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 THE 
 
 HISTORY, 
 
 ANCIENT AND MODERN, 
 OF THE SHERIFFDOMS OF 
 
 FIFE AND KINROSS, 
 
 WITH A DESCRIPTION OF BOTH, 
 AND OF THE 
 
 FIRTHS OF FORTH AND TAY, 
 
 AND THE ISLANDS IN THEM ; 
 
 f.V WHICH THERE IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE RoYAL SEATS AND CASTLE5J 
 AND OK THE RoYAL BURGHS AND PORTS ; AND OF THE RELIGIOUS 
 
 HOUSES AND SCHOOLS ; AND or THE MOST REMARKABLE 
 HOUSES OF THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY. 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE 
 
 LAND AND WATERS. 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR ROBERT SIBBALD, M. D. 
 
 On as air voluci'es, r^fert ; quos ttquora plstet ; 
 Unique, CaleJoniis, jnun:ra terra dedtt. 
 
 A NEW EDITION, 
 
 WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATION'S. 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH ELEGANT ENCB. AVINCS. 
 
 upar=j?ifc: 
 
 u / 
 
 PRINTED Y AND tfrR iv. -ruLLlS, TJTE PU^LISr 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY A. CONSTAHLE. -\.>.. v. . il;[ i;c:i, EDINBUR'. 
 J. AND A. DUNCAN, GLASGOW ; P. BOWER, ST. ANDREWS J 
 J. FORD, KIRKCALDY ; W. COCKBL'R.N, ANSTRUTHER ; 
 AND BY T. N. LONGMAN, AND O. REE", 
 
 LONDON.
 
 Advertisement! 
 
 OIR ROBERT SIBBALD, M. D. the author of this work, was 
 a descendant of the SIBBALDS of Balgonie, a very ancient 
 family in Fife, several branches of which were long of 
 considerable note in the county. Being a younger brother, 
 he applied himself to the profession of physic, in which 
 his uncle Dr. GEORGE SIBBALD of Gibliston had attained 
 considerable eminence. After he had finished his medical 
 education, however, he directed his studies chiefly to the 
 antiquities, natural history, and topography of Scotland : 
 and on these subjects he published numerous works, a list of 
 which is subjoined. Esteemed one of the most learned men 
 in his time, and honoured with the royal patronage and the 
 public favour, it is matter of regret, that but few particu- 
 lars of his life can now be recovered. Some account of his 
 early years, and his studies, is given by himself in a pam- 
 phlet, entitled " Vindiciae Prodromi Naturalis Historix 
 Scotix, &c." which he was led to publish by a charge of ig- 
 norance and plagiarism, brought against him by the acute and 
 satirical PITCAIRN. By this account it appears, that after 
 a five years attendance of the classes of philosophy and 
 the languages, at the College of Edinburgh, which were 
 taught by LEIGHTON, afterwards archbishop of Glasgow, 
 CRAWFOR.D, JAMIESON, TWEEDIE and FORBES, he studied 
 physic at Leyden, then die most celebrated medical school 
 in Europe*. He graduated there in 1661, and published 
 his inaugural dissertation under the title of " Disputatio 
 Medica de Variis Tabis Speciebus." Soon afterwards he 
 returned to his native country, and fixed his residence at 
 Edinburgh , though for the benefit of study, he often re- 
 tired from the bustle of the city, to a rural retreat in the 
 neighbourhood, where he cultivated, with much attention, 
 in any rare native and exotic plants. He did not, however, 
 give to the world any of the fruits of his studies till 1683. 
 But the reputation which he had already acquired, 
 obtained for him the appointment of Natural Historian, 
 Geographer and Physician, to CHARLES II. ; and he had 
 
 a 2 received 
 
 * Vindicise, Tit. VI. 
 
 711860
 
 IV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 received the royal command, to compose a general de- 
 scription of the whole kingdom, and a particular history 
 of the different counties of Scotland. And in 1681, 
 when the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 
 was incorporated, he was one of the original Fellows *'. 
 In 1684, he published his principal work, Scotia 
 Illustrata, sive Prodromus Historic Naturalis, &c." 
 which was very favourably received by the learned, 
 and by the public in general. The following testimonies 
 shew the opinion of its merit, which was entertained 
 by the most competent judges: " In the Prodromus, the 
 author hath shewn himself worthy of what he enjoyes in 
 being the king's geographer and physician there, but in this 
 afcs chiefly as the latter, &c. All together make us im- 
 patiently ex-peel: the Atlas itself, the Prodromus of which 
 is so satisfactory, that it seems to have prevented it f ." 
 " Sir ROBERT SIBBALD has given us a much more ample 
 testimony of his intimate acquaintance with the natural 
 produces of his own country, in the famous work which 
 he has published on that subject, whereof I shall not pre- 
 tend to say more, than that it fully answers its following 
 title, " Scotia Illustrata, sive Prodromus Historiae Naturalis, 
 &c J." Similar praises were bestowed in the foreign lite- 
 rary Journals of that period ||. From this time till 1712, 
 scarce a year passed, but -he published some production of 
 his pen. Many of these works exhibit deep antiquarian 
 research, extensive observation, and judicious inquiry into 
 the actual state of Scotland. His " labours contributed 
 
 much 
 
 I'iic charter of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is dated 
 ajtli November 1681. The names of the first Fellows under the charter 
 are, " David Hay, Thomas Burnet, Mathew Brisbaine, Archibald Steven- 
 son, Andrew Balfour, Robert SiLbalJ, James Livingstone, Robert Craw- 
 ford, Robert Trotter, Mathew Sinclair, James Stewart, William Stevenson, 
 -Alexander Cranstoun, John Hutton, John Macgill, William Laudcr, John 
 3>carmonth, James Halket, William Wright, Patrick Halyburton, and 
 Archibald Pitcairn." 
 
 f Philosophical Transactions, No. 165. page 795. 
 
 \ Dr. Nicolson's Scottish Historical Library, page 27. 
 
 || Nouvclles de la Republique des Lettres; mois dc O&obrc 1684. A&a 
 eruditorum Lipaiensia, mensls Aprijis 1685.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. V 
 
 much to extend the boundaries of the science of natural 
 history ; and in the knowledge of antiquities, too, the 
 study of which was then only in its infancy, he cer- 
 tainly far outstripped his contemporaries. He had the 
 honour of leading the way, in tracing the descent of the 
 present Scots, from the Gothic tribes of the north of Ger- 
 many, a fat which had been long overlooked, and is 
 btill denied by some, notwithstanding the express testimony 
 of the most ancient writers, the able deductions of Father 
 I NNES *, and the ingenious and profound researches of 
 Mr. PiNKERTONf. With regard to the Roman anti- 
 quities of Scotland, Sir Robert committed some mistakes, 
 which were repeated without inquiry by subsequent anti- 
 quaries, but which the very learned and accurate inquiries 
 of the late General ROY have completely rectified. The 
 style of Sibbald is inferior to his matter. Both in his Latin 
 and English works, it is very often embarrassjed and slo- 
 venly, to a degree that surprises in a literary character of 
 such eminence. He evidently wrote in haste, and was 
 attentive in general rather to ascertain and state fa<ts, than 
 studious about the language employed in communicating 
 them. 
 
 Of his works, the History of Fife is one of the most 
 esteemed. To the subject he was naturally partial, and on 
 the illustration of it he bestowed more than common labour. 
 He seems to have examined every authority, printed and 
 manuscript, within his reach, which was likely to throw light 
 on any branch of his work. And there is a profusion of ex- 
 tracts in Latin, copied at length into the text, which, al- 
 though it gives his pages a deformed and motely appearance, 
 manifests his fidelity. In the modern part of the history, 
 his own personal knowledge of the county, and his oppor- 
 tunities of obtaining information, from his numerous friends 
 and relations who lived in it, and the exactness with which 
 lie has described such objects as are permanent, or that have 
 happened to remain, give us perfecl: confidence in his gene- 
 ral accuracy. 
 
 Two 
 
 Critical Essay on the ancient inhabitants of Scotland, 
 j- Inquiry into the history of Scotland preceding the reign of Malcolm 
 3mA Dissertation on the Origin and Progress of the Scythians or Goths
 
 VJ ADVERISEMENT. 
 
 Two editions of this work were printed at Edinburgh 
 in the author's lifetime ; and from the most correct of these 
 in 1710, the present one is carefully taken. It was thought 
 proper, (except where there is obviously an error of the 
 press,) to preserve the original spelling, which is by no 
 means correct or uniform, as a mark of the unfixed state of 
 this branch of literature in Edinburgh, in the beginning of 
 the 1 8th century. For the sake of reference, the arrange- 
 ment of the former editions is stri<ftly preserved, except, 
 that, in the ecclesiastical part of the history, one or two 
 sections closely connected in their matter, which were 
 detached to a considerable distance, are now brought 
 together, and that a few passages and quotations, obviously 
 misplaced, (some of which are taken notice of by the author 
 himself,) are inserted in their proper situations. The Fourth 
 Part too, which, though it contained about 50 pages folio, 
 has no division in the original, is now, for the convenience 
 of the reader, divided into Sections. Abridged translations 
 of all the Latin quotations, where they had not been given 
 by Sir Robert, are added at the bottom of the pages, 
 except charters, and for the sake of uniformity, his transla- 
 tions are also taken from the text into the notes, and they 
 are marked with his name. The Latin is often very care- 
 lessly quoted ; wherever the Editor had access to the origi- 
 nal works, the true reading has been carefully restored. 
 The purpose of the notes is chiefly to illustrate points of 
 history which are discussed in the text, or to point out the 
 modern state of the places described. Where the Editor 
 has had occasion to controvert either statements of fa&s, 
 or opinions, the reasons or the authorities by which he was 
 led, are given, that the reader may judge for himself. 
 
 To the catalogues of Natural History, the Linnean names 
 of plants and animals are subjoined, and where the author 
 has given no descriptions, such particulars as seemed gene- 
 rally interesting are added. This edition also contains a 
 large Appendix, comprehending several useful lists and 
 other papers ; and a copious Index. 
 
 jst August 1805. 
 
 LIST
 
 LIST OF THE AUTHOR'S WORKS*. 
 
 DlSPUTATIO Medica de Variis Tabis Speciebus, 4to, 
 Lugduni Batavorum apud Job. Elzevirium, 1661. 
 
 Nuncius Scoto-Britannus, de Descriptione Scotiae An- 
 tiquae et Moderns, folio, Edinburgi, 1683. 
 
 An Account of the Scotish Atlas, or the Description of 
 Scotland Ancient and Modern, fol. Edinburgh, 1683. 
 
 Scotia Illustrata, sive Prodromus Historix Naturalis, in 
 quo regionis natura, incolarum ingenia et mores, morbi 
 iisque medendi methodus, et medicina indigena accurate 
 explicantur, &c. Opus viginti annorum. Serenissimi regis 
 Caroli IT. Magnse Britannix Monarchx, &c. jussu editum, 
 folio, Edinburgi, 1684. 
 
 Phalainologia Nova, sive Observationes de rarioribus qui- 
 busdam Balaenis in Scotiae littus, nuper ejeUs, &c. 4to, 
 Edinburgi, 1692. 
 
 An advertisement anent the Xiphias or Sword-fish ex- 
 posed at Edinburgh, 
 
 An essay concerning the Thule of the Ancients, i2tno, 
 Edinburgh, 1693. 
 
 Rogatu Joannis Sletzeri rei tormentariae in Scotia Praefectt 
 Theatrum celebriorum urbium, arcium, templorum et mo- 
 nasteriorum Scotize, lingua Latina scripsi, quod in linguam 
 nostram versum edidit, cumlconibus, in folio, Londini, 1693. 
 
 Additions to the Edition of Cambden's Britannia, 1695. 
 
 Introdu&io ad Historiam rerum a Romanis gestarum in 
 ea borealis Britannia parte, quae ultra murum PiHcum 
 cst: in qua veterum in hac plaga incolarum nomina et 
 sedes explicantur, &c. folio, Edinburgi, 1696. 
 
 Au&arium Musei Balfouriani, e museo Sibbaldiano, sive 
 cnumeratio et descriptio rerum rariorum, tam naturalium, 
 quam artificialium, tam domesticarum quam exoticarum, 
 quas Robertus Sibbaldus, M. D : Eques auratus, Acade- 
 mias Edinburgenae donavit, quae quasi manududtio brevis 
 est ad historiam naturalem. Edinburgi, 8vo, 1697. 
 
 Memor'u 
 
 * This list is taken from the Appendix to Vindicias Prodromi. Anl 
 there are added such works as were published by Hamilton and Balfour in 
 1739, under the title of " A Colle&ion of several Treatises conccrnio-; 
 Scotland as it was of old, and aho in later times."
 
 V11I LIST OF THE AUTHOR'S WORKS-. 
 
 Memoria Balfouriana, sive historia rerum pro literis pro- 
 movendis gestarum, a clarissimis fratribus Balfouriis, D. 
 Jacobo, Barone de Kinaird, equite, Leone rege armorum -, 
 et D. Andrea, M. D. equite aurato, 8vo, Edinburgi, 1699. 
 
 Provision for the poor in time of dearth and scarcity, 
 where there is an account of such food as may be easily 
 gotten, when corns are scarce, and of such meats as may 
 be used, when the ordinary provisions fail, or are very dear, 
 8vo, Edinburgh, 1699. 
 
 An advertisement anent a rare sort of whale came in 
 near Cramond, 1701. 
 
 Coelii Sedulii Scoti poemata sacra ex MSS. optimse notce 
 transcripsi, contuli cum variis ejus editionibus et notis, 
 Nebrissensis et meis illustravi : hoc opus recognitum cum 
 seledlis notis ediderunt Joannes Gillane et Joannes Forrest, 
 meo rogatu, 8vo, Edinburgi, 1701. 
 
 Georgii Sibbaldi, M. D. Domini de Giblistone, Regulse 
 bene et salubriter vivendi, partim prosa partim metro ex- 
 pressx, nunc primum ex MSS. autographis authoris in lu- 
 cem editae, et notis illustratse, per R. S. M. D. ex fratre 
 Davide, Nepotem, 8vo, Edinburgi, 1701. Ouibus accessere 
 Roberti Bodii de Trochoregia, de filii sui primogeniti in- 
 stitutione monita, aliaque ex authoris autographis MSS. 
 edita. 
 
 Commentarius in vitam Georgii Buchanani, cui adje&a 
 est satyra ejus in Cardinalem Lotharingum, nunc primum 
 edita cum notis, 8vo, Edinburgi, 1702. 
 
 The liberty and independencie of the Kingdom and 
 Church of Scotland, asserted from ancient records, in three 
 parts, 410, Edinburgh, 1703. 
 
 An answer to the second letter to the Lord Bishop of 
 Carlisle, wherein the Scots ancient possession in Britain is 
 asserted, and answers are given to the objections against it 
 in the id letter, and in Mr. Atwood's late book, 8vo, 
 Edinburgh, 1704. 
 
 In Hippocratis legenvet in ejus epistolam ad Thessalum 
 filium commentarii ; in quibus ostenditur, quse medico 
 future sunt necessaria, 8vo, Edinburgi, 1706. 
 
 Historical inquiries concerning the Roman monuments 
 and antiquities in the north part of Britain called Scotland, 
 in which there is an account of the Roman walls, ports, 
 colonies, and forts, temples 3 altars, sepulchres, and military 
 
 ways
 
 LIST OF THE AUTHOR'S WORKS. IX 
 
 wayesinthis countrey, from the inscriptions, vestiges of the 
 buildings and camps, and the antiquities found in the 
 countrey, with copper cuts, folio, Edinburgh, 1 707. 
 
 The historic, ancient and modern, of the Sheriffdorris of 
 Linlithgow and Stirling, in two books. The first book 
 containeth the historic ancient and modern of the sherifFdom 
 of Linlithgow, wherein there is an account of the royal 
 seats and castles, of the royal burghs, and of the seats of 
 the knights of St. John, &c. The 2d book has the history 
 and description of Stirlingshire, folio, Edinburgh, 1710. 
 
 An account of the writers, ancient and modernj printed, 
 and manuscripts not printed, which treat of the description 
 of North Britain, called Scotland, as it was of old, and is 
 now at present, with a catalogue of the mapps and pro- 
 spedts and figures, of the ancient monuments thereof, &c. 
 in two parts folio, Edinburgh, 1710. 
 
 Miscellanea quzedam eruditse antiquitatis, quze ad borea- 
 lem Britanniae majoris partem pertinent, in quibus loci 
 quidam historicorum Romanorum illustrantur, cum figuris 
 aliquot monumentorum, antiquorum. Edinburgh, 1710. 
 
 Vindiciae Prodromi historiae naturalis Scotioe, folio, 
 Edinburgi, 1710. 
 
 Commentarius in Julii Agricohe Expeditiones 3, 4, 5, 6% 
 7. in vita ejus, per Cornelium Taciturn generum ejus, de- 
 scriptas ; et in boreali Britannise parte, quse Scotia dicitur, 
 gestas. In quo, ex vestigiis castrorum &c. textus Taciti 
 illustrantur, folio, Edinburgi, 1711. 
 
 Conjectures concerning the Roman ports, colonies, and 
 forts, in the Firths of Forth and Tay, Edinburgh, 1711. 
 
 Specimen Glossiarii de populis et locis Britannice borealis, 
 in explicatione locorum quorundam difficilium apud scrip- 
 tores veteres, folio, Edinburgh, 1711. 
 
 Series rerum a Romanis, post nvocatum Agricolam, in 
 Britannia boreali, gestarum, folio, Edinburgh, 1711. 
 
 The Description of the Isles of Orknay and Zetland, 
 with the Mapps of them, done from the accurat observa- 
 tion of the most learned who lived in these isles, folio, 
 Edinburgh, 1711.
 
 GEORGII SIBBALLI HE GIBLISTON, M. D. 
 
 CARMEN DE FIFA. 
 
 1NSULA, in occiduo, populosa BRITANNIA, ponto, 
 Grandior aut potior nulla sub axe jacet. 
 
 Hanc tenet ad boream, gens SCOTICA, marte togaque 
 Inclyta, et antiquse simplicitatis amans. 
 
 Jam bis mille annos, quod Thule et Mona coercent, 
 Id, Fergusiadas, Albion omne colit. 
 
 Prima diocaesis pii et antiquissima regni, 
 Patroni Andrese, nobile nomen habet. 
 
 Prsetulerint, cundis ejus regionibus, unam, 
 Feifam, metropolis, fana, cathedra, scholx. 
 
 Feifa Caledonios inter celiberrima, agros, 
 Portubus, oppidulis, frugibus et fluviis. 
 
 T
 
 THE EARL OF ROTHESS, 
 
 SHERIFF-PRINCIPAL OF FIFE. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 1 HE Office of Sheriff-Principal of FIFE, 
 having been for some centuries of years 
 hereditary in your Noble Family; in all 
 reason the History and Description of this 
 Shire, is to be dedicate to you. That you 
 and yours may long flourish, is the wish, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 OF YOUR LORDSHIP'S 
 
 MOST HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 ROBERT SIBBALD. 
 
 Sanguine majores tibi quern peperere, tenebis 
 Ingenii et morum nobilitate, locum. 
 
 It, THE
 
 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 
 
 JL HIS History and Description of Fife and Kinross, 
 courteous reader, is a specimen I was desired to give, of 
 what I had done by the command of King CHARLES II. in 
 the description of North Britain, ancient and modern : it 
 was not my blame that it is not accompanied with maps of 
 them, but theirs who ought to have seen that done. I have 
 supplied that want, as well as I could, by a particular de- 
 scription of the most remarkable places, and by lists of the 
 heritors, ancient and modern. 
 
 I find myself obliged in gratitude, to acknowledge from 
 whom I had the best assistance in the carrying on this 
 work : and in the first place, thanks are due to the un- 
 wearied diligence of Mr. TIMOTHY PONT, who after he 
 had travelled over all the parts of North Britain, and the 
 Isles belonging to it, made maps of them, and particularly 
 of these shires, some of which I have : and next to him, 
 the nation is obliged to Sir JOHN SCOT of Scots-Tarvat, 
 who not only recovered Mr. Pont's papers, but also sup- 
 plied them where they were defective : and it was by his 
 procurement that the learned ROBERT GORDON of Straloch, 
 nnd his son the parson of Rothemay, did prepare most of 
 them for the press, and furnished some, nicely done. I 
 have the autograph Mr. JAMES GORDON did of these shires, 
 and of the towns of Cupar and St. Andrews, upon a sur 
 vey of them. His father Straloch made two excellent de- 
 scriptions of Fife in Latin. 
 
 The fullest descriptions of these shires, illustrated with 
 proper extracts from charters and monastery books, were 
 done by Sir JAMES BALFOUR of Kinaird, Lord Lyon ; and 
 I owe much to his MSS. I have also a description in 
 
 Latine,
 
 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 3tiii 
 
 Latine, with a draught of the parish of Lesly, done by the 
 Reverend Mr. JOHN SMITH, while he was minister there ; 
 and I found the minister of Skunie for the time, did one 
 for his parish in our language. 
 
 The excellent poets, JOHN JOHNSTON and ARTHUR 
 JOHNSTON, made several elogies in Latin verse, upon the 
 towns of Fife ; and Doftor GEORGE SIBBALD made some 
 elogies on the countrey. In later times, I got JOHN ADAIR 
 to make a new survey of Fife, most part of which he did 
 very exactly, but how it came to pass I know not, he ex- 
 tended the coast and the south part of the inner countrey, 
 no further than Dysart and the house of Lesly : so the map 
 wants part of the district of the presbytery of Kirkaldie> 
 and the whole district of the presbytery of Dunfermling, 
 and all the south coast, to the west of the town of Dysart. 
 Mr. SLETZER has printed the prospects of St. Andrews, 
 Falkland, and Dunfermling, and the publick buildings in 
 them : and the learned antiquarie Mr. GEORGE MARTINE, 
 has in his MS. Reliquiae St. Andreae, described well the 
 buildings at St. Andrews, and what relateth to that see *. 
 Several persons of quality and of the burroughs communi- 
 cated descriptions to me, mention'd in the work. But 
 above all, I am obliged to the Reverend Mr. HENRY MAL- 
 COLM, parson of Bingray, who furnished me both with de- 
 scriptions and extracts out of charters and monasterie 
 books. I did the ancient history from the Roman writers 
 and other MSS. and the natural history from my own ob- 
 servation. A fuller account of it, with the description and 
 figures of the rare produces, is given in the second volume 
 of the Prodromus, which is ready for the press. This is 
 what I .had to say. I crave your favourable opinion of the 
 work. FAREWELL. R. S. 
 
 CON- 
 
 * Th work was published at St. Andrews in 1797.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 CHAP. I. Concerning the Ancient Extent of the Shire, - t 
 CHAP. II. Concerning the Names of this Country of Old, 8 
 CHAP. III. The Description of the Country, as it was in 
 
 the time of the Romans, - - - - - 13 
 CHAP. IV. Sheweth what sort of people these Caledonians, 
 
 designed Dicaledones and VecJuriones were, 
 
 and from what Country they came here, - 17 
 CHAP. V. Concerning the Language of the PicJs, - - 31 
 CHAP. VI. Concerning the Manners, and Policy^ and the 
 
 Religious Rites of the PicJs, - - - - 41 
 CHAP. VII. Concerning the AcJions and the Exploits of 
 
 the Romans in this Country, - - - - 58 
 CHAP. VIII. Concerning the Wars with the Danes in 
 
 this Shire, --------- 73 
 
 PART II. 
 
 CHAP. I. Concerning the Firths of Forth and Toy, - 84 
 CHAP. II. Concerning the Isles of the Firth of Forth, - 89 
 CHAP. III. Concerning the Animals or living Creatures 
 
 in these two Firths, ------ 106 
 
 SECT. I. The Sanguineous Fishes, - - - 115 
 SECT. II. The Classes of, the Exsanguous Ani- 
 mals in these Firths, - - - 129 
 SECT. III. The Minerals found upon the Coast 
 
 of the Firth of Forth, - -* - 139 
 SECT. IV. Plants growing upon the Coast of 
 this Firth, and some within the 
 Sea-Mark, - - - - - 141 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. 2CV 
 
 CHAP. IV. 'Continuing the Account of 'what relateth to 
 
 the Natural History of this Shire, - - 149 
 CHAP. V. Concerning the State of the Christian Reli- 
 gion in this Shire. - - - , ^ , - - 163 
 SECT. I. Concerning the Culdees, ivho Jirst 
 
 planted the Christian Religion here, ib. 
 SECT. II. Shoiving how the Culdees were de- 
 prived of their Right s t - - - 187 
 SECT. III. Concerning the Religious Houses 
 
 and Hospitals in these Shires t -196 
 
 PART m. 
 
 SECT. I. Concerning the Division of the Shire of Fife, 199 
 SECT. II. Concerning the Jurisdictions in Fife, - - 209 
 SECT. III. Concerning the Earls of Fife, and other 
 
 Officers in the Shire, - - - .J^St. 2I1 
 CHAP. I. Concerning Macduff the first Earl, 
 and the Privileges he obtained of 
 king Malcolm Kanmor, - - - ib. 
 CHAP. II. A List of the Earls of Fife, - 223 
 CHAP. III. Concerning the Civil Jurisdictions 
 
 in this Shire, - - - - - 238 
 CHAP. IV. List of the Bishop s and Priors of 
 
 St. Andrews, ----- 240 
 CHAP. V. List of the Clergy, Nobility, and 
 Gentry, who were Officers of 
 State, being of Fife, - - - 259 
 CHAP. VI. An Account of the University of 
 
 St. Andrews, - - - - - 263 
 
 HISTORY of KINROSS-SHIRE, ...-.-- 271 
 
 PART
 
 *vl CONTENT'S; 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 SECT. I. The Coast, from the Western Boundary of the 
 
 Shire to the Mouth of the River Leven, - 288 
 SECT. II. 7#<? Coast, from the Mouth of the River 
 
 Leven to Fife-ness, - - - - - - 328 
 
 SECT. III. The Coast, from Fife-ness to the Mouth of 
 
 the River Eden, ------- 347 
 
 ^CT. IV. Description of the Inland Country, East from 
 
 the Lomonds, -------- 356 
 
 SECT. V.' Description of the Strath of Leven, - - 365 
 
 SECT. VI. Description of Lochorshire, - - - - 373 
 
 SECT. VII. Description of the Western Parts Inland, 379 
 
 SECT. VIII. Description of the Plain of Eden, - - 381 
 
 SECT. IX. ^Description of the Northern Parts Inland, 40 1 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. I. SECT. I. Concerning the Natural History of Fife, 421 
 SECT. II. Concerning some Natives of this Shire, 
 
 Eminent for Learning and Arts, 426 
 No. II. Old List of the Heritors of these Shires, - 428 
 No. III. New List of the Principal Heritors of the 
 
 Shire of Fife, ; -.-''-* *- T * - - - 434 
 No. IV. New List of the Principal Heritors of the 
 
 Shire of Kinross, ------- 441 
 
 No. V. Gordon's List of the Heritors of Fife, - - 442 
 No. VI. Houses of the Nobility and Gentry, - - - 443 
 No. VII. The New Valuation of Fifeshire, 1695, - 445 
 No. VIII. List of the Parishes as divided into Presby- 
 teries, with the Names of the Patrons and 
 Incumbents, -------- 456 
 
 No. IX. List of the Piaish Kings, - - -- - 45 8 
 No. X. Account of the arrival and treatment of some 
 shipwrecked Mariners and Soldiers of the 
 Spanish Armada at Anstrutker, - - - 465 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 * > F I F E. 
 
 P A R^f L~ 
 
 ANCIENT STATE OF THE SHIRE OF FIFE, AND THE 
 QUALITY OF IT, AS IT WAS UNDER 
 THE PICTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Concerning the Ancient Extent of the Shire. 
 
 JL HE rivers, naturally and conveniently divide the north 
 part of Britain, called Scotland, by three istmus's, into so 
 many peninsulas j one to the south, one in the middle, and 
 one to the north ; the rivers upon each side running far 
 into the country, are hinder'd from meeting by a small slip 
 of ground ; and if that were removed, they would make 
 three islands of that, which is now the continent, or main- 
 land, of Scotland. 
 
 The first peninsula, which is that to the south, containeth 
 all the counties which ly betwixt the borders of South Bri- 
 tain, called England, and the firth and river of Forth, and 
 a short line over land to Glide, to the north of them. 
 
 The middle peninsula hath, to the south, the firth and 
 river of Forth, and the line betwixt it and the river and 
 firth of Glide ; to the west and east, the ocean ; and to 
 the north, it is separated from the continent, which makes 
 the third and outmost peninsula of Scotland ; by the loch 
 and water of Lochy, and a line through a short neck of 
 
 B land,
 
 2 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART 1. 
 
 hind, to the rise of Loch Ness, and then by the loch and 
 river of Ness, to where that river runneth into the sea I . 
 
 It 
 
 1 The convenience of these natural divisions has been ft It from the 
 earliest periods of our history. Anciently, they served as important mili- 
 tary and political boundaries; now, they are equally useful for commercial 
 purposes. The Romans found the inhabitants of this country divided into 
 several petty states, bounded by the natural limits of the rivers, and large 
 arras of the sea, which deeply indent the land on both sides : while the 
 isthmuses were the scenes of frequent and fierce contention betwixt the 
 adjacent tribes. The military skill of the Romans soon observed the im- 
 portance of these friths, and narrow necks of land between them ; and 
 when, in their progress northward, they added a new province to their 
 empire, they determined its extent by these geographical boundaries, and 
 defended it farther against the incursions of the natives, by ramparts, and 
 walls built from sea to sea. The northern limits of their possessions in 
 South Britain, did not indeed advance on the east side of the island, so far 
 as the Tweed, the boundary of the southern peninsula of Scotland ; for the 
 wall of Adrian began at the Tyne : but on the west, they extended to the 
 Solway Frith, which was always the northern boundary of the province, 
 Maxima Cesariensis ; and has continued to divide the kingdoms of Eng- 
 land and Scotland. Notitia Imperii. Itenerarium Antonini, Gordon, Iter. 
 Septentrionale, page 69. 
 
 The isthmus betwixt the Forth and the Clyde was first fortified by 
 Agricola, with turrets, or ramparts. Afterwards Lollius Urbicus, the 
 lieutenant of Antoninus Pius, built a wall its whole length, to ascer- 
 tain, and defend the northern frontier of the province Valentia. The 
 Pi&ish tribes seem to have been long confined to the north of this 
 line ; but after the departure of the Romans, the wall of Urbicus, 
 though repaired by the unhappy Provincials, opposed but a feeble barrier 
 to the hardy Caledonians. Modern times have seen this isthmus undergo 
 a happy change. Through fields so often the theatre of war, and where the 
 blood of the brave natives mingled so copiously with that of foreign invaders, 
 the great Canal wafts in peace and security, the rich produces of agricul- 
 ture and foreign commerce. The particular importance of this canal to 
 the county of Fife, (one of the most splendid and useful exertions of com- 
 mercial enterprise,) will be -'f* .wards noticed. Tac., Vit. Agric. Capitolin. 
 Vit. Anton. Pii. Gordon, Iter. Chap, iv, v. Pinkerton Inquiry, Part III. 
 Chap, v, vi. 
 
 The other isthmus seems to have been the northern limit of the short- 
 lived province Vespasiana, and the extreme boundary of the Roman con- 
 quests
 
 CHAP. I.] ANCIENT EXTENT OF THE SHIRE. 3 
 
 It is the south-east part of this middle peninsula, which 
 lyeth betwixt tho Firths of Forth and Tay, which is the 
 subject of this Book ' . 
 
 In the ancient language of the Pi&s, it was called Ross, 
 which signifieth a peninsula, and it was the best part of 
 their kingdom, where their kings had their royal seat. It 
 appeareth from these following proofs, that it comprehended 
 Bunder it, all the tracT: of ground which lay betwixt the 
 rivers and firths of Forth and Tay, and so took in much 
 of that part of the country which lyeth to the north of the 
 river of Forth, viz. Monteith, Clackmananshire, and the 
 county palatine of Strathern, and the shire of Kinross, to- 
 gether with that is now properly called Fife, which reach- 
 eth from the eastern part of the Ochil Hills to Fifeness, 
 having the Firths of Forth and Tay, and the ocean, in- 
 compassing it on all sides, except that to the west. Which 
 the name Ross importeth, the vestiges of which name N re- 
 maineth yet to this day, in the name Kinross, in the old 
 language, Kean-Ross, the head of the peninsula and the 
 mountaneous part ; and Culross, the back, or lowest part of 
 
 B 2 it ; 
 
 quests in Britain. On the narrow spots of land left by its numerous lakes, 
 forts were erefied, on whose sites, or near them, the modern Forts George, 
 Augustus, and William, have been built. It is to be hoped, that the pro- 
 gress of trade and wealth to the northern extremities of the kingdom, will 
 lead to the opening of a canal upon this isthmus, a measure of high im- 
 portance to the agriculture and fisheries of the northern counties ; and 
 which, from the extent and number of the lakes, might be formed with 
 little difficulty or expence. Ptolomy. Richard of Cirencester. General Roy's 
 Rom. Ant. in North Britain. BibL Topograph. Brit. No. 36. Pink. Inq. 
 Part. II. Chap. ii. Part III. Chap. v. Stat. Ace. VoL XX. p. 35. Highland 
 Transactions, Vol. i. 
 
 1 The county of Fife lies between 56^ 4 1 and 56 27' of north lati- 
 tude, and between 2, and a 56' west longitude from Greenwich. The 
 tmall county of Kinross is enclosed by Fife, except on the W. and N. W. 
 where it joins Perthshire.
 
 4 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 it ; and Muck-Ross, in the east part, where the snout of it 
 is, now called Fifeness x . 
 
 That this country was, of old, of this large extent abote 
 mentioned, appeareth from a MS. short account of Scotland 
 in Latin, kept in the Cotton Bibliotheque, Nero, D. 2. in 
 which it is said, " Terra de Fyffe, in qua est burgus S. 
 Andreae, et castrum de Locres, est vero in longitudine 30 
 leucarum * :" which, if we assign two Scots miles ' to the 
 leuca, (call it the French league, which is the least) will 
 make it reach the whole length of the river of Forth. 
 
 Cambden also citeth a little ancient book of the division 
 of Scotland, in which the fourth part of Scotland, (as it 
 was at that time) is called Forthever : of which some MSS. 
 mention, that there was a rural Dean dependent upon the 
 see of St. Andrews , and yet some part of the moors in the 
 west part of the shire, retain the name of Fothrick Moors. 
 And the MS. of the priory of St. Andrews, names Forte- 
 
 vieth, 
 
 1 Ross does not seem to belong to the language of the Picts, according 
 to the author's own ideas of their origin. See Chap. v. This name, with 
 its derivatives, may have been retained from the Celtic inhabitants who 
 possessed the country before the Fids ; for a name often remains when the 
 memory of the people who imposed it, is lost : More probably it may have 
 been given by the churchmen, who, for a long time after the conversion of 
 the Picts to Christianity, were Celts, educated in the seminary of lona. It 
 is obvious, in many cases, that the priests imposed names on the possessions 
 they acquired; and the Church very early had establishments in Muck - 
 ross, Culross, and Kinross. The southern Picts were converted by St. 
 Ninian about 412, and the northern by Columba about 565. Brude V. is 
 said by Winton to have founded the fhurch of Culross, and that in Loch 
 1 -even, about the year 700. Muck-Ross, (Gaelic, Muc, Swine,) seems to 
 relate to the Cursus Apri, part of the liberal gift of Ungus II. to the priests 
 of St. Andrews, and which stretched from about Fifeness to the confines of 
 the city. See Part II. Chap. v. i. 
 
 1 " The country of Fife, in which are the city of St. Andrews, and the 
 castle of Leuchars, extends to thirty leagues in length." 
 
 J TWO Scots, nearly correspond to three English, statute miles. It is to 
 be observed, that throughout the book, the author computes by Scots miles.
 
 CHAP. I.] ANCIENT EXTENT OF THE SHIRE. 5 
 
 vieth ', where Hungus, king of the Pi&s, built a church; 
 which name seems to relate to the river of Forth, or the 
 firth of it. " And the same author (says Cambden) reports, 
 from the relation of Andrew, bishop of Caithness, that 
 the whole kingdom of Scotland was divided into seven 
 territories, whereof the first was from Fryth, so termed 
 by the Britains; by the Romans, Worid, now Scott- 
 wade * , to the river Tae." It behoved, in ancient times, to 
 be of that extent, because the Dicaledones and the Vecfcu- 
 riones dwelt in it ', of whom we shall give an account af- 
 terwards. The Dicaledones, G. Buchanan readeth Dun- 
 caledones, that is the Pi&s who inhabited the western hilly 
 . parts : for it is certain, that the king of the Fids, who 
 possessed this country, had his seat at Abernethy 4 , in the 
 
 county 
 
 1 The etymology of this name, some better linguist may perhaps ascer- 
 tain. To assist him, I shall mention, that in Chronicon Pidorum, it i 
 written, Forthuir-Tabacht ; and in Chronicon Elegiacum, Fortheriot. 
 This place had become the residence of the kings of the Pi<Sts, about the 
 year 684. Keith mentions nothing of the founder of this church, when 
 speaking either of Fortcvitt, or Cambuslennctb, to which abbey it was 
 annexed. The writer of the Stat. Acc of the parish, ascribes the building 
 of it to Ungus II. the founder of St. Andrews, who reigned from anno 8zi 
 10833. Stat. Ace. Vol. XX. p. 117. 
 
 1 Cambden has here fallen into an error, which has caused a great deal 
 of confusion in the early history of Scotland. It was not the Frith of 
 Forth, but the Solway Frith, that was called Scottwade or Scottiswathe, i. e. 
 the Scottish Ford. The Frith of Forth v.-as called Scottiswatre, i. e. the 
 Scottish Sea. The quotation from Cambden is evidently a part of the fa- 
 bulous history of the conquest of the Pi&s by the Scots, and the division of 
 the country into seven provinces, under seven princes. It may be found, 
 Britannia, foL 885, edit. London, 1695. 
 
 J If Fife denoted the same district with Fothrif, or Fcrthric, (see ch. ii.) 
 k was probably of the extent ascribed to it in the MS. of the Cotton Li- 
 brary. But the Dicaledones had no connection with Fife, and it was only 
 a district of the territory of the Vccturiones. 
 
 * Abernethy might probably be the capital of oae of those petty itates, 
 
 into
 
 6 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 county palatine of Stratherne ; and so the Ochils, and the 
 valleys adjacent to them, were possessed by them. 
 
 The learned Mr. Robert Maule, a cadet of the ancient 
 family of Panmure, (who was well versed in all the learn'd 
 languages, and in our ancient tongue also,) very ingeniously 
 interpreted! the word Ve&uriones, to be Veach-Dour, by 
 laying aside the rough sound of the word, (as the Romans 
 were wont to do, in their using the ancient names of the 
 people they came amongst,) this word was turned to Vec- 
 turiones, from Veach, which he saith, in the ancient lan- 
 guage is, painted, from whence the Romans gave these 
 people the name of Piti, and the other part of the compo- 
 sition is Dur, that is, aqua, water : so Ve&uriones are, 
 Pi&i maris accolae, these Pits who dwelt upon the sea- 
 coast '. 
 
 It 
 
 into which the Pi&s were divided, and seems still to have been regarded as 
 a place of some consequence, after all the tribes were united, probably un- 
 der Drust, about the beginning of the jth century : For according to the 
 register of St. Andrews, Nethan II. founded a church here, so early as 
 about the year 600. Some indeed claim still higher antiquity for the church 
 of Abernethy, and say it was built by Nethan I. (the first designed in 
 history, the Great King of all the Provinces of the Piifts,) anno 458. Un- 
 fortunately they make him dedicate it to St. Bridget, who certainly did 
 not die till about ann. 520. The only ancient building remaining at 
 Abernethy, is a hollow circular tower, 75 feet high, and 48 in circumfe- 
 rence at. the base ; a beautiful specimen of Pidlish architecture ; unless we 
 suppose it to have been built by the Saxon or Anglish architects, sent by 
 Ceolfrid, at the desire of Nethan III. about 740. The only other speci- 
 men of this kind is at Brechin, which was only given to the church by 
 Kenneth IV. about 990. Pink. Inq. I. 29$. 303, II. 367. 188. 268. Gor- 
 don gives views of both the Piclish towers, p. 164, Stat. Ace. Vol. XI. 
 page 435- 
 
 The name and origin of the Picts will be considered at Chap. iv. 
 We may romark here, however, that their name was originally, and con- 
 tinued for many ages to be Peohtar, or Pehtar ; and that as the labial let- 
 ters P and V are apt to be interchanged, the name came to be pronounced 
 Vchtar; hence the compound name of the Icelandic writers, Vcht-vcriar,
 
 CHAP. I.] ANCIENT EXTENT OF THE SHIRE. 7 
 
 It was but in later times, that (as George Buchanan tell- 
 eth us), " Reliquum agri ad Fortham usque, ambitio in va- 
 rias prsefe&uras dissecuit, Clacmanam, Colrossianam et 
 Kinrossianam ' :" And the last of these, that's, the 
 country to the east of the two former, was divided into the 
 two shires of Kinross and Fife, viz. about the year 1426; 
 and of late, viz. at the revolution *, three paroches, viz. that 
 of Orwel, Tillibole, and Cleish, were taken off Fife, and 
 cast into the small shire of Kinross. And it was from the 
 large extent of Fife of old, that the vulgar are wont to call 
 it, THE KINGDOM OF FIFE. 
 
 The many fine houses of the nobility and gentry, and 
 the many burghs royal in it ; the number of paroches, and 
 the many religious houses were in it, and the several juris- 
 dictions in it, made the commons so talk of this country. 
 
 The breadth of this country is noways proportionable to 
 the length ; for where it is broadest, it does not exceed 
 some seventeen miles, and in the middle 'tis but betwixt 
 thirteen or fourteen miles broad. Towards the east, the 
 land is contracted to two narrow angles, one of which is 
 obtuse, and the other is sharp, and ends in a narrow point. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Pidish men. The learned Mr. Pinkerton supposes, that this compound 
 word was the etymon of the Latin, Vecturiones. There is considerable 
 plausibility, however, in Commissary Maule's conjedure. 
 
 1 u The rest of the country, even unto the Forth, man's ambition hath 
 divided into several stewartries, as the stewartry of Clatkmanan, of Cul- 
 ross, and of Kinross." Buch. TransL VoL i. p. 24. 
 
 1 Not at, but before the revolution, viz, anoo 1685. See Part III, 
 Hist, of Kinross.
 
 8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART fc 
 
 C H A P. II. 
 
 Concerning the Natnes of this Country of Old. 
 
 JL HE Romans made this country a part of Caledonia ' , and 
 so it was indeed, whether that name be taken for all the 
 country beyond the Firths of Forth arid Glide, as Tacitus 
 took it ; or whether it be taken, as Ptolomy makes it, to' 
 comprehend all the middle peninsula before described. 
 This is the south part of it, lying betwixt the Firths of 
 Forth and Tay. Hector Boeth. calleth it, (Hist. lib. 4. 
 fol. 6 1.) Otolinia, which he thus describeth : "Otolinia 
 Pi&orum regio, duo inter sestuaria, Fortheam et Taum 
 interjacens, solo fcecunda, nemofibus, pascuis, armenti'3, 
 et gregibus aptissimis : lacubusque ac stagnis, flumini- 
 bus, variis piscium generibus refertis : ac omni ferarum 
 genere, quse in Albione nascuntur exundans. Continet ea 
 plaga hac setate, Fifam, Fothricam et Ornevallem, regi- 
 unculas prisca pollentes ubertate : sed Scotorum regum 
 opera (qui eas sedes post deletes postea Pilos occupa- 
 runt) quum aliter latrunculos exterminare non possent, 
 arbore jam olirh magna ex parte denudatas * ." In the 
 second page after this, he rrarheth the Otolini ac Vicoma'gi, 
 
 and 
 
 1 Tacitus and Ptolomy confine the name of Caledonia, to that part of 
 the country which lies north of the Tay, and Loch Fyne, Lelamonius 
 Sinus : It wa not till a later period, that it extended to the Forth and the 
 Clyde ; the nature of the country probably suggested this name, as the 
 Celtic word, kbelydon, means -woods, though some derive it from the cha- 
 racter of the inhabitants, llalld signifying hardy, 
 
 * " Otolinia, a province of the Pidls, lying betwixt the two Friths of 
 Forth aud Tay, i of a fertile toil, full of forests, abounding in all the wild 
 
 animal*
 
 CHAP. II.] ANCIENT NAMES OF THE COUNTRY. 9 
 
 and says, " Fuere olim Vicomagi populi Pi&ici generis, qui 
 " sub Caledonia sedes tenuerunt ; horum meminit Ptolo- 
 " mreus '." Indeed Ptolomy mentioneth both these ; but 
 Boethius' mistake is from a wrong copy of Ptolomy, printed 
 at Ulma, anno Dom. 1486, which I have, in which I find 
 the Otolini. And Gale, in his 15 Scriptores, says, some 
 MSS. read it so also, which differs from all the other 
 copies, both Greek and Latin, which I have seen : for these 
 usually have Ottedini, which the learn'd Drummond of 
 Hawthorndenne, our countryman, in some MS. notes upon, 
 Cambden's description of North Britain, saith is to be 
 read Scottedini 2 , the two initial letters having been worn 
 away in the parchment MS. he says has given rise to the 
 reading Ottedini 5 for the other people he calls Vicomagi : 
 
 C whileas 
 
 animals which Britain produces ; of pastures, covered with valuable flocks 
 and herds ; of lakes, and pools, and rivers, stored with variety of fish. 
 This district comprehends Fife, Fothric and Ornevale, (qu. Strathore ?) 
 principalities still replenished with the same productions as in ancient 
 times, except the woods, of which they were long ago (Boeth. wrote in the 
 ijth century) in a great measure, divested, hy the Scottish kings, who, 
 succeeding to these countries after the destruction of the Picls, were unable 
 to expel the robbers, then very numerous, but by destroying the woods 
 which sheltered them." 
 
 1 " There was formerly a PitSlidi tribe called Vicomagi, who possessed 
 the country under Caledonia, (i. e. to the south, and he afterwards places 
 them in Stirlingshire,) of whom Ptolomy makes mention." It were 
 endless to attempt to correct the errors of Boethius. No such name as 
 Otolinia, as Sir Robert remarks, ever belonged to any part of North Bri- 
 tain. The Ottodeni, a people of CeltJc origin, are placed in the map of 
 Ptolomy to the south of the Forth ; the Vacomagi, a Pidish tribe, so far 
 to the north as Morayshire, in the very heart of Caledonia. 
 
 1 It is astonishing how far national priJe, and the bewildering influence 
 of theory, will mislead the strongest minds. Drunimcnd, a man really 
 learned and acute, to support the syscem of the great antiquity of the Scot- 
 tish name, hazards a coujfdl ure in opposition to every MS. of Ptolomy, 
 uud all other ancient writers, -nd Icr.aj his authority to a falsehood, useless 
 iii itself, and not difficult to be detected.
 
 10 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I< 
 
 whileas both in Bertius his excellent edition, and the late 
 map of Gale, it is read Vacomagi, and the Greek in both 
 these answer to Vacomagi, which by the by, (seeing Pto- 
 lomy placeth them sub Caledoniis, and were a Flemish 
 people,) doth much confirm Mr. Robert Maule his ratio 
 nominis veach, pictus, since in veach here, and in Wau- 
 chopdale in the south, (which were both the seats of the 
 Pi6ts,) the Pitish veach appears to be the rise of both 
 these words. 
 
 As the same learn'd gentleman, Mr. Robert Maule, some 
 time commissary of St. Andrews, deduceth the name Foth- 
 rick, (of which some vestiges yet remain, as was said, in 
 the name of some moors in the district of the Presbytery of 
 Dumfermling,) from veach-ric in the old Gothish lan- 
 guage, which was the language of the Pits, while they 
 made a separate kingdom from the Scots ; for veach, as 
 .was said, is as much as pidlus, painted : And this conjec- 
 ture of his is what Isidore in his Origines, lib. 19. cap. 23. 
 asserteth thus : " Pilorum nomen a corpore, quod minu- 
 tis opifex acus pundtis, et expresses nativi graminis suc- 
 cos includit, ut has ad sui specimen cicatrices ferat, piUs 
 artubus maculosa nobilitas ' :" And the other part of the 
 composition is, ric, regnum. So that the word Fothrick 
 
 importeth, 
 
 ' " The name of Pi<Ss is givert them from their bodies, which 
 were punctured by a sharp instrument, and the juke of a native plant 
 rubbed into the wounds ; so that their spotted nobility, with painted 
 limbs, bore those scars as their distinguishing mark." This operation re- 
 sembkd the tattooing, so common among many nations, both in the per- 
 manence of the colour, and regularity of the forms impressed. The plant 
 whose juice was employed, was the glastum or woad, which stained of a 
 blue colour. The practice prevailed among all the Gothic nations, to make 
 them look terrible in war, and was with them a mark of nobility ; so that 
 as the ancients say, the most noble had the greatest number of figures 
 btaincJ on his body. If the Gothic descent of the Pi&s be admitted, the 
 origin of their name will be sought for in something else than this circum- 
 gfunce. The f*<5t indeed, that staining the body was not peculiar to the 
 
 Caledonians,
 
 CHAP. II.] ANCIENT NAMES OF THE COUNTRY. I I 
 
 importeth, that it is the kingdom of the Fids, of which' it 
 was indeed a choise part '. 
 
 The Monks write, that it was called Fife from Fifus 
 Duffus a nobleman, who did eminent service in war : But 
 in these days men had their names and designations from 
 the lands they had, and the lands were not designed from 
 them 1 . Besides, it is altogether unlike ami inconsistent in 
 itself, to think the government would give so large a tral 
 of ground to any one man. It was such Monkish legends 
 gave rise to the fable of Scota, Pharaoh's daughter, and the 
 one probably is as much a fiction as the other. The learn'd 
 Mr. Maule has, with more judgment, deduced it from 
 veach, that is, painted, which these who followed the 
 
 C 2 English 
 
 Caledonians, but common to the Gothic tribes, sufficiently refutes the 
 fancy. The name is much older than their acquaintance with the Romans, and 
 is to be traced from the ancient seats of the Goths on the Euxinc, through 
 Scandinavia, to the cast coast of Britain. In all which places are found, 
 Piki, Viki, Pehti, and Pihts, the name they still retain among their descend- 
 ants ; Pi<5U was only this name, softened to the Roman pronunciation. 
 
 1 Probably Forthric, the kingdom on the Forth. If the country be- 
 tween the friths was divided into three parts ; the first, or Fife, would con- 
 tain the northern and eastern parts; the second, the middle region, through 
 which run the rivers Leven and Orr, afterwards called Lochoreshire ; and 
 the third, the lands along the Forth, justly distinguished, as Ric, a king- 
 dom, on account of their superior richness and fertility. Sir Robert con- 
 necls Forteviot with this district ; but the country of the Pi&s, in reference 
 to its capital, was called Fortrcn, a name which often occurs in the Annals 
 of Ulster. If the word ought to be written Fothric, it i probably taken 
 from one of its princes, as Fothe or Foithe seems to have been a very com- 
 mon name among the Picts. It requires a wonderful partiality for the 
 word Veach, to shape it into so many forms, Vec, Vac, Wauch, Pi<S, 
 Foth, Fife. 
 
 * To take names from lands, was not introduced till the I2th century, 
 when the feudal forms began to be more fixed and regular. Before that, 
 at least among the Picls, it was common to give the name of the owner to 
 hi? property. Of this, Sir Robert himself gives an instance, in the last 
 chapter of this work, where he say? I.ruchars was named, " a Locro Pi 
 mm rv.-'jjiv.'t :;u?J"m
 
 12 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 English way of pronouncing the word, softned Veach to 
 Fife, which the permutation of letters easily admits, F ex- 
 pressing Ve very well, and the last letters are softned by 
 their lisping tone r . 
 
 The learn'd Robert Gordon of Straloch is of the opinion, 
 that the people named by Ptolomy, Vennicones, or as some 
 MS. has it, Vernicones, or Venicontes, were indweilers in 
 this country, in these ancient times *, which is very consistent 
 with Tacitus his account in the life of Agricola, chap. 25. 
 " Amplas (inquit) civitates trans Bodotriam sitas, quia mo- 
 tus universarum ultra gentium, et infesta hostili exercitu 
 itinera timebantur, prius classe exploravit 3 ." The coun- 
 try had been discovered at sea before, by Vespasian, when 
 he commanded the second legion under Claudius, as is clear 
 from these lines of Val. Flaccus Argonauticon, lib. i . initio. 
 
 Tuque 
 
 1 Is it not more probable, that the Picts gave this district of their 
 country a name from one of its most striking natural ^productions ? Fifa, in 
 the Scandinavian dialects, is the cotton grass, lanugo palustris, a plant that 
 must have been very common in a country full of lakes and marshes, and 
 which still abounds in the remaining undrained spots. Many places in the 
 county have derived their names from similar circumstances. Ach, water, 
 composes part of several. Two inland places, Struthers and Ceres, (Siras, 
 according to the old orthography) and two on the coast, Anstruther and 
 Cornsiras, take their names from plants growing in a marshy country, 
 Strud'er, the reed, and Syra, the corn reed. JLundun, is the town in a, 
 grove, and Orkie, a little desart ; and many others might be enumerated. 
 
 - The Vtnicontes occupied the country between the Tay and the Dee. 
 These mistakes as to the situation of the nations named by Ptolomy, aris? 
 from the incorrectness of his latitudes and longitudes. He conceives Scot- 
 land to trend to the cast, instead of the north. By this twist which he has 
 given the country, the northern and southern tribes are brought into nearly 
 the same parallels ; and this circumstance, if the map itself is not consulted, 
 must mislead as to the position of the different states. 
 
 * That is, " being apprehensive of a general insurrection in those large 
 and remote countries beyond Bodotria, from the clans and tribes of people 
 who did possess thein, he sent out a fleet that summer, to try the creeks 
 :;nd havens of the large country beyond it," SIB BALD.
 
 CHAP. III.] CONDITION UNDER THE ROMANS. 13 
 
 Tuque O Pelagi, cui major aperti 
 
 Fama, Caledonius postquam tua carbasa vexit 
 Oceanus, Phrygios prius indignatus lulos. 
 
 which is meant of Vespasian the father. And in the same 
 place Tacitus telleth us that, " Ad manus et arma conversi 
 Caledoniam incolentes populi z ." Thus it is manifest, there 
 were many people, and these different from others; for 
 we find afterwards they associate together, against the Ro- 
 mans, in meetings. 
 
 Thus we have given an account of all the ancient names 
 of the country, and the reason of them : it now follows, 
 thai, w? describe the country, as it was in the time when the 
 Romans first attacked it, which must be done from the 
 Roman authors, since we have no other manuscripts which 
 were written in these times. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The description of the country, as it was in the time 
 of the Romans. 
 
 OlNCE none of our manuscripts arc preserved, which 
 were written when the Romans were in this country *, I 
 
 am 
 
 1 That is, " the inhabitants of Caledonia resolving upon arms and war," 
 
 &C. SlBBALD. 
 
 1 This ebullition of national vanity, points out but too clearly what is 
 very frequently the object of our antiquaries, to support what they call 
 the honour of Caledonia, even at the expence of truth and probability. A 
 mere absurd conceit never entered an imagination transported with the 
 past glories of our country, than that tiiere ever were MSS. iiiitorie* writ- 
 ten by the turbulent and illiterate barbarians of Scgthnd, to early as tbo 
 time of the Roman conquest.
 
 14 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. f_PART I. 
 
 am altogether of the mind of the learn'd Mr. Maule, in his 
 MS. De Antiquitate Gentis Scotorum, p. 329. That the 
 confusion which appeareth in severals of our writers, arose 
 from that, as he saith, " Quod scilicet scripts primo fue- 
 rint histofise nostrse ab hominibus parum providis, et mini- 
 me in externorum historiis exercitatis, maxime Romano- 
 rum, unde nostra fere omnis antiquitas haurienda. Et qui 
 posterius ap"ud nos scripsere, a primis illis tradita retinere 
 potius voluerunt, quam nova excogitare r ." 
 
 Upon this consideration, to shew the condition and qua- 
 lity of this country in the time that the Romans first inva- 
 ded it ; I applied myself to inquire into it, from what may 
 be found in the Roman writers, and from the hints, they 
 give us, to make up the description of it. The greatest 
 light In this matter, is furnished to us from Tacitus, in his 
 life of his father-in-law Agricola, and from Dio and his 
 epitomator Xiphelinus, in the account he giveth of the 
 emperor Severus his expedition in this country, and from 
 the poet Claudian. These three, if they be well consi- 
 dered, say enough to make a just description of this part 
 of the country. 
 
 Tacitus in Agricola, cap. 25. says, " -/Estate qua sex- 
 turn officii annum inchoabat, amplas civitates trans Bodo- 
 triam sitas, quia motus universarum ultra gentium, et in- 
 festa hostili exercitu itinera timebantur, prius classe explo- 
 ravit : quae ab Agricola primum assumpta in partem vi- 
 rium, sequebatur egregia specie, cum simul terra simul 
 mari bellum impelleretur : ac ssepe iisdem castris pedes 
 
 equesque 
 \ 
 
 1 " Hence came the confusion and incertainty of what is raid in our 
 }iistoriar;s, about what was done in ancient times, that they did not inquire 
 after what was said by foreign writers, especially by the Romans, who 
 are the Lest vouchers of our antiquity, and of what relateth to it : and 
 those who wrote since, choosed rather to retain the traditions of the first, 
 riian to apply themselves to the right way of discovering the truth of these 
 
 y.?.* 4 .rr f ." SlBBALD.
 
 CHAP. III.] CONDITION UNDER THE ROMANS. Ijf 
 
 equesque et nauticus miles mixti copiis et laetitia, sua quis- 
 que fata, sups casus attollerent : ac modo silvarum eu 
 naontium profunda, modo tempestatum ac flu&uum ad- 
 versa, hinc terra et hostis, hinc vitus oceanus railitari 
 jatantia compararentur ' . 
 
 Dio, where he speaks of the Britains who were enemies 
 to the Romans, says, " Incolunt Maeatae juxta eum murum, 
 qui insulam in duas partes dividit : Caledonii post illos sunt. 
 Possident utrique montes asperrimos, et sine aqua ; item- 
 que campos dcsertos, plenosque paludibus : quodque msenia 
 non habent nee urbes, agros nullos colunt : de praeda et 
 venatione, fru&ibusque arborum vivunt *." And after- 
 wards he says, " Hujus insuhe pars paulo minus quam di- 
 midia, nostra est : quam Severus quum vellet omnem in 
 suam potestatem redigere, ingressus est in Caledoniam; 
 
 eamque 
 
 1 That is, " Agri.cola, in the sixth year of his lieutenancy, being appre* 
 hcnsive of a general insurre&ion in those large cities, (that is, clans and 
 tribes of people,) and remote countries beyond Bodotria, (that is, the Firth 
 of Forth,) and that his march would be made very troublesome by the 
 enemie's forces, sent out a fleet that summer to sound the creeks and havens 
 of the large country beyond it. Thus Agricola was the first that ever se- 
 conded his land army by a fleet ; and what was very great, that brought 
 war upon them, both by land and sea. Oftentimes it happen'd, that the 
 cavalry, the foot-soldiers, and the seamen, would meet and make merry 
 together in the same camp, each one magnifying his own feats and adven- 
 tures, and making their vaunts and comparisons, soldier-like, the one of 
 the woods and high mountains, the other of the danger of the waves and 
 tempests ; the one valuing himself upon the land and the enemy, the other 
 upon the sea itself subdu'd by them." SIB BALD. 
 
 1 " The Mxata: possess the country over against (that is, upon the 
 south side of) the wall which divideth the island in two parts, and the Ca- 
 ledonians are beyond them, that is, upon the north side of the wall ; and 
 both of them possess rough, rocky, and dry hills, and waste plains full o( 
 pools and marishes ; and for that they have no walled forts nor towns, they 
 do not lab >ur the ground, and live upon what they take from their ene- 
 mies, and what they get by hunting, and upon ths fruits of tree:." SIB- 
 BALD.
 
 ^ 
 
 itf THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 eamque dum pertransiret, habuit maxima negotia, quod 
 silvas caederet, et loca alta perfoderet, quodque paludea 
 obrueret aggere> et pontes in fluminibus faceret ' ." This 
 is confirmed by Herodian in the third book of his history, 
 where he treateth of the same Severus : " S.ed imprimis ( in- 
 quit) tamen curam habuit pontibus occupare paludes, ut 
 stare in tuto milites possent, atque in solido pneliari. Si- 
 quidem Britanniae pleraque loca frequentibus oceani alluvi- 
 onibus paludescunt 2 ." 
 
 Claudian, Carm. xxii. ver. 247. giveth U3 a description 
 of this country, in a poetic way, thus : 
 
 Indc Caledonio velata Britannia monstro, 
 Ferro picla genas cujus vestigia verrit 
 Caerulus, oceanique, osstum mentitur amiclus. 
 
 In \vhich, besides that he pointeth at the Picts, the inhabi- 
 tants of it, he insinuateth, that it is on many sides encom- 
 passed with the sea, as ii is indeed towards the east, the 
 south and north parts. 
 
 It appearcth clearly, that it was a hilly country, and that 
 it was at that time full of woods, and had many lochs or 
 fresh water pools in it. The many inlets of the sea, and 
 
 the 
 
 1 " Of this island, somewhat less than the half is ours ; and when Se- 
 verus, wishing to reduce the whole under his power, entered Caledonia, 
 he met with the greatest difficulties during his march through it, irt 
 having tp cut down the woods ; to dig through heights ; to raise em- 
 bankments in the marshes, and to build bridges over the rivers." 
 
 1 " His first care was to secure the marshes with banks or bridges, that 
 the soldiers might stand in safety, and fight on solid ground ; for many 
 parts of Britain are formed into marshes, by frequent inundations of the 
 ea." This campaign of Severus, was the most disastrous to the Roman* 
 of any they fought in Britain. In the necessary, but arduous labours, of 
 forming a road for the army, in this woody and fenny region, and in skir- 
 mishes with the warlike tribes who possessed it, the Roman army, in a 
 few months, lost 50,000 men, an incredible number, were it not attested by 
 thrir own historians. Xipb.ilin. a Dipnc, lib. 76. cap. 876.
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. I } 
 
 the emboucheurs of the waters, are hinted at, by what is 
 cited out of Herodian. The mosses placed in several parts 
 of the country, shew there were many woods ; for these 
 arose from the corruption of the timber in the woods. All 
 which is confirmed from what ,Hetor Boeth saith of this 
 country as it was of old r . Thus it appeareth, both from an- 
 cient and modern historians, that this country was for the 
 most part waste, and only imployed for pasture of beasts, 
 and that it was full of woods, though now they are all pe- 
 rished, what by the length of time, and what by the cutting 
 of them by the Romans, to make way for their armies, and 
 by our kings, to reach the robbers which did haunt them. 
 
 Now, it is time to inquire who these Caledonian Piclis 
 were, and whence they came, and to give some account of 
 their government, their religious rites, and their manners, 
 their language and way of living, and of the wars these of 
 them in this country had with the Romans, and our pre- 
 decessors the Scots, till such time as they were incorporated 
 with us under our kings. 
 
 CHAP. IV, 
 
 She-wet/} what sort of people these Caledonians, designed Dica- 
 
 ledones and VeEluriones ivere, and from what 
 
 Country they came here. 
 
 J ULIUS CESAR, in his commentary de bello Gallico, lib. 5. 
 in these words, ' Britannia pars interior ab iis incolitur, 
 
 D quos 
 
 1 See before, page 8. note a. Dean Bellenden, the translator of Boe- 
 thius, must also shew his zeal for the honour of Scotland, by adding to the 
 list of its productions in his author, a. considerable quantity of corn, to 
 
 persuade
 
 l8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 quos natos in insula ipsa memoria proditum dicunt '," 
 sheweth that they were such ancient possessors of the inner 
 part of the country, that they thought themselves they were 
 Aborigines : And Diodorus Sjculus, in his Bibliotheca, is 
 of the same opinion : and the panegyrist Eumenius, in pa- 
 negyride Constantino Caesari Augusto di&o, where he pre- 
 ferreth the actions of Constantine in Britain, to the exploits 
 of Julius Caesar there : He sheweth, that the Pits were 
 in Britain long before Caesar came there, in these words : 
 Ad hoc natio etiam tune rudis, et soli Britanni Pilis 
 modo, et Hibernis assueta hostibus adhuc seminudis, 
 &C 1 ." And these Pi&s, even in this tradl: we now write of, 
 were in Agricola's time so numerous, and their forces were 
 so aboundant, that Tacitus says, cap. 25. of the life of Agri- 
 cola, that, " interim cognoscit hostes plurimis agminibus 
 
 inrupturos, 
 
 persuade us that this country was well cultivated in these early days, as if 
 no Roman historian" had written, and the state of society had not then pre- 
 cluded much attention to agriculture. " Fyffe, whilk is ane plenteous re- 
 gion, full of woddis, kauris and valis, to the gret froffet baltb of cornc and 
 bestyal," foL 46. 
 
 1 " The inhabitants of the inland parts of Britain, say, that it has been 
 delivered down to them by tradition, that they are the indigenous natives 
 of the island." 
 
