Morton and by Musselburgh hard under which in the year of our Lord 1547 when Sir Edward Seymor Duke of Somerset with an Army Royal had entred Scotland to claim and challenge the keeping of a Covenant made concerning a Marriage between Mary Queen of Scotland and Edward the sixth King of England there hapned the heaviest Day that ever fell to the adventurous Youth of the most noble Families in all Scotland who there lost their lives at Pinky-Cleugh The Dignity of the Lord Borthwick is not now claimed by any Mark Commendator of Newbottle an extraordinar Lord of Session anno 1569 after his decease was succeeded by his Son Mark also Commendator of Newbottle in the same Office in the year 1584 at which time he was Master of Requests which he enjoyed long after and obtained of King James the sixth the Erection of that Abbacy in a temporal Lordship to him and his Heirs in October 1591 who was thereafter created Earl of Lothian by the same King anno 1606 whose Grandchild Anna Countess of Lothian was married to William Ker eldest Son of Ancrum of the Family of Ferneherst he was by King Charles the first created Earl of Lothian of which Marriage is descended Robert now Earl of Lothian Justice-general with the precedency of his great Grand-father and was Commissioner to the General Assembly he is Sheriff of the Shire of Edinburgh The Dignity of the Earl of Ancrum was conveyed to the younger Brother and the eldest Son of this Family is Lord Jedburhg a Peer as hath been said Near to this place was the Seat of Sir William Cranston of that Ilk who was created Lord Cranston by King James the sixth and is the last Lord marked in the Rolls of Parliament 1612 whose Descendants enjoyes that Title and Dignity and reside in Teviotdale As also the Residence of Sir James Mcgill of Cranston-riddel Baronet who being one of the Lords of Session was created Viscount of Oxenford by King Charles the second whose Son is Robert now Viscount of Oxenford his Grand-father was Mr. David Mcgill of Nisbet Advocat to King James the sixth and one of the Lords of Session his Grand Uncle Mr. James Mcgill was Clerk Register to Queen Mary and King James the sixth and one of the Lords of Session and his Uncle Mr. David Mcgill of Cranston-riddel also a Lord of Session Upon the Sea-side is the Town of Prestoun from which Sir Richard Graham had the Title of Viscount of Prestoun conferred on him by King Charles the second in the year 1681. In this Shire of Edinburgh is the Castle of Dalhousie which belongeth to the antient Family of the Ramsays who by King James the sixth was created Lord Ramsay and is marked in the Rolls of Parliament 1621 after the Lord Carnagy and by King Charles the first anno 1633 was made Earl of Dalhousie whose Granchilds Grandchild is William Earl of Dalhousie General Major George Ramsay is his Uncle Near to Edinburgh is the Castle of Marchistoun which belonged to the Napers Sir Archibald Naper of Marchistoun Baronet was Thesaurer-deput to K. Cha. the first and an ordinar Lord of Session who in the beginning of that Reign was created Lord Naper whose Grandchild Margaret Lady Naper doth succeed him and hath a Son to succeed her their Residence now is near to Dumblane Here is not to be passed over in silence this inscription which John Naper a learned Man Predecessor to the Lord Naper hath in his Commentaries upon the Apocalyps recorded to have been here digged up and which the right learned Knight Sir Peter Young Teacher and Trainer of King James the sixth in his youth in this wise more truly copied forth APOLLINI GRANNO Q. LUSIUS SABINIANUS PROC AUG V. S. S. LV. M. Who this Apollo Granus might be and whence he should have this Name not one to my knowledge of our grave Senate of Antiquaries hitherto could ever tell But if I might be allowed from out of the lowest bench to speak what I think I would say that Apollo Granus amongst the Romans was the same that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Apollo with long hair amongst the Greeks for Ifidor calleth the long hair of the Gothes Grannos Lower yet and near unto the Scotish Forth is seated Edinburgh which the Irish Scots call Dun Edin that is the Town Edin or Edin Hill and which no doubt is the very same that Ptolomy named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The winged Castle for Adain in the British Tongue signifieth a Wing and Edinburgh a word compounded out of the British and Saxon Language is nothing else but The Burgh with Wings From Wings therefore we must fetch the reason of the Name and fetched it may be if you think good either from the Companies of Horsemen which are called Wings or else from those Wings in Architecture which the great Master builders term Petromata that is as Vetruvius sheweth two Walls so rising up in height as that they resemble a shew of Wings Which for that a certain City of Cyprus wanted it was called in old time as we read in the Geographers Aptera that is without Wings But if any Man believe that the Name was derived from Ebrauk a Britain or from Heth a Pict good leave have he for me I will not confront them with this my conjecture This City in regard of the high situation of the wholsome Air and plentiful Soil and many Noblemens towred Houses built round about it watered also with clear springing Fountains reaching from East to West a Mile out in length and carrying half as much in bredth is worthily counted the chief City of the whole Kingdom strongly walled adorned with Houses as well publick as privat well Peopled and frequented by reason of the opportunity from the Sea which the neighbour Haven at Leith affordeth And as it is the Seat of the Kings so is it the Oracle also or Closet of the Laws and the very Palace of Justice For the high Courts of Parliament are here for the most part holden for the enacting and repelling of Laws also the Session and the Court of the Kings Judicators and of the Commissariat whereof I have spoken already are here settled and kept On the East-side hard unto the Monastry of Saint Crosse or Holyruide is the Kings Pallace which King David the first built and was burnt by Oliver Cromwel King Charles the second after his Restauration did raise there a fair and stately Court and Pallace all of Hewen Stone In anno 1633 the City of Edinburgh did to their great Expense build a stately Hall for the Meetings of the Parliament with other Rooms adjoyning for the Session and above Stairs for the Privy Council and Exchequer with a large Closs or Yard to the South of St. Giles-Church surrounded from the Entry with that Church and other fair high Buildings all in Hewen Stone and in the middle is
into the Sea it is scarce with the labour to mention them That there be little Birds engendred of old and rotten Keels of Ships they can bear Witness who saw that Ship wherein Francis Drake sailed about the World standing in a Dock near the Thames to the outside of the Keel whereof a number of such little Birds without Life and Feathers stuck closs Yet it would be thought that the Generation of these Birds was not out of the Logges of Wood but from the very Ocean which the Poets termed the Father of all things A mighty Mass likewise of Amber as big as the body of an Horse was not many years since cast upon this shoar The learned call it Succinum Glessum and Chryso Electrum and Sotacus supposed that it was a certain juice or liquor which distilleth out of Trees in Britain and runneth down into the Sea and is therein hardened Tacitus also was of the same Opinion when he wrote thus I can verily believe that likeas there be Trees in the secret and inward parts of the East which sweat out Frankincense and Balm so in the Islands and other Countries in the West there be Woods and Groves of a more fatty and firm Substance which melting by the hot Beams of the Sun approaching so near runneth into the Sea hard by and by force of Tempest floateth up to the hoars against it But Serapio and the Philosophers of later times write that it ariseth out of a certain clammy and bituminous Earth under the Sea and by the Sea-side and that the Billows and Tempests cast up part thereof a land and a Fishes devour the rest In the Reign of King Alexander the Second Alexander Cummin rose up to the honour of Earl of Buquhan who married the Daughter and one of the Heirs of Roger de Quincy Earl of Winchester in England and his Niece by a Son brought the same Title unto Henry de Beaumont her Husband for he in King Edward the Third his days had his place in the Parliament of England by the name of Earl of Buquhan Afterwards Alexander Stuart Son to King Robert the Second was Earl of this place unto whom succeeded John a younger Son of Robert Duke of Albany who arriving in France with seven thousand Scottish men to aid Charles the Seventh King of France bare himself valiantly and performed singular good Service against the Englishmen and that with so great Commendation as having victoriously slain Thomas Duke of Clarence Brother to Henry the Fifth King of England at Baugie and discomfited the English he was made Constable of France But in the third year following when the fortune of War turned he with other most valiant Knights to wit Archibald Dowglass Earl of Wigton and