class  of  monuments  to  which  Mugdrum  Cross 
belongs.  It  is  very  distinct  on  the  north  side,  of  which  an  illustra- 
tion is  given  in  the  frontispiece,  but  the  south  side  is  so  weather- 
worn that  the  interlacing  has  almost  entirely  disappeared.  The 
figures  on  the  Lindores  stone  are  incised,  but  the  whole  of  the 
sculpturing  on  Mugdrum  Cross  is  highly  relieved.  Near  the  top  of 
the  shaft  of  the  latter  on  the  north  side,  there  is  a  niche,  as  if  it 
was  the  remains  of  the  arm  of  a  cross ;  but  whether  it  ever  had 
arms,  which  is  probable,  or  had  a  cross  cut  within  a  circle  on  the 
back,  similar  to  the  sculptured  stone  formerly  at  Largo,  cannot 


1  The  shaft  of  Mugdrum  Cross  is  10  feet  10  inches  in  height,  the  pedestal  is 
1  foot  9  inches  in  depth,  making  the  total  height  of  the  Cross  from  the  surface  of 
the  ground  12  feet  7  inches.  The  shaft  is  2  feet  3j  inches  in  width  and  15  inches 
in  thickness  where  not  wasted.  The  pedestal  or  socket  is  5  feet  8  inches  in 
length  by  3  feet  9  inches  in  breadth. 


•    '">^ 


^*'*K-r. 


;ii  6DR1  m    ' 

1  RONT   VIEW  .    EAST   SIDE. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AXD  CROSS  MACDUFF.  319 

now  be  positively  determined,  the  upper  portion  of  the  shaft  being 
much  wasted  all  round. 

The  representation  of  a  boar  hunt  is  significant  when  taken  in 
connection  with  the  name  of  the  Cross ;  the  most  ancient  spelling, 
'  Mukedruni,'  signifying  in  the  original  Gaelic  '  The  Sow's  Ridge,' 
(muc,  sow;  druim,  ridge).  The  prefix  muc  enters  largely  into  the 
topography  of  Scotland,  and  is  indicative  of  the  prevalence  of 
the  boar  tribe  at  the  time  that  Gaelic  was  the  spoken  language  of 
the  Lowlands.  Muc-ros,  the  boar's  head-land,  is  the  ancient  name 
of  St  Andrews,  and  we  know  that  '  the  chase  of  the  boar  was  a 
favourite  employment  among  the  ancient  Celts.  It  is  celebrated 
in  many  of  their  tales,  and  the  sow  enters  largely  into  their 
ancient  mythology.' *  The  sculpture  on  Mugdrum  Cross  does  not 
show  any  veneration  in  this  direction,  but  rather  the  reverse,  the 
herd  of  swine  being  represented  in  the  attitude  of  flight,  with  the 
hounds  in  full  chase  after  them.  The  erection  of  so  stately  a  cross, 
so  elaborately  and  beautifully  sculptured,  was  undoubtedly  to  mark 
a  sacred  spot,  or  to  commemorate  some  remarkable  event,  the 
memory  of  which  has  perished. 

The  beautiful  interlaced  sculpture  which  is  seen  on  the  sides 
of  Mugdrum  Cross,  is  characteristic  of  the  crosses  found  within  the 
north-western  parts  of  Scotland  and  the  Islands  where  St  Columba 
and  his  Irish  followers,  and  their  successors  chiefly  penetrated  and 
settled.  The  similarity  of  the  designs  on  these  crosses  to  those 
still  seen  on  the  ancient  Irish  manuscripts,  has  led  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  they  are  the  work  of  the  same  hands.  '  We  know,'  says 
the  author  of  the  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  '  that  in  Ireland 
the  monks  were  the  artificers  of  the  shrines,  croziers,  book-covers, 
and  bells  which  yet  exist  to  excite  our  wonder  by  the  grace,  and 
at  the  sametime  the  minute  intricacy  of  their  style,  while  they  were 
also  the  writers  of  those  manuscripts  of  matchless  caligraphy,' 
which  are  still  extant. 

The  inference  from  all  this  is,  that  the  class  of  sculptured  pillars 

1   The  Dam  qf-Lismore's  Book,  Note,  p.  81. 


320  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LLXDORES ; 

to  which  Mugdrum  Cross  belongs,  were  erected  after  the  arrival  of 
St  Columba  and  his  followers  (a.d.  563).  The  cross  is  conspicu- 
ously prominent  on  most  of  these  pillars,  occupying  in  many  of  them 
the  whole  length  of  the  shaft.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  the  myste- 
rious symbols  of  the  more  ancient  stones  appear  on  some  of  these 
undoubtedly  Christian  monuments  ;  almost  invariably,  however,  in 
a  most  inconspicuous  position.  On  the  sculptured  stone  at  St 
Madoes,  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  the  cross  occupies  the  whole  face 
of  one  of  the  sides ;  on  the  other,  the  crescent  and  sceptre  symbols 
appear,  but  of  a  diminutive  size.  The  same  remark  applies  to 
'  the  Bore  Stone  of  Gask,'  on  which  the  cross  appears  and  occupies 
the  whole  length  of  the  stone  on  both  sides,  while  the  peculiar 
symbols  are  small  and  are  relegated  to  obscure  positions.  The 
appearance  of  these  mysterious  symbols  on  Christian  monuments 
strengthens  the  conclusion  arrived  at  by  Dr  Stuart,  that  they  are 
family  or  tribal  marks ;  as  otherwise  it  is  scarcely  conceivable  that 
the  early  founders  of  Christianity  in  Scotland,  would  have  carved 
on  Christian  monuments  emblems  of  direct  heathen  import  unless 
on  the  supposition  that  at  the  time  of  the  carving  of  these  pillars 
their  heathen  significance  had  been  forgotten.  Whatever  doubts 
may  exist  as  to  the  origin  and  meaning  of  these  peculiar  symbols, 
there  can  be  none  regarding  the  most  ancient  pillar-stones  on 
which  the  cross  appears.  These  crosses  are  memorials  of  the 
triumph  of  Christianity  over  Heathenism,  and  it  invests  them  with 
special  interest  when  they  are  looked  upon  as  having  been  reared 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  as  the  influence  of  the  early 
missionaries  extended  and  Christianity  prevailed. 

Cross  Macduff,  which  has  a  wider  celebrity  than  that  of 
Mugdrum,  is  situated  about  a  mile  southwest  of  Newburgh,  on 
the  water-shed  of  a  wide  pass  through  the  Ochils  from  Fife  to 
Strathearn.  Sir  James  Balfour  calls  it  '  Our  ancient  Limitt  or 
march  stone  which  devydit  this  Countrey  [of  Fife]  from  the 
Countrey  palatine  of  Stratherne.' 1     The  cross  is  the  property  of 

1  Balfour's  M.  S.,  Advocates1  Library. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  321 

the  burgesses  of  Newburgli  (if  a  historical  monument  can  be 
called  the  property  of  any  one  in  particular),  and  it  stands  on 
the  land  bestowed  on  them  by  the  monks  of  Lindores.  It  is 
no  slight  honour  for  the  burgesses  to  have  in  their  keeping  a 
monument  which  has  engaged  the  pen  of  the  great  Minstrel  of 
the  Border,  and  has  also  the  lustre  of  Shakespeare's  genius 
shed  upon  it ;  he 

'  Tuned  but  his  harp  to  this  wild  northern  theme 
And  lo  !  the  scene  is  hallowed.' 

When  the  ground  was  first  let  for  cultivation  the  Town  Coun- 
cil took  the  tenant  bound  not  to  plough  within  twelve  feet  of 
the  Cross,  and  not  to  injure  it  in  any  way,  but  the  love  of  gain 
gradually  got  the  better  of  reverence  for  antiquity,  and  little 


CROSS    MACDUFF. 


by  little  the  Cross  was  encroached  upon  until  it  was  all  but  top- 
pling from  its  foundation.  On  its  insecure  condition  being  re- 
presented to  the  Town  Council,  they  again  interposed,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1851,  it  was  enclosed  with  the  circle  of  boulders 
which  now  surround  it.  The  Cross  (for  only  the  pedestal  re- 
mains) '  was  all  torn  in  pieces  by  the  furie  of  the  Congrega- 
tione,  as  they  named  them  in  the  tyme  of  the  reformatione  of 

X 


322  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LXNDORES  ; 

religion.' *  Very  probably  this  destruction  took  place  on  the 
13th  June  1559,  when  the  troops  under  Lord  Ruthven  went  from 
Perth  to  join  the  forces  of  the  Congregation  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Cupar,  Cross  Macduff  lying  directly  in  their  route.  The 
pedestal  is  an  uneven  four-sided  block  of  yellow  sandstone,  three 
and  a  half  feet  in  height,  and  measuring  from  four  and  a  half 
feet  in  length,  and  three  feet  eight  inches  in  breadth  at  the  base.2 
The  nearest  locality  from  which  such  a  stone  could  have  been 
obtained  is  the  Lomonds,  near  Falkland,  eight  miles  distant. 

Utterly  featureless  though  the  Cross  now  is,  the  poet  has  truly 
said — 

'  None  shall  pass, 
Now,  or  in  after  days,  beside  that  stone, 
But  he  shall  have  strange  visions ;  thoughts  and  words 
That  shake  or  rouse  the  human  heart 
Shall  rush  upon  his  memory,  when  he  hears 
The  spirit-stirring  name  of  that  rude  symbol.' 

AH  that  is  authentically  known  of  Cross  Macduff  has  been  told 
by  Dr  Stuart  in  the  second  volume  of  the  '  Sculptured  Stones  of 
Scotland,'  and  therefore  it  is  only  needful  to  endeavour  to  con- 
dense what  he  has  collected  with  so  much  research. 

Before  doing  this,  however,  it  is  proper  in  any  history  of  the 
Cross  to  give  the  traditionary  account  of  the  events  that  led  to 
Macduff's  obtaining  the  privileges  which  are  said  to  have  been 
connected  with  the  Cross,  only  premising  this,  that  the  first  Earl 


1  Balfour's  M.S.,  Advocates'  Library. 

2  The  pedestal  tapers  very  slightly  from  the  base  upwards.  The  exact  measure- 
ment at  the  top  on  the  west  side  is  three  feet  six  inches,  on  the  north  side  it  is  two 
feet  ten  inches,  which  all  but  corresponds  with  the  measurement  given  by  Cam- 
den (Britannia,  Vol.  III.,  p.  376)  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago.  There  is,  how- 
ever, some  manifest  error  in  what  he  says  of  the  '  length  and  breadth  of  the  socket 
where  the  cross  was  fixed.'  These  he  gives  as  four  and  a  half  feet  and  four  feet 
respectively,  a  socket  which  it  was  impossible  to  make  in  a  stone  of  three  feet  by 
two  feet  ten  inches. 

3  Scott's  Poetical  Works,  Vol.  XII.,  p.  90.  (Ed.  1857). 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  323 

of  Fife  known  in  record  is  Ethelred  the  son  of  Malcolm  Ceanmore 
and  St  Margaret,  who  was  at  once  Earl  of  Fife  and  Abbot  of 
Dunkeld. l 

Wyntoun,  our  earliest  historian,  in  his  '  Cronykil,'  thus  sets 
the  circumstances  forth — 

'  And  in  Scotland  than  as  Kyng 
This  Makbeth  mad  gret  sterying ; 
And  set  hym  than  in  hys  powere 
A  gret  hows  for  to  niak  of  were 
Apon  the  hycht  of  Dwnsynane  ; 2 
Tymbyr  thare-til  to  drawe  and  stane, 
Of  Fyfe  and  of  Angws,  he 
Gert  mony  oxin  gadryd  be. 
Sa  on  a  day  in  thare  trawaile 
A  yhok  of  oxyn  Makbeth  saw  fayle  ; 
Than  speryt  Makbeth,  quha  that  awcht 
The  yhoke,  that  faylyd  in  that  drawcht. 
Thai  answeryd  till  Mackbeth  agayne, 
And  said  '  Macduff  of  Fyfe  the  Thayne 
That  ilk  yhoke  of  oxyn  awcht 
That  he  saw  fayle  in-to  the  drawcht.' 
Than  spak  Makbeth  dyspytusly, 
And  to  the  Thayne  sayd  angryly, 
Lyk  all  wrythyn  in  hys  skyn, 
Hys  awyn  nek  he  suld  put  in 
The  yhoke,  and  ger  hym  drawchtis  drawe.' 


1  Robertson's  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  124-255. 

2  Dunsinnan  is  one  of  the  interesting  class  of  forts  which  are  vitrified.  A 
very  fine  specimen  of  the  vitrification  (binding  together  several  stones)  dug  from 
its  walls  in  1867,  may  be  seen  in  the  National  Museum  of  Antiquities,  Edinburgh. 
In  making  some  excavations  within  the  walls  of  the  fort  in  the  summer  of  1857, 
a  bronze  spiral  finger  ring  was  discovered.  The  Rev.  Mr  Brown,  minister  of  the 
parish  of  Collace,  who  was  present  when  it  was  found,  says,  that  it  was  most 
artistically  made  in  the  form  of  a  serpent ;  the  head,  eyes  and  scales  being 
distinctly  and  minutely  carved  ;  so  minutely,  that  a  microscope  only  fully 
revealed  the  exquisite  beauty  of  the  workmanship.  The  vitrification  of  Dun- 
sinnan, and  the  character  of  the  ring,  throws  back  the  erection  of  the  fort  to  a 
period  of  great  antiquity.     The  ring  unfortunately  has  been  lost. 


324  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES  ; 

As  may  readily  be  imagined,  Macduff  did  not  wait  to  give  the 
king  an  opportunity  of  putting  his  threat  into  execution. 

'  Bot  prewally  crwt  off  the  thrang 
Wyth  slycht  lie  gat,  and  the  spensere 
A  laffe  hym  gawe  till  hys  supere  ; 
And  als  swyne  as  he  mycht  se 
Hys  tyme  and  oportunyte 
Owt  off  the  curt  he  past  and  ran, 
And  that  layff  bare  wyth  hym  than 
To  the  wattyre  off  Eryne.     That  brede 
He  gawe  the  batwartis  hym  to  lede, 
And  on  the  south  half  him  to  sete, 
But  delay  or  ony  lete, 
That  passage  cald  wes  efftyre  than 
Lang  tyme  Portnebaryan  ; 
The  Hawyn  of  Brede,  that  suld  be 
Callyd  in  tyll  propyrte.' 1 

Port,  in  Gaelic,  signifying  a  haven  or  ferry,  and  arain  is  the 
genitive  of  aran  a  loaf.  The  direct  road  to  Macduff's  stronghold 
in  the  south  of  Fife,  was  by  the  'Ferry  of  the  Loaf,'  and  through 
the  pass  in  which  the  Cross  is  situated.  Macbeth,  the  story  says, 
pursued  the  Thane  'till  Kennawchy,'  and  demanded  his  surrender 
at  the  gate  of  his  castle ;  but  Macduff  had  fled  at  his  approach, 
and  set  sail  across  the  Forth.  Lady  Macduff  made  many  excuses 
till  she  saw  her  husband  safely  out  at  sea ;  then  looking  over  the 
castle  wall  said,  '  Do  you  see  yon  white  sail  upon  the  sea  ?  yonder 
goes  Macduff;'  or,  as  the  old  chronicler  has  it, 

'  Makbeth,  luke  up,  and  se, 
Wnder  yhon  sayle  forsuth  is  he, 
The  Thayne  of  Fyfe  that  thou  has  sowcht ; 
Trowe  thowe  welle,  and  dowt  rycht  nowcht 
Gyve  evyr  thow  sail  hym  se  agayne, 
He  sail  the  set  in  tyll  gret  payne  ; 


Wyntoun's  CronykU,  Book  VI.,  Chap.,  XVIII. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  325 

Syne  thou  would  hawe  put  hys  neke 
In  till  thi  yhoke.  Now  will  I  speke 
With  the  na  mare,  fare  on  thi  waye.' 

'  That  passage  syne  was  comownly 
In  Scotland  called  the  Erlys-Ferry.'1 

Forclun's  account  of  the  flight  and  escape  of  Macduff  is  similar 
to  that  of  Wyntoun,  but  he  does  not  associate  it  with  Dunsinnan 
or  any  locality.  He  says,  '  The  greatest  and  chief  of  those  who 
laboured  to  advance  Malcolm  to  the  throne  was  a  distinguished 
noble,  and  trusty  man,  named  Macduff,  thane  of  Fife.  Macduff  kept 
the  unknown  purpose  of  his  heart  hidden  longer  and  more  carefully 
than  the  rest,  but  he  was,  nevertheless,  again  and  again  denounced 
to  the  king,  until,  at  length,  he  was  viewed  with  suspicion.  Mean- 
while the  king,  one  day,  took  occasion,  I  know  not  on  what 
pretext,  first  to  upbraid  him,  more  cruelly  than  usual,  perhaps  on 
account  of  his  disloyalty,  with  his  shortcomings  towards  him,  and 
then  added  plainly  that  he  would  put  his  neck  under  his  yoke,  as 
that  of  the  ox  in  a  wain ;  and  he  swore  he  would  do  it  before  long.' 
The  narrative  proceeds  to  tell  that  Macduff  fled  privily,  and  '  when 
his  secret  departure  became  known  to  the  king,  the  latter  was 
furious,  and  calling  his  horses  and  horsemen  every  one  he  has, 
hastily  followed  the  fugitive,  until  he  saw  out  at  sea  the  little 
vessel  in  which  Macduff  had  sailed.  Macbeth  '  besieged  all  Mac- 
duff's castles  and  "confiscated  and  took  away  all  his  substance. 
Moreover,  he  caused  him  to  be  proclaimed  by  the  voice  of  a 
herald,  an  exile  for  ever,  and  stripped  of  all  his  estates  and 
other  property  whatsoever.  Thereupon  there  rose  great  mur- 
murings  throughout  the  whole  kingdom,  and  especially  among 
the  nobles  (for  the  thane  was  beloved  by  them  with  kindly 
affection),  for  that  the  king,  led  rather  by  wrath  than  by  reason, 
had  been  too  hasty  in  rendering  so  doughty  and  powerful  a  man 


1  Wyntouu's  Cronykil,  Book  VI.,  Chap.  XVIII. 


326  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES ; 

exile  or  disinherited  without  a  decree  of  a  general  council  and  of 
the  nobles.  They  said  that  it  was  quite  wrong  that  any  noble  or 
private  person  should  be  condemned  by  a  sudden  sentence  of 
exile  or  disinheritance  until  he  had  been  summoned  to  court  on 
the  lawful  day  of  the  appointed  time,  and  if  then,  when  he  came, 
he  justified  himself  by  the  laws,  he  should  thus  go  forth  free,  but 
if  he  were  worsted  hi  Court,  he  should  atone  to  the  King,  at  the 
cost  of  his  body,  or  otherwise ;  or  if  he  should  neglect  to  come 
when  summoned,  then  first  ought  he  to  be  outlawed  as  an  exile, 
or  if  he  should  plead  guilty,  disinherited.'1 

The  sequel  of  the  story  is  well  known.  Macduff  bore  a  con- 
spicuous part  in  the  overthrow  of  Macbeth,  and  on  Malcolm  obtain- 
ing the  victory,  he  rewarded  the  valiant  thane  by  conferring 
on  him  and  his  descendants  the  honour  of  placing  the  Scottish 
monarchs  on  the  Coronation  Stone  on  then  accession  to  the 
throne ;  of  leading  the  vanguard  of  the  Royal  Army  in  battle,  if 
the  Thane  or  his  successor  and  descendant  be  on  the  field ;  and 
in  addition  to  these  honours,  that  the  Thane  and  his  kindred 
should  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  privilege  of  the  '  Law  of 
Clan  Macduff,'  of  which  it  has  generally  been  assumed,  that  a 
Girth  or  Sanctuary  at  Cross  Macduff  was  the  most  distinguishing 
feature.     All  this  is  succinctly  set  forth  by  Scott. 

'  Know  then,  when  fell  Macbeth  beneath  the  arm 
Of  the  predestined  Knight,  unborn  of  woman, 
Three  boons  the  victor  ask'd,  and  thrice  did  Malcolm, 
Stooping  the  septre  by  the  Thane  restored, 
Assent  to  his  request.     And  hence  the  rule, 
That  first  when  Scotland's  King  assumes  the  crown, 
Macduff's  descendant  rings  his  brow  with  it, 
And  hence  when  Scotland's  King  calls  forth  his  host, 
Macduff's  descendant  leads  the  van  in  battle  ; 
And  last,  in  guerdon  of  the  crown  restored, 
Red  with  the  blood  of  the  usurping  tyrant, 
The  right  was  granted  in  succeeding  time, 

1  Fordun's  Chronicle,  Book  TV.,  Chap.  XL VI. 


MT7GDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  327 

That  if  a  kinsman  of  the  Thane  of  Fife 
Commit  a  slaughter  on  a  sudden  impulse, 
And  fly  for  refuge  to  this  Cross  MacDuff 
For  the  Thane's  sake  he  shall  find  sanctuary  : 
For  here  must  the  avenger's  step  be  staid, 
And  here  the  panting  homicide  find  safety.'1 

Mr  W.  F.  Skene,  in  his  valuable  notes  to  '  Fordun's  Cbronicle,' 
adduces  evidence  to  sbow  that  anciently  before  the  introduction 
of  the  feudal  principle,  there  was  a  '  constitutional  body  termed 
the  Seven  Earls  of  Scotland,'  which  formed  the  '  curia  regis,' 
and  the  Great  Council  of  the  Kingdom ;  and  that  they  claimed  to 
exercise  certain  privileges,  and  occasionally  did  exercise  them, 
long  after  they  were  superseded  by  the  feudal  '  commimitas,'  or 
system.  '  The  number  seven,'  Mr  Skene  adds,  '  seems  to  point  to 
the  old  division  of  Albania  into  seven  provinces,  as  the  source  of 
their  constitutional  privileges.  The  Earl  of  Fife  seems  always  to 
have  held  the  foremost  position  among  the  old  traditionary  Earls 
of  Scotland,  and  to  have  belonged  to  this  body,  and  it  was  pro- 
bably from  his  position  at  the  head  of  the  Seven  Earls  that  he 
possessed  the  privilege  of  placing  the  King  in  the  Royal  Chair.'2 
Fordun,  in  his  account  of  the  coronation  of  Alexander  II.,  relates 
that  'the  Earls  of  Fife,  Stratheme,  Atholl,  Angus,  Menteith,  Buchan, 
and  Lothian,  took  the  young  king,  a  lad  of  sixteen  years  and  a  half, 
to  Scone,  and  raised  him  to  the  throne,  in  honour  and  peace,  with 
the  approval  of  God  and  man,  and  all  wished  him  joy,  and  none 
gainsaid  him.'3  The  Seven  Earls,  and  in  conjunction  with  them 
Seven  Bishops,  were  present  with  Alexander  III.  in  Dunfermline 
Abbey,  on  the  great  state  occasion  of  the  translation  of  'the  bones 
of  Saint  Margaret,  the  Queen,  from  the  Stone  Monument  where 
they  had  lain,  to  a  shrine  set  with  gold  and  precious  stones.'4 
The  express  mention  of  the  presence  of  a  body  of  Seven  Earls 


1  Scott's  Poetical  Works,  Macduff  Cross,  Vol.  XII.,  p.  100. 

2  The  Historians  of  Scotland,  Fordun's  Chronicle,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  -436,  -137. 

3  lb.,  pp.  275,  276-433.  '  lb.,  pp.  290,  291. 


328  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES  ; 

on  these  state  and  ceremonial  occasions,  and  the  position  which 
the  Earl  of  Fife  held  in  the  'Magnum  concilium  regni,'  adds 
force  to  Mr  Skene's  conjecture,  and  renders  it  extremely  pro- 
bable that  the  honours  and  privileges  recorded  by  Wyntoun,  as 
having  been  conferred  by  King  Malcolm  on  Macduff,  were  a  re- 
instalment  of  the  Thane  (after  his  exile)  in  his  ancient  constitu- 
tional privileges. 

The  earliest  writers  who  mention  the  privilege  of  the  '  Law  of 
Clan  Macduff'  are  Fordun  and  Wyntoun,  neither  of  whom  alhide 
to  the  Cross.  '  According  to  Fordun,  the  '  Law,  conferred  on  the 
Thane,  and  all  his  posterity  for  ever,  the  right  that  if  a  noble 
person  of  their  number  shall  commit  a  sudden  and  unpremeditated 
slaughter,  he  shall  be  free,  on  payment  of  twenty  four  merks  of 
kinbot  (Anglo  Saxon  Ci/nn,  kindred  hot,  compensation)  and  if  a 
common  man  of  twelve  merks.'  * 

Wyntoun's  account  of  it  is  as  follows  : — 

'  Gyve  ony  be  suddane  chawdnielle 
Hapnyd  swa  slayne  to  be 
Be  ony  of  the  Thaynys  Kyne, 
Off  Fyff  the  Kynryk  all  wyth-in, 
Gyve  he  swa  slayne  wer  gentill-inan, 
Foure  and  twenty  markys  than  ; 
For  a  yhwman  twelf  markys  ay 
The  slaare  suld  for  Kynbwt  pay, 
And  hawe  full  remyssyowne 
Fra  thine  for  all  that  actyowne, 
Gyve  ony  hapnyd  hym  to  sla, 
That  to  that  lawch  ware  bwndyn  swa ; 
Off  that  priwylage  evyrmare 
Parties  suld  be  the  slaare. 
Off  this  lawch  are  thre  capytale  ; 
That  is  the  Blak  Prest  of  Weddale, 
The  Thayne  of  Fyffe,  and  the  thryd  syne, 
Quha  ewyre  be  Lord  off  Abbyrnethyne.' 2 

1  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 

2  Wyntoun's  Cronykil,  Bk.  VI.,  Chap.  XIX. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  329 

'  The  account  given  by  Boece  differs  entirely  from  either 
Fordoun  or  Wyntoun,  and  defines  the  privilege  as  a  right  of 
regality  conferred  on  the  Clan  Macduff,  by  which  its  head  could 
repledge  from  other  courts  in  any  part  of  the  kingdom  to  his  own 
court,  any  of  his  own  clan  or  tenantry.' * 

Sir  John  Skene  says,  '  The  croce  of  Clan  MakdufFe  had 
priviledge  and  libertie  of  Girth  in  sik  sorte,  that  quher  ony 
man-slayer  being  within  the  ninth  degree  of  kin  and  bluid  to 
MakdufFe  sometime  Earl  of  Fife,  cam  to  that  croce,  and  gave 
nine  kye,  and  ane  colpindach,  he  was  free  of  the  slauchter  com- 
mitted be  him.'  A  colpindach,  he  elsewhere  explains,  'is  ane 
young  beast  or  kow  of  the  age  of  ane  or  twa  yeiris  quhilk  now 
is  called  an  cowdach  or  quoyach.,<2  The  same  author  states  in 
the  '  Regiam  Majestatem,'  that  by  a  statute  of  William  the  Lion, 
those  who  had  a  right  to  the  privilege  of  the  '  Law  of  Clan 
Macduff,'  could,  in  virtue  of  that  law,  refuse  to  decide  their  case 
by  single  combat ;  another  indication  of  the  comprehensive  nature 
of  the  privilege. 3 

The  preceding  notice  by  Sir  John  Skene  is  the  first  in  which 
the  Cross  is  mentioned,  and  that  assigns  a  right  of  Girth  to  it ;  it 
is  also  the  first  which  limits  the  privilege  of  the  '  Law '  to  those 
within  the  ninth  degree  of  kindred  of  Macduff.  It  differs  from  the 
earlier  narratives  in  fixing  the  penalty  at  the  apparently  mystical 
number  of  nine. 

There  are  two  copies  of  the  Inscription  said  to  have  been  on 
the  Cross.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  '  Notes  on  Fife '  says,  '  the 
inscription  even  at  that  time  [shortly  before  its  destruction] 
was  so  out-worn  that  he  who  copied  samen  (given  to  Sir  James  by 
his  son)  had  much  ado  to  mak  words  of  some  dispersed  and  out- 
worne  bare  characters.' 4 


1  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 

2  Skene  Dc  verb.,  Sig.  voce — Clan  Macduff,  and  Colpach. 

3  Rcijiam  Majestatem  Stat.     William  'The  Lion,'  Chap.  XXVII. 

4  Balfour's  M.S.,  Advocates'  Library. 


330  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES ; 

The  reading  of  the  inscription  given  by  Sir  James  is  as 
follows  : — 

'  MALDRARADUM  DRAGOS,  MARIA  LAGHSLITA,  LARGOS, 
SPALANDA  SPADOS,  SIVE  NIG  FIG  KNIGHTHITE  GNAROS 
LOTHEA  LEUDISCOS  LARICTNGEN  LAIRIA  LISCOS 
ET  COLORVURTOS  SIC  FIT  TIBI  BURSIA  BURTUS 
EXITUS  ET  BLADADRUM  SIVE  LIM  SIVE  LAM  SIVE  LABRUM. 
PROPTER  MAGRIDIN  ET  HOC  OBLATUM 
ACCIPE  SMELERIDEM  SUPER  LIMTHIDE  LAMTHIDA  LABRUM.' 

Cunningham  in  his  essay  on  this  version  of  the  Inscription 
published  in  1678  says, '  Though  I  had  this  of  an  ingenious  Gentle- 
man telling  me  he  came  by  it  from  the  Clerk  of  Crail,  who 
informed,  that  several  succeeding  clerks  there  have  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  engrost  this  as  a  true  copy  in  their  Books  to  pre- 
serve it  from  utter  perishing;  for  it  is  now  quite  worn  off  the 
stone,  at  least  altogether  illegible.  But  be  it  so  recorded  in  Crail, 
Newburgh,  or  elsewhere,  yet  with  their  good  favour  scarcely  can 
I  judge  this  a  true  and  exact  copy,  whether  the  fault  has  been 
with  the  first  copiator  from  the  stone,  or  from  the  engraver,  or 
partly  both.'  He  endeavours  to  find  the  meaning  by  assuming 
'  the  Inscription  to  be  Saxon  (as  to  the  main)  aped  in  a  Latin 
dress,  as  to  the  main  I  say,  for  I  suppose  some  words  might 
savour  of  a  Danish,  or  old  French  extract.' *  Notwithstanding  this 
latitude  of  interpretation,  he  leaves  the  subject  after  a  lengthened 
disquisition  as  dark  as  he  found  it. 

In  a  postscript  to  his  essay  he  says — '  That  Gentle  reader  I  may 
conceale  you  nothing,  just  now,  as  it  was  doing  under  the  Irons, 
am  I  told  there  is  an  exact  coppie,  with  a  true  exposition  of  this 
Inscription  at  the  Newburgh,  in  the  hands,  or  books  of  the  Clerk 
there.  And  yet  my  Informer  though  with  us  a  good  Antiquarie 
and  Historian  could  neither  tell  me  the  lines  nor  the  exposition, 
and  pitie  it  were  that  so  old  and  famous  a  monument  in  this  our 

1  Essay  upon  the  Inscription  of Macduff' 's  Crosse,  pp.  3,  4. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  331 

Kingdom,  should  be  closelie  dormant  in  a  poor  countrey  village 
without  being  communicate  (for  ought  I  know)  to  any.  For  it 
should  seem  our  Clerk-register  Skeen  had  neither  seen  nor  heard 
of  it  otherways  (methinks)  he  would  hardly  have  called  the 
lines  so  barbarous.  But  this  however  I  hope  may  invite  those 
of  the  Newburgh  to  divulge  it  (if  any  such  thing  they  have)  for  it 
is  onely  truth  that  here  I  am  in  quest  of.' * 

The  Court  Books  of  Newburgh,  between  the  years  1480  and 
1697,  have  disappeared,  but  in  none  of  those  remaining,  or  in  any 
of  the  documents  belonging  to  the  town  does  the  name  of  Cross 
Macduff  once  occur ;  until  the  year  1814,  when  the  field  in  which 
the  Cross  is  situated  was  first  let  for  cultivation. 

Sir  James  Dalrymple,  in  his  second  edition  of  Camden's 
Description  of  Scotland,  publishes  a  version  of  the  Inscription, 
which,  he  says,  '  one  Douglas  of  Newburgh  had  by  him.'  It  is 
possible  that  it  may  be  the  version  of  which  Cunningham  heard. 
It  reads  thus  : — 

'  Ara  urget  lex  quos,  lare  egentes  atria  lis,  quos, 
Hoc  qui  laboras  h?ec  fit  tibi  pactio  portus, 
Mille  reum  drachmas  mulctam  de  largior  agris 
Spes  tantum  pacis  cum  nex  fit  a  nepote  natis 
Propter  Macgidrum,  et  hoc  oblatum  accipe  semel 
Hseredum,  super  lymphato  lapide  labem.' 

The  reader,  after  perusing  both  of  the  alleged  inscriptions,  will 
be  inclined  to  agree  with  the  poet,  that  the  cross  was  '  carved  o'er 
with  words  which  foiled  philologists.'  Certainly  the  copies  of 
the  inscription  have  done  so  ;  both  of  them,  it  is  evident,  cannot 
be  correct,  and  perhaps  neither  of  them  are  so.  A  very  ingeni- 
ous solution  of  the  discrepancies  of  the  two  versions  has  been 
suggested  by  the  author  of  the  history  of  the  '  East  Neuk  of  Fife,' 
which  carries  much  probability  with  it.  He  says,  the  singular 
thing  is  that  none  of  the  writers  on  the  subject  seemed  to  have 

1  Essay  upon  the  Inscription  of  Macduff's  Crosse,  p.  20. 


332  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES  ; 

discovered  that  the  two  inscriptions  are  the  same,  the  one  being 
a  corrupted  form  of  the  other.  To  prove  this  we  shall  write  the 
one  under  the  other,  premising  that  the  lines  have  been  disarranged 
in  the  first  inscription,  and  should  be  taken  in  the  order  3d,  4th, 
1st,  2d,  6th,  and  7th ;  the  5th  line  being  an  interpolation,  and  merely 
a  variation  of  the  last : 

f  Ara  urget  lex  quos  lare  egentes  atria  lis  quos 

(.  Lothea  ludiscos  laricingen  lairia  liscos 

(  Hoc  qui  laboras  hsec  fit  tibi  pactio  portus 

\  Et  colovurtos  sic  fit  tibi  bursia  bartus 

i  Mille  reum  drachmas  mulctam  de  largior  agris 

\  Maldraradum  dragos  mairia  lagslita  largos 

i  Spes  tantum  pacis  cum  nex  fit  a  nepote  natis 

(  Spalando  spados  sire  nig  fig  knighthite  gnaros 

f  Propter  Macgidrum  et  hoc  oblatum  accipe  semel 

I  Propter  Magridin  et  hoc  oblatum  accipe  smel 

f  Hseredum  super  lymphato  lapide  labem 

(  eridum  super  limthide  lamthida  labum. 

'  The  coincidences  are  evidently  such  as  can  easily  be  accounted 
for  on  the  supposition  that  Douglas's  reading  of  the  inscription 
was  the  true  one,  and  that  Balfour's  one  was  taken  down  from 
oral  recitation  of  some  one  who  had  committed  it  to  memory  with- 
out understanding  it,  so  that  he  possessed  little  more  than  the 
jingle  of  the  Latin  verses.'  * 

Of  the  authenticity  of  these  inscriptions  there  is  no  positive 
evidence,  but  there  is  nothing  improbable  in  an  elaborate  inscrip- 
tion being  on  a  cross  at  an  age  even  preceding  the  date  of  its 
alleged  erection  into  a  sanctuary.     Ruthwell  Cross  had  a  much 


1  Wood's  East  Ncuk  of  Fife,  p.  13.  Mr  Wood  gives  the  following  literal 
translation  of  Sir  James  Dalrymple's  version  : — '  An  altar  for  those  whom  law 
pursues,  a  hall  for  those  whom  strife  pursues  to  thee  this  paction  becomes  a 
harbour.  But  there  is  hope  of  peace  only  when  the  murder  has  been  committed 
by  those  born  of  my  grandson.  I  set  free  the  accused,  a  fine  of  a  thousand 
drachmas  from  his  lands.  On  account  of  Magridin  and  his  offering  take  once 
for  all  the  cleansing  of  my  heirs  beneath  this  stone  filled  with  water.' — P.  14. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  333 

longer  inscription  carved  upon  it,  part  of  which  is  still  legible, 
and  upon  good  grounds  it  is  believed  to  have  been  erected  about 
the  year  680. l 

In  Sibbald's  History  of  Fife,  the  following  paraphrase  of  the 
version  first  printed  by  Sir  James  Dalrymple  appears.  It  is  mani- 
festly incorrect,  as  it  introduces  names  and  things  which  do  not 
occur  in  either  of  the  two  copies  transmitted  to  us. 

'  All  such  as  are  within  the  ninth  degree 
Of  kindred  to  that  antient  Thane  Macduff, 
And  yet  for  slaughter  are  compelled  to  flie 
And  leave  their  houses,  and  their  household  stuff ; 
Here  shall  they  find  for  their  refuge  a  place, 
To  save  them  from  the  cruel  blood  avenger, 
A  privilege  peculiar  to  that  race, 
Which  never  was  allowed  to  any  stranger. 
But  they  must  enter  heir,  on  this  condition, 
(Which  they  observe  must  with  faith  unfeignyied) 
To  pay  a  thousand  groats  for  their  remission, 
Or  else  their  lands  and  goods  shall  be  distrenyied. 
For  saint  Mackgidder's  sake,  and  this  oblation 
And  by  their  only  washing  at  this  stone, 
Purged  is  the  blood  shed  by  that  generation  ; 
This  privilege  pertains  to  them  alone.' 2 

The  only  direct  evidence  for  the  inscription  on  Cross  Macduff 
is  that  given  by  Sir  John  Skene,  who  examined  it  personally.  He 
savs,  '  In  the  stanes  of  this  Croce  I  saw  barbarous  words  and  verses 
written  quhilk  here  I  willingly  pretermit,  and  yet  sum  of  them 
appears  to  be  conform  to  this  purpose  :— *  PROPTER  MAKGIDRIM 
ET  HOC  OBLATUM— ACCIPE  SMELERIDUM  SUPER  LAMPADE,  LIM- 
PADA  LABRUM.'  3  « In  the  first  edition  of  Sibbald's  History  of  the 
County  [published  in  1710],  a  drawing  is  given  of  a  cross,  with  the 
socket  in  which  it  is  inserted.  The  inscription  is  made  to  extend 
across  the  transverse  arms  of  the  monument  and  down  the  face  of 


Professor  Stephen's  Ruthwett  Cross.  2  lb.,  p.  21. 

De  verb,  shjnif.  voce  Clan  Macduff. 


334  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES ; 

the  shaft.  .  .  .  The  rest  of  the  inscription  is  on  the  pedestal 
in  eleven  lines,  many  of  which  are  incomplete.'  Judging  from  a 
representation  of  another  cross  (still  extant  at  Docton  in  Fife)  in 
the  same  work,  not  much  confidence  can  be  placed  on  the  accuracy 
of  Sibbald's  engraving  of  Cross  Macduff.1 

The  inscription  seen  by  Sir  John  Skene  (1597)  had  disappeared 
before  Sir  Robert  Gordon  visited  the  Cross  previous  to  1648.  In 
1710  Sir  Robert  Sibbald  says,  '  Time  had  so  defaced  them,  I  could 
discover  none  upon  the  pedestal  of  the  Cross,  the  rest  of  it  is 
not  to  be  seen.'2  When  Sir  Alexander  Gordon  visited  it  in  the 
early  part  of  last  century  (a.d.  1727),  he  found  a  large  cavity  (in 
the  pedestal)  where  the  Cross  anciently  stood.  '  So  completely 
have  the  marks  been  obliterated,  that  in  all  recent  notices  of  the 
pedestal  it  has  been  taken  for  granted  that  there  never  was  a 
socket.  There  is  now  only  a  very  slight  depression,  which  it 
would  be  unsafe  to  take  as  the  mark  of  a  socket.  ■  Nodules  of 
iron  pyrites  occur  in  the  stone,  some  of  which  have  fallen  out, 
leaving  small  holes  in  the  sides.  In  the  progress  of  tradition 
these  were  represented  as  nine  in  number,  and  as  having  each 
contained  an  iron  staple  and  ring  to  which  the  nine  cows  supposed 
to  be  payable  to  St  Magridden  by  the  culprits  were  fastened.  It 
was  also  alleged  that  they  had  to  wash  nine  times  at  the  nine 
wells  which  still  bubble  up  a  short  way  northward  of  the  Cross.'3 

Almost  the  only  thing  certain  about  the  inscription  on  Cross 
Macduff  is  that  the  name  of  Magidrin  formed  part  of  it.  It  is 
therefore  an  interesting  inquiry  to  ascertain  who  Magidrin  was,  and 
his  connection  with  the  Cross.  In  a  very  able  disquisition  by  Mr 
W.  F.  Skene  on  the  Early  Ecclesiastical  Settlements  of  St  Andrew's, 
Magidrin  is  identified  with  Adrian,  who  was  martyred  by  the 
Danes  on  the  Isle  of  May.4     The  legendary  account  of  this  saint 


Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 
1  list* n-ii  of  Fife,  p.  219. 

Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 
Pro.  ofSoc.  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  300-321. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  335 

is,  that  he  and  a  '  company '  came  from  Hungary  to  the  eastern 
parts  of  Scotland,  inhabited  by  the  Picts,  to  preach  the  gospel. 
The  first  scene  of  their  labours  was  the  coast  of  Fife,  but  they 
subsequently  fixed  their  abode  in  the  Isle  of  May,  near  enough 
the  coast  to  allow  them  to  continue  their  work  of  converting  the 
heathen  of  the  mainland,  and  yet  sufficiently  removed  to  afford 
retirement  and  security. 

'Wyntoun  who  towards  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
was  Prior  of  the  Monastery  of  St  Serfs  Inch,  Lochleven,  and  there 
composed  his  Chronicle  from  many  authentic  sources  now  lost  to 
us,  says — 

'  Adriane  wyth  hys  cumpany 

To-gydder  cam  to  Caplawchy ; 

Thare  sum  in -to  the  He  of  May 

Chesyd  to  byde  to  thare  Enday. 

And  sum  of  them  chesyed  be-northe 

In  stedde's  sere  be  Watter  of  Forth.' 

'  And  there  may  yet  be  seen,  in  a  grey  weather-beaten  cliff  at 
Caplachie  or  Caiplie,  in  the  shire  of  Fife  (in  the  parish  of  Kilrenny) 
opposite  the  Isle  of  May,  a  group  of  caves  hollowed  out  of  the 
rock.  Of  these  the  middle  and  largest  has  many  small  crosses 
rudely  incised  hi  its  walls,  while  over  the  cave,  and  entering  from 
it  by  steps  cut  hi  the  rock,  there  was  till  lately  a  little  chamber 
with  a  bench  on  its  inner  side  cut  in  the  rock,  both  of  which  have 
been  traditionally  associated  with  St  Adrian  as  his  oratory  or 
abode.'1 

The  retirement  of  the  saint  to  the  Isle  of  May  did  not  afford 
protection  from  the  fierce  inroads  of  the  Northmen,  who,  previous 
to  then-  conversion  to  Christianity,  made  frequent  descents  on  the 
coasts  of  Britain,  carrying  lire  and  sword  wherever  they  went, 
and  laying  waste  all  within  their  reach.     In  one  of  these  terrible 


1  Records  of  the  Priory  <;/'  tin  Isle  of  May,  pp.  iv.,  v. 


33  G  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES  ; 

incursions  (a.d.  875)  they  landed  on  the  Isle  of  May,  and  barbar- 
ously massacred  Adrian  and  his  companions. 

'  Hwb,  Haldane,  and  Hyngare 
Off  Denmark  this  time  cummin  ware 
In  Scotland  wyth  gret  multitude, 
And  wyth  thare  powere  it  oure-yhude 
In  Hethynnes  all  lyvyd  thai, 
And  in  despyte  of  Crystyn  Fay 
In-to  the  Land  thai  slwe  mony, 
And  put  to  Dede  by  Martyry 
And  a-pon  haly  Thursday 
Saynt  Adriane  thai  slwe  in  May 
Wyth  mony  of  hys  Cumpany. 
In-to  that  haly  He  thai  ly.'1 

According  to  Mr  Skene,  the  true  histoiy  seems  to  be  (and 
tradition  and  circumstances  support  it)  that  Adrian  was  at  the 
head  of  a  '  company '  of  Scottish  (Irish)  clergy,  who  arrived  about 
the  time  of  Kenneth  Macalpin's  '  accession '  to  the  Scottish  throne. 
'  The  saint's  true  name,  if  a  Scot,  was  probably  Odran,  as  the 
name  of  the  patron  saint  always  enters  largely  into  those  of  the 
clergy  of  the  place,  and  we  find  a  subsequent  Bishop  of  St 
Andrew's,  Macgilla  Odran,  son  of  the  servant  of  Odran,'  the 
change  from  Odran  to  Adrian  arising  from  the  practice  of  the 
monks  of  almost  invariably  putting  names  in  a  Latin  form.  '  The 
corrupt  form  of  the  name  was  Magridan,  which  is  simply  the  Irish 
Mo  (my)  with  a  g  inserted  for  euphony.2  The  parishes  of  Flisk 
andLindores,  both  within  the parochia,  are  dedicated  to  Macgidrin.'3 
Cross  Macduff  is  within  what  originally  constituted  the  latter 
parish. 


1  Wyntoun's  Cronykil,  Bk.  VI.,  Cap.  VIII. 

2  '  The  syllable  mo  (my)  was  often  prefixed  to  the  name  of  Irish  saints  as  a 
term  of  endearment  or  reverence,  thus  Conna,  becomes  Mochonna.1 — Joyces  Irish 
Names  of  Places,  p.  141. 

3  W.  F.  Skene,  Pro.  Socy.  o/Antiq.  Scot.,  Vol.  IV,  p.  318. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  337 

In  the  absence  of  authentic  records  there  is  nothing  to  show 
how  Magidrin  came  to  be  connected  with  Cross  Macduff,  and 
therefore  anything  that  can  be  said  on  the  subject  is  only  founded 
on  conjecture.  He  is  named  by  some  authorities  as  Bishop  of  St 
Andrews,  and  there  is  nothing  very  improbable  in  a  cross  being 
erected  to  his  memory  on  the  boundary  of  his  diocese.  The 
reverence  which  the  saint's  martyrdom  must  necessarily  have 
inspired,  would  throw  a  fence  of  great  sanctity  around  a  cross 
dedicated  to  his  memory :  and  as  the  clergy  strove  by  all  means 
in  their  power,  and  embraced  every  opening  for  allaying  the  fierce 
passions  of  their  turbulent  flocks,  there  is  a  strong  presumption 
that  they  may  have  declared  the  Cross  a  sanctuary  for  the  man- 
slayer,  a  crime  so  rife  in  those  days. 

On  this  point  the  late  Joseph  Robertson  says,  '  It  was  to  its 
ecclesiastical  descent  (the  family  of  Abernethy  sprung  from  the 
Lay  Abbots  of  Abernethy)  that  its  chief  owed  the  distinction 
which  he  shared  with  the  Earl  of  Fife  and  the  priest  of  Wedale 
(now  Gala  Water),  of  being  one  of  the  three  judges  ot  the  law  of 
Clan  Macduff,  itself  perhaps  a  privilege  of  mixed  ecclesiastical  and 
judicial  origin,  a  right  it  would  seem  partly  of  a  '  Sanctuary,' 
partly  of  a  regality  distinguished  from  the  common  mass  of  such 
jurisdiction  by  being  personal  not  territorial,  mherent  in  a  tribe, 
and  not  attached  to  a  church  or  barony.' 1 

Mr  E.  W.  Robertson,  in  his  history  of  'Scotland  under  her 
Early  Kings,'  says,  '  the  "  Law  "  was  probably  a  relic  of  the  old 
right  once  belonging  to  every  Mormaor  or  Oirrigh  of  retaining  all 
his  kindred  in  his  mund"'2  A  supposition  which  does  not  militate 
against  what  has  been  said,  as  the  clergy  of  that  age  invariably 
engrafted  religion  on  ancient  institutions.  Sanctuaries  or  Girths, 
were  not  confined  to  the  Jewish  polity,  they  were  recognised 
institutions  of  Pagan  Greece  and  Rome,  and  seem,  under  one  form 
or  another,  to  have  been  as  universal  as  the  human  race.     The 

i  Mis.  Spald.  Club,  Vol.  V.,  App.  to  Pref.  p.  75. 
2  Scotland  under  Hi  r  Early  King*,  Vol.  I.,  p.  215,  Note. 
Y 


338  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LINDORES ; 

fact  that  the  conservators  of  the  'Law  of  Clan  Macduff'  were  of 
spiritual  descent,  tends  to  show  that  whatever  may  have  been  the 
origin  of  its  privileges,  the  clergy  had  at  an  early  period  thrown 
around  the  '  Girth '  the  sanctities  of  religion,  as  to  them  un- 
doubtedly must  be  ascribed  the  erection  of  Cross  Macduff.  This 
supposition  is  strengthened  by  the  only  authenticated  words  of 
the  inscription,  which  bear  that  the  fine  was  more  in  the  light  of 
an  offering  to  Saint  Magidrin,  then  a  compensation  to  the  injured 
person.  '  By  the  ancient  statutes  of  the  Scottish  Church,  every 
church  which  was  consecrated,  and  had  the  right  of  baptism  and 
burial,  had  the  privilege  of  sanctuary,  which  extended  for  thirty 
paces  around  the  burial  ground,'1  and  the  clergy  were  the  guardians 
of  this  privilege.  This  privilege  may  account  for  hostelries  in  old 
times  being  so  near  the  Kirk  Style.  Some  churches  had  a  wider 
range  of  sanctuary  attached  to  them,  and  the  limits  were  marked 
by  crosses.  In  a.d.  1144,  David  I.  granted  the  Church  of  Les- 
mahagow  as  a  cell  to  the  Abbey  of  Kelso,  with,  among  other 
privileges,  '  that  it  shall  be  a  place  of  refuge,  or  sanctuary,  for 
those  who  in  peril  of  life  and  limb  should  flee  to  the  said  cell,  or 
come  within  the  four  crosses  standing  around  it.'  These  crosses 
have  been  destroyed,  but  a  fragment  of  what  is  suppossd  to  be  a 
portion  of  one  of  them  was  discovered  in  1866.2  Crosses  marking 
the  limits  of  the  sanctuaries  of  Dull  and  Torphichen  are  still  extant.3 
In  Ireland,  where  these  relics  have  been  better  preserved,  there  are 
four  splendid  crosses  at  the  four  roads  entering  the  town  of  Kilfe- 
nora ;  and  though  their  original  use  is  gone,  there  is  a  saying  still 
current,  that  '  who  should  spill  blood  within  the  four  crosses  of  Kil- 
fenora  will  be  accursed,  and  will  meet  his  death  within  the  year.'4 
We  have,  in  the  county  of  Fife,  in  the  parish  of  Markinch, 
a  cross  of  a  most  ancient  type,  which  there  is  reason  to  think 
marks  the  boundary  of  an  early  sanctuary.     This  relic,  known  as 


1  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 

2  Proceedings  of  the  Soc.  of  Antiq.  of  Scotland,  Vol.  VII.,  pp.  256-265. 

:i  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.  4  Dr  Petrie's  Life,  p.  342. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF. 


339 


Stob  Cross,  of  which  an  engraving  is  here  given,  is  similar  in  many 
respects  to  the  Cross  in  the  village  of  Dull,  which  bears  all  the 
marks  of  great  antiquity.  There  are  circumstances  in  the  history 
of  Markinch,  which  show  that  it  was  an  ecclesiastical  site  at  a 
very  early  period,  and  which  tend  to  confirm  the  conjecture  that 
Stob  Cross  is  an  ancient  Girth  Cross.  Somewhere  between  a.d. 
1034  and  1055,  Malduin,  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  gave  the  Church 


STOB  CROSS,  MAKKINCH. 


of  '  Marchinke,'  and  the  land  belonging  to  it,  to  God  and  Saint  Ser- 
vanus,  and  to  the  '  Keledeis '  of  the  Isle  of  Lochleven.1  After  the 
Culdees  were  superseded  by  David  I.,2  Duncan,  Earl  of  Fife,  not 
later  than  A.D.  1203,  gave  the  Church  of  Markinch  to  the  Priory 
of  St  Andrews ;  and  his  son,  Earl  Malcolm,  added  to  the  gift,  by 


1  Reeves'  Culdees  of  the  British  Islands,  p.  246. 

2  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ages,  p.  111. 


340  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LINDORES ; 

giving  '  to  God  and  the  Church  of  Modhrust  of  Markinge,'  an  acre 
of  land  on  the  north-east  of  the  cimiterium,  or  old  burying  ground 
of  Markinch.1     Modhrust  (to  whom  the  Church  of  Markinch  was 
dedicated),  shorn  of  the  customary  prefix  Mo,  is  Drostan,  the  dis- 
ciple of  St  Columba,  and  whom  that  saint  left  in  charge  of  the 
first  Christian  mission  to  the  Pictish  tribes  in  the  north-east  of 
Scotland.2     At  a  later  date,  and  in  all  probability  when  a  new 
church  was  erected  on  the  old  site  (of  which  the  noble  old  tower 
only  remains),  Markinch  Church  was  consecrated  on  the  19th  August 
(A.D.  1243),  by  David  de  Bernhame,  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  and  in 
addition  to  the  native  saint,  it  was  dedicated  to  John  the  Baptist.3 
The  festival  of  St  Drostan  was  celebrated  on  the  15th  December, 
and  that  of  John  the  Baptist  on  the  24th  June,  and  on  these  ancient 
festivals,  allowing  for  the  difference  of  the  old  and  new  styles,  and 
a  fixed  day  of  the  week,  fairs  are  still  held  in  Markinch ;  one  on 
the  third  Tuesday  of  December  and  the  other  on  the  second  Tues- 
day of  July.     Mr  Cosmo  Innes  says,  'It  is  curious  how  often  a 
chapter  of  old  history  is  preserved  in  such  memorials.     The  dedi- 
cations of  many  of  our  churches  to  the  first  preachers  of  the  faith, 
despised  and  forgotten  in  Scotland,  are  often  preserved  by  the 
name  of  a  well  beside  the  church,  at  first  hallowed  as  the  baptismal 
source,  or  by  the  name  and  day  of  the  village  fair,  which  was  of 
old  held  on  the  day  of  the  patron  saint.'4     Drostan,  the  patron 
saint  of  Markinch,  was  of  royal  descent,  and  the  following  verses 
continued  to  be  sung  in  his  praise : — 

'  Vir  Drostanua  Veneremur 

Christianus  Et  precemur 

Fidei  constancia,  Ipsum  cum  instancia, 

Vita  clarus  Vt  spe  precura 

Deo  carus  Ducai  secum 

Fuit  ab  infancia.  Xos  ad  celi  gaudia.'5 

1  Reg.  Priory  of  St  Andrews,  pp.  242-245. 

2  Book  of  Deer,  pp.  47-57.  3  Concilise  Scotiee,  pp.  185-301. 

4  Innes1  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ages,  p.  323,  Note. 

5  Collections  in  the  Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff]  p.  443. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  341 

These  facts  in  the  early  ecclesiastical  history  of  Markinch  have  been 
adduced  to  show  that  there  is  nothing  improbable  in  its  having 
had  around  its  church  an  extended  Girth  or  Sanctuary,  and  that 
the  Stob  Cross  is  one  of  the  very  few  remaining  Girth  Crosses  in 
Scotland.  The  name  of  the  Cross  confirms  this  :  Stob  in  Gaelic 
signifies  to  mark  off  with  stakes,  and  in  the  Cleveland  dialect,  in 
which  so  many  old  words  are  preserved,  Stob  still  signifies,  '  a 
stake  defining  the  limits  of  an  enclosure.'1  It  is  a  further  corro- 
boration of  this  signification  and  use,  that  the  places  known  as 
Stob  Cross  in  Scotland  are  invariably  at  the  outskirts  of  towns  or 
villages;  that  of  Markinch  stands  beyond  the  town  on  the  road- 
side about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  from  the  churchyard.  The  name 
'Holy  Ground,'  which  still  attaches  to  a  spot  within  the  precincts 
of  Markinch  Stob  Cross,  is  confirmatory  evidence  that  the  pictur- 
esque old  relic  is  what  its  name  implies,  an  ancient  Girth  Cross. 

The  earliest  authorities  who  write  on  the  subject,  make  no 
mention  of  a  right  of  Girth  at  Cross  Macduff,  but  the  considera- 
tions that  have  been  adduced,  and  the  concurrent  testimony  of 
writers  of  considerable  antiquity  make  it  more  than  probable  that 
it  was  a  sanctuary.  The  fact  recorded  by  Wyntoun,  that  those 
claiming  the  privilege  of  the  Law  of  Clan  Macduff,  were  required  to 
appear  before  the  judges  assembled  'at  Cowper  in  Fyfe,'  does  not 
contradict  this  supposition,  as  the  accused  may  have  previously 
sought  and  found  refuge  at  the  Cross,  though  not  mentioned,  in 
consequence  of  sanctuaries  being  a  common  and  understood  insti- 
tution at  that  period. 

Wyntoun's  words  are  as  follows  : — 

'  Gywe  thar  be  ony  that  lykis 
The  Lawch  for  to  se  led  of  this, 
Quhen  be  crye  the  day  is  set, 
As  fallys  to  be  done  of  dete, 
To  Cowper  in  Fyfe  than  cum  he 
Welle  led  that  Lawch  thare  sail  he  se."2 

Atkinson's  Glossary  of  the  Cleveland  Dialect,  voce  Stob.     2  Bk.  VI.,  Cap.  XIX. 


342  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES ; 

The  first  person  who  mentions  the  right  of  sanctuary  at  Cross 
Macduff  is  Sir  John  Skene  (1597),  but  his  statement  receives  no 
direct  support  from  recorded  events  connected  with  '  the  Law  of 
Clan  Macduff.'  The  events  show  that  it  was  a  privilege  of  re- 
pledging  from  other  courts  the  kindred  of  the  '  Earl '  of  Fife, 
accused  of  unpremeditated  slaughter.  So  great  was  the  privilege 
that  'it  would  seem  that  the  Earl  of  Fife  could  repledge  even 
from  the  Court  of  the  King.  He  was  equal  in  some  respects  to 
the  king  and  his  territory  like  a  little  kingdom.'1  Sir  John  Skene 
states  that  this  privilege  only  extended  to  those  within  the  ninth 
degree  of  kindred  to  the  Earl  of  Fife ;  those  within  that  degree 
were  reckoned  of  pure  blood.2 

The  fine  of  nine  kye  and  a  colpindach  payable  by  the  man- 
slayer,  is  the  same  as  that  which  was  payable  to  the  king  when 
the  rights  of  the  crown  were  infringed.3  This  similarity  shows 
that  the  privilege  was  guarded  by  the  highest  sanction  which  law 
afforded.  The  fine  of  nine  kye,  and  the  traditionary  necessity  of 
washing  nine  times  in  the  Nine  Wells  (which  rise  on  the  lands  of 
the  town  of  Newburgh,  in  a  field  adjoining  that  on  which  Cross 
Macduff  is  situated),  tends  to  show  that  there  was  a  mystical  pro- 
perty connected  with  the  number  nine,  and  that  the  tradition  had 
its  origin  in  some  principle,  which  is  lost  in  the  mist  of  antiquity. 

In  Scottish  superstition  the  number  nine  held  a  prominent 
place,  and  arising  out  of  this  source  there  are  various  places  in 
Scotland  named  Nine-wells ;  as  the  Nine  Maiden  Well  of  Glamis ; 
Nine-wells    in    Berwickshire   and   elsewhere.4     'Nine   enchanted 


1  Sculp.  Stones  of  Scot.,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 

2  Great  stress  was  laid  on  purity  of  blood  in  ancient  times.  The  author  of 
1  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,1  says,  'the  purity  of  the  Hebrew  and  Teutonic 
mmgs  (clan  related  by  blood)  appears  to  have  been  identical,  but  not  even  in 
his  tenth  generation  could  the  descendant  of  the  Moabite  or  the  Ammonite  be 
reckoned  as  a  child  of  Abraham.' — See  Vol.  II.,  pp.  314,  5,  where  the  whole 
subject  is  ably  discussed. 

3  Act  of  Par.  Scot.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  72. 

4  Jervise's  Memorials  of  Angus  and  Mearns,  p.  331,  5. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  343 

stones  were  cast  or  laid  in  a  field  for  destruction  of  the  crop.     A 
skein  of  yarn  through  which  a  patient  has  been  transmitted  nine 
times  was  cut  into  nine  parts  and  buried  in  three  Lairds  lands  for 
a  cure.'1     On  the  11th  August  1623,  a  mother  hired  a  woman  to  go 
silent  to  bring  water  from  the  well  of  Ruthven,  '  to  wash  her  bairn 
for  the  restoration  of  its  health,  the  woman,  the  mother  averred 
before  the  Kirk  Session  of  Perth,  put  her  bairn  through  ane  cake 
made  of  nine  curnes  of  meal  gotten  from  women  married  maidens, 
and  that  it  is  ane  common  practice  used  for  curing  bairns.' 2      '  A 
draught  repeated  nine  times  from  the  horn  of  a  living  ox  was 
prescribed  for  hooping  cough,  together  with  putting  the  patient 
nine  several  times  in  the  happer  of  a  grinding  mill.'3     Numerous 
other  instances  might  be  adduced  of  superstitions  reverence  for  the 
number  nine.  One  of  the  very  latest  that  has  come  under  our  notice, 
shows  that  the  superstition  is  widespread,  and  still  bears  sway  over 
the  minds  of  men.     In  1869  the  Emir  of  Bokhara  to  propitiate  the 
favour  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia  when  suing  for  peace,  sent  a  costly 
present  by  an  embassy  to  that  monarch,  consisting  of  nine  valuable 
gifts,  the  number  nine,  it  was  stated,  being  strictly  adhered  to,  in 
accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  Turko-Tartaric  races.4 

In  the  Norse  mythology,  from  which  so  many  of  our  supersti- 
tions and  customs  have  descended,  the  same  mystical  quality  is 
attached  to  the  number  nine.  '  In  front  of  the  great  Temple  of 
Upsala,  in  Sweden,  there  was  a  grove  sacred  to  Odin,  in  it  the 
most  solemn  sacrifices  were  performed,  especially  every  ninth 
year,  when  nine  human  victims  were  sacrificed  from  among  the 
captives,  if  hi  time  of  war,  or  nine  slaves  hi  time  of  peace.' 5 

In  Scotland  relics  of  this  custom  prevailed  to  the  end  of  the 
last  century.  '  Highland  Shepherds  prepared  an  oaten  cake  with 
nine  knobs  on  the  surface.     '  Each  of  these  dedicated  to  a  con- 


1  Dalyell's  Darker  Superstitions  of  Scotland,  p.  392.  2  Book  of  Perth,  p.  304. 

3  Dalyell's  Darker  Superstitions  of  Scotland,  p.  117. 
1  Vambery's  History  of  Bokhara,  pp.  416,  417. 
Ferguson's  Tree  and  Serpt  ni  Worship,  p.  25. 


344  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES ; 

servative  or  destructive  being,  was  broke  off  and  thrown  over  the 
shoulder  with  an  invocation  for  protection  of  the  herds.'1  In 
England  there  is  still  a  game  in  which  one  part)7  plays  against 
another  with  nine  stones  each.  The  point  of  the  game  consists  in 
who  shall  first  strike  off  the  stones  of  his  neighbour ;  each  stone 
removed  is  placed  in  an  inner  square  cut  on  the  turf,  and  the  men, 
as  the  stones  are  called,  are  therein  impounded.2  That  there  is 
here  a  direct  relic  of  human  sacrifice  there  can  be  no  doubt. 
Religious  rites  and  superstitions  survive  in  the  games  of  men  and 
children  long  after  their  original  significance  is  utterly  forgotten. 
Customs  too,  which  had  their  origin  in  remote  antiquity,  long  hold 
their  place  in  the  judicial  proceedings  of  the  country,  and  thus 
the  nine  kye  of  Cross  Macduff  are  the  far-off  representatives  of 
the  human  sacrifices  of  darker  ages. 

The  tradition  regarding  the  necessity  of  those  who  sought 
the  asylum  of  Cross  Macduff,  washing  at  the  Nine  Wells ;  only 
occurs  in  comparatively  recent  times,  and  it  is  not  mentioned  in 
any  ancient  record.  The  same  remark  applies,  with  still  greater 
force,  '  to  the  holes  in  the  pedestal,  caused  by  the  wearing  out  of 
nodules  of  iron  pyrites,  which  oral  tradition  tells  us  were  holes  in 
which  staples  and  rings  were  fixed,  for  fastening  the  nine  kye 
payable  by  the  culprit.' 

Though  there  is  no  mention  in  any  ancient  record  of  the 
manslayer  washing  at  the  Nine  Wells,  there  is  much  in  support  of 
the  tradition,  in  the  universality  of  the  practice  of  cermonial 
washing  before  sacrifice.  Egyptians,  Jews,3  Greeks,  Romans,4  and 
other  nations  practised  it.  '  Go  and  wash,  that  you  may  sacrifice,'5 
was  an  injunction  among  the  Romans;  and  among  the  Greeks, 
solemn  ablutions  were  essential  to  the  removal  of  the  guilt  of  the 
homicide  whether  accidental  or  intentional.6     That  the  Celtic  and 

1  Daly  ell's  Darker  Superstitions  of  Scotland,  p.  167. 

2  Brand's  Popular  Antiquities,  Vol.  II.,  p.  430. 

3  Exodus,  chap.  xl.  vers.  30-32. 

«  Smith's  Dictionary  of  Antiquities,  voce  Sacrificium. 

5  Plautus  Aulular,  III.  6,  43.  «  Sophocles  Ajax,  654,  6. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  345 

Teutonic  races  practised  rites  similar  to  their  Aryan  kindred  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  is  testified  by  their  going  to  wells  from 
superstitious  motives,  and  leaving  donations  there,  down  to  com- 
paratively recent  times.  A  practice  which  must  have  had  its 
origin  in  pre-Christian  times,  and  which  the  church  invoked  the 
strong  arm  of  the  law  to  put  down.  In  1573  the  General 
Assembly  resolved,  'For  punishment  of  persons  that  pass  in 
pilgrimages  to  wells,  lett  the  discipline  of  the  kirk  be  used  against 
the  users  of  such  Superstition,  and  the  civill  Magistrat  shall 
also  hold  hand  to  the  punishment.'1  And  on  17th  October  1581, 
the  Assembly  besought  that  an  Act  of  Parliament  be  made  for 
suppressing  the  custom.2  On  the  24th  of  the  same  month  it  was 
accordingly  enacted  by  Parliament,  that  '  Forsameikle  pairtlie 
through  the  perverse  inclination  of  Mans  ingine  to  Superstition, 
the  dregges  of  idolatrie  yit  remaines  in  divers  pairtes  of  the 
Realme  be  using  of  pilgrimages  to  some  Chapelles,  Welles,  Croces, 
and  sik  uther  monuments  of  Idolatrie.  As  also  be  observing  of 
the  festival  dayes  of  the  Sanctes,  sumtime  named  then-  Patrons ; 
in  setting  furth  of  bane-fyers,  singing  Carrales  within  and  about 
Kirkes.  That  the  punishment  for  the  first  offence  for  ilk  Gentil- 
man  or  Woman  landed,  or  Wife  of  Gentilman  landed  ane  fine  of 
ane  100  punds.  The  unlanded  ane  hundred  markes  and  the 
Yeaman  fourtie  poundis  for  the  first  fault,  And  for  the  second  fault 
the  offenders  to  suffer  death  as  Idolaters.'3  A  punishment  so 
severe  shows  that  these  superstitions  were  deeply  rooted  in  the 
minds  of  the  people,  and  warrants  belief  in  the  truth  of  the  tradi- 
tion, that  the  manslayer  who  sought  protection  at  Cross  Macduff 
had  to  wash  at  the  Nine  Wells. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  origin  of  the  '  Law  of  Clan  Mac- 
duff,' a  privilege  so  valuable  was  not  likely  to  remain  a  dead 
letter.  Sir  John  Skene  says  that  '  King  David  II.  (1348-1370) 
gave  and  disponed  the  Earledome  of  Fife,  with  all  its  priviledges, 

1  Book  of  the  Universal  Kirk  of  Scotland,  p.  280.  2  lb.,  p.  535. 

3  James  VI.,  Pari.  VII.,  Cap.  104. 


346  SCULPTURED  STOXE  AT  LIXDORES  ; 

and  ivitli  the  law  which  is  called  Clan  Mdkduff  to  William  Ramsay 
(who  married  Isabel,  Countess  of  Fife)  and  his  aires,  quhilk 
charter  is  yet  extant  in  the  Register.' 

He  further  says,  '  I  saw  ane  auld  evident  bearand  that  Spens 
of  Wormeston,  beand  of  Makduffis  Kinne,  injoyed  the  benefite 
and  immunitie  of  the  Law  for  the  slauchter  of  ane  called  Kynnyn- 
month.'1 

'  Sir  Alexande  de  Moravia  of  the  Morays  of  Abercairney  was 
accused  of  the  slaughter  of  William  de  Spaldyne  and  indicted  for 
the  crime  in  the  Court  of  the  High  Justiciar  held  by  his  deputies 
Sir  John  and  Maurice  de  Drummond  at  Foulis.  On  the  7  Decem- 
ber 1391  he  appeared  with  his  fore-speakers,  protested  that  in- 
asmuch as  he  had  been  once  before  called  in  judgement  of  that 
slaughter,  and  repledged  to  the  Law  of  Clan  Macduff  by  Robert 
Earl  of  Fife  he  was  not  obliged  to  plead  before  any  other  judge 
to  that  charge,  until  the  said  law  of  Clan  Macduff  should  have 
had  its  privileges  in  regard  to  him  thus  repledged  to  its  jurisdic- 
tion, and  he  demanded  to  be  lawfully  discharged.  The  judges 
made  answer  that  they  could  not  discharge  him,  but  would  respite 
him  until  the  Lord  of  Brechin,  the  principal  Justiciar,  should  take 
order  in  the  matter.'2 

The  next  case  on  record  is  that  connected  with  the  inhuman 
murder  of  Sir  John  Melville  of  Glenbervie,  Sheriff  of  Mearns.  We 
are  told  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  that  '  the  sheriff  bore  his  faculties  so 
harshly,  that  he  became  detested  by  the  barons  of  the  county. 
Reiterated  complaints  of  his  conduct  having  been  made  to  James  I. 
(or,  as  some  say,  to  the  Duke  of  Albany),  the  monarch  answered  in 
a  moment  of  unguarded  impatience,  '  Sorrow  gin  the  sheriff  were 
sodden  and  supped  in  broo'P  The  complainers  retired  perfectly 
satisfied.  Shortly  after  the  lairds  of  Arbuthnot,  Mathers,  Lauriston, 
and  Pitarow  decoyed  Melville  to  the  top  of  the  hill  of  Garvoch, 
under  pretence  of  a  grand  hunting  party.     Upon  the  place  still 

De  Verborum  Sig. — voce  Clan  Mdkduff. 

Innes1  Sketches  of  Early  Scottish  History,  p.  214. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  347 

called  the  Sheriff's  Pot,  the  barons  had  prepared  a  fire  and  a 
boiling  caldron,  into  which  they  plunged  the  unsuspecting  sheriff. 
After  he  was  soddin,  as  the  king  termed  it,  for  a  sufficient  time, 
the  savages,  that  they  might  literally  observe  the  royal  mandate, 
concluded  the  scene  of  abomination  by  actually  partaking  of  the 
hell-broth.1  The  three  lairds  were  outlawed  for  the  crime,  and 
Barclay,  one  of  then  number,  to  screen  himself  from  justice, 
erected  the  Kaim  (i.e.,  the  fortress)  of  Mathers,  which  stands  on  a 
rocky  and  almost  inaccessible  peninsula  overhanging  the  German 
Ocean.  The  Laird  of  Arbuthnot  is  said  to  have  eluded  the  royal 
vengeance,  by  claiming  the  benefit  of  the  Law  of  Clan  Macduff. 
A  pardon,  or  perhaps  a  deed  of  replegiation,  is  said  to  be  still 
extant  among  the  records  of  the  Viscount  Arbuthnot/2 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  of  remission :—' Tyll  all 
men  tliir  present  letters  to  comes,  I,  Johnston,  Stuart  of  Fyfe, 
sends  greiting  in  God,  witt  ye,  wee  have  resavit  Hugh  Arbuthnot, 
George  Barclay,  Alexander  Falconer,  William  the  Grami  or  Gra- 
ham, Gilbert  Middleton,  Patrick  Barclay,  Alexander  of  Graham  to 
the  lawes  of  Clane  Mackduff  for  the  deid  [death]  of  quhillome  John 
the  Malaville,  Laird  of  Glenbervy,  and  certain  and  sicker  burro  wise 
[borch's,  sureties],  that  is  to  say  David  Barclay  of  Coll  amis 
[Collairnie]  the  first  broych  that  they  ought  of  the  lawes,  David  the 
Barclay  of  Leuchry  [Luthrie  ?]  the  second  broych  that  they  ought 
to  have  the  lawes,  Robert  of  Barclay  of  Towch  or  Towy  the  3d 
burghe  that  they  shale  fulfill  the  lawes  as  the  law  will.  Quhairfore 
to  all  and  sundrie  that  it  efferis,  firmly  wee  forbidd  on  the  King's 
halfe  [behalf]  of  Scotland,  and  our  Lord  Mackduff,  Duke  of  Albany, 


i  AVe  stand  astounded  at  this  wild  act  of  revenge  ;  but,  in  the  comparatively 
late  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  in  an  outburst  of  popular  fury  against  an  aggravated 
case  of  poisoning,  an  Act  was  passed  in  England,  sentencing  poisoners  to  death 
by  boiling  them  alive.  This  enactment  was  so  revolting  to  public  feeling,  that 
it  was  rescinded  in  the  succeeding  reign.' 

2  Minstrels,/  of  the  Scottish  Borders,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  265— Edition  1859. 

1  Edward  VI.,  cap.  1"-'- 


348  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES ; 

Earle  of  Fyfe  and  Menteitb.  and  Governor  of  Scotland,  that  the  said 
lawes  hes  in  keeping,  that  no  man  take  in  hand  to  doe,  molest, 
greive,  or  wrange  the  foirsaid  persons  in  their  bodies,  or  in  thir 
gene,  because  of  the  deid  of  the  said  Johne  of  Malavill  and  the 
payne  that  after  lyes,  and  forfalting  of  the  Lawes  forsaid  and  this 
present  Letter. — In  Witness  of  the  whilk  this  our  Seale  to  this 
present  hes  putt.  At  Falkland  the  first  of  September,  the  year 
ofGodl421yeirs.'1 

Such  is  all  the  authentic  information  that  is  known  regarding 
the  Law  of  Clan  Macduff;  and  in  none  of  the  earliest  notices  of  it 
is  there  positive  evidence  that  the  Cross  was  a  Girth  or  Sanctuary. 
From  the  paucity  of  records  concerning  this '  Law,'  and  perhaps 
from  the  extreme  antiquity  of  the  privilege,  the  subject  is  surrounded 
with  obscurity.  Still  it  is  not  improbable  that  with  the  right  of 
regality  and  replegiation  there  was  also  a  right  of  Girth.  Sir  John 
Skene  was  not  likely  to  have  made  such  a  positive  statement,  un- 
less he  had  some  evidence  to  that  effect,  which  is  now  lost.  Such 
a  privilege  was  in  keeping  with  the  state  of  society,  and  necessi- 
ties of  the  times.  Every  consecrated  churchyard  we  have  seen,  was 
a  sanctuary ;  but  some  of  our  early  Christian  settlements,  as  Dull, 
had  a  much  wider  space  around  the  monastery  marked  by  crosses 
as  a  Girth.  '  When  we  remember  Ethelred  (son  of  St  Margaret), 
the  first  known  Earl  of  Fife,  was  also  Abbot  of  Dunkeld,  and  that 
tradition  represents  Macduff  to  have  been  the  progenitor,  as  well 
of  the  Mackintoshs  as  of  the  Abernethys,  both  of  them  of  spiritual 
descent,  we  need  not  be  surprised  at  such  a  combination  (of  eccle- 
siastical and  civil  privileges),  or  refuse  to  believe  that  the  first 
Macduff  may  have  represented  a  line  of  ancient  Abbots  on  whom 
a  privilege  of  girth  had  been  conferred.'2 

Later  tradition  is  uniform  on  the  subject ;  and  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  south-east  of  the  Cross  there  is  a  small  hillock,  now  part 
of  a  ploughed  field,  commanding  a  view  of  all  the  roads  leading 

1  Analecta  Soctica,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  30,  81. 

2  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  Cross  Macduff. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AXD  CROSS  MACDUFF.  349 

to  it,  called  '  The  Couclier's  Knowe,'  so  named,  it  is  conjectured, 
from  the  circumstance  of  watchers  couching,  or  lurking  there  to 
waylay  the  manslayer  ere  he  reached  the  sanctuary.  When  the 
field  in  which  Cross  Macduff  is  situated  was  first  brought  under  the 
plough,  there  was  a  rude  sort  of  pavement  discovered  on  the  small 
mound-like  hillock,  thirty  paces  south  of  the  Cross.  It  has  been 
conjectured,  and  it  is  not  improbable,  that  this  pavement  was  the 
floor  of  a  small  rude  cell  or  oratory  in  connection  with  the  Cross, 
such  as  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  early  Christian  sites  in  Ireland 
and  in  the  Hebrides.1 

In  that  turbulent  age,  when  might  was  too  often  the  measure 
of  right,  a  sanctuary  was  of  great  value  in  restraining  the  hand  of 
violence ;  and  it  was  a  noble  aim  on  the  part  of  the  clergy  in  the 
prosecution  of  their  work  of  mercy,  to  secure  one  spot  where  the 
defenceless  could  find  safety.  The  undefined  dread  with  which 
our  ancestors  regarded  any  attempt  to  violate  such  places  of 
sanctuary,  bore  upon  them  with  a  weight  of  awe  that  curbed  their 
revenge,  when  mere  law  or  authority  would  have  been  despised. 

So  long  as  the  orginal  purposes  of  their  institution  were  strictly 
adhered  to,  sanctuaries  had  this  good  effect ;  they  kept  alive  the 
distinction  betwixt  murder  and  manslaughter.  But  it  is  much  to 
be  feared  that  they  were  sometimes  perverted  from  then-  original 
aim,  and  gave  shelter  to  criminals  to  whom  it  was  never  intended 
they  should  afford  protection.     Laws  had  to  be  passed  to  remedy 


1  Besides  the  rude  pavement,  there  was  in  Cross  Macduff  field  when  it  was 
broken  up  in  1814,  one  very  large  and  several  small  cairns,  which  were,  without 
doubt,  ancient  burial  places.  The  cells  mentioned  in  the  text  as  being  still  extant 
in  Ireland  and  in  the  Hebrides  are  most  primitive  in  their  construction  ;  they  are 
built  and  covered  by  a  gradually  converging  roof  of  unhewn  stones,  without 
lime  or  cement.  Illustrations  of  some  of  the  most  ancient  of  these  are  given  in 
Dr  Petrie's  work  on  the  Round  Towers  of  Ireland  (pp.  129,  130);  and  in  Charac- 
teristics of  Old  Church  Architecture  in  Scotland  (pp.  180,  181,  205).  There  is  one 
of  these  rude  cells  on  Inchcolm  ;  an  engraving  of  it  from  a  chawing  by  Mr 
Drummond,  U.S.A.,  appears  in  Sir  James  Simpson's  paper  on  Inchcolm. — Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  p.  501. 


350  SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LINDORES ; 

this  evil,  the  latest  of  which,  passed  in  1535,  enacted  that  Masters 
of  Girths  must  be  appointed,  who  were  to  be  held  personally  re- 
sponsible for  the  proper  management  of  the  sanctuaries  under  their 
charge.1  Numerous  instances  of  their  perversion  might  be  ad- 
duced ;  still — 

'  If  full  oft  the  sanctuary  saves 
Lives  black  with  guilt,  ferocity  it  calms.12 

The  fierce  warrior,  who  would  not  have  shrunk  from  the  face 
of  man,  quailed  and  sheathed  his  sword  before  the  spiritual  and 
unseen  power. 

If  obscurity  attaches  to  the  right  of  the  Girth  at  Cross  Macduff, 
and  history  is  silent  regarding  the  fitness  of  the  descendants  of 
the  Thane  of  Fife  for  leading  the  van  of  the  royal  army  in  battle, 
we  are  left  in  no  doubt  as  to  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  placing 
the  Scottish  monarch  on  the  throne.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
coronation  of  Robert  Bruce,  Isabel,  Countess  of  Buchan,  sister  of 
the  Earl  of  Fife,  knowing  that  her  brother  was  in  the  power  of 
Edward  (and  therefore  could  not  exercise  his  hereditary  right), 
hastened  to  Scone,  and  insisted  on  the  ceremony  being  performed 
a  second  time,  as  she  alone,  as  the  representative  of  the  Thanes  of 
Fife,  had  the  right  to  place  the  king  on  the  '  Royal  Seat.'  That 
no  informality  might  attach  to  his  title  to  the  Crown,  Bruce 
consented,  and  regardless  of  the  risk  (for  only  a  small  band  of 
patriots  adhered  to  Bruce),  the  Countess  placed  the  crown  on 
Bruce's  head. 

'  There  steps  a  noble  lady  forth,  and  cries  the  right  is  miue, 
My  fathers  for  long  ages  past,  crown'd  Scotland's  royal  line : 
She  placed  the  circlet  on  his  brow, — her  hand  ne'er  shook  nor  quail'd ; 
Go  forth,  she  said,  and  fight  for  us,  and  God  defend  the  right.' 

This  patriotic  act  brought  down  on  the  brave  Countess  the 
wrath  of  Edward  I.,  and  unfortunately  she  did  not  escape  it.     She 

1  James  V.,  Pari.  IV.,  Cap.  23.  2  Wordsworth,  Ecc.  So7inets,  Pt.  I.,  xxiv. 


MUGDRUM  CROSS,  AND  CROSS  MACDUFF.  351 

was  taken  prisoner  shortly  after  Bruce's  defeat  at  Methven,  and 
for  four  years  confined  in  a  cage  made  of  sparred  wood,  bound 
with  iron,  placed  on  one  of  the  turrets  of  Berwick  Castle,  exposed 
to  the  severity  of  the  weather  and  the  gaze  of  every  passer-by. 
This  barbarous  treatment  was  afterwards  so  far  mitigated,  that 
she  was  allowed  to  reside  in  strict  retirement  in  a  convent  in 
Berwick.'1  Had  ambition  not  quenched  Edward's  better  feelings, 
he  would  have  admired  the  patriotism  of  the  woman  who  had  so 
daringly  defied  his  power — for  the  beautiful  crosses  erected  by  him 
to  the  memory  of  his  wife,  on  the  spots  where  her  body  rested  on 
the  way  to  the  tomb,  testify  to  the  depth  of  his  affections.  The 
conquest  of  Scotland  had  become  with  him  an  absorbing  passion ; 
he  thought  it  within  his  grasp,  and  he  wreaked  his  vengeance  on 
all  who  had  in  any  way  helped  to  balk  him  of  his  coveted  prize. 

Such  is  the  story  of  Cross  Macduff.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who 
visited  it  in  1822,  thus  speaks  of  it  in  the  Prelude  to  his  poem  of 
Macduff  Cross — 

'  Mark  that  fragment, 
I  mean  that  rough-hewn  block  of  massive  stone, 
Placed  on  the  summit  of  this  mountain  pass, 
Commanding  prospect  wide  o'er  field  and  fell, 
And  peopled  village  and  extended  moorland, 
And  the  wide  ocean  and  the  majestic  Tay 
To  the  far  distant  Grampians — Do  not  deem  it 
A  loosen'd  portion  of  the  neighbouring  rock 
Detach'd  by  storm  and  thunder, — 'twas  the  pedestal 
On  which,  in  ancient  times,  a  Cross  was  rear'd, 
Carved  o'er  with  words  which  foil'd  philologists  ; 
And  the  events  it  did  commemorate 
Were  dark,  remote  and  undistinguishable, 
As  were  the  mystic  characters  it  bore. 
But,  mark — a  wizard  born  on  Avon's  bank 
Tun'd  but  his  harp  to  this  wild  northern  theme, 
And,  lo !  the  scene  is  hallow'd — none  shall  pass 
Now  or  in  after  days,  beside  that  stone, 
But  he  shall  have  strange  visions ;  thoughts  and  words 


1  Note  to  The  Bruce,  Barbour,  p.  438,  Ed.  18(39. 


352 


SCULPTURED  STONE  AT  LIXDORES. 


That  shake,  or  rouse,  or  thrill  the  human  heart 
Shall  rush  upon  his  memory  when  he  hears 
The  spirit-stirring  name  of  this  rude  symbol ; — 
Oblivious  ages,  at  that  simple  spell, 
Shall  render  back  their  terrors  with  their  woes, 
Alas !  and  with  their  crimes.' 

Pilgrims  attracted  to  trie  spot  by  trie  associations  connected 
with  the  Cross  may  be  disappointed  in  the  little  that  remains  of 
the  ancient  relic  ;  but  they  will  be  amply  gratified  by  the  magni- 
ficence of  the  prospect  which  stretches  out  before  them.  For  even 
the  great  Minstrel  has  failed  to  do  justice  to  the  surpassing  beauty 
of  the  scene. 


<!hC<3!g&-- 


CROSS    MACDUFF    (FROM    THE    SOUTH-EAST.) 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

DENMILN  CASTLE. 

'  Denmiln  !  upon  thy  battlements 
The  bearded  thistle  waves  ; 
Thy  Halls  with  moss  are  carpeted, 
Thy  sons  are  in  their  graves. 

The  mind,  that  loveth  olden  days, 
Will  long  delight  to  dwell, 
Sir  James  !  upon  the  storied  page 
Of  thy  quaint  Chronicle, — 
Where  like  a  place  of  burial 
Amid  the  Past  we  tread, 
And  gather  sober  wisdom 
From  the  legends  of  the  dead.' 

John  Anderson,  D.D. 

The  Castle  of  Denmiln,  situated  about  a  mile  south-east  from  New- 
burgh,  is  deserving  of  more  than  a  passing  notice,  from  its  having 
been  the  residence  of  Sir  James  Balfour  the  well-known  antiquary, 
and  for  the  tragic  fate  of  more  than  one  of  his  successors  in  the 
family  honours  and  estate.  The  castle,  which  stands  in  a  narrow 
sheltered  valley  or  den,  is  now  roofless,  and  only  the  bare  walls 
remain.  Judging  from  the  style  of  its  architecture,  the  probability 
is,  that  it  was  erected  in  the  end  of  the  15th  or  the  beginning  of 
the  16th  century.  Sir  James,  in  his  Topographical  Notes,  preserved 
in  manuscript  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  says,  '  A  lytle  southe  of 
Lyndores  [Abbey]  standis  Denmill,  of  old  perteining  to  the  Earllis 
of  Fyff,  till  King  James  II.  in  the  14th  year  of  his  reign  (1452) 
gave  it  to  his  beloved  and  familiar  servitor  James  Balfour  sone  to 

z 


354  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

Sir  John  Balfour  of  .Balgarvy,  Knight.'  Denmiln  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  Crown  by  the  forfeiture  of  Murdoch,  Duke  of 
Albany,  A.D.  1424.1 

The  family  of  Balfour,  from  whom  the  Balfours  of  Denmiln 
sprang,  have  long  held  a  prominent  place  in  Fife.  Like  most  of 
the  old  territorial  families,  they  acquired  their  surname  from  the 
name  of  the  lands  they  occupied.  Their  original  seat  in  Fife  was 
named  Balfour,  from  the  Gaelic  Bed  foidli  or,  the  town  at  the  foot  of 
the  Or  (the  dh  iafoidh  is  silent).  The  family  reckon  their  descent 
from  the  time  of  King  Duncan,  but  it  is  certain  that  Sir  Michael 
Balfour  obtained  a  charter  from  William  the  Lion,  a.d.  1214.  In 
the  struggle  for  the  independence  of  Scotland,  the  Balfours  were 
found  on  the  side  of  their  country  ;  Sir  John  Balfour  fell  in  the 
defence  of  Berwick,  when  that  town  was  besieged  by  Edward  I. 
(a.d.  1296).  Sir  Duncan,  Sheriff  of  Fife,  fell  at  the  battle  of  Black 
Earnside,  in  the  gallant  fight  under  Wallace.  Half  a  century  later 
Adam  Balfour,  a  younger  brother,  died  of  a  wound  received  at  the 
disastrous  defeat  of  Durham,  and  was  buried  in  Melrose  Abbey. 

The  ancestral  property  of  Balfour  passed  into  the  family  of 
Bethune  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Robert  Bethune  to  the  only 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John  Balfour,  who  died  A.D.  1375. 
Sir  John  Balfour  of  Balgarvy,  whose  son  James  acquired  Denmiln, 
was  a  cadet  of  the  Balfours  of  Montquhany,  who  were  descendants 
of  Adam  Balfour,  who  received  his  death-wound  at  Durham. 

James  Balfour,  the  first  of  Denmiln,  fell  at  the  siege  of  Rox- 
burgh, where  his  benefactor  James  II.  accidentally  met  his  death. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John,  who  was  killed  fighting  on  the 
fatal  field  of  Flodden.  Sir  Michael,  the  great  grandson  of  John 
who  fell  at  Flodden,  ranked  high  in  public  estimation  both  as  a 
soldier  and  as  a  statesman,  he  being  equally  celebrated  for  his 
courage  in  the  field  and  for  his  prudence  in  council.  Charles  I. 
selected  him  as  Comptroller  of  his  Household,  and  conferred  the 
honour  of  knighthood  upon  him. 

1  Tytler's  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  p.  50. 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  355 

Sir  Michael  married  Joanna  Durham,  daughter  of  James 
Durham  of  Pitkerrow,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  nine  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  except  two  (who  died  unmarried)  formed  hon- 
ourable alliances.  He  bestowed  on  his  sons  the  best  education 
the  times  could  afford,  and  they  all  rose  to  distinction  in  their 
several  paths.  It  is  said  that  Sir  Michael  lived  to  see  three  hundred 
of  his  descendants,  which,  if  correct,  is  the  more  remarkable,  as 
within  one  hundred  years  of  his  death  the  male  line  of  his  family 
became  extinct.  He  died  at  Denmiln,  on  the  4th  February  1652, 
at  the  age  of  72,  and  was  buried  in  Abdie  Chmch  on  the  20th  of 
the  same  month. 

The  great  length  of  time  which  was  allowed  to  elapse  betwixt 
Sir  Michael's  death  and  burial  cannot  fail  to  strike  modern  readers 
with  surprise.  It  arose  from  the  custom  of  entertaining  all  rela- 
tives and  neighbours  so  long  as  the  body  lay  unburied,  with  a  pro- 
fuse hospitality,  which  was  not  bounded  by  temperance.1  Day  after 
day  scenes  of  conviviality  went  on,  most  unbecoming  the  solemn 
occasion,  and  expenses  were  incurred  which  often  embarrassed 
the  family  of  the  deceased  for  generations.  Instances  are  on  re- 
cord of  two  years  rental  of  large  estates  having  been  spent  in  this 
wasteful  manner  at  the  funeral  of  the  proprietors  ;  and  yet,  had 
the  family  of  the  deceased  set  themselves  against  the  custom  of 
the  time,  they  would  have  been  branded  as  disregardful  of  their 
father's  memory. 

An  Act  was  passed  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  to  curb  these 
excesses  and  to  restrain  the  '  exorbitant  expense  of  burials  because 
of  the  hurt  and  prejudice  of  the  kingdom.'-  It  was  ordained  by 
this  Act  that  'there  shall  not  be  invited  to  the  burial  of  noblemen 
and  Bishops,  and  their  wives,  not  above  one  hundred  noblemen  and 


i  One  instance  will  suffice.  At  the  Laird  of  Calder's  funeral  in  171G,  sixteen 
bolls  and  a  half  of  malt  were  brewed  to  provide  ale  (besides  other  liquors  in 
proportion)  for  those  who  came  during  the  eighteen  days  his  corpse  lay  unburied. 
— Chambers's  Domestic  Annuls,  Vol.  III.,  p.  309. 

2  Charles  II.,  Tar.  III.,  Cap.  14. 


356  •         DENMILN  CASTLE. 

gentlemen.  To  the  burial  of  a  Baron  of  quality,  not  above  sixty, 
and  other  landed  gentlemen,  not  above  thirty.'  Besides  the 
ordinary  attendants,  special  mourners  were  engaged,  and  it  was 
specially  ordained  by  the  same  Act,  '  that  the  Mourners  at  the 
burials  of  Noblemen,  and  Bishops  and  their  Ladies,  do  not  exceed 
thirty,  and  at  the  burials  of  Privy  Counsellors,  Lords  of  Session, 
Barons,  Provests  of  Burghs,  and  their  wives,  the  number  of 
Mourners  doe  not  exceed  twenty  four,  and  at  the  burial  of  all 
other  Landed  Gentlemen  and  Citizens  within  Burgh  they  do  not 
exceed  the  number  of  twelve.'  The  Act  further  prohibits  and 
'  discharges  the  using  or  carrying  of  any  Pencils,  Banners  and 
other  Honours  at  Burial,  except  only  the  eight  Branches  to  be 
upon  the  Pale  [Pall],  or  upon  the  coffin  where  there  is  no  Pale. 
Under  the  pain  if  a  landed  person  of  a  fourth  part  of  their  yearly 
valued  rent,  and  others,  a  fourth  part  of  their  moveables ;  Bur- 
gesses, five  hundred  merks,  Craftesmen  and  Servants  not  ex- 
ceeding one  hundred  merks.'  Mourning  cloaks  were  also  strictly 
prohibited  at  burials  '  under  pain  of  a  fine  of  one  hundred  merks.' 

Notwithstanding  this  enactment,  such  is  the  tyranny  of  fashion, 
it  wras  disregarded,  and  funerals  continued  to  take  place  at  which 
the  attendants  mustered  in  such  numbers,  marching  in  regular 
order,  according  to  rank,  that  a  procession  has  been  known  to 
extend  upwards  of  four  miles ;  the  family  honour  depending  on 
the  rank  and  number  of  the  attendants.1 

In  a  very  curious  collection  of  Tracts  by  Sir  James  Balfour, 
there  are  several  containing  regulations  for  the  order  of  funerals 
of  persons  of  distinction,  in  which  the  most  minute  directions  are 
laid  down  for  marshalling  the  procession  according  to  rank  and 
precedence.2  We  have  gone  to  the  other  extreme  in  Scotland, 
order  and  regular  procession  is  disregarded,  and  apart  from  the 
solemnity  of  the  occasion,  a  Scottish  funeral  cannot  be  said  to  be 
impressive. 

1  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  III.,  p.  308. 

2  Sir  James  Balfour,  Ancient  Heraldic  and  Antiquarian  Tracts. 


DEXMILX  CASTLE.  357 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  the  monument 
in  Abdie  Church,  raised  to  the  memory  of  Sir  Michael  Balfour, 
by  his  grandson  Sir  Robert  Balfour. 

D.  O.  M.  S. 

D.  MICHAELIO  BALFURIO  A  DENMIL  EQUITI  AURATO  AUO  PR-ESTANTIS 
PIETATE  INSIGNI  IN  PATRIAM  FIDE  SPECTATO  AULAM  IMPERIALEM 
EXCELLENTISS.  CAROLI  II.  IN  SCOTI^E,  ANGLIC,  FRANCLE  ET  HIBERNI.K 
MONARCHEI  CELCIS,  TRIUM  REGNI  ORDINUM  STATUO  OB  SUMMAM 
PRUDENTIAM  CO-OPTATORET  EIUS  CONTRA  ROTULIATOR  PRONUNCIATO 
SENIOMORBOQUE    CONFECTO  IIII   FEB:     AN.   CI3.   IDCLII.  AETAT.  LXXII. 

D.  JOANNiE  DURHAMLE  AVI^E  PAT  I  DIGNISS  :  RELIGIONE  IN  DEUM, 
CHARITATE  IN  EGENOS  CLARISS.  UT  AMARANTINA  FRUERETUR  GLORIA 
CORONA  IMMATURE  EXTINCT/E,   10.  NOVEM.  AN.  CIO.  IDCXL.  AETAT  LIX. 

Sir  James  Balfour  of  Kinnaird,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Michael, 
and  the  heir  to  his  title  and  estates,  is  the  most  widely  known  of 
the  family,  from  the  writings  he  has  left  behind  him  on  antiqua- 
rian subjects.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1603  or  4.  In  the  early 
part  of  bis  career  he  displayed  a  taste  for  poetry.  Contempor- 
ary writers  complimented  him  in  verse,  on  his  poetical  composi- 
tions, several  of  which  were  in  Latin  and  others  in  Scotch,  but 
none  of  them  have  descended  to  posterity.  Sir  James  was  in 
terms  of  the  closest  intimacy  with  Drummond  of  Hawthornden, 
the  well-known  Scottish  poet.  In  some  of  Sir  James'  correspond- 
ence, preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  he  says,  in  a  letter 
to  Drummond,  '  your  starrie  "  Urania,"  on  the  wings  of  a  strong 
wind,  flees  by  us,  in  every  ones  handes ;  qukerfor  I  intreid  you 
wold  you  have  me  deprived  of  it  ?  Have  you  thought  me  dead 
to  the  Muses  that  either  I  could  not  judge  of  it,  or  so  dull  that  I 
could  not  praise  it.'  The  starrie  '  Urania '  to  which  Sir  James 
alludes,  is  a  collection  of  spiritual  poems  published  by  Drummond 
under  that  title.  Many  of  Drummond's  poems  have  a  grandeur  of 
conception,  and  are  pervaded  by  a  penetrating  sense  of  beauty, 
which  makes  them  worthy  of  being  more  read  and  better  known. 


358  DENMILX  CASTLE. 

The  following  sonnet  from  the  '  Urania '  which  Sir  James  was 
so  impatient  to  see,  is  admirably  conceived,  and  has  a  sustained 
thought  running  through  it,  which  gains  on  reperusal : — 

'  To  spread  the  azure  canopy  of  heaven, 

And  make  it  twinkle  with  those  spangs  of  gold, 

To  stay  this  mighty  mass  of  earth  so  even 

That  it  should  all,  and  nought  should  it  uphold  ; 

To  give  strange  motions  to  the  planets  seven, 

Of  Jove  to  make  so  meek,  and  Mars  so  bold  ; 

To  temper  what  is  moist,  dry,  hot,  and  cold 

Of  all  that  jars  that  sweet  accords  are  given  ; 

Lord,  to  thy  wisdom  nought  is,  nor  thy  might  : 

But  that  thou  shouldst,  thy  glory  laid  aside, 

Come  meanly  in  mortality  to  bide, 

And  die  for  those  deserv'd  eternal  plight, 
A  wonder  is  so  far  above  our  wit, 
That  angels  stand  amazed  to  think  on  it.' 


The  reading  of  a  sonnet  like  this,  or  the  following  (also  by 
Drummond),  which  were  often  read  within  the  walls  of  Denmiln 
when  they  were  warm  with  life  and  happiness,  brings  before  us 
the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  inmates,  far  more  vividly  than 
the  most  laboured  description  could  convey. 

'  Sweet  bird,  that  sing'st  away  the  early  hours, 
Of  winter's  past  or  coming  void  of  care, 
Well  pleased  with  delights  which  present  are, 
Fair  seasons,  budding  sprays,  sweet-smelling  flowers  ; 
To  rocks,  to  springs,  to  rills,  from  leafy  bowers 
Thou  thy  Creator's  goodness  dost  declare, 
And  what  dear  gifts  on  thee  he  did  not  spare, 
A  stain  to  human  sense  in  sin  that  lowers. 
What  soul  can  be  so  sick  which  by  thy  songs, 
Attir'd  in  sweetness,  sweetly  is  not  driven 
Quite  to  forget  earth's  turmoils,  spites,  and  wrongs, 
And  lift  a  reverend  eye  and  thought  to  heaven? 

Sweet  artless  songster,  thou  my  mind  dost  raise 
To  airs  of  spheres,  yes,  and  to  angels'  lays.' 


DEXMILN  CASTLE.  359 

After  the  completion  of  his  academical  course  Sir  James  seems 
to  have  spent  some  years  subsequent  to  1626  abroad,  availing 
himself  of  every  opportunity  of  adding  to  his  stores  of  knowledge 
and  of  improving  himself  by  intercourse  with  eminent  literary 
men.  '  At  the  close  of  his  continental  travels  he  spent  sometime 
in  London,  and  obtained  the  friendship  of  the  distinguished  anti- 
quary Sir  Robert  Cotton,  of  Sir  William  Dugdale,  the  author  of 
the  '  Monasticon  Anglicanum?  and  others  eminent  in  literature  at 
the  time.'  His  intercourse  with  Sir  Robert,  and  other  men  of 
similar  tastes  seems  to  have  given  a  bent  to  his  future  studies. 
He  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  heraldry  and  of  historical 
antiquities,  and  on  his  achievements  on  these  subjects  his  fame 
chiefly  rests.  These  studies  marked  him  out  as  a  fitting  person 
for  holding  the  important  position  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  an 
office  to  which  he  was  appointed  by  Charles  I.  (15th  June  1G30) 
having  previously  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  and  the 
dignity  of  a  Baronet  from  that  monarch.  Sir  James  held  the 
office  of  Lyon  King  of  Arms  for  many  years,  till,  on  account  of  his 
attachment  to  the  royal  family,  he  was  deprived  of  it  by  Crom- 
well. 