 1 The panegyric, of which a part is imperfectly quoted in the text, was 
 pronounced by Eumenius, in presence of Constantius Chlorus, on his vic- 
 tory over Alleclus, in the year 196. The passage is curious, not only be- 
 cause it contains the first mention of the name Pids, and proves that they 
 were known to Julius Cesar, but because it has perplexed the best critics, 
 (Buchanan, Acidalius, de la Baunc,) and has compelled them to make 
 strange transpositions, and insertions, to render it intelligible. In a late edi- 
 tion however of the Panegyrists, (at Nurcnberg, 1779,) the true reading 
 has been given from an excellent MS. as follows : " Ad hoc natio etiam 
 tune rudis; et solis Britanni Pictis modo et Hibernis adsueti hostibus, adhuc 
 semiuudi, facile Romanis armis, signisquc, cesserunt." " Moreover the 
 nation, he (Jul. Cesar) attacked was then rude ; and the Britons, used only 
 to the Pitti and Irish as enemies, and being yet themselves but half naked, 
 faiily yk-ldcd to the Roman arms and ensigns." Pink. Part HI. Chap. i.
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 19 
 
 inrupturos, ac ne superante numero, et peritia locorum cir- 
 cumiretur, diviso et ipse in tres partes excrcitu incessit ' ." 
 
 We are now to inquire, what people they were, and 
 from whence they came hither. Tacitus, cap. 1 1 . conclud- 
 eth from the habit of their body, that they were Germans : 
 " Namque, (inquit) rutilze Caledoniam habitantiam comse, 
 magni artus, Germanicam originem adseverant V And the 
 venerable Bede is much of the same opinion, Ecclesiast. Hist, 
 lib. i. cap. r. " Contigit (inquit) gentem Piclorum de Scythia 
 (ut perhibent) longis navibus non multis oceanum ingres- 
 sam ' ." And below he saith, " Petentes Britanniam PiU 
 habitare per septentrionales insulae partes caeperunt V This 
 opinion of Bede is well explain'd and confirm'd by the' 
 learn'd Dr. Stillingfleet, in his Origines Britannicae, cap. 5. 
 p. 245. thus : " Besides these two (people) he makes 4 
 third race of men in Britain, whom he fetches out of Ger- 
 many, and these were the Caledonian Britains : but he takes 
 Germany in a very large sense, so as to extend as far as the 
 Sarmatx, and to comprehend under it the northern nations 
 of the Cimbri, and the Gothones, and the Sueones ; from 
 whom it seems very probable, that the Caledonian Britains 
 were descended, as the southern Britains came from the 
 Celtx, whose language and religion were kept up among 
 them. But the Caledonians came from the European Scy- 
 
 D 2 thians, 
 
 1 That is, " In the mean time we had advice, that the enemy's design 
 was to divide, and attack us in many places at once : whereupon, lest he 
 ihould be under disadvantage by the number of the enemy, and their 
 knowledge of the country, he likewise divided his army into three bodies." 
 SJBBALD. 
 
 1 " They that live in Caledonia are red headed and big limb'd, which 
 speaks them of a German extraction." SIBBAI.D. 
 
 ' " It happened that the nation of the Pifts, entering the ocean from 
 Scythia, as is reported, in not many large ships." 
 
 4 " The Picts going to Britain, began to inhabit the northern parts of 
 the island."
 
 20 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 thians, to whose coasts they lay much nearer than to those 
 of the Celtx, and their larger proportions, which Tacitus 
 observes, agree very well with this supposition. 
 
 " And these, if I mistake not, were the original Pifts, 
 but not called by that name, till new colonies came over to 
 people the country, after the terrible devastation of it by 
 the continuance of the Roman wars : for Claudian, de 
 quarto Consul. Honorii, makes Thule the country of the 
 Pits ; and after all the disputes which have been about it, 
 Olaus Rudbeck hath made it very probable in his Atlantica, 
 c. 19. that Scandinavia is meant by it; which he proves 
 not only from the testimony of Procopius, who affirms it -, 
 but from the exa6l agreement of the relations of Pythias, 
 Isidorus and others with that, and neither with Isleland, 
 nor any other place." 
 
 "Besides, Bede, lib. i. cap. I. saith, The common tra- 
 dition was, that the Pitts came out of Scythia, which is 
 affirmed by Matt. Westminster and many others ; but 
 they do not mean the Asian, but the European Scythia, 
 which comprehended under it all the most northern nations 
 ab extreme Aquilone, saith Pliny, lib. 6. cap. 13. And else- 
 where he saith, lib. 4. cap. 1 2. that the Get^, the Daci and 
 Sarmatae, and even the Germans, were called Scythians. 
 Herodotus, lib. 4. mentions the northern Scythians, to whom 
 there was no access by those who dwelt near the Palus 
 Maeotis, without the help of seven languages : and when 
 Darius fought with them, they retired northwards, towards 
 their own country. Ptolomy, Tab. 8. Europae, places the 
 royal Scythians near the Hyperborean mountains, which 
 could never be found in the vast plains of Poland and Mus- 
 covy, there being no mountains there, answering to their 
 description, as Hebersteinius, Rerum Muscov. pag. 6 1 . and 
 Matthias a Micou, Sarm. Europ. 1. 9. c. 3, 4. confess : and 
 therefore Olaus Rudbeck, Atlantic, cap. 2. hath undertaken 
 
 to
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 21 
 
 to prove, not without great shew of reason, that these 
 mountains were no other than the ridge of mountains in 
 Sweden, where the seat of the ancient Scythians was , and 
 that Ptolomy was extremely mistaken in the situation of 
 the northern nations, removing them several degrees more 
 eastward than they ought to have been, and so very much 
 straitning Scandinavia, which Jornandes, de Reb. Gent. 1. i. 
 c. 4. calls the work-house of nations ; and the same Jor- 
 nandes affirms from Josephus, that the Sueoncs were the 
 true Scythians, whom Xenophon, Mem. 1. 2. p. 581. Ed. 
 H. St. takes to be the governing people of Europe in his 
 time, as the Persians were in Asia and the Carthaginians 
 in Africa: and the old Greek geographers, v. Strabo. 1. i. 
 and 1 1 . knew of but two nations in Europe besides them- 
 selves, viz. the Scythx towards the north, and the Celtae 
 towards the west. These European Scythians did make 
 frequent expeditions by sea, as appears by the old Gothick 
 histories ; and Olaus Rudbeck, Atlantic, c. 7. observes from 
 them, that it was a custom for them to go abroad by sea, 
 under the conduct of one of their princes, to see for booty \ 
 and Tacitus, Germ. c. 44. saith particularly of the Sueones, 
 that they were well provided of shipping ; and therefore 
 there can be no improbability that these northern nation* 
 should people that part of Britain which lay nearest to them. 
 And Suenon, Opusc. c. i. the first historian of Denmark, 
 saith, that Helghi, the son of Haldnn, the son of Skiold, 
 the first monarch there, was so powerful at sea, that he was 
 called rex maris, the king of the sea. And Saxo Gram- 
 maticus, Hist. Dan. 1. 2. saith, that having subdued the 
 king of the Sclavi, he sailed into divers passages of the sea. 
 Andreas Velleius (v. Notas Steph. in Sax. Gram.) gives 
 this reason why the northern nations were so soon, and so 
 much given to expeditions by sea, because their kings ha- 
 ving many children, they thought them best imploy'd 
 
 abroad,
 
 22 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I, 
 
 abroad, in seeking other countries and getting spoils at sea. 
 And upon the old boast of the Scythians concerning their 
 antiquity and nobility, might be grounded that saying of 
 Galgacus, that the Caledonian Britains were the most noble 
 of any of them. 
 
 " Among these Scythians, Pliny, Hist. Nat. 1. 4. c. 1 3. 
 reckons the Agathyrsi : who had their name, saith Olaus 
 Rudbeck, from Agathyr, one of the Gothic names for Nep- 
 tune, from agga, signifying power at sea, and tyr, power at 
 land : these Agathyrsi, saith he, were a sort of people who 
 lived near the sea, in the Sinus Codanus, and were wont to 
 prey upon the spoils of the sea. Jornandes places them in 
 Scandia, and calls them Agantzyrios : they were remarkable 
 in antiquity for painting their bodies, as not only appears 
 from Virgil's pi&ique Agathyrsi, but from what Solinus 
 saith of them, cap. 15. Polyhist. that their bodies were 
 painted colore caeruleo, just as the old Pi&s were. Tacitus, 
 de Moribus Germanorum, observes of the Arii, a fierce 
 northern people, that they had tin&a corpora, i. e. were 
 Pits. And the same, Virgil. Georg. 2. saith of the Ge- 
 loni, who were next neighbours to the Agathyrsi : so that 
 Hetlor Boeth. his conjecture, Hist. Scot. f. 4 ". is not at all 
 improbable, who deduces the PiH from the Agathyrsi, i. e. 
 frem the maritime inhabitants of the Baltic Sea ; or, as he 
 expresses it, from those who came first out of Sarmatia in- 
 to the Cimbric Chersonese, and from thence into Scotland." 
 
 That which the learn'd Doctor Stillingfleet asserteth, is 
 most agreeable to the tradition handed down to us from the 
 ancient times, and recorded in our MS. histories and mo-r 
 dern historians which are printed. We have related Hec- 
 tor Boeth. his opinion already. Mr. George Buchanan 
 
 likewise, 
 
 1 " Thir pcpyll war callit Pi6tis, outhir for thayr semely personis, or ellis 
 for the variant colour of thair clething, or cl)is thay war namit Pychtis, 
 f;a the Pychtis namit Agathirsanis, thair anciant faderis." Bellend, fol. 4.
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 1$ 
 
 likewise, lib. 2. Rerum Scoticarum, makes the Pih to be 
 descended from the Goths, in these words : " Cum Pili 
 ferro cutem variarent, ac diversorum animalium figuris in- 
 scriberent, verius erit, quaerere quae Gentes vel in Scythia, 
 vel Germania, regionibusque vicinis certo illo pingendi cor- 
 pora institute, non ad terrorem, sed ad decorem uterentur, 
 observare : occurrunt autem in Thracia, ut Virgilio placet, 
 Geloni de quibus Claudianus, lib. I. adversus Rufinum, 
 
 Membraque qui ferro gaudet pinxisse Gelonus. 
 occurrunt apud eundem poetam in Thracia Getae, 
 
 Crinigeri sedere patres pcllita Getarum 
 Curia, quos plagis decorat numerosa cicatrSx. 
 
 igitur cum Geloni Virgilio sint Getis vicini, et vel Gothuni, 
 vel Getini juxta Arrianum Getis annumerentur, quid vetat, 
 cum juxta Taciturn Gothuni gallice loquerentur, hinc cre- 
 dere Pitos oriundos ? Verum e quacunque natione Ger- 
 manica advenerint, mihi fit verisimile eos fuisse de veteri- 
 bus Gallorum colonis, qui vel ad mare Suevicum, vel Da- 
 nubium sedes habuerint ' ." 
 
 Buchanan's 
 
 1 " But seeing the Pidls marked their skins with iron, and stigmatised 
 them with the pictures of divers animals, the best way will be to inquire, 
 what nations, either in Scythia, Germany, or the neighbouring countries, 
 did use that custom of painting their bodies, not for terror but ornament. 
 And, first, we meet in Thracia with the Geloni, according to Virgil, of 
 whom Claudian speaks in his first book against Rufinus ; 
 The Geloni lore to print 
 Their limbs with iron instrument. 
 
 We meet also with the Getz in Thrace, mentioned by the same poet ; 
 Skin-wearing Getes consult, with hair unshorn 
 Whose marked bodies numerous scars adorn. 
 
 Therefore, seeing the Geloni, as Virgil writes, are neighbours to the Getes, 
 and either the Gothuni or Getini, according to Arianus, are numbered 
 amongst the Getes ; and seeing the Gothuni, as Tacitus says, speak the 
 Gallic language, what hinders but that we may believe the Pitfts had their 
 
 origin
 
 24 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART J, 
 
 Buchanan's argument is, that the Pi&s were of a Gothish 
 race and extract, because as the Goths cut figures upon 
 their bodies, the Picts did the like : he proveth that the 
 Goths did cut such figures upon their bodies from the 
 poet Claudian. Now that the Picts cut the like figures 
 upon their bodies, is clear from Claudian also, lib. de bello 
 Getico, versu 416. 
 
 Venit et extremis legio prsetcnta Britannis, 
 Quas Scoto dat fraena truci, ferroque notatas 
 Perlegit examines Pi do moriente figuras *. 
 
 And Herodian confirms this, Hist. 1. 3. in Severo, where 
 he says of the Britains, " Ipsa notant corpora pi&ura varia, 
 et omnifariam formis animalium V It is from this mark- 
 ing of their bodies, they got the name Pi&i : and in the old 
 language their name was Veach, which signifies painted : 
 and Cambden well observeth, that in their names there ap- 
 peareth some intimation of a colour, which without doubt 
 did arise from the custom of painting their bodies. The 
 red colour, (as the learn'd Mr. Maule observeth,) in the an- 
 cient language is called Coch, and Goch, as appeareth in 
 the name Argachocoxus, (which Dio, 1. 76. has Argento- 
 coxus,) and upon that .account he makes him to be the 
 chief of the red clan : and he rehearseth upon this occa- 
 sion, to good purpose, the names of some clans and re- 
 markable 
 
 origin from thence ? But, from whatsoever province of Germany they came, 
 I think it probable, that they were of the ancient colonies of the Gauls, 
 who seated themselves either on the Swedish sea, or on the Danube.'* 
 Buch. Trans. Vol. i. Book II. page 74. 
 
 1 " The legion came the utmost Briton's guard, 
 Which the fierce Scot did curb with bridle hard ; 
 And read the marks i' the skins of dying Pidts 
 Insculpt with iron." Buch. VoL i. Book II. 
 
 1 " They mark their bodies with paintings of different colours, and the 
 figures of various animals."
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 2$ 
 
 mark-able persons designed from a colour, as Gael-glas 
 from a blue colour, Fan-duf from a black colour, Donald 
 Ban from a white, Surle-buy Charles the yellow, and thence 
 is the Clan-buy ; Clan Macduf, the black tribe or people 5 
 and from this usage came the designation Scoto-Brigantes 
 caerulei, mentioned by Seneca in his ludus upon Claudius 
 the emperor, as Scaliger reads it. And several nations 
 were wont to distinguish themselves thus, from other 
 people of different tribes and descents, as Isidorus sheweth, 
 Origin. 1. 19. c. 23. " Nonnulhe (inquit) enim gentea non 
 solum in vestibus sed in corpore aliqua sibi propria, quasi 
 insignia vindicant, ut videmus cirros Germanorum, granos 
 et cinnabar Gothorum : stigmata Britonum : circumcidunt 
 quoque Judsei prseputia : peitundunt Arabcs aures : flavent 
 capitibus intextis Getae : nitent Albani albentibus crinibus : 
 Mauros habet tetra nox corporum : Gallos Candida cutis : 
 sine equis inertes extant Alani : nee abest gens Piclorum 
 nomen a corpore, quod minutis opifex acus pun6Hs et ex- 
 presses nativi graminis succos includit, ut has ad sui speci- 
 men cicatrices ferat, piHs artubus maculosa nobilitas : ." 
 This is confirmed likewise by Solinus Polyhist. c. 22. where 
 he treateth of Britain : " Regionem (inquit) partim tenent 
 barbavi, quibus per artifices plagarum figuras, jam inde a 
 pueris variie animalium effigies incorporantur, inscriptisque 
 visceribus hominis incremento pigmenti notse crecunt ; 
 nee quicquam mage patienti loco nationes ferre ducunt, 
 
 E quam 
 
 " Some nations are distinguished not only by their dress, but by pecu- 
 liar marks in their bodies. Thus we see the curls of the German ; th 
 tufted hair and red colouring of the Goths ; and the scars of the Britons ; 
 the Jews practise circumcision ; the Arabians bore their ears ; the Getx 
 plait their yellow locks ; the Albani glisten with shining hair ; the bodies 
 of the Moors are of a deep black ; the Gauls have a white skin ; the indo- 
 lent Alans know not the use of horses ; and there is not wanting the nation 
 >f the Picls, who take their name from their bodies," &c. Sec page 10. 
 uote i.
 
 16 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 quam ut per me mores cicatrices plurimum fuel artus 
 bibant '." 
 
 I have adduced several citations to the same purpose, be- 
 cause they illustrate much one another, and confirm Bu- 
 chanan's opinion, that the Pits are descended from the 
 Goths, especially this tribe of them of which Argachocoxus 
 was the chief, who possest this very country which is the 
 subject of this book. The learn'd Mr. Maule saith, that 
 coch signifieth a scarlet colour, which agreeth well with 
 the cinnabar Gothorum, which Isidore says the Goths used, 
 to distinguish themselves from other people. Thus when 
 both ancient and modern historians assert the same thing, 
 the argument is of much weight. I have proved in my 
 history I have written of the Pih, the descent of the Pits 
 from the Goths, by the most valid reasons, Pliny saith, are 
 for the descent of one people from another, as may be seen 
 in what he instanceth in the Celticks, in his Nat. Hist. 1. 3. 
 c.i. " Celticos a Celtiberis ex Lusitania advenisse mani- 
 festum est, sacris, lingua, oppidorum vocabulis V 
 
 Sir William Temple, in his introduction to the history of 
 England, pag. 22. mistaketh the origine of the Pi&s for that 
 of the Scots. I treat of the Scots origine elsewhere : I shall 
 only mention in this place, that not only the Roman histo- 
 rians, but the best of the modern agree with our own wri- 
 ters that they came from Spain, and the arguments Sir 
 William Temple gives us for their coming from Scythia, 
 prove indeed that the Pi&s came from thence. I shall set 
 
 them 
 
 1 " This region is partly inhabited by barbarians, on whose bodies the 
 figures of different animab are marked by nice incisions, in their youth, and 
 these pictures gradually enlarge with their growth ; nor is there any thing 
 which these savage people bear with more fortitude, than the operation by 
 which their limbs receive a deep colouring, in these durable scars." 
 
 1 " That the Celts of Celtiberia came from Lusitania, is evident from 
 their religious rites, their language, and the names of their towns."
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 2? 
 
 them down in his own words as they are elegantly expres- 
 sed. " It seems probable, (saith he ) that vast numbers of 
 a savage people called Scyths, at some certain time, began 
 and atchieved the conquest of the northern parts both of 
 Britain and Ireland, and by an easy change of the word, 
 were called Scots; and from them those two countries were 
 called Scotia major and Scotia minor. Whether the Scots 
 landed first in Ireland or Scotland, I leave disputed and un- 
 determined among their authors : but it seems agreed, that 
 both these countries were, for some course of time, styled 
 Scotiae, and that both the north-west parts of Scotland as 
 well as Ireland, were called lerne. I am apt to conjecture, 
 that when these Scots seated themselves in those parts of 
 Scotland, they divided themselves into two races or nations, 
 whereof those who inhabited the north-east parts, called 
 themselves Albin Scots, the name of the natives there, be- 
 ing then Albins ; and the rest who possessed the north-west 
 parts, were called Iren-Scots from a river of that country, 
 which gave it the name of lerne ; and this name was com- 
 municated to all the rest of that race, who conquered and 
 possessed the north of Ireland, which from them was styled 
 by the Saxons Iren-land, and by abbreviation Ireland. And 
 the original name seems to have belonged rather to those 
 parts of Scotland than Ireland, since it is given us by the 
 ancientest Latin verse that mentions it, with the epithet of 
 glacialis lerne, which agrees little with the climate of Ire- 
 land. That these fierce invaders were Scythians or Scyths, 
 (which was their vulgar termination) is probably conjectur- 
 ed, if not ascertained, not only from their name, but from 
 the seat of that continent, which is nearest to the north of 
 Scotland : this is Norway, and is the utmost western pro- 
 vince of that vast northern region, which extends from 
 thence to the farthest bounds of Tartary upon the eastern 
 pcean, and was by the ancients comprehended in that ge- 
 
 E 2 neral
 
 28 THE HISTORT? OF FIFE. [PART f. 
 
 neral appellation of Scythia, as well as divided into several 
 other barbarous names and countries. Besides, it is both 
 usual and rational, that such great transmigrations of peo- 
 ple should be made from a worse to a better climate or soil, 
 rather than to a worse, which makes this probable to have 
 proceeded from Norway, than from the lower and more fertile 
 parts of Germany, and the island which is the nearest part 
 of land to that continent of Norway, retains still the name 
 of Schetlaod, as the first point which is reported to have 
 been touched by the Scots or Scyths in this navigation. 
 
 " Another argument may be drawn from several customs 
 still remaining among the old northern Irish, which are re- 
 corded to have been anciently among some of the Scythian 
 nations, such as removing their houses or creats, from one 
 place to another according to the season : burning of their 
 corn instead of beating or treading in other countries : eat- 
 ing blood they drew from living cattle : feeding generally 
 upon milk, and using little other husbandry, besides the 
 pasture and breed of cattle. To this is added, that the 
 mantle or plaid seems to have been the garment in use 
 among the western Scythians, as they continue still among 
 the northern Irish and the highland Scots." And below 
 he says, " As to the time of this expedition, I know no way 
 of making any guesses at a matter so obscure, without re- 
 course to the Runic learning and stories, by which we 
 find, that the Asiatic Scythians, under the names of Getes 
 or Goths, and the conduft of Odin their captain (their law- 
 giver at first, and afterwards one of their gods) are esteem- 
 ed to have, begun their expedition into the north-west parts 
 of Europe, about the time that the Roman arms began first 
 to make a great noise, and give great fears in Asia, which 
 was in the reigns of Antiochus first, and then of Mithridates. 
 " How long the arms of Odin and his successors, were 
 employed in the conquest and settlement of that vast king- 
 dom,
 
 CHAP. IV.] ORIGIN OF THE PICTS. 2 
 
 dom, which contained all the tra&s of country surrounding 
 the Baltic Sea, is not agreed upon in these Runic stories ; 
 but it is necessary, Norway must have been the last they 
 possessed in their western progress ; and I am apt to think 
 the Scyths may have been driven by them to seek nearer 
 seats in our islands ; and that it is probable to have been 
 some time of the first century. Whenever it was, it seems 
 more agreed, that after the first entrance of the Scots into 
 Caledonia, they subdued much of the country, mingled 
 with the rest of the native Pitls, continued long to infest 
 the frontier parts of the Roman colonies in Britain, with 
 great fierceness, and many various events ; and would pos- 
 sibly have made much greater noise and impressions upon 
 the Romans, if their greater numbers had not been drawn 
 another way, by so great a drain as that of Ireland ; which 
 they totally conquered, and long possessed." 
 
 It was fit to give this account of Sir William Temple's 
 relation about the rise of the Scots, tho' different from the 
 accounts our authors give of it, because it is indeed the 
 true account of the origine of the Pidts, tho' Sir William 
 is of another opinion. 
 
 It is clear from Tacitus in his treatise de German, what 
 the vesture and way of living of the Germans in his time 
 were -, and whoever will compare what Sidonius Apollinaris 
 has said of the habit of the Goths, and compare that, with 
 what Caesar says of some of the Britains, and with the ha- 
 bit of those who live in the isles and the north parts of this 
 country, will find that the Picls their predecessors were of 
 a Gothish extract. 
 
 I begin with Caesar, he says of the Britains, 1. 5. de bello 
 Gallico, " Interiors plerique frumenta non serunt : sed 
 la&e et came vivunt : peliibusque sunt vestiti ' ." Then 
 
 Tacitus, 
 
 1 That is, " Many of them who dwell in the inner part of the country, 
 *ow no corns, but live upon milk, and upon flesh, and arc cloathed with 
 kins." SIBBALD.
 
 30 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 Tacitus, 1. de Germania, says, " Tegmen omnibus sagum, 
 fibula, aut si desit, spina consertum : csetera inte&i, totos 
 dies, juxta focum atque ignem, agunt. Locupletissimi 
 veste distinguuntur, non fluitante sicut Sarmatae ac Parthi, 
 sed stri&a et singulos artus exprimente. Gerunt et fera- 
 rum pelles * ." 
 
 Sidonius Apollinaris, Epist. 20. 1. 4. describing the habit 
 of the Gothish princes, says, " Magis hoc decorum ibi 
 inspiciebatur, quod cursoribus suis sive pedissequis, pedes 
 et ipse medius incessit, flammeus cocco, rutilus auro, lac- 
 teus serico. Turn cultui tanto, coma, rubore, cute con- 
 color. Regulorum autem sociorumque comitantium forma 
 et in pace terribilis : quorum pedes primi, perone setoso, 
 talos adusque vinciebantur. Genua, crura surseque sine 
 tegmine. Prseter hoc vestis alta, stritta, versicolor, vix 
 appropinquans poplitibus exertis. Manicse sola brachiorum 
 principia velantes. Viridantia saga limbis marginata pu- 
 niceis, penduli ex humero glaclii, balteis super currentibus 
 strinxerant clausa bullatis latera rhenonibus. Eo quo co- 
 mebantur ornatu, muniebantur lanceis uncatis, securibus- 
 que missilibus dextrse refertae, clypeis levam partem ad- 
 umbrantibus, quorum lux in orbibus nivea, fulva in umbo- 
 nibus, ita sensum prodebat, ut studium *." Whoever did 
 see an Highland man armed, will find this an exacl de^ 
 acription of him, especially of one of the better sort. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 * That is, " Their cloathing is a loose coat, join'd together with % 
 broach, but for want of that, with a thorn : being uncover'd as to any thing 
 else, they ly basking whole days upon the hearth by the fire. The most 
 wealthy are distinguished by a garment, not flowing like the Sarmathians 
 and Parthians, but closs, and representing every joint : they wear also the 
 kins of wild beasts." SIBBALD. 
 
 iblkV ^ 
 
 " The dress of the Gothish princes consists of a robe of white silk, 
 splendidly adorned with scarlet and gold, resembling by these ornaments 
 the rcdncw of their hair and skin. Their appearance is terrible even in 
 
 peace.
 
 CHIP. V.] LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Concerning the Language of the Pitts. 
 
 JL\LL languages are apt to change much in continuance 
 of time, by the mixture of other people among the natives ; 
 and upon this account, r no language is pure and without 
 mixture of foreign words. The old mother languages are 
 the standards we are to examine them by : the Scythian 
 tongue was the mother of the Gothick, Saxon and Danish ; 
 and the language we use now in the north part of Scotland, 
 is composed of these three, with some Latin and French 
 words introduced by the Romans and the French when 
 they were here. The farther north the country stretcheth, 
 the language cometh the nearer to the Gothick ; and in 
 Orkney and Shetland, the common people do speak a dia- 
 lect of the Gothick, which they call Norse, a specimen of 
 which, the ingenious Dr. James Wallace has given us, in 
 the account of the islands of Orkney he printed at London 
 the year 1 700 ; in the 68 and 69 pages, in the Lord's 
 Prayer in that Norse language, which they have derived to 
 them, either from the Pib, or some others who first 
 planted Orkney, which he remarks has little of the Nor- 
 
 vegian 
 
 peace. On their feet they wear shoes of the rough hide ; their limbs are 
 naked ; a close party-coloured tunic scarce reaches to their bare thighs ; its 
 sleeves cover only the upper part of their arms ; swords hung by belts, and 
 green mantles, trimmed with purple borders, fall from the shoulders on 
 their waists, which are bound up in close vests made of skins, and fastened 
 with broaches. When thus attired, they are armed with javelins, aies^ 
 and darts, and defended by shields, having their outer edges painted white, 
 and the bosses of a deep yellow, calculated to dazzle the sight, the intended 
 cff ed of the mixture of these glaring colours."
 
 32 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART t. 
 
 vegian language as it is now, and seems to be the old 
 Gothick 1 . 
 
 The learned Busbequius, in his epistles concerning his 
 journey to Constantinople, has given us some words of 
 some Goths he saw there, who lived near the Precop-Tar- 
 
 tars, 
 
 1 The Lord's prayer in the Orkney dialect, as given by Wallace, i 
 subjoined ; and to facilitate the comparison of the Gothic dialedts, it is ;jd- 
 ded in Icelandic, in old German, in what is called Anglo-Saxon, and in the 
 oldest Scottish that can now be recovered. 
 
 ORKNEY. 
 
 Favor ir i chimre. 2. Helleur ir i nam thite. 3. Gilla cosdum thite 
 cumma. 4. Veya thine mota vara gort o, yurn, sinna gort i chimrie. j. Ga 
 vus da on da dalight brow vora. 6. Firgive vus sinna vora sin vee firgive 
 sindara mutha vus. 7. Lyve us ye i tuntation. 8. Min delivera vus fro 
 olt ilt. Amen ; or, On sa meteth vera. 
 
 ICELANDIC. 
 
 Fader uor som est i Himlum. a. Halgad warde thitt nama. 3. Tii- 
 komme thitt Rikie. 4. Side thin vilie so som i Himmalam, so och po lor- 
 danne. 5. Wort dachlicha brodh gif os i dagh. 6, Och forlat os uora 
 skuldar, so som ogh vi forlate them os skildighe are. 7. Ogh inled os ikkfe 
 i frestalsan. 8. Utan frels os ifra ondo. Amen. 
 
 OLD GERMAN. 
 
 Fater unser thu thar bist in Himile. 2. Si geheilagot thin namo. 
 3. Queme thin Rihhi. 4. Si thin willo so her in himile, ist o si her in erdu. 
 j. Unsar brot tagalihhaz gib uns huitu. 6. Inti furlaz uns nusara sculdi so 
 uuir furlazames unsaron sculdigon. 7. Inti ni gilcitest unsih in costunga. 
 8. Uzouh arlosi tinsi fon ubile. Amen. 
 
 ANGLO-SAXON. 
 
 Uren fader thic arth in Heofnas. a. Si gehalgu4 thin noma. 3. To. 
 cymmeth thin rye 4. Sie thin willa sue is in hcofnas and in cortho. 
 5. Uren hkf ofcrwistlic i>el us to daeg. 6. And forgcfe us scylda urna, sue 
 we forgefan scyldum urum. 7. And no inlead usig in custnung. 8. Ah 
 gefrig usich from iflc. Amen. 
 
 SCOTTISH. 
 
 Uor fader quhilk beest i Hevin. z. Hallow it weird thyne nam. 3. 
 Cum thync kinrik. 4. Be dune thync wull as is i hevin, sva po yerd. 5. 
 Uor dailie breid gif us thilk day. 6. And forleit us uor skaths, as we for- 
 Icit tham quha skath us. 7. And Iced us na intil tcmtation. 8. Butan frc 
 vw fra evil Amen. Pink.. Part III. Chap. x.
 
 CHAP. V.] LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS. 33 
 
 tars, which agree much with our language. And Runolph 
 Jonas, in his small Islandick dictionary, printed with the 
 learn'd Dr. Hicks his Grammatics Anglo-Saxonicae, has 
 some thousands of words which have much affinity with 
 what we call broad Scots. In it you may trace the Go- 
 thick tongue in such words as signify the parts of our 
 body inward or outward, our cloaths and vesture, our eat- 
 ing and drinking, but especially in matters relating to the 
 sea, and to the labouring of the ground, in which the com- 
 mons are most imployed j and in our numbers, in the days 
 of the week, and in what relates to kindred, and in several 
 words belonging to religion and things sacred. Our geo- 
 graphical and hydrographical words are pure Gothick, such 
 as, Ross, Ness, Sund, Ey for land environed with water, 
 with which Ey, the names of many isles terminate, and the 
 many monosyllable words, which are in use among the vul- 
 gar still, are Gothick. I shall adduce a few, which we 
 pronounce as the Goths do. 
 
 Ate, to eat 
 Aed, an oath 
 Ande, ende, our breath 
 Back, the back 
 Band, a bond 
 Barn, a bairn 
 Bed, our bed 
 Beine, a bane or bone 
 Ber, bare, naked 
 Bid, to pray 
 Byde, to stay 
 Bir, force, might 
 Blad, a blade or heft 
 Braud, bread 
 Bure, a bour 
 Dyn, noise 
 
 Dyr, a door 
 Dyrd, bragging 
 Drift, snowing 
 Ele, ale 
 
 E gg> an e gg 
 Ey, an isle 
 Fal, fa, casus 
 Fas, face 
 Fet, foot 
 Flag, yield, flee 
 Folk, people 
 Foder, pabulum 
 Frise, frize, gelare 
 Frost, glades 
 Fugle, fowl 
 Gagn, gain 
 
 Gang,
 
 34 
 
 Gang, going, and rank 
 Gape> hiare 
 Gef, to give 
 Glass, glass, vitrum 
 Gled, glad, joyful 
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. 
 
 Heite, heat 
 
 Hight, height, nam'd, call'd 
 
 Hola, a hole 
 
 lit, ill, evil 
 
 Kol, a coal 
 
 Kross, a korse, cross 
 
 Land, earth, ground 
 
 Eerde, yerd, earth 
 
 Lyfe, vita 
 
 Lof, praise 
 
 Lost, tint 
 
 List, pleasure, will 
 
 Malt, mault 
 
 Mila, a mile 
 
 Mill, a miln 
 
 Milde, mild 
 
 Mold, a mould 
 
 Nafn, a name 
 
 Nyt, nit, neat, new 
 
 Puke, an ill spirit 
 
 [PART i. 
 
 Rid, rescued 
 
 Ryf, frequent 
 
 Ryse, to rise 
 
 Rot, corrupt 
 
 Saal, saule, soul 
 
 Saar, a sair, wound 
 
 Sell, to sell 
 
 Syd, to seeth, boil 
 
 Skade, sked, skeith, hurt, loss 
 
 Shyn, to shine 
 
 Skill, art 
 
 Ship, navts 
 
 Slae, to slay 
 
 Scug, pretence, a shadow 
 
 Stint, to straiten 
 
 Stir, to move 
 
 Sturt, commotion 
 
 Stour, dust in motion 
 
 Tale, a tale 
 
 Tal, tale, number 
 
 Torf, a turf 
 
 Ugla, an owl, howlet 
 
 Ull, oul, wool 
 
 Var, warry, beware, take tent 
 
 Verk, wark, work 
 
 Zeed, gced, went. 
 
 Reek, Riek, fumus 
 
 These words are yet used not only in Fife, (which was 
 the chief part of the Pitish kingdom,) but also in all the 
 coast of the German sea, even as far as the Humber, to 
 which the possessions of the Pi&s reached : and since they 
 possessed much of that country upwards of a thouslnd 
 years, and were not exterminated all of them (as shall be 
 shewn afterwards) but most of the common people were, 
 
 upon
 
 CHAP. V.] LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS. 3 
 
 upon their submission, incorporated with the Scots, and 
 these who conquered their country : there is no doubt our 
 language, and the dialect which prevaileth, and is yet in 
 use as far as the H umber, retaineth still much of that 
 tongue and many of their words, and the same way of pro- 
 nouncing them. The learn'd John Ray hath furnish'd us 
 a strong argument for this, in his collection of English 
 words, not generally used, with their significations and ori- 
 ginal, in two alphabetical catalogues, the one of such as 
 are proper to the northern, the other to the southern coun- 
 ties, printed at London anno 1674. The first catalogue 
 is of the northern words ; because, in the north especially, 
 the language of the common people, is to a stranger very 
 difficult to be understood : and indeed the most of these 
 northern words he giveth account of, in his alphabet of 
 northern words, are such as savour of what we call broad 
 Scots, in distinction to the Highlanders language, and die 
 refined language of the gentry, which the more polite peo- 
 ple among us do use, and is made up of Saxon, French and 
 Latin words. I grant, the body of the Gothic language, 
 even as it was spoken by the common people in the nor- 
 thern counties of Scotland, and in Orkney and Shetland, 
 had many words which are not used now, such as we meet 
 with in the printed histories of William Wallace the gover- 
 nour of Scotland, and of king Robert Bruce, and in the 
 old ads of parliament and Regiam Majestatem, and in the 
 writings of Sir David Lindsay and of bishop Gavin Dou- 
 glass, and others ; there being in them several words of a 
 Sclavonian extract, and such as was used of old by the 
 Goths who dwelt upon the coast of the Baltic sea, and in 
 Norway, Denmark and Sweden, from whence the Pi&s 
 came to our isles and north counties, and these who first 
 possest all the coast of the German sea to the Humber ; as 
 Kirkua, the name of the royal burgh in the mainland of 
 
 F 3 Orkney i
 
 36 THE HISTOR? OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 Orkney; and the May, to this day the name of an island in the 
 mouth of the Firth of Forth, which in the ancient Gothic sig- 
 nifieth a green island, because of its commodiousness for 
 pasture ; for it is all green grass. These and several others I 
 meet with in the MS. register of the priory of St. Andrews, 
 such as Monechata, afterwards called Monichi, perhaps the 
 same which is now called Mounzie, and Doldancha, called 
 in that register afterwards Chondro-hedalion, Hyrhat-nach- 
 ten, Machchirb, Hadhnaten afterwards, and now Nachton, 
 a place upon the north coast of Fife ; Muckross, afterward 
 Kylrymont, and now St. Andrews. Which clearly show, 
 that the old language of this shire was the Gothic, used by 
 the Pi6ts, the ancient possessors of it, who continued in 
 the sole possession of it, and of these other counties above- 
 mentioned, according to the report of ancient historians, as 
 well English as Scots, for more than a thousand years. 
 
 These words, with the other remains of that language 
 we call broad Scots, which is yet used by the vulgar, abound- 
 antly prove, that the Pits were a Gothic nation, and their 
 language was a dialed! of the Gothic, distinct from the 
 Saxon, which is the mother of the language spoken in that 
 part of Britain besouth the Humber, of which the learn'd 
 Mr. Ray giveth an account in his alphabet of south and 
 east country words, many of which are not understood by 
 our common people, nor even by these who dwell in the 
 north counties of South Britain. 
 
 The poet Claudian, Carm. viii. vers. 31. and 32, says. 
 
 Maduerunt Saxone fuso, 
 
 Orcades. Jncaluit Pidorum sanguine Thule. 
 Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialii lerne * . 
 
 " The Orcadp were moist with Saxon Gore, 
 Warm with the blood of Pids flowed Thule's shore ; 
 And whilst its head, each Scotchman's tomb uprears, 
 Icy Juverna all dissolves in tears." Buch. Book II. 
 
 This
 
 CHAP. V.] LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS. 37 
 
 In which he points at the dwellings of these people, makes 
 the Thule to be the country possessed by the Picls ; which 
 Thule, in an essay reprinted with the last edition of Camb- 
 den at London 1695, I have shown is to be understood of 
 the north part of Britain, separated from the rest by the 
 Firths of Forth and Glide, and the slip of land betwixt 
 them. And it was upon this account that the venerable 
 Bede call'd the Pits and Scots, " Transmarine gentes, non 
 quod extra Britanniam sunt positue, sed quia a parte Bri- 
 tonum erant remotoe, duobus sinubus maris interjacentibus, 
 quorum unus ab orientali mari, alter ab occidental!, Britan- 
 nize terras longe lateque irrumpit '." And describes them 
 by their situation, viz. Scotorum a circio, that is, the Scots 
 from the north-west, and Pitorum ab aquilone, and the 
 Pi&s from the north ; which airths relate to that part of 
 the island which was beyond the Roman province. The 
 glacialis lerne of Claudian, is meant of Stratherne 2 , as Sir 
 
 William 
 
 This exaggerated statement of the effe&s of the vi&ory gained by Theo- 
 dosius over the Saxons, Scots and Pi6ts, contains a pretty clear allusion t 
 the origin of the latter people from the north. 
 
 1 " Transmarine nations, not because they were situated out of Britain, 
 but because they were divided from the Britons, by two gnlphs of the sea, 
 the one on the east and the other on the west, which penetrate far into the 
 country." 
 
 1 lerne is the Greek name of Ireland, the country of the Scots in the 
 time of Claudian. The only reason for applying this name to the valley of 
 Stratlurne given by Sir W. Temple, that the epithet, iey does not agree 
 with the climate of Ireland, is certainly not very strong, when we consider 
 that Claudian, by whom it was bestowed, was a native of the warm coun- 
 try of Italy. But this conceit, so greedily adopted by some Scottish anti- 
 quaries, if unsupported by any ancient authority. Scotia and Scoti were 
 the names of Ireland and its inhabitant* only, till a period long posterior to 
 the ae of Claudian. The earlier connection of these names with North 
 Britain., has unfortunately been made a point of national honour; and some 
 of our angry antiquaries, de c pising all argument and authority, .cannot 
 ppeak on the subject without violent rage ; and the general consent of all 
 
 ancient
 
 38 THE HISTORY OF FIFt. [PART I. 
 
 William Temple, page 24 of his introduction to the history 
 of England, sheweth ' . In it are found many vestiges of the 
 Roman exploits in it, which I have narrated in the treatise 
 cited above. The Thule Claudian meant, was the north-east 
 parts of Scotland, which take in this shire and all the coun- 
 try to the north-east of it. To this the epithets of Thule 
 agree : it was the ultima pars Britannia, benorth the Ro- 
 man province, and was nigra, because of ifs obscure and 
 caliginous quality, being then all overgrown with woods. 
 It hath the length of the day ascribed to it ; for it is of the 
 north and east parts of Britain, the panegyrist Eumenius is 
 to be understood as to the long day there, his words are, 
 " O fortunata, et nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia, 
 quse Constantinum Caesarem prima vidisti ! merito te om- 
 nibus cceli ac soli bonis natura donavit, in qua nee rigor 
 est nimius hyemis, nee ardor xstatis, in qua segetum tanta 
 fsecunditas, ut muneribus utriusque sufficiat, et Cereris et 
 Liberi, in qua nemora sine immanibus bestiis, terra sine ser- 
 pentibus noxiis, contra pecorum mitium innumerabilis mul- 
 titude late distenta et onusta velleribus, certe quod propter 
 vitam deligitur, longissimse dies, et nullae sine aliqua luce 
 nodles, dum ilia littorum extrema planities non attollit um- 
 bras, noHsque metam cceli et siderum transit aspe6tus : ut 
 sol ipse, qui nobis videtur occidere, ibi appareat praeter- 
 ire a ." Tacitus applieth the length of the day to the north 
 
 part 
 
 ancient writers on this subject, Roman, British, Irish, Saxon, Scandinavian, 
 when produced in opposition to their prejudice, is branded as strange, and 
 jnonstrous absurdity. Gordon, Iter. Sept. Chap. xiv. 
 
 1 Sec before, page 27. 
 
 * " O fortunate Britain, the most happy country in the world, in that 
 skou didst first behold Constantino our emperor ! Thee hath nature descr- 
 - vedly inrkh'd with all the choicest blessings both of heaven and earth : 
 thou feelest neither the excessive colds of winter, nor the scorching heats of 
 summet : thy harvests reward thy labours with so vast an increase, as to 
 jupply thy talks with bread, and thy cellars with liquor : thy woods have
 
 .CHAP. V.] LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS. 39 
 
 part of the isle: "Thus the days are of a greater length 
 than ours ; the night is clear, and in the extreme parts 
 short, so that you scarce distinguish the beginning from 
 the ending of the day. They affirm, it the clouds did not 
 interpose, the rays of the sun would be always visible, and 
 that he does not rise and set, but glide by , because the 
 extreme and plain parts of the earth, project a low and 
 humble shadow, which tnakes night hang hovering under 
 the stars and sky." This made bishop Lesly say, in his 
 description of Scotland, pag. 4. edit. Rom. " In tota Scotia 
 ad duos fere menses radii solares tota nodte conspiciuntur, 
 idque apud Orchades, Cathanesiam, et Rossiam tanta cla- 
 ritate, ut eorum beneficio scribi, legique haud difficile 
 possit ' ." 
 
 I shall conclude this chapter concerning the language of 
 the Pi&s, with an argument which Tacitus furnisheth to 
 us, lib. de Germania, c. 40. " Reudigni deinde et Aviones, 
 et Angli, et Varini, et Eudoses, et Suardones, et Nuithones 
 fluminibus aut silvis muniuntur. Nee quidquam notabile 
 in singulis, nisi quod in commune Herthum, id est, terram 
 matrem colunt, eamque intervenire rebus hominum invehi 
 popuiis arbitrantur, &c V Now Herthus is nothing else 
 but the earth, which the Goths call'd eerde, and our com- 
 mons 
 
 no savage beasts : no serpents harbour here to hurt the traveller : innu- 
 merable are thy herds of cattel, and the flocks of sheep, which feed thec 
 plentifully and cloath thee richly. And as to the comforts of life, the days 
 are long, and no night passes without some glimpse of light : for whilest 
 those utmost plains of the sea-shore are so flat and low, as not to cast a 
 shadow to create night, they never lose the sight of the heavens and stars ; 
 but the sun, which to us appears to set, seems there only just to pass by." 
 SIBBALD. 
 
 1 " Through all Scotland, for almost two months, the rays of the sun 
 are visible during the whole night ; and in the Orkneys, Caithness and 
 Ross, their lustre is so great, that it is easy to read and write by them." 
 
 1 That is, " That they in common worship Herthum, that is their mo- 
 ther earth." SIBBALD.
 
 40 THE HISTORY OF FlFE. [PART 1. 
 
 mons call it so, and zeerd. This is one Pitish word broad 
 Scots from Tacitus ; the other is in the 45th chapter of the 
 same book, " Dextro Suevici maris littore .^stiorum gentes 
 adluuntur : quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum, lingua Bri- 
 tannicre proprior. Matrem deum venerantur, et infra sed 
 et mare scrutantur, ac soli omnium, succinum, quod ipsi 
 glesum vocant, inter vada atque in ipso littore legunt "." 
 Now this glesum is our glass, (so called because of the 
 transparency of it) but in the Welsh language glass is guidr, 
 from the Latin vitrum. And therefore the language of the 
 ^Estii, which (as Tacitus saith) came nearer to the British 
 tongue in use in his time, must be the Pitish, which called 
 it (as their ancestors upon the Baltic did) glass ; for there 
 were no British languages in Britain in Tacitus' time but 
 the Celtic used by the Britons and the Scots, and the Go- 
 thic used by the Pidls. 
 
 I think by this time it appeareth to be very clear, that 
 the Pils, for the arguments adduced, were of a Gothish 
 extract, and came from Norway and the places upon the 
 Baltic, to our isles and continent. I shall conclude it be- 
 hoved to be so from what Procopius says, who wrote the 
 history of the Goths, 1. 2. Versionis Grotianx, p. 239. he 
 gives there an account of a conference betwixt Belisariu* 
 and some Gothish ambassadors were sent to him. The 
 Goths say, " Siciliam tantam tamque divitem insulam, en 
 vobis permittimus, sine qua ne Africse quidem tuta pos- 
 sessio, nos vero, (inquit Belisarius,) Britanniam haud paulo 
 majorem Sicilia, et Romani antiquitus juris, largimur 
 
 Gothis. 
 
 1 That is, " On the right side of the Suevian sea upon the coast, the 
 countries of the TEstii are beat upon, who follow the customs and habits of 
 the Suevians, but their language comes nearer to the British : they worship 
 the mother of the gods ; and below, they diligently pry into the sea, and 
 they only of all other gather amber, which they call glesum, amongst the 
 shallows and on the very shore." SIBBALD.
 
 CHAP. VI.] POLICY OF THE PICTS. 41 
 
 Gothis '." I ask who these Goths, in Britain were, Beli- 
 sarius speaketh of, if they were not the Pils ? which cer- 
 tainly they behoved to be, by the precceding arguments. 
 
 CHAP. VT. 
 
 Concerning the Manners, and Policy, and the Religious Rites 
 of the Picls. 
 
 L O give an account of the manners, policy, ar*l religious 
 rites of die Pi&s, we must have our recourse to the vestiges 
 of them which do yet remain amongst us, and to the Latin 
 historians. 
 
 The government and civil policy of the Pi&s was like to 
 that of the Germans from whom they sprung : of them 
 Tacitus remarks, 1. de Germania, c. 7. " Reges ex nobili- 
 tate, duces ex virtute sumunt. Nee regibus infinita aut li- 
 bera potestas :" they had their convention, as shall be shewn 
 afterwards, in which the matters of great moment were 
 concluded. " Duces ex virtute sumunt, et duces exemplo 
 potius quam imperio, si prompti, si conspicui : si ante aciem 
 agant, admiratione pnesunt. Casterum neque animadver- 
 tere, neque vincire, neque verberare quidem nisi sacerdoti- 
 bus permissum : non quasi in pcenam ncc ducis jussu, sed 
 velut deo imperante, qucm adesse bellantibus credunt effi- 
 giesque, et signa quxdam detra&a lucis in praelium fe- 
 runt *, &c. &c." 
 
 G He 
 
 1 " We give to you Sicily, that large and rich island, without which your 
 possession of Africa is insecure. And Belisarius in return, said, we yield 
 Britain to the Goths : which is much larger than Sicily, and wiiich belongs 
 tu the Romans by ancient right." 
 
 1 " They make choise of their kings for their noble extra&ion, their com- 
 manders
 
 42 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART 1. 
 
 He says, cap. ir. " De minoribus rebus principes con- 
 sultant, de majoribus omnes. Ita tarnen, ut ea quoquc, 
 quorum psnes plebem arbitrium est, apud principes per- 
 traclentur ' ." And below he saith, " Silentium, per sacer- 
 dotes, quibus turn et coercendi jus est, imperatur, mox, rex 
 vel princeps, prout astas cuique, prout nobilitas, prout decus 
 bellorum, prout facundia est, audiuntur audloritate sua- 
 dendi magis quam jubendi potestate. Si displicuit senten- 
 tia, fremitu adspernantur : sin placuit, frameas concutiunt. 
 
 Honoratissimum 
 
 manders and generals for their courage. Nor have their kings a boundless 
 and unlimited power : Their captains they prefer more for example than com- 
 mand, if active, if of presence of mind, and behave themselves well at the head 
 of the army. But it's not permitted to reprimand, nor put in chains, nor in- 
 deed chastise, to any but to the priests ; not as if it were for a punishment, or 
 by orders of the captain, but as if their gods commanded it, whom they be- 
 Ikve assisting in. their engagements. They carry the effigies, and certain ban- 
 ners taken down from the groves, into the battel : and what is the chief in- 
 citement to their courage, is not chance, nor a fortuitous embodying, which 
 composes the squadron or pointed battel, but their own family and nearest 
 relations, and hard by are their children ; from whence the lamentations of 
 their women and cries of their infants may be heard : these are the most 
 sacred witnesses, and the highest applauders of every man's bravery. To 
 their mothers and wives they declare their hurts ; nor are they afraid to 
 number or suck thtir wounds : they carry provisions to, and animate them, 
 when they're fighting. It's recorded, that certain troops beginning to 
 stagger and giving ground, were made to rally again by the women, by 
 their importunities, the exposing of their own breasts, and demonstrating 
 their approaching captivity ; which upon the account of their women, they 
 he.'.r with much more impatience : so the affection and faith of these clans 
 are the mcrs effectually secur'd, to whom (inter obsides puellx quoque 
 nctiles impcrr.ntur) orders are given' fo send amongst their hostages the 
 noblest virgins. Moreover, they think there's something sacred in them, 
 aod provident and foreseeing ; neither do they reject their counsel, or ne- 
 gltJt to follow their advice." SJBBALO. 
 
 1 That is, " Of little afLirs the princes, of greater all in general advise : 
 so, notwithstanding that, these thing?, whose arbitration is in the power of 
 tlfc popuh:e, an* fully canvr.s*'d amongst the princes." SIBBALD.
 
 CHAP. VI.] POLICY OF THE PICTS. 43 
 
 Honoratissimum assensus genus cst, armis laudare '." 
 
 This was the policy amongst the Germans, the ancestors 
 of the Pidis ; and who will compare the vestiges of the 
 Pidls' government, which are mentioned in the Roman 
 writers, will see the Picls had the same. Thus Tacitus 
 tells us of Galgacus, who commanded the army of the 
 associated Caledonians, consisting of Scots and Pib, that 
 lie was "inter plures duces virtute et genere prsestans z ." 
 And Dio, in his account of Severus, says, that when the 
 emperor was treating a peace with the Caledonians, Ar- 
 gentocoxus Calcdonius treated with him, and he was the 
 chief of the clan, which was named from the painting of 
 their body with a red colour, as these who were of a Go- 
 thic extract marked their bodies as the Goths did with 
 cinnaber, as is insinuated here by the word coch, which 
 signifies a red or scarlet colour. That the kings' of the 
 Pi&s power was limited, is clear also from what Tacitus 
 saith in the life of Agricola, cap. 1 2. " Olim regibus pare- 
 bant, nunc per principes fa&ionibus et studiis trahuntur 3 ." 
 And Dio in Severus saith of them, " Apud hos populus 
 magna ex parte principatum tenet 4 ;" which is to be un- 
 derstood as Tacitus represented the government of the 
 Germans in the place cited before : for Tacitus telleth us, 
 that the Caledonians had their conventions, in which they 
 
 G 2 consulted 
 
 1 " Silence is commanded by the priests, in whom there is lodg'd thea 
 the coercive power : by and by the king or prince, according to every one'* 
 age, their quality, reputation gain'd in the wars, or talent in rhetorick, are 
 heard, more by the authority of persuading, than the power of command- 
 ing: if the opinion displeases, it's rejected by a murmuring; if it pleases, 
 they clash their weapons : it'* the most honourable manner of assent, to 
 applaud it with their arms." SIBBALD. 
 
 * " He was preferr'd for his high birth and great virtue." SIBBALD. 
 
 3 " They were formerly govcrn'd by kings ; but now they are divideJ 
 into factions and parties, by some ringleaders." SIBBALD. 
 
 * " The people for the most, part hath the government." SIBB.ALB.
 
 44 'THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 consulted about the matters of greatest importance, cap. 27. 
 in Agricola, thus : " At Britanni non virtute sed occasionc 
 et arte duels rati, nihil ex arrogantia remittere, quo minus 
 juventutem armarent, conjuges ac liberos inlocatuta trans- 
 ferrent, csetibus ac sacrificiis, conspirationem civitamm san- 
 cirent t ." And it is very like, in these meetings the same 
 order and manner was observed, which was observed, as 
 was said, by the Germans their ancestors. 
 
 Our historian John Fordun, gives us a list of the kings 
 of ttye Picls in the tenth and twelfth chapters of his fourth 
 book of his history of the Scots : Titulo, De catalogo Re- 
 gum PuStorum, thus : 
 
 Chap. x. 
 
 Years. Years. 
 
 I. Cruythne 1 , son of 9 Caranathereth - 40 
 
 Kynne the Judge 50 10 Garnabolger - 9 
 
 2 Ghede J 7 To these two n Wypopneth - 30 
 
 3 Tharan 5 are ascrib'd 250 12 Blarehasserath* - 17 
 
 4 Dmorthetify - 20 13 Frachna the white 30 
 
 5 Duchil j'- ,, 40 14 Thalarger Amfrud* 16 
 
 6 Duordeghal - 20 15 Canatalmel - 6 
 
 7 Decokheth m < 60 16 Dongardnethles* - i 
 
 8 Combust - 20 17 Feredath,*sonofFynyel2 
 
 1 8 Garnard 
 
 1 " The Britains supposing themselves defeated, not by the courage of 
 their adversaries, but conduct of their general, who had watched his op- 
 portunity, abated nothing of their arrogance, but listed the stoutest men 
 they had, and carried their wives and children to places of the greatest 
 security. The clans confederated together, meeting frequently, and by re- 
 ligious rites and offering up sacrifices, confirmed their association." SIB. 
 
 * From the name of this king, the Irish, fond of patronymics, called the 
 Pi&s Cruitnich, 
 
 5 In the list of Pidish kings, given in the appendix from Chron. Pi&. 
 there will be found 14 betwixt Cruythne and Ghede, there called Gilgide. 
 The improbability of the statement of Fordun, that two kings reigned ajO 
 years, sufficiently marks his list a defective.
 
 JCHAP. vi.] POLICY OF THE PICTS. 4$ 
 
 1 8 Garnard the rich 60 He, as is said, lived i oo 
 
 lp Hurgust ',* son of years, and fought icobat- 
 
 Forgso * - 27 ties 3 . In his reign, St. 
 
 During this reign, the re- Palladius, the first bishop 
 
 liques of St. Andrew were of the Scots, was sent by 
 
 brought into Scotland by Pope Celestine to give 
 
 St. Rule. them farther instru&ions 
 
 20 Thalarger, son of Keo- in Christianity ; for they 
 ther - 25 had been converted long 
 
 21 Durst, otherwise called before this 4 . 
 
 Nectave, son of Irb 45 22 Thalarger,son of Amyle 2 
 
 23 Nedave 
 
 1 These marked arc not found in Chron. Pict. 
 
 1 Hurgust or Hungus, is a palpable forgery of the priests of St. 
 Andrews, fabricated because a Hungus founded that city about 825; and 
 they wanted, to obtain the reputation of higher antiquity, to derive their 
 origin from a foreign saint, whose romantic and perilous voyage might in- 
 terest a credulous people, and to inculcate the profitable belief, that they 
 possessed apostolic relicks, brought to them from a distance by the divine 
 command, and a supernatural agency. 
 
 3 Distinguished as this prince is for his great age and warlike exploits 
 which is the meaning of the barbaric title, King of 100 years and 100 battle*, 
 his reign is still more memorable for the introduction oforder and truth into 
 our history. The length of the reigns ascribed to some of the kings before 
 this, shews, that the list had been compiled merely from tradition. After- 
 vrards the reigns are reduced to a probable duration, and the dates of the ac- 
 cession of many of the princes are ascertained advantages that are derived 
 from the introduction of some degree of literature along with Christianity. 
 St. Ninian, bishop of Candida-casa, or Whitherne, had begun to convert 
 the southern Pi&s, L e. those between the Forth and the Grampians, about 
 412. Durst began to reign in 413 ; for Chron. Pid. mentions, that St. 
 Patrick went to Ireland in the I9th year of his reign ; and it is known, 
 that this event took place in 432. 
 
 * Palladius must have been sent to the inhabitants of Ireland, the only 
 Scoti of that age. Had he been sent to this country, many memorials of 
 him must have been preserved. In these superstitious ages, when so many 
 churches and chapels were dedicated to almost every saint of the calendar, 
 Ihc celebrated missionary of Pope Celestine could not have been forgotten. 
 
 But
 
 46 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 23 Ne&ave Chaltamoth 10 33 Brude, son of Merlo- 
 
 24 Durst Gorthnoch 30 thon - ip 
 
 25 Galaam - 15 In his reign, St. Columba 
 
 26 Durst, son of Gigurum 9 having come to Scotland ', 
 
 27 Durst, son of Ochtred 8 converted him to Chris- 
 
 28 Garnard, son of Gigu- tianity. Bede says, that 
 
 rum - 6 St. Columba came into 
 
 29 Kelturan, his brother 6 Pitland in the ninth year 
 
 30 Thalarger, son of Mor- of the reign of Brude, the 
 
 deleth - 1 1 son of Meilochon, a very 
 
 3 1 Durst, son of Moneth i powerful prince, which was 
 
 32 Thalagath - 4 the year of Christ 565. 
 
 This is the catalogue of the Pi&ish kings, who it seems 
 were heathens, tho' some of their people were Christians 
 some time before this. So Brude the son of Merlothon 
 was the first Christian king. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 But of Palladius, no vestige can be traced in present Scotland ; except a 
 chapel, and its frequent attendant, a fair, (at Fordun in the Mearns a Pi6U 
 uh province,) called Paddy Chapel and Fair, be considered as consecrated 
 to him. If they do relate to St. Palladius, they may have been dedicated 
 to him by some Irish priest, many of whom resorted to the Pi<Sts ; or For- 
 dun may have been the place of his burial ; for according to some old au- 
 thor*, he died in Pi&land, on his return from Ireland to Rome. Perhaps 
 the whole of this story of Palladius is introduced to do honour to the 
 church of Fordun, of which the author of Scotichronicon was a monk. 
 Pink. Inq. VoL II. Chap. vi. Stat. Ace. Vol. IV. 
 
 1 Venerable Bede knew better than to ay, that Columba came to Scot- 
 ' land to preach to the king of the Pi<Sb. It is curious that Fordun should 
 make this assertion, in opposition to the very authority which he quotes. 
 Columba converted Brude, and most of the northern Picts, i. e. those to 
 the north of the Grampians, the Dicaledones, in the math year of this 
 feign.
 
 CHAP. VI.] POLICY OP THE PICTS 
 
 " Chap, xii, 
 Years. 
 
 34 Garnard, sonofDomp- 
 nath 20 
 
 He founded Abernethy J . 
 
 35 Neftave, son of Irb 1 1 
 
 36 Kenel, son of Luch- 
 tren 1 4 
 
 3 7 Ne&ave *, son of Fodc 8 
 
 38 Brude, son of Fathna 5 
 
 39 Thalarger, son of Far- 
 tharer 1 1 
 
 40 Talargen, son of Am- 
 fend 4 
 
 41 Garnard, son of Domp- 
 
 nal 
 
 42 Durst, his brother 
 
 43 Brude, son of Bile 
 
 44 Gharan, son of Am- 
 sedeth 4 
 
 45 Brude, son of Derili 2 1 
 
 46 Neftave, his brother 
 He, according to Bede, re- 
 ceived letters out of Eng- 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 ii 
 
 18 
 
 Year*. 
 
 land, about the observa- 
 tion of the Feast of 
 Easter *. 
 
 47 Garnard*, son of Fe- 
 
 , , 
 redeth - 14 
 
 48 Oengusa', son of Fer- 
 gusa - i 6 
 
 49 Nelave*, son of Dere- 
 
 ly, 9 months 
 
 50 Oengusa*, son of 
 Brude, 6 months 
 
 51 Alpin, sonofFeredeth, 
 26 years & 6 months 
 
 5 2 Brude *, son of Tenegus 2 
 
 53 Alpin*, son of Tenegus 2 
 
 54 Durst, son of Thalargan i 
 
 55 Thalarger Drusken * 4 
 
 56 Thalarger, son of Te- 
 negus 5 
 
 57 Constantine, son of 
 Fergus - 40 
 
 He built Duntreldon, which 
 some 
 
 1 The register of St. Andrews ascribes the foundation of Abernethy t 
 the successor of Garnard, Nefiave, or Nethan II. ; and if we judge from 
 etymology, it must have been founded by one of this name, Abcr-Nethan, 
 Sec before, page 5. note 4. 
 
 * Ceolfrid, Abbot of Wiremouth, wrote his famous letter on this subject 
 to Nethan in 715, which seems to have incited him to expel the monks of 
 lona in 716, because they had taken the opposite side to him in the question 
 about Easter, then agitated betwixt the British and Irish churches. 
 
 ' This prince (Hungus son of Fergus) was the greStcst warrior since 
 Durst ; and he extended the Pi&Uh dominion* over the greater part f. 
 ptttcnt Scotland.
 
 48 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 some MSS. read Dun- 62 Brude, son of Feredeth, 
 keld '. I month 
 
 58 Hungus, son of Fergus 10 63 Kencth*, son of Fere- 
 Contemporary with him deth - I 
 
 was Ethelwolf, king of 64 Brude*, son of Fotehel 2 
 
 Westsex, whose eldest 65 Drusken*, son of Fere- 
 son Athelstane, Hungus deth - 3 
 
 defeated in battle, and In this reign, the Pits en- 
 brought home his head tirely lost their kingdom, 
 fixed on a stake *. which was transferred to 
 
 59 Durstolorger ^1$'"., 4 Kenneth, king of the 
 
 60 Eoghane, son of Hun- Scots, and his succes- 
 gus - 3 sors '. 
 
 61 Feredeth, son of Badoc 3 Any 
 
 1 It appears from Winton, that Constantine built the church of Dun- 
 keld in 815. 
 
 1 The fame of this prince rests on the surer ground of his having 
 founded the church of St. Andrews, then called Kilrymont. A part of his 
 charter, extracted from the register of St. Andrews, is given, Part II, 
 Chap. v. i. 
 
 J The kings of the Picls, as is evident from this list, were not heredi- 
 tary. But though they were ele&ive, the choice was confined to the royal 
 race, regalis prosapia, with this farther restriction, that the son could not 
 ucceed his father. And of the royal race, it is asserted by venerable Bede, 
 that those who descended in the female line were reckoned to have the best 
 claim. It appears that the royal blood flowed in the veins of many fami- 
 lies ; for the charter of Hungus is witnessed by twelve of the royal race f 
 all sons of different fathers. Hence competitors for the crown would be- 
 come numerous, and the people would feel all the evils that usually attend 
 elective monarchies. That this was the case, is rendered highly pro- 
 bable by the rapid succession of the last monarchs in the list. Kenneth, 
 king of the Scots of Argyle, who probably had as good a claim as any of 
 the competitors, from being of the royal race by the female side, took ad- 
 vantage of these dissensions, and seized the throne of the Pidts. The no- 
 bility of the different parties, and their followers, withdrew into the Ork- 
 neys, then a dependant principality of the Pi6Hsh kingdom, or to Norway, 
 the original seat of the nation. Thege events were afterwards magnified
 
 CHAP. VI.] POLICY OF THE PICTS. 4 
 
 Any who compareth these names of the Pi&ish kings 
 with the names of the Scots kings, will see they must have 
 been of a different origine and extract. The names of 
 the Picts are such as are in use amongst the Germans 
 and the Goths ; Kenel filius Luchtren, now Luthren, is 
 Luther, a name proper to the Germans ' : Several of those 
 names are recorded in the ancient register of the priory of 
 St. Andrews, of which there will be occasion to speak when 
 we give an account of a Pi&ish record mentioned there. 
 I come now to give an account of these who governed un- 
 der the kings. 
 
