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
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
A SECOND EDITION OF CAMDEN'S Description OF SCOTLAND Containing a Supplement of these Peers or Lords of PARLIAMENT who were Mentioned in the First Edition and an Account of these since Raised to and further Advanced in the Degrees of Peerage until the Year 1694. EDINBVRGH Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson Printer to His Most Excellent Majesty Anno DOM. M.DC.XCV THE PREFACE Reader IN the Description of Scotland the Author Camden hath been at great Pains and taken Information from the most Intelligent in the Antiquities Peerage and Constitutions of the Kingdom and especially from Sir Alexander Hay Secretary of State who in the year 1608 did succeed in that Office to the Lord Balmerinoch till which time he hath given the most full and exact account of our Nobility or Lords of Parliament in the Order and Description of the Countries or Shires the Places from which they take their Designations and where they have their Interest or Residence and therefore his Work deserves very well a Second Edition for the benefit of the Kingdom of Scotland which if it had been finished in due Time as it was begun to be Printed might have been a part of the Second Edition of the whole Britannia and will always be a Treatise by it self concerning Scotland to satisfy these whose Curiosity lead them no further In this Edition little Alteration is made from the Words of the Author albeit now less used except where the Error or Mistake can be mended by a few Words and might have proceeded rather from the Fault of the Transcriber or Printer then the Author and I have left out the Latine Lines made by Johnston the Poet on several Occasions and also the Translation of them in English Rhime as Tending more to increase the Volumn then to give Light to the History and have made Alteration of these words which directly relate to the former Treatise as a part of it and so have omitted the Authors Preface and Apology for his little experience in Scottish Affairs which he lightly passeth over reserving the due Honour to these of that Nation with a more full Pinsel to set forth these Matters Albeit in several things of more remote and ancient Times he is mistaken yet still the Treatise is useful and deserving well to be published nor is he or his Informers lyable to Censure on that account most of these being Vulgar Errors passing in that Time and since for truth and a second Edition was more proper passing over them then in this to have Commented upon and contradicted the Author which is but seldom and slenderly done in Matters only concerning the Kingdom in General and the Great Stewarts of SCOTLAND the Progenitors of our Kings It will be a Task requiring great time skill and pains and the help of more knowing persons by particular Treatises going in order from the greater Antiquity downward out of the most antient and approved Histories most exact Collections and authentick Records and Documents to describe the considerable and eminent Families who have by their Actions deserved to be Noticed without which the Account of the Nation in general and of the other great Families will be incompleat albeit some of them did never attain to the Degree of Peerage seing in the Sense and Language of our Law as well as of the French the Nobility is composed of the Barons Free-holders and immediat Tennents of the King and not of the Peers only now called Lords of Parliament In which undertaking the Errors in this Treatise to the Advantage of some and Prejudice of other Families may be rectified and in the mean time the Publisher of this Edition is not to be concluded of the Opinion that all the Matters contained therein are to be received as Truth and is not to Incurr the displeasure of any by the further publishing of these smaller Errors If in the Supplement and Addition the Publisher hath erred in anything upon better Information full Conviction he is most willing to amend and shall study to find an Opportunity to publish the same and if in the Descriptiou of some Families he hath been more Large then in others it is not to be imputed to Partiality but that his Knowledge and Information was not alike full in all As to these more ancient Lords who are described by the Author the Publisher hath given no more particular account of the times of their Creation then the Author did reserving that to another Time and Occasion but hath been more special in the Accounts of the Later Lords and in the method of the Author hath mentioned them according to the Order of the Situation of the several Places from which they have their Designations Some Errors are mended in the Description of Places but in that exactness is not studied there being particular Maps and Descriptions of the Countries