Duke of Tourain c. was vanquished at Vernoil by the English and there slain Whom notwithstanding as that Poet said aeternum memorabit Gallia cives Grata suos titulos quae dedit tumulos France thankfully will ay recount As Citizens of her own On whom both Titles glorious And Tombs she hath bestown And whereas under the Kings K. Charles the Sixth and Seventh France was preserved and Aquitain recovered by thrusting out the English the Frenchmen cannot chuse but acknowledge themselves much beholden to the fidelity and fortitude of the Scots But afterwards King James the First gave the Earldom of Buquhan unto George of Dumbar moved thereto upon pity and commiseration because he had deprived him before of the Earldom of March by Authority of Parliament for his Fathers Crime and not long after James the Son of James Stuart of Lorn sirnamed the Black-Knight whom he had by Queen Joan Sister to the Duke of Somerset and Widow to King James the 1st obtained this Honour and left it to his Posterity but for default of Heirs-male it came by a Daughter marryed to Robert Dowglass a younger Brother of Dowglass of Lochlevin to the Family of the Dowglasses and so to James Ereskin eldest Son of the Earl of Marr Thesaurer by his second Wife Daughter to Esme Duke of Lennox of whom is descended the present Earl From Buquhan as the Shore bendeth backward and turneth full into the North lyeth Boena and Bamff a small Sheriffdom also Ajuza a little Territory of no especial account and Rothamay Castle the dwelling place of the Barons of Salton sirnamed Abernethy Beneath these lyeth Sirathbolgy that is the Vale by Bolgy the Habitation in times past of the Earls of Athol who of it assumed their sirname but now the principle Seat of Marquess of Huntly For this Title King James the Sixth conferred upon George Gordon Earl of Huntly Lord Gordon and Badzenoth a man of great Honour and Reputation for his ancient nobleness of Birth and the multitude of his Dependants and Followers whose Ancestors descended from the Setons by Parliamentary Authority took the Name of Gordon when as Sir Alexander Seton had taken to Wife the Daughter of Sir John Gordon Knight by whom he had a large and rich Inheritance and received the Honour of the Earl of Huntly at the hands of King James the Second in the year 1445 his Successor George Marquess of Huntly was by King Charles the Second about the year 1683 created Duke of Gordon In this Shire also did reside the Ogilvies of Findlater of whom Walter Ogilvie was by King James the Sixth created Lord Deskford and in the Rolls of Parliament 1633 he is Ranked immediatly after the Lord Cranstoun and before the Lords Melvil Carnegy and Ramsey his Son James was created Earl of Findlater by King Charles the First anno 1633 who marryed his Daughter and Heiress to Ogilvie of Inch-martine in Perth Shire an ancient Family of that sirname the Son of the Marriage is James now Earl of Findlater who doth compet with the Earl of Airly both for the Antiquity of his Family and Precedency as an Earl his second Son Sir James Ogilvie is designed of Ogilvie from a Barony which belonged to their Family purchased by him he is his Majesties Sollicitor and a Member of this present Parliament for the Royal Burgh of Cullen In this Shire Ogilvie of Dunlaguse afterward designed Sir George Ogilvie of Bamff Baronet descended of the Ogilvies of Boyn also in this Shire who are Cadets of Findlater was by King Charles the First anno 1639 created Lord Bamff whose Successor is George Lord Bamff Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth in Right of his Mother Abernethy Daughter to the Lord Saltoun was by Grant of King Charles the Second declared Lord Saltoun and approven in Parliament 1670 upon the death of Alexander Abernethy last Lord Saltoun of that sirname whose Grand-child is William Fraser now Lord Saltoun he carries the Arms of Abernethy quartered with the Arms of Fraser His Majesty hath nominat the forementioned Sir James Ogilvie Sheriff of Bamff CHAP. XXXI MORAVIA Or MVRRAY THe Vacomagi remembred by Ptolomy anciently inhabited on the
further side of Crantzbain Mountain which as it were in a continued Range by Hills hanging one by another driveth out his Ridge with many a winding as far as to Murray Firth where now lyeth Murray in Latine Moravia celebrated for the Fertility pleasant Situation and commodity of fruitfull Trees By this Province Spey a famous River maketh his Issue into the Sea wherein he lodgeth when he hath watered Rothes Castle whence the Family of the Leslys took the Title of Earl ever since that King James the Second conferred the Honour of Earl of Rothes upon Sir George Lesly of whom in the Shire of Fife Concerning this Spey the Poet Necham hath thus written Spey loca mutantis praeceps agitator arenae Inconstans certas nescit habere vias Officium lintris corbis subit hunc regit audax Cursus labentis nauta fluenta sequens Spey raising heaps of sand amain That shift oft-times their place Inconstant he doth change eft-soons And keeps no certain race A Panier serves here for a Boat Some ventrous Swain it guides Who followeth still the Rivers course Whild down the Stream it glides The River Loxa mentioned by Ptolomy which now is called Losse hideth himself in the Sea hard by near unto which Elgin appeareth in which and in Forres adjoyning J. of Dumbar of Cumnock descended from the Stock of the Earls of March and Murray hath his Jurisdiction as Sheriff by Inheritance whose Descendent is Alexander Dumbar of West-field Sheriff of Murray his Predecessor Sir Alexander Dumbar of Westfield Sheriff of Murray was Son to the last Dumbar Earl of Murray whose Son James Dumbar married one of the Heiresses of Patrick Dumbar of Cumnock descended of the Earls of March by which Marriage their Successors had the Barony of Cumnock and were designed Lairds of Cumnock till they sold these Lands about the year 1600 which now belong to the Countess of Dumfreis and then they resumed their former designation of West-field and Sheriff of Murray But where Losse is now ready to enter into the Sea he findeth a more plain and soft Soil and spreadeth abroad into a Meer full of Swans wherein the Herb Olorina plentifully groweth he hath Spiny Castle standing upon it whereof the first Baron was Alexander of the Linage of the Lindseys now extinct Likas Kinloss also a neighbour by sometime a famous Monastery some call it Kill-flos of certain Flowers miraculously there springing up on a sudden when the Carcase of King Duff murdered and hidden in the same place was found had for the Lord thereof Edward Bruce a Lawyer and a Commissar of Edinburgh afterward a Lord of the Session and Commendator of Kinloss and Ambassador to Queen Elizaheth and afterwards Master of the Rolls in England and of the Kings Majesties Privy Council whom King James the Sixth created Baron Bruce of Kinloss about the year 1604 whose Son was created Earl of Elgin by K. Ch. the 1st anno 1633 and a Lord Baron in York Shire and his Son Rohert was by K. Ch. the 2d created Earl of Ailshury in England whose Son doth succeed him in both Dignities In this Shire also Sir Alexander Sutherland of Duffus an ancient Cadet of the Earls of Sutherland was created Lord Duffus in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the Second about the year 1651 whose Son is Alexander now Lord Duffus Thus much for the shore More inward where now standeth Bean Castle thought to be Banatia that Ptolomy mentioneth there was found in the year 1460 a Vessel of Marble artificially engraven and full of Roman Coin Hard by is Nardin or Nairn an hereditable Sheriffdom of the Camphels of Lorn designed of Caddel Sir Hugh Camphel of Caddel is the present Sheriff and Alexander Campbel his eldest Son is one of the Commissioners for that Shire in this current Parliament where there stood within a Biland a Fortress of a mighty hight built with wonderful Bulwarks and in times past defended by the Danish Forces against the Scots A little off is Logh-ness a very great Lake as reaching out 23 miles in length the Water whereof is so warm that even in this cold and frozen Climat it never freezeth from which by a very small Isthim or partition of Hills the Logh Lutea or Louthea which by Aher letteth it self forth into the west Sea is divided Near unto these Loghs there stood in old time two notable Fortifications the one named Iuverness the other Innerlothea according to the names of the said Loghs Iuverness had for Sheriff thereof by right of Inheritance the Marquess of Huntly who is of great command hereabout now at the Kings disposal Lodovick Grant of Freuchie commonly designed Laird of Grant a Privy Counseller and one of the Commissioners for the Shire is Sheriff thereof Under the reign of Rohert Bruce Thomas Randolph his Sisters son who in his Countries behalf undertook exceeding great pains and most grievous Quarrels was highly renowned by the Title of Earl of Murray Under King Rohert the Second John of Dumhar took to Wise the Kings Daughter to make amends for her devirgination received this Earldom of Murray with her in Marriage Under King James the Second William Creighton Chancellor of the Realm and Archihald Dowglass were at great variance and eager