 The chief seat of the kings of the Pi&s (while their go- 
 vernment stood) was at Abernethy, where they had publick 
 schools of learning and professors of sciences and arts, as 
 shall be shown afterwards a . The chief administrators un- 
 der the kings (when they were heathens) in religious mat- 
 ters, were the Druides, and (when they were Christians) 
 the Culdees, of whom shall be treated afterwards. And in 
 civil matters, the Thanes and the Abthanes had the manage- 
 
 H ment, 
 
 by the priests, the only literary men of these times, and who continued 
 still to be chiefly Welsh or Irish Celts, into the celebrated story of the con- 
 quest of the Pidlish kingdom by the Scots, and the total extirpation of the 
 Pi&ish people. This list of kings is quoted by Sibbald in the original 
 Latin ; it is now, for the convenience of comparison with the other lists, 
 given in English, reduced into the form of a table, and numbered. 
 
 1 Many other of the names are met with in Scandinavian history, and 
 of course are Gothic, as Vergust (Fergus) Hungust, Brude, Bile, Dompnal 
 (Oonal) Alpin or Alfwin, &c. 
 
 1 It appears from Adomnan, that till the ;th century, the kings of the 
 Picts resided near Inverness, their territories then lying entirely on the 
 north side of the Forth. Afterwards, when Kenneth had added Lothian 
 to his dominions, they came to live at Forteviot. That Abernethy ever 
 was the residence of the sovereign of all the Pi<Ss, there is much reason to 
 doubt ; that, however there were public schools at Abernethy, in and be- 
 fore the nth century, is evident from the charter of Ethelred son of Mal- 
 rolra III. and Earl of Fife, which will be found in Part II. Chap. v. i.
 
 50 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 ment, who came with the Pits from their ancient seats in 
 Germany, especially from the Baltic and Norway and Den- 
 mark, where, as Buchanan says, (in rege Milcolumbo se- 
 cundo) they continue yet : his words are, " Superioribus 
 szeculis, prater Thanos, hoc est prsefetos regionum, sive 
 iiomarchas, et qujestorem rerum capitalium, nullum hono- 
 ris nomen equestri ordine altius fuerat : quod apud Danos 
 observari adhuc audio ' ." The learn'd Selden, in his notes 
 upon Eadmer's history, makes Thanus to be minister, 
 " Qm nempe plerunque ut regius cliens aut minister auli- 
 cus fundum eo nomine tenebat 1 ." And Du Fresne, in 
 his glossary upon the word Thanus, derives it from Tenian, 
 ministrare. " Thaini ex eo nobilium ordine fuisse viden- 
 tur, quos ministros vocant chartae Anglicae, qui prsecipui 
 crant inter nobiles aulicos et regi ratione tenementorum 
 immediate subject!, quos Barones postera setas nominavit J ." 
 And our learn'd Skeen, in Regiam Majestatem, lib. 4. cap. 
 2r. observeth, " Ejusmodi Thanos apud priscos Scotos seu 
 
 Hibernos 
 
 1 " In former rimes, there was no name superior to that of a knight, 
 except that of a Thane, i. e., governor or sheriff of a province or county, 
 which custom, as I tear, is yet observed amongst the Danes. Buch. Vol. i. 
 Chap, vi." Thane was a title common in the southern part of the island. 
 But that it was known among the Picts, rests on no authority. No proof 
 has been produced that it was used in this country before the time of Mal- 
 colm III. who introduced Saxon names and customs; though the igno- 
 rance or the flattery of some annalists, as is often the case, has led them to 
 bestow a dignity, familiar to themselves, on men who lived before it was 
 known. TKe title of the same officer among the Picls was Murmor. 
 Among the Danes, notwithstanding the hearsay of Buchanan, it was Herse. 
 Pink, from Chron. Pi<ft. 
 
 * " Who generally, as vassal of the king, or an officer of his court, held 
 land by that title." 
 
 3 " Thanes, it seems* were of that order of nobles, who in English wri- 
 tings arc called ministers or officers ; they were the chief among the nobi- 
 lity of the court, and immediate servants of the king, by the condition of 
 their tenures. Thoe who held their office were afterward* called Barons."
 
 CHAP. VI.] POLICY 07 THE PICTS. 5! 
 
 Hibernos dittos Thosce, et MacToshche, filios Thani, qui 
 hodie est ptinceps tribus seu familias Catanzeorum '." And 
 Spelman likewise remarks, that Thanus was apud veteres 
 Scotos, Tosche. Lesly, de origin, et moribus Scotorum, 
 says, " In ipsis reipublicae nostrae rudimentis, cum aliqua 
 adhuc barbaries Scotiam occupasset, quosdam duces (Tha- 
 nos vernacula lingua vocabunt) illustri familia delegerunt, 
 quibus se suamque rempublicam regendam committe- 
 bant ." 
 
 Selden, in his titles of honour, page 612. thought " the 
 word Thane denoted a servant or minister generally, and 
 so divers had the title, as it was merely officiary and per- 
 
 H 2 sonal ; 
 
 * " Among the old Scots or Irish, Thanes were called Thosce, and 
 the sons of Thanes MacToshche, (Macintosh) which is still the name of the 
 chief of the Clan-Chattan." See Part III. Chap. ii. The statute in Reg. 
 Maj. on which Skene thus comments, is, " Quhen anie man is challenged 
 of thift, and na fang is found with him ; and the challenger offers na pro- 
 bation against him, he sail acquite himself be the eath of twentie seven 
 men, and thrie Thanes." But neither the law nor the comment prove, 
 that Thanes were officers among the Pids. Skene indeed speaks of old 
 Scots or Irish, but it is in reference to a book which claims, at the highest, 
 to be only of the age of David I. but which is of much lower antiquity, 
 and is an English work, accommodated to the customs of Scotland by a few 
 additions. At any rate, the existence of Thanes in Scotland in the I2th 
 century, can be no evidence that they were officers among the Pi&s before 
 the 9th, about the middle of which the Pi&s and Scots were united under 
 Kenneth. Reg Maj. TransL folio, Book IV. Chap. xxi. Hailes' Annals, 
 VoL 3. 8vo. App. II. No. 10. Pink. VoL a. Part V. Chap. iii. 
 
 1 " In the very infancy of our government, when the inhabitants of 
 Scotland were still barbarous, they chose chiefs of a noble family (called in 
 the vulgar tongue Thanes), to whom they committed the government of 
 themselves and the state." If Leslie had produced any authority for this 
 assertion, the statement in the preceding notes would have been unfounded. 
 But the assertion of modern writers, who copy one another, is of no weight, 
 when unsupported by any ancient testimony. The oldest of them it For- 
 dun, who wrote in the very end of the ijth century, a weak and fabulous 
 writer, whom, however, many subsequent historians have closely followed t 
 ad .Leslie among the rest.
 
 52 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 sonal ; yet those that were the kings' immediate tenents of 
 fair possessions, which they held by personal service, as of 
 his person (or as we now say, by grand serjeantry, or knights 
 service in chief) were I conceive the Thanes that had the 
 honorary dignity, and were part of the great nobility at that 
 time ; (after the coming of the Normans some years, this 
 title of Thane grew out of use). These of the title of 
 Thanes in subscriptions came after the Principes and 
 Duces ' ." 
 
 It seems that in the Pi&ish time, the Abthanes and 
 Thanes were all, who for the degree were called Earls in 
 after-times : they were such as the sheriffs are now ; they 
 collected the king's rents in the counties they were set over, 
 and were judges in matters civil and criminal : the Abtha- 
 nus was, (as Fordun sheweth, 1. 4. historiae, c. 39.) " Quasi 
 Thanorum supremus, ut eorum sub rege dominus, cui te- 
 nentur annuatim de suis firmis et reditibus domino regi 
 debitis respondere : Abthanus autem regales habet nume- 
 rare reditus, et fiscalia, velut officio fungens ceconomi sive 
 camerarii * :" So the Abthane had much the same office 
 1 ** s the 
 
 1 Selden is right, but he is speaking of the Saxon government in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 * " The Abthane was the chief of the Thanes, their master under the king, 
 to whom they were obliged to account yearly for the royal revenues col- 
 lected in their respective provinces. The Abthane himself had the ma- 
 nagement of the exchequer, and thus he held the office of treasurer or 
 chamberlain." The office of Abthane is a creation of the 1 author of Scoti- 
 chronicon. It seems to have been fabricated to give greater dignity to 
 trinan, the husband of Bethoc daughter of Malcolm II. and father of king 
 Duncan, and consequently paternal ancestor of the royal family of Scotland. 
 It appears from the register of St. Andrews, and Ghron. Eleg. that Crinan 
 was Abbot of Dunkeld, and probably he held a high office at the court of 
 Malcolm, as he is mentioned oftener than once in the Annals of Ulster. 
 Fordun thought there was no honour in being descended from an Abbot. 
 He lived when jhe celibacy of the clergy was strictly enforced, and had no 
 
 idea
 
 CHAP. VI.] MANNERS OF THE PICTS. 53 
 
 the Lord Chamberlane had, and which since the Lord High 
 Treasurer had ; and die Thanes were his treasurer-deputes 
 for the lands they were Thanes of. 
 
 The qualities and manners of the Pi&s are to be gathered 
 from the ancient authors also. Herodian, in the history of 
 Severus, saith of them, " Sunt autem bellicosissima gens, 
 atque avidissima caedis, tantum acuto angusto lanceaquc 
 contend, praeterea gladio nudis corporibus dependente, lo- 
 ricie ac galese penitus ignorant usum '." Tacitus, in his 
 account of Germany, says, " The bodies of that nation are 
 hardned, their limbs compact, their countenances threatning, 
 and their courage greater ;" and the Caledonians, their off- 
 spring, were in these things like to them. Dio, in Seve- 
 rus, says, " Pugiones quoque habent * ." And he addeth, 
 that, " Famem, frigusque ac labores omnes perferunt, nam 
 mersi in paludibus capite tenus, per multos dies inediam 
 
 sustinent : 
 
 idea that the SOD of a churchman could be any thing but a bastard. He 
 forgot, or did not know, that the marriage of churchmen was not forbidden 
 in the time of Malcolm. It was no disgrace for the daughter of the king, 
 (even if Malcolm had then ascended the throne, which does not appear,) 
 to marry the head of one of the richest and most ancient religious esta- 
 blishments of his kingdom, whose rank was superior to that of the nobles, 
 at a time when the brothers and sons of kings were Abbots, and when the 
 qualifications for the high offices of the state, belonged almost exclusively to 
 the clergy. It could be no disgrace for the royal family of Scotland to have 
 the same kind of descent with Alfred the Great, whose father was a priest 
 before -he was a king ; nor are instances of this kind uncommon. It is cu- 
 rious to observe how falsehood defeats its own ends. While Fordun, to 
 exalt the character of Crinan, takes from him the high rank and real 
 wealth of the Abbot of Dunkeld, he bestows in return the office of Ab- 
 thane or chamberlain, not, as we would expecT:, of a great province of the 
 kingdom, but of the petty barren travS of Dul, in the highland district of 
 Athole. 
 
 1 " They were a warlike people, and loved to shed blood: they used a 
 narrow shield and a lance, and a sword hanging by their naked side, and 
 made no use of coat of mail or helmet." SIBBALD. 
 
 2 M They had whingers also."
 
 4 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 sustinent : in silvis autem, corticibus atque radicibus arbo- 
 rum aluntUr. Certum cibi genus parant ad omnia, quern 
 si ceperint quanta est unius fabse magnitude, minime esu- 
 rire solent x ." Of this I shall have occasion to treat in the 
 last part of this book, the history of the natural product of 
 this shire. What Tacitus observed of the hospitality of the 
 Germans, is yet remarkable in these descended of them : " it 
 was held a crime to turn any out of doors ; every one 
 treated answerable to his fortune ; when the provisions 
 were all spent, he which last entertained, was a guide and 
 companion of his guest, and, tho' uninvited, they go to the 
 next house, nor is it ill taken : they were received with the 
 same civility, no one distinguished the known and un- 
 known, as far as related to the right of hospitality : their 
 diet was simple, wild fruits, fresh meat, or curds, without 
 dainties : they expeft hunger : ale was their drink, made of 
 barley, &c." 
 
 As to their religious rites (in the time before they were 
 Christians) they must be colle&ed from the hint Tacitus 
 giveth of them, and from the vestiges of them which yet 
 remain in this country. Tacitus, in his 27th chapter of 
 the life of Agricola, says of the inhabitants of this country, 
 " That after the fight they had with the forces of Agricola, 
 when they attack'd the ninth legion in their trenches, and 
 were beat off by the coming up of Agricola with the rest 
 of his army, they prepared for another battle : caetibus ac 
 sacrificiis conspirationem civitatum sanciebant *." Tacitus, 
 in his account of Germany, cap. 39. s-hows the nature and 
 
 quality 
 
 * " They indurc hunger and cold and all sort of toil, and feed in the 
 woods upon the barks and roots of trees ; hut they have one sort of meat, 
 of which upon all occasions they take the bigness of a bean, which sustain* 
 them for some days." SIBBALD. 
 
 2 That is, ' The clans confederated together, meeting frequently, and 
 ky religious rites and sacrifices,, confirmed their association." SIBBALD.
 
 CHAP. VI.] RELIGION OF THE PICTS. 5$ 
 
 quality of those assemblies, where he treats of the Sem- 
 noncs. " The Semnones report, that they are the most 
 ancient and noble of the Suevians : the truth of their anti- 
 quity is confirmed by their religion. At a set time, all the 
 people of one blood, assemble by their embassies in a wood, 
 sacred by the auguries or oracles of their ancestors, and by 
 an ancient veneration ; and celebrate the horrid beginnings 
 of their barbarous rites by publickly killing a man. There 
 is also another reverence paid to that grove : no one enters 
 into it, unless bound like an inferiour person, and profes- 
 sing openly the power of their god : if by chance he falls 
 down, it's not lawful to be taken away, or rise up, but he 
 is roll'd off the ground : and thither all their superstition 
 tends ; and from thence were deriv'd the origine of their 
 nation, that there was a God, ruler of all, that all beside 
 were subject and obeying." 
 
 Our Caledonians descending from them, did observe the 
 like rites, which were performed by the Druides their 
 priests, whose chief residence was in the Isle of Man, 
 which is sited betwixt Britain and Ireland : they came there 
 from IrelSnd, which in ancient times was called the Holy 
 Island : from this isle they came first over to the south 
 coast of Britain, and from thence spread over all the island, 
 of which Pliny, writing of the Druids and their magick art, 
 says, in the first chapter of the xxxth book, " Sed quid ego 
 haec commemorem in arte oceanum quoque transgressa, et 
 ad naturae inane perveclia ? Britannia hodieque earn attonite 
 celebrat tantis ceremoniis, ut dedisse Persis videri possit ' ." 
 And besides what Tacitus says of the rites of the Druids 
 in Britain, Casar, in his sixth book de bello Gallico, where 
 
 he 
 
 " Why need I mention these things of an art, that has passed over the 
 ncean, and been carried to the extreme boundaries of nature ? and to this 
 day Britain celebrates it with as great ceremonies at could be offered 
 among the Persians."
 
 56 tHE ttisTORir OF tin. [PAST i, 
 
 he describeth the religion of the Druids fully, says, " Dis-< 
 ciplina in Britannia reperta, et nunc, qui diligentius earn 
 rem cognoscere volunt, plerumque ilio, discendi causa pnv 
 ficiscuntur * ." And below he gives us the articles of it, 
 thus, " Non interire animas, sed ab aliis post mortem trans- 
 ire ad alioSj atque hoc maxime ad virtutem excitari putant, 
 metu mortis neglecto. Multa pneterea de sideribus atque 
 corum motu, de mundi ac terrarum magnitudine, de rerum 
 natura, de deorum immortalium vi ac potestate disputant j 
 et juventuti transdunt *." They maintain'd the immorta- 
 lity of the soul, and were both divines and philosophers : 
 , they were the priests who perform'd the sacrifices, and they 
 Were the judges in all controversies both civil and criminal, 
 and they were the physicians to whom they had recourse 
 in their sickness, and they were the prophets who foretold 
 what was to come to pass amongst them : as may be seert 
 in Csesar's commentaries, and in Pliny's natural history? 
 All their religidus rites were performed in woods and 
 groves, under such trees as spread most, and the Druids 
 had their name from the oak tree which they esteemed 
 most. I have given a large account of the Druides anct 
 their rites in the history I have written of the Pitts. There 
 are many vestiges of them remaining amongst the country 
 people, especially In the north and in the isles, and every 
 where they are apt to make use of charms, notwithstanding 
 that, ever since the Christian religion was received, care has 
 been taken to extirpate them. The learn'd Mr. Maule, in 
 
 his 
 
 1 " Their religion is found in Britain, and they who wish to understand 
 their discipline thoroughly, must go there to learn it." 
 
 2 " They hold, that the soul does not perish, but passes after death from 
 one body to another ; and they think, by thus teaching a contempt of 
 death, that they best excite the courage "of their disciples. They discourse 
 of, and deliver to the youth, many things about the heavenly bodies, and 
 their motions ; the extent of the uilivcrse, and of this earth ; the nature of 
 things, and the attributes and government of the gods."
 
 CHAP. VI.] RELIGION OF THE PICTS. $>J 
 
 his MS. de origine Gentis, has traced several of their rites 
 which were continued amongst the vulgar abouf a hundred 
 years ago. There are several of their temples to be seen 
 every where, and some in this country we describe : these 
 are great stones, placed in a circle, at some distance from 
 other ; the biggest of which, placed towards the south, is 
 judged to have been the altar : and these were all of them 
 in the woods, altho' now they are in open moors, the trees 
 having been cut, or perishing through length of time. The 
 learned Mr. Maule affirms, that the rites and Ceremonies 
 used by the wizards in their night-meetings, are remains of 
 the superstition of the Druids : as also he says, the charms 
 and rites used in the cure of diseases, used by some of the 
 vulgar yet, have the same origin. The learnM Olaus 
 Wormius, in his first book of his Monumenta Danica, cap. 
 ,3. de delubris et aris veterum Danorum, has given the 
 figures of some of these temples and altars which the Danes 
 and Suedes had, and are yet to be seen ; to which I refer 
 the reader ' . 
 
 I The 
 
 * There is little probability that Druidisha was established in PicUand. 
 ft is of the southern and western parts of Britain only that Cesar speaks ; 
 of the northern he had no knowledge. The Druids seem to have been 
 confined to the Celtic tribes, and to have been unknown to the Scandina- 
 vian or Germanic nations, of whom Cesar says, " neque Druides habent." 
 And Tacitus, though he mentions their worship, gives no hint that their 
 priests were Druids, or that they cultivated this religion. There are found 
 indeed, in many parts of this country, as Sir Robert says, circles of rude 
 stones, which have been conceived to be Druidic temples, and detached 
 masses of rock, some fixed, and others moveable on their axis, which are 
 fancied to be connected with their superstition. But single large blocks of 
 tone are found every where in the north of Europe, where the Druids 
 never were, which have been raised as memorials of the illustrious dead, or 
 of some great event : even rocking stones were monumental, not only in 
 fhe north, but in Greece. And all the ancients tell us, that the Druids had 
 Bo temples, but worshipped in groves of oak, as their name implies. These 
 circles could not be formed within thcie sacred retreat* ; for they arc gene- 
 rally
 
 58 THfc HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 The .account of the state of religion when the Pib be- 
 came Christians, is to be treated in the second part of this 
 book. I am now to give an account of the wars which the 
 Pits had with the Romans, the Danes and the Scots in 
 this country, before they were incorporated under our kings 
 into one kingdom. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Concerning the Actions and the Exploits of the Romans in 
 this Country. 
 
 W HAT Valerius Flaccus reporteth of Vespasian the fa- 
 ther's visiting the coast of Caledonia * , is only to be under- 
 stood of his viewing at a distance the coast, without enter- 
 
 rally found In high and barren heaths, in whose cold and scanty soil the 
 spreading and majestic oak could not be reared. Besides, circles of stone* 
 are found in the northern seats of the Goths, who employed them as courts 
 of justice, and they are called in the Icelandic, the purest living dialect of 
 the .Gothic, domhring, judiciary circles, or domtbing, courts of judgment. 
 These circles were not only places where the judgment was pronounced, 
 but also where it was executed ; and as the characters of priest and judge 
 were generally united in one person, they often perhaps came to be con- 
 sidered as temples, and the capital punishment of a criminal as a sacrifice to 
 the gods ; and perhaps, as in more southern and civilized lands, the priso- 
 ners taken in war were offered as victims. Accordingly it is said in Islands' 
 Landnamabok, that at the domhring raised by Thorder-Geller as zfordangs- 
 tbing, " court of the district," er their d<entdu mean till biota, " there men were 
 doomed to sacrifice." As to the religion of the Picts, it is unknown whe- 
 ther or eot they worshipped the Woden and Thor of the Scandinavians, or 
 had only peculiar local deities. Adomnan, in his life of Columba, only says 
 that they had gods of their own ; that they reverenced fountains, and that 
 they had priests who were believed to have power to raise storms by their 
 magical skilL Pink. Inq, Part III. Chap. xi. Uno von Troll's* Letters on 
 Iceland. Lc Clerk dc Septchenes, on the ftcligion of the Ancient Greeks, 
 Chap. Hi. Stat. Ace. passim. 
 
 1 ArgmuuticoD, lib. I, See page 13. at the top, and page I4 ij note I.
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 59 
 
 ing into the firths : for Tacitus sheweth, that Agricola only 
 in the sixth year of his government first examined the ports 
 of this country with his fleet: which the learn'd Virdungus, in 
 his notes upon the place, remarks was the year from the build- 
 ing of Rome 837, and of our Saviour the 84th, the empe- 
 ror Domitian, for the tenth time, and Ap. Junius Sabinus 
 being Consuls : and then it's like, he entered not only the 
 Firth of Forth and try'd the ports upon the north j but 
 also he try'd the ports upon the south side of Tay, as ap- 
 peareth from what, Tacitus says, followed upon this exa- 
 mining the ports of these firths, in these words, " Britannos 
 quoque, ut ex captivis audiebatur, visa classis obstupefacie- 
 bat, tanquam, aperto maris sui secreto, ultimum vicUs per- 
 fugium clauderetur " ." So long as their coast was un- 
 known and not surveyed, they were secure ; but now when 
 the entries to it were found out, they lost their courage and 
 were disheartned : for so long as the sea was open, they 
 could withdraw from the enemy to it, upon loss of ground. 
 But then, as Tacitus says, Galgacus told his countrymen 
 afterwards, cap. 30. " Ne mare quidem securum imminente 
 nobis classe Romana 1 ." Yet notwithstanding of all this, 
 they took courage and opposed his marching into the coun- 
 try. " Ad manus (inquit) et arma conversi Caledonian* 
 incolentes populi, paratu magno, majore fama, uti mos est 
 de ignotis, oppugnasse ultro, castella adorti, metum ut pro- 
 vocantes addiderant : regrediendumque citra Bodotriarn, et 
 excedendum potius, quam pellerentur, specie prudentium, 
 ignavi admonebant ' ." 
 
 I 2 Though 
 
 1 " As the prisoners who were taken reported, the Britains were quite 
 deje&ed at the sight of the fleet, as tho' now the secrets of their sea were 
 disclosed, and no refuge remained if they were overcome." SJBBAI.D. 
 
 * " The sea afforded no security to us, the Roman fleet urveying our 
 coasts." SIB BALD. 
 
 * M The inhabitants of Caledonia having resolved (upon this invasion)
 
 60 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 Though Tacitus, by this continued relation, seems to 
 make this and all that follows, to have been done in the 
 sixth expedition ; yet it is probable that in this summer he 
 only surveyed the coasts, and left some garrisons upon the 
 country nearest to the coast, which the Caledonians attack'd 
 in the winter following, when he had withdrawn his army 
 and his fleet. Tacitus himself telleth us, cap. 45. that 
 Agricola was dead four years before he "wrote this account 
 of him, and he had his information from those who serv'd 
 under his father-in-law, and had not marked the circum- 
 stances of time exactly : for Agricola, in his speech before 
 the last fight, says, that it was the eighth year of their ex- 
 pedition in Britain. And therefore the fight in his camp 
 must have been in the seventh year, or else there was no- 
 thing done in it ; which is not probable. I think therefore, 
 that the battel we are to give an account of, which was 
 fought when he rescued the ninth legion, was strucken in 
 the seventh summer '. 
 
 The 
 
 to take them to arms and force, with great preparations and greater fame, 
 as the manner is of matters unknown ; they assayled the camps, as chal- 
 lengers, braving and putting in fear: they made some of the Rojhans so 
 frighted, that to cover their want of courage, they would seem to be wise, 
 being indeed dastards, and advised the general to retire to the other side 
 of Forth, and rather to depart of his own accord, than to be beat back 
 with shame." SIB BALD. 
 
 1 Agricola was sent to Britain in the last year of Vespasian, A. D. 78. 
 He was recalled by Domitian, A. D. 84, consequently he was only seven 
 years in Britain. The battle with the ninth legion was undoubtedly in 
 83, his sixth year ; for in his speech he says his camp had been stormed 
 the year before, (proximo anno) which Tacitus expressly calls the sixth 
 year, (sextum officii annum) as indeed the whole narrative shews. Not- 
 withstanding that these dates are ascertained, Agricola is made to say, in 
 the opening of his speech, that he was in the eighth year of his expedition. 
 This confusion is only.to be accounted for by supposing, that some tran- 
 scribers had written \i\ius instead of vnus ; for this is the way in whieh 
 cumbers are marked in MSS. It is tin* qrror which imposed on Sir Ro 
 
 bert
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 6l 
 
 The battel is thus described by Tacitus, cap. 26. " Inte- 
 rim cognoscit, hostes pluribus agminibus inrupturos. Ac nc 
 superante numero, et peritia locorum, qircumirentur, diviso 
 et ipse in tres partes exercku incessit. Quod ubi cognitum 
 hosti, mutato repente consilio, univcrsi nonam legionem, 
 ut maxime invalidam, nocle adgressi, inter somnum ac 
 trepidationem cassis vigilibus inrupere. Jamque in ipsis cas- 
 tris pugnabant, cum Agricola iter hostium ab exploratori- 
 bus edocius, et vestigiis insecutus, velocissimos equituna 
 peditumque adsultare tergis pugnantium jubet, mox ab 
 universis adjici clamorem, et propinqua luce fulsere signa ; 
 ita ancipiti malo territi Britanni, et Romanis redit animus, 
 ac securi pro salute, de gloria certabant ; ultro quin etiarn 
 inrupere , et fuit atrox in ipsis portarum angustiis praelium, 
 donee pulsi hostes, utroque exercitu certante, his ut tulisse 
 opem, illis ne eguisse auxilio viderentur ; quod nisi pa- 
 ludes et silvae fugientes texissent, debellatum ilia Victoria 
 foret. Cujus constantia ac fama ferox exercitus : nihil vir- 
 tuti suae invium, penetrandam Caledoniam, invenieudum- 
 que tandem Britannke terminum continue praeliorum cursu 
 fremebant : atque illi modo cauti ac sapientes, prompti 
 post eventum ac magniloqui erant ; iniquissima haec bello- 
 rum conditio est, prospera omnes sibi vindicant, adrersa 
 uni imputantur. At Britanni, non virtute sed occasione et 
 arte ducis rati, nihil ex arrogantia remittere, quo minus 
 juventutem armarent, conjuges ac liberoa in loca tuta trans- 
 ferrent, caetibus ac sacrificiis conspirationem civitatum san- 
 cirent, atque ita irritatis utrinque animis discessum *." 
 
 This 
 
 <-s> : ' /. ,-jj, ft r, 
 
 bcrt the necessity of transferring the battle from its proper year to a ub- 
 equent one, Iter. Sept. Part I. Chap. iv. Pink. Part III. Chap. vi. 
 
 1 That $, " In the beginning of the turamer, from the building of Rome 
 the 838, the emperor Domitian the nth time, and T. Aurelius Fulvut 
 being Consuls, Agricola having made a descent again into this country, had 
 
 advice
 
 62 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 This battel was struck with great art and skill upon ei- 
 ther side : and though Tacitus calls, the rescuing of the 
 ninth legion, a vidtory , yet it is doubtful upon which side 
 the greatest loss was : for it was usual (as Herodian ob- 
 serveth) for the Britains, the enemies of the Romans, to 
 take them to the woods and the marishes, when they found 
 any hazard in the fighting. Tacitus's saying, that either 
 side parted irritatis utrinque animis, with much animosity 
 and discontent, (the Caledonians for that they had been 
 
 disappointed 
 
 advice that the eriemy's design was to divide and attack him in many places 
 ?.t once. Whereupon, lest he should ly under disadvantage by the number 
 of the enemy and their knowledge of the country, he likewise divided hi* 
 army into three bodies. They having intelligence of this, forthwith took 
 another course, and in one intire body fell all upon the ninth legion, as being 
 the weakest, and betwixt sleep and fear in the night, cut off the centinels 
 and broke in among them. Thus the battel began in the very camp, 
 when Agricola having found out the enemy's march, by his scouts, traces 
 them, and sends in the lightest of his horse and foot upon their backs, 
 which were seconded with the huzza's of the whole army, and the appear- 
 ance of their colours towards break of day. This danger on all sides terri- 
 fied the Britains, and the Romans taking heart at it, and knowing there 
 could be no danger, fought now for honour. They gave a fresh onset, and 
 after a sharp dispute at the very gates, put them to the rout ; while both our 
 armies were contending, the one to come up timely with their assistance, the 
 other not to seem to need it. If the fens and woods had not protected the 
 enemy in this flight, they had been utterly conquered. Upon this con- 
 stancy and valour, and the news of our victory, the whole army grew so 
 resolute, that they thought nothing invincible to them ; they clamour'd to 
 be led into Caledonia, and to fight their way through to the remotest part 
 of Britain. Thus they who were but just now requiring wary conduct, 
 are foreward and blustering when the event is seen : and this is always the 
 x case in war, every one claims a share in that which is successful ; but mis- 
 fortunes are always imputed to one single person. However, the Britains 
 attributing all this to the good luck and the conduct of the general, and 
 not to any valour in the Romans, were not at all dejected, but went on to 
 arm their young men, and to convoy their wives and children into safe 
 places, and by assemblies and religious rites to establish a confederacy 
 among themselves : and thus both armies left the field in great heat and 
 dissatisfaction." SIBBALD.
 
 CHAP. VII/J ACTIONS OP THE ROMANS. 63 
 
 disappointed in their design to cut off the ninth legion, a 
 good many of which they had killed by surprising them ; 
 and the Romans, for that they could not enough revenge 
 the loss they had sustained) makes, the victory uncertain. 
 
 The courage and the conduct of the Caledonians appear'd 
 in this, that in the winter preceeding this battel, they had 
 attacked the garrisons which Agricola had left in this coun- 
 try in the summer of the sixth expedition : for as Tacitus 
 tells us in the third expedition, that it had been observed 
 by the skilful in these arts, that no captain whatsoever has 
 chose out places more to advantage than Agricola did : no 
 garrison of his placing was ever taken by force, surrender'd 
 upon terms, or quitted as uncapable of defence : their sallies 
 were frequent, and they were always prepar'd with a year's 
 provision against long sieges : formerly the Romans passed 
 in their garrisons the winter without fear, each one being 
 able to defend itself, which disappointed the enemy, and 
 made them dispair : for as formerly they would regain in 
 winter what they lost in summer, they were now worsted 
 alike in both seasons. But when the Caledonians found 
 that by the fleet of Agricola's surveying their harbours, 
 their sea was discovered, and all retreat and refuge would 
 be cut off, they assaulted the garrison he had placed 
 amongst them, that by being aggressors they might dis- 
 courage the Romans. " Multum interest (ait Scipio apud 
 Livium) alienos populorum fines, an tuos uri, exscindique 
 videas *." And to this day the best generals choose rather to 
 make the war in the enemy's country, than to expecl: till the 
 enemy invade them in their own country : for there is more 
 courage shown in bringing the danger and the loss upon 
 the enemy's country, than in repelling and beating it off 
 from their own ; it is a sign of a greater force and power 
 
 in 
 
 1 " There is a great difference, (says Scipio in Livy) between beholding 
 your owu country, or that of the enemy, burnt and destroyed."
 
 <$4 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 in the first invaders, and so occasions more terror and fear 
 to the invaded. The Caledonians took these measures, and 
 thought it not enough to assault the Roman garrisons and 
 camps, but also they levied a great army to fight them, so 
 as if they thought it fit, they might in several bodies break 
 in upon them, which obliged Agricola to alter his mea- 
 sures, and to march his army in three several bodies, that 
 he might not be at a disadvantage either because of their 
 number, or their knowledge of the places. Thus he guard- 
 ed against their encompassing of him ; for according td 
 Vegetius his observation, lib. de re Militari, much dependeth 
 upon the right drawing up of the army ; and if the army 
 be well drawn up, it is a great help to the victory ; but if 
 it be not sldlfully drawn up, were the sbuldiers never so 
 stout, they are soon put in disorder and broke. 
 
 And by what Tacitus telleth us, the Caledonians must 
 have had good generals ; for they, so soon as they got in- 
 telligence of this, forthwith took another course, and in one 
 entire body fell all upon the ninth legion, as being the 
 weakest ; and betwixt sleep and fear in the nighf, cut off 
 the centinels, and the advanced guards before the camp, 
 and broke in among them. 
 
 The Caledonians shewed great prudence and skill in the 
 art of war in this, first, that suddenly and unforeseen they 
 attacked the ninth legion, then, that they did it in the night 
 time while most of them were asleep, then, that they as- 
 saulted one legion only, and lastly, that they fell upon those 
 of the enemies who were the weakest and the least able to 
 resist them : and without question cut off many of them 
 before any relief could come to them. 
 
 It is a good rule of Vegetius, lib. 3. de re Militari, cap. 
 ult. " Nulla consilia meliora sunt, quam quse ignoraverit 
 hostis, antequam facias. Quare cum consilium tuum cog- 
 noverls adversariis proditum, dispositionem mutare te con- 
 
 venit.-
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 6$ 
 
 venit '." And upon this account, the Caledonian chief 
 officers in their army (when they found Agricola had di- 
 vided his army in three bodies, upon the intelligence he 
 had that they were to divide and attack him in many places 
 at once) they alter'd their design, and in one body all of 
 them fell upon the ninth legion, and broke in among them 
 within their trenches. Thus according to the Book of 
 Wisdom, c. 6. v. i. "Melior est sapientia quam vires, et 
 vir prudens quam fortis *." Which pronounced in a ge- 
 neral sense, Silius Italicus accommodated! to war, thus : 
 
 " Bellandum est astu : levior laus in duce dextrze. 
 Idque non eo tantum, (as the learn'd Berneggerus observeth 
 upon this passage of Agricola,) quod ut plurimum incru- 
 enta et sine lutu vi&oria sic acquiritur, ve.rum etiam quia 
 talia belli furta ea maxime nostri parte constant ac perfi- 
 ciuntur, qua homines sumus, et apud veteres Lacedemo- 
 nios, si dux cruento marte vicisset, gallum diis immolabat, 
 qui vero rem dolo aut suasione confecisset, majorem vii- 
 mam sacrificabat, bovem ut Plutarchus refert in Marcello, 
 et in Lacon. significare quippe voluerunt, longe aliis esse 
 praeferendos, et optimorum ducum munere fungi eos, qui 
 non casu, sed arte dirm'cant : qui non aperto marte praelium, 
 in quo commune versatur periculum, sed ex occulto sem- 
 per attentant : ut integris suis, quantum possunt, superiores 
 evadant, dum hostes terrent, aut minimo sanguinis dispen- 
 dio fallunt. Vigetius, I. 9. Hinc adeo, cum aliis bellicosis 
 uationibus in usu semper stratagemata fuere : turn pra> 
 cipue Romanis, quibus ea pars militice maxime gnara, ut 
 
 K inquit 
 
 That is, " There are no counsels and resolutions better than those 
 which the enemy knoweth not of, before you put them in practice. And 
 therefore when you come to know that your design is discovered to the 
 enemies, you ought to change the orders." SIBBALD. * 
 
 * " Wisdom is better than power, and a prudent man surpasscth a 
 strong." SIBBALD.
 
 66 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 inquit autor noster, 12, 45, 4. Ita tamen ut non admitte- 
 rent insidias degeneres quales habcntur, veneno, aut clam 
 immisso emptoque percussore in hostem grassari ; feeders 
 aut pacta futilissimis commentis, verborumque sophismatis, 
 et versuti juris praestigits eluderc. Namque ea vera est 
 victoria, quje salva fide et Integra dignitate pararetur." 
 Florus, lib. i. 12. 6 '. 
 
 As the Caledonians shewed much art and skill in this 
 night adventure, in attacking in their trenches the ninth 
 legion ; so Agricola exerts the greatest art of war in rescu- 
 ing of this legion, while the battel began in the very camp, 
 when Agricola had by his scouts found out the enemy's 
 march, he traced them foot for foot, and sent in the lightest 
 of his horse and foot (it's like every horseman carried a 
 footman behind him) upon their backs, who were ordered 
 to fall upon their rear silently without any noise, and they 
 
 were 
 
 1 " In war, art is preferable to mere force of arms ; not so much be- 
 cause a victory may be thus obtained which costs neither blood nor tears, 
 as that art and stratagem are the result of those mental powers which 
 distinguish the human character. And it was the custom of the Lacede- 
 monians, when a commander gained a bloody battle, to sacrifice only a cock 
 to the Gods ; but if he conquered by art, or if he finished the contest by 
 persuading the enemy to accept of peace, they offered a larger victim, an 
 ox, according to Plutarch ; for they wished to make it understood, that they 
 esteemed those generals most highly who fought not rashly, but with 
 wary skill ; who did not engage in general or fixed battles, in which both 
 armies are exposed to equal danger, but harassed the enemy by secret and 
 sudden attacks, that they might overcome, or alarm,, or deceive him, with 
 
 the least possible loss of their own troops. Stratagems have been in use 
 
 among all warlike nations, especially the Romans, by whom this branch of 
 the military art was thoroughly understood. But they employed only 
 what may be considered as the fair exertions of superior skill, and never 
 admitted the base and treacherous arts of poison or assasination ; nor did 
 they allow the breach of treaties, from the fraudulent arts of chicane, the 
 false interpretation of their terms, or quibbles about their language. For 
 rtiat only is a true victory which is'won with spotless faith, and unim- 
 peached honour."
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 67 
 
 were seconded with the shouts of his whole army, and 
 upon the first dawning of the day his ensigns appeared ; so 
 that the Caledonians were much affrighted, while they were 
 attacked by this fore-party in the rear and by the legion in 
 the front : by die cries the Caledonians were affrighted, 
 hearing them coming suddenly and unexpectedly upon their 
 backs, and the same cries gave courage and spirit to the 
 Romans, who found their relief was at hand : so they ral- 
 lied and fell out upon the Caledonians and gave them a 
 fresh onset, and the sharpest fight was in the entries to the 
 camp, while both the bodies of the Romans were contend- 
 ing, the, one to come up timely with their assistance, the 
 other not to seem to need it. So the Caledonians were 
 sore distressed betwixt them, and according to their use 
 and wont, when they found themselves at a disadvantage, 
 they profited by the nature and quality of the place where 
 the fight was, and made haste to the woods and marishes, 
 which saved die most part of them, and put a stop to the 
 Romans pursuing them. So the Romans were far from 
 getting an entire victory, as Tacitus would insinuate. 
 
 Their retreat to the woods and pools and marishes, men- 
 tioned in Tacitus, maketh out to us the place where this 
 battel was struck, which was in the west part of the coun- 
 try near to Benarte Hill and the Lomunds, near which 
 diere was, in these days, much wood and many highths, 
 which the audior insinuates in these words, cap. 25. " Syl- 
 varum et montium profunda ':" and yet to this day there 
 are many lakes to be seen, as Loch Leven, Loch Or, Loch 
 Gellie, &c. and to the east of Loch Or there may yet be 
 seen cairns of stones, such as were always raised where 
 there were fights by our ancestors : yea, in the bogs adjoin- 
 ing, diere were, not above a hundred years ago, found 
 swords of brass and brass lieads of lances, some of which 
 
 K 2 werq 
 
 } " The deep recesses of the woods and mountains."
 
 68 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 were kept in Sir Andrew Balfour's cabinet of rarities. And 
 it is very like, that the Urbs Orrea, which Ptolomy placeth 
 apud Vennicontes, was in the plain to the east of the Loch 
 Or J ; for his words are, Sub iis qui magis occidentales 
 
 sunt 
 
 1 The author of Iter. Sept. whose opinions indeed are often ill-founded, 
 but whose knowledge of Roman antiquities in Britain was considerable, 
 and who was an accurate observer, and a faithful reporter of what he saw, 
 endeavours to support the same notion. " This battle I am of opinion, was 
 fought in the county of Fyffe, because we learn that Agricola's army was 
 at that time on the north side of the Firth of Edinburgh, which appears 
 from the foresaid advice given to Agricola by some of his own officers, that 
 it was better he should retire to the other side of that firth, from whence 
 he came, rather than stay there and be repulsed by the Caledonians with 
 shame. But what seems to be yet a stronger proof, that Fyffe was the 
 country in which the ninth legion was attacked, is, from the appearance 
 of a Roman camp there. This camp I met with, at a place called Lochore 
 about two miles from Loch-Leven in Fyffe, and a quarter of a mile from 
 the house of Sir John Malcolm, on whose ground it stands, and is situated 
 near a lake called Lochore : The form of this camp is nearest to a square, 
 but in many parts levell'd and defaced, so that I could not make a perfedt 
 draught of it ; however, there appears on the west side of it, three rows of 
 ditches, and as many ramparts of stone and earth, and on the side towards 
 the loch, is a round turret entirely analagous with the camp at Burnswork 
 Hill. The total circumference of it measures aoao feet, or 444 paces. To 
 the south of this camp, there is a large morass or moss, in which are daily 
 dug up the roots of different trees in abundance, as if it had been formerly 
 a great wood, which not a little strengthens our conjecture, that here the 
 ninth legion was attacked ; for Tacitus tells us, that if the bogs and woods 
 had not covered the flight of the Caledonian?, that victory woufd have 
 ended the war. Also, near to this place, there is a small village called the 
 Blair, which word, Mr. Mackenzie of Delvin tells us, in the old language, 
 signifies locus pugnas, or a place where a battle was fought ; all which, I 
 think, make this conjecture very probable." This camp still remains re- 
 markably entire. Lately, in cutting some ditches immediately under the 
 camp, for draining the lake, the workmen dug up several antiquities, 
 which were evidently Roman, particularly the head of a spear. But the 
 existence of a Roman encampment is no proof that the station of the ninth 
 legion was at Lochore. Tacitus affords sufficient evidence that it could 
 not be in Fife ; for he says that it was in the country of the Caledonians, 
 
 whom
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 69 
 
 sunt habitant Vennicontes, in quibus urbs Orrea '." 
 
 However this advantage the army of Agricola got, so 
 raised the courage of the Romans, that they thought no- 
 thing invincible to them, and clamoured to be led through 
 the rest of the country^ that they might fight their way 
 through to the utmost bounds of Britain. 
 
 And these of them officers and soldiers, who not long 
 before, upon hearing that their garrisons were assaulted by 
 the Caledonians, moved the drawing back the forces in 
 these garrisons to the other side of the Firth of Forth, out 
 of prudence and caution, grew now foreward to gain all 
 the country which lay beyond Forth. 
 
 Tacitus telleth, that after the fight, the Britains, (non 
 virtutc, sed occasione et arte duels rati, &c.) were not de- 
 jeted with this loss, which they imputed to the art and 
 conduct of the general, in coming so suddenly to the relief 
 of his men, in the manner related before, and thought they 
 might have an occasion to treat them as cunningly as he did 
 treat them : and therefore they prepared for another figlrt with 
 him. .We find no account of another battel in this shire : it's 
 like he did pass through the shire and placed some forts and 
 garrisons in it ; this he could not do before he cut down the 
 woods, and made ways for his forces to march, which it's like 
 took up the rest of this summer. There were Roman arms 
 and Roman coins found in some places, but these might have 
 been left by some of the following emperors whose forces pe- 
 netrated this country, and perhaps might have been the arms 
 and coins of some of Agricola's men slain by the Caledonians. 
 
 The 
 
 whom he places beyond the Tay. The Horestii inhabited Fife with some 
 neighbouring distr ids, and they seem to have been of a different race from 
 the northern tribes. It was after the time of Tacitus, that the Ve&u- 
 rioncs extended their dominion to the south of the Tay. Tac. vit. Agric. 
 Gordon, Iter. Sept. Part I. Chap. iv. Stat. Ace. VoL VII. No. 29. 
 
 1 " Under those who live more to the west are the Vennicontcs, in 
 whose territories is the town Orrea." See page 71. note I.
 
 70 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 The Caledonians wanted not their fences, which Tacitus 
 insinuates they had, in these words, " Conjuges ac liberos 
 in loca tuta transferrent ' ." One (such as these fences 
 were) is describ'd by him, Annalium, 1. 4. c. 33. Thus, 
 Cara&acus having taken the ground that was very advan- 
 tagious to him, and which would incommode us : " Tune 
 montibus arduis, et si qua clementer accedi poterant, in 
 modum valli saxa prsestruit : et prsefluebat amnis vado in- 
 certo 1 " There are many such forts to be seen in the hills 
 of this country. Sir James Balfour, in his notes, mention- 
 eth Benarte, where in his time, the vestiges of a double 
 trench were seen : and he says, that hard adjoining to 
 Denmil, there is a great rock, on the top of the which 
 stood a strong castle double trenched, which, he saith, was 
 levelled with the ground by the Romans under Martius, 
 commander of the Thracian cohorts under the emperor 
 Commodus ; the ruines of the trenches may yet be seen 3 . 
 
 Some think, the station or camp of the ninth legion, was 
 where the town of Falkland stands now. Ptolomy men- 
 tioneth Orrea in Vennicontibus, whom the learn'd Gordon 
 of Straloch makes the ancient inhabitants of this shire : 
 
 and 
 
 1 " They carried their wives and children into places of safety." 
 
 1 " Wherever the mountains were passable, he ordered great stones to 
 
 be reared up, as it were in manner of a rampire : and a river run before 
 
 it, whose foords were uncertain." SIBBALD. 
 
 * Very few vestiges of Roman works can now be traced in Fife. In- 
 deed in a country where they continued so short a time, remains of large 
 towns or splendid buildings are not to be expected. It has been the boast 
 of the Scots, that their country was never subdued by the Romans. It is 
 not true, however, except with regard to those rugged mountains in the 
 west, whose possession was not worth the labour of climbing them. It is 
 matter of regret, that, instead of a short hostile visit, and some military 
 entrenchments, the" establishments of the Romans had not been so extensive 
 and permanent as to introduce civilisation among the barbarous natives. 
 To be subdued by the Romans, was to be raised from the wretchedness of 
 savage life to the order and comforts of polished society.
 
 CHAP. VII.] ACTIONS OF THE ROMANS. 7 
 
 and some think it stood where Couper of Fife stands now. 
 But the name Orrea seemeth to point at the loch and water 
 of Or, in the middle of this shire. It is certain, that ,at the 
 end of that loch, about an old chapel, there are trenches to 
 be seen yet '. 
 
 It is very probable, that there was a Roman station near 
 to the place where the town of Leven stands now, or where 
 the town of Kenuay stands now : for Boeth. Hist. Scot. I. 5. 
 f. 86. relateth, that in the year of our salvation 1521, not 
 far from the mouth of the water of Leven in Fife, a great 
 many Roman coins were found by shepherds, put up in a 
 brass vessel, some of them of gold, and some of them 
 silver, upon some of which was, in die face of the medal, 
 a Janus double-fac'd, and on the reverse the beak of a ship; 
 others of them had the face of some Roman emperor, with 
 the legend of their name, offices and honours about it, and 
 upon the reverse was the picture of Mars, Venus or Mer- 
 , cury, or some other idol, or the Wolf giving suck to Ro- 
 mulus and Remus from her dugs, or these characters, S. 
 P. Q^R. that is, Senatus Populus Qiie Romanus. Many 
 such are found in divers places in Scotland, and were col- 
 lected 
 
 1 No appearance of a town is to be found near Lochore. Indeed a 
 transient entrenchment would scarce be distinguished by so high a title, 
 when military stations were frequenf, and towns so rare. But the situation 
 assigned " in Vennicontibus," puts it beyond a doubt, that the urbs Orrea 
 was not in Fife ; for the Vennicontes were to the north of the, Tay, as is 
 evident from the rivers of their country, according to Ptolomy, and Rich- 
 ard of Cirencester : Tava, Esica, Tinna, Deva, the Tay, the South Esk, 
 the North Esk, and the Dee. To place this town in Fife, is to confound 
 all the ancient geography of Scotland ; and the mere resemblance of a 
 name is too slight a reason for so tbold an alteration. The towns of the 
 Horesttii, of whose country Fife was a part, were Alauna, Lindum, and 
 Victoria, none of which seem to have been within the bounds of the 
 county, but to have been situated on the military way that was formed 
 from the wall of Urbicus, eastward towards Aberdeen, and are supposed to 
 have been Kier, or Alloa, Ardoch, and Perth. Cambden's Britannia, foL 922. 
 Pink. Part III. Chap. v. Sttt. Ace. Vol. VIII. No. 40. and XVIII. No. tyt
 
 72 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 lefted by our famous antiquary Mr. James Sutherland, and 
 are to be seen in the lawiers library at Edinburgh. I have 
 a good many my self, in silver and brass, in my cabinet. 
 
 Without doubt, after-times may discover in this shire, 
 and in other parts of North Britain, many Roman antiqui- 
 ties, when curious persons will search for them : for Tacitus 
 telleth us, that it was one of the means that Agricola used 
 to tame the Britains, that he privately exhorted and pub- 
 lickly joined with them to build temples, houses, seats of 
 justice -, and by degrees brought them to erecl: porticos 
 and baths '. 
 
 The cities we have, most conveniently situate, will be 
 found, many of them, to be founded in the ruines of the 
 Roman garrisons : they spared no cost to eret them. I 
 have given account of severals in the treatise I printed upon 
 the Roman wall, and have given the figures of some of 
 them . 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 " In the course of the last century, some Roman coins, brass swords, 
 and daggers, have been found in different places, but none of much conse- 
 quence for illustrating the history of the county. Indeed the finding of 
 Roman arms or money in any district, is no proof that there was a Roman 
 station in that neighbourhood ; for many of them must have been lost in 
 skirmishes or in journies; others may have been collected by the ancient 
 inhabitants, for curiosity or for use, and may have passed through many 
 hands before they were lost or buried in the places where they are now 
 discovered. 
 
 * The author of Iter. Sept. treats Sibbald's opinions on this subject with 
 great contempt. Indeed Gordon points out our author's errors about Ro- 
 man antiquities in so many cases, that but little credit can be given to hit 
 conjectures. The places which he considers as Roman stations are Burnt- 
 island, Inverkeithing, Abcrdour, Kinghorn, &c. ; but the reasons he assign* 
 for their Roman origin arc futile and inconclusive. Iter. Sept. Part I. 
 App. to Chap. iv. Sibbald's Conjectures concerning the Roman Ports, &c. 
 in the Firths, i. Chap. i. and Historical Inquiries concerning Roman- 
 Monuments in Scotland, passim.
 
 CHAP. VIII.] WARS OF THE DANE3. 
 
 CHAP. vin. 
 
 Concerning the Wars with the Danes in this Shire. 
 
 W HEN such of the Pib as willingly submitted to our 
 kings, were incorporated in one kingdom with the Scots, 
 under our kings-, there were several of the chief men 
 amongst them, who persisted in opposing our kings, and 
 were therefore forfeited, and their lands in this shire, and 
 elsewhere, were given by our kings, to those who did best 
 service in the subduing them : some of those chief men 
 who were forfeited, removed with their followers and ad- 
 herents to Norway and Denmark, from whence they had 
 their descent and origin : others went to Northumberland 
 and the adjacent counties in England, where they fixed 
 their abode, and infested with their incursions, these coun- 
 ties in Scotland which lay nearest to them, which is clear 
 from the history of Ingulphus, lately publish'd from the 
 manuscripts. He says, " Complevit itaque dies suos in- 
 clytus rex Edwardus, Ethelstanusque filius ejus successerat. 
 Contra quern, cum Analaphus filius Sitrici, quondam regis 
 Northanhumbrorum insurgeret, et bellum ferocissimum 
 multorum viribus moliretur, conspirantibusque cum dito 
 Analapho, Constantino rege Scotorum, et Eugenio rege 
 Cumbrorum, ac aliorum regum comitumque barbaric in- 
 finita, contra Athelstanum regem convenissent, arftissimo 
 fcedere conjurati, et dictus rex Anglorum cum suo excrcitu 
 occurrisset ; licet prsefatus barbarus infinitam multitudinem 
 Danorum, Norreganorum, Scotorum, ac Piflorum contrax- 
 isset, Sec." And below, " Jam Orcadensium, ac Piftorum 
 
 L globes
 
 74 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. . .! [PART I. 
 
 globos pertninsierat, &c ! ." And it's certain, there were 
 some of them under the name of Pitts in England, in the 
 time of William the Conqueror, as appeareth from a sta- 
 tute of his (we shall give you) which the learned Seldeu 
 furnisheth to us, from an imperfect copy of Hoveden the 
 English historian, and from William Lainbard's Codex de 
 priscis Anglorum legibus, wherein he says, (Ubi editx 
 quidem sunt, ncc 'tamen undequaque exemplari quo utor 
 eonsonse, 1 ) he judgeth it fit to exhibite it in his notes and 
 Spicelegium ad Eadmerum, page 189. thus: " WILLIEL- 
 MUS Dei gratia Rex Anglorum, Dux Normanorum, 
 omnibus hominibus suis Francis et Angliae, salutem, 
 Lex LI. De Religione et Pace Publica. Statuimus im- 
 primis 
 
 1 " After the death of the renowned king Edward, Athelstane his son 
 succeeded. Against him Anlaff, son of Sitric, formerly king of Northum- 
 berland, rebelled and carried on a cruel war. Having entered into a con- 
 federacy with Constantine king of Scots, and Owen king of Cumberland, 
 and many other barbarous chiefs, he fought the king of England. The 
 army which Anlaff drew together, consisted of a vast multitude of Dane? 
 and Norwegians, and Scots and Piffs, &c." And below, " He had passed 
 the troops of the Orkneymen and the Pifis." In the middle of the loth 
 century, therefore, when Constantine III. reigned over the united nations 
 of North Britain, the Pidls were still recognised as a distinA race. The 
 number -of the army of the allies,, collected chiefly by the influence of 
 Ccnstantine, to whom Anlaff had fled for protection, was very great. It 
 was conveyed to the Humber in 615 ships. At the battle which ensued, 
 called the " Great Battle" of Brunburgh, (supposed to be Burgh on the 
 I lumber,) the greatest and bloodiest that this island ever beheld according, 
 to Milton, Athelstanc obtained a complete victory, which established his 
 ivuthority over all England. On the side of the allies, besides the greatest 
 part of the Scottish nobles, and an incredible number of the people say our 
 historians, five kings and twelve celebrated chiefs fell, and the son of Con- 
 ilantii:e was among the tJain. This battle did not happen in 948, as 
 marked in the reference to Ingulph, but 938. Athelstane died in 941. 
 Koetl). Book XI. Chap i. Buchanan, Book VI. Pink. Part V. Chap, ii, 
 Henry, Book II. Chap. i. 4. Hume, Chap. ii. 
 
 * " Where arc published several of the ancient laws of England, which, 
 however, do not every where agree with the copy I use."
 
 CHAP. VIII.] "WARS OF THE DANES. 75 
 
 primis super omnia, unum Deum per totum rcgnum no- 
 strum venerari, unam fidem Christ! semper inviolatam cu- 
 stodiri, pacem et securitatem, et concordiam, judicium et 
 justitiam inter Anglos et Normannos, Francos ct Britones 
 Wallire et Corn tibiae, Pictos et Scotos Albania?, &c '." 
 
 It is to be remarked, that Albania here is to be taken, as 
 Luddus and Pricteus make it, to contain the country benorth 
 the H umber z . 
 
 L 2 Others 
 
 1 " WILLIAM, by the grace of God, King of the English, and Duke of 
 the Normans, to all his subjects of France and England, greeting. Law li. 
 Of religion and the public peace. We orduin, in the first place, and above 
 all, that one God be worshipped through all our kingdom, and that the 
 faith of Jesus Christ be kept inviolate, that there be peace, security, con- 
 cord and justice, betwixt the English and Norman*, the Franks and Britouz 
 of Wales and Cornwall, the Pills and Scots of Albany, &c." William 
 obtained the crown of England in 1066. This statute therefore, if cor- 
 rectly edited, points out the existence of the Picts as a separate people to- 
 ward the end of the nth century. 
 
 1 Albany was at this time the proper name of the north and east parts 
 of Scotland, the ancient seats of the Picts. It Was no unnatural figure to 
 call the people of Northumbria " of Albany," as they were descended of 
 the inhabitants of that country. Or from the number of them in the north 
 of England, it may for a while have obtained the name of the n-.othcr 
 country. That the Picts possessed the north of England up to the Hum- 
 bcr, as conquerors of the Britons, for about a century, and that they af- 
 terwards remained as subjects to the new invaders of that district, the 
 Jutes and Angles, is well ascertained. Venerable Bede, and also Gildas, 
 mention, that the Picts in 426 had seized all the country to the wall of 
 Gallic, between the Solway and the Tyne, and that about 448, they had 
 extended their sovereignty to the Humber, and that they retained their 
 dominion till about 550 or 560, when Ida founded the kingdom of Ber- 
 nicia, and Ella that of Dcira, to which Princes they submitted. The or- 
 dinance of the council of Calcot or Calcuth in Northumbria in 787, against 
 the noted practice of staining their bodies, ascertains that they still re- 
 mained a distinct race, probably the most numerous people, of that king- 
 dom, which then included both Bernicia and Dcira. Thus the Picts are 
 to be traced in the north of England, from the beginning of the 5th, to the 
 end of the nth century, when they became to mixed with the Danes,
 
 76 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART 1. 
 
 Others of the Pi&s went to the isles of Orkney and 
 Shetland, where their language continueth yet in use a- 
 mongst the commons, and is called by them Norns, and 
 appeareth clearly to be a dialet of the ancient Gothic 
 tongue , a specimen of which, Dr. James Wallace has 
 given us in the Lord's Prayer, as some of the commons of 
 Orkney and Shetland yet use it '. 
 
 These Pi&s who went to Orkney, Shetland and Nor- 
 way, brought the Danes first to invade this country : for 
 Boeth. telleth us, Hist. Scot. 1. 10. f. 206. that the Danes, 
 for the cause of the war, pretended, that the miserable re- 
 mains of the Pits, who had fled to their country, had 
 transferred to them all the right to the kingdom they had 
 in Albion. The Danes first invaded Fife, under the con- 
 duct of Hubba and Hungar (as Boeth. nameth him) two 
 of their king's brothers. Buchanan gives several causes of 
 the war, the first is, That they were invited and intreated 
 by the Pidls to make war upon the Scots. And the se- 
 cond is, That Buernus (whose wife had been debauched by 
 Osbreth) desired them to make war. The third is, That 
 the Danes, of all the Germans, abounded most with wealth, 
 and their young people did so increase, that there was a 
 necessity of seeking new seats for them. And thus they 
 were induced to pass into Britain with a great fleet, it's 
 like some Pi&s in their company perswaded them to land 
 in Fife, which belonged formerly to them. By their in- 
 campments near to the water of Leven, it is like they land- 
 ed in the bays where Bruntisland, Pretticur, Kinghorn, 
 
 Kirkaldie 
 
 Jutes and Angles, that they were no longer to be distinguished. As all 
 these nations had the same origin with the Picts, the language of the north 
 of England remains very similar to the common Scottish, and is more Go* 
 thic than that of any other English province. See before, page 34. Pink. 
 VoL I. Part HI. Henry, Chap. ii. i. 
 * See before, page 31. note i.
 
 CHAP. VIII.] WARS OF THE DAMES. 77 
 
 Kirkaldie and Dysert stand, and from thence marched up 
 to the inner part of the country : they killed all they met 
 with, and burnt the churches and houses wherever they 
 came. This happened when Constantine II. son of Ken- 
 neth II. was king of the Scots, anno 874. He soon raised 
 an army ; for none refused to take arms against such cruel 
 enemies as the Danes were. The camps of the Danes 
 were about two furlongs distance from other, and the water 
 of Leven run betwixt them. As the Scots army were ad- 
 vancing towards the camp upon the north-side of Leven- 
 Water, it rained much, and the water rose so high, that 
 for two days it could not be passed : when it grew fair, 
 Constantine took hold of the opportunity to fight these in 
 the north camp, when, because of the spate of the water, 
 the Danes in the camp upon the south side of the water 
 could not assist their fellows in the north camp. Constan- 
 tine's men first seised these who were forraging and bring- 
 ing provision to the camp : this did so vex the Danes, that 
 they could not be kept in their trenches as their command- 
 ers inclined they should, to wait till those in the other 
 camp should join them. They came out of their trenches 
 in confusion, their fierce countenance and the bulk of their 
 bodies, being big men, the different arms they used, and 
 the accoutrement they had, wearing white shirts, stitcht 
 with red silk, upon their armour, made them terrible to the 
 Scots at their first approaching to them : but after they had 
 viewed other a while, the Scots fell in upon them with a 
 loud shout. r JThe fight continued long, face to face, with 
 great fierceness, till that the Danes, oppress'd by the vast 
 numbers of the Scots, (who at the same time attack'd them 
 in the front and rear) flung away their arms, and fled to- 
 wards their trenches, many of them were killed by these 
 who met them as they went thither ; some taking the wa- 
 ter, were drown'd ; some got safe to the other side, and 
 
 amongst
 
 7 8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 amongst them was Hubba their general, who by his skill 
 in swiming did escape ; others perished in the water, 
 being carried down with the spate. 
 
 There is, not far from the place where this battel was 
 struck, in a bauk to the south of Dodlan, in Kinglassie 
 parish, a pillar of hewen stone set in a pedestal ; it is about 
 five or six foot high, one foot thick and two broad : the 
 broad faces of it are to the east and the west, and the 
 figures are upon the side of it towards the east. The up- 
 most part of it seems to have been done for a beast's head 
 prominent ; below it, is the figure of a man on horse-back, 
 with like a scrol above him ; 'tis but a small figure : the 
 north, south and west sides, have upon them only some 
 oniamental carving : i it's much defaced by the weather, and 
 is torn in the top ; no vestige of any letter could be dis- 
 cerned upon it. This is certainly Danish, and seems to 
 have been set up where some chief commander was killed, 
 whether at this fight, or at another which hapned after- 
 wards near Kinghorn, is uncertain. 
 
 Not long after the fight at Leven-Water, there was ano- 
 ther at Crail in the East Nook ; where the Scots, too con- 
 fident of their power, were overthrown, and the king was 
 taken and beheaded in a cove, now call'd the Devil's Cove, 
 because of that black execution. This battel hapned 874, 
 the vestiges of the trenches appear yet, they are called the 
 Danes Dikes. Buchanan says, " Rei male gestse culpam 
 quidam in Pitos conferunt, qui a Constantino in fidem 
 recepti, ac in commilitium asciti fuerunt. Ab eis initium 
 fug:e fa&um, magnam exercitus partem una avertit '." 
 And Fordun, " Hos ut nunc putabatur, Scotiam clam at- 
 
 traxit 
 
 1 " Some lay the blame of this unlucky accident, upon the Picls, who 
 being admitted into Comtantine's fealty and army, were the first that ran 
 away, and drew the greatest part of the army after them." Buch. Book VI. 
 (in Const IL at ann. 874.)
 
 CHAP. VIII.] WARS OF THE DANE3. 79 
 
 traxit Pitorum barbarics nondum plenc perdomita, sicut 
 ex rei DOterit exitu non dissimiliter suspicari." Et infra, 
 " Rex bellum cum eis iniens, cum multis suorum occu- 
 buit : nee mirum quia suba&os nuper quosdam de Pitis, 
 quasi sinu serpentem, secum bellandos tenerrimo conduxit. 
 Namque statim conserta pugna fugientes, occasionem cae- 
 teris hoc idem faciendi dederunt ' ." 
 