Sir  James  was  animated  by  the  praiseworthy  ambition  of  rescu- 
ing from  neglect  the  history  of  his  native  land,  by  recovering  the 
charters  of  the  various  abbeys  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  chronicles 
which  were  so  frequently  compiled  in  these  establishments  ;  docu- 
ments which,  after  the  alienation  of  the  abbeys,  were  fast  passing 
into  careless  hands.  For  this  purpose  he  visited  all  the  cathedrals 
and  principal  parish  churches  in  the  kingdom,  and  examined  the 
sepulchres  and  other  monuments,  from  which  he  copied  the  most 
remarkable  epitaphs  and  inscriptions,  carefully  preserving  them 
in  a  volume.  Ili.s  largest  work,  entitled  '  The  Annales  of  Scotland 
MLVII-MDCIII.,'  which  lay  in  manuscript  until  it  was  published  in 
1824,  is  the  result  of  these  investigations.  It  contains  many  facts 
not  now  otherwise  to  be  found  on  record.  Considering  the  early 
age  at  which  he  died,  and  how  much  he  did,  it  is  not  surprising 
that  inaccuracies  have  crept  into  his  writings. 


3(30  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

Sir  James's  appointment  as  Lord  Lyon  King  of  Arms  necessarily 
drew  his  attention  to  the  science  of  heraldry,  and  on  this  subject  he 
wrote  numerous  treatises,  a  list  of  the  most  important  of  which  is 
given  in  the  Memoir  of  his  Life  prefixed  to  the  published  edition  of 
'  The  Annales  of  Scotland.'  He  also  wrote  a  Topographical  Account  of 
Fife,  which  is  preserved  in  manuscript  in  the  Advocates'  Library, 
It  contains  interesting  facts  regarding  the  county  generally,  and 
is  well  worthy  the  examination  of  students  of  local  history. 
There  was  no  subject,  whether  of  literature  or  of  natural  history, 
in  which  Sir  James  did  not  take  an  interest.  He  entered  most 
zealously  into  the  Geographical  Survey  of  Scotland,  and  helped 
forward  the  construction  of  the  first  series  of  maps  of  the  country 
that  were  ever  projected.  They  were  published  under  the  title 
of  Theatrum  Sootice  by  the  Dutch  Geographer  Bleau.  The  map 
of  Lorn  is  dedicated  to  Sir  James,  and  is  embellished  with  an  en- 
graving of  his  coat  of  arms. 

Sir  James  collected  with  unwearied  industry,  and  at  great  ex- 
pense, a  voluminous  library  stored  with  the  most  choice  works  in 
every  department  of  literature,  but  more  especially  illustrative  of 
the  history,  antiquities  and  heraldry  of  Scotland.  Many  of  the 
original  documents  which  he  collected  with  so  much  zeal,  and  at 
so  great  expense,  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  were  unfor- 
tunately lost  or  dispersed  in  the  sack  of  Perth  by  the  English 
under  Cromwell,  whither  they  had  been  sent  for  security.  Those 
which  were  preserved  were  advertised  for  sale  in  1698,  and  were 
purchased  by  the  Faculty  of  Advocates.  A  copy  of  the  printed 
catalogue,  issued  at  the  time,  is  preserved  in  the  Signet  Library. 
The  title  page  sets  forth  that  it  is  '  a  Catalogue  of  Curious  Manu- 
scripts, collected  by  Sir  James  Balfour  of  Kimiaird,  Knight-Baronet, 
and  Lyon  King  at  Arms,  kept  by  him  in  his  Famous  Study  of 
Denmilne.'  The  advertisement  prefixed  states  '  that  many  of  the 
manuscripts  are  in  parchment,  and  more  ancient  than  printing, — 
severals  of  them  are  curiously  guilded  and  painted.  Diverse  of 
them  are  autographs,  and  original  Papers  of  Latter  times,  affording 
thereby  great  light  to  History  and  the  transactions  of  these  times.' 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  361 

Among  the  manuscripts,  the  most  important  are  the  Liber 
Carthusianomm  de  Perth,  sen  Scotichronicon  abbreviatum  ;  Win- 
ton,  his  Chronicle  in  Scottish  verse ;  The  Chartulary  of  the 
Monastery  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  Scone ;  Liber  Sanctas  Maria?  de 
Balmerinoch  ;  Liber  Sanctse  Marias  de  Dryburgh;' Liber  Arbro- 
thiensis,  and  the  Great  Chartulary  of  the  Monastery  of  Aberbro- 
thock.  Also,  though  not  mentioned  in  the  catalogue,  Liber  Sanctse 
Marias  de  Lundors. 

So  late  as  the  third  decade  of  the  present  century,  a  farmer  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Perth  had  a  pair  of  shoes  sent  to  him  by  his 
shoemaker  wrapt  in  paper,  which  proved  to  be  a  manuscript  from 
the  collection  of  Sir  James  Balfour.  In  the  middle  of  last  century, 
one  who  saw  them  stated  that  chests  filled  with  manuscripts  stood 
in  Denmiln  Castle,  and  they  were  so  little  cared  for  that  the  doors 
of  the  castle  stood  open,  and  any  one  helped  himself  to  what 
papers  he  chose  without  hindrance. 

Many  valuable  manuscripts  were  preserved  from  destruction  by 
Sir  James,  and  'posterity'  (says  the  author  of  Memoria  Balfou- 
riana)  '  ought  to  be  deeply  grateful  to  him  for  the  labour  and  ex- 
pense which  he  lavished  in  the  collection  and  preservation  of 
these  manuscripts,  which  during  his  whole  life  he  continued  to 
accumulate,  not  so  much  for  his  individual  utility  as  for  the  com- 
mon benefit  of  literary  men,'  and,  it  may  be  added,  for  the  elucida- 
tion of  the  history  of  the  country. 

Sir  James,  who  previous  to  the  death  of  his  father  is  always 
styled  of  Kinnaird,  as  owner  of  that  estate,  married  Anne  Aiton, 
sister  of  Sir  John  Aiton  of  that  Ilk  (21st  October  1630).  She  bore 
him  three  sons,  who  all  died  young,  and  six  daughters,  who  all 
died  unmarried. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Sir  James  married  his  cousin 
Jean  Durham,  who  died  within  a  year  of  her  marriage.  His  third 
wife,  Margaret  Arnot,  only  daughter  of  Sir  James  Arnot  of  Ferney, 
bore  to  him  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  died 
young  except  Robert,  who  succeeded  to  the  title  and  estates.  On 
the  death  of  Margaret  Arnot,  Sir  James  married  Janet  Auchinleck, 


362  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

daughter  of  Sir  William  Auchinleck  of  Balmanno,  by  -whom  he 
had  two  daughters.  Sir  James  died  on  the  14th  February  1657, 
at  the  early  age  of  fifty-two.  A  tablet,  erected  by  his  son  Sir 
Robert,  in  the  aisle  of  Abdie  Old  Church,  contains  the  following 
inscriptions  :— - 

D.  O.  M.  S. 

D.  JACOBO  BALFURIO  A  DENMIL  MILITI  BARONET  LEONI  ARMORUM  REGI 
PATRI  DESIDERATISS,  VERO  HONORIS  ET  PROBITATIS  EXEMPLO,  LITERARUM 
OMNIUM  CUM  GRAVIORUM  TUM  POLITIORUM  PERITISS,  PENITORIS 
ANTIQUITATIS  NON  MINUS  CERTUS  QUAM  INDAGATORI  CURIOSI  MUSARUM 
ET     GRATIARUM     CORCULO     ET     OCELLO     ORBI     ADEMPTO     XIIII.     FEB  :      AN. 

CIDIDCLVII  .ETAT.   LII. 

D.  MARGARITA  ARNOTjE    MATRI  CHARISS  ;  VIRTUTE  ET  FORMA  ULTRA  SEXUM 

EXIMLE,    IN    IPSO    JUVENTUTIS     FLORE     UT    SUPERIS    ASSOCIARETUR     TERRIS 

EREPTAE  XV.   DECEMB.   AN.   CI3IDC   LIII  JETAT  XXV. 

D.   ROBERTUS    BALFURIUS    A    DENMIL    MILES    BARONET  FILIUS  ^TAT  10  CURA 

ET  AUTHORITATE    MICHAELIS    BALFOURII    A    PITMEDIN    TESTAMENTO    PATRIS 

TUTORE    DATI     EX     PRESENTIBUS     FUTURA    PROSPICIENS     MAUSOLEUM     HOC 

M.  S.  ET  P.F.J.  AN.   CIDIDC  LXI. 

Prefixed  to  the  edition  of  his  '  Aimales '  published  in  1824,  is 
an  engraved  portrait  of  Sir  James,  from  an  original  which  was  in 
the  possession  of  the  late  Lord  Belhaven.  The  expression  of  his 
countenance  indicates  a  thoughtful  and  cultivated  niiiid.  He  is 
represented  leaning  on  a  table  covered  with  books  and  parch- 
ments, and  in  the  dress  and  long  hair  of  the  cavaliers  of  the  time  of 
Charles  I.  The  only  relic  at  Denmiln  which  is  likely  to  be  connected 
with  him,  is  a  lintel  over  the  orchard  gate,  bearing  the  inscription 

'  Hie  Argus  non  Briareus  esto.' * 
Alexander,   the  immediate  younger  brother    of   Sir    James, 

1  In  the  front  of  the  steading  of  Deniniln  there  is  an  elaborately  carved  stone, 
bearing  the  arms  of  Balfour  and  Durham,  with  the  initials,  M.  B.  &  J.  D. 


DENMILN  CASTLE. 


363 


designed  'of  Lumbanie,'  from  his  having  possessed  some  portion  of 
that  farm,  became  'minister  of  the  Word  of  God'  in  his  native 
parish  of  Abdie.  He  held  that  charge,  first  as  helper  to  Mr 
Andrew  Murray,  Lord  Balvaird,  and  afterwards  as  incumbent  of 
the  parish  from  at  least  A.D.  1634  until  1673.  During  his  incum- 
bency his  nephew,  Sir  Robert  Balfour,  built  the  addition  to  Abdie 
Old  Church,  known  as  Denmiln  aisle,  as  appears  from  his  initials 
and  date  1661,  and  his  coat  of  arms  over  the  entrance.  This 
aisle  is  devoid  of  all  architectural  elegance ;  had  it  been  built  in 
the  same  chaste  style  as  the  ancient  structure,  it  would  still  have 
met  the  requirements  of  the  parish,  and  the  parishioners  of  Abdie 
might  have  boasted  of  a  parish  church  second  almost  to  none  in 
antiquity  in  Scotland.  '  Mr  Alexander  Balfour  who  was  venerated 
for  the  dignity  of  his  deportment,  and  for  the  wisdom  and  piety 
of  his  life,  had  a  promise  from  James,  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews 
(better  known  as  Archbishop  Sharpe)  of  the  first  vacant  Bishopric 
in  Scotland.' 1  He  married  Janet  Hay,  and  on  the  death  of  his 
nephew  Sir  Robert,  he  succeeded  to  the  baronetcy  and  estate. 
Abdie  Church  bell,  which  was  recast  in  Alexander  Balfour's  time, 
bears  the  following  inscription,  '  Joannes  Burgerhuys  me  fecit 
1671.  Soli  Deo  Gloria!  Mr  Alexander  Balfour,  minister  there, 
of  the  parish  of  Ebde.' 2 

Michael,  third  son  of  Sir  Michael  Balfour,  was  born  at  Denmiln, 
and  baptised  on  the  25th  October  1623.  He  devoted  his_ atten- 
tion to  agriculture,  and  stood  high  hi  the  estimation  of  his  con- 
temporaries for  his  skill  in  rural  matters.3  He  was  proprietor  of 
'  Pitmedin, '  and  is  so  designed  on  a  monument  erected  by  him  in 
Abdie  Old  Church  to  the  memory  of  his  wife  Katharine  Napier  who 
died  in  1652,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty  five.  He  appears  to  have 
sold  Pitmedin  in  1663,  when  he  purchased  the  estate  of  Ran- 
derston  (anciently  Randalston)  as  he  is  thereafter  designated  by 
the  name  of  that  estate.    The  purchase  is  thus  recorded  in  Lamont's 

1  Scott's  Fasti.     -  2V<  w  Statistical  Account,  Fiji;  p.  54.      3  Memoria  Batfouriana,  p.  3. 


364  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

Diary — '1663.  This  summer.  .  .  Balfour  of  .  .  .  second 
"third]  son  of  the  deceased  old  Laird  of  Dinmille,  in  Fyffe  bowght 
the  lands  of  Randerston  at  Craill,  from  Mr  James  Sharpe,  Arch- 
bishop of  St  Andrews,  and  Alexr  Inglis  of  Kingask  the  two  sons 
in  law  of  the  deceased  Laird  of  Randerston  :  it  stood  him  about 
sextie  thousande  merkes  or  thereby.'1  His  nephew  James,  son  of 
Lord  Forret,  succeeded  to  the  estate.  James'  daughter  married 
George  Hay  of  Leys,  whose  descendant,  Edmund  Paterson  Balfour 
Hay,  is  now  proprietor  of  Randerston. 

In  Abdie  Old  Church  there  is  a  tablet  raised  by  Michael  Balfour 
to  the  memory  of  his  wife  ;  the  arms  of  the  Balfours,  and  the 
engrailed  cross  of  the  Napiers,  are  very  beautifully  cut  upon  it. 
The  tablet  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

P.  M.  E. 

CATHARINE  N^EPARjE    QILE    RARIORUS    VIRTUTIS  QU7E    IN    CLARISS.     E-MINIS 

SPLENDESCERE  SOLET  DITISS.   EXHIBUIT    APPARATUM    NATURE  PARTUM  DUM 

EDERET    PUELL.E  VITAM    SIBI    MORTEM,    PROH    FLENDUM    ADSCIVIT  VIII.   FEB. 

AN.       CID.  IDC.  LI  I.    AETAT.  XXV. 

MICHAEL  BALFOURIUS,  A  PITMEDIN  AMATISS.  CONJUGI  CUJUS  CINERES  DONEC 

LUX    POSTREMA  REFULGEAT    IN    HIS    REQUIESCENT    TENEBRIS  CIPPUM  HUNC. 

P.S.D.D.    AN.    C.I.O.I.D.C   LXI. 

Sir  David  Balfour  of  Forret,  fourth  son  of  Sir  Michael,  was 
born  in  1623.  'David,  Viscount  of  Stormonth,  and  Sir  David 
Barclay  of  Cullernie,  Knycht,'  were  witnesses  to  his  baptism  in 
Abdie  Church,  on  the  12th  September  of  that  year.  David 
Balfour  adopted  the  law  as  his  profession.  He  was  admitted  Ad- 
vocate on  the  29th  January  1650.  Previous  to  his  elevation  to 
the  bench,  as  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session  in  1674,  under  the  title 
of  Lord  Forret,  he  had  the  honour  of  knighthood  conferred  upon 
him,  and  in  the  following  year  was  appointed  one  of  the  Justiciary 
Judges.  In  1685  he  was  elected  a  Commissioner  for  the  County 
of  Fife,  to  the  Parliament  which  met  in  that  year.     In  the  same 

1  Lamont'a  Diciry,  p.  210. 


DEXMILX  CASTLE.  365 

year  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  a  body  in- 
vested in  some  degree  with  the  power  of  deciding  what  measures 
should  or  should  not  be  brought  before  Parliament.  Sir  David 
died  shortly  after  the  Revolution.1 

An  interesting  relic  of  Sir  David  Balfour  is  still  extant.  In  the 
year  1683  he  presented  a  Pulpit  Bible  to  the  parish  of  Logie,  Fife- 
shire,  in  which  the  estate  of  Forret  is  situated.  It  bears  the  follow- 
ing inscription,  both  at  the  beginning  of  the  Old,  and  also  at  the 
beginning  of  the  New  Testament : — '  For  the  Grlorie  of  God  and 
edification  of  his  People  within  the  Paroshin  of  Logie — Sir  David 
Balfour  of  Fforret,  Knight,  one  of  the  Senators  of  the  Colledge  of 
Justice,  gave  this  Bible,  upon  the  28th  of  April  1683.'  Sir  David's 
pious  gift  continued  to  be  used  by  the  minister  in  his  pulpit  minis- 
trations up  to  the  year  1855.  Though  now  disused  it  is  carefully 
preserved.'2 

Sir  Andrew  Balfour,  the  fifth,  and  youngest  son  of  Sir  Michael, 
was  born  in  the  Castle  of  Denmiln  on  the  10th  January  1630,  and 
was  baptised  on  the  same  day  in  the  parish  church  by  the  minis- 
ter, Sir  Andrew  Murray  of  Balvaird.  Sir  Andrew  appears  to  have 
received  his  early  education  at  the  parish  school ;  he  afterwards 
entered  the  University  of  St  Andrews,  where  he  continued  until 
he  took  his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.3 


1  Memoria  Balfouriana,  p.  3,  Haig's  Senators  of  the  College  of  Justice,  p.  402. 

2  The  Bible  is  in  folio,  and  bears  to  have  been  printed  at  '  The  Theater, 
Oxford,  1680.'     It  contains  two  illustrations  of  passages  in  the  Revelation. 

3  The  following  graceful  notice  in  the  Records  of  the  Kirk  Session  of  Abdie, 
penned  by  the  schoolmaster,  shows  the  scholarly  tastes  of  the  parish  school- 
masters of  that  day : — '  1711  June  3.  This  day  was  buried  here  a  stranger, 
called  David  Shearer,  Merchant  in  Crief,  who  as  he  was  swimming  his  horse  and 
washing  him  yesterday  forenoon,  in  the  Loch  of  Lindores,  by  north  of  the  Dove- 
Cote  perished  in  the  waters.     Ah  ! 

Quid  quisque  vitet,  nunquam  homini  satis 
Cautum  est,  in  horas. 

Horace,  Bk.  II.,  Ode  XIII.' 


366  DEXMILX  CASTLE. 

Sir  James,  his  eldest  brother,  directed  his  studies  and  inspired 
him  with  that  love  of  learning,  especially  of  natural  history  in  all 
its  branches,  which  distinguished  him  through  life. 

The  young  student  of  Denmiln  chose  the  science  of  medicine 
for  his  profession.  After  leaving  St  Andrews  he  went  to  London 
(1650),  where  he  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  Harvey,  the  celebrated 
discoverer  of  the  circulation  of  blood,  and  of  other  physicians  emi- 
nent in  medical  science.  After  a  residence  of  several  years  in 
London,  and  an  attendance  at  the  University  of  Oxford,  he  went 
to  Blois  in  France,  to  be  near  the  Botanic  Garden  there,  then  the 
best  in  Europe.  He  afterwards  proceeded  to  Paris,  where  he  pro- 
secuted his  studies  as  a  physician  with  great  ardour,  embracing 
every  opportunity  of  anatomical  dissection,  and  attending  con- 
stantly on  the  practice  of  the  public  hospitals.  Subsequently  he 
travelled  through  the  whole  of  France  with  Sir  Watkinson-Pelior 
(at  whose  seat  in  Yorkshire  he  afterwards  resided  for  sometime). 
At  the  University  of  Caen  in  Normandy,  he  entered  on  a  public 
disputation,  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  time,  and  obtained  the 
degree  of  Doctor  in  Medicine  from  that  university. 

On  his  return  to  London,  Dr  Balfour  was  introduced  to  King 
Charles  II.,  who  selected  him  as  a  fit  person  to  travel  abroad 
as  governor  to  the  Earl  of  Rochester,  a  young  nobleman  (who 
ranks  among  British  poets)  of  whom  great  hopes  were  enter- 
tained, but  who  had  fallen  into  dissolute  habits.  Dr  Balfour 
travelled  with  the  Earl  four  years,  returning  in  1667.  He  en- 
deavoured to  recall  the  young  nobleman  to  a  true  and  noble  life, 
and  his  counsels  and  example  were  so  far  successful,  that  the  Earl 
totally  subdued  his  inclination  to  intemperance  during  the  whole 
course  of  his  travels.  Johnson,  in  his  Lives  of  the  Poets,  says  of 
Rochester's  works,  '  there  is  in  all  of  them  sprightliness  and  vigour, 
and  everywhere  may  be  found  in  them  tokens  of  a  mind  which 
study  might  have  carried  to  excellence.'1  Unhappily  on  his  return 
to  Britain  the  Earl  again  gave  way  to  vicious  indulgence,  and 

1  Johnson's  £/m'  of  the  Poets — Bochester. 


DEXMILN  CASTLE.  3f>7 

'blazed  out  his  life  in  lavish  voluptuousness'  and  daring  impiety 
at  the  early  age  of  thirty-one. 

'  Rochester  often  acknowledged,  and  to  Bishop  Burnet  in  par- 
ticular only  three  days  before  his  death,  how  much  he  was  bound 
to  love  and  honour  Dr  Balfour,  to  whom,  next  to  his  parents,  he 
felt  he  owed  more  than  to  all  the  world.'1 

In  the  course  of  his  travels,  which  at  intervals  extended  over  a 
period  of  fifteen  years,  Dr  Balfour  was  indefatigable  in  his  re- 
searches on  every  subject  of  interest,  whether  of  science  or  of  art, 
and  lost  no  opportunity  of  collecting  specimens  illustrative  of  the 
natural  history  of  the  counties  through  which  he  past.  On  his 
return  to  his  native  country  'he  brought  with  him  the  most  exten- 
sive and  valuable  library,  especially  in  works  of  medicine  and 
natural  history,  that  till  then  had  appeared  in  Scotland.'  A  list 
of  several  of  these  books  is  given  in  the  Memoria  Balfouriania. 
They  embrace  almost  every  variety  of  subject, — among  them  were 
'books  even  from  China,  India,  and  other  parts  of  the  East.'  He 
brought  also  maps,  plans  of  ancient  buildings,  statues  and  busts  of 
famous  men,  and  a  collection  of  surgical,  mathematical,  and  what  is 
remarkable  at  that  early  age,  microscopic  instruments.  His  mu- 
seum contained,  besides  anatomical  preparations  of  the  human 
frame,  quadrupeds,  birds,  reptiles,  fishes,  specimens  of  minerals,  of 
metals  and  various  kinds  of  stones  and  fossils,  anticipating  in  this 
respect  the  geological  inquiries  of  the  present  age.  The  marine 
productions  consisted  of  corals,  white  and  red  (stellata,  articulata  et 
verruscosa),  and  the  vegetables  embraced  various  kinds  of  wood,  fruit, 
and  gums.  The  plants  which  he  collected  were  bound  in  several 
large  volumes,  and  as  well  as  some  of  his  other  specimens  were 
deposited  in  the  College  of  Edinburgh.  No  such  collection  having 
previously  been  seen  in  Scotland,  it  attracted  great  attention,  and 
must  have  given  an  impetus  to  the  study  of  natural  history,  and 
to  the  cultivation  of  the  fine  arts.  Had  Dr  Balfour's  collections 
been  carefully  preserved,  they  would  have  proved  an  interesting 


Walker's  Mem.  of  Sir  Andrew  Balfour,  p.  351. 


368  DENMILX  CASTLE. 

feature  in  the  Museum  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh ;  but,  un- 
fortunately, towards  the  end  of  the  last  century  only  a  small  por- 
tion of  them  remained. 

On  his  return  to  Scotland,  Dr  Balfour  commenced  practice  as 
a  physician  in  St  Andrews.  He  employed  his  leisure  hours  there 
in  the  study  of  anatomy  and  natural  history,  and  in  the  dissection 
of  the  human  body,  which  was  then  for  the  first  time  practised  in 
Scotland.  The  ancient  city  has  therefore  the  honour  of  leading 
the  way  to  that  emmence  in  medical  science  which  Scotland  has 
since  attained.  Ever  active  in  his  scientific  pursuits,  Dr  Balfour 
collected  during  his  residence  in  St  Andrews  the  indigenous  plants 
of  the  country ;  and  discovered  several  which  were  previously 
unknown  to  botanists.1  Of  a  truly  scientific  mind,  he  seems  to 
have  taken  no  fact  in  natural  history  on  trust  which  he  could 
examine  for  himself.  He  sent  to  the  Hebrides  for  specimens  of  the 
barnacle,  and  by  accurate  dissections  exposed  the  errors,  which 
till  then,  even  the  learned  believed,  of  its  marvellous  transforma- 
tion into  a  bird.  With  the  true  characteristic  of  a  great  mind, 
widened  by  travel,  he  rose  superior  to  the  vulgar  errors  of  his 
age,  and  in  a  letter  which  was  published,  but  unfortunately  has 
been  lost,  he  endeavoured  to  free  his  countrymen  from  the  belief 
in  witchcraft,  which  then  held  them  in  such  painful  bondage. 

In  1670  Dr  Balfour  removed  from  St  Andrews  to  Edinburgh, 
where  he  immediately  came  into  an  extensive  practice,  more 
remunerative  than  any  physician  had  ever  before  obtained  in 
Scotland.    His  health  broke  down  in  a  few  years  after  his  removal, 


1  It  sounds  strange  to  botanists  now  to  be  told  that  Dr  Balfour  first  made 
known  the  Rubus  Chamoemorus,  or  Cloudberry  (found  in  so  many  mossy  moun- 
tain ridges  in  Scotland)  as  indigenous.  He  first  discovered  the  Pulmonaria 
Maritima  Linn,  now  Mertensia  Maritima,  known,  from  the  flavour  of  its  leaves,  as 
the  Oyster  plant,  to  be  a  native  of  Scotland.  This  plant,  which  grows  on  the 
shores  of  the  Forth  near  Earlsferry,  is  rare  on  the  east  coast  of  Scotland,  and  it 
was  probably  there  that  Sir  Andrew  discovered  it.  The  extreme  beauty  of  its 
purplish  blue  flowers  attracts  the  notice  of  casual  visitors,  and  the  plant  is  in 
danger  of  being  extirpated,  to  the  regret  of  all  students  and  lovers  of  nature. 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  369 

notwithstanding  he  continued  to  interest  himself  in  his  favourite 
studies.  He  was  an  excellent  linguist,  and  kept  up  a  correspond- 
ence with  commercial,  as  well  as  literary  friends  in  various 
countries  on  these  subjects.  Year  by  year  he  received  specimens 
from  the  Indies  and  from  Europe,  and,  what  scientific  journals 
now  convey — information  of  the  latest  discoveries  in  science.  His 
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  manners,  customs,  and  institutions 
of  foreign  countries,  made  him  a  valuable  adviser  in  the  establish- 
ment of  similar  institutions  at  home.  He  suggested  and  assisted 
in  carrying  out  the  establishment  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians 
in  Edinburgh,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  first  Presidents  of  that 
Institution.  He  projected  and  established  an  Infirmary  in  Edin- 
burgh—the first  in  Scotland— for  the  cure  of  the  diseased  poor 
and  friendless ;  it  was  originally  of  humble  dimensions,  but  from 
it  has  sprung  the  noble  Institution  which  now  fills  its  place.1 

The  love  of  botany,  which  he  imbibed  from  his  elder  brother 
Sir  James,  seems  to  have  been  the  solace  of  his  life.  In  a  small 
garden  adjoining  to  his  house,  he  raised  many  plants  from  seeds 
which  he  received  from  his  foreign  correspondents,  and  which 
were  then  first  introduced  into  Scotland. 

The  death  of  Murray,  Baron  of  Livingstone,  a  young  and 
ardent  botanist  who  travelled  abroad  at  Dr  Balfour's  suggestion, 
placed  a  thousand  species  of  plants  at  his  disposal.  To  prevent  this 
valuable  collection  from  being  scattered  and  lost,  Sir  Robert  Sibbald 
and  the  Faculty  of  Advocates  assisted  Dr  Balfour  in  defraying  the 
necessary  expenses  incurred  in  preserving  and  cultivating  them. 
The  rare  plants  collected  by  the  indefatigable  perseverance  of  Dr 
Balfour  attracted  the  notice  of  eminent  botanists  abroad,  and  at 
length  the  .Magistrates  of  Edinburgh  awakening  to  the  import- 
ance of  the  institution,  allotted  a  piece  of  ground  near  Trinity 
College  Church,  for  what  they  called  a  'Physic'  garden,2  and  a 

1  Walker's  Essays  on  Natural  History,  pp.  361,  2. 

2  The  ground  is  now  occupied  by  the  North  British  Railway  ;  the  garden 
was  removed  to  Leith  Walk  in  170:3,  ami  to  its  present  site,  in  Inverleith  Row, 
in  1819. 

A  A 


370  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

salary  to  a  curator.  To  Dr  Balfour  therefore  belongs  the  honour 
of  founding  the  first  public  botanic  garden  in  Scotland. 

Dr  Balfour  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  in  a  memoir  of  his  own  life,  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  bestowal  of  this  honour  : — '  In  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1682,  I  was  advertised  upon  a  Saturday 
night  to  bring  with  me  Dr  Steinson  and  Dr  Balfour  to  wait  upon 
the  Duke  of  York,  after  the  forenoon  sermon.  The  Earl  of  Perth 
and  Sir  Charles  Scarborough  had  concerted  the  matter,  wee  in- 
deed knew  nothing  of  the  designe,  but  thought  that  we  had 
been  sent  for  to  receive  his  Royal  Highness's  commands  anent  the 
Colledge,  for  that  he  was  to  goe  away  shortly.  Bot  to  our  sur- 
prisall  ther  was  ane  carpet  layed,  and  we  were  ordered  to  kneel, 
and  were  each  of  us  Knighted  by  his  Royall  Highness,  then  Com- 
missioner.' x  Dr  Balfour  was  eminently  deserving  of  this  honour ; 
he  was  the  representative  man  of  science  hi  Scotland  at  the  time, 
and  there  was  no  subject  in  any  department  of  learning,  or  indeed 
anything  which  tended  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  country 
in  which  he  did  not  take  an  interest. 

Having  made  himself  acquainted,  as  opportunity  offered,  with 
the  processes  of  manufactures  abroad,  and  having  seen  the  advan- 
tages arising  from  manufacturing  activity,  Sir  Andrew  was  natur- 
ally desirous  of  imparting  the  advantages  to  his  own  country,  and 
of  raising  Scotland  to  the  level  of  other  nations.  Though  for 
one  hundred  and  twenty  years  previous,  paper  had  been  manu- 
factured in  England,  the  attempts  that  had  been  made  to  intro- 
duce its  manufacture  into  Scotland  had  hitherto  failed.  Sir  Andrew 
projected,  and  with  that  successful  energy  which  seems  to  have 
attended  all  his  efforts,  succeeded  in  introducing,  the  manufacture 
of  this  useful  material, — and  it  has  ever  since  been  carried  on  ex- 
tensively in  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh.2 


1  Analecta  Scotica,  Vol.  I.,  p.  147. 

2  The  first  time  that  the  manufacture  of  paper  is  heard  of  in  Scotland  is  in 
the  year  1590.     A  German  in  that  year  petitioned  government  for  certain  ]  ri- 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  37 1 

Raised  to  the  pinnacle  of  professional  eminence  in  Scotland, 
the  suavity  of  his  manners  and  his  extensive  stores  of  knowledge, 
secured  for  Sir  Andrew  the  friendship  of  the  learned  and  the 
great.  He  was  the  friend  and  medical  attendant  of  the  Duke  of 
Rothes,  and  was  on  terms  of  intimate  intercourse  with  the  Earls 
of  Moray,  Morton,  and  Strathmore,  Viscount  Tarbat,  Sir  James 
Murray  of  Drunicairn,  and  the  other  leading  men  of  the  time  ;  but 
his  consideration  for  the  poor,  and  the  kindliness  of  his  disposition 
made  him  beloved  by  them  and  universally  esteemed. 

After  many  years  of  impaired  health,  Sir  Andrew  Balfour  died 
in  1694,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age.  He  was  prepossessing 
in  his  appearance,  '  of  a  handsome  figure,  and  with  a  pleasing  and 
expressive  countenance.  There  was  a  print  of  him  executed  in 
Paris,  but  no  copy  of  it  is  known  to  exist.'  After  Sir  Andrew's 
death  his  son  published  a  volume  of  letters  addressed  by  his  father 
to  his  friend  Murray,  Baron  of  Livingstone,  while  on  his  travels. 
These  letters  contain  directions  and  advice  to  the  young  natura- 
list to  guide  him  to  the  places  where  the  most  note-worthy  objects 
of  scientific  interest  and  art  were  to  be  found.  The  volume,  only 
that  it  is  more  exclusively  scientific,  is  exactly  what  a  guide-book 
is  to  the  modern  tourist.  The  authors  remarks  on  the  natural 
phenomena  and  objects  of  taste  which  he  visited  and  examined, 
display  a  thorough  appreciation  of  art,  and  an  independent  judg- 
ment in  matters  of  science.  'After  experiments  on  the  vapour  of  the 
famous  Grotto  del  Cane,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  the 
same  as  the  choke-damp  of  the  coal  mines  of  Britain,' — a  conclusion 
which  modern  chemistry  has  completely  verified.    His  learning 


vileges  in  connection  with  its  manufacture,  which  were  granted,  but  the  attempt 
seems  to  have  been  unsuccessful.  In  1G75  a  paper- work  was  established  on  the 
Water  of  Leith  in  which  was  made  (in  1679)  '  gray  and  blue  paper  much  finer  than 
ever  this  country  offered  to  the  Council.'  In  1C97  '  a  paper  manufactory  was 
going  on  prosperously  under  a  joint-stock  company,  producing  'good  white 
paper  ;  and  it  is  spoken  of  as  the  only  one  in  the  kingdom  '  that  has  either  work 
or  design  for  white  paper.' — Chambers's  Domestic  Annals. — These  two  latter 
works  were  undoubtedly  the  offspring  of  Sir  Andrew  Balfour's  enterprise. 


372  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

and  his  scientific  knowledge  only  made  him  more  stedfast  in  his 
faith,  and  more  humble  and  more  ardent  in  his  love  to  God.  '  He 
was'  (says  Sir  Robert  Sibbald)  'beyond  most  of  his  time  in 
wisdom,  in  moderation  of  mind,  and  in  learning,  he  excelled  all 
his  contemporaries  in  his  knowledge  of  natural  history  and  anti- 
quities ;  in  these  studies  he  was  the  foremost  of  Scotsmen,  and 
was  justly  awarded  the  palm.' 

The  following  eulogium,  published  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
expresses  the  opinions  entertained  by  his  contemporaries  of  his 
worth — 

•  The  great  Balfour  is  dead,  too  soon  alace ! 
Who  was  his  countries'  ornament  and  grace, 
But  his  great  name  still  lives,  and  shall  allwayes, 
A  garland  wear  of  never-fading  bayes, 
His  heaven-born  soul  to  great  things  did  aspire, 
Nor  sea,  nor  land  could  bound  his  vast  desire  ; 
And  when  the  wonders  these  contain'd  he  knew, 
He  passed  hence,  Heaven's  wonders  next  to  view.' l 


Denmiln  Castle  for  a  generation  was  a  centre  of  learning  and 
refinement,  the  resort  of  the  most  eminent  in  literature  at  the 
time,  and  the  meeting-place  of  all  who  had  the  promotion  of 
learning  and  the  intellectual  advancement  of  Scotland  at  heart. 
In  the  immediately  succeeding  generation  this  fair  picture  was 
dashed  with  bloodshed  and  violent  death.  Sir  Robert  Balfour, 
the  only  surviving  son  of  Sir  James,  was  killed  in  a  duel  with 
his  neighbour  Sir  James  M'Gill  of  Lindores,  when  little  more 
than  twenty-one  years  of  age.  A  small  Cairn  on  the  roadside, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  from  Cross  Macduff,  known  by 
the  name  of  Sir  Robert's  Prap,  marks  the  spot  where  the  un- 
happy young  man  fell,  A.D.  1673.  Though  judicial  action  was 
taken  in  the  matter,  the  record  does  not  mention  the  cause  of 
the    conflict.     Tradition    has    uniformly    narrated    that   the    two 

1  Memoria  Balfouriana,  p.  98.     Walker's  Essays  on  Natural  History,  passim. 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  373 

neighbours  had  been  at  Perth  together  attending  a  fair,  and  that 
they  quarrelled  on  then*  way  homewards.  M'Gill  is  reported  to 
have  said  to  Sir  Robert,  'Yon  Hielandman  would  have  been  ow'r 
able  for  you,  if  I  had  not  interfered.'  Nettled  at  the  remark,  Sir 
Robert  retorted  angrily,  and  a  violent  altercation  ensued ;  when, 
riding  at  full  gallop  through  the  standing  corn  towards  the  foot  of 
the  hill,  they  came  to  a  .stand,  and  the  flashing  of  then-  swords 
told  that  they  were  engaged  in  mortal  combat.  A  neighbouring 
miller  who  was  a  spectator  of  the  scene  hastened  after  them,  but 
before  he  reached  the  spot  Sir  Robert  was  lying  lifeless  on  the 
place  now  covered  by  the  Cairn  known  by  his  name. 

*  Saddled  and  bridled 
And  gallant  rode  he ; 
Ilame  came  his  glide  horse 
But  never  cam  he.' 

Tradition  relates  that  a  shepherd  who  was  near  the  scene  of 
the  fight  heard  M'Gill  entreating  Sir  Robert  to  stand  off,  lest  in 
self-defence  he  should  kill  him  ;  but  Sir  Robert  was  furious,  and 
compelled  him  to  fight. 

This  tradition  places  M'Gill  in  a  more  favourable  light  than 
the  sentence  pronounced  against  him  would  seem  to  warrant. 
He  had  to  lie  concealed,  and  the  king  only  granted  him  remission 
on  condition  '  that  he  should  never  again  be  seen  in  Fife,'  a  con- 
dition which  implies  that  the  duel  was  accompanied  by  aggrava- 
tions which  are  not  recorded.  Eight  years  after  the  fatal  event, 
Fountainhall  records,  that  on  '4th  and  5th  May  1681,  Rankie- 
lour  gave  in  a  Bill  to  the  (Privy)  Councell,  bearing  that  Sir  James 
M'Gill  his  sone  having  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  kil  Balfour  of 
Denmiln,  and  his  Majesty  having  granted  him  a  remission,  to 
which  the  Councell  added  this  quality,  that  he  should  never  be 
seen  in  Fife  to  prevent  bloodshed ;  and  that  the  petitioner  being 
now  a-dying,  and  earnestly  wishing  to  speak  with  and  see  his 
sone,  therefor  begged  they  would  relax  so  much  of  the  punishment 
as  to  allow  his  sone  to  come  and  see  him.     The  Councell  doubted 


374  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

if  they  might  doe  this  ;  but  the  Duke  of  Albany  affirming  that  he 
believed  the  king  would  not  refuse  this  desire  of  any  old  dying 
gentleman,  they  grantit  it  in  thir  terrnes,  that  he  should  go  with 
a  guard  like  a  prisoner,  and  stay  but  twenty-four  houres,  and  then 
depart  out  of  Fyfe  where  the  friends  of  him  that  was  killed  live.' * 
'  Encouraged  by  the  liberality  of  the  Council,  Sir  James  M'Gill 
petitioned  them  anew  in  December  for  a  removal  of  all  restriction 
upon  his  remission,  alleging  that  it  was  required  on  account  of  the 
decayed  and  infirm  condition  of  his  parents  (he  being  then*  only 
son),  and  the  ruin  into  which  his  affairs  had  fallen  in  consequence 
of  his  long  exile.  Against  this  petition,  however,  the  friends  of  Sir 
Robert  Balfour  gave  in  answers,  showing  how  green  such  a  wound 
could  then  be  kept  for  eight  years.  They  urged  that  the  slaughter 
of  their  kinsman,  so  for  from  being  done,  as  alleged  by  Sir  James 
in  self-defence,  was  in  forethought  felony,  and  it  was  only  owmg 
to  an  undeserved  clemency  on  his  Majesty's  part  that  he  had  not 
been  brought  to  condign  punishment.  The  pretexts  regarding  his 
parents  and  estate  were  frivolous  when  the  nature  of  the  offence 
was  considered.'  '  Though  it  is  insinuate  that  the  said  Sir  James 
desires  only  to  live  in  the  parish  of  Monimail,  and  not  in  the 
parish  of  Ebdie,  where  Sir  Robert's  nearest  relatives  are,  this  is 
a  very  silly  pretence,  for  this  is  the  very  next  parish,  and  Sir 
Robert's  nearest  relatives  have  their  interests  in  this  parish  itself, 
and  it  may  easily  be  considered,  that,  if  this  is  allowed,  Sir 
Robert's  friends  will  be  punished  for  Sir  James'  crime,  since  they 
must,  to  shun  his  company,  neither  go  to  the  meetings  of  the 
shire,  baptisms,  nor  marriages,  burials  or  churches ;  nay,  nor  to 
see  their  friends  nor  neighbours  lest  they  should  fall  in  incon- 
veniences icith  him,  which  was  the  ground  upon  which  the  restric- 
tion was  granted  at  first.'  To  prove  how  unworthy  Sir  James 
was  of  the  favour  extended  to  him  in  May  last,  it  was  set  furth 
that,  on  that  occasion,  '  he  must  ride  insolently  by  the  very  gate 
of  the  gentleman  he  had  murdered,  with  a  great  train  of  friends, 

1  FouutainbaH's  Historical  Notes,  p.  292. 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  375 

and  in  passing  the  road  they  did  also  very  insolently  boast  and 
upbraid  the  poor  people  with  whom  they  met.'  '  If  this,'  it  was 
added,  'was  done  in  the  very  first  time,  what  may  be  expected 
when  his  confidence  is  increased  by  renewed  favours,  and  when 
Denmiln's  friends  see  that  the  only  satisfaction  they  got  (which 
was  not  to  see  him  at  all)  is  taken  from  them.' x  This  representa- 
tion on  the  part  of  Sir  Robert's  friends  is  no  doubt  highly  coloured  ; 
but  even  making  deductions  for  exaggeration,  the  conduct  of  Sir 
James  ill-accorded  with  his  being  the  unwilling  cause  of  the  young 
baronet's  death.     The  petition  was  refused. 

Sir  Robert  Balfour  was  succeeded  by  his  uncle  Alexander,  the 
minister  of  Abdie,  who  lived  little  more  than  a  year  after  he  came 
into  possession  of  the  family  honours  and  estate.  Sir  Alexander 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Michael  (22d  July  1675).2  Sir  Michael 
married  Marjory,  daughter  of  Moncrieff  of  Reidie,  and  was  one 
of  the  members  for  Fife  in  the  Scottish  Parliament  in  1685.  In 
the  spring  of  1709  Sir  Michael  rode  away  from  Denmiln  Castle 
with  the  expressed  intention  of  visiting  some  friends,  and  never 
returned.  Search  was  made  in  all  directions,  and  advertisements 
were  inserted  in  newspapers  both  at  home  and  on  the  continent, 
but  no  tidings  of  him  were  ever  received.  On  the  17th  January 
1710,  'Lady  Denmiln,  gave  in  a  bill  to  the  Lords  bearing  that 
Michael  Balfour  her  husband  went  from  home  in  March  last  to 
visit  some  friends  and  for  other  business,  and  in  his  return  home, 
he  sent  his  servant  an  errand  into  the  town  of  Cupar,  and  told 
him  he  would  be  at  home  before  him,  and  yet  he  never  yet  re- 
turned to  his  house,  notwithstanding  all  the  search  and  enquiry 
made  for  him,  and  the  horse  he  rode  on ;  and  no  account  can 
hitherto  be  got  what  is  become  of  him  ;  by  which  misfortune  his 
creditors  are  falling  upon  his  estate,  and  proceeding  to  diligence 
which  may  encumber  and  embarass  his  fortune,  though  it  far  ex- 
ceeds his  debts,  unless  prevented.  Therefore  craves,  in  this  ex- 
traordinary case,  the  Lords  may  name  a  factor  to  uplift  the  rents 

i  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  424-6.  2  Fife  lUtours,  1143. 


376  DENMILN  CASTLE. 

and  out  of  it  [them]  to  pay  the  current  annual  rents,  and  give  an 
aliment  to  her  and  her  seven  children.' 

Fountainhall,  who  records  the  foregoing  petition,  says,  '  There 
were  many  conjectures  about  him,  for  some  have  been  known  to 
retire  and  go  abroad  upon  melancholy  and  discontent ;  others 
have  been  said  to  be  transported  and  carried  away  by  spirits,  and 
a  third  sort  have  given  out  that  they  were  lost,  to  cause  their 
creditors  compound ;  as  the  old  Lord  Belhaven  was  said  to  be 
drowned  on  Solway  Sands ;  so  of  Kirkton,  yet  both  of  them 
afterwards  appeared.  The  most  probable  opinion  was  that  Den- 
niiln  and  his  horse  had  fallen  under  night  into  some  deep  coal 
pit,  though  these  were  also  searched,  which  lay  on  his  wray  home. 
The  Lords  thought  the  case  craved  some  pity  and  compassion, 
and  that  their  interposing  would  come  better  if  the  creditors  had 
applied ;  yet  they  appointed  a  factor  to  last  only  for  the  year 
1710,  to  uplift  and  manage  the  rents  for  the  creditors  and  relict, 
before  which  were  [was]  expired  they  would  be  at  more  certainty 
whether  he  was  dead  or  alive.'1 

Sir  Michael's  mysterious  disappearance  excited  much  interest 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  his  residence,  and  the  elders  of  a  preced- 
ing generation  used  to  tell  that  there  were  those  living  in  their 
youth,  who  saw  the  baronet  ride  away  from  the  castle  on  a  black 
horse  accompanied  by  a  servant  on  horseback,  and  that  he  never 
came  back.  The  interest  excited  by  the  mystery  which  shrouded 
the  baronet's  disappearance  extended  far  beyond  his  own  neigh- 
bourhood. Fifteen  years  after  he  rode  aAvay.  a  broad-sheet  en- 
titled '  Murder  will  out, '  was  hawked  about  the  country.  This  do- 
cument, of  which  a  copy  is  preserved  in  the  file  of  the  'Courant' 
newspaper,  purports  to  be  the  confession  of  a  woman  on  her 
deathbed,  to  the  effect  that  her  father,  who  was  a  tenant  of  Sir 
Michael  Balfour  at  the  time,  had  secretly  stabbed  and  buried  him 
to  get  quit  of  arrears  of  rent. 

Sir  Michael,  the  son  of  the  missing  baronet,  contradicted  the 

1  FuiiutauiliuH's  Decisions,  Vol.  II.,  p.  554. 


DENMILN  CASTLE.  377 

statement  of  the  broad-sheet,  which  is  of  a  most  sensational  cha- 
racter; and  in  a  letter  which  he  sent  to  the  publisher  of  the 
newspaper  he  said,  that  the  'story  was  false  in  all  the  circum- 
stances,' and  the  printer  apologized  for  having  been  instrumental 
in  giving  circulation  to  a  false  report.  There  is  reason  to  believe 
that  Sir  Michael  was  involved  in  pecuniary  embarrassments.  On 
the  25th  May  1684,  the  following  entry  occurs  in  Newburgh  Kirk 
Session  Records,  '  ye  minister  and  Elders  unanimously  agreed  that 
diligence  should  be  used  against  Sir  Michael  Balfour  ; '  a  prosecu- 
tion which  he  got  rid  of  by  granting  an  assignation  to  the  rent  of 
Wester  Lumbennie,  then  part  of  his  property.  It  is  on  record 
also  that  he  granted  a  bond  (25th  May  1705)  for  1100  merks  in 
favour  of  his  brother,  Mr  David  Balfour,  Doctor  of  Medicine,  which 
was  not  paid  at  the  time  of  his  disappearance,  as  the  amount  was 
arrested  subsequently  in  the  hands  of  James  Balfour  of  Rander- 
stone.  These  and  other  pecuniary  difficulties  may  have  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  Sir  Michael's  disappearance,  but  whatever  was 
the  cause,  no  clue  to  his  fate  was  ever  obtained,  and 

1  The  secret  sleeps  hi  death.' 


CHAPTER  XXVJ. 

OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

'  Hail  ancient  manners  !  sure  defence 
Of  wholesome  laws.' 

Wordsworth. 

Less  than  two  generations  back  any  grave  notice  of  the  games 
of  children  would  have  been  reckoned  a  waste  of  time,  and  the 
very  essence  of  childishness ;  but  the  researches  of  scholars  both 
on  the  continent  of  Europe  and  in  Britain  have  shown,  that  these 
boyish  sports  are  often  far-descended  imitations  of  the  doings  of 
grown  men  in  the  early  stages  of  society.  Even  apparently 
meaningless  expressions  reflect  phases  of  belief  which  have  long 
since  past  away.  The  expression,  '  Gae  to  Hackelbirnie ! '  which  is 
still  current  in  this  neighbourhood,  and  used  as  a  mere  playful 
expletive  (commonly  in  answer  to  a  request  not  to  be  complied 
with),  has  come  down  from  the  days  when  our  fathers  believed  in 
heathen  gods.  Hackel-beerend  was  the  Norse  Spirit  of  the  storm. 
To  threaten  to  send  a  fretful  child  to  Hackel-beerend,  therefore,  in 
the  days  of  heathendom,  was  to  send  him  to  the  spirit  whose 
angry  voice  was  heard  in  the  wild  tumult  of  the  wintry  wind. 

The  tales  too  which  have  come  floating  down  in  the  traditions 
of  the  people,  are  far  off  echoes  of  the  hopes  and  fears  of  the 
human  race,  ere  the  light  of  the  gospel  had  dawned  upon  them ; 
many  of  them  containing  distinct  traces  of  heathen  beliefs.  These 
tales  are  common  to  many  lands ;  one  known  as  '  Johnny  Trotter,' 
still  current  among  the  peasantry  of  Fife,  is  identical  with  a  tale 
popular  among  the  peasantry  of  Norway,  under  the  title  of  '  Not  a 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  379 

pin  to  choose  between  them,'1  and  it  is  known  as  '  Jack  Hannaford,' 
in  Devon. 

The  latest  writer  who  has  treated  of  the  games  of  children  and 
kindred  subjects  philosophically,  says,  '  If  they  be  examined  with 
an  eye  to  ethnological  lessons,  one  of  the  first  things  that  strikes 
us  is,  how  many  of  them  are  only  sportive  imitations  of  the  serious 
business  of  life.'2  He  cites  the  act  of  a  Scottish  mother  play  fully 
reducing  her  obstreperous  youngling  of  a  son  to  submission,  by 
taking  him  by  the  forelock  and  saying,  '  Tappitousie !  will  ye  be 
my  man?'  as  a  relic  of  the  time  when  serfdom  prevailed,  and 
when  the  owner  led  the  serf  by  the  forelock  in  presence  of  wit- 
nesses, in  token  and  admission  of  servitude.  The  following  are 
some  of  the  lines  of  this  far-descended  rhyme,  which  are  still 
repeated  in  Newburgh  : — 

4  Tappitousie  !  will  ye  be  my  man  ? 
O,  yes  !  I'll  do  the  best  I  can. 
Come  to  me,  come  to  me,  come  to  me  ! 
Tappitousie  !  will  ye  be  my  wife  ? 
Eh,  na !  I  carina,  for  ye'll  tak  my  life. 
Gae  fae  me,  gae  fae  me,  gae  fae  me ! 

In  the  collection  known  as  '  Quoniam  Attachiamenta,  or  the  Baron 
Laices,'  we  have  the  mode  in  which  serfdom  was  acknowledged 
and  carried  out  in  reality.  In  these  '  Lawes '  it  is  stated  that '  the 
thrid  kinde  of  nativitie  or  bondage  is,  quhcn  ane  frie  man,  to  the 
end  he  may  have  the  menteinance  of  ane  great  and  potent  man, 
randers  himself  to  be  his  bondman,  in  his  court,  be  the  haire  of 
his  forehead,  and  gif  he  thereafter  withdrawes  himselfe,  and  flees 
away  from  his  maister,  or  denyes  to  him  his  nativitie,  his  maister 
may  proue  him  to  be  his  bondman,  be  ane  assise  before  the  justice, 
challengand  him,  that  he  sic  ane  day,  sic  ane  yeare  compeared  in 
his  court,  and  there  yielded  himselfe  to  him  to  be  his  slave  and 


Dasent's  Popular  Tales  from  the  Norse,  p.  178. 
Tylor'a  Primitive  Culture,  Vol.  I.,  p.  05. 


380  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

bondman.  And  quhen  any  man  is  adjudged  and  decerned  to  be 
native  or  bondman  to  any  maister,  the  maister  may  take  him  be 
the  nose,  and  reduce  him  to  his  former  slavery.'1 

The  game  which  less  than  fifty  years  ago  was  known  in  this 
neighbourhood  as  '  Burnt  Witches '  (and  may  be  still  so  known), 
is  an  undoubted  survival  in  sport  of  the  terrible  hallucination 
which  subjected  helpless  women  to  an  agonizing  death  for  the 
imaginary  crime  of  witchcraft.  In  a  game  still  practised  by  the 
boys  of  Newburgh,  we  appear  to  have  represented  in  sport  the 
exaction  of  the  fine  known  as  the  Cro  among  the  ancient  Celtic 
population  of  Scotland.  The  JRegiam  Majestatem  defines  Cro  to  be 
compensation  for  slaughter.2  The  Cro  for  the  slaughter  of  the 
king  was  a  thousand  kye;  for  the  son  of  an  Earl  or  a  Thane  a 
hundred,  and  lower  grades  less  ;  that  of  a  husbandman  or  yeoman 
being  saxtene  kye.'3  From  the  circumstance  that  there  are  stones 
in  Scotland  known  as  the  Cro  or  Crawstanes,  it  is  conjectured 
that  the  judicial  proceedings  connected  with  the  exaction  of  the 
Cro  may  have  taken  place  at  them.  '  At  the  perambulation  of 
the  lands  of  Melgow  or  Melgurn  in  Nithbrenshire  (Newburnshire), 
held  at  Largo  Law  by  the  Justiciar  of  Fife  in  1306,  one  part  of  the 
boundary  ran  ad  lapidem  que  vocatur  le  Crawstane ;  and  one  of  the 
Sculptured  Stones  at  Rhyme,  in  Aberdeenshire,  is  known  as  the 
Cro  or  Crawstane.'4  In  the  game,  a  boy  named  the  Cra,  sits  on  a 
stone  in  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  companions,  who  stand  ready  to 
strike  him  with  plaited  handkerchiefs  as  soon  as  the  judge  of  the 
game  permits ;  but  the  moment  that  the  judge  (whose  duty  it  is 
to  decide  when  due  punishment  is  exacted),  proclaims  that  his 
'  Cras  no  free,'  that  moment  every  one  is  obliged  to  desist.  In  this 
game  there  seems  to  be  an  undoubted  representation  of  a  grave 
proceeding  in  the  criminal  judicature  of  remote  antiquity ;  a  sup- 
position  which  the  identity  of  the  name  strongly  corroborates. 


1  Quoniam  AttacTiiamenta,  chap.  lvi.  2  Reg.  Majest.  Book  iv.  36. 

3  W.  F.  Skene,  Tribe  Communities  of  Scotland.    Fordun,  Vol.  IT.,  Appendix,  p.  448. 

*  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,  p.  xlv.    Regis,  de  Dunftrmetyn,  p.  410. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  381 

St  Chiysostoni  truly  said  fourteen  centuries  ago,  that  super- 
stition enslaves  men.  It  subjects  them  to  a  thraldom  stronger 
tenfold  then  human  laws ;  the  spiritual  and  unseen  having  far 
greater  power  over  the  human  mind  than  any  threatened  infliction 
of  mere  bodily  punishment.  Innumerable  instances  of  this  truth 
might  be  adduced  from  the  annals  of  superstition. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  last  century  the  corpse  of  a  suicide 
had  to  be  lifted  over  the  walls  of  the  churchyard  in  Newburgh ; 
the  superstitious  belief  being  that  if  it  was  permitted  to  enter  by 
the  gate,  the  next  child  that  was  carried  to  the  church  for  baptism 
would  end  its  days  by  self-destruction.  This  superstition  died 
out  by  slow  degrees.  Scarcely  fifty  years  ago,  two  old  women 
remembering  what  they  had  seen  in  their  youth,  watched  with 
eager  curiosity  the  funeral  procession  of  a  suicide  in  Newburgh, 
as  it  approached  the  churchyard  porch,  where  a  very  slight 
accidental  stoppage  took  place.  Imagining  that  the  old  super- 
stitious practice  was  to  be  put  in  force,  they  immediately  set  off 
to  see  the  end,  exclaiming,  'They're  no  gaun  to  let  her  in  yet!' 
but  they  had  not  run  many  paces  when  the  whole  procession 
disappeared  within  the  churchyard  gate,  and  this  form  of  super- 
stition was  for  ever  extinguished  amongst  us. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  a  reputed  witch 
named  Jean  Ford  was  living  in  Newburgh.  The  belief  in  her 
occult  powers  was  so  strong,  that  sailors  before  setting  out  on  a 
voyage  were  accustomed  to  propitiate  her  with  a  present  to 
ensure  a  safe  return.  Jean,  in  her  latter  years,  was  warned  to 
remove  from  her  house  by  her  landlord,  who  had  no  dread  of  her 
hidden  powers;  not  so,  however,  his  wife.  After  receiving  the 
notice  of  removal,  Jean  went  to  the  landlord's  residence  (and 
taking  care  to  stand  whore  she  could  be  seen  by  the  inmates), 
she  began  to  make  mystical  signs  on  the  ground  with  her  staff, 
muttering  all  the  while  some  words  to  herself.  The  servants  who 
had  a  wholesome  dread  of  her  powers,  attracted  the  attention  of 
their  mistress  towards  her.  The  spell  was  successful ;  the  warning- 
was  removed,  and  Jean  was  allowed  to  remain  in  her  house  all 


382  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

her  life.  Still  later,  the  wife  of  an  elder  in  Newburgh  had  a 
valuable  plaid  stolen,  and  the  threatenings  of  the  law  proved 
powerless  to  recover  it.  The  worthy  elder,  however,  caused  it  to 
be  widely  known  that  he  was  going  to  consult  a  spaewife  in  the 
neighbourhood,  when  the  plaid  was  secretly  returned  and  laid 
where  it  could  be  seen.  Superstitious  fears  had  more  power  than 
the  law,  but  the  spaewife  might  now  spae  in  vain.  Barely  two 
generations  back  the  belief  in  ghosts  was  firmly  fixed  in  the 
popular  mind.  It  was  implicitly  believed  that  the  ghost  of  '  the 
Leddy  of  Denmiln '  wandered  ;  or,  to  use  the  expression  invariably 
applied  to  ghosts,  '  gaed '  at  nights  around  her  old  residence, 
restless  because  of  her  cheatrie  in  selling  the  meal  ground  at  her 
mill,  and  muttering  to  herself, 

'  The  little  lippie  and  the  licht  stane 
Gars  me  wander  here  my  lane.' 

Mild  forms  of  superstition  still  unconsciously  linger.  If  a  boy 
and  girl  are  brought  to  the  church  for  baptism  at  the  same  time, 
the  boy  must  be  baptised  first,  the  belief  being,  that  the  girl  would 
otherwise  have  the  unfeminine  appendage  of  a  beard.  The  cus- 
tom of  taking  a  bit  of  shortbread,  or  other  kind  of  cake,  along 
with,  and  sometimes  pinned  up  in  the  dress  of  a  child  conveyed 
to  church  for  baptism,  still  prevails  in  Newburgh.  This  cake  is 
known  as  '  The  Bairn's  Piece,'  and  it  is  presented  to  the  first  person 
that  is  met  on  the  way  to  the  church.  This  old  custom  seems  to 
have  had  its  origin  in  the  times  when  bread  was  distributed  to 
obtain  the  prayers  of  the  recipients.  The  survival  of  the  custom 
is  calculated  to  inspire  kindly  feelings ;  which,  though  the  origin  of 
'  The  Bairn's  Piece '  is  forgotten,  may  be  productive  of  unspoken 
prayers  for  the  well-being  of  the  unconscious  infant.  This  custom 
still  survives  in  many  other  places.  In  1871  a  gentlemen  was 
accosted  on  a  Sunday  forenoon  by  a  lady  accompanied  by  an 
attendant  carrying  an  infant,  in  one  of  the  principal  streets  of 
Edinburgh.     On  his  stopping,  the  lady  offered  him  what  she  said 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  383 

was  '  the  Christening  bit,'  which,  on  explanation  of  the  custom,  to 
her  apparent  delight,  he  accepted.1 

There  is  a  remarkable  superstition  still  prevalent  in  this 
neighbourhood.  It  is  firmly  believed  that  if  a  child  or  other 
relative  is  withheld  from  dying  by  being  '  Cried  back '  (as  the 
prayers  for  its  continuance  in  life  are  called),  it  will  be  deprived 
of  one  or  more  of  its  faculties,  as  a  punishment  to  the  parent  or 
other  relative  who  would  not  acquiesce  in  the  Divine  Will.  Mrs 
Barrett  Browning  has  made  use  of  this  superstition  in  her  ex- 
quisite poem  of  '  Isobel's  Child.'     She  thus  writes— 

'  Dear  Lord  who  spreadest  out  above 
Thy  loving,  transpierced  hands  to  meet 
All  lifted  hearts  with  blessings  sweet, — 
Pierce  not  my  tender  heart,  my  tender  heart 
Thou  madest  tender !  Thou  who  art 
So  happy  in  Thy  heaven  alway, 
Take  not  mine  only  bliss  away ! ' 

'Mother,  mother, 
Suffer  me  to  go  to  Him.' 

1  Loose  thy  prayer  and  let  me  go 
To  the  place  which  loving  is.' 

1  "Wake  nurse  ! '  the  lady  said. 

'  I  changed  the  cruel  prayer  I  made, 
And  bowed  my  meekened  head  and  prayed 
That  God  would  do  His  will.' 
'  He  parted  us  ; 
And  His  sun  shows  victorious 
The  dead  calm  face,  and  I  am  calm, 
And  Heaven  is  barkening  a  new  psalm.'1 

Many  things  continue  to  be  done  in  daily  life  in  a  certain  fixed 


1  Notes  and  Queries,  Vol.  IV.,  S.  VIII.,  p.  506. 

-  E.  Barrett  Browning,  Poems,  Vol.  I.,  p.  293,  Ed.  1866. 


384  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

way,  solely  because  it  has  been  the  custom  to  do  so,  which  could 
be  as  well  done  in  another ;  such  as  the  glass  in  social  intercourse 
following  the  path  of  the  sun  instead  of  withershins,  or  the  contrary 
direction,  which  is  deemed  unlucky.  The  influence  of  custom  is 
specially  dominant  at  births,  marriages,  and  deaths,  and  other 
important  occurrences  in  life.  The  more  important  these  occur- 
rences are,  the  more  do  men  continue  to  throw  the  requirements 
of  custom  around  them,  lest  the  welfare  of  the  person  concerned 
should  be  imperilled.  It  is  still  considered  unlucky  by  many  to 
use  a  new  cradle  for  a  new-born  infant ;  old  cradles  are  therefore 
in  special  request,  and  are  constantly  borrowed  to  avoid  the 
mysterious  peril  of  using  a  new  one.  The  family  clock  used  to 
be  stopped  when  a  death  occurred  in  the  house,  and  the  looking- 
glass  was  invariably  (and  perhaps  still  is)  covered  up  in  the 
chamber  where  the  dead  lay.  There  were  those  in  this  neighbour- 
hood, long  after  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  who  be- 
lieved that  a  slip  of  rowan  tree  carried  on  their  person  dispelled 
glamour,  and  rendered  nugatory  all  the  powers  of  sorcery  and 
witchcraft.  This  superstition  is  of  very  remote  antiquity.  In 
Norse  mythology  the  rowan  is  associated  with  the  stealing  of  fire 
from  heaven  ;  the  traditions  of  which  our  Celtic  and  Teutonic 
forefathers  brought  with  them  from  the  far  east.  The  rowan, 
in  their  belief,  having  sprung  from  a  feather  of  the  bird  that  stole 
the  fire.  Its  connection  with  an  event  of  such  supreme  importance 
to  man  as  the  acquisition  of  the  use  of  fire,  invested  the  rowan 
with  those  mystic  powers  which  superstition  gathered  round  it. 
This  superstition  continued  to  exert  its  power  on  men  other- 
wise intelligent.  Impelled  by  ancient  custom,  they  bore  on  their 
person  on  the  eve  of  Mayday,  a  slip  of  rowan  tied  with  red 
thread  (the  red  thread  and  the  scarlet  berries  of  the  rowan 
being  typical  of  fire),  as  a  charm  against  ill  luck,  and  with  an 
undefined  hope  that  it  would  avert  evil  from  their  flocks  and 
herds.1     It  is  still  an  article  of  belief  with  some,  that  eggs  must 

1  Kelly's  Indo-European  Folklore,  pp.  1G1-168. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  385 

be  set  below  a  lien,  or  other  fowl  for  a  brood,  when  the  tide  is 
rising,  and  when  the  moon  is  on  the  increase,  to  make  sure  of  the 
full  tale  of  chickens.  In  the  early  years  of  the  present  century  a 
horse-shoe  was  affixed  to  the  mast  of  ships,  to  ensure  safe  and 
prosperous  voyages,  the  belief  being  that  it  was  a  spell  against 
which  the  machinations  of  witchcraft  were  powerless  The  horse- 
shoe is  still  to  be  seen  nailed  to  doors  in  this  neighbourhood ; 
more,  however,  from  old  custom  than  from  any  fancied  benefit. 

A  thousand  years,  or  nearly  so,  have  passed  away  since  Odin 
was  worshipped  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  island;  and  yet  the 
magpie,  which  was  sacred  to  him,  is  still  invested  with  supersti- 
tious fears  due  to  this  cause.  Notwithstanding  better  knowledge, 
uncomfortable  misgivings,  of  which  they  cannot  altogether  divest 
themselves,  still  come  over  the  minds  of  many,  if,  while  on  a 
journey  they  observe  one  of  these  birds  crossing  the  road  on  which 
they  are  travelling.  In  the  last  generation,  if  two  magpies  were 
seen  flying  over  a  house  in  which  a  person  lay  ill,  it  was  held  to 
be  a  sure  omen  that  the  sufferer  would  not  recover.  '  She'll  no  get 
better,'  was  the  saying  (which  living  ears  have  heard),  '  I  saw  twa 
piets  flee  ower  the  hoos  this  mornin.' 

The  vitality  of  old  customs  is  specially  observable  on  the 
occasion  of  a  marriage.  The  author  of  '  Primitive  Marriage,'  in 
his  able  inquiry  into  the  origin  of  marriage  ceremonies,  adduces 
the  hurling  of  old  shoes  after  the  bridegroom  when  he  takes 
away  the  bride  from  her  maiden  home,  as  a  relic  of  the  practice 
of  obtaining  a  wife  by  capture  -,1  the  throwing  of  the  shoes  being  a 
surviving  symbol  of  the  efforts  that  were  made  to  detain  the  bride 
when  seizure  of  one  by  violence  was  a  reality.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  causes  which  rendered  the  obtaining  of  a  bride  by 
capture  necessary,  the  practice  seems  to  have  been  almost  uni- 
versal. The  universality  of  the  practice  indicating  a  common 
cause.  Relics  of  this  custom  prevailed  in  the  celebration  of 
marriages  of  ancient  Greece  and  Rome.     Symbols  of  it  of  more 

1  Maclennaii,  Primitive  Marriage,  p.  29.     Note. 
B  B 


386  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

or  less  significance  are  still  found  in  the  steppes  of  Tartary ; 
among  the  native  races  of  America ;  in  the  interior  of  Africa ; 
among  the  hill  tribe  of  the  Khonds  in  Hindostan,  and  all  over  the 
continent  of  Europe.  The  ceremonies  which  still  prevail  in 
Khondistan,  and  which  until  lately  prevailed  in  Wales,  are  ad- 
duced by  the  same  author  as  significant  relics  of  marriage  by 
capture.  In  Khondistan  the  young  female  companions  of  the 
bride  chase  the  bridal  party,  throwing  stones  at  the  head  of  the 
bridegroom  until  he  reaches  the  confines  of  his  own  village.  Lord 
Kames  says,  that  the  following  marriage  ceremony  was  in  his 
day  (1774),  or  at  least  had,  till  shortly  before,  been  common  among 
the  Welsh.  'On  the  morning  of  the  wedding-day  the  bridegroom, 
accompanied  by  his  friends  on  horseback,  demands  the  bride.  Her 
friends  who  are  likewise  on  horseback,  give  a  positive  refusal, 
upon  which  a  mock  scuffle  ensues.  The  bride,  mounted  behind 
her  nearest  kinsman,  is  carried  off,  and  is  pursued  by  the  bride- 
groom and  his  friends  with  loud  shouts.'  He  is,  however,  suffered 
to  overtake  her,  and  to  carry  her  to  his  home  in  triumph.  '  Two  or 
three  hundred  horsemen  might  have  been  seen  in  Wales  on  some 
occasions  engaged  in  this  mock  flight  and  pursuit.'1 

In  Scotland  the  mock  capture  of  a  bride,  known  as  '  Riding  the 
Broose,'  continued  in  this  neighbourhood  down  to  about  1820.  The 
moment  the  bride  left  her  home,  mounted  horsemen  set  off  at  full 
speed,  striving  who  would  soonest  reach  the  bridegroom's  house, 
and  the  first  person  to  arrive  there  was  said  to  have  won  the  Broose ; 
a  tercn  of  which  no  satisfactory  etymology  has  been  given.  Those 
who  can  remember  the  'Riding  the  Broose,'  can  testify  that  the  head- 
long gallop,  to  which  Burns  bears  testimony  in  his  '  Address  to  his 

Auld  Mare ' — 

'  At  Brooses  thou  bad  ne'er  a  fellow 
For  pith  and  speed,' 

was  too  noisy  an  episode  to  be  forgotten,  and  it  gave  some  indica- 
tion of  what  a  real  capture  must  have  been. 

1  Maclennan,  Primitive  Marriage,  pp.  28,  29,  36,  37. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  387 

Marriages  are  now  celebrated  in  tins  neighbourhood  without 
this  noisy  relic  of  capture,  but  they  are  attended  with  customs  of 
which  no  positive  explanation  can  be  given.  The  best-man 
(groomsman)  and  the  bridesmaid  go  arm  in  arm  to  fetch  the 
bridegroom,  and  conduct  him  (and  afterwards  the  other  guests) 
to  the  dwelling  of  the  bride,  where  the  marriage  ceremony  is  per- 
formed, though  less  than  a  hundred  years  ago  it  was  usually 
performed  in  the  church.  After  the  ceremony,  and  just  as  the 
newly  married  couple  are  leaving  the  house,  a  plate  containing 
salt  is  at  some  marriages  stealthily  broken  over  the  head  of  the 
bridegroom,  and  as  they  leave  the  door  the  customary  shower  of 
old  shoes  is  thrown  at  them.  The  bride  and  bridegroom  head  the 
procession,  they  are  followed  by  the  bridesmaid  and  best-man,  and 
the  rest  of  the  bridal  party,  all  walking  two  and  two,  arm  and 
arm,  to  the  bridegroom's  house,  where  a  supper  is  prepared  for  the 
wedding  guests.  On  the  arrival  of  the  bridal  party  at  the  bride- 
groom's house,  his  mother,  or  nearest  female  relative,  breaks  a 
cake  of  shortbread  over  the  head  of  the  bride  as  she  sets  her  foot 
on  the  threshold,  and  throws  the  fragments  to  the  door  to  be 
scrambled  for  by  those  who  assemble  outside  on  marriage  occa- 
sions. A  fragment  of  the  cake  is  coveted  by  young  maidens,  to 
lay  under  their  pillows  at  night,  as  a  spell  for  ensuring  dreams  of 
those  they  love.  It  is  deemed  specially  unlucky  for  a  marriage 
party  to  take  any  by-path,  or  to  turn  back  after  they  have  once 
set  out  for  their  new  home. 

Keeping  the  highway  holds  equally  true  of  funeral  processions  ; 
by  tacit  consent  they  keep  the  old  accustomed  path.  Kirk-roads, 
disused  for  most  other  purposes,  continue  to  be  used  for  funerals. 
To  take  any  by-path  would  be  held  to  be  derogatory  to  the  de- 
ceased. The  good  old  custom  of  'bidding'  the  friends  and  neigh- 
bours to  a  funeral,  by  the  beadle  going  from  door  to  door,  is  still 
practised  in  Ncwburgh.  Formerly  it  was  the  custom  for  the 
beadle  to  walk  before  the  coffin  ringing  a  hand-bell,  all  the  way  to 
the  churchyard.  This  practice  was  discontinued  in  Newburgh 
sometime  between  the  years  1780-1790,  but  it  continued  in  the 


388  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

neighbouring  parish  of  Abdie  down  to  a  more  recent  period.  The 
ringing  of  the  church  bell  at  a  funeral  was  to  give  notice  of  the 
hour  of  '  lifting '  to  the  neighbours,  but  in  medieval  times,  super- 
stitions arose  out  of  the  practice,  and  the  belief  prevailed  that  evil 
spirits  were  driven  away,  and  could  not  come  within  the  sound  of 
the  bell.1  The  belief  in  the  exorcising  power  of  bells  has  totally 
disappeared ;  but  the  tolling  of  the  great  bell  has  continued  un- 
interruptedly in  Newburgh,  and  it  is  now  the  one  solemnising 
public  accompaniment  of  a  Scottish  funeral.  One  other  outward 
token  of  respect  still  continues.  If  a  wayfarer  meets  a  funeral 
procession  he  reverently  uncovers  his  head ;  and  the  same  mark 
of  respect  is  shown  by  the  attendants  the  moment  that  the  coffin 
is  lowered  into  the  grave,  no  other  outward  demonstration  being 
exhibited.  Women  have  long  ceased  to  attend  funerals  in  Scot- 
land. This  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  so  late  as  the  year  1715 
they  formed  part  of  every  funeral  procession,  walking  in  regular 
rank,  as  they  still  do  in  the  north  of  England.  The  men,  how- 
ever, in  Scotland,  walked  in  front  and  the  women  behind.2  The 
disappearance  of  women  from  funerals  in  Scotland  seems  to  have 
been  so  gradual,  that  no  contemporary  notice  of  it  appears;  and 
so  utterly  has  their  attendance  on  these  occasions  passed  out  of 
remembrance,  that  were  they  now  to  appear,  then-  presence  would 
excite  comment  and  astonishment. 

The  enduring  nature  of  old  customs  is  nowhere  so  apparent 
as  when  they  are  linked  with  some  day  in  the  calendar.  This  is 
specially  the  case  with  Halloween,  Hogmanay,  and  Handsel-Monday, 
the  popular  festivals  in  Newburgh  and  in  other  places  in  Scotland. 

There  are  some  features  in  the  mode  of  keeping  Halloween  in 
Newburgh  which  are  not  touched  upon  by  Burns  in  his  celebrated 
poem  ;  though  several  of  the  customs  so  inimitably  described  by 
him  are  still  kept  up  amongst  us.  Nuts  are  burned;  hail-stocks 
arc  pulled;  young  maidens  carrying  them  home  backwards,   to 

1  Brand's  Popular  Antiquities,  Vol.  III.,  p.  217. 

2  Selections  from  Ecclexiuslial  Records  of  Aberdeen,  p.  lxix. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  389 

lodge  them  behind  the  door  ;  and  the  ordeal  of  the  luggies  is  tried, 
in  order  to  obtain,  in  vision,  a  glimpse  of  their  future  husbands. 
But  besides  these  playful  divinations,  fire  has  always  been  an 
indispensable  element  on  Halloween.     Whin  bushes  were  kindled 
on  the  hills  and  set  a  blazing ;  and  the  most  mischievous  among 
the  boys  sometimes  barricaded  the  door  of  a  dwelling-house  from 
the  outside,  and  then  through  the  keyhole  filled  the  house  with 
smoke,  by  blowing  a  hollowed  kail-runt,  filled  with  burning  tow. 
Similar   customs,  in  which  fire  predominated,  were  practised  on 
Halloween  in  other  localities.     In  the  Highlands  of  Perthshire 
(a.d.  1835)  the  boys  for  weeks  beforehand  gathered  pob,  heather, 
and  other  inflammable  materials  in  a  great  heap,  to  which  they 
set  fire  on  Halloween,  with  great  rejoicing.     The  older  folks  came 
and  looked  on  for  a  while,  and  before  retiring,  each  of  them  took 
up  a  stone,  and  cast  it  into  the  blazing  pile,  leaving  the  boys  to 
finish  the  revel.     The  constant  use  of  fire  on  Halloween  has  led 
to  the  supposition  that  the  customs  in  which  it  forms  a  part  are 
relics   of  ordeal  by  fire.     The  practice  (which  is  still  continued 
here)  of  trying  to  catch  with  the  teeth  an  apple  fixed  to  one  end 
of  a  rod  with  a  lighted  candle  at  the  other,  suspended  from  the 
ceiling  and  quickly  twirled  round,  is  believed  by  some  to  be  a 
survival  in  sport  of  the  ordeal  by  fire.     The  endeavour  to  catch 
with  the  mouth  an  apple  floating  in  a  tub  in  water,  having  the 
hands  clasped  behind  the  back,  which  is  still  a  never  failing  ac- 
companiment of  Halloween,  is  believed  on  the  same  ground  to  be 
a  survival  of  the  ordeal  by  water.1     But  the  special  amusement  of 
the  boys  in  Newburgh  was  to  arm  themselves  with  hdl-runts,  and 
to  run  knocking  with  them  at  the  doors  of  the  houses  as  they 
passed  ;  a  practice  which  was  tolerated  by  the  inmates  on  that 
special  evening  all  the  more  readily,  as  the  doors  fifty  years  ago 
were  for  the  most  part  of  plain  deal  without  paint.     Observances 
of  a  similar  kind  prevailed  all  over  Western  Europe  ;  but  what 
had  degenerated  in  this  neighbourhood  into  mere  boyish  licence, 

1  Ileudorsou's  Folk  Lore  of  the  Northern  Counties,  p.  lb. 


390  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

is  still  kept  up  in  other  countries  in  a  form  nearer  to  the  original 
practice.  This  is  specially  the  case  in  Brittany  ;  and  the  customs 
now  observed  there,  put  side  by  side  with  those  practised  here, 
like  the  piecing  together  of  the  fragments  of  an  ancient  manu- 
script, throw  light  on  the  apparently  meaningless  knocking  at  the 
doors  of  the  houses  of  Newburgh  by  the  boys  on  Halloween.  The 
desire  to  pry  into  futurity,  which  is  such  a  prominent  feature  of 
the  customs  so  felicitously  described  by  Burns,  indicates  very 
strongly  that  Halloween  is  of  heathen  origin.  This  appears 
certain ;  but  the  observances  kept  up  in  Brittany  clearly  show, 
that  the  clergy  had  at  an  early  period  endeavoured  to  divest  it 
of  heathen  practices,  and  had  made  the  festival  a  means  of  im- 
pressing on  their  flocks  the  reality  of  purgatory.  On  '  All  Saints 
Eve '  [Halloween]  '  in  Brittany,  crowds  flock  to  the  graveyards  to 
pray  by  the  family  graves,  to  fill  with  holy  water  the  little  hollows 
left  for  this  pious  purpose  in  the  Breton  gravestones,  and  in  some 
places  to  offer  libations  of  milk.  All  night  masses  for  the  dead 
are  said,  and  bells  toll.  .  .  .  When  supper  has  been  eaten  by 
the  living,  in  every  house  the  cloth  and  the  remains  of  supper  are 
left,  that  the  souls  of  the  dead  may  take  their  seat  at  the  board, 
and  the  fire  is  left  burning  on  the  hearth,  that  the  dead  may  warm 
their  hands  at  the  embers  as  they  did  when  in  life.  .  .  .  And 
when  the  household  are  abed,  weird  wailings  are  heard  outside  the 
door.  '  These  wailings  are  the  songs  of  the  parish  poor,  who  on 
this  night  represent  the  souls  hi  purgatory.'  The  following  are 
some  of  the  verses  of  their  song  : — 

'When  death  knocks  with  his  hands  so  thin, 
At  midnight  asking  to  come  in, 
No  heart  but  with  a  quake  doth  say 
"Who  is  it  death  would  take  away  ? 

'  To  wake  you  in  this  house  that  bide, 
To  wake  you  old  and  young  beside, 
If  ruth,  alack  live  under  sky, 
For  succour  in  God's  name  we  cry  ! 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  391 

'  They  that  we  fed  upon  the  breast, 
Long  since  to  think  of  us  have  ceast ; 
They  that  we  held  in  our  hearts'  core, 
Hold  us  in  loving  thought  no  more  ! 

4  Up  from  your  beds,  and  speedilie, 
Aud  throw  yourselves  on  bended  knee, 
Save  those  whom  ailments  sore  make  lame, 
Or  death,  already,  calls  by  name ! ' 

'  Hearing  this  lamentable  cry,  the  inmates  rise  from  their  beds, 
fall  on  their  knees,  and  pray  God  for  the  departed,  not  forgetting 
their  representatives — the  poor  at  the  door.' l 

We  have  in  these  observances  a  full  development  of  what  the 
knocking  on  the  doors  in  Newburgh  on  Halloween  is  a  mere 
sportive  relic. 

Hogmanay,  or  Singin'  E'en  is,  however,  the  festival  which  is 
most  popular  in  Newburgh  among  the  young.  On  this,  the  last 
evening  of  the  year,  the  youth  of  both  sexes,  as  in  other  parts  of 
Scotland,  go  about  disguised  from  house  to  house  in  bands,  sing- 
ing songs  in  every  house  they  visit.  The  custom  of  going  about 
disguised  on  the  last  night  of  the  year,  had  its  origin  in  pre- 
christian  times,  and  is  of  great  antiquity.  The  practice  was  ve- 
hemently denounced  from  the  pulpit  in  the  early  ages  of  Christ- 
ianity as  a  remnant  of  paganism.  In  the  fifth  century,  Salvianus, 
a  pious  writer,  inveighed  against  the  custom  in  these  terms  : — 
1  Men  dress  themselves  up  like  women  ;  they  put  on  their  robes 
and  assume  their  manners.  .  .  .  They  transform  themselves 
into  monsters,  as  if  they  were  sorry  they  are  men.'  AVhat  was 
justly  censurable  at  that  time,  as  paying  a  lingering  religious 
homage  to  heathenism  (the  intention  constituting  the  guilt),  has 
been  softened  down  by  the  intervening  centuries  into  harmless 
amusement  and  unobnoxious  mirth.  Many  grave  consultations  are 
held  1  >y  the  young  beforehand  as  to  the  special  disguises  to  be  worn 


1  Ballads  and  Sony*  of  Brittany,  Taylor,  pp.  213-21G. 


392  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

on  Singin'  E'en,  and  it  is  looked  forward  to  with  impatience,  and 
entered  upon  with  a  heartiness,  which  bespeaks  thorough  enjoyment. 
The  young  Cruisers,  a  generation  back,  were  rewarded  with  a  ferl, 
(feorili-dael — Anglo  Saxon  fourth  part)  of  oaten  cake,  many  families 
specially  baking  them  for  the  purpose.  The  dole  is  now  mostly 
bestowed  hi  money,  which  is  paid  to  the  purser  of  the  band,  and 
is  divided  equally  at  the  conclusion  of  the  evening's  peregrina- 
tions. The  songs  sung  are  sometimes  of  a  kind  that  are  popular 
at  the  time,  but  old  and  enduring  favourites,  and  old  rude  rhymes, 
which  have  been  handed  down  orally  for  many  generations,  never 
fail  to  be  also  sung  on  that  night.  Among  these  latter,  the  follow- 
ing is  the  most  common,  and  holds  its  place  most  tenaciously  : — 

'  Rise  up  gudewife  !  an'  dinua  be  sweir, 
An'  deal  your  gear  as  lang's  you're  here  ; 
The  day'll  come  whan  ye'll  be  dead, 
An'  ye'll  hae  naither  rueal  nor  bread. 

'  Lay  by  your  stocks  !  lay  by  your  stools ! 
Ye  maunna  think  that  we're  f  ules  ; 
We're  bairns  come  to  play, 
Gie's  oor  cakes  an'  lat's  away.' 

From  those  whose  musical  powers  are  not  of  a  high  order,  the 
following  rhyme,  which  sets  both  music  and  grammar  at  defiance, 
is  occasionally  heard  : — 

'  Round  the  midden  I  whuppit  a  geese  ; 
I'll  sing  nae  mair  till  I  get  a  bit  piece.' 

These  ditties  are  so  rude  that  they  may  well  provoke  a  smile, 
but  they  are  part  of  the  life  of  the  people  ;  and  though  the  festival 
is  now  mainly  the  province  of  the  young,  yet  even  to  the  old 

4  Pleasure  hath  not  ceased  to  wait 
On  these  expected  annual  rounds.' l 

1  Wordsworth,  Vol.  III.,  p.  240. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  393 

Handsel-Monday  (the  first  Monday  of  the  new  year)  is,  however, 
the  great  festival  of  the  year  in  this  neighbourhood.  The  name 
arose  out  of  the  custom  of  presenting  gifts  at  the  new  year,  the 
first  gift  being  the  receiver's  handsel.  This  signification  is  most 
clearly  expressed  in  the  words  hand  and  syllan  (Old  English),  to 
give  or  clasp  hands,  in  token  of  a  concluded  bargain.  Handsel- 
Monday  (where  it  is  kept)  holds  socially  the  same  place  in  Scot- 
land that  Christmas-day  does  in  England ;  there  is  a  cessation  of 
all  labour,  but  the  day  is  not  observed  by  all  classes ;  religious 
observances  form  no  part  of  it,  and  it  has  not  that  thorough  hold 
on  the  whole  nation  that  Christmas  rejoicings  have  in  England. 

The  most  remarkable  feature  in  the  observance  of  Handsel- 
Monday  in  Newburgh,  and  which  seems  peculiar  to  the  town,  is 
the  blowing  of  horns  in  the  street  by  the  boys  the  moment  that 
the  clock  strikes  the  twelfth  hour  on  Sunday  night.  They  con- 
tinue this  unmelodious  music  until  daylight,  kindle  bonfires,  and 
a  generation  back  removed  tradesmen's  signs  to  private  dwellings, 
and  perpetrated  other  mad  pranks.  The  adherence  of  the  boys 
to  these  old  usages  is  a  striking  instance  of  the  toughness  of 
long-descended  customs.  Those  who  would  not  lose  an  hour's 
sleep  on  any  other  occasion,  conceal  themselves  from  then  friends, 
that  they  may  go  out  on  an  inclement  winter  night,  to  be  ready 
to  begin  the  old  demonstration  at  the  exact  horn*. 

These  peculiar  customs  have  their  root  hi  beliefs  and  usages 
prevalent  in  remote  antiquity.  That  they  are  of  heathen  origin 
is  placed  beyond  a  doubt,  by  the  denunciations  uttered  against 
their  observance  by  zealous  bishops,  more  than  a  thousand  years 
ago.  In  the  fifth  century,  St  Maximus  of  Turin,  raised  his  voice 
against  the  superstitious  follies  of  the  1st  of  January,  'when 
Christians  put  on  habits  of  intemperance,  and  seek  to  forestal 
their  friends  with  early  visits  in  the  morning,  bringing  them  petty 
presents  as  New-Year's  gifts.1  St  Eligius,  Bishop  of  Noyon, 
preached  against  them  in  the  ninth  century :  '  Above  all,'  he  says, 

1  Quoted  Notes  and  Queries,  1th  Series,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  -193. 


394  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

1 1  implore  you  not  to  observe  the  sacrilegious  customs  of  the 
pagans.  .  .  .  Let  no  one  do  on  the  kalends  of  January  those 
forbidden,  ridiculous,  ancient,  and  disreputable  things,  such  as 
dancing  or  keeping  open  house  at  night,  or  getting  drunk.'3 

The  chief  redeeming  feature  of  Hansel-Monday  is  the  reunion 
of  families ;  but  there  is  no  bond  uniting  all  classes  in  a  common 
brotherhood,  such  as  the  celebration  of  the  birth  of  the  Saviour  of 
men  gives  in  countries  where  Christmas  is  observed.  It  required 
the  long  continued  exercise  of  ecclesiastical  discipline  to  extirpate 
the  observance  of  Christmas  in  Scotland.  The  folks  of  Perth  and 
Aberdeen  required  stringent  measures  to  compel  them  to  desist 
from  then  wonted  celebrations.2  The  following  extracts  from 
Aberdeen  Kirk  Session  Records  are  instances  of  this : — '  10th 
January  1575-6.  The  said  day,  thehaill  deacones  of  craftes  within 
this  burt,  ar  ordanit  to  tak  trial  of  thair  craftes  respective  for 
sitting  ydill  on  Yoill  day  last  wes,  and  to  gif  answer  thairin  on 
Thurisday  nixt.'3  Nearly  eighty  years  later  the  following  occurs 
in  the  same  Records : — '  12th  January  1657.  Compearit  John 
Cowtes,  and  also  compearit  Patrick  Murray,  baxter,  and  declaired 
that  the  said  John  Cowtes  said  to  AYilliam  Smart,  his  servitor, 
qulien  he  was  biddenne  work  with  his  mill  one  Yule  day,  he 
wished  that  the  baxtar  boyes  brake  ther  legges  that  bade  him 
worke  one  Yuillday,  and  that  he  wold  worke  none  till  Twyseday 
thaireftir,  notwithstanding  the  mill  was  not  broken,  as  wes  alledgit 
be  him,  but  able  for  grindeing.'  Other  witnesses  appearing  and 
testifying  to  the  same  effect,  the  session  '  apoints  the  said  Johne 
Cowtes  to  appear  before  the  pulpit  and  to  be  rebuked  therfor.' 
He  did  not  appear  on  the  two  succeeding  Sundays,  but  there  was 
no  escape  from  the  sentence,  as  continued  refusal  would  have  led 
to  excommunication,  and  excommunication  would  have  deprived  # 


1  Quoted  Ferguson's  Folk  Lore  of  the  Northern  Counties,  p.  23. 

2  Book  of  the  Universal  Kirk,  pp.  334,  374.  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals,  Vol.  I. 
pp.  326,  327. 

3  Spalding  Club,  Scclcctions  from  Aberdeen  Kirk  Session  Records,  p.  21. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  395 

him  of  all  employment.  We  therefore  read  in  the  same  Records : — 
'  2d  February  1657.  John  Cowtes  yesterday  publictlie  rebuked  for 
refusehig  to  grinde  flower  on  Yuleday,  conforme  to  former  Acts.' 
The  suppression  of  Christmas  hi  Scotland  has  been  attended  with 
this  effect,  that  it  has  left  to  the  people  festivals  which  have 
degenerated  into  occasions  for  mere  indulgence,  unredeemed  by 
any  opportunity  for  the  expression  of  these  higher  impulses  which 
religion  fosters  and  affords.  There  has  grown  up  around  Christmas 
in  those  countries  where  it  is  religiously  observed,  kindly  feelings 
which  foster  the  best  traits  of  which  our  nature  is  capable.  In 
Sweden,  on  Christmas  eve,  just  before  the  sun  goes  down,  even 
the  very  poorest  peasant  puts  a  small  sheaf  of  corn  on  a  high  pole 
near  his  house,  or  on  the  house  itself,  that  the  little  birds  may 
feast  and  rejoice  on  the  anniversary  of  Christ's  coming  into  the 
world.2  Such  kindly  offshoots  of  the  Christmas  festival  humanize 
and  bless ;  for  truly 

*  He  prayeth  well,  who  loveth  well 
Both  man  and  bird  and  beast. 

He  prayeth  best,  who  loveth  best 
All  things  both  great  and  small ; 
For  the  dear  God  who  loveth  us, 
He  made  and  loveth  all.'3 

The  improvements  in  manufactures  effected  by  machinery  have 
produced  great  changes  in  the  clothing  of  the  people.  Fifty  years 
ago  tailors  went  from  house  to  house  to  make  up  home-made  cloth 
into  garments,  which  were  not  always  of  the  most  artistic  shape, 
new  fashions  penetrating  slowly.  Up  to  the  year  1820  some  old 
men  continued  to  wrear  and  go  to  church  with  the  broad  blue 
bonnet,  which  was  universal  (excepting  among  the  wealthy),  in 
the  second  half  of  the  preceding  century.     Later  still,  onwards 


1  Spalding  Club,  Selections  from  Aberdeen  Kirk  Session  Records,  pp.  13S,  139. 

2  Loyd's  Peasant  Life  in  Sweden,  p.  168. 
*  Coleridge's  Poems,  Ancient  Mariner. 


306  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

to  1830  (what  would  now  be  considered  a  strange  apparition),  old 
women  went  to  church  wearing  white  linen  caps  or  mutches,  with 
a  scarlet  or  bright  tartan  plaid  thrown  over  the  head  and  falling 
over  the  shoulders.  Others  wore  a  white  woollen  mantle  of  the 
Spanish  type,  and  a  white  muslin  cap  tied  with  a  silken  snood.  The 
disappearance,  one  by  one,  of  these  old  women  from  their  accus- 
tomed stools  in  the  Church,  from  which  they  were  rarely  absent, 
broke  a  link  which  has  severed  us  from  preceding  generations. 

Down  to  about  the  year  1830  the  spinning-wheel  enabled  old 
women  to  maintain  themselves  in  honest  independence.  But 
they  required  to  exercise  many  thrifty  expedients,  of  which  the 
present  generation  have  no  knowledge.  It  was  common  then,  in 
the  dearth  of  coals,  or  eldin,  as  they  named  fuel,  to  make  peats  of 
coal-dross  and  cow-dung,  and  to  dry  them  in  the  sun  to  help 
their  scanty  fires.  Sowens,  which  Burns  tells  us  was  the  dainty  pro- 
vided for  supper  on  Halloween  (prepared,  however,  on  that  special 
evening  with  butter  instead  of  milk),  and  which,  he  says,  '  Set  a' 
then-  gabs  a-steerin,'  are  now  almost  as  mythical  as  the  heather- 
ale  of  the  Picts.  The  art  of  making  sowens  is  now  all  but  for- 
gotten ;  and  yet  out  of  what  is  now  thrown  away  they  were 
prepared  in  almost  every  family  two  generations  ago.  A  lady, 
who  died  in  Newburgh  in  the  year  1860,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
92,  used  to  tell  that  when  the  winter  mart  was  killed,  her  mother 
strung  the  marrow-bones  together  and  hung  them  up,  ready  to 
be  lent  to  the  cottars  to  make  kail-broth  for  their  families. 
'  Sabine  fare,  which  could  not  long  ward  off  vigorous  hunger.' 
She  also  used  to  say  that  her  mother  attended  to  the  ailments  of 
the  poor,  and  that  one  of  her  prescriptions  for  diseases  of  the 
throat  was  to  sew  a  living  caterpillar  between  two  plies  of  flannel, 
leaving  the  animal  sufficient  room  to  crawl,  and  then  to  tie  the 
flannel  around  the  neck  of  the  person  affected.  This  cure  was 
prescribed  in  other  parts  of  the  country  for  hooping-cough ;  the 
belief  being  that  as  the  worm  died  the  cough  disappeared.1 


1  Henderson,  Folk  Lore  of  the  Xoiihrn  Counties,  p.  110. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  397 

Long  after  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  the  dainty  provided 
for  friends  and  neighbours  on  the  occasion  of  the  birth  of  a  child, 
was  oatmeal  cakes   crumbled   and  fried   in   butter,   which  were 
named  butter-saps.     To  say  that  you  had  partaken  of  these  saps 
in  a  house,  was  equivalent  to  saying  that  a  birth  had  occurred  in 
the  family.     At  that  time,  and  long  afterwards,  ale  was  the  uni- 
versal beverage  in  Scotland.     The  brewsteads,  of  which  the  names 
or  foundations  remains  in  almost   every  hamlet  throughout  the 
country,  testify  to  this.     It  would  then  have  been  as  uncommon 
to  have  asked  for  a  glass  of  whisky  in   a  public-house  in  New- 
burgh,  as  it  would  now  be  to  ask  for  a  glass  of  wine.     The  early 
literature  of  Scotland  incidentally  testifies  to  ale  being  the  na- 
tional drink,  and  ancient  records  corroborate  it.     In  the  Royal 
Household  Books  of  James  IV.,  the  following  occurs,  A.D.  1512. 
'Friday,  the  Seller  [cellarer]  spendit  IX.  gallonis  aill.     Item,  for 
wyne  Xd.     Setterday  spendit  V.   gallonis,  ij  quartis    aill.     Item, 
coft  iiij  gallonis  aill,  pryce  VT.  iiijd.     Sonday  XXIX  August  the 
seller  coft  lviij  gallonis  aill,  pryce  iij  lib  xvis  iijd  and  spendit  viii 
gallonis  iij  quarts.     Item,  for  wyne  Xd.'1     The  small  quantity  of 
wine  provided  shows  the  preponderance  of  ale  even  in  the  royal 
household.     From  the  close  connection  of  Scotland  with  France, 
claret  and  other  French  wines  was  largely  used  in  Scotland,2  and 
they  continued  in  use  for  a  considerable  period  after  the  union 
with  England  ;  but  even  when  that  connection  was  closest,  ale  was 
the  staple  beverage.    In  the  time  of  James  V.,  Sir  David  Lyndsay 
in  his  '  Satyre  of  the  Thrie  Estaitis,'  makes  an  Abbot  say  of  his 
Abbey  : — 

'  There  is  na  monks  from  Carrick  to  Carraill 
That  fairs  better,  and  drinks  mair  helsum  aill.'3 

In  the  reign  of  Mary,  the  allowance  for  the  Queen's  table  'at 


1  National  Manuscripts  of  Scotland,  Part  III.,  No.  X. 

2  Joseph  Robertson,  Proceedings  of  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  III.,  p.  424. 

3  Lyndsay's  Poetical  Works,  Ed.  1*71.,  A'ol.  II.,  p.  264. 


398  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

dinner  and  supper  was  vi.  quartis  white  wine  and  ale.'  At  the 
table  of  the  Master  of  the  Household,  the  allowance  was  a  pint  of 
ale  and  wine ;  at  the  next  table  the  sole  beverage  allowed  was 
ale.1  Four  hundred  years  ago  town  councillors  in  Newburgh 
were  fined  a  gallon  of  ale  for  non-attendance.  Two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  later,  kirk  sessions  supplied  ale  for  the  Lychwakes  of 
paupers.  Even  the  burial  of  a  pauper  child  could  not  take  place 
without  an  allowance  of  this  beverage.  The  following  extract 
from  Abdie  Kirk  Session  Records  is  an  instance  of  this  : — '  1721, 
December  3.  To  Robert  Stuart  for  ale  at  the  burial  of  a  poor 
child,  01  .  .  02  .  .  00.'  Numerous  other  entries  of  a  similar  kind 
occurs.  Allan  Ramsay,  in  an  epitaph  on  a  noted  '  Browster  wife,' 
in  his  time,  says — 

'  Hast  thou  left  to  bairns  o  thine, 

The  pauky  knack 
O  brewing  ale  ainaist  like  wine, 

That  i>ar*d  us  crack.' 2 

Later  still  (1787)  Burns  declares  ale  to  be 

'  The  li  fe  o'  public  haunts.' 

And  from  numerous  passages  in  his  poems  we  learn  that  it  was 
the  customary  drink  of  the  people  on  all  social  occasions,  of  which 
that  memorable  night  that  '  Tarn  got  planted  unco  richt,'  when 

'  The  night  drave  on  wi  sangs  and  clatter, 
An1  aye  the  ale  was  growing  better,' 4 

is  enduring  evidence. 

Ale  was  displaced  by  the  taxes  imposed  on  malt  in  the  end  of 
the  last  century,  which  increased  the  cost  and  interfered  with  its 
production.     This  interference  with  the  accustomed  beverage  of 

1  National  Manuscripts  of  Scotland,  Part  III.,  No.  XLII. 

2  Ramsay's  Poems,  Maggie  Johnston's  Epitaph. 

*  Burns'  Poems,  Scotch  Drink.  *  Burns'  Poems,  Tarn  0"  Shantcr. 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  399 

the  people  was  the  cause  of  much  irritation ;  and  the  lines  in 
Burns'  song — 

'  We'll  mak  our  niaut,  we'll  brew  our  drink,' 
"We'll  laugh,  sing,  and  rejoice  man,' l 

were  only  the  embodiment  of  the  public  feeling  at  the  time.  Most 
families  in  the  country  of  any  consequence,  brewing  ale  for  house- 
hold use.2  To  obviate  the  increased  cost  of  malt,  ale  was  made 
weaker  and  less  exhilarating,  and  whisky,  which  was  allowed  to 
be  sold  in  pnblic-houses  with  a  lower  licence,  gradually  came  into 
general  use. 