contention about this Earldom when as against the Laws and ancient Customs Dowglass who had married the younger Daughter of James of Dumhar Earl of Murray was preferred to the Earldom before Creighton who had wedded the elder and that through the powerful Authority that William Earl Dowglass had with the King which was so great that he advanced not only him to the Earldom of Murray but also another Brother to the Earldom of Ormond and made two Cousins of his Earls the one of Angus and the other of Morton but this greatness of his not to be trusted upon because it was excessive turned soon after to his own confusion under King James the Fifth his own Brother whom he appointed his Vicegerent in the Government of the Kingdom enjoyed this honour and James the base Son of King James the Fifth received this honour of Queen Mary his Sister but he requited her ill when joyning with others of the Nobility and Nation she was deposed from her Royal Estate and Kingdom a President prejudicial to Kings and Princes which notwithstanding was revenged for shortly after he was shot through with a Bullet his only Daughter brought this Title unto her Husband Sir James Stuart of Down who was also of the Blood-Royal from the Dukes of Albany who being slain by his Concurrents left his Son James to succeed him in this honour Sir James Stuart of Down first created Lord Down by King James the Sixth about the year 1581 the Successor of the Lord Down and Earl of Murray is Alexander Earl of Murray who was Secretary to King Charles the Second and King James the Seventh and
Peace of the Nation wherein the Chancellor by his Office doth preside and after him the President of the Council who hath the same precedency as in England The Persons are chiefly named out of the Nobility with the addition of some Barons In the Thesaury and Exchequer the Lord high Thesaurer doth preceed but this Office is frequently in Commission as it is at present and then the Lord Chancellor is and uses to be one and Chief of the Commission as also the Lord Thesaurer Deput and they together with the Lords of Exchequer nominat by Their Majesties do Order Determine and dispose of the Kings Rents Revenues Gifts and Casualities I have omitted particular Lists of them in regard the Commissions to the Council Thesaury and Exchequer are some times changed as the King doth think fit and that the persons employed in them are eminent of whom occasion will be to make mention in some part of this Treatise either as Noblemen Sheriffs of or Commissioners from Shires or otherwise CHAP. IV. GADENI or LADENI UPon the Ottadini or Northumberland bordered as next Neighbours the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is GADENI who also by the inversion or turning of one Letter upside down are called in some Copies of Ptolomy LADENI seated in that Countrey which lieth between the mouth of the River Tweed and Edinburgh Forth And is at this day divided into many petty Countries The chief whereof are Teviotdale Tweddale Merss and Lothian in Latine Lodenium under which one general Name alone the Writers of the middle time comprised all the rest CHAP. V. TEVIOTDALE TEviotdale that is to say the Vale by the River Tiviot or Teveat lying next unto England among the edges of high craigie Hills is inhabited by a war-like Nation which by reason of so many Encounters in foregoing Ages between Scots and English are always most ready for Service and sudden Invasions The first place among these that we meet with is Jedburgh a Burgh well inhabited and frequented standing near unto the confluence of Teviot and Jed whereof it took the Name Also Melros a very ancient Monastry wherein at the beginning of our Church were cloistered Monks of that ancient Order and Institution that gave themselves to Prayer and with their Hand-labour earning their Living which holy King David restored and replenished with Cistertian Monks And more Eastward where Tweed and Teviot joyn in one Stream Rosburgh sheweth it self called also Roxburgh and in old time MARCHIDUN because it was a Town in the Marches where stands a Castle that for natural Situation and towred Fortificatons was in time past exceeding strong Which being surprised and held by the English whiles James the second King of Scots encircled it with a Siege he was by a piece of a great Ordnance that broke slain untimely in the flower of his youth A Prince much missed and lamented of his Subjects As for the Castle it was yielded and being then for the most part of it lay'd even with the ground is now in a manner quite vanished and not to be seen The Territory adjoyning called of it the Sheriffdom of Roxburgh hath one hereditary Sheriff out of the Family of the Dowglas who is usually called the Sheriff of Teviotdale The Heir of this Family is Sir William Dowglas of Cavers who is present Sheriff and one of the Commissioners of the Shire to this present Parliament And now hath Roxburgh also a Baron Roxbert Ker through the favour of King James the sixth out of the Family of Kers a famous House and spred into a number of Branches as any one in that Tract Out of which the Fernhersts and others inured in martial Feats have been of great Name Sir Robert Ker of Cessfuird was amongst other great Men chosen by K. James the sixth to attend him in his Journey to England in the year 1603. to take possession of that Crown at which time he was created Lord Roxburgh and is mentioned amongst the Commissioners for the Union Parl. 1604. first of all the Lords created about that time and in like manner in the Decreet of Ranking and the several Rolls of Parliament he is placed before Loudown Lindores c. till the year 1617 when he is designed by the Rolls of that Parliament Earl of Roxburgh he was Lord Privy Seal to King Ch. the first whose Grand-childs Grandchild is Robert Earl of Roxburgh The Laird of Berneherst the other principal Family of that Name was by King James the sixth created Lord Jedburgh which Peerage doth belong to the Lord Newbottle eldest Son to the Earl of Lothian and in the Quality of Lord Jedburgh William Lord Newbottle is a Member of this present Parliament which is special to the Earl of Lothians Family that both the Father and the Son are Peers Sir Robert Ker the youngest Brother of the first Lord Jedburgh a great Favorite of King Ja. the sixth was by him made Thesaurer of Scotland and Earl of Somerset in England Also of the Family of Ferneherst Sir Robert Ker of Ancrum was created Earl of Ancrum by King Cho. he first in the year 1633 of whom is descended Robert Earl of Lothian by his Father William Earl of Lothian who married the Heiress and the younger Brother succeeded to his Father in the Dignity of the Earl of Ancrum residing in England who sat in the Parliament 1681. Collonel Rutherfoord of the Family of Hunthill was created Earl of Teviot by King Cha. the second who left his Fortune and the Dignity of Lord Rutherfoord to the family of Hunthill which hath been possessed by three Brothers the youngest is Robert Lord Rutherfoord The Dignity of Viscount Teviot was conferred by King Ia. the seventh anno 1686 on the Lord Spencer eldest Son to the Earl of Sunderland in England In the same Shire lived Sir Walter Scot of Branâ—holme who by King Ja. the sixth 17 May 1606 was created Lord Scot of Buckcleugh he was the next after the Lord Scoon and these mentioned in the Decreet of Ranking and was immediatly created before the Lord Blantyre his Son Walter was created Earl by the same King in the year 1619 in the Rolls of Parliament 1621 is ranked after the Earls of Roxburgh and Kellie and before the Earl of Melrosâ— his Son Earl Francis was Father to Countess Margaret married to Walter Scot of Heychester who shortly deceased her Husband was by King Cha. the second created Earl of Tarras during life by whose decease the Dignity is extinct the younger Daughter Countess Anna was married to James Scot Duke of Monmouth Son to K. Ch. the second and was by him created Dutchess of Buckcleugh about the year 1661. who liveth and her Son is James Earl of Dalkeitb Tweed aforesaid runneth through the midst of a Dale taking Name of it replenished with Sheep that bear Wool of great request A very goodly River this is which springing more inwardly Eastward