 Sueno 
 
 i * It was thought that the barbarous Pids, not yet completely sub- 
 dued, privately invited them (the Danes) to Scotland, as indeed might 
 seem probable from the event." And below, " The king engaging them 
 fell with many of his people, nor is this to be wondered at, for he took 
 with him to battle, like a serpent in his bosom, many of the Pis but 
 lately subdued. And they flying as soon as the engagement began, in- 
 duced the rest to follow them." Fordun, lib. 4. cap. 16. (de morte Const.) 
 Boeth. in which he is followed by Henry, says, that Constantine was 
 made prisoner and afterwards beheaded. The reign of this king, Con- 
 stantine II. was the most disastrous that North Britain had ever beheld. 
 Thrice did the Danes and Norwegians ravage his kingdom on the west, 
 carrying off much booty and many captives. On the north they conquered 
 the Orkneys, the Hebudes, Sutherland, Caithness, and part of Ross, pro- 
 vinces which were long afterwards held either by petty princes, or de- 
 pendent Norwegian Earls. On the south, after a partial victory over 
 these invaders, he was completely routed, and lost the flower of his army. 
 These repeated losses and defeats probably hastened his death, which took 
 place the year after the last battle with the Danes. Of his falling in battle, 
 the earlier writers are ignorant. It seems to have been invented, to close 
 with a tragical doom, a life so unfortunate. The Annals of Ulster, and 
 Chron. Pi<3. place this battle in 881, seven years later than Buchanan, and 
 they say, that Constantine died in 88l. The tradition relative to the fabric 
 called " Danes Dikes," is, that it was raised by them for their defence in 
 one night. The very great extent, the situation and composition of it r 
 renders the story quite improbable. Indeed so great was the terror in- 
 pired by the invasions of these pirates of the north, (and in general the in- 
 vasions of Scotland were only by pirates for plunder,) that the people attri- 
 buted every great work, whose origin was forgotten, to their extraordinary 
 prowess. Hence, along the cast coast of Scotland, many structures arc 
 ascribed to them, with which they had no connection. Even striking na- 
 tural objects arc imputed to these wonderful men, whose stature is believed 
 
 to
 
 $0 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I, 
 
 Sueno king of Norway invaded Fife after this, when 
 Duncan was king of Scots : and there was a sharp fight 
 near to Culross with a great slaughter ; the Norvegians 
 got the victory, tho' it was dear bought ' . 
 
 The 
 
 to have been far beyond the common. At St. Andrews, a perpendi- 
 cular rock, of at least 40 feet in height, composed of regularly laminated 
 strata, closely connected with the rest of the shore, is still called the 
 " Danis Wark ;" and the smooth stones that have fallen from its face, are 
 believed to have been brought there to enlarge the work, which by some 
 accident they were prevented from finishing. The heroes of tradition, 
 from the time of Ajax, have possessed marvellous strength. The incre- 
 dible exertion of Wallace tuigbt are handed down with triumph over all 
 Scotland. In the west, the Fingalian heroes displayed supernatural vigour. 
 In the north, a hero of the Sutherlands, William More Macechin, is be- 
 lieved to have attained most gigantic stature, nearly nine feet and a half r 
 and two stones in the braes of Berindalc are supposed to attest the fact. 
 At Dunsinan, the giant Macbeth raised the vast works which defended the 
 castle, and the green site of an ancient shealing, is the Longmans grave. On 
 the east, the martial deeds, and the rapine and destruction of the Danes has 
 magnified them into giants, who in a night could perform the labour of 
 years, and by the exertions of their brawny arms, could move rocks that 
 have stood fixed from the Creation. The fate ascribed to Constantine is 
 not a singular instance, wherein our chroniclers put to a violent death, a 
 king who expired in his bed in peace. In this manner, Fordun and hi 
 followers slay Malcolm II. the descendant of Constantine, by the hands of 
 conspirators at Glammis Castle ; and they tell us, that the murderers were 
 drowned in the loch of Forfar, in attempting to escape over the ice. From 
 this story, some antiquaries have attempted to give an explanation of the 
 rude figures on two obelisks near Glammis ; and Gordon, with much 
 triumph, illustrates and confirms the whole transaction from these uncer- 
 tain sculptures : such is the power of fancy and prejudice. Malcolm died 
 a natural death, in a good old age ; " rapuit mors libera," says Chron. Eleg. 
 and Reg. St. And. " mortuus a GlamniU," when a king is slain it carefully 
 marks " interfectus." Pink. Inq. Part V. Chap. ii. Si Suppl. 2. Henry, 
 Book II. Chap. i. 3. Stat. Ace. Vol. IX. No. 30. her. Sept. Part II. 
 
 1 It is said, that after this battle, the Danes pursued the king to Perth 
 and besieged him in the castle, which was gallantly defended by Banquo, 
 till relieved by an army under the brave and fortunate Macbeth, who on 
 this occasion gained a signal vi&ory. To facilitate his enterprise, an arti- 
 fice
 
 CHAP. VIII.] WARS OF THE DANES. 8l 
 
 The last battel with the Danes in this country, was with 
 those who came with Knute, auxiliaries to his brother 
 Sueno, and arrived at Kilgorn : they were vanquished by 
 Bancho, who commanded the Scots army there, having 
 killed some of their nobles, and compelled the rest to fly to 
 their ships. It is said, that they obtained with a great sum 
 of money, that some of their nobles should be buried in 
 Inchcolumb, where there is a monument for them yet to 
 be seen : it is made like a coffin, and very fierce and grim 
 faces are done on both the ends of it : upon the middle 
 stone which supports it, there is the figure of a man hold- 
 
 M ing 
 
 ficc is reported to have been employed by the besieged, (the inebriating 
 of the Danes by medicated liquors, who accepted the fatal present in the 
 faith of a truce they had been solicited to grant,) not honourable to the 
 good king Duncan, or the valorous chief of Lochaber. This ugly story has 
 little probability in itself, and that little is destroyed by the silence of all 
 authentic records, and the earlier chronicles. Had such a base plot been 
 executed, the talc would have been greedily seised, and carefully recorded 
 to the disgrace of the Scots, by the hostile annalists of England and Scan- 
 dinavia. The first mention of the story, and of the whole series of Danish 
 invasions in this reign, (of which the first and the last are said to have 
 been in Fife,) is made by Boeth. the father of so many lies in the Scottish 
 history, at the distance of 500 years from the date of the supposed fa<3s. They 
 were unknown even to Fordun, his immediate predecessor in writing our 
 national story, who says, what was certainly true, that during the ivbole 
 rngn of Duncan, the kingdom enjoyed profound peace, both from foreign 
 and domestic enemies. The Reg. St. And. Chron. F.leg. and Annals of 
 Ulster, mention the actions, and the death of Duncan, but they speak of 
 no disturbances from the Danes. One military adventure only is attributed 
 to this king, and that is an attack on his neighbours, not a defence against 
 invaders. Simeon of Durham records, that in 1035 he besieged that city 
 without success. These victories and defeats, of Sueno and Canute or 
 Knute, the imputed baseness of Duncan, who notwithstanding the vile 
 story of Boeth. was certainly just and good, mild and gentle, and the 
 plendid exploits of Banquo and Macbeth, are therefore to be deemed fa- 
 brications of the fabulist of Aberdeen, made, to embellish the meagre chro- 
 nicle of u short and peaceful reign. As usual, he has been followed, by 
 
 succeeding
 
 S2 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I. 
 
 ing a spear in his hand. Buchanan says, " Danos, toties 
 male tentatis in Scotiam expeditionibus, jurejurando sanxisse, 
 ferunt, se nunquam hostiliter eo redituros '." They had 
 so often been defeated in this and other parts of the king- 
 dom, that it was then reputed to be their burial-place, so 
 many of their bodies ly there. 
 
 By these incursions of the Danes and the retiring of the 
 
 Fid* 
 
 sxiccerding writers; even the judicious Henry admits his talcs, though on this 
 occasion he expresses his doubt of the veracity of his author. Banquo and 
 Macbeth as they are commonly represented, are more properly characters 
 of poetry or romance, than of sober history. Had men of such high re- 
 nown fought with Sueno and Canute, the celebrated kings of Norway, and 
 of Denmark and England, many a bard of Britain, or scald of the north, 
 would have sung the praise of their alternate victories, and many a bio- 
 grapher would have told the noble achievements of his hero, and the base 
 deeds of his adversary. The elegance of Buchanan and the immortal verse 
 of Shakespeare, have given more than due fame to Banquo. But the praise 
 of Macbeth rests on solid ground, not on high deeds of arms while he was 
 a chieftain, but, when he became a king, in the equal administration of his 
 government, and the prosperity of his people ; for he was an able and be- 
 neficent prince. His reproach is, the crime by which he gained his ad- 
 vancement to the throne ; and this might be palliated by the circumstances 
 of the times, by the laws of succession to the crown, violated in the person 
 of Duncan MacCrinan, and might perhaps be farther excused, did we know 
 all the fa&s relating to that event. But our writers seem to have been 
 more anxious to flatter the descendants of his successful competitor for the 
 crown, under whom they flourished, than to discover or relate the truth. 
 These men, who in compliment to the reigning family, could call Macbeth 
 a tyrant, an imputation which the laws they record, and the general tenor 
 of his life, till attacked by his rival, belie, could also disguise or alter the 
 circumstances that led to his aggrandisement. The popular tragedy of 
 Macbeth, perhaps the most finished effort of Shakespeare's genius, founded 
 on the fables of Boeth. misleads us as to the fuels of this part of our national 
 history. Boeth. Book XII. Chap. ii. Buch. Book VII. Iter. Sept. Part II. 
 Henry, Book II. Chap. i. 5. Pink. Part V. Chap. ii. 
 
 1 " It is reported, that the Dane* having made, so many unlucky expe- 
 ditions into Scotland, bound themselves by a solemn oath never to return 
 as enemies thither any more." Buch. Chap. vii.
 
 CHAP. Vin.] WARS OF THE DANES. 83 
 
 Pifts to Lothian, Fife was very much depopulated for some 
 years, till the second year of Gregory, king of Scots, who, 
 as Boeth. says, lib. x. Hist. f. 209. " Inventamque Fifam 
 pene sine inhabitatore accitis aliunde incolis, earn Gregorius 
 replere jussit '." 
 
 What hath been related, gives account of the ancient 
 state of this country, and of the old inhabitants of it, tire 
 Picls ; and of the wars they had with the Romans ; as also 
 the wars the Danes made in this country. I come now -to 
 the second part, to treat more particularly of the t\vo firth* 
 which encompass this shire upon three sides, and to give 
 an account of the civil government ami the Christian reli- 
 gion, and of the religious houses in it, and the privileges 
 which belonged to them : as also of the schools of learning, 
 and the eminent men have been trained up in them, or 
 have been professors of the sciences and arts in them. 
 
 M2 
 
 1 " He replenished it with people from other places which were mb- 
 je&cd to him." SIB BALD. 
 
 END OF PART FIRST. 
 
 '.
 
 84 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIRE OF FJFE. 
 
 CHAP. L 
 
 Concerning the Firths of Forth and Toy. 
 
 J. HE Firths of Forth and Tay * , which wash the south 
 and the north sides of Fife, and, at their emboucheurs or 
 mouths by which they run into the German Ocean, are 
 parted from one another only by a small and narrow point 
 of land, make the country a peninsula. Therefore, before 
 the country be described, it is fit there be some account 
 given of these two firths. 
 
 The Firth of Forth, which lyeth betwixt the three Lo- 
 thians and Fife, and washeth Fife upon its north-side, is by 
 far the greater of the two, and the more pleasant and com- 
 modious for trade, if you view this firth upon both its 
 sides, viz. that towards the Lothians, and that towards 
 Fife ; these verses may be applied to it. 
 
 " Tot campos, sylvas, tot regia tedta, tot hortos 
 Artifici dextra excultos, tot vidimus arces, 
 Ut nunc Ausonio, Fortha, cum Tybride certet * ," 
 
 Tacitus 
 
 * Forth, Fiorda, Gothic, mouth of a river ; aw, Gothic, water ; te-avr, 
 Tay, the water, by eminence. 
 
 * " Such fields, such woods, such stately piles appear, 
 Such gardens grace the earth, such towr's the air ; 
 That Forth, with Roman Tiber may compare." SIBBAX.D.
 
 CHAP. I.] FIRTHS OF FORTH AND TAY. 8$ 
 
 Tacitus, in Agricola, cap. 23. calleth it Bodotria, and 
 foreigners call it Edinburgh-Firth. The river of Forth, 
 which emptieth it self into it, riseth from a spring at the 
 bottom of the Lomundian mountain ' , and runneth from 
 the west to the east, receiving upon either side several wa- 
 ters, by the way. The first bridge it hath upon it, is at 
 Cardross ; from thence it runs to the city of Stirling, where 
 it hath a stately bridge, of hewen stone, consisting of four 
 large arches, with an iron gate upon it, laid over it from 
 the south to the north ; the passage from the south to the 
 north parts of Scotland, guarded by the strong castle of 
 Stirling, near adjacent to it. To this bridge the tide flows 
 up, and it is navigable by ships of less burden to the har- 
 bour below it, and there it begins to turn it self with many 
 crooks, which are called the Crooks of Forth. There are 
 so many of these crooks and turnings, that tho' it be but 
 four miles distance by land from Stirling to the town of 
 Alloa, it is reckoned twenty four miles by water : the aspect 
 of these crooks is very beautiful to the eyes, the silver-co- 
 loured streams being much set out by the pleasant green- 
 ness of the banks : the turns of the river, serpent-like, and 
 the various colours of the ground it circleth, are most de- 
 lightful 
 
 Renown'd MaeanJer of the much fam'd Troy, 
 So full of windings, thus doth sport and toy ; 
 Whose water oft, in haste, down bends its course, 
 Oft turneth back, as seeking its first source. 
 
 From its source to St. Ebba's head, where it mixeth it 
 self with the German Ocean, its course will amount to 
 some seventy miles. Tis navigable (as was said) from the 
 sea up to Stirling-bridge : it may be divided in three parts -, 
 
 the 
 
 Ben Loimmd, in the parish of Buchanan, in Dumbartonshire ; bnt it 
 does not receive the name of Forth till it passes Abcrfoyle, in Perthshire
 
 86 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 the first from Stirling to Alloa, called the Crooks of Forth, 
 where it is bounded upon the north side by Clackmannan- 
 shire, and upon the south by the coast of Stirlingshire, 
 which lies alongst it. The second part runs from Alloa to 
 the Queen'sferrie, some twelve miles, having towards the 
 north, part of Clackmannanshire, part of Perthshire, and 
 part of Fifeshire, running upon that side by the towns of 
 Alloa, Clackmannan, Kincardin, Culross, Torriburn, Lime- 
 kills and the North-ferry: towards the south, it runs 
 alongst the coast of Stirlingshire and Linlithgowshire, by 
 the towns of Elphingstoun, Airth, Borrowstounness, 
 Grange-panns, Cuffabout, Blackness Castle, Abercorn, and 
 the South-ferry. The third part is that from the Ferries 
 to the isles of May and Bass, which is that properly called 
 Bodotria and Edinburgh-Firth ; and what was to the east 
 of this, was called by the writers of the middle age, the 
 Scots Sea : it runs by Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Bruntisland, 
 Kinghorn, Kirkaldy, Dysert, Weems, Ely and other coast 
 towns in Fife; and Leith, Musselburgh, Prestounpanns 
 and Seton, Aberlady and Dunbar upon the south side. 
 
 At the Queensferry x , where the land runs into the sea 
 upon either side, it is but two miles broad ; from thence it 
 inlargeth more and more 5 betwixt the Fifeness and Dum- 
 bar, it will be some twenty miles broad. 
 
 Beside a vast number of rivulets and burns, which run 
 into it upon each side, several considerable waters run into 
 it ; upon the south side Carron, Evon, Almond, Leith, Esk, 
 Tyne; and upon the north side Teith, Devan, Leven. 
 There are many promontories on either side, with many 
 large bays and convenient stations and roads for ships j and 
 
 there 
 
 1 Queensferry received this name, because it was the constant passage 
 f St. Margaret, Queen of Malcolm III. to and from her favourite residence 
 cf Dunfcrmline.
 
 CHAP. I.] FIRTHS OF FORTH AND TAT. 87 
 
 there are several isles scattered up and down it. Before I 
 gire an account of them, it is to be remarked, that in Forth 
 there are, besides the regular ebbs and flows, several irre- 
 gular motions, which the commons betwixt Alloa and Cul- 
 ross (who have most diligently observed them) call the 
 Lnkies of Forth ; by which name they express these odd 
 motions of the river, when it ebbs and flows : for when it 
 floweth sometime before it be full sea, it intermitteth and 
 ebbs for some considerable time, and after filleth till it be 
 full sea ; and on the contrary, when the sea is ebbing, be- 
 fore the low water, it intermits and fills for some consider- 
 able time, and after ebbs till it be low water : and this is 
 called a lakie. 
 
 The Reverend Mr. Alexander Wright, late minister of 
 the gospel at Alloway, who made a diligent inquiry about 
 these motions, in his letter to me, sent me the following 
 account of them. 
 
 " There are lakies in the river of Forth, which are in no 
 other river in Scotland. This lakie at low water, in a niepe 
 tide, beginneth at Queen'sferry, and goeth up in a stream, 
 tide as far as the sea filleth, which is to the croves of 
 Craigforth, and at niepe tides it goeth no further than the 
 house of Maner at low water ; at niepe tide, at high water, 
 it goeth as far as the sea goeth, and at the niepest tide at 
 the high water, it will be two foot higher than the tide at 
 full water. At the beginning of the stream, the lakie riseth 
 not so high as the main tide by a foot j at the dying of the 
 stream, when it is full water, it will be two foot higher 
 than the main tide ; at a niep tide and low water, it will 
 ebb two hours, and fill two hours j and at full water, ebb 
 an hour and fill an hour. It is observable, that at the full 
 moon there are no lakies, neither at full sea nor low water, 
 in the stream which is at that time ; but at the niep tides 
 which follow this stream, there are lakies according as it is 
 
 6Ct
 
 88 THE HISTORT Of FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 set down before : but at the stream, which is at the change 
 of the moon, which is call'd here the overloup, there are 
 lakies both at low water and at high water, as is said be- 
 fore, and also at the niep tides which follow it, both at 
 high and low water. It is very remarkable at the change 
 of the moon, when it is low water, the lakie will be two 
 hours, xvhich is the beginning of the tide for that space, 
 and then the tide stands, and will not ebb till the flood 
 come, and at full water it will ebb and flow a large hour. 
 All this is to be understood, when the weather is season- 
 able ; for in a storm there can be no particular account 
 given as to the lakies : at Queen'sferry, at niep tide and 
 stream tides at high water, there are no lakies, nor in a 
 stream at low water : neither can I learn, either from sea- 
 men or fishermen where they begin ; but it's probable they 
 begin betwixt Borrowstounness and the mouth of the water 
 of Carron. 
 
 " Sir, this account which I give you of the lakies, I have 
 some of it from my own observation, and the rest from 
 seamen and fishermen, which live upon the river of Forth, 
 and by their long experience affirm what I have written is 
 of a truth, and is attested by, 
 
 ALEXANDER WRIGHT, Minister at Alloa '." 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 * Of the Tay, which Sibbald passes over with barely mentioning, it may 
 be proper to remark, that it rises in Glendochart in Breadalbane, and after 
 passing through Loch Tay, and receiving many tributary streams, it meet? 
 the tide at Perth, where a most elegant bridge of ten arches was thrown 
 over it in 1766, at the expence of about L. 47,000 Sterling. To this bridge 
 it is navigable by vessels of 90 tons burden. After uniting with the Earn, it 
 first touches the county of Fife near Newburgh, where, when the tide is fiifl 
 it is a mile broad. From thence it washes the whole north side of Fife, and 
 falls into St. Andre\ys bay at the north-east extremity of the county. Its 
 whok length, from its source to die sea, is about 80 or 90 miles. It is the 
 largest river, and has the Longest course of any in Scotland. Below New- 
 burgh, there arc no towns on the Fife side of the firth, but several ferries, and 
 harbours for coasting vessels, which will be noticed in their proper places.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 89 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Concerning the Isles of the Firth of Forth. 
 
 IN the middle of the firth, where it is narrowest, betwixt 
 the two ferries, stands Inchgarvie, a small rock very steep, 
 except that it slops a little to the west, where it is acces- 
 sible. The sea about it is very deep : the ruins of a small 
 house and fort are yet to be seen upon it j the house hath 
 been vaulted, some guns placed upon it, and the rocks of 
 the South-ferry and the promontory of the North-ferry, 
 may command the passage of the firth at this part. There 
 is but little grass upon it. I found growing upon it the 
 malva arborea marina '. This isle hath long belonged to 
 the laird of Dundas, who hath many lands upon the south 
 coast 2 . 
 
 Some 
 
 For a description of the plants found in the islands, see the follow- 
 ing chapter, 4. 
 
 1 This isle is said to have been the place where Athelstane, after being 
 defeated by Hungus, was impaled. But Athelstonford in East Lothian 
 asserts its right also, to have been the scene of this barbarous transaction. 
 Without violating the authenticity of our history, we may admit both their 
 claims to have equal justice ; none of the early writers mention any war 
 that Hungus waged with an Athelstane, whether he was a son of a king 
 of Wessex, or a leader of the Danes ; for later writers do not agree about 
 his rank or character. The whole is probably a monkish fable, invented 
 to do honour to their bcnefa-ftor, to whom they make Andrew the apostle 
 appear in a vision, and display his cross in the heavens, to encourage the 
 Pids in the dreadful encounter that was about to take place with this 
 imaginary antagonist. Boeth. Book X. Chap. v. Buch. Book V. For For- 
 dun's account, see before, page 48. 
 
 On the I4th of May 1491, James IV. considering the damage done to 
 Kh subjects at sea by the English and Dutch, grants the isle of Inchgarvie 
 
 N t
 
 90 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. '[PART II. 
 
 Some four miles east, and two miles distant from Aber- 
 dour, upon the north side of this firth, lieth Inchcolm, 
 which gave the title of the Lord Inchcolm, to James Stuart 
 of Down, since conveyed by the marriage of the Earl of 
 Murray the regent's daughter, to the predecessors of the 
 present Earl of Murray. 
 
 It was called J&monz by some of our writers : it is about 
 half a mile in length, and very narrow, scarce one hundred 
 and fifty paces where broadest. The part of it which lieth 
 towards the east, is high and surrounded with steep rocks, 
 which'upon the north side (the earth being worn off with 
 the weather) stand piled upon other, like pillars ; this part 
 slopeth to the west, and hath good grass upon it. When 
 the sea is full, this part is separated from the rest of the 
 isle ; but when the tide is out, any may pass over the sands 
 to the rest of the island. This east part is fit for the pa- 
 sture of a few sheep. I found the verbascum ma] us, called 
 
 commonly 
 
 to John Dundas of Dundas, to build a fortalice thereon, with the constabu- 
 lary thereof, and the duties on ships passing. Dundas having neglected 
 the affair, James himself in 1513, ordered a strong tower to be built on the 
 island, with a battery on either side of the Forth, that he might have a se- 
 cure retreat for the navy, which he was then building and collecting at 
 Newhaven, in case of any sudden attack. In the regency of Albany, du- 
 ring the minority of James V. the tower of Inchganrie seems to have been 
 employed as a state prison, to which the celebrated secretary Panter was 
 committed by that weak, capricious and tyrannical governor. When Al- 
 bany went to France in 1517, he left Inchgarvie, together with Dnnbar 
 and Dumbarton, garrisoned with French soldiers, to the great oppression of 
 the nation, as they complained, because each soldier was allowed four poundt 
 Scottish money of monthly pay. The fortifications of this isle seem to have 
 been much neglected till Paul Jones appeared in the frith in 1779, when 
 they were repaired, and four twenty pounders mounted on them. And in 
 the late war, when an invasion was threatened from France and Holland, 
 some additions were made, and more guns placed on the battery ; the range 
 of which crowing that of the batteries on the shore, was judged sufficient to 
 protect the upper part of the frith from any hostile attempt. Pink. Hist. 
 of House of .Stuart, Vol. JI. Chap. x. xiii. Stat. Ace, Vol. X. No. 34.
 
 CHAP. I!.} ISLES OF THE FIKTH OF FORTH. pi 
 
 commonly the shepherds club, growing upon it. There 
 are several small rocks about this part of the isle, where 
 there is good fashing. 
 
 The west part of the isle is both longer and broader, the 
 grass is very good in it, and there are many conies in it : 
 the soil produceth many fine plants, especially on the side 
 which looketh to the north ; such as cochlearia or scurvy- 
 grass folio sinuoso, isatis sive glastum, gramen marinum 
 longius, gr. junceum, and gr. minus tenuissimum. In the 
 garden adjacent to the monastery, I found the female 
 pjeonie, bearing seed, common borage, and pellitorie, the 
 dwarf elder, the echium flore albo, solanum dictum bella 
 donna, and the malva pumila flore albo tribus lineis rubris 
 distinclo, a great many pigeon's and crowe's nests in the 
 ruins of the monastery, and in the rocks. Where the west 
 part riseth on each side to a top, there is a vein of a black 
 Stone, very hard and ponderous, and of a smooth surface, 
 which stretcheth from the south towards the north. 
 
 The abby hath been a stately building ; the steeple is en- 
 tire, and there are several neat vaults standing ; the chap- 
 ter is of a round figure, built of square stones, with seats 
 of stone round it : a part of the church and some cells of 
 the monks, stood, when I was last there. The abby 
 was founded (as the Extra6tu de chronicis Scotix show) 
 by king Alexander I. for monks of the order of St. 
 Augustine, about the year 1123, upon this occasion : the 
 king while he was passing this firth at the Qiieensferry, 
 was, by a violent wind, driven into this island, after great 
 hazard of being cast away. At that time there lived in 
 this isle an hermite, in a chnppel dedicated to St. Columb, 
 and had no sustenance but the milk of one cow, and what 
 he could purchase of shell-fish and other small sea fish ; by 
 him the king and these who were in company with him, 
 were maintained for three days, that the storm kept them 
 
 N 2 there;
 
 92 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. -f>ART II. 
 
 there ; upon which he made a vow to build something of 
 note there, and afterwards built the abbay for the chanons, 
 and doted it. The register of the abbay remarks, that 
 Alanus de Mortuo mari, miles, dominus de Abirdaur, de- 
 clit omnes et totas dimidietates terrarum villse sux de Abir- 
 daur, deo et monachis de insula SanH Columbi, pro se- 
 pultura sibi et posteris suis, in ecclesia diti monasterii '. 
 And accordingly the Earl of Murray possesseth the wester 
 half of Abirdour ; it had also other lands fewed. It is 
 reported, that Alain the founder being dead, the monks 
 carrying his corps in a coffin of lead, by barge, in the night 
 time, to be interred within their church, some wicked 
 monks did throw the samen in a great deep, betwixt the 
 land and the monastery, which to this day by the neigh- 
 bouring fishing-men and salters is called Mortimers Deep. 
 
 The 
 
 * " Sir Alan Mortimer, Lord of Aberdour, gave the half of the lands of 
 his town of Aberdour, to God and the monks of St. Colm's isle, for the 
 benefit of a burial-place to himself and his posterity, in the church of their 
 monastery." The wealth of this place in the time of Edward III. proved 
 so strong a temptation to his fleet, then lying in the Forth, as to suppress 
 all the horror of sacrilege and respect to the sanctity of the inhabitants. 
 The English landed, and spared not even the furniture more immediately 
 consecrated to divine worship. But due vengeance overtook them ; for in 
 a storm which instantly followed, many of them perished; those who 
 escaped, struck with the justice of the judgment, vowed to make ample 
 recompcnce to the injured saint. The tempest ceased ; and they made the 
 promised atonement. This wester part of Aberdour, together with the 
 lands and barony of Beath, are said to have been acquired from an Abbot 
 of Inchcolm, by James, afterwards Sir James Stuart, second son of Andrew 
 Lord Evandale, grandfather by his daughter to the admirable Crichton, 
 and by his second son, Lord Dounc, to Sir James Stuart, who married the 
 daughter of the regent Murray. Lord Doune was Commendator of the 
 monastery of Inchcolm at the Reformation. The whole of the above 
 mentioned property, together with the island itself, is still in the family 
 of Moray, with the title of St. Colme. The present Earl of Moray 
 attempted to cover the island with trees, which would have increased its 
 picturesque appearance, but the attempt did not succeed. Encyc. Brit, 
 Sut. Ace. Vol. IV. No. 45.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 93 
 
 The Mortimers had this lordship by the marriage of Anicea, 
 only daughter and sole heiress of Dominus Joannes de 
 Vetere ponte, or Vypont, anno 2. regni Davidis I. in anno 
 1 1 26. The fishers of Abirdour take many sorts of fishes 
 about this isle. 
 
 About half a mile to the south-east from Inchcolm, lieth 
 Micre Inch, flat and level upon the top, a quarter of a mile 
 or thereabout in diameter, of much the same length and 
 breadth, fit only for the pasture of a few sheep ; the malva 
 arborea marina groweth in plenty upon it '. 
 
 The naked rocks in the firth have some herbs growing 
 upon them ; for upon a rock to the west of Inchcolm (if I 
 remember well) some half a mile, called the Haystack, I 
 found the atriplex fcetida growing in abundance, and upon 
 this desart rock the sea-fowls lodge. 
 
 To the south-west from Inchcolm, about a mile from 
 the village of Cramond, lieth Cramond Inch, reputed to be 
 about a mile in length, and broad a quarter of a mile, 
 where it is broadest ; towards the south it is more plain 
 and level, in the middle it riseth to an hill ; part of it is 
 arable ground, and had a tenents house upon it ; at low- 
 water it is "accessible on foot. It is part of the estate of 
 Barntoun, adjacent to it upon the coast : it was long a part 
 of the possessions of the old family of the Logans of Les- 
 terig, and by their forfaulture came to be gifted to the Lord 
 Balmerinoch, by whom it was sold to Sir Robert Miln, 
 who built a stately house there, and large inclosures. It 
 belongeth now to the Earl of Ruglen, brother-german to 
 his Grace the Duke of Hamiltoun *. 
 
 Sometimes 
 
 1 Around this little island, commonly called Mickery, there are several 
 oyster scalps, which, although the oyster fishery in this part of the frith has 
 declined much of late years, are let to the Newhaven fishers at L. 24 a year. 
 
 1 This estate was purchased, some years ago, by Mr. Ramsay, banker 
 in Edinburgh.
 
 94 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART n. 
 
 Sometimes whales, both of the greater and lesser size, 
 are found stranded near this island. 
 
 There are several rocks in this firth betwixt Borrows- 
 tounness and Torrieburn, called the Dove-craigs ', and 
 some a little to the west of the North-ferry, which are 
 much frequented by selchs and several sorts of sea-fowls. 
 But I refer the account of the rocks and shoals in this firth 
 to the maps of it done, and to be done by John Adair the 
 hydrographer, who is to give the soundings also, and the 
 deepness of water in the ports and the havens, part of 
 which is done, and the rest is much desired by our own as 
 well as foreign seamen. 
 
 Some four miles or so, east from Inchcolm, towards the 
 middle of the firth, lieth Inchkeith : it hath its name from 
 the noble family of the Keiths, who are reported to have 
 been the first possessors of it. The chief of the family 
 was, anno 1010, by king Malcolm II. advanced to the he- 
 reditary dignity of Mareschal of Scotland, (which they yet 
 enjoy) for their eminent valour and good conduct in the 
 battle against the Danes at Barie, in Angus ; at which time 
 our chronicles tell us they got this isle, and the barony of 
 Keith Mareschal in East Lothian. From their heirs it went 
 to the Lyons, Lords of Glamis, now Earls of Strathmore, 
 who long enjoyed the barony of Kinghorn, in the coast of 
 Fife, over against this isle, which was given in patrimony 
 to the chief of that family, John Lyon, by king Robert II. 
 with his daughter in marriage. Sir John Scot of Scots- 
 tarvet, director of the chancery, purchased it from their 
 heirs, and designed a fishery there, and built some houses 
 for the fishers, who were cast away while they were going 
 to the church of Kinghorn ; upon which that design failed. 
 It was sold back again to the Earl of Kinghorn, whose 
 
 successor 
 
 1 Probably Dubh-trags, Gaelic, black rocks.
 
 CHAP. II/J ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 95 
 
 successor sold it, not long since, to the Earl of Cromerty, 
 justice-general, who hath it now. 
 
 This island, as was said, lieth near to the middle of the 
 firth, betwixt Fife and Mid-Lothian, but somewhat nearer 
 to Fife, stretching from the north-west to the south-east, 
 much over against the towns of Kinghorn and Kircaldy : 
 it will be about some 1500 paces in length, and where it 
 bendeth to the north, it will be some 500 paces broad, but 
 where it stretcheth to the south, it will not exceed 200 
 paces. The soil of it is fat and fertile in grass, which is 
 found to fatten soon the beasts which pasture in it ; and 
 upon that account the butchers ordinarily farm it. The 
 French, while they were here, during the regency of Mary 
 dowager of Lorraine, and relict of king James V. for its 
 fitness to fatten horses, call'd it, L'Isle des Chevaux, the 
 Isle of Horses. It riseth high towards the west, but to- 
 wards the east it is more plain and level ; there are in it 
 four springs of good, fresh and pure water. It appeareth 
 by the ridges, that part of it has been employed as arable 
 ground ; and there are in it places proper for harbours and 
 salt-pans : there are also stones in it fit for building. It is 
 fertile in plants, and produceth many wholesome herbs, 
 such as the dock, tota bona, sorrel, scabious, wild thime, 
 chickweed, papaver spumeum, several sorts of plantane, 
 the sea-pink, scurvy-grass, ground-ivy, dentelyon, sedum 
 minimum, the burdock, senecib or groundswallow, aparine, 
 the common dock, wild germander, echium, marrubium, 
 henbane and St. Mary's thistle, sufficient for the cure of 
 diseases incident to these who may dwell upon it. There 
 is found in it a quarry of black stone, amongst the rocks, 
 which environ it, which when cut, sends furth from it a 
 sulphurous smell : round about the isle, oysters are taken 
 in great plenty, especially in the winter-season, and sundry 
 other shell-fishes are gotten upon the rocks> and on the 
 
 shoar:
 
 p<5 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II, 
 
 shoar : in the summer great shoals of various fishes swim 
 about the isle, and vast numbers of young marrots are 
 catched in the sea. The larus cinereus " , niger, the common 
 sea-mall, and the least sort called th pitarne, the colym- 
 bus maximus or the great sea-loon, described and figured 
 in the Scotia Illustrata, (it was shot upon a rock near to 
 this isle) and the sea-cormorants, both the bigger and lesser 
 sort, frequent its rocks. There are many conies in the isle, 
 and some rats from the ships have much increased. Upon 
 a rock at the south-east end of the isle, hollow upon the 
 top in several places, the sea-water collected there, in the 
 summer-time, by the heat of the sun, is concocled to good 
 white salt; this was told to us by the -master of the boat, 
 who carried in Dotor Balfour and me to the isle, who said 
 he had several times gathered some quantity of that salt 
 from that rock. 
 
 The isle hath four creeks and places for small vessels to 
 land at, towards the four cardinal points of the wind ; but 
 ships of burden cannot come nigh to it, because of the 
 many rocks upon it, very near to it : upon ' the south-side 
 the rocks are high upon the isle, and make a continued 
 precipice ; so it is by nature very strong, the roads which 
 lead to the height of the isle are very narrow, and winding, 
 and scarce allow three men to walk abreast. 
 
 During the war betwixt the Queen mother's party, and 
 the Lords of the Congregation, (as they were then call'd) 
 assisted by some forces sent to them by queen Elizabeth of 
 England ; the possession of this isle was much contested, 
 and occasioned the. effusion of blood. Monsieur Begue, in 
 his history of the Scots war then, says, the English came 
 before it with 29 men of war, and landed some forces in 
 this isle, and set engineers and pioneers at work to fortify 
 
 For the animal* mentioned, sec the following chapter.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 97- 
 
 it, and four companies of English infantry, and one of Ita- 
 lians, were left in it. The French, not long after, did re- 
 gain it, and to prevent any attempt of the English upon it 
 afterwards, the queen by order of her daughter, and her 
 husband Francis the Dauphin of France, caused build the 
 fortification, the ruins of which are yet to be seen. 
 
 The fort was placed in the highest place of the isle, to- 
 wards the middle of it ; it consisted of some bastions en- 
 compassed with a strong wall, most of it hewen stone, the 
 height of six ells and an half, that is nineteen foot and an 
 half, and about some nine foot thick ; the diameter of 
 the court was about an hundred foot ; the three chief bas- 
 tions upon the compass of the wall, were so placed, that 
 the guns planted upon the fond of them, could keep off 
 besiegers from approaching near to the island. Some twenty 
 paces from the ground of the wall, the fort had a fine 
 spring of fresh water, and within the wall the earth was 
 raised near level to the height of the wall. The arms of 
 the queen are seen, graven on stone in the wall, with this 
 motto, " Sa vertue me attire," " Her vertue attra&eth 
 me." When the French were oblig'd to withdraw from 
 this country, that part of the wall, which was towards the 
 north, was by aft of Parliament thrown down, and part of 
 the rest is ruined by the injury of the weather, and the 
 house and lodgings upon the court, have suffered the same 
 fate . 
 
 The 
 
 1 That acute prince and lover of the sciences, James IV. made this isle 
 the scene of a curious experiment. To make some discovery on the origin of 
 language, he sent two infants, under the charge of a dumb woman, to reside 
 here ; and, that there might be no occasion for any intercourse with others, 
 caused them to be well provided with all the necessaries which their si- 
 tuation might require, till the children should arrive at mature age. The 
 result of the experiment is not recorded. In that tumultous age, it would 
 be but little regarded ; and the wars in the end of this reign, and the con- 
 
 O fusions
 
 <?8 THE HISTORT OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 The next isle to this is the May, which lieth in the mouth 
 of the firth, some seven miles south from Pittemveem, and 
 is from south to north, near a mile in length, and about 
 three quarters of a mile in breadth. The word Mala seem- 
 eth to have some affinity with M<eot<e y die name of some 
 
 triber 
 
 fusion* that followed the death of the king, would cause it to be almost 
 entirely forgotten. Lindsay speaks only of a vague report remaining in 
 his time ; " Some say they spake good Hebrew, but as to my self, I know 
 not but by the author's report.' y That the self-taught speech would be 
 original, there can be little doubt. Perhaps, however, it would not be 
 superior, to the uncouth sounds of these unfortunate beings who have been 
 lost in woods in their infancy. Pitscottie's Hist. p. 190. zd edit. Pinfc. 
 
 Hist. Stuarts, Vol. II. Book X. In the same reign, this isle became a 
 
 hospital for those afflicted with that dreadful scourge of humanity which 
 appeared in Europe soon after the discovery of the new world. The in- 
 fection of which, had probably been brought to Scotland, by the followers 
 of Perkin Warbeck, who came to supplicate James for assistance in 1496, 
 with a numerous train of foreigners, from the dissolute courts of France 
 and Burgundy. The victims of this cruel disease, which appeared in 1497, 
 were sent to Inchkeith, not so much for their own cure, as to prevent the 
 spreading of the malady, which was then supposed to be contagious. The 
 following is the order of the Privy Council to the Magistrates of Edin- 
 burgh : " That all manner of persons, being within, the freedom of this- 
 burgh, who are infected of the said contagious plague called the Grant/gore, de- 
 void, rid, and pass furth of this town, and compeer upon the sands of Leith 
 at 10 hours before noon, and there shall have and find boats ready in the 
 harbour, ordered to- them by the officers of this burgh, readily furnished 
 with victuals, to have them to the inch, (island of Inchkeith) and there to 
 remain till God provide for their health. And that all other persons who 
 take upon them to heal the said contagious- infirmity, and take the care 
 thereof, that they devoid and pass with them, so that none of those persons 
 who take the cure upon them, use the same cure within this burgh." The 
 penalty of contravention, either by the diseased or their physicians, was 
 burning on the cheek. It is called Grandgore, (la grantgore,) parce qu'elle 
 se prenoit aux plus gorgias." Arnot's Edinburgh, p. 260. Pink. Book X. 
 
 Encyc. Brit. This isle remains in the same uncultivated state that 
 
 it was found by Dr. Johnson in 1773. When the Russian fleet lay in 
 Ldith road, during the late war, a temporary hospital was erected here 
 for tbeir numerous sick, of whom many died, and were buried J'Q the isle.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 99 
 
 tribes of the Fi&s, who 'at the Romans their first coming 
 to die north parts of Britain, lived besouth the Scots wall, 
 which run betwixt the Firths of Forth and Clyde, as Dion, 
 in the life of Severus, telleth us ' ; and it is very probable, 
 that a colony of these people first took possession of it, and 
 gave it the name Mala : there is the more reason to give 
 credit to this conjecture, that, in Caithness one of the old 
 possessions of the Pitts, there is a gentleman of the name 
 of Sinclair, whose house upon the coast yet bears the name 
 of May, which gives the title of the Laird of May to him. 
 
 The west side of this isle is inaccessible, because of its 
 high and steep rocks, but towards the east it is low and 
 level. There were in ancient times four places where boats 
 arrived, called Tarpithol, Altarstans, Pilgrims-haven, and 
 Kirk-haven. The best station and road for ships is not far 
 from the east side, while the west wind bloweth violently, 
 the isle shelters them. 
 
 The isle is well provided with fountains of sweet water, 
 and a pool or small lake : in the isle there is no corn<but 
 good grass for pasture of an hundred sheep, and some 
 twenty cows *. 
 
 There was a priory here for some monks of the order of 
 
 O 2 St. 
 
 * The Maeatae were a British or Celtic people, and it was from their 
 residence betwixt the walls of Hadrian and Antoninus, that they are sup- 
 posed to have received this name, which in Celtic means Mid-landers. It 
 i. not likely that they would possess, or give their name to an isle at sucli 
 a distance from their territories. The name is probably Gothic, as it oc- 
 curs also in Caithness, where all the names are derived from that language, 
 and is supposed to refer to the early and luxuriant verdure of the place. 
 
 1 The pasture, including the privilege of the rabbit warren, is at present 
 let for JL. 26 per ann. As the breed of sheep is now larger, it maintains 
 only about four score, along with two horses- employed in drawing coal: 
 from the landing-place to the lighthouse, and a cow belonging to the 
 keeper. The pasture is noted both for meliorating the wool of the 
 and producing mutton of a superior flavour.
 
 IOO THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 St. Augustine : it was a cell belonging to St. Andrews, and 
 was much repaired to, for the great reputation St. Adrian's 
 chappel had, for that he was buried there, being murthered 
 by the Danes before they attacked Fife ' ; and is said to 
 have cured many barren women, who in these superstitious 
 times went there in pilgrimage. There is a charter of 
 some lands granted to Andrew Wood of Largo, for that 
 service, (in the reign of king James IV.) that he being skil- 
 ful in pyloting, should be ready upon the king's call, to 
 pilot and convoy the king and queen, in a visit to St. 
 Adrian's chappel. 
 
 The isle did formerly belong to the Balfours of Mon- 
 quhannie, and after them to Allan Lomund, (Lament) who 
 sold it to the laird of Barns's uncle, for the behoof of his 
 pupil, and so it became the laird of Barns's possession, who 
 hath there a convenient house with accommodations for a 
 family z . There is a light-house upon the isle, which was 
 eredted by Alexander Cuninghame laird of Barns, by per- 
 mission of king Charles I. : the king gave infeftment of the 
 isle to John Cuninghame, with the liberty to build a light- 
 house, to light the ships which sailed near it in the night- 
 time : he built there a tower fourty foot high ' , vaulted to 
 the top, and covered with flag-stones, whereon all the year 
 over, there burns in the night-time a fire of coals, for a 
 
 light ; 
 
 Adrian was killed about 871. There is a stone coffin in the church- 
 yard of Anstruther Wester, which is said to have contained the ashes of the 
 saint. The priory, though it originally belonged to St. Andrews, was af- 
 terwards disjoined from it, and annexed to Pittenweem. 
 
 1 This isle, along with the rest of the estate of Westbarns, was pur- 
 chased about a hundred years ago by the family of Scotstarvet, and belongs 
 now to the Marquis of Titchfield, by his marriage with the heiress, the 
 oldest daughter of the late Major General John Scot of Balcomic. 
 
 3 The unfortunate architect of the tower was drowned on his return 
 from the isle, in a storm supposed to have been raised by some still more 
 unhappy old women, who were in consequence burnt as witches.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 
 
 light '; for which the masters of ships are obliged to pay 
 for each tun two shillings *. This showeth light to all the 
 ships coming out of the Firths of Forth and Tay, and to all 
 places betwixt St. Ebb's-head and Redcastle near Montrose. 
 The isle was some time a seat of the priory of Pittemveem, 
 and paid a yearly rent to it. 
 
 There is good fishing about this isle all the year over, 
 because many fish haunt about it, many seals are slain 
 upon the east side of it 3 ; and many fowls frequent the 
 
 rocks 
 
 1 The light is still made by a fire of coals, of which about 380 tons 
 arc annually consumed. The coals employed are from the Wemyss, and 
 are preferred on accourt of their hardness and durability, and clearness of 
 their light. It has frequently been in contemplation to light the isle by 
 reflectors, and the premises have been inspected by men of skill with that 
 view. This alteration, whatever other advantages it might have, would 
 at least prevent such melancholy accidents as happened in 1791, when the 
 keeper of the light, his wife and five children, were suffocated by a sul- 
 phureous steam, arising from the coal-ashes accumulated round the light- 
 bouse. Three men are employed in keeping the light, two of whom 
 
 arc on the watch during the night. 
 
 * That is twopence Sterling. The duty paid by Scottish ships is three 
 halfpence per ton, and by foreign, including English vessels, threepence. 
 Before 1790, this duty was let at L.aSo Sterling per annum, at that time 
 it rose to L. 960 ; and in 1800, it was let at L. 1500, a striking proof of 
 the increase of the trade of this country. The duty is collected by some 
 of the officers at the different customhouses, who are paid for their trouble 
 by the tacksman. As the expences attending the light, and the collection 
 of the duty, are very considerable, it will not probably be going too far t< 
 estimate the whole produce of the tax at double the rent, consequently thi* 
 tax must be paid by about 450,000 tons of shipping annually. As the fa9 
 relative to the present state of the island differ in some particulars from the 
 statements in the Statistical Account, it is proper to mention, that they 
 have been obligingly communicated by Andrew Whyte, Esq. of Crail, 
 factor to the Marquis of T itcl.h'cld. 
 
 ' There were formerly about fifteen fishermen*' families on the isle, but 
 at present there are no inhabitants, except the keeper of the light ahd his 
 two servants : of course the fishing about its shores is much neglected. 
 
 The
 
 102 THE HISTORY OP FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 rocks of it, the names the people gave to them, are skarts, 
 dunturs, gulls, scouts, kittiewakes , the last is so named 
 from its cry, it is of the bigness of an ordinary pigeon, 
 some hold it to be as savoury and as good meat as a par- 
 tridge is. The scout is less than an ordinary duck, and of 
 its colour ; the flesh of it is hard j it has eggs bigger than 
 these of geese, the shells are of a green colour, with some 
 black spots scattered here and there upon them., 
 
 The learn'd Mr. Charles Geddie made these verses upon 
 the light of the tower of the May, the numeral letters show 
 the year of God in which the tower was founded. 
 
 Flamina ne noceant, neu flumina, lumina Mala 
 PrabVIt, et MeDIIs InsVLa LVXit aqVIs. 
 MDLLXVVVVIIIII'. 
 
 In the east part of the firth, opposite to the isle of May, 
 lieth the island of Bass, at the distance of two miles at sea, 
 from the castle of Tantallon, up'on the coast of East Lo- 
 thian. 
 
 The want of these families is a considerable loss to the general interests of 
 the fishery in the frith ; for, placed as centinels at its entrance, they were 
 enabled to descry and follow every shoal of herrings or other fish that 
 came in from the ocean. 
 
 1 This jingling conceit, which merely expresses that the lighthouse was 
 ere&ed to prevent shipwrecks, is a proper specimen of those laboured trifles 
 which have too often been honoured with the name of learning. It re- 
 quires some skill in explaining riddles, to arrange the letters so as to make 
 out the date 1635. The picturesque beauty of the following verses of a 
 modern poet on the same subject, is a sufficient apology for their insertion. 
 
 To eastward, far as eye can reach, along 
 
 The azure surface of the frith, observe 
 
 Prolific May, whose everburning lamp 
 
 Through dangerous sea*, between approaching coastSi 
 
 'Mid hidden scares, unseen, and broken rocks, 
 
 In pitch of night, dire&s the doubtful path 
 
 Of fearless mariner." 
 
 WALLACE'S Prospect from Hills in Fife, p. 131.
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 103 
 
 thian. It was of old the possession of the chief of the 
 name of Laucler, who from it took the title of Laird of 
 Bass, and had great possessions upon either side of the 
 firth l ; it went from Lauder to Hepburn of Waughtoun, 
 and Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall's son got it by the 
 marriage of the heiress. The said Sir Andrew, sold it to 
 king Charles II. so it belongeth to the crown a : it is reckoned 
 to be some eight miles distant from the island of May by 
 sea. 
 
 The French, when they were in this country, called it 
 the Isle of Geese, from the number of these fowls which 
 haunt it. It is an impregnable rock, of a small extent and 
 oval figure, cut out by the hand of nature j k has only an 
 
 avenue 
 
 The first of this eminent family was one of the followers of Malcolm 
 Kenmore, whom many foreigners of distinction attended in his successful 
 attempt on the Scottish crown, in hopes to share the spoil of a conquered 
 kingdom. As Malcolm owed much to their exertions, he requited their 
 services by grants of land, from which the new occupiers took their sir- 
 names. The lands of Lauder were the reward of one of those enterprising 
 adventurers : the property and the interest of his family rapidly increased. 
 In 1170, there were many of this name distinguished for their military 
 prowess, in the wars of William the Lion ; and it was one of the greatest 
 families of the kingdom when it acquired the impregnable strong-hold of 
 the Bass from Alexander II. in 1230. The isle was granted by William 
 III. to President Dalrymple, and is still possessed by his family. 
 
 * As Sibbald drew up .this history by command of Charles II. he doei 
 not choose to tell for what purpose that tyrannical prince bought the Bass, 
 or that the fort was employed by. him and his brother James VII. as a state 
 prison, where many of the leaders of the Presbyterians, and the friends of 
 liberty, were confined, and treated with extreme severity by orders of a 
 most oppressive government. After the Revolution, a desperate banditti 
 got possession of it, and by means of a large boat, which they hoisted up 
 and down the rock at pleasure, committed several robberies on shore, and 
 took a number of vessels at sea. They held it the last of any place in 
 Scotland for James; but having at length lost their boat, and not receiving 
 their usual supply of provisions from France, they were obligrd to sur- 
 render. Stat. Ace. Vol. V. No. 31.
 
 104 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 r.venue which leadeth to it, and that is towards the build- 
 ing, but so very difficult and uneasy, that nothing can ap- 
 proach it but one little boat at a time : the rock to be 
 mounted is so uneven, that till one reach the wall, he can- 
 not have sure footing in any one place ; so these that enter 
 it, must climb up by the help of a rope thrown down for 
 that purpose ; and when they have got to the foot of the 
 wall, they must be mounted by an engine or by strength of 
 hands. 
 
 The isle is wot above a mile in compass ; towards the 
 north it is a steep rock, which slopeth towards the south) 
 it is somewhat level where the house stands, frae the house 
 it mounts in a cone to the top, where the flag stood ; the 
 chappel stands not far from the top, the hill is grassy, and 
 can maintain some few sheep, and hath a fountain of fresh 
 water in it. The sea hath in some places quite pierced 
 through the rock, and there, in the vast vaults, great num- 
 bers of fowls are lodged, and in the months of May, June, 
 July and August, the whole superfice of the rock is covered 
 with the nests, eggs or young ones of the fowls, and the 
 huge number of the fowls which fly about it, bbscure the 
 air like clouds -, they make a great noise with their cries. 
 Some years ago the fortification and the houses were broke 
 down by the government's order. Besides some ordinary 
 herbs, the malva arborea marina, and the beta marina * 
 grow here. 
 
 The 
 
 1 It is probably to this plant, the sea beet, a wholesome culinary vege- 
 table, that Bocth. alludes when he says, " In this crag grows ane rycht 
 delicius herbe, and quhen it is transportit or plantit, in ony othir part, it 
 is of littel sapor or gust." Boeth. struck with the view of this isle, " su- 
 blime and vast," describes it with considerable animation and truth. " It is 
 a wounderful crag rysand within the see, with sa narro and strait hals, 
 that na schip nor bait may arrive bot allanarlie at ane part of it. It is un- 
 wytmafjill be ingync of men. Every thing that is in the crag is full of 
 
 admiratioun
 
 CHAP. II.] ISLES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. IO$ 
 
 The fowls which most frequent the Bass, are the anseres 
 bassani or soland-geese, turtur maritimus, the sea-turtle, 
 the scout, the scarts, and several sorts of sea-malls. 
 
 Some small distance from the Bass, towards the west, a 
 short way off the coast, ly some small isles, called Craig- 
 kith, Lam, Fidra, Ibris, they are rocky, except in the top, 
 where there is some grass. The soland geese attempts of- 
 ten to nestle in them, but these who dwell in the Bass hin- 
 der them, and destroy their eggs '. 
 
 I 
 
 admiratioun and wounder." But not satisfied with the real curiosities of 
 this stupenduous isle, he, according to the just character of him, given by 
 I. eland, 
 
 (" He&oris historic! tot, quot mendacia scripsit 
 
 Si vis ut numerem lector amice tibi 
 
 Me jubeas etiam fludus numerare marines, 
 
 Et liquid! Stellas connumerare poll.") 
 
 adds many marvellous prodigies from his own invention, or from some 
 idle traditions. Among them is the following : " In this crag wes sum- 
 tyme ane stane, full of ene and holis like ane waiter spounge, holkit in 
 the myddis, of sik nature, that all salt watter that is waschin thairwith 
 bccumis incontinent fresche and delicius to the mouth." It is astonishing 
 that some curious antiquary who reveres Boeth. as a father of our history, 
 has not attempted to recover this valuable stone from the ruins of Fast- 
 castle in Berwickshire, where Hector says he heard that it remained in his 
 time. The Navy Board would not be ungrateful for so valuable a present. 
 Another of his marvels has the merit of being a well executed plant fraud. 
 " Baldred was ane excellent dodtour, and deceissit in the Bass. The pa- 
 rochinaris of Auldham, Tynningham, and Prestoun, contendit quhilk of 
 them thre suld have this body to decore thair kirk. Finalie, thay war 
 content to superseid yair debait quhil the nixt morow, to be consultit be 
 the bischop. On the morow, thay fand be mirakill of God, thre beirs 
 with thre bodyis na thyng discrepant fra otheris in quantite, coullour, nor 
 arraymcnt. Than be command of the bischop, ilk parochin tuke ace of 
 yir bodyis to thair kirk. And sa the body of this haly man lyis be mira- 
 kill in all the thre kirks." Bellend. Boeth. Cosmographie, Chap. ix. and 
 Hist, buke IX. Chap. xvii. 
 
 1 After the Frith of Tay touches the county of Fife, there is but one 
 isle in it, Mugdrum Inch. This isle, which lies a little abort the harbour 
 
 P
 
 lot) THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 I come now to give a full accdlmt of the animals which 
 haunt this firth. 
 
 The mouths and embouclieurs of Forth and Tay are se- 
 parated only by a small angle and corner of land, and the 
 German sea runs far up in each of them , so it is very like 
 all these animals which frequent that part of the German 
 sea, are found in both of them : so when I give an account 
 of the animals in the Firth of Forth, I give an account of 
 these in the Firth of Tay also, since few or none are found 
 in Tay which are not found in the Firth of Forth. 
 
 These animals found in these firths may be all of them 
 called aquatick animals ; for albeit some of them arc 
 brought furth at land, yet they live most of their time in 
 the water, and have their food and sustenance therein. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Concerning the Animals or living Creatures in these two Firths. 
 
 JL HESE animals which live in the waters, because of 
 their different natures, fall under several divisions. The 
 general division is, that they are fowls or inserts, quadru- 
 peds or fishes ; and of these some are amphibious, which 
 live both upon the earth and the water, such as some qua- 
 drupeds and the aquatick fowls, others of them are only 
 aquatick, and of these some are sanguineous, and others 
 are exsangtrous. 
 
 I 
 
 of Newburgh, is one English mile in length, and about aoo yards in 
 breadth. It measures 31 acres, of which i are embanked and under cul- 
 tivation, and produce luxuriant crops. The remainder is esteemed valu- 
 able as a salt-marsh, for pasture. This isle is low, and is sometimes over- 
 flowed. It belongs to David Balfour Hay, Esquire of Leys, and rent* 
 about L. 70 Sterling.
 
 CHAP. III.] AQUATIC BIRDS. 1 07 
 
 I shall first give account of the fowls which haunt this 
 firth, and lodge in the rocks of the isles and of the coast, 
 and amongst these are not only all these which are found 
 upon the coast of Northumberland, but also some which 
 come from the West isles, even from Hirta. 
 
 The most remarkable are these following '. 
 Ilrcmatopus Bellonii, the Sea-piot *. 
 Corvus aquaticus major, the Cormorant : our people call 
 it a Skart } . 
 
 aquaticus minor, sive Graculus palmipes, the 
 
 Shag *. 
 
 Colymbus maximus stellatus nostras, mergus maximus 
 farensis, sive ar&icus Clusii, the greatest Diver 'or Loon 5 . 
 
 P 2 Cataracles, 
 
 1 Where Sibbald has not described the animals, a short account of them 
 it given in the notes, with the Linnean and English names from Pennant. 
 
 1 Hxmatopu* ostralegus, Pied Oyster-catcher. The head, neck, and 
 coverts of the wings, are black, wings dusky, back, breast and belly, white, 
 lays four pale-brown eggs on the bare ground, length i foot 7 inches, the 
 bill is compressed sideways, to fit it for opening oysters, or cutting limpets 
 from the rocks to which they adhere. 
 
 J Pelecanus carbo, Corvorant. The head, which is adorned with a 
 small crest, neck, breast, and belly are black, the coverts of the wings, and 
 back, of a deep green, edged with black and glossed with blue, length 
 3 feet 4 inches, breadth 4 feet a inches. This bird is very voracious, and 
 has the rankest smell of any bird even when alive. It haunts the highest 
 cliffs, where it makes its nest of sticks, tang and grass ; lays six ot seven white 
 eggs. Some of this species have been taught to fish for their masters; and 
 the Chinese make great use of this, or a similar kind, in fishing for the 
 market. 
 
 * Pclccanus graculus. The upper part of the body is green, the lower 
 dusky, has the same habit* with the foregoing, length a fee: 3 inches, 
 breadth 3 feet 6 inches. 
 
 s Colymbus glacialis, Northern Diver. The head and neck are of a 
 deep black, glossed with purple, under side of the body, white, back, co- 
 verts of the wings black, marked with white spots, length 3 feet 5 inches, 
 breadth 4 feet 3 inches. This bird lives chiefly at sea. It is unknown if 
 it breeds here, as it doct in the more northern part* of Europe.
 
 IO8 THfi HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Catara&es, some call it the Sea-eagle * . 
 Larus maximus ex albo et nigro, seu caeruleo nigricante 
 varius, the great black and white Gull *. 
 
 . cinereus maximus, the Herring-gull J . 
 
 cinereus minor, the common Sea-mew of the lesser 
 
 sort 4 . 
 
 major albus, the common Sea-mew, bigger as the 
 
 former f . 
 
 Hirundo marina, sterna Turueri : our people call it the 
 Pitlarne 6 . 
 
 Turtur 
 
 1 Larus ca$ara&es, Skua or Brown Gull. The colour is chiefly brown, 
 mixed with some white feathers, length a feet, breadth 4 feet 6 inches. 
 The bill is much hooked and very sharp, and the upper mandible is co- 
 vered more than half way with a black skin, as in the hawk kind. In iti 
 manners, too, it is similar to this tribe; for, what is wonderful in a web- 
 footed bird, its prey is not only fish, but all the lesser sort of water-fowl. 
 And in the Feroe Isles it is said to devour even poultry and young lambs. 
 
 z Larus marinus, Black-backed Gull. The head, neck, under side, tail, 
 and lower part of the back, are white, the upper part of the back and 
 wings black, length 2 feet 5 inches, breadth 5 feet 9 inches, feeds not only 
 on fish, but carrion, egg dusky olive, black at the greater end. 
 
 3 Larus fuscus. The head, neck and tail are white, back and coverts 
 of the wings ash-coloured, length i foot 11 inches, breadth 4 feet 4 inches. 
 It makes its nest of dead grass, on rocks hanging over the sea, and lays 
 three eggs of a dirty white, spotted with black. It is a great devourer of 
 fibh, especially of that kind from which it receives its name. 
 
 4 Larus ridibundus, Black-headed Gull, Pewit. The head and throat arc 
 black, neck, under side and tail white, back and wings ash-coloured, 
 length I foot 3 inches, breadth 3 feet i inch. It makes its nest on the 
 ground with rushes ; its note is like a hoarse laugh. The young of this 
 species were formerly esteemed for food ; in England, numbers were fatted 
 for the table ; and in the old lists of viands at noblemens feasts, they are 
 always found. 
 
 * Larus canus, Common Gull. The head, neck, tail, and whole under 
 side are pure white, the back and coverts of the wings a pale grey, length 
 i foot 6 inches, breadth 3 feet. This is the most numerous of the gulls. 
 
 Sterna hirundo, Great Tern, Sea Swallow. The crown and hind part 
 
 of
 
 CHAP. III.] AQUATIC BIRDS. 
 
 Turtur inaritimus insulx Bass, Turtur groenlandicus Ray. 
 It is so called from the resemblance it hath to the land- 
 turtle ; this is palraipes, that's luckenfooted, it is less than 
 the Anas Clusii arctica, yet is like to it, and wants one of 
 the hinder claws, the beak is longer, but not pressed and 
 flat in the sides ; the beak is pointed, and bowed at the end 
 a little, and prominent, the feet are red, it hath a large 
 white spot in the upper part of its wing, and the wings 
 below are white, the rest of its body is black, like to the 
 fulic;'. or coot, perhaps it is the same which is by some 
 called the puffinet ; 'tis of the bigness of a pigeon, it is said 
 to be white in the winter, its beak is narrow and sharp, as 
 was said before, it nestles in the hollow of the rocks, and 
 is said to Jay two eggs ' . 
 
 Anser solanus, the Solan-goose, is of a lesser size than 
 the house goose, and at land appears to be of a dull aspecl, 
 some say it cannot flee when it is out of sight of the sea, 
 it is much fatter than the domestick goose. It is observed 
 they come in May to the Bass, some come, before the rest, 
 some few days, and thereafter the rest come ; at their first 
 coming great silence is observed in the isle, by those who 
 stay upon it , but after they have fixed their seats, no noise 
 doth disturb them": it is observed of them, that they lay 
 their egg upon the rock, and place it with such art, that if 
 it be removed, it cannot be fix'd upon the rock again j they 
 
 put 
 
 of the head are black, throat and under side of the body white, upper part 
 and coverts of the wings a pale grey, the exterior feathers of the tail on 
 each side are two inches longer than the rest, which gives it something of 
 the appearance of a swallow in flying. This is a bird of passage, which 
 leaves us in the winter. It builds in small tufts and rushes, aud lays three 
 or four olive-coloured eggs. 
 
 1 Colymbus grylle, Black Guillemot, Greenland Dove. This bird keeps 
 always at sea, except at breeding time. There it a variety frequently 
 met with, spotted with black and white..
 
 IIO THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 put the sole of their foot upon it, and foment it so, till the 
 young one be hatcht, and it is reported they lay one egg 
 only, and that but once a year. While young they are of 
 the colour of ashes, but when grown up they are white ; 
 they have a long neck and sharp beak, the length of a man's 
 mid-finger ; the collar-bone, called the bril, is so attached 
 to the breast-bone, that it is with much difficulty it can be 
 separated from it ; nature hath so provided, that it should 
 not break when it comes down vrith great force upon the 
 fish they take, which are for the most part herrings, and 
 the flesh of the fowl does much taste of them. The fish- 
 ers sometimes take a smooth piece of soft timber, which 
 they colour white, and fix some herrings upon it, and tye 
 the piece of timber to the stern of their boat, and the goose 
 comes- down with that force upon it, that he fixes his beak 
 in it, and is caught so, for they stick and cannot pull out 
 their beak, it is so fix'd. The time this fowl is taken, is 
 in the latter end of July and the beginning of August. 
 The climbers being let down by ropes upon the rocks, take 
 the young ones and throw them into the boats, which wait 
 for them below, where the climbers are. The learn'd Doc- 
 tor Harvy hath in his book of the generation of animals 
 elegantly described this rock, and the 'vast multitude of 
 these fowls, which he confirmeth from this, that the rock 
 is all plaistered over with a white bruckle crust, of the 
 same colour, consistence and nature with the shell of an 
 egg, which crust is from the liquid excrement of the fowl, 
 that it puts forth with its excrement, and is the grosser part 
 of the urine, and nothing else. The fowls are sold at 
 Edinburgh for two shillings Sterling a piece, and sometimes 
 for more. The old fowls flee away, and return not till the 
 next year at that season : their feathers give a good price, 
 and are made use of for stuffing palliasses of beds. They 
 are mis-informed, who write that these fowls are found 
 
 nowhere
 
 CHAP. Ill/] AQUATIC BIRDS. I IT 
 
 nowhere else in Scotland, but in the Bass ; for they are 
 found in several of the west isles, particularly in the isle 
 Ailsa, in the Firth of Clyde, and in the desart isles, adja- 
 cent to Hirta, called St. Kilda's isle, and in a desart isle 
 belonging to Orkney, and divers others '. It is probable 
 that some of the young colonies from these isles, even from 
 St. Kilda, come with other sea-fowls to the Bass ; for the 
 long-wing'd fowls may well come thither, when one of the 
 smallest kind, of the bigness of a linnet, is observed to come 
 to this firth, viz. The 
 
 Assilag : which Mr. Martin describeth, with a black bill, 
 wide nostrils at the upper part, crooked at the point like 
 the filmars bill ; the figure of it is to be seen in his voyage 
 to St. Kilda. One of these very birds was killed with a 
 shot of drops, on Leith sands, and brought to Mr. Alex- 
 ander Monteith, chirurgion in Edinburgh, a gentleman cu- 
 rious in these matters, who shewed it to me, and took care 
 to preserve it : I found it agreed well with Mr. Martin's 
 figure, and description of the bird *. 
 