Modern  inventions  have  within  the  last  generation  silently 
displaced  articles  of  household  use,  which  are  now  as  obsolete  as 
the  stone  implements  of  former  ages.  The  flint-and-steel,  which 
five  and  twenty  years  ago,  was  in  every  house,  and  which  has 
been  the  fire-producer  for  immemorable  ages,  now  stands  in  need 
of  explanation  to  the  rising  generation ;  and  the  primitive  cruisie, 
with  its  wick  of  rashie-rind  (pith  of  rushes),  the  sole  light  of  every 
weaver,  and  of  most  of  the  householders  in  Newburgh  thirty-five 
years  ago,  is  now  utterly  unknown.3 

The  facilities  for  travelling  which  are  now  available,  have  also 
made,  and  are  making,  many  inroads  on  old  habits  and  modes  of 
living.  Those  who  cannot  look  back  to  the  time  anterior  to  the 
introduction  of  these  facilities,  can  form  no  adequate  conception  of 
the  quiet  flow  and  unruffled  cm-rent  of  life  in  small  communities 
fifty  years  ago.  There  were  at  that  period  itinerant  preachers, 
who  went  from  place  to  place  exercising  then  calling  for  a  liveli- 
hood.    When  one  of  these  worthies  appeared,  dressed  in  his  rusty 


1  Burns'  Poems,  The  DeiVs  awa  icV  the  Exciseman. 

*  Chambers's  Book  of  Days,  Vol.  I.,  p.  372. 

*  The  discovery  of  the  art  of  producing  fire  at  will,  was  of  momentous  im- 
port. It  relieved  man  from  the  dread  of  losing  the  use  of  fire,  and  an  expedi- 
tious mode  of  producing  it  was  justly  deemed  a  conquest  for  the  whole  human 
race;  the  mythology  of  most  nations  exhibit  traces  of  it. — Kelly's  Folk  Lore,  p.  40. 


400  OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 

suit  of  black,  a  little  knot  of  working  men  would  gather  around 
him,  and  after  having  settled  with  the  preacher  whether  it  was 
to  be  a  sermon  of  Logan  or  of  Blair,  he  would  lay  down  his 
hat  to  receive  their  contributions,  mount  the  pedestal  of  the 
Cross,  or  some  convenient  Loupin-on-stane,  and  then  proceed  with 
the  delivery  of  his  discourse,  which  was  gravely  listened  to,  to 
the  end. 

There  was  at  that  time  no  public  conveyance  from  Newburgh 
for  travellers  by  land.  Husband  and  wife  rode  to  church  and 
market  on  one  horse,  the  wife  sitting  behind  on  a  pad,  and  there 
was  a  Louphi-on-stane  at  almost  every  door,  to  enable  her  to 
mount  to  her  seat.  Loupin-ou-stanes  were  frequently  of  a  single 
block  or  boulder,  but  many  of  them  were  built.  The  following 
extract  from  the  Council  Books  of  Newburgh  shows  the  import- 
ance that  was  attached  to  the  possession  of  one  of  these  con- 
veniences : — 

'20th  March  1728.  The  said  day  upon  a  petition  given  in 
by  George  Grant,  Vintner  in  Newburgh,  To  ye  baillies  and 
Councill,  met  in  Council],  for  ye  liberty  of  building  a  louping 
on  ston  at  the  south  side  of  the  house  in  Newburgh  he 
possesses.  By  plurality  of  vots  of  Councill  it  was  conde- 
scended and  agreed  upon  that  the  said  liberty  be  granted 
to  him,  provided  he  goe  not  farder  than  six  foot  from  the 
root  of  ye  wall  of  his  house  in  building  ye  said  louping  on 
ston,  and  that  he  build  nothing  else  there  than  a  louping 
on  ston,  and  also  that  provided  for  the  said  Liberty,  and 
before  ye  said  louping  on  ston  [is  built]  he  pay  in  for  be- 
hove of  ye  Common  good  of  ye  burgh  thrie  pound  scots, 
or  lay  a  sufficient  Cassy  without  ye  said  louping  on  Ston 
as  far  as  his  house  goes  that  shall  satisfy  them  as  to  ye 
sufficiency  yrof,  and  that  before  ye  building  of  ye  said 
louping  on  ston,  and  that  it  shall  be  in  ye  option  of  ye 
baillies  and  Councill,  either  to  take  ye  Crown  from  ye  said 
George  Grant,  so  obleidge  him  to  lay  ye  said  Cassy  as 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE.  401 

said  is,   for   ye    said    liberty   so   granted  him.     William 
Anderson,  Matthew  Lyell.' 

Newspapers,  fifty  years  ago,  were  the  luxury  of  the  rich.  The 
minister  of  the  parish,  and  one  or  two  others  got  a  paper  twice 
or  thrice,  but  mostly  once,  a  week.  These  newspapers  were  after- 
wards read  by  other  families.  "Working-men  clubbed  together  for 
the  purchase  of  a  paper,  which  was  handed  from  one  to  another, 
until  it  had  been  perused  by  a  dozen  or  more  readers.  The  ballads 
sold  by  wandering  singers,  and  the  broad-sheets  which  were  sold 
by  itinerant  venders,  proclaiming  them  through  the  town,  espe- 
cially the  dying  speeches  of  those  who  suffered  death  at  the  hands 
of  the  public  executioner,  were  the  periodic  literature  of  the  people, 
and  were  eagerly  bought  by  them.  From  a  statement  drawn  up 
at  the  time,  we  learn  that  the  revenue  derived  from  letters  re- 
ceived by  post  in  Newburgh  in  1801,  was  £137,  6s.  Gd.  Calculat- 
ing the  postage  of  each  letter  at  sixpence  (a  low  rate,  as  letters 
from  Edinburgh  before  the  reduction  of  postage  were  7-^d.,  from 
Glasgow  8id.,  and  from  London  Is.  2^d.),  Ave  find  that  only 
fifteen  letters  on  an  average  were  then  received  daily  by  the 
whole  town  and  neighbourhood.  Even  assuming  an  average  rate 
of  4d.,  the  daily  number  of  letters  received  did  not  exceed  twenty. 

The  contrast  is  now  great.  What  was  the  privilege  of  the 
few  little  more  than  half-a-century  ago,  is  now  the  heritage  of  the 
many.  Showers  of  periodic  publications  now  find  their  way  into 
the  most  secluded  hamlets.  Science  has  extended  her  domain, 
curtailing  the  region  of  superstition,  and  ameliorating  the  condi- 
tion of  man.  The  present  generation  enjoys  advantages  which 
their  grandfathers  knew  not  of.  The  unexampled  freedom  and 
the  blessings  which  we  now  enjoy,  are  the  long,  slow  growth  oi 
ages ;  and  the  foregoing  pages  Avill  have  failed  in  their  purpose, 
if  they  do  not  beget  a  more'  intelligent  reverence  of  the  past;  a 
juster  sense  of  what  we  owe  to  our  forefathers,  and  a  strong<  r 
attachment  to  the  beneficent  laws  and  institutions  which  they 
have  handed  down  to  us.     These  blessings,  and  the  exceeding 

c  c 


402 


OLD  CUSTOMS  AND  FOLKLORE. 


grandeur  of  the  scene  amid  which  Lindores  Abbey  and  its  Burgh 
of  Newburgh  are  placed,  are  sufficient,  and  ought  to  inspire  every 
native  and  denizen  of  the  Burgh  with  a  deeper  and  more  active 
interest  in  its  welfare  and  prosperity ;  and  they  amply  justify  us 
in  applying  to  them  the  valedictory  lines  of  the  poet,  with  which 
we  conclude. 

'  Fair  Land  !  by  Time's  parental  love  made  free, 
By  social  order's  watchful  arms  embraced  ; 
With  unexampled  union  meet  in  thee, 
For  eye  and  mind,  the  present  and  the  past ; 
With  golden  prospect  for  futurity, 
If  that  be  reverenced  which  ought  to  last.'1 


1  Wordsworth's  Poems,  Ed.  1857,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  145. 


WINDOW    IN   GABLE   OF   DUNDEMORE   CHAPEL. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I.,  p.  130. 

THE  FAMILY  OF  LESLIE,  LORDS  LINDORES. 

The  family  of  Leslie  of  Ballinbriech,  seems  to  have  acquired  an  interest  in 
the  temporalities  of  Lindores  Abbey  immediately  after  the  Reformation, 
for,  '  in  1561,  Andrew,  Earl  of  Rothes,  oblessis  hymself,  as  fermorar  of  the 
fruits  of  the  Abbay  of  Lindores,  to  pay  William  Symson,  minister  in  Ebdie, 
iiijxx  li.  yeirly.'1  Sir  Patrick  Leslie  of  Pitcairlie,  commendator  of,  and 
afterwards  first  Lord  Lindores,  was  the  second  son  of  Earl  Andrew,  who 
was  fourth  Earl  of  Rothes.  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  in  his  History  of  Fife  says, 
'  north  of  Lima  what  and  in  a  glen  is  Pitcairlie,  an  old  Tower,  of  old  the 
scat  of  Patrick  Leslie,  first  Lord  Lindores.'  The  '  old  Tower'  still  forms 
part  of  the  present  mansion-house,  and  bears  marks  of  having  been  erected 
about  the  end  of  the  14th  century.  The  estate  of  Pitcairlie  formed  part 
of  the  great  Lordship  of  Abernethy.  Sir  Alexander  of  Abernethy,  some- 
where between  1296  and  1314  a.d.,  gave  the' lands  of  Petcarlingis  in 
the  barony  of  Ballyubriech,  to  Sir  John  de  Moravia  of  Tullybardine. 
This  grant  was  confirmed  by  David  II.  at  Elgyne  on  the  7th  December, 
in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  reign  [1362].2  Sir  Alexander  of  Aber- 
nethy joined  the  band  of  patriots  who  opposed  the  ambitious  attempts  of 
Edward  I.  on  Scotland,  and  took  up  arms  in  concert  with  the  brave  Sir 
Simon  Frazer,  but  latterly  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Edward.3  On  the 
success  of  Bruce's  arms,  the  immense  estates  of  Sir  Alexander  were  con- 
fiscated, and  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  reign  Brace  gave  '  to  his 
beloved  son  Robert,  the  lands  of  Alexander  Abernethy,  and  of  Margaret 

1  Scott's  Fasti  Scoticanse,  Vol.  II.,  Part  2. 

2  Robertson's  Index  of  Charters,  72,  29. 

3  Historical  Documents,  lUustrativi  of  the  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  431, 
490. 


404  APPENDIX. 

his  daughter  and  ane  of.  his  three  aires,  by  reason  of  his  forefaltrie.' x  The 
lands  of  Pitcairlie  reverted  to  the  descendants  of  Sir  Alexander  of  Aber- 
nethy,  for  the  barony  of  Ballinbriech,  of  which  Pitcairlie  forms  a  part,  and 
that  of  Cairnie  in  Perthshire,  and  of  Rothes  in  the  county  of  Elgin,  came 
into  the  possession  of  the  family  of  Leslie  by  the  marriage  of  their  ancestor 
Sir  Andrew  Leslie,  circa  1312,  with  Mary,  one  of  the  daughters  and  co- 
heiresses of  Sir  Alexander  of  Abernethy.  Andrew,  fourth  Earl  of  Eothes, 
bestowed  the  lands  of  Pitcairlie  and  other  estates  on  his  second  son  Patrick, 
who  is  thenceforth  styled  of  Pitcairlie. 

I.  Sir  Patrick  Leslie,  first  Lord  Lindores,  married  Lady  Jane  Stewart, 
daughter  of  Robert,  Earl  of  Orkney,  and  had  issue : — 

1.  Patrick,  his  successor. 

2.  James,  who  succeeded  his  brother  Patrick  as  third  Lord  Lindores. 

3.  Robert,  who  had  a  nineteen  years'  lease  of  the  revenues  of  the 
Bishopric  of  Orkney,  1641.  He  married  and  had  issue,  but  his 
male  line  is  extinct. 

4.  Ludovie.  He  entered  the  service  of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  at- 
tained the  rank  of  Colonel  in  his  army.  On  his  return  to  Scotland 
he  was  appointed  to  the  important  post  of  Governor  of  Berwick 
Castle.  He  bought  '  the  Reid  Insche,'  now  Mugdrum  Island,  from 
William  Oliphant  of  Balgonie  in  1647,  and  the  lands  and  fortalice 
of  Mugdrum  in  1648  from  George  Orme.  He  sold  them  both  to 
"William  Arnot  in  1663.     He  died  unmarried. 

5.  David,  the  most  distinguished  of  the  family,  also  entered  the 
service  of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  speedily  rose  to  distinction. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  unhappy  civil  and  religious  wars  in 
Britain,  he  returned  to  Scotland,  and  was  immediately  appointed 
Major-General  of  the  army  sent  into  England  under  the  Earl  of 
Leven  in  1644,  to  the  assistance  of  the  English  Parliamentary 
forces.  He  effectually  stopped  the  brilliant  career  of  the  Marquis 
of  Montrose  by  the  decisive  victory  he  gained  over  him  at  Philip- 
haugh.  He  was  present  at  Newark  on  Trent  when  Charles  I. 
came  into  the  Scottish  camp  a  disguised  fugitive.  At  a  subse- 
quent period  of  his  career  he  accepted  the  command  of  the  army 
raised  to  oppose  Cromwell,  where,  with  inferior  numbers,  he  shut 
him  up  in  Dunbar,  and  but  for  interference  with  his  plans  would 
have  compelled  Cromwell  to  submit.  Leslie's  better  judgment  was 
overborne,  and  he  was  defeated  and  retired  to  Stirling  with  the 

1  llobertsou's  Index  of  Charters,  15,  3. 


APPENDIX.  405 

fragment  of  his  forces.  He  took  command  under  Charles  II.,  only 
to  sustain  defeat  at  the  battle  of  Worcester  in  1651.  Leslie  was 
captured  in  Yorkshire,  on  his  way  to  Scotland,  and  was  sent  to  the 
Tower,  where  he  lay  a  prisoner  for  nine  years.  At  the  Restoration 
he  was  created  Lord  Newark  with  a  pension  of  five  hundred  pounds 
a-year.  Those  who  had  been  unflinchingly  loyal  during  the 
whole  period  of  the  Civil  war,  spoke  and  felt  bitterly  at  the 
bestowal  of  these  honours  on  General  Leslie,  who  only  latterly 
joined  the  cause  of  the  King.  In  1649  he  purchased  the  lands 
of  Abercrombie  and  St  Monans.  The  purchase  is  thus  quaintly 
recorded  in  Lamont's  Diary :  '  This  yeare  David  Lesly  L.  Geue- 
rall  of  the  forces  standing  for  the  tyme  in  this  kingdome  bought 
the  lands  of  Abercrombie  and  St  Monan's  in  Fyfe  from  James 
Saudielauds  L.  [Lord]  Abercrombie,  a  ryotous  youth,  who  spent 
ane  old  estate  in  the  space  of  4  or  5  yeares.'  The  ruins  of  the 
Castle  of  Newark,  from  which  General  Leslie  took  his  title,  still 
stand  on  a  rock  overhanging  the  Firth  of  Forth.  He  died  in  1682, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son  David,  second  Lord  Newark, 
who  left  no  male  issue.  Jean,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  second 
Lord  Newark,  who  married  Sir  Alexander  Anstruther,  fifth  son  of 
Sir  Philip  Anstruther  of  Anstruther  assumed  the  title  of  Baroness 
Newark  ;  and  after  her  death  her  sons  William  and  Alexander 
successively  took  the  title  of  Lord  Newark ;  but  in  the  elections  of 
Peers  their  votes  were  objected  to  on  the  ground  that  the  original 
patent  restricted  the  title  to  heirs  male.  The  House  of  Lords 
sustained  the  objection  a.d.  1793,  and  the  title  is  in  consequence 
now  extinct.  . 
Patrick,  first  Lord  Lindores,  left  five  daughters  : — 

1.  Elizabeth,  married  to  Sir  William  Sinclair  of  Moy. 

2.  Jane,  married  to  John  Forbes  of  Leslie. 

3.  Margaret,  married  to  John,  second  Lord  Maderty. 

The  following  love  sonnet  addressed  to  this  lady  by  the  courtly  poet  Sir 
Robert  Ay  ton,  appears  among  his  published  works.  It  incidentally  shows 
that  Lord  Lindores  and  his  family  resided  at  Lindores  Abbey  ;  though,  as 
will  afterwards  be  seen,  Patrick,  second  Lord  Lindores,  died  at  Pitcairlie. 

'  Religious  relics  of  that  ruinous  place, 
Which  sometime  gloried  in  the  glore  of  saints, 
Now  hath  no  glore  but  one,  whereof  it  vaunts, 
That  one  saint's  beauty  makes  it  heav'n  of  grace. 


406  APPENDIX. 

In  balmy  fields  which  fards  her  flow'ry  face 

"With  sweet  perfumes  of  corns,  of  trees,  of  plants, 

And  laughs  for  joy  such  beauty  to  embrace  ; 

Bear  me  record,  that  while  I  passed  by, 

I  did  my  duteous  homage  to  your  dame  ; 

How  thrice  I  sighed,  thrice  on  her  name  did  cry, 

Thrice  kissed  the  ground  for  honour  of  the  same, 
There  left  those  lines  to  tell  her,  on  a  tree, 
That  she  made  them  to  live,  and  me  to  die.' 

4.  Janet,  married  to  Sir  John  Cunningham  of  Broomliill. 

5.  Mary,  married  to  Sir  David  Barclay  of  Cullairny. 

II.  Patrick  Leslie,  second  Lord  Lindores  was  served  heir  to  his  uncle  the 
Hon.  Andrew  Leslie  of  Lurnbenny,  in  five  seventh-parts  of  the  town  and 
lands  of  Eister  Lumbennene  on  the  19th  April  1609.1  He  was  a  dissolute 
man,  and  squandered  the  revenues  and  estates  of  Lindores  Abbey  in 
riotous  and  profligate  living.  He  sold  most  of  the  abbey  estates  in  the 
north  to  his  brother-in-law,  John  Forbes  of  Leslie.2  Among  the  archives 
of  Mugdrum  there  are  documents  which  show  that  within  fifteen  years 
after  his  accession  to  the  title  and  estates,  he  granted  innumerable  obliga- 
tions and  bonds  over  his  lands  to  raise  money,  which  ultimately  comprised 
his  whole  estate.  Sir  James  Balfour  records  that  Patrick  Lesley,  Lord  of 
Londors,  died  at  Pitcairlie  on  '  Sunday  12  August  1649,  about  3  in  the 
afternoone.'  He  was  never  married,  but  he  had  a  numerous  issue  of  illegiti- 
mate sons  and  daughters.  Contrary  to  the  prevailing  custom  of  keeping 
the  corpse  many  days  unburied,  Sir  James  records  that  '  Lord  Lindores ' 
was  interrid  priuately  at  the  east  end  of  Xeuburghe  Church,  one  Tuesday 
in  the  night  the  14  of  the  same  monthe.'3 

Mr  John  Bayne,  writer  to  the  signet,  raised  a  process  of  apprising  for 
money  advanced  to  Lord  Lindores,  and  by  a  decision  of  the  Court  of 
Session  he  obtained  on  the  20th  February  1667,  an  order  for  infeftment  in 
the  estate,  which  belonged  '  to  the  deceased  Patrick,  Lord  Lindores.'  Pit- 
cairlie subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of  the  family  of  Cathcart  of 
Carbiston  iu  Ayrshire,  and  it  is  now  the  residence  and  property  of  Robert 
Carthcart,  Esq.,  the  representative  of  that  family. 


1  Fife  Retours,  No.  200. 

-  Historical  Records  of  tin  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  II.,  p.  191. 

3  Balfour's  Annals,  Vol.  III.,  p.  425. 


APPENDIX.  407 

III.  James,  second  son  of  Patrick,  Commendator  of  Lindores,  first 
Lord  Lindores,  succeeded  his  brother  Patrick  as  third  Lord  Lindores  in 
1649.  He  was  a  man  of  estimable  character,  but  he  inherited  little  more 
than  the  title.  He  married,  first,  a  daughter  of  Ormestone  of  Ormestone, 
but  had  no  issue  by  her.  He  married,  secondly,  Mary,  third  daughter  of 
Lord  Gray,  by  whom  he  had  a  son : — 

1.  John. 

He  married,  thirdly,  Miss  Clepburn,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter. 

2.  Hon.  Jane  married  first,  to  John  Stewart  of  Innernytie,  and  secondly 
to  John  Brace  of  Blairhall. 

James,  third  Lord  Lindores  died  abroad  before  20th  July  16G7,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  : — 

IV.  John,  fourth  Lord  Lindores.  By  the  interest  of  John,  Duke  of 
Rothes,  John,  Lord  Lindores,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  house  and  grounds 
of  Lindores,  and  some  portions  of  the  property  around  the  Abbey,  and  he 
got  a  charter  to  the  same  1st  August  1G94,  to  himself  in  liferent,  and  to 
his  son  David,  Master  of  Lindores,  in  fee.  He  married,  first,  Lady  Marion 
Ogilvie,  daughter  of  James,  second  Earl  of  Airlie,  and  relict  of  James 
Elphinston,  Lord  Cowper.     By  her  he  had  a  son  : — 

1.  David,  who  became  fifth  Lord  Lindores. 

He  married,  secondly,  Jane  Gibson,  relict  of  Sir  Hugh  Macculloch  of 
Pilton,  in  the  county  of  Edinburgh,  but  had  no  children  by  her.  He  died 
in  1706,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son  : — 

V.  David,  fifth  Lord  Lindores.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Archi- 
bald Stewart  of  Duneam,  relict  of  Archibald  Stewart  of  Burray.  Having 
no  issue,  he  executed,  on  the  18th  December  1718,  a  dispositiou  bearing  that 
being  desirous  to  settle  what  remained  of  his  estate  of  Lindores  in  the 
best  manner  for  the  preservation  of  the  memory  of  the  family,  he  settled 
the  estate  on  Dame  Jane  Leslie,  grand-daughter  of  David,  first  Lord 
Newark,  and  great  grand-daughter  of  the  Commendator. 

David,  fifth  Lord  Lindores,  and  the  last  in  the  direct  line,  died  in  July 
1719.  Dame  Jane  Leslie,  with  consent  of  her  husband,  Sir  Alexander 
Anstruther,  conveyed  the  estate  of  Lindores  to  Alexander  Leslie  of 
Quarter,  in  the  parish  of  Burntisland,  great-grandson  of  Sir  John  Leslie 
of  Newton,  brother  of  Patrick  Leslie,  the  Commendator,  who  assumed  the 
title. 

VI.  Alexander,  sixth  Lord  Lindores,  was  Lieutenant  in  the  3d  Regiment 
of  Foot  Guards  in  L734,  Captain  in  1745.  Had  the  rank  of  Major-General  in 


408  APPENDIX. 

the  army  in  1761,  and  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  41st  Regiment  of 
Foot  in  1764.  He  died  at  London  in  August  1765,  and  was  buried  at  Chel- 
sea on  the  3d  September  following.  He  married  Jane,  niece  of  Sir  James 
Campbell  of  Aberuchill,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  : — 

YII.  Francis  John,  seventh  Lord  Lindores,  had  a  company  in  the 
Marine  forces  in  1757.  He  died  on  30th  June  1775,  and  was  buried  at 
Hackney  on  the  4th  July  following. 

On  the  death  of  Francis  John,  seventh  Lord  Lindores,  the  title  was 
claimed  by  the  Leslies  of  Lumquhat,  who  were  descended  from  James 
Leslie  third  son  of  Sir  John  Leslie  of  Xewton,  brother  of  the  Commendator. 
James  Leslie  acquired  Lumquhat  in  1669,  and  had  a  sou,  Captain  John 
Leslie,  who  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  1706.  From  an  entr}7  in 
Abdie  Session  Records,  we  learn  that  John  Leslie  of  Lumquhat,  married 
Mrs  Mary  Gibb,  Lady  Ormeston,  on  the  14th  January  1703.  Captain  John 
Leslie  was  succeeded  by  his  son  John,  who  manned  Janet,  daughter  of 
Arnot  of  Woodmilne,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  born  1723.  He  was  an 
officer  in  Gardiner's  Dragoons,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  army  of  the 
royalists,  under  William.  Duke  of  Cumberland,  and  long  survived  that 
period.  He  married  Antonia,  daughter  of  Barclay  of  Cullairnie,  by  whom 
he  had  nine  children,  of  whom  John  Leslie  of  Lumquhat,  the  eldest  son, 
who  was  served  heir  to  his  father  2d  February  1774,  assumed  the  title  of 
Lord  Lindores.  He  was  present,  and  voted  at  the  elections  of  Peers  on 
the  17th  October  1780,  and  on  8th  May  1784,  and  on  28th  March  1787. 
But  at  the  General  Election  24th  July  1790,  his  votes  were  objected  to, 
and  the  House  of  Lords,  6th  June  1793,  resolved  that  'the  votes  given  by 
the  Lord  Lindores  at  the  said  election  were  not  good.'  The  Title  is  there- 
fore disallowed,  because  the  Lords  held  that  the  patent  limited  the  honours 
to  heirs-male  of  the  body  and  not  to  heirs-male  whomsoever,  as  was  con- 
tended. According  to  this  decision  David,  fifth  Lord,  was  the  last  who 
had  a  legal  right  to  the  title.  John  Leslie,  the  last  heir  male  of  the 
family  of  Lumquhat,  married  22d  March  1789,  Janet,  youngest  daughter 
and  co-heiress  of  Sir  Thomas  Reeve  of  Heudens,  in  Berkshire,  and  died 
4th  May  1814,  without  issue. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  other  children  of  John  Leslie  and 
Antonia  Barclay  : — 

1.  Elizabeth,  born  5  March  1745,  and  died  in  1802. 

2.  Hugina  was  born  15  March  1746.  She  attained  the  great  age  of 
one  hundred  years  and  one  month,  and  was  the  last  survivor  of  the  house 
of  Lumquhat.  Miss  Leslie  was  of  a  cheerful  and  most  benevolent  dis- 
position ;  no  needy  or  helpless  sufferer  was  ever  allowed  to  leave  her  door 


APPENDIX.  409 

without  receiving  more  or  less  relief.     She  died  at  Cupar  iu  Fife  on  the 
22d  April  1846. 

3.  Jane,  killed  by  a  fall  in  infancy. 

4.  John,  who  assumed  the  title  of  Lord  Lindores. 

5.  David,  drowned  at  sea. 

6.-9.  Norman  and  three  others,  who  all  died  in  infancy. 

Elizabeth  Leslie,  the  eldest  daughter,  was  the  only  member  of  the 
Lumquhat  family  who  left  issue.  She  married  Captain  Hewan  of  the 
4th  Dragoon  Guards,  a  gentleman  belonging  to  Yorkshire,  and  had  by  that 
marriage  sis  sons  and  seven  daughters  : — 

1.  Thomas  Barstow  Hewan,  Captain  25th  Regiment  of  Foot,  killed 
in  action  with  the  French  troops  at  Granada  3d  April  1795. 

2.  John,  died  in  the  "West  Indies.     Had  a  son  John,  whose  son 
Archibald  Hewan  is  now  a  physician  in  London. 

3.  Joseph,  Captain  in  the  army,  died  in  Ireland. 

4.  David,  Captain  21st  Regiment  of  Foot,  died  in  Edinburgh  1818. 
His  daughter,  Helen  Hewan  resides  in  Liverpool. 

5.  Michael,    Captain    95th    Rifle   Regiment,    severely   wounded   at 
Tolouse,  1814,  died  1818. 

6.  George  died  in  infancy.   The  daughters  were  : — 

1.  Antonia. 

2.  Helen,  married Thomson,  a  physician. 

3.  Elizabeth  died  unmarried. 

4.  Anne,  married Duff. 

5.  Louisa,  married  Rev.  William  Archdall.     ner  son  is  Rev.  John 
Archdall  of  Xewton-Barry,  Ireland. 

6.  Catharine  died  in  infanc}-. 

7.  Mary,  married Findlater,  she  died  at  Portobelloin  1870.  Had 

a  daughter,  Elizabeth  Leslie,  who  died  in  Edinburgh  in  1863,  leav- 
ing an  account  of  her  ancestors  in  manuscript,  and  besides  other 
poems  set  to  music,  one  of  thirty  stanzas,  written  in  old  Scotch, 
founded  on  the  bestowal  of  the  title  of  Lord  Lindores. 


410 


APPENDIX. 


No.  II.,  p.  132. 

The  reference  at  page  132  is  made  to  the  Rental  marked  Appendix  No. 
III.  (which  immediately  follows  this)  ;  but  as  the  following  Rental  is  of 
an  earlier  date,  it  is  inserted  here.  It,  as  well  as  No.  III.,  is  preserved  in 
Mugdrnm  Charter  Chest.  Judging  from  the  style  of  the  handwriting,  the 
old  4  Rentaall'  was  to  all  appearance  drawn  up  about  the  end  of  the  15th 
century.  The  paper  on  which  it  is  written  bears  a  maker's  mark  (an  open 
hand)  that  prevailed  about  the  year  1480.  The  '  Rentaill'  is  in  the  form 
of  a  book,  and  is  covered  with  a  leaf  of  an  old  service  book  (of  parchment) 
of  an  early  date,  the  penmanship  of  which  is  most  beautiful,  and  the  initial 
letters  are  illuminated.     At  the  end  of  the  volume  the  scribe  has  written 

'  In  my  defence,  god  me  defend, 
and  bring  my  sawel  to  ane  good  end, 
In  quhen  I  am  sike  and  lyk  to  dei, 
the  son  of  god  haive  mynd  of  me.' 


The  Rentaill  of  the  Abbey  of  Lundoris  into 
harrows  of  Fyntres  and  Wi 
In  premis  Cregtone, 
Kyrkhill,  Fleuderis, 
Crystis  kirk,  Hedderlek,  Inche, 
Lergies,  .... 

Tylliemorgane, 
Wranghame,  Newtone, 
Wilyemsone,  Heddenhame, 
Mylne  of  Willemsone,  withe  the  pcrtincntis, 
Pow  quhit,         .... 
Mellensyde,       . 
Kirktowne  of  Colsamoud, 
Premmey  vne  fewit, 
Logie  dornocht  one  fewit  payit, 
Ane  costomemart;  iiij.  vodderis  :  iiij.  bollis 
dusone  powtrey. 


the  northe  as  folloivis  of  the 
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rlib. 


xuu-  Xllj8- 
malt ;  iiij.  bollis  aittis 


iiijd- 
;  iiij. 


The  Rentaill  of  the  barony  of  Fynteis. 
In  premis  Logiefyntry, 
Kister  Disblair, 
Myddil  Disblair,     . 


[Fyntry.] 


vn 


;lib. 


xvjlib.    xjfi 

xxiiijub-      vf 


iiij' 


APPENDIX.  ^11 

Wester  Disblair,     .  xxuij13- 

Monkegie.  .  ...      ....     ....d 

Wflst  Bvnd  •  •  ■  X1X       ^       1UJ 

Kihnvkis,  •  "L      "      ../L 

Heddervek  Bawetkene,       .  .  •  xvi*-xnr     inj 

Mylne  of  Fyntry,  .  •  ■  W*      v-    vnj 

Vne  fewit  the  Haltone  of  Fyntry. 

viij  plewis  everilk  pluche,  pays  of  maill  iiij  uaerkis. 

aue  quarter  cvstome  mart. 

ane  cwstonie  wodder. 

iiij  caponeis.     viij  powtrey. 

ij  ferlotis  cvstome  malt, 

vi  ferlettis  costome  meill. 

ij  bollis  costome  aittis  withe  fodder,  withe  hareage  and  carrage. 

Westar  Fyntrey  viij  plewis  vnefewit. 

everilk  pluche  payit  iiij  merkis. 

Ane  quartar  cvstome  mert. 

ane  cvstome  mert. 

iiij  caponeis  ;  viij  powtrey. 

ij  ferlottis  cvstome  malt. 

vi  ferlottis  cvstome  meill. 

ij  bollis  cvstome  aittis  withe  fodder,  with  barrage  and  carrage. 

The  medowis  withe  the  tlire  aikrs  of  the  Wod,  vifb-  xiij8"  mj 

Lang  Crvk.  .... 

Baddeforra  vne-fewit  payit  in  maill  and  teynd  sdver,  viij 

iiii  caponeis,  viij  powtrey  with  barrage  and  carrage 

The  annewellis  of  Kyllar,  Balhagertei  and  Indorrowry,  xnj"  >■  vf  vuj  ■ 

The  mylne  of  Leslci,  xxvjs-  viijd- 

The  rentaill  of  the  31  ernes  and  Angus. 

Item  the  hall  of  Witstones.    fysche  hill.    Hilend,  xx*$£  rv£   viij* 

Litil  Yitstone,                 .  ^  x\ny    * 

Nedder  Vitstones  and  Pettenhous,            .              .  xxix         ij      vnj^ 

Scotstone  and  Marcarey.  OfEeciaris  landis.  meill,  xm.w  xvij  •    vuj 
Ardoche,          .            .             .             • 
The  annewellis  of  Bervay, 

The  annewellis  of  Mvnrois,         .             .              •  ^b     nig    ....4 

The  cley  pottis,  and  fcrretone,    .              .              •  »J    X1^.'    mJ 

Westar  Cregy  set  to  David  Wodderburnis,          .  xmj  merkis. 

]  I  ill .  »ne  and  Myltoune  of  cregy  set  in  few,           .  xvj^" 
Balmaw  Eewil  for           . 


viijllb-  xiijs-    viij'1 


vim 


412 


APPENDIX. 


xij  geis,  xxxvj  powtre. 
withe  harrag  and  carrage. 
terupill  hilend, 
Inderrarettie,    . 

The  aunewellis  of  Dundy, 


xj8-    xij  capones. 
iij,ib-    vjs- 

vjlib.     vjs 


viijd- 


xiib.  xiij-s. 
xxiiijUb-  xiij8- 


viij1 


The  Feddellis. 
Item  wester  feddellis, 

Beney,  ..... 

Eister  fedellis, 

Mylne  of  Feddellis,        .... 
The  aunewellis  of  Petcarne, 
Anuewellis  of  Forgo wne, 
Aunewellis  of  Perthe, 
Exmakgyrdill  iiij  plewis,  set  for  ferme  vij  chalder  xj  bolls, 
vizt.  j  chalder  frnmenti. 

iii  Chalder  iij  ordei. 

iij  chalder  viij  bollis  farine. 

teynd  of  Eglesmagyrdill,  .  .  xxlib- 


XVjHD.  X11js.     mjC 

iiijd 


lib. 


iiij8- 
ijs. 

iiij8- 


iiij1 


The  mylne  of  the  saim, 

The  Brewhous,      .... 

The  rentaill  of  the  landls  within  Fyfe. 
Item  cluney  in  feu, 
the  borrow  maillis  of  Newburghe, 
Johne  Lowtfutis  hous, 
the  anuewellis  of  Newburghe, 
Denemylue,       .... 
Kyggishoill,     .... 
the  segis,  .... 

Marie  croft        .... 
Cregmylne  iiij  chader  wictuall  viz. 

viij.  bollis  quheit  xxviij  bollis  beir 

xxviij  bollis  meill  xlviij  capoueis. 

The  Grange  of  Lundoris. 

xvj  plewis  evcrilk  pleuche  in  maill  zeirly 

xxvj8-    viijd-   in  gersum  zerly 

ij8-  fyne  siluer  i  boll  ber 

i  boll  meill  xij  caponeis 

viij  powtre  with  harrage  and  carrage. 


vnj 


lib. 


Xllf 

xxvjs 


XV^ 

uiJ 


;iib. 


Vjs. 

xvR- 
xis- 
xxxs- 

hij8- 

xx8- 
xi8- 
xl8- 


iiijd 

viijd- 


vn/ 
iiijc 


inj' 


Jjjjbs.   Jjjs.     jjjjd. 


APPENDIX. 


413 


The  Luging  of  Saiuct  Audros  set  in  feu  to  Johue 
Brownekill,  •••.'. 

Lumquhat  on  fewit  of  mail!  zeirly  viij  merkis  ij 
bollis  beir  ij  bollis  meill  of  dry  mowters. 

The  Wodheid  of  mail  on  fewit  iiifb-  1  Wedder. 
1  Lame,  xij  powtry 


The  Southe  wodis  of  maill  and  teynd 

merkis, 
The  Brewhous  of  the  Grange 
The  teyndis  of  Porrat,  . 
The  toftis  of  Auld  Lundoris, 
The  toft  of  Littlekylloche, 
The  Brewhous  of  Collessy, 
The  Abbottis  Luging  in  falkland, 
The  brewhous  of  Awchtermowchtie, 
The  teyndis  of  Clevege, 
The  annewellis  Sanctandros, 
The  annewellis  of  Cowper, 
The  Durrieland  of  Creiche, 
The  wiccarag  Dundy, 
The  annewellis  of  Creill, 
The  annewellis  of  Petfour, 
The  annewellis  of  Ruthuene, 


erly  xv 


The  hallow  brokis, 

The  teynd  wollis, 

The  teynd  Lames, 

The  teynd  cleiche, 

The  mekle  orchart, 

The  kyching  fe, 

The  teynd  silver  of  the  fyve 

the  monthe  yerly 
The  kirk  of  Kynnawhmont. 
Crystis  kirk,     . 
The  tempilland, 
The  Flenderis, 


The  towne  of  the  same, 
Mekle  wardes, 


Kbdey 


kyrkis 


rk  of  the 


be  yound 


XXVJS      Vllj' 


xlib. 

xiijs- 
xiijs- 

Uf- 

xiijlib- 

vj8. 

viijd- 

▼j* 

viijd- 

X8, 

xhf- 

viijd- 

xls- 

xls- 

xviijlb- 

yjS. 

viij3- 
xl3- 

viib. 

xiijs- 

hijd- 

vs- 

xd. 

xxvj3- 

viij11- 

viij3- 

iijub 

VJ-s. 

viij'1 

xiijub- 

Vjs. 

viij'1 

xiijlib- 

vf 

viij'1 

xiijUb 

vj8. 

viijd 

xllib 

iiijlib- 

vj"iijxx-   iijlib-   xiij3-      iiij'1 


XXVU|' 

xij1 


vjs-    viij* 


ache. 


xviij 


vja    viij* 

vjs.     viijd. 


414 


APPENDIX. 


Nedder  and  Vuer  boddame, 

Knoknaberde,    . 

Douedure, 

Litill  wardes,    . 

Johneis  leis, 

Wraithis, 


The  maneis  of  auld  lesly, 

Cweterstowne, 

The  Chepeltowne, 

New  leslie, 

Duncastoiie, 

Johnestone, 


The  Kirk  of  Leslie. 


mjiib. 

XJijUb.      yJB 

xvllb-      vis 


iiij1 


in- 


xiijjlb-  xiijs 

xiijlb-  vjs 
iiijlib- 

vj'ib.  Vjs 

yjhb.  x[Jjs 


Vllj" 

viij1 


111]- 

viijd- 


Vllja 

iiijc 


xls 


payis, 


The  Kirk  of  Premmey. 
The  Kirk  of  colsamond. 


Telle  morgane  ij  plewis 
The  Kirktowne  1  plewche, 

Powquhit  iiij  plewis,     .... 
Williamstone  iiij  plewis, 

The  mylne  of  Willistone,  brewhous  and  Walkeris 
croft,        ..... 
Melenesyde  iiij  plewis. 
The  newtone  iiij  plewis, 
Wranghanie  v  plewis  uithe  the  walk  rnylue, 

The  Kirk  of  Loge  domocht. 


xlvij1 


mJ 


lib. 

;ib. 


nJlu'      VJ 

xlib.    xiijs 

xlib-    xiijs 
xls 


The  Kirktoue  of  the  same, 

xiiijud- 

Lethentie, 

..xJUb* 

Myltowue  of  Dorno, 

xxxiiijhb-   xiij9- 

Balhagertie, 

xvjlib- 

Petbie, 

vjiib. 

Harlaw, 

viijlb-    xiijs- 

Cregtowie, 

iJjlb.       vjs. 

Ester  ramsay, 

vjlb-    xiijs- 

Broko, 

iijib.      Vj8. 

Drumdorne, 

ixib. 

Drumlethene,    . 

xxxiij8- 

iiid. 


VJ-      VUj 


V11JC 

iiijd 
iiijd 


xvilib- 

xviijlib.   jjijs.       iJijd. 


111JC 


mJ 

viijc 

iiij 
viijc 


:d 


7«l- 


1UJC 


APPENDIX. 


415 


Knokhallothie, 
Buchquhene,     . 
Petscurrey, 
Pettepill, 
quhitcros, 
Pettoddertie,    . 


The  Kirk  of  inderrowrie 
The  Kirktowne, 
Awchforthy,    . 
Blakkall,  . 

Dryrnnieis, 

Haltone  of  knoknablew, 
Ncwtoue, 
Meddiltowne  of  Knoknablewis, 

The  Kirk  of  Monkege. 
The  Kirktone  of  the  samen, 
Caskebene,       .... 
Cremowncke. 

Boyndis,  .... 

Lochtullo,         .... 
Selbie,  .... 

Porterstone,      .... 

The  Kirk  of  Fyntres. 
The  haltowne  of  Fyntrey, 
Westar  fyntrey, 
Westar  Disblair, 
Meddil  Disblair, 

Eister  Disblair  with  Cavellis  mylne, 
Logic  fyntrey. 

The  Kirk  of  Dundy  tepid  siluer. 
:  jclib. 


viijlb-    xiijs 
viij1"- 

viijIb-       Xs 
xiiij1' 


liijs 


vjlb-   xiijs- 


xxmj1 


vjlb-   xiijs 

iiijlb- 

vijlb-     vjs 
vjib. 

iiijlb- 
xlb-  xiiijs 


iiij11'-   xnj' 


xx 


lb 


V11J 


lib. 
lb. 


"J 

Vlb. 

iijlb. 


xxjlb- 
xxj,b- 
Viijlb. 

viijlib- 


yjs 


VP 

vjs 


iiij* 


iiij'1- 


"ij 


VIIJ- 


111J8 


mf 


vp    viij 


i'i 


Vllj" 

viijc 


V11J< 

viij1- 


vf   vuj° 


The  teyndis  of  the  Kirk  of  Ebdey. 
Vuer  Deuemvre  ij  chalders  xj  bollis  i  firlot  viz.  viij  bollis  frumenti  xv 

boll  is  i  firlot  ordoi  i  chalder  iiij  bollis  farine. 
Ncddcr  Dene  mvre  iij  chalder  viij  bollis  viz.  viij  bollis  quheit ;  xvi  bollis 

ordei  ij  chalder  meill. 


416  APPENDIX. 

Carpowie  vj  bollis  viz*. 

iij  bollis  quheit,  iii  bollis  fariae 
Kyuenerdi  iij  Chalder  xiiij  bollis  viz.  : 

x  bollis  quheit,  xx  bollis  ber,  xxxij  bollis  meill. 
Wodnaylne  j  Chalder  xiijj  bollis  ij  firlots,  viz. : 
v  bollis  ij  firlotis  quheit 
x  bollis  ij  firlotis  ordei 
xiijj  bollis  ij  firlotis  fariae. 
Freland  vij  bollis  ij  firlotis  viz.  :  iij  bollis 

ij  firlotis  ordei  iij  bollis  ii  firlottis  farine. 
Inchery 

Ane  Chalder  viz. :  i  boll  quheit,  v  bollis  beir 
x  bollis  farine. 

Lundoris, 
iiij  chalder  viij  bollis  viz.  ii  chalder  quheit  xxiiij  bollis  ber  xxxii  bollis  meill. 

Denemylne. 
vij  bollis  j  boll  ij  firlotis  quheit  iij  bollis  ordei  ij  bollis  ii  firlotis  farine. 

Parlchill. 

xv  bollis  viz.  ij  bollis  quheit  iiij  bollis  ber  ix  bollis  meill. 

Wodheid  xvj  bollis. 
Ane  chalder  viz.  ij  bollis  quheit  iiij  bollis  ordei  iix  bollis  farine. 

Toftis  of  William  Chepman  iij  ferlotis. 
Ane  ferlet  beir  ij  ferletis  meill. 

Toftis  of  Johne  Blyth  iij  ferletis,  ij  pekis  viz. 
sax  pekis  ber  ij  ferlettis  farine. 
Toftis  of  the  Mylne — Tua  ferlettis  meill. 
Cregend  vj  ferlettis  viz.  ane  boll  beir  tua  ferlettis  meill. 
Marie  croft  ij  bollis  viz.  ane  boll  beir,  ane  boll  meill. 
Segis  ij  bollis  viz.  ane  boll  beir — ane  boll  meill. 
Almerey  cruk  ix  bollis  ordei. 
Akeris  vnder  the  wod  x  bollis  ordei. 
Wodrufehill ;  threpland  ij  chalder  x  bollis  ordei. 
Hauche,  iij  chalder  ordei. 
Brodland,  ij  chalder  viij  bollis  ordei. 
The  teyudis  of  Newburgh  vj  chalder  viz.  iij  chalder  ordei  iij  chalder  farine. 


APPENDIX. 


417 


Clayis  iiij  chalder  ordei  a.  a. 

Litill  medowis  viii  bollis  ordei  a.  a. 

West  medow  iiij  chalder. 

Teyndis  of  the  Grange  xij  chalder  viz.  : 

Drymowteris  i  chalder  xij  bollis  ordei  i  chalder  xij  bollis  farine. 


Kyrk  of  Collessy. 

Hahill  ij  chalders  x  bollis  viz.  vj  bollis  frumenti  xij  bollis  ordei  i  chalder 

viij  bollis  farine. 
Scheillis  and  Bowhous  xxiiij  bollis  viz.  xij  bollis  ordei  xij  bollis  farine. 
Prestis  croft  iij  ferlettis  ij  pekis  frumenti. 
Neutowne  i  chalder  xij  bollis  viz.  iij  bollis  frumenti   xi  bollis  ordei  xiiij 

farine. 
Petlair  i  chalder  x  bollis  viz.  x  bollis  ordei  i  chalder  farine. 
Dafmylne  vj  bollis  ij  ferletis  viz.'  ij  bollis  ij  ferlettis  ordei  iiij  bollis  farine. 
Ballowmylue  xi  bollis  viz.  iiij  bollis  ordei  vij  bollis  farine. 
Petcunertey  viij  bollis. 
Mairstone  xij  bollis  ane  boll  corne. 
Lawfeill  and  menisgrene  viij  boll  ane  corne. 
Drumtenend  i  chalder  viij  bollis  vj  bollis  ordei  xviij  bollis  farine. 
Ester  Kylquhys  xi  bollis  viz.  i  boll  ordei  x  bollis  corne. 
Est  pairt  of  Kylloche  ij  chalder,  ane  boll  iij  pekis  viz.  ij  bollis  i  ferlett 

frumenti  xi  boll  i  ferlet  ordei  and  xix  bollis  ij  ferlettis  iii  pekis. 
The  west  pairt  of  Kylloche  withe  the  half  pairt  of  the  mylne  laud  and  haill 
ij  chalder  xiiij  bollis  viz.  iiij  bollis  frumenti  xiij  bollis  ordei  xxviii  bollis 
farine 
Mychell  Kuikis  toft  ij  bollis  ane  corne. 

David  Jop  croft  with  the  half  rud  of  the  brewland  ij  bollis  ordei. 
Ester  Rossie  ij  chalder  xiiij  bollis  viz.  vj  bollis  frumenti  xx  bollis  ordei  xx 

bollis  farine. 
Westar  Rossie  xi  bollis  viz.  vj  bollis  frumenti  xiiij  bollis  ordei  xx  bollis 

farine. 
Wedderisbie  vj  chalder  vj  bollis  viz.  x  bollis  frumenti  xxxvj  bollis  ordei 
iij  chalder  vj  bollis  fariue. 

Kirk  A  wcMermowcktie. 

Auchtermowehtie  iii  chalder  viij  bollis  ij  ferlettis  ij  pekis  cuni  bina  pairt 
peci  viz.  vij  bollis  iij  ferlettis  ij  pekis  peces  cum  bena. 

D  D 


418  APPENDIX. 

The  south  e  quarter. 
quarter  iij  chalder  x  bollis  ij  ferlettis  cum  bina  parte  viz.  viij   bollis  ix 

ferlettis  i  pec  cum  biua  parte  fnunenti. 
At  the  end  of  the  book  the  following-  entry  occurs  '  Item  for  colls  xliiij  lib. 

iiijs.' 


No.  III.,  p.  132.1 

s 

The  Rentall  of  the  kirkes  and  teindis  pertenying  to  the  place  of  Lundoris  sett  for 

money. 

1.  The  kyrk  of  Kynnathmonthe  be  yound  the  monthe  payis 

yeirlie  xxviij  ti  thairfor 

Lord  Forbes  for  his  bailyie  fie  yeirlie  xiij  ti  vj  viijd- 

and  so  we  get  bott  xiiij  ti  of  the  said  kirk 

2.  Christis  kirk  payis  yeirlie  xxxij  ti  quhilk 

is  bott  ane  pendicle  of  Kynnathmonthe. 

3.  The  kirk  of  Inche  payis  yeirlie  lxxvij  ti  vi  s  viijd- 

4.  The  kirk  of  Leslie  payis  yeirlie  xlv  ti  vi  s  viijd- 

5.  The  kirk  of  Primethe  payis  yeirlie  L  ti. 

6.  The  kirk  of  Colsalmonthe  payis  yeirlie  lxxx  j  ti  vj  s  viijd- 

7.  The  kirk  of  Logydornothe  payis  yeirlie  ic  lxj  ti  xiij  s  viijd- 

8.  Innerrowrie  payis  yeirlie  lxij  ti  xiij  s  iiijd- 

9.  The  kirk  of  Monkegy  payis  yeirhe  lvij  ti 

Quhilk  is  but  ane  pendicle  of  Innerrowrie. 

10.  The  kirk  of  Fyntrie  payis  yeirlie  lx  ti 

11.  For  the  teindis  of  Baddyforrow  yeirlie  liij  s  iiijd- 

12.  For  the  schewis  of  Wester  Disblair  xijb  bt  malt  iiij  bt  meill 

13.  The  kirk  of  Dundie  iijc  merkis  in  all 

tymes  by  past  and  this  last  crope  and  all  t}Tmes  to  cum  I  traist  it 
sail  be  ane  hundrethe  merkis  mair  heirof  the  Minister  gattis 
yeirlie  ic  ti 

1  The  numbers  inserted  before  the  names  of  the  various  places  in  the  follow- 
ing Piental  are  not  in  the  original ;  they  are  prefixed  for  reference  to  the  Notes 
on  the  Rentall,  Appendix  No.  IV. 


APPENDIX.  419 

14.  The  kirk  of  Eglisniagill,  viz.  the  toun  of  the  samyn  payis 

yeirlie  xiij  li  vj  s  viijd- 

15.  The  teind  schewis  and  vicarage  of  the  toun  of  Clawage  yeirlie    xviij  ti 

16.  The  teind  schewis  of  the  Eister  Feddellis  and  Bene  yeirlie      xviij  li 

17.  The  teind  schewis  of  Forrett  yeirlie  xiij  li  vj  s  viijd 

The  kirkis  of  Fyfe  sett  for  Victuallis. 

18.  The  paroche  of  Ehdy. 

19.  The  Wodruife  with  the  hill  and  Thraiplandis  payis  of  ferme 

yeirlie  ij  ch  viij  bt  beir 

20.  The  Brodlands  payis  of  ferme  yeirlie  i  ch  vij  bl  beir 

21.  The  hauche  payis  of  ferme  yeirlie  ij  ch  xv  bts  beir 

22.  The  eist   pairt  of  Duuinure)    ...  ,  *        ,    .,   .    ,  , ,  „ 

pays  yeirlie  of  teind  }  ™*  bts  ^uheit' '  C*  beir>  XX111J  M  meU1 

23.  Carpowy  payis  yeirlie  iij  bl  quheit  iij  bl  beir 

24.  Kynnard  payis  yeirlie  x  bl  quheit 

and  i  ch  iiij  bl  beir  ij  ch  meill 

And  the  said  toun  of  Kinnard      ")....„..      ..... 

.  ,.      t  ,  ,.  }-vni  bis  beir  vni  bis  mei  1 

payis  yeirlie  ol  dry  multer       j      J  J 

25.  The  Wodmyln  pa3ris  yeirlie  <    ...  ,  J,    .  ^      ,  '  ....,„ 

'      L   J     J  (xnj  bl  beir  and  xxnij  bl  men 

26.  The  frieland  payis  yeirlie  ft  ?  .^f  **v    ** 

r  J     J  (and  mj  bl  meill 

n-    T    i  ....  (i  bl  quheit  v  bt  beir 

27.  Inchery  payis  yeirlie  j&nd  \  M  meffl 

28.  Loundoris  payis  yeirlie  j1  C\  ^eit  ™S  M  beir 

1   J     J  (and  ij  ch  meill 

29.  The  Denmill  payis  yeirlie  J1  b*  ^f  [\™  beir 

1   J     J  (and  ij  bl  meill 

30.  The  Parkhill  payis  yeirlie  f j  bt  S^f  vbl  beir 

^  J     J  (and  vnj  bl  meill 

31.  The  toft  of  Andrew  Downy  withe   (viij  bl  meill  iij  bt 

the  southwod  payis  yeirlie         (_ quheit  and  iij  bl  beir 

32.  The  toftis  of  Henrie  Philip  and)  ..fr.  ..,.,.„  ,.        ,  . ,  _ 

Niniane  Blythe  payis  yeirlie    TJ  * 1J      h™  **  l  M  meiU 

33.  The  toft  of  the  Craig  mvIn  withe  )  .  .  .  .    .    .,,.,. 

the  Seggis  payis  yeirlie  }  i  bl  beir  i  bl  i^  meill 

34.  The  Marie  crofl  payis  yeirlie  i  bl  beir  i  bl  meill 

35.  The  cartward  payis  yeirlie  iiij  bt  beir 

36.  The  Craigend  payis  yeirlie  i  bl  beir  ijfr  meill 


420  APPENDIX. 

37.  Theteiud  of  .the  Newbraiche    ij  ch  viij  bt  beir  and  ij  ch  viij  bt  nieill 

38.  The  teind  of  the  barony  of  the  Grange,  f  viij  ch  thairof 

viz.  viij  plewis  of  the  Grange  four  j  i  ch  quheit 

of  the  Berreholi  tua  of  Ormestoun  «^  ij  ch  xij  bt  beir 

and  tua  of  the  Hiltoun  hill  payis  j  and  iiij  ch 

of  teind  ^iiij  bl  meill 

Beir  xviij  ch  xv  bt  ijpks  quheit  iiij  ch  ix  bt 

Meill  xviij  ch  xij  bt  ijfrt 

The  paroche  of  Cullessie. 

39.  Halhill  payis  yeirlie  i  bt  quheit  vij  bt  beir  and  x  bs  meill 

40.  The  Mylhill  Scheillis  and  Bowes  payis 

yeirlie  xxij  bt  beir  and  xxij  bt  meill 

The  croft  of  Sir  Johnne  Youngis  payis  yeirlie  i  bt  meill 

41.  The  Newtoun  of  Cullessie  payis  }7eirlie  vj  bt  beir  viij  bt  meill 

42.  Pitlair  payis  yeirlie  i  bt  quheit  vij  bt  beir  and  xiiij  bt  meill 

43.  Daftmytn  payis  yeirlie  ij  bt  ijfr  beir  iiij  bt  meill 

44.  Maristoun  payis  yeirlie  i  bt  beir  xj  bt  meill 

45.  Lawfield  and  Menysgrene  payis  yeirlie  viij  bt  aittis 

46.  Bellowmyll  payis  yeirlie  iiij  bt  beir  vij  bt  meill 

47.  Drumtennent  payis  yeirlie  vj  bt  beir  xviij  bl  meill 

48.  The  eist  pairt  of  Kinloyche       \  .. ^  „t.  ?  .         ,  r  ,      A  .  .,  .fr  „       ... 

1  (.  li  P      '■ieir  anc*  l  c^  VIJ  "*  l    *  meill 

48.  The  wast  pairt  of  the  same )    ...,,.      ,    .,     ...,„,.        ,.   ,      ,„       ... 
.  ,.  y  ni  bt  quheit,  xui  bt  beir  audi  chxbt  meill 

payis  yeirlie  ) 

48.  The  toft  of  Kinloiche  payis  ij  bt  beir  ij  bt  aittis 

49.  Rosse  Eister  payis  yeirlie    iiij  bt  quheit  xiij  bt  beir  and  xiiij  bt  meill 

49.  Rosse  Waster  payis  yeirlie  vj  bt  quheit  xiiij  bt  beir  and  i  ch  iiij  bl  meill 

50.  Weddersbie  payis  yeirlie  viij  bt  quheit  i  ch  xij  bt  beir  and  i j  ch  iiij  bt  meill 
The  pendiclis  of  the  same  payis  yeirlie  ij  bt  ifr  beir  ij  bt  meill 

51.  Lumquhat  payis  yeirlie  vij  bt  beir  xiiij  bt  meill 

52.  Kilquhyss  Eister  payis  yeirlie  i  bt  beir  x  bt  aittis 

Summa  i  ch  xi  bt  ijfr  quheit 
Summa  of  the  beir  ix  ch  vij  bt  ijfr  ijpks  beir 
Summa  of  the  meill  xiiij  ch  xj  bt  ijfr  ijpk  meill 
Summa  of  the  aittis  i  ch  xv  bts 

53.  The  paroche  of  Auchtirmochtie 

The  northe  pairt  of  Auchtermuch  tie  <        ,    *■     .../'•'  ...       ^ 
c  ^  and  xxvnj  bt  meill 

The  southe  pairt  of  the  same  payis  J  x  bt  quheit  xxj  bt  ij  pct  beir 

yeirlie  C  xxxj  bt  ij  bt  meill 


APPENDIX.  421 

,  .        .  ,.      fxbt  iijfr  ij  pct  quheit  and  i  ch  viij  bt 

The  bound  half  payis  yenlie  j..rr  ^  ..  chmj  M  ijfr  mdn 

54.  Cotlandis  withe  Marislandis  payis  yeirlie    ix  bt  beir  viij  bt  ijfr  meill 

55.  Gerusland  payis  yeirlie  iij  bt  quheit  vj  bt  ijfr  beir  and  vij  bt  ijfr  meffl 

,  „    ,.  .        .  ,.      (vi  bt  quheit  x  bt  beir  and 

56.  The  My ris  Over  and  Nethir  payis  yeirlie  j^.  w  meiU 

57.  Burnegrenis  payis  yeirlie  viij  bt  aittis 

58.  Demperstoun  payis  yeirlie  viij  bt  quheit  i  ch  beir  and  ij  ch  viij  bt  meill 

59.  Redy  and  Longiswaird  iij  bt  quheit  v  bt  beir  and  i  ch  meill 
(52.)  Kilquhyis  Westir  payis  yeirlie  iiij  bt  beir  viij  bt  meill 

Summa  of  the  quheit  iij  ch  ij  bt  iijfrt  ij  pk 
Summa  of  the  beir  vi  ch  ij  bt  ijfrt 
Summa  of  the  meill  xij  ch  i  bt  ijfr  ij  pk 
Summa  of  the  aittis  viij  bt 
GO.  The  paroche  kirk  of  Creiche. 

61.  The  touu  of  Creiche  payis  yeirlie  ij  bt  quheit  iiij  bt  beir  and  xij  bt  meill 

62.  Perbroithe  payis  yeirlie  iij  bt  quheit  xij  bt  beir  and  i  ch  meill 

63.  Luthre  payis  yeirlie  x  bt  quheit  ij  ch  iiij  bt  beir  and  iij  ch  iiij  bt  meill 

64.  Kynsleif  ester  payis  yeirlie         iij  bt  quheit  vj  bt  beir  and  x  bt  meill 

64.  Kynsleif  westir  payis  yeirlie       iij  bt  quheit  vj  bt  beir  and  x  bt  meill 

...         (  xij  bt  quheit  xviij  bt  beir 

65.  Balmadysyde  payis  yeirlie       |and  .  ^  ^  M  meffl 

Summa  of  the  quheit  ij  ch  ij  bt 

Summa  of  the  beir  v  ch  ij  bt 

Summa  of  the  meill  v  ch  viij  bt 

Summa  totie  of  quheit  xj  ch  xij  bt  iijfrt  iijpct 

Summa  of  Beir  and  malt,  xl  ch  vij  bt  ifr 

Summa  of  Meil  xlix  ch  v  bt  iijfrt 

Summa  of  aittis  ij  ch  vij  bt 

The  Assumption  of  the  thrid  of  the  Abbay  of  Lundoris. 
Thrid  of  the  money  vijc  xlvj  ti  xviij  s  id 

66.  The  barone  of  Wranghame  iij"  i  ti  vj  s  ijd 

67.  The  barone  of  Fyntray  ijc  dv  ti  viij  s  iij'1 

68.  The  landis  of  Balmaw  and  Newtyld  for  xvij  ti  viij  § 

69.  Hiltoun  and  Mylntoun  of  Cragy  for  xxv  ti  vj  s  viij'1- 

70.  Clay  pott  is  and  Friertoun  for  xj  ti  xiij  s  iiija. 

71.  The  barone  of  Mernis  by  the  annuellis  of 

Bervy  for  lxxxxij  ti  xv  s  viij'1- 

(14).  Egleismagreltotra  mytn  with  the  brew- 

houss's  for  ic-  merkia  vj  §  viij4 


422  APPENDIX. 

Gif  in  xiiij  ti  is  xjd 

Thrid  of  the  quheit  iij  ch  xij  bl  ifr  i  pk- 

(28).  Lundoris  for  i  ch 

(22).  The  eist  pairt  of  Dunmure  viij  bt 

The  west  pah't  thairof  viij  bt 

(24).  Kinnarde  x  bt 

(31).  The  toft  of  Andrew  Downy  withe  the  south wod  iij  bt 

(38).  The  teindis  of  the  Grange  i  ch 
Gif  in  ij  frl  iij  pct-  eq. 

Beir  thrid  thairof  xiij  ch  vij  bt  ijfrs- 

(19).  Tak  the  Wodruf  Hill  and  Treiplandis  for  ij  ch  viij  bt 

(20).  The  Brodland  i  ch  vij  bt 

72.  The  Hauche  i  ch  xv  bt 

(22).  The  west  pairt  of  Dunmuire  i  ch 

(24).  Kynnaird  i  ch  iiij  bt 

(37).  Newbruiche  ij  ch  viij  bt 

(38).  The  teind  of  the  Grange  ij  ch  xij  bt 

(22).  The  eist  pairt  of  Dunmuire  xv  bt 
Gif  in  xiij  bt  ifrc-  eq. 
The  beir  that  is  tane  rnair  is  in  respect  of  the  malt. 

Thrid  of  the  meill  xvij  ch  vij  bl.  ti  fr 
Tak  the  haill  meill  of  the  paroche  of  Ebdy  gevand  be  yeir 

Gif  in  i  ch  v  bt  ifr 

Thrid  of  the  aittis  xiij  bt 

Tak  it  out  of  Cullessy  paroche  gevand  i  ch  xv  bt 

Omittit  grassumes  entre  siluer,  yairdis  fyschingis  caponis  pultrie 
canis  custumes  mertis  cariagis  and  all  vtheris  dewteis. 

The  Rentall  of  Lundoris  in  money  teindis  andfermis — 
The  baronie  of  Grange  lyand  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Fyfe. 

(38).  Imprimis  the  tovne  of  the  Grange,  aucht  pleuichis  sett  in  few  tua 
thairof  for  yehiie  maill  ilk  plewche  aucht  pound  x  schillingis 
summa  sevintyne  poundis  and  sax  pleuichis  payis  bot  ilk  pleuche 
fyve  poundis  fourtyne  schillingis  summa  thrittie  four  poundis 
iiij  s  during  the  Tennentis  lyftymes — The  Berryhoill  four  pleuchis 
sett  in  few  thrie  thairof  for  yeirlie  maill  ilk  pleuiche  aucht  pound 
x  s  summa  xxv  ti  x  5  and  ane  pleuiche  payis  bot  fyve  poundis 
xiijj  s  during  the  tennentis  lyftymes,  ormestoun  twa  pleuchis  sett 
in  lyfrent  for  yeirlie  maill  allyvin  pound  viij  5. 

(51).  Lumquhat  tua  pleuichis  sett  in  few  for  yeirlie  maill  fyve  pound 


APPENDIX.  423 

vij  s  viijd-  The  remanent  of  the  tua  pleuichis  sett  in  few  for 
yeirlie  maill  is  payit  to  the  Quenis  grace  chepill  in  Falkland  and 
to  my  Lord  Angus  College  in  Abirnethie. 

73.  The  toft  of  the  Wodheid  in  few  withe  the  souithe  wode  for  yeirlie 

maillis  merkis 

74.  The  Eist  wod  withe  the  teindes  thairof  sett  in  few  for  yeirlie 

maill  x  li  xiij  s  iiijd- 

75.  The  Brewhouss  of  the  Grange  sett  in  few  for  yeirlie  maill       xvij  s 

76.  The  barrow  (burrow)  maillis  of  Newbruiche  yeirlie  four  poundis 

tuelf  schillingis. 

76.  The  tennentis  of  Newbruiche  yeirlie  thrie  poundis  fyve  schillingis. 

77.  The  annuellis  in  sanctaudrois  yeirlie  xxvij  s  viijd- 

78.  The  Derachland  of  Creich  payit  na  thing  thir  xxij  yeiris. 
(42).  The  toft  of  Cullessie  yeirlie  fourtie  sax  schillingis. 
(48).  The  toft  in  Kinloche  yeirlie  vij  schillingis. 

(53).  The  Brewhouss's  of  Auchtermuchtie  yeirlie  xxiiij  s 

(28).  The  toft  of  Auld  Loundoris  yeirlie  viij  s 

79.  The  luidging  in  Falkland  payit  nathing  thir  tuentie  tua  yeiris. 

80.  Cluny  Eister  yeirlie  saxtyne  pound  xvj  s  viijd- 

(36).  Cragend  and  Keggishoill  yeirlie  fourtie  tua  schillingis. 
(34).  Marie  croft  and  seggis  yeirlie  four  poundis. 

81.  Craigmylne  yeirlie  thrittie  tua  pound 

82.  The  Clayis  withe  nyne  aikaris  of  the  West  medew  yeirlie  sevintyne 

poundis  vj  s  viijd 
The  teind  thairof  yeirlie  sax  pound  xiij  s  iiijd- 
Thrittie  ane  aikeris  and  ane  half  in  the 
(20-21).  Hauch  medows.  Brodland  respective  ilk  aiker  tua  merkis.    Summa 
fourtie  tua  poundis. 

83.  The  Almerie  Cruike  yeirlie  sax  pound  xiij  s  iiijd- 
The  aikeris  under  the  wod  yeirlie  sax  pound. 

84.  The  Reid  Insches  saltgress  Kow  Insches. 

85.  Park  est   yaird  fruit   yairdis  and   fyschingis  in  Tay  yeirlie  ane 

houndrethe  poundis. 
The  teind  of  Auld  Lundoris  yeirlie  thrittie  pound. 
The  teindis  of  Forret  yeirlie  tuentie  merkis. 
The  teind  of  Den  myln  yeirlie  four  pound. 

The  Maillis  of  the  landis  in  Anguss. 

(68).  Balmaw  and  Newtyld  yeirlie  sevintyne  poundis  viij  s. 
(69).  Ouretoun  of  the  Ililtoun  and  Mylntoun  of  Cragy  yeirlie  tuentie 
fyve  poundis  vi  s  viijd- 


424  APPENDIX. 

(70).  Claypottis  and  Ferrietoun  allyvin  poundis  xiij  s  iiijd- 

86.  Innerraritie  iij  ti  vj  s  viij3*  payit  nathing  thir  tventie  tua  yeiris. 

The  vicarage  of  Dundie  payit  na  thing  sen  ye  beginnying  of  the 
toun.  The  annuellis  of  Dundie  payit  x  nierkis  na  thing  sen  the 
begynnyng  of  ye  toun. 

The  Maillis  of  the  landis  in  the  Mernis. 

87.  The  haill  of  Vistownis  hillend  and  Fyscher  hill  yeirlie  tuentie  sax 

poundis  saxtyne  schillingis  aucht  penneis. 

88.  Lytill  Wistonis  yeirlie  sevin  pound  viij  s  xd- 

89.  Nedir   Wistonis   pittargus   and    pittemuis    yeirlie   tuentie   pound 

xiij  s  iijd- 

90.  Scottistone    and   mercorie    yeirlie    tuentie    tua    pound    sevintyne 

schillingis  vjd- 

91.  Myltoun  of  Wistonis  yeirlie  fyve  pound  aucht  schillingis  four  penneis. 

Brewhouse  of  Westonnis  yeirlie  fyve  poundis  ijs- 
Ardoche  yeirlie  sax  pound. 
Annuellis  of  Bervie  yeirlie  aucht  schillingis. 

The  3£aillis  and  Annuellis  of  the  landis  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Stratherne. 

(16).  Westir  Feddellis  yeirlie  tuentie  sex  poundis  sax  schilling  aucht 

pennies. 
(16).  Estir  Feddellis  yeirlie  aucht  poundis. 
(16).  Bene  yeirly  tuelf  pound. 

Eclismagirdill  the  toun  thairof  withe  the  mylne  and  Brewhous 
thrie  scoir  sevin  poundis  tua  schillingis. 
92.  The  greit  luidging  in  Perthe  yeirlie  ten  pound. 

The  luidging  in  the  watir  gaitt  yeirlie  fyve  pound. 
The  fore  luidging  yeirlie  iij  ti  vi  s  viijd- 
Thairof  to  Dunkeld  be  the  tennentis  fourte  schillingis. 
The  annuellis  of  Perthe  fyve  merkis  fyve  schillingis. 

The  Barone  of  Wranghame  li/and  within  the  Schireffdome  of  Ahirdyne} 

The  Craigtoun  yeirlie  thrittyne  pound  vj  s  viijd- 

Kirkhill  vj  ti  xiij  s  iiijd- 

1  A  Barony  of  Newton  of  Wranghame  in  the  parish  of  Culsamond,  George 
Gordon  of  Newtoun,  succeeded  to  it  1644,  and  the  corn  and  pulling,  or  '  winde 
mills,'  and  also  la  the  Kirk  ton  of  Culsamond. 


APPENDIX. 


425 


The  Towne  of  Christis  kirk  withe  Hedwlyke'  xvj  ti  iiij  s  viij  ■ 

The  mylne  of  Leslie  tuentie  sax  schilliugis  viijd- 

Na  payment  Largie  yeirlie  thi'ie  poundis  vj  s  viijd' 

Newtoiin  of  Wranghame  yeirlie  withe  the  waike  mylne  and  waird  Thrie 

scoir  sax  poundis  xiij  s  iiijd- 
Kirktonn  of  Culsalmound  viij  ti  iiij  3  vj  ■ 

Powqnhite  yeirlie  ^.X!!^.(|1 

Lyddinghame  and  Williamsoun  yeirlie  xlviij  li  xiij  §  nij 

To  my  Lord  Rothes's  fie. 
The  mylne  and  Brewhouse  of  Wffliamstoun  yeirlie  sax  pound  xiij  s  iiijd- 
Malingsyde  yeirlie  twenty-aucht  pound  ix  s  viij4 
Flendaris  yeirlie  tuenty-four  pound  ix  s  viij'1 

Logydornoch  with  the  Brewhouse  of  the  samyne  twenty  pound  xviij  s. 
The  kirktoun  of  Inche  with  the  mylne   and  brewhouse  of   the   samyn 

tliirttyne  pound  vij  schillingis. 
The  kirktoune  of  Premethe  iiij  K  xiij  §  ™)  \ 

yeirlie  X1J  *l 

The  barony  of  Fyntray, 

Logyfintry  with  the  Froster  sait  yeirlie  viij  K 

Haltoun  of  Fyntray  and  Westir  Fyntray  withe  the  place  and  wod  thairof 
yeirlie  lxxxvij  ti  ij  s  viijd- 

Myltoun  of  Fyntray  yeirlie  sevin  pound  vj  s  viijd- 

Balbuthnie  Haddirweik  and  Craigforthie  xviij  ti 

Baddifforrow  yeirlie  fyve  poundis  vij  s  ixd- 

Moukegy  and  West  bowndis  xix  ti  xiij  s  iiijd- 

Kynmok  yeirlie  tuentie  poundis  ix  s  ijd- 

Tillykcrne  fyve  pound  vj  s  viijd- 

Westir  Disblaire  yeirlie  xxiiij  ti 

Middill  Disblair  yeirlie  tuentie-four  poundis  v  s  viijd' 

Eister  Disblair  withe  the  Cavillis  mylne  xvj  ti  xij  s 

The    tua    brewhoussis    of   Fyntrais   withe    medow   and    croftis    respec- 
tive viij  ti  xiij  3  iiijd 
Assignit  to  the  Chalmerlane. 

^he  Annuellis  of  Balhalgarthy  Kelly  and  Innerrowry  xiij  ti  vj  s  viij'1 

'  '  Hedwlyk,'  IFedderlick  in  the  parish  of  Premnay.  In  1680  Mr  John  Eoss 
was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  the  lauds  of  Insch,  the  burgh  of  barony  of  Insch, 
the  mill  of  Insch,  and  the  restricted  multures  of  the  lands  of  Flinders,  chartulary, 
Insch  of  Iledderlick,  and  the  Temple  croft  'in  per  rcgistilulum  de  Lundoris.'— 
Retours  of  Aberdeen. 


426  APPENDIX. 

The  Rentall  of  the  kirkis  bjand  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Abirdyne  and  teind 
scheivis  thairof  sett  for  money. 

The  Kirk  of  Kinathinonthe  xiiij  ti 
The  rest  thairof  to  my  Lord  Forbes  bailie  fie  extending  in  the  first  rentall 

to  xiij  ti  vj  s  viijd- 
Christis  kirk  yeirlie  thrittie  tua  pound. 

The  kirk  of  Inehe  Ixvj  ti  xiij  §  iijd 
The  kirk  of  Leslie  fourtie-five  pound  vi  s  viijd- 
The  kirk  of  Premeth  yeirlie  fyftie  pound. 

The  kirk  of  Culsalrnound  lxxxxj  ti  vj  s  iiijd- 
The  kirk  of  Logydornoch  ane  houndrethe  thrie  scoir  ane  pound  xiij  s  iiijd- 

The  kirk  of  Innerrowrie  thrie  scoir  tua  pound  xiij  s  iiijd- 

The  kirk  of  Monkegy  yeirlie  Ivij  ti 

The  kirk  of  Fyntray  yeirlie  lx  ti 

The  teindis  of  Baddyforrow  lij  s  iiijd- 

The  teindis  of  "Wester  Disblair  yeirlie  viij  ti 

The  kirhis  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Forfar. 
The  kirk  of  Dundie  yeirlie  ijc  ti 

The  kirkis  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Per  the. 

The  kirk  of  Eglismagreill                                                           xiij  ti  vj  s  viijd- 

The  teindis  and  vicarage  of  Clavege  xviij  ti 

The  teindis  of  Eister  Feddellis  and  Bene  xviij  ti 

The  kirkis  within  the  Schirrefdome  of  Fife  sett  for  victuallis. 
the  kirkis  the  teind  scheicis  thairof. 

The  Wodnvf  hill  and  Thraiplandis  ij  cli  iiij  bt  beir 

The  Brodland  i  ch  vij  bt  beir 

The  Hauch  i  ch  xij  bt  beir 

The  eist  pairt  of  Dunmuire     viij  bt  quheit  xv  bt  i  frl  beir  and  i  ch  iiij  bt  meill 
The  West  pairt  of  Dunmuire  viij  bt  quheit  i  ch  beir  xxiiij  bt  meill 

Carpowe  iij  bt  quheit  iij  bt  beir 

Kinnard  ten  bollis  quheit  xx  bt  beir  and  ij  ch  meill  « 

The  dry  muttar  of  Kinnard  viij  bt  beir  viij  bt  meill 

Inchyray  i  bt  quheit  v  bt  beir  and  x  bt  meill 

Parkhill  ij  bt  quheit  v  bt  beir  and  vj  bt  meill 

The  toft  of  Andrew  Downie  with)   ...  ,  ,,      ,    .,...,  *  ,    .        ,    ..,  ,  „       .„ 
the  Southe  wod  "  |  ^  bt  1uheit  ^  bt  beir  and  ^  Dt  meiU 

The  Croft  of  James  Philpe  ij  frl  ij  pct-  beir  and  ij  bt  meill 


APPENDIX. 


427 


The  toft  of  Craigmylne  and  seggis  i  bt  beir  and  i  bt  ij  f rt  meill 

Mary  Croft  »  M  beir  and  l  bt  meiU 

Cartward  UiJ  bt  be!r 

Craigend  ihthZ 

Newburgh  ij  ch  viij  bt  beir  ij  cli  vuj  bt  meill 

BerrihoiU  and  the  Grange  i  ch  quheit  ij  ch  x  bt  beir  and  iiij  ch  meill 

Cullessie  kirk  teyncl  scheivis  thairof. 
Halhill  ij  bt  quheit  iiij  bt  beir  and  vj  bt  meill 

Mylhill  scheillis  and  Brewhouse  ij  ch  vj  bt  beir  and  i  ch  vj  bt  meill 

Myln  croft  of  Cullessie  i  bt  meiU 

Newtoun  of  CuUessie  vj  bt  beir  and  viij  bt  meill 

Pitlair  i  bt  quheit  vij  bt  beir  and  xij  bt  meill 

Daftmyln  ij  bt  ij  frl  beir  and  iiij  bt  meill 

Maristoun  i  bt  beir  and  xj  bt  aittis  for  horse 

Lawfield  and  Menisgrene  viij  bt  aittis  for  horse  corne 

Ballowmylne  iiij  bt  beir  and  vij  bt  meill 

Drumtennent  vj  bt  beir  and  ch  ij  bt     .     .     . 

Eist  pairt  of  Kinloyche »  quheit  x  .  .  beir  and  i  ch  vj  bt  meill 

Wastir  pairt  of  Kinloyche  iij  bt  quheit  xij  bt  beir  i  ch  vj  bt  meill 

Toft  of  Kynlocht  ij  bt  beir  ij  bt  aittis  for  horse  corne 

Rosse  Eister  four  bollis  quheit  xiiij  bt  beir  aud  xiiij  bt  meill 

Assignit  to  James  Calwie  and  sua  payis  na  thing  to  the  place. 
Ros3e  Westir  vj  bt  quheit  xiiij  bt  beir  xx  bt  meill 

Weddersbie  James  Sandelandis  pairt  thairof  tua  bt  quheit  viij  bt  beir  and 

xij  bt  meill 
The  vthir  half  thairof  four  bollis  quheit  tuelf  bollis  tua  furlottis  beir  and 

i  ch  iiij  bt  meill 

samyn.     .     .     bt.  fit 

Extract  furthe   of   the   Registir  of   the    Rentallis   Demissionis    and 
Assumptionis  thairof  be  me  Mr  Johnne  Nicolsoun,  collectour  dark, 

keipar  and  extracter  of  the  same. 

Jo.  Nicolson. 


1  Manuscript  imperfect. 


428  APPENDIX. 


No.  IV.,  p.  132. 

Notes  on  the  preceding  '  Rentall  of  Landoris.' 

No.  1.  Kynnathmonihe  be-yonnd  the  monthe, — now  Kennethmont,  beyond 
the  Grampians,  was  one  of  the  churches  bestowed  on  the  Monastery  of  Lin- 
dores  by  the  Founder.  In  the  Foundation  Charter  it  is  named  Kelalcmund, 
and  Chelalmund  in  the  Confirmation  of  the  same  Charter,  a.d.  1198,  by 
Pope  Innocent  III.  The  Charter  erecting  the  possessions  of  Lindores 
Abbey  into  a  temporal  Lordship  in  favour  of  Patrick  Leslie,  binds  him  to 
pay  the  minister  of  Kynnathmouat  and  Christiskirk  one  hundred  and  twenty 
merks,  besides  the  small  tithes. 

2.  Christis  Kirk,  formerly  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Kennethmont,  now 
represented  by  two  or  three  small  farm  steadings.  The  church  stood  on  a 
hillock,  and  a  Fair  used  to  be  held  on  the  green  around  the  church  yearly 
in  the  month  of  May.  The  Fair  began  '  at  night  about  sunset  and  ended 
next  morning  an  hour  after  sunrising ;  the  people  buying'  and  selling 
mercat  goods  during  the  night,  which  is  not  then  dark,  a  very  singular 
kind  of  mercat  as  any  ever  was.  About  the  year  1760  the  proprietor 
changed  the  Fair  from  night  to  day ;  but  so  strong  was  the  prepossession 
of  the  people  in  favour  of  the  old  custom,  that  rather  than  comply  with  the 
alteration  they  chose  to  neglect  it  altogether.' — Collections  on  the  Shires  of 
Aberdeen  and  Banff,  Spalding  Club,  p.  623.  The  name  Christis  Kirk,  its 
position  on  the  Green,  and  the  singular  circumstance  of  a  Fair  at  night, 
where  '  dancing  and  deray '  were  indulged  the  whole  night  through,  have 
inclined  many  to  think  that  it  is  the  scene  of  James  I.'s  Poem  of  '  Christis 
Kirk  of  the  Grene.'  This  honour  is  claimed  also  for  the  parish  kirk  of 
Leslie  in  Fifeshire,  which  stands  on  a  green,  and  its  proximity  to  the 
royal  palace  of  Falkland  is  urged  in  support  of  it.  The  author  of  the 
'  Statistical  Account  of  the  Parish  of  Kennethmount,'  in  speaking  of  Christs 
Kirk  and  the  Fair  held  at  night,  says,  '  What  more  likely  to  strike  the 
fancy  of  the  monarch,  in  his  progress  through  his  kingdom  than  the 
market  at  mid-night ;  the  circumstance  ma}'  be  supposed  to  fall  in  with  his 
humour,  and  give  birth  to  such  scenes  as  he  describes.' — Old  Stat.  Account. 
Vol.  XIII.,  pp.  77,  78,  Note.  It  is  remarkable,  however,  that  the  poet 
does  not  once  allude  to  the  singular  circumstance  of  the  Fair  being  held  at 
night,  but,  on  the  contrary,  every  verse  has  the  refrain  '  At  Christis  Kirk 
of  the  Grene  that  dag.' 

Chalmers,  in  his  edition  of  '  The  Poetic  Remains  of  Some  of  the  Scottish 
Kings,'  p.  135,  says,  '  Ramsay  learned  that  Christs  Kirk  was  not  far  from 


APPENDIX.  420 

Leslie  ;  he  mistook  Leslie  in  Fife  for  Leslie  in  the  Garioch,  and  he  laid  the 
scene  of  his  two  additional  cantos  at  Leslie  in  Fifeshire.  The  error  was 
corrected  in  the  last  edition  of  Ramsay's  Poems.  Mr  Sibbald,  substituting 
conjecture  for  facts,  laid  the  scene  at  St  Andrew-,  and  supposes  that  the 
author  may  have  given  the  name  of  Christis  Kirk  to  the  College  Kirk  of  St 
Salvador.  Pinkerton,  in  his  edition  of  '  Scots  Ballads,'  Vol.  II.,  p.  176, 
says,  '  Christs  Kirk  on  the  Green  means  the  kirk  town  of  Leslie,  near 
Falkland  in  Fife.'  He  did  not  recollect  that  there  was  an  elder  Leslie  in 
Aberdeenshire,  where  there  was  a  Christ's  Kirk  on  the  Green.  But  this 
conjecture  he  afterwards  gave  up  as  unfounded.' — Chalmers,  lb.,  p.  449.  The 
fact  that  Christis  Kirk  in  Kennethmount  is  the  only  place  in  Scotland  which 
bears  that  name,  is  a  strong  corroborative  plea  of  its  being  the  scene  of  the 
Royal  author's  graphic  poem,  and  the  weight  of  evidence  is  in  its  favour. 

3.  The  Kirke  of  Inche,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Garioch,  Aberdeenshire, 
is  named  Inchmabanin  in  the  Foundation  Charter,  Lord  Liudores  was 
bound  to  allow  the  minister  eighty  pounds  yearly  together  with  the  small 
tithes  of  the  vicarage. 

4.  Lesly,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Garioch. — We  learn  from  a  Charter  by 
John,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  a.d.  1219-1237,  that  this  Church  was  bestowed 
on  Lindores  Abbey  by  Norman,  the  son  of  Malcom,  an  ancestor  of  the  family 
of  Leslie.  In  confirming  the  grant  of  the  lands,  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon 
expressly  excepts  'the  church  of  Lessellyn  which  the  said  Norman  gave  to 
that  Abbacy.'  This  parish,  an  old  writer  informs  us,  '  is  the  original  Seat 
of  the  family  of  Leslie  (now  represented  by  the  Countess  of  Rothes), 
whose  ancestor,  in  memory  of  this,  named  his  house  in  Fife,  Leslie.' — Col- 
lections on  the  Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff,  p.  455.  From  three  Charters 
quoted  in  the  '  Collections  on  the  shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff,  pp.  546-8,' 
we  learn  the  names  of  four  of  the  ancestors,  in  lineal  descent,  of  the  Countess 
of  Rothes  before  the}7  had  assumed  the  surname  of  Leslie.  By  one  of  these 
Charters,  David,  Karl  of  Huntingdon,  a.d.  1171-1169,  confirms  the  lands  of 
Lesslyn  to  Malcolm  the  son  of  Bartholf ;  and  in  the  Charter  by  John,  Earl 
of  Huntingdon,  a.d.  1219-1237,  the  same  lands  are  confirmed  to  Norman 
the  son  of  Malcom.  In  the  third  Charter  by  Alexander  II.,  a.d.  1247.  1248 
they  are  again  confirmed  to  Alfornus,  the  son  of  Norman.  The  surname 
Leslie  was  derived,  as  was  then  usual,  from  the  lands  the  family  possessed  ; 
and  if  a  conjecture  may  be  hazarded,  perhaps  the  origin  of  the  name  may 
be  found  in  the  word  Less,  which  in  Gaelic  signifies  a  circular  earthen  fort, 
and  linn,  a  pool.  The  burn  of  Leslie,  and  the  river  Gawdie  renowned  in 
song,  flow  through  the  parish,  the  latter  passes  close  by  the  old  castle  of 
Leslie.  If  this  etymology  of  Leslie  is  correct,  it  is  not  a  little  remarkable 
that  the  title  Rothes  should  have  the  same  signification.     Rath,  in  Gaelic 


430  APPENDIX. 

means  a  fort,  and .  es  water ;  Ratk-es,  a  compound  which  Mr  Jervise  of 
Brechin,  who  is  familiar  with  the  locality,  says  is  admirably  descriptive  of 
a  circular  fort  still  extant  at  the  confluence  of  two  streams  in  the  parish  of 
Rothes.  Lord  Lindores  was  bound  to  pay  the  minister  of  Leslie  one 
hundred  merks  yearly.  On  the  10th  October  1546,  the  .Abbot  of  Lindores 
granted  a  tack  of  the  titles  of  Mains  of  Lesly  to  John  Leslie  of  that  ylk  : 
it  is  dated  at  the  Monastery  of  Lundoris,  and  is  interesting  as  being  signed 
by  the  abbot  and  monks  ;  their  names  are  as  follows  : — 

Johannes  Abbot  of  Lundoris.  Alexr.  Patonson. 

Johannes  Brownhill,  supprior  eiusdem.        Robertus  Jameson. 

Johannes  Blair.  Robertus  Wilyemson. 

Ricardus  Barcar.  Robertus  Westuatter. 

Patricius  Steill.  Jacobus  Carstairs. 

Willilmus  Messon.  Johannes  Skynnir. 

Alexr.  Wrycht.  Willelmus  Walhand. 

Alex1--  Richardsoun.  Gilbertus  Marischell. 

David  Orem.  Andreas  Vod. 

Andreas  Lesly.  Johannes  Smyth. 

John  Philp,  vicar  of  Logiedorno,  is  one  of  the  witnesses. — Antiq.  of 
the  Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff,  Spalding  Club,  Vol.  III.,  p.  393-4. 

5.  Primethe,  now  Premnay,  in  the  same  presbytery  as  the  foregoing. 
The  church  was  bestowed  by  David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  on  Lindores 
Abbey,  and  is  named  in  the  Foundation  Charter  '  Prame.'  The  stipend 
payable  by  Lord  Lindores  to  the  minister  was  forty  pounds  yearly. 

6.  Culsalmonthe,  now  Culsalmond,  also  in  the  Presbytery  of  Garrioch, 
and  bestowed  by  the  Founder  on  Lindores  Abbey ;  it  is  named  in  Original 
Charter  '  Culsamuel.'  The  stipend  payable  to  the  minister  by  Lord  Lindores 
was  one  hundred  merks  yearly.  John,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  convej'ed  the 
lands  of  Largye,  in  this  parish,  to  Henry  Leslye  and  his  spouse  in  feu  ferme  ; 
the  charter  is  dated  10th  December  1545,  at  the  Monastery  of  Lundoris,  and 
is  signed  by  the  abbot  and  monks.  Mr  John  Rolland  and  Mr  John  Philp, 
chaplains,  are  witnesses. — Antq.  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff-shires,  Vol.  III.,  pp. 
409-10. 

7.  Logydornoche,  named  the  church  of  '  Dumach,'  in  the  Foundation 
Charter.  '  Before  the  Reformation  it  would  appear  that  there  were  three 
places  of  worship  in  this  parish,  namely,  Logie  Durno,  Fetternear,  and  a 
chapel,  formerly  called  '  Capella  Beatae  Virginis  de  Garvyach.'  Early  in 
the  17th  century  the  parish  church  was  built  on  the  site  of  this  chapel,  and 
was  then  appointed  to  be  called  the  Chapel  of  the  Garioch.'  Lord  Lindores 
was  bound  to  pay  the  minister  one  hundred  merks  of  stipend.  Sir  John 
Leslie  of  Balquhain  in  this  parish,  who  died  in  a.d.  1561,  '  purchased  many 


APPENDIX.  431 

lauds  belonding  to  the  Abbey  of  Lindores.' — Collections  on  the  Shires  of 
Aberdeen  and  Banff,  p.  530.  Had  abstracts  of  the  Charters  of  these  pur- 
chases been  given  in  the  elaborate  '  Historical  Records  of  the  Family  of 
Leslie,'  published  1869,  additional  light  might  have  been  thrown  on  the 
transference  of  the  lands  of  the  Abbey. 

8.  Innerowrie,  named  '  Inverurin '  in  the  Foundation  Charter,  one  of  the 
original  churches  bestowed  on  Lindores  Abbey  by  David,  Earl  of  Hunting- 
don ;  in  addition  to  the  church  the  Pope's  Confirmation  of  the  same  Charter 
(1198)  specifies  'one  full  toft  in  the  burgh  of  Inverurie.'  The  stipend 
payable  by  Lord  Lindores  to  the  minister  of  Inverurie  and  Monkegie 
'  because  it  was  a  pendicle  of  the  same,'  was  one  hundred  merks  yearly. 
The  Burgh  of  Inverurie  still  pays  2s.  2id.  yearly  of  feu-duty  to  Sir 
William  Forbes,  Bart.,  of  Craigievar,  '  Hereditary  Collector  of  the  Feu- 
duties  of  the  North  Abbacy  of  Lindores.' 

9.  Monkegy,  named  '  Munkegin '  in  the  Foundation  Charter ;  another 
of  the  churches  bestowed  on  Lindores  Abbey  by  the  Founder.  The  church 
and  parish  is  now  known  by  the  name  of  Keithhall,  the  name  of  a  property 
in  the  parish. 

10.  Fyntrie,  now  Fintray,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Aberdeen ;  the  church 
is  named  '  Fintreth '  in  the  Foundation  Charter,  having  been  bestowed  on 
Lindores  Abbey  by  the  Founder.  The  Abbot  '  had  a  summer  seat  at  Saint 
Giles  in  Hatton  '  in  this  parish. — Collect.  Aberdeen,  etc.,  p.  245.  In  a.d.  1216, 
Alexander  II.  erected  the  wood  of  Fyntreth  into  a  forest  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  game  in  favour  of  the  abbot  and  convent  (Charter  No.  8).  The 
stipend  payable  by  Lord  Lindores  to  the  minister  was  one  hundred  merks 
yearly.  In  the  reign  of  James  VI.  an  Act  was  passed  (a.d.  1621)  separat- 
ing the  barony  of  Logyfintray  from  the  Regality  of  Lundoris.  It  is  therein 
enacted,  as  more  fully  stated  in  a  preceding  page,  '  that  Courts  be  held  at 
the  Haltoun  of  Fyntrey  instead  of  the  Tolbuith  of  Newburgh.' 

11.  Baddy-Farrow,  a  property  in  the  parish  of  Inverurie,  now  called 
Manar. 

12.  Wester  Disblair,  a  property  in  the  parish  of  Fintray. 

13.  Dundee,  see  antea. 

14.  Eglismagill,  named  Eglismagwll  in  the  tack  in  favour  of  George 
Muncrefe  (see  antea)  ;  latterly  it  was  known  as  Exmagirdle,  but  recently 
the  name  has  been  changed  to  Glenearn.  It  is  situated  in  the  westmost 
corner  of  the  parish  of  Uron,  in  a  small  secluded  valley  lying  hot  ween  the 
Bridge  of  Earn  and  the  Ochils.  '  There  is  a  roofless  chapel,  with  a  bury- 
ing ground  surrounding  it,  close  by  the  old  mansion  house  of  Exmagirdle.' 
The  author  of '  Characteristics  of  Old  Church  Architecture'  s;iys.  'there  are 
features  in  the  chapel  indicative  of  the  First-pointed  Period,'  which  ranged 


432  APPENDIX. 

in  Scotland  from  aj>.  1170  to  1250  (p.  47).  In  the  churchyard  there  is 
a  stone  -which  commemorates  the  death  of  one  of  the  martyrs  of  the  Cove- 
nant, in  these  words  :  '  Heir  lyis  ane  vertons  Husbandman,  Thomas  Smal, 
who  Died  for  Religion,  Covenant,  King  and  Countrie  the  1st  of  September 
1645,  his  age  58.  Mementi  mori.'  The  burying-ground  is  still  used  as 
such  by  the  old  families  in  the  neighbourhood.  There  is  no  record  as  to 
how  Exmagirdle  came  into  the  possession  of  Lindores  Abbey,  but  that  it 
was  a  dependent  chapel  of  that  monastery,  where  one  or  more  of  the 
monks  celebrated  divine  worship,  is  evident  from  the  record  of  the  pro- 
vision that  was  made  for  their  comfort  by  the  Steward  of  the  Abbey.  At 
page  31  of  the  '  Liber  Sancti  Marie  de  Lundoris,'  the  following  occurs  : — 
'  Memoradum  of  the  bedds  in  Exmag.  by  this  compt  due  of  this  compt  and 
fyue  diueriss  ciaths  bath  for  bed  and  burd.'  '  The  yeyr  of  God  Ane  mi0  vc.  & 
xxx  vers.'  But  besides  this  memorandum,  the  Charter  by  James  VI., 
erecting  the  lands  which  belonged  to  Lindores  Abbey  into  a  temporal 
Lordship  in  favour  of  Patrick  Leslie,  expressly  sets  forth  '  that  because 
from  old  times  there  was  a  chaplain  who  celebrated  divine  worship  in  the 
chapel  of  Egiismagirgill  .  .  .  therefore,  we  for  the  zeal,  affection  and 
love  which  we  bear  to  the  true  religion,  .  .  .  give  commission  to 
Patrick  Leslie  to  nominate  a  Reader  to  the  said  chapel,  who  shall  have  a 
stipend  of  forty  merks  yearly.' 

In  the  preface  to  the  '  Liber  Sancti  Marie  de  Lundoris,'  the  editor 
contra  verts  a  statement  of  the  Rev.  Dr  Anderson  of  Newburgh,  and 
asserts  that  '  in  the  calendar  of  no  church  is  such  a  saint  enrolled '  as  St 
Magidrin.  W.  F.  Skene,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  has  conclusively  shown  in  an  able 
paper  {Proceedings  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  318)  on  the  'Early 
Ecclesiastical  Settlements  of  St  Andrews,'  that  this  saint  can  be  identified 
with  St  Adrian,  who  was  martyred  in  the  Isle  of  May.  The  parish  of 
Lindores.  of  which  Newburgh  forms  a  part,  was  dedicated  to  St  Magidrin, 
and,  as  already  stated,  his  name  appeared  on  Cross  Macduff. 

The  editor  is  also  in  error  in  allowing  the  statement,  which  he  has 
quoted  in  the  same  preface,  from  the  Statistical  Account  of  the  Parish  of 
Dron,  that  the  chapel  of  Potie,  at  the  mouth  of  Glenfarg,  was  a  dependency 
of  Lindores  Abbey.  In  an  Act  passed  in  the  reign  of  James  VI.  (cap.  162, 
a.d.  1502),  the  Kirks  of  Potie  and  Moncrief  are  designated  'pendicles  of 
the  College  and  Hospital  of  Dunbarney.'  The  chapel  of  Potie  has  been 
entirely  swept  away  by  the  impetuous  torrents  of  the  Farg,  and  not  a 
vestige  remains  above  ground.  A  lead  seal  of  a  Papal  Bull  was  found,  in 
what  constituted  the  burying-ground  of  the  chapel,  about  twenty  years 
ago.  On  one  side  is  'Nicolaus  P.P.  IIII.,  and  on  the  other,  '  SPA,  SPE,' 
under  which  are  heads  of  St  Peter  and  St  Paul.     Nicolas  IV.  held  the 


APPENDIX.  433 

Papacy  from  a.d.  1288  to  1292.  The  seal  is  deposited  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  Edinburgh. — Proceedings  of  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries, Vol.  IV.,  p.  296. 

15.  Clavage,  a  property  in  the  parish  of  Dunning-. 

16.  Eister  Feddellis  and  Bene,  now  Bennie ;  both  these  properties  are 
in  the  parish  of  Ardoch.  The  owner  of  one  of  the  halves  of  Wester  Fed- 
dellis was  bound  to  carry  two  horse  loads  of  herring  yearly  from  Glasgow 
to  the  monastery  of  Lundoris  for  the  use  of  the  monks.  John  Chisholm 
was  served  heir  to  his  father,  Sir  James  Chisholm,  in  the  lands  of  Wester 
Feddellis,  in  the  Regality  of  Lundoris,  30th  April  1642,  under  this  burden. 
— Perth  Retours,  No.  503. 

17.  Forrett.  There  is  no  indication  of  the  situation  of  this  property,  but 
in  all  likelihood  it  was  Forrett  in  the  parish  of  Logie,  Fifeshire. 

18.  Ebdij,  designated  '  Ecca  Lundors  vel  Ebedy,'  Reg  de  Dunfennelyn, 
p.  208,  now  Abdie,  see  antea.  By  his  charter,  Lord  Lindores  was  bound 
to  pay  the  minister  of  '  Ebdie '  16  bolls  of  oatmeal,  commonly  called  '  teind 
ait  meall,'  4  bolls  of  barley  and  one  hundred  pounds  Scots  of  stipend. 

19.  The  Wodriffe,  the  arable  portion  of  the  lands  bestowed  by  the 
Abbot  of  Lindores  on  the  Burgesses  of  Newburgh,  under  payment  of  '  40 
bolls  of  beir,'  which  is  still  paid  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Wodriffe  Lands 
(see  antea). 

Thraiplands,  in  Newburgh  parish  ;  name  obsolete. 

20.  Brodlands,  part  of  the  burgh  lands  lying  between  the  Woodriffe 
and  Mugdrum  ;  the  name  is  now  obsolete. 

21.  The  Haugh ;  the  rich  alluvial  soil  lying  between  Newburgh  and 
the  Tay  ;  the  name  is  now  disused,  but  it  was  familiarly  known  forty  years 
ago. 

22  Dumnuir,  more  correctly  Dunmore,  in  the  parish  of  Abdie.  In  the 
confirmation  of  the  Foundation  Charter  of  Lindores  Abbey  by  Pope  Inno- 
cent III.,  a.d.  1198,  'the  chapel  of  Dundemore '  is  described  'as  be- 
longing to  the  church  of  Londors.'  The  name  is  undoubtedly  derived 
from  the  Gaelic  Dun  more,  the  great  dun  or  fort  on  Norman's  Law,  the 
Northman's  or  Norwegian's  Law. — Glossary  of  Cleveland  Dialect,  p.  xx. 
There  is  a  small  chapel  on  the  property,  the  walls  of  which  are  nearly 
entire,  but  roofless.  It  is  of  comparatively  modern  erection,  but  the  stones 
of  a  much  older  chapel  have  been  used  in  its  construction  and  it  is  a 
legitimate  inference  to  presume  that  they  formed  part  of  the  chapel  exist- 
ing a.o.  1198.  Besides  hewn  work  built  among  the  rubble,  the  lintels  of 
Hi,,  galilo  windows  are  specially  noticeable.  They  consist  each  of  a  single 
stone  hewn  into  a  semicircular  or  arched  form,  almost  identical  with  some 
described  by  Dr  Petrie,  as  seen  in  very  ancient  Irish  churches. — Round 

E  E 


434  APPENDIX. 

Towers  of  Ireland,  p.  181.  The  engraving  of  the  window  in  the  east 
gable  of  the  chapel,  at  page  402,  is  from  a  drawing  by  Mr  Jervise  of 
Brechin.     It  gives  a  most  accurate  representation  of  the  original. 