by Straloch and Scotstarbat Printed anno 1654 and lately by Mr. Adair some more exact Tables are published and the rest dayly expected It is Observable That a great part of the Nobility since the Reign of King James the Sixth have made and encreased their Estates by being Members of the Colledge of Justice or Session and obtaining the Erection of Church Benefices whereof they were Commendators in Temporal Lordships to them and their Successors the finer Spirits who formerly were imployed in the Wars or became Churchmen since the Reign of King James the Fifth beginning to apply themselves to the Laws some of them did attain to the Degrees of Lords of Session and other publick Imployments and for their better Encouragement were rewarded with Abbacies in Commendam and were Created Peers or Temporal Lords of Parliament It is likewise worth Observing That King James the Sixth after his Succession to the Crown of England did make a considerable Addition to the antient Nobility of this Nation by new Creations as well as in his other Dominions for in England and Ireland as well as here the Peers were much diminished by Forfaultures extinction of Dignities and by the suppression of the Abbots and Priors which Queen Elizabeth had not supplyed Since the Reformation of Religion the Constitution of our Parliament did receive a considerable Alteration the Clergie the third Estate for some time being almost Abolished and these in the Sederunts of the Parliaments and Articles pro Clero not being Church-men but meer Laicks Titulars and Commendators of Abbacies and Priories and of them seldom a full and equal Number with the other Estates in the Articles and for the most part but two or three of them designed Bishops who had not the full Power and Episcopal Jurisdiction which was for a long time lodged in the Synods and General Assemblies and the only Popish-Bishop who imbraced the Reformation and continued in Office in the Church and State was Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkney There was also a great Alteration in the Representation of Barons and Free-holders in Parliament who albeit fred by
to use the words of the Record is Directus totius Dominus that is The direct Lord of the whole Domain or Dominion and hath Royal Authority and Jurisdiction over all the States and Degrees as well Ecclesiastical as Lay or Temporal Next unto the King is his eldest Son who is called Prince of Scotland and by a peculiar Right Duke of Rothsay and Seneschal or Steward of Scotland But all the rest of the Kings Children are named simply Princes Among the Nobles the greatest and most honourable were in old time The Thanes that is those who were enobled only by the Office which they administred For the word in the ancient English Saxon Tongue signifieth The Kings Minister Of these they of the superior place were called Abthanes the inferior Vnder Thanes But these Names by little and little grew out of use ever since that King Malcolm the third conferred the Titles of Earls and Barons after the manner received from the English upon Noblemen of good good deâ—â—â—â—â— In process of time new Titles of Honours were much taken up and Scotland as well as England hath had Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons As for the Title of Duke the first that brought it into Scotland was King Robert the third about the year of Salvation 1400. Likeas the honourable Titles of Marquess and Viscount were first brought in by King JAMES the sixth These are counted Nobles of the higher degree and have both place and voice in the Parliament and by a special Name are called Lords likeas also the Bishops Among the Nobles of a lower degree in the first place are ranked Knights who verily are dubbed with greater solemnity than in any other place throughout all Europe by taking of an Oath and are proclaimed by the publick voice of an Herauld In the year 1621 was instituted the Hereditary Order of Knight Baronet for advancing the Plantation of Nova-Scotia in America with Precedency of all ordinary Knights Lesser Barons or Lairds Of which Order there is a great Number but the ancient Great Lairds Chiefs of Clans or Families have not generally yielded Precedency to them Of a second sort are they who are termed Lairds and Barons among whom none were reckoned in old time but such as held immediatly from the King Lands in Chief and had jus furcarum that is power to Hang c. In the third place are all such as being descended from worshipful Houses and not honoured with any special Dignity be termed Gentlemen All the rest as Citizens Merchants Artisans c. are reputed among the Commons CHAP. III. The Judicatories or Courts of Justice THe supreme Court as well for Dignity as Authority is accounted the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom which is called by the very same Name as it is in