 Anas 
 
 1 Pelecanus Bassnnus, Gannet. It is curious that the price of the Solan 
 Goose should remain nearly the same, or be rather less than it was a cen- 
 tury ago. Great numbers, however, are still consumed in Edinburgh in 
 the season. Sibbald says in another work, " The art of cookery cannot 
 form a dish of such delicate flavour, and combining the tastes of fish and 
 flesh, as a roasted solan goose, and the young grown ones are deservedly 
 esteemed delicacies with us." Boeth. who was a physician, attribute? 
 many virtues to the fat of this bird. " It is of singulare medicyne and healis 
 mony infirmyties." Gesner confirms this opinion. The use of this foetid 
 ointment is very circumscribed, if any where found. It is difficult to trust 
 either Boeth. or Geiner on this subject ; for both of them tell fables of the 
 solan goose. 
 
 1 Proccllaria pelagica, Stormy Petrel. The whole bird is black, except 
 some white feathers about the tail. It is about the size of the house swal- 
 low. Except at breeding time it is always at sea, and braves the utmost 
 fury of the storm. It comes to us only in summer. The seamen, who 
 call these birds Mother Carey's Chickens, consider it as a sign of bad wea- 
 ther when flocks of them colle& about the item of a ship.
 
 112 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART lit 
 
 Anas arHca Clusii, haunts much this firth, it is called 
 the Cuker-neb, it is less than the house duck ; Mr. Ray is 
 of the opinion it is the same, which in the Fame isle is 
 called counter-neb or coulter-nebs. This is some twelve 
 inches in length from the beak to the feet. The beak is 
 short and broad, pressed together on the sides, of a trian- 
 gular figure, ending in a point ; the upper jaw is arched, 
 and the extremity of it is hooked ; where it is joined to the 
 head, a callous substance environneth its basis, and betwixt 
 that there are slits for the nostrils, continued along the 
 open of its mouth : the beak of it is of two colours, livid 
 towards the head, and red at the point, with three slits m 
 it, one in the livid part and two in the red ; the mouth is 
 yellow within, and the feet of some are yellow, and of 
 others red, placed backwards as in the Dyvers, in the same 
 plan with the belly, so it walks straight with the body" 
 erected frae the tail ; it wants the hinder claw, the nails 
 are of a dark blew colour, the top of the head, the neck 
 and the back are black, the breast and the belly white, and 
 it hath a black circle or ring on the neck, which reacheth 
 to the crop or gorge, the wings are short ; when the wings 
 are wet, they fly swiftly : the tail is two inches long, their 
 egg is of a sandy colour, sharp at one end, and obtuse at 
 the other, bigger than a hens egg ; they lay one egg, which 
 they renew when it is removed, they are here in the sum- 
 mer, and go away in the beginning of harvest, when the 
 sea is calm '. 
 
 Alka Hoieri : our people call it the Marrot, the Auk or 
 Razor-bill ; is a small fowl, less than a pigeon, all the upper 
 
 part 
 
 * Alca artica, Puffin. The economy of this bird is curious* It docs 
 not form a nest or lay its egg on the rock, but burrows in the earth like a 
 rabbit, or seizes on the ready made hole of that animal. To dig the bur- 
 row is generally the duty of the males, who are often so intent on their 
 work, a* to suffer themselves to be uken by the hand.
 
 CHAP. III.] . AQUATIC BIRDS. 113 
 
 part of it is black, and the belly and breast -vtfiite j the 
 upper part of the crop under the beak is of a dark purple 
 colour, the points of the feathers of the tail are white j the 
 beak is two inches long, bkck and compressed on the sides, 
 and narrow, and hath a slit in the upper jaw, which hath 
 a soft down upon it : the beak in the upper jaw is crooked 
 in the point, and concave, and receives into it the under 
 jaw, both of them are alike long, and have two cross slits ; 
 the mouth within is white, the feet are black, and the nails 
 also, it wants the hinder claw, and the feet are placed, as 
 in the last described : the eggs are big, for the bulk of the 
 fowl ; they are white, with some black spots ; they lay 
 their eggs upon the naked rock '. 
 
 The Kittiewake is a fowl of the larus or mall kind, as 
 was said before *. 
 
 The Skout is thought by Mr. Ray to be the Alka Hoieri : 
 it is less than a duck, of the same colour, the flesh is hard, 
 its eggs are bigger than a goose-egg, the shell is green, 
 with black spots intermixed, it is boil'd or roasted till it be 
 hard, and is eaten with parsley and vinegar 3 . 
 
 The Duntur haunts the May, as most of the former, ex- 
 cept the solan-geese, do. I have not yet got a description 
 of it*. The 
 
 1 Alca torda, Razor-bill. The length i foot 6 inches, breadth a feet 3 
 inches. It lays but one egg, of an extraordinary size for the bulk of the 
 bird, being 3 inches long ; it fixes its egg like the solan goose. 
 
 1 Larus rissa. The head, neck, belly and tail are of a snowy whiteness, 
 the back and wings grey, length i foot a inches, breadth 3 feet a inches. 
 The young of these birds is a favourite dish with many people ; and the 
 shooting of them when they come new fledged, from the nests, to the cliffs, 
 is esteemed excellent sport. 
 
 3 Colymbus troile, Foolish Guillemot, Sea-hen, length I foot 5 inchej, 
 breadth a feet 3 inches. So simple is this bird said to be, that though 
 many be shot out of a flock, the rest continue sitting, unmoved by the sud- 
 den death of their companions. 
 
 * The Duntur, as described by Sibbald in his Nat Hist. ai. appears to
 
 114 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 The Goosander : it is well described by Willoughby, Or- 
 nitholog. lib. 3. sect. 3. pag. 253. The female of it is 
 by some thought to be die Mergus cinereus, the Sparling- 
 fowl '. 
 
 The Amphibious Animals, which are Quadrupeds. 
 
 There are two amphibious animals, quadrupeds, found 
 in these two firths, both of them villous with hair, viz. 
 
 The Phoca, or Vitulus marinus, the Seal : our fishers 
 call it a Selch, some call it a Dog *. Many of them fre- 
 quent the coasts of these two firths. There is a full de- 
 scription, with the figure of it, in the second volume of the 
 Prodromus, Hist. Natural. Scoriae, now ready for the 
 press. 
 
 Lutra marina, the Sea-otter, which differeth from the 
 
 land- 
 be Anas mollissima, the Eider Duck, so celebrated for its fine light elastic 
 down. It is about double the size of a common duck. The upper part 
 of the body, neck and coverts of the wings are white, the lower part of the 
 breast, belly, tail arid quill feathers black ; the female is of reddish brown, 
 marked with dusky streaks. The down is produced from the breast of 
 the bird in breeding time. It lays its eggs among the stones or plants of 
 the sea-shore, and prepares a soft bed for thtm by plucking the feathers 
 from its own breast ; if the nest be robbed, the duck will lay again, and 
 repeat the plucking of its breast ; if robbed again, she will still lay, but 
 the drake must supply the down, and if the eggs be again taken, the birds 
 desert the place. 
 
 1 Mergus merganser. The female is the Dun-diver, or Sparling-fowl. 
 Of the male, the colour of the head and upper part of the neck is black, 
 finely glossed with green, the lower part of the neck, and under part of 
 the body, of a fine pale yellow, upper part of the back black, lower part 
 and the tail ash-coloured, length a feet 4 inches, breadth 3 feet i inches. 
 The female is less than the male, and the colours less beautiful, but she is 
 adorned with a pendent crest of long ferruginous coloured feathers. 
 
 2 There is only one species of seal found on our shores, the common, 
 or Phoca vitulina. ; the length is from 5 to 6 feet. The flesh of this animal 
 formerly found a place at the tables of the great, and young ones are still 
 faten iu some of the Orkney islands, Stat. Ace. Vol. VII. No. 46 & 47.
 
 CHAP. III.] CETACEOUS FISHE9. 1 l 
 
 land-otter, for it is bigger, and the pile of its furr is 
 rougher '. 
 
 Both these live in coves upon the coasts and in the isles, 
 and bring forth their young in the coves, and go to sea to 
 take their prey. They sleep often upon the rocks, their 
 skins afford matter of trade, and there is an oyl got from 
 the selchs, which the fishers use for burning in lamps, and 
 other uses. 
 
 SECT. I. THE SANGUINEOUS FISHES. 
 
 THE sanguineous fishes make two tribes, some of them 
 have bones, and inwardly the like conformation of parts, 
 the quadrupeds terrestrial have : these are called Cetaceous 
 fishes. 
 
 The other tribe is of these which have no bones, but 
 gristles and gilles, instead of the lungs, which the cetaceous 
 have. 
 
 The Cetaceous Fishes. 
 
 The Cetaceous, which are properly such, and have bones 
 and lungs, are some of them of a lesser size, and are called 
 Dolphins. 
 
 Of these, in both these firths, there are two sorts. 
 
 The bigger beareth the name of Dolphin, and our fishers 
 call them Meer-swines *. 
 
 Qjt The 
 
 1 It is not known that the real Sea-otter has been found on our coasts. 
 Probably some individuals of the common kind may have wandered to the 
 sea-shore, where a difference, or a greater quantity, of food may have caused 
 the increase of their size, and the roughness of their hair. At any rate, this 
 Lutra marina can be considered only as a variety of the common species. 
 
 1 Delphinus Delphis. This fish was celebrated by the ancients for its 
 fondness of the human race, and many other rare qualities, which, h<jw- 
 <ver, have gradually forsaken it, as the science of Natural History became 
 more an object of study. In this country, it was formerly reckoned a great 
 delicacy at the tables of the great. Dr. Caius or Kay, says, that one taken 
 in bis time was reckoned a present worthy of the Duke of Norfolk, who 
 
 distributed
 
 THE HISTOR-! O> FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 The lesser is called Phocaena, a Porpess '. 
 
 Both these have teeth in both their jawes. 
 
 The Cetaceous fishes of the biggest sort are called Balae- 
 nae, Whales. Of these, in the two firths, there are several 
 sorts ; I shall set them down as I found them. 
 
 I will not say, all I name, are of different kinds, perhaps 
 some of them may be different then, from what they are, 
 when grown up to full age. 
 
 Of the lesser Whales. 
 
 Some of these have teeth in both the jawes, some of 
 them are but ten or twelve foot long, and large in the body 
 proportionably, others did not exceed 25 foot in length*. 
 
 Of the greater Whales. 
 
 Some were observed to have only teeth in the lower 
 jaw, and some of these did exceed sixty foot in length : 
 
 their 
 
 distributed it among his friends. It was roasted and dressed with porpess 
 sauce, made of crumbs of fine white bread mixed with vinegar and sugar. 
 
 1 Delphinus Phocxna. This fish is remarkable for the large proportion 
 of fat which surrounds it. Its greasy flesh was a royal dish, so late as 
 the reign of Henry VIII. and it must have continued in esteem even in that 
 of Elizabeth, as Caius mentions the sauce used with it. The monks of 
 Dunfermline had a grant from Malcolm IV. of all the heads of a species of 
 whale that should be caught in the Frith of Forth, (Scottwattre) but his 
 Majesty reserved the most dainty bit to himself, viz. the tongue. It is cu- 
 rious to remark the revolutions of fashion in the article of eatables. We 
 now nauseate these delicious viands of the epicures among our fathers, the 
 Whale's head, the Meer-swine and the Porpess ; yet we pretend to esteem 
 the Kittiewake and the Solan goose, whose oily flesh is not less foetid. This 
 remainder of the ancient taste shews, that the present race of Scotsmen are 
 not so much degenerated from the hardihood of their ancestors, as some 
 querulous observers would persuade us. The appearance of the dish is in- 
 deed not so uncouth, but the essence of the food is the same ; nor can thfe 
 oil be much purified by passing through the digestive organs of a filthy 
 'Gull, or a stinking Pelican. 
 
 * The small whales taken on our coasts are the Delphinus Orca, (Orca 
 
 Plinii)
 
 CHAP. 111.] CETACEOUS I ISHES. 
 
 their head is so big, that it takes up a third part of their 
 bulk ; and tho* the great magazine of that, which is 
 called Spermaceti, is found in it, yet it is got out of the 
 rest of the body also. 
 
 There is another sort of them, which I take to be the 
 Orca vcra Plinii j it hath big teeth in the lower jaw, and 
 small teeth in the interstices betwixt the cases, which re- 
 ceive into them the great teeth of the lower jaw : one of 
 these stranded above Cramond-Inch, was brought in to the 
 shoar, it was but fifty and some odd foot long ; I take it to 
 have been a young one. Both these mentioned had spouts 
 in their foreheads, by which they threw up water and 
 breath; they were males '. 
 
 There are several whales which haunt the Firth of Forth, 
 which have fins or horny plates in the upper jaw, and most 
 of them have spouts in their head ; some of these are above 
 seventy foot long, and some less : one of these with horny 
 plates was stranded near to Bruntisland, which had no 
 spout, but two nostrils like these of a horse. These whales 
 with horny plates differ in the form of their snout, and in 
 the number and form of their fins *. 
 
 There 
 
 Plinii) Grampus, which grows to about 25 feet in length, and the Physeter 
 Catodon, Round-headed Cachalot, which is generally of a less size. 
 
 1 Both these'are species ofthe Cachalot or Physeter. These disproportioned 
 and ugly, but very valuable animals, are but rarely seen in our seas. One, how- 
 ever, was cast ashore on Cramond Inch in^ December 1769, which was 54 
 feet in length ; the greatest circumference, which was just beyond the eye*, 
 was 30 feet. The enormous head was above one-third of the size of the 
 fish, and the end of the upper jaw, which was quite blunt, was 9 feet high. 
 Linne says, that this specie* delights in the pursuit of the Porpess. One 
 was thrown ashore at Earlsferry in 1758, which measured 52 feet long. 
 
 a The varieties of this kind of whale that have been seen on the coasa 
 of this county are the BaUena mysticetu, Common Whale; Babena 'hoops, 
 the Pike-headed Whale ; Bakena mujculus, the Round-lipped Whale. The 
 Utter is said to feed on herrings, and is most commonly observed following; 
 the shoals of that fish. The other kinds are said to feed on small shell-fish, 
 and the Medusa or Sea-blubber.
 
 Il8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 There came two lesser whales, of a middle size, to those 
 above mentioned, in to the coast below Inch-Buckling Brae 
 (the March of East and Mid-Lothian,) which had neither 
 teeth nor horny plates in their jaws l . 
 
 The bellies of the whales are some of them smooth and 
 equal, and some of them are full of ridges or plaites, like to 
 these in womens gowns. There are full descriptions and 
 figures of all these whales, of divers kinds, in the second 
 volume of the Prodromus, Hist. Nat. Scotiae. 
 
 The Cartilaginous Fishes. 
 
 The Cartilaginous fishes vary much in bigness and figure, 
 some of them are so big, that they are reckoned, by some, 
 amongst the cetaceous fishes, because of their bulk, though 
 they have neither bones nor lungs ; some of them are vivi- 
 parous, and some are oviparous. 
 
 Viviparous Fishes *. 
 
 Of the Viviparous, some are long and somewhat round, 
 they must turn upon their back when they devour their 
 prey. Of this sort are these which are called Canes, Dogs, 
 viz. 
 
 Canis carcharias seu Lamia Rondeletii, the Shark 3 . 
 
 Catulus major vulgaris, the Rough Hound 4 . 
 
 Galeus acanthias, seu Spinax, the Piked Dog s . 
 
 Galeus sive Mustelus levis, the unprickly Hound-fish 6 . 
 
 Vulpecula 
 
 1 There are only three species of whale. Those without teeth, with 
 horny laminx in their mouths, (whalebone) ; those with teeth in the lower 
 jaw only, and those with teeth in both jaws. These mentioned in the text 
 must have been young ones of some of these kinds. 
 
 a The young are excluded from eggs, which are hatchtd within the mo- 
 ther. The egg consists of a white and a yolk, and is lodged in a case 
 formed of a thick tough substance, not unlike softned horn. 
 
 3 Squalus carcharias, White Shark. 
 
 4 Squalus canicula, Spotted Dog-fish, Bounce. 5 Squalns spinax. 
 8 Squulus mostelus, Smooth Hound.
 
 CHAP. III.] CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. Up 
 
 Vulpecula marina Rondeletii, the Gray Dog, with a 
 small round tail, shaped like the body of an Esk '. 
 
 Others are broad fishes, such as the 
 
 Raia bevis, the Skate or Flair *. 
 
 The Dinnen Skate, (so. called by our fishers) which is 
 large and smooth in the back 3 . 
 
 Raia clavata, seu aspera, the Thornback 4 . 
 
 Pastinacse marinae species, radio spinoso instru&a, a 
 Skate with a long pike on the tail $ . 
 
 Raia aspera, the White-horse 6 . 
 
 laevis oculata. 
 
 aspera oculata Rondeletii. 
 
 Lsevi-Raia Salviani. 
 
 The Oviparous and Spinous Fishes. 
 
 Rhombus aculeatus Rondeletii ; our fishers call it, the 
 Gunner Flook 7 . 
 
 Hippoglossus 
 
 1 Long-tailed Shark, Sea-fox, Thresher. 
 
 * Raia Batis. This is the thinnest of the Ray tribe, and also the largest, 
 some weighing 200 pounds. 
 
 3 This appears to be the young of the former species. 4 Raia clavata. 
 
 s Raia pastinaca, Sting-ray, Fire-flaire. The spine of the tail is capable 
 of giving a very severe wound, and was formerly used to point spears and 
 darts. 
 
 6 Raia fullonica, the Fuller-ray. 
 
 7 Pleurone&es maximus, Turbot It was only at a late period that this 
 very delicate fish was relished in this country ; and people advanced in life 
 do not yet esteem it so much a* the Halibut, which is very commonly dig- 
 nified with the name of Turbot. There are living, or were very lately, in 
 one of the coast-towns, several poor people, who were wont to derive great 
 part of their subsistence from the turbots which the fishermen threw away 
 on the beach, because nobody could be found to purchase them. It was a 
 general officer, noted for his wealth and love of good cheer, who first 
 taught the people of Fife that they were eatable, and astonished the fish- 
 cadgers, by oifering a shilling a piece for the largest of them. Indeed there 
 seems to have been a prejudice against several kinds of flat fish ; for it is
 
 120 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART H. 
 
 Hippoglossus Rondeletii, the Turbot Flook '. 
 
 Rhombus non aculeatus squamosus Willoughbei ; I take 
 it to be that, which our fishers call the Bonnet Flook*. 
 
 Passer Bellonii, the Pless, with red and yellow spots on 
 the back 3 . 
 
 The Mayock Flook, of the same size with die former, 
 without spots 4 . 
 
 Passer asper sive squamosus Rondeletii, an qui piscato- 
 ribus nostris, the Deb Flook ? 'tis gray-backed and white- 
 bellied 5 . 
 
 Rhomboides noster, the Craig Flook 6 . 
 
 The Rannok Flook. 
 
 Buglossus seu solea, the Sole Flook 7 . 
 
 Rana piscatrix, the Frog-fish ; our fishers call it a Meer- 
 maid 8 . 
 
 The 
 
 not many years since skate and thornbacks came to be used by any class of 
 people, especially on the coast. During the late war, when the fishing on 
 the Dogger-bank was much interrupted, several vessels belonging to the 
 Thames were employed in catching turbot with nets in the Frkh of Forth, 
 to carry alive to the London market, and they Tiotighit ako all that were 
 taken alive by the Fife fishermen, which gave a considerable degree of 
 encouragement to the deep water fishing with nets, a method before but 
 little known or practised. 
 
 1 Pleuronefles Hyppoglossus, Halibut. This is the largest of the species, 
 some have been caught that weighed 300 pounds, and they are taken of a 
 much greater size in the northern seas. 
 
 2 Pleurone<ftes Rhombus, the Pearl, very like, but inferior, to the turbot. 
 
 3 Pleuronecles platessa, Plaise. * Pleurone&es flesus, Common Flounder. 
 5 Pleurone&es limanda, Dab. "* An Rhombus levis Raii? Smear Dab. 
 ' Pleurone&es Solea. 
 
 8 Lophius piscatorius, Common Angler, Frog-fish, Toad-fish, Sea Devil 
 This very deformed fish is rare on our coasts. It it said sometimes to grow 
 to four or five feet in length. The head is much bigger than the whole 
 body, is round at the circumference and flat above. The mouth is of a 
 prodigious wideness ; one is said to have been taken on the coast of York- 
 shire, whose mouth was a yard wide.
 
 CHAP. III.] CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. 121 
 
 The Fishes like to Eels, Smooth, Slippery and Oblong. 
 
 Lampetra marina, the Sea Lamprey '. 
 
 Conger ; our fishers call it the Heawe Eel, 'tis usually 
 some two ells long, and of the grossness of the calf of a 
 man's leg *. 
 
 Ammodytes Gesneri, the Sand-Eel 3 . 
 
 Gunnellus Cornubiensium, the Butter-fish of the Eng- 
 lish ; our fishers call it the Stone-fish 4 . 
 
 Mustela vulgaris Rondeletiij our fishers call it the 
 Bourbee 5 . 
 
 Mustela vivipara Shonfeldii j our fishers call it the 
 Guffer 6 . 
 
 Lupus marinus Shonfeldii et nostras ; our fishers call it 
 the Sea-Cat, or Cat-fish j it feedeth upon shell-fish, and 
 tastes of them, and is good meat in its season, when it is 
 well drest 7 . 
 
 Gobius marinus ; our fishers call it the Millers Thumb 8 . 
 
 Gobius marinus nostras, non scriptus ; it hath several 
 black lines upon it, turning like waves. 
 
 Scorpoenae Bellonii, apud Willoughbxum, congener, si 
 non idem piscis. It agreeth well with Willoughby's de- 
 scription 9 . 
 
 Betwixt 
 
 1 Petromyson marinus. a Muracna Conger. 
 
 3 Ammodytes Tobianus, Sand Launce. 
 
 * Blennius Gunnellus, Spotted Blcnny. 
 
 5 Three bearded cod, Rockling, Sea Loche, Whistle-fish, 
 
 c Blennius viviparus, Viviparous Blcnny, Eclpout. 
 
 7 Anarhichas Lupus, Wolf-fish. e Cottus Gobio, River Bullhead. 
 
 9 Cottus Scorpius, Fatherla&hcr, Sea Scorpion. The head is large in 
 proportion to the body, and must be formidable to its enemies ; for it is 
 armed with large spines, with which it can annoy those that attack it, 
 by swelling its cheeks and gill-covers to a large size. It is very frequent 
 on the most northern coasts of America and Europe, where it b a prji- 
 
 R
 
 122 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Betwixt this and the following Class, I place the 
 Mola Salviani, a- round or oval fish, with a short bod^ , 
 which our fishers call the Sun-fish '. 
 
 Fishes ivhich want the Fins in the Belly. 
 
 Xiphias seu Gladius piscis, the Sword-fish *. 
 
 Acui Aristotelis congener piscis. It is described am 1 
 figured in the first volume of the Prodromus Hist. Nat. 
 Scotije 3 . 
 
 The Cod Kind. 
 
 '*' 
 
 Asellus major vulgaris, the Cod ; our fishers call it Keel- 
 ing, and the young ones Codlings 4 . 
 
 Asellus 
 
 cipal food of the natives, made into a soup, which it said to be both 
 agreeable and wholesome. 
 
 1 Tetraodon Mola, Short Diodon. The fish now known by the name 
 f Sun-fish, is the Squalus maximus, Basking Shark, which is killed in 
 considerable numbers on the west coasts of Scotland, on account of the 
 great quantity of oil which its liver affords. The Board of Trustees for 
 Fisheries, &c. have for a considerable time given annual premiums to the 
 
 most successful adventurers in this valuable fishery. 
 
 
 
 2 Xiphias Gladius. This fish is rare in our seas, its proper habitation 
 
 being the Mediterranean. It grows to a very large size ; the head alone 
 bas been found to weigh above 60 pounds. It is a favourite food of the 
 modern Italians when fresh, as it was of the ancients when salted. 
 
 3 Syagnathus Ophidion, Little Pipe-fish. 
 
 * Gadus morhua. This very valuable fish chiefly frequents the northern 
 seas, where it affords provision and employment for immense multitudes. 
 The millions constantly destroyed seem to be as rapidly replaced ; for it 
 is one of the most prolific of the fruitful tribes of the ocean. Leuwen- 
 liock counted nine millions three hundred and eighty-four thousand eggs 
 in the roe of a cod-fish of a middling size, a number sufficient to baffle 
 all the efforts of man, or the voracity of the inhabitants of the ocean, to 
 exterminate, and which will secure to all ages, an inexhaustible supply of 
 grateful provision. The cod-fishery is carried on to considerable extent 
 in both the friths. Besides the great numbers consumed in the towns on 
 the coast, and the adjoining country, very large supplies are sent t* 
 
 Edinburgh,
 
 CHAP. III.] CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. 123 
 
 Asellus l.ongus, the Ling '. 
 <Y Asellus mollis major, seu albus, the Whiting z . 
 
 Ascllus mollis latior, a. broad Whiting with a beard un- 
 der its chin 3 . 
 
 Asinus. antiquorum, the Haddock *. 
 
 Ascllus flavescens Shonfeldii, the yellowish Codling 5 . 
 
 Ascllus varius vel striatus Shonfeldii, the redware Cod- 
 ling 6 . 
 
 Asellus virescens Shonfeldii ; our fishers call it a Podly 7 . 
 , Asellus niger, the Cole-fish of the north of England 
 pur fishers call it a Colman's Seeth 8 . 
 
 Asellus argentci coloris, squamosus, Whitingo major j 
 our fishers here call it the Baivee. 
 
 Asellus luscus Shonfeldii, an Nanus.? latior piscis, cum 
 cirro sub memo. I take it to be the same fish with the 
 
 R 2 Asellus 
 
 Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, &c. and considerable quantities salted fur 
 the London market, to which some are also sent fresh, in the smacks em- 
 ployed in the turbot fishing. From traditionary accounts, it appears, that 
 this fishery was more extensive about the beginning and middle of the last 
 century, though it has considerably revived of late yearg. At that time, 
 they were prepared for exportation by drying, and they formed a staple 
 article of the trade of the little towns on the east coast of rife. These 
 remarks apply also to the following species. 
 
 1 Gadus molva. 2 Gadus merlangus. 3 Gadus barbatus, Whiting pout. 
 
 * Gadus JEglesinus. Of this delicate fish our seas produce a very abun- 
 dant supply. After the herrings left this coast, whose spawn and fry 
 eem to afford nutriment to a great number of the finny tribes, the had- 
 docks also began to disappear, and about 1783, they almost entirely deierted 
 our shores. Since the herring-fishery has revived in the Friths of Forth 
 and Tay, the haddock* have returned in their wonted numbers, and have 
 yielded a very providential supply during the late seasons of scarcity. 
 
 S, These are accidental varieties. This fish varies sometimes in its 
 thape, and often in its colour ; and codlings are taken of a yellow, orangt, 
 or red colour while they remain among the rocks, but on changing their 
 place, rcassume the common colour of the species. 
 
 " Gadus Pollachins, the Pollack. 8 GaJu> carbonarius.
 
 124 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Asellus mollis latior, with the beard under the chin, men- 
 tioned before '. 
 
 The Tunny Kind. 
 
 Pelamys vera seu Thunnus AristotehV: it is like in 
 shape to the mackrel, but bigger ; ours is of the bigness of 
 a young salmond, but much less than the true Tunny ta- 
 ken in the Firth of Clyde, which the fishers there call the 
 Spanish Mackrel *. 
 
 Scomber Rondeletii, the Mackrel 3 . 
 
 Trachurus Salviani, the Horse Mackrel 4 . 
 
 Thunno congener nostras, Auratus marinus di&us in 
 Prodromo. The figure of it there, was taken from a dry 
 fish stuffed, I have described it from the fish entire, which 
 was taken near the North-ferry, in the ad volume of the 
 ProdromuS, and cut in a copperplate, the just figure of it 5 . 
 
 The 
 
 1 Gadus luscus, the Bib. This fish is distinguished from the whiting- 
 pout by several differences in the fins, but particularly by a loose mem- 
 brane which covers the eyes, and which it can blow up at pleasure like 
 a bladder. 
 
 a This seems, however, to be the true Tunny, Scomber Tunnus. The 
 difference of size does not make another species, but merely a variety, 
 which probably a change of circumstances would quickly bring back to 
 the original. Several species of fish are of a less size on the east than on 
 the west coast of the island, where the deeper waters of the Atlantic are 
 more propitious to their growth. 
 
 3 Scomber Scomber. This beautiful fish is not so frequent on our 
 coasts as on those of the southern part of the island ; nor do we esteem it 
 so much as the English do. In London, it is in high request by all ranks ; 
 nor was it less valued by ancient Roman epicures. They however did not 
 regard it for food, but because it furnished the precious Gar urn a sort of 
 pickle that gave a high relish to their sauces. 
 
 * Scomber Trachurus, Scad. - **? 
 
 3 As far as we can judge, this is the Opah, a fish not more beautiful 
 than it is rare. It is described in the Prodromus, " Piscis maculis aureis 
 aspersus, non scriptns, 42 pollices longus." Of these splendid inhabitants of 
 
 the
 
 CHAP. III.] CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. 
 
 The Trout Kind. 
 Salmo, the Salmond '. 
 Albula nobilis Shonfeldii '. 
 
 The prickly Kind y ivith two Fins erefted in the Back. 
 Spirinchus Shonfeldii, Eperlanus Rondelctii, Nostratibus 
 a Spirling, Anglis a Smelt 3 . 
 
 Gobius niger Rondel, the Rock-fish or Sea Gudgeon 4 . 
 
 Lumpus 
 
 the deep, only five are recorded to have been caught on the British shores. 
 The fins and the tail are of a fine scarlet. The general colour is a vivid 
 transparent scarlet varnish, over burnished gold. The upper part of the 
 body is a bright green, mingled with a little white, and enriched with a 
 ihining golden hue, like the splendour of the peacock's feather. This 
 singular species seems to have been unknown to Linne. 
 
 1 Salmo Salar. The salmon-fisheries in Fife are a source of considerable 
 wealth to the proprietors. In the Frith of Forth there is no extensive 
 fishery except at the mouth of the Leven. In the Eden there are several 
 fishings, but not of very great value ; but in the Frith of Tay, they are 
 numerous, and of great and increasing importance. A more particular 
 account of this fishery will be given in the notes to Part IV. 
 
 a The Albula nobilis of Schonevelde is the Salmo Lavaretus of Linn?, 
 the Gvtyniad of Pennant, and the Vengis and Juvengis of the lake of 
 Lochmaben. This beautiful and singular fish, which is said to have been 
 brought to Scotland by Mary, or some other of the sovereigns of the 
 house of Stuart, is a native of the lakes of all the highland parts of Europe, 
 Switzerland and Italy, Norway and Lapland, Wales and Ireland, but has 
 never been known to frequent the sea, or even descend the rivers. It is 
 odd, that Sibbaid, who was esteemed a good naturalist, while he mentions 
 but one species of salmon or trout as found in our seas, should conned 
 with it this fish, which has never been discovered in salt water. The va- 
 rieties of trouts that periodically descend our rivers to the ocean are pretty 
 numerous. Taylor, in his " Angling reduced to a complete Science," 
 reckons seven kinds. But there is a considerable degree of uncertainty on 
 this subject, as all kinds of the trout are apt to change their appearance in 
 different rivers, and even in the same river, in different stages of their 
 growth. 
 
 3 Salmo cperlanus. This beautiful little fish is taken in the Tay in con- 
 siderable quantities during the winter months. 
 
 * Gobius niger, Black Goby. The ventral fins of this species coalesce. 
 
 and
 
 126 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Lumpus Anglorum, Anglis, the Lump or Sea Owl, 
 Nostris, the Cock Padle J . 
 
 Lumpus alter, quibusdam Piscis Gibbosus ditus. I take 
 it to be the same, which our fishers call the Hush-Padle 
 or Bagaty -, they say it is the female of the former *. 
 
 Cataphraclus Shonfeldii, Anglis septentrionalibus, a 
 Pogge : I take it to be the fish, the fishers call a Carling 3 . 
 
 Thymallus Rondel, a Grayling or Umber 4 . 
 
 The not prickly Kind, of the form of Herring^ with one Fin 
 
 only on the Back. 
 
 Harengus Rondel, the Herring ; the fishers call some of 
 them old Haiks 5 . 
 
 Harengus minor seu Chalcis, the Pilchard 6 . 
 Alosa, seu Clupea, the Shad, or mother of the herrings : 
 I suspect, this may be that which our fishers call the 
 Craig-herring, which they say is more big, than four her- 
 rings, with skails as large as turners, which will cut a. 
 man's hand with their shell 7 . 
 
 Sardina 
 
 and form a sort of funnel by which they affix themselves to the rocks, 
 for which reason they are called Rock-fish. 
 
 *, * Cyclopterus Lumpus, Lump-sucker. The male only, which is much 
 less than the female, i eaten. On the coast of the Forth west from 
 Wemyss, it is caught in considerable numbers, and is reckoned by many 
 a delicious dish. 
 
 3 Cottus Cattaphra&es, Armed Bullhead, Pogge. 
 
 * Salmo Thymallus. It is reckoned among those river fish that never 
 visit the salt water. 
 
 5 Clupea Harengus. Some account of the herring-fishery in the Friths 
 of Forth and Tay will be given in the notes to Part IV. 
 
 ff The principal fishery of the Pilchard is on the coast of Cornwall. 
 Many of them, however, are found among the herrings at the winter 
 fishing in the Frith of Forth. 
 
 7 Clupea Alosa. There are several varieties of the Shad in the rivers 
 of England. It is but little known among us.
 
 CHIP. III.] CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. 127 
 
 Sardina, the Sprat : I take this to be the same fish we 
 call the Garvie '. 
 
 Fishes not prickly, "with one Fin only on the Back. 
 
 i 
 Acus vulgaris Oppiani, the Horn-fish or Needle-fish *. 
 
 Acus altera major Bellonii ; our fishers call it the Gar- 
 fish, it is sometimes an ell or more in length, with a beak 
 or neb eight inches long. Some call it die Green-bone 3 . 
 
 Sturio, the Sturgeon ; it is taken both in the Firth of 
 Forth, and that of Tay 4 . 
 
 Brama marina nostras, the Sea-bream s . 
 
 The prickly Fishes, with tivo Fins in the Back, the foremost 
 radiated, with Spines. 
 
 Gornatus seu Gurnardus griseus, the gray Gurnard ; 
 our fishers call it the Crooner 6 . 
 
 Cuculus Aldrovandi, the red Gurnard, or Rotchet ; our 
 fishers call it the Gawrie 7 . 
 
 Draco sive Araneus Plinii, the Weaver 8 . 
 Draco sive Araneus minor ; I take it to be the same OUT 
 fishers call the Otter-pike or Sea-stranger 9 . 
 
 Perca 
 
 1 Clupca Sprattus. This fish abounds in both friths, but is very little 
 esteemed. 
 
 3 Syngnathus acus, Shorter Pipe-fish ; our fishers call it the Stang 
 or Sting. 
 
 3 ESDI Belone, Gar Pike, Sea Needle. There is found also another species 
 of the sea Pike, called the Saury or Skipper. 
 
 4 Accipenscr Sturio. This singular fish is now seldom seen, though it 
 be occasionally met with in both friths, and even in the Eden. The mouth 
 of the Sturgeon is placed in the under part of the head, and is without 
 jawbones or teeth ; the body is long, and covered with five rows of large 
 bony tubercles, two on each side, and one on the back. 
 
 s Sparus Pagrus, Red Gilthead. Trigla Gurnardus. 
 
 7 Trigla cuculus. 8 The Great Wecver. 
 
 Trachiuus Draco, Common Wecver. This fish, which is about a foot 
 
 long,
 
 128 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Perca marina, an qui Channe et Hiatula, dicitur Gape- 
 mouth,; it is more as a foot long, it seems rather to belong 
 to the following class '. 
 
 The prickly Fishes, ivhh one Fin only on the Back. 
 
 Aurata Rondel, a Gilthead *. 
 
 Turdus vulgatissimus WilloughbaH ; I take it to be the 
 same our fishers call a Bressie, a foot long, swine-headed 
 and mouth'd and backed, broad bodied, very fat, eatable 3 . 
 
 Turdi alia species ; it is called, by our fishers, the Sea- 
 tod or Kingervie. 
 
 Scorpius major nostras ; our fishers call it Hardhead 4 . 
 
 Scorpius minor, Scorpsena Rondel 4 . 
 
 Aculeatus marinus longus Shonfeldii ; our fishers call it 
 the Stronachie or Heckleback, it is figured in the first vo- 
 lume of the Prodromus 5 . 
 
 The Fishes of an uncertain Tribe. 
 
 Piscis quidam edentulus, without teeth, longer as a 
 mackrel, with big eyes, it has spines from the middle of 
 
 the 
 
 long, buries itself in the sand, and if trod on, strikes with great force. 
 The wounds inflicted by its spines are very painful. It has been supposed, 
 that there is a venom infused into them, especially those made by the 
 spines of the first dorsal fin, which is of a deep black colour, and has a 
 most suspicious aspe<5h Notwithstanding this noxious property of the 
 spines, it is said to be exceeding good meat. 
 1 Perca marina, Sea Perch. 
 
 * Sparus lunula aurea inter oculos, Lunulated Gilthead. 
 
 3 Labrus Tinea, Ancient Wrasse, Old Wife. Mr. Pennant mentions 
 other eight species of the Wrasse as being found in the British seas. Seve- 
 ral of them are occasionally caught in the Frith of Forth, and are called 
 by our fishers by the general name of Sea Swine. 
 
 * There are three species of this fish, all distinguished by an armed 
 head. 
 
 S Gasterostcus spinachia, Fifteen-spined Stickleback. This is the only 
 species of these little armed fishes that frequents the sea. Other two are 
 common in many of our rivers, and arc known by the name of Banstickles.
 
 CHAP. III.] KXSANGUOUS FISHES. 129 
 
 the back to the tail ; this was taken at the mouth of Cra- 
 mond water, and was shown to me. 
 
 Piscis Mallerthum piscatoribus diftus, like to a salmond- 
 trout, very white and pleasant to the eye, an Albula Shon- 
 feldii? 
 
 The Gawdnie, as the fishers call it, gilt-necked and 
 backed, broad shouldered and headed (as they describe it) 
 of the bigness of a small whiting *. 
 
 A Laid, a greenish fish, as big as an haddock. 
 
 A Green-bone, eight inches long, viviparous, the tail not 
 forked. 
 
 A Palach, a great destroyer of salmond, some of them 
 are white. 
 
 SECT. II. THE CLASSES OF THE EXSANGUOUS 
 ANIMALS IN THESE FIRTHS. 
 
 THE exsanguous animals are divided in four classes, 
 viz. the Molles or Soft, the Crustrate, the Testaceous, 
 and the Insects. 
 
 The Molles or Soft. 
 
 In the soft the head is placed betwixt their arms and 
 legs, and they are covered outwardly with a carnous sub- 
 stance, and have a solid substance within. Of these there 
 are in this firth these following : 
 
 Loligo, the Slieve Fish * ; our fishers call it the Hose- 
 fish, or the Anchor-fish, 'tis some three foot long. I 
 
 found 
 
 1 Callionymus Lyra, Gemmeous Dragonet, Yellow Gurnard. This 
 beautiful little fish is but seldom taken in our seas. Its colours, which are 
 yellow, blue and white, are very vivid when the fish is new caught. 
 The blue in particular n of inexpressible splendour, having the richest 
 caerulean tints, glowing with a gemmeous brilliancy. Hence the name 
 (owdnie, i. c. Gold-fish. 
 
 - Sepia Lolligo, Great Cnttle-fiih. 
 
 S
 
 130 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 found one upon the stones under the peer of Leith, of a 
 foot long, in all like to the big one, except that the ace- 
 tabula were not of bone, as in the greater they are : 
 they were of a middle substance, betwixt a gland and 
 a cartilage, which makes me think it may have been a 
 young one, although the authors write of two sorts of 
 these animals, a larger and a lesser, which differ only 
 in quantity. 
 
 The Sepia or Cutle-Fish ', without doubt, haunts this 
 firth ; for the bone of it is frequently cast up upon the 
 shears : we find not the entire animal, because, so soon as 
 they are cast ashoar, the small crabs presently eat up all 
 the parenchyma of them. I have found these crabs, we 
 
 call Keavies, eating the Slieve-fish greedily. 
 
 . 
 Urtica, the Sea Nettles y of several Sorts, are found in 
 
 this Firth 31 . 
 
 A large one, with purple rays. 
 
 A lesser one, of a blue colour. 
 
 A middle one, of an oval form and thicker consistence, 
 with black lines upon it. 
 
 A small one, tubulous, and shaped like a pear, which I 
 have found hanging at oyster shells. 
 
 There is found in these firths also the Cochlea marina 
 nuda. 
 
 And 
 l ;' ' * 
 
 1 Sepia ofiicinalis, Officinal Cuttle-fish. This and the former specie* 
 are sometimes called Ink-fish, because they both emit, when frighted or 
 pursued, the black liquor which the ancients supposed darkened the cir- 
 cumambient wave, and concealed them from the enemy. This dirty and 
 disgusting animal was esteemed a great delicacy by the Greeks and Ro- 
 mans, and is at present eaten by the Italians. 
 
 2 Many different, species of Medusae or Sea Nettles are common OB our 
 shores. They float with the tide in vast numbers, feed en inseds, small 
 fish, &c. which they catch with their claspers or arms. They are called 
 by the common people Sea Blubbers. Many species, on being handled, 
 affed with a nettle-like burning, and excite a redneM.
 
 CHAP. III.] ,SHELL PISHES. 13! 
 
 And the Vaginalis, which the fishers call by an obscene 
 name ; it is found of two sorts. 
 
 Major, the biggei, with a coat or cover, of an orange 
 colour. 
 
 Minor, the lesser, with a coat of a dark purple colour. 
 
 Mammae marinae, the fishers call them Sea Paps. 
 
 The Sea Stars make a middle Class betwixt the Soft and 
 the Crust rate *. 
 
 Of these there are the 
 
 Stella marina quinque radiorum ; the fishers call it tho 
 Cross-fish. 
 
 Stella marina squamosa ; the fishers call it the Sea Toad, 
 for that in colour it resembleth a toad. 
 
 Stella echinata Rondeletii. 
 
 Stella major 13 radiorum rubri aut aurantii coloris. 
 
 Stella major 14 radiorum. 
 
 These two last have a crust on their back *. 
 
 The Crustrate. 
 
 The crustrate animals comprehend under them several 
 species, such as the Squills, the Crabs, the Lobsters, and 
 the Sea Urchine j of these three there are the following 
 found in this firth. 
 
 The Astaciy the Lobsters. 
 Astacus marinus major, the Lobster 3 . 
 
 S 2 Astacut 
 
 1 Of the Asterias or Sea Star, about ao species are said to be found on 
 our shores, if several of these be not mere varieties ; four only are reckoned 
 to have more than five rays. 
 
 a These two are only varieties of the Astern* Helianthcmoides, which 
 in common bus but twelve rayt. 
 
 3 Astacus or Cancer Gammarus. The lobster fishery has declined very 
 much on our shores within these few years. The fishermen say, that it 
 was not uncommon, ten yean ago, for one b*$ket or pot to have as many
 
 132 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Astacus marinus minor, a lesser one ". 
 Squills. 
 
 Squillse, our people call them Prawns 2 . 
 
 Squilla major. 
 
 Squilla minor. 
 
 Cancrlj Crabs. 
 
 Cancer marinus vulgaris, the common Sea Crab ; our 
 fishers call it a Partan j the male they call the Carle Crab, 
 and the female the Baulster Crab 3 . 
 
 Cancer Maias, the fishers call it a Keavie 4 . 
 
 Cancer latipes Gesneri, the Shear Crab 5 . 
 
 Cancer varius Gesneri, the Harper Crab 6 . 
 
 Cancer araneus Johnstoni, the Spider Crab 7 . 
 
 Cancellus in turbine degens, the Souldier Crab 8 . 
 
 Pulex 
 
 fish in it as fifty have now. They ascribe this falling off, to fishing in the 
 close season from May to August, which was not done till very lately. 
 It is well known, that this is the principal spawning time for this fish ; 
 and it must be very injurious to the fishery to kill them at this season. 
 As this fish is very prolific, Dr. Baxter having counted 1 2,444 eggs under 
 the tail of one, besides those that remained in the body unprotruded, it is 
 obvious, that were the old customary observation of close time enforced, 
 the very valuable fishery of lobsters, both for home consumption and the 
 London market, might be speedily re-established. 
 
 1 Astacus, or Cancer Norvegicus, Norwegian Lobster. This species is 
 taken only occasionally, and not among the rocks in baskets as the others, 
 but in deep water, on the lines set for cod or haddocks. 
 
 a Cancer Squilla, White Shrimp, and Cancer Crangon, Common Shrimp. 
 
 3 Cancer Pagurus, Blackclawed Ciab. 
 
 * Cancer Depurator, Cleanser Crab. 
 
 5 Our fishers call them Pillans. 
 
 6 Cancer Cassivelaunus, Longclawed Crab. 
 
 1 Besides these, there are several other varieties of crabs found among 
 the rocks. Pennant reckons ao. 
 
 8 Cancer Bernurdns. This species is parasitic, and inhabits the empty 
 
 cavities
 
 CHAP. III.] SHELL FISHES. 133 
 
 Pulex marinus, the fishers call it the Sand-Lowper '. 
 Echini Marinl. 
 
 Echinus marinus vulgaris, spinis albis, the common Sea 
 Urchin. 
 
 Echinus marinus minor, viridis. 
 Echinus marinus minor purpureus *. 
 Echinus spatagus 3 . 
 
 Testaecay the Shell Fisles. 
 i 
 The testaceous make a large class of divers tribes. 
 
 Uaivclvia 
 
 cavities of turbinated shells, changing irs habitation according to the 
 increase of its growth, from the small Nerite to the large Whelk. 
 Nature denies the strong covering behind which it has bestowed on other* 
 in this class, and therefore directs it to take refuge in the deserted cases 
 of other animals. From the similarity of the fore part of this animal to 
 that of a common lobster, many people have supposed, that it was the 
 young of that fish in an imperfect state. And from its being most ge- 
 nerally found in the shell of the periwinkles, they have fancied these to be 
 a kind of chrysalis of the lobster', and liave been alarmed, lest the multi- 
 tudes of them gathered by the poor for food should destroy the lobster 
 fishery. It is curious, that Sibbald, though he mentions the tennant uf 
 its shell, takes no notice of the Turbo littoreus, the periwinkle itself, which 
 is so frequent on our rocky coast, is so cheap an article of food, and s* 
 much eaten by the poor, especially in seasons of scarcity. 
 
 1 Cancer Locusta. 
 
 1 These three appear to be only varieties of the common Sea Urchin, 
 llchinus esculentus, so called, because they are eaten both in England and 
 foreign parts. They do not find a place at our tables. By the Romans, 
 who ale many things which our nicer palate* refuse, they were highly 
 valued. They seem to have been used as a whet at great entertainments, 
 being dressed with a piquant sauce, composed of vinegar, wine, honey, 
 jarh-y and mint. In this view, they were served with a variety of other 
 shell SsJics at the famous supper of the epicure Lcntulu-., when he was 
 made priest of Mars. 
 
 3 Echinus Spatagus vcl cordatus.
 
 134 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Univafoia Turbinata. 
 
 Patella vulgaris major ex livido cinerea striata, Pape- 
 shells; our fishers call them Limpets'. 
 Auris marina, the Sea Ear *. 
 Concha veneris minima 3 . 
 
 Of the Whilk Kind. 
 
 i Buccinum album, laeve maximum, septem minimum 
 spirarum ; our fishers call it the Great Bucky 4 . 
 
 Buccinum album minus, the Dog Bucky 5 . 
 
 Buccinum crassum rufescens, striatum et undatum 5 . 
 
 Buccinum tenue dense striatum, duodecim minimum 
 spins donatum longitudininis uncialis, a Fiese Wilk 6 . 
 Cochlea. 
 
 Cochlea fusca, fasciis crebris, angustisque pradita, testa 
 crassa uncialis plerumque 7 . 
 
 Nerita. 
 
 Nerita reticulatus minimus, ei color fuscus ex viridi *. 
 Nerita ex toto flavescens 8 . 
 
 Trochi. 
 
 Trochus crebris ^striis fuscis et transverse, et undatim 
 dispositis 9 . 
 
 Balanus 
 
 1 Patella vulgata, Common Limpet. * Hallotis tuberculata. 
 
 ' Cypraea Pediculus, Common Gowrie, John o'Groats Buckic. 
 
 * Buccinum undatum, Waved Whelk. -*. 
 
 S t S Varieties of the Buccinum Lapillus, Massy Whelk. The shell is some- 
 times white and sometimes of a reddish yellow. This is one of the shells 
 that produces a purple dye. The use of it is now superseded by the co- 
 chineal insects. 
 
 6 Buccinum striatum, Striated Whelk. 
 ' Cardium aculeatum, Aculeated Cockle. 
 
 8 , 8 Varieties of the Nerita littoralis, Strand Nerite, which ie generally 
 yellow, but varies greatly into other colours. 
 ' Trochus umbilicaris, Umbilical Top.
 
 CHAP. III.] SHELL FISHES. 135 
 
 Balanus pudendo balaense adhaerens diclus pediculug 
 ceti boconi. 
 
 Tubuli vermium albi, sticking to stones *. 
 
 Bivalvia. 
 
 Concha e maximis admodum crassa et rotunda ex nigro 
 rufescens, Gakies*. 
 
 Concha aspera, valvis dissimilibus, unico ligamento, 
 ostreum vulgare maximum 3 . 
 
 Concha tenuis subrotunda, omninm minime cava, car- 
 dine medio sinu amplo et pyriformi. 
 
 Concha parva subrotunda, ex parte interna rubens. 
 
 Tellina intus ex viola purpurascens in ambitu serrata 4 . 
 
 Concha Ixvis chama dira, ex albo purpurascens. 
 
 Concha Ijevis chama didla, flavescens. 
 
 Solen, the Sheath, or Razor-fish j our fishers call them 
 Spouts 5 . 
 
 Peten tenuis subrufus, maculosus, circiter viginti striis 
 majoribus donatus ; our fishers call them Clams 6 . 
 
 Pe&en minimus angustior, inaequalis fere et asper, sinu 
 ad cardinem cylindriaco creberrimis minutissimisque striis 
 donatus 7 . 
 
 Pedtunculus rulgaris albidus, circiter 26. striis majus- 
 culis, at planioribus donatus, the Cockle 8 . 
 
 Conchse setiferae musculi diftae. 
 
 Musculus vulgaris, the Common Mussel 9 . 
 
 Musculus 
 
 1 Scrpulae vermicularei. 
 
 Venus mercenaria, Commercial Venus. It is of this shell that the 
 money of the American Indians, called Wampum, is made. 
 
 3 Ostrea cdulis, Common Oyster. * Donax denticulatufc 
 
 5 Solen Vagina, Pefien subrufus, Red Scallop, 
 
 7 Pe&en Purio ? Writhed Scallop. 
 Cardium edule, Common Cockle. 
 
 9 \Iytilu* edulk
 
 1-^6 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II* 
 
 Musculus maximus, the Horse Mussel r . 
 
 Multivalvfa. 
 
 Pholas nostraS quinquevalvis *. 
 Concha falso didla Aruiti/era. 3 . 
 
 Balanus 
 
 1 Mytilus Modiolus. The principal beds of cockles and mussels are It 
 the Eden. They are both esteemed for the table ; but the mussels are 
 chiefly used for bait in the white fishery. The beds on the south side of 
 the river belong to the city of St. Andrews, and the fishermen have liberty 
 ft> gather them without any payment. On the north side, they belong to 
 the estates of Leuchars and Earlshall, and have been let thfs year for the 
 first time. The fishermen of Auchmithie, in Angus, pay L. 48 for this 
 year. It is expecled a much greater rent. will be received afterwards. 
 
 * There are several species of the Pholas found on our shores^ 
 
 3 Lepas anatifera, Goosebearing Acorn shell. This curious little shell 
 was long, to the disgrace of natural history, believed to be the parent of 
 fhe Barnacle Goose, Anas Erythropus. Sibbald justly entitles it, " falsely 
 called goosebearing." The animal that inhabits it, is furnished with a 
 fcathered beard, which in a credulous age was believed to be part of the 
 young bird ; and as the shells were generally found sticking to fragments 
 of wood, they were fabled to grow on trees ; and it was considered as no 
 mean effort of an enlightened mind to disbelieve, that Claik Geese, as they 
 were then called, were not really vegetable productions; that they origi- 
 nated from, the tennant of this shell, was the firm persuasion of naturalists 
 till within these 200 years. That this absurd opinion was entertained, will 
 be sufficiently evident from the following extracts, the one from a Scottish 
 and the other an English author, both calling themselves eye-witneuet of 
 ihe transformation: " Restis now to speik of the gels genen't of the see, 
 i. irvit Clukis. Sum men belevis that thir cL-.kis growis on treis be the 
 Btlibis. JJot thair opinioun is vane. And becaus the nature and procrea- 
 tioun of thir clakis is strange, we have maid na lytyll lauboure and deli- 
 gence to serche ye treuth and verite yairof, we have salit throw ye seis 
 quhare thir clukU ar bred, and fynds, be gret experience, that the nature of 
 the seis is mair relevant caus of thair procreatioun than ony uthir thyng. 
 And howbeit thir geis ar bred mony syndry wayis, thay ar bred ay allar- 
 rrly he nature of the seis. For all treis that ar cass-n in the seis be procus 
 of tyme appcris first wornie etin, and in the small boris and hollis thairct" 
 growis small wormis. First thay schaw thair held and feit, and last of all 
 thay schaw thair plumis and wyngis. Fiualy quhcn thay ar cumyn to the 
 
 jest
 
 CHAP. III.3 SHELL FISHES. 137 
 
 just mesure and quantitc of gcis, thay flc in the aire, as othir fowlis dou, 
 as was notably provyn in the zcir of God ane thousand iiii. hundred Ixxxx. 
 in sicht of mony pepyll besyde the castell of Petslego ane gret tre waa 
 brocht be alluvion and flux of the see to land. This wonderful tre was 
 brocht to the lard of the ground, quhilk sone efter gait devyde it be ane 
 saw. Apperit than ane multitude of wormis thrawing thaym self out of 
 syndry hollis and boris of this tre. Sum of thaym war rude as thay war 
 bot new schapin. Sum had baith heid, feit and wyngis, bot thay had na 
 fcdderis. Sum of thaym war perfit schapin fowlis. At last the pepyll ha- 
 vand ylk day this tre in mair admiration, brocht it to the kirk of Sanct 
 Androis besyde the town of Tyje, quhare it remanis zit to our dayis. 
 And within two zeris efter hapnit sic ane lyk tre to cum in the firth of 
 Tay besyde Dunde wonne etin and hollit full of zoung geis in the samyn 
 nianer. Sicklike in the port of Leith beside Edinburgh within few zeris 
 efter hapnit sic ane lyke cais, ane schip namit the Cristofir (efter that scho 
 had lyin iii. zeris at ane ankir in ane of thir His) wes brocht to Leith. 
 And becaus hir tymmer (as apperit) failzcit, scho was brokin down. In- 
 continent appcrit (as afore) al the inwart partis of hir worme etin, and all 
 the hollis thairof full of geis, on the samyn maner as we have schawin. 
 Attoure gif ony man wald allege be vane argument, that this Cristofir 
 was maid of sic treis, as grew allanerly in the His, and that all the rutis 
 and trcis that growis in the said His, ar of that nature to be fynaly be na- 
 ture of the seis resolvit in geis. We preif the cuntrc thairof be ane notable 
 example schawin afore our ene. Maister Alexander Galloway Person of 
 Kynkell was with us in thir His, gevand his mynd with maist ernist be- 
 synes to serche the verite of thir obscure and mjpty dowtis. And be ad- 
 venture liftit up ane see tangle hyngand full of mussill schellis fra the rute 
 to the branchis. Sone efter he opnit ane of thir mussyll schellis, bot than 
 he was mair astonist than afore. For he saw na fische in it bot ane per- 
 fit schapin foule srnal and gret ay cfferyng to the quantite of the schelL 
 This clerk knawin ws richt desirus of sic uncouth thingis, come haistely 
 with the said tangle, and opnit it to ws with all circumstance afore re- 
 hersit. Be thir and mony othir reason is and examplis we can not bekif 
 yat thir clakis ar producit be ony nature of treis or rutis thairof, bot al- 
 l.;nerly be ye nature of the occeane see, quhilk is ye caus and production 
 of mony wonderful thingis. And becaus ye rude and ignorant pepyl saw 
 oftymcs ye frutis yat fel of je treis (quhilkis stude neir ye see) convertit 
 within schort tymc in gcis, yai belevit yat yir geis grew apon ye treis hing- 
 and be yair nebbis siclik as appillis and uthir frutis Hingis be yair stalkis, bot 
 thair opinioun is nocht to be sustenit. For als sone as thir appillis or frutis 
 fullis of the tre in the sec flude, thay grow first \vorme etin. And be schorl 
 of tynie ar alttrat in jrcis." Bocth. Cosmogmr>hic, Chap. xiv. 
 
 T
 
 138 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 Balanus cinerei coloris, velut e senis laminis striatis 
 compositus, vertice testa rhomboide occluso 5 it sticks 
 usually to mussel shells ! . 
 
 Sea Insects. 
 
 Eruca marina, the fishers call it Lug *. 
 
 Physallus Rondeletii, the fishers call it the Sea Mous. 
 
 Scolopendra marina nostras. 
 
 SECT. 
 
 " But what our eyes have scene, and hands have touched, we 
 shall declare. There is a small island in Lancashire called the Pile of 
 Foulders, wherein are found the broken pieces of old and bruised ships, 
 s6me whereof have been cast thither by shipwracke, and also the trunks 
 and bodies with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast up there like- 
 wise ; whereon is found a certain spume or froth that in time breedeth 
 unto certaine shels, in shape like those of the Muskle, but sharper pointed, 
 and of a whitish colour ; wherein is contained a thing in form like a lace 
 of silke finely woven as it were together, of a whitish colour ; one end 
 whereof is fastened unto the inside of the shell, even as the fish of Oisters 
 and Muskles are : the other end is made fast untp the belly of a rude 
 masse or lumpe, which in time commeth to the shape and form of a bird : 
 when it is perfectly formed, the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that 
 appear eth is the foresaid'lace or string ; next come the legs of the bird 
 hanging out, and as it groweth greater it openeth the shell by degrees, 
 till at length it is all come forth, and hangeth onely by the bill : in short 
 space after it commeth to full maturitie, and falleth into the sea, where it 
 gathereth feathers, and groweth to fowle bigger than a Mallard and lesser 
 than a Goose, having blacke legs and bill or beake, and feathers blackc 
 and white, spotted in such manner as is our Mag-Pie, called in some 
 places a Pie-Annet, which the people of Lancashire call by no other name 
 than a tree Goose : which place aforesaid, and all those parts adjoyning, 
 do so much abound therewith, that one of the best is bought for three 
 pence. For the truth hereof, if any doubt, may it please them to repaire 
 unto me, and I shall satisfie them by the testimbnie of good witnesses." 
 Gerard's Herbal, page 1587. 
 
 1 Lcpas Balanus, Common Barnacle. 
 
 2 Lumbricus marinus. This worm inhabits the sandy shores, and is dug 
 up for bait. Its place is distinguishable by a little rising, with an opening 
 in the top.
 
 CHAP. III.] MINERALS. 139 
 
 SECT. III. THE MINERALS FOUND UPON THE 
 COAST OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 
 
 ALUMINIS vena aquam qualitate aluminosa impregnans, 
 in the Lord Sinclair's ground. 
 
 Vitriolum viride nativum, in the same ground of the 
 Lord Sinclair. 
 
 Saxum scissile nostras ex quo alumen conficitur, it is of 
 a blackish colour and flaky, upon the coast, a little to the 
 west of the South-ferry. 
 
 Lapis ruber nostras ex quo ferrum conficitur ; this red 
 stone is banded with white lines, rising above the surface 
 of the stone. 
 
 Haematites striatus christallis tedlus. 
 
 Nitrum stalaUcum album nostras, a white dropping 
 stone, of a nitrous taste, found in a cove upon the coast 
 of Fife. 
 
 Nitrum calcarium vifide crispatum stala&icum nostras, 
 another dropping nitrous lime-stone, of a green colour out- 
 wards, but the pith betwixt the plates is white like niter ; it is 
 curled like to the fringe of some beds of late invention, in 
 a cove belonging to George Robertson of Newbigging, a 
 little west from Bruntisland, open to the firth : the roof of 
 the cove is full of isacles of this figure, hanging down 
 from it; the water which droppeth from the cove, if it 
 touch the naked hand, maketh it smart. The cove is 
 upon the steep declining of an hill, and a burn runs over 
 the cove, the murmuring of which is heard in the cove. 
 
 Stalactites nostras arborescens : this is a nitro-calcarius 
 concretion, in a hollow rock, close by the above-mentioned 
 cove, which when entire, made a beautiful show, the stalks 
 being like so many pipes of an organ standing upright, and 
 dividing at their tops in several branches, like to some 
 fragments of coral, seen in the cabinets of the curious. 
 
 Saxum vitriolicum nigrum, species Pyritis, the Coperas 
 
 T 2 stone,
 
 I4O THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 stone, a firestone, of a dark blewish colour, found on the 
 coast, near to the citadel of Leith, in balls ; some (when 
 broken) are of the colour of brass, some are of a bright 
 silver colour, which are esteemed the best. 
 
 Lapis pyramachus nostras viridis coloris ; some are green, 
 some red, and some of a dark red : some of these peebles 
 are of a clear and white perspicuous colour, some are like 
 agates. 
 
 Cos, a whetstone black and smooth. 
 
 Lapis schistus selenitidi affinis, albus, perspicuus, ferme 
 In laminas sibi cohserentes scissilis, quibusdam Quartzum 
 vocatur : I found it upon the sands at Kinghorn, near the 
 harbour they are making there. 
 
 Christallus montana nostras, found in the laird of Orrok's 
 ground, above Bruntisland ; some are found naturally of a 
 diamond-cut, very fine. 
 
 Christallus obscura violacei coloris, in the same ground ; 
 thought to have that colour from a vapour, proceeding 
 from cinnaber. 
 
 Fluor Orracensis angularis, a pointed spar, in Orrock's 
 ground. 
 
 Fluor Orracensis foliatus, a plated spar, in the same 
 ground. 
 
 ^Etitis fragmenta, pieces of that which is called the 
 Eagle-stone. 
 
 Ammochrysos Boetii, mica Wormi, yellow great Glist, 
 the spark of a gold colour. 
 
 Ammargyros, the sparks of a silver colour. 
 
 Ammochrysos ruber, a red sandy stone, with sparks of 
 the colour of silver. 
 
 Figured Stones. 
 
 Pe&unculites nostras, a sort of lime-stone, with several 
 shells, like cockles, upon it, near Lime-Kills in Fife. 
 
 Pectinites,
 
 CHAP. III.] PLANTS. 141 
 
 Peclinites, the figures of clams, upon such a stone, 
 found there also. 
 
 Musculites, a blackish stone, got out of a coal-pit, near 
 to the Magdalen-Pans, in Mid-Lothian. 
 
 Glossopetra, a shark's tooth petrified, got in Abeilady 
 bay, in East-Lothian. 
 
 SECT. IV. PLANTS GROWING UPON- THE COAST OF 
 
 THIS FIRTH t AND SOME WITHIN THE 
 
 SEA-MARK. 
 
 A. 
 
 ABSINTHIUM marlnum vulgare, Common Sea Worm- 
 wood '. 
 
 Absinthium seriphium Belgicum, B. p. English Sea 
 Wormwood, found by Dr. Balfour, near Lufness z . 
 
 Adiantum nigrum Plinii, in coves upon the north coast 
 of the firth 3 . 
 
 Adiantum caule tenui viridi, foliis mollibus, tenuioribus 
 et obtusioribus rutse Murariac accedens J. B. tertium foliis 
 minutim in oblongum scissis pediculo viridi C. B. in the 
 coves at the Weems 4 . 
 
 Adiantum priori simile, foliis latioribus et obtusioribus, 
 neutro Posticus rubiginoso. Ibidem 5 . 
 
 Adianto vero affine nostras majus, coriandri folio, in 
 apice, nonnihil rotundo, ibidem 6 . 
 
 Alsine spergula dita 2. sive spergulse facie media C. B. 
 
 spergula 
 
 1 Artemisia vulgaris, Common Wormwood. 
 1 Artemisia maritima B. Sea Wormwood. 
 3 Asplenium adiantum, Black Maiden-hair. 
 