The  lands  of  Dunniore  belonged  to  a  family  of  great  antiquity,  who 
took  their  surname  from  the  name  of  their  property.  Henry  of  Dunde- 
more  was  a  witness  to  the  conveyance  of  the  lands  of  Rathmuryel  to  the 
Monastery  of  Lundoris,  at  Lundoris  Abbey,  in  the  year  1245. — Collections 
on  Aberdeen  and  Banffshires,  p.  626.  John  of  Dundemore  was  one  of  the 
Regents  of  Alexander  III.  in  his  minority,  1249-1262. — In  the  year  1260, 
'  a  controversy  arose  between  the  monks  of  the  Isle  of  May  and  Sir  John 
of  Dundemore,  relative  to  the  lands  of  Turbrech,  in  Fife,  which,  after  many 
altercations,  was  settled  by  Sir  John  relinquishing  all  claim  to  the  lands ; 
in  consideration  of  which  the  prior  and  monks  granted  him  a  monk  to 
perform  divine  service  in  the  chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  in  the  Isle 
of  May,  for  his  soul,  and  the  souls  of  his  forefathers  and  successors.  They 
were  also  to  pay  him  half  a  merk  of  silver  yearly,  or  sixty  '  mulivelli '  (a 
kind  of  fish  abounding  hi  the  northern  seas — the  word  has  been  translated 
mullet  and  haddock),  at  their  option  ;  and  they  also  granted  to  him  and  his 
heirs  a  lamp  of  glass  (to  burn  continually)  in  the  church  of  Syreis,  or  Ceres, 
and  for  feeding  it  two  gallons  of  oil,  or  twelve  pence  yearly.  If  they 
should  fail  to  observe  these  conditions,  Sir  John  was  to  have  right  of  regress 
to  the  lands.' — Preface  to  the  Records  ofFriory  of  the  Isle  of  May,  pp.  xvi.  xvii. 

Henry  of  Dundemore,  the  successor  of  John,  apparently  not  afraid  for 
the  loss  of  the  prayers  of  the  monks,  seized  a  horse  belonging  to  them, 
because  they  would  not  swear  fealtj^  to  him  for  the  lands  of  Turbrech  ;  but 
in  1285  the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  as  arbiter,  decided '  that  the  monks  were 
not  bound  to  make  the  fealty  claimed,  and  gave  sentence  that  the  horse  be 
restored.' — lb.,  p.  xvii. 

The  Dundemores'  seem  to  have  been  a  family  of  great  ability,  and 
their  talents  raised  them  to  high  positions  both  in  Church  and  State.  In  the 
struggle  for  Independence,  they  adhered  to  the  patriotic  side,  and  suffered 
in  consequence.  Among  the  petitions  presented  to  Edward  I.  for  main- 
tenance by  the  wives  of  those  whose  estates  had  been  seized  because  of 
their  opposition  to  his  claims,  appears  that  of  Isabella,  the  widow  of  Simon 
of  Dundemore,  3d  September  1296.  Her  petition  was  indorsed  with  these 
words,  Habeat  quiete  totum — Let  her  quietly  have  the  whole.  Sir  Richard  of 
Dundemore  was  taken  captive  at  the  battle  of  Dunbar  in  1296,  and  im- 
prisoned in  Winchester  Castle,  where  he  was  confined  for  at  least  two 
years.  On  the  30th  September  1298,  an  order  allowing  him  fourpence  a 
day  for  his  maintenance  while  in  prison,  is  preserved  among  the  English 
Public  Records. — Historical  Documents,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  93,  94-307.     Thomas 


APPENDIX. 


435 


of  Dundemore,  Bishop  of  Ross  recognised  the  title  of  King  Robert  Bruce 
to  the  Crown  of  Scotland,  a.d.  1309.  In  the  same  year  John  of  Dunde- 
more affixed  his  seal  as  a  witness  to  the  settlement  of  the  dispute  between 
the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lundoris  and  the  Burgesses  of  Newburgh 
Stephen  of  Dundemore,  who  is  expressly  mentioned  as  being  descended 
from  the  Dundemores  of  that  ilk  in  Fife,  was  elected  Bishop  of  Glasgow 
a.d.  1317.  The  Bishop-elect  being  a  keen  supporter  of  Bruce,  Edward 
IT.  wrote  to  the  Pope  not  to  admit  him  to  the  Bishopric  ;  and  it  would 
appear  that  he  never  was  consecrated,  having  died,  it  is  said,  on  his  way  to 
Rome.— Keith's  Scottish  Bishops,  pp.  187-242.  On  the  27th  June  1331,  bur 
John  Dundemore  conveyed  by  charter  in  free  gift  to  the  monks  of  Bal- 
merino,  the  right  to  the  water  running  through  his  land  of  Dunberauch  for 
the  use  of  their  mill  at  Pitgornoch.  The  bestowal  of  this  gift  was  appa- 
rently made  the  occasion  of  a  festive  gathering  at  Dunmore;  the  Bishop  of 
St  Andrews,  the  Abbot  of  Lundoris,  Sir  David  de  Berkeley  (of  Cullairme  ?) 
Sir  Alexander  of  Seton,  the  Governor  of  Berwick,  Alex  of  Clapham,  and 
others,  were  present  as  witnesses  ;  most  of  whom  had  borne  their  part  in 
the  o-reat  struggle  for  Independence.— The  Chartulary  of  Balmenno,  pp. 
40  41  In  the  reign  of  David  II.,  1346-70,  Marion  Dunmore  gave  a  Charter 
to  Robert,  Stewart  of  Scotland,  of  the  lands  of  Dunmore  in  Fyfe  in  favour 
of  Roo-er  Mortimer.— Robertson's  Index  of  Missing  Charters,  45-35.  Another 
Stephen  of  Dunmore  appears  as  a  witness  to  an  agreement  by  Fergus, 
Perpetual  Vicar  of  the  Church  of  Dunbulg,  a.d.  1395.— Register  of  the  Priory 
of  St  Andrews,  p.  49.  . 

In  the  year  1483,  Isobel,  spouse  of  umquhile  Richardsoun,  is  named  as 
proprietor  of  Dunmore,  but  whether  in  her  own  right  as  a  descendant  of 
the  Dundemores,  does  not  appear.  On  the  1 1th  October  of  that  year,  she  was 
summoned  before  the  Lords  of  Council  by  Andrew,.  Abbot  of  Lundores  for 
the  payment  of  '  viii  chalders  of  vittale  of  the  teynds  of  Dunmure,  which 
she  was  decerned  to  pay.  Acta  Dominorum  p.  119.*-0n  the  19th  February 
1483-4  George,  Lord  Setoun,  raised  an  action  against  John  Bercla,  brother 
to  David  Bercla  of  Culler ney  and  others,  for  the  wrongous  occupation  of 
Dunmore,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  received  a  tack  of  the  lands  from  the 
Crown  ;  Bercla  and  his  friends  alleging,  on  the  other  hand,  that  they  had  a 
warrand  from  Andrew  Richardson  for  the  occupation  of  the  lands.—  lb.,  p. 
130.*     Dunmore  seems  subsequently  to  have  come  into  the  hands  of  the 

Crown.  .  , .  T 

James  III.  bestowed  'the  lands  of  Dunmmr  on  his  servitor,  James 
Paterson,  1460-1488.— Siblald  p.  408.  James  V.,  about  two  months  before 
his  death,  conferred  on  Sir  David  Lyndsay  of  the  Mount,  as  Lyon  King  of 
Vrms  'two  chalders  aittis  yearly  for  hors  corn  all  the  days  of  his  hie,  out 


436  APPENDIX. 

of  the  Kings  lands  of  Over-Dymnure  now  being  in  the  hands  of  Walter 
Paterson,  fewar  of  the  samyn.'  This  was  in  augmentation  of  Lyndsay's 
ordinary  fee  assigned  by  the  same  monarch  out  of  the  lands  of  Luthrie. 
Sir  David  Lyndsay's  Works,  Chalmers'  Edition,  Vol.  I.,  p.  26. 

This  addition  to  his  salary  must  have  been  doubly  gratifying  to  Lyndsay, 
coming  from  the  Prince  whom  he  had  nurtured  in  his  youth,  and  at  the  time 
that  the  out-spokenness  of  his  writings  must  necessarily  have  begat  him 
many  enemies.     In  his  first  poem  Lyndsay,  addressing  the  King,  says — 

'  Quhen  thow  wes  young  I  bure  thee  iu  myne  arme 
Full  tenderlie,  tyll  thou  begouth  to  gang  ; 
And  in  thy  bed  oft  happit  thee  full  warme, 
"With  lute  in  hand,  syne  sweitlie  to  thee  sang,' 

and  in  his  latter  years  he  counselled  James  to  '  Leme  to  be  ane  King. 

Lyndsay's  denunciations  of  the  vices  of  the  clergy  are  unsparing,  and 
David  Laing,  in  his  Memoir  of  him  says,  'It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  in 
such  troublous  times,  Lyndsay  should  have  been  allowed  to  escape  persecu- 
tion in  some  of  its  various  forms,  whether  deprivation  of  property,  im- 
prisonment, torture  or  death,'  p.  xlix.  Lyndsay's  Poems,  written  in  the 
vernacular,  came  home  with  power  to  the  people,  and  his  unsparing  ex- 
posure of  the  vices  and  errors  of  the  clergy  powerfully  helped  on  the  cause 
of  Reformation,  so  much  so,  that  one  writer  does  not  hesitate  to  affirm  that 
'  Sir  David  Lyndsay  was  more  the  Reformer  of  Scotland  than  John  Knox.' 
— Pinkerton,  quoted  by  Joseph  Robertson.  Preface  to  Statuta  Ecc.  Scoticanae,  p. 
cccix.  It  has  been  said  that  Lyndsay  never  joined  the  Reformers,  but  Mr 
David  Laing  has  shown  that  he  '  died  some  time  previous  to  the  18th  April 
1555,'  upwards  of  four  years  before  the  consummation  of  the  Reformation. 
Had  he  lived,  the  whole  tendency  of  his  writings  shows  that  he  would  have 
thrown  himself  in  the  cause  which  he  had  advocated  into  his  writings. 

In  Lamont's  Diary,  under  date  1669,  the  following  occurs  : — '  About 
Whitsunday,  Andrew  Patersone,  one  of  the  baylies  of  Cupar  in  Fyffe 
bought  the  lands  of  Dunmwre,  nire  Aytown  in  Fyffe  from  the  Laird  of  Dun- 
mwre,  and  ane  Hew  Patersone,  writer  in  Edb.  It  was  estimat  about 
16  chalders  of  victual  and  money  rent,  it  stood  him  about  32  thousand 
merkis.'  P.  263.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  the  laird  had  only  sold 
one  of  the  portions  into  which  estates  were  at  that  period  subdivided,  for, 
on  the  6th  January  1686,  Andrew  Paterson  of  Dinmwr  was  served  heir  to 
his  father  George  Patersone  in  the  east  half  of  the  lauds  of  Dinmwr,  known 
as  Over-Duumoore  and  in  the  Mill  of  Dunmoore.  On  the  19  Janyr  1699 
George  Paterson  was  served  heir  to  his  brother  Andrew  in  the  same  lands. 
— Fife  Retours,  No.  1280-1424.     Sibbald,  in  his  History  of  Fife,  1710,  says, 


APPENDIX.  437 

'  South  east  of  Dinbug  is  Dinmuir,  a  new  house  the  seat  of  Mr  George 
Patereon  whose  ancestors  have  been  heritors  of  this  estate  since  the  reign 

of  James  III.' P.  408.     A  portion  of  this  house  still  remains,  forming  part 

(if  the  steading.  A  coat  of  arms,  carved  in  oak,  is  built  into  the  wall,  but 
the  carving  is  so  much  wasted  that  it  is  not  decipherable.  George  Pater- 
son married,  in  1710,  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  Major  Henry  Balfour  of 
Dunbog.  The  building  of  the  new  house,  or  other  causes,  seems  to  have 
brought  him  into  difficulties,  for,  in  1729,  he  conveyed  Over  or  Easter 
Dunmure  to  his  creditors.  The  property  was  bought  at  a  public  roup  by 
Major  Balfour,  who  sold  it  in  1742  to  William  Imrie.  Over  Dunmure  re- 
mained in  possession  of  the  Imries  until  1805  ;  in  which  year  Lieut.-Col. 
Niuian  Imrie  sold  it  to  the  late  Alexander  Murray  and  his  son  Joseph 
Murray  of  Aytou,  the  present  proprietor. 

In  1507,  by  a  Charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  '  James  IV.  bestowed  the 
west  half  of  Dinmuir  or  Nether  Dinmuir,  now  called  Ayton,  on  Andrew 
Aiton,  Captain  of  the  Castle  of  Stirling,  of  the  family  of  Aitou  in  the  Merse, 
for  good  and  faithful  services.'— Sibbahl,  p.  409.  Andrew  Aiton  had  also 
a  charter  to  Glenduckie,  1506.  The  following  notice  of  the  descendants  of 
Andrew  Ayton  is  from  Sir  James  Balfour's  M.S.  Collections  on  the  Shires,' 
preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library  :  — 

1.  'Andrew  Aytone  2d  sone  to  the  Laird  of  Aytone  in  the  Merss 
and  Capitane  of  the  Castell  of  Streweling  wes  the  first  that  had  the 
Landes  of  Nether  Dunmore  iu  few  farm  from  K.  Ja.  He  married 
Isobel,  daughter  to  Kincragey  of  that  ilk  and  had  issew  3  sonns 
and  7  daughters.  The  sonns,  Johne  the  eldest  succidit  him. 
Robert  the  2d  wes  the  first  goodman  of  Inchdarney. 
Mr  Johne  [Andrew  ?]  hes  3d  sone  wes  first  goodman  of  Kinaldey.1 

His  daughters  ver  : — 
the  eldest  wes  Lade  (Lady)  of  Balthayock  in  Perthshyre. 
Hes  2d  daughter  wes  maried  to  Straquhaine,  Laird  of  Brigtoune  in 

Forfarshyre. 
lies  3d  daughter  wes  maried  to  Cunninghame,  Laird  of  Polmais  in 

Streueling. 

nes  4l  daughter  ves  maried  to  Shaw  of  Knockhill  in  Strevelingshyre. 
Hes  5l  daughter  was  married  to  Lindesay  of  Dowhill. 
Hes  6*  daughter  wes  married  to  Ilackett  of  Pitfirrane. 


i  There  is  evidently  an  error  lure.  There  was  a  John  Aytoun  of  Kinaldie 
about  1539,  'who,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  was  a  younger  brother  of  the 
Captain  of  Stirling  Castle.  His  son  left  that  estate  to  Andrew,  his  uncle's 
youngest  [3d]  son.— Memoir  of  Sir  Robert  Aytoun,  h»j  Rev.  Dr  Rogers,  p.  153. 


438  APPENDIX. 

lies  7  daughter  wes  mailed  to  Dudingstone  of  Sauford  for  his  2d  vyffe. 

2.  Johne  Aytone  succidit  hes  father  [19th  April  1558]  and  ves  2d 
goodman  of  Dumnore,  maried  Barclay  daughter  to  Dauid  Barclay 
of  Cullerney  and  had  issew  one  sone  Androw. 

3.  Androw  Aytone  only  sone  to  John  Ayton  of  Dunmore  succidit  hes 
father  [1581]  and  mailed  Elizabeth  Weymes  daughter  to  the  Laird 
of  Pittincreiffe  had  issew  3  sonns. 

John  his  eldest  sone  succidit  him. 

Robert  his  2d  sone  of  Craidfudey,  married  Ingliss,  daughter  of  Inglis 

of  Ingilishtaruett,  and  had  issew,  Mr  Robert  Aytone  of  Cluny  now 

living  &c, 
Andrew  his  3d  wes  neuer  maried,  bot  he  had  a  Basse  son  Mr  Androw 

Aytone,  Adwocat  now  Laird  of  Logie  1637  ;  and  4  daughters,  the 

eldest  wes  maried  to  John  Pitcairne  of  forther  and  had  issew. 
lies  2d  daughter  was  maried  to  Alexander  Lindesay  of  the  Mounth 

and  had  issew. 
Hes  3d  daughter  wes  maried  to  David  Balfour  of  Pouis  in  Streveling- 

shyre  and  had  issew. 
Hes  4*  daughter  wes  maried  to  John  Arnott  of  Voodmyle  and  had  issew. 

4.  John  Aytoune  4l  of  Dunmore  did  succeed  hes  father  Androw  and 
maried  Anna  Weeymes  daughter  to  Sir  John  Veeymes  of  Wymes, 
and  had  issew  one  sone  Androw  and  2  daughters. 

Margarett  his  eldest  daughter  wes  maried  to  George  Settone  of 
Carrilstoune  and  had  issew. 

Catherine  hes  2d  daugher  wes  maried  to  George  Patersone  of  Luthrey 
for  his  first  Wyffe  and  had  issew  Robert  Patersone  now  of  Dun- 
more, &c. 

5  Androw  Aytone  first  Laird  of  Aytone  had  hes  Lands  of  Dunmore 
vith  vthers  by  K.  Ja  :  6  in  free  Barroney  :  to  be  callid  in  all  tyme 
coming  the  Lairschipe  and  Barroney  of  Aytone,  succidit  his  father 
Johne,  and  maried  Anna  Loudone  3d  daughter  of  Mr  William  Lou- 
done  of  the  same,  by  Elizabeth  Loudone  hes  2d  Wyffe  daughter  to 
the  Laird  of  Balgoney,  and  had  issew  one  sone  Johne  that  succidit 
him,  and  4  daughters,  Margaret  his  eldest  daughter  wes  maried  to 
Sir  Thomas  Blair  of  Balthayock  and  hes  issew. 

Anna  hes  2d  daughter  wes  maried  to  Sir  James  Balfour  of  Kynaird 
Knight  and  Barronett  and  hes  issew. 

Elizabeth  hes  3d  daughter  was  maried  to  Sir  Johne  Weeymes  of 
Bogey  knight  and  hes  no  issew. 

LTelena  lies  4l  daughter  wes  maried  to  Sir  Dauid  Barclay  of  Culerney 
Knight  and  left  no  issew. 


APPENDIX.  439 

G.  Johne  Aytone  6l  of  that  family  did  succeid  hes  father  Andrew 

quho  deyed at  Aytone  in  February  in  A0  and  wes  intend  at 

Ebdey  Church  that  same  month.  He  maried  Elizabeth  Weeymes 
4  daughter  to  Johne,  Earle  of  Weeymes  one  the  18  day  of  Appryll 
1G36  and  hes  isseu  liuing  in  this  yeir  of  God  1654. 
'  2.  Sonnes  John  and  Dauid  and  six  daughters.' 
John,  the  eldest  son,  received  the  honour  of  knighthood.  This  is  re- 
corded iu  Lamont's  Diary  as  follows  :— '  1665  This  summer,  yo  Ayton  in 
Fyffe,  was  knighted,  as  also  Balbeadie's  eldest  son,  surnamed  Malcome 
was  made  a  knight  baronet,  att  Edb.  Sir  John  married  a  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Stewart  of  Enderneath ;  this  event  is  also  recorded  by  Lamont — 
'Sept.  1.  1670,  Ayton  married  Sir  William  Stewart  of  Enderneath,  att 
Perth,  his  daughter,  the  marriage  feast  stood  att  hir  father's  house  in 
Pearth.' — Lamont's  Diary,  p.  231.  Sir  John  married  as  his  second  wife 
Margaret  Colville,  daughter  of  Lord  Colville  of  Ochiltree,  iu  1701.  He  died 
in  1703,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  William.  Sir  John,  shortly 
before  his  death,  settled  on  his  second  wife  and  her  children  (besides  a  join- 
ture), 40,000  merks  and  half  the  lands  of  Kincraigie.  His  eldest  son  raised 
an  action  to  reduce  this  settlement,  on  the  ground  that  it  left  him  less  than 
he  was  entitled  to  as  heir.  The  question  was  litigated  in  the  Court  of 
Session  for  eleven  years,  and  in  1716  it  was  decided,  mainly  on  technical 
grounds,  that  he  'could  quarrel  none  of  his  father's  deeds.' — Morrisons 
Dictionary  of  Decisions,  Xos.  6710,  14009,  14012.  This  long  litigation  em- 
poverished  the  heir,  and  he  sold  Ayton  on  the  7th  December  1723,  to  Patrick 
Murray,  second  son  of  Sir  Patrick  Murray  of  Ochtertyre,  whose  great- 
grandson,  Joseph  Murray,  is  now  proprietor  of  Ayton  and  Dunmore. 

The  family  of  Ayton  buried  in  the  old  chapel  of  Dundemore.  On  the 
inside  of  the  east  gable  there  is  a  sandstone  panel  bearing  four  shields 
with  the  date  1683,  and  the  initials  J.  A.  carved  on  it.  Mr  Jervise  of 
Brechin,  who  has  examined  the  monument,  is  of  opinion  that  '  the  third  as 
well  as  the  first  shield  has  been  charged  with  the  Ayton  arms  (a  cross 
engrailed  between  four  roses).  The  arms  on  the  second  shield  are  very 
much  defaced,  but  enough  remains  to  show  that  it  had  borne  four  lions 
rampant  (for  Wemyss),  which  is  confirmed  by  the  faint  traces  of  the  letter 
W.  below  the  shield.  The  arms  on  the  fourth  shield,  although  only  two 
stars  in  chief  arc  now  visible,  are  probably  those  of  Lindsay  of  Kirkforthar, 
which  are  described  as  a  fesse-chequee  between  three  stars  in  chief,  and  a 
hunting  horn  in  base.'  The  initials  and  date  prove  that  the  panel  was 
erected  by  Sir  John  Ayton,  and  the  preceding  pedigree  shows  the  connec- 
tion of  the  Aytou's  with  the  Wemyss  family,  but  no  record  has  appeared 
to  show  their  connection  with  the  Lindsays  of  Kirkforthar.     The  son  of 


440  APPENDIX. 

Patrick  Murray  who  acquired  Ayton,  is  said  to  have  been  buried  in  the 
chapel.  In  1710,  when  Sir  Robert  Sibbald  wrote  his  History  of  Fife,  there 
was,  he  says,  '  a  good  house  with  all  conveniences  of  gardens  and  inclosures 
belonging  to  Mr  William  Ayton,  the  lineal  successor  of  Andrew  Ayton, 
Captain  of  the  Castle  of  Stirling.' — P.  406.  Not  a  vestige  of  the  house 
now  remains.  William  Edmonstone  Aytoun,  the  author  of  the  '  Lays  of 
the  Scottish  Cavaliers,'  was  a  descendant  of  the  Aytons  of  Ayton. 

23.  Carpow,  the  name  of  a  small  farm  absorbed  into  the  adjoining  farm 
of  Glenduckie.     A  portion  of  the  lands  are  still  known  as  Carpow  Rigs. 

24.  Kinnaird.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  manuscript  preserved  in  the 
Advocates'  Library,  says,  '  With  Lochindoir  bordires  Kynaird  the  heritage 
of  Sir  James  Balfour,  Lyone  King  of  Amies  ;  these  lands  formerlie  belonged 
to  David  Earll  of  Huntingdone  who  dysponed  the  tyndis  anno  9  regis 
Willielmi  under  the  tenour  Omnes  decimas  villae  nostre  de  Kynnaird  Beata 
Mariae  et  monochis  de  Londores  in  Sylvis.  (All  the  teinds  of  our  town  of 
Kynnaird  to  the  Blessed  Mary  and  the  Monks  of  Londoris  in  the  Woods) 
wch  he  himself  foundit  not  a  yeir  befoir,  and  the  lands  within  3  yeiris 
following  to  Gilbert,  Earll  of  Stratherne  his  cousigne  quhos  sone  Madoc, 
Earl  of  Stratherne  with  consent  of  his  son  Malise  dated  [doted]  the  pro- 
perty of  the  said  land  to  the  Prioress  aud  Holy  Virgins  of  Elchok  in  the 
reign  of  Alexander  II.  a.d.  1214-1247.  Magdalen,  prioress  of  Elchok  sett 
thir  lands,  Reg.  Ja.  5  (1528-1542)  in  heritabill  feu,  but  any  reversioune 
to  Robert  leslie  Advocatt  to  the  Kingis  Majestie  quhose  ischew  failling  in 
the  air  maill  by  his  grand  chyld  Elizabeth  married  to  James  Barron  ane 
Merchant  in  Edinburgh  quhos  sone  George  barone  [who  had  a  charter  to 
Kynnard  in  favour  of  himself  and  Elizabeth  Linmouth  from  James  VI., 
dated  21st  July  1587]  disponed  them  to  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of  Demnylne 
knight.'  According  to  the  Retours  of  Fife,  Alexander  Leslie  succeeded  to 
the  lands  of  Kinnaird  as  heir  to  his  father  Mr  Andrew  Leslie  of  Innerpeffer 
in  1544.  (No.  4)  Thomas,  his  brother,  succeeded  to  him  in  1556,  (No.  28)  and 
Helen  their  sister,  in  1561  (No.  47).  Assuming  Mr  Andrew  to  be  the  son 
of  Robert  Leslie,  the  '  Advocatt,'  Elizabeth  must  have  been  his  great- 
grandchild. On  the  29th  January  1630  Charles  I.  granted  a  Charter  of 
Confirmation  under  the  Great  Seal  to  the  lands  of  Kynnaird  in  favour  of  Sir 
James  Balfour,  Lyon-King-of-Arms,  and  his  spouse,  Nos.  53,  113,  6,  1,  6. 

Lord  Balvaird  must  have  acquired  the  right  to  the  feu-duties  payable 
out  of  Kinnaird  to  the  nunnery  of  Elcho,  for,  on  the  12th  May  1643,  Andrew, 
Lord  Balvaird,  conveyed  them  by  Disposition  to  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of 
Denmiln,  and  to  his  son  Sir  James  Balfour  of  Kinnard.  On  the  5th  Septem- 
ber 1675,  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of  Denmiln,  with  consent  of  Dame  Katherine 
Pitcarne  his  mother,  conveyed  to  Sir  James  Sinclair  and  Dame  Elizabeth 


APPENDIX. 


441 


Balfour  his  spouse,  'the  lauds  and  barony  of  Kinnaird  and  thretty  four 
pounds  Scottis  money  f ormerlie  payable  to  the  Priory  of  Elcho,  acquired  by 
umquhile  Sir  Michael  Balfour  my  grandfather  and  Sir  James  Balfour  his 
sone,'    On  the  25th  September  1702,  Sir  George  Sinclair,  son  of  Sir  James 
Sinclair,  had  a  precept  of  Infeftment  to  the  lands  of  Kinnaird.    On  the  24th 
January  1720.  Sir  George,  with  consent  of  Dame  Margaret  Crawford  his 
spouse,  sold  the  Barony  of  Kinnaird  to  Sir  Edward  Gibson  of  Keirhill, 
Baronet.  After  Sir  Edward's  death  the  property  passed  successively  thr<  >ugh 
the  hands  of  Alexander  Cameron,  writer  in  Edinburgh,  1739.   Walter  Fergu- 
son, also  writer  in  Edinburgh,  1758.    Dr  James  Walker,  physician  in  Edin- 
burgh, 1764.     John  Lyon,  merchant  in  Dundee  1773,  sold  Kinnaird  and 
Inverdovat,  which  also  belonged  to  Dr  Walker,  to  John  Berry  of  Wester 
Bogie,  1788. — From  the  Original  Charter  in  Repossession  of  John  Berry,  Esquire 
ofTayfield  and  Inverdovat.   Kinnaird  subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of 
William  Robertson,  Town  Clerk  of  Cupar,  whose  daughters  sold  it  in  1709  to 
John  Pitoairn,  the  grandfather  of  John  Pitcairn,  Esq.,  the  present  proprietor. 
25.  The  Wodmyln,  now  the  mains  of  Woodmiln,  in  the  parish  of  Abdie, 
formerly  the  property  of  a  branch  of  the  family  of  Arnot.     A  portion  of  the 
walls  of  their  mansion,  which  appears  to  have  been  a  very  unsubstantial 
structure,  still  stands.     There  is  a  large  garden  enclosed  by  high  walls,  and 
laid  out  in  terraces,  with  a  line  old  yew  tree  in  it,  adjoining  the  ruins  of 
the  mansion  house.    Robert  Arnot,  a  grandson  of  Arnot  of  Arnot,  who  was 
Captain  of  Stirling  Castle  and  Comptroller  of  Scotland,  a.d.  1442,  acquired 
the  lands  of  Woodmiln  from  James  IV.  by  Charter  dated  6th  March  1509. 
He  fell  with  his  Royal  Master  at  the  disastrous  defeat  of  Flodden.     The 
Arnots  of  Fernie  and  of  Balcormo,  of  whom  Hugo  Arnot.  the  well  known 
historical  and  antiquarian  writer  was  descended,  are  sprung  from  Robert 
Arnot  who  acquired  Woodmiln.     In  1558  his  grandson  John  succeeded  to 
the  estate,  and  his  great  grandson,  also  John,  succeeded  in  1G0G.  The  great 
grandson  sold  the  estate  to  Sir  John  Arnot  of  Berswick,  a  descendant  of 
another  branch  of  the  Arnots  of  Arnot.     He  was  Provost  of  Edinburgh, 
and  Treasurer  Depute   of  Scotland   a.d.    1604.     John   Arnot,  merchant 
burgess  of   Edinburgh,  was  served  heir  to  Sir  John  Arnot  his  grandfather, 
in  the  lands  of  Woodmilne,  28th  February  1616.— Fife  Retours,  257._   His 
descendants  continued  in  possession  of  the  estate  down  to  the  beginning  of 
the  18th  century. 

Sir  Robert    Arnot  of  Fernie,  who  was  descended  from  the  first  branch 

of  the  Arnots  of  \V Imilue,  married  Margaret,  daughter  and  heiress  of 

Mi.-haol.  Lsl  Lord  Balfour  of  Burleigh,  and  by  Royal  Letters  assumed  that 
title  on  the  death  of  his  father  -in-law.  The  Balfours  of  Fernie  and  lhinbog 
were  descendants  of  this  marriage.     The  representatives  of  the  families  of 


442  APPENDIX. 

Burleigh,  Fernie,  and  Dunbog,  joined  the  rising  in  favour  of  the  Stuarts  in 
1715,  and  their  estates  were  confiscated. 

26.  The  Frieland.  The  lands  of  Lochend  were  formerly  known  by  this 
name. — Teind  Court  Records. 

27.  Inchery,  now  Inchrye,  formed  part  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife.  On 
the  18th  February  1526,  James  V.  grants  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal 
to  this  property,  in  favour  of  David  Balfour  of  Inchery  and  his  wife.  This 
grant  was  renewed  in  1541.  In  1567  a  charter  was  granted  to  David  his 
son  and  heir  (May  25).  In  1594  a  charter  was  granted  by  James  VI.  to 
David  Balfour  of  Inschrie  and  his  eldest  son  David,  of  the  lands  of  Pallis 
of  Clackmannan.  In  1596  a  charter  was  granted  to  David  Balfour  of 
Powhouse,  and  David  Balfour  his  son,  as  heir  of  the  lands  of  Inchry.  In 
1600  David  Balfour  of  I ncherie  is  described  as  '  heretable  few  firmorar  and 
Immediat  tennent  thereof.' — Act  Scot.  Par.  1600.  In  1628  John  Spens 
was  sei-ved  heir  to  his  father  William  Spens  in  Grange  of  Lindores,  as  heir 
to  the  lands  of  Inchery,  described  as  within  the  Lordship  and  Stewartry  of 
Fife.  In  1683  Inchrye  seems  to  have  come  into  the  possession  of  James 
Irvine,  who  is  designed  of  Inchrey  in  the  record  of  a  baptism  in  Abdie 
church,  of  a  daughter  of  William  Balfour,  the  minister,  on  the  23d  June  of 
that  year.  Sir  Michael  Balfour  of  Denmylne  and  Johne  Arnot  are  the 
other  witnesses  or  sponsors.  Woodmilne  and  Inchrye  are  now  the  pro- 
perty of  the  Right  Rev.  William  Scot  Wilson,  Bishop  of  Glasgow. 

28.  Loundoris,  now  Lindores,  formed  part  of  the  possessions  of  the 
Earl,  of  Fife,  who  had  a  strong  castle  on  the  ridge  overlooking  the  loch. 
'  As  is  evident,'  says  Sir  James  Balfour  in  his  Topographical  Notes,  '  in 
aue  donatioun  of  Donald  Macduffs,  Earll  of  Fyff,  Deo  et  St  Mariae  et 
Monachis  de  Lyndoris  (To  God  and  St  Mary  and  the  Monks  of  Lyndoris) 
dated  ex  arce  nostra  de  Lochindore  4'c.  (at  our  castle  of  Lochindore).'  '  Lin- 
dore,'  he  continues,  '  is  the  Kingis  property  and  a  parcill  of  the  patrimony 
of  the  ancient  Earlls  of  Fj'ffe  ;  the  teyndis,  personage  and  viccarage  of  thir 
laudis  were  given  be  Colban  Earl  of  Fyffe  to  the  Abbey  of  Lyndoris.'  The 
Earldom  of  Fife,  which  fell  to  the  Crown  by  the  forfeiture  of  Murdoc, 
Duke  of  Albany,  in  1425  (24  May)  was  annexed  to  the  Crown  by  special 
Act  of  Parliament  4  August  1455.  John  of  Ballone,  who  is  subsequently 
named  Balfour,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Aid  Lindores ;  and  on  the 
10th  October  1578,  the  following  decision  of  the  Lords  of  Council  was 
given  in  his  favour  : — '  The  Lords  ordanis  th*  letters  be  writtin  to  the  LI 
of  Fyfe  charging  him  incontinent  to  devoide  and  Red  John  Gourlaw,  Walt 
Smy1,  Jon  methven,  Alexr  Ballingaw,  Thos  Ballingaw,  John  Ballingaw, 
Robert  wri*  and  Alexr  Dysert  furth  of  the  lands  of  Aid  Lundors  gevin  and 
assignit  be  our  Soveraun  lord  to  John  of  Ballone  as  is  qteinit  in  his  Ires 


APPENDIX.  443 

and  that  he  keipe  the  said  Johu  undistrublit  in  the  Joysing  of  the  said  lands 
ay  and  quhil  the  said  psonis  bring-  and  schew  before  the  lords  sufficiat  Ires 
of  tak  of  mar  strength  than  the  said  John  of  Ballone  now  schewis.' — Acta 
Dominorum,  p.  7.  The  tenants  showed  that  they  had  a  tack  from  Alex- 
ander Lesly,  the  King's  Receiver,  and  they  were  allowed  to  remain  in  pos- 
session of  the  lands  to  the  issue  of  their  leases,  the  same  as  the  king's 
other  tenants  in  Fife.  But  they  were  decerned  to  remove  at  Whitsunday 
1481. lb.,  p.  19-50.  How  long  the  Balfours  of  Baldone  retained  pos- 
session of  the  lands  of  Aid  Lindores  does  not  appear,  but  in  1G02  they 
were  proprietors  of  Ballinblae  and  Nuthill. — Fife  Retains,  115-122. 

Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  Topographical  Notes,  says,  that  '  Lindore 
is  the  Heritage  of  James  Macgil  of  Nether  Raukelo  quhose  grandfather 
being  Clerk  Register  had  these  landis  for  his  good  service  from  Andrew 
Earll  of  Rothes.  The  half  of  thir  lands  belonged  reg  Ja:  5  in  anno  1530, 
to  Alexander  de  Walloniis  ;  they  hold  fewe,  and  is  of  the  Kingis  property.' 
A  Charter  of  Confirmation  was  granted  by  Mary  on  18th  September  1569  to 
James  M'Gill  of  Nether  Rankelour  and  his  spouse  Jonet  Adamson  of  ihe 
lands  of  Auld  Lundors.— Mag.  Sig.  32-379,  M.  17.  On  the  19th  May 
1569,  James  VI.  granted  a  Charter  of  Confirmation  to  the  same  lands  in 
favour  of  Mr  James  M'Gill,  Rankelour  Nether,  Clerk  Register.  Another 
charter  to  'Auld  Lundors'  was  granted  by  James  VI.  to  Mr  James 
M'Gill  and  Joanna  Wemys  his  spouse,  on  29  July  1587. — lb.,  36-412. 
In  the  eighth  generation  from  James  M'Gill,  the  Clerk  Register  who  ac- 
quired Lindores,  the  Honourable  Charles  Maitland,  sixth  son  of  the  Kail 
of  Lauderdale,  married  Margaret  Dick,  the  heiress  of  Rankeillour  and  Lin- 
dores ;  she  had  succeeded  in  right  of  her  mother,  daughter  of  David  M'Gill, 
who  claimed  the  title  of  Viscount  Oxfurd  in  1734. — Douglas  Peerage,  Oxford. 
The  Hon.  Charles  Maitland  lived  at  Mugdrum  for  several  years.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  American  War  of  Independence  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Elizabeth  74,  and  so  greatly  was  he  esteemed  that  upwards  of  forty  young 
men  belonging  to  Newburgh  volunteered  and  went  with  him  on  that 
service.  Admiral  Maitland's  younger  son,  Sir  Frederick  Lewis  Maitland, 
born  1779,  entered  the  navy  and  was  on  board  his  father's  ship  as  a  mid- 
shipman in  Lord  Howe's  action  off  Ushant  on  the  1st  June  1794.  He  was 
at  the  landing  «>f  the  forces  with  Sir  Ralph  Abercromby  in  Egypt,  and  in 
many  other  engagements  during  the  war.  Napoleon  Buonaparte  delivered 
himself  up  to  Captain  Maitland  on  board  the  BeU&rophon  after  his  defeat 
at  Waterloo.  A  narrative  of  the  events  connected  with  the  Emperor's 
surrender  was  subsequently  published  by  Captain  Maitland.  He  retired 
for  a  few  years  from  active  service,  and  built  a  house  which  is  beautifully 
situated,  overlooking  the  Loch,  on  his  ancestral  property  of  Lindores.     In 


441  APPENDIX. 

1838  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  fleet  sent  to  China ;  he  died 
while  on  that  service  (1839),  and  was  buried  at  Bombay.  Captain  Scott, 
the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  his 
funeral.  A  monument  was  raised  to  his  memory,  by  public  subscription, 
at  a  cost  of  £1500,  and  erected  at  Bombay,  of  which  a  bust  of  the  Admiral 
forms  a  part.  Auld  Lindores,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  is  now  the  pro- 
perty of  Lewis  Maitland,  Esq..  nephew  of  Sir  Frederick  Lewis  Maitland. 
The  other  portion  of  the  estate  belongs  to  William  Guild,  Esq. 

29.  The  Denmill.  In  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  granted  on  the 
29th  September  1541,  by  James  V.  in  favour  of  Patrick  Balfour,  heir- 
apparent,  Denmiln  is  styled  The  King's  Milu  of  Denmyln.  After  the  dis- 
appearance of  Sir  Michael  Balfour  in  1709,  he  was  succeeded  in  the  estate 
and  title  by  his  son  Sir  Michael,  who  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Ross  of 
Inveruethy,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. — Abdie 
Register  of  Births.  The  two  eldest  must  have  died  before  their  father,  as 
it  is  stated  that  he  was  succeeded  by  his  third  son  John  ;  1  >ut  he  appears 
onty  to  have  succeeded  to  the  title,  for  his  father,  Sir  Michael,  had  assigned 
the  lands  of  the  barony  of  Denmiln  to  his  creditors,  as  appears  from  the 
sasine  recorded  on  5th  June  1750.  Sir  Michael  did  not  long  survive,  as 
he  was  struck  off  the  roll  of  freeholders  in  October  following,  with  the 
word  'dead'  marked  against  his  name.  After  the  death  of  Sir  John 
without  issue,  the  title,  it  is  said,  devolved  on  his  next  brother  Patrick, 
who  was  baptised  in  Abdie  Parish  Church  on  the  4th  December  1729.  In 
the  North  British  Advertiser  of  the  18th  April  1846,  the  following  adver- 
tisement appeared : — '  Sir  Patrick  Balfour,  deceased.  Any  person  who 
can  give  information  of  the  time  of  the  death  and  place  of  burial  of  Sir 
Patrick  Balfour  of  Denmill,  North  Britain,  who  is  supposed  to  have  died 
in  England  about  six  years  ago,  will  receive  adequate  remuneration  upon 
communicating  the  same  to  G.  C.  Meynell,  Esq.,  G  King's  Bench  Walk, 
Temple,  London ;  or  to  Messrs  Smith  &  Kinnear,  W.S.,  35  Queen  Street, 
Edinburgh.'  If  the  Sir  Patrick  Balfour,  who  is  supposed  to  have  died  in 
1840  was  the  son  of  Sir  Michael,  who  was  born  in  1729,  he  must  have 
reached  the  improbable  age  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen.  The  proba- 
bility is,  that  lie  must  have  died  much  earlier,  or  that  his  son  succeeded  to 
the  barren  title.  Susanna  Balfour,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  last  Sir 
Michael,  baptised  on  27th  December  1738,  married  Robert  Hamilton  of 
Wishaw,  who  was  entitled  to  -ucceed  as  sixth  Lord  Belhaven.  Her  son 
William  made  good  his  right  in  1799,  and  became  seventh  Lord  Belhaven. 
— Douglas  Peerage.  Through  this  connection  the  original  portrait  of  Sir 
James  Balfour,  Lyon-Kingrof-Arms,  now  at  Wishaw  House,  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  Belhaven  family. 


APPENDIX.  445 

The  estate  of  Denmiln  came  into  the  possession  of  General  Sir  John 
Scott  of  Balcomie,  by  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  dated  6th  August 
1772.  General  Scott  sold  the  freehold  of  Denmiln  to  Captain  Thomas 
Bigg,  late  of  the  26th  Regiment,  and  of  Wester  Lumbenny  and  of  Loch- 
mill,  to  Captain  Francis  Stuart,  late  of  the  same  regiment,  to  enable  them 
to  vote  for  the  representative  of  the  county  in  Parliament.  Denmiln  was 
sold  by  the  Duchess  of  Portland,  daughter  of  General  Scott,  to  the 
ancestor  of  the  present  proprietor,  Archibald  A.  Watt,  Esq.  of  Denmiln. 
The  castle,  after  it  ceased  to  be  the  residence  of  the  Balfours,  was  allowed 
to  go  to  ruin.  In  the  front  wall  of  the  steading  of  Denmiln  there  is  a 
shield  in  stone,  bearing  the  arms  and  initials  of  Sir  Michael  Balfour  and 
of  his  wife  Jean  or  Joanna  Durham.  D  is  surmounted  by  the  motto, 
Dltat  Servata  Fides.  The  castle  is  now  roofless,  but  the  present  proprietor 
has  cleared  out  the  ruins,  and  has  put  them  iu  a  becoming  condition. 

30.  The  Parkhill.  Sir  James  Balfour,  in  his  Topographical  Notes,  says  : 
'Betwixt  the  remaining  shrubes  of  the  forest  of  Irons3Tde  and  Londors 
lyes  parkhill.  The  Etomologie  thereof  being  clear  and  conspicuous  of 
itself,  it  is  the  inheritance  of  John  Earl  of  Kothess,  formerlie  belonging 
to  David,  Erll  of  JJuntingdone  and  Angus,  as  appears  by  ane  douatione  of 
his  to  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lyndores  of  a  quarry  of  frie  stone  to 
build  with,  e  terris  nostris  de  parkhill  in  Sylva  de  Ironsyd'  (from  our  lands  of 
Parkhill  in  the  wood  of  Ironside).  James  V.  granted  a  feu-charter  to 
John  Leslie,  Rector  of  Kinnore,  brother-german  of  George,  fourth  Earl 
of  Rothes,  1537.  In  1540  James  V.  granted  a  charter  of  the  same  Lands 
of  Parkhill,  and  of  the  wood  of  Ironside,  to  John  Leslie  of  Cleische  and 
Eupham  Moncrief,  his  spouse,  10th  July  1542.  John  Leslie  aided  his 
nephew  Norman,  Master  of  Rothes,  in  the  murder  of  Cardinal  Beaton,  for 
which  his  lands  were  forfeited,  14th  August  1546.  John  Grant  of  Eruichy, 
who  had  obtained  a  charter  of  Parkhill  for  the  conservation  of  the  same, 
resigned  them  in  favour  of  his  beloved  friend  John  Leslie  of  Parkhill, 
8th  August  1567.  'The  relations  and  friends  of  Cardinal  Beaton,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  repentance  of  John  Leslie  for  the  slaughter  of  the  Cardinal 
their  tender  friend,  forgave  him  the  rankour  of  their  wrath  and  deadly  feud, 
with  all  actions  civil  or  criminal,  :'>  July  1575.'  John  Leslie's  daughter 
Euphan,  married  in  1572  Alexander  Bruce  of  Earlshall.  She  probably 
died  without  issue,  and  having  no  direct  male  heir,  John  Leslie  exchanged, 
in  157:').  the  lands  of  Parkhill  with  his  nephew  Andrew,  Karl  of  Rothes, 
for  a  liferent  lease  for  himself  and  a  natural  daughter,  of  the  Mains  of 
Bodies. — Historical  Records  of  tin-  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  IL,  p.  150-152. 
Parkhill  is  now  the   property  of  the  Earl  of  Zetland. 

31-36.  The  names  of  the  places  mentioned  under  these  numbers  are 


446  APPENDIX. 

now  obsolete.  The  Marie  Croft  seems  to  have  lain  near  the  precincts  of 
the  Abbey.  In  the  Retonr  of  Service  of  Sir  Michael  Balfour  as  heir  to 
his  father,  22d  July  1675,  Earneside-slack  and  Maries -craig-den  occur  as 
forming  part  of  his  possessions.  Maries  Craig  is  the  correct  name  of  the 
craig  now  known  as  Mares  Craig. 

37.  The  Newbruiche — passim. 

38.  The  Grange  was  the  earliest  possession  of  Lindores  Abbey.  Origin- 
ally it  consisted  of  at  least  the  farm  now  called  the  Grange,  and  of 
Berryhoill,  Ormiston,  and  the  Hilton.  In  1479  the  monks  let  a  fourth  part 
of  the  town  of  the  Grange  (by  this  time  much  restricted  in  size)  to 
Dionisius  Chalmers  and  his  son.  On  the  2d  December  1526,  John,  Abbot 
of  Lundoris,  granted  a  charter  in  favour  of  John  Bl3Tth  and  his  spouse  of 
3  acres  of  the  lands  of  Grange ;  and  to  Ninian  Blyth  of  3  acres  on  the 
19th  March  1554,  of  3  acres  on  17th  February  1558.  In  1558  the  Abbot 
granted  a  charter  to  John  Wentoun  of  8  oxgaits  of  the  lands  of  Grange. — 
Mugdrum  Archives.  John  Wentoun  was  succeeded  by  his  son  James, 
a.d.  1594. — Fife  Retours,  No.  1518.  In  1657  Sir  Robert  Balfour  of  Den- 
rniln  was  served  heir  to  his  grandfather,  Sir  Michael  Balfour,  in  '  8  oxingait 
of  the  lands  of  Graing  of  Lindores  upon  the  north  side  of  the  town  of 
Graing.'  Also,  in  '  3  aikers  of  the  same  lands  called  Keigisholl,  Chapman- 
Croft  and  Eister  and  Wester  Cunningares.' — Fife  Retours,  No.  877.  The 
'  8  oxingaits  upon  the  north  side  of  the  town  of  Graing,'  are  evidently  the 
farm  now  called  North  Grauge,  the  property  of  Archibald  A.  Watt,  Esq. 
of  Denuuln. 

38.  Berrieholl  (in  the  parish  of  Abdie).  Berry  and  Choille,  Gaelic,  Wood. 
Alexander  Ballingall  had  a  Charter  of  Confirmation  to  the  lands  of  Berrie- 
holl from  Queen  Mary  on  31st  May  1565. — Reg.  Mag.  Sig.,  31-534.  In 
1637  James  Philip  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  '  8  bovates  of  the  lands 
of  Grange  called  Berriehoill.'  In  1643  Alexander  Johnston  died  possessed 
of  another  '  8  bovates  of  the  town  of  Berriehoill  in  the  Grange.'  In 
1672  Henry  Philp  succeeded,  on  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Michael  Philp  of 
Newburgh,  to  the  8  bovates  which  belonged  to  him. — Fife  Retours,  545, 
637,  1117.  Berryhoill,  in  common  with  most  other  properties  in  Fife 
and  in  Scotland  general^,  was  much  subdivided  in  the  17th  century. 
Alexander  Spence,  writer  in  Edinburgh,  bought  the  separate  portions  in 
1671-4.  He  married  Katherine  Arnot,  with  consent  of  her  grandfather, 
Mr  James  Cheape  of  Rossie,  in  1686.  In  the  south  wall  of  Abdie  old 
church  there  is  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Alexander  Spence,  sur- 
mounted by  a  crest,  with  a  scroll  on  which  a  motto  has  been  carved,  and 
the  initials  A.  S.  K.  A.,  with  a  hand  grasping  apparently  two  coulters  and 
an  ear  of  wheat.     The  stone  is  so  much  wasted  that  the  inscription  cannot 


APPENDIX. 


447 


be  read.  Henry  Spence  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  1713.  In  1715 
Henry  conveyed  two  parts  of  Berryhoill  to  his  brother  William,  chirurgeon 
in  Dunkeld,  and  a  few  years  afterwards  the  whole  property  was  conveyed 
to  George  Paterson  of  Dunmuire,  whose  trustees  sold  it  in  1742  to  Alex- 
ander Spence,  chirurgeon  in  Dunfermline,  who  resold  it  in  1763.  Alter 
several  changes,  Berryhoill  came  into  the  possession  of  Major-General 
John  Scott  of  Balcomie  in  1774  ;  his  daughter,  the  Duchess  of  Portland, 
sold  it  in  1801  to  John  Arnot  of  Lumquhat,  whose  heirs  sold  it  in  1817  to 
Henry  Buist,  the  father  of  Andrew  Walker  Buist,  Esq.,  the  present 
proprietor. 

38.  Ormistoun  (in  the  parish  of  Abdie)  in  1564  was  the  property  of 
James  Philp,  cousin  to  the  Abbot  Lundores,  being  so  designated  in  a 
charter  to  the  lands  of  the  Quhyt  Park  and  Park  of  Lundoris  (now  Mount 
Pleasant)  of  that  date  In  1631  Ormiston  belonged  to  Mr  Henry  Cheape ; 
he  was  succeeded  by  Mr  James  Cheape,  designed  of  Ormiston,  in  1644. — 
Mugdrvm  Charters,  and  Abdie  Session  Records. 

Ormiston  is  now  in  the  possession  of  George  Buist,  Esq. 

38.  Hiltonhill  (in  the  parish  of  Abdie).  In  1617  Mr  Andrew  Ayton, 
Advocate,  received  a  charter  to  the  lands  of  Halltounhill  (now  Hattonhill), 
Murierigs,  and  other  lands  in  the  Tenaudry  of  Olunie  from  James  VI.,  2d 
December.— Beg.  Mag.  Sig.,  48,  305. 

39.  Halhill  (in  the  parish  of  Collessie)  '  belonged  to  Mr  Henry  Balnaves, 
Depute- Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal.  He  gave  the  lands  of  Halhill  to  Sir 
James  Melville,  a  son  of  the  Laird  of  Raith,  and  with  his  posterity  it 
continued  till  Charles  IP's  reign,  when  Lord  Melville  (afterwards  Earl) 
purchased  it.' — Sibbald's  History  of  Fife,  p.  390. 

Sir  James  Melville  Avrote  an  account  of  the  transactions  m  which  he 
was  engaged  in  Queen  Mary's  reign.  It  has  since  been  published  under 
the  title  of  Memorials  of  his  Own  Life,  a.d.  1549-1593.  There  is  a  monu- 
ment with  a  long  inscription  to  his  memory  in  Collessie  churchyard,  a 
copy  of  which  is  given  in  the  New  Statistical  Account  of  Collessie  Parish. 
Halhill  is  now  the  property  of  Lady  Elizabeth  Melville  Cartwright. 

40.  The  Mylhill,  Scheilles  and  Bowes,  were  conveyed  by  Sir  James 
Sandilands  of  Calder  to  his  uncle,  James  Sandilands,  by  charter  dated  17th 
May  1509.  They  are  now  the  property  of  George  Johnston,  Esq.  of 
Lathrisk. 

41.  Newtoun  of  Cullesey  was  conveyed  by  the  same  charter,  as  more 
fully  stated  below,  also  to  James  Sandilands.  In  the  Records  of  the 
Burgh  of  Dysart,  the  following  entry  occurs  :—' At  the  Newtown  of 
Colessio  and  at  Pitlair,  21st  Oct*  1565.  The  whilk  day  Andrew  Forester, 
minister  at  the  Kirk  of  Dysart,  made  intimation  to  the  persons  following  in 


448  APPENDIX. 

manner  underwritten,  of  an  assignation  in  his  favour  by  the  Abbot  of 
Lindores,  subscribed  with  his  hand,  under  his  seal  of  office,  of  certain 
sums  of  money  and  victuals  which  they  ought  and  should  pay  to  the  Abbey 
of  Luudores.' — Notices  of  the  Local  Records  of  Dysart,  p.  32.  Newton  of 
Collcssie  now  belongs  to  William  Wallace,  Esq. 

42.  Pit/air.  This  property  belonged  in  the  15th  century  to  the  Sandi- 
lands  of  Calder.  In  1466  Sir  James,  eldest  son  of  Sir  John  Sandilands 
of  Calder,  by  his  marriage  with  Margaret  of  Kynloch,  daughter  of  John 
Kynloch  of  Crovy  (Cruivie),  acquired  Pitlair,  the  Kirktown  of  Cullesey,  with 
the  mill  and  the  lands  of  Pitlochy. — Precept  of  Sasine  (in  Mugdrum  Charter- 
Chest),  dated  at  St  Andrews,  Ath  June  1466.  The  ancestor  of  John  Kynloch 
of  that  ilk,  had  a  charter  to  a  mill  and  lands  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Collessie  in  the  reign  of  Alexander  III.  (1249-1285). — Sir  Robert  Sibbald's 
History  of  Fife,  p.  390. 

In  a  charter  by  James  Sandelands  of  Calder,  knight,  also  preserved  in 
the  archives  of  Mugdrum,  he  conveys  to  his  uncle,  James  Sandelandis,  his 
half  of  the  lands  of  Cruwy,  with  the  mansion-house  thereof,  the  half  of  the 
lands  of  Newtown  of  Cullesey,  and  the  Gaudwel,  of  Schelis,  of  Bowhous,  of 
Clesche  and  the  lands  of  Pitlair,  "with  the  mill  of  Kirktoun  Cullessy,  of 
Mylhill  of  Pitlochy  with  the  mill  thereof ;  and  to  the  said  James  and  Katrine 
Scot,  his  spouse,  half  of  the  lands  of  Weddersbe,  reserving  the  third  part  of 
the  said  lands,  except  the  half  of  the  lands  of  Widdersbe,  to  Marion 
Forester,  the  granter's  spouse,  during  the  lifetime  of  Margaret  Kar, 
Countess  of  Errole,  and  spouse  of  the  late  James  Sandelandis,  knight,  the 
granter's  grandfather.  Dated  at  Edinburgh,  17th  May  1509.  Witnesses 
— John,  Prior  of  St  Andrews,  William  Scot  of  Balweiy,  Knight,  Mr  James 
Skrymgeour,  and  James  Skrymgeour. 

A  precept  of  sasine  under  the  Great  Seal,  in  the  reign  of  James  V. 
(also  preserved  in  the  archives  of  Mugdrum),  for  infefting  Mr  Peter 
Sandelandis,  Rector  of  Calder,  as  assignee  to  James  Sandelandis,  son  and 
heir  of  the  late  James  Sandelandis  of  Cruvy,  brother  of  the  said  Mr  Peter, 
in  the  lands  of  Pitlair,  is  dated  at  Edinburgh,  19th  May  1539.  The  barony 
of  Pitlair,  whicli  included  the  lands  of  Kirktown  of  Cullessie,  Pitlochie, 
Pitlair,  Drumclochope,  and  half  of  the  lands  of  Weddersbie,  Wodheid, 
Gadvane,  Bowhous  and  Scheillis,  continued  in  the  possession  of  the  Sandi- 
lands until  Sir  James  Sandilands,  created  Lord  Abercrombie  in  1647,  dis- 
sipated his  whole  estates  in  Fife,  and  sold  them  in  1649. — Douglas  Peerage, 
Wood's  Ed. — Abercrombie;  LamonCs  Diary,  p.  13.  Pitlair  afterwards  be- 
came much  subdivided.  In  1633,  Janet  Hardie  was  served  heir  to  her 
father  in  the  mill  of  Pitlair ;  and  the  land  adjacent  to  it.  On  the  31st  May 
1644,  David  Fyiff  succeeded  his  father  in  a  fourth  part  and  half  a  fourth 


APPENDIX.  449 

part,  and  to  the  right  of  pasturage  on  the  barony  of  Pitlair. — Fife  Retours, 
494,  961. 

43.  Daftmyln,  written  Dafmyln  in  the  oldest  Rental,  signifies  the  Ox- 
myln.  Damh  (pronounced  Daff),  being  the  Gaelic  for  Ox.  Pitlair  and 
Daff  Mill  belong  to  Miss  Walker. 

44.  Maristoun — Mary's  town,  now  corrupted  to  Merston,  in  all  proba- 
bility named  in  honour  of  the  Virgin.  The  property  of  David  Maitland 
Makgill  Crichton,  Esq. 

45.  Lawfield  and  Menysgrene.  Menegre  is  mentioned  in  the  charter  by 
Roger  de  Quinci,  Earl  of  Winchester,  to  the  monks  of  Lindores,  1306-1329. 
The  name  appears  now  to  be  obsolete.  Lawfield  is  the  property  of  F.  L. 
Maitland  Heriot,  Esq.  of  Ramornie. 

46.  Bellowmyln.  Bealach,  Gaelic,  a  Pass  or  Gap.  There  is  a  story 
told  that  King  James  V.  lost  himself  and  found  shelter  for  the  night  with 
the  miller  of  Ballomiln,  and  that  the  King  offered  a  reward  to  his  host,  and 
asked  whether  he  would  take  the  fourth  part,  or  the  eighth,  or  the  sixteenth 
part  of  the  land  on  which  they  stood.  The  miller,  the  story  says,  chose 
the  eighth  part,  as  to  take  the  fourth  would  be  cheating  himself,  and  to 
take  the  sixteenth  part  would  be  too  greedy. — New  Statistical  Account, 
Fifeshire,  p.  29.  This  much  is  certain,  that  Ballomiln  has  for  long  been 
much  subdivided.  In  1562  the  eighth  part  of  the  lands  belonged  to 
Margaret  Wallace;  a  fourth  part  to  John  Turpie  in  1607;  an  eighth  to 
Turpie  in  1610  ;  and  a  fourth  to  Thomas  Beaton  in  1616. — Fife  Retours. 
The  great  subdivision  of  property  in  the  16th  and  17th  centuries,  arose 
from  the  want  of  outlet  for  the  youth  of  the  country  in  commercial  enter- 
prise.— Fife  Retours,  50,  180,  217,  258. 

47.  Drumtennent  seems  to  have  been  an  outfield  or  common  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  Ballomiln.  The  proprietors  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  note  had 
all  a  right  of  pasturage  on  it.  In  1625  John  Ay  ton  of  that  ilk  was  served 
heir  to  his  father  '  in  the  lands  of  Drumtennand  and  the  pendicle  of  the 
same  called  Iletherinch.'  And  in  1678  Jean  Heriot,  wife  of  Mr  John  Craig, 
Advocate,  was  served  heir  to  her  father  in  a  quarter  and  an  eighth  part  of 
Ballomiln,  with  a  right  to  the  Sequelis  of  Drumtennent. — Fife  Retours,  365, 
1166.     Drumtennent  now  belongs  to  George  Johnston,  Esq.  of  Lathrisk. 

48.  Kinloiche,  Gaelic  Kin,  the  end  or  head  of  the  Loch,  anciently 
belonged  to  the  De  Quincys.  Sibbald  says:  'I  have  seen  three  original 
charters  by  the  second  Roger  de  Quinci,  Comes  de  Wintoun,  constabularius, 
to  John  of  Kindeloche,  of  a  miln  and  some  lands  about  this  place,  about 
Alexander  III.'s  reign.'— History  of  Fife,  p.  390.  In  1582  William  Scott 
of  Abbotshall  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  half  the  lands  of  Kinloche, 
and  in   1590  Michael  Balfour  of  Burlio  succeeded  to  half   the  lands  of 

F  F 


450  APPENDIX. 

Kinloch  as  heir  to  his  mother,  Lady  Margaret  Balfour  of  Burlie.  Subse- 
quent to  this  date  Kinloch  appears  to  have  been  very  rnnch  subdivided. 
In  1662  John  Anderson  succeeded  as  heir  to  his  father  Thomas,  to  the 
shady  half  of  the  sunny  half  of  Kinloche,  and  in  1663  John  Balfour 
succeeded  to  three  eighth  parts. — Fife  Retours,  1475,  1494,  912,  937. 
Kinloch  is  now  the  property  of  John  Boyd  Kinnear,  Esq.,  and  of  the  Trus- 
tees of  James  Bogie. 

49.  Rossie.  Rossan,  Gaelic,  a  little  jutting-point  or  headland.  This 
property,  Sibbald  states,  '  belonged  in  the  reign  of  David  I.  to  Sir  Henry 
Rossey  of  that  ilk,  and  in  Malcolm  IV.'s  reign,  anno  7,  Sir  Alexander  of 
Rossey  is  forfaulted,  and  the  lands  are  given  to  the  Earl  of  Fife.' — P.  389. 
In  the  time  of  Robert,  Duke  of  Albany,  William  de  Lindesay  granted  an 
annual-rent  of  five  merks  to  Eufamia  de  Lindesay,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Lindesay  of  Glenesk,  out  of  his  two  towns  of  Rossey  in  Fifeshire. — 
Robertson's  Index  to  Charters,  166,  17.  In  1569  Rossie  had  come  into  the 
possession  of  William  Bonar,  as  we  learn  from  a  '  confirmation  of  a  pension 
granted  by  Patrick,  Commendator  of  Lindores,  to  Johue  Bonar,  son  to 
umquhill  William  Bonar  of  Rossey. — Presentation  of  Benefices,  1569.  Sub- 
sequently Rossie  became  the  property  of  the  family  of  'the  Cheaps  of 
Mawhill,  beside  Kinross.' — Sibbald  s  Fife. 

50.  WeddersUe.  As  narrated  under  the  head  Pitlair  (No.  42  of  these 
Notes),  Sir  James  Sandelandis  of  Calder  conveyed  by  charter,  in  1509,  the 
half  of  the  lands  of  Weddirsbe,  otherwise  called  Wester  Cullessy,  to  his 
uncle  James  Sandelandis.  In  1567  Elizabeth  Carnagie  and  her  two  sisters 
succeeded  to  half  the  lands  of  Weddersbie,  as  heirs  to  their  mother  Eliza- 
beth Ramsay  of  Colluthie.  In  1602  William  Sandilands  of  St  Monance 
came  into  possession  of  the  other  half  oil  the  death  of  his  grandfather 
James  Sandilands.  In  1668  a  portion  of  the  lands  of  Weddersbie  passed 
into  the  hands  of  James  Arnot  of  Fernie.  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  writing  in 
1710,  says :  '  To  the  north  and  to  the  east  [west]  of  Kinloch  is  the  barony 
of  Weddersbie,  the  inheritance  of  Hamilton  of  Wishea  hi  the  west  country, 
a  learned  antiquary.  This  was  anciently  the  estate  of  the  Kiulochs  of 
that  ilk.' — History  of  Fife,  p.  390.  Rossie  and  Weddersbie  are  now  the 
property  of  George  Johnston,  Esq.  of  Lathrisk. 

51.  Lumquhat.  John  Ramsay  obtained  a  charter  from  David  II. 
(1329-1370)  to  the  lands  of  Lumquhat,  forfeited  by  Thomas  Brechin. — 
Robertson's  Index  to  Charters,  33-35.  John  Bonnar  is  named  proprietor  of 
Lumquhat  in  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  by  James  VI.,  a.d.  1592.  In 
1668  Lumquhat  and  the  pendicles  called  Lochiehead,  Downiehead,  Cassin- 
daill  and  Rattlingfuird,  passed  into  the  hands  of  Elizabeth  Ranken  on  the 
death  of  her  father  Patrick  Ranken  of  Lumquhat.     In  1669  Lumquhat 


APPENDIX.  451 

became  the  property  of  Captain  James  Leslie,  third  son  of  Sir  John  Leslie 
of  Newton,  and  grandson  of  Andrew,  fourth  Earl  of  Eothes.  He  married 
Mrs  Mary  Gibb,  Lady  Ormistown,  on  the  14th  January  1703,  and  died  in 
October  1705,  leaving-  a  sou  John,  who  had  a  son  also  John,  who  was 
served  heir  to  his  father  1728,  whose  son  John  was  served  heir  to  his 
grandfather  30th  June  1771.  He  had  a  sou  John  who  was  served  heir 
to  his  father  2d  February  1774.  This  John  Leslie  of  Lumquhat  was  an 
officer  in  the  26th  Regiment.  He  claimed  the  title  of  Lord  Lindores,  but, 
as  stated  iu  a  previous  page,  his  claim  was  rejected  by  the  House  of 
Lords. — Historical  Records  of  the  Family  of  Leslie,  Vol.  II.,  p.  197.  In 
1801  Lumquhat  was  the  property  of  John  Arnot.  The  rent  of  'two 
pleuches  of  Lumquhat'  is  entered  in  the  Rental  of  Lindores,  circa  1580, 
as  payable  '  to  the  Queen's  Grace's  Chapel  in  Falkland,  and  to  my  Lord 
Angus'  College  in  Abernethie.'  There  was  an  old  castle  at  Lumquhat, 
which  with  unsparing  Vandalism  was  demolished  about  twenty  years  ago 
for  materials  wherewith  to  erect  farm  buildings.  Lumquhat  belongs  to 
Philp's  Trustees,  Kirkcaldy. 

52.  Kihjuhyss.  The  prefix  Kil  is  indicative  of  an  ecclesiastical  origin, 
and  in  all  probability  Kilwhiss  was  the  site  of  an  ancient  chapel.  There 
was  a  saint  named  Wissan,  but  nothing  is  known  of  his  history.  '  The 
Eglinton  family  had  the  right  of  patronage  to  the  chaplaiuship  of  St 
Wissan,  in  the  county  of  Ayr. — Bishop  Forbes'  Kalendar  of  the  Scottish 
Saints,  p.  463.  Sir  David  Lyndsay  of  the  Mount,  in  his  poetical  Testament 
of  Sqin/er  Meldrum  of  the  Bynnis,  puts  the  following  sentiments  into  the 
dying  squire's  mouth  : — 

'  Adew,  my  Lordis,  I  may  na  langer  tarie, 
My  Lord  Lindsay,  adew  abone  all  uther ; 
I  pray  to  God  and  to  the  Virgine  Marie, 

With  your  Ladie  to  live  lang  iu  the  Struther ; 
Maister  Patrik  and  young  Xormond  your  brother  ; 
With  my  ladeis,  your  sisteris,  all  adew!' 

'Young  Normond'  here  alluded  to  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Lyudsays 
of  Kilwlii-s.  'Maister  Patrik'  was  the  Master  of  Lyndsay,  afterwards 
sixth  Lord  Lindsay  of  the  Byres,  who  bore  such  a  prominent  part  in  the 
events  of  Mary's  reign,  and  whom  his  biographer  Lord  Lindsay,  describes 
as  'the  fiercest  and  most  bigotted  of  the  Lords  of  the  Congregation,  yet 
an  honester  man  than  most  of  his  contemporaries.'  It  was  he,  while 
demanding  and  enjoying  freedom  of  worship,  that  rushed  armed  to  Holy- 
rood  Palace,  threatening  death  to  all  who  celebrated  the  Mass.     '  Xorman 


452  APPENDIX. 

Lyndsay  of  Kilwhiss  died  between  1574  and  the  21st  June  1587,  leaving 
a  son  Patrick,  who  died  in  1598.  Patrick  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
James,  who  was  served  heir  to  his  grandfather  Norman  in  1627.  James 
died  in  1GG7,  leaving  two  sons,  James  and  Norman.  James,  the  eldest 
son,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  1669,  and  shortly  afterwards  sold 
Kilwhiss.  No  successor  is  known  of  these  two  brothers.' — Lives  of  the 
Lindsays,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  274,  276.  439. 

53.  The  Paroche  of  Auchtirmochtie.  The  earliest  mention  we  have  of 
Auchtermuchty  is  in  an  account  rendered  by  Walter  of  Cambhou  (Cambo) 
of  the  Issues  or  Rents  of  the  lauds  and  tenements  belonging  to  Duncan, 
Earl  of  Fife,  on  20th  November  1293.  These  lands  had  been  put  under 
the  management  of  Walter  of  Cambhou  by  Edward  I.  at  the  time  of 
Edward's  attempted  usurpation  of  Scotland.  The  reason  assigned  in  the 
account  for  Edward's  taking  oversight  of  these  lands  was,  that  the  Earl 
of  Fife  was  under  age  and  in  his  keeping.  In  the  Extent  or  Rental  of  the 
lands  handed  over  to  the  management  of  Walter  of  Cambhou,  under  the 
head  '  Schyra  de  Stramigloke,'  the  following  entries  occur,  which  in  the 
original  are  in  Latin  : — 

'  The  part  of  the  land  of  Utremukerty  east  of  the  burn  x  1.  xiijs-  iiijd- 
The   mill   of    the    same    place,    per    annum,   with    Gervase's    land, 
xiiij1-  xiijs-  iiijd- 

The  Brewhouses  of  the  same  place  per  annum  lxvjs-  viijd- 
The  xiiij  Cottaries  of  the  same  place,  xiiijs- 
The  viij  Gresmen  of  the  same  place,  per  annum  iiij8- 
The  laud  of  the  Muir  of  the  same  place  per  an.  vis-  viijd- 
The  Smith's  Shop,  vis-  viijd- 

In  accounting  for  the  rents,  William  of  Cambhou  charges  '  for  cutting 
turning,  and  carrying  the  hay  on  the  meadow  of  Utermokerdy  xxiij8-  iiijd , 
for  which  hay,  he  adds,  '  I  am  owing.' — Documents  Illustrative  of  the  History 
of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  407-418. 

The  entries  in  the  '  Rental  and  Accounts'  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife  are 
specially  interesting  in  throwing  light  on  the  various  grades  of  society  in  the 
end  of  the  13th  century.  The  class  denominated  Gresmen,  were  tenants  of 
cottages  with  no  land  attached,  and  derived  their  name  from  their  being 
allowed  to  pasture  such  bestial  as  they  possessed  on  the  extensive  common 
grass-lands  at  that  period.  The  Cotarii  were  a  class  above  these.  We 
learn  from  the  charter  of  the  Abbey  of  Kelso  that  the  cottars  under  the 
monks  in  1290  occupied  a  cottage,  and  from  one  to  nine  acres  of  land  each. 
— See  p.  61.  The  low  rent  of  the  Gresmen's  cottages,  sixpence  each, 
even  taking  the  value  of  money  at  that  time  into  account,  shows  that  they 
were  a  class  far  below  the  cottars,  and  that  their  habitations  must  have 


APPENDIX.  453 

been  frail  structures.  The  large  rent  paid  for  brewhouses,  is  another  proof 
out  of  many,  that  ale  was  a  common  drink  and  the  natl  inal  beverage  at 
that  date  ;  and  the  payment  of  wages  for  making  hay  shows  that  the 
employment  of  serfs  was  giving  way,  and  free  labourers  employed.  The 
Extract  and  Accounts  from  which  these  entries  are  taken,  also  throw  light  on 
the  early  history  of  other  parts  of  the  county  which  belonged  to  the  Earl 
of  Fife,  "and  are  well  worthy  the  attention  of  local  historians.  The  '  Extract' 
is  ranged  under  the  following  heads  :—kCoupresy re  et  Eathuly  schyre, 
Schyra  de  Stramigloke,  Schyra  de  Irat-lengre  {query  Lingo),  Schyra  de 
Ryrays.'  Among  the  disbursements  of  the  Factor,  Walter  of  Cambhou, 
the  following  occurs  : — 

4  For  the  repair  of  the  houses  of  the  Castle  of  Cupar,  and  of  the  hall 
of  the  manor  of  Rahulli  liijs-  jd-' 

'  To  the  Constable  of  the  Castle  of  Cupar  for  keeping  the  Castle  per 
annum  ciiij3- ' 

'  For  the  Hospital  of  Utrogenalle  erected  for  pure  charity,  lxvjs-  viijd-' 
The  revenues  of  the  Hospital  of  '  Utherogale,'  which  the  Earls  of  Fife 
maintained  for  'pure  charity,'  and  which  was  specially  available  for  the 
infirm  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood,  were  diverted  to  Trinity  Hospital, 
Edinburgh,  in  1462. — Charters  and  Documents  relating  to  Edinburgh,  1143- 
1540 ;  Burgh  Record  Society,  p.  113.  The  old  form  of  place-names  which 
such  an  early  Rental  affords,  throws  light  on  their  etymology.  In  the 
name  Rahnlli  we  have  the  origin  of  the  modern  Fvathillet.  Rath  (as  pre- 
viously mentioned)  signifies  in  Gaelic  a  circular  fort,  and  chuillin  a  holly,— 
the  Fort  of  the  Holly.— Joyce's  Irish  Names  of  Places,  p.  294. 

The  young  Earl  of  Fife,  though  he  married  the  grand-daughter  of 
Edward  I.,  ultimately  joined  the  cause  of  Bruce,  and  he  was  the  first  of 
the  Barons  who  signed  the  letter  to  the  Pope  asserting  the  Independence 
of  Scotland.  There  is  some  dubiety  whether  he  or  his  son  gave  'the 
church  of  Uchtermukedy  and  the  lands  which  from  of  old  belonged  to  it'  to 
the  Abbey  of  Lindores,  as  a  thank-offering  for  his  escape  from  the  battle  of 
Durham. — Chartulary  of  Lindores,  pp.  43,  44.  No  mention  appears  to  be 
made  to  whom  the  church  of  Auchtermuchty  was  dedicated,  but  the  great 
annual  Fair  of  the  town,  held  on  St  Sear's  day  (the  popular  name  of 
St  Serf,  who  did  so  much  for  the  early  religious  culture  of  the  western 
districts  of  Fife),  is  convincing  evidence  that  St  Serf  was  the  patron  Saint 
of  the  town.  The  motto  of  Auchternrachty  Burgh  Seal,  Dam  Sero  Spero^ 
seems,  as  is  not  uncommon  in  heraldic  mottoes,  a  rhyming  alliteration 
on  the  old  saint's  name.  '  By  the  forfeiture  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife  in 
1425,  the  town  and  lands  of  Auchtermuchty  fell  t<>  the  Crown,  and  either 
the  whole  or  a  portion  of  them  came  into  the  hands  of  the  family  of 


454  APPENDIX. 

Leslie.  Leslie  of.  Auchtermuchty  was  one  of  four  commissioners  from 
Queen  Mary  to  Scotland,  previous  to  her  coming  from  France  to  take 
possession  of  the  throne. — Tytler's  Hist,  of  Scot.,  Yol.  III.,  p.  140.  The  lands 
of  Auchtermuchty  seem  subsequently  to  have  been  much  subdivided.  Iu 
1599  William  Gilmour  was  served  heir  to  his  mother  Euphemia  Balcanquell, 
in  the  eighth  part  of  the  north  quarter  of  the  lands  and  town  of  Auchter- 
muchty. In  1 620  John  Arnott  succeeded  as  heir  to  his  father  to  an  eighth 
part  of  forty-shilling  land  of  the  Bond-half.  A  forty-shilling  land,  of  which 
so  much  was  heard  in  connection  with  the  electoral  franchise,  has  been 
shown  by  Mr  Cosmo  Innes  to  be  104  acres. — Lectures  on  Scotch  Legal  Antiq., 
p.  285.  In  1632  Robert  Maxwell  succeeded  to  parts  and  portions  of  an 
eighth  part  of  the  Bond-half. — Fife  Retours,  No.  77,  302,  465.  Numerous 
other  entries  occur  in  the  Retours  of  similar  subdivisions  belonging  to 
families  whose  names  are  still  common  in  Auchtermuchty. 

54.  Cotlandis  and  Marislands.  Cotlands  is  apparently  the  same  as  the 
Cotaries  in  the  Rental  of  1294 ;  and  Marislands  (the  Virgin  Mary's  Lands) 
is  now  corrupted  to  Maislands.  In  1601  James  Gilmour  succeeded  his 
father  in  half  the  lands  of  Marislands.  In  1631  James  Aytoun,  brother- 
german  of  Mr  Robert  Aytoun  of  Inchderney,  succeeded  as  heir  to  his  uncle, 
Mr  James  Aytoun  of  Grange,  to  an  eighth  part  of  the  Bond-half,  and  to 
half  the  lands  of  Marislands  of  Auchtermuchty  and  part  of  the  other  half. 
— Fife  Retours,  No.  107,  452. 

55.  Gervisland  was  in  the  direct  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Fife  in  1293. 
In  1661  Mr  James  Robertson  was  served  heir  to  his  father  Patrick 
Robertson,  burgess  of  Edinburgh,  in  the  east  half  of  the  lands  of  Jerves- 
laud  of  Auchtermuchty,  extending  to  2  merkland.  Robert  Stirk,  as  heir 
to  his  grandfather  Richard  Stirk,  succeeded  in  1661  to  the  west  half  of 
the  same  lands;  and  in  1681  Alexander  Bayne,  Bailie  of  Dingwall,  suc- 
ceeded as  joint-heir  of  Mr  John  Bayne  of  Pitcairly  in  a  2  merkland  of  the 
east  half  of  the  Bond-half  of  Auchtermuchty  called  Jervese-lands. — Fife 
Retours,  96,  282,  1197. 

56.  The  Mi/res.  In  1628  John  Paterson  was  served  heir  to  his  father, 
Michael  Patersoun  of  the  Myris,  in  the  lands  of  the  Myris,  Over  and 
Nether,  of  the  lands  of  Auchtermuchty,  and  in  that  Outset  called  Dun- 
schelt ;  also  in  the  office  of  Claviger  (key-bearer  or  macer)  and  serjeand- 
of-arms,  with  the  sum  of  £10,  10s.,  as  well  as  in  the  feu-fermes  of  the 
said  land  assigned  as  the  fee  of  said  office. — Fife  Retours,  No.  397.  In  all 
probability  this  official  was  originally  the  Macer  of  the  Court  of  the  Earls 
of  Fife  at  their  Castle  of  Falkland ;  an  office  of  much  higher  dignity  than 
it  is  now. 

57.  Burnegrenis.     Name  obsolete. 


APPENDIX. 


455 


58.  Dempstertoun.  In  tho  Records  of  Dysart  the  following  notice  of 
Strathmiglo  (in  the  barony  of  which  Dempstertown  was  included)  occurs: — 
'At  the  place  of  Strathmiglo,  10th  Nov.  1561,  the  whilk  day  Sir  David 
Kilgour,  at  the  command  of  an  honourable  man,  Sir  William  Scot  of 
Balweary,  Knight,  produced  the  keys  of  the  place  and  fortalice  of  Strath- 
miglo to  Mr  William  Scott,  Car  of  Balweary.  who  received  them  in  token 
of  possession  of  these  lands,  and  opened  the  doors  thereof.'— Notices  from 
the  Local  Records  of  Dysart,  William  Muir,  pp.  26,  27.  In  1579  James 
Scot  was  served  heir  to  his  father  Sir  William  Scott  of  Balwerie,  in  the 
Barony  of  Stramiglow,  comprehending  among  other  lauds  those  of  Demp- 
stertoun, the  East  and  West  Mills,  Laingisland,  Mugdrum,  with  the  mill 
thereof  and  fishery  in  the  water  of  Tay,  and  the  right  to  the  patronage  of 
the  Provostship  and  of  the  Prebendaries  of  the  College  of  Stramiglow. 
Demperstoun,  and  other  parts  of  the  barony  of  Strathmiglo  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  Balfours  of  Burghley.  In  1665  John,  Lord  Balfour  of 
Burghley,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  Robert,  Lord  Balfour  of  Burghley, 
to  the  barony  and  town  of  Stramiglo,  otherwise  called  Eglismartin.  _  The 
name  Eaylais,  Gaelic  for  a  church,  is  indicative  of  an  origin  in  Celtic  times, 
and  the  suffix  shows  that  the  church  was  dedicated  to  St  Martin.— Fife 
Retours,  1456,  964. 

59.  Redy.  In  1579  this  property  belonged  to  the  Scots  of  Balwerie. 
In  1563  George  Moncrief  of  Reidie  was  served  heir  to  his  father  Andrew 
in  the  lands  of  Reidie  and  Layngswaird.  utherways  called  the  Waird  of 
Reidie.— Fife  Retains,  No.  817. 

60.  The  paroche  Kirk  of  Creiche  was  dedicated  to  St  Serf.  Bishop  Forbes  s 
Kalendar  of  Scottish  Saints,  p.  447.  The  dedication  of  the  Church  of 
Criech  to  one  of  the  Scottish  saints  is  indicative  of  its  being  an  early 
ecclesiastical  settlement.  In  a  Charter  of  Confirmation  we  have  recorded 
a  mortification  or  bequest  '  made  by  Mr  James  Strauchen  of  certain  annual 
rents  to  the  Mary  altar  founded  by  him  in  the  Kirk  of  Creickie,  viz.  an 
annual  rent  of  10  merks  out  of  the  lands  of  Meikle  Berres  (query  Meikle 
Barnes)  in  Kincardine,  of  4  merks  out  of  Flemington,  and  of  8  merks  out 
of  the  lands  of  Chappletoun  both  in  Forfar;  of  4  merks  out  of  Easter 
Pitlour  in  Fyfe,  of  5  merks  out  of  the  lands  of  Over  Pratis  ;  of  3  merks  out  of 
Middle  Urquhart,  alias  Lassintonne,  being  40  merk-land  also  in  Fife,  and  of 
20  shillings  out  of  Wester  Bonhard  in  Forfar  in  the  Baronie  of  Kellie,'  24  De- 
rrm1'  regnie  regis  26.  Chalmers  M.S.,  p.  92.  Unfortunately  the  record  from 
which  the  foregoing  is  taken  d.ies  nut  mention  tho  name  of  the  king  in  whose 
reign  the  charter  was  -ranted,  and  therefore  the  date  cannot  be  fixed, 
neither  does  it  Bpecify  that  the  altar  was  founded  in  Greich  in  Fife  ;  but  the 
fact  that  the  properties  from  which  the  annual   rents   were  drawn  are 


456  APPENDIX. 

chiefly  in  Fife,  and  the  neighbouring  county  of  Forfar,  maybe  held  conclusive 
on  that  point.  Besides,  Criech  in  Fife  is  denominated  Crehy  in  the  Rental 
of  the  Earldom  of  Fife  in  1293.  In  the  old  church  of  Creich  there  is  a  most 
elaborately  carved  tombstone  bearing  the  arms  of  the  families  of  Barclay  and 
Douglas. — It  must  have  originally  been  inlaid  with  brass,  and  was  placed 
iu  the  church  to  the  memory  of  David  Barclay,  who  died  a.d.  1400,  and 
to  his  wife  Janet  Douglas,  who  died  29th  January  1421. — New  Statisti- 
cal Account.  Laurence,  official  of  Lindores  Abbey,  and  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  University  of  St  Andrews,  was  Rector  of  Creich  a.d.  1432.  In  1493 
Sir  John  Lyndsay,  one  of  the  witnesses  to  Lord  Glammys'  decision  of  the 
dispute  between  the  convent  of  Lindores  and  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh, 
is  designated  Vicar  of  Creich.  The  charge  of  appellation  .from  Rector  to 
Vicar  shows  that  the  Church  of  Creich  had  been  bestowed  on  Lindores 
Abbey  between  the  dates  mentioned,  but  by  whom  does  not  appear  ;  there 
being  no  record  of  the  bestowal  in  the  chartulary  of  the  Abbey.  In  the 
year  1528  Mr  David  Seton  of  the  family  of  Parbroath  (of  whom  a  notice 
appears  in  No.  62  of  these  Notes)  is  designated  Vicar  of  Creich  in  a 
Writ  of  dispensation  of  a  marriage  in  the  parish  of  Balhelvy,  of  which  he 
was  'persoune.' — Antiquities  of  the  Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff,  Vol.  III., 
p.  333.  In  a  very  early  taxation  of  the  churches  of  Fife,  preserved  iu  the 
Registrum  de  Dunfermelyn,  p.  208,  the  following  entry  occurs  : — '  Ecca  de 
Creych  cum  Caplla — XII.  ma.  [marks.]  This  contemporary  notice  of  a 
dependant  chapel  in  the  parish  of  Creich  is  confirmatory  evidence  of  the 
correctness  of  the  tradition  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Lawson  in 
his  valuable  Statistical  Account  of  the  Parish,  that  an  old  barn  at  Parbroath 
(since  demolished)  was  formerly  a  chapel.  Creich  church  is  not  mentioned 
in  Boaimund's  Roll  of  Churches  a.d.  1275  (Statuta  Ecclesiae  Scoticanae,  pp. 
ccciv.-vi.)  but  the  architectural  features  of  the  old  church  exhibit  traces  of 
considerable  antiquity ;  in  all  probability  it  was  erec£ed  in  the  14th  century. 
61.  The  town  of  Creich,  and  Castle,  derive  importance  from  having  been  the 
property  and  residence  of  the  Bethuues,  a,  family  of  aucient  lineage  and  of 
considerable  influence  in  Scotland  in  the  16th  century.  '  David,  son  of 
John  Bethune  of  Balfour,  acquired  the  estate  of  Creich  from  a  family  of  the 
name  of  Little  or  Liddel  in  1502,'  and  his  descendants  held  it  for  several 
generations.  '  Janet  Bethune,  a  daughter  of  the  second  Laird  of  Creich 
of  that  name,  was  married  to  Sir  Walter  Scott  of  Branxholm,'  and  is  thus 
alluded  to  in  '  The  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel :' — 

4  Of  noble  race  the  Lady  came, 
Her  father  was  a  clerk  of  fame 
Of  Bethune's  Hue  of  Picardie.' 


APPENDIX. 


457 


Mary  Bethunc,  another  daughter  of  this  house,  was  oue  of  '  The  Queen's 
four  Maries,'  so  famed  for  their  beauty  and  their  connection  with  the  un- 
fortunate Mary  Stuart.'— Statistical  Account  of  Creich,  p.  G36.  Rev.  James 
Campbell,  M.A.  Shores  of  Fife,  p.  93.  A  painting-,  said  to  be  an  original 
portrait  of  this  lady,  is  in  the  possession  of  Admiral  Bethune  of  Balfour. 
Creich  Castle,  the  residence  of  the  Bethunes,  is  now  roofless,  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  walls  are  still  standing,  overgrown  with  ivy.  The  lands  of 
Creich,  described  as  quondam  pertinen.  ad  abbaciam  de  Lundoris,  came  into 
possession  of  Thomas  Anderson  a.d.  J 721.  In  17G0  they  were  acquired 
by  Dr  John  Gillespie,  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietor  David  Gillespie, 
Esq.  of  Mountquhanie. 

62.  Parbroiihe.     Anciently  the  property  of  the  Ramsays,  it  passed  by 
marriage,  in  the  beginning  of  the  14th  century,  to  a  branch  of  the  family  of 
Seton.     '  The  first  proprietor  of  Parbroath  of  the  name  of  Seton  was  John, 
fourth  son  of  the  famous  Alexander  Seton,  Governor  of  Berwick.     He  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Parbroath  by  marrying  Elizabeth  Ramsay, 
heiress  thereof.'     New  Statistical  Account,  Parish  of  Creich.     The  history  of 
this  alliance,  and  of  the  Setons  of  Parbroath,  is  thus  quaintly  related  _  by 
Sir  Richard  Maitland  in  his  '  Historie  of  the  House  of  Seytoun.'     '  King 
David  II.  gave  to  the  said  Sr  Alexander  the  heretrix  of  Parbroth,  callet 
Elizabeth  Ramsay,  dochter  and  air  of  Sr  Niel  Ramsay,   knycht ;  quhilk 
Elizabeth  the  said  Sr  Alexander  gave  in  maryage  to  his  sone  callet  Johne, 
as  I  sail  efter  schaw.     This  Sr  Alexander  deit  in  the  latter  [days]  of  the 
foresaid  King  David  and  was  of  grit  age.'     Alexander  Seton  of  Parbroth 
was  oue  of  the  counsellors  of  Lord  Glamys  in  the  dispute  between  the 
convent  of  Lindores  and  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh  in   1493-4  {see  pp. 
178-182).     '  The  fourt  sone  of  Alexander  Seytoun  quha  kepit  Berwik, 
callet  Johne,  mareit  the  foresaid  Elizabeth  Ramsay,  heretrix  of  Parbroth, 
quha  bair  to  him  ane  sone  callet  Alexander ;  quhilk  Alexander  begat  Sr 
Gilbert,  knycht.     This  Sr  Gilbert  mareit  Marioun  Petcarne  upon  quhom  he 
got  fyve  sonnis.     The  eldest  callil  Sr  Alexander,  knycht,  quha  succedit  till 
his  father  ;  the  second  sone  callit  Williame,  quha  had  also  ane  sone  callit 
William  that  mareit  Katharine  Butlair,  heretrix  of  Rumgavye  ;  the  fluid 
sone  of  the  said  Sr  Gilbert,  callet  Johne,  mareit  Jonet  Lauthrysk,  heretrix 
of  that  Ilk.     Of  the  quhilk  Johne  arc  descendit  the  Seytounis  of  Lauthrysk 
and  Baubirny;  the  fourt  sone  calleit  Maister  David  quha  wes  ane  singular 
honest  man  and  mareit  all  his  elder  brotheris  dochteris,  efter  his  deceiss,  on 
landit  men  and   payit  thair  tocheris,  and  coft  ladyis  of  heritage  to  his 
brotheris  sonnis.' 

The  old  chronicler  relates  the  following  graphic  incident   in  the  life  of 
Master    David:— •  In  the  tyme  of    King   James  the   Ferd  there  was   ane 


458  APPENDIX. 

process  laid  aganis  the  baronnis,  callit  recognitionis.  The  Advocate  at  that 
tynae  wes  named  Maister  Richard  Lausone  and  his  assistant  Maister  James 
Henrysone.  Maister  David  Seytoun  in  his  defence  of  Lord  Seytounis  case 
said  to  the  king,  '  Schir,  quhen  our  forbears  gat  yon  landis  at  your  maist 
nobill  predecessouris  [handis]  for  their  trew  service  ;  sumtyme  gevand  the 
blude  of  thair  bodie,  and  sum  tyme  their  lives  in  defence  of  this  realme ; 
at  that  tyme  there  wes  nother  Lau  sone,  nor  Henry  sone  quha  wald  invent 
way  is  to  disheris  the  baronnis  of  Scotland.'  The  king  seeing  the  warmth 
with  which  he  made  his  defence  said  to  him,  '  Would  you  fight  V  The  old 
cleric,  who  was  beyond  the  age  when  he  had  a  right  to  challenge  a  decision 
by  single  combat,  said  that  if  the  king  would  give  permission  he  would 
fight  his  opponent.  '  The  kingis  grace  quha  wes  the  maist  nobil  and 
humane  prince  in  the  warld  smylit  and  leuch  a  little,  and  said  na  mair ; ' 
admiring  in  his  heart  the  nobility  of  the  man  who  stood  up  so  bravely  for 
the  rights  of  his  kindred. 

'  This  Maister  David  wes  persoun  of  Fettercarne  and  Balhelvy  ;  and 
ane  large  man  of  bodie  as  was  in  his  dayis,  and  stout  thairwyth,  the  best 
lyk  ageit  man  I  ever  saw.  He  levit  quhill  he  was  lxxx  yeiris,  undecrepit 
and  did  mony  other  actis  wordy  to  be  put  iu  remembrance  quhilk  I  omit 
for  shortness.  The  fift  sone  callit  Gilbert,  ane  Maister  clerk,  deit  at 
Rome.' 

'  The  said  Sir  Alexander,  eldest  sone  to  Sir  Gilbert  [and  Marioun  Pet- 
carne]  mareit  [circa  1540]  Helen  Murray  dochter  to  the  lard  of  Tuly- 
bardin,  and  gat  on  her  one  sone  callit  Alexander,  quho  deit  befoir  his  father. 
This  Alexander  mareit  Katherine,  dochter  to  the  Lord  Lyndsay  of  the 
Byris,  and  gat  upon  hir  tua  sounis,  the  eldest  callit  Johne  quha  succedit  to 
his  gudschir,  and  was  slane  at  Floudane,  levand  behind  him  na  successouris 
of  his  body.     Ane  vther  callit  Andro  quha  succedit  to  the  said  Johne,  his 

brother  and  levis  presentlie.     This  Andro  mareit Balfour,  dochter  to 

the  lard  of  Burlie,  and  gat  upon  hir  ane  sone  callit  Gilbert  quha  was  slane 
at  the  field  of  Pinkye,  his  father  yet  leiffand.  This  Gilbert  mareit  Mar- 
garet Leslie,  dochter  to  the  Erie  of  Rothos,  on  qiihorn  he  gat  David  appeir- 
and  heir  to  his  gudschir  Andro.  The  rest  of  the  successioun  of  the  hous 
of  Parbroth  and  the  granis  collateral  of  the  samin,  with  their  successioun 
and  actis  done  by  them,  I  refer  to  them  that  are  descendit  of  the  samin 
hous.' — MaitlancTs  Historie  of  the  House  of  Seytoun. 

Sir  Richard  Maitland's  account  of  the  House  of  Parbroath  only  comes 
down  to  the  year  1560,  and  none  of  'the  hous,  or  the  granis  collateral,' 
having  left  any  account  of  the  family  behind  them,  we  are  left  to  glean 
their  subsequent  history  from  scattered  scources.  David  Seton  was  served 
heir  to  his  grandfather  in  1563. — Fife  Eetours  51.     David  Seton  of  Par- 


APPENDIX. 


459 


broath,  who  became  Comptroller  of  Scotland,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Patrick  sixth  Lord  Gray,  circa  1590.  In  the  next  century,  Margaret 
Seaton  of  the  family  of  Parbroath,  married  Sir  John  Scrimgeour  of  Dud- 
hope,  who  was  created,  Viscount  Dudhope  and  Lord  Scrimgeour  by  Charles 
1  in  1641.  He  was  appointed  by  the  same  monarch  Heritable  Standard 
Bearer  of  Scotland,  an  honour  which  is  held  by  the  descendant  of  this  mar- 
riage, Henry  Scrimgeour  Wedderburn  of  Birkhill.  Peerage  of  Scotland, 
Wood's  Ed.,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  466,  671.  Parbroath  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
Setons  towards  the  end  of  the  17th  century.  The  latest  notice  we  have 
of  the  family  is  in  Burke's  '  Landed  Gentry'  (1850),  where  it  is  stated  that 
'  Sir  Walter  Synnot  of  Ballymoyer,  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  Ireland, 
married  in  1770  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Seton  of  CamberweU,  Surrey,  re- 
presentative of  the  Setons  of  Parbroath.'  In  the  year  1694,  at  which  date 
the  oldest  volumes  of  the  Parochial  Registers  of  the  parish  of  Creich  begins, 
Parbroath  formed  part  of  the  estate  of  Mr  Andrew  Baylie  of  the  family  ot 
Carfin,  in  the  west  of  Scotland.  The  house  of  Parbroath  was  a  ruin  at  the 
beginning  of  the  18th  century,  when  Sir  Robert  Sibbald  published  his  His- 
toid of  Fife,  and  all  that  remains  of  the  residue  of  a  race  who  'gave  the 
blude  of  their  bodie  and  their  lives  in  defence  of  this  realine,'  is  the  half 
of  an  arch  standing  in  the  middle  of  a  ploughed  field.  Parbroath  (usually 
pronounced  Petbroad)  is  now  the  property  of  Captain  H.  W.  Hope.— On 
AinsliJs  Map  of  Fife,  published  in  1774,  the  name  is  given,  Pitbroad 

63  Luthrey.  The  Barony  of  Luthrie  and  Kinslifi'e  anciently  belonged 
to  Kinioch  of  Kinloch  in  Collessie  parish.  '  Not  later  than  1529  Sir  David 
1  yndsay  on  his  inauguration  as  Lyon  King  of  Arms  had  assigned  to  him 
as  his  ordinary  fee,  four  chalders  and  nine  bolls  of  victual  out  of  the  King's 
Lands  of  Luthrie  in  Fife.'— David  Laing's  Memoir  of  Lindsay.  Poetical 
Works,  Ed.  1871.  The  estate  of  Luthrie,  or  at  least  a  part  of  it,  therefore 
belonged  to  the  Crown  in  the  beginning  of  the  16th  century.  On  the 
death  of  Sir  David  Lindsay,  Sir  Robert  Forman,  who  is  designed  of  Luthrie, 
succeeded  Lyndsay  as  Lyon  King  of  Arms  in  1555.  'According  to  a 
M  S.  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  Forman  was  allowed  his  fee  by  Queen  Mary 
out  of  the  lands  of  Rathillet,  being  the  King's  property  within  the  Stewartry 
of  Fyffe.  On  the  18th  of  February  1594,  John  Forman,  Rothesay  Herald, 
was  served  heir  in  general  to  his  father  Domini  Roberti  Forman  de  Luchrie 
militis  Leonis  Regis  Armonmi.'—  Seaton's  Law  and  Practice  of  Heraldry, 
p.  481.  Sir  Robert  and  his  descendants  could  only  have  possessed  a  part 
of  Luthrie,  as  in  1549  the  estate  was  much  sub-divided.  In  1549  a  family  of 
the  name  of  Clark  possessed  the  sixteenth  part.  In  the  17th  century,  Families 
Of  the  names  of  KMoche  (possibly  descendants  of  the  ancient  proprietors) 
and  of  Corbie,  possessed  each  a  sixteenth  part ;  and  one  of  the  name  of  Barclett 


460  APPENDIX. 

a  thirty-second  part.     Luthrie  is  now  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  David 
Cook,  and  Upper  Luthrie  belongs  to  John  Russell,  Esq. 

64.  Kinsleif  now  Kinsleith,  correctly  Kinsleibh,  Gaelic  signifying  '  the 
End  of  the  slope  of  the  hill,'  a  name  admirably  descriptive.  In  1616  this 
property  belonged  to  David  Barclay  of  Cullernie.  The  Barclays'  sold  Easter 
Kinsleith  in  1727  to  the  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietor  George  Cunning- 
ham Miller,  Esq. 

65.  Bahnadyside.  Bal-madadh,  Gaelic,  the  Town  of  the  Wolf  or  Wild 
Dog.  Robert  III.  confirmed  a  charter  by  Norman  Leslie  of  Balnabriech 
to  John  Ramsay  of  Colluthye,  to  the  lands  of  Bahnadyside  and  Pittachop, 
blench  to  be  holden  of  Leslie.  This  charter  proceeds  on  a  verdict  pro- 
nounced atGlenduky,  5th  July  1390,  by  the  following  jury — viz.,  Andrew 
de  Ramsay  of  Redy,  John  of  Kynnere,  William  of  Berclay,  John  of 
Camera,  Allan  of  Lochmalony,  Walter  of  Ramsay,  Maliseus  of  Kynnyn- 
mond,  John  of  Kindelouch,  William  Stirk,  William  of  Ferny,  John  of 
Ramsay,  William  of  Lochmalony,  Robert  Lyel,  Andrew  of  Camera  and 
John  of  Arous. — Robertson's  Index  to  Charters,  157,  27.  Balmadyside  re- 
verted to  the  Leslies,  for,  on  the  9th  April  1613,  John,  Earl  of  Rothes,  was 
served  heir  to  his  brother  James,  Master  of  Rothes  in  the  barony  of 
Balliubriech  and  in  the  lands  of  Balmedysid  and  others. — Fife  Betours,  No. 
1547.     It  now  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  Andrew  Wallace. 

66.  Wranghame,  in  the  parish  of  Kinnethmont. 

67.  Fintray,  in  the  parish  of  Pintry,  Aberdeenshire. 

68.  Balmdw,  in  the  parish  of  Newtyle.  The  gift  of  Alexander,  King  of 
Scots,  to  the  Abbey.  Confirmed  by  David  II.,  20th  September  1365. — Lin- 
dor  es  Chartulary,  p.  48. 

68.  Newtyle.  A  carucate  of  land  in  Newtile  is  mentioned  in  the  Pope's 
Confirmation,  a.d.  1198,  as  part  of  the  possessions  of  Lindores  Abbey. 
— Chartidary,  p.  40. 