very fair House of the Kings a goodly Church and a fishful Lake of which Lake it may seem to have assumed that Name For Lin in the British Tongue soundeth as much as a Lake A Sheriff it had in times past by inheritance out of the Family of the Hamiltons of Peyle and now in our days it hath for the first Earl Sir Alexander Livingston whom King James the sixth raised from the Dignity of a Baron wherein his Ancestors had flourished a long time to the Honour of an Earl In the same Shire is situat Livingstoun the Peyle of Livingstoun which was burnt by Oliver Cromwell and did antiently belong to the Family of Livingston who from the seat and sirname were first designed Lairds of Livingstoun And afterward Callender of that Ilk being Forfaulted for adhering to the Baliol. A Daughter of that Family was married to Livingstoun who by Right of Blood and Grant from King Robert the Bruce obtained the Lands and Barony of Callender whose Successor Sir Alexander Livingston of Callender was great Counsellor to King James the first and by him appointed Governour to King James the second himself or his Heir was created Lord Livingstoun Alexander Lord Livingstoun about the year 1603 was by King James the sixth created Earl of Linlithgow and was one of the Commissioners for the Union 1604. George Earl of Linlithgow great Grand child to the first Earl doth presently enjoy the Dignity and is one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury Near to Livingstoun is the Castle of Calder which antiently belonged to the Family of Sandilands in the Reign of Queen Mary 1563 Sir James Sandilands being Preceptor of Torphichen and Lord of St. John was created Lord Torphichen whose Successor Walter Lord Torphichen doth enjoy the Title The Sheriffdom of Linlithgow being annexed to the Barony of Abercorn it doth belong to Charles Hope of Hoptoun who doth inherit the Barony and Sheriffship CHAP. VIII SELGOVAE BEneath the Gadeni toward the South and West where now are the small Territories of Liddesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nidesdale so called of little Rivers running through them which all lose themselves in Solway Firth dwelt in antient times the Selgovae the Reliques of whose name seemed to the Author to remain in that name Solway In Lidesdale there riseth aloft Armitage so called because it was in times past dedicated to a solitary life of old a very strong Castle which belonged to the Hepburns who draw their Original from a certain Englishman a prisoner whom the Earl of Merch for delivering him out of a danger greatly enriched These were Earls of Bothwell in Clydsdale and a long time by the right of inheritance Admirals of Scotland But by a Sister of James Earl of Bothwell the last of the Hepburns married unto John Prior of Coldinghame base Son to King James the fifth who begat many Bastards the Title Inheritance both came unto his Son now extinct Hard by is Branksholm the Habitation of the warlike Family of Buckcleugh surnamed Scot of whom already in Teviotdale or the Shire of Roxburgh where Branksholm is situat beside many little Piles or Forts of military Men every where In Eusdale one would deem by the affinity of the Name that old Vzellum mentioned by Ptolomy stood by the River Euse. In Eskdale some are of Opinion that the Horesti dwelt into whose Borders Julius Agricola when he had subdued the Britains inhabiting this Tract brought the Roman Army especially if we read Horesci insteed of Horesti For Ar-Esc in the British Tongue betokeneth a Place by the River Eske The Author hath disjoyned this Chapter too far from the Description of Teviotdale but gives an Entry to treat of Annandale CHAP. IX ANNANDALE UNto this on the West side adjoyneth Annandale that is The Vale by the River Annan into which the Access by Land is very difficult The Places of greater note herein are these a Castle and Town by Lough-Maban three parts whereof are environed with Water and strongly walled and the Town Annan at the very mouth almost of the River Annan which lost all the Glory and Beauty it had by the English War in the Reign of Edward the sixth In this Territory the Johnstons are Men of greatest Name a Kindred even bred to War between whom and the Maxwels there hath been professed an open Enmity over long even to deadly Feud and Blood-shed which Maxwels by Right from their Ancestors had the Rule of this Seneschalsie or Stewartrie for so it is accounted This Vale Edgar King of Scots after he was restored to his Kingdom by auxiliary Forces out of England gave in Consideration and Reward of good Service unto Robert Bruse or Brus Lord of Cliveland in York-shire who with the good favour of the King bestowed it upon Robert his younger Son when himself would not serve the King of Scots in his Wars From him flowered the Bruses Lords of Annandale of whom Robert Brus married Isobel the Daughter of William King of Scots by the Daughter of Robert Avenal His Son likewise Robert the third of that Name wedded the Daughter of David Earl of Huntington and of Garioch whose Son Robert surnamed The Noble when the Issue of Alexander the third King of Scots failed challenged in his Mothers Right the Kingdom of Scotland before Edward the first King of England as the direct and superiour Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland so the English give it out or an honourable Arbitrator for so say the Scots as being nearer in proximity in Degree and Bloud to King Alexander the third and Margaret Daughter to the King of Norway although he was the Son by a second Sister who soon after resigning up his own Right granted and gave over to his Son Robert Brus Earl of Carrick to his Heirs the Author alledges this out of the very Original all the Right and Claim which he had or might have to the Kingdom of Scotland But the Action and Suit went with John Balliol who sued for his Right as descended of the eldest Sister although in a degree farther off and Sentence was given in these words For that the Person more remote in the second Degree descending in the first Line is to be preferred before a nearer in a second Line in the succession of an Inheritance that cannot be parted Howbeit the said Robert Son to the Earl of Carrick by his own vertue at length recovered the Kingdom unto himself and established it to his Posterity A Prince who as he flourished notably in regard of the glorious Ornaments of his Noble Acts so he triumphed as happily with invincible Fortitude Courage over Fortune that so often crossed him Sir Richard Murray of Cock-pool Baronet was first created Viscount of Annan is so designed in the year 1623 and thereafter in the 1624 was by King James the sixth created Earl of Annandale The Laird of Johnstoun was created Lord
course of that mistake to digress a little beyond my ordinary in privat Families to give a true and brief account of that ancient great and noble Family of the Stuarts from undoubted Records Charters and History Their Barony was the Shires of Renfrew and Bute and the Stewartry of Kyle The first of that Family I find mentioned in Charters and Records is Walter the Son of Allan Dapifer Regis Founder of the Monastry of Pasley who in the Register Book of Charters of the Abbacy of Pasley now in the custody of the Earl of Dundonald Proprietar of these Lands and where he hath his chief Residence is mentioned as the Founder and Son of Allan and particularly in a Discharge granted by himself to the Monks of two Chalders of Meal payable out of the Miln he is designed Walter the Son of Allan and in a Confirmation by Pope Alexander of the Abbacy of Pasley to Alexander Stuart of Scotland he is designed Heir by Progress to Walter the Founder There are also Charters extant granted by this Walter designing himself the Son of Allan and Dapifer Regis The Chronicles of Melross and Fordon do design him Walter the Son of Allan Dapifer Regis Scotiae qui fundavit Pasletum and that he died in the year 1177 by the former and 1178. by the latter which was in the 12th or 13th year of the Reign of King William And frequently in King William's Charters in the said Register of Pasley Allan Dapifer is mentioned and also in the foresaid Confirmation by the Pope he is designed Allan the Son of Walter the Founder he died in the year 1204. To him succeeded Walter his Son designed Senescallus Scotiae Fordon relates that King Alexander the 2d at the Feast on his Birth day in the year 1231 made Walter the Son of Allan Stewart of Scotland Justiciar of Scotland A Manuscript of Andreas Wintonius Prior of the Inch in Lochlevin who wrote in the time of the Government of Robert first Duke of Albany and Uncle to King James the First Dedicate to Sir John Weyms Predecessor to the Earl of Weyms agrees with Fordon that at St. Andrews King Alexander made Allan's Son Stewart of Scotland the Kings Justiciar The Manuscript contains many things useful to the History and is in the hands of the Reverend Mr. James Kirktoun one of the Ministers of Edinburgh a person well known in Scottish Antiquities This Walter is an ordinary witness in King Alexander the Second's Charters under the Designation of Senescallus Justitiarius Scotia And as the same Winton mentions Walter Stewart and Justiciar of Scotland was in the year 1238 sent over to France to bring Mary Daughter to Ingeram de Coucy to be Queen to King Alexander Anno 1241. Obiit Walterus filius Allani junioris To Walter succeeded his Son Alexander Stewart of Scotland frequently so designed in his own and other Charters Recorded in the Register of Pasley Fordon mentions him to be killed in the Battle of the Largis in Cunninghame which he places in the year 1263 Chron. de Melross 1262 where the Norwegians were defeated and ever since banished from any possession of the Isles he is designed Alexander Stuart of Dundonald great Grand-child to the first Walter Stuart and Grandfather of the noble Walter who married King Bruce's Daughter Beside the Records of Pasley many of his Charters are extant and I have seen one by this Alexander confirming the Donation which Walter the Father gave to the Church of St. Andrews of Bromholm of 20 shilling yearly to be taken out of the Burgh of Renfrew with the