 * Osmunda crispa, Parsley Fern. S Osmunda crispa J7. Parsley Fern. 
 6 Asplenium trickomaneides . Common Maideii-hair. It is of thi 
 kind that a syrup is made for coughs.
 
 142 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 spergula marina nostras J. B. flore albo, near Blackness '. 
 
 Alsines pelagicum genus Clusii, littoralis foliis Portu- 
 lacje C. B. 3 . 
 
 Alsine maritima flore rubente C. B. maritima Neapoli- 
 tana columnx, at the sea-side below Kinneil 3 . 
 
 Alsine spergulae facie minor, sive spergula minor flus- 
 culo subcseruleo C. B. in arenosis 3 . 
 
 Astragalus sylvaticus foiiis oblongis glabris B. P. Orobus 
 sylvaticus nostras perennis, siliquis propendentibus, radice 
 tuberosa, Morisoni Hist. OXOTJ. Wood-pease or Heath- 
 pease 4 . 
 
 Atriplex maritima laciniata C. B. 5 . 
 
 Atriplex olida silvestris, fcetida, B. P. flore purpureo . 
 
 Atriplex maritima nostras J. Raii 7 . 
 
 Atriplex marina caule rubra 8 . 
 
 B. 
 
 Beta silvestris maritima B. P. spontanea, maritima com- 
 munis, viridis Hort. Oxon. 9 . 
 
 Brassica maritima monospermos B. P. maritima major, 
 repens, multiflora, alba monospermos Hist. Oxon. I0 . 
 
 Brunella flore albo. I found it in Inch-Colm ' '. 
 
 Carduus 
 
 I Arenaria rubra B. Sea Spurrey. 2 Arenaria peploides, Sea Chickweed. 
 3, 3 Varieties of the Arenaria rubra, A. Spurrey. 
 
 * Orobus tuberosus, Wood Pease, "Heath Pease. 
 
 5 Atriplex laciniata, Frosted Sea Orache. 
 
 6 Chenopodium vulvaria, Stinking Elite. 
 
 ' Atriplex pedunculata, Common Sea Orache. 
 
 8 Atriplex marina, Serrated Sea Orache 9 Beta maritima, Sea Beet. 
 
 10 Crambe maritima, Sea Colewort. The young leaves covered up with 
 sand, and blanched while growing, are in some places boiled and eaten as 
 a great delicacy. 
 
 II Prunella vulgaris, Self-heal, sometimes bruised and applied to fresh 
 wounds, and sometimes taken in decoctions for hemorrhages.
 
 CHAP. III.] PLANTS. 143 
 
 C. 
 
 Carduus stellatus Ger. stcllatus foliis papaveris erratici 
 C. B. betwixt Blackness and the South-ferry '. 
 
 Carduus sphxrocephalus 5. sive Carduus capite rotundo 
 tomentoso C. B. in the same place with the former *. 
 
 Caryophillus marinus flore albo 3 . 
 
 Centaurium minus C. B. minus flore purpureo J. B. 
 about the Weems plentifully, and several other places upon 
 Fife side 4 . 
 
 Cichorium sativum flore cseruleo B. P. I found it in 
 Inch-Colm 5 . 
 
 Cochlearia folio sinuato C. B. I found it upon the 
 rocks of Inch-Colm 6 . 
 
 Corallina J. B. muscus maritimus, sive corallina . offici- 
 narum C. B. upon the rocks 7 . 
 
 Corallina purpurei coloris seu atrorubentis coloris, ib. 8 . 
 
 Coronopus sylvestris hirsutior B. P. coronopus, sive 
 cornu cervinum vulgo, spica plantaginis jf. B. 9 . 
 
 Coronopus Ruellii, sive Nasturtium verrucosum J. B. 
 Ambrosia campestris repens C. B. I found it near the 
 citadel of Leith 10 . 
 
 Cotula flore pleno, above Blackness ". 
 D. 
 
 Dipsacus silvestris, aut Virga pastoris major C. B. sil- 
 vestris sive labrum veneris J. B. on a brae below the castle 
 of Abercorn '*. 
 
 Echium 
 
 * Centaurea calcitrapa. * Carduus eriophorus, Woolly-headed Thistle. 
 3 Statice Limonium, Thrift. + Gentiana Ceutaurium, Lesser Ccntuary. 
 
 * Cichorium Intybus B. Endive. Cochlearia anglica, Sea Scurvygrass. 
 
 ", * These are animals of the order Lithophvta. 
 
 t 
 fj Plantago coronopifolia, Buckhorn Plantain. 
 
 10 Cochlearia Coronopus, Swir.es Cresses. " Aathemis cotula S. Maywerl. 
 2 Dipsacus fullonum, Wild Teazle.
 
 T44 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II, 
 
 E. 
 
 Eehium ftore albo. I fouml much of it in Inch-Colm '. 
 
 Echio affinis planta marina nostras, folio incano cseru- 
 lescente ad cordis effigiem formato, mihi Balforiana dita, 
 a D. Andrea Balforeo, qui mihi plantam primus ostendit : 
 it hath a blew flower, like to the bugloss flower ; it is found 
 iu several places alongst the south coast of this firth, it 
 si'rcadeth its branches around it, and grows near the sea- ; 
 mark 3 . 
 
 Equisetum marinum album lignescens. It groweth in 
 the bottom of the sea: I found it growing upon an oyster 
 shell \ 
 
 Eruca maritima Halica siliqua hastse cuspidi simili 
 B. P. 4 . 
 
 Eryngium maritimum B. P. Sea Holly, on both sides of 
 this firth 5 . 
 
 F. 
 
 Filipendula vulgaris, an Molon Plinii ? C. B. Dropwort, 
 near the castle of Bruntisland 6 . 
 
 Fucus balteiformis Raii, alga 5. sive longissimo, lato, 
 crassoque folio C. B. 7 . 
 
 Fucus capillaris viridis, near Dunibirsel. 
 
 Fucus capillaris atrorubens, ibidem. 
 
 Fucus edulis folio crispo sive intybaceo, nostris Didce 
 difto 8 . 
 
 Fucus tenuifolius extremis flagellis, vesiculis verrucosis, 
 donatis. 
 
 Fucus 
 
 1 Eehiutn vulgare, Vipers Bugk< 
 
 * Pulmonaria maritmia, Sea Bugloss. 
 
 3 An animal of the order Zoophyta. * Bunias Cakile, Sea Rocket. 
 
 5 Eryngium maritimum, Sea Holly, or Eryngo. 
 
 6 Spirea filipendula, Dropwort. ^ Fucus saccharinus, Sea Belt. 
 8 Fucus palmatus, Dulse or Dih. /
 
 CHAP. III.] PLANTS. 
 
 Fucus arboreus polyschides, in Inch-Keith f . 
 
 Fucus tenuifolius, foliis dentatis, near Barnbugle. 
 
 Fucus tenuifolius sine vesiculis. 
 
 Fucus niger instar pulvinaris Sericii. 
 
 Fungus phalloides, Phallus Hollandicus Park. Noxius 38. 
 seu foetidus, penis imaginem referens C. B. I found it 
 growing in Kirkaldy sands, amongst the sea-grass, near to 
 the West bridge *. 
 
 G. 
 
 Glaux maritima B. P. at the sea side beneath Kinneil 3 . 
 
 Glaux exigua maritima flore albo 4 . 
 
 Glaux maritima ereta, glyciriza silvestris flore luteo 
 pallescente C. B. in Inch-Keith 5 . 
 
 Gramen caninum marinum alterum Ger. found in Leith 
 sands, by Mr. James Sutherland 6 . 
 
 Gramen Cyperoides majus latifolium Park. Cyperoides 
 cum panniculis nigris J. B. Cyperoides latifolium spica 
 rufa caule triangulo C. B. in Inch-Keith. 
 
 Gramen Cyperoides palustre minus Park. Cyperoides 
 spicis minoribus minusque compatis C. B. near to die 
 South-ferry. 
 
 Gramen marinum juncifolium tenuissimum spica ave- 
 nacea. I found it in the sands below Blackness. 
 
 Gramen marinum tomentosum, incanum, in Inch-Keith, 
 
 Gramen spicatum alterum C. B. marinum spicaturn 
 Clusii, by the sea side below Kinneil 7 . 
 
 Halimus 
 
 1 Fucus digitatus C. Hangers or Sea Girdle. 
 
 2 Phallus hnpudicus, Stinkhorns, Stinking Morel. 
 
 v 
 
 3 Glaux maritima A. Sea Milkwort. * Glaux maritima B* 
 
 5 Astragalus Glycyphyllus, Wild Liquorice. 
 
 6 Elymus arcnarius, Sea Limegrass. " Armido arcnaria, Sea Recdgrass. 
 
 u
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 H. 
 
 Halimus slve Portulaca marina C. B. in Leith sands *. 
 
 Hipposelinum Theophastvi vel Smyrnium Dioscoridis 
 C. B. about the Queen's-ferry *. 
 
 Horminum silvestre Ger. silvestris Sclarea, flore cseruleo 
 purpureove magno J. B. near Bruntisland castle 3 . 
 
 I. 
 
 Irrfperatorix affinis, Umbellifera marina Scotica, J. Su- 
 therlandi. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kali geniculatum majus C. B. near Blackness 4 . 
 
 Kali spinosum cochleatum C. B. in Leith sands s . 
 
 Kali minus semine splendente* near Blackness 6 . 
 
 Kali majus frutescens semine atriplicis, below Nether- 
 Miln, near th church of Abercorn 7 . 
 
 L. 
 
 La&uca marina viridis. Some of it is yellowish, and 
 some of an ashy colour ; on the rocks within the sea 8 . 
 
 Lagopus vulgaris Park. Trifolium arvense humile spica- 
 tum sive Lagopus. I found it midrway betwixt Dalgaty 
 and Abirdour, upon the coast 9 . 
 
 Lonchitis aspera major Mathioli Park. I. sive aspera 
 C. B. Lonchitis altera cum foliis de.nticulatis, sive Lonchitis 
 
 altera 
 
 1 Atriplex portulacoides, Sea Purslane. 
 
 a Smyrnium olusatrum, Alexanders. 
 
 3 Salvia verbenaca, Wild Clary. * Salicornia fruticoso. 
 
 S Salsola Tragus, Great Glasswort. 
 
 Chenipodium maritimum, Sea Elite, White Glasswort. 
 
 7 Salicornia fruticoea B. 
 
 8 Ulva laduca, Lettuce Layer, Oystergreen, Green Slake. This plant is 
 eaten pickled and stewed, in many places. In some, it is used as an anodyne. 
 
 9 Trifolium arvense, Harcsfoot-trefoil. *'.,.
 
 CHAP. III.] PLANTS. 147- 
 
 altera Mathioli y. B. Found at Kianeil bank by Mr. 
 Sutherland '. 
 
 Lunaria racemosa minor vulgaris C. B. Botrytis J. B. 
 I found it upon a rising ground, upon the west side of 
 Northbank park, above Borrowstounness *. 
 
 M. 
 
 Malva arborea marina nostras. I found it in Irtch- 
 Garvy 3 . 
 
 Marrubium album, i . seu vulgare C. B. 4 . 
 
 Melilotus vulgaris. i. sive officinarum Germanize C. B. 
 Trifolium odoratum, sive Melilotus vulgaris flore luteo J. B. 
 in Aberlady Links 5 . 
 
 N. 
 
 Nummularia minor flore purpurascente, near to the 
 former plant 6 . 
 
 O. 
 
 Ornithopodium nodosa radice Park. By the sea side, 
 between the Queen's-ferry and Cramond 7 . 
 
 Orobanche major garophyllum olens B. P. I found it 
 below a rising, ground, upon the north side of the town of 
 Bruntisland 8 . 
 
 P. 
 
 Parietaria vulgaris Park, seu officinarum et Dioscoridis 
 C. B. 9 . 
 
 U 2 Papaver 
 
 1 Polypodium Lonchitis, Spleenwort. * Osmunda Lunaria, Moouwort. 
 
 3 Lavatera arborea, Sea Tree Mallow. 
 
 * Marrubium vulgare, White Hqrehound. 
 
 5 Trifolinm metilotus officinalis, Melilot. This plant, once so much 
 Used in emollient salves, is now generally laid aside. 
 
 Anagallis tenella, Creeping Pimpernel 
 
 7 Ornithopus^erpusillus, Birdufoot. 8 Orobanche major, Broom Rape. 
 
 o Parietaria oflicinalis, Pcllitory of the Wall. This plant is aaid to 
 destroy the Weevil among com. It w*s also formerly much used in me- 
 iiduc as a diuretic.
 
 148 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II, 
 
 Papaver corniculatum flore" luteo, near the Queen's- 
 ferry '. 
 
 Q- 
 
 Quercus marina latifolia cum Vesiculis, et eadem sine 
 vesiculis *. 
 
 R. 
 Rubia minima saxatilis Park. 3 . 
 
 S. 
 
 Scabiosa major vulgaris Ger. *. 
 Sedum minus fibre luteo J. B. 5 . 
 Senecio minor vulgaris B. P. 6 . 
 
 Scordium alterum sive Salvia agrestis S. P. Scorodonia 
 Ger. ?. 
 
 Serpillum vulgare minus C. B. 8 . 
 
 T. 
 
 Thalitrum minus B. P. minus sive rutae pratensis 
 genus minus, semine striato J. B. below the castle of 
 Kinneil 9 . 
 
 Tormentilla silvestris, B. P. l . 
 
 Tripolium 
 
 * Chelidoniura glaucium, Yellow-horned Poppy. 
 
 a Fucus vesiculosus, Bladder Sea Wrack or Ware, Fucus serratus, 
 Serrated Sea Wrack. 
 
 3 Shcrardia arvensis, Little Field Madder. 
 
 * Scabiosa arvensis, Corn Scabious. 
 
 5 Sedum acre, Pepper Stone-crop, Wall Pepper. 
 
 6 Senecio vulgaris, Groundsel. 
 
 1 Tcucrium Scorodonia, Wood Sage. This plant, on account of. its 
 1)itter and aromatic qualities, is sometimes used by the brewers instead 
 of hops. 
 
 8 Thymus serpillum, Wild Thyme, 
 o Thalidrum minus, Lesser Meadow Rue. 
 
 10 Torroentilla crecla, Tormentil or SeptfoiL The root, which consist* 
 of thick tubercles, of an .inch or more in diameter, /epletc with a red 
 
 juice
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. 140 
 
 Tripolium majus caeruleulto, near Kinneil *. 
 
 U. 
 
 Ulmaria vulgaris Park. Barba capri floribus compadHs 
 C. B. \ 
 
 V. 
 
 Verbascum album vulgare, sive Tapsus barbatus com* 
 munis Park, mas latifolium C. B. 3 . 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Continuing the Account of what relateth to the Natural 
 History of this Shir,;. 
 
 AJ.AVING treated of what belongeth to the Firth of 
 Forth, some account, in the next place, is to be given of 
 the Firth of Tay. 
 
 The river of Tay has its rise from Loch-Tay in Braid- 
 albin, and from it runs by Dunkeld in Athol, and making 
 a turn, it runs by St. Johnstoun, from whence it runs to 
 the castle of Broughty, where it looseth itself in the Ger- 
 man sea : it is navigable from Broughty Castle to the town 
 of St. Johnstoun, to which small ships come up , and there 
 is a peer there, at the which the ships load and unload ; 
 and all along the firth there are places where vessels ly to, 
 
 and 
 
 juice of an astringent quality, was formerly, and in the northern and 
 western isles, still is much used for tanning leather. In the north of Eu- 
 rope, leather is dyed of a red colour by the expressed juice of the roots. 
 1 Aster tripolium, Sea Starwort. 
 
 * Spiraea ulmaria, Meadowsweet. The whole p'ant has an astringent 
 quality, and is used in tanning. 
 
 . 3 Vcrbascura Thapsus, Mullein, Cows Lungwort.
 
 JJO THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART If. 
 
 and load or unload. After 4t hath received into it the 
 water of Erne, it grovveth broader, and swelleth to the 
 largeness of a firth, which at Dundee is two miles broad. 
 The places belonging to Fife, which ly upon the south 
 side of it, will be described in their proper place ; and what 
 concerneth this firth and its products, will be treated of in 
 the description of Angus. I proceed now to relate what 
 concerns the natural history of this shire. 
 
 The healthfulness of a country doth much depend upon 
 the goodness of the air ; the quality of it, as it is good or 
 bad, being one of the more immediate causes of health or 
 sickness. 
 
 By the air is understood that substance, which imme- 
 diately encompasseth the terraqueous globe, wherein we 
 live, which is filled with all sorts of exhalations, and is 
 comparatively good or bad, as these are more or less 
 wholesome or noxious ; exhaled from dry and wholesome 
 soils, or mineral earths, or uliginous bogs, from quick 
 living streams, or stagnant pools. And since the nature 
 and quality of the soil of this country is very different, 
 part of it being high and mountaneous, part of it low and 
 plain, part of it hills and part valleys ; and in some places 
 there are large lochs and many pools of water ; in some 
 parts there are mosses, in other moors, and upon the 
 south side of the shire there are many coal-pits : it is plain 
 the air must differ much upon this account. Yet, since 
 without all question, that is the most healthful air, which 
 prolongeth life most, and in which men enjoy most their 
 health ; this shire may be said to enjoy a very wholesome 
 air, because, in it, people of all conditions live ordinarily 
 to a great age \ not only the commons, who use a spare 
 tliet, and much exercice and labour, but even those also of 
 the better sort. One of the lairds of Balfour, not long 
 since, lived to ninety years j and several of the lairds of 
 
 Pitrnilly
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. I$t 
 
 Pitmilly have reached that age, and some to an hundred 
 years * : and, which is an argument of the wholesomeneas 
 of the country, there are some instances of the wonderful 
 fertility of some families. The first is of the laird of Bal- 
 garvie, of the sirname of Balfour. It is reported of him, 
 that when King James V. did live at Falkland, this gen* 
 tleman did wait upon the King there, at a certain time, 
 with thirty of his sons, all begotten of his own body, who 
 rode on horses with him : the king was well pleased to 
 see such handsome and comely men, and said, he would 
 take care to employ them in his service ; but it was ob- 
 served, that in a very few years thereafter they died all of 
 them. 
 
 The other instance is much latter, of another gentleman 
 of the same sirname,' Sir Michael Balfour of Denmill, who 
 (as his son the learn'd Sir Andrew Balfour told me) of the 
 children he procreate in one marriage, saw, in his own 
 time, three hundred come off him ; and the Doctor told 
 me, that he had seen near six hundred descended off hid 
 father. This happened in the last century. 
 
 And a few years ago, a woman at Bruntisland, at one 
 birth, brought forth four living children, whereof threft 
 received baptism, and lived some time. 
 
 The strange sympathy betwixt two sisters twins, of a 
 great family in this shire, may seem incredible : I should 
 not relate it, if I had not had it confirmed by their bre- 
 thren and other sisters. That one of them travelling of 
 child-birth at Edinburgh the other twin, at their seat in 
 this shire, at that instance of time, fell a crying of pain in 
 her back, for some time, which was found to be the very 
 moments of her sister's travelling in child-bed. 
 
 The cold in this country is somewhat severe, but the 
 
 houses 
 
 1 ScvcftJ authentic instance! of the longevity of natives of this county, 
 we recorded in the Stat, Ace. Vol. XVII. No. n.
 
 152 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. {PART IT. 
 
 houses are well fenced against that with planting, which 
 thrives well here : the heat is temperate, and it was here 
 that Cardan said, " Canis non mordet in Scotia V The 
 frequent breezes from the sea, or the high mountains," 
 ventilate the air, and make it very wholesome ; so it is rare 
 to hear of any epidemick disease in this shire, 
 
 I observed in the end of summer 1687, at the Over- 
 Grange, a little above Bruntisland, very big hailstones, 
 some above half an inch in diameter, of the thickness of a 
 rix-doliar, of an hexagonal figure, fiat on both sides. 
 
 The country being narrow, and the chain of hills, which 
 run from the west to the east, not being continued the 
 length of the shire, and not running in a straight line, 
 there is no river to speak of in this shire, and the channels 
 of the waters' are but short and narrow , yet these, after 
 rains, at their heads, in the heights, swell often to a great 
 bulk, and for some hours are unpassable, except where 
 there are bridges. 
 
 There are many lakes and pools, some big as that at 
 Loch-Leven, and, that at Rossie ; the others are less, they 
 are well furnished with trouts of divers sorts, pikes, pearch- 
 es, and eels, of which I shall treat particularly in the de- 
 scription of them, in their proper place. 
 
 These lakes and pools are much frequented with the fowls 
 which haunt the fresh waters, of which I shall treat in their 
 proper place. 
 
 There are some mineral waters in this shire, which are 
 best described in their proper places likewise. 
 
 The sea hath in this shire, in some places, much encroach- 
 ed upon the land. At the east of the town of Bruntisland, 
 the sea comes now far in upon the land ; some persons in 
 the town, who died not long since, did remember the 
 
 grassy 
 
 1 " In Scotland, the summer's heat is never troublesome, even in thr 
 dog days."
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. 1 53 
 
 grassy links reach to the Black-Craigs, near a mile into the sea 
 now ; and the learned Mr. George Martine, in his MS. Re- 
 liquice Sancti Andrex ', relates it as a tradition received, 
 "That the ancient Culdees, Regulus and his companions, had 
 a cell dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, about a bow-flight to 
 the east of the shoar of St Andrews, a little without the end 
 of the peer, (now in the sea,) upon a rock, called at this day 
 Our Lady's Craig : the rock is well known, and seen every 
 day at low water. The Culdees thereafter, upon the sea's 
 incroaching, built another house, at or near the place where 
 the house of the Kirkheugh now stands, called Sancta Ma- 
 ria de rupe, with St. Rule's Chapel, and says, in his time 
 there lived people in St. Andrews, who remembered to have 
 seen men play at bowls upon the east and north-sides of 
 the castle of St. Andrews, which now the sea covereth every 
 tide." Such like instances may be given of grounds covered 
 with the sea, upon the south-side of the firth also. 
 
 The nature of the soil generally is good, it is indeed more 
 fertile upon the coasts ; and there are some moors and heaths 
 in the middle part, and some moss towards the west part of 
 it, but now much of these are improved to good arable or 
 meadow ground ; yea, some of the inland valleys are not in- 
 ferior to die land upon the coast. 
 
 It will not be accounted an unreasonable digression, to 
 give some account of the rise of the moors, mosses, and bogs, 
 and how they may be improved to a better value. 
 
 By what is said already, this country was full of woods : 
 the Romans cut many of them down, to make way for the 
 marching of their forces through the country, as Tacitus 
 says, where he brings in Galgacus, complaining that " Cor- 
 pora ipsa ac manus silvis ac paludibus emuniendis conte- 
 runt *. They cut down the woods likewise, because they 
 
 11 Reliquiae Divi Andrex, Chap. II. 3. printed copy. 
 2 That is " Our bodies and bands are put by them to the drudgery of 
 paving bogs and woods." SIBBALD. 
 
 X
 
 *54 THE HftTORTf -if)F FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 were the fences and retreats our ancestors took themselves 
 to, when they were pursued by the Romans. So Herodiaii 
 showeth, That " Facilis erat ex fuga receptus barbaris, 
 quippe inter sylvas ac paltides, ac loca ipsis notissima de- 
 litescentibus V And when occasion offered of any ad- 
 vantage, they issued out of them, and fell upon the Ro- 
 mans : so they did behave after the loss they sustained ut 
 the Grampion Hill. " Postquam (inquit Tacitus) sylvis 
 appropinquarunt colle&i plurimos sequentium incautos, et 
 locorum ignaros circumveniebant V 
 
 The trees being many of them cut down : these which 
 were left standing, wanting the support of the other, were 
 easily overturned by strong winds, and falling cross the 
 waters, which run in those places, they dammed them up, 
 and gave rise to the marishes and mosses. The gyrations 
 of the water, and the precipitations of terrestrial matter 
 from it, and the putrefaction and consumption of rotten 
 bogs and branches in it, and thereupon the vast increase of 
 thick water moss, which flourisheth and groweth wonder- 
 fully upon such rotten grounds, makes them so turgid in 
 some parts, and so soft, that they cannot bear men upon 
 them to walk. They increase and grow by the perpetual 
 deterrations of earth, brought from the hills and mountains 
 by rain in moist weather, and winds in dry, till they come 
 to be of that thickness we see them now, covering, with 
 many foot of this earthy past, the trees which fell where, 
 they are now, and are found in them. This I take to have 
 been the first original of our mosses, though afterwards 
 
 they 
 
 T " The barbarians flying to the woods, marshes, and places known only 
 to themselves, found in these secret retreats, a safe refuge from their 
 enemies." ^ 
 
 z " When they, (i. e. the natives) drew near the woods, rallying, they 
 surprised their foremost pursuers, who, without knowing the country, had 
 rashly followed too far."
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. 1$$ 
 
 they increase annually, by the new. grass and sedge growing 
 upon the rotting of the old of the former year, and so on- 
 ward '. Some, by what they have observed frae some coins 
 and other things found in them, collect from the deepness 
 they were found in, and the time elapsed since they were 
 laid there, that the moss grows not above an inch or so in 
 a year's time. The Swedes and Norvegians, by long ob- 
 servation, think they can pretty near determine how long 
 they have been growing. 
 
 The earths of these mosses are of different colours, some 
 are white, some grayish, but most of them are black : the 
 opinion of some is, that these colours arise from the diffe- 
 rent degrees of their putrefaction, and they find the white, 
 by the microscopial observations, to be nothing but a corn- 
 pages and past of the leaves, seeds, flowers, stalks and roots 
 of herbs, and fruits of shrubs, which increase every year. 
 The gray is harder and more ponderous, which makes 
 them conclude these to be but a more perfect putrefaction 
 of the former. The black is the best fire, and is most 
 bituminous, and seemeth to be a perfect putrefaction of the 
 plants, which grow upon these grounds, such as the Eke- 
 agnus, the Ros Solis, the Erica and the like ; the rather, 
 that the white moss, which is visibly a past made up of 
 such like plants, is observed to be converted easily to black 
 moss, by draining of the dailes, or cutting sluces through 
 the morasses -, by which means the white moss, which be- 
 fore was like a spunge saturated with water, now drained, 
 contracts to a more compact body. 
 
 This leadeth me to consider how these mosses may be 
 converted to useful and profitable ground, which is best 
 
 X 2 done 
 
 1 This theory sufficiently accounts for the formation of mosses in vallies, 
 and is now generally received ; but it is not suificL-nt to explain their 
 appearance on the tops of hills, where they are generally fou.id in the 
 inouutamous parts of the county,
 
 156 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 done these two ways ; that is, where they are very soft and 
 full of water, by draining : which way Sir William Bruce 
 attempted, with good success, in the draining the flow- 
 moss to the north-west of his house at Kinross ; which he 
 hath made good meadow and firm ground, in which he 
 hath raised much planting : but where the moss is not so 
 soft and waterish, the burning it in a drouthy and dry sum- 
 mer is the best mean ; which my worthy friend the Lord 
 Rankeilor performed, near to his house, and made good 
 arable and pasture ground of the moss there, which I 
 know has been done successfully also in the cars of Stir- 
 lingshire, by several gentlemen there. 
 
 I come next to give account of the means and ways they 
 use in this shire to meliorate their grounds. These near 
 to the coast make much use of sea-wrack left upon the 
 shoar, after storms of wind, which they lay upon the land 
 with good success. This wrack also is an ingredient in 
 the making of alum, and glass and other manufactories, 
 slighted in this country, which yet might turn to good 
 account, since we have the stones and the matter, which 
 may make them T . 
 
 The loam and slike at the mouth of waters, where they 
 run into the sea, is very profitable for meliorating land, 
 and our neighbours use it for that end. Where they are 
 near to towns, they use muck and dung, which does turn 
 to good account j burnt shells impinguat the land : in the 
 
 inland 
 
 1 Sea weed is now manufactured into kelp along all the sea-coast of the 
 county. The whole tribe of sea weeds, comprehended under the nume- 
 rous genera of Fucus, Ulva, and Conferva, is capable of burning to afford 
 kelp; but it is chiefly obtained from the four following plants: Fucus 
 vesiculosus, Sea Oak, Black Tang ; Fucus nodosus, Bell Wrack, Yellow 
 Tang ; Fucus serratus, Jagged Ware ; Fucus digitatus, Tangle. From 
 experiments, it appears, that the kelp made in the Frith of Forth is supe- 
 rior to what is afforded by the northern isles, but inferior to that pro- 
 duced in the Hebrides. Highl. Transac. Vol. I. pages II. and 45.
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. I -7 
 
 inland country they make use of lime, which used with 
 discretion, doeth well, but when too much of it is used, it 
 wastes the ground, and makes it unfit for grass or corn, 
 and die grain produced by it is hurtful, and disposeth these 
 who use it much, to several diseases , they do well wlio 
 mix it with fat ground, and make a compost of it. There 
 are not marles wanting in the shire, which help poor 
 grounds best of all *. 
 
 There are many quarries of good stone in this shire, I 
 mean of free-stone ; that at Dalgatie upon the coast is the 
 best. 
 
 There is much lime-stone found up and down the shire, 
 and there is much iron-stone in it. On the Lomunds arc 
 found good flags for ovens. 
 
 Much cristal is got in Orrock hill, some like to the best 
 Bristol stones, some of a purplish colour, some of them 
 have pieces of moss inclosed in them. In some quarries of 
 stone, in this shire, a mineral pitch is gotten, and there is 
 fine oker gotten at Whitehill. There are vast ! quantities 
 of coal gotten in the coal-pits, and amongst them is a can- 
 nel coal, which is so hard, and of so close a texture, that it 
 will take a passable polish , hones, salts, and such like arc 
 made of it. 
 
 The coal-workers meet sometimes with damps here, as 
 well as elsewhere : it will not be unacceptable to the coal- 
 masters in this shire, to give some account of the causes of 
 these damps, and what is best for curing them. 
 
 These damps flow from stagnations in the subterraneous 
 vaults of the earth, for want of due ventilation and com- 
 merce between the inferiour and the superiour air ; the 
 causa sine qua non is certainly the want of motion in those 
 
 cavities, 
 
 1 The recent publication of the Agricultural Survey of the County of 
 Fife, by Dr. Thomson, supersedes the necessity of giving any account of 
 the present improved state of it* husbandry.
 
 158 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 cavities, without which the air would not have corrupted. 
 Hence it is that in the old works, wherein there has been 
 no digging for a long time, no laving, drawing or pump- 
 ing of water, (all which keep the air in motion, and the 
 water from cankering) these damps are most frequent and 
 dangerous ; and when coals are made dry by a sough or 
 free level, the same mine will become more liable to 
 damps j the air stagnating and corrupting, so as to kill ; a 
 smoak of the coal it self, or the steam of the workmens 
 breath, and the sweat of their bodies, and the smoak of 
 the candies they work by, but especially sulphureous, arse- 
 nical, nitrous or such like mineral steams, may produce 
 certain damps. 
 
 In several coals, especially in these about Grange and 
 Borrowstounness, there is often a fulminating damp, from 
 the oilyness and fatness of the coal, and somewhat of nitre 
 join'd with the bitumen and sulphur of the coal, and espe- 
 cially from the pyrites, they call brass lumps , these when 
 fired at the candle of the workmen, environ them with 
 flames, and burn the parts of their bodies which are ex- 
 posed, and their cloaths, and go out at the mouth of the 
 pit, with a noise like a clap of thunder, carrying all in its 
 way, before it. The most diligent enquirer into these 
 works of nature Dr. Plot, in his History of Oxfordshire, 
 Chap. 3. page 63. for a remedy of such damps, which 
 arise from the pyrites or coperas stones, and arsenic mixed 
 with them, has prescribed this remedy, that the workmen, 
 before they go down where there is any suspicion of poi- 
 sonous steams, first throw down into the pit or well, a 
 peck of good lime, which slaking in the water, and fuming 
 out at the top, will effectually dispel all such poisonous 
 vapours, so as they may safely go down, and stay some 
 time unhurt. 
 
 "Where there is. want of air, a new shaft must be set down. 
 
 The
 
 CHAP. IV*] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 The coal sometimes takes fire and burns, as it hath, long 
 done in the grounds above Dysert : fof, as Csesalpinus ob- 
 served, " Peculiare est in bitumine accendi aqua :" " bitu- 
 mens burn in water," and especially when there are brass 
 lumps mixed with them, which lying together in the old 
 canker'd waters of the pits, heat to that degree, that they 
 fire the small coal. If nitre be joined, it will make such 
 a noise, as is heard sometimes in the moor of Dysert, and 
 will produce breaches and rifts in the earth, as has been 
 there. 
 
 Besides coal, this country is well provided with peets 
 and turffs, which they have abundantly in the moors and 
 mosses. 
 
 Some years ago, there was some lead found in the 
 ground of Finmont ; and if the reports of those, who have 
 searched them for mettals, be true, there is cinnaber and 
 the lapis calaminaris, found in the Ochils, near to the west 
 march of this shire. Besides the plants I have given an 
 account of, in the isles and upon the coast, there are seve- 
 ral rare plants grow in sundry inner parts of this shire. 
 I shall give some of die rarest of them, viz. 
 
 Androsremum vulgare Parkinsoni, Androsnemum maxi- 
 mum frutescens C. B. 1 . 
 
 Aria Theophastri Ger. Alni effigie, lanato folio major 
 C. B. . 
 
 Astragalus sylvaticus Thalii, Chamsebalano leguminosae 
 aflinis planta J. B. cibus Dionis 3 vid. Prodrom. Vol. i. 
 
 Ascyron Ger. hypericum, Ascyrum didlum, caule qua- 
 drangulo J. B. Androsxmum Hirsutuni C. B. 4 . 
 
 Belli* 
 
 1 Hypericum androsae mum, Tutsan. The English name is derived from 
 the French, tout-sain, i. e. All-heal, its leaves readily healing a fresh wound. 
 a Cratagus Aria B, White Beam Tree. 
 3 Orobus tubcrosus ? 
 * Hypericum quadrangujum, St. Peter's Wort.
 
 THE HISTORY OF J?IE. [PART n. 
 
 Bellts major J. B. i. sive major silvestris caule folioso 
 C 1?. '. 
 
 Clinopodium majus Park. Origano simile C. B. z . 
 
 Cochlearia major rotundi folia, sive Batavorum Park* 
 folio subrotundo C. B. 3 . 
 
 Cynoglossum majus vulgare C. B. 4 . 
 
 Dryopteris alba Dodonsei Ger. emac. filicuta fontana 
 aiajor, sive Adianthum album, filicis folio C. B. 5 . 
 
 Eleagnus Cordi Lob. Rlius. 4. sive Myrtifolia Belgica 
 C. B. . 
 
 Filipeudula Gerardi J. B. vulgaris, an Molon Plinii 
 C. B. i. 
 
 Fungus caliculatus seminiferus : Do&or Preston found 
 it, and sent it to me s . 
 
 Gentianella fugax minor, autumnalis centaurei minoria 
 /oliis. Park. 
 
 Gramen Parnassi, flore albo simplici C. B. 9 . 
 
 Herba Paris J. B. Solanum quadrifolium bacciferum 
 C. B. 10 . 
 
 Horminum silvestre, foliis serratis. 
 
 Hypericum elegantissimum, folio glabro. 
 
 Hyacinthus 
 
 1 Chrysanthemum Icucanthemum, Great Daisy, Ox Eye. 
 
 * ClinopQdium vulgare, Wild Basil. 
 3 Cochlearia officinalis, Scurvygrass. 
 
 * Cynoglossum officinal!?, Hounds Tongue. 
 
 S Polypodium font an urn, not noticed by subsequent British writers. 
 
 a Myrica Gale, Gale or Gaul, used by the Highlanders as a substitute 
 for hops, and as a vermifuge. The Swedes extract a yellow dye from it, 
 
 ? Spiraea filipendula, Dropwort. 
 
 8 Pcziza lentifera, Black seeding Peziza. 
 
 9 Parnassia palustris, Marsh Violet, or Grass of Parnassus. 
 
 10 Paris quadrifolia, Herb Paris, True Love.
 
 CHAP. IV.] GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. l6t 
 
 Hyacinthus oblongo flore, cseruleus major C. B. J . 
 
 Imperatoria major C. B. Magistrantia Camerarii *. 
 . Lilium convallium flore albo, at Scotland Well 3 . 
 
 Marrubium album 4 . 
 
 Nymphaea alba major vulg. C. B. 5 . 
 
 Orchis, flore nudi hominis efSgiem reprsesentans, an 
 mas C. B. 6 . 
 
 Parietaria vulgaris, sive officinarum et Dioscoridis C. B. 
 
 Paronichia rutaceo folio Ger. Sedum foliis laciniatis. 6. 
 seu Trida&ylites te&orum C. B. 7 . 
 
 Ros solis, folio rotundo C. B. 8 . 
 
 Rubia minima, saxatilis. 
 
 Solatium bacciferum. i. sive officinarum 9 . 
 
 Solanum bacciferum. 4. sive melanocerasus C. B. *. 
 
 Solanum 
 
 1 Hyacinthus non scriptus, Hare Bells, Common Blue Bell of the fields 
 and woods. In May i8oz, the Society for the encouragement of Arts, 
 &c. gave a silver medal to Mr. Willis, an ingenious chemist of London, 
 for a preparation of a gummy matter from the root of this plant. He 
 discovered, that the dried bulbs yielded a substance possessing many of 
 the properties of Gum-arabic, and answering, in various branches of ma- 
 nufaclure, the same purposes, in equal quantity. The high price at which 
 gum-arabic is now sold, renders this preparation an object of essential 
 consequence, as the article is easily prepared, and the plant abounds in the 
 woods and dens of most parts of the kingdom. 
 
 * Imperatoria Ostruthium, Masterwort. 
 
 3 Con vallaria Majalis, Lilly of the Valley, May Lilly. 
 
 * Marrubium vulgare, White Horchound. 
 
 5 Nymphza alba, White Water Lilly. The Highlanders make a dye 
 of the root, of a dark chesnut colour. 
 
 6 Ophrys Anthropomorphus. 
 
 1 Saxifraga Trida&ylides, Rue-leaved Saxifrage. 
 ' Droscra rotundifolia, Round-leaved Sun Dew. 
 Solanum nigrum, Common Nightshade. 
 10 Atropa Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade. 
 
 Y
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART .l! 
 
 Solanum bacciferum 1 2. id est scandens sive Dulcamara 
 C. B. '. 
 
 Sophia chirurgorum, Nasturtium silvestre. 2. sive tenuis- 
 sime divisum C. B. z . 
 
 Tormentilla officinanim. 
 
 Trichomanes sive Polytrichum officinarum C. B. 5 . 
 
 Trifolium acetosum vulgare C. B. flore albo 4 . 
 
 Verbascum album vulgare, sive Tapsus barbatus 5 . 
 
 Viola montana lutea grandiflora C. B. 6 
 
 Xyris. i. sive Gladiolus fcetidus C. B. 7 . 
 
 There are several mineral waters in this shire ; the most 
 famous is the Spaw at Kinghorn, near to Pretty-Curr : of 
 the vertues of which Dodlor William Barclay and Doctor 
 Anderson have written treatises, which are printed. 
 
 Near to the manor of Balgrigie, there is at the foot of 
 the hill a mineral water, which hath been frequented some- 
 times by country people ; when it is poured in a vessel, 
 there doth appear a flo wring or rising of small whitish 
 particles, which makes some conjecture, it may be im- 
 pregnated with aluminous steams j it is observed to purge 
 by vomit and stool. 
 
 At Dysert there is a vitriolic water, which of late is 
 made use of. 
 
 At Kinkell, in the East Nuick, there is a mineral water, 
 which is said to participate of the ores of iron and their 
 quality. 
 
 At 
 
 1 Solanum Dulcamara, Woody Nightshade, Bittersweet. 
 
 2 Sisymbrium Sophia, Flixweed. 
 
 3 Asplenium trichomanoides, Maiden Hair. 
 
 * Oxalis acetosella, Wood Sorrel. 5 Verbascum Thapsus. 
 
 6 Viola grandiflora, Great Yellow Violet. ? Moraea fetidissima. 
 
 The editor is indebted to a learned friend for the Linnean, and many 
 of the English names of the plants in this and the preceding chapter. The 
 short notices of the uses of sorajs of. them, have been chiefly extracted 
 from Lightfoot's Flora Scotica.
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 163 
 
 At Orrok, there is a water tasting somewhat of vitriol, 
 which is solutive. 
 
 There will an account be given of the fresh-water fishes, 
 and of the water-fowls, which frequent the lochs, in their 
 proper places. 
 
 And in the particular description of the shire, there will 
 be an account given of what, relating to the natural history, 
 is most remarkable in them. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Concerning the State of the Christian Religion in this Shire. 
 
 SECT. I. CONCERNING THE CULDEES, WHO FIRST 
 
 PLANTED THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION HERE. 
 
 JL HIS chapter, containing the state of the Christian reli- 
 gion in this shire, must be divided in several sections : the 
 first is concerning the Culdees. 
 
 It is probable, that some particular persons amongst the 
 Pi&s may have been converted to the Christian religion, by 
 the Scots, who very soon embraced it : but the aera of the 
 conversion of the Pifts in this shire, is by our historians 
 deduced from the arrival, in the East Nuick of this shire, 
 of St. Regulus, (whom they call St. Rule) and his com- 
 panions, with the reliques of St. Andrew. 
 
 They differ somewhat about the time when this har>- 
 pened : our great historian Archbishop Spottiswood con- 
 descendeth on the year of Christ 370, when Hergustus 
 was king of the Picts ; and others agree, that it was when 
 Hergustus was king. Mr. Maule, in his MS. history, 
 makes Regulus to have arrived here anno 363, in the reign, 
 
 Y 2 Q
 
 164 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 of our king Fethelmachus. The extracts I have out of the 
 great register-book of the priory of St. Andrews, make 
 Constantius to have wasted the city of Patras, where the 
 reliques of St. Andrew were kept ; and to have carried 
 them away anno 345 ; and that the third night before the 
 Emperour came there, St. Rule was warned by a vision, 
 to take some of the reliques to bring them hither, and it 
 was some years thereafter before he arrived here. Fordun, 
 lib. 2. cap. 46, 47 and 48, has the history of this, and says 
 it was some years after the first vision, before Regulus left 
 Patras j and that he had a second vision, commanding him 
 to bring them hither .: upon which he took voyage by sea, 
 with his companions, and near two years thereafter suffer- 
 ed shipwrack at Muckross, upon this coast, when Hurgust 
 the son of Forgius, whom he calls (in the catalogue of the 
 Pitish kings) Forgso, reigned here j and he says, that 
 king " Hungus, suum inibi palatium juxta basilicam aedi- 
 ficans, beato Regulo suisque fratribus terras quasdam pro 
 seminandis frugibus in eleemosinam perpetuam excolendas 
 concessit 1 ." Fordun calleth Regulus an Abbot $ the ex- 
 cerpts of the old register of St. Andrew calleth him a 
 Bishop, and his companions his clerks ; and showeth, that 
 afterwards they travelled through the country, and built 
 several churches, (which in those times were built of wood, 
 with which this country abounded) the MS. mentioneth 
 three, one at Forte vioth, a town then, one at Monechata, 
 which was afterwards called Monichi, and beyond the 
 Moneth one at Doldanha, called afterwards Chondroheda- 
 lion. It is not known where these towns stood z y the 
 
 buildings, 
 
 1 " Hungus, building his palace in the same place near the church, 
 granted as a perpetual almsgift to St. Regulus arid his companions, certain 
 lands, to be cultivated for raising corn." 
 
 a The village of Fortcviot is well known. Monichi, Sibbald elsewhere 
 ^upposes to be M^onzic, and Chondrohedali'c-ii he says is Nachton, see 
 page 36,
 
 CHAP. V/] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. l6$ 
 
 buildings being then of wood, perished, and there is no 
 vestige left of 'em. Sanazar. 
 
 ; ' 
 Et queriraur genus infelix huniana labare 
 
 Membra a:vo, cum regna palam moriantur et 
 
 Regulus made his abode in the East Nuick of this shire, 
 and is reported to have lived there 3 2 years after* his arri- 
 val, serving GOD devoutly in cells, and gave the rise to the 
 Culdees, who lived there for many ages thereafter. Boe- 
 thius' Hist. lib. 6. says, that Hurgust " Struxit et haud 
 procul a palatio sacram sedem divo apostolo dicatam. Fe- 
 runt earn esse quam hodie omnibus venerabilem cernimus, 
 in medio agro canonicorum sepulturae sacro, monumentis 
 prisco more celebribus (ut est videre) sine tamen nominibus 
 refertam. Hanc prior xtas Kilreul, hoc est templum Re- 
 guli aut Regulo potius suadente structum, recentior vero 
 vetus Andreae templum, appellitat V After Hurgust, 
 their greatest benefactor was King Hungus j the extracts 
 
 out 
 
 1 " Hurgust built near his palace a church dedicated to St. Andrew. 
 It is reported to be the same that is still standing in the common burial 
 ground of the Abbey, in which there are many ancient but nameless 
 tombstones. This church was formerly called Kilreul, i. e. the Church of 
 St. Regulus, or rather the churcli built by the persuasion of St. Regulus. 
 It is now called the Old Church of St. Andrew." The tower and walls 
 of this chapel of St. Regulus or Rule, as the name is commonly used, still 
 remain. The tower is square, of about ic8 feet in height, without any 
 spire. The wall consists of exterior coatings of hewn stone, the space be- 
 tween which is filled up with small stones and lime, now so hardened, as 
 to be more difficult to cut than the stones themselves. The arches of the 
 doors and windows are semicircular. This beautiful specimen of ancient 
 architecture has lately been repaired at the expence of the Exchequer, and 
 a winding stair built from the bottom to the top, which is covered with 
 lead, within a parapet of 4 feet in height. This chapel indeed can have 
 no pretensions to the antiquity ascribed to it by Boeth. ; but the chaste 
 and simple style of its architecture, shews it to have been built before the 
 introduction of the Gothic mode, and it may have probably been reared soon 
 after the foundation, of the city of St. Andrews, in the yth century.
 
 166 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART n- 
 
 out of the old register of St. Andrews show us, that 
 Rex Hungus Basilicae santi apos'toli in parochiam dedit, 
 qoicquid terrae est inter mare quod Ishundenema diceba- 
 tur, usque ad mare quod Sletheuma vocabatur, et in ad- 
 jacent! provincia per circuitum de Largaw, usque ad Sireis 
 Canum, et de Sireis usque ad Hyhatnachten Machchirb, 
 qux tellus nunc dicitur Hadnachten. Rex vero dedit hunc 
 locum, sc. Chilrimonth Deo et S. Andreae ejus apostolo, 
 cum aquis, pratis, cum agris, cum pascuis, cum moris, 
 cum nemoribus in eleemosinam perpetuo, et tanta libertate 
 locum ilium donavit, ut illius inhabitatores liberi et quieti 
 semper existerent de exercitu, et de operibus castellorum 
 et pontium, et de inquietatione omnium saecularium exac- 
 tionum. In memoriale datae libertatis, rex Hungus cespi- 
 tern arreptum, coram nobilibus PiUs hominibus suis, us- 
 que ad iiltare St. Andreae detulit, et super illud, cespitem, 
 eundem obtulit , in praesentia testium horum hoc fatum 
 cst. Thalarg filii Ythernbuthib, Na&an filii Chelturan, 
 Garnach filii Dosnach, Drusti filii Wrthrossi, Nachtalech 
 filii Gigherti, Shinah filii Lucheren, Anegus filii Forchele, 
 Pheradath filii Phinleich, Phiachan sui filii, Bolge, Glun- 
 merach filii Taran, Demene filii Chinganena, Duptalaicli 
 filii Bargah. Isti testes ex regalia prosapia geniti &unt. 
 
 Ghana filius Dudabrath hoc monumentum scripsit, regi 
 Pherath, filio Bargoth, in villa Migdale '." 
 
 And 
 
 1 " Hungu gave for a parish to the church of St. Andrew, all the lands 
 lying betwixt the seas Ishundenema and Sletheuma, and bounded by a line 
 extending from Largo by Ceres to Hyhatnachten Machchirb, now called 
 HadNachton. And the king gave this distriA, i. e. Kilrymont, to God 
 ;tnd St. Andrew his apostle, with its waters, meadows, fields, pastures, 
 muirs, and woods, in a perpetual almsgift, with this peculiar privilege, 
 that its inhabitants should be exempted from levies, the building of castles 
 and bridges, and all taxes imposed by the state. In confirmation of this 
 privilege, the king, iu presence of his nobles, broyght a turf, cut from that
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 167 
 
 And to this is subjoined, Haec, sicut in veteribus Pic- 
 torum libris scripta reperimus, transcripsimus '." 
 
 The excerpts of the MS. register tell, that " delete fun- 
 ditus Pi&orum regno et a Scotis occupato, vkissira res et 
 possessiones ecclesiae crescebant, aut decrescebant, prout 
 reges, et principes devotionem ad S. Apostolum habebant, 
 erat autem regia urbs, Rimont, regius Mons di&a, quam 
 rex Hungus Deo et S. Apostolo dedit V This is con- 
 firmed by Buchanan, lib. 6. " Sedem (inquit) episcopalem, 
 quam Abrenethii collocarant, ad Fanum Reguli transtulit* 
 quod posteritas, Fanum Andreae, dici maluit J ." The Cul- 
 dees in this place had such reputation, that our king Con- 
 stantine III. when he abdicate the kingdom, retired amongst 
 them, and spent the five years he lived after that, in his 
 retirement, with them. 
 
 The excerpts out of the old register show, that Brude 
 
 filius, 
 
 land, and laid on the altar of St. Andrew. Thu was done In the presence 
 f these witnesses,/Thalarg, &c. All these witnesses were of the royal race." 
 See before, page 48. note 3. " This account was written by Chana or 
 Thana, son of Dudabrath, for king Vered, son of Bargot." Vered ascended 
 the throne six years after the death of Hungus, and reigned three years. 
 This copy therefore claims the high antiquity of the middle of the 9th cen- 
 tury. And if the test of Chana refers merely to the charter, it may be 
 true ; but if it relates to the whole narrative in the register containing the 
 idle legend of St. Rule, with hi* deacons, presbyters, hermits, and holy 
 Bisters, his relicks, dreams, and shipwrecks, it must be considered as a 
 subsequent forgery, invented in the cloisters so fertile in fables. 
 
 1 " These things are transcribed as we found them in the ancient books 
 of the Pifts." 
 
 * " After the destruction of the Pi&ish kingdom by the Scots, the in- 
 terests of the church flourished or decayed, in proportion to the devotion 
 which the kings and nobles paid to St. Andrew. The royal residence was 
 at Rymcnt, (L e. Kingshill) which Hungus gave to St. Andrew." 
 
 - " Kenneth translated the episcopal see, which the Pi&s had placed at 
 Abernethy, to the church of- St. Rule, which was afterwards called S:. 
 Andrew." Buch. Introd. to 3ook VL
 
 *6*8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART Ift 
 
 filius, ultimus regum Piclorum, gave to St. Servan and the 
 Culdees the isle of Loch-Leven 5 Macbeth, the son of Fin- 
 lach, gave to them Kirkness, &c. Edgar, the son of Mal- 
 colm, gave them Petwemokun ; and King Malcolm and 
 Queen Margaret gave to them die villa Balcristine. The 
 following donation is so remarkable, I shall set it down, as 
 I find it in the MS. excerpts. 
 
 EDELRADUS, vir venerandae memorix, films Malcolmi 
 regis Scotise, Abbas de Dunkelden, et insuper Comes de 
 Fyfe, terras de Admor dedit eis, et quia ditus Edelradus 
 crat infra setatem, donationem hanc confirmarunt duo ejus 
 fratres Alexander et David, in prxsentia Constantini y Co- 
 mitts de Fyfe y et Nesse, et Cormac, filii Mackbeath, et 
 Malnechte, filii Beelham, sacerdotum de Aberneth, et Mai- 
 lebryde alterius sacerdotis, .et Thnadel, et Augustini sacer- 
 dotis Keledeorum, et Berbeadh, re&oris scolarum de Aber- 
 nethy, et coram coetibus totius universitatis tune de Aber- 
 nethie ibidem degentibus, et coram Deo Omnipotente et 
 omnibus San&is, et ibi data est plenarie et universaliter ab 
 omnibus sacerdotibus, clericis et laicis malediftio Dei Om- 
 nipotentis, et beatre Marise Virginis, et omnium Sancto- 
 rum, ut Dominus Deus darct eum in exterminium et per- 
 ditionem, et omnes illos qui irritarent, et revocarent et di- 
 minuerent eleemosinam de Admore, omni populo respon- 
 dente. Amen V* 
 
 Malduinus Episcopus S. Andrese dedit eis ecclesiam de 
 Merkinch cum tota terra. 
 
 Tudal episcopus S. Andrese dedit ecclesiam de Sconin. 
 
 Modach filius Malmikel, vir piissimas recordationis, epis- 
 copus 
 
 * The circumstance that Sibbald considers as so retriarkable in this 
 charter, is, that k is granted by one Earl of Fife, of the royal family, in 
 the presence of another, of the family of Macduff. If the charter be ge- 
 nuine, this is indeed a most embarrassing circumstance, which involves the 
 history of the period in great perplexity. See Part III. 3. Chap. II.
 
 CHAP. V/] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. r<5<J 
 
 copus S. Andreae, cujus vita et do&r'ma, tota regio Scoto- 
 rum est lustrata, contulit cis ecclesiam de Hurkindorah. 
 
 Adjudicatio quartas partis terrarum de Kirkness, per 
 nobilcs et prudentes viros, a rege David constitutes, quam 
 Robertus Burgonensis miles a Kdedeis per vim rapuit, 
 quum ea Keledeis restitucrctur victo Roberto Burgo- 
 nensi. 
 
 Besides these mentioned above, the excerpts of the re- 
 gister show, that there were other lands in this shire be- 
 longed to them, " Terras quas tenent Keledei, Kinkel, Kin- 
 nadin Fihe, Kinnadin Egu, Lethin, Kerin, Kerner, Kynni- 
 nis, Rathmatgallum, Syreis, Baletoch, Kaletuise, Baleo- 
 cherthin, Pethkcnin, Kingorg*" 
 
 These Culdees or Kekdei, as they are called in the chart- 
 ers and MSS. are highly commended by these of the Romish 
 church, notwithstanding they differed in several points from, 
 them, as shall be shown afterwards. Alcu'tn, Epist. 26. di- 
 rected, " Do&issimis viris et patribus in provincia Scoto- 
 rum," shows that our people did not admit amongst them, 
 auricular confession to priests, " Dicitur (inquit) neminem, 
 ex laicis, suam velle confessionem sacerdotibus dare '." 
 And, tho' he brings several arguments against this opinion, 
 yet he gives the following character of them, in the begin- 
 ning of the letter, thus : " Plurima vestrae sagacitatis ct 
 Teligionis laus, nostris saepius insonuit auribus, seu propter 
 facratissimam monachorum vitam, seu propter laicorum 
 rcligiosam conversationem, dum illi ab omni strepitu secu- 
 laris inquietudinis, soli Deo vacare desiderant, et isti inter 
 mundanas occupationes, castissimam vitam degere dicun- 
 tur 3 ." And Georg. Con. de Duplici statu Religionis apud 
 
 Scotos, 
 
 1 " It is sold, that none of the laity confess to the priests* 
 
 * " We hear many commendations of your wisdom and piety, both on 
 account of the holy lives of the monks, who, free horn the bustle of world- 
 
 z
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART A 
 
 i. !> -' v 
 
 Scotos, pag. 14. gives this account of them. " In Culdaeis 
 videre erat idseam vitx Christianse, quse a mundi strepitu, 
 hominumque consortio abduta, caelestium rerum contem- 
 plationi tota vacabat, qualem, per Orientis provincias, eo- 
 dem et subsequentibus seculis, exercebant gloriosi illi Dei 
 servi, quos Anaehoretas et Ascitas dixere apud ^Fgyptios, 
 Grsecos et Assyrios, &c. ' " In which he equalltth them 
 to the Hermites in the East. The venerable Bede describes 
 them to us, in his account of Aidan, lib. 3* cap. 5. " Inter 
 alia (inquit) vivendi documenta, saluberrimum abstinentise 
 vel continentice clericis exemplum reliquit. Cujus doftrina 
 id maxime commendabaf omnibus, quod non aliter quam 
 vrvebat cum suis, ipse docebat. Nihil enim hujus mundi 
 quaerere, nil amare curabat. Cunfta, qua sibi a regibus 
 vA divitibus seculi donabantur, mox pauperibus qui occur- 
 rerent erogare gaudebat. Discurrere per cundta et urbanaf 
 et rustica loea non equorum dorso, sed pedum incessu vec- 
 tus, nisi si major forte, necessitas compulisset, solebat. Qua- 
 tenus ubicunque aliquos vel divites vel pauperes incedens 
 aspexisset, confestim ad hos divertens, vel ad fidei susci- 
 piendse sacramentum, si infideles essent, invitaret, vel si 
 fideles, in ipsa eos fide confortaret, atque ad eleemosynas 
 bonorumque operum> executionem et vcrbis excitaret et 
 facias. In tantum autem vita illius a nostri temporis seg- 
 nitia distabat, ut omnes qui cum eo incedebant, sive ad- 
 tonsi, sive laici meditari deberent, id est, aut legendis scrip- 
 
 turis, 
 
 ly cares, resign themselves to the service of God, and of the religious man- 
 ners of the iaitv, who in the midst of temporal occupations continue to lead 
 virtuous livts." 
 
 1 " AnMMig the Culdees was seen that pure pattern of the Christian life, 
 which, withdrawn from the noise of the world, and the society of men, 
 was wholly errpioyed in the 'contemplation of heavenly things; such as it i 
 appeared a.nong the Egyptians, Greeks, Assyrians, &c. during that and 
 the following ages, in the lives of those illustrious servants ol God wh* 
 were calkd Anchorites and Ascetics."
 
 CHAP. V-] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 
 
 turis, aut psalmis discendis operam dare V And their 
 monks lived with that same strictness, as Bede shows in 
 those Golman bred in a monastery, which he ere&ed, of 
 whom he gives this testimony, lib. 4. cap. 4. " A<1 exem- 
 plum venerabilium patrurn, sub regula et abbate canonico, 
 in magna continentia et ainceritate proprio labore manuum 
 vivunt V They differed in the observation of Pasch from 
 the church of Rome ; they kept it, as Bede, lib. 3. cap. 25. 
 shows Colman told, as the blessed Evangelist John observed 
 it in the churches where he ruled ; and, without the cere- 
 monies used by the Romanists, they baptized in any water 
 thc-y came to, as the same Bede shows, lib. 2. cap. 14. Like- 
 wise the churchmen had a different tonsure from that used 
 in the Romish church, and the bishops had no certain 
 seats : and, as Buchanan telleth us, lib. 6. " Ubi cuique 
 obvenerat occasio suum munus obibant, nullis adhuc regio- 
 nibus defining 3 ." The bishops were many of them monks, 
 
 Z 2 and 
 
 1 " Among other useful lesions, he left to the clergy his salutary ex- 
 ample of moderation and abstinence. The principal recommendation of 
 his do&rine was, that his life perfectly corresponded with it. The thii.gs 
 ef this world, he neither sought nor loved. The presents bestowed by the 
 lich and the great, he quickly distributed an ong the poor. Except in 
 cases of emergency, he never mounted on horseback, hut was wont to 
 travel every where on foot. In his journeys, if he met any, whether rich 
 or poor, he entered into conversation with them, endeavouring to convert 
 them, if they were unbelievers ; or if they were believers, to strengthen their 
 faith, and to excite them to charity and good works, both by his word and 
 his example. And so different was his life from the indolence of our times, 
 that he constrained his followers, whether clergy or lait), to devote them- 
 selves to the study cither of the sacred scriptures, or of psalmody, for the 
 church bervice." 
 
 * " After the example of the venerable fathers, they live under an ab- 
 bot, according to their own rule, in simplicity, sincerity, and moderation, by 
 
 the labour ol their hands." 
 
 3 " They performed their functions every where, oc-avo"al1y, as op^ 
 portunity offered, no certain dioceses being allotted to them," Jbuch. 
 ok VL Introd.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE." [PART II. 
 
 and had been ordained by monks, as Bede, lib. 3. cap. 3. 
 shows, " Monachi erant maxima qui ad praedicandum ve- 
 nerant. Monaehus ipse episcopus Aidanus, utpote de in- 
 sula Hy destmatus, cujus monasterium in cuncYis pene sep- 
 tentrionalium Scotorum et omnium Pilorum monasteriis, 
 non parvo t< mpore arcem tenebat, regendisque eorum po- 
 puli^ piseerat l ." What Bede calleth arx in the 5th chapter 
 of the same 3d book, he calleth it collegium in these 
 words, " Ab hac erga insula, (Hy) ab horum collegio Mo- 
 nachorum ad provinciam Anglorum, instituendam m 
 Chrisro missus est Aidanus accepto gradu episcopatus *." 
 In this isle there was a Conventus Seniorum, upon occa- 
 sions, as Bede shows, where matters of importance were 
 considered and decerned ; and ordination was given to these 
 who were found fit to receive it, as in this chapter Aidan 
 was found worthy and fit, and thereupon was ordained, being 
 present in the council, as Bede designs it. So Hy, (lona) 
 at this time, was to the Scots and Pitts such a college, as 
 the Sacred College at Jerusalem was to the Christians, in 
 the first times. And the learn'd Mr. Maule, in his MS, 
 history, sayeth, " Oui hac setate apud nos episcopi dice- 
 bantur, plane apostoli fuere, neque certam aliquam sedem 
 habusre, ast singulas provincias pedibus obibant, evange- 
 }ium predicando ac sacramenta more primitive ecclesice 
 ministrando 3 ." They did this not only in this country, but 
 
 also 
 
 1 " The preachers were chiefly monks. Bishop Aidan was a monk 
 himself ; for he was appointed from the island of lona, the monastery of 
 which exercised, for a long time, supreme power over all the monasteries 
 of the Pi<Sls, and the greater part of those of the northern Scots." 
 
 a " From the college of the monks in the island of lona, Aidan, invested 
 with episcopal power, was sent to convert the Angles to Christianity." 
 
 3 " They who hi this age were called bishops, should rather be consi- 
 dered as possessing the apostolic character ; for they had no fixed residence, 
 but travelled on foot through the different provinces, preaching the gospel, 
 and adnucistcring the *acranienu, in the manner of the primitive
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 173 
 
 also in the other countries they went to. The name was at 
 that time mriioztn^ an Oversew , and T?WT :, a President. 
 The name Praesul, which they took afterwards, was, as 
 Lazius observeth, Comment, de Republica Romana, lib. 2. 
 cap. 2. proper to the " Presides provinciarum, et accidit 
 potissimum in provinces Italise prjetoria subjedlis, ut digni- 
 tatem prsesidum sediumqus praesidialium, ipsi postca loco- 
 rum episcopi futrint secuti '." And as he remarks there, 
 Distritlus proefedura? praetorianae dioceses vocabantur *," 
 as Cicero took the word Diocesis, 3. Epist. ad Atticum, et 
 lib. 5. ad Atticum. That potentiae secularis Typhus had 
 not crept in amongst us in these first times ; we had 
 nothing ado with the church of Rome then ; and our bi- 
 shops when th, a y went abroad, had no regard to these dio- 
 ceses, tlvy ordained, wherever they came. For which 
 cause the French churches, which were then subject to the 
 church of Rome, opposed this practice of our bishops, as 
 we find in the additions to the Capitularia regum Franco- 
 rum. The " Capitalum LXV. est de Scotis, qui se Epis- 
 copos esse dicunt, et quosdam absque licentia dominorurn 
 suorum ordinant 3 ." Besides bishops and preachers, they 
 had in their monasteries, (which were indeed seminaries 
 and schools of learning and good life) likewise doctors and 
 lectors, as Bede shows, lib. 2. cap. 19. in the letter of Hila- 
 rius arch-presbyter, &c. directed, " Dile&issimis et Sanc- 
 tissimis Thomiano, Columbano, Chromano, Dimano et Ba- 
 thano episoopis, Chromano, Hermannoque, Laustrano, 
 
 Stellauo 
 
 1 " Prxsul was a title of the Presidents of the provinces, and it hap. 
 pened that it was chiefly the bishops of the Italian provinces, which wure 
 under the prctorian government, who obtained the dignity of presidents, 
 and of diocesan sec*" 
 
 * " The dUtruft of a pretorian prefect was called a Dioccse.* r 
 
 " Concerning the Scots who call thomsclves Bishops, and ordain with 
 out licence from their superiors."
 