England A Parliament and hath the same very power as absolute It consisteth of three States of Lords Spiritual namely Bishops Abbots and Priors and of Lords Temporal to wit Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons and Commissioners for Cities and Burghs Unto whom were adjoyned not long since for every County or Shire also two Commissioners And by the 11th Act of the second Session of this current Parliament certain Shires and the Stewartrie of Kirkcudbright therein enumerat according to the largeness and extent of the Lands are allowed an additional Representation of Commissioners in Parliament whereby the greater Shires are allowed four some Shires three and in the Stewartrie of Kirkcudbright two Commissioners As will appear clearly by the List of Parliament subjoyned It is appointed and solemnly called by the King at his pleasure at a certain set time before it be holden When these States abovesaid are assembled and the causes of their assembly delivered by the King his Commissioner or Chancellor the Lords Spiritual chuse out apart by themselves eight of the Lords Temporal as also the Lords Temporal make choise of as many out of the Lords Spiritual then the same all joyntly together nominat eight of the Commissioners for the Counties and as many of the Commissioners for the free Burghs regal which make up in all the number of thirty two And then these Lords of the Articles so they are termed together with the Chancellor Treasurer Keeper of the Privy Seal Kings Secretary c. do admit or reject every Bill proposed unto the States after they have been first imparted unto the King or his Commissioner Being allowed by the whole Assembly of the States they are throughly weighed examined such of them as pass by the greater number of Voices are exhibited unto the King or his Commissioner who by touching them with the Scepter pronounceth that he either ratifieth approveth them or disableth and maketh the same void· But if any thing dislike the King it is razed out before This Method of the Lords of Articles is altered by the 3d. Act of the first Session of this current Parliament whereby the Committee of Parliament is abrogated and the Parliament to appoint Committees of what Number they please being alike of Noblemen Barons and Burgâ—sses to be chosen out of each Estate by it self for preparing all Motions and overtures first made in the House and that the Parliament may alter the said Committees at their pleasure or conclude upon matters proponed before them in plain Parliament without Committees and that in the Committes some of the Officers of State may be present by their Majesties or their Commissioners appointment who is freely to propose and debate allennerly but not to Vote By Act of Parliament 1617 the Officers of State are restricted to the number of Eight including the Master of Requests beside the Chancellor who by his Office is President of the Parliament Since the Restauration of King Ch. 2d there hath been no Master of Requests but frequently two Secretaries and there hath been also Debate amongst the lesser Officers of State and especially between the Thesaurer-Depute and the others concerning their Precedency but at present by Order the Thesaurer-Deput is ranked after the Advocat and before the Justice-Clerk The second Court or next unto the Parliament is the Colledge of Justice or Session which King James the fifth Parl. 5. Art 36. 40. and 41. anno 1532. instituted after the form of the parliament of Paris consisting of a President fourteen Senatours seven of the Clergy and as many of the Laitie unto whom is adjoyned the Lord Chancellor who being present is to have Vote and be Principal of the said Council And sickâ—ike other Lords as shall please the Kings Grace to injoyn to them of his great Council to have vote sicklike to the number of three or four By vertue whereof the King uses to adjoyn besides the Chancellor four of the Nobility or Lords of Parliament who are called Extraordinar Lords and are not counted of the Quorum of the Nine which must be of the Ordinar Lords The Distinction of half Spiritual half
exigent by King Malcolm that he gave his Son Vcthred to the King for an Hostage and himself weary of this world took the Habit of a Chanon at Holy-rud-house in Edinburgh As for Vcthred Gilbert his younger Brother took him Prisoner in Battel and when he had cut out his Tongue and plucked his Eyes forth of his Head he cruelly bereaved him both of Life and Inheritance But within some few years when Gilbert was dead Vcthreds Son recovered his fathers Inheritance who of a Sister of William Morvill Constable of Scotland begat Allan Lord of Galloway and Constable of Scotland This Allan by Margaret the eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingtoun had Dervolgilda wife to John Balliol and the Mother of John Balliol King of