69.  Hylton  and  Mylton  of  Craigie,  in  the  parish  of  Dundee.  The  gift  of 
Ysabella  da  Brous. — Lindores  Chatulary,  p.  14. 

60.  Claypotts,  was  conferred  on  Lindores  Abbey  previous  to  the  grant 
of  Balmaw  by  King  Alexander. — Lindores  Chatulary,  p.  48.  In  1678  Clay- 
pottis  was  the  property  of  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  afterwards  the 
famous  Viscount  Dundee ;  he  succeeded  to  it  as  heir  to  his  great-grand- 
father Sir  William  Graham. — Forfar  Betours,  No.  475. 

71.  The  bar  one  of  Mernis  by  the  annuales  of  Bervy.  Inverbervy  in  the 
Mearns,  formed  part  of  the  grant  of  William  the  Lion  to  his  brother  David, 
Earl  of  Huntingdon,  Pounder  of  Lindores. — Fordun  a  Goodal,  Lib.  ix.,  cap.  xxvii. 

72.  The  Hauche.  The  land  on  which  Cullelo  House  is  built,  the  pro- 
perty of  John  Cameron,  Esq.,  was  formerly  known  as  '  The  Haugh.' 


APPENDIX.  4T>1 

73.  Woodheid.  The  Abbot  of  Lindores  conveyed  the  lands  of  Woodhead, 
described  as  the  entire  south  half  of  the  Wood  of  Lindores,  to  James 
M'Gill  of  Rankeillour,  on  the  23d  June  1565.  The  charter  of  the  Abbot 
was  confirmed  by  Queen  Mary.  Woodhead  belonged,  in  the  end  of  the 
16th  century,  to  the  Sandilands  of  St  Monance.  In  1 668  James  Arnot  was 
served  heir  to  his  father,  Sir  James  Arnot  of  Fernie,  to  Woodheid  and 
Woodmilne  —  Fife  Betours,  No.  iii.  1050.  Woodhead  is  now  the  property 
of  Win.  S.  Wilson,  Bishop  of  Glasgow. 

74.  Eistwood— name  now  obsolete,  part  of  the  property  of  the  Arnots 
of  Woodmiln. 

75.  The  Brewhonse  of  the  Grange.  The  remains  of  brewing  premises 
are  still  extant  at  the  Grange,  but  they  are  of  comparatively  modern  date, 
having  been  built  out  of  the  ruins  of  the  Abbey  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  and  therefore  they  are  more  modern  than  the  brewhouse 
mentioned. 

76.  Burgh  maills  and  tennentis  of  Newbruiche. 

77.  The  Annuellis  of  Sanctandrois.  There  is  no  notice  of  these  annual 
rents  in  any  of  the  recorded  charters  of  the  Abbey. 

78.  The  Derach  land  of  Creich.     Corrupted  in  '  The  Court  Roll  of  the 
Regallitie  of  Lundores  1695,'  to  '  the  dowrie  lands  of  Creich.'     The  term 
Dira-laud  and  Dira-croft  occurs  in  Kincardine  and  Aberdeenshires,  and  is 
understood  to  be  the  land,  or  croft,  that  pertained  to  the  office  of  Toschach- 
derach,  which  Skene  says  '  was  ane  office,  or  jurisdiction,  not  unlike  to 
ane  Baillierie.' — Be  vcrborian  signific.     This  word  Toshach-derach,  which  we 
find  imbedded  in  the  parish  of  Creich,  like  the  fragment  of  an  ancient  geo- 
logical strata,  Mr  W.  F.  Skene,  in  his  able  dissertation  on  'Tribe  Com- 
munities in  Scotland,'  says,  is  derived  from  Toisech,  Gaelic  for  Leader,  and 
Bior,  an  old  word  signifying  'of  or  belonging  to  law,'  and  forms  Toiseaeh 
doracht,  the  office  of  Toiseach- dor,  or  Coroner.     This  term  is  almost  identi- 
cal with  the  name  given  to  the  Coroner  in  the  Isle  of  Man.     '  In  the  Manks 
language  that  officer  is  named  Toshiagh  Jioarey,  or  chief  man  of  the  law.' 
Though  the  term  Coroner  has  long  ceased  to  be  used  in  Scotland,  there  is, 
or  was  lately,  a  rig  of  land  among  the  Burgh  acres  of  Newburgh  known  as 
the  Crowner's  Rig.     The  smallness  of  the  croft  usually  assigned  to  the 
Toiseach-derach,  indicates  that  the  office  was  of  a  subordinate  kind.     This 
is  confirmed  by  a  provision  in  the  laws  of  William  the  Lion,  iu  which  '  a 
citation  is  directed  to  be  made  by  the  sergeant,  or  coroner  or  Tosordereh.'— 
Historian*  of  Scotland,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  458,  459.    The  office,  in  some  instances, 
seems  to  have  been  hereditary. — Miscell.  Spald.  Club,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  xxxiii. 
The  Derachland  of  Creich  cannot  now  be  identified.     In  1695,  it  belonged 
to  tho  Laird  of  Balfour. 


462  APPENDIX. 

79.  The  Luidging  in  Falkland.  In  the  older  Rental  this  is  named  '  the 
Abbots  Luidging  in  Falkland.' 

80.  Clunie  Eister.  Henry,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  conveyed  the  lands  of 
Clunie  Eister  to  George  Orme,  by  charter  dated  12th  xVugnst  1520. — Mug- 
drum  Archives.  In  1672  they  belonged  to  William  Keir  of  Forret,  who 
succeeded  to  them  as  heir  to  his  father.  In  1681  Alexander  Bayne,  Bailie 
of  Dingwall  in  Ross-shire,  succeeded  to  both  the  halves  of  Eister  Clunie  as 
joint-heir  of  Mr  John  Bayne  of  Pitcairlie,  his  uncle. — Perth  Retours,  837-911. 
Easter  Clunie  is  now  the  property  of  John  Williamson,  Esq. 

81-85.  The  Marie  Croft,  named  in  honour  of  the  Virgin,  and  the  names 
of  the  other  places  mentioned  under  these  numbers  are  now  all  obsolete, 
with  the  exception  of  Craigmylue,  which  formed  part  of  the  property  of 
Sir  Michael  Balfour  of  Denmiln  in  1652. — Fife  Retours,  877. 

86.  Innerraritie,  anciently  Inverquharity  (near  Kirriemuir),  where  a  fine 
old  castle  of  the  Ogilvies  still  stands. — Jer  vise's  Memorials  of  Angus  and 
Mearns,  p.  *17. 

87-91.  Wistounis,  hillend,  Fyscherhill,  Lytill  Wistonis,  Scottistone  and 
Mylntoun,  and  Brewhouse  of  Wistonis,  are  all  in  the  parish  of  St  Cyrus. 

91.  TJie  great  Luidging  in  Perthe.  The  monks  of  Lindores  originally  ac- 
quired their  property  in  Perth  from  King  William  the  Lion.  By  charter 
1178-1214,  he  gave  them  '  one  full  toft  in  his  Burgh  of  Perth.' — Chartulary 
of  Lindores,  p.  9. 

Lindores  Abbey  and  Lands  adjoining.  The  lands  of  the  Lordship  of 
Lindores,  as  stated  at  p.  406,  passed  into  the  hands  of  John  Bayne,  Writer 
to  the  Signet,  for  advances  made  by  him  to  Patrick,  second  Lord  Lindores. 
From  Mugdrum  archives  we  learn  that  the  sum  advanced  amounted  to 
£5500  Scots.  Through  the  aid  of  his  relative  John,  Duke  of  Rothes,  John, 
fourth  Lord  Lindores  retained  right  to  the  Abbey  itself,  and  the  lands  around 
it.  His  son  David,  fifth  Lord  Lindores,  who  died  without  issue,  conveyed 
them  on  tbe  18th  December  1718  to  Dame  Jane  Leslie,  Lady  Newark. 
She,  and  her  husband,  Sir  Alexander  Anstruther,  after  a  process  of  adjudi- 
cation, granted  a  disposition  to  the  lands  and  lordship  of  Lindores,  20th 
April  1738,  in  favour  of  Sir  Alexander  Leslie,  who  assumed  the  title  of 
Lord  Lindores  {see  p.  407).  Sir  Alexander  Leslie  sold  Lindores  Abbey  and 
lands,  20th  July  1749  to  Robert  Laing,  late  minister  of  Newburgh,  who 
sold  them  on  the  30th  January  1753  to  Peter  Hay  of  Leys,  to  whose  de- 
scendant, Edmund  Paterson  Balfour  Hay  of  Leys,  the  Abbey  now  belongs. 

Mugdrum.  The  lands  of  Mugdrum  formed  no  part  of  the  property  of 
the  Abbacy  of  Lindores ;  but  as  they  are  now  in  the  parish  of  Newburgh, 
having  been  disjoined  from  that  of  Abernethy,  the  following  notes  of  their 
history  are  appended. 


APPENDIX. 


463 


The  first  mention  that  we  have  of  Mug-drum  is  in  a  charter  by  Laurence 
of  Abernethy,  of  which  the  following-  is  an  abstract : — '  Laurence,  son  of 
Orm  of  Abirnythy,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  given  to  God  and  to  the  church 
of  St  Thomas  of  Abirbrothoc  the  right  of  advocation  to  the  church  of 
Abirnythy  with  its  pertinents,  namely,  the  chapels  of  Drou,  Dunbulcc, 
and  of  Eroyln  5  with  the  lands  of  Belache  [Ballo]  and  of  Peteulouer,  and 
half  of  the  tithes  of  my  estate ;  the  other  half  of  which  belongs  to  the 
Keledei  of  Abirnythy,  and  all  the  tithes  of  the  territory  of  Abirnythy  except 
those  tithes  which  belong  to  the  churches  of  Flisk  and  Cultra  ;  excepting 
also  the  tithes  of  my  lordship  of  Abirnythy  which  the  Keledei  of  Abirnythy 
have  always  held,  namely  of  Mukedrum,  Kerpul,  Balehyrewelle,  Ballecolly 
and  of  Invernythy  from  the  east  side  of  the  burn,  etc' — Reeve's  Culdees  of 
the  British  Islands,  p.  25 1.  The  terms  used  in  this  charter  (habent  et  semper 
habere  solebaut),  would  seem  to  imply  that  the  tithes  of  Mugdrum  per- 
tained to  the  Culdees  of  Abernethy  from  the  first  settlement  of  Christianity 
there.     The  foregoing  charter  was  granted  between  a.d.  1188  and  1199. 

The  next  mention  that  we  have  of  Mugdrum  is  at  an  interval  of  nearly 
three  hundred  years;  in  the  record  of  an  '  actioun  &  cause  psewit' 
(before  the  Lords  of  Council,  12th  January  1492)  '  be  the  abbot  &  convent 
of  Lundores,  aganis  George,  erle  of  Rothes  &  Johne  Coviutre  of  Muk- 
drum,  that  is  to  say  the  said  erle  for  the  dampnage  &  scathis  sustenit  be 
the  said  abbot  &  qvent  throw  the  making  of  a  pretendifc  Recognisciouu 
upon  the  said  lard  of  Mukdrumis  land  is  of  Mukdrum,  in  defraude  &  pre- 
judice of  the  said  abbot  &  qvent  &  als  to  shew  ressonable  cause  why 

he  deferris  to  lat  the  said  landis  to  borch,  etc The  Lords 

of  Counsale  decretts  etc.  that  sen  the  said  erle  of  rothes  wald  not 
qpere  to  show  the  said  recognisciouu  etc.  It  sal  be  lefull  to  the  said  John 
of  Coviutre  to  dispose  upon  the  said  landis  of  Mukdrum,  or  to  the  said  abbot 
etc.,  to  cause  the  samyn  landis  to  be  psit  [prisit]  for  the  soume  erf  audit. 
Bkore  of  merks  grantit  awin  to  thaim  be  the  said  John  Coviutre  etc.'— Acta 
Dominorum  CoTicilii,  p.  258. 

On  the  9th  March  1510,  William  Scott  of  Bahvery  obtained  a  charter 
from  James  IV.  to  the  lands  of  Mugdrum  with  the  fishings,  formerly  re- 
puted a  tenandrie  of  Ballinbriech,  then  united  in  the  barony  of  Strath- 

miglo. 

'  William  Scott  gave  Sasiue  of  the  lands  of  Muckdrum  to  George  Orme, 
son  of  tho  deceased  Stephen  Orme  (in  all  probability  the  same  who  acted 
as  factor  for  Lindores  Abbey  in  Flanders).  George  Orme  also  owned  Clunie, 
as  stated  under  Note,  No.  80.  Patrick,  Lord  Lundores,  -ranted  a  charter 
to  the  same  land  on  the  12th  February  1575  in  favour  of  David  Orm©. 
Mugdrum  continued  in  the  possession  of  the  Ormes   for  a  considerable 


464  APPENDIX. 

period,  and  their  succession  was  as  follows  : — Henry  succeeded  his  father 
George  in  1536,  and  in  1573  he  conveyed  them  to  his  son  James  on  his 
marriage.  Helen  and  Catharine  Orme  were  served  heiresses  to  their 
brother  James  in  1581,  they  conveyed  their  respective  shares  of  the  lands 
to  their  uncle  David  Orme  of  Priorletham,  who  conveyed  them  in  1588  to 
Mr  David  Orme  his  eldest  son. — Mugdrum  Charters. 

The  Orme's  of  Mugdrum  embraced  the  cause  of  Francis  Stewart,  Earl 
of  Bothwell.  In  their  complicity  with  this  violent  and  reckless  nobleman, 
they  became  involved  in  much  trouble.  He  was  a  cousin  of  James  VI., 
who  treated  him  with  much  kindness,  and  bestowed  favours  upon  him, 
which  he  requited  by  a  series  of  violent  attacks  on  the  King.  He  and  a 
band  of  accomplices  beset  the  Palace  of  Holyrood  in  a  violent  and  tumultu- 
ous manner,  for  which  seven  of  those  that  were  apprehended  were  hanged. 
'  In  the  same  year,  1592,  Bothwell,  with  armed  adherents  assailed  Falk- 
land when  the  King  was  there,  and  he  was  only  repulsed  by  the  peasantry 
of  the  neighbourhood  rallying  for  the  protection  of  the  King.  Bothwell's 
last  and  most  formidable  raid  on  the  the  royal  household  was  in  1594, 
when  he  appeared  suddenly  at  Leith  with  five  hundred  ruffians  from  the 
Border  threatening  Edinburgh.'  Long  before  this,  however,  he  and  his 
accomplices  were  tried  in  absence,  and  condemned  for  high  treason.  These 
raids  of  Bothwell  were  productive  of  great  uneasiness  and  disquiet,  and 
the  Magistrates  of  the  '  Townis  off  the  coist-syde  had  to  find  caution  to 
appear  before  the  King  and  Council,  to  ansuer  to  sic  things  as  sal  be  in- 
quirit  of  thame  concerning  the  pairt-taking,  etc.,  with  Francis,  sumtyme 
Erll  Bothuill,  etc.,  viz. — The  magistrates  of  Kirkaldy,  under  the  pane  of 
2000  merkis ;  Kiughorne,  1000  merkis  ;  Dysart,  2000  pundis  ;  Pittinweyme, 
1000  merkis;  Carraill,  500  pundis;  Sanct  Androis,  2000  merkis;  An- 
struther,  1000  pundis  ;  and  Coupair  500  merkis.' 

The  estates  and  goods  of  those  condemned  (one  of  whom  was  David 
Orme  of  Mugdrum),  were  confiscated,  and  their  persons  doomed  to  underly 
the  '  utter  and  last  punishment  appointit  by  the  lawes  of  this  realme.'  The 
following  proclamation  was  issued,  April  13,  1594: — Apud  Brunt -Hand, 
against  Capitane  George  Strang,  Capitane  Robert  Melvill,  Mr  Jerome 
Lindsay,  sone  to  Mr  David  L.,  minister,  Mr  John  Murray,  David  Orme  of 
Mugdrum,  Mr  Allane  Orme  and  .  .  .  Orme  his  brother,  Robert 
Douglas  sone  nature!]  to  Schir  George  D.  and  Patrik  Clapene,  brother  to 
the  Laird  of  Carslogy,  his  Maiesteis  unnatural  and  disobedient  subiectis, 
fugitive  from  his  hienes  lawis  for  thair  tressonnable  assisting,  etc.  Francis, 
sumtyme  Erll  Bothuill  and  utheris  his  accomplices,  etc. ;  and  sum  of  thame 
for  rasing  bandis  of  men  of  weir,  etc.,  for  serving  the  saidis  traitouris 
againis  his  Maiestie.     The  lieges  are  therefoir  discharged  from  furnish- 


APPENDIX.  465 

ing  them  with  '  meit,  house,  nor  harbory,'  etc.—  Pitcairn's  Criminal  Trials, 
Vol.  I.,  pp.  270-5,  309,  310. 

Many  of  those  implicated  contrived  to  elude  justice,  but  all  were  uot 
so  fortunate.  Sir  James  Balfour  of  Denmyln  records  the  following  under 
the  year  1594  : — '  In  Appryle  this  yeir  Bothwell  comes  to  Leith  with  500 
horse,  and  the  King  raises  thetoune  of  Edinburgh  to  apprehend  him  bot  he 
fleies  by  the  way  of  Dalkeith.  Divers  were  hangit  this  yeire  for  resaitting 
and  entertaining  of  him,  as  William  Heggie  29  Appryle  ;  Allan  Orme, 
brother  to  the  Laird  of  Mugdrum,  the  17  of  September,  James  Gibson, 
James  Cochrane  the  24,'  etc.— Balfour's  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  p.  395.  Bothwell, 
the  author  of  all  this  misery,  when  last  heard  of  in  Scotland,  was  seen 
skulking  near  Perth  with  only  two  followers,  and  in  utter  destitution.  He 
escaped  to  the  continent,  and  died  there  in  obscurity. — Tytler's  Hist,  of 
Scotland,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  231.  Hill  Burton's  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  50. 
The  sentence  of  confiscation  against  David  Orme  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  carried  out  to  the  rigour,  as  Francis  Orme,  son  of  David  Orme  re- 
ceived a  Charter  of  Novodamus  to  the  lands  of  Mugdrum,  on  27th  Novem- 
ber 1631,  who  conveyed  them  next  day  to  Henry  Cheap  of  Ormiston.  In 
November  1631,  Henry  Cheap  conveyed  them  to  Stephen  Orme  of  Halhill, 
who  conveyed  them,  reserving  his  own  liferent,  to  his  eldest  son  George, 
on  his  marriage  with  Grizzel  Spens  27th  December  1634.  George  Orme 
sold  Mugdrum  to  the  Right  Honourable  Colonel  Ludovic  Leslie,  brother- 
german  of  Patrick,  Lord  Lundores,  20th  February  1648.  Colonel  Leslie 
sold  the  estate  to  William  Arnot,  brother  of  the  Laird  of  Woodmilne  on  2d 
March  1663. 

In  1647  Colonel  Ludovic  Leslie  purchased  from  William  Oliphant  of 
Balgonie,  ''the  Insche  callit  the  Reid  Insche  with  the  salmond  fishings,  etc., 
within  the  parochine  and  barony  of  Abernethie  and  Sheriffdom  of  Perth.' 
He  sold  this  Island  to  William  Arnot,  along  with  Mugdrum;  and  the  two 
properties  have  ever  since  been  conjoined.  William  Arnot  married  Jeane 
Cheape,  daughterof  Mr  James  Cheape  of  Ormiston,  in  L663.  These  spouses 
conveyed  Mugdrum  and  the  Reid  Inch  to  Harie  Cheape,  younger  of 
Rossie,  in  L684,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  James  in  1707.  -lames  Cheap 
sold  them  in  1718  to  Richard  Murray,  merchant  in  Edinburgh,  who  con- 
veyed them  to  Richard  Oswald  of  Tort  Glasgow  in  1723.  Lord  George 
Murray,  as  stated  in  a  previous  page,  came  into  possession  of  Mugdrum 
and  resided  there.  On  the  Lotfa  May  1732,  he  granted  a  disposition  to  the 
community  of  Newburgh,  affording  them  access  to  the  Tay.  Richard 
Oswald  must  have  re-acquired  Mugdrum  and  the  Island,  as  on  12th 
February  L737,  he  conveyed  them  to  Homy  Barclayof  Collernie,  who  on 
the  same  day,  with  consent  of  Alexander,  Lord  Lindores,  conveyed  them 

G  G 


466  APPENDIX. 

to  Peter  Hay,  younger  of  Leys ;  in  the  possession  of  whose  descendants 
they  have  ever  since  remained.  There  was,  we  learn  from  record,  formerly 
an  old  castle  at  Mugdrum,  but  it  has  long  since  been  destroyed,  and  no 
vestige  of  it  remains. 

At  a  subsequent  date,  however,  Alexander  Orme,  Writer  to  the  Signet, 
in  all  likelihood  a  descendant  of  the  Ormes  of  Mugdrum,  bought,  in  1763, 
from  Viscount  Stormonth,  the  superiority,  which  entitled  him  to  a  voice  in 
the  election  of  a  member  of  Parliament.  Alexander  Orme  was  succeeded 
in  this  freehold  by  his  brother  Dr  David  Orme,  physician  in  London,  in 
1794,  who  sold  it  by  public  roup  in  the  same  year,  and  it  was  purchased 
for  David  Balfour  Hay  of  Leys,  then  the  proprietor  of  the  lands  of 
Mugdrum. 

After  the  Ormes  sold  the  lands  of  Mugdrum  they  bought  '  The  Haugh' 
betwixt  Newburgh  and  the  Tay.  David  Orme  was  one  of  the  bailies  of 
Newburgh.  His  son,  Mr  David,  became  minister  of  Newburgh,  having 
been  presented  by  Charles  I.,  8th  June  1631.  He  was  translated  to  Moni- 
mail,  and  died  in  1684. 

Mothel.  Muthil  Church,  according  to  the  Bull  of  Pope  Innocent  III. 
belonged  to  Lindores  Abbey  in  1198.  There  is  no  record  to  show  how 
this  ancient  seat  of  the  Culdees  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Abbey,  and 
there  is  no  subsequent  mention  made  of  it  in  the  Rentals  which  have  come 
down  to  us.  The  probability  is,  that  Easter  Feddills  and  Bennie  which 
pertained  to  the  Abbey  (see  p.  433),  and  which  were  situated  in  what  was 
originally  the  parish  of  Muthil,  came  through  the  grant  confirmed  in  1198. 
We  extract  the  following  regarding  this  ancient  religious  site  from  Dr 
Reeves'  <  Culdees  of  the  British  Islands.'  '  Concerning  its  [Muthil]  founda- 
tion and  early  condition,  history  is  silent.  The  veneration,  indeed,  enter- 
tained there  in  old  times  for  St  Patrick's  Well  and  that  of  Struthill,  with  its 
adjacent  chapel,  reminds  us  of  St  Patrick's  famous  well  at  Struell,  near 
Downpatrick,  and  may  indicate  some  faint  traces  of  Irish  influence  at  a 
remote  period.'  Dr  Reeves  adds  in  a  note,  that  '  MaoihailJ  which  is  often* 
in  Ireland  written  Moethail  is  from  the  Gaelic  Maoth  soft,  and  signifies, 
'  spongy  ground,'  and  not  -Mote-hill,  as  stated  in  the  New  Statistical 
Account,  p.  175. 

Inuerkeitldng.  Robert  of  Lundores,  son  of  King  William,  the  Lion, 
bestowed  '  one  full  toft  in  the  burgh  of  Inverketin '  on  the  abbot  and 
convent  of  Londoris.  This  grant  was  confirmed  in  1291  by  a  Bull  of 
Pope  Nicolas  IV. — Antiq.  of  Aberdeen  and  Banffshires,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  503. 

Cumytun,  in  the  diocese  of  Lincoln,  was  also  confirmed  to  Lundoris  by 
the  same  Bull.  No  other  mention  is  made  of  these  grants  in  the  records 
of  the  Abbey. 


APPENDIX. 


467 


No.  V.  p.  153. 

(The  reference  at  p.  149  should  be  No.   VI.    See  p.  489.) 
Abstracts  of  Charters  of  Lindores  AUey. 

The  Chartulary  of  Lindores  is  preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library. 
It  consists  of  a  small  volume  of  12mo  size,  and  contains  all  the  Charters 
that  are  printed  in  the  first  thirty-three  pages  of  the  Chartulary  published 
by  the  Abbotsford  Club.  These  have  been  copied  without  any  regard 
to  the  order  of  date.  The  Chartulary  is  written  in  a  small  indistinct  hand. 
At  the  end  of  the  volume  there  are  several  memorandums,  one  of  which  is 
as  follows  : — 

'  Ye  XVI.  day  of  April  four  score  vij.  yeirs  [query  1487]  cherls  .  . 
warnit  James  betone,  patrik  leslie,  and  all  to  remowe  from  the  lands  of 
Vodriff  befor  thir  witness  Jhone  Scott  or  Stewaird  ;  David  hunter,  Jhone 
philipe  ;  Alexr  balfour  ;  Gawin  Adeson,  Jhone  Pitbladar.' 

Besides  the  Charters  contained  in  the  manuscript  volume  mentioned, 
there  are  other  ten  in  the  printed  Chartulary,  of  which  the  originals  of 
three  are  preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  one  of  these  is  the  Founda- 
tion Charter  from  the  Denmylne  collection.  It  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of 
penmanship,  but  the  seals  (one  of  which  was  that  of  the  Founder,  and 
another  that  of  William  the  Lion)  are  all  worn  off. 

The  whole  of  the  Charters  are  in  Latin,  but  the  following  Abstracts 
are  made  in  English,  and  are  inserted  in  the  order  of  their  date,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained.  Those  of  numbers  28  aud  29  are  from  an  original 
copy  preserved  in  the  archives  of  Newburgh,  and  are  interesting  as  con- 
taining the  names  of  the  monks  and  of  the  burgesses  in  the  middle  of  the 
fifteenth  century. 

The  preceding  Rentals,  show  that  many  grants  to  the  Abbey  have 
not  been  recorded  in  the  Chartulary,  and  that  others  had  been  alienated 
before  the  dissolution  of  the  Monastery. 

The  numbers  within  brackets  are  those  of  the  Chartulary  printed  by  the 
Abbotsford  Club. 

No.  1.  (I.)  Carta  Fundationis  Ecclesice  et  Monasterii  de  Londors  in  silris 
de  Ironside,  a.d.  1178-1198. 
Karl  David,  brother  of  the  King  of  Scotland.  Know  me  to  have 
founded  the  Abbacy  of  Londors  of  the  order  of  Kelso,  for  the  honor  of 
God  and  of  the  blessed  Virgin,  and  St  Andrew  the  Apostle,  and  all  the 
Saints ;  for  the  welfare  of  the  soul  of  King  David  my  grandfather,  of  Karl 
11, -my  my  father,  and  Ada  my  mother;  of  King  Malcolm  ami  King 
William  my  brothers,  and  Queen  Armegarda  and  all  my  ancestors,  and  for 


468  APPENDIX. 

the  welfare  of  my  own  soul,  and  that  of  Matilda  my  spouse,  of  David  my 
sou,  and  of  all  my  descendants  ;  and  for  the  souls  of  my  brothers  and 
sisters :  Granting  and  Confirming-  to  the  said  Abbacy  of  Londors  and  the 
monks  serving  God  there,  in  pure  and  perpetual  charity,  the  Church  of 
Londors  and  the  land  pertaining  to  the  said  Church  as  Master  Thomas 
held  the  same ;  and  the  churches  of  Dunde,  Fintrith  and  Inverurin,  with 
the  chapel  of  Munkegin ;  the  churches  of  Durnach,  Prame,  Radmuriel, 
Inchemabanin,  Culsamuel,  and  Kelalcmund,  with  the  chapels,  lands,  and 
teinds,  of  the  said  churches,  and  all  their  pertinents,  to  the  proper  use  and 
sustenance  of  the  said  monks  ;  free  from  all  service  aud  exaction  whatever. 
Witnesses,  William,  King  of  Scotland,  John,  bishop  of  Aberdeen,  Ralph, 
bishop  of  Brechin,  Osbert,  abbot  of  Kelso,  Henry,  abbot  of  Aberbrudoc, 
Simon,  archdeacon  of  Aberdeen,  Robert,  dean  of  Aberdeen,  Walter,  official, 
Mathew  of  Aberdeen,  clerk  to  the  King,  David  of  Lindeseia,  Walter 
Olifard,  Robert  Basset,  Walkeline  son  of  Stephan,  William  Wascelin, 
Galfrid  of  Watervile,  Norman  son  of  Malcom,  constable  of  Innerurin, 
Henry  of  Beuile,  Mathew  the  falconer,  Simon  Flamang,  with  many  others. 
—  Original  Charter  from  Denmylne  ;  Advocates  Library. 

No.  2  (II.)  Bulla  Papa?  Innocentii  III.  de  conjirmatione  privilegiorum 
19th  April  1198. 

Granting  to  Guido,  abbot  of  Lundores,  and  his  brethren,  apostolic  pro- 
tection, and  confirming  the  privileges  belonging  to  their  Benedictine  order, 
and  also  whatever  possessions  and  goods  they  have  received,  or  may  in 
future  receive,  by  the  gift  of  pontiffs,  the  bounty  of  kings  or  princes,  the 
offering  of  the  faithful,  or  in  any  other  lawful  way ;  amongst  which  are 
reckoned  the  place  itself,  upon  which  the  said  monastery  is  built,  granted 
by  Earl  David,  brother  of  William,  King  of  Scotland  ;  the  church  of  the 
town  of  Lundores,  with  its  pertinents  namely  the  chapels  of  Bundamer 
[Dundemor]  and  the  lands  pertaining  to  the  foresaid  church  ;  the  island 
called  Redinche,  and  the  fishings  in  Thay  adjoining  the  said  island  ;  the 
mill  of  Lundores,  with  all  its  multures,  the  church  of  Dunde,  and  the  land 
belonging  thereto  ;  and  a  toft  in  the  burgh  of  Dunde  free  from  all  exac- 
tion and  service ;  and  a  carucate  of  laud  in  the  town  of  Neutile,  and  in  the 
town  of  Pert ;  the  land  called  the  island,  beyond  the  moneth  Fintreth  ; 
the  church  of  the  said  town  with  its  pertinents  in  Garvich ;  Lethgavel  and 
Malind ;  the  church  of  Ritcheth  with  its  chapels  ;  namely  Inverurin  and 
Munchegiu  ;  the  church  of  Durnah ;  the  churches  of  Prame,  Rathmuriel, 
Inchemabanin,  Culsamuel.  In  the  diocese  of  Lincoln,  the  churches  of 
Cuningroue  and  Wissenden.     In  the  diocese  of  Stratheren,  the  churches 


APPENDIX.  469 

of  Mothel  and  Chelalcmund,  with  the  chapels  of  the  foresaid  churches, 
together  with  the  lands  and  teinds  thereof  ;  and  one  full  toft  in  the  burgh 
of  Inverurie.  Given  at  the  Lateran  in  the  year  of  the  Incarnation  of  our 
Lord  M.  CXCVIII. 

No.  3  (21),   Carta  Comitis  David  de  quarrario.     a.d.  1178-1219. 

Earl  David,  brother  of  the  King  of  Scots.  Know  me  to  have  given  to 
my  monks  of  Lundores,  the  privilege  of  taking  stone  from  my  quarry  in 
Hyrneside,  as  much  as  they  please  for  ever,  for  building  their  church,  as 
well  as  all  other  edifices  which  shall  be  needful  for  them.  Witnesses, 
William  Wascelin,  Walkeline,  son  of  Stephen,  Robert  Basset,  Nicholas  of 
Auess,  Walter  Olifart,  Philip  the  clerk,  Henry  of  Nueriss  and  others. 

No.  4  (4).   Carta  Comitis  David  de  Redinche.     a.d.  1178-1219. 

Earl  David,  brother  of  the  King.  Know  that  we  have  given  to  God 
and  to  the  church  of  St  Mary  and  St  Andrew  of  Lundores,  and  to  the 
monks  serving  God  there,  the  Island  called  the  Redinche,  and  all  the  fishings 
in  the  Tay  next  to  the  said  island,  excepting  only  my  Jkaram  [yair]  at 
Colcrik.  To  be  held  in  perpetual  charity,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other 
lands   which   they  hold   and   possess.     Witnesses  : — A  abbot  of 

Dunfermline,  Earl  Duncan,  Malise,  Earl  Eertheth,  Malcolm,  son  of  Earl 
Duncan,  Walkelin,  son  of  Stephen,  R.  of  Anos,  Robert  Basset, 

John  of  Wiltun,  W.  Oliphant,  Ralph  Cameis,  etc 

No.  5  (6).  Rex  Super  toftis  burgovum.     a.d.  1178-1214. 

William,  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  me  to  have  given  to  God  ami  to 
the  abbot  of  Lundores,  and  to  the  monks  serving  God  there,  one  full  toft  in 
each  of  my  burghs  of  Berevic,  Striveliu,  Karri.  Pertht,  Forfare,  Muuross 
and  Aberdene.  To  be  held  in  perpetual  charity.  Witnesses  ;  Earl  David, 
my  brother;  Hugh,  my  chancellor,  William  of  Liudiss  ;  Robert  of  London, 
my  son  ;  William  of  Hay ;  William  of  Sumervill ;  Henry  of  Brade,  marshal; 
Richard,  son  of  Hugh.     Given  at  Selechirche. 

No.  6  (8).  Libertas  Foreste  de  Fyutre.     a.d.  1216. 

Alexander,  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  conceded  to  the 
Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lundores  that  they  should  hold  their  whole  wood 
in  the  t'ee  of  Kyntreth,  in  free  forest;  straitly  forbidding  anyone  from 
felling  trees  or  hunting  therein  without  licence  from  the  said   abbot    ami 


470  APPENDIX. 

convent,  under  the  penalty  of  ten  pounds  ;  witnesses,  Gilbert  de  Hay, 
John  de  Vallis  ;  John  of  Ilyrdnianstoun.  Dated  at  Kingorne  20  May  the 
second  year  of  my  reign. 

No.  7  (5).  Piscaria  in  Toy.     a.d.  1189-1237. 

David  de  Haya.  Know  me  to  have  given  by  this  present  charter  to 
God  and  to  the  church  of  St  Mary  and  St  Andrew  of  Lundores,  etc.,  for  the 
welfare  of  the  souls  of  my  father  and  mother,  of  my  own  soul,  and  those 
of  my  wives  Ethina  and  Crua,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  souls  of  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  my  predecessors  and  successors,  the  third  part  of  my 
draw-net  fishing  upon  the  sand-bank  over  against  Colcrik,  saving  my  stake- 
net  fishings.  'Therefore  I  will  that  the  foresaid  monks  should  hold  the 
third  part  of  my  draw-net  fishings  on  the  sand-bank  of  Blasbannyn  opposite 
Colcrick.  To  be  held  freely,  etc.  ;  so  that  none  of  my  successors  should 
presume  to  exact  from  the  said  monks  anything  else  but  prayers  for  the 
welfare  of  the  soul.  Witnesses,  Gilbert  my  son  ;  Robert  de  Hay  ;  Malcolm 
de  Hay,  my  brothers  Thomas  Gy,  Patrick  the  chaplain. 

No.  8  (12)  Carta  de  Cragy. 

Ysabella  of  Brouss,  etc.  Know  me  to  have  given  by  this  charter  to 
God  and  to  the  church  of  St  Mary  and  St  Andrew  of  Lundores,  etc.,  my 
messuage  of  Cragyn  near  Dundee,  with  the  whole  land  pertaining  to  me 
in  the  town  called  Melneton,  and  in  the  town  called  Abrahe  :  To  be  held  in 
perpetual  charity  for  the  sustenance  of  one  monk,  who  shall  celebrate  mass 
for  my  soul,  and  the  souls  of  my  ancestors  and  successors  for  ever  ;  which 
the  said  monks  granted  to  her  at  her  petition.  Witnesses,  Sir  William 
of  Brechin,  William  of  Loch,  Hugh  of  Braumis,  Michael  of  Muncur, 
knights,  Albert  of  Duncle,  Nicholas  the  son  of  Robert,  Herin  Coks, 
Norman  of  Castle,  burgesses,  with  many  others. 

No.  9  (15).    Gregorius  Ejnscopus  Brechinensis.     Circa  a.d.  1224. 

Gregory,  bishop  of  Brechin.  Lest  the  pious  gifts  of  the  faithful  should 
be  disturbed,  and  walking  in  the  footsteps  of  our  predecessors  Turpin, 
Radulf  and  Hugh  we  hold  ratified  that  donation  which  they  made  to  the 
abbot  and  monks  of  Lundoris,  of  the  church  of  Dunde,  with  the  chapels 
and  lands  belonging  thereto ;  conferring  upon  them  also  the  full  and  free 
administration  of  all  the  revenues  of  the  said  church,  and  that  they,  on  the 
demise  of  the  vicar  thereof,  may  lawfully  present  whomsoever  they  may 
think  worthy  of  the  cure  of  souls,  assigning  to  him  ten  pounds  sterling  of 


APPENDIX.  471 


yearly  stipend,  that  he  may  minister  competently  and  fitly  in  the  church  ; 
he  being  answerable  with  regard  to  episcopal  matters  both  to  the  bishop 
and  his  officials.  Granting  to  the  said  abbot  and  convent  liberty  to  plant 
schools  wherever  they  please  in  the  said  town.  That  these  things  may 
remain  firm  and  stable  we  have  placed  our  seal  to  this  present  writing. 
Witnesses  Sir  G.  abbot  and  convent  of  Abirbrothot,  Sir  W  abbot  and 
convent  of  Scone,  Sir  Alexander,  abbot  of  Cupar  ;  Masters  H.  and  H  ot 
Norham  and  Munros,  Andrew,  chaplain  of  Brechin,  M.  prior  of  the  Culdees 
of  Brechin,  and  John,  our  clerk  with  many  others. 

No   10  (16).  Confirmatio  domini  Pape  Gregorii  IX.  ecclesie  de  Dunde. 
14  Feb.  1239. 

Gregory,  bishop,  servant  of  the  servants  of  God,  confirms  to  the  abbot 
and  convent  of  Lundores  the  foregoing  grant  by  the  bishop  of  Brechin  of 
the  church  of  Dunde,  and  also  the  liberties  and  immunities  from  secular 
exactions  granted  by  the  Kings,  earls,  and  barons  of  Scotland  to  the  said 
abbot  and  convent.  Given  at  the  Lateran,  the  16th  Kalends  of  March 
(14  February)  the  12th  year  of  our  pontificate. 

No.  11  (7).  Admissio  Willehni  de  Mydford  ad  vicariam  de  Dunde. 


a.d.  1252. 


Albin,  bishop  of  Brechin.  Know,  etc,  when  the  abbot  and  convent  of 
Lundoris  presented  William  Mydford  to  the  vicarage  of  the  church  of 
Dunde,  we  admitted  him  under  reservation  to  us  of  the  taxation  of  the 
said  vicarage  ;  and  the  monday  before  Lent  in  the  year  1252  having  been 
assigned  to  the  said  abbot  and  convent  and  the  said  master  tt  ilham, 
for  making  taxation.  The  said  parties  having  appeared  before  us  on  the 
day  fixed,  and  the  revenues  of  the  said  church  having  been  diligently  con- 
sidered by  upright  men,  we  ordain  in  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Spirit  that  the  said  vicar  should  receive  the  whole  altarage  in  nam.  of 
vicarao-e,  rendering  therefrom  ten  merks  yearly  at  Easter  to  the  said  Abbot  and 
convent.    In  testimony  of  this  we  have  put  our  seal  to  these  letters  patent. 

No.  12  (No.  IV.)  Carta  Willehni  de  Brechin  de  terra  ecclesie  de  Rathmuryel. 

a.d.  1245. 

William  of  Brechin.  Know  me  for  the  love  of  God,  and  For  the  weal 
of  my  soiU  to  have  given  to  God  and  to  the  monastery  of  Lnndons  the  land 

of  the  church  of  Rathmuryel  which  was  perambulated,  to  the  other  Rath- 
muryel  the  laud  of  which  is  mine,  and  that  the  said  land  shall  remain  free 


472  APPENDIX. 

of  the  said  church  of  Rathmuryel,  by  the  same  inarches  which  I  had  before 
the  said  perambulation,  namely  by  the  high- way  which  leads  from  the  ford 
of  Uri  towards  Leslyn.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  appended  my  seal. 
Witnesses  Sir  John  de  Haya,  Sir  William  de  Haya  of  Balcolmy,  William 
de  Haya,  brother  of  Gilbert  de  Haya,  Hugh  of  Beunis,  Henry  of  Dunde- 
more,  John  Wj^schard,  Michael  of  Muncur,  David  of  Louthre,  my  knights, 
and  others.  At  Lundoris  on  the  day  after  the  festival  of  the  Beheading 
of  Saint  John  the  Baptist.     [29th  August.] 

Erroneously  dated  1345  in  cbartulary  printed  by  the  Abbotsford  Club. 
Rathrouriel  is  the  ancient  name  of  Christ's  Kirk. — Antiq.  of  Aberdeen  and 
Banff,  Vol.  II.,  p.  625;  Vol.  IV.,  p.  501. 

No.  13  (11).    Confirmacio  doraini  Pape  de  Vicaria.     Dunde  a.d.  1256. 

Alexander,  bishop,  servant  of  the  servants  of  God  to  the  abbot  and 
convent  of  Lundors.  Your  petition  has  shewn  that  the  bishop  of  Brechin 
hath  taxed  the  perpetual  vicarage  of  the  church  of  St  Mary  of  Dunde,  a  suit- 
able portion  being  assigned  to  Master  William,  perpetual  vicar  thereof,  and 
although  the  said  vicar  affirms  that  he  was  wronged  by  the  taxation,  yet  as 
he  did  not  prosecute  his  appeal  within  the  legal  time,  as  he  might  have 
done,  we,  believing  that  what  was  clone  by  the  Bishop  was  prudentby  done, 
in  our  fatherly  solicitude  confirm  the  said  taxation  and  fortify  it  by  the  pre- 
sent writ.     Given  at  the  Lateran,  17th  April,  second  year  of  our  pontificate. 

No.  14.  (13)   Confirmatio  Albini  episcopi  Brechinensis  super  vicaria  de 
Dunde.     a.d.  1256. 

Albin,  bishop  of  Brechin.  Know  that  when  those  religious  men,  the 
abbot  and  convent  of  Luudores,  presented  William  of  Mydford  to  the 
vicarage  of  the  church  of  Dunde,  we,  under  reservation  of  the  taxation  of 
the  said  vicarage,  admitted  the  said  William  to  the  vicarage  ;  and  the 
revenues  of  the  said  church  being  fully  considered,  we  have  judicially  de- 
cerned that  the  vicar  shall  receive  the  altarage  in  name  of  vicarage,  on 
paying  ten  merks  sterling  at  yearly  Easter  to  the  Abbot  and  convent ; 
Master  William  having  failed  to  pay  though  frequently  warned  and  re- 
quired thereto  by  us  and  by  the  said  Abbot  and  convent.  The  latter  in 
consequence  obtained  letters  of  the  apostolic  See  for  adjudication  to  be 
made  in  the  matter  by  the  Prior  of  May  and  the  Provost  of  the  church  of 
St  Mary  of  St  Andrews.  The  vicar,  alleging  that  he  could  not  be  suit- 
ably supported  on  the  stipend  alloted  to  him,  procured  letters  of  the  same 
See  to  the  official  of  Aberdeen,  but  after  he  had  proceeded  a  little  with- 
drew, and  the  said  Prior  and  Provost  approved  of  our  taxation  and  gave 


APPENDIX.  473 

sentence  accordingly.  The  vicar  appealed  to  the  abbot  of  Kynloss,  but 
while  his  appeal  was  pending-  he,  in  the  church  of  the  Preaching  friars  of 
Perth,  before  the  bishop  of  Dunblane  and  other  prelates,  amicably  gave 
assent  for  the  sake  of  peace,  to  our  taxation  of  the  foresaid  vicarage,  and 
to  the  payment  of  ten  merks  from  the  altarage  of  said  church  yearly ;  and 
for  the  payment  of  the  arrears  he  bound  himself  by  oath,  submitting  him- 
self to  the  bishop  of  Dunblane  and  us  with  regard  to  the  expenses  incurred 
by  the  abbot  and  convent  in  the  litigation  ;  and  the  parties  appearing  before 
us  in  the  chapter-house  of  Arbroath,  and  having  carefully  considered  the 
matter,  we  ordain  that  the  vicar  shall  pay  to  the  abbot  and  convent  fifty 
merks  sterling  as  full  satisfaction  for  the  expenses  incurred  by  them,  the 
vicar  submitting  himself  to  them  that  they  may  do  this  as  a  special  and 
courteous  favour,  the  expenses  having  extended  to  a  larger  sum.  In  testi- 
mony we  have  placed  our  seals  to  the  present  writ,  20  September  1256. 

No.  15  (14)  Bulla  Pape  Alexandri  IV.  ut  Episcopus  non  Sequestrat  fructus 
rectoris  Ecclesie  tie  Dunde,  11  Feb.  1257. 

Alexander,  bishop,  etc.,  to  his  beloved  sons  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lun- 
dores.  Having  signified  to  us  that  you  possess  the  church  of  Dnnde,  and 
that  a  portion  of  the  revenues  of  the  church  is  assigned  to  the  perpetual 
vicar  for  his  maintenance,  and  for  the  payment  of  the  episcopal  dues  and 
other  burdens  of  the  church,  we  strictly  forbid  the  diocesan  and  archdeacon 
of  Brechin  from  exacting  any  thing  from  the  portion  belonging  to  you  or 
sequestrating  the  same.  Given  at  the  Lateran  IV.  Ides  of  February  and 
of  our  pontificate  the  third  year. 

No.  16.  (9)   Carta  Libertas  foreste  de  Lioidoris,  a.d.  1265. 

Alexander,  king  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  conceded  to  the  abbot 
and  convent  of  Lundores  that  they  may  hold  their  whole  wood,  with  the 
lands  of  Lundores  in  free  forest.  We  prohibit  any  one  from  felling  trees, 
or  hunting  in  the  said  wood  without  licence  of  the  said  abbot  and  convent, 
under  a  penalty  of  ten  pounds.  Witnesses,  Alexander  Cumyn,  Earl  of 
Buchan,  Justiciar  of  Scotland,  William,  Earl  of  Marr,  chamberlain  and 
Eustace  of  Tours.  At  Lundoris  11th  March  in  the  16th  year  of  our 
reign. 

No.  17.  (3)  Concessit)  domini  Regis  super  libertate  Xovi  burgi.  a.d.  1266. 

A  translation  of  this  Charter,  erecting  the  town  of  Newburgh  into  a 
burgh,  is  given  at  p.  142. 


474  APPENDIX. 


No.  18.  (22)  Bulla  Pape  Nicholai  de  bonnetis  utendis.     a.d.  1277-1294. 

Nicholas,  etc.  To  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lundores.  It  having  been 
represented  to  us,  that  from  a  custom  long  observed  in  the  monastery,  some 
of  you  in  the  solemn  festivals,  while  divine  mysteries  are  being  celebrated, 
are  held  stauding  clothed  in  albs  and  copes  of  silk  bareheaded,  and  as  the 
climate  of  Scotland  is  frigid,  the  cold  has  seized  some  of  the  monks,  who 
have  thereby  contracted  long-continued  illness.  Wherefore  since  divine 
worship  is  impaired  by  this  cause,  we,  endeavouring  to  remove  every  thing 
by  which  the  worship  of  the  monastery  is  hindered,  moved  by  your  suppli- 
cations, grant  indulgence  by  these  presents,  that  as  often  as  you  are 
clothed  for  certain  festivals  and  processions,  you  may  use  caps  or  bonnets 
suitable  for  your  order  in  divine  things,  provided  that  in  reading  the 
Gospels,  and  in  the  elevation  of  the  host,  and  in  all  other  services,  due 
reverence  be  observed.  Given  at  Rome  on  the  Ides  of  March  in  the 
second  year  of  our  pontificate. 

No.  19.  (10)  Declaratio  dissencionis  quondam  habite  inter  Abbatem  et  Convention 
de  Lundoris  et  homines  suos  Novi  burgi.     a.d.  1309. 

Memorandum  of  the  dissensions  and  controversy  that  had  arisen  be- 
tween the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lundores  on  the  one  part,  and  the  men 
of  the  New  burgh  of  Lundores  on  the  other  part.  The  parties  being  con- 
vened before  Sir  Robert  of  Keth,  marshal  of  Scotland,  and  Justiciar  from 
the  Forth  to  the  mountains  of  Scotland,  in  the  chapter-house  of  Lundores, 
on  the  Thursday  before  the  feast  of  St  Peter  in  cathedra  [20  Feby.] 
in  the  year  of  Grace  1309.  Sir  Robert  amicably  requested  from  the  men 
of  the  New  burgh  in  form  of  law,  their  infeftment  by  which  they  claimed 
to  use  the  privilege  and  liberty  of  the  burgh,  and  that  they  should  show 
cause  why  they  had  withheld  for  five  years  the  fermes  of  the  abbot  and 
convent.  Robert  of  Perth  and  William  the  baker  sought  and  obtained 
leave  to  answer  for  all  the  neighbours  of  the  New  burgh :  Having  con- 
sulted with  them,  the  two  foresaid  answered  they  held  no  infeftment  of 
the  abbot  and  convent,  and  that  they  were  not  accustomed  to  pay  a  ferme 
of  one  meik  yearly  for  each  brewhouse  with  an  acre  of  land,  which  the 
abbot  and  convent  demanded  from  them ;  nor  would  they  consent  to  pay 
in  future,  unless  it  be  found  by  inquest  that  the  said  abbot  and  convent 
were  wont  to  receive  the  foresaid  merk.  That  every  suspicion  might  be 
removed,  and  their  justice  appear  clearer  than  the  light,  the  monks  unani- 
mously consented  to  the  making  of  said  Inquest.  Thereupon  by  command 
of  the  Lord  Justiciar,  certain  barons,  freeholders  and  other  persons  of  Fyfe, 


475 

APPENDIX. 


worthy  of  trust,  having  been  purged  for  the  said  '"'I'-^^wluXf 
f   cL  Rnhprt  Keth  demanded  of  the  foresaid  men  of  the  JNew  mngu 

msmsmm 

£*  etnpioyed  by  the,  ,  upon  which  account hewns  «£*,£ 

£3  ^TtL^X^  STtSS-  the  «  end  convent 
^t  T  ,  ,d ores  received  from  each  brewhouse  with  an  acre  of  land  n  the  said 
&££•££-*  y-.y  unti,  those  ^-^    ho  re 

No  20   (HI.)  CWhwft  J&y*  SokrCi  7.  *««faA  **«!  cfe  Quency. 

"  V       '  a.d.  1306-1329. 

Robert  etc  Know  that  we  confirm  that  donation  which  Roger  de 
n  P!f  l  J  Wynton,  Constable  of  Scotland  made  to  God  and  the 
S       h'of  S    Mary    f  Ltmdnvs  and  to  the  monks  serving  God  there,  for 

SBMt^^HHySt 

^^IcTLyehaU  dig  peate,  for  drying  the  sa^audalao 


476  APPENDIX. 

one  messuage  next  to  the  ford  which  is  called  Eschewyn  on  the  east  side 
in  the  field  of  Thoriston,  containing  two  acres  of  land,  to  which  they  shall 
cause  their  brushwood  and  peats  to  be  led  ;  also  the  common  pasturage  of 
the  muir  of  Kindelouch  for  feeding  of  ten  sheep  and  two  cows  for  the  benefit 
of  the  keeper  of  the  said  messuage,  and  the  fuel  which  they  shall  lead 
thither,  and  the  said  monks  and  their  men  to  have  free  passage  with  their 
oxen  and  waggons  by  the  straight  road  towards  the  muir  through  the 
brushwood,  and  through  the  midst  of  the  muir  for  peats,  with  common 
pasture  in  the  said  muir  of  Kindelouch  for  the  oxen,  when  leading  the 
foresaid  fuel,  from  the  time  they  begin  to  lead  until  the  feast  of  the 
nativity  of  the  Virgin  yearly  [8th  September].  To  be  held  by  the  said 
monks,  and  their  successors  of  the  said  Earl  and  his  heirs  for  ever. 

No.  21.  (V.)  Confirmacio  Regis  David  Carte  Duncani  Comitis  de  Fyfe. 

31  July  1359. 

David,  etc.,  Know  that  we  have  inspected  a  charter  which  the  deceased 
Duncan,  Earl  of  Fyffe  granted  to  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Luudores,  in 
these  words.  To  all  the  faithful  in  Christ,  etc.,  know  that  when  we,  and 
the  rest  of  the  nobles  and  magnates  of  the  kingdom  were  destitute  of 
human  aid  at  the  battle  near  Durham,  and  were  in  imminent  peril  of  our 
lives,  we  vowed  that  if  the  prayers  of  the  saints  above,  etc.,  for  our  deliver- 
ance from  death,  and  from  a  miserable  prison  were  heard,  we  would  be- 
stow on  the  monastery  of  Lyndors,  situated  in  our  earldom,  a  benefit  to 
endure  for  ever.  Therefore  for  the  honour  of  God,  and  the  furtherance  of 
divine  worship  there,  and  for  the  welfare  of  my  soul  and  for  the  souls  of 
my  father  and  mother,  and  for  the  souls  of  my  ancestors,  etc.,  we  give  to 
God  and  to  the  Church  of  St  Mary  and  St  Andrew  of  Lundoris,  and  to 
the  religious  men  serving  God  there,  the  right  of  patronage  of  the  Church  of 
Uchter-Mukedy  which  belonged  to  us  and  our  ancestors.  And  we  give  this 
concession  with  the  lands  annexed  of  old  to  the  said  church  to  the  present 
monks.  To  be  held  by  them  in  perpetual  charity.  Given  at  the  foresaid 
Abbey  17th  March  1350.  Witnesses,  William,  bishop  of  St  Andrews, 
Sir  John,  Steward  of  Scotland,  Regent  of  the  Kingdom,  Sir  Robert 
Stewart  his  brother,  Sir  Thomas  of  Fawsyd,  knight,  Master  Walter  of 
Wardlaw,  rector  of  the  church  of  Erole,  Sir  Laurence  Bell,  provost  of 
the  collegiate  church  of  Abernethy,  Michael  of  Bottillero,  Laurence  of 
.  .  .  ,  Thomas  Sympill,  Robert  of  ...  ,  John  our  clerk,  John 
Melvill  and  others.  Which  donation  and  concession  we  ratify  and  approve. 
At  Dundee  31  July,  30th  year  of  our  Reign. 


APPENDIX.  477 


No.  22.  (VI.)  Confinnacio  Regis  David  carte  David  de  Lyndesay  de  Cravford. 

a.d.  1365. 

David,  King-  of  the  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  seen  a  writing  of 
David  de  Lyndesay  of  Cravford,  the  tenor  of  which  is  as  follows.  David 
de  Lyndesay,  Lord  of  Cravford  for  the  welfare  of  my  own  soul  and  that  of 
the  deceased  Lady  Marie  my  wife  and  the  souls  of  my  ancestors,  etc. 
Give  to  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Londors,  six  stoues  of  wax  for  maintain- 
ing a  burning  candle  in  the  choir -of  the  foresaid  church  at  our  sepulchre 
daily  at  mass  for  my  lady,  and  when  for  her,  mass,  matins  and  vespers, 
and  other  solemnities  are  celebrated.  I  ordain  the  said  six  stones  of  wax 
to  be  fully  paid  to  the  abbey  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  by  the  hand  of 
my  bailie,  or  the  tenant  of  Carny ;  for  the  maintenance  of  which  wax  I  be- 
come bound  in  two  merks  due  to  me  annually  from  the  land  of  Pethfour, 
near  my  land  of  Carny  ;  and  if  the  said  two  merks  should  not  suffice,  the 
said  wax  shall  be  wholly  forthcoming  from  my  rents  of  Carny,  under 
penalty  of  one  pound  of  wax  to  be  paid  after  eight  days,  if  I  or  my  heirs 
fail  in  the  payment  foresaid ;  and  the  monks  of  the  said  convent  shall  be 
liable  in  the  like  penalty  if  they  cease  from  keeping  up  the  said  candle,  to 
the  maintenance  whereof  I  and  my  heirs  shall  have  power  to  compel  them 
bylaw,  and  to  make  satisfaction  for  the  omission.  Dated  at  the  said  abbey 
19th  November  1355.  In  witness,  etc.,  we  confirm,  etc.,  at  Lundores  3d 
August  the  36th  year  of  our  reign. 

No.  23.  (VII.)  Confinnacio  \_Carta~\   Regis  David  Carta  Bertholomei  de  Loone. 

a.d.  1365. 

David,  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  for  the  welfare  of  our  soul  and 
for  the  souls  of  our  ancestors  and  successors  Kings  of  Scotland,  and  also 
for  the  welfare  of  the  souls  of  Bertholomew  of  Loone  and  Philipa  of 
Moubray  his  spouse,  daughter  and  heir  of  Philip  of  Moubray,  knight,  and 
the  souls  of  their  ancestors  and  successors,  and  of  all  the  faithful  dead,  we 
have  given  t<  >  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lond<  >rs  and  their  successors  serving 
God  there,  the  half  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Cragy  in  the  barony  of  Barnbogall 
and  shire  of  Edinburgh  ;  which  lands  were  resigned  by  the  said  Bertho- 
lomew and  his  spouse  before  us  and  many  nobles  of  the  kingdom,  for 
infeftment  thereof  to  be  given  to  the  foresaid  monastery  of  Lundors  :  On 
the  condition  thai  the  monks  celebrate  one  mass,  on  any  day  they  choose, 
before  the  altar  of  the  blessed  .Michael  in  the  foresaid  church,  for  the  wel- 
fare of  all  the  souls  foresaid.  In  witness,  etc.,  At  Lundors  30th  August 
the  36th  year  of  our  reign. 


478  APPENDIX. 

No.  24.  (VIII.)  Conjirmacio  carte  Regis  Alexandri.     a.d.  1365. 

David,  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  seen  a  Charter  of 
Alexander,  King  of  Scots,  the  tenor  whereof  is  as  follows  :  Alexander,  etc., 
know  that  we  have  granted  that  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Londors  shall 
have  and  hold  all  the  lands  which  they  have  held  from  the  first  foundation 
of  their  house  of  Londors,  with  all  their  privileges  and  immunities.  Where- 
fore we  forbid  anyone  from  disturbing  this  concession  under  pain  of  our 
displeasure.  Witnesses,  William,  son  of  Alan,  Steward,  Justiciar  of  Scotland, 
William  Olifer,  Justiciar  of  Lothian,  Bernard  Fraser,  Walter  Byseth,  John 
de  Haya.  At  the  Maidens  Castle,  12th  November  in  the  33d  year  of  our 
reign.  Which  Charter  we  ratify  and  approve.  And  we  will  that  the  lands 
of  Cragy  of  Milton,  of  Claypottis  and  Balmaw  in  which  the  said  abbey 
was  infeft  before  the  grant  of  our  predecessor  be  held  by  the  same  religi- 
ous men  free  from  all  service.  In  witness,  etc.  At  Dunde  20  September 
the  36th  year  of  our  reign. 

No.  25  (IX.)  Conjirmacio  Regis  Rolerti  III.  carte  David  Aberlcedor.    a.d.  1392. 

Robert,  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  ratify  the  pledge  made  by 
William  of  angus,  Abbot  of  Londors  and  the  convent  thereof  to  David 
of  Abirkedor  of  seven  merks  of  annual-rent  due  to  the  said  monastery  in 
the  town  of  Dunde,  namely,  from  the  land  of  Patrick  the  butcher,  and 
Michael  of  Mane,  twenty  shillings,  from  the  land  of  Richard  the  clerk, 
twenty  shillings,  from  the  land  of  David  of  Abirkedor  twenty  shillings, 
from  the  land  of  the  late  Thomas  Warderon,  thirteen  shillings  and  four 
pence,  and  from  the  land  of  the  late  Adam  Bane,  twenty  shillings,  and  that 
for  a  certain  sum  of  money  for  the  sustentation  of  the  said  abbey,  paid 
beforehand  :  To  be  held  of  the  said  monastery  under  reversion  for  forty 
merks  sterling  money  of  Scotland,  payable  in  the  church  of  St  Mary  of 
Dunde.  We  confirm  the  same,  etc.  Witnesses,  Walter,  bishop  of  St 
Andrews,  Matthew,  bishop  of  Glasgow,  Robert,  Earl  of  Fyf  and  Menteth, 
our  brother,  Archibald,  Earl  of  Douglas,  Lord  of  Galloway,  our  cousin, 
James,  Earl  of  Douglas,  Lord  of  Dalketh,  Thomas  of  Erskine,  our  beloved 
cousins,  knights,  and  Alexander  de  Cokburne  of  Langton,  Keeper  of  our 
Great  Seal.     At  Perth  23d  March,  the  second  year  of  our  reign. 

No.  26.  (X.)  Donatio  Imbelle  de  Douglas  domine  de  Mar  et  de  Garviache  de 
Advocationis  jure  et  patronalus  ecclesie  de  Codilstane  in  la  Mar.  a.d.  1402. 

Isabella  of  Douglas,  Ladjj  of  Mar,  etc.  Know  that  we  in  our  pure 
widowhood,  for  the  welfare  of  my  soul  and  for  the  welfare  of  all  my  an- 


APPENDIX. 


479 


cestors,  etc.,  give  to  God,  and  to  the  monastery  of  St  Mary  and  St  Andrew 
of  Lundores,  and  the  monks  serving  God  there,  the  right  of  patronage  and 
advocation  to  the  church  of  Codilstane  in  Mar.  In  witness  whereof  we 
have  appended  our  seal.     At  Kyndromy  8th  November  1402. 

No.  27.  (17).  Saissina  Regis  Foreste  de  Irnside.  a.d.  1152. 
James,  King  of  Scots,  To  our  beloved  Alexander  Napar,  master  of  the 
Rolls,  and  David  Berclay  of  Cullessin  and  our  Sheriff  of  Fyfe,  etc.  Because 
we  concede  hereditarily  to  our  beloved  preachers,  the  venerable  father  in 
Christ  and  religious  men,  the  abbot  and  convent  of  the  monastery  of 
Lundores,  our  lands  of  Parkhill,  also  the  office  of  Forestry  of  our  wood  of 
Irnsyde,  lying  within  the  said  lands,  in  the  shire  of  Fyffe,  as  is  more  fully 
contained  in  our  charter  to  the  abbot  and  convent.  We  command  that  the 
said  abbot  and  convent  be  infeft  in  said  lands,  and  office,  etc.  Given  under 
our  Great  Seal  at  Edinburgh  20th  May,  the  15th  year  of  our  reign. 

No.  28-29.  (1-2).  Abstract  of  Instrument  on  the  Renewal  by  John  Abbot  of 
Lundors,  of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Burgh  of  Newburgh,  and 
of  the  Lands  of  the  Burgh,  narrating  at  length  two  Charters  in  favour 
of  the  Burgesses,  dated  13th  July  1457.  Preserved  in  the  charter  chest 
of  Newburgh. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.     On  the  13th  day  of  July  in  the  year  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-seven  from  the  Incarnation  of  the  Lord, 
according  to  the  reckoning  of  the  Scottish  church,  in  the  presence  of  the 
notary  and   witnesses   underwritten,  compeared   personally   a   venerable 
father  in  Christ,  John,  abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Saint  Mary  of  Lundores, 
of  the  order  of  St  Benedict,  and  diocese  of  St  Andrews,  with  the  convent 
of  the  same  place,  namely,  Sir  Thomas  Waryne,  Sir  John  of  Arbrocht,  Sir 
William   Cultir,    Sir   Stephen   of   Kinghorn,   Sir   William    Crammy,    Sir 
Richard   Bisset,  supprior,  Sir  Gilbert  Greynlaw,  Sir  John  Cambas,    Sir 
Andrew  Allerdas,  Sir  William  Dysert,  Sir  John  Colsamuell ;  Sir  James 
Roland,  Sir  George   Boys,   Sir  James  Lawerok,  Sir  John  Ramsay,   Sir 
William  JJalywell,  Sir  John  of  Balfour,  Sir  Thomas  Culper,  Sir  Andrew 
Wintoun,  Sir  John  Reyd,  Sir  John  Westoun,  Sir  Andrew  Cawerys,  Sir 
Andrew  Gray  and  Sir  Patrick  Snell,  chapterly  assembled  on  the  one  part, 
and  the  greater  and  more  worthy  portion  of  the  community  of  Newburgh 
in  Fyff  on  the  other  part,  as  at  the  hundredth  day  or  term  assigned  by  the 
foresaid  Abbot  and  Convent  to  the  said  community,  for  the  delivery  and 
reception  of  certain  letters  and  evidences,  namely,  of  one  concerning  the 


480  APPENDIX. 

new  Infeftment  of  the  said  burgh,  and  the  renovation  of  the  privileges  and 
liberties  thereof,  and  of  another  in  the  form  of  an  indented  charter,  of  and 
upon  the  perpetual  tack  and  demission  at  feu  ferme  of  certain  lands  and 
pasturage.  The  which  letters  and  evidences,  written  upon  parchment,  and 
sealed  with  the  common  seal  of  the  foresaid  monastery,  having  been  found 
complete  and  sound  in  every  part,  were  delivered  by  the  said  abbot  to  John 
Wyntoun,  the  notary  there  present,  to  be  read  and  expounded  in  the 
vulgar  tongue,  which  having  been  done,  the  said  abbot  and  convent  unani- 
mously approved  the  said  letters  and  evidences,  and  delivered  them  to 
these  honest  and  prudent  men,  namely,  Stephan  Phylippe,  and  Henry  of 
Kynglassi,  bailies  of  the  said  burgh,  in  name  of  all  the  rest  of  their  co- 
burgesses,  inhabiting  occupying  or  possessing  the  said  burgh,  namely, 
Master  Thomas  of  Rosse,  Thomas  Laying,  Master  John  Wintoun,  John 
Joly,  Angus  of  the  Isles,  John  of  Crysty,  William  Newman,  John  of 
Kynharde,  James  Lyndsay,  John  of  Wemys,  James  Liston,  David  Gran- 
tuly,  Richard  of  Kynglassy,  James  Foulfurde,  John  Emry,  James  Ander- 
son, Alexander  Bell,  John  Hughson,  Andrew  Lambert,  Christian  Bell, 
John  Thomson,  John  Qwhiting,  James  Bane,  William  of  Nes,  Simon 
Colfhirde,  Marion  of  Lundoris,  Thomas  of  Kitchen,  Nichola  Bat,  Alexander 
Blakburne,  David  Malcolmson,  Walter  of  Ros,  Michael  of  Machar,  John 
Blak,  John  Glen,  Andrew  of  Lundoris,  Bertholomew  Smyth,  William 
Greenhorne,  Sir  Patrick  Kirk,  William  Joly,  the  heirs  of  the  deceased 
Robert  of  Kynharde,  John  Philippe,  elder,  John  Rossy,  John  Wilson,  Agnes 
of  Balrame,  William  Ferny,  Sir  John  Berclai,  William  Scharpe,  Adam 
Sclater,  the  heirs  of  William  Greynlaw,  Henry  of  Bykirton,  Mathew 
Quhiting,  John  Anderson,  Laurence  Ronald,  Thomas  Stob,  John,  son 
of  the  deceased  Robert  Stob,  William  Stob,  Gilbert  of  Kinlocht,  David 
Anderson,  John  Wilson,  John  Philippe  younger,  John  Hawkarstone, 
William  Johnsone,  Simon  Bel,  and  John  Davisone,  and  all  their  heirs 
and  successors.  The  tenor  of  which  letters  or  evidences  is  to  this 
effect: — That  whereas  the  charters  and  muniments  of  infeftments  of 
the  burgesses  of  Newburgh  having  been  destroyed  and  taken  away  by 
wars,  fire,  or  other  hazards  of  this  world,  and  therefore  the  said  burgesses, 
by  their  continual  supplications  having  unceasingly  and  unweariedly  be- 
sought the  said  abbot  and  convent,  as  their  Lords  superior  for  a  renewal 
of  the  Infeftment  of  the  said  burgh,  and  the  remaking  of  their  charters, 
the  said  superiors,  at  length  listening  to  these  requests,  and  considering 
them  just  and  reasonable,  unanimously  judged  that  they  should  be  granted, 
which  accordingly  they  do  hereby  grant,  conferring  upon  and  confirming 
to  their  faithful  burgesses,  their  heirs  and  successors,  inhabiting,  holding 
and  possessing  the  said  New  Burgh,  and  who  shall  in  all  future  times 


APPENDIX.  481 

inhabit  and  possess  the  same,  lawfully  entering  and  to  enter  the  said  New 
Burgh,  and  all  and  sundry  their  tenements,  as  well  fore  as  back,  with  all 
their  just  privileges,  used  and  wont,  purely  and  simply,  as  a  free  burgh, 
and  market  in  the  same,  with  free  and  full  power  of  buying  and  selling 
victuals,  wine,  wax,  cloths,  linen  and  woollen,  wool,  flesh,  fish,  skins, 
hides,  and  of  tanning  these,  and  of  fishing,  brewing,  making  and  choosing 
bailies,  Serjeants,  and  other  officers  whomsoever,  of  continuing,  deposing, 
and  electing  another  or  others  in  their  places  each  year,  of  holding  courts, 
administering  the  burgal  laws,  passing  reasonable  statutes,  duly  punishing 
transgressors,  and  if  need  be  banishing  them,  levying  fines,  setting  forth, 
weighing  and  measuring  goods  of  whatever  kind,  and  of  doing  and  exer- 
cising all  other  acts  and  offices  pertaining  b}7  law  and  custom  to  the  said 
burgh,  proclaiming  and  holding  annual  fairs  within  the  said  burgh  on  Saint 
Katherine's  day,  levying,  exacting  and  receiving  escheats  and  fines  there- 
from and  duly  punishing  delinquents,  with  all  and  sundry  other  liberties 
commodities  and  advantages  pertaining  by  law  or  custom  to  the  foresaid 
burgh,  and  which  the  granters  themselves  possess  and  are  competent  to 
grant,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  Charter  granted  by  King  Alexander 
to  the  said  superiors  and  their  successors  over  the  said  burgh,  and  pre- 
served in  the  archives  of  the  said  monastery.  To  be  held  in  free  burgh, 
as  freely  and  peaceably  as  any  burgh  of  the  like  kind  within  the  kingdom 
of  Scotland,  and  a  weekly  market  on  every  Tuesday  of  the  year  by  the 
said  burgesses  and  their  heirs,  etc.,  of  the  said  abbot  and  convent  and  their 
successors  in  fee  and  heritage  for'  ever,  the  said  burgesses  making  due  suit 
and  homage  to  us  and  our  successors  at  our  three  Head  Courts  during  the 
year,  and  for  the  yearly  payments  of  the  jamas  burgales  [Burgh  maills], 
namely,  six  shillings  of  current  money  for  each  rood  or  perch  of  laud  at 
the  terms  used  and  wont,  reserving  the  itineraries,  or  Circuit  Courts  of 
justiciary  and  chamberlaincy  in  each  year,  together  with  the  customs 
incident  in  the  said  burgh  ;  also  that  no  stranger  living  without  the  said 
burgh,  except  lawful  heirs,  shall  be  received  or  admitted  as  a  burgess  un- 
less the  consent  of  the  said  superiors  be  expressly  asked  and  obtained. 
Dated,  and  sealed  with  the  common  seal  of  the  chapter,  at  the  said  monas- 
tery, 24  May  1457.  The  tenor  also  of  the  other  letter  in  the  form  of  an 
indented  charter  is  to  this  effect:  The  said  John,  Abbot  of  Lundores,  and 
convent  thereof,  unanimously  grant  to  our  beloved  and  faithful  burgesses 
of  New  Burgh  and  their  heirs,  the  land  of  Wodruff  and  the  hill  adjacent 
thereto  on  the  south  part  of  the  said  land  of  Wodruff,  in  the  shire  of  Fife  : 
To  be  held  by  the  said  burgesses,  as  the  common  land  of  the  said  New 
Burgh,  of  the  granters  and  their  successors  in  fen  ferine  heritably  for  ever, 
as  freely  as  the  granters  and  their  predecessors  held  the  same,   by  all  its 

H  II 


482  APPENDIX. 

proper  marches,  beginning  at  the  west  end  of  the  said  Xew  Burgh,  and  so 
ascending  towards  the  south  by  the  west  side  of  the  land  of  St  Katharine, 
and  by  the  west  side  of  the  wall  of  the  Wood  pertaining  to  the  said  monas- 
tery ;  reserving  to  the  granters,  and  their  successors  the  right  of  taking 
turfs  from  the  west  side  of  the  said  wall  for  the  building  and  repair  there- 
of ;  and  ascending  from  the  upper  and  west  corner  of  said  wall  by  a 
steep  path,  by  certain  stone  marks,  placed  there  for  marches,  as  far  as 
the  great  heap  or  cairn  placed  at  the  northeast  corner  or  Horn  at  the  foot 
of  the  Blakcarn  hill,  then  turning  to  the  west  around  the  said  hill,  by  the 
stone  circle  situated  on  the  ridge  of  the  said  hill,  which  is  vulgarly  called 
the  Ring  of  Blakcarn,  as  far  as  a  certain  spring  which  bursts  up  at  the 
southern  base  of  the  said  hill,  and  runs  towards  the  south,  and  by  the 
course  of  the  water  issuing  from  said  spring  as  far  as  the  burn  of  Lurabeny, 
and  thence  proceeding  on  the  south  and  west  parts  by  the  outer  inarches 
of  the  lordships  of  Lumbeny,  Mylcrage,  Kerpule  and  Cluny,  and  on  the 
north  part  by  the  southern  boundaries  of  the  granters  lands  of  Brod- 
lands  as  far  as  the  west  end  of  the  said  New  Burgh,  with  all  the  privileges 
belonging  to  the  said  lands  of  Wodruff  and  the  hill,  Rendering  therefor 
the  common  service  used  and  wont,  together  with  forty  bolls  of  barley  of 
the  current  measure,  at  the  term  of  Pasche,  reserving  also  to  the  granters 
and  their  successors,  as  much  space  of  ground  between  the  bounds  of  the 
gardens  on  the  south  part  of  the  said  New  Burgh  and  the  Wood  of  the 
Monastery,  as  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  passage  of  a  sledge  or  cart  with 
peats  or  grain  to  be  led  to  the  granters.  Also  the  said  burgesses  and  their 
heirs  shall  grind  all  their  grain  growing  on  the  lands  which  they  hold  of 
the  granters  and  their  successors,  and  also,  what  is  purchased  by  those  in- 
habiting the  said  New  Burgh  is  only  to  be  ground  at  the  granters  mill 
called  Craginyll,  that  is  to  say,  mulcting  wheat  to  the  sixteenth  grain,  and 
malting-barley  and  oats  to  the  twenty-first  grain.  In  witness  of  all 
which,  to  that  part  of  the  indenture  to  remain  with  the  granters,  the  seal 
of  James,  bishop  of  St  Andrews  procured  by  favour,  together  with  the 
seal  of  the  community  of  the  said  burgh,  are  appended  by  the  said  bur- 
gesses, in  presence  of  these  witnesses,  master  John  Seras,  Sir  Hugh,  vicar 
of  Monymeyl,  Alexander  Kenedy,  John  of  Monkreff,  James  Traill,  Henry 
Stratoun,  Walter  Rwnen,  with  many  others,  and  to  that  part  of  the  inden- 
ture to  remain  perpetually  with  the  foresaid  burgesses  their  heirs  and 
successors,  the  common  seal  of  the  chapter  of  the  said  monastery  is  ap- 
pended 4th  July  1457.  After  the  reading,  exposition  in  the  vulgar  tongue, 
delivery,  and  reception  of  the  said  letters  and  evidences,  the  said  bailies 
together  with  the  foresaid  part  of  the  community  there  present,  immedi- 
ately passed  to  the  said  burgh,  having  with  them  the   said  letters  and 


APPENDIX.  483 

evidences,  and  placed  them  in  their  archives  for  the  sake  of  secure 
custody,  and  for  the  perpetual  memory  of  the  fact.  Whereupon  the  said 
bailies*  in  name  of  the  said  community  took  instruments  before  these  wit- 
nesses, Walter  Rwuen,  esquire,  Master  John  Barbur,  John  Fogow,  William 
of  Kynross,  burgess  of  Dysert,  William  Smyth,  Patrick  Baxter  and  John 
Lambert.' 

The  docquet  of  John  Wyntone,  Presbyter  of  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews, 
Notary  Public,  testifying  to  the  accuracy  of  the  Charter  is  appended  ;  with 
the  motto,  Sit  Laus  Deo  patri. 

No.  30  (20).  Litem  Conventus  de  Lundorisde  XL.  solidis  concessis  per 

reverendiu/i  patrem,  J.  R.  A.  L.     a.d.  1-iT-i. 
John,  etc.,  Abbot  of  Lundores,  etc.    We  make  known  that  whereas  from 
a  remote  period  in  the  past,  certain  of  our  predecessors  granted  to  any 
monk  in  the  said  monastery  professed  and  in  priests  orders,  the  sum  of  two 
pounds  scots,  for  the  purchase  and  repair  of  their  vestments,  which  sum 
was  limited  according  to  the  means  of  the  convent  for  the  time,  but  now 
that  the  revenues   thereof  are  more  abundant,  and  considering  that  the 
regular  worship  of  God  ought  to  be  furthered,  we,  moved  by  piety  unitedly 
with  our  brethren  of  the  convent,  considering  the  sum  of  two  pounds,  now 
that  everything  has  to  be  bought  in  a  dear  market,  is  inadequate  for  the 
maintenance  of  decent  clothing  and  becoming  dress  of  any  of  our  brethren, 
unweariedly  celebrating  divine  worship  and  devotedly  ministering  day  and 
night.     Remembering  also  that  the  mouth  of  the  ox  ought  not  to  be 
muzzled  while   threshing,   and  that  he  who  is  elected  to  a  place  of  trust 
should  not  be  withheld  of  competent  reward,  and  as  saith  the  apostle,  '  He 
that  serveth  at  the  altar  ought  to  live  by  the  altar.'     Therefore  we.  with 
the  advice,  consent  and  order  of  Patrick,  bishop  of  St  Andrews  our  ordin- 
ary, at  the  time  of  his  visitation  have  added  other  two  pounds  yearly  to 
the  present  sum;  that  thenceforth  our  brethren  may  walk  in  processi.m 
more  fitly,  raise  the  psalmody  more  sweetly,  and  read,  sing,  and  perform 
all    the  divine  offices,  whether  by  day  or  night,  more  devoutly  and  with 
greater  zeal,  we  ordain  that  the  said  four  pounds  be  paid  in  ready  counted 
money,  at  the  feast  of  the  Assumption  three  pounds,  and  at  Martinmas  in 
winter  twenty  shillings  annually  in  all  time  coming.     At  our  Monastery 
18th  May  1474. 

No.  31  (19).  Copia  assedacionis  ville  de  Eijlismagivll  Geonjio  Muncrefe. 

a.d.  1-47G. 
Andrew,  Abbot  of  Lundoris  and  the  convent  thereof,  etc.,  have  Let  to 
our  beloved  George  Muncrefe  of  Tybermolloke,  our  lands  of  Eglismagwll 


484  APPENDIX. 

in  the  earldom  of  Stratherin,  and  shire  of  Perth  with  all  the  garbal  teiuds 
altarages  and  small  teinds  of  the  parish  church  thereof,  also  our  mills  of 
Eglisniagwlle  Avith  their  multures  and  pertinents,  for  the  lifetime  of  the 
said  George,  euteriug  thereto  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost  next,  with  the 
power  of  assigning  or  setting  the  same  to  his  mother  and  brothers  his 
minors  and  subtenants ;  namely  labourers  and  husbandmen  inferior  in 
power  to  the  said  George,  and  to  none  others.  Rendering  to  us  and  our 
successors  forty  merks  Scots  at  Pentecost  and  Martinmas  by  equal  portions  ; 
and  four  dozen  of  fat  and  well-fed  capons,  or  else  twelve  pence  for  each  at 
Christmas  and  Pasch,  together  with  services  used  and  wont ;  and  if  it 
should  happen  that  there  should  be  no  cattle  on  the  said  lands  to  be  taken 
and  distrained  for  the  fermes  and  capons  foresaid,  and  that  the  said  George 
and  his  tenants  should  be  tardy  in  payment  of  them  ;  in  that  case  the  said 
lands,  etc.,  shall  return  to  and  be  at  our  disposal,  and  this  assedation  shall 
cease  to  be  of  any  force.  In  witness,  etc.,  the  common  seal  of  the  chapter 
is  appended  at  our  Monastery,  8th  April  1476. 

No.  32.    The  following  Abstract  is  from  a  Charter  in  the  Register  of  the  Great 
Seal  (Book  VIII.  No.  2).     a.d.  1477. 

It  is  not  in  the  printed  Chartulary. 

David  Spalding  endows  the  altar  of  S'  Margaret  and  provides  an  annual- 
rent  for  the  repair  of  the  choir  of  the  church  of  Dundee. 

James  III.  King  of  Scots,  etc.  Know  that  we  have  confirmed  a  Charter 
by  David  Spalding,  the  tenor  whereof  is  as  follows :  Know  me,  David 
Spalding,  burges  of  Dunde  to  have  given  to  God  and  to  the  abbot  and 
convent  of  Lundores  for  the  welfare  of  my  soul,  and  the  soul  of  Isabell  my 
wife,  etc.,  a  tenement  of  land  in  the  market  street  of  Dunde,  on  the  south 
side  thereof,  between  the  land  of  William  Scrimgeour  on  the  east,  and  the 
land  of  Walter  of  Abirkerdour  on  the  west ;  also  an  annualrent  of  thirty 
shillings  Scots,  from  the  toft  of  the  abbot  and  Convent  of  Abirbrothok, 
between  the  vennel  commonly  called  Spalding's  wynd  on  the  west,  and  the 
land  of  the  late  Thomas  Leis  on  the  east.  To  be  held  in  perpetual  chanty 
for  payment  yearly  to  the  altar  of  St  Margaret  the  Virgin,  founded  within 
the  parish  church  of  Dunde  behind  the  high  altar,  of  three  pounds  six 
shillings  and  eight  pence,  and  twenty  shillings  for  the  repair  of  the  choir  of 
the  said  church.  Dated  at  Dunde  6th  July  1471  ;  witnesses,  Malcolm 
Duchir,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh,  Robert  Balmannoch,  John 
Bell,  clerk  of  the  said  burgh,  and  John  Wenton,  notary.  Confirmed  at 
Edinburgh  22d  February  1476-7. 


APPENDIX.  485 


No.  33.   Charter  by  Andrew,  Abbot  of  Lundores  and  the  Convent  to  David 
Hathintoun.     a.d.  1478. 

Andrew,  by  divine  permission,  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of  St  Mary  of 
Lundoris  and  the  convent  thereof,  etc.,  know  that  we,  considering  the 
profit  of  our  monastery,  give,  and  by  this  present  Charter  have  unanimously 
granted  to  our  faithful  servitor  David  Hathintown  our  quarrier,  for  grate- 
ful services  to  us  byepast  and  depending  on  the  like  services  in  future,  a 
rood  of  land  in  our  burgh  on  the  southside  thereof,  between  the  lands  of 
the  heirs  of  the  late  John  Grenlaw  on  the  west  and  our  lands  of  the  Sacristy 
of  our  monastery  on  the  east,  etc.  Rendering  thence  to  us  and  our  suc- 
cessors yearly  twelve  pence  Scots,  together  with  services  used  and  wont 
in  burgh,  etc.  In  testimony  whereof,  the  common  seal  of  our  Chapter,  at 
our  Monastery  20th  May  1478,  is  appended. 

This  Charter  is  preserved  in  the  Charter-Chest  of  Newburgh  ;  the  seal 
is  in  excellent  preservation.     An  engraving  of  it  is  given  at  page  185. 

No.  34.  (18).   Copia  assedacionis  facte  Dionisio  Cameris  et  Willelmo  ejus  flio 
de  quarterio  de  Grangia.     a.d.  1479. 

Andrew,  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of  St  Mary  of  Lundores  and  the  con- 
vent, etc.,  have  set  to  our  beloved  and  special  friends  Dionisius  Chalmers 
and  William,  his  son  and  heir,  for  the  whole  time  of  their  lives,  one  eighth 
part  to  each  of  them  of  our  lands  called  the  Grange,  in  the  parish  of  Ebdy 
and  shire  of  Fyffe,  with  power  to  admit  other  persons  under  them  for  culti- 
vating and  occupying  the  said  lands,  as  they  shall  think  expedient,  provided 
that  such  persons  be  equal  or  inferior  in  authority,  etc.,  to  the  foresaid 
Dionisius  and  William.  Holding  the  said  two  eighth  parts,  etc.  Rendering 
to  us  and  our  successors  and  officers  £16,  13s.  4d.  Scots,  at  the  two  usual 
terms  of  Pentecost  and  Martinmas  ;  and  one  well-fed  hog,  failing  which 
eight  shillings  at  Easter,  together  with  two  dozen  capons  and  two  dozen 
hens  yearly ;  failing  which  for  each  capon  eight  pence,  and  for  each  hen 
four  pence  Scots ;  with  all  other  burdens  and  services  used  and  wont,  Re- 
serving to  us  pasture  for  sixty  wedders  yearly.  Also  if  it  should  please 
us  to  plant  shrubberies  and  to  cherish  and  keep  up  policies,  Ave  reserve  to 
ourselves  six  acres  of  land  where  it  will  least  hurt  our  fermorars,  the  other 
three  quarters  of  the  said  town  to  be  bound  in  future  equally  and  propor- 
tionally for  that  purpose.  Reserving  further  at  our  will  and  pleasure,  the 
three  tofts  occupied  by  David  Kernour,  Andrew  Hall  and  Symon  of  our 
Granary.  If  by  the  will  of  God  one  of  the  said  fermorars  dies  before 
the  other,  the  part  of  the  tack  which  pertained  to  him  shall  immediately 


486  APPENDIX. 

revert  to  us,  and  be  at  our  disposal.  The  term  of  entry  at  Easter,  etc. 
Aud  if  the  said  lands  should  happen  to  be  undistrainable,  etc.,  then  in  that 
case  the  said  assedation  shall  revert  to  us  and  our  successors,  etc.  In 
witness,  etc.,  we  have  appended  our  Chapter  Seal  at  our  Monastery,  18  May, 
a.d.  1479. 

No.  35.   The  following  Abstract  is  from  a  Charter  of  Confirmation,  under  the 

Great  Seal  {Book  13,  No.  416).     a.d.  1500. 

It  is  not  in  the  Chartulary. 

I  John  Oliphant  of  Dron,  and  lord  of  Pitcathly,  by  this  Charter  con- 
vey to  Andrew,  Abbot  of  Lundores  and  the  convent  thereof,  for  money  paid 
to  me,  my  half  of  the  lands  of  Pitkathly,  lying  in  the  barony  of  Methven 
and  shire  of  Perth.  To  be  held  of  me  and  of  my  heirs,  as  lord  superior, 
in  feu  and  heritage  for  ever,  for  the  payment  of  one  penny  Scots  yearly 
in  name  of  blench  ferme  if  demanded.  In  witness  whereof  my  seal  is 
appended.  At  Perth  on  the  ninth  day  of  November  a.d.  1500.  Witnesses, 
David  Setoun,  rector  of  Fethirkarne,  Master  James  Fentoun,  treasurer  of 
Dunkeld,  Patrick  Wellis,  burgess  of  Perth,  Sir  John  Lindesay,  vicar  of 
Creich  and  Andrew  Eldar,  presbyter  and  notary  public.  Confirmed  under 
the  Great  Seal  (by  James  IV.)  at  Edinburgh  on  the  6th  November 
1500. 

Note.  — Apparently  by  a  clerical  error  the  Confirmation  is  dated  three 
days  earlier  than  the  original  Charter. 

No.  36.  (24)   Obligacio  Abbatis  el  Conventus  de  Lvndoris  Gilberto  Menzes,  etc. 

a.d.  1502. 

We,  Andrew,  Abbot  of  Lundores  and  the  convent  thereof  hold  our- 
selves firmly  bound  to  these  honourable  and  discreet  men  Gilbert  Menzes, 
Ptobert  Craig,  William  Suthas  and  Alexander  Gray  burgesses  of  Aberdeen 
in  the  sum  of  £283,  6s.  8d.  Scots  for  payment  of  £100  Flemish  money 
to  our  procurator  Stephen  Orme  in  Flanders  or  Zealand,  between  this  date 
and  the  10th  August  next,  Which  sum  we  Andrew,  abbot  and  convent, 
etc.,  firmly  bind  ourselves  to  pay  the  said  Gilbert,  etc.,  at  the  terms  under- 
written, namely  the  sum  of  200  merks  Scots  on  the  18th  August  next,  and 
at  Martinmas  next  or  thereabout  £75  Scots,  the  acquittance  of  our  pro- 
curator for  the  full  payment  by  the  said  Gilbert,  etc.,  of  the  forewritten 
£100  Flemish  money  being  first  exhibited  to  us.  And  also  at  Easter  next, 
or  thereabout  £75  Scots  in  full  and  complete  payment  of  the  foresaid  £100 
money  of  Flanders.     Which  sum  of  £283  Scots  we  firmly  bind  ourselves 


A 


^ 


4^^JL^y  '^^^^fi^ 


PRECEPT    OF    SASINE    SICNED    BV   JOHN    ABBOT    OF    LUNOORES.    Z3    APRIL    154  + 


jo-wvo    S^nv?*/^-^  **1         JUme  ^w^w^Vt^^^W  A^^^^2i«»  0«>-«%n»^i4 /y&^o'H^w 


CHARTER    BY   THOMAS    RAITH    VICAR    OF     LESLIE      OF  THE    K1RKLANDS    OF  LESLI  E  (ABE  R  D  EEN  SHI  RE  I. 
SIGNED-BY  THE    ABBOT    AND    CONVENT    OF   LUNOORES,     I    MAY    1561. 


APPENDIX.  487 

and  our  convent,  and  all  our  goods  moveable  and  immoveable  to  pay  at  the 
tonus  written,  without  recourse  of  law.  In  witness,  etc.,  we  have  appended 
the  common  seal  of  our  Chapter  at  Lundores  13th  May  1502, 

No.  37  (23).  Obligatio  Abbatiset  Conventus  de  Lundoris  of  Andree  Charters  de 
Cuthilgurdi.  a.d.  1502. 
We,  Andrew,  Abbot,  etc.,  firmly  hold  ourselves  bound  to  Andrew 
Charters  of  Cuthilgurdie  in  the  sum  of  £60  Scots  for  the  payment  of  £20 
Flemish  money  by  him  to  our  factors  in  Flanders  or  Zealand,  within  six 
days  after  the  showing  of  his  obligation  to  him,  or  to  his  factors  there. 
Which  sum  we,  etc.,  firmly  oblige  ourselves  to  pay  within  forty  days  after 
the  arrival  of  the  acquittance  of  our  Factors  for  the  foresaid  sum  of  twenty 
pounds.  In  like  manner  to  Alexr.  Tyrie,  burgess  of  Perth  for  £10  Flemish. 
And  to  Robert  Clerk  alias  Vobster,  also  burgess  of  Perth  for  £10  Flemish, 
etc.     At  Lundoris  17  October  1502. 

No.  38  (25).  Obligatio  Abbatis  et  Conventus  de  Lundoris  Johannes  Quhitsum, 
burgensis.  a.d.  1502. 
We  Henry  Abbot  of  Lundores,  and  the  Convent  thereof,  etc.,  firmly 
hold  ourselves  bound  to  John  Quhitsum,  burgess  of  Perth,  and  his  hens 
and  his  assignees  in  the  sum  of  £105,  10s.  0d.,  Scots  for  £b0  3s.  4d. 
Flemish,  and  also  for  £10  Scots  due  by  us  to  the  said  John  for  other  pay- 
ments made  by  him  to  our  procurator  Master  Hugh  Mertin,  rector  of 
Weym,  etc.     At  Lundoris  20  March  1502-3. 

No.  39.  Precept  of  Sasine  by  John,  Abbot  of  Lundores.  a.d.  1544. 
John,  Abbot  of  Lundoris,  and  the  convent,  etc.,  to  our  beloved  Mr 
Dionisius  Chalmer  and  John  Calvy  bailies  of  our  burgh  of  .Newburgh  etc. 
Because  we  have  given  and  of  new  have  granted  to  our  beloved  Henry 
Philp,  those  three  virgates  of  land  lying  on  the  southside  of  the  kings 
hMiway  in  the  said  burgh,  between  the  lands  of  Alan  Myller  on  the  west 
and  George  Holland  on  the  east,  which  were  the  property  oi  Katharine 
Stob  now  in  our  hands  through  resignation  by  James  Philp  her  procurator. 
We  therefore  command  that  the  said  Henry  be  put  in  possession  of  the 
said  three  virgates  of  land  by  the  delivery  of  earth  and  stone,  etc  biven 
aQder  onr  signet  and  manual  subscription  at  our  Monastery  of  Lundoris, 
29  April  1544.  Johannes  Abbas  de  Lundoris.  From  the  Charter  Chest  oj 
Newburgh.     [A  facsimile  of  part  of  this  Precept  is  given.] 


488  APPENDIX. 

No.  40.    Charter  to  the  lands  of  Quhyte  Park.     a.d.  1564. 

Johu,   Abbot  of  Lunrtors,  and  the  Convent  thereof,  etc.     Considering 
that  the  laws,  and  especially  the  acts  of  parliament  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Scotland,  provide  that  all  fertile  lands  within  the  said  Kingdom  should  be 
set  at  feu-ferme,  or  perpetual  tenancy  [emphiteosim],  that  they  may  be 
rendered  more  fertile  by  the  labour  and  industry  of  diligent  husbandmen  ; 
that  lands  not  only  unfruitful  and  untilled,  but  burdensome  to  us  and  to 
our  place  may  yield  to  us  advantage  and  }Tearly  profit,  and  that  we  may 
be  freed  from  the  yearly  payment  of  a  salary  for  the  keeping*  of  the  lands 
under-written,  we  have  resolved  to  set  the  Wood,  the  two  rabbit-warrens 
and  the  Quhyte  Park,  with  teinds  and  pertinents  included,  at  feu-ferme 
and  perpetual  tenacy,  for  a  fixed  yearly  profit  to  be  paid  to  us  and  our 
successors,  and  that  the  public  welfare  may  be  advanced  by  the  assiduous 
labours  of  husbandmen.     Upon  which  account  and  for  money  cheerfully 
paid  and  put  into  our  hands  by  our  beloved  cousin  James  Philp  of  Orrnes- 
toun,  and  for  his  counsel  and  assistance  rendered,  and  to  be  rendered  to  us, 
we  give,  grant,  set  and  demit  heritably  at  feu-ferme  to  the  said  James 
Philp  and  Margaret  Forrett  his  spouse  their  heirs  and  assignees,  etc.,  the 
said  Wood,  commonly  called  the  park  of  Lundors,  and  the  Quhyte  Park, 
and  the  two  rabbit-warrens,  namely  the  west  rabbit-wan-en  within  the 
bounds  of  the  lands  of  Ormestoun,  and  the  east  rabbit-warren  within  the 
bounds  of  the  lands  of  Grange,  lying  in  our  barony  and  regality  of  Lun- 
d  >rs,  within  the  shire  of  Fife  :  To  be  held  of  us  and  our  successors  in  feu- 
ferme  for  ever,  for  the  yearly  payment  of  ten  pounds,  rendering  also  three 
suits  at  our  three  head  courts  to  be  held  annually  within  our  burgh  of 
Newburcht,  and  they  shall  appear  by  themselves,  or  their  procurators  at 
our  courts  of  chamberlainry,  justiciary  and  circuit,  if  they  are  thereto  re- 
quired. And  we  John,  Abbot,  and  the  Convent  appoint  our  beloved  Stephen 
Orme  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Newburcht  our  bailie  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  Sasine  and  heritable  possession  of  the  foresaid  subjects 
to  the  said  James  Philip  and  Margaret  Forret  by  delivery  of  earth  and 
stone  according  to  the  usual  custom.     In  witness  whereof  we  have  signed 
these  presents  and  have  appended  the  common  Seal  of  our  Chapter  at  the 
said  Monastery  of  Lundors,  2  March  1564.     Witnesses,  Andrew,  Earl  of 
Rothes,  Lord  Leslie,  Thomas    Fleschour,  Robert   Williamson   and   John 
Paterson  notaries  public,  with  divers  others,  signed  by  John,  Abbot  of 
Lundors,  James  Carstairs,    Robert  Williamson,  Andrew  Freser,   Patrick 
Gait,  John  Symmer,  William  Simpson,  John  Smijtht.  John  Philp,  Notary. 

From  a  certified  copy  belonging  to  David  Laing,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  Signet 
Library,  Edinburgh. 


APPENDIX. 


489 


No.  VI.  p.  L48. 

(The  reference  at  p.  183  should  be  No.  VII.     Seep.  401.) 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  Memoranda  at  the  end  of  the 
Chartulary  of  Lindores  Abbey.  They  are  interesting  as  affording  a  glimpse 
of  the  furnishings  of  the  Abbey,  when  it  was  occupied  by  the  monks. 

Memorandowme  the  yeyr  of  God  Ane  mi0  Vc  et  XXX  yers  deliverit  To 
James  Sympson. 

Item  iiij  hayll  claths  for  my  lords  bourd. 
Item  v  aid  claths  rewyne  [riven]  for  my  lords  bourd. 
Item  vij  hayll  towellis  at  ij  rewyne  for  my  lords  bourd. 
Item  xxxij  hayll  seruatonrs  [table-napkins]  for  my  lords  bourd. 
Item  iiij  cope  bourd  claths. 

Item  ij  gret  claths  of  fyue  dome  work  [Tournay  work,  damask  table- 
cloths] wytht  ij  towels  of  ya  samyne. 

Item  ij  smaller  claths  of  dome  werk  wythout  towells. 
Item  ane  bassyng  of  silver  wy1  ij  law-uers  [lavaturs  '  vessels  in  which 
the  monks  washed  before  going  to  the   refectory,   or  officiating  priests 
before  performing  divine  service.' — Jameson's  Dictionary^] 
Item  ij  pessis  wytht  ane  couer. 
Item  ij  Gowblats  &  ane  salt  fait. 

Item  xij  Sylver  spownis  tharof  the  Granetre  [the  Granger]  has  ane. 
Item  ij  payre  of  carwyng  knyfs  wytht  ij  forks  of  sylver. 
Item  in  the  chawmer  nerrest  the  yet  of  the  new  houss  iij  bedds  wy'  iij 
bostrs. 

It.  in  the  chawmer  nerress  the  bourin  iij  bedds  wy4  iij  bostrs. 
It.  in  the  vicaris  chawmer  ij  beddis  wy*  bostrs. 
It.  in  Mastr  W.  chaumer  ij  beddis  wy*  bostrs. 

Item  iiij  bedds  wy'  thar  bostrs  in  the  neddir  chawmrs  of  the  new  honss. 
Item  xiij  payre  of  hayll  sehets  &  ane  brokyne  payre. 
Item  xviij  blancates  &  xij  codis  wy*  thar  waris  [codwares,  pillowslips]. 
It.  v  codds  of  the  suppr  [sup-prior]. 
Item  xiiij  arress  works  &  wardours. 
Item  in  ij  lang  set  bourd  claths. 

It.  deliuerit  to  James  Symson  twa  pairs  of  new  sehets  xij  Septbr  a° 
do1   xxx  j°- 

It.  that  samyn  day  to  him  four  new  towells. 

It.  to  him  a  new  burd  clat  for  or  burd  &  vi  new  purp*  anes. 

It.  ij  schort  set  bourd  claths. 


490  APPENDIX. 

Item  in  ij  couerings  ane  red  ane  or  greyne  batht  aid. 
Item  in  the  ij  chawmeris  quhar   my  lord  wess,  four  bedds  vy*  thar 
boustrs  &  iiij  blankates. 

It.  iiij  half  gallonis  stoippis  /  xj  qrt  stoippis  iiij  poynt  stoppis.  Item 
iiij  gryt  flawkonis  and  twa  small  of  tyn.  Item  iiij  wandit  flawkonis  thairf 
twa  glass  &  ij  layrn  [earthen- ware].  Item  ane  rownd  flawkon  of  estlaud 
burd  [wood  from  the  east].  It.  ane  treyn  stoup  viz.  a  qrt  [wooden 
stoup]. 

John  Chalmis  compt  of  the  geir  he  has  in  keippying  in  or  chalmr  and 
wardrop  xvij0  Aug1  Do1  Mill0  vc  xxx°- 

Item  fyif  banots  w*  twa  banot  press. 