 J74 THE HISTORY OF FI : FE. [PART H, 
 
 Stellano et Segiano presbyteris, Sarano caeterisque dotori- 
 bus seu abbatibus Scotis." And the archbishop Usher, in 
 his SyUoge veterum epist. Hibern. has one Aibini magis- 
 tri ad Colcum Ic&orem in Scotia/' addressed, " Benediclo 
 imgistri et pio patri Colcu." These our .churchmen did 
 oppose all innovations in the doctrine of our church, as 
 Bede telleth us, Hist. lib. 3. cap. 4. " Tantum ea, qus in, 
 propheticis, evangelicis et apostolicis literis discere poterant, 
 pietatis et castitatis opera dilig^nter observantes V 
 These Culdees, as Mr. Maule remarks, " Ecclesiam ad- 
 ininistrarunt, usque ad annum Christi quadringentesimum, 
 tricesimum, in summa integritate morum, turn do&rinse 
 puritate, quo anno a Celestino pontifice Romano Palladius 
 in Scotiam missus, uti annalcs nostri turn et venerabili$ 
 I3cda referunt, diu ante in Christum credentem, ubi docuit 
 festa simul et memorias ecclesiasticas cliligenter celebrare ? 
 gdvenit vero Scotiam (ut seribit Fordonus) magna cleri co 
 mitiva, Eugenii regis anno undecimo, cui rex mansionis 
 locum ubi petierat, gratis dedit. Et in hujus adventum 
 pura simplex Christiana doctrina apud Scotos fuit, prout 
 ab apostolis, ac eorum discipulis accepere. Anno 366. 
 Eugenic primo rege, monachi Christiani se in insutam 
 lonam receperunt, ubi et extruere ceperunt ccenobium, 
 quod postea aulum a divia Columba ; Eugenio secundo 
 rege Palladius, Ternanum archicpiscopum apud Pittos ac 
 Servanum episcopum ad Orcadcs insulas misit a ." Then 
 
 divisions 
 
 1 w They kept close by the doflrine of the scriptures, and lived a devout 
 life." SIBBALD. 
 
 * " The Culdecs governed the church in great integrity of manners, and 
 furity of dodrine, till the year 430, when, according to our annals, and 
 venerable Bede, Pope Celestinc sent Palladius into Scotland, which had 
 already received the Christian religion, where he taught them to observe 
 the festival^ of the church. He came to Scotland, says Fordun, attended 
 fc/ maty clergy, in the nth year of king Eugenius, from whom he ob- 
 
 taiacd
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. ir 
 
 divisions creeped in amongst our clergy, while some keep'if 
 by our Culdees, to the ancient usages of our church ; and? 
 some choosed to conform to the Romish rites. And (what 
 Austine did amongst the Britains) Palladius attempted here, 
 to biing our churchmen first to a conformity with the? 
 church of Rome, and after that to a subj^;lion to it : He? 
 came here in state, as Fordun says, lib. 3. cap. 3. " Prx- 
 dicationis autem et sacramentorum ministrationis consortem, 
 santissimum virum Servanum, habuit, quern ordinatum. 
 episcopum, quia tantae genti ministeria solus impendere 
 pastoralia non sufficiebat, ad orthodoxam populo ficUrm do- 
 cendam, ac opus sollicite perficiendum evangelii, dignura 
 per orr.nia suum etflcit adjutorem 1 ." And from the Hts- 
 toria Beuti Ktntigerni, which he citeth, he addcth, Doc- 
 trina postmodum ecclesiastica sufficienter imbutum (that is, 
 in the rites and ceremonies of the church of Rome) in omni 
 Scotorum gente suum constituit suffraganeum *:" and he 
 names, chap. 4. of the same book, Fernanus pontifexa dis-1 
 ciple of Palladius also, and Kentigernus was a disciple of 
 Servanus. And Bede telleth us, lib. 3. cap. 26. of Tuda & 
 bishop, " Qui erat apud Scotos Austrino* eruditus atque 
 
 or Jinatus . 
 
 falned a place of residence. At his arrival, the Christian do&rine among* 
 the Scots was pure and simple, as they received it from the apostles, and 
 their disciples. In the year 366, during the reign of Eugeniusl. the monks 
 rrttred to the island of lona, where they built a monastery, which was 
 afterwards enlarged by St. Columba In the reign of Eugenius IL Palia- 
 dins ser.t archbishop Ternan among the Scots, and bishop Servoa to the 
 Orkney isles." See before, page 45. notes 3 and 4. 
 
 1 " Palladius was assisted in preaching and administering the cacramenu 
 ty St. fcervan, whom he consecrated a bishop, because he was unable alone 
 to dis.harge the pastoral office in so great a nation ; and that he might 
 have a proper assistant in teaching the orthodox faith, and in perforu ii.g 
 the whole of his evangelical duty." 
 
 * " Servan being afterwards sufficiently instructed in ecclesiastical leant* 
 tof, Palladius appointed him his suffragan over all the bcots,"
 
 
 f 76 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART W, 
 
 ordinatus episcopus, habens juxta morem provinciae illiu* 
 (scilicet Nordhumbrorum) coronam tonsurae ecclesiastics, 
 et catholicam temporis Paschalis regulam observans 1 ." And 
 Bede, lib. 5. cap. 16. shows, that " Plurimae Scotorum ec- 
 clesise, instante Adamnano, catholicum Pascha susceperint," 
 and that " Pene omnes, qui ab Hyensium erant dominio 
 liberi, ab errore corre&os, ad unitatem reduxit catholicam V* 
 Thus the superstitious rites of the church of Rome came 
 in amongst us : yet the Keledei from Hy, and these bred 
 at St. Andrews, opposed these innovations, and keep'd 
 strictly the simplicity of the gospel, as they were taught by 
 the disciples of St. John, for many years after this. The 
 extracts of the register of the priory of St. Andrews says, 
 Sublatis vero a pnesenti vita sanclis qui cum reliquiis 
 
 beati 
 
 * " Who was instructed and consecrated a bishop among the southern 
 Scots, having the ecclesiastical tonsure, according to the mode of that pro* 
 vince, i. c. Northumberland, and observing the Catholic rule for keeping 
 Easter." 
 
 a " Many churches of the Scots, at the instance of Adomnan, embraced 
 the Catholic plan of keepn g Eafter; and correcting the errois of almost all 
 who were not under the influence of the monks of lona, he restored them 
 to the unity of the Catholic worship." The time of keeping Easter has 
 fceen a fertile source of contention in the Christian church. It is well 
 known to have been one of the great causes of difference betwixt the East- 
 ern and Roman churches. The churches of the East observed this feast on 
 the I4th moon, on whatever day of the week it happened ; but the church 
 of Rome observed it on the Sunday following that day, if it did not chance 
 to fall on Sunday ; but it never, as the eastern churches did, celebrated Easter 
 on a week day. The difference betwixt the two churches could consist, 
 therefore, only of six days. The dispute between the Ronan and British 
 churches was of another nature. It began in the 6th century, from the 
 Roman church adopting a computation by Dionysius Exiguus, which threw 
 the observation of Easter a whole month farther back than before. But 
 the British churches obstinately adhered to th old plan, and thus keeped 
 the feast a n onth before the Catholic church. Cuminius, who lived at the 
 time, specially mentions this difference of a month ; and the dispute between 
 the Roman and British churches was not known till Augustine the monk 
 was sent to convert the iaxone in 5^7. Keith, Preface. PinL Part VI. Ch, T.
 
 >. T.J Tilt CHRISTIAN CIIL'RCH. 
 
 beati apostoli advenerant, et eorum discipulis atquc imita- 
 toribus, cultus ibi rcligiosus deperierat, sicut et gens bar- 
 bara et inculta fuerat, habebantur tamen in ecclesia S. An- 
 dreae, quota et qualis ipsa tune erat, tredecim per successic- 
 rtem carnalcm ; (that there continued thirteen by carnal succcs- 
 sion,) quos Kelledeos appellant, qui secundum suarii aestima- 
 tionem et hominum traditionem (thus he treats what wad 
 their manner of keeping Pasch) magis quam secundum sanc- 
 torum statuta patirum vivebant, sed adhuc similiter vivunt 1 ." 
 
 The 
 
 1 " After the death of those holy men who brought the relicks of St. 
 Andrew, and of their disciples and followers, religious worship was much 
 neglected, as the nation was rude and unpolished ; yet in the church o 
 St. Andrews, such as it then was, there were thirteen called Culdees, ivbb 
 eame into office by succeisio.i t their fatbert, and who lived, and still live, ac- 
 cording to their own rule, and the tradition of men, (i. e. in the matter of 
 keeping Easter,) rather than according to the statutes of the holy fathers, 
 L e. the Popes." The expression, tredecim per successionem carnalem, is at- 
 tended with considerable difficulty ; Sir James Dalrymple interpreted it, 
 as Sibbald seems to do, that there had been thirteen generations or succes- 
 sions of Culdees. But that interpretation cannot be right ; for the body 
 f the Culdees, like every other regular body, must have had a continuous 
 existence, and could have no succession : nor, if the expression refers to 
 the individuals who composed this college, can \ve suppose, , that every 
 one of them, at one time, was in the exa& thirteenth succession from 
 his first predecessor. The translation given in the note is suggested by 
 Keith, or his friend WaL Goodall, who mentions, that as the Culdees had 
 w ives, they were succeeded by their sons, who thus formed a hereditary 
 priesthood. Marriage was certainly as proper in priests as in laymen, and 
 was so considered for many ages in the Christian church. Even till the 
 council of Rheims in 1148, monks might marry; and it cost many a 
 struggle to establish the Popish system. And even till the time of the 
 Reformation, it does not appear to have been completely adopted in Scot- 
 land, and other places, remote from the seat of ecclesiastical power. Nor 
 is hereditary succession to the priesthood without example in the middle 
 tges. It prevailed in firetagne, whose inhabitants themselves of i. Celtic 
 zace, were converted by the Irish or Scots of these days, and followed 
 their customs, and this among the rest, till it was abolished by Hildebert, 
 archbishop of Tours, in his provincial council ia 1127. In the end of thii 
 
 A a
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE- t p , ART "* 
 
 The Keldees were not confined to the priory of St. An- 
 drews, but were scattered over the country, some in the 
 Isle of Lochlevin, and some in Portmoak and Kirkaldy, some 
 "in the Isle of May : and these places, which are designed 
 kills, as Kilmenie, &c. were their seats. Some of the seats 
 were designed by the name of the Culdee, as St. Monan. 
 Yea there were of them at Culross ; and wherever either a 
 monastery or priory came to be built afterwards ; yea in 
 the cathedrals there were some of them, as at Abernethy, 
 Dunkeld and Brechin. They lived at first upon the labour 
 of their hands, and the oblations on the altar 1 j afterwards 
 donations were made to them. The excerpta out of the 
 register shows, that " Simul vivebant, et quaedam habe- 
 bant communia, pauciora scilicet et deteriora, quoedam vero 
 propria, plura scilicet et potiora, prout quisque ab amicis 
 .vuis aliqua necessitudine ad se pertinentibus, viz. consan- 
 guineis et affinibus, vel ab eis quorum animae charge sunt, 
 quod est animarum amici, sive aliis quibuslibet modis, 
 poterit quis adipisei '." Tho' married persons might 
 
 be 
 
 same century, or beginning of the next, Giraldus Cambrensis, a zealous 1 
 Catholic priest, complains, as one of the disgraces of Wales, (where, as well 
 as in Ireland, Culdees remained till his time,) " That sons got the churches 
 after their fathers, by ttuccssion, and not by eledlion, possessing and pol- 
 luting the church of God by inheritance." In Ireland, too, as we learn 
 from St. Bernard's life of Malachy, the archbishops of Armagh had suc- 
 reeded hereditarily for 15 generations. It appears that the number of 
 priests in the colleges of the Culdees was thirteen ; the provost or chief, 
 and 12 associates. This number wa* observed, either in imitation of Christ 
 :md the 12 apostles, or of their founder Colnmba, and the 12 priests who, 
 accompanied him from Ireland. The translation, therefore, in the note, 
 seems to be completely supported by fadts, and is the only way in which 
 fcensc can be made of the passage. Keith, Preface. Pink, Part VI. 
 
 1 " They lived together, and had some things in common, and the rest 
 in property. (SIDBALD.) The things kept in common were but trifling; 
 whatever of value they could obtain from their relations, or friend*, or 
 converts, and penitents, they preserved as their own property."
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 179 
 
 be Kildees, as we find by the witnesses to the dona- 
 tion of the lands of Admore by Edelradus, some of 
 them are sons to the priests ; yet, after they became 
 Culdees, they could not have their wives in their houses, 
 nor other women that might be suspected. The MS. 
 shows, that " Postquam autem Keldei effeH sunt, non li- 
 cet eis habere uxores suas in domibus suis, sed nee alias de 
 quibus mala oriatur suspicio '." The MS. extracts show, 
 that " Personae nihilominus septem fuerunt, oblationes al- 
 taris inter se dividentes, quarum septem portionum, unam 
 tantum habebat episcopus, et hospitalc unam ; quinque 
 vero reliqux in quinque caeteros dividebantur, qui nullum 
 omnino altari vel ecclesiae impendebant servitium, preter- 
 quam quod peregrines et hospites, cum plures quam sex 
 adventarent, more suo, hospitio suspiciebant, sortem mit- 
 tentes, quis quos, vel quot reciperent ? hospitale sane sem- 
 per sex, et infra suscipiebat sex V 
 
 I come now to give account how they came sensibly to 
 loose ground, till they were quite laid aside. The wars 
 xeith the Pi&s first, and afterwards with the Danes, brought 
 persecutions upon them, and they were forced most of 
 them to retire to woods and desert isles, as Adrian parti- 
 
 A a 2 cularly 
 
 * " After they became Culdees, they were not permitted to have In their 
 houses their wives, or other women, who might excite suspicion.." 
 
 * By which it appeareth, ' that the offerings made at the altar, were 
 divided into seven portions ; and the bishop performed the divine offices 
 in the church, for which he had one portion of the offering alloted to 
 him ; and there was an hospital, which then received only six strangers or 
 guests at a time, for which one portion of the offering? was allowed to it : 
 there were five other persons who attended this hospital, who performed 
 no service in the church, and they had the other five portions divided 
 amongst them. They always attended these who were in the hospital ; 
 and besides, when there happtn'd more than six to come, then they were 
 wont to cast lots, who, whom and how many they should receive ai^i 
 accommodate with themselves: they counted obedience, in the pcrfnrrdl 
 ante of these charitable works, as good as sacrifice." Sitt*LD.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II, 
 
 cularly did to the Isle of May, where he and his compani- 
 ons suffered martyrdom by the Danes, who were then Pa- 
 gans, and as the histories show, destroyed the churches 
 and religious houses, wherever they came. And when 
 our kings got time to make up the breaches the enemies 
 had made, these who succeeded, were not men of that 
 zeal, learning or austerity of life : for the MS. excerpts 
 show, that after these, who imitated Regulus and his com- 
 panions, died, " Cultus ibi religiosus deperierat, sicut gens et 
 barbara et inculta fuerat ;" and these who came to be Cul- 
 tlees at St. Andrews then, " Reditus et possessiones pro- 
 pvias habebant, quas, cum e vita decederent, uxores eorum 
 quas publice tenebant, iilii quoque, vel filise, propinqui vel 
 generi, inter se dividebant, nihilominus et altaris oblationes, 
 cui non deserviebant, quod puduisset dicere, si non libuis- 
 set eis facere. Nee potuit tantum auferri malum, usque 
 iid tempus felicis memorise regis Alexandri, san&x del 
 ecclesirc specialis amatoris , qui et ecclesiam bead Andreas 
 apostoli, possessionibus et reditibus ampliavit, multisque ac 
 anagnis muneribus cumulavit, libertatibus et consuetudini- 
 bus qucc sui regii juris erant, cum regali possessione dona- 
 vit. Terram etenim, quse cursus apri dicitur, quam cum 
 nllatse fuissent reliqui bead Andrew apostoli, rex Hungus, 
 cujus supra mentionem fecimus, Deo et S. Apostolo An- 
 tlrece dederat, et postea ablata fuerat, ex integro restituit, 
 co nimirum obtentu et conditione, ut in ipsa ecclesia consti- 
 tueretur religio ad Deo deserviendum. Non enim erat, 
 qui beati apostolo altari deserviret, nee ibi missa celebraba- 
 tur, nisi cum rex vel episcopus illo advenerat, quod raro 
 contingebat. Kcledei namque in angulo quodam ecclesix, 
 qusemodica nimis erat,suum oiFicium moresuo celebrabant 1 ." 
 
 The 
 
 : * " After tl'.c death of an)' of the Culdecs, their wives or children, or 
 relations, appropriated their estates, and even the offerings rpads at those 
 
 sjtarj
 
 CHAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Tgf 
 
 The first remedy of this corruption and backsliding of the 
 Culdees, was attempted by king Alexander I. who restored 
 the possessions and privileges, which were given them by 
 king Hungus, and had been taken from them by his suc- 
 cessors, kings of the Picts and others. I come now to 
 give account, how they were deprived of their rights and 
 privileges. 
 
 Boethius, Scot. Hist. lib. 6. fol. 92. says, " Fontificem 
 inter se communi suffragio deligebant, penes quern divina- 
 rum rerum esset potestas ; is multos deinceps annos, Scoto- 
 rum episcopus,uti nostris traditur annalibus, est appellatus'." 
 Neither (as archbishop Spotiswood observeth, History of 
 the Church of Scotland, lib. 4. png. 4.) had our bishops any 
 other title, whereby they were distinguished, before the days 
 of Malcolm III. who first divided the country into the dio- 
 ceses, appointing to every bishop the limits, within which 
 they should keep and exercise their jurisdiction. 
 
 The learn'd Mr. Robert Maule, in his MS. de Antiquitate 
 Gentis Scotorum, telleth us of these Culdees, that " Hi 
 multis seculis apud majores nostros fioruere, summa cum 
 vitcc integritate, turn sandlimonia, mansitque hoc sodalitium, 
 
 turn 
 
 altars whose service they negleAed, a sacrilege which we should have 
 been ashamed to mention, had not they, not been ashamed to do it. Nor 
 could this evil be cured till the time of king Alexander, of happy memory, 
 a special friend of the church, who bestowed many lands, and other gifts, 
 on the church of St. Andrew. And he restored the land called the JSoart 
 chest, formerly granted by king Hungus, but of which the church had 
 been deprived ; on this express condition, however, that the service of God 
 should be restored in the church ; for there was then no body who seived 
 at the altar of the holy apostle, nor was mass celebrated, except wlun the 
 Xing or the bishop happened to be present. The Culdees performed their 
 service in a ptivate and narrow corner of the church." 
 
 1 " They chose from among themselves, one to have chief authority 
 and jurisdi&ioD, who, for many years afterwards, was called Bishop of 
 the Scots."
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART It. 
 
 turn nomen, turn institutum, donee sensim imminutum ty. 
 tannide, turn ambitione episcoporum, maxime qui Andrea-* 
 fiam sedem invaserant, turn et Romanorum Pontifkum, 
 Inaximi Bonifacii oclavi ac Joannis vicessimi secundi. Ante 
 horum enim tempora, penes Culdaeos potestas omnis fuit 
 eligendi episcopos, quos fere omnes semper e suis sodalibus 
 cooptabant. Primus vero, qui huic tarn antique eletioni 
 sese opposuerit, Willielmus Vishartus fuit, qui apud Sco- 
 Jiam consecratus, idibus O&obris anni 1273. Keledeis, ut 
 author MS. scribit, tune ab eleHone exclusis. At illo pra> 
 sidente (praefuit enim septem annis, sex mensibus et novem 
 dicbus) latus illud sacrae aedis majoris, quod ad occidentem 
 spe&at, vi vente corruit. Et sic qui eum sequutus est epis- 
 copus Willielmus Fraserus, pristinum item eledHonis mo- 
 dum, seclusis Kejedeis, violavit : Cui successit Gulielmus 
 Lambertonus, nonis Novembris, anno 1 297. przeteritis item 
 Keldaeis, qua de causa Gulielmus Cuminius, Keldsorum 
 prtepositus, quem nostri priorem dicunt, Pontificem Roma-r 
 num Bonifacium odtavum appellat, coram quo difti Lam- 
 bertoni elelionem modis omnibus impugnavit, ast nihil 
 profecit, pontifice jam cun&a ad se trahente qui et prasdic- 
 tum elecl:ionem tanquam legitimam confirmavit, ac kalen- 
 dis Junii anno 1298. eundum consecravit. Qui huic suc- 
 cessit in pontificatu Jacobus Banus diclus, eleus 13 cal. 
 Junii exclusis penitus (ut inquit author MS.) Keledeis, qui 
 jam Romas, tempore ele&ionis, obtinuit episcopatum a papay 
 Joanne viccsimo secundo, qui (ut idem refert) quasi omneg 
 episcopatus mundi ad collationem suam reservavit. Pos- 
 tremo Gulielmus Bellus eleclus 14 kalend. Septembris, ex- 
 clusis tune penitus Keidsis, nullumque jus in dita elec- 
 tione vindicantibus, seu impedimentum facientibus, per 
 viam (inquit) compromissi '." 
 
 Before 
 
 1 " The Culdecs flourished many years among our ancestors, di-stiri* 
 
 guished
 
 CHAP. V-3 THB CHRISTIAN CHURCH. iffy 
 
 Before I leave these Culdees, I cannot but mention the 
 account of their labours abroad, of which, Midendorpius 
 lib. 2. Academ. after he had treated of them, says, " Quo- 
 rum discipuli Kentigernus, Columbus, Patricius, Servanus, 
 Ternanus, Aidanus, et multi alii, tantos progressus in 
 Christiana fide fecere, ut subsequenti setate, Scoticis Mona- 
 chis, nihil san&ius, nihil eruditius fuerit, et universam Eiir- 
 ropam san&issimorum virorum examina emiserunt, quibus 
 
 Fulda 
 
 guished by the purity and holiness of their lives ; and their society conti- 
 nued to flourish, till it was gradually overpowered and ruined by those 
 bishops Who forced themselves into the see of St. Andrews, and by the 
 Roman Pontiffs, particularly Popes Boniface VIII. and John XXII. Before 
 their times, the power of electing the bishops was vested in the Culdees, 
 who generally chose them from their own society. The first who opposed, 
 the ancient custom was William Wishart, who being consecrated at Scone,, 
 excluded the Culdees from the election. (While he was bishop, the west 
 side of the cathedral was blown down.) His successor, William Fraser, 
 acted in the same manner toward the Culdees. And when William Lam- 
 burton, who succeeded Fraser, attempted the same thing, Cumine, provost 
 cr prior of the Culdees, appealed to Pope Boniface VII F. before whom he 
 unsuccessfully opposed the election of Lamberton ; for the Pontiff, assum^ 
 ing authority in every thing, both confirmed the election, and consecrated 
 the bishop. His successor, too, James Bayne, bdng ele&ed without the- 
 participation of the Culdees, while he was at Rome, was consecrated by 
 Pope John XXII. as if it had belonged to the Roman see to appoint to all 
 the bishopricks of Christendom When his successor, William Bell, warn 
 elected, ako without the consent of the Culdees, they, as is said, on ac- 
 count of a compromise into which they had entered, made no opposition." 
 The Culdees continued to elect the bishops till 1140, when a priory wa 
 creeled at St. Andrews, and filled with canons regular. These seem tot 
 have joined with the Culdees in the elections of the subsequent bishops till 
 1173, though the Culdees resisted their intrusion. But after that period, 
 the canons excluded the Culdees, who neglected to make any appeal to 
 the supreme Pontiff till 1497, when they sent Cumine to plead their cause 
 t Rome, before Boniface, where they lost their cause, " nea uiendojure /,* 
 because they had suffered two former elections to proceed without them*, 
 and entered their appeal only against the third. At Dunkeld, Durablane, 
 and Brechin, the Culdees continued to elcCl the bishops much later than at 
 St. Andrews. Keith, Preface.
 
 HISTORt OF FIF& fpART if 
 
 Tulda Germanise, San&us Callus Helvetia, alkeque urbes 
 ct monasteria originem debent suam '." 
 
 And, for what they did in our own country, we have a 
 large account, with a great character of them, given by the 
 learn'd and pious Mr. Robert Boid of Trochrig, the orna- 
 ment of his age, in his Commentary upon the Ephesians, 
 cap. 6. vers. 23 et 24. 
 
 Page 1197, he says, " Prseter Bedae et aliorum historias, 
 unde primam Christianismi inter majores nostros originem 
 odorari licet et augurari, testantur hoc ipsum, ipsae nomi- 
 num priscorum reliquiae quae Albinorum lingua vernacula, 
 nobis olim genuina ac gentilitia, non aliter passim ecclesias 
 nostras quam per monachorum cellos designant. 
 
 Nempe viri illi santissimi, semoti a 1 turba curisque 
 secularibus, non tarn celebritatem quam solitudinem affe&a- 
 bant j nee regum palatia, nee spatiosa magnatum habita- 
 cula, sibi parabant, aut procurabant, sed casarum vilitate, 
 cellarumque angustiis et humilitate contenti, seipsos depri- 
 mendo, Christi Domini ac seryatoris doclirinam exaltabant 
 et exornabant, ejus, quern pnedicabant, humilitatem, et pro 
 nobis EfoySmxnv, non verbo tantum sed et facto reque jpsa 
 adumbrantes, totoque vitae suae tenore pneferentes." 
 
 Page 1195- " Quid ipsis arduum ac difficile, quid aspe- 
 rum ac molestum, quid aut longum eo usque visum est aut 
 labcriosum, ut vel ab incaepto deterreret, vel fractos et fa- 
 tigatos cogeret ante fmem succumbere atquc deficere ? non 
 certe desertorum squ-lentium horror et vastitas, non avia 
 solitude, vix feris et serpentibus habitata , non cilicii Corpus 
 
 perpetuo 
 
 1 " Their disciples, St. Mungo, &c. &c. o:c. tftade so great progress 
 in Christian knowledge, that in the following age, there were none more 
 holy, none more learned, than the Scottish monks ; and through all Eu- 
 rope they sent swarms of learned men, by whom Fulda in Germany, ancJ 
 St. Gall in Switzerland, and many other towns and monasteries, wers 
 founded."
 
 CHAP. V/j THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 
 
 perpetuo prementis asperitas ; non suscepta supra vires 
 humnnas inedia ; non cum nocHum vigiliis, dierum conti- 
 nuata jejunia, non cum jejuna's pernox et perdia rerum di- 
 vinarum contemplatio, meditatio, deprecatio, corporis ani- 
 mique coram Deo prostratio, humi cubatio, vel certe in 
 tegete aut storea (non multo meliore) dormitio ; non cor- 
 pori indicia rerum omnium prater panem et aquam absti- 
 nentia perpetua ; non cum hostilis illius tentatoris insidiis, 
 insultibus et aggressione multiplici, continua contentaque 
 lu&atio, non reliqua ilia nobis vix credenda vitse et conver- 
 sationis austeritas, fragilitatis humance modum finemque 
 pretergressa : quam tamen Christi amor, in illis omni 
 flamma vehementior, ornni obice fovtior, omni necessitate 
 cogentior, omni difficultate superior, omni morte violentior, 
 omni vita pretiosior, omni denique sive amarore, sive dul- 
 cedine, sive acerbitate, sive amcenitate potentior, intensior- 
 que, non tantum condivit, attemperavit, emolliit, sed et ob- 
 sorpsit penitus, et in contrariam suavitatem convertit V 
 
 SECT. 
 
 1 " We may not only trace, from the histories of Bedc and others, the 
 wigin and progress of Christianity among our ancestors, but may discover 
 it from the very names of the churches, which in the Gaelic, our ancient; 
 vernacular language, express, that they were the celts of monks. For 
 these holy men, retiring from the world, sought not the splendours nor 
 conveniencies of the palace or the castle, but content with the squalid hut 
 or narrow cell, they, by their humility, exalted the doctrine of Christ, and 
 exhibited in their lives the modesty of Him whom they preached, and the 
 contempt of men, which he suffered for us. What thing was there so 
 difficult, so arduous, so laborious, as to deter them from their purpose, or 
 compel them to relinquish it ! It was not the waste and desolate wilds, 
 nor the pathless desart, where scarcely the wild beast or the serpent could 
 live ; it was not the rough garment of haircloth, nor hunger endured al- 
 most beyond human strength ; it was not fasting by day, nor watching by 
 night, nor lying on the cold ground, or on a floor strewed with rushes, 
 nor perpetual contemplation, and meditation and prayer ; it was not rigid 
 abstinence from every thing but bread and water, nor continual struggles 
 with the temptations of the devil, nor an austerity of life hardly credible, 
 
 13 b
 
 THE HISTORY OF FltE. [PART It* 
 
 and passing the bounds of human frailty ; for in them the love of Christ,- 
 burning more vivid than any flame, being more powerful than any obstacle, 
 superior to every difficulty, elevated above trying dangers and seducing 
 pleasures, tempered and softened every condition, and converted the hard- 
 ships and sufferings of their lives into pleasure and joy."- This declama- 
 tory eulogy on the Culdees, shews them, after all, to have been only austere 
 and unenlightened monks. They seem to have been harshly used by the Ro- 
 manists ; and the Protestant writers, therefore, seem determined to speak in 
 their praise, and ascribe to them those characters which they ought to have 
 possessed, rather than these which they actually acquired. Among the Prote- 
 stants, too, both the great parties, Presbyterians and favourers of Episcopacy, 
 are disposed to be their panegyrists, because each conceived the discipline of 
 these primitive churchmen to have been an exemplar of their respective sys- 
 tems. That they had bishops, however, in the later periods of their his- 
 tory, is evident from the passages quoted by Sibbald, though they were 
 very unlike the bold ecclesiastic barons of the 9th and following centuries, 
 or the wealthy prelates of later times. The Culdees were the disciples of 
 Columba, missionaries from the seminary of lona, following the rule of 
 their founder. They were generally Irish priests, with perhaps a mixture 
 of Welsh from Strathclyde, the followers of St. Ninian, who converted tha 
 southern Picls. Like their masters, they were men of confined minds, 
 and of mean education, ignorant of secular learning, and devoted to a se- 
 vere bigotted piety, and a gloomy superstition. At first they closely fol- 
 lowed the regimen of lona ; but in the gradual corruption of the monastic 
 order, they came to marry, to acquire separate property, to leave their 
 places in the monastery as hereditary estates to their sons. And like 
 other corrupted monks, they were at last obliged to give way to the ca- 
 nons regular, whom the Popes were forced to institute, in order to correct 
 the depravity of the ancient orders, and whom the princes gradually intro- 
 duced into the chief monasteries. Keith, Preface. Hailes's Annals, Vol. I. 
 page 107. Pink. Part VI. Chap. I Smith's Columba. When Boid 
 culls the Gaelic the -vernacular language of this Country, he assumes what 
 remains to be proved, and what is not to be easily established. That many 
 of the names of our churches are of Celtic origin, is certain ; for the reason 
 already alluded to, that the Picls being an unlettered race, imported their 
 religion, and the little learning which the clergy had, from the college of 
 lona; and down to the nth century their clergy were Celts. It was natu- 
 ral for the priests to impose the names cf their places of worship in their 
 own language. Accordingly we find a few, in the Welsh, and very many 
 in the Irish, dialect, of the Celtic. But if it be only on Kil, which 
 begins many names, that Mr. Boid, and these who adopt the same opinion, 
 would rcct their system, the foundation is feeble indeed ; for is not Kit 
 
 merely 
 \
 
 CHAP. V.} THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 
 
 SECT. II. SHOWING HOW THE .CULDEES WERE DP.- 
 
 PRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTS. 
 
 I MEET with no account how the Keledees were turned 
 out of their right*, so good as that I find in the MS. ex- 
 cerpts out of the great register of the priory of St. An- 
 drews ; and therefore I shall set it down as I find it in the 
 Latin copy. The Culdees relaxing that strict discipline 
 they had observed before, king Alexander I. took notice of 
 it ; and, when he restored to them the lands designed Cur- 
 sus Apri, (which had been taken from them) he did upon 
 that condition restore them, That they should attend dili- 
 gently the service of God in the church, which they per- 
 formed only when the king or the bishop came to it, 
 which was but seldom. The MS. also remarks that, 
 " Keledei in angulo quodam ecclesue, qu3e rnodica nimis 
 erat, suum officium more suo celebrabant," which insinu- 
 ates that their way of performing the divine service, differ- 
 ed from the Roman way, which at that time came to be 
 followed by many of the other clergy ': and to keep them 
 
 B b 2 to 
 
 merely the abbreviation of the Latin Cella ? (pronounced Ke'la) the lan- 
 guage in which all the services of the clergy were then performed ; or if 
 it must be taken from the vernacular language, the Gothic dialeds can 
 supply Kel, tatiut, hollow, Kit, a spring, Kit, a narrow angle ; any of which 
 are certainly as applicable in some cases as the Gaelic Kit, which is a con- 
 traction of Kcil, a church yard ; and not a burying place, as some consider 
 it, for this in Gaelic is CladL. The names that are undoubtedly Gaelic, are 
 tlun to be a&cribcd to the clergy from keland and lona, who denominated 
 their churches, villages and lands, in their own language ; and being the 
 ole literati among the Pidts, bestowed names even on large trads, which 
 passed into charters, and among the people. Pink. I. Part. III. Chap. II. 
 Stat. Ace. passim, particularly Vol. I No. 30. and Vol. XX. No. 3. 
 
 1 There is little reason to suppose, that the churches of the PiAs, or of 
 present Scotland, north of Forth and CMyde, had much connexion with 
 
 RO:TV;
 
 1 88 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART n. 
 
 . 
 
 to the constant performance of the divine service, in his 
 latter days, he got Robert the first prior of the church of 
 Scoon, to be elected (as the MS. has it) Scotorum Episco- 
 pus ; for so, in ancient time, the bishops of St. Andrews 
 were designed. Hence was it that Fothet a bishop of great 
 authority, caused write on the case of the Evangile these 
 verses. 
 
 " Hanc Evangelii thecam constraxit aviti 
 " Fothet, qui Scotis summus Episcopus est V 
 
 And the MS. says, u Nunc quoque in vulgari et communi 
 locutione, Escop Alban, Episcopi Albania; appellantur 3 ." 
 And the same king Alexander recommended it to king 
 David, who alone of his brethren was then alive, to take 
 care as well of the church, as of the kingdom, and to see 
 Robert, the elel bishop, consecrated, which he performed ; 
 who did thereafter apply himself to have the church en- 
 larged, and took care that the divine worship was duly per- 
 formed ; 
 
 Rome till the 9th century. Established by Columba and his followers, they 
 continued to regard lona as their parent, submitted to its .rules, and re- 
 garded its abbot as their head. The ravages of the Danes in lona, and the 
 erection of the bishoprick of St. Andrews in the end of the pth century, 
 destroyed this connexion, and left the church open to the influence of 
 Rome, now spreading itself in every direction. Little trace of papal 
 power, however, is to be found in Scotland till the beginning of the xatli 
 century, when John of Crema, under the title San<5U Crysogoni, appeared 
 as the fi rst papal legate, a short time after Alexander I. had brought 
 Robert, canon of St. Oswald de Nostellis, (i. e. Nastelay, near Pontefradt 
 in Yorkshire) afterwards prior of Scone, and bishop of St. Andrews, with 
 five other Englishmen, to instrudl his people in the rules prescribed by St. 
 Augustine. Keith, page 6. Pink. Vol. II. Part VI. Chap. I. 
 
 1 In some copies, primus is printed instead of summus. The meaning, 
 however, is not that Fothad was the first bishop of the Scots as to time, 
 but that he was chief or fust in rank. It will be seen afterwards, that 
 .KciLtch was bishop of St. Andrews before him. 
 
 " And still the chief bishops of Scotlajid arc, in common language, 
 called hscop Alban." 

 
 61IAP. V.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 189' 
 
 formed ; and he did expend the seventh part of the offerings 
 upon the altar, in promoving the work about the church ; 
 and because it went but slowly on that way, by the con- 
 cession of king David, " Oblationes altaris, a manibus laico- 
 rum, tarn virorum quam mulierum exceptce, in usus ecclesiae 
 sunt receptx ' ;" so the church was founded, and brought 
 thereafter a good length, " Domibus quibusdaminceptis, <jui- 
 busdam ita exa&is cum claustro ut jam possent inhabitatores 
 introduci, qui non nimia quaererent, et interim per patientiam. 
 expe&arent , D. Adeloldum episcopum Carleolensem expe- 
 tiit, tam per literas, quam per missaticos, per vivam quoque 
 vocem regis David, sibi concedi de ecclesia S. Oswaldi, cui 
 ipse episcopus, jure prioris, pneerat, personam quem in 
 partem sui laboris assumeret, et canonicis, quos in ecclesif* 
 S. Andrea: statuere disponebnt, priorem constitueretV By 
 this it appeareth, that when by taking from the laicks the 
 offerings, which were allotted to them formerly, they came 
 to fail , he supplied others out of these in England, who 
 conformed to the Roman rites. This the MS. shows thus : 
 " Memoratus frater Robertus, ex pnecepto episcopi ali- 
 quandiu apud S. Andream conversatus est, sine canonicis, 
 non tamen sine clericis, prxbente D. episcopo necessaria 
 sibi et suis. In ecclesia vero nullam habebat, nee habere 
 volebat potestatem, donee ei dominus procuraret, quam op- 
 tabat, ad Dei servitium, societatem. 
 
 Niliil 
 
 1 " All the oblations were after that applied for the use of the church." 
 
 5lBBALD. 
 
 a " When some houses with the cloister, were so far finished, as to ad- 
 mit as residents men of moderate and contented minds, who could wait 
 with patience till hetter accommodations were prepared, Robert requested 
 Ethelwolf, bishop of Carlisle, by letters and messengers, and through the 
 personal solicitation of king David, to send him from the church of St. 
 Oswald, of which the bishop was then prior, a person fit to share in his 
 labours, and to be appointed prior to the canons he was resolved to plac 
 ii the church of St. Andrews."
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. FpART II. 
 
 Nihil tamen de se presumens, sed totum se Deo defe- 
 rens ; Dei se ordinationi submittens, Deum sedulo depreca- 
 batur, ut cum visitare et consolari dignaretur ; et tale do- 
 naret ei religionis fundamentum ponere, supra quod, con- 
 $trur,um aedificium firmum esset, et stabile j sicut enim in 
 corde statuerat, nequaquam in alienos labores introire vole- 
 bat, quod fortasse sibi facile foret, de aliis et diversis eccle- 
 siis, sibi fratres sociare ; ne forte diversi, diversa sentientes, 
 dum qui essent, videri appeterent, in unitatem non conve- 
 nirent ; et sic antequam jaceretur fundamentum, pateretur 
 fabrica, detrimentum ; si quos tamen, modo quo ipse dis- 
 ponebat vivere paratos, ei Deus adduceret, eos benigne sus* 
 ciperet '." 
 
 By which it is clear, that this Robert was for the cere* 
 monies introduced amongst the Saxons, who were convert- 
 ed to be Christians, by Austine the monk ; and he opposed 
 the way of keeping Easter, and the way of baptism without 
 chrysm, and the way of tonsure, these of the British church 
 used in a different way from that the Romish priests ob- 
 served, 
 
 1 " Brother or friar Robert, by the command of the bishop, who main- 
 tained him and his followers, lived some time at St. Andrews without 
 canons, but not without clergy ; for he neither had, nor wished to have, 
 any power in the church, till providence should enable him to procure 
 such men as he wished to employ in the service of God. And presuming 
 nothing of himself, he prayed, that God would visit and support him, and 
 enable him to establish a foundation for his worship, which might be 
 stable and permanent ; for he had resolved not to associate to himself 
 priests of other churches, lest differing in sentiments, the fabric might be 
 ruined ere it was well founded ; but he willingly received any who were 
 prepared to observe the rule he was about to establish." Brought for the 
 purpose of introducing the rule of Augustine, and submission to the Roman 
 ee, Robert atfted with great prudence in not associating with his canons 
 any of the Culdees, " priests of other churches," as the MS. calls them; 
 for it was not to be eipe&cd that the Culdees, a kind of secular clergy, 
 married, and possessed of personal and heritable property, would eve; 
 hoirtily conform to the self-denying ordinances of the canons regular,
 
 tHAP. V.J "THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 191 
 
 served, and the clergies marrying of wives; also it was 
 upon these considerations, that he did not take from other 
 churches here, such as might supply these he wanted ; be- 
 cause, in our churches, the most part of our churchmen 
 observed all these rites their ancestors the disciples of St. 
 John had conveyed (by a long succession) to them. 
 
 " Interea fratre Roberto ex praecepto episcopi (ut diturn 
 est) ibidem commorante ; D. episcopo autem circa incep- 
 tum segnius agdnte, venit rex (David) una cum filk) suo 
 Henrico Comite, et rege designate ; ad S. Andream ora- 
 tionis gratia, multique cum eis comitum et potentium terra, 
 in crastino autem, audita missa, et horis, ex more, et obla- 
 tione fa&a, veniens rex in claustrum, quale illud tune erat, 
 simul cum illis qui secum venerant, et residentibus cunclis, 
 primo multa, qux nihil attinet, tandem causam, pro qua 
 pracipue venerat, aperuit rex. Convenit igitur episcopum, 
 cur sicut disposuisse dixerat, et rex Alexander constituent, 
 opus et servitium Dei non acceleraret, ut in ecclesia bead 
 Andreas religionem constitueret, cumque post multas con- 
 troversias, caUsaretur D. episcopus, possessiones episcopi, 
 non licere sibi minuere, vel dispergere, ne forte a successore 
 suo, a servis Dei auferretur, quod ab eo conferretur ; re- 
 spondit rex et dixit, ut de terra ilia quae cursus apri dicitur, 
 quaj de episcopo non erat (it belongeth properly to the 
 Culdees, as was said, who resided there in the church) 
 quam rex Alexander frater eis propter hoc Deo et S. An- 
 dreae donaverat, ut in ecclesia ejus, religio constitueretur, 
 sufficienter eis tribueret ; et tarn ipse quam filius ejus con- 
 cederet, et ad instaurandam terram auxilium ferrent, quod et 
 fecerunt, et alios quosdam, cum jocando tamen, juvarc 
 compulemnt '." 
 
 I 
 
 1 " While friar Robert continued at St. Andrews by order of the bi- 
 rhop, who, however, did not much promote his design, king David came 
 
 tha*
 
 t<)2 THE rilSTORY Ot IFE. [PART H."] 
 
 I find in the same extracts, that, " David rex Insulam 
 de Lochlevin, et omnia prius donata Keledeis in ilia mo 
 rantibus, (of which donations there is an account already 
 given) concessit prioratui S. Andrex *." 
 
 Tune dominus episcopus quasi sponte'coa&us, de ter- 
 ris personarum, quse obeuntibus eis in manum ejus obvene- 
 rant, quam libuit portionem, consilio, et assensu regis, et 
 filii ejus, et ceterorum baronum qui aderant, fratri Roberto 
 in manum tradidit unde fratres ad Dei servitium, illo ve- 
 nientes, interim sustentari debuissent, nee tamen circa opus 
 ecclesiae segnius egit, sed quo citius consummaret, omnibus 
 modis sategit. 
 
 Ipsa 
 
 there for the purpose of devotion, attended by Earl Henry his son and heir 
 apparent, and others of his nobles. On the day after his arrival, the king 
 went to the cloister, attended by his nobles and the resident canons. After 
 mentioning several unimportant matters, he explained the cause of this 
 visit ; and asked at the bishop why he had not, as he had engaged, and 
 king Alexander had appointed, concurred in establishing the new religious 
 order in the church of St. Andrews. The bishop replied, that he could 
 not dilapidate the episcopal revenues, lest some of his successors should en- 
 tirely grant away the estates which his Majesty had conferred. The king 
 then said, that he would give them enough out of the land called the 
 Boars chase, which did not belong to the bishop, but had been bestowed by 
 his brother Alexander, for this very purpose, and that he and his son would 
 cause these lands to be given up and thus applied, which they both after- 
 wards fulfilled, and prevailed on others to assist." It appears from Mar- 
 tine, that several noblemen and others assisted the king in founding and 
 endowing the priory. The bishop was Robert whom Alexander I. had 
 made prior of Scone in nlj. He succeeded Eadmer as bishop of St. 
 Andrews in the same reign in 1122, but was not consecrated till 1147 
 or nz8, the 4th year of the reign of David I. He bestowed a large 
 extent of the episcopal estates on the priory, and is always considered as 
 hs founder. Bishop Robert enjoyed the see till 1158. The other Robert 
 tvas also prior of Scone, and seems to have been an Englishman. He lived 
 only till 1 142. See Part III. Chap. IV. Martinet Reliquiae. Keith. 
 Hailcs, Vol. I. 
 
 ' * " King David gave to the priory of St Andrews, the island of Loch- 
 levin, (St. Serf's Inch) and all that had been formerly granted to the CuldeeS 
 who resided there."
 
 HAP. v.] THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 193 
 
 " Ipsa die, piae memoriae Robertas presbyter domini 
 episcopi uterinus frater, corde, voce, et opere seculo abre- 
 nuntians ad Deo deserviendum in ecclesifi beati Andrea:, 
 sub canonica regula S. patris nostri Augustini, in manum 
 fratris Roberti prioris, se reddidit, cum ecclesia. sua de 
 Tinningham, annuente D. episcopo, ita sane, ut vel eccle- 
 siam illam haberent canonici, vel L solidos per annum "-" 
 
 Thus the art, cunning and fraud of these who conform'd 
 to the Romish rites, in abusing of the simplicity of this 
 good king David L doth appear : they (as the proverb has 
 it) " Tirr'd the Kirk, to theek the Quire," and cunningly 
 got these on their side, to be placed in the room of the 
 Culdees, who died, and keep'd the places vacant, till such 
 time as they got, from England and elsewhere, some of 
 their own sentiments, to reimplace ; and the bishop, with- 
 out the council of the Culdees, took upon him to dispose 
 matters thus, to the ruine of the Culdees in favours of the 
 Romanists. 
 
 Thus the Culdees sensibly lost much of their right, nor 
 were they insensible of it ; there was much struggling be- 
 fore they yielded, tho' both the court and the Pope opposed 
 them. I find, in the index of the extracts of the large re- 
 gister of the priory of St. Andrews, the titles of these 
 papers. 
 
 Relatio 
 
 1 " Then the bishop as it were of his own accord, by consent of the 
 king andhis son and the barons present, gave such portion as he pleased, of the 
 lands which had come into his hands, to friar Robert, for the maintenance 
 of the canons whom he should establish there. Nor did he go carelessly 
 about this business of the church, but exerted himself that it might be 
 brought to a speedy conclusion. That very day, Robert the Presbyter, of 
 pious memory, uterine brother of the bishop, renouncing the world, gave 
 himself, along with his church of Tyningham, for the service of God in 
 the church of St. Andrews, under the canonical vows of St. Augustine, 
 the bishop consenting that the priory should have either the said church; 
 T fifty shillings yearly." 
 
 Cc
 
 ' 
 
 Jp4 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART I!* 
 
 Relatio quid accident de controversial post mortem 
 Willielmi Frazer episcopi et instrumentum de eo 1209. 
 
 Decisio controversial inter Keledeos et episcopum de 
 jurisdiction agri per Th. Ranulphum guardtanum citra 
 mare Scoticum, anno 1309. 
 
 Petitio Keledeorum, et subjetio eornm episcopo S. 
 Andreae. 
 
 So it appears, that after many contestations, they were 
 obliged to submit to the bishop's terms, who for all that did 
 not think themselves secure, till the Culdees were divested 
 of their lands, and turn'd out of all the right and power 
 they had. There is a record in the Lawiers library of the 
 tenor following. 
 
 " A<3ta in ecclesia parochiali de Innerkethyn, anno se- 
 cundo regni, regis Alexandri, gratise anno 1250. crastina 
 Santi Leonard!, coram domino abbate de Dumfermling, 
 capellano domini papae et cancellario domini regis Sco- 
 tia?, et domino R. Thesaurario ecclesis Dunkeldensis, 
 fungentibus aucloritate apostolica inter dominum prio- 
 rem et conventum Santi Andrese ex una parte, et 
 magistrtun Adam Malkarwistun gerentem se pro prae- 
 posito ecclesiee San6lx Mariae civitatis S. Andrea?, et 
 Keledeos se gcrentes pro canonicis et eorum vicariis ex al- 
 tera, cum dies prjenominatus esset prsestitus ad publican- 
 clum sententiara latanr per priorem S. Oswald et de Kir- 
 cham, in magistrum Adam de MaHcarwiston, Ricardum 
 Weyrancm, Gullielmum Wischard, Robertum de Insula, 
 Patricium de Mouchard, Michael Rufli, Michaelem Nigri, 
 et quosque alios Keledeos, prontentes se pro canonicis, 
 et quosque alios inobcdientes et rebeHes ecclesix, S. Mariss, 
 S. Andrea, et ad inquirendum, utrum didli Keledei et 
 eorum vicarii divina celebrarint t sic llgati y et ad statuendum, 
 quod canonicurii fucnt super praemissis. Prsefati Abbas et 
 ;1 Wliesauranu3 alis prseccdcntibas inhserentes, usi consilio 
 
 juris 
 
 *
 
 CHAP. V.] . THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 195 
 
 juris, per eorum sententiam latam per prsedictos priores 
 de 8. Osualdo et de Kyrcliam, in personas prsenominatas, 
 solempniter publicarunt, super inquisitione facienda, utrum 
 divina cclebrawrint sic Ugatt, testes admiserunt, et eorum 
 dila in scriptis redigi fecerunt, et diem partibus prsestite- 
 terunt, die Sabbati proximo post festum S. Andreae in ec- 
 clesia fratrum pnedicatorum de Pert, ad publicandum at* 
 testationes et dudum in testes et testificata, et ad ulterius 
 procedendum, secundum formam mandati apostolici ; et . 
 licet dicti judices, prsenominatis praepositio et Keledeis ob 
 eorum manefestam contumaciam, de jure paenam possent 
 infligere. Paenam cis infligendam usque ad diem partibus 
 praestitam distulefunt '." 
 
 It is like this severe procedure against them, forced these 
 Culdees to submit to the bishop of St. Andrews. 
 
 C c 2 SECT. 
 
 1 The purport of this original paper, and the nature of the dispute, are 
 well explained by Keith, though he differs widely from Sibbald in hisopinion 
 as to the treatment the Culdees met with. " The controversy was this : The 
 prior and convent of St. Andrews claimed the precedency and superiority in 
 the direction and management of affairs in St. Mary's Church of St. Andrew?, 
 which the Culdees would not allow : for they maintained, and with a 
 good deal of reason too, that Mr. Adam Malkirwistun, their prior, was 
 provost. of St. Mary's Church, and that they themselves were the canons. 
 The matter was appealed to the Pope of Rome, and he delegated the priors 
 of St. Oswald and Kyrkham in England, (who being of another kingdom, 
 it was to be supposed, would deal the more impartially) to enquire into 
 the matter, and to determine according to justice. The delegates found 
 the Culdees in the wrong, and in the mean time suspended them from 
 their office ; but delayed to pronounce their final sentence, which they 
 appointed to be done by Robert abbot of Dunfermline, one of the Pope's 
 chaplains, and chancellor of Scotland, and the treasurer of Dunkeld, upon 
 the 7th November 1250, whom they ordained to enquire also, whether 
 these Culdees, and their vicars, hac i the mean time celebrated divine 
 ordinances, while they were thus under ecclesiastical censure: Et adinqui- 
 rendum, utrum divina celcbraverint sic legati. The Culdees did not make 
 their appearance at the day appointed; yet notwithstanding their contu- 
 macy, the delegates mildly enough delayed the publication of the sentence 
 till another time." Keith, Preface,
 
 THE HISTORY OF flFE. [PART II, 
 
 SECT. III. CONCERNING THE RELIGIOUS HOUSES AND 
 HOSPITALS IN THESE SHIRES. 
 
 THE persecution by the pagan tyrants gave the first rise 
 to the hermites of old, who were called by the Greeks 
 jtiov%oi, because of their solitary retirement. They were 
 soon sensible of the inconveniency of living alone ; and 
 therefore, as the sociable nature of man inclined them, 
 they thought it better to meet together to serve GOD at 
 certain times : and from this, afterwards they choosed to 
 cohabite and live together, for mutual comfort and security. 
 They gave themselves much to prayer, and to earn their 
 living by the labour of their hands, by cultivating the 
 ground, and dressing gardens ordinarily ; by which means 
 they subsisted themselves, and were soon enabled to relieve 
 the poor that passed that way. They begun to take them- 
 selves to this way of life in this country, and monks spred 
 them far and wide j the country being full of woods then, 
 they soon erected churches : their austere life, and the 
 care they took to propagate the Christian dobrine, pur- 
 chased them many friends. The learn'd and pious Mr. 
 Robert Boid of Trochrig has elegantly represented the ad- 
 vantages which good Christians had by them, in his Com- 
 mentary upon the 6th chap, of the Ephes. v. 23. and 24. 
 pag. 1 199. in these words, " Quae est sacrilega temporum 
 nostrorum iniquitas, a nobis deflenda ac deploranda sum- 
 mopere ne ilia quidem in pietatis usum supersunt loca re- 
 ligiosa, per hoc regnum universum olim commode et co- 
 piose constituta j monasteria, inquam, sive ccenobia, qux> 
 vel in hominum Christo soli famulantium stativa, vitaxjue 
 sanctions exercitia, pii nostri majores opportune sacrave- 
 rant ; vcl per illius rcvi cxcitatem superstition! dicata, potue- 
 U a nobis, immo debuerunt, ad originis sute primsevis 
 
 puritatem
 
 . V.] TH CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 197 
 
 puritatem revocari, sublatoque sanctorum et idolorum cuku 
 sacrilege, sublatis votorum laqucis in hominum conscien- 
 tias temere et fradulenter injeclis, reliquoque fermento pa- 
 pisticae supcrstitionis expurgate, secundum pise veritatis, 
 verseque pietatis normam reformari ; quo commodas quo- 
 que inter nos stationes, et receptus opportunos haberent, 
 quicunque rerum secularium et curis et vinculis expeditl 
 cuperent vi'tsc stri&ioris iter ampleti, carni et peccato bel- 
 lum internecinum indicere, se ad Christi cruccm tollendam 
 accingere, se, ut ejus decet athletas, per omnia continentes 
 prsebere, divinisque se totos obsequiis mancipare; ut his 
 moribus informati, hac imbuti disciplina, hac pietatis pa- 
 Isestra diu multumque suba&i et exerciti, non sub florcra 
 tantum adolescentix, sed et ad annos usque graviores, Deo 
 postmodum evocante, possent ex illis tanquam gazophy-. 
 laciis, aut vasorum sacrorum armariis et apothecis, in omnes 
 ecclesix usus, et necessitates accirf. Nunquid enim sic 
 fieri, occupari septa ilia claustralia prsestitisset, quam in illo- 
 rum sacrilegorum laicorum manus et possessionem venisse, 
 quibus ea nunc in prxdam cesserunt, &c. Et infra, ne quod 
 uspiam piis ac devotis hominibus aut incipientibus, aut 
 proficientibus, aut emcritis et rude donatis inter nos re- 
 ceptaculum superesset, ne qua inter nos exstaret, vel 
 juventuti palaestra, vel sene6luti proseucha, vel orbitati so- 
 latium, vel paupertati perfugium, vel virginitati secre- 
 tum, vel viduitati receptus, vel devotion! secessus, &c'." 
 
 There 
 
 1 " It is a gross and lamentable iniquity of our times, that, of the many 
 religious houses once so plentifully scattered over the whole kingdom, none 
 remains. These sacred retreats, whether reared by the piety or the super- 
 tition of our ancestors, might and ought to be restored to their original 
 pious purposes, after we should have reformed them from all popish abuse; 
 and corruptions. By these means, we should have proper retirements for 
 studious and contemplative men, who, renouncing the world and the flesh, 
 fh.QVld devote thcr.isdvei to the service of Christ, and who, prepared and 
 
 trained
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART II. 
 
 There shall be an account given of the religious houses 
 and hospitals in these shires, in the Fourth Part of this 
 book. 
 
 trained by strict religious discipline, might, when God called them, come 
 forth fit instruments to promote the interest of the church and religion. 
 Would not this be a better application of them, than converting them to 
 the use of secular proprietors? There remains no where amongst us a 
 retreat for pious men, either for the young beginning or pursuing their 
 studies, or for those who have finished their honest labours, with but little 
 provision for their old age. There exists not a place of instruction for the 
 young, or of prayer for the aged, or of protection for the orphan and the 
 poor ; no retreat for the virgin's modesty, or the widow's sorrows ; ne 
 sanctuary for devotion, &c." 
 
 END OF PART SECOND.
 
 SECT. I.] DIVISION OF THE SHIRE. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 THE MODERN STATE OF THIS" SHIRE. 
 
 To the Earl of WEEMS, Lord ELCHO, Vice-Admiral of 
 North-Britain ; and to the Nobility and Gentry of the name 
 
 of t WEEMS, SHAW, TOSHEAU, DUFF, DOUGLASS, 
 LESLT, and ABIRNETHT, Descended of the CLANN 
 MACK-DUFF. 
 
 This PART is humbly Dedicated 
 by the Author, 
 
 ROBERT SIBBALD. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF THE SHIRE OF FIFE. 
 
 COUNTRIES are divided by geographers, either natu- 
 rally, according to the state of the rivers and mountains ; 
 or politically, according to the pleasure and jurisdiction of 
 princes. 
 
 Naturally this shire is divided, first, by the mountains 
 which are in the middle of it, the Lomunds j into that part 
 which lieth upon the south side of them, and that which 
 lieth upon the north side of them ; and by the water o 
 Edin, in that which lieth upon the south side of Edin, 
 and tliat which lieth to the north of it ; and by the 
 firths and the sea into that part of it, which lieth upon the 
 north side of the Firth of Forth, and that which lieth upon 
 the south side of Tay, and that which is washed by the 
 German Ocean, the east part of it. 
 
 Politically,
 
 THE .HISTORY OF FIFE. f>A RT *** 
 
 Politically, it is divided by the jurisdictions, civil or ec- 
 clesiastical , the civil, into that which is properly liable to 
 the sheriff's court, the stewartry and the regalities j the eccle- 
 siastical, by the districts of the four presbyteries, viz. That 
 of Dumfermling and Kirkaldy, upon the south side, that 
 of Couper upon the north side, arid St. Andrews on the 
 cast side. 
 
 The following inquisition giveth an account of a division 
 of the shire. 
 
 Hsec inquisitio fala in curia Vice-comitis de Fife, tenta 
 in prKtorio burgi de Cupro, per nobilem domiuurn, Patri- 
 cium, dominum Lindsay de Byres, et Johannem, magis- 
 trum Lindsay de Pitcruvie militem, Vice-comites de Fife : 
 de mandato supremi domini nostri regis, per literas suas 
 patentes sub signeto, v Vice-comiti et deputatis suis de Fife 
 desuper ctireL Die ultimo mensis Martii, anno Domini 
 1517. per hos subscriptps, viz. 
 
 ANDREAM MURRAY de Balvaird milit. 
 ,GEGRGIUM DISCHINGTON de Ardross. 
 
 JACOBUM LUNDIN de Balgony. 
 
 JOAN. WARDLAW de Torrie. 
 4 ini -|AND. SEATON de Parbroth. 
 
 D AVID. .STEWART de .Rasay th. 
 
 DAVID. BARCLAY de Cullernie. 
 
 THOMAM FORRESTER de Strathenry. 
 
 JOHAN. MALVIL de Carnbie. 
 
 JOHAN. TRAIL de Blebo. 
 
 THOM. LUMISDEAN de Conland. 
 
 JOHAN. CLEPHAN de Carslogie. 
 
 GEORG. STRANG de Balcaskie. 
 
 
 
 JOAN. SCHEVEZ de Kemback. 
 ALEXAND. AUCHMOUTIE de eodem. 
 WILLIELMUM MONIPENNY de Pitmilly. 
 JOHAN. RANKEILOR de eodem.
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 LD VALUATION. 
 
 DAVID. BARCLAY de Touch. 
 
 JOAN. HAY de Foodie. 
 
 ALEXAND. LOCHMALONIE de eodem. 
 
 THOM. DISCHINGTON, Capitanum Palatii S. Andrese. 
 
 JOWANN. FORRESTER de le Newtoun. 
 
 JOAN. SEATON de Balbirnie. 
 
 DAVID. TULLIE de Hillicairnie. 
 
 Qui jurati dicunt quod terra Vice-comitatus de Fife 
 hacreditarie possess, per barones, libere tenentes, vassallos, 
 vel tenentes regis, ecclesiie, seu aliorum superiorum quo- 
 rumcunque, extendunt ad summas subsequentes, juxta ex- 
 tentum vetus earundem. 
 
 Edin Barter. 
 
 THE Barony of Arin- 
 
 gosk 
 
 Kilgospertie 
 Katochle 
 
 The half of Binn 
 Little Aringosk 
 Balcanquell 
 Pittuncarlie and Leaden- 
 
 Urquhal 
 The East part of Strath- 
 
 miglo 
 
 Pitlowre Easter 
 Pitlowre Wester 
 Demperstoun with 
 
 Layng's Land and 
 
 the Annual 
 Ridie 
 
 Wester-Dron 
 Hill-Dron 
 The Barony of Balin- 
 
 briech in property j 
 
 Balinbriech, Higham, 
 
 Glenduckie, Logic, 
 
 Fliskmilln, and Kirk- 
 
 Flisk 
 
 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 lib. 
 
 .r. 
 
 The>3gpdries of the 
 
 
 
 
 .rrie^ viz. 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Dunbolg - 10 
 
 o 
 
 2*^0 
 
 Cullernie - 5 
 
 o 
 
 in 
 
 
 
 Balmedieside - 4 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 Pitauchop - 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 Balhelvie - 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Drumbarrow 4 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 The two parts of Cosie 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Lumbennie Easter 3 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Lumbennie Wester 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Pitcairlie - 4 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Mugdrum - I 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Balmedie - 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Parbroth, and Lindif- 
 
 
 
 
 fren-Seaton -.-*.(... 8 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 o 
 
 Lindiffren-Barclay i 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 o Lochmalonie - 2 
 
 o 
 
 4 
 
 o Criech 4 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 o Mountwhannie with the 
 
 
 
 
 annual of Easterfer- 
 
 
 
 
 nie 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 The two Kinsliefs 5 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Myrecairnie - 5 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Pitblado ^ 5 
 
 o 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Hillcairnie ;"ji ' 5 
 
 o 
 
 D d Kilmaron
 
 202 
 
 THE HISTORY OF T1FE. 
 
 [PART 115* 
 
 lib. J. 
 
 lib s. 
 
 ICilmaron . - 5 o 
 
 Strath-henry's Lands i o 
 
 Torr - i o 
 
 The quarter of Muirton 
 
 Lillock - i o 
 
 hi the Keips-head i o 
 
 Mount 4 o 
 
 The Barony of Nach- 
 
 Kingask - 2 c 
 
 toun in property -80 
 
 Pittincrief - 3 o 
 
 Wormet - 3 o 
 
 Foxtoun - 4 o 
 
 Saintford Hay - 2 o 
 
 "Wester-Fernie - 10 o 
 
 Saklhane - I o 
 
 Drumelochup * i o 
 
 Little Friertoun ; '**- ; 'i o 
 
 Nether Rankeilor 1 2 o 
 
 Innerdivot Lightoun 3 <3 
 
 Over Rankeilor * 5 
 
 The Laird of Kinnaird's 
 
 Kilquhiss - I o 
 
 Lands, and the annual 
 
 Carslogie - 5 o 
 
 in property, within the 
 
 Easter-Forret with the 
 
 Barony of Nauchtoun 8 p 
 
 anntial - 10 o 
 
 The Newtoun - 20 
 
 Wester-Forret 5 o 
 
 Innerdivot-Leisles 2 o 
 
 Tor-Cathlock with the 
 
 Laverock-law - 2 d 
 
 annual - 4 
 
 Saintfoord-Nairn and lit- 
 
 Tor-Forret - i o 
 
 tle Newtoun 3 o 
 
 Nether Cathlock 4 o 
 
 Baledmond - 3 q 
 
 Kittitie and Craigs Un- 
 
 Balmullo - -50 
 
 quhar 4 o 
 
 Pitcullo - 3 o 
 
 Cruvie, Brigghouse and 
 
 The Freeland of Lun- 
 
 Logic - 60 
 
 doirs - I o 
 
 The Barony of Cruvie 
 
 Craig'sland of Friertoun o i o 
 
 in property - 24 o 
 
 Constabulary of Crail. 
 
 Luklaw - 20 
 
 The Barony of Kippo 15 o 
 
 Southield - I 10 
 
 Banbot - 20 
 
 Seygte with the an- 
 
 Kilduncan - 20 
 
 nual - 4 o 
 
 Crookstoun - i o 
 
 Leuchars-Ramsay in 
 
 Gilminstoun and Kirk- 
 
 property 8 o 
 
 ladie, Newhall and Le- 
 
 Leuchars-Monipenny in 
 
 thom - 4 a 
 
 property - 80 
 
 Randerstoun - 3 o 
 
 Brackmount 3 o 
 
 Cambo and Belshies 4 a 
 
 Moncur his lands i i o Wolmerstoun 3 o 
 
 Pusk i 10 Pinkertoun and Pit- 
 
 Leuchars Weems lo oj towie -20 
 
 The Rynd - i o^alcomie - 5 
 
 Fains-Lunds # - 3 o Turnalithers - i o 
 
 Red\vel!s
 
 SECT. I.] 
 
 OLD VALUATION. 
 
 lib. 
 
 j. 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 Redwells - i 
 
 
 
 Balmoukin - 2 
 
 o 
 
 Airdrie -*r 4 
 
 
 
 The Lang-side - o 
 
 10 
 
 West-barns - i o 
 
 o 
 
 The Kirkness - 2 
 
 o 
 
 Caiplochie - 5 
 
 c 
 
 Leven htarter. 
 