Seal entire himself on Horse-back on the one side and the Checker on the other for his Arms which the sirname of Stuart do still bear To him succeeded James Great Stewart of Scotland his Son who was one of the Wardens of Scotland after the death of Alexander the third and one of these who Treated with Edward the First of England in relation to the marriage betwixt the Maid of Norway and King Edward's Son and in the Competition concerning the Crown betwixt Bruce Baliol and others As also after Baliol was defeated resigned the Crown he is amongst these whom Prinns History bears to have given Allegiance to Edward Longshanks and designed James Seneschall de scoce saluz c. A little after 15 die Maij apud Rokesburgh venit Dominus Ioannes quondam Seneschallus praedicti Domini Jacobi ` Germanus miles And I have a Charter of James Stuart of Scotland designing himself Son to Alexander Stuart of Scotland and confirming the Charter formerly mentioned granted by Alexander Stuart of Scotland his Father and Walter his Grand-father his Seal appended is also entire he died in the year 1309. At the Battle of Falkirk 1298 Sir John Stuart designed of Bute who contended with John Cummine for leading the Van-guard of the Army was killed it seems he was the same person who in the 1296 in Prinns History is called frater Germanus domini Jacobi and in the absence or restraint of his elder Brother the Stewart of Scotland acted as Stewart for him this probably hath been the mistake why our Historians omitted Iames Stuart of Scotland Predecessor and God-father to all the King Iames's and insert John Stuart to be Father to Walter Stuart of Scotland who is well known to have been Husband to Marjory Bruce the Kings Daughter and by her Father to Robert Stuart who in the absence of King David Bruce his Uncle and in Defence of his Title against Edward Baliol did many brave Actions from the year 1335 to the year 1338 when he was chosen Governour of the Kingdom which he freed from the English and Baliol's claim and restored it to King David Bruce at his Return from France this King being afterward taken Prisoner at the Battle of Durham commonly placed in the year 1348 was again Governour till the King returned from England in the 1359 by the help of his two eldest Sons John then Lord Kyle designed Senescallus de Kyle afterward King and Robert designed Senescallus de Monteith afterward Duke of Albanie Maurice Murray Lord of Bothwel and Clydsdale and Earl of Strathern being killed in the Battle of Durham Robert Stuart of Scotland was created Earl of Strathern at the same Battle John Ranulph Earl of Murray being killed the Stewart of Scotland married his Relict Eupham Ross Daughter to Hugh Earl of Ross as appears by a Charter granted by Robert Stewart of Scotland Earl of Strathern and Eupham his Spouse Countess of Murray to John Maxwel Predecessor to Sir John Maxwel of Netherpollock of certain Lands within the Earldom of Strathern which have of a long time belonged to the Lairds of Glenagies John Hadden now of Glenagies hath the Charter and Lands an ancient Baron nobly descended There is a Charter to the same person of the same Lands but then designed Sir John Maxwel by David Earl
Son to Alexander the first Earl of Linlithgow who by King Charles the First was created Lord Almond and then Earl of Callender in the year 1641 he was Lieutenant General to the Parliaments Army his Successor by entail is James Brother Son to George now Earl of Linlithgow mention hath been made of the Earl of Linlithgow in Lithgow Shire The Family of the Barons Fâ—â—â—ing dwelling hard by at Cumbernald which they received at the hands of King Robert Bruce for their Service valiantly and faithfully performed in defence of their Country whereby also they attained unto the hereditary Honour to be Chamberlanes of Scotland and the favour of King James the Sixth honoured this House with the Title of Earl of Wigtoun About the year 1606 his Predecessor had that Title with the Lordship of Galloway in the Reign of King David Bruce which they resigned to the Earl of Dowglass who and his Successors amongst other Titles were designed Earls of Wigtoun till the Forefaulture in the Reign of King James the Second and the Dignity was vacant till conferred by King James the Sixth as said is the Heir of this Family is Iohn Earl of Wigtoun In a place near adjoyning standeth Elphingstoun which likewise hath his Barons advanced to that Dignity by King James the 4th of whom is descended Iohn now Lord Elphingstoun And where Forth full of his windings crooked Cranks runneth down with a rolling pace and hath a Bridge over him standeth Stirling commonly called Striviling and Stirling Burgh where on the very brow of a steep Rock there is mounted on high a passing strong Castle of the Kings which King James the Sixth beautified with new Buildings and where of a long time the Lords of Areskine Earls of Marr have been Captains unto whom the Charge and Tuition of the Princes of Scotland during their Minority have been at other times committed Whereas some there be that would have the good and lawful money of England which is called Sterling money to take the name from hence they are much deceived for that Denomination came from the Germans of their easterly Dwelling termed by English men Easterlings whom King John of England first sent for to reduce the silver to the due fineness and purity and such Monies in ancient writing are ever more found by the name of Easterling About two Miles hence the Banock-burn runneth between exceeding high Banks on both sides and with a very swift Stream in Winter toward the Forth a Burn most famous for as glorious a Victory as ever the Scots had what time as Edward the Second King of England was put to flight who was fain to make hard shift and in great haste and fear to take a Boat and save his life yea and the most puissant Army which England had before sent out was discomfited through the valiant prowess of King Robert Bruce insomuch as for two years after the English came not into the Field against the Scots About Stirling Ptolomy seemeth to place Alauna which is either near the little River Alon that here entreth into the Forth or else by Alloway an house and ordinar Residence of the Areskins who by Inheritance are the Sheriffs of all this Territory without the Burgh but have been of a long time Earls of Marr from a country in Aberdeen Shire to be described after The Sheriffship of this Shire belongs to the Earls of Callender Sir William Alexander was the Kings Lieutenant in Nova Scotia and had Precedency of all those Baronets he succeeded Sir Archibald Aitchison as Secretary of State to King Charles the First and is so designed in the Kings Letter anent the Baronets November 17. 1629. Amongst the Commissioners for continuing the Parliament August 4. 1631 is William Viscount of Stirling principal Secretary he was created Earl of Stirling anno 1633 his Heir doth reside in England To conclude this Chapter take here a Description of the principal Seal of the Burgh of Stirling which carries on the one side a Bridge of seven Arches with a Cross mounted on the the middle and armed men on each side of the Cross with this Inscription Hic armis Bruti Scoti stant hic Cruce tuti And on the other side a large strong Castle in a Wood with this Motto Continet hoc in se Nemus Castrum Strivlingnense Which two Inscriptions they give us in English thus The Brittains stand by force of Arms The Scots are by this Cross preserv'd from Harms The Castle and the Wood of Stirling town Are in the compass of this Seal set down Which agreeth well with what Buchanan said that the River Carron was the Boundary of the Roman Conquests and Stirling the Limits of the Brittains and Scots However it be the Seal and Inscription must be very old when special notice is taken of a Wood at Stirling whereof there is but small Remains and at this place doth the River Forth admit of a Bridge which is the secure Passage betwixt the South and North of Scotland CHAP. XIX CALEDONIA WHatsoever part of Brittain lyeth northward beyond Grahams Dyke or the Wall of Antoninus Pius before named and beareth out on both Seas is called by Tacitus Caledonia likeas the people thereof Brittains inhabiting Caledonia Ptolemy divideth them into many Nations as Caledonii Epidii Vacomagi c. who were all of them afterward for continuing their ancient manner and custom of painting their Bodies named by the Romans and provincial people Picts divided by Ammianus Marcellinus into two Nations the Dicalidones and Vecturiones howbeit in the approved and best Writers they go all under the name of Caledonians whom I would think to have been so called of Kaled a Brittish word that signifieth Hard and in the plural Number maketh Kaledion whence the word Caledonii may be derived that is to say hard rough uncivil and a wilder kind of people such as the northern Nations for the most part are who by reason of the rigorous cold of the Air are more rough and fierce and for their abundance of Blood more bold and adventurous Moreover beside the position of the Climat this is furthered by the nature and condition of the Soil which riseth up all throughout with rough and rugged Mountains and Mountainers verily all men know and confess to be hardy stout and strong But whereas Varro alledgeth out of Pacuvius that Caledonia breedeth and nourisheth men of exceeding big Bodies I would understand the place rather of Caledonia the Region of Epirus than this of our although ours may also justly challenge unto it self this commendation Among this was the Wood Caledonia termed by Lucius Florus Saltus Caledonius that is the Forrest of Caledonia spreading out a mighty way and impassible by reason of tall Trees standing so thick divided also by Gramp Hill now called Granizbain that is the crooked bending Mountain That Vlysses arrived in Caledonia saith Solinus appeareth plainly by a votive Altar with