It.  ane  albe  maid  for  the  kyrk.  Item  ane  clair-schew  [Gaelic,  clarseack, 
a  harp].  It.  twa  gryt  boiss  [casks  or  graybeards.~\  Item  ane  pair  of 
carwyn  knifis  w*  ane  caiss.  Item  thre  gyltyn  preikats  v*  thr  caiss  [holders 
for  wax  candles  or  tapers].  It.  ane  rostyn  spreik.  Item  fowir  galds  of 
yryn  for  the  hyngars  of  the  bedds.  .  .  .  Item  ane  chaifer.  Item  ane 
f  ryin  pan  for  the  bed.  Item  twa  pairs  of  thabills  w*  thair  men  j  chessboards]. 
Item  thre  panalls  of  carw1  werk.  .  .  .  Item  xiiij  bwig  skyns  [lambs - 
skins].  It.  v  qhyt  cat  skyns  w*  diuerss  furryngs  of  hwds  and  brok  blak 
cla1.  Item  twa  haly  wait1"  fatta  w*  cowfryngs  gryt  &  small.  Item  twa 
bowss  w*  hare  &  glw  [gloves].  Item  ix  French  halberts.  It.  vi  Scotts 
halberts.  It.  x  aksis  [battle-axes].  It.  ix  gedward  stawis  [Jeddart — 
Jedburgh  staves]. 

The  memoranda  from  which  the  foregoing  extracts  have  been  taken, 
contain  lists  of  many  other  articles  of  dress,  such  as  '  mantils,  hatts,  blak 
howiss,  soiks,  taffite  typpats,  patonis  [slippers],  bwits  [boots],  schown 
[shoon],'  etc.     Also  priestly  vestments  as  skapulars,  altar  frontals,  etc 

It  is  satisfactory  to  find  in  the  foregoing  memoranda,  confirmatory 
evidence  of  the  three  carved  oak  panels  (of  which  notice  has  been  already 
taken,  and  of  which  an  engraving  is  given  at  page  139),  having  belonged 
to  Lindores  Abbey.  This  evidence  (which  we  overlooked  in  the  previous 
notice),  combined  with  the  traditionary  history  of  the  panels  is  decisive  on 
the  point.  These  panels  formed  part  of  the  collection  of  the  late  Mr 
Joseph  Noel  Paton  of  Dunfermline,  and  they  are  the  only  relics  of  the 
ancient  furnishing  of  Lindores  Abbey. 


APPENDIX.  491 


No.  VII.  p.  183. 


Decreet  Arbitral  by  Patrick  Wellis,  Provost  of  Perth,  and  others  as  to  the 
disputes  between  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lundoris  and  the  Bailies  and 
Council  and  Community  of  Newburgh.    Dated  6th  Now.  1501. 

At  Lundoris  the  sext  day  of  the  moneth  of  November  in  the  yeir  of  God 
1  m-  vc-  aud  ane  yeir,  we  Patrik  of  Wellis,  prouest  of  Perth,  James  of 
Monthcreif  and  Andrew  Bunsche  Youngar,  burges  of  the  burgh  of  Perth, 
James  Rollok,  James  Skrimgeour  and  master  David  Carale,  burges  of  the 
burgh  of  Dunde,  Charlis  Ramsay  and  David  Greig,  burges  of  the  burgh  of 
Couper  and  master  Johnne  Andersoune,  vicar  of  the  kirk  of  Dunbulg,  jugis 
arbittouris,    consalouris,   and    amicable   componitouris,    commonly   chosin 
betuix  ane  venerable  fader  in  God,  Andrew,  Abbot  of  Lundoris,  the  convent 
of  the  samyn,  and  thar  successouris,  on  tjie  ta  parte,   and  the  baillies, 
counsale  and  comunite  of  the  Newburgh  besyd  Lundoris,  and  thar  succes- 
souris on  the  tothir  parte,  foment  the  decisioun  of  the  debaitis,  questionis 
and  contrauersiis  movet  betuix  the  saidis  partiis,  foment  the  vsying  of 
certane  priuileges,   fredomes  and  jurisdictions,  as  in  taking  of  resigna- 
cionis  within  the  said  burgh,  gewing  of  possessionis,  creacioun  of  officiaiis, 
resawing  of  burgess,  ministraciouu  of  Justice  in  Court,   and  foment   all 
maner  of  wtheris  debaitis,  questionis,  contrauersiis,  clames  of  landis,  ser- 
aice  or  dewiteis,  hurtis,  displesour  or  wnkeyndnes  standing  betuix  thaine, 
to  the  day  of  the  dait  of  this  write,  movet  or  to  be  movet  eftir  the  tenour, 
forme  and  effecte  of  ane  compromis  maide  in  presens  of  ane  noble  and  mychty 
lord  Patrick,  Lord  Lyndesay  of  the  biris  and  William  Scot  of  Baluery, 
knycht,  chaumerlanis  of  the  regalite  of  Lundoris,  in  the  chaumerlane  aire  oi 
the  saide  regalite,  haldin  at  day  and  place  contenit  in  the  said  compromis  m- 
Btrumently  maid,  the  saidis  partiis  being  suorne  and  oblist  in  jugement  to  the 
effecte  above  writtin  to  abide  at,  wndeihe  and  fulfill  our  sentence,  decrete, 
consale,  and  ordinance  in  the  premiss,  and  we,  in  eliknes  suorne  to  geive 
furtht  our  finale  sentence,  consale,  decrete  and  ordinance  efter  our  knaw- 
lege  and  conscience,  in  the  saidis  debatis,  clames  and  contrauersiis  the 
riehtis,  resonis,  writtis,  infeftinentis,   documentis,  munhnentis,  evidentis, 
instrumentis,  and  allegaciounis  of  baitht  the  saidis  partiis  befor  ws  pro- 
diuit,  red,  herd,  sene,  wnderstandin  and  considerit,  and  we  being  all  to- 
gidder  weil  and  riplie  avisit  hawaud  Gode  before  E  [eye],  decretis,  deli- 
ueris,  consalis  and  ordanis  all  in  ane  voice,  bol  ony  discrepance  in  manner 
as  efter  followis,  that  is  to  say,  that  beams  that  it  is  evidentlie   vnder- 


492  APPENDIX. 

standin  and  knavviii  till  ws,  that  the  principal  cans  of  the  gret  contencionn 
of  trouble  betuix  the  saidis  partiis,  wes  be  the  electioun  of  officiaris,  and 
inbringin  of  ontmen  within  the  said  burgh,  and  making  of  thame  nycht- 
bouris  and  tenentis,  be  resaving  of  resignations  and  gewing  possessionis 
till  the  said  outmen,  quhilk  is  expres  aganis  thar  infeftment,  but  licence 
of  the  saidis  abbot  and  convent,  that  tkarfor,  perpetualye  in  tym  cuming, 
Ave  deliuer  and  ordanis  that  the  electioun  of  the  saidis  officiaris,  resigna- 
cionis  and  possessionis,  and  resaving  of  tenentis  within  the  saide  burgh, 
and  outmen  to  be  nychtbouris  proceid  and  haif  passage  in  this  maner,  as 
eftir  followis  for  perpetuale  tranquilite  of  pece  to  be  hade  betuix  the  saidis 
partiis,   that  is  to   say,   that   upoun  the  principal  consuetude  day  efter 
Mychaelmes,  at  the  chesing  of  the  saidis  officiaris,  the  said  Abbot,  convent 
and  thar  successouris  as  superioris  of  the  saide  tovne  of  Newburgh,  sail 
haif  full  freedom,  power  and  priuilegis  to  name  and  present  to  the  aid 
consall  and  nev  of  the  said  burgh,  and  men  of  craft  being  thar  for  the 
tyme  quhilkis  is  limit  and  ordanit  be  the  act  of  parliament  maid  upoun  the 
election  of  officiaris  in  burrowis,  four  personis  nychtbouris  burges  and  in- 
dwellaris  within  the  said  burgh  quhilk  salbe  litis  to  the  said  office  of  bail- 
yery,  of  the  quhilkis  four  personis  litis,  the  said  aid  counsale  new  and 
craftsmen  sail  cheis  tua  to  be  bailies  of  the  said  burgh  for  that  yeir,  and 
sua  perpetualie  till  yeirlie  indur,  the  quhilkis  bailies  sua  chosin  sail  hald 
court  and  plante,  minister  justice  within  the  saide  burgh,  and  sail  haife 
power  to  resauve  and  inter  [enter]  burges  sonnis  and  dochteris  that  ar 
airis  to  thar  faderis  and  moderis  heretagis,  airschipis  and  fredomes  of  burgh, 
be  the  assignacioun  and  cognicioun  of  hespe  and  staple,  and  als  coniunct 
infeftmentis  and  doweryis  and  all  airis  collaterale,  that  ar  to  be  interit  till 
ony  landis,  or  annuelis  within  the  said  burgh,  to  rais  thar  breues  of  the 
said  abbot  and  conventis  chapell,  and  to  be  seruit  tharof,  be  ane  inquest 
before  the  saidis  baillies,  and  saising  to  be  gewin  be  the  breif  of  saising  be 
the  said  bailies  coniunctlie,  or  seueralie,  to  be  direct  to  the  said  baillies,  and 
all  alienacionis  of  all  landis  and  annuel  rentis  that  ar  to  be  maid  be  nycht- 
bour  to  nychtbour  within  the  said  burgh,  to  be  resauit  be  the  said  bailies 
and  saising  tharupoun  be  thame  to  be  gewin,  and  all  alienacionis  that  ar 
to  be  maid  be  ony  nychbour  indueller  in  the  said  burgh  till  ony  outman, 
that  thai  resignations  be  maid  in  the  handis  of  the  said  abbot  and  conuent, 
as  superioris  of  the  said  burgh  and  to  be  infeft  be  saidis  abbot  and  conuent 
as  efferis,  and  possessioun  to  be  gewin  be  thar  precept  of  saising  to  be 
direct  to  the  said  baillies  tharapoun,  and  that  the  said  abbotis  chapell  be 
euer  redy  and  opyn  for  the  rasing  of  al  maner  of  breues  perteining  to  the 
said  burgh,  and  in  tymes  cummyng  that  the  said  abbot  and  conuent  and 
thar  successouris  be  ay  redy  to  resaue  the  said  resignations,  and  direk- 


APPENDIX.  493 

ing  of  the   said  preceptis  of  saising  tharupoun,  and  in  elikwis  that  the 
saidis  bailies  counsale  and  commuuite  in  tyme  cummyng  resaue  nane  out- 
mau  to  be  nyehtbour  and  conburges  within  the  said  burgh,  but  speciale 
licence  and  consent  of  the  said  abbot  and  conuent,  and  thar  successouris, 
askit  and  opteuit,  and  for  the  gud  and  quiete,  tranquilite  and  pece  and 
sessing  of  pley  in  tymes  to  cum,  we  deliuer,  consales  and  ordanis  that  the 
said  abbot  and  conuent  for  thame  and  thar  successouris  ratify,  appreive 
and  conferme  all  alienaciunis,  possessionis,  resauing  of  nychtbouris  quhat- 
sumeur  maide  and  geivin  in  tymes  bigane,  and  geve  neid  beis  at  the  desir 
of  party  to  geive  new  infeftmentis  tharupoun,  and  ordains  thame  peceablie 
to  jois  and  brouk  the  samyn,  pay  and  tharof  to  the  said  abbot  and  conuent 
thar  dewiteis  aucht  and  wont,  and  that  the  said  bailies,  counsale  and  com- 
munite  quhen  thai  ar  requirit  to  the  kingis  weris,  sail  pas  in  cumpany  with 
the  said  abbotis  bailie  and  remane  wnder  his  baner  all  the  tyme  tharof, 
becaus  thai  haif  maid  sewte  to  the  saidis  abbot  and  conuent  and  haldis 
thar  landis  of  hym  in  homage  and  seruice,  and  that  the  said  baillies  coun- 
sale and  commuuite  sail  bring  to  the  Cragmyll,  pertenyng  the  said  abbot 
and  conuent,   all    thar   comes   that  growis  to   thame   and  that  thai  by 
and   thar   to  grind  the  samyn   and   pay  the  multer   tharof,  that   is  to 
say  the  sexteind  corne  of  quheit  and  the  twenty-ane  corne  of  bere  malt 
and  mele  efter  the  forme  of  thare  infeftment,  and  als  we  counsale  the 
said  abbot   and  conuent  to  superceid  aud  continow  the  rasing  and  tak- 
ing of  all  wnlawis  and  amerciamentis  that  ony  of  the  said  baillies,  con- 
sale  and  commuuite  has   fallyn    and  are  adjugiit   in   of   tymes  bygane 
owthir  of  justice  airis,  chaumerlane  aids  or  othir  Courtis,  wpoun  thar  gud 
and  humble  bering  and  nocht  to  be  rasit  without  the  awis  [advice]  of  ws, 
or  the  mast  parte  of  ws,  and  als  becaus  it  is  wndirstaudin  till  ws,  that 
Syntoun  of  Kirkaldy  has  brocht  and  pay  it  his  money  and   coft  fra   the 
handis  of  Dauid  Aldcorne  and  his  spouse,  the  air  of  wmquhil  Alexander 
Michelsoun,  four  roudis  of  land  and  four  s  [shillings]  of  annuel],  liand  in 
the  Newburgh,  and  ane  rude  of  land  callit  the  well  rude  pertenit  to  losbell 
Wauis,  we  decret,  deliueris,  consalis  and  ordanis  that  the  said  abbot  and 
conueut  sail  resaue  and  inter  [enter]  the  airis  of  the  samyn.  ami  thareftir 
resaue  thar  resignacionis  and  infeft  the  said  Syntoun  than  if.  with  Charter 
and  saising  in  dew  form  asefferis,  and  als  tueching  all  debatis,  summondis, 
senteneis,  denunciacionis  that  owthir  of  the  partiis  has   aponn  wtheris, 
owthir  befor  spirituale  jugis  or  temporal e,  before  the  day  of  the  dait  of 
this  present  deliuerance,  we  suspend  and   decernis  the  samyn  to  he  of 
nane  awaile,  force  nor  effect,  and  for  ony  clamis  standing  amang  thame 
of  debatis  or  iniuris  that  thai  submit  thame  to  amicable  freyndis,  tharnpone 
or  thane  to  be  decidit  befor  the  baillies  of  the  said  burgh  in  playn  court, 


494  APPENDIX. 

and  gewe  it  sail  happin  the  said  abbay  to  waik  [be  vacant],  or  the  said 
abbot  to  be  absent  the  day  of  the  said  electioun,  in  that  cais  or  cais  the 
chaumerlane,  gryntar  [granator]  or  sallerar  [cellarer]  sal  hawe  sicklike 
power  in  the  presenting  of  the  said  litis  to  the  making  of  the  said  electioune 
as  the  said  abbot  and  connent,  alsua,  we  deliuer  and  declaris  that  the 
blodewittis  of  the  said  burgh  pertenis  to  the  said  abbot  and  conuent,  and 
thar  bailleis,  and  nocht  to  the  said  burgh,  and  as  to  the  landis  of  Wodruf 
and  Hill  and  all  wthir  profittis  pertenyng  to  the  said  burgh,  we  ordand 
that  ilke  nychtbour  haife  intraes  tharintill,  siclike  as  thai  had  of  befoir  this 
contencioun  and  the  hurt  and  distance  or  the  cornis  being  tharupoune,  the 
reformaciouu  tharof  to  be  referrit  to  the  said  baillies  or  freyndis  as  said 
is,  and  as  to  the  commoun  gudis  of  the  said  burgh,  we  ordane  it  to  be 
gaderit  in  tyrne  cummyng  and  put  in  the  commoun  kist,  and  yeirlie  compt 
to  be  takin  tharof  be  the  communite,  and  the  said  kist  till  haife  thre  keyis, 
ane  in  the  kepin  of  ane  baillie,  and  tua  to  the  mast  famos  personis  of  the 
said  burgh  to  be  chosin  yeirlie  be  the  [voice]  of  the  samyn,  in  the  quhilk 
kist  the  commoun  sele,  commoun  [buk  ?]  and  commoun  charteris  sail 
remane  and  nocht  to  be  openit  without  the  awis  of  the  communite,  and  als 
we  ordand  that  the  said  communite  stand  in  vnite,  eefald  kindnes  and  cherite 
that  stud  defferent  in  thar  opinionis  of  befoir,  and  ilkane  hartlie  to  remit 
and  forgeive  wtheris  and  tak  wtheris  be  the  haudis,  and  alsua  we  deliver 
counsalis  and  with  instance  requiris  the  said  abbot  and  conuent  that  thai 
remit  and  forgeive  all  rancour  and  displesour  that  ony  of  the  saide  com- 
munite all  or  parte  has  done  or  offendit  till  hyme  or  thame,  and  to  resaue 
thame  be  the  handis  in  hartlie  kindnes,  and  to  stand  to  thame  ane  gud 
Lord,  and  to  stand  to  hyme  led  and  trew  men  seruindis  and  tenentis  as  thai 
suld  to  thar  lorde,  and  the  interpretacioun  of  this  our  deliverance,  geive 
ony  dowtis  aperis,  we  reserue  till  ws  alauerlie  the  samyn,  and  failyeing 
of  ws  to  sicklike  comburgess  of  the  saidis  burrowis,  and  geive  the  saidis 
baillies,  counsale  and  communite  of  the  said  Newburgh  thinkis  expedient 
to  have  new  infeftment,  we  ordand  counsalis  and  deliueris,  that  the  saidis 
abbot  and  conuent  sail  gewe  thame  ane  new  infeftment  conforme  to  thar 
aid  infeftment  and  this  our  deliuerance,  and  help  thame  to  haif  the  solern- 
niteis  of  law  tharupouu,  like  as  co  firmacioun  of  the  king  and  ordinar,  and 
this  our  present  deliuerance,  consale,  decrete  and  ordinance  gewin,  red  and 
pronuncit  in  the  saide  abbay  of  Lundoris  in  the  He  of  Sant  Johnne  the 
baptist,  day  and  daite  aboun  exprimit,  and  for  the  mar  securite  the  selis 
of  ane  parte  of  ws,  togidder  with  the  commoun  selis  of  the  saidis  abbay 
and  Newburgh  ar  to  appensit. 

Ita  est  Dauid  Gregor  prescriptus  notarius  publicus  manu  propria. 


APPENDIX.  495 

This  Decreet  Arbitral  is  preserved  in  the  Charter  Chest  of  Newburgh. 
Six  tags  are  attached,  but  all  the  seals  are  worn  off. 

Patrick  Wellis,  Provost  of  Perth,  died  4  July  1516.  An  endowment 
yielding  £2,  13s.  4d.  Scots  yearly  was  made  for  the  celebrating  of  his 
obit  in  the  church  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  Perth. — Book  of  Perth,  p.  74. 


No.  VIII.  p.   189. 

Rules  of  Chapmen. 


Pedlars,  or  as  they  are  named  in  Scotland,  chapmen,  were  formerly 
united  in  Fraternities,  similar  to  the  Medieval  Gilds.  The  rules  of  the 
'  Chapmen  of  Perthshire,'  and  the  minutes  of  their  transactions,  from  the 
year  1748  to  1815,  have  been  preserved  in  a  volume  specially  kept  for  the 
records  of  their  proceedings.  These  rules  bear  out  what  has  been  said  in 
the  text,  of  the  respectability  and  higher  social  position  of  the  Craft  in  the 
last  century. 

The  members  of  the  Fraternity  elected  a  Lord  Principal,  Lord  Depute, 
a  Treasurer,  and  Bailies  of  respective  districts  yearly.  Admission  to  the 
Fraternity  was  called  Brothering,  and  candidates  for  membership  were  re- 
quired to  produce  '  a  sufficient  testimony  of  their  carriage  and  conversa- 
tion.' The  Lord  Principal,  or,  in  his  absence,  the  official  who  presided  at 
their  meetings  (which  were  called  courts),  was  addressed  as  '  My  Lord,' 
and  '  the  middle  place  of  the  market '  was  alloted  for  his  stall  or  stand. 
'At  the  election  of  officials  in  Perth  on  the  10th  July  1767  there  were  52 
members  present.  Among  the  office-bearers  during  a  course  of  years  ap- 
pears Bailies  for  Errol,  Scoon,  Gartmore,  Balquhidder,  Dunblane,  Callander, 
Down,  Abernethy,  Ochterarder,  Comrie,  Methven,  Ochtergaven,  Dunning, 
Lustylaw,1  Blackford,  and  Monteifch.' 

The  following,  For  which  we  are  indebted  to  an  interesting  notice  of 
the  Fraternity  to  the  'Antiquarian  Repository' of  the  Perthshire  Constitu- 
tional and  Journal  of  November  1873,  are  some  of  the  Laws  of  the  Craft: — 

1  This  Fair,  which  lias  been  discontinued  for  several  years,  was  held  ow  the 
top  of  the  hill  above  Dion,  far  from  any  dwelling.  There  is  a  place  bearing 
the  same  name — Lusie-law,  in  Derbyshire,  where  Danish  names  abound. 


496  APPENDIX. 

'  The  breaking  of  the  Sabath-day. — That  whosoever  shall  be  found  guilt}* 
of  breaking  the  Sabath-day,  either  by  traveling  with  their  packs,  or  buy- 
ing or  seling  (or  any  other  way,  except  going  to  the  Church),  shall  pay 
the  sum  of  Five  pounds  Scotts. 

For  Wrong  Measures. — That  whosoever  shall  be  found  carrying  wrong 
measures,  such  as  weights  and  elnwands,  shall  pay  Five  pounds  Scotts, 
and  the  said  wrong  weights  or  elnwands  shall  be  broken  in  face  of  the 
whole  Court. 

Back-Biteing. — That  whosoever  shall  speak  evil  of  his  neighbour,  or 
give  his  gear  an  evil  word,  if  it  be  made  out  against  him,  shall  pay  the 
sum  of  Three  pounds  Scotts. 

Swearing. — That  whosoever  shall  take  the  name  of  God  in  vain,  or 
curse,  or  swear,  or  speak  any  idle  or  profane  words,  if  it  can  be  made  out 
against  him,  shall  pay  Three  pounds  Scotts. 

Theft  and  Lyeing. — That  whosoever  be  proven  a  Theif,  or  a  Lyar,  shall 
be  banished  from  our  Court  and  Company,  and  all  their  goods  confiscat 
and  given  to  the  Poor. 

Wronging  of  any  Person.—  That  whosoever  shall  wrong  any  man's  house, 
or  any  person  whatsomever,  either  by  word  or  deed,  in  any  place  where  he 
shall  travel  or  happen  to  be,  if  it  can  be  made  out  against  him,  shall  pa}' 
Three  pounds  Scotts. 

Drunkenness.  —  That  whosoever  shall  be  drunk  in  any  place  whatsomever, 
and  misbehave  himself,  and  trouble  any  company  or  person  where  he  is, 
without  a  cause,  and  if  it  be  proven  against  him  shall  pay  Five  pounds 
Scotts. 

Playing  or  Gameing. — That  whosoever  shall  play  at  cards  or  dice,  or 
any  other  vitious  game,  and  the  same  be  proven  against  them,  shall  pay 
the  sum  of  Three  pounds  Scotts. 

Buying  of  Stollen  Goods. — That  whosoever  shall  be  found  bujung  of  gold 
or  silver  veshil,  or  any  other  kind  of  mettles  or  goods  whatsoever,  that  is 
stollen,  if  it  be  made  out  against  him  shall  be  lyable  to  pay  according  as 
the  crime  requires. 

Contentious  Wadgering. — That  whosoever  shall  be  found  wadgering  one 
with  another,  or  gameing,  if  they  wadger  or  play  above  sixpence  at  any 
moderate  game,  shall  pay  Twelve  shillings  Scotts. 

Stubborn  Persons. — That  whosoever  shall  deny  the  price  of  any  com- 
modity to  a  comrade,  the}7  both  being  brothered,  and  will  not  help  him  to 
anything  he  stands  in  need  of,  if  he  can  handsomely  do  it,  not  wronging 
himself,  and  will  be  so  stubborn  as  not  to  help  him,  shall  pay  the  sum  of 
Four  pounds  Scotts. 

Keeping  Evil  Company. — That  whosoever   shall  be   found  drinking  or 


APPENDIX.  497 

keeping-  company  with  idle,  profane,  or  debauched  persons,  if  it  be  made 
out  against  them,  shall  pay  the  sum  of  Three  pounds  Scotts. 

Manners  or  Breeding. — That  whoever  shall  not  carry  themselves  civilly 
in  giveing  obedience  to  their  superiors,  and  who  shall  not  be  found 
keeping  themselves  neat  and  tight  in  their  clothing,  and  combing  their 
heads  and  washing  their  hands,  and  keeping  themselves  in  clean  linnens, 
like  other  honest  men's  bairns  who  take  this  occupation,  and  those  who  will 
not  observe  this  at  this  occupatioun,  let  them  betake  themselves  to  another ; 
and  for  ilk  falyie  shall  be  lyable  to  pay  Twelve  shillings  Scotts. 

Stands  Marking. — That  noue  offer  to  mark  any  Stands  before  sun 
riseing  the  day  before  the  Market-day,  and  he  who  marks  first  is  to  mark 
ane  deal  length,  which  is  three  elns  long ;  and  none  is  to  mark  above  an 
deal  length  for  himself  or  any  comrade  with  him ;  and  this  foresaid  deal 
length  is  to  be  marked  for  my  Lord's  use,  and  that  in  the  middle  place  of 
the  market,  and  if  it  be  neglected  he  is  to  take  it  where  his  pleasure  is  ; 
and  whoever  is  found  marking  more  than  is  foresaid  shall  pay  Twelve 
shillings  Scotts. 

Religion  and  Piety. — It  is  enacted  for  the  farther  propagating  of  Religion 
and  Piety,  that  every  brother  Chapman  shall  have  a  Bible  particularly  for 
his  own  use,  besides  these  he  shall  have  for  sale,  and  shall  be  obliged  at 
the  several  Courts  to  bring  along  with  him  the  said  Bible,  to  be  presented 
if  required,  under  the  penalty  of  Five  pounds  Scotts,  and  that  those  of  the 
Brethren  that  cannot  read  be  obliged  to  learn,  at  least  to  use  their  endea- 
vours, under  the  aforesaid  penalty. 

Debates  betwixt  Brother  Chapman. — It  is  enacted  that  in  case  any  debate 
should  fall  out  betwixt  any  of  the  Brethren  of  this  Incorporation,  in  any 
Burgh  or  other  place  where  they  may  happen  to  meet,  that  they  presume  not 
upon  any  account  to  enter  their  complaint  to  any  Magistrate  or  other 
Judge,  untill  they  first  enter  their  grievances  before  my  Lord,  his  Deput, 
or  other  members  of  the  Incorporation  having  power  to  hold  Courts,  and 
get  their  sentiments  thereupon;  with  certification  that  whoever  contraveens 
this  act  shall  be  lyable  in  Six  pounds  Scotts  for  each  transgression.' 

This  Rule  is  a  relic  of  the  old  Law  of  the  Burghs,  by  which  traders  in 
a  Fair  held  '  lot  and  cauyllf  share  and  share  or  equal  privileges  with  the 
Burghers,  and  could  only  be  tried  by  their  peers,  and  not  by  the  Magistrates 
of  the  Town  in  which  the  Fair  was  held. — Leges  Burgorum^  Xo.  L1V.  See 
antea,  p.  144. 


I  I 


498  APPENDIX. 

No.  IX.,  p.  133. 

PATRICK,  SECOND  LORD  LINDORES. 

Charter  of  Feu-Ferme  by  King  James  VI:  to  Patrick  Leslie,  son  of  Patrick, 
Commendator  of  Lundores,  of  the  possessions  of  the  Abbey  of  Lundores, 
enumerated  by  name  and  rental,  and  erected  into  the  Temporal  Lordship 
and  Barony  of  Lundores,  ivith  the  Title,  Honour,  Order,  and  State  of  a 
Lord  of  Parliament,  by  the  style  of  Lord  Lundores,  to  the  said  Patrick 
Leslie  and  his  heirs-male — a.d.  1600. 

Jacobus  Dei  Gratia  Rex  Scotoruni  .  .  .  Sciatis  nos  .  .  .  pro  bono 
fideli  et  gratuito  seruicio  per  nostrum  domesticum  seruitorem  Patricium 
Commendatarium  de  Lundoiris  et  per  fidelissimum  et  predilectum  nostrum 
consanguineum  et  consiliarium  Andream  de  Rothes  comitem  dominum 
Leslie,  etc.  eorumque  familias  et  amicos  nobis  nostriscpie  predecessoribus 
impeuso  (ex  dictomm  Patricii  et  Andree  de  Rothes  comitis  largis  et  exorbi- 
tantibus  sumptibus  et  expensis)  .  .  .  dedisse  .  .  .  dilecto  nostra  Patricio 
Leslie  filio  dicti  Patricii  heredibusque  suis  masculis  quibuscunque  eorum- 
que  assignatis  hereditarie  Totam  et  integram  maneriem  de  Lundoris  ab 
antiquo  vocatam  monasterium  et  Abbacie  Locum  de  Lundoris  cum  omni- 
bus .  .  .  domibus  mansionibus  edificiis  et  hortis  eiusdem  provt  jacent 
et  infra  clausuram  et  dicte  Abbacie  preciuclum  situantur  cum  omni- 
bus columbariis  veridariis  hortis  sepibus  officiorum  domibus  mansionibus 
.  .  .  et  iustis  pertinentiis  .  .  .  necnox  dedisse  .  .  .  et  iu  feudifirruam  .  .  . 
perpetuam  dimississe  .  .  .  predicto  Patricio  Leslie  heredibusque  suis  mas- 
culis suprascriptis  eorumque  assignatis  quibuscunque  hereditarie  omnes  .  .  . 
terras  et  baron iam  de  Grange  de  Lundoris  villas  de  Grange  Berriehill  Orm- 
stoune  Haltounhill  Lumquhat  Cluney  Wodheid  Southewood  et  Eistwood 
brasinam  de  Grange  Clajns  prata  lie  Hauchis  Hillok  Saltgers  horreum  et 
eiusdem  hortos  bowbuttis  et  Reidis  Brodlandis  Westwode  cum  cuniculariis 
manerium  locis  .  .  .  piscationem  super  Aquam  de  Tay  et  libertatem  cymbe 
vulgo  ane  ferrie  boit  Saltinsche  Reidinsche  Kowinsche  Saltgirs  Reidhillok 
Park  Litilhillok  Inchis  pomeria  de  Lundoris  parvum  pratum  vocatum  Kingis 
medow  jacentem  ab  infinio  de  Parkhill  ab  occidente  ad  orientem  burgum  et 
villain  de  Newburghe  domos  tenementa  hortos  toftas  croftas  Dyikkcroft 
ac  acras  feudifirme  firmas  annuos  redditus  et  eiusdem  deuorias  Durieland 
de  Creichie  toftam  de  Collessie  toftam  de  Auld  Lundoris  toftam  de  Killoche 
toftam  et  brasinam  de  Auchtermuchtie  .  .  .  Craigend  Craigmyle  cum 
aridis  multuris  de  Kynnaird  lie  segis  et  croftis  eiusdem  Kigishoill  Marys- 


APPENDIX.  499 

croft  Cairtwaird  Woodrooff  Thriepland  cum  Monthe  et  Monasteri  Almery- 
cruik  cum  tribus.acris  sub  silua  Terras  ecclesiasticas  de  Elxlie  Monkismos 
jacentem  in  Edinsmure  cum  .  .  .  lie  Newlartd  Vndhmd  .  .  .  quinque  tene- 
meuta  terre  infra  ciuitatem  uostram  de  Sanctandrois  .  .  .  magnum  edifi- 
cium  ante  et  retro  tenementum  et  hortum  in  villa  de  Falkland  .  .  .  annuum 
redditum  quinquagiiita  trium  solidorum  quatuor  denariorum  de  terns 
de  Denmylne  .  .  .  octo  solidorum  de  burgo  Cupri  in  Fyiff  .  .  .  quin- 
que solidorum  et  decern  denariorum  de  Carraile  .  .  .  jacentia  infra  re- 
galitatem  de  Lundoris  et  vicecomitatum  de  Fyiff  Terras  et  baroniam  de 
Feddellis  Wester  Feddellis  Eister  Feddellis  molendinum  de  Feddellis  Beny 
et  Cathkin  Eklismagirgill  cum  molendino  eiusdem  maneriei  loco  hortis 
pomeriis  columbariis  .  .  .  magnum  edificium  in  burgo  nostro  de  Perth 
.  .  .  Tenementum  in  Wattirgaitt  .  .  .  aliud  tenementum  in  Wattir- 
gaitt  .  .  .  Annuum  redditum  quadraginta  solidorum  de  domo  Roberti 
Blaikwood  in  Perthe  .  .  .  quatuordecem  solidorum  de  domo  magistri 
Georgii  Ruthven  in  Perthe  .  .  .  tredecem  solidorum  et  quatuor  denariorum 
de  domo  Johannis  Rind  in  Perthe  .  .  .  quinque  solidorum  de  domo  Patricii 
Grant  in  Perthe  .  .  .  viginti  sex  solidorum  et  octo  denar"->rum  de  terris  de 
Pitfouri  .  .  .  septem  solidorum  de  terris  Jacobi  Gild  in  Perthe  .  .  . 
quatuor  solidorum  et  quatuor  denariorum  de  terris  Joannis  Drummond  et 
Patricii  Inglis  in  fine  de  Meilvennell  .  .  .  tredecim  solidorum  et  quatuor 
denariorum  de  terris  Roberti  Cok  pistoris  .  .  .  tredecim  solidorum  et 
quatuor  denariorum  de  terris  Dauidis  Johnestoun  jacentibus  in  Castell  Gavill 
trium  librarum  sex  solidorum  et  quatuor  denariorum  de  Erlisdyikis 
.  .  tredecem  solidorum  et  quatuor  denariorum  de  terris  Andree  Trumpet 
.  .  .  trigiuta  solidorum  de  terris  Oliueri  Makesoune  .  .  .  octo  decern  soli- 
dorum de  terris  Gulielmi  Lamb  extra  portam  de  Castellgavill  ...  in  dicto 
burgo  de  Perth  infra  dictam  regalitatem  et  vicecomitatum  nostrum  de 
Perthe  .  .  .  Oinnes  terras  de  Balmaw  Newtyle  Tlilend  Hiltouue  et  Mylne- 
toune  de  Craigie  Olaypottis  Ferrietoune  cum  alias  et  rubris  piscationibus 
super  aquam  de  Taye  .  .  .  terras  de  Ardoche  terras  ecclesiasticas  de 
Dunde  vel  croftam  terre  vocatam  Vicaris  Land  Abbatis  horreum  polentorum 
el  hortum  eiusdem  in  Dundie  tenementum  terre  in  Dundie  in  vico  eiusdem 
vocato  Abbotimynd  .  .  .  aliud  tenementum  in  dicto  vico  .  .  .  peciam  terre 
in  dicto  vico  .  .  .  botham  altaris  Sancte  Margarete  in  Dundie  .  .  .  tene- 
mentum el  terram  cum  omnibus  bothis  et  pertiuentiis  euisdem  capellanarie 
Sancte  Margarete  altaris  .  .  .  aliud  tenementum  terre  in  Dundie  .  .  .  ab 
antiquo  vocatum  U  Vicaris  Tenement  .  .  .  annuum  redditum  trium  librarum 
sox  solidorimi  et  octo  deuiuioium  de  terris  delnuerraritie  .  .  .  infra  regalita- 
tem euisdem  et  vicecomitatum  nostrum  de  Forfar.  Omnes  .  .  .  terras  de 
Ealwistounis   Hilend    Fischerhill    Lit.ill    Witstounes    Nether   Witstounes 


500  APPENDIX. 

Pittareis  Pittargns  Pittainous  cum  nioleodino  astrictis  multuris  et  brasina 
eiusdem  Miltoune  de  Witstounes  brasina  de  Witstouues  Terras  de  Mar- 
charie  Scottistouue  et  terras  officiarias  cum  rubris  et  albis  piscatiouibus 
super  mare  et  borealem  aquam  de  Esk  .  .  .  anuuum  redditum  de  Bervie 
octo  solidorum  .  .  .  jaceutes  iu  regalitate  eiusdem  infra  vicecomitatum  de 
Kiucardin  Omnes  et  singulas  terras  et  barouiam  de  Wrangbame  terras  de 
Craig-touue  Kirkhill  Mostouue  Cbrystiskirk  Moleudinurn  de  Leslie  terras 
ecclesiasticas  de  Auldleslie  terras  de  Largie  Newtouue  Wranghame  cum 
moleudiuo  et  warda  eiusdem  Kirktouue  de  Culsalmouut  Pilqubyit  Leding- 
bame  et  Williamstouu  cum  molendiuo  et  brasina  eiusdem  Maliugsyid 
Flendiris  Logydomocbt  cum  brasiua  eiusdem  Etberlik  Kirktouue  de  Iuscbe 
cum  moleudiuo  et  brasina  eiusdem  Kirktouue  de  Premna  Tullymorgouue 
cum  toftis  croftis  lie  outsettls  custumis  seruitiis  et  singulis  eoruudeni  perti- 
neutiis  Terras  ecclesiasticas  de  Kyjmatbmount  Cbiystiskirk  Premna  Inscbe 
Culsalmouut  Logydornocbt  Terras  capellauarias  de  Gariocbe  Terras  et 
barouiam  de  Fintrie  Haltoune  Fintrie  cum  maneriei  loco  bortis  pomeriis 
silva  vocata  Garvok  et  singulis  suis  pertinentiis  Terras  de  Logyfintrie  Fos- 
terissait  Wester  Fintrie  Langcruik  Miltoune  de  Fintrie  cum  moleudiuo  terris 
molendinariis  eiusdem  Balbetbin  cum  piscatione  in  Done  Haddirweik  Craig- 
fortbie  Badiforie  cum  piscatione  eiusdem  iu  Done  Monkegie  et  Westbynnes 
Kilmukis  Tullycberie  Westirdisblair  Ester  Disblair  Cavillismilue  Middil 
Disblair  Smedybous  cum  toftis  croftis  bortis  et  Smydiecroft  Ailhouscroft 
cum  prato  vocato  Inscbe  derocroft  brasinam  de  West  Fintrie  brasinam  de 
Haltoune  Fintrie  toftam  et  croftam  de  Kilmukis  salmonum  piscationem 
super  aquam  de  Done  Domum  cum  bortulo  et  cymbe  piscatione  apud  Futtey 
Auuuos  redditus  de  Balbagartie  octo  mercas  .  .  .  de  Kellie  decern  mercas 
.  .  .  de  Inuerrurie  viginti  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Terras  ecclesiasticas 
de  Fintrie  Inuerrurie  et  Monkegie  que  ad  dictam  Abbaciam  de  Lundoris 
perprius  pertiuuerunt  jaceutes  in  regalitate  eiusdem  infra  viceconiitatiun  de 
Abirdene  .  .  .  Totum  et  integrum  burgum  baronie  seu  regalitatis  et  villain 
ile  Newburgb  .  .  .  cum  potestate  .  .  .  tenendi  liberuni  forum  .  .  .  beb- 
domatim  die  Sabbati  wulgo  Setterday  .  .  .  cum  publico  foro  iuibi  tenendo 
annuatim  .  .  .  wulgo  vocato  Sanct  Kathemis  Day  .  .  .  Omues  et  singulas 
ecclesias  parocbiales  de  Ebdie  Aucbtermucbtie  Creicbe  Collessie  Eglismagir- 
gill  Dundie  Fiutrie  Iunerrurie  Monkegie  Log3'dornocbe  Culsalmoimt  Inscbe 
Kynnaucbmouut  Cbristiskirk  Auldleslie  et  Premna  .  .  .  unacum  aduocatione 
donatioue  et  jure  patronatus  .  .  .  prefatarumecclesiarum  .  .  .  Nos  .  .  .  erexi- 
mus  .  .  .  rectoriam  seu  persouagium  in  qualibet  ecclesia  predicta  .  .  .  pro  quo- 
rum rectorum  bonesto  et  rationabili  susteutatione  .  .  .  dedimus  mansionem  et 
glebam  proprie  pertiuentes  ad  quamlibet  dictarum  ecclesiarum  .  .  .  necnon 
aunua  stipendia  subscripta  .  .  .  soluenda  .  .  .  per  prefatum  Patricium  Leslie 


APPENDIX.  501 

hcredes  suos  et  assignatos  predictos  annuatim  in  futururn  de  annuis  deuoriis 
decimarum  garbalium  et  aliorum  reddituum  prenommatanun  ecclesiarum  .  .  . 
videlicet  nnnistro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Ebdie  .  .  .  annuum  stipen- 
dium  sexdecem  bollarumfarine  aueuatice  walgoteind  ait  meill  quatuor  bollarom 
decimalia  ordei  centum  librarum  nionete  cum  minimis  decimis  vicarie  totius 
parochie  de  Ebdie  .  .  .  saluis  tamen  .  .  .  prefato  Patricio  suisque  heredi- 
bus  pecunia  agnis  et  lana  dicte  vicarie  .  .  .  Et  lectori  ecclesie  de  New- 
burgh  qui  erat  magister  scole  grammaticalis  dicti  burgi  eiusque  successori- 
bus quadraginta  mercas  monete  regni  nostri  Item  ministro  seu  rectori 
ecclesie  de  Auchtermuchty  eiusque  successoribus  sexdecem  bollas  farine 
aueuatice  decimalis  quatuor  bollas  ordei  decimalis  et  centum  libras  monete 
Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Creiche  eiusque  succes- 
soribus sexdecem  bollas  prefate  farine  quatuor  bollas  predicti  ordei  et 
centum  libras  monete  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de 
Collessie  sexdecem  bollas  predicte  farine  quatuor  bollas  ordei  et  centum 
libras  monete  Item  quia  nulla  vnquarn  erat  functio  ad  ecclesiam  de  Eglis- 
magirgill  sed  ab  autiquo  fuit  capellanus  qui  cultum  divinum  in  capella  de 
Eglismagirgill  adminstrauit  et  inde  est  nulla  ecclesia  parochialis  Nos  rearms 
.  .  .  dedimus  .  .  .  potestatem  et  commissionem  dicto  Patricio  Leslie  suis- 
que prescripts  lectorem  in  futurum  ad  dictam  ecclesiam  seu  capeUam  nomi- 
nandi  et  presentandi  qui  habebit  in  annuo  stipendio  quadraginta  mercas 
monete  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Duudie  suisque 
successoribus  tricentas  mercas  monete  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie 
parochialis  de  Fintrie  eiusque  sucessoribus  centum  libras  monete  cum  minu- 
tis  decimis  vicariis  dicte  parochie  .  .  .  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie 
parochialis  de  Inuerurie  eiusque  successoribus  centum  mercas  monete  cum 
minutis  decimis  vicariis  suprascriptis  parochiarum  de  Inuerrurie  et  Monkegi 
qui  ideo  curam  ad  ecclesiam  de  Monkegi  imposteram  seruire  tenebuntur 
quia  ecclesia  eiusdem  est  et  fuit  pendiculum  tantum  parochie  de  Inuerrurie 
et  eidem  contigue  jacet  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de 
Logydurnocht  que  inde  transtulitur  ad  capellam  de  Garioche  suisque  suc- 
cessoribus centum  mercas  monete  cum  minutis  decimis  vicariis  suprascriptis 
dicte  parochie  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Culsalmount 
suisque  successoribus  centum  mercas  monete  cum  minutis  decimis  vicariis 
prefate  parochie  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Insche 
suisque  successoribus  octuaginta  libras  monete  cum  prefatis minutis  decimis 
dicti  parochie  Item  ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Kynnath- 
mounl  suisque  successoribus  qui  earn  curam  divinam  ecclesie  de  Christis- 
kirk  seruire  tenebuntur  quia  eadem  est  pendiculum  tantum  ecclesie  paroch- 
ialis de  Kynnathmounl  centum  mercas  monete  cum  prefatis  minutis  decimis 
vicariis  parochiarum  de  Eynnathmounl  et  Christiskirk  Item  ministro  seu 


502  APPENDIX. 

rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Auldleslie  suisque  successoribus  centum 
mercas  monete  cum  prefatis  minutis  decimis  vicariis  parochie  eiusdern  Item 
ministro  seu  rectori  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Premna  suisque  successoribus 
quadraginta  libras  monete  et  dictas  minutas  decimas  parochie  eiusdem  .  .  . 
Ixsuper  nos  .  .  .  creamus  .  .  .  prefatum  maneriem  seu  manerei  locum  de 
Lundoris  domos  hortos  et  alia  predicta  ...  in  vnum  integrum  et  liberum 
temporale  dominium  et  baroniam  prefato  Patricio  Leslie  heredibus  suis 
masculis  et  assignatis  predictis  inde  nuncupandum  et  in  futurum  nuncupa- 
turum  Dominium  et  Baroniam  de  Lundoris  dantes  et  concedentes  dicto 
Patricio  Leslie  suisque  prescriptis  titulum  honorem  ordinem  et  statum 
liberi  Baronis  et  Domini  nostii  Parliamenti  vocandi  et  intitulandi  Dominos 
de  Lundoris  imperpetuum  .  .  .  Tenenda  et  habenda  .  .  .  de  nobis  et  succes- 
soribus nostris  in  feudifirma  hereditate  baroniaet  regalite  imperpetuum  .  .  . 
Reddendo  inde  annuatim  .  .  .  pro  dicto  maneriei  loco  .  .  .  et  pro  omnibus 
prenominatis  ecclesiis  .  .  .  et  pro  dicto  libero  dominio  .  .  .  seruiciura  equitis 
auratiet  vnum  denarium  monete  .  .  .  nomine  all  efirme  si  petatur  tautum  Et 
pro  dicto  burgo  de  Newburgh  .  .  .  seruicium  liberi  burgi  baroni  et  regalitatis 
cum  quinque  libris  nomine  annui  redditus  tautum  Necnon  soluendo  anmiatim 
nobis  et  successoribus  nostris  .  .  .  pro  villa  et  terris  de  Grange  .  .  .  sex- 
aginta  octo  libras  monete  .  .  .  sexdecem  denarios  pro  qualibet  pultrea 
nonaginta  sex  pultrearum  triginta  duos  denarios  pro  quolibet  caj)one 
sexaginta  quatuor  caponum  cum  pasturagio  arreragio  carreagio  et  debitis 
seruitiis  vsitatis  .  .  .  Item  pro  villa  et  terras  de  Berriehoill  .  .  .  videlicet 
pro  vno  aratro  eiusdem  occupato  per  Alexandrum  Johnestoun  quinque  libras 
duodecem  solidos  octo  capones  duodecem  galliuas  bollam  ordei  wulgo  multir 
heir  bollam  farine  auenatice  wulgo  multir  meill  .  .  .  et  pro  reliquo  dictarum 
terrarum  et  ville  de  Berriehill  extendente  ad  tria  aratra  viginti  quinque 
lil>r;ts  decern  solidos  monete  Item  pro  villa  et  terris  de  Ormstoune  quinde- 
cem  libras  duodecem  solidos  et  octo  denarios  monete  Pro  villa  et  terris  de 
Ilaltounhill  quatuordecem  libras  octo  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro  villa  et 
terras  de  Lumquhat  decern  libras  septemdecem  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro 
villa  et  terris  de  Cluney  Eister  sexdecem  libras  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios 
Pro  Wodheid  Southwod  et  Eistwood  sexdecem  libras  vitulum  agnum  octo 
capones  et  duodecem  pultreas  Pro  brasina  de  Grange  septemdecem  solidos 
Pro  Clayis  eiusdem  includente  Westmedow  Hillok  Saltgirs  hortum  horreum 
horrei  bowbuttis  reiddis  et  hauchis  octodecem  libras  quindecem  solidos  et  octo 
denarios  Pro  Brodlandis  viginti  octo  libras  Pro  Westwood  cum  cuuiculariis 
decern  libras  Pro  piscatione  super  aquam  de  Tay  cum  libertate  cymbe  wulgo 
one  ferriebott  Saltinsche  Reidinsche  Kowiusche  Salgirs  Reidhillok  Park 
Litillhillok  Insches  cum  pomeriis  de  Lundoris  extra  precinctum  centum  libras 
Pro  parvo  prato  vocato  Kingis  medow  jacente  ad  infimam  partem  de  Park- 


APPENDIX.  503 

hill  quadraginta  solidos  Pro  Durieland  de  Creichie  quadraginta  solidos 
Pro  tofta  de  Collessie  quadraginta  sex  solidos  Pro  tofta  de  Auld  Lun- 
doiris  octo  solidos  et  octo  deuarios  Pro  tofta  de  Killoche  decern  soli- 
dos sex  gallinas  duodecem  equi  onera  wulgo  laidis  glebarum  Pro  tofta 
et  brasina  de  Auchtermuchtie  viginti  quatuor  solidos  pro  horreis  et  bor- 
reorum  bortis  eorundem  Collessie  Creicbe  et  reliquarum  toftarum  pre- 
dict arum  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro  Craigmylne  et  aridis  multuris  de 
Kynnaird  Segie  et  croftis  eiusdem  trigiuta  nouem  libras  Pro  Craigend  et 
Kigishoill  quadraginta  duos  solidos  Pro  Cairt ward  duas  bollas  farine  auena- 
tice  duas  bollas  ordei  Pro  Woodroof  Tbrepland  cum  Monthe  et  Monasterii 
quadraginta  bollas  ordei  wulgo  farme  heir  Pro  Marycroft  quadraginta  duos 
solidos  Pro  Almerycruik  sex  libras  tresdecem  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios 
Pro  tribus  acris  terre  sub  silua  quatuor  libras  et  quatuor  solidos  Pro  Croft- 
dyik  quiuque  libras  quatuor  solidos  Pro  terris  ecclesiasticis  de  Ebdie  quin- 
quaginta  tres  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  Pro  quinque  tenementis  terre  in 
Sancto  Andrea  decern  libras  sexdecem  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro  tenemen- 
to  in  Falkland  quadraginta  solidos  cum  seruicio  vsitato  et  consueto  Pro  acris 
de  Newburgbe  vocatis  Hauche  quadraginta  libras  tredecem  solidos  et  qua- 
tuor denarios  Pro  Monkismos  cum  omnibus  suis  priuilegiis  quinquaginta 
solidos  Pro  acris  de  Wcstmedow  sub  Newburgbe  quatuordecem  libras 
tredecem  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  Item  pro  dictis  terris  de  Beny  et 
Cathkin  in  baronia  de  Feddellis  decern  libras  tredecem  solidos  et  quatuor 
denarios  Pro  Wester  Feddellis  viginti  sex  libras  sex  solidos  et  octo  deuarios 
viginti  quatuor  capones  viginti  quatuor  pultreas  quatuor  petras  butiri  .  .  . 
Pro  molendino  de  Feddellis  octo  libras  sex  capones  sex  gallinas  .  .  .  Pro 
Eister  Feddellis  viginti  septem  libras  sexdecem  denarios  .  .  .  Item  pro 
terris  de  Eglismagirgill  cum  maneriei  loco  bortis  columbariis  et  molendino 
eiusdem  nonaginta  octo  marcas  quatuor  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  cum 
brasina  et  toftis  eiusdem  trigiuta  solidos  Pro  tribus  tenementis  in  Pertbe 
sexdecem  libras  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Item  pro  terris  de  Balmaw  et 
Newtyle  in  Angus  septemdecem  libras  octo  solidos  trigiuta  sex  capones 
.  .  Pro  terris  de  Hilend  quadraginta  quatuor  solidos  sex  capones 
Pro  Hiltoune  et  Miltouue  de  Cragy  Claypottis  et  Ferrietoune  cum  albis 
piscationilms  in  aqua  de  Tay  custumis  deuoriis  et  seruitiis  eorundem 
trigiuta  septem  libras  quadraginta  octo  capones  Pro  terris  de  Ardoche 
sex  libras  tredecem  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  Pro  terris  ecclesiasticis 
de  Dundie  siue  crofta  terre  vocata  terra  vicaria  quatuordecem  solidos 
Pro  dictis  omnibus  tenementis  in  Dundie  bothiset  eorundem  pertinentiis 
vnum  et  viginti  libras  Pro  borreo  vstrina  et  horto  horrei  vocato  Abottisbame 
in  Dundie  septem  solidos  Item  proterris  do  Balwitstounea  Eilend  Fischer- 
bill  Littellwitstouncs  cum  suis  pertinentiis  trigiuta  quatuor  libras  quinde- 


504  APPENDIX. 

cem  solidos  et  sex  denarios  duodecem  capones  triginta  sex  pultreas  sex 
bollas  avenarum  wulgo  cane  aittis  .  .  .  Pro  terris  de  Nether  Witstounes 
Pitareis  Pittargus  Pittamous  cum  molendino  Mylnetoune  astrictis  multuvis 
et  brasinis  viginti  novem  libras  duos  solidos  et  octo  denarios  .  .  .  Pro 
terris  de  Marcharie  et  Scottistoune  cum  terris  ofnciariis  rubris  et  albis 
piscationibus  super  mare  et  aquam  borealem  de  Ask  viginti  duas  libras 
septemdecem  solidos  et  sex  denarios  Item  pro  terris  de  Craigtoune  ex 
baronia  de  Wranghame  tredecem  libras  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro 
terris  de  Kirkbill  decern  marcas  et  bollam  aueuarum  wulgo  custome  aittis 
Pro  Mostoun  quadragiuta  solidos  Item  pro  villa  et  terris  de  Chrystiskirk 
sexdecem  libras  quatuor  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Item  pro  molendino  de 
Leslie  vigiuti  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro  terris  ecclesiasticis  de  Auld 
Leslie  sex  solidos  et  octo  denarios  Pro  terris  de  Largie  tres  libras  sex  solidos 
et  octo  denarios  cum  debito  seruicio  Pro  Newtoune  et  Wranghame  cum 
molendino  et  warda  eiusdem  sexaginta  sex  libras  tredecem  solidos  et  quatuor 
denarios  Pro  Kirktoune  de  Culsalmount  octo  libras  quatuor  solidos  et  sex 
denarios  Pro  Polquhit  viginti  quatuor  libras  quinque  solidos  quatuor  denarios 
Pro  Ledinghame  et  Williamstoune  cum  molendino  et  brasina  quinqua- 
ginta  quinque  libras  sex  solidos  octo  denarios  Pro  Malingsyide  viginti  ocfcp 
libras  novem  solidos  et  octo  denarios  pro  Flendiris  viginti  quatuor  libras  sex 
solidos  Pro  Logydornocht  et  brasina  eiusdem  viginti  libras  octodecem 
solidos  cum  bolla  auenarum  wulgo  kane  aittis  Pro  Etherlik  Kirktoune  de 
Insche  molendino  et  brasina  eiusdem  tredecem  libras  decern  solidos  Pro  Kirk- 
toune de  Premna  quatuor  libras  tredecem  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  Pro 
Tullymorgouue  cum  toftis  croftis  custumis  et  pertinentiis  sexdecem  libras 
cum  arreagiis  carreagiis  custumis  et  debitis  seruitiis  .  .  .  prenominatarum 
terrarum  vsitatis  et  consuetis  Pro  terris  ecclesiasticis  de  Kyunathmount 
Christiskirk  Insche  Premna  Culsalmount  Logydornocht  et  terris  capellan- 
ariis  de  Garioche  viginti  solidos  Item  pro  Haltoune  Fintrie  cum  maneriei 
loco  hortis  pomeriis  silua  de  Garvok  et  eorundem  pertinentiis  Fosterissait 
Wester  Fintrie  Langcruik  et  singulis  suis  pertinentiis  centum  et  viginti 
libras  Pro  terris  de  Logyfintrie  octo  libras  Pro  Mylnetoune  de  Fyntrie  cum 
molendino  et  terris  molendinariis  eiusdem  septem  libras  sex  solidos  et  octo 
denarios  Pro  Balbithene  cum  piscatione  in  Done  Heddirweik  et  Craigforthie 
viginti  tres  libras  sex  solidos  octo  denarios  Pro  Badiforrie  et  piscationibus 
in  Done  quinque  libras  septem  solidos  decern  denarios  Pro  Monkegi  et 
Westbynis  novemdecem  libras  tredecem  solidos  quatuor  denarios  Pro 
Kilmukis  viginti  duas  libras  Pro  Tullichery  sex  libras  tredecem  solidos 
quatuor  denarios  Pro  Wester  Disblair  viginti  quatuor  libras  Pro  Eister 
Disblair  et  Cavillismylne  et  Middell  Disblair  quadraginta  duas  libras  Pro 
Smedyhous  toftis  croftis  hortis  Smidycroft  Ailhouscroft  prato  vocato  Insche 


APPENDIX.  505 

Deracroft  duabus  brasinis  de  Fintrie  et  tofta  de  Kilmukis  ac  salmonum 
piscatione  in  aqua  de  Done  octo  libras  quinque  solidos  quatnor  denarios  Pro 
donio  hortulo  et  cymbe  piscatione  apud  Futtey  septem  solidos  cum  arreagiis 
carreagiis  et  debitis  seruitiis  vsitatis  et  consuetis  omnium  prenominatarum 
terrarum  Pro  ten-is  ecclesiasticis  de  Fintrey  Inuerrurie  et  Monkegie  septem 
solidos  et  sex  denarios  Ac  in  augmeutationem  rentalis  .  .  .  sex  solidos 
et  octo  denarios  ...  Ac  heredes  et  assignati  dicti  Patricii  Leslie  dupli- 
caudo  feudifirmas  deuorias  primo  anno  cuiuslibet  eorum  introitus  ad  dic- 
tas  terras  .  .  .  Necnon  .  .  .  disponimus  prefato  Patricio  Leslie  heredibus 
suis  masculis  et  assiguatis  de  dictis  feudifirmis  deuoriis  et  annuis  redditibus 
annuatim  surnmani  quingentarum  mercarum  monete  regni  nostri  vnacum 
viginti  quatuor  bollis  ordei  et  duabus  bollis  farine  auenatice  cum  omni- 
bus et  singulis  dictis  caponibus  pultreis  canis  butiri  casei  et  victualium 
arreagiis  carreagiis  cum  omnibus  aliis  seruiciis  per  presentes  debitis  .  .  . 
In  cuius  kei  testimonium  huic  presenti  carte  nostre  magnum  sigillum  nos- 
trum apponi  precepimus  .  .  .  Apud  burgum  nostrum  de  Perthe  vltimo  die 
mensis  Martii  Anno  Domini  millesimo  sexcentesimo  et  regni  nostri  tricesimo 
tertio. — Antiquities  of  the  Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  504-513. 
From  the  Registrum  Magni  Sigil/i,  lib.  xlii.  No.  189. 


No.  X. 

'  The  Court  Roll  of  the  Regallitie  of  Lundors,  1695.' 

{From  Mugdrum  Archives.] 

The  Laird  of  Pitcur  ffor  the  Lands  of  Witstoune. 

The  Toune  &  Lands  off  Logie  durnoch  &  Brewhouse. 

The  Lands  of  Bedffurrow. 

The  Lands  of  Monkegie  and  Wester  Barns. 

The  Lands  off  Logie  fenton. 

The  Lands  off  the  uther  two  Fentons  belonging  to  the  Earle  of  Murray, 

The  Mylne  off  Fenton. 

Cluvers  pleugh. 

James  ETarvies  halfe  pleugh. 

Mi-  Wm-  Chalmers  for  his  pleugh. 

Tulliehamie. 


506  APPENDIX. 

Wester  Disblair. 

Easter  Disblair  and  Milling  Syde. 

Midle  Disblair. 

Balbothie  and  Hedderwick. 

Oaige  ffuthie. 

Kilmncks. 

The  croft  off  Kilinucks. 

The  Croft  off  Penton. 

Stentoune  &  wranghame  rothnay. 

The  Kirktoune  off  Colsauiond  and  pulquat. 

Lethanie  and  Williamstoune.  # 

Tullimorgame. 

The  Toune  of  Inch  and  Mylne. 

Christs  kirk  Evlick  &  Brewstead  of  Inch. 

The  kirktoune  of  prenma. 

The  Mylnetoune  of  Leslie. 

The  Lands  off  Craigtoune. 

The  Lands  of  Flenders. 

Owkhill  and  mogtoune. 

The  Lands  of  Ballayarlie. 

The  Lands  of  Innerourie. 

The  Lands  of  Easter  Fedalls. 

The  Lands  of  Wester  Feddalls. 

The  Lands  of  Cromlick. 

The  mylne  of  Feddalls. 

The  toune  &  lands  of  Banie. 

The  Lands  of  Fitcairn. 

The  great  Fudging  in  the  wattergait  pertaining  to  Andrew  Eae. 

The  Ludging  pertaining  to  Pat.  Andersone. 

The  Ludging  that  pertained  to  Rob.  Blackwood  in  the  heugh  geat  head. 

The  Ludging  plaining  to  Pat.  Grahanie. 

The  booth  &  closs  p*aining  to  Da.  Sibbald. 

The  Ludging  sometime  paining  to  John  Elder. 

The  Lands  of  Pitfour  iu  the  Carse. 

The  Lands  of  Witstoune  Mylne. 

The  Lands  of  Scotstoune  &  mercarie. 

The  Lands  of  Arduch. 

The  Lands  of  Craigie  ptaining  to  the  Laird  of  Pittarrow 

The  Lands  of  Balnon  [Balmaw]  Newtyle  &  Temple  bank. 

The  Olaypotts  &  Ferritoune. 

The  myinetonne  of  Cragie  paining  to  Robert  Clayhills. 


APPENDIX.  507 

The  precinct  of  the  Abbacie  of  Limdores  &  halfe  marie  croft  and 
courtward  uixt  tharto. 

The  Reid  inch  and  salt  grass  parke  and  year  [yare]  ptainiug  to  the 
Earle  of  Rothes. 

The  Laird  of  Rallmedie  for  his  Lands  of  Exmagirdle. 

The  Brewstead  ptainiug'  to  John  Levenox  yr- 

The  aires  of  ]\Ir  John  Philp  for  the  Lands  of  Hattoun  hill,  Ormestoune 
&  Lntrest  in  the  tonne  of  Newbrough. 

The  Lands  of  Easter  Chmey. 

The  Send  Croft  in  Collcssie  p*ainiug  to  the  Laird  of  Wishie. 

John  Williamson  for  his  Brewstead  in  Kinloch. 

James  Maxwell  for  the  seud  croft  in  Aughtermughtie. 

Rob.  Maxwell  yr- 

The  Tonne  &  Lands  of  Luinq*  and  p*nents  tharto  belonging. 

The  Laird  of  Rankillar  for  his  Lands  of  Grange  Woodhead  &  croft  in 
Old  Lundors. 

Woodmylne  for  the  bgr  halfe  of  ye  east  wood  ptaining  to  him. 

Denmylue  for  his  part  of  Grainge,  Craigmylne. 

Alex1-  Spense  for  his  Lands  of  Berriholl. 

The  Brewstead  in  Old  Lundores. 

Gavin  Adanisone  por  thair. 

The  Laird  of  Balfour  for  the  dowrie  Lands  of  Creich. 

Lord  Burghlie  for  his  Ludging  in  Falkland. 

The  Heretors  in  the  Toune  of  Newburgh. 

Mr  William  Grant. 

John  Wintoun  for  his  Ten*  &  Buds. 

John  Anderson  for  his  Rnd. 

Henry  Beat  for  his  Tenement  &  Rud  thair. 

Ilellen  Philp  for  the  Tenement  &  Ruds  lyferented  be  her. 

Mr  David  Orme  for  his  Tenent8  &  Lands  in  Woodruff  &  Ilaugh. 

John  Tod  for  his  tenement  &  Ruds,  Lands  of  Woodruff  tx.  llaughs  & 
Broadland. 

John  Freibairne  for  his  Ten1  &  Ruds. 

Gavin  Spense  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds  &  Lands  in  Woodruff  &  haughs. 

James  Tod  for  his  'Pen'  &  ruds  ami  Lands  in  Woodruff. 

Andrew  Smith  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds  thair. 

Richard  Smith  for  his  Ten*  and  Rnd. 

John  Litlejohn  elder,  bowar,  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

Koli'  Smith  for  his  ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Litlejohn  younger  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

Patrick  Scot  for  his  Tenement  &  Ruds. 


508  APPENDIX. 

James  Greinhill  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

Robert  Cairns  for  his  Tents  &  Ruds. 

Alex1--  Ballingall  for  his  aiker  in  the  haugh. 

John  Fribarne  for  his  Ten*  &  Rnds. 

John  Marshall  for  his  Ten*  &  Rtid 

Patrick  Wmson  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

William  Gray  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

John  Hedderwick  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

John  Balling-all  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

The  aires  of  John  Andersone. 

David  Ballingall  for  his  Ten*  Ruds  &  Laud. 

Thomas  Spence  for  his  Tenement  &  Ruds  &  Woodruft  Land. 

Henry  Tod  for  his  Ten*  ruds  &  Woodruft  Land. 

Andrew  Williamson  for  his  Tenements  &  Ruds. 

John  Smart  for  his  Tenment  &  Ruds. 

The  airs  of  James  Smith. 

John  Small  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

James  Wentone  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

James  Blyth  for  his  Tenment  &  Ruds. 

David  Anderson  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Halliburtone. 

David  Berwick. 

David  Biccartoune. 

John  Chrystie. 

Robt*-  Blyth. 

The  aires  of  Andrew  Williamsone. 

Elspeth  Young  for  her  ten*8  &  ruds  Lyferented  be  her. 

John  Anderson,  Wright  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Bell  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

James  Blyth,  Sailyor  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Smart  for  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Ballingall  elder  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

Andrew  Bruce  for  his. 

Sames  Blyth,  wevar. 

The  aires  of  John  Anderson. 

John  Blyth  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

Rob*-  Wilsone  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Lyall,  elder  for  his  Ten*  &  ruds  &  land. 

John  Lyall  younger  for  his  Ten*  &  lands  &  Ruds. 

John  Blyth  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds  &  Woodruft  Land. 

Rob.  Blyth  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 


APPENDIX.  509 


Bessie  Balling-all  her  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

The  aires  of  John  Balling-all. 

John  Gardner. 

Rob1  Allan  for  his  Ten1  &  Ruds. 

David  Jacksone. 

Rob*-  Blyth,  Sailyer, 

David  Buist. 

John  Fribairne. 

David  drayburne. 

James  Young-. 

The  aires  of  James  Mathesone. 

Henry  Bussie  his  aires. 

Henry  Arnot  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

John  Thomsone  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

David  Blyth  earle. 

The  aires  of  William  Audersone. 

John  Williamson  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

David  Spens  for  his  Ten*  &  Rud. 

Andrew  Rossie  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

Rob*-  Dowie  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Fairful  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

The  aires  of  Stephan  Williamsone. 

George  More  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

John  Smith  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

James  Smith. 

The  aires  of  Georg-e  Orome. 

John  Clew  for  his  Ten*  &  Ruds. 

William  Balling-all. 

John  Halliburtoune. 

George  Houdge. 

William  Halliburtoune. 


5.10  APPENDIX. 


No.  XI.,  p.  178. 

ABSTRACT  OF  THE  CHARTERS  PRESERVED  IN  THE  CHARTER  CHEST  OF  THE 
BURGH  OF  NEWBUKGH,  TRANSLATED. 

No.  1.  Charter  by  way  of  Indenture  by  the  Bailies  and  Community  oj 
Newburgh  to  John  Vallange,  burgess,  of  a  piece  of  land  belonging  to 
the  Chapel  of  St  Katherine.      18th  October  1470. 

To  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  this  Charter  by  way  of  indenture,  the 
bailies  and  community  of  New  Burgh,  greeting-  in  the  Lord  everlasting. 
Know  that  we  being  specially  assembled  at  the  sound  of  the  bell  within 
the  chapel  of  St  Katerine  the  Virgin  of  the  said  burgh,  (after  due  con- 
sideration of  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  the  honour  and  venera- 
tion of  the  foresaid  virgin),  have  granted  in  perpetual  feu-ferme,  and  by 
this  present  Charter  confirm,  to  John  Vallange  a  piece  of  land  belonging  to 
the  said  Chapel,  given  of  old  to  the  same  by  our  predecessors,  lying  within 
the  said  burgh,  on  the  north  side  thereof,  between  the  laud  of  Stephen 
Philpe  on  the  west,  and  the  foresaid  chapel  on  the  east :  To  be  held,  etc. 
by  the  foresaid  John  Vallange,  etc.  in  fee  and  heritage  for  ever :  Rendering 
therefor  to  us  and  our  successors  eight  shillings  Scots  yearly  for  the 
reparation  of  the  foresaid  chapel,  and  for  maintaining  a  chaplain  to  cele- 
brate divine  service  therein,  and  twelve  pennies  Scots  to  our  lord,  abbot  of 
Londoris,  and  the  convent  thereof,  for  borough  mail,  etc.  In  witness  where- 
of the  common  seal  of  the  said  burgh  is  appended  to  this  indenture  Charter, 
and  because  the  said  John  has  not  a  seal  of  his  own,  the  seal  of  the  said 
lord  abbot  is  appended  at  his  request,  the  18  day  of  October  1470,  before 
these  witnesses,  Sir  George  Boys,  subprior,  Richard  Lawsone,  monks  of 
said  monastery,  and  John  Ramsay,  Alexander  Ramsay  and  John  Porta- 
tyuys  with  many  others. 

The  seals  are  entirely  broken  off. 

No.  2.   Charter  by  John  Wyntoun,  presbyter  of  St  Andrews  and  burgess  of 
Newburgh  to  his  brother  Thomas  Wyntoun.     25  May  1481. 

To  all  that  shall  see  or  hear  this  Charter,  John  Wyntoun,  presbyter 
of  St  Andrews  diocese  and  burgess  of  Newburgh,  greeting  in  God  ever- 
lasting. Wit  ye  me,  moved  by  natural  affection  for  my  kin  and  relations, 
ami  very  great  love  for  them,  and  that  after  my  decease  they  may  share 
of  the  goods  God  hath  given  me,  whereby  they  may  be  more  mindful  of 
the  weal  of  my  soul  and  may  pray  for  it,  and  the  souls  of  all  the  faithful 


APPENDIX.  511 

defunct,  etc.  to  have  granted  to  my  well-beloved  brother  Thomas  Wynton, 
also  a  burgess  of  Newburgh,  my  land  and  tenement  lying  within 
the  said  burgh  on  the  north  side  thereof,  between  the  lauds  of  tun- 
while  Thomas  Kynglassy  son  of  the  deceased  Richard  Kynglassy  on 
the  west,  and  the  lauds  of  Henry  Lawsoun  on  the  east,  which  lands  I 
bought  with  my  own  money,  and  wholly  built :  To  be  held  by  the 
foresaid  Thomas  and  his  heirs  lawfully  begotten  of  his  body,  whom  fail- 
ing by  my  nearest  heirs  whomsoever,  of  the  lord  abbot  &  convent  of  the 
monastery  of  St  Mary  of  Lundoris  in  heritage  for  ever,  etc :  Reserving  to 
me  the  frank- tenement  thereof  :  Rendering  therefor  yearly  five  shillings 
Scots;  to  wit  two  shillings  for  upholding  of  the  lights  and  other  orna- 
ments of  the  altar  of  St  Katrine  in  the  said  burgh,  &  three  shillings  for 
distributing  to  the  poor  in  bread  by  the  hands  of  the  possessors  of  the 
said  tenement,  at  the  sight  and  discretion  of  the  chaplain  of  the  said  altar, 
as  they  shall  answer  to  God  :  also  three  shillings  to  John  Berclay,  chap- 
lain, together  with  the  burrow  mails ;  with  service  &  free  burgage  of 
the  said  burgh,  etc.  Further  it  is  my  will  that  John  Yunge  &  Christian 
his  spouse  should  possess  for  all  the  days  of  their  life  that  part  of  the 
land  which  they  now  occupy  above  the  fruit  trees,  as  far  as  the  herbarium 
with  the  house  which  they  now  occupy,  paying  therefor  the  annual-rents 
above  written,  and  after  their  decease  to  my  brother  as  above.  But  the 
said  Thomas  &  his  heirs  shall  not  waste  the  said  land,  nor  burden  it  witli 
any  other  annual-rent,  nor  sell,  wadset,  or  alienate  it,  nor,  from  motives 
of  piety  mortmain  it,  under  the  pain  of  20  lib.  to  be  applied  half  to  the 
fabric  of  the  chapel  of  the  said  burgh,  and  half  to  the  common  purse  of 
the  said  burgh.  In  witness  whereof  my  proper  seal  is  appended  to  this 
Charter  the  25  May  1481.  Witnesses,  James  Philpe,  curate  of  the  kirk 
of  Ibdy,  James  Andrew,  Henry  Chawmer,  Archibald  Oamnoth,  James 
Philpe,  John  Atkyn,  John  Yunge,  and  John  Wemyss,  burgesses,  with 
divers  others. 

No.  3.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  Sir  John  Malcumsonc,  as  procurator  for  the 
cJta/j/ut'/i  of  the  New  Church  of  St  Duthac,  St  KaU  rim',  ami  St  Mary 
Magdalene,  of  a  certain  land  in  the  town  of  Newburgh.     5  April  1508. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this,  etc.,  be  it  known  to  all  men  that 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1508,  on  the  5  day  of  April,  etc.,  personally  past 
a  venerable  father,  Andrew  Caueris,  pensionary  of  Lundoris,  to  a  certain 
land  lying  within  the  said  town  of  Newburcht,  on  the  north  side  thereof, 
between  the  land  of  Thomas  Philpe  on  the  east,  ami  the  land  of  St  Katrine 
on  the  west,  and  there  by  earth   and  stone   resigned  the  said  lands  in  the 


5L2  APPENDIX. 

hands  of  Patrick  Koule  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh.  Whereupon 
the  said  bailie  gave  seisin,  state  and  heritable  possession  of  the  said  land 
to  Sir  John  Malcumsone,  as  procurator  for  a  chaplain  perpetually  to  minister 
in  the  new  kirk  to  be  built  in  the  said  burgh,  for  increase  of  the  worship  of 
God,  and  in  honour  of  Saints  Duthac,  Katrine  and  St  Mary  Magdalene  for 
ever :  To  be  held  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms.  Done  on  the  ground  of 
said  land,  year  day  and  month  above  said.  Present,  Archibald  Carnow, 
Michael  Andrew,  James  Moire,  Stephen  Orme,  Sir  Patrick  Mnir,  and 
John  Lawsoun,  serjeand,  with  sundry  others.  Folloivs  docket  by  Barnard 
Marschel,  notary. 

No.  4.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  Sir  John  Malcumsome,  in  name  of  St 
Katherine  of  Newbiwgh,  of  two  roods  of  land  in  the  said  Burgh. 
5  June  1508. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen  :  By  this,  etc.,  be  it  known,  etc.,  that  in  the 
year  of  the  Incarnation  of  the  Lord  1508,  on  the  fifth  day  of  June,  and 
5th  year  of  Pope  Julius  the  Second,  personally  passed  James  Chawmer 
dwelling  in  Newburthg  near  Londoris  ;  to  two  roods  of  land  lying  in  the 
said  new  burgh  on  the  south  side  thereof,  between  the  land  of  the  heirs  of 
the  late  David  Hadingtoun  on  the  west,  and  the  land  of  Robert  Crychtoun 
on  the  east,  and  there  by  earth  and  stone,  with  consent  of  Thomas  Chawmer 
his  apparent  heir,  resigned  the  said  two  roods  of  land  in  the  hands  of 
Patrick  Koule,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh,  in  favour  of  St 
Katherine,  to  pray  for  him,  his  heirs,  successors,  and  ancestors,  and  for 
the  souls  of  those  to  whom  the  said  two  roods  shall  belong ;  whereupon 
the  said  bailie  gave  state,  sasine,  and  possession  of  the  said  two  roods, 
with  garden,  etc.,  to  St  Katherine,  and  to  Sir  John  Malcumsome  in  her 
name,  as  procurator  of  a  chaplain,  perpetually  to  minister  in  the  new  church 
of  Newburgh :  To  be  held  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms.  Done,  etc.,  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  of  the  day  month  and  year  above  said : 
Present,  Archibald  Carnow,  John  Miller,  Alexander  Liele,  John  Syrne,  Sirs 
John  Liel  and  Patrick  Muir  chaplains,  with  sundry  others.  Follows  docquet 
by  Bernard  Marshal,  notary. 

No.  5.  Procuratory  of  Resignation  by  Michael  Anderson  and  John  Kaice, 
bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Newburcht  to  James  Philipe.  26th  February 
1510,  il. 

This  Procuratory  is  in  the  vernacular,  all  the  other  Charters  are  in  Latin. 
Be  it  kend  til  al  men  be  thir  present  lettres,  us  Michel  Anderson  and 
John  Kawe,  bailyeis  of  the  burcht  of  Newburcht  be  west  Londores,  cunsel 


APPENDIX.  513 

and  commuuite  of  the  sammyn,  to  have  maid,  etc.,  our  weil  belovit  nych- 
bour  our  werray  undoutit  procurator  and  speciale  erand  berar,  comittand  to 
him  our  ful  power,  etc.,  to  pas  to  twa  rudes  of  land  lyand  wythin  the  said 
burcht  upoun  the  south  syd  of  the  sammyn,  betuix  the  land  of  Robert 
Wychtoun  at  the  est,  and  the  land  of  umquhil  David  Heddingtoune  at  the 
west,  and  thair,  etc.,  be  yird  and  stane,  as  ws  of  brucht  is,  in  favouris  of 
Symoun  Joly,  to  resiug  and  give  ouer  to  the  said  Symoun  in  excam- 
bion  for  four  s.  of  annuale  yearly,  to  be  tane  up  be  ws  our  succes- 
souris,  etc.,  or  chaplains  of  our  kirk,  etc.,  twa  rudes  of  land  lyand 
upoun  the  southt  syd  of  the  said  brucht,  betuix  the  land  of  Johune  Chaup- 
man  at  the  est,  and  the  land  of  Schir  Johne  Malcnmson  at  the  west,  etc. 
In  witness  heirofe,  etc.,  we  has  appensit  our  common  seile,  the  twenty  sext 
day  of  the  monetht  of  Februer,  the  yer  of  God  ane  thousand  Vc.  and  ten 
yeris  befoir  thir  witnes,  Schir  Johune  Malcnmson,  Johnne  Burcht  and 
Schir  Barnard  Merschal,  notar  publice,  with  wthers  divers. 

No.  6.  Instrument  of  Sasine  in  favour  of  Sir  John  Malcumsone  of  an  annual 
rent  of  three  shillings,  from  a  tenement  in  the  burgh  of  Newburgh. 
24  September  1511. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this  public  Instrument,  be  it  known  to 
all  men,  that  in  the  year  of  God  1511,  on  the  24th  of  September  .  .  . 
personally  compeared  an  honourable  man,  Archibald  Carno,  burg*ess  of 
Newburght,  near  Luudoris,  and  by  delivery  of  one  penny,  resigned  in  the 
hands  of  John  Kawe,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh,  three  shillings  of 
annual-rent  in  favour  of  Sir  John  Malcumsone  to  be  uplifted  furth  of  his 
tenement  lying  within  the  said  burgh,  on  the  south  side  thereof,  between 
the  lands  of  umquhile  Dionisius  Caveris,  on  the  east,  and  the  land  of 
Michael  Kynlocht  on  the  west.  Whereupon  the  said  John  Kawe,  bailie 
foresaid,  gave  heritable  state  and  seisin  thereof  to  the  said  Sir  John 
Malcumsone.  Done  at  the  Monastery  of  Londoris  near  the  stone  dial, 
eleven  o'clock  forenoon  or  thereby.  Present  John  Wemes  &  Andrew  Lame 
with  sundry  others.     Notary  s  docket  by  Barnard  Marschale  follows. 

No.  7.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  Sir  John  Malcumsone  in  an  annual  rent  of 
two  shillings,  from  a  tenement  in  Newburgh.    17  October  1511. 

In  the  name  of  God,  etc.,  be  it  known  to  all  men.  That  in  the  year  of 
our  Lords  incarnation  1511,  on  the  17  day  of  October,  personally  com- 
peared in  a  fenced  court  held  by  David  Culros,  bailie  of  Newburgh,  a  pro- 
vident woman,  Jonet  Kynnard,  spouse  of  Archbald  Carno;  the  said  Arch- 
bald  being  removed  out  of  court,  she  with  her  right  hand  extended  above 

k  K 


514  APPENDIX. 

the  book,  publicly  swore  by  her  great  oath,  that  she  was  not  coerced  by 
her  husband,  but  that  of  her  own  free  will,  etc.,  she  renounced  her  right  to 
an  annual  of  two  shillings  furth  of  the  tenement  [lying  as  described  in  the 
preceding  instrument].  And  further  freely  consented  to  the  alienation  of 
whatsoever  annual  rents  furth  of  the  said  land  might  be  made  by  her  said 
husband.  Whereupon  the  said  Archibald  resigned  the  said  annual  rent  in 
favour  of  Sir  John  Malcumsone.  Which  resignation  the  said  David 
Culros,  by  delivery  in  his  hands  of  one  penny  gave  heritable  possession 
of  the  said  annual  rent  to  Sir  John  Malcumsone  to  be  uplifted  for  ever. 
Done  at  the  said  New  Burgh,  etc.,  witnesses  John  Kawe,  Alexander  Rawerd, 
John  Lowfut,  &  Sir  Laurence  Lawsone,  chaplain,  with  sundry  others. 
Follows  docket  by  Barnard  Marschell,  notary. 

No.  8.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  the  image  of  St  Katerine  in  an  annual  rent 
of  fire  shillings.      19  August  1513. 

In  the  name  of  God,  etc.,  be  it  known  that  in  the  year  of  our  Lord's 
incarnation  1513,  the  19th  day  of  August,  personally  past  a  venerable 
man,  Sir  John  Malcumsone,  chaplain  of  the  altar  of  St  Dionisius,  founded 
within  the  monastery  of  Londoris,  to  a  certain  tenement  of  Archbald 
Carno,  lying  within  the  toun  of  Newburgh,  on  the  south  side  thereof, 
betwixt  the  land  of  Michael  Kinlocht  on  the  west,  and  the  land  of  um- 
while  Dionisius  Caueris  on  the  east,  and  in  a  fenced  court  held  at  the  said 
tenement  by  John  Kawe,  bailie  of  the  said  burgh,  by  delivery  of  a  penny, 
resigned  in  favour  of  the  blessed  virgin  Katerine,  and  the  chaplain  minis- 
tering within  her  kirk,  founded  within  the  said  burgh,  for  perpetual 
prayers  to  be  made  for  him,  his  father,  mother,  and  a  venerable  father 
Andrew  Caueris,  formerly  Abbot  of  Luudoris,  and  founder  of  the  said  kirk, 
five  shillings  of  annual  rent  to  be  uplifted  furth  of  the  said  tenement,  by 
the  chaplain  serving  in  the  said  kirk,  to  found  prayers  for  the  souls  of  his 
predecessors  in  all  time  coming,  as  he  shall  answer  to  the  great  judge  of 
all.  Whereupon  the  said  bailie  by  laying  of  a  penny  in  the  hand  of  the 
image  of  St  Katerine,  then  present ;  gave  heritable  possession,  etc.,  to  the 
said  image  in  name  of  St  Katerine  ;  and  seised  and  infefted  the  said  image, 
etc.  Done  at  the  said  tenement.  Present  Patrick  Kull,  clerk  of  court, 
Richard  Quhit,  David  Orme,  John  Ranaldsone,  Thomas  Bait,  and  David 
Culros,  with  sundry  others.  Follows  docket  by  Barnard  Marschel,  notary 
public. 


APPENDIX.  515 

No.  9.   Testimonial  of  the  Infeftment  of  Isobella  Hadingtone  or  Mason,  in  a 
rood  of  land  in  the  burgh  of  Newburgh.     12  January  1518-19. 

To  all  to  whose  knowledge  the  present  letters  shall  come,  Andrew 
Gyffart,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Newburgh,  by  Londoris,  greet- 
ing in  God  everlasting.  Since  it  is  a  godly  and  praiseworthy  thing  to  bear 
witness  to  truth,  and  especially  in  what  lies  upon  me  in  my  office,  I  make 
known  to  all  of  you,  and  bear  witness  that  Isabella  Hadingtone,  alias 
Mason,  presented  to  me  a  precept  of  Seisin  of  a  venerable  father  in  Christ, 
Henry,  abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Lundoris,  and  convent  thereof,  upon  the 
ground  of  a  rood  of  land  ;  the  tenor  whereof  is  as  follows  : — 

Henry,  by  permission  of  God,  abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Lundoris  and 
convent  thereof,  to  the  bailies  of  our  town  of  Newburght,  greeting :  Foras- 
much as  by  inquest  made  by  you  and  returned  to  our  chancery,  it  is  found 
that  David  Hadingtone,  grandfather  of  Issobella  Hadingtone,  or  Mason, 
bearer  hereof  died  last  vest  &  seized  in  a  rood  of  land  lying  within  the 
said  burgh  on  the  south  side  thereof,  between  the  land  of  John  Kynher  on 
the  east,  and  the  land  of  Thomas  Michelsone  on  the  west ;  and  that  the 
said  Issobella  is  nearest  and  lawful  heir  to  umwhile  David  Hadingtone, 
her  grandfather,  and  that  she  is  of  lawful  age  ;  and  that  it  is  held  of  us  in 
chief.  We  therefore  command  &  charge  you,  etc.,  to  give  state,  seisin,  & 
possession  of  the  same  to  the  said  Issobella,  according  to  the  form  and 
tenor  of  the  old  infeftment,  etc.  In  witness  whereof  our  signet,  which  we 
use  in  such  cases,  is  affixed  to  these  presents.  At  Lundoris  8  Oct.  1517. 

Having  read  which  precept,  I,  the  said  Andrew  Gyffart,  gave  and 
delivered  to  the  said  Issobella  Hadingtone  heritable  possession  of  the  said 
rood  of  land  for  evermore,  etc.  And  this  I  make  known  and  attest  to  all 
whom  it  effeirs.  Done,  etc.,  on  the  12th  of  January  1518-19.  In  witness 
whereof,  I  have  appended  my  proper  seal  to  this  present  testimonial. 
Follows  attestation. 

No.  10.  Instrument  of  Sasine  in  favour  of  the  bailies  council  and  community  of 
Neivburgh  of  a  rood  of  land  in  the  said  burgh.      1  April  1522. 

In  the  name  of  God  Amen.  By  this  public  instrument  be  it  known. 
etc.,  that  in  the  year  of  our  Lord's  incarnation  1522,  the  first  day  of  April, 
etc.,  personally  compeared  Issobella  Iladintone  before  John  Onne,  one  of 
the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Newburgh  by  Lundoris,  upon  the  ground  of  a 
rood  of  land  lyeing  in  the  said  burgh  on  the  south  side  thereof  between 
the  lands  of  John  Kinher  on  the  east  and  the  land  of  John  Michelsone  on 
the  west,  and  there  resigned  for  ever  the  said  rood  in  favour  of  the  bailies 


516  APPENDIX. 

council  and  community  of  the  said  burgh  and  their  successors,  according  to 
the  tenor  of  the  charter  to  be  thereupon  made  by  the  said  Issobella.  The 
said  bailie  on  the  seventh  day  of  the  said  month  gave  heritable  possession 
thereof  to  James  Yentone,  another  of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh,  in  name 
of  the  said  town,  community  and  councillors  thereof.  Done,  etc.  Present, 
Sir  John  Malcumsone,  Sir  John  Cuyk,  chaplains,  Henry  Lyall,  Thomas 
Bait,  John  Kynlocht,  James  Chapman,  John  Stanus,  Allan  Kynlocht,  An- 
drew Andersone,  and  John  Isly,  with  sundry  others.  Follows  docket  by 
Andrew  Gyffart. 

No.  11.  Charter  by  Isabella  Iladingtovne,  to  the  bailies,  council,  and  com- 
munity of  Newburght  of  a  rood  of  land  in  the  south  side  of  the  said 
burgh.     12  April  1522. 

To  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  this  charter,  Wit  ye  me  Issobella  Hading- 
toone,  neither  led  by  force  or  fraud,  etc.,  to  have  sold,  etc.,  to  honorable 
men,  James  Wentone  &  Johne  Horme,  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Newburght 
by  Lundoris,  the  councillors  and  community  of  the  said  burgh,  and  their 
successors,  my  rood  of  land  lying  [as  in  preceding  instrument].  Reserving 
to  me  and  my  mother  and  the  longer  liver  of  us  two,  the  Croft  Ryg.  To 
be  held,  etc.,  of  the  abbot  &  convent  of  Londoris  in  free  burgage  and  feu 
ferme  for  ever,  etc.  Rendering  therefor  to  me  and  my  heirs  nine  shillings 
Scots ;  together  with  ten  pennies  to  the  altar  of  St  John,  situated  within 
the  monastery  of  Lundoris  :  also  the  burrow  mail,  etc. — In  witness,  etc., 
my  seal  is  attached,  at  Newburgh  the  12  day  of  April  1522.  Witnesses 
Sir  John  Malcumson,  Sir  John  Cuyk,  chaplains ;  John  Kynlocht,  Henry 
Lyall,  John  Stanus,  John  Kynheir,  Andrew  Anderson,  James  Chapman, 
Thomas  Bait,  and  Andrew  Gyffart,  notary  public,  with  sundry  others. 

No.  12.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  John  Orme,  as  procurator  of  St  Katerine 
and  her  church  in  the  burgh  of  Newburgh,  in  a  rood  of  land  in  the 
said  burgh.     15  January  1522-3. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this  instrument  be  it  known,  etc.,  that 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord's  incarnation  1522,  on  the  15  day  of  January,  etc., 
personally  compeared  Alison  Tod  or  Ymry,  relict  of  nmwhile  John  Tod,  on 
the  ground  of  a  rood  of  land  in  Newburgh  by  Londoris,  on  the  south  side 
thereof,  between  the  land  of  umwhile  James  Chavmer  on  the  west,  and 
the  land  of  umwhile  David  Culros  on  the  east,  before  John  Calwy,  one  of 
the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh  ;  and  there  made  oath,  and  swore  upon  the 
holy  gospels,   that  not  being  coerced,  etc.,  she  with  consent  of  Valter 


APPENDIX.  517 

Clernat  her  spouse,  resigned  her  conjunct  fee  of  the  said  rood  for  ever,  in 
favour  of  James  Tod,  son  of  the  said  umwhile  John  Tod.  Which  resig- 
nation, being  so  made,  the  said  bailie  gave  heritable  possession  of  the  said 
rood  of  land  to  the  said  James  Tod,  and  seised  him  therein  :  which  infeft- 
ment,  being  so  made,  the  said  James  Tod  resigned  the  said  rood  of  land 
in  favour  of  the  blessed  virgin,  Katerine  for  ever,  for  the  salvation  of  his 
own  soul  and  the  souls  of  his  ancestors  ;  which  resignation  being  so  made, 
the  said  bailie,  by  delivery  of  earth  and  stone  in  the  hands  of  John  Orme, 
gave  state,  possession,  and  perpetual  seisin  of  the  same  to  him,  as  procu- 
rator in  name  of  St  Katerine,  and  her  kirk  situated  within  the  said  burgh 
for  ever ;  conform  to  the  charter  of  the  said  James  Tod  to  be  made  there- 
upon. Done  day,  year,  etc.,  abovesaid.  Present  Mr  Thomas  Pittillock, 
Schir  Lavrence  Lavsone,  chaplains ;  James  Litilihone,  David  Orme,  John 
Kanaldson,  James  Bait,  Michael  Kynlocht,  Andrew  Andersone,  Allan 
Kynlocht,  Henry  Chavmer,  John  Stanus,  John  Lovsone  &  Thomas  Litil- 
ihone, serjeant,  with  sundry  others.  Follows  docket  by  Andrew  Gyffart, 
notary  public. 

No.  13.  Grant  by  James  Tode,for  the  welfare  of  his  soul  and  the  souls  of 
his  father  and  mother,  to  God  and  all  the  saints,  the  blessed  virgin 
Mary,  and  especially  the  blessed  virgin  Katharine  and  her  church 
in  the  town  of  Newburcht,  of  a  rood  of  land  in  the  said  burgh. 
Dated  10th  February  1522-3. 

To  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  this  charter,  James  Tode  greeting  in  the 
Lord  everlasting,  Wit  ye  me,  etc.  (having  taken  counsel  with  my  Mends 
&  men  of  understanding),  to  have  given  for  ever,  for  the  weal  of  my  soul, 
and  the  souls  of  my  father  and  mother,  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms,  to  God 
and  all  the  saints,  and  the  blessed  virgin  Mary,  and  especially  the  blessed 
virgin  Katrine  and  her  church  founded  within  the  town  of  Nevburght  be- 
west  Londoris,  my  rood  of  land  lying  in  the  said  burgh  on  the  smith  side 
thereof  between  the  land  of  the  late  James  Chawmer  on  the  west,  and  the 
land  of  the  late  David  Culros  on  the  east.  To  be  held,  etc.,  of  the  abbot 
and  convent  of  Londoris  in  fee  and  heritage  for  ever,  in  free  burgage. 
The  possessor  of  the  said  rood  of  land  paying  therefor  yearly  5  s.  Scot-  to 
the  altar  of  St  Ninian,  established  in  the  kirk  of  Ebde;  together  with 
the  borouu'h  mail  due  and  wont.  In  witness  whereof  my  seal  is  appended 
to  this  charter.  At  the  foresaid  burgh,  the  loth  day  of  February  1522, 
before  these  witnesses,  Mr  Thomas  Pittillok,  Sir  John  Cuyk,  chaplains; 
James  Litilihonne,  Michael  Kynlocht,  Dauid  Gyb,  John  Stanus,  with 
sundry  others. 


518  APPENDIX 

No.  14.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  John  Calwy,  as  procurator  of  the  bailies 
and  community  of  Newburght,  in  an  annual  rent  of  seven  shillings 
payable  from  a  rood  of  land  in  the  said  burgh.      18  Juue  1526. 

Jhesus  Maria.  In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this  public  instrument 
be  it  known,  etc.,  that  in  the  }Tear  1526,  the  18th  day  of  June,  etc.,  per- 
sonally compeared  Issobella  Hadyntone  or  Mason  in  presence  of  James 
Wentone,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Nevburght  by  Londoris,  on 
the  ground  of  a  rood  of  land  lying  in  the  said  burgh  on  the  south  side 
thereof  between  the  land  of  John  Kynheir  on  the  east,  and  the  land  of 
John  Mechelson  on  the  west,  and  there  resigned  and  overgave  from  her 
and  her  heirs  for  ever,  in  the  hands  of  the  said  bailie,  an  annual  rent  of 
seven  shillings  yearly  to  be  uplifted  furth  of  the  said  rood,  in  favour  of 
the  bailies  councillors  and  community  of  the  said  burgh  and  their  succes- 
sors for  ever.  Whereupon  the  said  bailie  by  delivery  of  a  penny  in  the 
hands  of  John  Calw}7,  elder,  procurator  for  the  said  bailies,  councillors  and 
community  gave  and  delivered  to  him  as  procurator  foresaid,  state  seisin 
and  heritable  possession  of  the  said  annual  rent  of  7  shillings ;  and  seised 
him  therein.  Done,  etc.,  present  Mr  Thomas  Pittillok,  chaplain  ;  James 
Litilihone,  James  Andrew,  Henry  Chaumer,  John  Eanaldsone,  Dauid  Ortne, 
John  Joly,  Allan  Kynlocht,  Thomas  Litilihone,  and  Michael  Kynlocht, 
and  also  before  all  the  scholars  in  the  school,  with  sundry  others.  Follows 
docket  by  Andrew  Gyffart,  notary  public. 

No.  15.  Instrument  of  Sasine  in  favour  of  the  bailies,  council  and  community 
of  Newburgh,  of  an  animal  rent  of  two  shillings  from  a  rood  of 
land  in  the  south  of  the  said  burgh.     3  July  1526. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this  present  instrument  be  it  known  to 
all  men,  that  in  the  year  1526,  the  3d  day  of  July,  etc.,  compeared  Isso- 
bella Hadintone,  or  Mason,  before  a  discreet  man  James  Wenton,  one  of 
the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Nevburght  by  Londores,  at  the  dwelling  house 
of  the  said  bailie,  and  there  resigned  in  his  hands  an  annual  rent  of  two 
shillings  to  be  uplifted  out  of  a  rood  of  land  [same  as  last  Instrument]  in 
favour  of  the  bailies  councillors  and  coimnunity  of  the  said  burgh  and  their 
successors  for  ever.  Whereupon  the  said  bailies,  past  to  the  said  rood  of 
land,  and  there  gave  seisin  of  the  said  annual  rent,  to  John  Calwy  elder 
procurator  [as  before].  Present  James  Chapman,  John  Joly,  John  Svane, 
John  Lovsone,  and  John  Stevinson,  scholar  with  sundiy  others  at  school 
at  the  time.     Follows  docket  by  Andrew  Gyffart,  notary  public. 


APPENDIX.  519 


No.  16.  Charter  by  Isobella  Hadintone  or  Mason,  to  the  bailies,  council, 
and  community  of  Xeicburgh,  of  an  annual  rent  of  nine  shillings, 
from  a  rood  of  land  in  the  south  of  the  said  burgh.     6  July  1526. 

To  all  that  shall  see  or  hear  this  charter,  Issobella  Hadintone  or  Mason, 
Greeting  in  God  everlasting.  Wit  ye  me,  etc.,  to  have  sold,  and  by  title  of 
pure  vendition,  alienated,  etc.,  to  James  Venton,  and  Andrew  Gyffart,  bailies 
of  the  burgh  of  Nevburght  by  Londoris,  council  and  community  of  the  said 
burgh  and  their  successors,  an  annual  rent  of  nine  shillings  to  be  uplifted 
out  of  a  rood  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  said  burgh  [as  before],  for  a 
certain  sum  of  money  paid  to  me  by  them.  To  be  held  etc.,  of  the  lord 
abbot  &  convent  of  Londoris  in  fee  and  heritage  for  ever.  With  full  power 
to  distrain  the  said  rood  of  land,  at  their  own  hands  for  the  said  annual 
rent  as  often  as  need  shall  be,  etc.  In  testimony  whereof,  my  seal  is 
appended  to  these  presents,  the  6th  July,  1526,  at  the  foresaid  burgh, 
before  these  witnesses  Sir  John  Cuyk,  Sir  John  Lyall,  chaplains,  Sir 
Laurence  Lovsone,  Thomas  Litilihon,  Allan  Kynlocht,  Michael  Kynlocht, 
John  Gyffart,  with  sundry  others. 

No.  17.  Charter  by  Michael  Tod,  burgess  of  Nevbrough,  to  the  bailies  of 
Newbrough,  patrons,  and  Sir  John  Richartson  chaplain  of  St 
Katrines  chapel,  of  two  roods  of  land  in  the  said  burgh.  20th 
June  1512. 

To  all  who  shall  see  or  hear  this  charter,  Michael  Tod,  burgess  of  the 
burgh  of  Nevbrough,  son  and  heir  of  umwhile  John  Tod,  burgess  of  the 
said  burgh,  greeting  in  God  everlasting.  Wit  ye  me  not  moved  by  fear, 
nor  fallen  into  error,  but  of  my  own  free-will  (my  own  benefit  being  duly 
weighed),  to  have  sold  to  the  bailies,  burgesses  and  community  of  the  said 
burgh  (if  Newbrough,  patrons  of  the  chaplaincy  of  St  Katrine,  founded  by 
their  predecessors  within  the  new  kirk  of  the  said  burgh,  and  to  Sir  John 
Richartson  or  Cuk,  chaplain  for  the  time  being  of  the  said  chaplaincy,  and 
his  successors,  those  two  roods  of  my  land  lying  within  the  said  burgh  on 
the  north  side  of  the  street  thereof,  between  the  land  of  umwhile  Simon 
Kiroaldy,  and  now  the  land  of  the  chaplaincy  of  St  Katrine,  founded  by 
the  deceased  .Mr  Henry  Quhit,  within  the  said  church,  ou  the  east,  and  the 
land  of  the  heirs  of  umwhile  James  Disert  on  the  west,  the  common  road 
at  the  south,  and  the  stunk  between  the  hauch  and  yards  of  the  said  burgh 
on  the  north  ;  for  a  sum  of  money  paid  to  me  by  them,  and  the  said  Sir 
John,  in  name  of  the  church,  for  the  said  two  roods  of  land  :  Which  sum 
of  money  so  paid  to  me  by  the  bailies,  council  and  community  foresaid,  for 


520  APPENDIX 

the  sake  of  devotion,  a  venerable  father  in  Christ,  John,  abbot  of  the 
monastery  of  Lundoris,  gave  for  ever,  and  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms  to  the 
foresaid  burgesses,  etc.,  and  to  the  said  Sir  John  Cuk,  chaplain  for  the  time 
being  of  the  said  chaplaincy,  in  augmentation  of  the  yearly  stipend  of  the 
said  chaplain,  for  prayers  to  be  made  for  the  souls  of  the  founders  of  the 
said  monastery,  and  for  the  souls  of  my  father,  mother,  aucestors  and  suc- 
cessors, and  all  the  faithful  dead,  etc.  Whereof  I  hold  me  well  content  & 
paid,  etc.  To  be  held,  etc.,  in  pure  and  perpetual  alms,  and  of  the  lords 
abbot  and  convent  of  the  monastery  of  Lundoris,  lords  superior  of  the  said 
burgh.  Rendering  therefor  by  the  said  Sir  John  and  his  successors, 
chaplains  of  the  said  chaplaincy,  prayers  and  suffrages  for  the  souls  afore- 
said ;  and  to  the  abbot  and  convent  of  Lundoris,  the  burrow  mails  used 
and  wont.  In  witness  whereof  my  seal  is  appended  to  this  charter  at  the 
said  burgh  of  Newbrough  the  21st  day  of  June  1542.  Witnesses  Masters 
Robert  Lauson,  John  Philp,  Sir  Alexander  Richartson,  James  Philp, 
Andrew  Paige,  James  Symson  and  John  Bennatt,  with  sundry  others. 