Scotland who contended with Robert Brus for the Kingdom of Scotland and by a former Wife as it seemeth he had Helen married to Roger Quincy Earl of Winchester who thereby was Constable of Scotland like as William Ferrars of Groby the Nephew of the said Roger by a Daughter and one of the Heirs But these Englishmen soon lost their Inheritance in Scotland as also the Dignity of Constably which the Cummins Earls of Buchan descended likewise from a Daughter of Roger Quincy obtained until it was translated unto the Earls of Errol But the Title of the Lords of Galloway fell afterward to the Family of the Dowglasses And now the Title of Earl of Galloway belongeth to the Family of Stuarts of Garleis an antient Family of the name of Stuart which being first dignified by King James the Sixth about the year 1609 with the Title of Lord of Garleis is marked in the Rolls of Parliament after the Lord Haly-rood-house and before the Lords Cowper Maitherty Kintail and Cranstoun he was also created by the same King about the year 1622 Earl of Galloway and is ranked in the Rolls of Parliament next after the Earl of Haddingtoun and James now Earl of Galloway is the fifth Earl and Great Grand-child of the first CHAP. XII CARRICTA CARRICK NOw followeth Carrick upon Dumbritain Frith lying on the East-side of Loch-Rian opposite to the Corse-hill fair to be seen with fresh Pastures supplyed both by Land and Sea with Commodities abundantly In this Province Ptolomy placed Rerigonium a Creek and Rerigonium a Town For which Berigonium is read in a very antient Copy of Ptolomy printed at Rome in the year 1480 so that we cannot but verily think it was that which now is called Bargeny A Lord it hath out of the Family of the Kennedies which came forth of Ireland in the Reign of Robert Brus and is in this Tract of high Birth spread into many Branches and of great power The Chief of which Linage is the Earl of Cassils for this is the Name of a Castle wherein he dwelleth by the River Dun Upon the Bank whereof he hath also another Castle Named Dunnure his Predecessor was first designed of Dunnure and being married to Mary Stuart lawful daughter to King Robert the Third whose Successor was first created Lord Kennedy and thereafter Earl of Cassils and John now Earl of Cassils is one of the Commissioners of the Thesaury An ancient Family of the Kennedies did possess the forementioned Lands of Bargeny which were purchased from them by Sir John Hamilton Son to John Marquess of Hamilton whose Son Sir John was created Lord Bargeny by King Charles the First Anno 1639 his Grand-child is William Lord Bargeny The Earl of Cassils is the hereditary Bailiff of this Countrey For this Carrick together with Kyle and Cunninghame are counted the three Bailleries of Scotland because they that govern these with an ordinary Power and Jurisdiction are called Bailliffs by a Term that came up in the middle times and among the Greeks Sicilians and French men signifieth a Conservator or Protector But in the Age aforegoing Carrick had Earls for to say nothing of Gilbert of Galloway's Son unto whom King of William gave all Carrict to be possessed for ever we read that Adam of Kilconcath was about the year 1270. Earl of Carrick and died serving in the Holy-land whose only Daughter Martha fell extremely in love with Robert Bruce a beautiful young Gentleman as she saw him hunting and thereupon made him her Husband advanced him with the Title of Earl and with Possessions unto whom she bare Robert Bruce that most renowned King of Scots from whom the royal Line of the Kings is descended But the Title of the Earl of Carrick being left for a time to the younger Sons of the Family of Bruce afterwards among other honours encreased the Stile of the Princes of Scotland The Title of the Lord Kincleven in Perth-Shire was conferred by King James the Sixth Anno 1607. and Earl of Carrick by King Charles the First upon John Stuart brother to Patrick Stuart last Earl of Orkney descended of King James the Fifth by a natural Son which is now Extinct CHAP. XIII KYLE MOre inward toward Clyds-forth followeth Kyle plentiful in all things and as well inhabited In Bedes Auctarium it is called Campus Cyel that is The Field Cyel and Coil where it is recorded That Eadbert King of Northumberland annexed this with other Territories unto his own Kingdom In Ptolomy's time there was known a place here named Vidogara happily Air which is a Sheriffdom hath a Town also of Merchandise and a well known Port by a River of the same name This Country lyeth between the River of Dune bordering Carrick and the River of Irwine northward bordering Cunninghame and is divided in Kings-Kyle under the Jurisdiction of the Sheriff which lyeth betwixt Dune on the South and West and the Rivers of Air and Lougar running into Air on the North and East including also the Paroch of