small River coming out of Athol This Athol that I may digress a little out of my way is infamous for Witches and wicked Women the Countrey otherwise fertile enough hath Valleys bespread with Forrests namely where that Wood Caledonia dreadful to see for the sundry turnings and windings in and out therein for the hideous horrour of dark Shades for the Burrows and Dens of Wild Bulls with thick Manes whereof I made mention heretofore extended it self in old time far and wide every way in these parts As for the Places herein they are of no great account but the Earls thereof are very memorable Thomas a younger Son of Rolland of Galloway was in his Wives Right Earl of Athol whose Son Patrick was by the Bissets his Concurrents Murdered in Feud at Had dingtoun in his Bed-chamber and forthwith the whole House wherein he Lodged burnt that it might be supposed he perished by casualty of Fire To the Earldom there succeeded David Hastings who had Married the Aunt by the Mothers side of Patrick whose Son that David surnamed of Strathbogie may seem to be who a little after in the Reign of Henry the third King of England being Earl of Athol married one of the Daughters and Heirs of Richard base Son to John King of England and had with her a very goodly inheritance in England She bare unto him two Sons John Earl of Athol who being of a variable disposition and untrusty was hanged up aloft on a Gallows fifty Foot high and David Earl of Athol unto whom by Marriage with one of the Daughters and Heirs of John Cummin of Badzenoth by one of the Heirs of Aumer de Valence Earl of Pembroch there fell great Lands and Possessions His Son David who under King Edward the second was other whiles amongst English summoned to the Parliaments in England and under King Edward Baliol made Lord Lieutenant General of Scotland was vanquished by the valerous Prowess of Andrew de Murray and slain in Battel within the Forrest of Kelblen in the year of our Lord 1335 And his Son David left two young Daughters only Elisabeth Wedded unto Sir Thomas Piercy from whom the Barons of Burrough are descended and Philip Married to Sir Thomas Halsham an English Knight Then fell the Title of Athol unto that Walter Stuart Son to King Robert the second who cruelly Murdered James the first King of Scotland who for this execrable cruelty suffered most condign punishment accordingly in so much as Aeneas Sylvius Ambassadour at that time in Scotland from Pope Eugenius the fourth gave out this Speech That he could not tell whether he should give them greater commendations that revenged the Kings Death or brand them with sharper Censure of Condemnation that distained themselves with so hainous a Paricide After some few years passed between this honour was granted unto John Stuart of the Family of Lorn the Son of James surnamed The Black Knight by Joan the Widow of King James the first Daughter to John Earl of Somerset and Niece to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster whose posterity at this day enjoy the same The eldest son of Tullibardine being descended of the Stuarts of Athol whose successor is John Marquess of Athol as hath been said Lord Charles Murray second Son to the Marquess of Athol was by King James the seventh Created Earl of Dunmore and Sir Robert Nairn of Straâ—hurd one of the Lords of Session was by King Charles the second about the year 1681. Created Lord Nairn his only Daughter to be Married to a younger Son of the Marquess of Athols by vertue whereof William Lord Murray is now Lord Nairn The Marquess of Athol is Heretable Sheriff of Perth This River is increased by receiving the River of Braâ—n which having given name to a Strath through which it passeth loseth its name by augmenting of Tau at Dunkeld which was adorned by King David the first with an Episcopal See Sir James Galloway Master of Requests to King James the sixth and King Charles the first was by the latter Created Lord Dunkell about the year 1646. whose Grand Child is Forfeited for opposing their Majesties in the Highlands by force of Arms. In these bounds lyes Gillichrankie a place remarkâ—ble for the Defeat of the Kings Forces under the Command of General Major Mckay by the late Viscount of Dundee and his Associats but himself was killed in the Action which fell out the 27th of July 1689. Most Writers grounding upon the signification of that Word suppose Dunkeld to be a Town of the Caledonians and interpret it The Mount or Hill of Hazeles as who would have that name given unto it of the Hazel-trees in the Wood Caledonia from hence the Tau passeth forward to the old Castle of Kincleiven where it is much augmented by the River Ila a very pleasant and large River and thence goeth downward by the Carcass of Bertha a little desolat City remembring well enough what a great loss and calamity he brought upon it in times past when with an extraordinary swelling Floud he surrounded all the Fields laid the goodly standing Corn along on the Ground and carried headlong away with him this poor City with the Kings Child and Infant in his Cradle and the Inhabitants therein In steed whereof in a more commodious place King William builded Perth which straightways became so wealthy that Necham who lived in that age versified of it in this manner Transis ample Tai per rura per oppida per Perth Regnum sustentant istius urbis opes By Villages by Towns by Perth thou runn'st great Tay amain The Riches of this City Perth doth all the Realm sustain But the posterity ensuing call it of a Church founded in honour of Saint John Saint Johns Town and the English whiles the Wars were hot between the Bruces and the Balliols Fortified it with great Bulwarks which the Scots afterwards for the most part overthrew and disman led it themselves Howbeit it is a proper pretty City pleasantly seated between two Greens and for all that some of the Churches be destroyed yet a goodly shew it maketh ranged and set out in such an uniform manner that in every several Street almost there dwell several Artificers by themselves and the River Tau bringeth up with the Tide Sea Commodities by Lighters King James the sixth having erected it to the Title of an Earldom Created James Baron Drummond Earl of Perth of whom in Strathern Unto Perth these places are near Neighbours Methven near to which runneth the river of Almond which passing downward falleth in Tau near to the place where the antient Town of Bertha stood Margaret an English Lady Widow unto King James the fourth purchased Methven with ready Money for her third Husband Henry Stuart descended of the Royal Blood and for his Heirs and withal obtained of her Son King James the fifth for him the dignity of a Baron since extinct and was one of the
Titles of the late Dukes of Lennox More beneath is Ruthven a Castle of the Ruthvens whose name is of damned Memory considering that the three Estates of the Kingdom hath ordained that whosoever were of that name should forego the same and take unto them a new after that the Ruthvens Brethren in a most cursed and horrible Conspiracy had complotted to murder their Soveraign King James the Sixth who had created William their Father Earl of Gowrie and afterward beheaded him being lawfully convicted when he would insolently prescribe Laws to his Soveraign But of men condemned to perpetual Oblivion I may seem to have said overmuch although it concerneth Posterity also for a Caveat that wicked Generations be notified as well as noisom Weeds and venemous Plants Sir Thomas Ruthven of Freeland descended of this Family was created by King Charâ—â—s the second while in Scotland Lord Ruthven whose Son is David Lord Ruthven and in anno 1689 was appointed by their Majesties one of their Privy Council and one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury As for the Country Gowrie aforesaid famous for the Corn-fields and singular fertility of the Soil it lyeth more plain and flat along the other Bank of Tay. In this Tract over against Perth on the farther side of Tay standeth Scoon a renowned Monastery in old time and of reverend respect for the Coronation therein of the Kings of Scotland since that time King Kenneth having hard by put the Picts for the most part to the sword placed a stone here enclosed within a Chair of Wood for Inaugaration of the Kings of Scotland that had been transported out of Ireland into Argile which Stone Edward the First King of England caused to be conveyed unto Westminster touching which I have put down this Prophesie so rise in