Michell  Tod,  witht  my  hand  at  the  pen  led  witht  Master  Robert 
Lauson,  notar  public. 

His  seal  is  still  attached. 

No.  18.  Instrument  of  Sasine  of  Sir  John  Richartson,  alias  CnIc,for  him- 
self and  his  successors,  chaplains  of  the  chaplaincy  St  Katrine  in 
the  new  church  of  Newburgh,  in  two  roods  of  land  in  the  said  burgh. 
21  June  1542. 

In  the  name  of  God  amen.  By  this  present  instrument  be  it  known  to 
all  men  that  in  the  year  of  our  Lord's  incarnation  1542  on  the  21st  day  of 
June,  etc,  personally  compeared  a  discreet  man,  Michael  Tod,  burgess  of 
the  burgh  of  Newburgh,  and  past  to  two  roods  of  land  [as  in  last  charter] ; 
and  there  surrendered  the  said  two  roods  in  the  hands  of  John  Calwy  one 
of  the  bailies  of  the  said  burgh.  Whereupon  the  said  bailie  gave  state, 
seisin,  &  possession  of  the  said  two  roods  to  Andrew  Ventoun  one  of  the 
bailies  of  the  said  burgh  in  name  of  the  bailies,  burgesses,  and  commuuitie 
of  the  said  burgh  of  Newburgh,  patrons  of  the  chaplaincy  of  St  Katerine 
[as  before],  in  name  of  the  said  chaplaincy,  and  in  an  augmentation  of  the 
stipend  thereof  made  by  Lord  John,  abbot,  etc.  Which  being  done,  the 
foresaid  Andrew  Venton,  as  bailie  of  the  said  burgh,  and  in  name  of  the 
bailies,  burgesses,  and  community  thereof,  then  for  the  most  part  present, 
anew  resigned  the  said  two  roods  in  the  hands  of  the  said  John  Calwy  ; 
which  resignation  being  made,  the  said  John  Calwy  gave  state,  seisin, 
and  possession  of  the  said  two  roods  of  land  to  Sir  John  Richartson  or 


APPENDIX.  521 

Cuk,  now  chaplain  of  the  said  chaplaincy,  founded  [as  before]  according  to 
the  tenor  of  the  charter  of  the  said  Michael  Tod,  thereupon  made,  and 
seised  the  said  Sir  John  Richardson  &  his  successors,  chaplains,  lawfully 
admitted  to  the  said  chaplaincy,  for  prayers  to  be  made,  etc.  [as  before]  and 
for  the  soul  of  the  said  venerable  father,  John,  now  abbot  of  the  said 
monastery,  etc.  Reserving  the  frank-tenement  of  the  said  two  roods  to 
Bessie  Wentone  mother  of  the  said  Michael  Tod.  Done  on  the  ground  of 
the  said  two  roods.  Present  Sir  Laurence  Lauson,  Andrew  Orme,  James 
Covyntre,  chaplains;  Thomas  Litiliohne,  Thomas  Giffart,  and  Thomas 
Anderson  laymen.     Follows  docket  by  Robert  Lausoune  notary  public. 

The  frank-tenement  reserved  in  the  foregoing  and  previous  charters,  is 
defined  by  Jameson  to  be  the  '  The  freehold '  of  the  tenement. 


No.  XII.,  p.  116. 

REGALITY  OF  LINDORES. 


In  exercising  the  judicial  powers  conferred  by  the  erection  of  the 
territories  of  the  monastery  into  a  Regality,  the  Abbot  had  either  to  act  as 
judge  himself,  or  appoint  some  one  to  act  in  his  stead.  From  a  Charter 
preserved  in  the  Archives  of  Fernie  Castle,  we  learn  that  David  Barclay 
of  Cullernie  was  appointed  Bailie  of  that  portion  of  the  Regality  lying  in 
the  Sheriffdom  of  Fife,  and  in  Strathearn.  In  all  probability  authority  over 
the  remaining  portion  of  the  Regality  in  Aberdeenshire,  was  committed 
to  some  person  resident  in  that  neighbourhood,  but  no  charter,  or  other 
evidence  of  such  an  appointment  has  appeared. 

The  following  Assedation  is  wholly  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Abbot, 
and  it  bears  his  signet,  which  is  simply  the  letters  J.  P.  in  Roman  capitals, 
surmounted  by  the  head  of  an  abbot's  crosier.  These  initials  confirm  the 
conclusion  arrived  at  in  the  text,  that  the  abbot's  name  was  John  Philp : — 
'Be  It  kend  till  all  men  be  thir  present  letteris  YVs  Ihone  Abbot  of 
Lund  iris  To  haue  maid  constitut  and  ordanit  and  be  thir  present  letteris 
makis  constitutis  and  ordauis  ane  honorabill  man  and  our  belouit  Da  aid 
barclay  of  Cullarny  our  veray  lauchfull  and  vndoutit  bailye  of  all  and  sindry 
our  landis  of  Eglismagull  Newbrogh  grange  and  vtheris  our  landis  crohairto 
the  said  Dauidis  his  fader  was  bailye  of  befoir  for  all  the  days  and  termes 
of  fyve  yeiris  His  enteres  thairto  beginnand  at  the  day  and  dait  heirof 
Giffand  grantand  and  committand  to  the  said  Dauid  our  bailye  forsaid  our 


522  APPENDIX. 

full  fre  and  plane  power  generall  and  speciall  commandment  expres  biding 
and  charge  for  ws  and  in  our  name  and  vpon  our  behalf  bailye  courtis  of 
our  saidis  landis  ane  or  may  to  the  tennentis  and  Inhabitants  thairof  and 
vtheris  quhom  it  efferis  to  set  begin  afferme  bald  and  continewals  oft  as 
neid  beis  suttis  to  mak  be  callit  absens  to  amerchiat  trespassoris  to  punis 
vnlaw  amerchiamentis  and  eschettis  of  the  saidis  courtis  to  reis  vplift  and 
to  our  ws  apply  and  Inbring  and  for  the  samen  gif  neid  be  to  poind  and 
distrenye  at  our  command  the  tenentis  and  Inhabitants  of  our  saidis 
landis  befor  quhatsumeuer  Juge  or  Juges  Spirituall  or  temporall  thai  be 
attachit  or  arrestit  to  the  preuilege  and  fredom  of  our  saidis  balye  courtis 
to  replege  reduce  and  agane  bring  caution  of  colereth1  for  Justice  to  be 
ministret  to  parties  complenand  within  terme  of  law  to  gif  and  find  deputis 
ane  or  ma  vndir  him  be  our  adwis  with  clerk  sargeand  dempster  and  all 
vther  officiaris  and  memberis  of  court  neidfull  to  mak  creat  ordane  and 
caus  to  be  sworn  with  our  consent  and  adwis  And  generalie  all  and  sindry 
thinkis 2  vtheris  to  do  exers  and  wss  that  to  the  office  of  bailyalry  in  sic 
caissis  of  law  or  consuetude  is  knawin  to  pertene  And  that  we  rnycht  do 
thairin  our  self  and  we  war  personalie  present  affirme  and  stabill  haldand 
and  fer  to  hald  all  and  quhatsumeuer  thingis  our  said  bailye  his  deputtis 
or  officiaris  in  the  prenhssis  ledis  to  be  don.  Prouiding  all  ways  that  this 
present  assedation  preiuge  nocht  our  fewaris  bot  conforme  to  thair  chartoris 
quhilk  we  haue  sett  to  thain  And  fer  vsing  and  exersing  of  the  quhilk  office 
of  bailyary  we  haue  gevin  and  grautit  and  be  thir  our  letteris  gevis  and 
grantis  to  the  said  David  the  some  of  tene  merkis  vsuall  money  of  Scotland 
to  be  pait  to  him  yeirlie  at  twa  vsuall  termes  in  the  yeir  witsonday  and 
mertimes  be  equall  portionis  durand  the  space  fersaid  be  ws  our  successors 
and  chalmerlanis  in  our  name  present  and  to  cum.  Quhilk  som  we  oblis 
ws  and  our  successoris  to  pay  to  him  yeirlie  dwring  the  said  space  of  fyve 
yeiris  in  feall 3  togidder  with  sic  commodities  proffitis  and  preuilegis  as  his 

1  Skene,  in  his  De  iVerborum  Signijicatione,''  says  of  this  term,  '  Quhen  ony 
havand  power  or  jurisdiction  repledges  ony  man  fra  anuther  man's  court  to  his 
awin  court,  he  suld  leif  behind  him  in  the  Court  fra  the  quhilk  the  replegiation 
is  maid,  ane  pledge  or  cautioner  quha  sal  be  bunden  and  oblished  that  he  quha 
vsis  the  replegiation,  sal  do  justice  within  the  year  and  daie  in  his  awin  Court, 
to  the  parties  complainand  upon  the  person  quha  is  repleged.  Quhilk  cautioner 
left  in  the  Court  be  him  and  behind  him  quha  vsis  the  replegiation,  is  called 
Culrach."1  voce  Colrach. 

2  Things. 

3  Jamieson,  ' Dictionary  of  the  Scottish  Language,''  defines  'Feall'  to  signify 
salary  or  stipend. 


APPENDIX.  523 

predicessoris  had  for  vsing  of  the  samyn  of  befor.  In  witnes  of  the  quhilk 
tiling  to  thir  our  letteris  of  bailyarie  subscribit  with  our  hand  our  signet  is 
affixit  at  ballinbie  the  xxviij  day  of  August  the  yeir  of  God  Im  vc  threscoir 
and  thre  yeiris  befor  thir  witnes  George  Leslie  in  Hechem,  Ihone  Petcarne 
and  Robert  Wilyemson  notar  pubhk. 

Iohnke,  Abbot  of  Lundoris.' 

By  a  charter,  executed  by  the  Abbot  and  Convent  at  their  monastery, 
on  the  20th  February  1563-64  (the  original  of  which  is  preserved  at  Ferine 
Castle),  they  appointed  David  Barcla}r  of  Cullerny  and  his  heirs  male,  whom 
failing,  his  nearest  male  heir,  hereditary  bailies  over  that  portion  of  the 
Regality  of  Lindores  situated  in  Fife  and  in  Strathearn,  whether  in  or 
beyond  burgh.  The  Abbot  and  the  brethren  made  this  extended  appoint- 
ment, because  of  the  valuable  services  rendered  to  them  by  David  Barclay, 
and  by  his  father  and  grandfather  to  their  monastery  in  times  past ;  they 
allowed  him  a  salary  of  one  hundred  pounds  Scots,  and  in  security  for  due 
payment,  they  assigned  the  rents  of  their  lands  and  mill  of  Eglismagrill,  and 
of  Cluny  in  Strathearn ;  also  their  lands  of  Haltone  Hill,  and  of  the  eighth 
part  of  their  lands  of  Grange,  occupied  by  William  Adeson.  This  charter 
was  signed  before  James  Leslie,  rector  of  Rothes,  Andrew  Petcarne  of 
Invernethy,  George  Leslie  in  Heitheme,  James  Calwy  and  Stephen  Orme, 
burgesses  of  Newburgh,  by  '  Johannes,  Abbas  de  Lundoris,  &c,  Jacobus 
Carstaris,  Robertus  Wilyemson,  Johannes  S  .  .  .  Willelmus  S3"mson, 
Johannes  Wobster,  Johannes  Smyth,  Alexander  Paterson,  Thomas  Wod, 
Andreas  Fostar,  Patricius  Gait,  Gilbertus  Merschell.' 

This  charter  was  confirmed  by  Queen  Mary  at  Dunbar,  26th  April  1567. 

It  appears,  however,  from  a  mandate  signed  by  James,  Earl  of  Arran, 
who  was  appointed  Regent  on  the  death  of  James  V.,  that  the  Barclays  of 
Cullerny  acted  as  bailies  of  the  Regality  of  Lindores  at  an  earlier  period 
than  the  assedation  granted  by  the  Abbot  and  Convent  in  1563.  This 
mandate  of  the  governor,  which  is  preserved  in  the  same  archives,  is 
endorsed,  '  My  Lord,  Governor,  Greeting,'  and  is  as  follows  : — 

GUBERNATOR. 

'  Baillie  of  the  regalitie  of  Lundoris.  It  is  oure  will  and  for  certane 
resonable  caussis  ami  considerationis  moving  ws  we  charge  yon  that  incon- 
tinent el'tir  the  sicht  heirof  ye  freith  and  put  furth  of  your  handis  Williame 
barclay  and  Dauid  covintre  alias  Pottingar  takii.  for  the  allegeit  slauchteris 
of  vmquhile  Andro  ballingall  and  thomas  michelsoun  and  put  thame  to 
fredome  swa  that  thai  may  be  depeschit  furth  of  this  readme  vnder  the 
pane  of  tinsale  of  your  office  and  warding  of  your  persoun  And  ye  sail 


524  APPENDIX. 

nocht  be  callit  nor  accusit  for  putting  of  ye  saidis  personis  to  libertie  nocht- 
withstandyng  ony  our  writtingis  maid  or  to  be  maid  In  the  contrare  nor 
Incurr  ony  skayth  or  danger  in  your  persoun  landis  or  gudis  thairthrow  in 
ony  wis  in  tyme  cuming  ye  keipand  this  writting  for  your  warrand  Sub- 
scriuit  with  our  hand  At  Sanctandrois  the  last  day  of  December  The  yeir 
of  God  Im  vc  xlv  zeris 

James  G. 

The  residences  of  the  slaughtered  men  are  not  mentioned,  but  Ballingall 
and  Michelson  were  common  surnames  in  Newburgh  at  that  period. 

On  the  15th  December  1569,  the  Lords  of  Council  gave  decreet  that 
Patrick  Leslie,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Lundoris,  should  warrant  to 
David  Barclay  of  Cullerny  the  feu  maills  of  the  lands  of  Eglismagirdill,  to 
the  extent  of  100  merks  assigned  to  him  for  his  bailie  fee  of  the  Abbacie 
of  Lundoris. 

Nearly  half  a  century  later,  a  Precept  was  issued  by  Patrick,  Lord  of 
Lundoris,  for  infefting  Sir  David  Barclay  of  Cullerny  as  heir  to  David 
Barclay  of  Cullerny,  his  grandfather,  in  the  office  of  Bailie  of  Lundoris  and 
barony  thereof  in  Fife,  and  Eglismagirdill  in  Stratherne,  and  all  privileges 
and  profits  of  the  same.  The  seisin  to  be  given  within  St  Katherine's 
chapel,  in  the  burgh  of  Newburgh.  Dated  at  Monymeall,  18th  December 
1617. 

The  office  of  Bailie  of  Lindores  was  abolished,  in  common  with  all  other 
hereditary  jurisdictions,  in  the  reign  of  George  II. 


No.  XIII.,  p.  151. 


Abstract  of  Charter  by  King  James  VI.  in  favour  of  the  Burgesses  of  Neiv- 
burgh,  confirming  their  right  to  the  lands  of  Wodriffe.     20  November  1593. 

Jacobus,  Dei  gratia  Rex  Scotorum,  etc.  .  .  Sciatis  nos  quandam 
cartam  donationis  et  dispositionis  factam,  datam  et  concessam  per  vene- 
rabilem  in  Christo  patrem,  quondam  Joannem,  abbatem  monasterii  nostri 
de  Lundoris,  pro  seipso  et  ejusdem  conventu,  unacum  consensu  et  assensu 
burgensibus  novi  burgi,  suisque  heredibus,  de  totis  et  integris  terris, 
vocatis  Woodriff  et  monte  contigue.  .  .  Tenendis  de  dictis  monasterio  et 
conventu  suisque  successoribus  in  feudifirma  et  hereditate ;  de  mandato 
nostra  visam,  lectam  et  inspectam    .    .    non  rasam,  nou  cancellatam,  nee 


APPENDIX.  525 

in  aliqua  sui  parte  suspectam,  ad  plenam  intellexisse,  sub  hac  forma  ; 
Universis  et  singulis  ad  quorum  notitias  presens  indentura  per  modum 
carte  et  obligations  facta  perveuerit,  Joannes,  permissione  Divina,  Abbas 
Monasterii  Sancte  Marie  de  Lundoris,  etc.  [Here  follows  an  exact  copy 
of  the  Charter  to  the  lands  of  Wodrife  and  hill  adjacent,  as  contained 
in  the  Indenture  between  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Lundoris  and  the 
Burgesses  of  Newburgh,  of  4  July  1457  ;  but  no  reference  whatever  is 
made  to  the  Charter  conferring  the  privileges  of  the  Burgh;  neither  is 
there  any  confirmation  of  these  privileges  given.]  Quamquidem  cartam, 
etc.  .  .  approbamus,  ratificamus  ac  pro  nobis  et  successoribus  nostris 
pro  perpetuo,  confirmamus.  .  .  In  cujus  rei  testimonium  huic  presenti 
carte  nostre  magnum  sigillum  nostrum  apponi  precepimus.  Testibus 
predilectis  nostris  consanguineo  et  consilario,  Joanne  domino  Hamilton 
et  Aberbrothok,  Georgio  comite  Mariscallo  domino  Keith,  etc.,  Joanne 
domino  Thirlestane  cancellario  nostro  .  .  Domino  Bicardo  Cockburne 
juniore  de  Clerkingstoun,  nostro  secretario ;  Waltero,  commendatario  de 
Blantyre  .  .  Alexandra  Hay  de  Eister  Kennet,  .  .  Domino  Joanne 
Cockburne  de  Ormiston,  milite,  Justiciarie  clerico,  et  Magistro  Willielmo 
Scott  de  Grangemuir.  .  .  Apud  Halyrudhous  vicesimo  die  mensis 
Novembris,  anno  Domino  millesimo  quiugentesimo  nonagesimo  tertio, 
et  Begni  nostri  vicesimo  septimo. 

Abstract  of  Charter  by  Charles  I.  to  the  Burgesses  of  Newbimjh. 
29  January  1631. 

Carolus,  Dei  gratia  Magnae  Brittannia?,  etc.  Sciatis  nos  .  .  dedisse 
.  .  et  hac  praesenti  carta  nostra  confirmasse  .  .  dilectis  nostris  ballivis, 
consulibus,  burgensibus,  inhabitantibus  et  communitati  Burgi  de  New- 
burgh, et  eorum  successoribus,  totum  et  integrum  dictum  Burgum  et 
omnia  .  .  sua  tenementa  cum  omnibus  suis  pertinentis,  solitis  et  consnetis, 
una  cum  annuis  uuudinis  ejusdem,  nuncupatis  Sanct  Kathrine's  day  et 
hepdomadario  foro  .  .  die  Saturni  tenendo :  cum  custumis  Qundinarum  et 
hepdomadarii  fori.  Una  cum  plenaria  facilitate  emendi  et  vendendi 
virtualia,  etc.  .  .  ballivos,  seriandos  ac  alios  oflSciarios  quoscunque  creandi, 
etc.  .  .  Et  similiter  totam  et  integram  illam  terram  nuncupatam  lie  Wod- 
rul'f  et  montem  jacentem  contigue  ex  parte  australi  dicte  terre.  .  .  Et 
similiter  ratificamus  omnia  et  singula  infeofamenta  .  .  aliaque  jura,  titulos 
quecunque  facta  et  concessa  per  quemcunque  abbatem  de  Lundoris  .  . 
vel  per  aliquem  Dominum  de  Lundoris  .  .  prefatis  ballivis,  etc.,  '1.-  New- 
brughe  .  .  de  predicto  burgo,  tenementis  eiusdem  supra  specificatis  hepdo- 
madario foro,  etc  .  .  preterea  de  novo  dedimus  .  .  prodictis  Ballivis,  etc., 


52  G  APPENDIX. 

suisque  successoribus,  Totnm  et  integrum  predictum  burgum,  etc.  .  . 
unacum  dictis  annuis  nundiuis  ejusdem  nuncupatis  Sanct  Kathrine's  day 
et  dicto  hepdomadario  foro  infra  dictum  burgum  hepdomadatim  tenebatur 
.  .  die  Veneris  tenendo  non  obstante  quod  prius  die  Saturni  .  .  Et  cum 
plenaria  libertate  et  privilegio  creandi,  eligendi,  continuandi,  et  deponeudi 
Balliuos,  seriandos,  etc.  .  .  curias  tenendi,  leges  burgales  exercendi, 
statuta  rationabilia  concedendi,  transgressores  debite  puuiendi,  et  si  opus 
fuerit  eosdem  expellendi,  amerciamenta  leuandi,  mercemonia  quecuuque 
propinandi,  librandi  et  mensurandi ;  et  omnia  alia  et  singula  actus  et  officia, 
de  jure  et  consuetudine  dictum  Burgum  concernentia  faciendi  et  exercendi. 
Ac  eciam  damus,  etc.  .  .  plenariam  libertatem  et  licentiam  crucem  foralem, 
locum  foralem  et  publicum  forum  die  Veneris  .  .  tenendi  et  habendi  liberas 
nundinas  .  .  in  dicto  Burgo  singulis  annis  affuturis  vigesimo  quinto  die 
mensis  Novembris,  nuncupato  Sanct  Katherine's  day,  per  spatium  duarum 
dieruin  duraturas,  cum  omnibus  .  .  lie  tollis,  custumis,  etc.  .  .  ad  liberum 
Burgum  spectantibus.  Necnon,  cum  privilegio  proclamandi  predictas  nun- 
dinas infra  dictum  Burgum  antedicta  die  .  .  delinquentes  in  eisdem  puui- 
endi .  .  cum  omnibus  .  .  libertatibus  .  .  ad  praedictum  Burgum  de  jure 
vel  consuetudine  spectantibus.  .  .  Et  similiter  totam  at  integram  praedic- 
tam  illam  terram  nuncupatam  lie  Wodruffe,  cum  monte,  etc.  .  .  unacum 
omni  jure,  titulo,  etc.,  que  nos,  predecessores,  aut  successores  nostri 
babuimus,  habemus,  etc.,  ad  predictum  burgum,  vel  ad  prefatas  terras  de 
Wodruffe  .  .  ratione  warde,  noniutroitus,  etc.  .  .  Renunciando  transferendo 
et  extradonando  eadem  cum  omni  jure,  lite  et  causa  earundem  pro  nobis 
et  nobis  et  nostris  successoribus  in  favorem  dictorum  Ballivorum,  Con- 
sulum  et  Communitatis  predicti  Burgi,  .  .  Proviso  quod  tamen  predicta 
Resignatio  et  hoc  dictum  nostrum.  Infeofamentum  .  .  nullo  modo  prejudi- 
caveriut  particularibus  infeofamentis  .  .  predictis  balliuis,  consulibus  et 
communitati  dicti  burgi  de  Newbrugh  suisve  predecessoribus  .  .  de  qui- 
buscunque  terris  tenementis  et  annuis  redditibus  jacentibus  in  dicto  burgo 
.  .  Necnon  proviso  quod  predicta  resignatio  et  hoc  nostrum  infeofamentum 
nullo  modo  prejudicaverint  nominato  Patricio,  Domino  Lundoris  in  aliquo 
jure  quod  ad  burgales  firmas  et  burgales  rudas  de  Newbrugh,  vel  ad 
feudifirmas  prefatarum  terrarum  de  Wodruff  et  mentis  suprascripte  neque 
.  .  Infeofamento  .  .  Joanni  Calvie  seniori  in  vitali  recUtu  et  Joanni  Calvie 
juniori,  etc.  .  .  de  duabus  partibus  et  dimidia  parte  prefatarum  terrarum 
de  Wodruff.  .  .  Proviso  etiam  quod  predictum  nostrum  infeofamentum 
.  .  ^nullo  modo  praejudicaverit.  .  .  Domino  Michaeli  Balfour  de  Den- 
mylne,  militi  heredibus  suis  nee  assignatis  in  astrictione  lie  thirlage  pre- 
fatarum terrarum  ad  molendinum,  nuncupatum  lie  Craigmyln,  more  solito 
et  consueto  secundum  sua  jura  et   securitates   ejusdem.     Tenendum  et 


APPENDIX.  527 

habendum,  prescriptum  Burgum  de  Newburgh,  etc.  .  .  memoratis  balliuis 
consulibus,  et  communitati  dicti  burgi  suisque  successoribus  de  nobis  et 
dictis  nostris  successoribus  in  libero  burgo,  feodo  et  hereditate  in  perpetuum 
per  omnes  metas  suas  autiquas  .  .  in  doniibus,  edificiis,  boscis,  plauis, 
moris,  maresiis,  viis,  semitis,  aquis,  etc.  .  .  cum  curiis  et  earum  exitibus, 
hiereyeldis,  bludevitis,  etc.   .  .  cum  communi  pastura  .  .  et  cum  omnibus 
et  singulis  suis  libertatibus,  etc.     Reddendo  prefati  Ballivi,  etc.  .  .  pro 
toto  et  integro  predicto  Burgo,  cum  omnibus  tencmentis  pertineutiis  et 
privilegiis  ejusdem  prescriptis,  summam  quatuor  librarum  sexdecim  soli- 
dorum   et  novem  denariorum  usualis  monete  dicti  regni  nostri  tanquam 
antiquam  firmam,  cum    summa  duorum    solidorum   monete   antedicte   in 
augmentationem  nostri  rentalis   plusquam  prius  persolverunt   ad   festum 
Pasce,  nomine  burgalis  jBrme  annuatim  et  pro  custumis  antedictis  pre- 
fatarum  nundinarum  summam  duorum  solidorum  ejusdem  monete  ad  pre- 
dictum  festum  Pasce  nomine  feodifirme  nee  non  reddendo  annuatim  pro 
predicta  terra  et  monte  triginta  sex  bollas  tres  firlotas  et  duas  peccas  ordei 
ad  festum  Pasce  nomine  feodifirme  tantum.     Etsi  contingat  praedictos 
burgenses  dicti   Burgi   vel   heredes   suos  deficere  in  solutione  dictarum 
triginta  sex  bollarum,  etc.  .  .  obligant  se,  et   omnia   sua   bona   mobilia 
capienda,  namanda  et  abducenda  et  si  necesse  fuerit  vendenda,  ad  votum  et 
voluntatem  nostram  et  successorum   nostrorum,   sine  licentia  et  judicio 
cujuscunque  .  .  Insuper  si  contingat  prefatos  Burgenses  deficere  in  solu- 
tione predicti  ordei  per  tres  terminos  continuos,  obligent  se  et  heredes 
suos  quod  licitum  erit  nobis  .  .  praefatas  terres  de  Wodruff  et  montem 
in   manibus  nostris   recognoscere  appretiare  et  possidere,  semper  et 
donee  praedictum  ordeum  una  cum  damnis,  laboribus,  expensis  et  interesse, 
qua?  ob  defectum  solutionis  ordei  faciamus,  vel  sustineamus  pleuarie  solu- 
tum  fuerit.     In  cujus  rei  testimonium  huic  prescnti  Carte  nostre  magnum 
sigillum  nostrum  appendi   precepimis :    Testibus,  Jacobo,   Marchione  de 
Hamilton,  etc. ;  WUlelmo  Maniscalli  domino  Keith,  etc.  ;  Georgio,  Vice- 
comite  de  Dupliue  domino  Hay,  nostro  Cancellario ;    Thoma,  Comite  de 
Iladingtoun,    domino    Byning,    etc.,    nostri    secret!    sigilli    custode    .    . 
Willielmo   Alexander   de   Menstre,   nostro   Secretario   principali,    Joanni 
TIamiltoun  de  Magdalen*  nostrorum  rotulorum  registri  ac  consilii  clerico  ; 
Georgio  Elphingstoun  de  Blythiswod,  nostre  Justiciarie  clerico,  et  Joanne 
Scot  de  Scottistarvit,  nostre  Cancelarie  directore,   militibus ;      A]. ml  llali- 
rudhous,  vigesimo  nono  die  mensis  Januarii,  anno  Domini  millesimo  Bex- 
centesimo  trigesimo  primo,  et  anno  regni  nostri  sexto. 


528  APPENDIX. 


No.  XIV. 
List  of  Abbots  of  Ldtdokes  ; 

In  so  far  as  they  can  be  traced  in  record. 

I.  Guiclo,  first  Abbot.     He  governed  the  Abbey  for  twenty-eight 
years,  and  died  on  the  17th  June  1219.     He  was  succeeded  by 
II.  John,  a  monk  of  the  Abbey.     How  long  he  continued  Abbot  does 
not  appear,  but  his  name  occurs  as  a  witness  in  a.d.  1244. 

III.  Thomas,  who  is  described  as  '  a  man  of  great  piety,'  was  Abbot  in 

a.d.  1273.     He  died  in  that  year,  and  was  succeeded  by 

IV.  John,  the  Prior,  who  died  a.d.    1274,  and  was  buried  in  Kelso 

Abbey. 
V.  Nicholas,  the  Cellarer.     His  name,  as  Abbot,  appears  as  a  witness 

to  a  charter  in  a.d.  1175. 
VI.  John,  swore  fealty  to  Edward  I.  at  Lindores  Abbey,  a.d.  1291. 
VII.  Thomas,  swore  fealty  to  Edward,  a.d.  1296. 
VIII.  Adam.     His  name  appears  as  witness  to  Charters  in  a.d.  1331 
and  1342. 
IX.  William  of  Angus.     He  was  witness  to  a  Charter  in  a.d.  1355, 
and  attended  a  Parliament  at  Scone  in  a.d.  1538. 
X.  Roger  appears  as  a  witness  in  a.d.  1373  and  1382. 
XI.  John  Steele,  appears  as  witness,  circa  a.d.  1401-1407. 
XII.  James,  of  Rossey.     His  name  appears  as  Abbot  in  a.d.  1443  and 
1452. 

XIII.  John,  granted  renewal  of  Charter  to  the  burgesses  of  Newburgh 

in  a.d.  1457,  and  his  name  occurs  as  a  witness  in  1474. 

XIV.  Andrew  Caveris,  was  a  monk  of  the  Abbey  in  a.d.  1457.     He  ap- 

pears to  have  resigned  office  in  a.d.  1503,  and  to  have  survived 
until  a.d.  1508,  as  in  that  year  he  is  named  Pensionary  of  Lun- 
dores.  During  his  tenure  of  office  as  Abbot,  he  was  Master  of 
work  in  Stirling.  He  entered  on  this  duty  on  the  26th  January 
1496-7,  receiving  on  his  entry  a  payment  of  £106,  13s.  4d.  for 
carrying  on  the  work.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  Abbacy  by 
XV.  Henry,  in  1503.  He  accepted  a  coadjutor,  John,  in  1522,  and 
was  alive  in  the  beginning  of  1528-9. 

XVI.  John  Philp,  Abbot  Henry's  coadjutor  and  successor,  appears  to 
have  held  the  Abbacy  until  a.d.  1566,  when  he  resigned  in 
favour  of 

XVII.  John  Leslie,  Bishop  of  Ross,  the  last  Abbot. 


APPENDIX.  529 

No.  XV. 

Altars  in  Lindores  Abbey.     Pp.  92,  192,  194,  195. 

St  Mary's. 
St  Michael's. 
St  Dionysius'. 
St  John's. 


No.  XVI. 

Chaplains  of  St  Katherine's  CJiapel,  Newburgh. 

John  Berclay,  a.d.  1481. 

Sir  John  Malcumsone,  a.d.  1508. 

Mr  Thomas  Pittillock,  a.d.  1523. 

Sir  Lawrence  Lawson,  a.d.  1523. 

Sir  John  Lyall,  or  Liele,  a.d.  1526. 

Sir  John  Ritchartson  or  Cuyk,  a.d.  1526-1542. 

James  Philpe,  cnrate  of  Ibdy,  a.d.  1481. 

After  the  Reformation,  the  Rector  of  the  Grammar  School  of  Newburgh 
officiated  as  Reader  in  St  Katherine's  Chapel,  and  appears  to  have  con- 
tinued to  do  so,  until  Newburgh  was  disjoined  from  the  parish  of  Abdie. 


No.  XVII. 

Irneside  Wood  (see  anlea,  pp.  86-90,  479).  While  these  sheets  are 
passing  through  the  press,  Mr  Thomas  Dickson,  curator  of  the  Historical 
Department  of  the  Register  House,  Edinburgh,  has  most  kindly  furnished 
the  author  with  the  following  notes  connected  with  Irneside  Wood  : — 
In  the  account  of  the  receiver  of  the  rents  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife, 
13  April — 3  August  1454  [Exchequer  Roll,  No.  217]  there  is  a  sum  of 
forty-two  shillings  and  sixpence  allowed  'expensis  in  dolacione  et  quadra- 
cione  octuagina  peciarum  mcremii  in  Irnsidc  ad  fabric-am  donius  de  le 
stowe  castri  de  Edinburgh.'      That  is,  for  felling  and  squaring  eighty 

L  L 


530  APPENDIX. 

pieces  of  timber  in  Irnside  wood,  for  the  erecting  of  the  stove  house  of  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh. 

In  the  Lord  Treasurer's  Accounts,  there  are  the  following  entries, 
relating  to  the  making  of  wheels  in  Irnside  wood,  for  the  artillery  of  King 
James  IV.  preparatory  to  his  raid  into  England,  in  support  of  the  preten- 
sions of  Per  kin  Warbeck  to  the  English  throne. 

1 1496.  Item  [the  sext  day  of  Februar],  giffin  to  Thorn  Barkar,  to  pas 
to  the  wod  of  Irnside  to  tak  the  mesure  of  quhelis  to  wirk  the  irne  grath 
to  thaim,     ........••  x-  s- 

'  1497.  Item  [xix  Aprile],  in  Lundoris,  to  Thome  Barkar,  hupand  the 
quhelis,  for  his  owkis  wage,  ......  xiiijs-  iiij 

'  Item  [the  sext  day  of  Maii]  gevin  to  Johne  Mawar,  elder,  at  the 
kingis  command,  for  the  quehelis  making  in  Lundoris,       .  .       hijllb  x8- 

'  Item,  to  Sande  Davisone,  on  the  xij  day  of  Julij  passand  with  the 
kingis  lettrez  to  Disert,  to  Johne  of  Wynd  for  the  about  bringing  of  the 
quhelis  fra  Lundoris  be  seegait,     .......  xvi  • 

The  famous  Mons  Meg  formed  part  of  the  train  of  artillery  of  this  ill- 
advised  expedition. — Tytlers  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  259,  264,  393. 


No.  XVIII. 

Ccllessy  (see  antea,  pp.  447,  452).  In  the  accounts  of  the  Receiver 
of  the  rents  of  the  Earldom  of  Fife,  20  July  1451—13  April  1453, 
he  takes  credit  for  the  payment  of  xxjlib-  to  the  Lyon  Herald  out  of  the 
rents  of  Cullessy  in  these  terms  : — 

'  Et  de  firmis  terrarum  de  Cullesy  in  manibus  Ileraldi  Lioun  nuncu- 
pati  existentis  per  regem  sibi  assignatarum  pro  feodo  suo  de  tribus  ter- 
minis  hujus  compoti  xxj'1.'      [Exchequer  Roll,  No.  212.] 

Alexander  Nairne  of  Sandford,  now  St  Fort,  was  Lyon  King  of  Arms 
at  this  period. — Seton's  Law  and  Practice  of  Heraldry  in  Scotland,  p.  477. 

The  Chamberlain  of  Fife,  in  his  account,  30  July  1477—6  July  1478, 
takes  credit  for  the  following  payment : — 

'  Et  de  firmis  viginti  mercatarum  terrarum  de  Murthocarny,  in  quar- 
terio  de  Edin,  concessis  per  dominum  regem  Marchmondo  heraldo  ad 
vitam  xiij1'-  vjs-  viijd-  Et  de  firmis  viginti  mercatarum  terrarum  de  Estir 
Culessy,  similiter  concessis  per  dominum  regem  Ross  heraldo  ad  vitam, 


APPENDIX.  531 

de  dicto  anno  xiijh-  vjs-  viij.d-,  quarum  literarum  tenorcs  registrantur  in 
dorso  rotnli  presentis  compoti.'—  [Exchequer  Roll,  No.  274.] 

A  charter  to  the  lands  of  'Estir  Culessy'  was  granted  by  James  III. 
in  favour  of  the  Ross  Herald  for  life,  on  the  26  January  1477-8.  Mag. 
Sig.  VIII.  58.  On  the  6th  day  of  April  1494,  James  IV.  assigned  the  lands 
of  'Cullessy,'  which  the  former  Ross  Herald  held,  to  the  Marchmont  Herald 
for  life,  in  these  terms  : — 

'  Jacobus  Dei  gratia  Rex  Scotorum  .  .  .  Sciatis  quod  pro  singulari 
fauore  quam  gerimus  erga  dilectum  familiarem  nostrum  Marchmond 
heraldum  ac  pro  suo  fideli  gratuito  seruicio  nobis  impenso  et  impendeudo 
dedimus  .  .  .  eidem  in  feodo  suo  pro  toto  tempore  vite  sue  totaa  et 
integras  terras  de  Cullessy  cum  pertinentibus  jacentes  infra  vice-comitatnm 
nostrum  de  Fyff,  quas  quondam  Ross  heraldus  de  nobis  in  feodo  suo 
prius  habuit  .  .  .  Datum  sub  magno  sigillo  nostro  apud  Striuelin  sexto 
dei  mensis  Aprilis  et  regni  nostri  sexto'  [1494]. — [Exchequer  Roll,  No.  304, 
indorso.} 

The  lands  of  Cullessy  were  let  by  royal  authority,  with  consent  of  the 
Marchmont  herald,  to  Walter  Chapman,  18  December  1495. 

In  the  account  of  the  Chamberlain  of  Fife,  for  the  period  9th  August 
1518 — 20th  October  1521,  there  are  the  following  payments: — 

'  Et  quondam  Leoni  heraldo  regi  armornm  qui  solebat  percipere  annua - 
tim  viginti  unam  marcas  de  firmis  de  Cullessy  de  primo  anno  compoti 
xiiij11-  Et  Marchmonde  Heraldo  percipiendi  ammatim  in  feodo  suo  decern 
libras  de  terris  de  Murdocairny  de  annis  compoti  xxxu-' — [Exchequer  Roll, 
No.  365.] 

Murdocairny,  which  is  more  than  once  mentioned  in  these  notes, 
formed  no  part  of  the  possessions  of  Lindores  Abbey,  and,  therefore,  it 
does  not  come  within  the  range  of  its  history  ;  but  the  following  letter  is 
so  quaintly  expressed,  that  we  have  given  it  a  place  here: — 

'  James,  be  the  Grace  of  God  King  of  Scottis.  Wit  ye  ws  .  .  .  havand 
considcratioune  of  the  continewall  labours  and  seruice  done  and  to  be  done 
to  ws,  be  oure  louit  familiar  seruitour  Johnne  Meldrum  alias  Marchmond 
herald,  and  that  his  Ice  ipihilk  is  the  halfe  of  our  landis  of  Murdocardny, 
extending  yerelie  to  xx  merkis,  is  sa  litill  that  he  may  nocht  remane  to 
await  upoun  oure  seruice  and  chargeis  without  the  samyne  be  ekit  .  .  . 
hes  gevin  ...  to  the  said  Marchmond  herald  the  soome  of  ten  pundis 
vsuale  money  of  oure  realme,  to  he  takin  up  yerely  of  the  mayllis  of  that 
half  of  oure  said  landis  of  Murdocardny  with  the  pertinents  .  .  .  during 
all  the  dayis  of  his  life.  .  .  .  Gevin  under  our  preve  scle  at  Striueling, 
the  xvj  day  of  December,  the  yeir  of  God  j"V'xxiij  yoris,  and  of  our 
regno  the  xj  yere.' — [Exchequer  Roll,  No.  371,  i/ulorso.] 


532  APPENDIX. 


No.  XIX. 


THE    CATHCARTS    OF   PITCAIRLIE. 


The  family  of  Cathcart  acquired  their  surname  from  the  lands  of 
Cathcart,  in  the  county  of  Renfrew.  The  first  of  the  name  that  is  men- 
tioned in  record  is  Rainald  of  Kethcart,  who  appears  as  a  witness  to  a 
charter  conveying  the  patronage  of  the  church  of  Kethcart  to  the  monas- 
tery of  Paisley,  a.d.  1178.  William  of  Kethcart,  and  his  son  Alan,  are 
witnesses  to  a  charter  in  favour  of  the  same  monastery  about  1199  or 
1200.  Alan  was  succeeded  by  his  son  William.  Another  AVilliam  of 
Kethkirk  swore  fealty  to  Edward  I.  in  1296.  To  him  succeeded  Sir 
Alan,  who  espoused  the  cause  of  Bruce.  He  was  one  of  a  small  but 
gallant  company  of  horsemen  under  Edward  Bruce,  who  attacked  a  body 
of  cavalry  more  than  ten  times  their  number,  and  completely  defeated 
them.  Barbour,  in  relating  this  encounter  in  '  The  Brus,'  thus  speaks 
of  him  : — 

'  A  knight  that  there  was  in  his  rout, 
Worthy  and  wight,  stalwart  and  stout, 
Courteous  and  fair,  and  of  good  fame  : 
Sir  Alan  Cathcart  was  his  name.' 

The  Cathcarts  of  Carbiston,  now  of  Pitcairlie,  are  cadets  of  this  family. 

The  following  account,  with  slight  abridgment,  is  from  Paterson's 
'  History  of  the  Counties  of  Ayr  and  Wigtoun'  :— '  The  Cathcarts  had  a  gift 
of  the  wardship  of  the  lands  of  Carbiston  [in  the  parish  of  Coylton,  Ayr- 
shire] during  the  reign  of  David  II.,  in  1368.  .  .  .  The  last  male  represen- 
tative of  this  branch  was  William  Cathcart  of  Carbiston,  who  is  mentioned  as 
one  of  the  heirs  of  entail  of  John,  fourth  Lord  Cathcart,  of  certain  lands  in 
Ayrshire.  He  died  in  1547.'  He  was  succeeded  by  his  only  surviving 
daughter  and  heiress,  Janet,  who  married  Alan  Cathcart  of  Duchray, 
grandson  of  John,  second  Lord  Cathcart,  by  Margaret,  daughter  of  William 
Douglas  of  Drumlanrig. 

Alan  Cathcart  was  succeeded  by  '  Ahane  Cathcart  of  Carbelstoun,' 
whose  name  appears  in  judicial  records  in  1576  and  in  1585.  The  next  of 
the  family  was 

William  Cathcart  of  Carbiston.  '  He  married,  1st,  Janet,  one  of  the 
daughters  and  co-heiresses  of  Sir  Robert  Fairlie  of  that  Ilk ;  and,  2d,  Mar- 
garet Lokhert.  Besides  John,  his  successor  in  Carbiston,  he  had  a  son 
James,  who  went  to  Germany,  and  for  his  merit  was  advanced  to  honourable 


APPENDIX.  533 

offices.  .  .  .  He  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Balthasar  Schemetj 
Schernet-Felt,  chancellor  to  the  Duke  of  Deux-Ponts,  in  Germany.  He  was 
master  of  the  horse,  and  one  of  the  councillors  of  the  Duke,  in  which  offices 
he  continued  till  his  death.  He  was  solemnly  interred  in  the  great  church 
of  Heidelberg,  where  a  noble  monument  was  erected  over  him,  with  his 
arms,  which  (Nisbet,  from  whom  this  account  is  copied,  says)  '  I  have  seen 
on  his  seals,  affixed  to  his  missive-letters  to  his  cousin,  the  present  Laird 
of  Carbiston.'  His  grandson,  William  Cathcart,  was,  at  the  time  Nisbet 
wrote,  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  bed-chamber  to  the  Prince  Palatine,  and 
Duke  of  Deux-Ponts,  and  enjoyed  his  grandfather's  estates  in  that 
country.' 

John  Cathcart  of  Carbiston,  the  son  of  William,  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Robert,  whose  son,  Francis  Cathcart  of  Carbiston,  is  mentioned  in 
records  in  1643  and  in  1659.     Francis  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

James  Cathcart  of  Carbiston,  who  married  Magdalen,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  James  Rochead  of  Inverleith,  Baronet,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons,  Colonel  James  Cathcart,  and  Captain  Thomas  Cathcart ;  the 
latter  of  wThom  was  killed  in  the  Spanish  wars.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son, 

Colonel  James  Cathcart,  who  took  the  name  of  James  Rochead 
Cathcart  of  Inverleith  and  Carbiston.  He  obtained  a  private  Act  of  Par- 
liament for  selling  one-fourth  of  the  lands  of  Inverleith,  and  one-fourth  of 
the  lands  of  Darnchester,  in  Berwickshire,  which  had  been  entailed  by  his 
father,     ne  died  unmarried,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grand-nephew, 

James  Taylor  Cathcart  of  Carbiston,  11th  August  1760,  in  Carbiston, 
and  other  lands  in  Ayrshire,  and  in  Pitcairlie  in  Fifeshire.  He  married 
Lucretia,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Robert  Colquhoun  of  St  Christopher's 
and  Santa  Cruz.  He  joined  the  army,  served  in  the  2d  Dragoon  Guards, 
died  in  1795,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

James  Cathcart,  major  in  the  19th  Dragoons.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  storming  of  Bangalore  and  Seringapatam,  and  severely  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  Assaye.  He  died  unmarried,  in  1810,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  brother, 

Robert  Cathcart,  captain  in  the  Royal  Navy.  In  the  battle  of  the 
Nile  he  served  on  board  the  ' Betierophon,'  as  Fifth  Lieutenant  His 
captain  having  been  wounded  early  in  the  action,  and  the  four  senior 
lieutenants  killed,  he  had  the  glory  of  Continuing  the  Contest  with  the 
'L'Orient,'  till  that  vessel  blew  up.  For  the  bravety  and  skill  displayed 
by  him  on  this  occasion,  he  received  the  approbation  and  thanks  of 
Admiral  Nelson,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  .Muster  and  Com- 
mander.    In  1808,  for  a  most  gallant  attack,  in  II.M.  Bloop  'Seagull,' 


534  APPENDIX. 

against  a  vastly  superior  force  in  the  Baltic,  lie  was  posted  to  trie  '  Gany- 
mede.' In  1813,  while  in  the  '  Alexandria,'  32  guns,  he  gave  chase 
for  eighty  hours  (H.M.  sloop  '  Spitfire,'  18  guns,  in  company)  to  the 
American  ship  '  President,'  50  guns,  Captain  Rogers, — the  latter  only 
escaping  by  superiority  of  sailing.  Captain  Cathcart  married,  in  1814, 
Catherine  Scrymgeour,  daughter  of  Henry  Scrymgeour  Wedderburn  of 
Wedderburn  and  Birkhill.  He  died  in  1833,  leaving  no  issue.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother, 

Taylor  Cathcart  of  Carbiston  and  Pitcairlie,  many  years  resident  in 
Jamaica.  He  married  there  in  1823,  Frances,  eldest  daughter  of  George 
Money  of  Geneva  and  Kepp,  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

1.  James  Cathcart,  Lieutenant  50th  B.N.I.,  who  died  at  Delhi  1850. 

2.  Robert  Cathcart,  who  succeeded  his  father. 

3.  William  Taylor  Cathcart,   Lieutenant  Royal  Artillery.     Died  at 

Portsmouth  1859  ;  and  one  daughter, 

1.  Frances  Cathcart. 
Taylor  Cathcart  died  in  1857,  and  was  succeeded  by 

Robert  Cathcart  of  Carbiston  and  Pitcairlie.  He  served  in  the  74th 
Highlanders  in  the  Caff  re  war,  1852,  for  which  he  has  a  medal,  and  is  a 
Deputy-Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Fife.  He  married,  1856,  Agnes 
Baxter,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Henry  Baxter  of  Idvies,  Forfar- 
shire, by  whom  he  has  issue  : — 

James  Taylor  Cathcart. 

William  Taylor  Cathcart. 

Alan  Taylor  Cathcart. 

Arms,  according  to  Nisbet : — '  Azure,  three  cross  crosslets  fitchee, 
issuing  out  of  as  many  crescents,  argent,  2  and  1  ;  and  in  the  collar- 
point  a  man's  heart  ensigned  with  an  imperial  crown,  proper,  as  a  ma- 
ternal difference  from  other  descendants  of  Cathcart.' 


No.  XX. 
THE  hats  of  leys. 


The  traditionary  account  of  the  Hays  of  Leys  is  well  known.  It  is 
told  that  a  peasant,  and  his  two  sons,  armed  only  with  their  plough-yokes, 
turned  their  countrymen,  fleeing  from  an  invading  army  of  Danes,  near 


APPENDIX.  535 

Luncarty,  renewed  the  fight,  and  completely  discomfited  the  invaders. 
That  there  is  true  history,  mingled  with  legend,  in  this  tradition,  is  probable. 
Ancient  Norse  Sagas  show  that  the  invasions  of  the  Danes  at  that  era 
{circa  980)  were  fierce  and  incessant,  and  it  is  quite  likely  that  such  an  in- 
cident may  have  occurred.  In  the  '  Volsunga  Saga,'  the  following  narra- 
tion occurs :  '  The  storm  abated,  and  on  they  fared  till  they  came  aland. 
.  .  .  Then  they  let  loose  fire  and  sword,  and  slew  men  and  burnt  their 
abodes,  and  did  waste  all  before  them  ;  a  great  company  of  folk  fled  be- 
fore the  face  of  them  to  Lyugi,  the  king,  and  tell  him  that  men  of  war 
are  in  the  land,  and  are  faring  with  such  rage  and  fury  that  the  like  has 
never  been  heard  of. 

'  So  the  king  let  send  the  war-message  all  throughout  his  realm,  and 
has  no  wish  to  flee,  but  to  summon  to  him  all  such  as  would  give  him 
aid.  So  he  came  against  Sigurd  with  a  great  army,  he  and  his  brothers 
with  him,  and  an  exceeding  fierce  fight  befell ;  many  a  spear  and  many 
an  arrow  might  men  see  there  raised  aloft,  axes  hard  driven,  shields  clett 
and  byrnies  torn,  helmets  were  shivered,  skulls  split  at  wain,  and  many  a 
man  felled  to  the  cold  earth.' — (Pp.  56,  57.) 

In  the  '  Orkneyinga  Saga'  (p.  117)  we  read  : — 

'  Half-a-dozen  homesteads  burning, 
Half-a-dozen  households  plundered ; 
This  was  Swein's  work  of  a  morning.' 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  memory  of  such  fierce  inroads  as  these, 
should  hold  their  place  in  the  traditions  of  the  people,  and  that  they 
should  believe  that  the  man  who  wrought  a  deliverance  from  them  should 
be  rewarded  with  a  hawk's-flight  of  land  for  his  heroism.  Such  grants 
were  not  uncommon,  at  a  time  when  much  of  the  land  of  the  country  was 
lying  waste.     Robert  Browning  thus  describes  a  similar  grant : — 

<■  Take  this 

Plant  the  same  on  the  garden  ground  to  grow  ; 
Run  thence  an  hour  in  a  straight  line  and  stop  : 
Describe  a  circle  round  (for  central  point). 


The  length  of  that  hour's  run  ;  I  give  it  thee— 
The  whole  to  be  thy  children's  heritage.'  * 


The  Ring  and  the  Book,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  183. 


536  APPENDIX. 

Daniel  Wilson,  in  his  'Prehistoric  Annals  of  Scotland,'1  says,  '  The  Saxum 
Falcon  is,'  or  '  Hawk  Stane,'  at  St  Madoes,  Perthshire,  which  stands 
on  the  marches  of  what  is  known  to  have  been  the  ancient  possessions  of 
the  Hays  of  Errol,  .  .  is  referred  to  by  Bcece  as  existing  in  his  day 
(1500),  and  as  having  been  set  up  immediately  after  the  defeat  of  the 
Danes  at  the  battle  of  Luncarty.  The  victory  is  ascribed,  according  to  a 
well-known  tradition — still  commemorated  in  the  armorial  bearings  of  the 
Hays — by  the  timely  interference  of  the  Scottish  peasant  and  his  two 
sons :  '  Sone  aftir  ane  counsal  was  set  at  Scone,  in  the  quhilk  Hay  and 
his  sonnis  war  maid  nobil,  and  doted  for  thair  singular  virtew  proven  in 
this  field  with  sundry  landis  to  sustain  their  estait.  It  is  said  that  he 
askit  fra  the  king  certane  landis  Hand  betwix  Tay  and  Arole,  and  gat  as 
meikil  thairof  as  ane  Falcon  flew  of  ane  mannis  hand,  or  scho  lichtit.  This 
falcon  flew  to  ane  toune  four  milis  fra  Dunde,  called  Rosse,  and  lichtit  on 
ane  stane,  quhilk  is  yet  callit  the  Falcon  Stane ;  and  sa  he  gat  al  the 
landis  betwix  Tay  and  Arole  six  rnilis  of  lenth  and  four  of  breid ;  quhilk 
landis  ar  yet  inhabit  be  his  posterite.' 2 

Such  is  the  traditionary  account  of  the  origin  of  the  family  of  the 
Hays  of  Errol,  from  whom  the  Hays  of  Leys  are  sprung ;  but,  unfortu- 
nately, the  narrative  of  Boece  is  unsupported  by  any  other  testimony, 
either  in  record  or  in  history  :  it  rests  solely  on  his  own  authority,  no  trace 
of  it  being  found  either  in  Fordun,  or  Wyntoun,  our  earliest  historians.3 
The  first  mention  that  we  have,  in  writing,  of  any  of  the  name  of  Hay  in 
Scotland,  is  in  the  twelfth  century,  and  the  form  of  the  name  indicates  that 
the  family  are  of  Norman  extraction.  '  In  Normandy  there  were  lands  and 
a  lordship  denominated  Haye  [of  which  La  Haye  Saint  (the  Holy  Hedge), 
and  Ter  la  Haye,  on  the  field  of  Waterloo,  are  memorable  instances]  ;  and 
in  the  roll  of  those  who  accompanied  William  the  Conqueror  into  Eng- 
land, le  Sieur  de  la  Haye  is  expressly  mentioned.'  * 

William  de  Haya,  who  settled  in  Lothian  in  the  end  of  the  twelfth 
century,  had  the  office  of  Pincerna  Domini  Regis  during  the  reigns  of 
Malcolm  IV.  and  William  the  Lion;  and  from  him  are  descended  the 
Hays  of  Errol,  Leys,  Melginch,  and  Kinnoul.  The  following  account  of 
the  family  of  Leys  is  abridged  from  an  '  Historical  Account,'  drawn  up  from 
records  either  published,  or  in  possession  of  the  family,  and  printed  in  1832 
for  private  distribution  : — 


1  Ed.  1851,  p.  91. 

2  Bellenden's  Bcece  b.  XI.,  Chap.  VIII. 

3  Hill  Burton's  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  I.,  p.  364.     First  Edition. 

4  Anderson's  Genealogy  and  Surnames,  pp.  91,  92. 


APPENDIX.  537 

I.  William  de  Hat  a  married  Juliana  de  Soulis,  daughter  of  Ranulph 
de  Soulis,  Lord  of  Liddesdale.     He  died  about  1170,  leaving-  two  sons  :— 

1.  William  de  Haya. 

2.  Robert  de  Haya,  ancestor  of  the  Tweeddale  family. 

II.  Sir  William  de  Haya,  the  eldest  son,  obtained  from  William  the 
Lion,  the  manor  of  Herol,  now  Enrol,  between  1178  and  1188,  for  the 
services  of  two  soldiers.  He  married  Eva  de  Petenalin.  By  her  he  had 
six  sons : — 

1.  David  de  Haya,  who  succeeded  him. 

2.  William  de  Haya,  who  granted  to  the  Abbey  of  Couper,  for  the 

welfare  of  his  own  soul,  of  his  wife  Ada,  of  his  father,  and  of 
his  mother,  all  the  lands  he  had  obtained  in  the  Carse  from  his 
brother  David  de  Haya. 

3.  John  de  Haya,  who  is  designed  of  Ardnaughton,  in  a  donation 

made  by  him  to  Couper  Abbey,  for  the  welfare  of  the  soul  of 
the  deceased  Juliana  de  Lascelles  his  wife.  This  grant  is  wit- 
nessed by  Gilbert  de  Haya,  his  nephew,  ancestor  of  the  Hays 
of  Naughton,  in  Fife. 

4.  Thomas  de  Haya,  made  a  donation  to  Couper  Abbey,  for  the  wel- 

fare of  the  souls  of  King  William,  of  his  father,  of  his  mother, 
and  of  Ada  his  wife. 

5.  Robert  de  Haya. 

6.  Malcolm  de  Haya. 

These  two  latter  are  witnesses  to  the  grant  to  Couper  Abbey, 
by  their  brother  David  de  Haya,  of  the  fishing  and  the  her- 
mitage referred  to  at  page  70. 

III.  Davtd  de  Haya  succeeded  his  father  in  the  lands  of  nerol.  ne 
married  Helen,  daughter  of  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Strathearn,  by  whom  he  had 

two  sons : — 

1.  Gilbert  de  Haya,  from  whom  are  descended  the  Earls  of  Lrrol. 

2.  William  de  Haya,  the  youngest  son,  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Hays 

of  Leys. 

I.  William  de  Haya  received,  on  the  7th  June  1235,  from  his  brother, 
Gilbert  de  Haya  of  Errol,  two  carucates  of  land,  called  Leys,  for  faithful 
counsel  and  services  willingly  rendered  by  him  in  times  past. 

William  de  Haya,  the  first  of  Leys,  was  succeeded  by  his 

II.  Son,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son. 


538  APPENDIX. 

III.  Edmund  de  Hafa  of  Leys.  He  obtained  a  lease  for  thirty  years,  of 
the  lands  of  Balgarvie,  from  the  Abbot  of  Scone,  in  favour  of  himself,  and  his 
son  William.  '  This  lease,  like  all  deeds  of  the  time,  was  extended  in  Latin. 
But  there  were  provisions  of  great  importance  to  the  tenant,  a  layman  and 
country  gentleman ;  and  for  his  benefit  a  clerkly  hand  has  gone  over  the 
deed,  and  interlined  over  each  phrase  of  special  consequence  to  the  tenant 
its  equivalent  in  the  vernacular.' x  A  fac-simile  of  the  original  lease,  ex- 
hibiting the  interlineations,  is  given  in  the  second  volume  of  '  The  National 
Manuscripts  of  Scotland,'  No.  XIX.  These  interlineations  are  specially 
interesting ;  as,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  isolated  words,  they  are 
the  earliest  instance  of  the  vernacular  that  we  have  in  record ;  and  unless 
the  song  given  by  Wyntoun,  in  his  '  Cronykil,'  on  the  death  of  Alexander 
III.,  is  a  copy  of  a  song  written  at  the  time  (which  is  probable),  the 
glosses  in  the  lease  in  favour  of  the  Laird  of  Leys,  is  the  earliest  example 
of  the  Scottish  language  that  we  possess.  Edmund  de  Haya  of  Leys 
espoused  the  cause  of  Bruce,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  contest  for 
independence.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

IV.  William  de  Hata  del  Leys,  joint-lessee  of  Balgarvie.  He  was 
Sheriff  of  Inverness-shire  1292-6.     He  was  succeeded  by  his 

V.  Son,  who  was  succeeded  by  his 

VI.  Son.     This  latter  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

VII.  Edmund  Hat  of  Leys.  He  had  a  Charter  of  Confirmation  in  1451, 
from  his  '  cousin '  William,  Earl  of  Errol,  of  the  lands  granted  to  his  an- 
cestor in  1235;  which  charter  completely  establishes  his  being  the  lineal 
heir-male  of  William  de  Haya,  first  of  Leys.     He  had  two  sons  : — 

1.  Edmund,  who  succeeded  his  father 

2.  Peter  Hay  of  Melginch,  from  whom  are  descended  the  Hays  of 

Pitfour,  Seggieden,  and  the  Earls  of  Kinnoul. 

VIII.  Edmund  Hay  of  Leys  had  seisin  of  Leys  1496.  He  had  four 
sons  (the  eldest  of  whom  died  before  his  father).  He  was  succeeded  by 
his  second  son, 

IX.  Patrick  Hay  of  Leys,  1497.  He  married  Elizabeth  Moncrieff, 
daughter  of  John  Moncrieff  of  Moncrieff,  by  whom  he  had  a  son, 

1  Cosmo  Innes's  Scotland  in  the  Middle  Ages,  p.  254. 


APPENDIX.  539 

X.  Edmund  Hat  of  Leys.  He  married  Elizabeth  Durham,  1522,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons ;  the  eldest, 

XL  Patrick  Hat  of  Leys,  succeeded  his  father.  He  left  only  one 
daughter,  Margaret  Hay,  who,  as  heir  of  line,  renounced  her  succession 
to  the  lands  of  Leys.     He  was  succeeded  in  the  estate  by  his  nephew, 

XII.  George  Hat  of  Leys,  heir  male.     He  had  only  one  son, 

XIII.  John  Hat  of  Leys,  who  succeeded  him,  and  also  his  uncle 
Edmund  Hay,  in  Nether  Leys,  1549-1584.  He  left  two  sons.  George,  the 
youngest,  was  parson  of  Turriff  1585.     The  eldest, 

XIV.  Peter  Hat  of  Leys,  succeeded  his  father  1586.  He  had  an 
only  son, 

XV.  Peter  Hat  of  Leys,  styled  in  a  sasine  to  the  lands  of  Leys,  '  an 
honourable  youth,'  1611.  He  conveyed,  in  1644,  the  lands  of  Leys  to  his 
eldest  son, 

XVI.  Peter  Hat  of  Leys,  on  the  marriage  of  the  latter  with  Joan 
Gray,  daughter  of  John  Gray  of  Bally gerno,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
Peter,  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  married  James  Balfour  of  Eanderstone. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son, 

XVII.  Peter  Hat  of  Leys,  who  received  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Leys 
from  his  father,  upon  his  marriage  in  1671  with  Catherine  Blair,  daughter 
and  heiress  of  James  Blair  of  Newbigging  ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  three 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  George  Hay  Balfour  was  the  eldest. 
The  second  son  died  young;  the  third,  James  Hay,  merchant,  Dundee, 
was  born  1694,  and  is  named  in  an  instrument  of  resignation  by  David 
Hay  Balfour  of  Leys,  10  June  1758  ;  he  married  and  had  issue,  and  his 
descendants  were  resident  in  1832,  when  the  '  Historical  Account  of  the 
Hays  of  Leys '  was  drawn  up. 

XVIII.  George  Hat  Balfour  of  Leys,  born  1682,  succeeded  his 
father  in  1712;  he  married  Mary  Balfour,  his  cousin-german,  only 
daughter  of  James  Balfour  of  Randerston,  and  by  his  marriage  with  her, 
acquired  the  estate  of  Randerston.  The  issue  by  this  marriage  was  one 
son  and  four  daughters  : — 


540  APPENDIX. 

Peter  Hay,  born  1717,  who  succeeded  his  father. 

Mary  Hay,  died  young-. 

Catherine  Hay,  born  1733,  married  George  Clephane  of  Carslogie. 

Mary  Hay,  born  1727,  married  Sir  Robert  Gordon  of  Gordonstown. 

Elizabeth  Hay,  born  1729,  married Sinclair,  Esq. 

XIX.  Peter  Hay  of  Leys,  only  son  of  George  Hay  Balfour  of  Leys. 
He  bought  the  lands  and  house  of  Mugdrum  1737  (see  antea,  page  465),  where 
his  descendants  have  resided  ever  since,  and  he  bought  Lindores  Abbey, 
with  the  lands  around  it,  1753  (see  antea,  page  462).  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Scott,  daughter  of  David  Scott  of  Scotstarvit,  1737,  by  whom  he 
had  issue  two  sons  and  eight  daughters  : — 

David  Hay  Balfour,  who  succeeded  his  father. 

John  Hay  Balfour,  who  became  his  brother's  heir. 

Lucy  Hay  and  Mary  Hay,  both  died  young. 

Lindsay  Hay,  born  1743,  married  John  Dalziel  of  Lingo,  and  had 

issue 
Elizabeth  Hay,  married  Peter  Stewart  of  Collarnie,  and  had  issue 
Lucy  Hay,  born  1785,  married  Patrick  Moncrieff  of  Reidie,   eldest 

son   of   Colonel  George  Moncrieff  of   Reidie,  and  Mrs  Helen 

Skene,  and  had  issue 
Petty  Hay  and  Janet  Hay,  twins ;  in  consequence  of  the  death  of 

their  father  previous   to   their   birth,   Robert  Hay,   merchant, 

Dundee,   cousin-german,    became    sponsor.     They   both    died 

young. 

XX.  David  Hat  Balfour  of  Leys  and  Randerston,  was  served  heir  to 
his  father,  Peter  Hay  of  Leys,  in  the  lands  of  Leys,  and  to  his  great-grand- 
father, James  Balfour  of  Randerston,  1757.  He  was  succeeded,  1759,  by 
his  brother, 

XXI.  John  Hay  Balfour  of  Leys  and  Randerston,  married  Catherine 
Moncrieff,  daughter  of  Colonel  George  Moncrieff  of  Reidie,  1777.  He 
died  at  Bath  1791,  and  was  buried  in  the  Abbey  Church  there,  in  which  there 
is  a  monument  to  his  memory.  By  his  marriage  he  had  two  sons  and  one 
daughter  : — 

1.  David  Balfour  Hay,  his  successor. 

2.  Captain  Peter  Hay  of  the  18th  Light  Dragoons.     He  served  with 

distinction  in  the  Peninsula,  in  the  expedition  under  Sir  John 
Moore.     He  died  unmarried  in  1846,  and  was  buried  in  New- 
burgh  Church. 
1.  Jane  Hay,  the  only  daughter  of   John  Hay  Balfour   of   Leys, 


APPENDIX.  54 1 

married  James  Paterson  of  Carpow.  She  survived  her  husband, 
and  died  in  September  1865,  aged  87.  By  her  marriage  she 
had  three  sons  and  five  daughters  : — 

1  and  2.  James  and  John,  both  died  young. 

3.  Peter  Hay  Paterson,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  estate  of  Car- 
pow. He  married,  in  1848,  the  Honourable -Marianne  Oliphant 
Murray,  youngest  daughter  of  Alexander,  eighth  Lord  Elibank. 
He  died  on  23d  June  1865.  His  widow  died  on  the  6th  Sep- 
tember 1873.  .By  their  marriage  they  had  issue  two  sons  and 
three  daughters : — 

1.  Edmund  de  Haya  Paterson. 

2.  Peter  Hay  Paterson. 

1.  Marianne  Hay  Paterson. 

2.  Jane  Hay  Paterson,  died  in  infancy. 

3.  Charlotte  Emily  de  Haya  Paterson. 

1.  Catherine  Paterson,  who  married   Sir  William  Dunbar,  Bart,  of 

Mochrum,  and  has  issue  two  sons : — 

1.  TJthred  James  Hay  Dunbar. 

2.  William  Cospatrick  Dunbar. 

2.  Elizabeth  Oliphant  Paterson,  died  unmarried. 

3.  Margaret  Drummond  Paterson. 

4.  Helen  Skene  Paterson. 

5.  Jane  Hay  Paterson,  who  married  the  Honourable  John   Rollo, 

second  son  of  John,  eighth  Lord  Rollo  of  Duncrub,  and  has  issue 
three  sons  and  one  daughter  : — 

1.  John  Harry  Rollo. 

2.  James  Arthur  Rollo. 

3.  Robert  William  Rollo. 
1.  Martha  Hay  Rollo. 

XXII.  David  Balfour  Hay  of  Leys  and  Randerston,  who  succeeded 
his  father,  was  a  Captain  in  the  26th  Light  Dragoons,  having  joined  the 
army  in  1797.  Captain  Hay  served  in  the  expedition  to  Holland  in  1799, 
and' for  his  gallant  conduct  in  one  of  the  engagements  of  the  campaign, 
honourable  testimony  was  awarded  to  him  in  the  '  London  Gazette'  at  the 
time.  He  was  much  beloved  by  those  under  him  ;  and  it  is  said  that  be 
owed  his  safety  to  his  servant  carrying  him  off  the  held,  when  nearh 
hausted  by  loss  of  blood,  from  a  wound  he  received  in  battle.  The  estate 
descended  to  him  through  unbroken  descenl  of  heirs-male,  from  the  7th 
June  1235,  and  the  line  of  heirs-male  only  became  extinct  on  bis  death, 
on  the  21st  August  1868.     He  died  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age,  and  was 


542  APPENDIX. 

buried  in  Newburgh  Church.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  estate  of  Leys  and 
Eanderston  by  Edmund  de  Haya  Paterson,  eldest  son  of  his  nephew,  Peter 
Hay  Paterson  of  Carpow,  now 

XXII.  Edmund  Paterson  Balfour  Hay,  present  proprietor. 

The  arms  of  the  Hays  of  Leys  are  three  escutcheon  gules  and  ermine ; 
their  crest  being  a  countryman  holding  the  yoke  of  a  plough  over  his 
shoulder,  with  the  motto  Primus  E.  Stirpe,  in  allusion  to  their  being  the 
immediate  younger  branch  of  the  family  of  Hay  of  Enrol. 


No.  XXL 

LIVINGSTONES,  EARLS  OF  NEWBURGH,  AND  THEIK  ANCIENT  SEAT  OF 

KINNAIRD. 

The  patent  creating  the  earldom  of  Newburgh  does  not  specify  from 
which  Newburgh  the  title  is  derived.  Sir  James  Livingstone  of  Kynnaird, 
the  first  Earl,  had  no  connection  with  Newburgh-Fife,  either  by  birth  or 
territory.  He  was  grandson  of  Robert,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Living- 
stone of  Callendar,  and  his  properties  of  Kynnaird  and  Flacraig,  from 
which  the  inferior  titles  are  taken,  are  in  the  parish  of  Kynnaird,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Tay.  Neither  does  he  appear  to  have  had  any  con- 
nection with  Newburgh  on  I  than,  in  Aberdeenshire.  In  absence  of  any 
written  evidence,  the  circumstance  of  Newburgh-on-Tay,  in  Fifeshire, 
being  distinctly  seen  from  the  old  castle  of  Kynnaird,  seems  to  show  that 
it  was  from  the  latter  that  the  title  was  derived. 

The  property  of  Kynnaird,  which  now  belongs  to  Sir  Patrick  Murray 
Threipland,  Baronet,  of  Fingask,  belonged  for  centuries  to  the  Kynnairds 
of  that  Ilk.  On  the  26th  March  1618,  John  Kynnaird,  elder,  and  Mar- 
garet Ogilvie  his  spouse,  with  consent  of  their  son,  sold  the  whole  barony 
of  Kynnaird  to  John  Livingstone,  gentleman  of  the  bed-chamber  to  King 
James  VI.  This  included  the  superiority  of  half  the  lands  of  Nauchtone, 
and  of  that  of  Inverdovate,  and  the  patronage  of  the  chapel  of  St  Thomas 
of  Seymylne,  in  Fife.  On  the  12th  June  1622,  Mr  John  Livingstone 
(then  Sir  John  Livingstone),  and  Dame  Janet  Sprokestoune,  his  spouse, 


APPENDIX.  543 

was  infeft  in  the  barony  of  Kynnaird.  Their  son,  Sir  James  Livingstone 
of  Kynnaird,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  the  barony,  on  the  28th 
February  1629,  including  the  superiorities  and  patronage  mentioned.1 

I.  Sir  James  Livingstone  became  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  bed- 
chamber to  Charles  I.  He  died  in  1670.  By  his  wife,  Lady  Catherine 
Howard,  daughter  of  the  second  Earl  of  Suffolk,  he  had  one  son,  Charles, 
who  succeeded  him. 

The  political  troubles  of  the  first  Earl  of  Newburgh  involved  him  in 
pecuniary  difficulties,  which  compelled  him  to  grant  several  wadsetts  on 
his  estate.  After  the  death  of  the  Earl,  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland  of 
Fingask,  out  of  friendship,  arising  from  the  ties  of  neighbourhood  and  the 
devoted  attachment  of  the  two  families  to  the  House  of  Stuart,  bought  up 
the  various  ivadsetts,  or  mortgages,  and  ultimately,  after  an  interval  of 
many  years,  purchased  (14  June  1686)  the  whole  barony  from  Charles, 
the  second  Earl.  The  Earl  of  Newburgh  was  so  satisfied  with  the  dis- 
interestedness of  Sir  Patrick,  that  in  one  of  his  letters  he  says— 'When 
at  Windsor,  I  mentioned  to  the  King  [James  VII.]  the  handsome  manner 
you  had  behaved  to  me.  His  Majesty  replied,  "  I  am  glad  to  find  that 
Sir  Patrick  Threipland  is  as  honest  as  I  know  him  to  be  loyal."  ' 

II.  Charles,  second  Earl  of  Newburgh,  married  Frances,  grand- 
daughter of  George,  Earl  of  Cardigan.  He  died  in  1694,  leaving  an  only 
child, 

III.  Charlotte  Maria,  Countess  of  Newburgh,  who,  after  possessing 
the  title  sixty-one  years,  died  4th  August  175.3.  She  married,  first, 
Thomas,  eldest  son  of  Hugh,  Lord  Clifford  of  Chudleigh,  by  whom  she  had 
two  daughters  :  — 

1.  Lady  Frances  Clifford,  who  married  William  Middleton,  Yorkshire. 

2.  Lady  Anne  Clifford,  who  married,   in    1739,    Sir  dames  Joseph 

Mahony,  Count  Mahoni,  a  Lieutenant-General  in  Naples,  and 
from  whom  the  present  Countess  of  Newburgh  is  descended. 
The  Countess  married,  secondly,  1724,  the  Hon.  Charles  Rad- 
cliffe,  third  son  of  Francis  Lord  Radcliffe,  by  whom  she  had 
three  sons  and  four  daughters  : — 

1.  James  Bartholomew  Radcliffe. 

2.  JamesCleiue.it  Radcliffe,  a  general  officer  in  the  French  service, 

who  died  18th  May  1788. 

3.  Charles  Radcliffe. 


1  Perth  Retours,  Nos.  21-23,  237-875;  Fife,  406. 


544  APPENDIX. 

1.  Charlotte,  died  1800. 

2.  Barbara,  died  at  Cainbray,  1769. 

3.  Thorn asina,  died  before  1769. 

4.  Mary,  married  Francis  Eyre  of  Hassop,  in  Derbyshire  ;  died  1798. 

The  Hon.  Charles  Radcliffe,  and  his  brother  James,  Earl  of  Derwent- 
water,  took  part  in  the  rising  of  1715.  They  were  both  taken  prisoners, 
and  condemned  for  high  treason.  The  Earl  was  beheaded  24th  February 
1716,  and  his  great  and  beautiful  estates  forfeited;  but  his  brother  con- 
trived to  escape,  and  fled  to  France,  where  he  married  the  Countess  of 
Xewburgh.  On  the  next  attempt  of  the  Stuarts  to  regain  the  throne,  in 
which  Charles  Kadcliffe  joined,  he  was  not  so  fortunate :  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  when  on  the  passage  to  Scotland  with  supplies  for  Prince  Charles, 
and  landed  at  Deal.  He  was  committed  to  the  Tower,  and  beheaded  on 
Tower  Hill,  on  the  8th  December  1746,  in  terms  of  his  former  sentence. 
On  the  death  of  his  nephew,  John,  Lord  Radcliffe,  Charles  Radcliffe 
assumed  the  title  of  Lord  Derwentwater ;  his  coffin,  therefore,  bore  the 
following  inscription : — '  Carolus  Radcliffe,  Comes  de  Derwentwater,  decol- 
latus  die  8vo  December  1746,  retatis  53,  requiescat  in  pace.' 

In  1749,  his  son,  James  Bartholomew  Radcliffe,  Lord  Kynnaird,  made 
a  representation  to  his  Majesty,  beseeching  him  to  extend  his  grace  and 
favour,  by  granting  an  allowance  out  of  the  Derwentwater  estates,  to  his 
mother,  the  Countess  of  Newburgh,  and  his  surviving  brothers  and  sisters, 
the  children  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Radcliffe ;  humbly  representing  that  if 
no  relief  is  granted,  they  will  be  destitute  after  his  mother's  death.  This 
application  was  so  far  successful,  that  £30,000  was  allotted  them ;  the 
residue  of  the  vast  ancestral  estates  of  the  family  being  devoted  to  the 
support  of  Greenwich  Hospital. 

IV.  James  Bartholomew  Radcliffe  Livingstone,  third  Earl  of 
Xewburgh,  was  born  at  Vincennes,  in  France,  23d  April  1725.  He 
was,  therefore,  only  twenty  3Tears  old  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  on  his 
way  to  Scotland  with  his  father.  He  married  Barbara,  only  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Anthony  Kemp  of  Slindon,  Sussex,  and  died  there  on  2d  January 
1786,  leaving  a  daughter,  who  died  unmarried,  and  a  son, 

V.  Anthony  James  Radcliffe  Livingstone,  fourth  Earl  of  New- 
burgh, born  in  1767.  In  1788,  he  obtained,  on  petition  from  Parliament, 
£2500  yearly  to  himself  and  his  heirs  male  of  his  body,  out  of  the 
Derwentwater  estates.  He  died  on  the  29th  November  1814,  without 
issue.     On  his  death,  the  title  was  assumed  by  Francis  Eyre  of  Hassop, 


APPENDIX.  545 

Derbyshire,  and  Walworth  Castle,  Northamptonshire,  son  of  Mary  Rad- 
cliffe,  daughter  of  Charlotte  Maria,  Countess  of  Newburgh,  by  her  second 
marriage.  He  died  23d  October  1827,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  elder 
son,  Thomas,  who  assumed  the  title  of  Earl  of  Newburgh.  He  married,  in 
1817,  Lady  Margaret  Kennedy,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Cassilis,  but  left 
no  issue.  Thomas  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Francis,  called  the 
seventh  Earl  of  Newburgh,  who  died  unmarried  in  1852.  His  sister, 
Mary  Dorothea,  immediately  assumed  the  title  of  Countess  of  Newburgh. 
She  married  Colonel  Charles  Leslie  of  Balquhain,  Aberdeenshire,  21st  July 
1836,  and  died  22d  November  1853.  After  her  death,  the  title  was 
claimed  by  Maria  Cecilia,  Princess  Giustiniani,  Marchioness  Dowager  Ban- 
dini,  of  the  Roman  States.  She  proved  that  she  was  the  great-grand- 
daughter of  Lady  Anne  Clifford,  second  daughter  of  Charlotte  Maria, 
first  Countess  of  Newburgh,  b}7  her  first  husband.  The  House  of  Lords 
sustained  her  claim  on  the  29th  July  1858,  and  found  that  the  assumption 
of  the  title  by  Francis  Eyre,  and  his  descendants,  was  an  usurpation.  The 
Princess  Giustiniani,  and  second  Countess  of  Newburgh  in  her  own  right, 
was  born  on  5th  February  1796.  Her  eldest  son,  Sigismund  Nicholas, 
Marquis  Bandini  and  Viscount  Kynnaird,  was  born  30th  June  1818,  and 
has  issue  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  present  Countess  of  New- 
burgh and  Viscount  Kynnaird  and  his  children  were  all  naturalised  as 
British  subjects  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  1857. 

Arms  of  the  Livingstones,  Earls  of  Newburgh. — Argent  in  a  bend 
between  three  gilly  flowers,  gules,  an  anchor  of  the  first,  all  within  a  double 
tressure,  vert.  Crest. — A  Moor's  head  proper,  banded  gules  and  argent, 
with  pendants,  argent,  at  his  ears.  Supporters. — Dexter,  a  wild  man, 
wreathed  round  his  loins  with  oak,  vert  proper.  Sinister,  a  dapple-grey 
horse,  bridled  and  saddled,  gules.     Motto. — Si  je  puis. 

Sir  Patrick  Tiireipland  (who  purchased  Kynnaird  from  the  second 
Earl  of  Newburgh),  and  his  descendants,  were  so  closely  linked  with  the 
same  cause  for  which  the  Livingstones  suffered,  that  any  notice  of  Kin- 
naird  would  be  incomplete  without  a  brief  outline  of  their  history. 

Sir  Patrick,  when  Provost  of  Perth,  was  made  a  Knight  Bachelor  by 
Charles  II.  in  1674,  and  a  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia  by  James  VII.  in  1687. 
His  attachment  to  the  cause  of  James  brought  him  under  suspicion  at  the 
Revolution,  and  he  was  seized  by  order  of  the  Convention  of  Est 
that  met  in  Edinburgh  in  1689,  and  dragged  to  Stirling  Castle,  where  he 
died  in  a  few  days.  Sir  David,  his  only  sou,  was  among  the  Brat  to  join 
the  Earl  of  Mar's  standard  in  1715.  After  the  dispersion  of  .Mar's  fop 
Sir  David  lurked  about  under  the  name  of   Mr  Hume,  and  after  many 

M  M 


546  APPENDIX. 

hairbreadth  escapes,  had  the  good  fortune  to  reach  two  French  frigates  in 
the  Orkneys,  which  conveyed  him  and  a  number  of  other  gentlemen  to 
Gottenburg,  in  Sweden.  Sir  David  was  attainted  by  Act  of  Parliament  in 
1716,  and  his  estates  forfeited.  The  Government  sold  all  the  forfeited 
properties  to  '  The  York  Building  Company  for  raising  the  Thames  Water 
to  London.'  That  Company  granted  leases  of  the  property  they  had  thus 
acquired.  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Evelick,  Drummond  of  Megginch,  and 
Crawford  of  Inchmartine,  obtained  a  lease  of  Fingask  and  Kinnaird  in 
1716-17,  which  they  immediately  subset  to  Lady  Threipland,  Sir  David's 
wife,  so  that  by  the  friendly  intervention  of  the  neighbours  named,  Lady 
Threipland  and  her  daughters  never  had  to  quit  the  family  mansion  and 
estates.  After  an  exile  of  about  four  years,  Sir  David  was  permitted  to 
return  from  abroad,  and  to  reside  at  Fingask.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  James  Ramsay  of  Bamff,  in  1688,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters  ;  and,  secondly,  in  1707,  Dame  Catharine  Smythe 
of  Barnhill,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  youngest 
son,  Stuart,  who  was  born  prematurely  in  1715,  wmile  soldiers  were  in 
Fingask  Castle  searching  for  his  father,  received  his  Christian  name  from 
his  mother's  devotion  to  the  cause  for  which  his  father  was  suffering. 
Stuart  Threipland  followed  the  profession  of  medicine,  and  in  1737  was 
one  of  eight  original  members  of  the  Royal  Medical  Society  of  Edinburgh 
when  it  was  formally  constituted.  He  graduated  in  Edinburgh  in  1742, 
and  was  admitted  a  Fellow  of  the  Ro}Tal  College  of  Physicians  in  1744. 

When  Prince  Charles  Stuart  landed  in  1745,  Sir  David  Threipland's 
devotion  to  the  old  cause  burst  out  afresh,  and  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
he  prepared  to  join  the  Prince;  but  while  in  the  act  of  drawing  on  his 
jack-boots,  preparatory  to  mounting  his  steed,  he  was  seized  with  a  para- 
lytic stroke,  of  which  he  died.  His  eldest  son  David  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Preston,  and  another  son  at  Culloden.  His  youngest  and  only 
surviving  son,  then  Sir  Stuart,  gave  up  his  professional  career  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  joined  the  Prince.  He  shared  in  all  the  fortunes  of  the 
expedition.  After  the  defeat  at  Culloden,  he  wandered  for  months  among 
the  mountains,  with  the  Prince  and  his  other  followers ;  often  sleep- 
ing among  the  heather  on  the  open  hill-side.  At  length  he  con- 
trived to  reach  Edinburgh,  and  eventually  London,  to  which  latter  place 
he  travelled  in  the  friendly  company  of  William  Gordon,  a  bookseller 
of  Edinburgh,  disguised  as  his  apprentice.  Sir  Stuart  immediately  left 
for  Rouen,  where  he  joined  a  party  of  similar  exiles,  among  whom  were 
William  Hamilton  of  Bangour;  Andrew  Lumisden,  who  subsequently 
became  private  secretary  to  Prince  Charles  ;  Robert,  afterwards  Sir  Robert 
Strange,  the  celebrated  engraver;  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Coltness,  and 


APPENDIX.  547 

others.  The  whole  estates  of  the  family  were  again  forfeited.  Sir  Stuart 
availed  himself  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity,  and  after  an  exile  of  three 
or  four  years,  returned  to  his  native  country.  On  his  return,  Sir  Stuart 
resumed  practice  as  a  physician.  "In  1753  he  married  Janet,  eldest 
daughter  of  David  Sinclair  of  Southdon,  in  Caithness;  and,  secondly, 
in  1761,  Janet  Murray  of  Ilemyland  and  Toftingall,  of  the  same  county, 
by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  four  daughters.  Though  latterly  inde- 
pendent of  professional  income,  Sir  Stuart  continued  to  practise  as  a  physi- 
cian ;  and  in  the  end  of  1766,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians,  Edinburgh.1  The  York  Building  Company  failed  in 
1783-4,  and  the  forfeited  estates  they  had  bought  were  sold  by  their 
creditors.  Sir  Stuart  bought  back  Fingask  and  Kinnaird ;  but  not  having 
sufficient  means  to  pay  for  the  whole  of  the  lands,  he  sold  Kinnaird  Castle 
and  a  portion  of  the  lands  to  Mr  Eichardson  of  Pitfour.  Sir  Stuart  died 
in  1805,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  lie  was  stately  in  his  demeanour, 
of  refined  and  cultivated  tastes,  and  was  a  zealous  patron  both  of  the  useful 
and  fine  arts.  His  sufferings  for  the  cause,  for  which  he  had  adventured 
so  much,  did  not  make  him  forsake  his  political  principles.  To  the  very- 
last,  the  dignified  old  man  dedicated  his  first  glass  of  wine,  after  dinner, 
to  '  The  Land  o'  Cakes,  and  the  right  Steward  to  deal  them.'  His  des- 
cendants preserve,  with  pious  care,  memorials  of  his  taste  in  Fingask 
Castle,  and  have  also  the  l-ichest  and  most  interesting  collection  of  Jacobite 
relics  to  be  found  in  Scotland,  the  value  of  which  is  enhanced  by  the  un- 
doubted genuineness  of  every  relic  preserved. 

Sir  Stuart  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threip- 
land,  fourth  baronet.  When  George  IV.  visited  Scotland  in  1822,  Sir 
Patrick  presented  a  petition  to  the  King,  praying  for  the  resti nation  of  the 
title  which  his  father  and  grandfather  had  forfeited.  His  petition  was 
granted,  and  a  bill  was  introduced  into  Parliament,  whereby,  in  1826,  the 
attainder  was  reversed,  and  the  title  restored.  Sir  Patrick  married  Jessie 
Murray,  daughter  of  William  Scott  Kerr  of  Chatto,  Roxburghshire,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daughters.  He  died  in  1837,  and  his 
only  son,  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland,  fifth  and  present  baronet,  repur- 
chased, at  a  great  sacrifice,  in  1853,  the  ensile  and  estate  of  Kinnaird. 
He  was  four  years  old  at  the  date  of  his  grandfather,  Sir  Stuart's,  death, 
and  he  lives  to  tell  that  he  has  conversed  with  one  who  fought  at  Cul- 
loden,  and  attended  Prince  Charles  Stuart  in  the  greater  portion  of  his 
wanderings  after  that  fatal  defeat.2 

1  Prof.  Maclagan's  Inaugural  Address,  Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,  January  lb75. 

2  Sir  Patrick  Murray  Threipland's  MS.  Notes. 


548  APPENDIX. 

No.  XXII. 

THE  GEOLOGY  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  NEWBURGH  AND  NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

The  Reverend  John  Anderson,  D.D.,  from  whose  published  writings 
the  following  extracts  are  taken,  was  a  native  of  Newburgh.  His  father, 
John  Anderson,  was,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  one  of  the  magistates  of 
the  burgh ;  and  his  mother,  Margaret  Stuart,  was  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Dr 
Thomas  Stuart,  minister  of  the  parish  of  Newburgh.  Dr  Anderson,  who 
received  his  education  at  the  parish  school,  and  at  St  Andrews  and  Edin- 
burgh Universities,  was  ordained  minister  of  the  parish  of  Dunbarney  in 
1821.  In  1833  he  was  chosen  by  the  congregation  to  be  the  minister  of 
his  native  parish.  He  devoted  much  of  his  leisure  to  the  study  of  the 
then  comparatively  new  science  of  Geology,  and  from  time  to  time  pub- 
lished (besides  others)  the  works  from  which  the  following  notices  of  the 
geology  of  the  district  are  extracted.  Dr  Anderson  died  at  Nice,  whither 
he  had  gone,  in  the  autumn  of  1863,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  on  the 
1 6th  March  1 864.  He  was  interred  in  the  burying-ground  attached  to  the 
old  chapel  of  the  Church  of  England  there,  and  a  tombstone  marks  his  grave. 

'  The  county  of  Fife,  of  which  the  parish  of  Newburgh  forms  the 
north-west  extremity,  may  be  regarded,  in  a  geological  view,  as  one  of 
the  most  interesting  in  the  whole  island, — rich  in  organic  remains,  and 
in  all  those  important  facts  which  belong  to  the  carboniferous  era. 
Although  the  parish  of  Newburgh  partakes  of  few  or  none  of  its  dis- 
tinguishing characteristics,  one  or  two  observations  may  be  permitted  on 
the  materials  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood,  from  which  the  relative  posi- 
tion of  its  own  may  be  best  ascertained,  and  in  which  some  interesting  and 
valuable  facts  recently  brought  to  light,  may  be  stated.  Immediately  on 
the  east,  along  the  margin  of  the  Tay,  the  old  red  sandstone  appears,  on 
which  there  rests  a  bed  of  limestone ;  and  corresponding  to  this,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  a  similar  bed  is  to  be  found  in  the  property  of 
Murie.  Not  far  from  the  limestone,  and  nearer  to  Newburgh,  there  is  a 
bed  of  calmstone  with  vegetable  impressions,  and  the  flowering  portion, 
in  considerable  numbers,  of  what  Dr  Fleming  considers  a  Scirpus.  It  lies 
immediately  under  clinkstone  trap ;  and  although  the  junction  cannot  be 
traced  with  regard  to  the  sand  and  limestones,  its  position  is  unquestion- 
ably that  of  an  upper  member  of  the  series.  A  similar  bed,  with  iden- 
tically the  same  impressions,  occurs  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  the 
parish  of  Arbroath.  The  parish  of  Abernethy,  on  the  west,  likewise  dis- 
plays sections  of  the  old  red  saudstone ;  and  at  a  very  elevated  position, 


APPENDIX.  549 

on  the  very  summit  of  the  Ochils,  a  conglomerate  bed  of  limestone  may 
be  observed.  Near  the  church  of  Dion,  a  clayslate  or  calmstone,  similar 
to  that  on  the  east  of  Newburgh,  occurs  in  the  same  relative  position  to 
the  stratified  and  amorphous  rucks,  but  without,  as  far  as  has  yet  been  ob- 
served, vegetable  impressions.  Intermediate  between  what  has  now  been 
described,  rises  the  parish  of  Newburgh,  in  one  unbroken  undulating  mass 
of  trap,  the  lower  portion,  immediately  above  the  town,  being  a  fiue- 
grained  porphyritic  greenstone  ;  that  in  the  higher  ridges  approaches  to  a 
compact  feldspar;  and  on  the  property  of  Pitcairlie,  beds  of  trap  tuffa 
may  be  traced.  In  the  small  veins  which  occur  abundantly  in  the  green- 
stone, may  be  observed  crystals  of  quartz,  carbonate  of  lime,  barytes,  and 
olivine;  the  feldspar  rocks  contain  nodules  of  claystone  and  jaspery 
agates,  the  latter  very  numerous,  and  approaching  in  character  and  beauty 
to  the  Mocha-stone.  The  parks  or  table-land  of  Mugdrum  is  an  accumu- 
lation of  the  debris  of  the  old  red  sandstone  and  other  gravelly  matter,  of 
great  depth,  and  furnishes,  in  a  geological  point  of  view,  some  interesting 
problems  as  to  the  causes  of  its  accumulation  at  this  particular  spot. 
Peat  occurs  immediately  on  the  south,  where  the  surface  dips  consider- 
ably, forming  the  bed  of  a  loch,  which  has  been  lately  drained,  and  in  the 
low"  fields  of  Pitcairlie  there  is  abundance  of  the  same  material. 

'  Along  the  sides  and  summits  of  the  hills,  boulders  of  the  primitive 
rocks,  granite,  gneiss,  quartz,  mica-slate,  with  garnets  and  primitive 
greenstone,  occur  in  the  greatest  abundance,  and  many  of  them  of  the 
most  unwieldy  dimensions.  Towards  their  base,  and  skirting  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  valley,  there  are  various  accumulations  of  a  fine  dark -red 
sand,  containing  rolled  masses  from  a  few  inches  to  one  foot  in  diameter, 
which  belong,  for  the  most  part,  to  the  secondary  rocks.  The  materials, 
in  both  cases,  have  evidently  been  brought  from  the  west ;  and.  consider- 
ing that  the  heaviest  boulders  occupy  the  most  elevated  position,  are  Ave 
not  warranted  to  infer  the  existence  of  two  separate  currents,  of  unequal 
magnitude  and  of  different  ages,  as  the  agents  of  transportation?  This 
remark  applies  to  several  of  the  adjacent  parishes,  where  similar  appear- 
ances may  be  observed. 

'  A  well,  which  was  opened  lately  here,  on  the  sloping  bank  beneath 
the  town,  exhibits  the  following  interesting  beds,  and  affords  the  geolo- 
gist an  excellent  illustration  of  the  alluvium  formation  in  this  quarter.  It 
is  thirty  feet  in  depth,  and  intersects  four  distinct  deposits.  The  Brat  of 
these,  about  five  Eee1  thick,  is  a  rich  alluvial  clay,  common  to  all  the  low 
lands  in  the  district ;  a  bed  of  peat  succeeds,  composed  of  the  usual  male- 
rials  which  are  1'uund  in  that  sul  .stance,  with  the  addition  of  branches  of 
the  Alnus  glutinoaa  and  Corpus  avellana,  and  many  minute  seeds,  belonging, 


550 


APPENDIX. 


apparently,  from  their  angular  shape,  to  the  Carex  tribe  of  plants.  This 
bed  is  about  two  feet  thick,  and  belongs  to  the  great  deposit  which  ex- 
tends throughout  Strathearn  and  the  lower  basin  of  the  Tay.  Under  the 
peat  is  a  deposit  of  two  and  a  half  feet  thick,  of  extremely  fine  sand,  of  a 
light-blue  colour,  and  very  unctuous  in  its  character ;  it  contains  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  magnesia,  which  may  be  derived  from  the  decompo- 


Skull  of  Dot  primigeniut,  found  at  Mugdrum.  27f  inches  in  length.    See  p.  2. 

sition  of  steatite,  so  abundant  in  the  greenstone  in  the  neighbourhood. 
But  what  is  most  remarkable  here  is  the  fact,  that  this  matter  is  confined 
entirely  to  this  single  bed,  not  a  particle  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the 
superincumbent  peat,  or  in  the  underlying  stratum.  What  peculiar  agency 
has  produced  this  ?  The  lowest  bed  of  the  series,  the  depth  of  which 
is  unknown,  is  a  plastic  clay,  or  till,  containing  boulders  of  the  secondary 
rocks,  mixed  up  with  the  debris  of  the  old  red  sandstone.  The  surface  of 
the  ground  here  is  about  forty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Tay ;  and  the 
geologist  will  naturally  inquire,  whether  it  occupied  the  same  level,  or 
what  was  its  condition,  during  the  formation  of  the  above-mentioned 
deposits  ? 


APPENDIX  551 

'  The  soil  in  the  upper  part  of  tho  parish,  though  generally  of  little 
depth,  is  of  great  fertility.  It  mostly  consists  of  either  a  loose  black  loam, 
or  of  a  more  compact  ferruginous  mould.  Here  the  entire  property  of  Pit- 
cairlie,  through  an  intelligent  and  enterprising  tenantry,  has  been  brought 
into  the  highest  state  of  cultivation,  and  marks  itself  out  to  the  traveller 
among  the  Ochils  as  an  insulated  spot  of  singular  beauty  and  fertility. 
The  soil  on  the  north-east  of  the  town,  where  the  ground  is  low  and  flat, 
consists  of  the  richest  clay,  not  inferior  to  the  best  portions  of  the  Carse  of 
Gowrie.' — Statistical  Account  of  Fifeshire,  1845,  pp.  59-61. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  we  quote  the  following  passages  from  tho 
more  recent  writings  of  Dr  Anderson  : — 


Side  view  of  Skull  of  Bos primiqenius.  found  at  Mugdrum. 

'  The  cuttings  of  tho  Edinburgh  and  Perth  Railway  [now  the  North 
British  Railway]  give  excellent  sections  of  the  various  minerals  of  the 
county,  from  the  grey  sandstone  to  the  uppermost  coverings  of  the  coal- 
field. Entering  Fifeshire  from  the  west,  your  course  lies  deep  among  tho 
detritus  of  the  various  members  of  the  old  red  Beries.  At  the  Newburgh 
station,  and  under  the  cliffs  of  Olachard,  the  grey  sandstone  and  cornstone 
may  be  observed — the  latter  is  regularly  stratified;  the  former  is  em- 
braced among  the  igneous  rocks,  broken,  isolated,  and  inclined  at  every 
possible  degree  of  the  horizon.  Clachard-craig  itself  has  been  stirred  to 
its  foundations ;  the  huge  mass  rests  on  highly-inclined  beds  of  the  grey 
sandstone;  the  black  transverse  dyke  of  basalt,  a  few  hundred  yards  on 
the  west,  may  be  conjectured  to  have  been  the  instrument  of  upheaval,  as 


552  APPENDIX. 


in  fancy  we  can  discern,  in  the  half -raised,  half- suspended  position  of  the 
rock,  the  enormous  pressure  required  for  its  elevation.' — The  Course  of 
Creation,  p.  137.     1850. 


No.  XXIII. 

LIST  OF  PLANTS  GROWING  IN  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD  OF  NEWBURGH. 

Class  I. — Dicotyledons. 

Ranunculaceje. — Anemone  nemorosa,  L.,  Wood  Anemone;  Lochmill 
hill,  east  side.  Ranunculus  aquatilis,  L.,  Common  Water  Crowfoot;  Loch- 
mill and  Loch-Lindores.  R.  heterophyllus,  and  R.  circinatus,  Rigid-leaved 
Water  Crowfoot;  Loch-Lindores.  R.  Ficaria,  L.,  Lesser  Celandine;  Abbey- 
burn.  R.  acris,  L.,  in  pastures  frequent.  R.  repens,  L.,  Creeping  Crow- 
foot; a  troublesome  weed  in  pastures.  Caltha  palustris,  L.,  Common 
Marsh  MarygoJd;  Lindores  Pow,  Tay  below  Mugdrum.  Helleborus  viridis, 
L.,  Green  Hellebore ;  Lindores  Abbey. 

Berberidaceje. — Berberis  vulgaris,  L.,    Common  Barberry;  Lindores 

Abbey. 

Nympho3ace.e. — Nymphasa  alba,  L.,  Great  White  Water-Lily ;  west  end 
of  Lochmill,  and  Black  Loch.  Nuphar  lutea,  Sm.,  Common  Yellow  Water- 
Lily  ;  Lochmill  and  Loch-Lindores. 

Papavarace^e. — Papaver  Argemone,  L.,  Long  prickly-headed  Poppy; 
The  Mair's  Craig.  P.  dubium,  L.,Long  Smooth-headed  Poppy;  lb.  P.  Rhasas, 
L.,  Common  Red  Poppy ;  cornfields. 

Fumariaceje. — Fumaria  officinalis,  L.,  Common  Fumitory;  common  in 
highly-cultivated  fields  and  gardens. 

Crucher-e. — Cheiranthus  cheiri,  L.,  Common  Wall-flower;  Abbey 
walls.  Arabis  hirsuta,  Br.,  Hairy  Rock  Cress;  The  Mair's  Craig.  Car- 
damine  pratensis,  L.,  Common  Bitter  Cress,  or  Lady's  Smock;  Loch-Lin- 
dores, Pow,  etc.  Nasturtium  officinale,  Br.,  Common  Watercress ;  Nine  wells 
Burn.  Draba  verna,  L.,  Whitlow-grass ;  Wall  tops,  Lindores.  Capsella 
Bursa  Pastoris,  D.  C,  Common  Shepherd's  Purse;  cornfields,  Wodriffe. 
Sinapis  arvensis,  L.,  Wild  Mustard;  lb. 

Resedace^e. — Reseda  Luteola,  L.,  Common  Dyers  Rocket ;  The  Mair's 
Craig.  R.  lutea,  L.,  Wild  Mignonette;  roadside  between  Mugdrum  and 
Carpow. 

Cistace^e.— Helianthemum  vulgare,   Rock  Rose;   Ormiston   hill,  The 

Mair's  Craig. 