Achinleck on the other side of Lougar and Kyle-stewart containing the rest of the Country northward to the River of Irwine which belonged anciently to the Stuarts of Scotland since to the Prince the Kings eldest Son The Wallaces Lairds of Craiggie were heretable Stuarts but now both Sheriffship and Stewartry being at the Kings disposal are granted to one person which Rivers hath many little Villages scattered along their Banks Upon Lougar standeth Vchiltrie sometime the Seat of the Stuarts of the Blood-Royal as who issued from the Dukes of Albanie and were created Lords of Vchiltrie which Title is now failed out of which House was that noble Robert Stuart who kept continually with the Prince of Condie as an inseparable Companion and was slain in Battle with him in France Near to this place to the westward on the River Air in Kings-kyle is situat Stair the Inheritance of Sir James Dalrymple Knight and Barronet who being learned in the Laws was admitted an ordinar Lord of Session in the first nomination and settlement of the Judicatory by King Charles the Second after his Restauration anno 1661 and President anno 1671. And
was slain be the Lord of Mongumry and ane Douchter Gregane quhylk was maryit efter on the Erl of Casselis and efter the deith of the Lord Boyd this Douchter of James the Secound was maryit on the Lord Hammylton and be that way the House of Hammylton is decorit in the Kyngs Blude And thereafter in Parliament 1542 James Earl of Arran the Grand-child of this marriage was declared Governour of the Kingdom during the Nonage of Queen Mary And in the year 1548 was by Henry the Second King of France created Duke of Castle-herald in France and thereafter his Son Iohn was by King James the Sixth created Marquess of Hamilton anno 1599 and was the first that enjoyed that Dignity in Scotland his Son James Marquess of Hamilton was Commissioner for the King to the Parliament 1621 whose eldest Son James Marquess of Hamilton was created thereafter Duke of Hamilton his second Son Lord William Hamilton was Secretary to King Charles the first and created Earl of Lanerk in the year 1640 from the Head-Burgh of the Shire who after the death of his Brother Duke James was also Duke of Hamilton the Lives and Actions of James and William Dukes of Hamilton and Castle-Herald are set forth in the Memoirs written by Dr. Gilbert Burnet now Bishop of Salisburry William Duke of Hamilton as well as James Duke of Hamilton having deceased without Heirs-Male of their own Body the Dignity of Hamilton and Castle-Herald did descend upon Dutchess Anna eldest Daughter to Duke James who married that Noble and Stately Person William Earl of Selkirk thereafter Duke of Hamilton formerly mentioned who have that advantage above others of many excellent Children who already have appeared much in the World viz. Their eldest Son James Earl of Arran who after he had finished his Travells Abroad Resided at the Court of England and from King Charles the second and King James the seventh enjoyed many Honourable Employments The second Lord William of great Hopes dyed in France Upon his third Son Lord Charles descended his Dignity of Earl of Selkirk as is said who is one of the Gentlemen of Their Majesties Bed-Chamber The fourth Son Lord John is General of Their Majesties Mint and married to Lady Anna Kennedy Daughter to John Earl of Cassils by his most excellent and vertuous Lady Susanna second Daughter to James Duke of Hamilton Their fifth Son Lord George Collonel of that Valiant and Renowned Regiment ordinarly Commanded by one of the Family of Dowglass of which this Lord is a Grand-child The sixth Son Lord Basile married to Mrs. Mary Dumbar Heiress to Sir David Dumbar of Baldone Baronet in the Shire of Wigtoun her Grand-father by his Son of the same Name married o Lady Helen Montgomery Daughter to Hugh Earl of Eglington The seventh Lord Archibald is Commander of the Woolage one of Their Majesties Ships of War Their eldest Daughter Lady Katharine is married to John Lord Murray eldest Son to the Marquess of Atholl The second is Susanna Countess Dowager and Mother of William Earl of Dundonald and Lady Margaret is married to James Earl of Panmure The River Glotta or Clyde runneth from Hamiltoun by Bothwel which glorieth in the Earls thereof namely John Ramsey whose greatness with King James the Third was excessive but pernicious both to himself and the King and the Hepburns of whom already Near to this place is Blantyre from which Walter Prior of Blantyre Lord Privy-Seal and afterward Thesaurer and one of the Octavians to King James the Sixth and an extraordinar Lord of Session was created Lord Blantyre July 10. 