every mans mouth since it hath now proven true and taken effect as very few of that sort do nI faLLat fatuM sCotI qVoCVnque LoCatVM InVenIent LapIDeM regnare tenentVr IbIDeM Except old Sawes be vain And Wits of Wizards blind The Scots in place must reign Where they this Stone shall find Scoon gave the Title of Baron to Sir David Murray Comptroller whom King James for his good service advanced to that honour and is the last in the Decreet of Ranking after the Lords Torphichen Pasley Newbottle Thirlestane Spenzie Roxburgh Lindores Lowdoun Dirleton Kinlos Abercorn Balâ—â—crinoch Murray of Tullibairn Colviâ—â— of â—uâ—ross he was afterward created by that same King Viscount of Stormonth which is the upper part of the Country of Gowry and is in the Rolls of Parliament 1633 before the Viscount Air who being descended of the Lairds of Balvaird the Dignity of V. Stormonth did fall to their Successors of whom is descended David now Viscount Stormonth as hath been said Where Tay now grown bigger enlargeth himself there appeareth over it Arrol which was the Habitation of the noble Earls of Arrol who ever since the Bruces days have been by Inheritance the Constables of Scotland and verily they deduce an ancient Pedegree from one Hay a man of exceeding strength and excellent courage who together with his Sons in a dangerous Battle of Scots against the Danes at Longcartie caught up an Ox Yoke and so valiantly and fortunatly withall what with fighting and what with exhorting re-enforced the Scots at the point to shrinke and recule that they had the day of the Danes and the King with the States of the Kingdom ascribed the Victory and their own Safety unto his Valour and Prowess whereupon in this place the most battle and fruitfull Grounds were assigned to him and his Heirs who in testimony hereof have set over their Coat a Yoke for their Crest over their Arms Three Escutcheons Gules in Argent Of this Family is descended John now Earl of Arrol Near to which lived Sir George Kinnaird of Rossie Privy Counseller to King Charles the Second created Lord Kinnaird about the year 1683 Patrick Lord Kinnaird in his Son Touching Huntley Castle that joyneth unto it I have nothing to write but that it hath given Title to a very Potent Great and honourable Family whereof I am to speak hereafter But I think rather the Title of Earl of Huntly was taken from a place in the Merse called by that name which is a part of the Barony of Gordon the ancient Inheritance of this Family Huntly Castle is one of the Dwelling Houses of the Earl of Strathmore and now passeth under the Name of Castle-Lyon well planted and pleasantly situat in the Carse of Gowry In the Description of this Kingdom the following Method had been more agreeable to the Situation of the Country and there had been less disjunction of the Countries described to have begun with the Country of the Merse and then East Mid and West Lothian and to have subjoyned the Shires of Peebles Selkirk and Roxburgh and in the end of Roxburgh to have added the Selgovae viz. Liddesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Nithisdale and to have gone to Galloway Carrick Kyle Cunninghame Isle of Arran Cliddesdale the Shire of Stirling Lennox Argyle Kintyre and Lorn these three in one Shire to have begun the description of Caledonia with that part of Perth Shire called Brade-Albion which joineth Lorn and then to have added Athol and Perthia and in the third place Strathern which compleats the Shire of Perth and Fife Kinross and Clackmannan bordering with Strathern and then to proceed to the Country of Angus or Shire of Forfar which is divided from Fife by the River Tay the ordinar division of Scotland in publick Acts and Letters being by south and be north Tay. CHAP. XXVII ANGUSIA or ANGVS BY the out-let or mouth of Tay and more within beside the River North-Esk Anguis called by the natural and true Scots Aeneia lyeth extended with goodly fields bearing Wheat and Corn of all kinds plentifully with large Hills also and Pools Forrests Pastures and Meadows and also garnished with many Forts and Castles In the very first entry into it from Gowry standeth Glamis a Castle and the Barony of a Family sirnamed Lyon which arose to honour and reputation ever since that Sir J. Lyon standing in the high favour of King Robert the Second received this and the Dignity of a Baron with the Kings Daughter for her marriage Portion and therewith as I find written the sirname of Lyon with a Lyon in his Arms within a Treassure Floury as the Kings themselves do bear but in different colours Likeas Sir Patrick Lyon Lord Glamis was advanced by King James the Sixth of that name to the honour of the Earl of Kinghorn This Title was changed by Patrick the present Earl from Kinghorn to Strathmore as being the largest Strath in Scotland running through Perth Shire and Angus where the said Earls Estate for the greatest partlyes Not far hence standeth Forfar where for the administration of Justice the Barons Grays are hereditary
yea and of Pit Coals the Sea besides other Fishes affordeth Oysters and and Shell-fish in great abundance and the Coasts are well bespread with pretty Townlets replenished with stout and lusty Mariners In the south side hereof by Forth first appeareth westward Culross which gave the Title of a Barony to Sir I. Colvil created Lord Colvil of Culross about the year 1604 and is the last in the Decreet of Ranking except the Lord Scoon his Father was a Lord of the Session and Commendator of Culross and King Charles the Second when in Scotland created Sir Robert Colvil of Cleish Lord Colvil his Successor is Robert Lord Colvil Near to Culross to the north-west is Kincardine whereof Edward Bruce of Carnock was created Earl by King Charles the First anno 1648 his Brother Alexander succeeded him in his Dignity who was one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury to King Charles the Second his Son is Alexander Earl of Kincardine Culross and these places adjacent albeit surrounded with Fife and Clackmannan yet make a part of the Shire of Perth Then standeth Dumfermling a famous Monastery in old time both the Building and Burial place of King Malcolm the Third which gave both name and honour of an Earl unto Sir Alexander Seton a most prudent Counsellor whom James King of Great-Brittain worthily raised from Baron of Fivie to be Earl of Dumfermling and Lord Chancellor of the Realm of Scotland of the Succession of this Earl mention is made in the Description of the Family of Seton in East Lothian Then Kinghorn standeth hard upon the Forth from which place Sir Patrick Lyon Baron Glames received at the bountiful Hand of K. James the 6th the Title and honour of an Earl anno 1606. After this there is upon the Shore Dysert situat on the rising of an Hill from whence there lyeth an open Heath of the same name where there is a good large place which they call the Cole-plot that hath great plenty of an earthy Bitumen and partly burneth to some damnage of the Inhabitants William Murray of the Bed-chamber of the Family of Tullibardine was by King Charles the First created Earl of Dysert whose Daughter and Heiress Elizabeth Countess of Dysert is Dutchess of Lawderdale by Marriage with John late D. of Lawderdale and by a former Marriage her Son Sir Leonald Talmash L. Huntingtour residing in England is to succeed her as Earl of Dysert Her second Son of that Marriage was Thomas Talmash who attended his Majesty in his Expedition to Brittain in the year 1688 who for his Valour in the Wars and Reduction of Ireland was advanced to be General Major and thereafter Lieutenant General which Office he did worthily discharge in Flanders and in the Summer 1694 being chief Commander in the Attempt upon Brest was unfortunatly wounded whereof he died after his landing in England Unto it adjoineth Ravens-Heugh as one would say the steep hill of Ravens the Habitation of the Barons Sinclar whose Successor is Henry Lord Sinclar Above it the River Levin hideth himself in the Forth which River running out of the Lake Levin wherein standeth the Castle of the Dowglasses which belonged to the Earls of Mortoun Sir Alexander Lesly General of the Scots Forces was by K. Charles the 1st created Earl of Levin anno 1641 whose Successor is David now Earl of Levin second Son to George Earl of Melvil begotten on Lady Katherine Leslie Grandchild and Heiress to the said Earl of Levin which River hath at the very mouth of it Weyms Castle the Seat of a noble Family bearing the same sirname The Laird of Weyms is in the Rolls of Parliament 1617 one of the Commissioners for the Shire of Fife he was thereafter made Lord Weyms and in the Parliament Rolls 1633 is ranked after the Lord Newburgh and before Ashtoun of Forfar and in the same year created Earl of Weyms whose Grandchild Margaret now Countess of Weyms was married to Sir James Weyms who by K. Charles the 2d was made Lord Burntisland from a Burgh Royal of the same Shire and hath a Son Lord Elcho to succeed her in that Dignity From hence the Shore draweth back with a crooked and wiuding Tract unto Fife-ness that is the Promontory or Nose of Fife Above it Saint Andrews an Archiepiscopal City hath a fair Prospect into the open main Sea