APPENDIX.  553 

Violace.e.— Viola  odorata,  L.,  Sweet  Violet;  Ballinbriech  Castle  grounds. 
V.  canina,  L.,  Dog  Violet;  Oruiiston  hill.  V.  arvensis,  Pansy,  or  Heart's 
Ease ;  The  Mair's  Craig. 

Droserace^e. — Drosera  rotundifolia,  L.,  Round-leaved  Sun-dew;  Loch- 
mill  hill,  west. 

PARNASSiEiE. — Pamassia  palustris,  L.,  Grass  of  Parnassus ;  near  Butter- 
well.  . 

PolygalacejE. — Poly  gala  vulgaris,  L.,   Common  Milkwort;  Cranston 

hill,  abundant.  .  , 

Caryophyllace^:. — Dianthus  deltoides,  L.,  Maiden  Pink;  The  flairs 
Craig.  Saponaria  officinalis,  L.,  Common  Soapwort ;  observed  once  at 
Knock-Murdo,  Pitcairly.  Silene  inflata,  Sm.,  Bladder  Campion ;  The  Mair's 
Craig.  Lychnis  Flos-Cuculi,  L.,  Ragged  Robin;  Lindores,  Pow-side,  etc. 
L.  vespertina,  White  Campion ;  frequent.  L.  diurna,  Red  Campion ;  near 
Craigrnill.  AgTOstemma  Githago,  L.,  Com  Cockle;  cornfields,  too  abun- 
dant. Sagina  subulata,  Awl-shaped  Pearl-wort;  The  Mair's  Craig.  S. 
procumbens,  procumbent  Pearl-wort;  lb.  Stellaria  holostea,  L.,  Greater 
Stitchwort;  Barony-road,  Lochmill-den.  S.  glauca,  Glaucous  Marsh  Stitch- 
wort  •  Loch-Lindores.  S.  graminea,  L.,  Lesser  Stitchwort ;  Lecturer's  Inch, 
Loch-Lindores.  Spergula  arvensis,  Spurry;  The  Mair's  Craig.  Cerastiuni 
triviale,  Narroic-leaved  Mouse-ear  Chickiveed;  a  weed  in  cultivated  ground. 
LrNACE^E.— Linum    catharticum,    L.,   Purging    Flax;    Oruiiston    hill 

(gathered  for  medicinal  purposes). 

Malvaceae.— Malva   sylvestris,   L.,    Common   Mallow;    Abbey.     M. 

moschata,  Musk  Mallow;  lb.     M.  rotundifolia,  Dwarf  Mallow ;  near  Glen- 

burnie.  , 

Hypericace/E.— Hypericum  perforatum,  common  perforated  &t  John  s 
Wort;  The  Mair's  Craig.  H.  humifusum,  trailing  St  Johns  Wort ;  Oruiis- 
ton hill.     H.  pulchrum,  mall  upright  St  Johns  Wort;  Abbot's  Seat,  The 

Mair's  Craig. 

Geraniace^:.— Geranium  sanguineus,  bloody  Cranes-bill;  *incraig. 
G  pratense,  blue  Meadow  Crane's-bill;  Loch-Lindores,  Black  Loch,  with 
white  flowers  near  Kinnaird  Doo'-cot.  G.  lucidum,  shining  Craruts-biU; 
east  end  of  Lochmill,  side  of  burn,  (Lindores  Abbey  introduced).  G. 
Robertianum,  Herb  Robert,  or  Poor  Robin;  hedges,  common.  <i.  molle, 
Dove's-foot  Crane's-bill;  pastures,  common.  G.  dissectom,  Jagged-UaveA 
Crane's-bill;  Oruiiston  hill.     G.  columbmum,  long-stalked  Crane's-bill;   Ihe 

Mail's  Craig.  _.    ,     . 

Oxalidace^e.— Oxalis   Asostesella,    Common    Wood-sorrel;   Blacfccaini 

wood,  etc.  , 

LEGUMiKOSiE.— UlexEnropceus,  common  Whin  ;  Ormiston  hill.    Genista 


554  APPENDIX 

Anglica,  or  Petty  Whin,  grows  on  the  common  at  Ladybank,  but  it  is 
fast  being  extirpated.  Sarothamnus  scoparius,  Common  Broom ;  Loch- 
mill  hills.  Ononis  arvensis,  Rest-harrow;  Wodriffe  road,  Fincraig.  An- 
thyllus  Vulneraria,  Lady's  Fingers;  The  Mair's  Craig,  Fincraig.  Trifolium 
arvense,  Hare's-foot  Trefoil;  The  Mair's  Craig.  T.  procumbens,  Hop 
Trefoil;  lb.  T.  repens,  Dutch  Clover;  Ormiston  hill.  Lotus  cornicula- 
tus,  Common  Birds-foot  Trefoil;  lb.  L.  major,  Narrow-leaved  Bird's-foot 
Trefoil;  Loch-Lindores.  Ornithopus  perpusillus,  Common  Birds-foot;  Clach- 
ard.  Vicia  cracca,  Tufted  Vetch.  Hedges.  Lathyrus  pratensis,  Meadow 
Vetchiing;  Loch-Lindores,  Fincraig.  Orobus  tuberosus, iftfter  Vetch;  Monks- 
well. 

Rosacea. — Primus  spinosa,  L.,  Sloe,  or  Blackthorn;  Fincraig,  etc. 
P.  Cerasus,  L.,  Morello,  or  Wild  Cherry;  near  Ballinbriech  Castle. 
(Primus  Padus,  or  Bird  Cherry,  grows  in  Glenfarg,  near  the  Bein  Inn.) 
Spiraea  Ulmaria,  Queen  of  the  Meadow;  Loch-Lindores  and  Pow-side. 
Geum  urbanum,  Common  Avens ;  Abbey  burn.  G.  rivale,  Water  Avens ; 
Lochmill,  west  end.  Fragaria  vesca,  Wood  Strawberry ;  Woodmill  wood. 
Potentilla  anserina,  Silver-weed ;  road-side  near  East  Toll,  etc.  P.  argentea, 
Hoary  Cinque-foil;  The  Mair's  Craig.  P.  reptans,  creeping  Cinque-foil; 
river-side,  Ballinbriech.  .  P.  Tormentilla,  Tormentil ;  Ormiston  hill.  P. 
Fragariastrum,  Barren  Strawberry;  roadside  near  Denmiln.  Alchemilla 
vulgaris,  common  Lady's  Mantle;  Ninewells  Burn.  Rosa  spinosissima, 
Scotch  Rose  ;  The  Mair's  Craig.  R.  tomentosa,  downy-leaved  Rose ;  lb.  R. 
rubigiuosa,  true  Sweet-Briar;  bank  near  Ballinbriech.  R.  canina  (yar.), 
Hog-Rose;  lb.     Crataegus  oxyacantha,  L.,  Hawthorn;  stray  plants  common. 

Onagrace^e.  —  Epilobium  parviflorum,  small-flowered  hairy  Willow- 
herb  ;  Abbey  burn.  E.  montannm,  broad-leaved  Willow-herb ;  Fincraig. 
E.  palustre,  Marsh  Willow-herb ;  Abbey  burn. 

Haloragace^e. — Myriophyllum  spicatum,  Spiked  Water- Milfoil;  Loch- 
Lindores. 

Lythrace^e. — Lythrum  Salicaria,  spiked,  Purple  Loose-strife;  Loch- 
Lindores. 

CRASSUEACEiE. — Sempervivum  tectorum,  House-leek,  or  Fovat;  Ilatton- 
hill.  Sedum  Telephium,  Live-long,  or  Orpine;  Loch-Lindores,  Wodriffe 
Road.  S.  reflexum,  Crooked  Yellow  Stonecrop ;  Abbey,  formerly  abundant 
on  Denmiln  orchard  wall.     Sedum  acre,  Biting  Stonecrop;  The  Mair's  Craig. 

Saxifragace^e. — Saxifraga  granulata,  ivhite  Meadow  Saxifrage;  lb., 
and  Clachard. 

Umbelliferje. — Hydrocotyle  vulgaris,  Marsh  Pennywort;  Loch-Lin- 
dores. Sanicula  Europaea,  Wood  Sanicle;  Abbey.  Cicuta  virosa,  Cow- 
bane  ;  formerly  in  Lindores  Loch  ;  supposed  to  be  now  covered  up  by  the 


APPENDIX.  55.") 

railway  embankment.  It  was  known  in  the  neighbourhood  as  Deathen, 
and  cattle  are  said  to  have  been  poisoned  by  eating-  it.  iEgopodium  Podo- 
graria,  Gout-Weed,  or  Bishop-Weed;  common  in  this  neighbourhood;  a 
troublesome  weed.  Bunium  flexuosum,  Earth-nut,  known  as  Lusie-arrcut ; 
hill  pastures,  Wester  Lumbenny.  iEthusa  Cynapium,  L.,  Foots  Par 
a  weed  in  cultivated  ground.  Heracleum  Sphondylium,  L.,  Cow-Par 
waste  places,  common.  Scandix  Pecten,  Venus's  Comb ;  cornfields. 
Chrerophyllum  temulentum,  Rough  Chervil;  The  Mair's  Craig.  Myrrhis 
odorata,  Sweet  Cicely,  better  knowu  as  Myrrh  in  this  neighbourhood ;  around 
the  old  site  of  Easter  Lumbenny.  Daucus  Carota,  wild  Carrot;  foot  of 
Clachard. 

Aualiace^e. — Hedera  Helix,  common  Ivy;  ruins  of  Lindores  Abbey, 
Fincraig. 

CAPRiFOLiACEyE. — Sambucus  nigra,  Common  Elder,  or  Bour-tree ;  Abbey 
burnside.  Lonicera  Periclymenum,  Common  Honeysuckle ;.  Fincraig,  South 
Caldron,  Lochmill,  BaUinbriech. 

BuBiACEiE. — Galium  verum,  yellow  Bed-straw;  Ormiston  hill.  G. 
Saxatile,  smooth  Heath  Bed-straw;  lb.  G.  palustre,  white  Water  Bed- 
straw;  Loch- Lindores.  G.  aparine,  Goose-grass  ;  Abbey  burnside.  Aspe- 
rula  odorata,  sweet  Woodruff;  Fincraig.  Sherardia  arvensis,  blue  Sherardia, 
or  Field  Madder ;  The  Mair's  Craig. 

Valerianace.e. — Valeriana  officinalis,  great  wild  Valerian;  river-bank 
near  BaUinbriech,  and  Den  at  west  end  of  Lochmill. 

Dipsace^e. — Dipsacus  sylvestris,  wild  Teasel;  once  observed  in  Mug- 
drum  woods;  grows  in  Glenfarg.  Knautia  arvensis,  Fit  Id  Km lutia  ;  The 
Mair's  Craig.  Scabiosa  succisa,  Devil, s-bit  Scabious;  Fincraig,  and  road- 
sides. 

Composite. — Tragopogon  pratensis,  yellow  Goats -beard;  Parkhill 
Inches.  Ilypochreris  radicata,  Long-rooted  Cat's  ear ;  Loch-Lindores. 
Lactuca  virosa,  strong-scented  Lettuce;  Abbey.  Sonchus  oleraceus,  L., 
Common  annual  Soio-Thistle ;  a  weed  on  cultivated  ground.  Leontodon 
Taraxacum  common  Dandelion;  waste  places.  Hieracium  pilosella,  L., 
common  Mouse-ear  Hawk-weed;  Ormiston  hill.  Arctium  Lappa,  common 
Burdock;  Abbey  burnside.  Carduus  palustris,  Marsh  Plume-Thi 
Loch-Lindores.  C.  lanceolatus,  L.,  Spear  Plume-Thistle ;  waysides.  Cen- 
taurea  Cyanns,  Blue-Bottle,  Blawart;  Mair's  Craig.  Bidens  cernua, 
Nodding  Bur-Marigold ;  Loch-Lindores.  Tanacetum  vulgare,  Tansy;  Lin- 
dores Abbey.  Artemisia  vulgare,  Mugwort,  Wormwood;  Wodriffe  road. 
Artennaria  dioica,  Mountain  Everlasting;  Ormiston  hill.  Petaaites  vulgare, 
Butter-bur;  Abbey  burn.  TussilagO  Farfara,  Colts-foot;  lb.  Aslor.  Tri- 
polium,  Sea  Stanvort ;  near  BaUinbriech,     Senecio  vulgaris,  L.,  Groundsel; 


556  APPEXDIX. 

a  weed  on  cultivated  ground.  S.  sylvaticus,  Mountain  Groundsel;  The 
Mair's  Craig.  Filago  minima,  least  Filago ;  lb.  S.  Jacobea,  Ragweed, 
Weebow;  common.  S.  Aquaticus,  Marsh-Ragweed ;  Loch-Lindores  and 
Pow.  Doronicum  Pardaliauches,  Great  Leopard's- Bane;  near  Ballinbriech 
Castle,  and  Mugdrum.  Bellis  perennis,  Daisy,  Gowan ;  abundant.  Chry- 
santhemum Leucantkemum,  Great  White  Ox-eye;  railway  slopes.  Anthemis 
arvensis,  Corn  Chamomile;  Mary's  Craig.  Achillea  Ptarmica,  Sneeze- 
wort;  Loch-Lindores.     A.  millefolium,  Milfoil ;  Wodriffe  road. 

Campaxulaceje. — Campanula  rotundifolia,  Harebell;  Ormiston  hill, 
abundant,  Abdie  chivrchyard.  C.  latifolia,  Giant  Bell-flower;  once  ob- 
served at  Black  Loch. 

Ericaceae. — Vaccinium  Myrtillus,  Blaeberry ;  Blackcairn,  Lochmill 
Woods.  (V.  Oxycoccos,  L.  Cranberry,  grows  in  bogs  near  Pitmenzie.)  Erica 
Tetralix,  Cross-leaved  Heath;  Lochmill  hill  westward.  E.  cinerea,  fine- 
leaved  Heath  ;  White  Craig,  etc.  Calluna  vulgaris,  common  Ling,  Lochmill 
hill.  Pyrola  rotundifolia,  round-leaved  Wintergreen;  Wood,  near  Butter- 
well  ;  Weddersby  Wood,  near  Black-loch. 

Gextiaxe.e. — Geutiana  campestris,  Field  Gentian;  Abbot's-Seat,  and 
north  summit  of  Fincraig.  Menyauthes  trifoliata,  Marsh-Trefoil ;  Bogbean  ; 
Loch  Lindores,  Lochmill. 

Coxvoevulace^e. — Convolvulus  arvensis,  small  Bindweed;  Wodriffe 
fields,  near  Ninewells.  C.  Soldanella,  Seaside  Bindweed;  river  side,  near 
Ballinbriech. 

Boragixe.e. — Echium  vulgare,  Vipers  Bugloss;  Wodriffe.  Litho- 
spermum  arvense,  Corn  Gromwell ;  fields  near  Ninewells.  Myosotis  palus- 
tris,  Forget-me-not;  river  side,  east  from  Shore.  M.  caespitosa,  tufted 
water  Scorpion  Grass ;  Loch  Lindores.  Lycopsis  arvensis,  small  Bugloss ; 
the  Mair's  Craig.  Symphytum  officinale,  Comfrey ;  Burnside,  and  near 
Denmiln. 

SolaxacevE. — Ilyoscyamus  niger,  Henbane ;  Lindores  Abbey-orchard. 
Solanum  Dulcamara,  Woody  Nightshade;  mouth  of  burn  Invernethy. 

Scrophulariace^:.  — Veronica  serpyllifolia,  Thyme-leaved  Speedwell. 
Ormiston  hill.  V.  scutellata,  Marsh-Speedwell ;  Loch  Lindores.  V.  Becca- 
bunga,  BroohUme,  lb.  and  Ninewells  Burn.  V.  Chameedrys,  Germander 
Speedwell;  Ormiston  hill.  V.  hederifolia,  Ivy-leaved  Speedwell.  Fields. 
Bartsia  Odontites,  Red  Bartsia;  field  above  Monkswell,  How-Kavell. 
Euphrasia  officinalis,  Eye-bright;  Ormiston  hill.  Rhinanthus  Crista-Galli, 
common  Yellow-rattle;  the  Mair's  Craig,  Fincraig.  Pedicularis  palustris, 
Marsh  Lousewort ;  Loch  Lindores.  Mimulus  luteus,  common  Mimulus ; 
shores  of  the  Tay  above  Mugdrum.  Scrophularia  nodosa,  knotted  Fig- 
wort  ;   foot  of  Clachard.     S.  vernalis,  yellow  Figwort ;  Abbey.     Digitalis 


APPENDIX.  557 

purpurea,  Folic 's-glove.  Dead-men 's-bells  ;  Ormiston  hill.  Linaria  Cj'mbal- 
aria,  Ivy-leaved  Toad-flax ;  Lindores  Abbey,  introduced.  L.  vulgaris, 
yellow  Toad-flax ;  Fincraig.  Verbascum  Thapsus,  Great  Mullein ;  Ballin- 
briech,  Abbey  (one  plant  6 J  feet  in  height,  1873).  V.  Lychnitis,  \V7iite 
Mullein;  Abbey,  Denmiln  orchard  wall,  and  wall  at  Burnside. 

Labiate. — Mentha  aquatica,  Water-Mint ;  west  end  of  Lochraill. 
Thymus  Serpyllum,  wild  Thyme;  Ormiston  hill.  Origanum  vulgare, 
Marjoram ;  foot  of  Fincraig.  Teucrium  Scorodonia,  Wood  Germander ;  lb. 
Ajuga  reptans,  common  Bugle;  Lochmill  burn,  west.  Galeopsis  Tetrahit, 
Common  Hemp-nettle ;  the  Mair's  Craig.  Lamiuin  purpureum,  L.  Red 
Dead  Nettle ;  a  weed  in  cultivated  ground.  L.  amplexicaule  L.  Henbit 
Nettle  ;  a  common  weed.  Stachys  sylvatica,  Hedge  Wound-wort ;  Aljbey. 
S.  palustris,  Marsh  Woundwort;  Loch  Lindores.  Nepeta  Glechoma, 
Ground- Ivy ;  Clachard.  Prunella  vulgaris,  Common  Self-heal;  common. 
Scutellaria  galericulata,  Common  Skull-cap ;  observed  once  in  Lindores 
Burn,  below  Eel-house. 

LEXTiBULARiACEiE. — Pinguicula  vulgaris,  Common  Butterwort;  Nine- 
wells,  and  near  Butterwell. 

PrimulacejE. — Primula  vulgaris,  Primrose;  Ballinbriech,  Fincraig. 
P.  elatior,  Oxlip ;  Glenfarg.  P.  veris,  Cowslip;  lb.  Glaux  maritima, 
Sea- Milkwort ;  Ballinbriech.  Trientalis  Europoea,  Chickweed  Winter-green; 
the  nearest  habitat  is  the  wood  above  Gattaway.  L37simachia  nemonun, 
Wood  Loose-strife  ;  Glenfarg.  Anagallis  arvensis,  Scarlet  Pimpernel ;  fields, 
North-Grange  and  Ormiston. 

PlantagixacejE. — Plantago  major,  Plantain  ;  roadsides.  P.  lanceo- 
lata,  Ribwort;  pastures  frequent.  P.  maritima,  Seaside  Plantain;  river- 
side, above  Ballinbriech.  Littorella  lacustris,  Plantain  Shorcweed;  Loch 
Lindores,  Lochmill. 

Ciiexopodiace^e. — Chcnopodium  album,  Wliite  Goosefoot ;  the  Mail's 
Craig.     C.  Bonus  Henricus,  Good  King  Henry. 

Sclekaxtiiack.e. — Scleranthus  animus,  Knawel;  Mary's  Craig. 

Polygoxace.<e. — Polygonum  viviparum,  Alpine  Bistort. ;  Lochmill  hill. 
P.  aviculare,  L.  Common  Knot-grass;  roadsides.  P.  convolvulus.  L. 
climbing  Buckwheat;  cornfields.  P.  amphibium,  Buckwheat;  Loch  Lin- 
dores, Lochmill.     Rumex  ascetosella,  Sheep's  Sorrel ;  the  Mair's  Craig. 

EuriiOKBACE.E. — Mercurialis  peivnnis,  Dog's  Mercury  ;  foot  of  Fincraig. 
Euphorbia  helioscopia,  L.  Sun  Spurge;  a  garden  weed. 

I'imicace.e. — Urtica  urens,  L.  Small  Nettle;  a  weed  in  Gelds  and 
gardens.  U.  dioica  L.  Great  Nettle;  waste  places.  Parietaria  diffusus, 
Prllitory  of 'the  Wall   walls  of  Lindores  A.bbey. 

Cannabineje. — LTumulus  LupuhlS,  U.ip  (male  plant);   Abbey,  burn-ddc. 


558  APPENDIX. 

Betulace^. — Betula  alba,  common  Birch ;  foot  of  Clachard — sprung 
up  since  the  cutting  for  the  railway.  Aluus  glutinosa,  Common  Alder ; 
Maw  Inch,  Lindores. 


Class  II. — Monocotyledons. 

Orchidace.e. — Orchis  mascula,  early  purple  Orchis ;  Woodinill  wood. 
0.  maculata,  spotted  Orchis  ;  woods.  Habenaria  viridis,  green  Habenaria ; 
Orrniston  hill. 

Iridace^;. — Iris  Pseud-acorus,  Yellow  Water  Iris  or  Flag;  Lindores 
Loch,  Steel's  Den. 

Amartllidace.e. — Galanthus  nivalis,  Snowdrop ;  Ballinbriech. 

Llliace^e. — Agraphis  nutans,  Wild  Hyacinth  ;  Fincraig.  Allium  ursi- 
uum,  JRamsons  or  Broad-leaved  Garliclc  ;  Lindores  Abbey. 

Juncace^e. — Juncus  effusus,  Soft  Rush;  Lindores  Loch.  J.  conglo- 
meratus  L.  Common  Bush ;  on  undrained  land.  J.  bufonius  L.  Toad  Rush  ; 
common.  J.  Gerardi,  round-fruited  Rush ;  beach  near  Ballinbreich  Castle. 
Luzula  sylvatica,  Great  Wood  Kush ;  foot  of  White  Craig.  L.  campestris, 
Field  Wood-rush ;  in  pastures  common. 

Alisjiace^e.  —  Alisma  Plantago,  Gh'eat  Water  Plantain ;  Lindores, 
Lochmill. 

Typhace.e. — Typha  angustifolia,  Lesser  Reed  Mace ;  Lindores  Loch. 

Lemnace^e. — Lemna  minor,  Lesser  Buck-weed  ;  Lindores  Pow. 

Naiadacejs. — Potamogeton  plantagineus,  Plantain-leaved  Pond-weed; 
Loch  Lindores.     P.  crispus,  Curly  Pond- weed ;  lb. 

Cyperaqeje. — Eriophorum  angustifolium,  'Narrow-leaved  Cotton-grass  ; 
Lochmill  hill.     Eleocharis  palustris,  Spike  Rush :  Loch  Lindores. 

Gramine^:. — Anthoxanthum  odoratum,  Sweet-scented  Vernal-grass  ; 
Fincraig.  Nardus  stricta,  Mat-grass ;  Blackcairn.  Alopecurus  pratensis, 
Meadow  Fox-tail  grass ;  Orrniston  hill.  A.  geniculatus,  Floating  Fox-tail 
grass  ;  Loch  Lindores.  Phleum  pratense,  Cat's-tail  or  Timothy-grass  ;  Or- 
rniston hill.  Aha  coespitosa,  Tufted  Hair-grass;  foot  of  White  Craig, 
Lindores.  Holcus  lanatus,  Meadow  Soft-grass;  Orrniston  hill.  Arrheha- 
therium  avenaceum,  Oat-like  grass;  Loch  Lindores.  Glycera  aquatica, 
Reed  Meadow-grass ;  lb.  G.  fluitans,  Floating  M. ;  lb.  Koeleria  cristata, 
Crested  K. ;  Mary's  Craig.  Briza  media,  Quaking-grass ;  Orrniston  hill. 
Poa  aquatica  L.  Reed  Meadow-grass  ;  Marshy  shores  of  the  Tay.  Cyno- 
surus  cristatus,  crested  Dog's- Tail  grass;  Nine-wells  burn.  Phragmitis 
communis,  Common  Reed;  Mugdrum  Island,  Lindores  Pow.  Triticum 
repens,  L.  Wheat-grass ;  road  sides. 


APPENDIX.  559 


Class  III. — Acotyledons  or  Cryptograms. 

Filices. — Polypodiuni  vulgare,  Common  Polypody ;  Mary's  Craig, 
Blackcairn.  P.  Dryopteris,  Oak  Fern,  tender  three-branched  Polypody, 
among  debris  at  foot  of  White  Craig.  Aspidium  Filix  mas,  Male  Ft  rn. 
Ring  of  Blackcairn.  A.  Oreopteris,  Heath  Shield  Fern;  Ormiston  hill. 
Asplenium  Ruta  muraria,  Wall-rue  Spleenwort;  old  walls,  abundant.  A. 
Trichomanes,  Maidenhair  Spleenwort;  the  Mair's  Craig.  Scolopendrium 
vulgare,  Common  Harts-Tongue;  Abbey  walls.  Pteris  aquilina,  Common 
Bracken  ;  Ormiston  hill.  Blechnuni  boreale,  Northern  Hard  Fern  ;  west 
end  of  Lochmill. 

Lycopodiace^e. — Lycopodinm  clavatum,  Common  Club-moss;  Loch- 
mill hill. 

Equisetace^e. — Equisetum  fluviatile  great  Water  Horse-tail;  Loch- 
mill. E.  arvense,  Corn  Horse-tail;  cornfields.  E.  limosum,  smooth 
Naked  Horse-tail ;  Loch  Lindores.  E.  sylvaticum,  branched  Wood  Horse- 
tail ;  Lochmill  woods. 

Algje. — Rivularia  species ;  occurs  iu  such  profusion  in  some  parts  of 
Loch  Lindores,  as  to  make  the  water  have  a  thickened  discoloured  ap- 
pearance. 


■  [s^Mm/^ 


^'■^'t^r^ 


Moulding  of  door-way  leading  from  the  Cloister-garth  to  the  nave  of  Lindores  Abbey  church. 


INDEX. 


ABBEYS,  object  of  their  foundation,  31,  32, 

'34.  >95 

—  work  done  in,  49,  56 

—  revenues  of,  58,  note 

—  centres  of  improvements,  58 

—  corruptions  of,  1 10,  1 1 1 

—  destruction  of  libraries  of,  123,  n 

—  estates  of,  appropriated,  131 

—  uses  for  buildings  of,  1 34 
Abbots  of  Lindores,  list  of,  528 
Abdie  church,  66-70.     See  Londors 

—  curate  of,  122,  note 

—  altar  of  St  Niniau  in,  195,  317 

—  ministers  of,  198,  204,  205,  363,  375 

—  visitation  of,  198 

—  Newburgh  disjoined  from,  200,  202 

—  session  records  of,  231-264 

—  Sabbath  offences,  285 

—  Denmiln,  aisle  of,  303 

—  bells  of,  363 

—  stipend  and  teinds  of,  413,415,433,  501, 

503 
Abornethy,  Celtic  names  of  holdings  at,  17 
-  ( Suldees  of,  463 

—  school,  early  at,  56 

—  vineyard,  ancient,  at,  59 

—  Lickerstanes  of,  66,  note 

—  Lay  abbots  of,  95.  1 

—  boundaries  of  lands  bestowed  on  church 

of,  by  king  of  the  Picts,  95. 

Iiinvh  of,  97,  476 

—  taxi  mention  of  Burghs,  157 

—  pigs  of,  255 

Lord  Ang  1  of,  423 

—  family  of,  337,  338,  463 

—  Sir  Alexander  of,  403 

—  Lady  Margaret,  95 

—  Lady  Mary,  94,  96 

eat,  256 
1 1  a '.  id  of,  478 
Walter  of,  4X4 
Adam,  abbol  of  Lindores,  94 
Aedan,  bis  work  In  Nortbumbria,  29.  575 
Agriculture,  primitive,  4.  5.  note 

a  of  grain  in  13th  and  14th  ceo 
49,  note,  58 

N 


Agriculture,  price  of  live  stock,  555,  112 

—  promotion  of  by  monks,  59 

—  size  of  holdings,  61 

—  ploughs,  ancient,  61 

—  dung  conveyed  in  panniers,  309 
Ale,  fine  of,  175 

—  sellers  of,  damaged,  2 1 3 

—  Sunday  table-reckoning  of,  284 

—  the  common  beverage  in  Scotland,  397,  399 

—  displacement  of,  398 
Alehouse  croft,  500 

Alexander  in.  at  Lindores  Abbey,  78-82 

—  his  charter  to  Newburgh,  142,  473 

—  Prince,  his  death  at  Lindores  Abbey,  81, 

82 
Almerycruik,  416,423,  499,  503 
Alms,  when  collected  in  church,  202 
Altarage  money,  192 
Altars  in  Lindores  Abbey,  529 
Anderson,  Michael,  bailie,  512 

—  John,  transfer  of  rude,  159 
Andrew  Cavers.     Sec  Cavers 
Angus,  William  of,  sec  William 
Arbroath  abbey,  42,  58,  468,  471,  473,  484 
Arbuthnot,  Hugh,  laird  of,  346 
Archery  enjoined,  146 

Ardoch,  41 1,  424,  499,  503 
Argyle,  collection  for,  208 
Arms  li  t  of,  kepi  .-it  abbey,  149.  uote 
1 1  ili.  I  [igblanders  Ln,  275 
.1  urn  s  of  \\  oodmiln,  213,  258 

—  George,  258 

—  William  ol  Mugdrum,  441 
Arnots  of  Balcormo,  441 

—  of  Woodmiln,  441 

Aryan  n  ii  funeral  rites  of,  23-25 

Assise  burghal,  15S,  187,208 

—  slandering  of,  1  ~i 
Assumption  of  thirds,  132,  421 
Auchmore,  Admore,  lands  of,  56 
Auchtermuchty,  63,  note ;  church  of,  95,  97, 

417,  418,  420,  476 

—  brewhouses  of,  413,  423,  503 

—  notes  on,  and  lands  of,  452,  498,  501 
Ayti 'ii  cbapel.    Bee  1  lundemor 

Aytone  of  Ayton,  and  lands  of,  437-440.  575 

N 


5G2 


INDEX. 


BADDIFOEROW,  411.  418.  425,  426,  431, 

500 
Bailiesliip,  restrictions  on,  165 

—  origin  of  term,  183,  note 
Bairn's  piece,  the,  383 
Balbirnie  bridge,  collection  for,  259 
Balbuthnie,  425 

Balcomy,  472 

Balehyrewelle,  now  Broadwell,  463 

Balfour,  family  of,  354 

—  Alexander,  minister  of  Abdie,  212,  362 

—  promised  first  vacant  bishopric,  363 

—  Baronet  of  Denmiln,  375 

—  Sir  Andrew,  physician,  366 

travels  abroad  with  Lord  Rochester,  366 

collects  natural  liistory  specimens,  367 

practises  in  St  Andrews,  368 

removes  to  Edinburgh,  368 

President   of  the  Royal   College  of 

Physicians,  369 
establishes    Infirmary   and  Botanic 

Garden,  369 
successfully  introduces  the  manufacture 

of  paper,  370 
Ins  '  Letters  to  a  Friend,'  371 

—  John  of  Ballone,  442 

—  Sir  David  of  Forret,  Lord  of  Session,  364 
his  gift  to  Logie  church,  365 

—  David  of  Inchrye,  442 

—  Sir  James,  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  178,  357- 

362,  440 

his  studies  and  travels,  357,  359 

his  writings,  360 

collects  ancient  manuscripts,  361 

his  library  at  Denmiln,  361 

petition  to  Newburgh  kirk-session,  214 

■ pecuniary  difficulties,  237 

epitaph,  362 

—  John  of,  475 

—  Major  Henry  of  Dunboig,  270 

—  Sir  Michael  of   Denmiln,  Comptroller  of 

Household,  354-357 
his  monument  and  inscription  on,  357 

—  Michael,  of  Randerston,  363 
monument  to  his  wife,  364 

—  Sir  Michael,  of  Denmiln,  242 

his  mysterious  disappearance,  375 

traditionary  account  of,  376 

Patrick,   of   Denmiln,   recent    reward 

offered  for  date  of  his  death,  444 

Robert,  of  Denmiln,  slain  in  a  duel,  372 

traditionary  account  of  fight,  372 

cairn  marks  spot,  372 

Balfours  of  Dunboig,  441 

—  of  Fernie,  441 
Balgonie,  212 

Balhagarty,  411,  414,  425.  500 
Ballecolly,  463 

Baliol,  John,  39,  40 

king  of  Scotland,  at  Lindores  abbev. 

83 


Balk  and  rock,  306,  note.     See  6pindle  aud 

distaff 
Ball,  carved  stone,  8 
Ballinbriech,  15,  note,  95,  162 
Ballo,  463 

Ballomiln,  417,  420,  427,  notes  on,  449 
Balmadyside,  421,  notes  on,  460 
Balmanno,  249,  362 

Bahnaw,  41 1,  421,  423,  478,  499,  notes  on,  460 
Balquhain,  415 
Balvaird,   castle   of,  204.     See  Murray,  Mr 

Andrew 
Baptism,  existing  superstition  regarding,  382 

—  Act  against  excessive  companies  at,  282 
Banishment  from  burgh,  287,  290,  291,  294 
Barclay,  David  de,  Sheriff  of  Fife,  98 

—  Sir  David,  of  Cullernie,  364 

—  David,  of  Cullernie,  367,  497 

bailie  of  regality  of  Lindores,  521,  524 

mandate  from  Earl  of  Arran  to,  523 

—  Sir  Hugh,  100 

—  Dr  John,  anatomist,  incident  to,  62,  note 
Barrows,  burial,  21,  23,  26,  note 
Barefoot,  to  stand  at  church  door,  239 
Bayne,  John,  of  Pitcairlie,  "W.S..  242,  244, 

454 

—  legacy  to  poor  of  Newburgh,  244 

—  tombstone  and  inscription,  266 

—  acquires  Lord  Lindores'  estates,  406 

—  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Newburgh,  248 
Bees,  domestication  of,  60 

Beggars,  laws  against,  233 

—  cripples  carried  from  door  to  door,  250 
Bell,  Laurence,  provost  of  collegiate  church, 

Abernethy,  97 
Bells  of  Lindores  abbey,  132 

—  of  Newburgh,  248 

—  former  use  of  small  bell  at  funerals,  388 
Bellringer  of  Lindores  Abbey,  65 
Benedict,  his  order  of  monks,  45-47 
Benedictines,  Tironensian  order  of,  47-49 

—  their  dress,  80,  note 

Bennie,  53,  412,  419,  424,  426,499,  notes  on, 

433 
Berclay,  John,  chaplain,  511 
Bergamot  pears,  59,  note 
Berkeley,  Sir  David  de,  435 
Berriehoill,  420,  427,  498,  502  ;  notes  on,  446 
Bervie,  424,  notes  on,  460 
Berwick,  93,  213,  469 
Bethune,  the  brothers,  tale  of  '  Bewildered 

Student,'  62,  note 

—  Mary    of    Creich,   one    of    the    Queen's 

Maries,  456 
Bethunes  of  Creich,  456 
Bible,  cost  of,  before  invention  of  printing, 

49,  note 

—  use  of  in  English  prohibited,  119-1:1 

—  sanctioned  1543,  121 

—  common,  for  Abdie  church,  zzz 

Bills  of  exchange  used  by  the  monks,  1 15 


[NDEX. 


Bills,  instances  of,  487 

Black  <  'aim.  6 

Black  Earnside,  battle  of,  87-89.    Sec  Earn- 

E  i 

Blackliall,  415 
Bludewyte,  174,  175 
Blue-gown,  burial  of  a.  232 

—  origin  and  privileges  of,  232 

Blyth,  David,   Earle,  279,  284.      See  'Earl 
Davie.' 

—  John,  toftis  of,  416 
Bi  iddam,  lands  of,  414 
Bon-Chreton  pears,  origin  of,  59,  note 
Bonnets,  monks  of  Lindores  allowed  to  use, 

80,  474 

—  disuse  of  broad  blue,  395 

Boose,  The,  Bowhouses,  16, 417,  notes  on.  447 
Borthwick,  Sir  John,  trial  for  having  New 

Testament  in  English,  121 
Bos primogenius,  skull  of,  2,  9;  note,  550 
Botany  of  Newburgh   and  neighbourhood, 

552-559 
Bovata  of  land,  71,  note 
Bowbuttis,  146,  498 
Boyndes,  lauds  of,  411,  415,  425 
Boys,  Sir  George,  subprior,  510 
Brahoner,  trade  of,  240 
Branding,  punishment  of,  287,  291,  294 
Branks,  purchased,  236 
Bread,  endowment  for  distribution  of,  187, 

511 
Brechin,  468,  470,  471,  472 
Bridal,  damage  to  ale  sellers  by  celebration 

of,  out  of  parish,  213 
Britons,  cohorts  of,  in  Koman  army,  11,  note 
Broch  or  borch,  147 
Brodlands,  416,  419,  422,  498,  502,  433.  1 
Broko,  414 

Broose,  Biding  the,  386 
Brouss  Ysabella,  470 
Buchan,  Alexander  Oumyn,  Earl  of,  473 

—  Isabel,  <  lountess  of,  places  Bruce  on  royal 

1  ■  35° 
her  sufferings  for,  350 

Bull,  seal  of  papal,  .132 
Burgesses,  origin  of  term,  141 

—  privileges  and  duties  of,  146-148 

—  must  ;i]  L,  146 

—  must  own  a  rood  of  land,  146 

—  amenable  onlj  to  their  own  court,  146 

—  lined  for  going  to  another  court,  160 

—  excluded  from  bailieship  because  of  craft, 

165 

—  distinction  between,  and  a  Freeman,  166 

—  deprived  of  freedom  of  burgh,  171 

—  bound  to  attend  burgh  courts,  171,  172 

—  to  reside  \\  ithin  burgh,  184 

Burgh  courts,  beld  every  fortnight,  171 

—  bead  COUrtS,  172 

—  maills,  159,  175,  412.  423.  481,  502 
Burghley,  Lords  Balfour  of,  441,  450,  455 


Burghs,  64 

—  advantages  of,  140,  148 

—  origin  of,  141.  142 
Burials,  in  churches,  249 

—  abuses  at,  2-4.  275 

—  Act  again  numbers  at,  288 
Burnt-witch                   .  379 

tive  of,  253 
Buttersaps,  397 
Butts  for  archery,  146,  498 

CALDCLETJCH,John,mini8terofAbdie,i98 
Calvie,  family  of,  129.  421,  512 
Cambu-  nks  of,  1 19 

<  'aniens  Dionysius,  485 
Campbell,  <  rillascope,  142 

—  Sir  Neil,  91,  93 

Can  and  cuiart,  98,  note 

—  aittis,  504 

Caudles.     So  I  lychwakes 

3,  ancient,  1 
Captives,  collections  for,  251.  252 

—  sufferings  of,  253 

—  trade  in  suppressed,  254 
Cairnie,  lands  of,  4-7 
Cairtward,  499 
Carucate  of  land,  71,  note 
Carpow,  96,  463 

—  Prince  Charles  Edward  Stuart  at,  2-7 

—  old  mansion-houses  of,  2-- 

—  on  Dunmuir  estate,  416,  419,  426,  440 
( iarved  stone  ball,  8 

( 'askeben,  415 

;n  church.  199.  210.  251 
Cathcartsof  Fitcairlie,  family  of,  4:6.  552-4 

—  James,  of  Pitcairlie.  244 
CathMn,  499,  503 

1  laveris,  Dionisius,  513.  514 
Cavers,  Andrew.  Abbot  of  Lindores,  111-115. 
483,487,511 

—  erects  new  chapel  in  Newburgh,  187,  514 
Cavillsmill.  415,  500 

Cellarer  of  abbey,  80,  81 

church,  434 
Chalice,  fragment  of,  13  . 
( 'hallenge,  right  of,  145 
( lhalmer,  1  lionysius,  4N5,  487 
Chamberlain  of  Lindores  abbey,  425 

[town,  414 
ins.  endowment  of,  192,  196 

—  list  of,  529 
Chapmen,  189,  rules  of,  495 

3  1..  charter  to  Newburgh,  153,  525 

—  11.  thanksgiving  for  restoration  1 

—  Edward  Stuart.  Prince,  :"" 
Charters.  Andrew  of  Cuthllgurdi,  1 

—  of  Lindores  abbey,  .;•  - 

—  in  Newburgh  Archives,  512-521 

i  Iheape,  Mr  Jami  s  of  l  h  a  iston,  447.  465 

—  Harry,  yr.  of  Bossie,  4^5 
Ohingil  fishing,  71 


5  lU 


INDEX. 


Christening-bit.     See  Eairn's  piece 
Christmas,  observance  of,  suppressed,  394,395 
Christis  Kirk,  129,  410,  413.  425,  426,  472, 

500,501,504.  See  Bathmuriel 
'  —  on  the  Greue,'  poem  of,  428,  429 
Church,  imprisoned  for  non-attendance  of,  209 

—  disorders  in.  240 

—  seats  in,  moveable,  242 

—  burial  in,  payments  for,  249 

—  ruinous  condition  of,  254 

—  improvements  promoted  by  the,  282 
Churchyard,  consecration  of  Newburgh.  193 
Cistertian  monks,  held  it   sinful  to  talk  on 

ordinary  subjects,  48 

—  invented  signs  to  express  wants,  48,  note 
Clachard  Craig,  plan  of  hill  fort  on,  7 

—  relics  found  on,  8,  9 

—  blasting  of,  and  legend,  15 
Clashbennie,  70 

Claverhouse,  Viscount  Dundee,  460 

■ —  relief  to  one  of  his  troop,  252 

Claviger,  454 

Clayes,  the,  417,  423,  502 

Claypotts,  411,  421,  424,  478,  499,  503  ;  notes 

on,  460 
Cleich,  teind,  413 
Clergy,  complaints  of.  131 

—  number  ejected  in  Fife  at  Eevolution,  266 
Clevage,  413,  419,  426,  433 

Clock  of  Liudores  abbey.  132 

Clothing,  end  of  18th  century.  301 

Close  system,  172,  182,491 

Cloven  Stone,  96 

Clunie,  Easter,  412,  423,  498,  502  ;  notes  on, 

462 
Coals,  late  use  of,  78 

—  payment  for  by  monks  of  Liudores,  418 
Cockstool,  punishment  of,  255,  286 
Coffins,  stone,  in  Liudores  Abbey,  137 

1  '■  ib-rik,  70,  469 

Collessie,  Cullessie,  patronage  of,  77 

—  Danish  names  of  places  near,  78 

—  brewhouse  and  priest's  croft  of,  78 

—  kirk  of,  417,  420,  422,  479,  498,  501,  503 

—  toft  of,  423 

—  mylncroft  of,  427 

—  notes  on  lands  in,  447-452 

—  lands  of,  assigned  to  Marchinond  and  Boss 

heralds,  530 
»'r>lumba,  St,  28-30 

<  iombat,  single,  pleas  at  law  settled  by,  145 
Commendator   of   Lindores,    130-139.     See 

Leslie,  Patrick 
Commerce  of  Scotland,  1502,  115,  155 
Common-gude  lands,  171 

—  importance  of,  1 75 
Common-hill,  benefits  of,  311 
Communion  deferred,  21 1 

—  reconciliation  of  those  at  variance  before 

unsuccessful  instance,  216 


Communion,  absents  from,  to  be  summoned 
236 

—  no  Fast-day  under  Episcopacy  before,  247, 

250 

—  examination  by  minister  before,  250 
Convention  of  Burghs,  Newburgh  summoned 

to,  157 

—  regulations  of,  184 
Coronation  oath,  106 

—  former  persecuting  clauses  of,  107    . 
Cotarii,  452.     Cotlandis,  421 

Cottars,  former  position  of,  61 
Couchers  Knowe,  349 

Court  Boll  of  Begality  of  Lindores,  505-509 
Covenanter,  burying-place  of  a,  431 
Covintre,  John,  of  Mugdrum,  169,  463 
Cowherd's  rig,  311 

Cradle,  superstition  against  use  of  new,  384 
Craigforthie,  425,  500 

Craigie,  Mylton  and  Hilton  of,  101,  411,  421, 
423 ;  note,  460 

—  charter  to,  470,  477,  478,  499,  503 
Craigniill,  412,  419,  423, 427,  498,  503 

—  thirlage  of,  493 
Craig  Sheach,  151,  note 
Craig  Sparrow,  151,  note 
Craigton,  500 

Grail,  Karel,  71,  413,  469,  499 

Crambeth,  Batrick  of,  475 

Craw,  game  of  the,  380 

Crawar,  Paul,  martyr,  105 

Cregtone,  410,  414,  424 

Cremonwche,  415 

Creich  kirk,  rector  of,  102,  note,  41 7,  421 ,  501 

—  dedicated  to  St  Serf,  453,  455 

—  bequest  to  altar  in,  455 

—  vicars  of,  456 

—  ancient  tombstone  in.  456 

—  notes  on  lands  in  parish  of,  450-461 

—  town  of  421  ;  castle  of,  457 
Crichton,  Sir  Bobert,  212 
Crieff,  365,  note 

'  Cried  back.'  superstition  of,  383 

Cripples  carried  from  door  to  door,  250 

Cro.     See  Craw. 

Croftdyke  feus,  498,  503 

Cross,  Macduff,  320.     See  Macduff's  Cross 

—  of  Newburgh,  1 64 

Crosses,  marked  limits  of  sanctuaries,  338 

—  pilgrimages  to,  345 
Cruithneach,  1 1 

Cruivie,  Crovy,  lands  of,  448 
Culdees,  origin  of  name,  29,  and  note 

—  zeal  and  declension  of,  30 

—  of  Abernethy,  463 

—  of  Lochleven,  56,  66,  339 

—  prior  of,  471 
1  'ultra,  463 

Culsalmond,  Culsamuel,  53,  414,  426,  430, 468, 
501,504 

—  Kirkton  of  410,  418,  425,  notes  on  430 


INDEX. 


<  luningrove,  53 

Cupar.  1  :  collection 

by  fire  in,  24X 

—  court  of  Law  of  <  'Ian  Macduff  at,  341 

—  castle  and  constable  of,  453 

—  annuals  of.  413.  491.  499 
Ourrac 

Custom,  malt  and  meal,  41 1 

—  wedder,  41 1 

ms  of  Newburgh,  19".  279 
Cuyk,  Sir  John,  chaplain,  516,  519,  52c 
Gweterstone,  414 

DA  I'M  VI.Xi:.  41-.  42-.  42-  :  notes  on,  449 
Dal-a-carey,  battle  of,  86 
rruptions  of,  534 
Danish  settlements  near  Culles 
David  11.,  96,  4-7,  478 

—  marched  in  triumph  through  London,  97 

—  at  Lindores  Abbey,  98 

—  Earl  of  Huntingdon.     See  Huntingdon 
Dearth,  end  of  17th  century,  267 

—  sufferings  of  the  poor,  267 

—  efforts  of  kirk-sessions  during,  268 
Defamation,  viva  voce  apology  for,  al 

296 
Demperstoun,  421  ;  notes  on,  455 
Denmilu  forfeited  by  Duke  of  Albany.  554 

—  acquired  by  Balfours,  354 

—  Abbey,  rental  from,  412.  499 

—  teinds  of,  416.  419.  423  ;  notes  oi  . 

le,  353-j"7-     See  Balfours  of 

—  Led  ly  1  t.  382 

Derach  laud,  of  Creicb,  413,  423,  .; 

—  antiquity  of  nan 

—  notes  on,  461 

—  of  [nsch,  500 

Dergi  ,  ori  168 

—  drinking  at,  2-5 

lie,  I  >nglj  1  -  ; 

titer  of  founder   of 
Lindores  Abbey,  39 

—  founds  Sweetheart  Abbey,  40 

—  and  Bali  I  Ixford,  40 
Dirim  ,  beqi  167 
Di8blair,  339,  340,410.411,418,425,426,431, 

500 
Dorno,  Mylton  of,  414 

as,  James,  ninth  Earl  of,  1 12-1 14 

Den, 151 
.  ud  of  eight  euth  century,  395,  396 

—  of  old  women  at  church,  396 
Drimmeis,  415 
Drinkmoney,  216.  238 

Droula 

!  J'.   252 

1.    l8 

Drumdorne.  414 

.  414 
Drummond,  Jami 


Drunitcnnent,  417,  42c,  427;  notes  on,  449 
Drymi  -  426 

Dudhope,  133 

Dunbarney,  college  and  hospital  of.  432 
Dunbarton,  collection  for  bridge  at,  255 
Dunberauch,  Dunbarry,  94. 
Dunblane,  bi  7,  194,  473 

Dunboig,  Dunbulg,  Bali 

—  vicars  of,  435.  491 

—  church  of,  463 
Duncastone,  414 
Dundee.  35.  and  note 

—  church  of,  53 

—  first  mention  of,  55,  468 

—  first  recorded  paStOT  of.  56 

—  early  m >ti a  in,  56 

—  stipend  of  vicar.  5-.  4-2-4-2 

—  rents  in.  assigned  by  Liudoi 

of  Rothesay,  121 

—  choir  of  church,  building  and  upholding 

of,  107,  484 

—  annuals  and  vicarage  of,  412.  413.  424 

—  revenue  from  kirk  of,  418,  426 

—  clerk  of,  484 

—  bailie  of,  484,  491 

—  Vicars,  lands  of,  499 

—  Abbot's  wynd  in,  499.  301.  5:3 

—  Abbot's  barn  in,  503 

—  Albert  of,     7 
Dundemor  chapel,  468 

Dundemores  tore,  family  of,  85, 

434-5.  472.  4-5.       See  Dull!-. 

online,  63  j  note,  84,  85.  148.  1 
conveyed  to  fields  in  panniers,  52^ 
Dunkeld,  424,  486 

;  'iinmuir,  bill  fort 

—  teinds  of,  415.  419.  422,  426 

—  old  chapel  of,  433 

-  Lyon  King  of  Arms,  fee  from,  435 

—  old  mansion  of,  43- 

ads  and  proprietors  of,  433-440 
Dunnidure,  414 

Lnnan,  fori  on  vitrified,  323 

—  relic  found  on,  323.  1 
Durham,  battle  of,  96 

—  prior  of,       ;  Abbey,  73 
Durnach.     Si  och 
Dyeing,  clot  r.  156 
Dysart,  254.  448.  4S3 

•  EARL  DAVIE,'  2-8,  2S4 
Earnside,  forest  of,  51, 

quarry  of,  53 


—  etymologj 

' 


Black 
Edinbui 

I 

!   .   132 


506 


INDEX. 


Edinburgh,  collection  for  fire  in,  239 

—  Infirmary  and  Botanic  Garden  of,  369 
Edward  I.  at  Lindores  abbey,  83,  84,  85-90 
Education,  meagre  endowment  of  higher,  in 

Scotland,  135,  note 

—  promotion  of  by  kirk-session,  232,  282 
Egclisbaunyn.     See  Clashbennie 
Eglisinagwll.     See  Exmagirdle 
Eistwood,  423,  498,  502 

Elders,  censured,  206 

—  to  visit  the  town  during  sermon,  236,  263 

—  reconciliation  of,  239 
Elcho,  Prioress  of,  440 
Elclin,  preparation  of,  396 

Elizabeth,  Princess,  her  fate  and  monument, 

260 
Elpinslau,  fishing  of,  71 
English  in  church,  211,  238 
Episcopacy,  order  of  worship  under,  241 
Errol,  church  of,  463 ;  rector  of,  476 
Excommunication,  papal,  72 

—  form  and  terms  of,  73,  74 

—  of  Andrew  Anderson,  206 

—  father  to  appear  before  pulpit  for  praying 

with  son  under,  207 

—  of  Hepburn  of  Atherstane,  212 

—  fellowship  forbidden  with  those  under,  248 
Exmagirdle,  112,  412,  419,  421,  424,  483,  499, 

503.  524 

—  kirk  of,  426,  notes  on,  431 

—  reader  of,  432,  501 

Eyemouth,  collection  for  harbour  of,  251 

PAIRS,  privileges  of,  143,  144 
Falkland,  67,  157 

—  Abbots  lodging  in,  41 3,  423, 462,  499,  503 
Famines  in  Scotland,  96,  267,  271 

—  price  of  food  during,  272 

—  exertions  of  kirk-sessions  during.  272 
Fast-days  on  Sunday,  238,  243 

—  objections  to,  243 

—  for  public  events,  246,  247,  252,  256 
Feddellis,  53,  54,  412,  419.  424,  426,  499,  503  ; 

notes  on,  433 
Fenton,  Sir  "William,  83 
Ferryboat  on  Tay,  498,  502 

—  on  Don,  500 
Ferrietown,  41 1,  424,  503 
Fernie,  William  of,  460 
Festivals  of  patron  saints,  191 
Fife,  origin  of  name,  14 

—  '  Kingdom  of,'  14 

—  Earl  of,  14.  323.     See  Macduff 

—  Duncan,  Earl  of,  96,  97,  476 

Filth  of  towns  in  16th  and  17th  centuries, 

291-293 
Fincraig,  162 
Fintray,  Fentrith,  53,  411,  415  ;  notes  on,  431 

—  summer  seat  of  Abbot  of  Lindores  at,  189 

—  barony  of,  421  ;  Haltoun  of,  425,  500 

—  kirk  of,  426,  468,  501 


Fintray,  forest  of,  469 

Fire,  calamitous,  in  Newburgh,  256 

Fisherhill,  41 1 

Fishings,- salmon,  in  Tay,  71,  468,  502 

—  in  Esk  and  in  Don,  500 
Flawcraig,  178,  542 
Flenders,  410,  413,  425.  504 
Flisk.  church  of,  336,  463 
Folklore,  378-402 

Forgo wne,  412 

Forty  shilling  freehold,  extent  of,  454 

Fothi  ringhay  Castle,  present   condition 

39,40 
Forbes,  Lord,  426 
Forret,  413,  419,  423  ;  notes  on,  433 

—  Lord.     See  Balfour,  David 
Fostersaitt,  500 

Four  Burghs,  the,  180,  182 

Forfar,  71,  469 

Fraser,  Sir  Simon,  83 

Free-forest,  79 

Freeman,  payment  for  privileges  of,  165 

—  distinction  between  and  burgess,  166 
Free-quarters,  travelling  at,  98,  99 
Free-warren,  83 

Frieland,  the,  416,  419  ;  note  on,  442 

Friertown.  421 

Frisians,  early  immigration  of,  16 

Frosts,  severe,  239,  245,  251,  256,  271 

Fruit  yairdis,  423 

Fuel,  preparation  of,  396 

Funeral  rites,  ancient,  20-26 

Funerals,  use  of  torches  at.  2^3 

—  crowds  of  beggars  at,  274 

—  intemperance  at,  275 

—  act  to  restrict  numbers  at.  355 

—  accustomed  road  kept,  387 

—  women  attended,  388 

—  nse  of  small  bell  at,  388 
Futtey,  500 

GAELIC,  when  spoken  in  Fife,  15 
Gairdner,  Grizel,   her   trial   for   witchcraft, 

219-222 
Garioch,  Chapel  of.     See  Logydornoch 
Gaskingrai,  83 

Gates  or  ports  of  Newburgh,  312,  3:3 
Geology  of  neighbourhood  of  Newburgh,  548 
Gervisland,  421  ;  notes  on,  454 
Gibson,  Sir  Edward  of  Keirhill,  441 
Gilds,  medieval,  95,  200,  273 
Gillimichael,  hermit,  70 
Girths.     See  Sanctuary 
Glammis,  John,  Lord,  decision  of,  178-182 
Glass,  fragments   of   windows   of   Lindores 

abbey,  139,  note 
Glenduckie,  293,  437,  460 
Goat,  Katie's,  16,  note 
Graham,  Patrick,  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews, 

character  and  sufferings  of,  109,  no 
Grain,  price  of  in  13th  and  14th  centuries. 


INDEX. 


Grange,  the,  61 

—  of  Liudores,  62,  412,  420,  422,  498,  502 

brewhouso  of,  413,  423,  498,  502 

tcinds  of,  41 7 ;  barony  of,  42a 

notes  on,  446,  461 

jer,  the,  61 
Grant,  Mr  "William,  minister  of  Newburgh, 
265 

—  refuses  to  pray  for  William  as  king-,  265 

—  ejected,  266 

Gravel,  prevalence  of  disease  of,  247,  248 

Green  Law,  the,  26 

Gresmen,  position  of,  452 

Guallo,  Legate,  7  z-  -4 

Guidman,  title  of,  199 

Guido,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  38,  52,  71,  -2.  74, 

75 
Guisers.     See  Singin'  E'en 
Gyffart,  Andrew,  bailie,  515,  516 

HACKELBIBNIE,  origin  of  term,  378 
Haggis  market,  189 

Halhill,  417,  420,  427,  465  ;  notes  on,  447 
Hallowe'en,  customs  on,  388 

—  peculiar  custom  iu  Newburgh  on,  389 

—  origin  of.  388-390 
Halket.  Lady.     See  I'itfirran 
Haltonhill,  498,  502 
Halwitstoiiis,  499,  503 
Hamilton,  Patrick,  martyr,  118-120 
Hancbnills,  use  of,  60 
Handsel-Monday,  remote  antiquity  of,  393 

—  peculiar  custom  iu  Newburgh  on,  393 
II  a  re-slack,  etymology  of,  151 
Harlaw,  414 

Hasp  and  staple  as  symbols,  273 
Hatbinton,  David,  charter  in  favour  of,  185, 

485,  S13 

—  engraving  of  seal  attached  to,  185 

—  Isabella,  515,  516,  518,  519 

Ilauch,  the,  419,  422,  423,  426 ;  note  on,  433 
Ha^  472 

David  de,  of  Enrol,  bestows  Balmon  iish- 

ings  on  Li  ■  ~  ■■  47° 
slain  at  Durham.  96 

—  Gilbert 

—  Sir  Gilbert  de.  of  Enrol,  his  vow  at  Lin- 

dores abbey,  91 

adheres  to  Brace,  92 

led  ic  Bannockbura,  92 

High  Constable  of  Scotland,  92 

rto  the  Pope,  92 

Hay,  William,  of  Enrol,  469 

imily  of,  534-542 

—  —  Naughton,  537 
Head  Courts  of  Burghs,  171 

—  every  b  md  to  attend,  t-i 

-    h-'Ilie.  41O 

tderlick,  410,  425.  500 
Hedderwi        -  .  -125 

Heicham,  523 


Hell-shoon,  put  on  dead,  z- 

Henry,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  117,  118,  4S7.  515 

—  Prince,  467 

Hepburn  if  Arthurstane,  212 
Hereyelde,  1-5 

Hereditary  jurisdictions,  abolition  of,  283 
Heretical  books  condemned.  1 22 
Heritors,  to  outreak  milil 

—  to  attend  King's  host,  James  vn.  : 

ringhay,  40 

—  at  Inchmichael,  70,  note 

Herrings   carried   yearly  from   Glasgow   to 

Lindores  Abbey.  433 
Highland  troops  in  Newburgh  1715,  268,  269 

—  account  for  maintenance  of,  269 

—  thanksgiving  for  defeat  of,  270 

—  in   1745.  kirk-session  pay  messenger  U> 

bring  news  of,  276 

—  incident  of,  276 

—  exactions 
Hileud,  411,  503 
Hill  forts.  5,  6,  7 
Hilton  hill,  420 

Hogmanay,  391.     See  Singin'  E'en 
Holiday,  Saturday  half,  formerly  universal, 

199,  200 
Hooping-cough,  primitive  cure  for,  396 
Horesti,  inhabited  Fife,  11 

—  drafted  into  the  Roman  army,  n 

—  relic  of  their  occupation  on  the  Rhine,  1 1 

—  inscription  and  illustration  of,  1 1 
Horse-shoes,  superstitious  use  of,  385 
Howe,  heaped  over  the  dead.  20 
Huntingdon,  Honor  of,  how  acquired  by  R  val 

family  of  Scotland.  38 

—  David,  Earl  of,  his  birth  and  ancestry,  53 

—  joined  Crusade,  54 

—  founds  Lindores  Abbey,  36,  467 

—  hero  of  '  The  Talisman,'  36 

—  marries  Matilda  of  < 

—  supports  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion,  38,  41 

—  bore  •  bis  coronab 

—  residence  al  Pothi  ringhay,  39 

—  at  funeral  of  his  brother  Wiffiai 

42 

—  at  coronation  of  Alexander  II..  42 

—  his  death  at  Vardh-y.  42 

—  buried  in  Sawtrey  Alley,  43 

—  his  seal,  illustration  of,  44 

—  his  descendants  ascend  the  throne.  44 

—  two  of   bis  children  buried  in    Lind 

Abbey,  43.  138 

—  their  coffins  extant,  139.  ami  note 

—  charters  to  Lindores  Abbey  by,  467. 
Hurricane,  destructive,  270 
Husband!,  of,  61 

Hut-i  ircles,  5 

[MAGES,  their  materia 
Inchmalow,  170 
Inchmartin,  5'' 


5G8 


INDEX. 


Inclmiichael,  origin  of  name,  70,  note 

Inchrye,  26,  416,  426 ;  notes  on,  442 

Inchyra,  Inchesirytnj  fishings  of,  71,  note 

Independence,  battles  of  war  of,  near  Lin- 
dores, 86,  87 

Industrial  pursuits,  299-313 

Inneraritie,  412,  424,  499;  notes  on,  462 

Insch,  Inchmabanin,  53,  129,  410,  413,  418, 
425,  426,  500,  501 ;  notes  on,  429 

Inverbervy,  36 

Inverdovate,  542 

Inverkeithing,  466 

Invernetby,  444,  463.  523 

Inverpeffer,  Patrick  of,  101 

Inverurie,  53,  411,  418,  425,  500,  501  ;  notes 
on,  431 

—  kirk  of,  415,  425,  468 

—  kirkton  of,  415  ;  Newton  of,  415 
Irnsyde.     See  Earnside 
Itinerant  preachers,  399 

JAMES  1.  and  in.  exhort  reform  of  monas- 
teries, in 

—  it.,  bis    encouragement    of    music   and 

poetry,  189,  190 

—  Til.,  birthday  kept,  259 

—  of  Eossy,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  107,  108 
John,  second  Abbot  of  Lindores,  75,  528 

—  fourth  79-  52i> 

82.128 

108,528 

—  confirms   privileges  of  the   burgesses   of 

Newbiugh,  108,  479 

—  charter  to  Wodrife  lauds  by,  108,  479 

—  offers  reward  for  more  devout  celebration 

of  divine  worship,  109,  483 

—  Philp,  Abbot  of  Lindores,   118,  122,521, 

528 

—  administrator  of  Kelso  Abbey,  122 

—  Lord  of  Session,  122 

—  favoured  Keformed  doctrines,  124 

—  assents  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1 24 

—  charter  to  White  Park  by,  488 

—  assedation  of  the  Bailiery  of  Lindores  by, 

521-523 

—  Steele,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  100,  528 
Johuestown,  414 

Jehu's  Leis,  414 

1  Johnny  Trotter,'  tale  of,  378 

Joigs,  punishment  of,  255 

—  to  stand  in  with  sheepskin  about,  290,  294 

—  with  kipper  around  neck,  296 
Jutland,  idiom  of,  in  Newburgh,  16 

KAIN.    See  Can 

Keth,  .sir  Robert  of,  Justiciar,  152,474 
Kelly,  425,  500 
Kelso  Abbey,  53,  61,  122,  468 
Kelalcmund.     See  Kennethmont 
Kennethmont,  53, 41 3,  425,  426, 468,  498,  501 
notes  od,  428 


Kettle,  Ketil,  16,  148,  note 

Key,  Katherine,  trial  of,  for  -witchcraft.  223- 

227 
Kilgour,  John,  town-clerk,  177 
Kilmarnock,  collection  for  hre  at,  249 
Kilmukis,  411,  500 
Kilspinecli,  83 

Kilwhiss,  417,  420,  425  ;  notes  on,  451 
Kindly  tenants,  186 
Kingorne,  471 
King's  medow,  498,  502 
Kinloch,  75,  76,  417,  420,  498,  503 

—  tenants  and  cottars  of,  61 

—  moor  of,  75,  78  ;  charter  to,  475 

—  toft  in,  413,  423,  427 

—  notes  on,  449 

—  John  of,  460 

—  Margaret  of,  448 

—  Thomas,  and  Highlanders  of  1745,  277 
Kinmok,  425 

Kinnaird,4i6,  419,  422,426,  498;  notes  on,  440 

—  in  Carse  of  Gowrie,  542 
Kinnynmond,  Malise  of,  460 
Kinross,  475,  483 
Kinsleith,  421 ;  notes  on,  460 
Kirkhill,  410,  424 

Kirk-roads,  use  of  for  funerals,  387 
Kirk-sessions   of  Abdie  and   Newburgh, 
records  of,  231-264 

—  efforts  of,  for  relief  of  poor,  268,  281 
Kitchen-fee,  413 

Knockaberde,  414 

Knockablewis.  415 

Knockallathie,  415 

Knox,  John,  at  Lindores  Abbey,  123 

Kow  Inches,  423,  498 

Kyggisholl,  412 

Kyllar,  41 1 

Kynloss,  Abbot  of,  473 

Kynnere,  John  of,  460 

LADYBANK,  origin  of  name,  78 
Laing,  James,  murder  of,  211 

Laing,  Robert,  minister  of  Newburgh,  462 
Land,  transfer  of,  fifteenth  century,  185 
Langcruk,  41 1,  500 
Langforgonde,  36  ;  note 
Lathrisk,  Latheresk,  76,  note 

—  "William  of,  85 

Lawrence,  official  of  Lindores,  103,  106,  456 

—  his  condemnation  of  Kesby,  103 

—  one   of  the   originators   of  St   Andrews 

University,  107 
Law,  applied  to  heights,  16  ;  origin  of,  24 
Lawborrows  demanded,  162,  173 
Lawfield,  417,  420,  427;  note  on,  449 
Lawson,  Richard,  monk,  510 

—  Sir  Lawrence,  chaplain,  514,  517,  519 
Lay-proprietors  and  Keformed  Church,  131 
Leases  of  lauds,  1 12,  483,  485 
Lecturer's  Inch,  the,  66 


INDEX. 


Lcdinghamo,  500,  504 

Lergies,  410  ;  Largie,  504,  504 

Leslie,  in  the  Garioch,  411,  418,  500,  504 

—  Mains  of  Aul'l,  414 

—  facsimile  of  tack  of,  430 

—  kirk  of,  426 ;  notes  on,  429 

—  of  Aucntermuchty,  454 

—  Andrew,  of  Lumbenny,  406 

—  David.     See  Newark,  Lord 

—  Mr   James,   schoolmaster   of   Newburgh, 

196,  201 
minister  of  Newburgh,  203,  205 

—  James,  Rector  of  Eotbes,  523 

—  Job  1  Uoss.  Abbot  of  Lindores, 

125-128 

summoned  to  answer  for  bis  opinions, 

125 

dispatched  to  France,  126 

returns  with  Queen  Mary,  126 

follows  her  to  England.  126 

imprisoned  in  the  Tower,  126 

inscription  on  cell  in,  by,  126 

Lis  writings  and  portrait,  127,  128, note 

Mary  intercedes  with  Philip  of  Spain 

for,  127 

inscription  on  his  monument,  128 

of  Parkhill,  abets  nmrder  of  Cardinal 

Beaton,  445 

—  George,  in  Heicham,  523 

Ludovic,  serves  under  Gustavus  Adol- 

phns,  212,  213,  404,  465 

—  Sir   Patrick,  commendator   of   Lindores, 

130,  133,  403,  404 

,  .Mains  lands  (if  Lindores  Abbey,  133 

created  Lord  Lindores,  134 

conveys  customs   of   Newburgh  to 

town,  196 

Royal  <  'barter  in  favour  of,  498 

Leslies  ot  Lindores,  403-409 
of  Lumquhat,  450 

—  Earls  of  Uothes.     See  Rol 
Lethentie,  414 

Leuchars,  ancient  proprietors  of,  76 

—  church  erected  by,  76 

Libraries  of  monasteries,  destruction  of,  123, 

Lickerstanes,  66,  note 

Liddinghame,  425.  500,  504 

Lights  at  tombs,  endowments  for,  94,  434,  511 

—  former  importance  1  1.  95,  173 

—  the  poor  united  in  1  ovide,  95 
_L                           ax-lights,  95,  note 

Lindores  Abbey,  foundation.  335  date  of,  38 

to  whom  di  17,  467 

si_>.  round  plan.  52 

endowments,  53,  68,  70,  71,  467 

revenues,  5X,  1 32 

derivation  of  nan 

grant  of  fri 

monks  permitted  to  w  eai  bonneti  , 

1  ince  Alexander  at,  81 


Abbey,  Edward  I.  at,  83,  84 

Wallace  at,  89 

vow  in,  to  defend  Brace,  91,  92 

Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Crawford  retires 

to,  94 

David,  Duk  y  buried  in,  100 

James,  Earl  of  Douglas  in.  112 

lands  erected  into  a  Regality,  117 

sacked  by  a  mob  from  Dundee.  122 

Reformed  service  in,  124,  and  note 

condition  of  monks  after  the  Reforma- 
tion, 131 

revenue  from,  assigned  to   Castle   of 

Edinburgh,  132 

clock  and  bells  of,  132 

revenue  of,  appropriated,  132 

money  raised  for  reparation  of  church 

of,  133 

dissolution  of  abbacy.  134 

buildings  made  a  quarry  of,  136.  137. and 

note 

coffins  of  founder's  children  in,  138 

relics  and  tr  uud  in,  156-139 

carved  panels  from,  139 

old  quarrier  of,  rewarded,  185,  485 

seal  of  chapter  of,  185 

old  rental  of,  410,  418 

later  rental  of,  132 ;  note,  418-417 

notes  on  latter,  428-466 

lands  around  precints  of,  462 

chartulary  of,  467 

abstracts  of  charters,  467-488 

names  of  monks.  45;.  4-9.  5:3 

memorandum  of  furniture  m, 

list  of  Abbots  of,  528 

altars  in,  529 

—  Castle,  86 

—  sculptured  stone  at,  314 

—  Auld,4i3,  416.  419.  425  ;  notes  on,  442 

—  Lords.  Si  e  Li  sliesof  Lindores,  and  Leslie, 

Patrick 
Lindsay,  sif  David,  of  Crawford, 
last  days  in  Lindores  Abbey,  94 

—  provides  for  wax-light  at  hi-  v,  if 

there,  94,  477 

LyonKinu- of  Arms,  influenc 

'writings.  122.  436 

fee  out  of  Dunmuir,  455 

Luthrie,  459 

;  :  -  -  of  KtlwI.N-.  451 

l.iel.  Sir  John,  chaplain,  512,  519 

Linen,  manufactui 

—  prizes  to  hou-ev.  . 

—  spin  ■'■  3°° 
_  uv:i'                    I  from  abroa 

—  domestic  Bervants  bound  to  -pin,  300 

—  competition.- in  .-pinning.  5:1 

—  weavers    taken    bound  to    make   I 

go,,.!.-.  5   : 
ifficient  web  1 

—  dead  must  bo  buried  in  Scottish  ! 


570 


INDEX. 


Lint,  premiums  for  cultivation  of,  300 
Literature,  popular,  fifty  years  ago,  401 
Livingstones,  Earls  of  Newburgh,  542-547 
Locbleven,  effects  of  hurricane  at,  270 

—  Guldees  of,  56,  66,  339 
Lochmalony,  Allan  of,  460 
Lochmill,  445 
Lochtullo,4i5 

Logie,  Eife,  365 

Logydornoch,  53,  410,  414,  418,  425,  500,  504 

—  now  Chapel  of  Garioch,  500,  501 
Logyfyntray,  118,  410,  425 
Lollards,  persecution  of,  104 
Lomonds,  85,  note 

Londors  Church,  66,  67,  336.     See  Ahdie 
London  95  ;  fast  for  plague  of,  247 
Longisward,  421 
Lornie,  70,  note 
Loupin-on-stanes,  400 
Lumbenny,  15,  85,  195,  406 

—  Wester,  377,  445 

Liunquhat,  413,  420,  498,  502 ;  notes  on,  450 
Lundoris,  the  lutare,  190 
Luthrie,  421 ;  notes  on,  459 

—  David  of,  472 
Lychwakes,  charges  at,  272,  273 

—  origin  and  etymology  of,  273 

—  abuses  of,  274 

—  resolutions  against,  275 

MACDUFF,  Thane  of  Fife,  flight  and  escape 
of,  323-326 

—  privileges  conferred  on,  326,  337,  342,  350 
exercised,  350 

—  Law  of  clan,  judges  of,  337 

benefit  of,  claimed,  346,  347 

Macduff's  Cross,  320-352 

Magpies,  antiquity  of  superstition  connected 

witb,  385 
Magridin,  St,  66,  334-338 

—  his  connection  with  Cross  Macduff,  337 
Malcumson,  Sir  John,  192,  51 1,  512,  513,  514, 

5,6 
Malingside,  410,  414,  425,  500,  504 
Maitland,  Admiral  Sir  Frederick,  443 
Manufactures,  former  low  condition  of,  156. 

See  Linen 
Manuscripts,  ancient,  49 

—  destruction  of,  123 

Mar,  Orabile,  Countess  of,  76 

—  Isabella  of  Douglas,  Lady  of,  478 
Marcary,  411,  500,  504 
Marcbmond  Herald,  530 

Margaret,  Queen,  her  Christian  work,  31 

—  her  tomb,  85,  note 

Mario  croft,  the,  412,  416,  419,  423,  427,  498, 

5°3 

—  notes  on,  446,  462 
Marislands,  454,  575 

Markincb,  terraces  and  playfield  at,  5 

—  serfs  buried  in  churchyard,  63,  note 


Markinch,  Edward  I.  at,  84 

—  church  of,  84,  note,  339 

—  Stob  Cross  of,  338 

— -  the  Holy  ground  of,  341 
Marriage,  pledges  lodged  before  proclamation 
of,  213,  214,  238 

—  bride  refuses  to  complete,  244,  245 

—  kirk-session  allows  bridegroom  to  marry 

another,  245 

—  wife  compelled  to  renew  written  contract, 

286 

—  expenses  and  numbers  at,  restricted,  288 

—  origin  of  throwing  old  shoes,  385 

—  '  Biding  the  Broose,'  at,  386 

—  other  customs  at,  387 
Marrow-bones  lent,  396 
Master,  title  of,  to  whom  due,  167 
Master-weavers,  302 

Masters,  ancient  liability  of,  for  servants,  167 

Mass,  punishments  for  celebration  of,  1 20 

Meadows,  417 

Measirre,  want  of  standard,  182 

Melville,  Sir  John  of  Glenbervie,  murder  of 

347 

—  Sir  Eobert  of  Monmail,  1 1 1 
Menegre,  475 

Menesgr-een,  417,  420,  427;  notes  on,  449 

Merchet,  174,  175 

Mernis,  barony  of,  421 

Merston,  Mairstone,  417,  420,  427;  notes  on 

449>  575 
Michaelmas  Head  Court,  1 72 
Middens  on  public  streets,  291 
Middleton,  John,  Earl  of,  215 
Militia,  calling  out  of,  1688,  263 
Mills,  corn,  introduced  by  monks,  60 

—  working  of,  on  Sabbath,  201 
Miln  Walter,  martyr,  1 23 
Miracle  plays,  5 

Monimail,  85,  m,  note,  252,  466 
Moncrieff ,  James  of,  49 1 

—  John  of,  173 

—  of  Beidie,  365,  375 

—  George,  of  Tybermollocke,  112,  483 

—  kirk  of,  432 

Monkegie,  53,  411,  415,  418,  425,  426,  432, 

468,  500 ;  notes  on,  431 
Monks,  maintenance  of,  after  Bef ormation,  1 30 

—  names  of,  430,  479,  523 
Monksmoss,  499,  503 
Monkswell,  15,  note 
Montrose,  71,  469,  471 

—  collection  for  distressed  merchants  in,  251 
Moravia,  Sir  Alexander  de,  346 
Mostoun,  504 

Mote.     See  Head  Court 
Mothel.     See  Muthil 
Moubray,  Philipa,  477 

Mugdnun,  15,  115,  198,  212,  277;  notes  on 
462-466 

—  lairds  of,  161,  169,  212 


INDEX. 


571 


Mugdrum  cross,  sculptures  on,  318 
dimensions  of,  318,  note 

—  probable  date  of  erection,  319 

—  etymology  of,  319 

—  island,  land  and  fishings  of,  70,212,404, 

465,  468,  469,  498 
Muir,  Sir  Patrick,  chaplain,  512 
Multir  meal,  502 
Murdocairny,  1 1 1 ;  note,  520 
Murray,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  Abdie,  202, 

204 

—  created  Lord  Balvaird,  204,  440 

—  Lord  George,  resides  at  Mugdrum,  277 

grant  to  b  of  Newburgh,  277 

joins  the  Chevalier,  278 

his  humanity  at  Prestonpans,  278 

facsimile  of  letter  of,  278 

incident  with  burgess  of  Newburgh,  278 

his  career  and  death,  278 

Mnrrays  of  Ayton,  439 

Music,  rewards  for,  109,  190 

Muthil  church,  53,  466,  469 

Mydford,  William,  vicar  of  Dundee,  57,  471, 

472 
Mylhill,  427,  447 
Myres,  421  ;  notes  on,  454 

NAUCHTON,  Hays  of,  537;  lands  of,  542 
Newark,  David  Leslie,  Lord,  212,  405 
Newburgh,  peculiar  idiom  in,  traceable  to 
Jutland,  16 

—  privileges  of,  confirmed,  108,  149,  479 

—  Regality  Court  of  Lindores,  held  in,  118,174 

—  original  charter,  142 

—  burgesses    bound    to    appear   under    the 

abbot's  banner,  148,  183 

—  archaic  names  of  burgh  boundaries,  150 

—  charters  confirmed  by  James  vi.,  151.  524 
—  —  i5i>5z5 

—  disputes  between  abbot    and  burgesses, 

152.474,491-495 

—  court-book  of  1459,  153,  T55-176 

—  penalties  for  passing  to  another  court,  160 

—  cross,  repair  of,  164 

—  magistrate  objected  to  because  of  his  craft, 

164 

—  great  oath  taken  to  defend  the  common- 

good,  171 

—  freemen  raising  action  against  bailies  to 

lose  freedom  of  burgh,  1-5 

—  disjunction  from  Abdie  parish,  200- 204 

—  meal  -enl   from,  to  royal  army,  209 

—  300  English  soldiers  in,  21  1 

—  expulsion  of  thieves  from,  215 

—  calamitou  1  fire  in,  257 

privy  •  louncil  sanctions©  For.  257 

—  Highland  troopn  quartered,  1715.  in,  269 

—  tow  a's  account  for  raaintei  ance  of,  269 

—  thanksgiving  for  defeat  of,  270 

—  kirk-session  records  of,  210-282 

1  of,  196,  201,  518,  529 


Newburgh  Highlanders  of  1745  in.  2--   17 

—  Lord  Lindores  claims  power  in  elections, 

287 

—  tramping  clothes  on  street,  294 

—  manufactures  of.     See  Linen 

—  trim Is  and  teind  sheaves  of,  416,  423,  427 

—  weekly  market,  481,  500 

—  abstracts  of  charters  in  archives  of,  510-521 

—  geology  of  neighbourhood  of,  548-552 

—  botany  of  neighbourhood  of,  552-559 

—  Earls  of.    See  Livingstones. 

—  parish  of,  presbyteriaJ  visitation,  198 

erected  into  a  separate  parish,  202,  204 

family  pews  in  church  of,  allotted,  212 

moveable,  242 

ruinous  condition  of  church,  254 

stipend  of,  501 

Newton  of  Cullessy,  417,  427;  notes  on,  447 
Newtyle,  71,  421,  499,  502,  503:  note  on,  460 
Newspapers,  circulation  of, fifty  years  ago,  401 
Nicholas,  abbot  of  Lindores,  80 
Nine,  mystic  importance  attached  to,  344 

—  instances  of,  343.  344 
Ninewells,  traditionary  use  of,  342 
Nonjuring  clergy,  prohibited  from  exercising 

ministerial  functions,  266 

—  to  suffer  imprisonment,  and  finally  banish- 

ment, 267 
Norman's  Law,  6,  25,  433 
Nome's  Law,  20 
Norse  tril.ies.  religion  of,  19-26 

—  funeral  rites  of,  20-23 

—  irruptions  of,  535 
Northampton,  collection  for  fire  in.  240 

ODIN'S  mark,  26 

Odran.     See  Magridin 

Officiaris  lands,  41 1 

Old  customs,  378-402 

<  >id  women,  dress  of,  at  church,  396 

Olifard,  Walter,  469 

Oliphant,  John,  of  Carpow,  277 

—  —  .  114 

—  Laurence,  minister  of  Newburgh,  1 

228 

—  William,  of  Balgonie,  212 
Orabile.  Countess  of  Mai 

trds  of  Lindores  Abbey,  498,  5  2 

ds,  trial  by,  145 

relics  of,  389 

Orme,  David,  minister  of  Monimail,  152,466 

—  Stephen,  1 15.  488 

of  Mfugdrum,  115.  212.  463 
_  of  Newburgh,  514,  515,  516 
Ormiston,  122,420,  465,  488,  498,502;  notes 
on,  447 

■   7 

PANELS,  carved,  139;  note.  49° 
Panter,   Patrick,  abbot  of  Oambn  ' 


572 


INDEX. 


Taper-making  successfully  introduced,  370 
Parbroith,  421 ;  uotes  on,  457-459 

—  chapel  of,  456 

Parkhill,   108,  416,419,  426,  498,  502;  uotes 

on,  445 
Pasck  Head-Court,  172 
Patersons  of  Dunmuir,  435-437 
Patron  saints,  festivals  of,  191 
'  Peace  of  the  Fail-,'  The,  144 
Pear  trees,  large,  at  Lindores  Abbey,  51 

—  origin  of  kinds  of,  59 
Peatery,  former  importance  of,  75 
Penance,  instance  of,  239 

Penalties  imposed  by  kirk-session,  239,  285 

Penny  weddings,  289 

Pentie,  origin  of  name,  65,  note 

Perth,  St  John's  church  of,  114,  249,  495 

—  Preaching  friars  of,  473 

—  tenements  in,  412,  424,  469,  499 

—  burgesses  of,  115,  487.  491 

—  provost  of,  182,  486,  491-495 

—  Kobert  of,  474 
Petbie,  414 

Petcarne,  Andrew  of  Invernethy,  523 

—  lands  of,  412 
Petceppil,  415 
Petcunerty,  417 
Petenlouer,  463 

Peterhead,  collection  for  harbour  of,  251 

Pettenhous,  41 1 

Pettodertie,  415 

Philp,  Sir  James,  curate  of  Abdie,  167 

—  James,  of  Berriehoill,  446 

—  John,  clerk  of  the  regality  of  Lindores,  177 

abbot  of  Lindores.     See  John  Philp 

vicar  of  Logydorno,  430 

—  James,  of  Ormiston,  122,  448 

bequests  of,  to  poor  of  Newburgh,  237 

—  —  croft  of,  426 

—  Patrick,  bequest  to  poor  of  Newburgh,  210 

—  Stephen,  burgess  of  Edinburgh,  163 

—  Thomas,  5 1 1 

Picts,  inhabited  Fife,  10-13 

—  Neetan,  king  of  the,  96 
Pillar  of  repentance,  236,  285 
Piscinas  in  Lindores  Abbey,  138 
Pit,  prefix,  meaniug  of,  17 

—  prevalence  of  at  Abernethy,  17.  note 
Pitcairlie,  198,  403,  404,  406,  532-524 
Pitfirrane,  Lady,  alms  tu  two  .sick  men  going 

to,  259 

—  her  history,  259-263 

—  her  skill  in  medicine,  261 

—  her  writings,  262 

Pitfour,  burden  for  wax-lights  on  lands  of 

94- 4' 3>  499 
Pitgornach,  water  for  mill  of,  94 
Pitillock,  'Thomas,  chaplain,  517,  518 
Pitkethly,  lands  of,  114 
Pitlair,  417,  420,  427  ;  notes  on,  448 
Pitlour.     See  Petenlouer 


Pitmedden,  363 
Pitmuis,  424,  500,  504 
Pitscurry,  415 
Pittareis,  500,  504 
Pittargus,  424,  500,  504 
Pitteuweem,  captives  of,  253 

—  withcraft  in,  223,  229 

Placebo,  endowment  for  celebration  of,  166 
Plague  of  London,  247 

Plants,  list   of   in  neighbourhood  of   New- 
burgh,  552-559 
Plays,  miracle,  5 
Ploughs,  ancient,  61 
Poor,  endowments  for,  187,  210,  237 

—  alms  for,  gathered  during  worship,  202 

—  sufferings  of,  from  famine,  etc.,   167,  272 

281 

—  efforts  and  consideration  for,  272,  281,  282 
Pope,  letter  to,  from  barons  of  Scotland,  92 
Porterstone,  415 

Ports  of  Newburgh  taken  down,  313 
Post  Office  established  in  Newburgh,  312 

—  revenue  and  number  of  letters  in  1801,  401 
Potatoes,  introduction  of,  to  neighbourhood 

of  Newburgh,  309 
Potie,  kirk  of,  432 
Powquldt,  410,  414,  425,  500,504 
Prap,  Sir  Robert's,  272 
Prayers  for  the  dead,  bequests  for,  193,  195, 

196,511,512,514,517,519,521 
Preachers,  itinerant,  399 
Preachings,  Tent-,  abuses  at,  190,  note 
Precentor,  his  duties  before  minister  came 

in,  242 
Premnay,    Frame,   Primethe,   53,  410,    418, 

426,  500,  504 
—  notes  on,  430,  468 
Priests  ordained  on  Lord's  da}-,  restrictions 

on,  71,  72 

—  Burn,  the,  66 
Primeval  dwellings,  3 
Prince's  house,  the,  187 

Princess  Elizabeth.     See  Elizabeth    - 
Protocol  books  of  town-clerk,  1 77 
Punier,  duties  of,  161,  308 

QUEEN.     See  Handmills 

Quhitcross,  415 

Quhitsum,  John,  of  Perth,  487 

Quincys,  de,  rise  of  family  of,  in  Scotland,  76 

—  confer  peatery  on  Lindores  Abbey,  75, 475 

—  ancestry  and  estates  of,  76,  77 

BABBIT-WARRENS,  83,  488 
Ramsay,  Sir  Neil,  of  Parbroith,  457 

—  Easter,  414 
Rauderston,  363 
Rankeillour,  63  ;  note,  443 
Rathillet,  453 

Rathmuriel,    53,    468,   471.       Now   Christis 
Kirk,  see 


ENDEX. 


.-.7:: 


Reader,  bis  duties,  241,  155,  431,  501 

150 
Redinche.    See  Mugdrum  Island 
Reidie,  365,  375,  421 ;  notes  on,  455,  460 
Reeds,  uses  of,  -c. 
Reid  [nsches,  423 
Regality  of  Lindores,  117,  118 

—  bailie  of,  108,  521-524 

—  clerk  of,  177 

—  court  roll  of,  505-509 
Register  of  deaths  ei  ji  Liu  d,  202 
Rentals  of  Lindores  Abbey,  410-427 

tance,  public  place  of,  236,  239.  243 
Resby,  James,  disciple  of  Wickblffe,  103-104 

—  condemned  and  burnt,  1   5 
Rettra,  John  of,  178 

'  Reverend,'  recent  use  of,  168 
Richardson,  Sir  John,  chaplain,  196,  519 
Riding  the  Broose,  386 
Rings,  ancient,  found,  9,  138.  note  ;  523. 
B  eighteenth  century,  312 

'Rockin,'  a,  301 
Roman  invasion,  10-13 
Roodlinburn,  15 
Roome,  a,  252 
Ross,  Bishop  of.     See  Leslie,  John 

—  Herald,  530 

.  417,  420,  427;  notes  on,  450 
Rothes,  etymology  of,  429 

—  Duke  of,  462 

—  Earls  of,  131,  403,  425,  463,  488 

—  rector  of,  523 

Rothesay,  David,  Duke  of,  100 

—  chaplain  endowed  to  pray  for   his    soul, 

ICI 

—  buried  in  Lindores  Abbey,  102,  137 
Rowan,  slip  of,  carried,  384 

origin  of  superstition,  384 

Runrig,  origin  and  evils  of,  306-308 
fiuthven,  413 

SABBATH,  199,  211 

—  shearers  publicly  hired  on,  208 

—  games  and  abuses  on,  211,  251 

—  drinking  during  sermon  on,  237 

—  Fast  on,  objections  to,  238,  243 

—  laying  out  clothes  on.  239 

—  ferrvii  OSS  river  on,  250, 

283,  285 

—  speaking  loud  in  churchyard  on,  263 
■ —  table-reckoning  of  ale  on,  284 

ading  corn  on,  285 

—  vaging  to  alehouses  on,  285 

—  carrj  ing  in  water  on,  285 

—  sea  irowding  after  sermon  0 

—  children  playing  openly  on,  285 

ise 8  bj  bi  13  a  in  church,  295 
loth  bought 

—  appearance,  twenty-four  Sabbaths  in,  243 
Sacrifices,  human,  2i.z",  3 14 

ty,  lands  of,  483 


fcuary,    churchyards    had   prr 

388 

—  clergy,  guardians  of,  338 

—  limits  of.  338 

—  right  of,  at  1  Iross  Macduff,  341 

—  benefits  of,  349 

—  abuse  of,  350 
Sandglass  for  church,  239 
Sandilands  of  Calder  and  Si   M01 

449 

■  ll$i  '55 

—  fishings,  early  mention  of,  - 
Saltgers,  498 

Saturday     half-holiday    recommended    by 
Synod  of  Fife,  199 

—  universal  before  Reformation,  2co 
Sawtrey  Abbey,  present,  condition  of,  43 
Scandinavians,  religion  of,  19 

—  funeral  rites  of,  20-22 

—  sacrificed  sla\  1  pany  master,  21 

—  sacrificed  children.  27 

Schetky,  John,  artist,  and  Cardinal  York,  279 
Schoolmaster,  a  graduate  of  St  Andrew  s,  ; 

231,  232 

—  salary  of,  201 

every  plough  assessed  for,  201 

—  paid  by  kirk-session  for  educating  poor, 

232,  259 

Schools,  first  mention  of  in  Scotland.  56 

—  in  Newburgb  I  rmation,  196,518 

—  elders  to  see  children  put  to  school,  252 

—  schoolmistress  forbidden   to  keep  Bchool, 

232,  240 

—  session  ordain  that  all  children  go  to  com- 

mon school,  240 
Scolding,  case  of,  235.  236 

—  to  stand  in  joigs  for  violent  case  of,  255 
Scotland  Well,  ministry  of,  58 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  at  Newburgh,  254,  235 

—  his  poem  of  •  Macduff's  ( Iross,'  551 

—  Sir  William,  of  Balweary,  455.  463,  491 

—  —       —       Plawcraig, 
toun,  41 1,  462.  5c  . 

Scriptorium  of  Abbe}  .  49 
Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope,  irS.  153.  135.459 
■I,  314-318 

—  symbols  on,  314 

—  conjectural  origin  and  import  of,  515-318 

i.  315 
of,  44,  185 
Seditio  .  203 

i  .  412.  416,  , 
Selj 

Seton,  Sir  A 1.  xander,  91  ^3 
I,  458,  4S6 
rbroith,  457 
loin.  63.  148,  379, 

—  relics  of,  379 

Serfs,  manumission  of,  63.  (•:. 

—  sale  and  price  of.  141 

Serji  ands,  burgh,  163,  164 


574 


INDEX. 


Servants,  domestic,  289,  300 
Sinclair,  Sir  James,  of  Kinnaird 
Singin  e^en,  391 
Sir,  applied  to  priests,  167 
Sleples,  fishing  of,  71 
Smiddy  stoup,  the,  187 

—  croft,  500 

Snakes,  Lindores  Abbey  infested  with,  51.  52 
Sneeshin  in  church,  211 
Snow  storms,  245,  256,  270 
Song,  oldest  of  Scotland  extant,  82 
South-running  wells,  superstitious  virtues 
attached  to,  151 

—  instances  of  practices  at,  151,  note 
Southwood,  413,  498,  502 
Sowens,  396 

Spaewife,  dread  of,  382 
Spences  of  Berriehoill,  242,  446 
Spens,  Alex.,  of  Pittencrieff,  178 

—  of  Wormeston,  346 

Spindle  and  distaff,  recent  use  of,  305 
Spinning.     See  Linen. 
Spinning-wheel,  invention  of,  305 

—  disuse  of,  396 

St  Adrian,  334.     See  Magridin  and  Macduff's 
Cross 

—  Andrew,  185,  188,  194 

—  Andrews,  57,  107.  109 

monks  in,  embrace  Reformation,  1 19 

communion  cup  presented  to,  262 

condition  of,  292 

—  '■ —  meetings  for  removal  of  University.  293 
lodging  in,  etc.,  41 3, 423, 472, 476;  notes 

461 
bishops  of,  475,  483,  499,  503 

—  W  ell,  Lindores,  66 

—  Blasius,  114 

—  Catharine,  her  history,  188 

fair  of,  152,  188,  481,  525,  500 

celebration  of  festival  of,  191 

image  of,  193,  514 

fine  of  wax  for,  161 

—  Catharine's  chapel,  166,  168,  175 

use  of  restricted  to  God's  service 

162 

new  chapel  erected,  178,  187.  514 

endowment  of,  185,  192,  196,510- 

5." 

maintenance  of  lights  in,    161,   187, 

5" 

saints  dedicated  to,  188 

consecration  of  burying-ground  of, 

193-195 
chaplains  of ,  5 1 0,  512,514,516,517, 

524 

altar  of,  511 

chaplaincy  of,  519,  520 

list  of  chaplains  of,  529 

Gilds  of,  95,  191 

—  Dionysius,  192,  193.  514 

—  Lrostan,  339 


St  Duthac,  188,  189,  512 

—  Margaret,  484 

—  Martin,  455 

—  Mary  Magdalene,  188.  512 

—  Michael,  194,  477 

—  Nicholas,  194 

—  Ninian,  28,  68,  195,  517 

—  Salvator,  altar  of,  101 

—  Serf,  339,  453,  455 

—  Serf's  Inch,  109 

—  Thomas  of  Seymilne,  chapel  of,  542 
Staff  and  baton,  169 
Stampmaster,  his  duties,  303 

Stob  Cross,  338,  339,  341 

Stoc,  fishing  of,  71 

Stocks,  punishment  of,  286,  290 

Stone  ball,  8 

Strangers,  caution  to  be  found  for,  160 

—  not  to  be  harboured,  210 
Strathearn,  Gilbert,  Earl  of,  440 
Strathmiglo,  5  ;  note,  453,  455 

Streets,  public,  former  condition  of,  291-293 

Strivelin,  469 

Suicides,  burial  of,  381 

Surnames,  absence  of,  158 

Surplice,  80,  note 

Swearing,  act  against  profane,  284 

—  obligation  not  to  swear  witliin  burgh,  297 
Syreis.     See  1 

TAILOES,  old  practice  of,  301 

Tannadice,  tenant  iu,  251 

Tappitousie,  origin  of,  amusement  of,  379 

Tempil,  412 

Tent-preachings,  abuses  at,  190,  note 

Terraces,  raised,  4,  5,  note 

Teutonic  races,  14-17 

Thanksgiving,  public,  244,  246,  252,  256.  270 

Thirds,  assumption  of,  132 

Thomas,  third  Abbot  of  Lindores,  75,  79 

—  seventh        —        —        —  85 
Thrall,  Thyrll,  ears  of  bored,  148,  note. 

See  Serf 
Threpland,  162,  416,  419,  422,  426,  500,  503, 

433,  note 
Threiplands  of  Fingask,  162,  545 
Tiltykerne,  425 
Tillymorgane,  414 
Tironensiau  monks,  47-49 
Tode,  James,  517 

—  Michael,  196  519 
Toleration,  slow  growth  of,  107 

—  Eeformers  decree  death  for  celebrating 

hearing  mass,  120 
Tombs,  Eoyal,  84,  note 
Tombstones,  ancient,  69,  70,  244,  456 
Town-herd,  309-311 
Towns,  filth  of,  17th  century,  291 
Trade,  15th  century,  115,  155 
Travelling,  18th  century,  312 

—  50  years  ago,  400 


INDEX. 


.1 , .. 


Tullicherie,  500 
Turks.     Seo  Algcrino 
Tybermollokc,  483 

UKTJS,  2,  550 

Universities  of  Scotland,  107,  135,  293 
Urchard,  Wester,  63,  note 
Utherogle,  Hospital  of,  453 
Uvirings,  240 

VALHALLA,  20,  26 
Vicars,  58 
Vineyard,  ancient,  59 

WAIKSTAFF,  146 

Wallace,  Sir  William,  85-90 

Walker's  croft,  414 

Wardes,  lands  of,  413,  414 

Warren,  Free-,  83 

Watchman's  Tower,  26,  note 

Wax-lights.     See  lights 

Weavers.     See  Linen 

Weddersby,  16,  417,  420,  427;  notes  on,  450 

Wedding,  origin  of  name,  213 

—  weds  lodged  before  proclamation  of  mar- 

riage, 214,  238 

—  Penny,  289 
Weem,  Kector  of,  487 
Wells,  pilgrimages  to,  345 
Wellis,  Patrick,  182,  486,  491 ,  495 
Wemyss,  Michael  of,  475 
Westbynnes,  500 
Westmedow,  503 

Westwode,  498,  502 
White  Park,  150,488 
Whisendine  Church,  53,  468 
Whisky,  recent  prevalence  of,  397 
Wickliffe,  writings  of,  circulated  in  MS.  in 

Scotland,  74 
Wife  appeals  to  kirk-session,  235 

—  husband  to  have  no  house,  235 

—  refractory,  286 

1  of  'Angus,  Abbot  of  Lindores,  97, 

478 
William  the  Lion,  42,  71,  467,  468,  469 
Williamstone,  410,  414,  425,  500,  504 
Win'-,  former  prevalent  use  of,  in  Scotland,  379 
Wintown,  Mr  John  of,  166 
Witch,  tenant  of  Buspie's  goods  wasted  by 

malefice  of  a,  251 
Witchcraft,  217-230,  251 

—  laws  of  Charlemagne  against  persecutions 

for,  218 

—  trials  for,  219-228 

—  several  women  of  Nuwburgh  burnt  for,  228 


Witchcraft,  sufferings  of  accused,  zij 

—  popular  1  .  229 

—  nnmbi  r  put  to  death  for,  230 

of,  in  sports  of  children,  381 

—  instance  of  dread  of,  381 
Witch  Tree,  230 

Witch  Wells,  230 
Withershins,  avoidance  of,  384 
Witstones,  41 1,  424,  462,  499,  500 
Wodrife,  16,  162,  416,  419,  422,  426,  433.  499. 

5°3 

—  charter  to  lands  of,  108,  150,  307,  479 

—  dispute  about,  178,491 

—  hill  of,  allocated,  51 1 

Woodhead,  413.  416,  498, 502  ;  notes  on,  461 

Woe h nil n,  416,  419;  notes  on,  441 

Woolcombers,  114,  147 

Woollen,  home-made,  301,  304 

Worship,  public.  Abbot  John's  letter  on,  108, 

433 

—  before  mininster  came  in,  242 
Wraithis,  lauds  of,  414 
Wrangham,4io,  414,  421,  424,  425,  500,  504 
Wyntown,  John,  presbyter,  510 

TAEDLEY-HASTIXGS,  41,  138 
Tares,  fishing,  70,  469 
York,  ( lardinal,  279 
Young,  Sir  John's  croft,  420 
Yule,  Head  Court,  172 

—  observance  of,  394 


lTA. 

P.  29 — The  note  regarding  Aedan  is  scarcely 
accurate;  Paulinus  proclaimed  ti. 
pel  in  Northumbria  In  the  preceding  cen- 
tury, but  Aedan  proclaimed  it  to  many 
who  bad  Dover  heard  it  bi  I 

P.  31,  line  21,  for  favour  read  fervour. 

P.  118,  line  3.  for  Legali  ility. 

P.  439 — rames  Carnegie,  yr.  of  Stronvar,  is 
now  proprietor  01  Ayton  and  Dunmuir. 

P.  449 — The  conjecture  hazarded  regarding 
tho  derivation  of  Merston  is  Inci 

!,ilies   the   Mair's    town,  an   officer 
apparently  attache. 1  to  every  Barony. 

P.  454 — Tho  same  remark  applies  to  ttaris- 
lands,  now  the  Maislands. 

P.  528.  line  19.  for  153S  read  1358. 

Kote — What  is  new  called  the  M  ire's  Craig 
may  have  the  same  derivation  ;  but  in 
old"  records  the  name  is  written  Marie* 
Craig. 


CKAWTOr.D  A>D  M'CABE,  PKIXTEES    QCEEX  STREET,  EDIXBTRGH. 


ZO 


. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO, 
LIBRARY 


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