1606 his Descendant is Alexander Lord Blantyre This River runneth straight forward with a ready stream through Glasgow in ancient times past a Bishops Seat but discontinued a great while until that King William restored it up again but now it is an Arch-bishops See and an University which Bishop Turnbul after he had in a pious and religious intent built a Colledge in the year 1454 first founded This Glasgow is the most famous Town of Merchandise in this Tract for pleasant Situation Apple-trees and other like Fruit-trees much commended having also a very fair Bridge supported with eight Arches Near to it is Rutherglen a Burgh Royal and head Burgh of the nether-ward of Clydsdale as Lanerk is of the whole Shire and specially of the upper-ward Lower on the Bank of Clyde lyeth the Barony of Renfrew anciently in the Shire of Lanerk but by King Robert the 3d. erected in a Shire so called of the principle Town which may seem to be Randvara in Ptolomy upon the River Cart which had the Baron of Cathcart dwelling upon it carrying the same sirname of ancient Nobility The present Lord Cathcart is called Allan his Residence is now at Sundrom in Kings-kyle on the River of Kylne near where it falls into the River Air. Near unto Cathcart for this little Province can shew a goodly Breed of Nobility there Bordereth Cruikston the Seat in times past of the Lords of Darnley from whom by right of marriage it came to the Earls of Lennox whence Henry the Father of King James the Sixth was called Lord Darnley Halkead the Habitation of the Barons of Ross descended orginally from English Blood as who fetch their Pedegree from that Robert Ross of Wark who long since left England and came under the Alledgeance of the King of Scots of whom is descended William Lord Ross. Pasley sometimes a famous Monastery founded by Alexander the Second of that name High-steward of Scotland which for a gorgeous Church and rich Furniture was inferior to few but by the beneficial Favour of King James the Sixth it yielded both Dwelling-place and Title of Baron to Lord Claud Hamilton a younger Son of the Duke of Chasteu Herald the eldest Son of the Earl of Abercorn is designed Lord Pasley of whom already And Semple the Lord whereof Baron Semple by ancient Right was Sheriff of this Barony The Lady Heiress of Semple being married to Francis Abercrombie of Fiternier he was by King Charles the 2d created Lord Glasford and is Father to the present Lord Semple In this Country of Renfrew is Areskine the Seat of the ancient Lords of Areskine now Earls of Marr. But the Title of Baron of Renfrew by a peculiar priviledge since the Reign of King Robert the 3d. doth appertain unto the Prince of Scotland The heretable Sheriffs of this Shire are the Earls of Eglington The Author Camden is not to be blamed for asserting that Alexander the Second Great Stewart of Scotland Founded the Monastry of Pasley since it was generally related by the Scottish Historians but because the Errors in this Matter are so many and gross to the disadvantage of the Great Stewarts of Scotland Progenitors to our Kings and that a wrong Genealogy of them is printed with our Acts of Parliament I must be allowed to prevent the further
treeple Trenches wherein at several times Roman Medals have been found and from that there is a great Mercat-Road leadeth towards St. Iohnstoun or Perth Calseyed in many places and thence through Strathmore toward Angus This incampment is believed to have been made by Iulius Agricola being near to the Grampian Hills where he defate the Scots and Picts Within this Camp there was found a squair Stone which is yet kept at the Castle of Drummond and may be seen there whereon is engraven the Inscription following DIS MANIBUS ANTONIUS DAIMONIUS COHORTIS I. LEGIONIS XVII HISPANORUM HEREDES F. C. Mr. Adair in his Map of Strathern hath printed this Inscription with some small difference whee rhe hath also a draught of the Roman Camp before mentioned CHAP. XXII ARGATHELIA OR ARGILE BEyond the Lake Lomund and the west part of Lennox there spreadeth it self near unto Dumbarton Firth the large Country called Argathelia and Ar. Gwithil that is Near unto the Irish or as old Writings have it the edge or Border of Ireland for it lyeth toward Ireland the Inhabitants whereof the Brittains term Gwithil and Gaothel The Country runneth out in length and breadth all mangled with fishful Pools and in some places with rising Mountains very commodious for feeding of Cattel in which also there range up and down wild Kine and red Deer but along the Shore it is more unpleasant in sight what with Rocks and what with blackish barren Mountains In this part as Bede writeth Brittain received after the Brittains and Picts a third nation of Scots in that Countrey where the Picts inhabited who coming out of Ireland under the leading of Reuda either through friendship or by dint of Sword planted their seat amongst them which they still hold Of whom their Leader they are to this very day called Dalreudini for in their language Dal signifieth a part And a