the more ancient name of the place as old Memorials witness was Regimund that is Saint Regulus Mount in which we read thus Oeng or Vng King of the Picts granted unto God and Saint Andrew that it should be the chief and mother of all Churches in the Picts Kingdom Afterward there was placed here an Episcopal See the Bishops whereof like as all the rest within the Kingdom of Scotland were consecrated by the Arch-bishop of York as is asserted by the English Historians until at the Intercession of King Iames the Third by reason of so many Wars between the Scottish and English men Pope Sixtus the fourth ordained the Bishop of Saint Andrews to be Primat and Metropolitan of all Scotland and Pope Innocentius the eighth bound him and his Successors to the imitation and precedent of the Metropolitan of Canterbury in these words That in Matters concerning the Archiepiscopal state they should observe and firmly hold the Offices Droits and Rights of Primacy and such like Legacy and the free Exercise thereof the Honours Charges and Profits and that they should endeavour to perform inviolably the laudable Customes of the famous Metropolitan Church of Canterbury the Arch-bishop wherewhereof is Legatus natus of the Kingdom of England c. Howbeit before that Laurence Lundoris and Richard Corvel Doctors of the Civil Law publickly professed here good Literature laid the Foundation of an University which now for happy increase of Learned men for three Colledges and the Kings Professors in them is become highly renowned Hard by there loseth it self into the Sea Edan or Ethan a little River which springeth up near Falkland a place from which Carry an English man had the Designation of Viscount from King James the Sixth and is so marked in the Rolls of Parliament 1621 his Successor is Anthony Viscount of Falkland a Member of the House of Commons in the current English Parliament it belonged anciently to the Earls of Fife and was a retiring place of the Kings when residing in Scotland and is very well Seated for hunting Pleasures and Disports sometimes it was reckoned amongst the Burghs Royal and is the Seat of the Stewartry of Fife this River hath its Course under a continued Ridge of Hills which divide this Country in the midst by Struthers a place so called of a Reed plot a Castle of the Barons Lindsey of whom is descended Iohn Lord Lindsey created by King Charles the First anno 1633 Earl of Lindsey And in anno 1641 was Lord High Thesaurer and after the Forfaulture of
Lodowick Earl of Crawford and by vertue of a former Entail the Honour Dignity and Precedency of the Earl of Crawford was declared in Parliament to belong to him and his Successors and since ratified in Parliament anno 1661 he was by King Charles the Second restored to be Thesaurer from which Office he had been removed in the year 1649 his Son William now Earl of Crawford was President of the Parliament 1689 and 1690 and one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury the secondary Title belonging to his eldest Son is Lord Lindsey Eden also runneth by Cowper a notable Burgh where the Sheriff sitteth to minister Justice Now where the shore turneth inward a Front northward hard by the Salt water of Tau there flourished in old time two goodly Abbeys Balmerinoch built by Queen Ermengard Wife to King William Daughter of Viscount Beaumont in France King James of Great Brittain advanced Sir James Elphingston of Barntoun to the honour of Baron Balmerinoch about the year 1604 being mentioned in that Parliament one of the Commissioners for the Union with England he is placed in the Decreet of Ranking after the L. Abercorn and before the L. Tullibardine he was a Lord of the Session Secretary thereafter succeeded to the L. Fyvie to be President of the Session anno 1605 whose Grand-child is John L. Balmerinoch The other Abbey is that of Lindoris Founded among the Woods by David E. of Huntingtoun is the Barony of Sir Patrick Lesly created L. Lindoris about the year 1604 and placed in the Decreet of Ranking immediatly after the Lord Roxburgh and before the Lord Lowdoun his Successor is Iohn Lord Lindoris Between which standeth Banbrich the Habitation of the Earl of Rothes strongly built Castle-wise Near to these places on the Confines toward Perth-shire is Balvaird which belongs to the Murrays ancient Cadets of the Lairds of Tullihardine their Successor was created L. Balvaird by K. Charles the 1st after the year 1641 his Grand-child hath succeeded to the Dignity of Lord Scoon and Viscount Stormonth by entail Sir David Murray the first Lord and Viscount being a younger Brother of the Laird of Balvaird The Governour of this Province like as of all the rest in this Kingdom was in times past a Thane that is in the old English tongue The Kings Minister as it is also at this day in the Danish Language but Malcolm Canmore made Macduff who before was Thane of Fife the first hereditary Earl of Fife and in consideration of his good desert and singular service done unto him granted that his Posterity should have the Honour to place the King when he is to be Crowned in his Chair and to lead the Vant-guard in his Army and if any of them should happen by casualty to kill either Gentleman or Commoner to buy it out with a piece of Money Not far from Lindoris there is to be seen a Cross of Stone which standing for a limit between Fife and Strathern had an Inscription of barbarous Verses and a certain priviledge of Sanctuary that any Manslayer Allied to Macduff Earl of Fife within the ninth Degree if he came unto this Cross and gave nine Kine with an Heifer should be quit of Manslaughter When his Posterity lost this Title and Priviledge is uncertain but it appeareth that King David the Second gave unto William Ramsey this Earldom with all and every the Immunities and Law which is called Clan-Mac-Duff and received it is for certain that the Linage of the Weymesses and Dowglasses yea and that great Kindred Clan-Hatan the Chief whereof is Mac-Intoshech descended from them And the most learned Sir John Skeen of Currie-hill Clerk of Register in his Treatise de verborum significatione informs that by an Indenture at Perth the penult day of March 1371 betwixt Robert Stuart Earl of Monteith and Dame Isabel Countess of Fife Daughter and Heir to Duncan Earl of Fife The Countess is obliged to resign her Earldom in the Kings hands in favours of the said Earl for new heretable Infestment thereof to be given to him which Earl being afterwards designed of Fife and Monteith was thereafter Duke of Albany and affecting the Kingdom with cruel Ambition caused David the Kings eldest Son to be most pitifully famished to death which is the highest extremity of all misery But his Son Murdac suffered due punishment for the Wickedness both of his Father and his own Sons being put to death by King James the First for their violent Oppressions and a Decree passed that the Earldom of Fife should be united unto the Crown for ever But the Authority of the Sheriff of Fife belongeth in right of Inheritance to the Earl of Rothes the Heir of which Family was Iohn Earl of Rothes who after he was High Commissioner for King Charles the Second to the Parliament and Conventions of Estates and enjoyed several other honourable and profitable Employments was made Chancellor anno 1668 in which Office he continued till his death in anno 1681 and was shortly before created Duke of Rothes which Dignity is extinct by default of Heirs male of his Body but his eldest Daughter Margaret Countess of Rothes being married to Charles Earl of Haddingtoun hath Iohn Lord Leslie who is to succeed in the Dignity of the Earl of Rothes and Thomas who hath succeeded his Father in the Dignity of the Earl of Hadingtoun Since Printing of the former Edition several Lords were created in this Shire some whereof have already been mentioned and also others to be mentioned viz. Sir Michael Balfour of Balgarvie by K. James the 6th created L. Burghlie July 16 1607 whose Successor is John Lord Burghlie And by the same King Sir Robert Melvil first of Murdocairny and thereafter of Burntisland who had been Thesaurer Deput and Thesaurer before the year 1592 and an extraordinar Lord of Session anno 1594 was created Lord Melvil about the year 1617 to whom succeeded Robert his Son he is ranked in the Parliament 1633 after the Lord Deskford and before Carnegie and is amongst the Commissioners for holding that Parliament who had been admitted an extraordinar Lord of Session upon the dimission of his Father and then by entail the honour fell to the Laird of Raith descended of the eldest Brother and the only Male representative of the ancient Family of the Melvils George Lord Melvil his Son is the 4th Lord who was sole Secretar of State to and created by Their Majesties Earl of Melvil Lord High Commissioner to the second and third Sessions of this current Parliament 1690 and now Lord Privy Seal his Son Alexander Lord Raith was constitute Thesaurer Deput anno 1689. Mr. John Lindsey of Belcarras was a Lord of the Session and one of the Octavians of the Thesaury Secretary before K. Ja. his Succession to the Crown of England his Grand-child Alexander about the year 1633 was created Lord Belcarras by King