little after Ireland saith he is the proper Country of the Scots for being departed out of it they added unto the Brittains and Picts a third Nation in Brittain And there is a very great Bay or Arm of the Sea that in old time severed the Nation of the Brittains from the Picts which from the West breaketh a great way into the Land where standeth the strongest City of all the Brittains even unto this day called Alchith In the north part of which Bay the Scots aforesaid when they came got themselves a place to inhabite Of that name Dalreudin no Remains at all are now extant neither find we any thing thereof in Writers unless it be that same Dalrieta For in an old Pamphlet touching the division of Albany we read of one Kinnady who for certain was a King of Scots and denyed the Picts these very words Kinnady two years before he came into Pictavia for so it calleth the Country of the Picts entred upon the Kingdom of Dalrieta Also in an History of latter time there is mention made of Dalrea in some place of this Tract where King Robert Bruce fought a field unfortunatly That Justice should be ministred unto this Province by Justices itinerant at Perth whensoever it pleased the King King Iames the Fourth by Authority of the States of the Kingdom enacted a Law But the Earls themselves have in some cases their Royalties as being men of very great Command and Authority followed with a mighty Train of Retainers and Dependants who derive their Race from the ancient Princes and Potentates of Argile by an infinite descent of Ancestours and from their Castle Campbel took their sirname but the Honour and Title of Earl was given unto them by King James the Second who as it is recorded invested Colin Lord Campbel Earl of Argile in regard of his own vertue and the worth of his Family whose Heirs and Successors standing in the gracious favour of the Kings have been Lords of Lorn and a good while General Justices of the Kingdom of Scotland or Justices ordained in General and Great Masters of the Kings Royal Houshold Archibald Earl of Argile by King Charles the First created Marquess of Argile was forefaulted by King Charles the Second and his Son Archbald Lord Lorn restored to the Dignity and Precedency of the Earl of Argile who thereafter in that same Kings Reign upon very nice slender Grounds was also forefaulted which Forefaulture was particularly taxed as a Reproach to the Nation in the Claim of Right or Instrument of Government anno 1689 and by a special printed Act of Parliament 1690 his Son Archbald Lord Lorn now Earl of Argile restored Since the printing of the first Sheets of this Book he hath presented a Letter from the King to the Lords nominating him an Extraordinar Lord of the Session in place of the Duke of Hamilton deceased and is accordingly admitted From Melfort in this Country did John Drummond of Lundie first married to the Heiress of that Family and Brother to James Earl of Perth by grant from King James the Seventh take first the Title of Viscount and thereafter of Earl and was Thesaurer Depute to King Charles the Second and Secretary to him and King James the Seventh The head Burgh of this Shire is Inerara a Burgh Royal. CHAP. XXIII CANTIRE LOgh Fin a Lake breeding such store of Herrings at a certain due season as it is wonderful severeth Argile from a Promontory which for thirty Miles together growing still toward a sharp Point thrusteth it self forth with so great a desire toward Ireland betwixt which and it there is a narrow Sea scarce thirteen Miles over as if it would conjoyn it self Ptolomy termeth this the Promontory Epidiorum between which name and the Islands Aebudae lying over-against it there is in my conceit some affinity At this day it is called in the Irish Tongue which they speak in all this Tract Can-tyre that is The Lands Head inhabited by the Mac-conells a Family that here swayeth much howbeit at the pleasure and dispose of the Earl of Argile yea and other times they make out their light Pinnaces and Gallies for Ireland to raise Booties and Pillage who also hold in Possession those little Provinces of Ireland which they call Glines and Rowts This Promontory lyeth annexed to Knapdale by so thin a Neck as being scarce a Mile broad and the same all Sandy that the Mariners find it the nearer way to convey their small Vessels over it by Land Which I hope a man may sooner believe than that the Argonauts laid their great Ship Argos upon their Shoulders and so carried it along with them five hundred Miles from Aemonia unto the Shores of Thessalia This place gave first the Title of Lord to a Brother of the Earl of Argiles as hath been said and thereafter when Argile became Marquess he was designed Earl of Kintyre CHAP. XXIV LORN SOmewhat higher toward the North lyeth Lorn bearing the best kind of Barley in great plenty and divided with Leave a vast and huge