 
 Pittenweem - 20 
 
 
 
 The Barony of Lundie 20 
 
 o 
 
 Anstruther - 6 
 
 
 
 The Barony of Taisses 1 2 
 
 o 
 
 Balhoufie and Gordons- 
 
 
 Cocklaws - i 
 
 o 
 
 hall - - 6 
 
 c 
 
 The Barony of Siras 1 5 
 
 o 
 
 P:ilmounts - 4 
 
 
 
 The third part of Craig- 
 
 
 Drumrawick - I 
 
 c 
 
 hall, Baltullie, and 
 
 
 The Barony of Carn- 
 
 
 Kingarrock - 2 
 
 o 
 
 bie, the Mains - 6 
 
 
 
 The third part of Pitscot- 
 
 
 Over-Carnbie - 3 
 
 c 
 
 tie, Easter Pitscottie, 
 
 
 Carngloun - I 
 
 
 
 and Dura 4 
 
 o 
 
 The East-side of the 
 
 
 Rumgallie * 2 
 
 
 
 Mains of Kellie and 
 
 
 Wester-Tarvet and half 
 
 
 Pitkirie - 10 
 
 c 
 
 of Balbirnie - I o 
 
 
 
 The West side of the 
 
 
 Sipsies i 
 
 
 
 Mains of Kellie 6 
 
 
 
 The two part of Lassin- 
 
 
 Bandotho and Bellistoun i 
 
 c 
 
 dock - 2 
 
 o 
 
 Over-Kelly and Green- 
 
 
 Carskirdo - 4 
 
 10 
 
 side - i 
 
 
 
 Skelpie i 
 
 
 
 Pitcorthie Easter - 2 
 
 
 
 Cults with Baxters 
 
 
 Abercrumbie - 8 
 
 
 
 Lands i o 
 
 o 
 
 The Stentoun - o 
 
 10 
 
 The Barony of Pitlessie 8 
 
 o 
 
 BalcaskieandEvinstoun 8 
 
 
 
 Burnturk - 3 
 
 
 
 Ardross - i o 
 
 
 
 Dounfield - 2 
 
 
 
 Kilbrackmount - 10 
 
 c 
 
 Clattie 8 
 
 
 
 Kincraig - 4 
 
 c 
 
 The Castlefield of Cupar i 
 
 o 
 
 Saintfoord - 4 
 
 
 
 Collistoun - i 
 
 o 
 
 Riras with the Perti- 
 
 
 Durie 6 
 
 o 
 
 nents - 20 
 
 
 
 Drumaird 5 
 
 o 
 
 Lathallau - 5 
 
 c 
 
 Kennoquhie - 5 
 
 o 
 
 Bannetie - i 
 
 
 
 Duniface - 3 
 
 
 
 Cassingray - 2 
 
 c 
 
 Little Balcurvie - i 
 
 
 
 Stratherlie - 2 
 
 
 
 Meikle Balcurvie 4 
 
 o 
 
 Pittcruvie - I 
 
 
 
 Dovan - 3 
 
 o 
 
 Edindownle I 
 
 10 
 
 Auchtermairnie 4 
 
 o 
 
 Giblistoun - 4 
 
 o Carristoun - 2 
 
 
 
 Balcormo - 3 
 
 o Pyotstoun i 
 
 
 
 Dd 2 
 
 Rothmekye
 
 S04 
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. 
 
 [PART in. 
 
 Rothmekye 
 
 Balingall 
 
 Holl Kettle 
 
 Ramsay's Forther 
 
 Wester-Lathrisk 
 
 Easter-Lathrisk 
 
 Orkie 
 
 Fairlie's Lands 
 
 The South side of Bal- 
 birnie 
 
 Brunt-toun and Dalg- 
 inch "* 
 
 Markinch Easter 
 
 Markinch Wester 
 
 Treatoun and Newtoun 
 
 Lethom 
 
 Balgonie with the Perti- 
 nents, viz. Miltoun, 
 Coaltoun, Hospital and 
 Carnboyis 
 
 Balfour 
 
 The Maw 
 
 Weems Easter 
 
 Weems Wester 
 
 Tulliebraik 
 
 The East part of Dy- 
 sert - 12 
 
 The West part of Dy- 
 sert 8 
 
 Ravenscraig,Wilkiston, 
 and Carberrie - 2 
 
 Wester-Touch - i 
 
 Easter-Touch and Bogie 2 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 Arnot - r 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 o Strath-henry - 9 
 
 -O 
 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 The Barony of Lesly 24 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 The Tenendries of the 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 same, viz. 
 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 Balwhomrie - 5 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Balgothrie - 3 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 Pitkevy - 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pitcairn - 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Glaslie - 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 The Ballo - 2 
 
 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Conland - 5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Balindon - 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Coule - i 
 
 
 
 1 9 
 
 
 
 Pur in o v 3 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 Kilgowre - i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cash - 3 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 Wester Urquhart and 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 Middle Urquhart 3 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 Loppy Urquhart i 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Coxstoun - 3 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Innerkeithing Quarter. 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 The East part of Inner- 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 keithing Mains - i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 The Barony of Aber- 
 
 
 dowr, viz. the Mains, 
 Damhie,Humbies, and 
 the two Balbartons 20 
 
 o Glasmouth with the 
 Pertinents in property 20 
 
 o Wester Bucklevie 2 
 
 i o The Castle-rigs of King- 
 horn, Tyrie, Seafield, 
 
 Innertiel 
 
 5 
 
 o 
 
 and Grange 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Skfdowuy 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Easter Pittedie 
 
 i 
 
 GJ 
 
 Easter Strathore 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Wester Pittedie 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Auchmoutie 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 Lord Glumes' Lands in 
 
 
 
 Auchmuir 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Kinghorn 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Kinuimound 
 
 I 
 
 o Dalgatie 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Carclwan 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 Kincarnie , - 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 The
 
 SECT. I.] 
 
 OLD VALUATION. 
 
 lib. 
 
 26$ 
 
 The Barony of Fordell 16 
 Pittadro - 5 
 
 Balbugie and Castle 
 
 Lands - 7 
 
 The Daills and Spen- 
 
 serfield 4 
 
 Spittlefield - 2 
 
 Hillfield,Brodlandsand 
 
 Millands - 10 
 
 The Barony of Resyth 
 
 in property - 16 
 Balmanno's Beath 2 
 
 The Loch-head *<*'-' ^t". 
 Lochgellie - 3 
 
 Lumfennans - 3 
 
 Pitcairns and Towchits 6 
 Raith, Glennistoun and 
 
 Powguild - 3 
 
 The East part of 
 
 Lochorshire - 3 
 Balbedie - 2 
 
 Muirton, Starndy, Pit- 
 
 kenie and Dundonald 2 
 The two part of Easter 
 
 Newtoun - 2 
 
 Dunfermling Quarter. 
 Pittincrief, Gallowrig 
 
 and Clunie - 3 
 
 Urquhart - 5 
 
 The two part of Pit- 
 
 firren - I 
 
 Pitcourquhais - 2 
 Pitdinnis - 4 
 
 The half of Termounth 3 
 Balgonvar - 5 
 
 Blacksauling - i 
 
 Brodland Sawling, and 
 
 the Sandy Dub 2 
 
 Cliesh-Meldrum - 2 
 Little Sauling - i 
 
 s. lib. 
 
 fm 
 
 o Cliesh AHardice - 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 Winton's part of Cliesh i 
 Janet Kinloch's part of 
 Cliesh i 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 Kirkness J^ [ 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 The Lands of Carnbeath, 
 except Lindsay's part 4 
 Lindsay's part of Cliesh 
 and Carnbeath 5 
 Tichindad - i 
 
 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Alexander Allardice's 
 
 
 
 
 annual of Carnbeath 2 
 
 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 Cowdrain and the Maw 4 
 Tullibol - 5 
 Regality of the Church. 
 Auchter-Monsey - 8 
 Foodie Easter - 2 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Colluthie - 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 Kilmainie - 12 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Burghlie - ^r 
 Newton of Kincaiple 2 
 Nydin Easter, with per- 
 tinents of Clatto 2 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Nydin Wester -'' o j- 
 Myretoun - 3 
 Blebo with the Perti- 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 nents - 4 
 Balasse - 2 
 
 Q 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Nether-tarvet - 2 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 Over-tarvet - 3 
 Gladney - 2 
 The quarter of Cuno- 
 quhie , 2 
 Kirkpotie - 2 
 Auchter-uther-struther 6 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Arnydie M*--? o 
 Lathon i 
 
 IO 
 10 
 
 
 
 The Muirtoun of La- 
 
 
 
 
 thocker - 2 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Feddinch - 2 
 
 
 
 JDinninno
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 [PART in. 
 
 Dinninno 
 
 Balhaly 
 
 Jnnergelly 
 
 Kilconquhair 
 
 Muircambus. 
 
 Scoonie 
 
 Methill 
 
 Kirkforther 
 
 Cavill 
 
 lib. 
 
 /. 
 
 lib. s. 
 
 2 
 
 O 
 
 Lambieletham andCarn- 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 gowre 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 Pitmillie 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 Kinkell 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Balmanno 
 
 i 
 
 10 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 The Raith 
 
 5 
 
 o 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 Clunies 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Balweerie 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Lord Glames' Lands in 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 o 
 
 Tents-muirs 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Orrock 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 IO 
 
 Silliebabie 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Logic beside Dunferm- 
 
 
 
 '3 
 
 o 
 
 ling 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balmain ^-ft ( 
 
 I 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 Over-magask - 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 Nether^magask r,-> 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 r o 
 
 JO 
 
 * Total 1358 
 
 IO 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Carnock 
 Urritille 
 Kinninmond, Ladedie 
 
 and Baldinny 
 Kinkell with the part 
 
 of Clatto 
 Letham 
 Balgrumo 
 
 Gib'sLands of the Ferry o 10 
 The Binnyes 
 
 In quorum fidem et testimonium sigilla quorundam baro- 
 num super dita inquisitione existen : una cum sigillo ofllcii 
 Vice-comitis antedifti, presentibus sunt appensa. 
 
 Tenet cum principali copia inquisitionis copiat. per M. 
 Georgium Cook, et ad formam ejus copiat. et col- 
 lationat. per me Jacobuin Anderson, Scribam curiw 
 Vice-comitis de Fife. 
 
 The following list gives an account of the churches^ 
 chapels and parodies, as of old, and now. 
 Anno Undecimo Regis Willielmi. 
 In the Deanry of Fothrife. Dunfermling 
 
 ECCLESIA de Clackmannan 
 
 De Muckard 
 
 Karnock 
 
 Torry 
 
 Innerkeithing 
 Kinghorn 
 Kircaldie 
 Dysart 
 
 Weems 
 
 * The amount of this extent or valuation is, in Scots money, L. 1358, ics. 
 and in Sterling, L. 113 : 4 : 2. The valuation of Fife, 1695, called the new 
 extent, will be given in the Appendix.
 
 SECT. 
 
 LIST OP PARISHES, 
 
 Weems 
 
 Methkill 
 
 Cliesh 
 
 Kinross 
 
 Portmoke 
 
 Auchterdiran cum capella 
 
 Kinglassie 
 
 Markinch 
 
 Wester Kingorn or Brunt* 
 
 island 
 
 Auchtermuchty 
 Aringosk 
 Forther 
 Quilt 
 Lathrisk cum capella 
 
 In the Deanry of Fife. 
 Ecclesia de Carale 
 Killrinny 
 Anstruther 
 Abercrumby 
 Kelly 
 
 Kilconquhar cum capella 
 Newburn 
 
 Largo 
 
 Scoony 
 
 Kennoway 
 
 Siras 
 
 Tarvet 
 
 Kembak 
 
 Dinnino 
 
 St. Andrews 
 
 Arch-Deanry of St. Andrew* 
 
 Leuchars cum capella. 
 
 Forgund 
 
 Logy-Murdo 
 
 Kilmainy 
 
 Flisk cum capella 
 
 Lundoris 
 
 Cullessie 
 
 Monymeal 
 
 Creich cum capella 
 
 Dunbog 
 
 Cupar 
 
 Moonsy 
 
 Darsy 
 
 A LIST 
 
 As THEY ARE NOW DIVIDED BY PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 Presbytery of St. Andrews. 
 St. Andrews 
 St. Leonards 
 Camron 
 Dunnonnow 
 Kingsbarnes 
 Kilrynnie 
 Craill 
 
 Anstruther Easter 
 
 Anstruther Wester 
 
 Pittenweym 
 
 Abercromby 
 
 Carneby 
 
 Kilconquhair 
 
 Elie 
 
 Newburn
 
 0$ fHE HISTORY 0* FIFE. [PART II 
 
 Largo 
 
 Abbotshall 
 
 Kemback 
 
 Kinghorn 
 
 Ferric 
 
 Bruntisland 
 
 Lewchars 
 
 Auchtirdiran 
 
 Forgun 
 
 Kinglassie 
 
 Presbytery of Coivper. 
 
 Balingrie 
 
 Cowper 
 
 Portmoog 
 
 Dairsy 
 
 Markinch 
 
 Seres 
 
 Kennoway 
 
 Cults 
 
 Scoony 
 
 Ketle 
 
 Weyms 
 
 Faulkland 
 
 Dysert 
 
 Auchtermuchtie 
 
 
 Colessie 
 
 Presbytery of DunfermKngt 
 
 Monymeal 
 
 Dunfermling 
 
 Ebdie 
 
 Innerkeithing 
 
 Newburgh 
 
 Torrieburn 
 
 Flisk ^ 
 
 Carnock 
 
 Dunbug 
 
 Cleish 
 
 Creich 
 
 Kinross 
 
 Balmerinoch 
 
 Orwal 
 
 Kilmany 
 
 Kirklistoun 
 
 Logy 
 
 Clakmannan 
 
 Moonsy 
 
 Alloway 
 
 Presbytery of Kirkaldy. 
 
 Muckart 
 
 Kirkaldy 
 
 Stow * 
 
 SECT. 
 
 T This list of the parishes of the county, as arranged into Presbyteries, 
 is very incorrect. It is evidently copied from a MS. of Martine, who must 
 have made up his lists at a much earlier period than our author. Before 
 Sibbald published, the Presbyteries contained the same parishes that they 
 do now. In the Appendix will be found a list of the parishes of botk 
 counties, with the names of the patrons and incumbent!.
 
 SECT. ii/J 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 CONCERNING THE JURISDICTIONS IN FIFE. 
 
 JL HE most considerable jurisdictions were of old that of 
 the Earls of Fife, and after them that of the Sheriffs and 
 Sie warts, and the baillieries of the Churchmen ; and where- 
 ever the king had a seat, there was a Constabularius. The 
 Earl of Fife had a Constabularius and a Forestarius. Their 
 sentences were founded upon the report of the inquests. 
 I shall set down the names of those who were upon some 
 of these inquests. 
 
 " Julii 1309. Robeftus de Kcth Mareschallus Scotiae et 
 Justiciarius tune temporis ab aqua de Forth usque monteS 
 Scotise, convocat et instituit inquisitionem per quosdam 
 barones, libere tenentes, et alios de Fyfe, fide dignos, deter- 
 minare controversiam inter abbatem et conventum de Lun- 
 doris, et homines suos Noviburgi, viz. Joannem de Balfour; 
 Thomam Judicem ; Keth de Kinross 5 Michaelem Scotum ; 
 Adamum de Ramsay ; Walterum Senescallum ; Malcol- 
 mum de Balneharger ; Galfridum de Frislay, Patricium de 
 Crambeth \ Willielmum Cocum ; Patricium Scot ; Ala- 
 num Majum de St. Dunglbch ; Mauritium Scall ; Walte- 
 rum Fawhair ; Nicholaum filium Rogeri ; Willielmum 
 Syarpe ; et Joannem filium Nicolai. 
 
 " Presentibus ibidem venerabili patre domino Willielmo 
 dei gratia episcopo Sancti Andreas, Thoma Ranulphi, 
 domino Waltero dc Keth, et locumtenentibus tune tempo- 
 ris illustris priocipis Scotirc, de Forth usque Orchadiam, 
 domino Barnard abbate de Aberbrothock cancellario Sco- 
 tix, magistro Willielmo de Eglishame tune officiali curia3 
 Sancli Andrea,-, domino Michaele de Wemys, milite, et 
 
 E e Johanne
 
 210 fHE HISTORY OF FIFE. 1>ART II1/J 
 
 Johanne de Dondemore. Quorum sigilla, una cum sigillo 
 di&i domini Robert! de Keth Justiciarii, in signum perpe- 
 tui testimonii, praesentibus sunt appensa 1 ." 
 
 Sir James Balfour Lord Lion, says in his Notes upon 
 this shire, he found in the old register of Dunfermling, in 
 anno 1466. 27. Junii, that clearing the marches of Gait- 
 milk, belonging to the abbot of Dunfermling, from the 
 lands of Aclmuty, belonging to David de Admuty de eo- 
 dem, there was a perambulation of the saids marches, by a 
 brief of the chancery of our sovereign lord king James III. 
 the assize for the perambulation were, 
 
 Sir JOHN LONDON of the same. 
 Sir JOHN KININMONTH of the same. 
 ARCHBALD MELDRUM of Cleish. 
 JAMES PITBLADO of the same. 
 DAVID RANKEILOR of Nether-Rankeilor. 
 WILLIAM LASSELS of Innerdovat. 
 DAVID RAMSAY of Brachmont. 
 THOMAS STRANG of Pitcorthey. 
 JOHN FORRET of the same. 
 THOMAS ABERCROMBY of the same. 
 HENRY MALVELL of Carnbee. 
 ALEXANDER ALLERDAICE of Skaythocy 
 GEORGE RAMSAY of Clattey. 
 HENRY DEMPERSTON of the same. 
 
 JOHN 
 
 1 That is, " July 1309. Robert de Keth, Mareschal of Scotland, and 
 Justiciar he-north Forth, appoints an inquest of some barons, freeholders, 
 
 and others of Fyfe, to determine a difference betwixt the Abbot of Lundors 
 
 i 
 
 and the town of Newburgh ; viz. John of Balfour, Thomas the Judge, 
 
 Keth of Kynross, Michael Scot, Adam of Ramsay, Walter Stuart, 
 
 Malcolm of Balneharger, Galfrid of Frislay, Patrick of Crambeth, William 
 Cook, Patrick Scot, Alan Majus of St. Dungloch, Maurice Scall, Walter 
 Fawhair, Nicol the son of Roger, William Syarpe, and John the son of 
 Nicol. And there were also present, a venerable father, William bishop- of 
 St. Andrews, Michael of Wemys knight, and John of Dondemore." SIB,
 
 SECT. III.] PRIVILEGES OP MACDUPF. ?1I 
 
 JOHN MARTINE of C^rdin. 
 WILLIAM STRAHENRY of the same. 
 JOHN LUMISDEN of Airdrey. 
 GEORGE PITCAIRN of the same. 
 ALLAN LOCHMALONY of the same. 
 HENRY PYOT of Pyotstoun. 
 WILLIAM BROWN of Colstaln. 
 WILLIAM MONI PENNY of Pithmully. 
 DAVID MONIPENNY of Kinkel. 
 THOMAS LUMSDEN of Conland. 
 ANDREW DURY of the same. 
 WILLIAM SrRANG-of Balcasky. 
 JOHN GOURLY of Kincraig. 
 
 The same register shows us a former perambulation, 
 betwixt Richard abbot of Dunfermling, and Florentius de 
 Admuty de eodcm, in anno 1334, reg, Dav. II. 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 CONCXNIXG THE EARLS OF FlFL. 
 
 CHAP. I. Concerning Macditff the first Earl^ and the Pri- 
 vileges be obtained of king Malcolm Kanmor. 
 
 JDuNCAN MACDUFF Thane of Fife, was the first Earl 
 of Fife : he was created Earl by Malcolm Kanmor, at his 
 first parliament at Forfar. In regard, that several families 
 of the nobility and gentry are come of him, I shall from 
 our best records and MSS. printed and unprinted histories, 
 give the following account of the Earls of Fife. 
 
 DUNCAN Thane of Fife, was a man of great substance 
 and power, and was much dreaded therefore by the tyrant 
 
 E e 3 Macbeath,
 
 212 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [P ART III, 
 
 Macbeath : it was by his influence that the country was 
 disposed to join the English that came with Malcolm 
 Kanmor ; and by his counsel the restoration of Malcolm 
 III. to the crown, was carried on. He had suffered much, 
 and, for that and his good services, great honours and pri- 
 vileges were bestowed upon him. 
 
 As to the privileges, the monastery books and our histo- 
 ries MS. and printed, agree upon three. 
 
 My eptitome of the Book of Pasly sets them down thus : 
 
 Malcolmus * petiit a rege Malcolmo, primum, quod ipse 
 et sui successores, Thani de Fyf, regem tempore suse co- 
 ronationis in sede regia locaret. 2do. Quod ejus vexillum 
 t vangardiam in temporibus bellicosis gubernaret. 3tio. 
 Ouod ipse et omnes de sua cognatione in perpetuum pro subi- 
 tanea et improvisa occisione gauderent privilegio legis Mac- 
 <hiff, hoc est, pro generoso occiso solvitur 24 merks ad kyn- 
 bot ; pro vernaculo 1 2 merks remissionem consequuntur." 
 
 This is more fully explained by Andrew Wintoun, in. 
 his Chronicle, thus : 
 
 When Makbeth Fynlak thus was slaine 
 
 Of Fiffe Mackduff that time the Thane, 
 
 For his travell till his bountie 
 
 At Malcolme as king askit thir three. 
 
 First fra his sete till the alter 
 
 Then he should be the kings leder 
 
 And in that sete to set him doune. 
 
 To take his coronatioune 
 
 For him and his posteritie 
 
 When ere the kings suld crownit be. 
 
 Efter 
 
 1 A mistake for Macduffus. As the substance of this extra A 
 
 from the book of Paisley, and of the following quotations from Major and 
 Boeth. are given below, from Winton, and from Buchanan, in page ai8, it is 
 unnecessary to translate them in their respective places. They arc indee4 
 almost literal transcripts from one
 
 SECT. III.] PRIVILEGES OF MACDUFF. 
 
 Efter that the secund thing 
 
 Was that he askat at the king 
 
 Till have the vawart of his bataile 
 
 Whatever in war wald it assail 
 
 That he and his, suld have alwais 
 
 When that the king suld baner raise 
 
 For give the Thane of Fiffe in were 
 
 Or in till oste with his power 
 
 War, the waward suld governit be. 
 
 Be him and his posteritie. 
 
 Efter then the thrid asking 
 
 That he askit at the king 
 
 Gif ony be suddand chaivdmellc 
 
 Hapnit sua to slane be 
 
 Be ony of the Thanys kin 
 
 Of Fyfe the kinrick all within 
 
 Gif die sua slane war gentilman 
 
 Four and twenty merks than 
 
 For a zeman twelf merks pay 
 
 And have full remissioun 
 
 Fra them of all that acliouu 
 
 Gif ony hapynt him to sla 
 
 That to that lauch war bundin sua 
 
 Of that privilege ever mare 
 
 Parties suld be the slaar. 
 
 Of this lauch ar three capital 
 
 That the blak prest of Weddale, 
 
 The Thane of Fyffe, and the thrid syne 
 
 Wha ever be Lords of Abirnethyne. 
 
 Gif other be any that lyk 
 
 The lauch' till see led of this 
 
 When be cry the day is set 
 
 As fallis to be done of det 
 
 To Couper in Fyff than cum he 
 
 Well led that law than sail he sec. By
 
 214 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III, 
 
 By the last lines it appears there was an inquisition con- 
 cerning the proofs of the kindred, at Cowper of Fife, which 
 he who claimed the privilege behoved to give in, before 
 sentence of absolution and remission was given by the 
 judge. In several charters and inquisitions, there is men- 
 tioned, with these who are upon the inquisition, judex the 
 judge. 
 
 John Major gives, de Gestis Scotorum lib. 3. fol. 43. 
 this account, " Rege in pace regnante, et omnibus ubique in 
 regno pacatis, Makduffum tria a Malcolmo rege pro sua 
 benevolentia, regi ostensa, petiisse ferunt. Priinum, ut sui 
 successores, scilicet, Thani Fyfenses regem coronandum 
 in sede locarent. Secundum, quandocunque regis vexil- 
 lum in hostes expanderetur, vangardiam, hoc est, primam 
 belli aciem Thanus Fifensis duceret. Tertium, quod omnes 
 posteri de sua cognatione pro nobilis casual! nece, xxiv. 
 marchis : et vernaculi, pro xii remissionem haberent. 
 
 " Dicere consueverunt homicidae se absolvendos, dum- 
 modo hanc summam darent ad kinboc privilegio legis Mak- 
 tluff. Imprudens in petitione Makduffus erat ; indigna- 
 tionem aliorum principum duo prima facile poterant ei 
 parere, tertium vero, visa populi ad homicidium proclivitate 
 injustissimum et sub umbra inopinati homicidii inveteratum 
 odium facillime alere poterat. Sed quicquid sit, rex in 
 tanto excusandus venit, licet fortassis non a toto j Mak- 
 duffo de se optime merito, nil negare ausus est vel voluit.'* 
 Thus he argues against this grant, in his disputatious way, 
 without any solid argument '. This privilege was that of 
 
 an 
 
 1 The reasoning of Major is thi$ : " That it was imprudent in Macduff 
 to ask these privileges, because the two first must have been highly offen- 
 sive to the rest of the nobles, and the other gave too much encouragement 
 to manslaughter, among a people but too prone to such crimes." He adds, 
 however, " that the king was excusable, on account of the particular as- 
 i.uc he received from, Macduff in obtaining his croTvn." This, reason- 
 ing
 
 SECT, in."] PRIVILEGES Of MACDtfFF,* 
 
 an asylum or girth, and the first we meet with in our re- 
 cords ; and was to Macduff's kindred, as the cities of re- 
 fuge were to the Israelites, Joshua 20. chap. In case any 
 of them unawars and unwittingly chanced to slay a man, 
 the king had always the power of remitting criminals, in cer- 
 tain circumstances: and this (Girth) could not be constructed 
 in favours of common murderers. For, as Wintoun shows, 
 there was a cognition of the cause before the ordinary 
 judge at Cowper, after warning of all concern'd, by pro- 
 clamation. I am of the opinion, that the custom of par* 
 doning man-slaughter in such cases, obtained amongst the 
 Pih before they came to be subjects to our kings, and that 
 our kings continued the same. The Pits had it from the 
 Germans, from whom they descended. And Tacitus in 
 his treatise de Germania, cap. 12. tells us, that < Leviori- 
 bus deli&is pro modo pcenarum, equorum pecorumquc 
 numero convicli multantur. Pars multas regi vel civitati, 
 pars ipsi qui vindicatur, vel propinquis ejus exsolvitur V 
 And cap. 21. " Luitur etiam homicidium certo armento* 
 rum ac pecorum numero, recipitque satisfa&ionem uni- 
 versa domus, utiliter in publicum, quia periculosiores sunt 
 inimicitise juxta libertatem *." And this was the way, 
 
 that 
 
 ing would certainly be considered as fair and sound in more peaceable 
 times, when jurisprudence was better understood, and laws could be 
 tasily enforced. We ought not to judge of the condu& of men by opinions 
 which prevail in a different age, but by the principles which were ac- . 
 knov.-ledged and a&ed upon in their own times. And in the days of Mal- 
 colm, an asylum for sudden manslaughter could scarcely be considered a* 
 impolitic or unwise, when every church possessed this privilege to a greater 
 extent than was granted to MacdufT, and when even murderers were not 
 nly protcded, but maintained by the religious houses to which they fled. 
 
 1 That is, " For lesser faults, being convided, for the manuer of their 
 penalty, they are fin'd such a number of horses and cattle ; part of the 
 ir.ulA goes to the king or city, part to him who is injur'd, or is distributed 
 amongst his relations." SIBBALD. 
 
 * " Homicide is attoo'd for at a certain number of beasts and cattle, and 
 
 UK.
 
 &ISTORY OF FIFS. [PART lit. 
 
 that the man-slaughter unpremeditate, was expiated by the 
 law of clan Mackduff, when the party had not money, 
 as our judicious Skeen shows, De verbor. significatione, 
 voce clan Mackduff. The croce (says he) of clan Mack- 
 duff, had privilege and liberty of girth, in sik sort, that 
 xvhen onie manslayer, being within the ninth degrie of kin 
 and bluid to Makduft" sometime Earl of Fyffe, come to that 
 croce, and gave nyne kie and an colpindach, or young kow, 
 he was free of the slaughter committed be him." And 
 says, " he saw an auld evident bearand, that Spens of Wor- 
 mestoun beand of Makduffis kinne, injoyed the benefite 
 and immunity of this lawe, for the slauchter of ane called 
 Kinninmonth V 
 
 the whole family receives satisfaction advantageous to the publick, because 
 feuds are pernicious to liberty." SIBEALD. 
 
 1 Sir H. Abernethy, and many others, are stated to have made the same claim. 
 And in the notes to the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, Vol. II. p. 350. 
 it is said, that a laird of Arbuthnot, too, enjoyed the advantage of this privi- 
 lege ; and there is a document produced, shewing, that it was pleaded in 
 behalf of one of the Morays of Abercairney, who had killed William de 
 Spalden. From the expression of Skene, it would appear, that the indul- 
 gence granted to Macduff was hot a perpetual right of sandluary, and of 
 composition for unpremeditated slaughter, but a temporary privilege, ex- 
 tending to the tenth generation. The learned editor of the Minstrelsy of 
 the Border, suspeds, that the privilege did not amount to a remission of 
 the crime, but only a right of being exempted from all other courts of ju- 
 risdiction, except that of the Lord of Fife. His idea is supported by the 
 subsequent quotations from Boeth. in the text, who may be credited with 
 tegard to a usage that probably existed in his own time ; and he remarks, 
 that the privilege of being answerable only to the chief of their own clan, 
 was, to the descendants of Macduff, almost equivalent to an absolute in- 
 demnity. But it appears, that the privilege was conditional ; and that 
 when the accused had been repledged to his ordinary judge, and had 
 proved, both that he was related to Macduff within the appointed degree, 
 and that he had only been guilty of killing of a suddenly, he should have 
 " full remission," only on paying the stated fine of nine kine and a colpin 
 dach, or 24 inerks, or iz mcrks, according to the case, as kinbute. If he 
 failed in his proof, it is said he was instantly executed. And some 
 tumuli near the Cross, are reported to be the graves of those unfortu- 
 nate
 
 SECT. III.] PRIVILEGES OF MACDUF*. 
 
 He&or Boeth. lib. 12. fol. 256. giveth this account: 
 Postea rex Magduffum laudatum pro concione, quod 
 regni restituendi primus fuisset author, ac tam enixe pos- 
 tea elaborarit, ut effedtum assequeretur, tribus ac familiam. 
 cjus donavit privilegiis, ut gloria nominis ejus faftique ad 
 posteros perveniret. Primum ut comes Fifensis, quisquis 
 is esset, regis jamjamque coronandi in cathedram impo- 
 ncndi munus et officium haberet solus : alterum ut quum 
 rex ad bellum procederet primse semper aciei mode- 
 famen comiti Fifensi deferretur. Tertium ut tribui Mag- 
 duffi perpetuo regalitas esset ut vocant. Appellant autem 
 regalitatem, privilegium, quoslibet in sua tribu creandi 
 
 magistratus, 
 
 hate persons who had claimed the benefit of the Girth without sufficient 
 title. It has always been understood, that the privilege related only to 
 killing from sudden provocation, suddand cbaiudmMe ; yet if the case of 
 Arbuthnot, already referred to, be strictly connected with it, the indul- 
 gence must have extended farther ; for he had, along with others, from 
 premeditation and design, foully murdered the sheriff of the Mearns. 
 " This person, whose name was Melville of Glenbervie, bore his faculties so 
 harshly, that he became detested by the barons of the country. Reiterated 
 complaints of his conduct having been made to James I. (or, as others say, 
 to the Duke of Albany,) the monarch answered, in a moment of unguard- 
 ed impatience, " Sorrow gin the Sheriff were soddin, and supped in broo'!" 
 The complainers retired, perfectly satisfied. Shortly after, the lairds of 
 Arbuthnot, Mather, Lauriestoun, and Pittaraw, decoyed Melville to the 
 top of the hill of Garvock, above Laurencekirk, under pretence of a grand 
 hunting party. Upon this place, (still called the Sheriff's Pot) the barons 
 had prepared a fire and a boiling cauldron, into which they plunged the 
 unlucky sheriff. After he was sodden, (as the king termed it) for a suffi- 
 cient time, the savages, that they might literally observe the royal man- 
 date, concluded the scene of abomination by actually partaking of the hell- 
 broth. The three lairds were outlawed for this offence. The laird of 
 Arbuthnot is said to have eluded the royal vengeance, by claiming the 
 benefit of the law of clan Macduff. A pardon, or perhaps a deed of re- 
 pkgiation, founded upon that law, is said to be still extant among the re- 
 cords of the Viscount of Arbuthnot." If a pardon to Arbuthnot pro- 
 ceeded at aH from the law of the clan Macduff, his claim of privilege was 
 probably connected with the implied permission to kill Melville, contained 
 ia the fretful answer of the sovereign. Hailes, Vol, I. Minstrelsy, VoL II. 
 
 Ff
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 magistrates, aut judices juri dicundo constituendi, quacun- 
 que in aftione, extra crimen majestatis besse. Potestatem 
 quoque habet ex quacunque regni parte, si quis ex ipsius 
 tribuj vel ea regione cujus ipse est, in jus vocatus est, ad 
 suos revocandi judices 1 ." 
 
 Buchanan, lib. 7. in Malcolm III. says, " Mackduff had 
 three requests granted to him, as a reward for his services. 
 One, that his posterity should place the king, who was to 
 be crowned in the chair of state ; another, that they should 
 lead the van of the kings armies : and a third, that if any 
 of his family were guilty of the unpremeditated slaughter of 
 a nobleman, he should pay four and twenty marks of silver, 
 as a fine , if of a plebeian, twelve marks : which last law 
 was observed till the days of our fathers, as long as any of 
 that family were in" being." And a MS. history I have, says, 
 He had all his earldom erected into a principality, that is 
 to say, to exime his tenents and subjects from all other courts 
 and judgement, and give justice to all his, in his own coun- 
 tries." And, in the Regiam Majestatem, statutis Alexandri II. 
 tit. " De foris-factis levandis ab illis, qui remanent ab exer- 
 citu regis, cap. 15. paragraph 4." " Nullus autem comes, aut 
 servientes comitis, in terram alicujus, de regc tenentis, ad hoc 
 foris-fa6tum exigendum debet venire, nisi comes de FyfFe, ad 
 reUtudines suas exigendas." The note upon this in the mar- 
 gin is, " Et ille non sicut comes, sed sicut marus regis comi- 
 tatus de FyfFe, ad rcdtitudines suas exigendas*." From which 
 
 the 
 
 1 The last clause which is peculiar to Boeth. and is referred to above, 
 is well rendered by Bcllenden, That he should have right " to replege his 
 men frae the king's lawis to his regalite." 
 
 2 The statutes of Alexander II. Chap. XV. " Of Amerciaments to be ta- 
 ken up fra them, quha passes nocht to the King's hoist." In the transla- 
 tion, the marginal note is engrossed in the body of the statute, and the 
 whole stands as paragraph 3. " Na Earle, nor his servants may enter in the 
 lands of anie frcehalders haldand of the king, to tak up this unlaw ; bot onlie 
 the Karle of Fife : and he may not enter as Earle ; bot as Mair to the king 
 of the Earledom of Fife, for uptaking of the kings dcutics and richts." 
 
 /
 
 SECT, in.] MACDUFF'S CROSS. 219 
 
 the ingenious Mr. J. Cuninghame, in his Essay upon the in- 
 scription of MacdufFs Cross in Fife, gathereth, that the Earl 
 of Fife was Marus Regis Comitatus de Fyffe ; and judici- 
 ously makes the words graven upon the cross, to relate both 
 to the privileges of the regality the king gave to him, and of 
 the asylum or girth ; for which I refer the reader to the 
 Essay itself. 
 
 As to the inscription upon the cross, my worthy friend 
 the bishop of Carlyle has well named them macaronik 
 rhimes; for indeed such they are, a mixture of Latin, 
 Saxonick, Danish and old French words, with some which 
 seem to be feigned for the matter's sake. The bishop, (Dr. 
 Nicolson) who is a good judge in these matters, says, Mr. 
 Cuninghame reduces them into an intelligible and princely 
 charter, wherein king Malcolm Kanmore, grants large privi- 
 leges to the loyal Earl of that country. Our learn'd Skeen, 
 De verb, signif. voce clan-MakdufF, said, he saw in the stane 
 of this cross sundry barbarous words and verses written, 
 which he willingly pretermitted, and yet some of them ap- 
 peared to be conform to this purpose. 
 
 " Propter Makgidrim et hoc oblatum 
 
 Accipe smeleridem super lampade limpeda labrum." 
 
 When I saw them, time had so defaced them, I could 
 discern' none upon the pedestal of the cross : the rest of it 
 is not to be seen. Sir James Balfour, in his Notes upon. 
 Fife, tells us, that it was broke to pieces, by some of the 
 congregation, as they nam'd them, in the time of the refor- 
 mation of religion, and pulling down of churches, in their 
 coming from St. Johnstoun in Perthshire to Lundoris. 
 He says, the inscription even at that time was so out-worn, 
 that he who copied the samen, (given to Sir James by his 
 son) had much ado to make words of some dispersed and out- 
 worn bare characters, these remaining to view, being Ro- 
 F f 3 man,
 
 220 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [>ART III. 
 
 man, betwixt intermingled with Saxon, as appeared to Sir 
 James's view. This copy from Sir James his papers, I have 
 caused grave in a copperplate ; perhaps it may be the same, 
 Mr. James Cuninghame mentioneth, in a postcript to his 
 Essay. He says, he was told of an exacl copy, with a true 
 exposition of this inscription, at the Newburgh, in the hands 
 or books of the clerk there. Sir James lived near to the 
 Newburgh, and was so diligent an enquirer after such mo- 
 numents, that I think such a copy as was there could not 
 escape his knowledge ; and therefore it is like this, that 
 was mentioned to Mr. Cunninghame. The reading of the 
 inscription, which was approved by him, was thus : 
 
 " Maldraradum dragos, rnairia, laghslita, largos, 
 
 Spalando spados, sive nig fig knighthite gnaros 
 
 Lothea leudiscos laricingen lairia liscos 
 
 Et colovurtos sic fit tibi bursia burtus 
 
 Exitus, et bladadrum sive lim sive lam sive labrum. 
 
 Propter Magridin et hoc oblatum 
 
 Accipe smeleridem super limthide lamthida labrum.'* 
 
 Which he paraphraseth thus : 
 
 " Ye Earl of Fife, receive for your services, as my lieu- 
 tenant by right of this regality, large measures of victual or 
 corn, for the transgressions of the laws, as well from these 
 as want or put away their weapons of warfare, as of such 
 as stays away from, or refuses to come to the host, or those 
 that raises frays or disturbances therein : or from such as 
 keep, haunt and frequent unlawful convocations ; together 
 with all amerciaments due to me, for the slaughter of a 
 free liege, or for robbery and theft, or for adultery and for- 
 nication within your bounds, with the unlaws of fugitives, 
 and the penalties due by such cowards as deserts the host, 
 or runs away from their colours j thus shall your gains be 
 the greater -, and yet further, to witness my kindness, I re- 
 mit
 
 SECT, in.] MACDUFF'S CROSS. 221 
 
 mit to those of your own kindred, all issues of wounds, be 
 it of limb, lith or life, in sua far as for this offering (to wit, 
 of nine kytje and a queyoch) they shall be indemnified for 
 limb, lith or life '." 
 
 Before I leave the account of MacdufF, I think it 
 fit to give the account, Sir James Dalrymple gives of one 
 Douglass, in Newburgh, near to Cross MacdufF. Sir 
 James, in his second edition of Cambden's Description, 
 of Scotland, pag. 134, 135. says, That this Douglass had 
 by him a version, which seems to be much more probable 
 and agreeable to the matter j which reads thus : 
 
 " Ara, urget lex quos, lare egentes atria lis, quos, 
 Hoc qui laboras, haec fit tibi paftio portus, 
 Mille reum drachmas mul&am de largior agris 
 Spes tantum pacis cum nex fit a nepofe natis 
 Propter Macgidrum, et hoc oblatum accipe semel 
 Haeredum, super lymphato lapide labem." 
 
 Which inscription is thus paraphrased in English rhime, 
 
 " All such as are within the ninth degree 
 
 Of kindred to that antient Thane MacduiF, 
 
 And yet for slaughter are compelled to flie 
 
 And leave their houses, and their houshold stuff; 
 
 Here they shall find for their refuge a place ; 
 
 To save them from the cruel blood avenger : 
 
 A privilege peculiar to that race, 
 
 Which never was allowed to any stranger. 
 
 But they must enter heir, on this condition, 
 
 (Which they observe must with a faith unfeignzied) 
 
 To pay a thousand groats for their remission, 
 
 Or else their lands and goods shall be distrenzied. 
 
 For 
 1 To conned together all that relates to Cross Macduff, the concluding 
 
 paragraph of the following chapter is subjoined to thu one, as its more 
 
 proper place.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III, 
 
 \ 
 
 For saint Mackgidder's sake, and this oblation, 
 And by their only washing at this stone, 
 Purg'd is the blood, shed by that generation : 
 This privilege pertains to them alone." 
 
 . :, ' 
 
 Not only the English paraphrase is done long after the 
 creftion of the cross, but even the Latin verses seem better 
 and finer than the age of Macduff could afford. However, 
 if this be not a true account, it is ingenious, and well in- 
 vented V 
 
 . 
 CHAP. 
 
 1 The pedestal, which is all that remains of Cross Macduff, is a large 
 rough quadrilateral block of freestone, with no vestige of inscription ; nor 
 is there any appearance of a hollow, in which an upright column could 
 have been inserted. If, as tradition asserts, Cross Macduff was the place of 
 girth, it is probable, that an account of the privilege, or a copy of the law, 
 would be inscribed on it. But it would be done either in the vernacular 
 language of the country, or in Latin, the language of laws and grants, and 
 not certainly in that strange jargon which has been so often printed with 
 idle comments and paraphrases, by men called learned in the antiquities of 
 their country. From the two concluding verses of the inscription, the 
 only ones that Skene could observe, it appears, that the superstition of the 
 age mingled itself with the grateful remembrance of Macduff 's high deeds 
 of arms ; and that the merit of the gallant and loyal Thane was divided 
 with a petty saint, whose name is no where preserved but in these rude 
 verses : at least, it had not been discovered by Keith, when he formed 
 his uncouth list of the names of Scottish saints, from St. Guthagen, son to 
 a king of Scotland in the ist century, to St. Duthake, in the I4th. If 
 either Cunningham's or Douglas's ingenious account were true, the whole 
 honour must have been ascribed to Macgidder ; for there appears not in 
 either any mention of Macduff, except what is gratuitously inserted in 
 their English paraphrases. Perhaps this circumstance may be viewed as 
 nearly decisive of the authenticity of the pretended inscription. It is 
 scarcely conceivable, that a monument of the privileges and immunities 
 granted to Macduff for his services, should make no mention of the hero 
 who gained them, or of the atchkvcments by which he won the royal favour.
 
 SECT. Ill/] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF. 223 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A List of the Earls of Fife, from Malcolm Kanmoris time, 
 to King James I. his annexing tlie Earldom to tije Croivn y 
 with Historical Remarks upon them. 
 
 I proceed to give a list of the E:.r!s of Fife, 
 endued with the regailty and privileges our historians assert 
 were given to Macdufr and his heirs ; r.n objection is first 
 to be removed, whici: rriseth from the chr.rt:r of the dena- 
 t'o.i of the lands of Aumcrc, granted to tl.e Culdees by 
 Edelradus the third son of Mdcolm Kar.more and Queen 
 Margaret, who in tl.yc charter is desi^n'd, " Vir vener^ndae 
 memorise abbas de Dun'.ieLlen, ct incuper comes dc Fyfe.'* 
 Ths epithctc, " Vcneranc'.ae m im arise/' makes him a church- 
 man of an exemplar life, and would seem inconsistent with 
 the tide of Comes, except so far as it mr.y entitle him to 
 be Q\\Z of the first of the peers ; for as yet to this day, se- 
 veral of the French bishops and archbishops :ire Dukes and 
 Peers by the ecclesiastical office they hold ; and in this 
 country, James Stewart the lawful son cf I:ing James III. 
 wus archbishop of St. Andrews and Dul^e of Ross. The 
 title Comes, was sometimes only a title of honour, without 
 jurisdiction Annexed to it ; and It wculd seem k was so in 
 this case of Edeir:.ilus: if it was otherv/ise, then, us the 
 learn'd Sir James Dalrympie, in his His:crlcal CollePuons, 
 remarks, page 226. Ethelrade behoved to be Conies de Fyf>, 
 before MacdufF TOt that dignily ; wluch is cenLrary to the 
 opinion of all cur historians, who malce MeeJuiT the first 
 Earl of Fife, and we find him in many cherte;a rneniioaed 
 before other Earls 5 and they make this iligraty, end the 
 
 privileges
 
 154 THE HISTORY OF FIF& j>ART itf. 
 
 privileges he had by it, to have been sought of MacdufF, 
 after the restoring of king Malcolm Kanmore, and to be 
 granted to him in the first Parliament of Malcolm Kanmore, 
 at Forfar ', which was before his marriage with Queen Mar- 
 garet, according to the joint opinion of our historians. Be- 
 side, Edelradus was a minor when he made the donation, 
 as the charter shows, and his brothers Alexander and David, 
 confirm this donation, 'in the presence of Constantine Earl 
 of Fife ; by which it seems this donation has been given 
 after the death of king Malcolm and his Queen, and after 
 the death of Macduff. So by the circumstance of time, 
 since Constantine is at the same time Earl of Fife, it would 
 
 appear 
 
 1 The holding of a Parliament by Malcolm, immediately aTter his ac- 
 cession, rests entirely on the authority of Boeth. The name of Parliament 
 was unknown in this kingdom in the time of Malcolm III. and the trans- 
 actions which Boeth. ascribes to what is called a Parliament, are imaginary. 
 It is not improbable, that Malcolm called an assembly of the chief men of 
 his kingdom, soon after his accession, to regulate the affairs of the state, 
 disordered by the revolution which he had accomplished, and by the bloody 
 war which led to it ; or perhaps the powerful chiefs who placed him on 
 the throne, continued for some time in a convention, to confirm and regu- 
 late the government which they had recently established. It was natural 
 for Malcolm to bestow on those friends who had supported him in the 
 Contest against Macbeth and Lulach, along with their lands, the Anglo- 
 Saxon title of Thane, to which he had been accustomed in the English 
 court, where he had beeji educated. Hence Duncan Macduif became 
 Thane of Fife, of which he before was chief, (by what title is not known) 
 with the additional privileges of regality, and perhaps with increase of 
 territory. That he was not Earl of Fife when he received the privileges 
 mentioned above, is obvious from the extract of the book of Paisley ; for 
 it represents him as asking them for himself, et sui successores, Thani dc 
 Fyff. In the course of this reign, when more English and Norman customs 
 were introduced by the king's marriage with Margaret, and the resort of 
 foreigners to his court, the title of Earl may have been assumed by, or be- 
 stowed on, Macduff, or other powerful chiefs, who already, as Thanes, 
 possessed the office. Of the Earls whom Boeth. mentions as being created 
 along with Macduff, none are found in history before the reign of David I. 
 the son indeed of Malcolm, but the fifth sovereign after him. Boeth. lib. XIL 
 Chap. IX. Haiks, VoL I. p. 33, &c. Pink. Vol. II. Part V, Chap. II.
 
 SECT. III.] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF." 22$ 
 
 appear this title of Comes de Fyfe, was only a title of ho- 
 nour, without the jurisdiction and privileges annexed to 
 it. This I submit to the antiquaries, as my conje&urej 
 with submission to their judgment '. 
 
 MACDUFP 
 
 1 The wording of this charter, (see page 168.) certainly involves the 
 history of the Earldom of Fife in considerable perplexity. It is to be ob- 
 served, that Sibbald does not pretend to give the original charter, but is 
 quoting MS. excerpts from an old register, i. e. that he produces only 2 
 copy of a copy. There is room, therefore, to suppose that there may be some 
 mistake in its language, that an ignorant or careless transcriber has mis-^ 
 understood some contractions in the original paper, or in the record from 
 which the excerpts were taken. If the extract be. an exact copy of the 
 charter, one of three things must be held to be true, all of which are highly- 
 improbable. Either that Ethelrcd had been created Earl, before Macduff; 
 or that he enjoyed the honour along with Macduff; or that he had received 
 the title after the death of the Thane, who, therefore, it is to be supposed, 
 did not transmit his honours to his posterity. If the hypothesis, that the 
 title of Earl came in place of that of Thane, and that each designation im- 
 plied the same office, be well founded, as there is every reason to believe, 
 the first supposition, which is made by Sir James Dalrymple, cannot be 
 true ; for Macduff was certainly Thane very early in the reign of Mal- 
 colm, and Ethelred could not have been born till the ijth year of it; 
 Malcolm began to reign in 1056 ; he married Margaret not before 1068, 
 consequently Ethclred, a younger son, could not have been born before 1070. 
 If he was still a minor in the reigft of Alexander I. when the charter ap- 
 pears to have been granted, he must have been born much later ; for Alex- 
 ander only began to reign in 1107. The next supposition, which is Sib- 
 bald's, appears equally improbable ; for Earl was never, in these days, a 
 mere title of honour, but implied always territorial jurisdiction. And it 
 had been strange indeed, when Earl was a title newly introduced, that 
 Malcolm should have given the same title to two. It had been more 
 strange, had he imposed a boy, as a coadjutor, on his tried and faithful com- 
 panion and counsellor, in the Earldom of Fife, which was his own property, 
 though a new name had now been given to his hereditary office. The 
 third supposition is hinted by Lord Hailes. It is obvious from the charter, 
 that Ethclrcd survived Macduff; but the charter also ascertains, that Con- 
 stantine, reckoned the second from Macduff, was then also Earl of Fife. 
 The supposition is contradiSed by the very words of the paper which gavr. 
 
 ffcs
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE* [PART III. 
 
 . ^ 
 
 MACDUFF the first Earl, we find by our histories, upon 
 occasion commanded the king's army against the rebels in 
 Mar, and enjoyed the privilege was granted to him. 
 
 The second Earl of Fife is his son DUFAGAN, who, aS 
 Sir James Dalrymple, in his Hist. Collections, p. 373. shows, 
 is an assenter to the charter, confirming the rights of the 
 Trinity Church of Scone, by king Alexander I. &c. The 
 iiame of Dufag'an shows him to be the Earl of Fife, tho' Fife 
 
 be 
 
 rise to Jr. We may conclude from all these circamstances, that Ethelred 
 could not, in the sense in which the term was then used, have been Earl of 
 Fife. Lord Hailes conjectures, that Ethelred may have acquired a tem- 
 porary right to the title of Earl ef Fife, by being Custos comitatus, while 
 Constantine was a minor. There is nothing improbable in the supposition, 
 that the wardship of a minor Earl which belonged to the crown, might 
 have been bestowed on the royal abbot. But it implies several others, 
 which ought to be proved, 1st. That the guardianship of one minor was ever 
 given to another, and that the pupil was admitted as witness to a charter 
 which his tutor could not grant without sureties, because he was under 
 age. zJ. That guardians assumed the rank of their wards, as well as the 
 administration of their offices and estates. $d. That Constantine was a 
 minor at this time, which is not mentioned in the record, though the mi- 
 nority of his supposed tutor be stated. If the dates in the genealogies of 
 the Earls of Fife be correct, Constantine could hardly have been a minor 
 after Ethelred was capable of being an abbot, which we can scarcely suppose 
 him to have been before he was fourteen years of age. From a comparison 
 of all the circumstances of the case, it would seem, either that the charter 
 which ascribes the office of Earl of Fife to Ethelred, is a forgery, or that 
 there is a mistake in the recital of it. A few contractions probably occa- 
 sioned a mistake in some copier of the charter. In describing the lands of 
 Admorc, it may have contained these words : " In com. de Fyfe" which an 
 ignorant transcriber writing out at length, made " Insuper conies de Fyfe." 
 If this conjecture, which is mentioned by Lord Hailes, be admitted, it 
 would set aside every difficulty. It is rendered probable by the frequency 
 of similar abbreviations, and by other mistakes, alterations, and discre- 
 pancies in names and titles in the copies, and extracts, from the great regi- 
 ster of St. Andrews. Except this conjeclure be admitted, the lands of 
 Admore, (Athmuir or Auchmuir) have no description or designation, 
 which would scarcely have been omitted in the recital of a charter given 
 at so great length.
 
 s 
 
 SECT. IH.] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF. 227 
 
 be not mentioned there : for there is no designation of the 
 other Earls there mentioned as assenters, by their province, 
 only their name is set down, and after that Comes. I shall 
 only remark here upon the name Duff, that as Niger and 
 Rufus were names of families amongst the Romans, from 
 the colour aud complexion of men, so it seems Duff was 
 from the swarthy and black colour of these of the tribe '. 
 
 The third Earl is CONSTANTINE, mentioned in the charter 
 of Edelrad, and is witness in a short charter of the monas- 
 tery of Dunfermling, cited by Sir James Dajrymple. He 
 died anno 1129. 
 
 The fourth is GILLIMICHEL Macduff, the eldest son of 
 Constantinus Comes, a witness also in the short charter just 
 now mentioned , and I find him witness in many charters 
 of king David I. He died anno 1 139. He had a second son 
 Heugo, who was father to Eugenius. The learn'd antiquary 
 and historian Mr. Henry Makum (Malcolm), judges, that 
 this Eugenius was the predecessor of the Earl of Weems, 
 as he thinks is instructed by an original charter of king 
 William, confirming sundry mortifications to the priory ; 
 one, which he saw, was of this Eugenius, confirming a 
 mortification, of the kirk of Markinch, to the priory of St. 
 "Andrews. The family has yet rights to possessions in that 
 paroch. The MS. account of the Earls of Fife, which was 
 sent to me by a gentleman of the family of Mackintosh, de- 
 signs the first of the family of Weems, Eoin mor na Vamh, 
 that is to say, Mickle John of the Cave ; and he says, that 
 by process of time and corruption of the Irish word vawh, 
 (which was in the English tongue pronounced Weem) 
 Weems had its original. 
 
 G g 2 The 
 
 1 The genealogists differ about the number and order of the descendants 
 of Macduff, and the individuals from whom different families descended. 
 The editor feels no inclination to enter into these disputes. The second Earl, 
 f whose existence many doubt, is said by Douglas to have been witness to 
 e veral charter) in the reign of Alexander I.
 
 228 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 The fifth is DUNCAN, who died anno 1154. He is 
 witness in sundry charters of Iting David I. and king Mal- 
 colm IV. 
 
 The sixth Earl is DUNCAN the second, son to the last 
 Earl Duncan, and who is Justitiarius Scotise, and is very 
 often named in the charters of king Malcolm IV. and king 
 William. He married Ada, the niece of Malcolm IV. and 
 got with her in tocher the lands of Strathmiglo, Falk- 
 land, Kettle, Rathillet, in Fife, and of Strathbran in Perth- 
 shire ; (all which lands were a part of the estate at the for- 
 faulture of Duke Murdo Earl of Fife,) as is evident by the 
 following charter. 
 
 " Malcolmus Dei gratia rex Scotorum, episcopis, abba- 
 tibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, vice-comitibus, 
 ministris, et omnibus hominibus totius terre sue, Francis, 
 Anglis et Scottis : tarn presentibus quam futuris, salutem. 
 Sciant tam posteri, quam presentes, me dedisse, conces- 
 sisse, et hac mea carta confirmasse, Duncano Comiti, et 
 heredi suo qui de uxore sua Ada nepte mea nasceretur, 
 Scradimigglock, et Falecklen et Radhulit, et Strathbranen, et 
 totam firmam meam de Cattel: in liberum maritagium, in 
 bosco et piano, in pratis et pascuis, in aquis et molendinis, 
 et in omnibus libertatibus ville eisdem terris pertinentibus : 
 quare volo et precipio ut comes Duncanus et heredes sui, 
 lias prenominatas terras habeant et teneant, libere et quiete, 
 in liberum maritagium, presentibus testibus ; Ernesto epis- 
 copo San6li Andree, Willielm abbate de Strevelin, Osberto 
 abbate de Jcdbrugh, Willielmo fratre regis, Ada comitissa, 
 Waltero cancellario, Gilberto comite de Anegus, Richardo 
 de Moreuil, Odonello de Umphravill, Richardo Comyn, 
 Philippe de Colvill, WiUielmo de Burdet, Matheo archdia- 
 cono Sandti Andree, Nesso filio Comitisse, Orm filio Hu- 
 Tgenii, Robert de Quinci. Apud Edinburgum, anno septimo 
 Tcgni regis." 
 
 ThU
 
 SECT. III.] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF. 22() 
 
 This Earl Duncan founded the nunnery of North-Ber- 
 tvick. He died anno 1203. 
 
 The seventh Earl is MALCOLM, the son of the last Earl 
 Duncan. He married Matilda daughter to the Earl of 
 Strathern, and got with her the lands of Glendovan, 
 Carnbo, Adie, and Fosseway, as appears by this charter. 
 
 " Comes Gilbertus de Straderne y omnibus hominibus suis 
 et amicis, tarn cleriois quam laicis salutem. Sciant tam 
 futuri quam presentes, me dedisse et concessisse, et hac 
 mea carta confirmasse Malcolmo filio comitis Duncani cum 
 Ma/tili/a filia mea has terras, scilicet Glendovan per omnes 
 reclas divisas suas, et cum omnibus justis pertinentiis suis, 
 et Cartibo per omnes retas divisas suas, et cum omnibus 
 justis pertinentiis suis, et Aldi y et Fossedtnege, per omnes 
 re&as divisas suas, et cum omnibus justis pertinentiis suis, 
 in liberum maritagium, in bosco et piano, in pratis et pas- 
 cuis, in moris et maresiis, in stagnis et molendiiiis, in aquis 
 et piscariis, in capellis et ecclesiis, et omnibus aliis asia- 
 mentis : ad pradi&as terras pertinentibus ; tenendum 
 habendum et possidendum sibi et hseredibus suis de me et 
 hccredibus meis, ita libere, quiete, plenarie et honorifice 
 sicut liberius, quietius, plenius et honorincentius aliquod 
 maritagium alicujus comitis vel baronis tenetur, habetur vel 
 possidetur in regno Scotix. His testibus Johanne episc. 
 Dunkeldensi, Roberto abbate de Scona, Ernaldo abbate de 
 Cupro, Matilda comitissa mea, Henrico comite Atholice, 
 Malisio fratre meo, Mackbed Vice-comite de Scona, Wil- 
 lielmo de Gam, Symone de Ramsay, Bricio Judice, Gilli- 
 nairem Dapifero comitis Duncani, Thano de Strevelin, 
 Gilchristo filio comitis, &c." 
 
 There is a charter of king William, narrating, that 
 Uthredus de Burgoner, in the king's presence, acknow- 
 ledged this same Malcolm, Earl of Fife, to be his nearest 
 Jieir, in the king's court, and resigned his lands of Burgoner 
 
 in
 
 230 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. PART III.] 
 
 in favours of the Earl ; upon which the king grants a char- 
 ter of these lands to Earl Malcolm and his heirs, dated at 
 Kintore the 6th day of May. 
 
 This Earl Malcolm founded the abbacy of Culross, anno 
 1217. He died about 1229, an ^ was buried in St. Ser- 
 vans's church at Culross. He wanted issue, and was suc- 
 ceeded in the earldom by 
 
 MALCOLM, the eighth Earl, who married a daughter of 
 Levelyn king of Wales. He died about the year 1 266. 
 
 To him succeeded COLBANUS, the ninth Earl of Fife. 
 He died anno 1270, and left a son of eight years old, whose 
 ward the king dispones to his son, the prince : this hap- 
 pen'd reg. Alexandro III. 
 
 In the same king Alexander III. his time, DUNCAN suc- 
 ceeded, and upon the king's death was made one of the re- 
 gents. He was killed by the Abernethie, j,nno 1286, he 
 being the tenth Earl. 
 
 His son DUNCAN married Earl Colbane's daughter, anno 
 1293, reg. Joanne Baliolo. He was the eleventh Earl, and 
 was killed at Falkirk 1299 T . 
 
 DUNCAN his son, the twelfth Earl, anno 1307, married 
 3Mary de Monthermer, niece to Edward I. He was killed 
 anno 1332. This happen'd rege Rob. I. Contulit canonicis 
 de Santo Andrea ecelesiam de Culgoure, consensu regis et 
 confirm, episcopi, 1318*. 
 
 DUNCAN his son, the thirteenth Earl of Fife, married 
 Mary daughter to and died after 1353. 
 
 ISQBELLA, 
 
 1 Baliol ascended the throne when this Duncan was a minor. In this 
 case, the privilege of the Earls of Fife, of placing the king of Scotland on 
 his throne was recognised ; and as during the minority of the heir of Fife, 
 the king held the comitatus, Edward I. whom Baliol had acknowledged 
 8s his liege lord, appointed John de St. John to officiate for Duncan as his 
 Deputy. 
 
 * Lord Hailes proves, that there coyld have been no such person as 
 
 this
 
 SECT. III.] SUCCESSORS OP MACDUFF. 23! 
 
 ISOBELLA, reg. Davide II. ct Roberto II. succeeded the 
 
 fourteenth in that station '. 
 
 About 
 
 this Duncan the lath Earl, and that Duncan, called the 1 3th Earl, was son 
 and successor to Puncan the nth Earl. It was a grand-uncle of his who 
 was killed at Falkirk under Wallace. This Duncan favoured Baliol and 
 the English. But his sister Isobel, wife of the Earl of Buchan, when Bruce 
 came to Scone to be crowned, secretly repaired thither, asserted the pre- 
 tensions of her ancestors, and placed the crown on the head of Robert L 
 For this senrice, she was afterwards committed, by Edward I. to close and 
 severe confinement in the castle of Berwick. Duncan seems not to have 
 possessed so much intrepidity as his sister. During the absence of Ro- 
 bert I. in Ireland, whither he had gone to support the pretensions of 
 his brother Edward to the crown of that country, a party of English, sent 
 to invade Scotland by sea, anchored off Inverkeithing, in this county. 
 The Earl of Fife, and the Sheriff of the county, having 500 men under 
 their command, attempted to oppose the landing ; but intimidated by the 
 numbers of the English, they made a precipitate retreat. William Sinclair, 
 bishop of Dunkeld, happened to meet the fugitives; " Whither are yoa 
 flying ?" said he to the commanders : " You deserve to have your gilt spurs 
 hacked off," (i. e. to be degraded from the honour of knighthood). Then 
 throwing aside his ecclesiastical vestment, he seized a spear, and cried, 
 " Who loves Scotland, follow me." He led the Scots again to the charge, 
 and impetuously attacked the enemy, who had not compleated their land- 
 ing. The English gave way, and were driven to their ships, with consi- 
 derable loss. When the king heard of the intrepidity of this prelate, he 
 said, " Sinclair shall be my bishop." Under the appellation of the King's 
 Bishop, Sinclair was long remembered by his countrymen. Again, in 
 the reign of David II. when opposing the landing of Edward Baliol, who 
 now claimed the throne of Scotland, Duncan suffered a discomfiture. In the 
 dreadful defeat of Donald Earl of Mar the regent, at Duplin, by Ed*vard 
 Balioi, he also shared, was made prisoner, afterwards submitted to the? 
 conqueror, and assisted at his coronation at Scone. He is said to have died 
 in 1553, leaving one daughter. With him ended the male line of Mac-* 
 duff, Earl of Fife, whose military spirit seems not to have descended to his 
 posterity. The Earls of Fife, (though many of the family were distin- 
 guished in the field as well as the counsel) figure more as statesmen than 39 
 warriors, and are oftener found placing the king on his throne, and sup- 
 porting it by their counsels, than asserting their privilege of leading his 
 armies. Hailes, Vol. II. 
 
 1 Isobel, daughter and sole heiress of the last Earl, was thrice married ;
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 About 1356, WILL. RAMSAY is Earl of Fife, whether 
 by marriage of this Isobel, or otherwise, is uncertain : in i 
 charter of the Scrimzeors, he is placed before the Earl of 
 March, and so seems to have had an interest of blood. He 
 is the fourteenth Earl. 
 
 ISOBEL the Countess is married to Thomas Bisert, who 
 thereby is Earl of Fife, anno regis David 34. or 1362. 
 Upon this king David grants the following charter. 
 
 " David, Dei gratia rex Scotorum, omnibus probis homi- 
 nibus totius terra suse, clericis et laicis, salutem, sciatis rios 
 .dedisse dile&o et fideli nostro, Thomae Bysert, militi, totum 
 comitatum nostrum de Fyffe cum pertinentiis, tenendum et 
 habendum eidem Thomce, et hseredibus suis masculis inter 
 ipsum et Isobellam de Fyffe legittime procreandis, de nobis 
 et haeredibus nostris in feodo et hsereditate per omnes retas 
 metas et divisas suas, cum omnibus libertatibus commodita- 
 tibus, Sec. Quibus hseredibus masculis inter dictum Tho- 
 mam et Isobellam deficientibus, volumus quod totus prcc- 
 dictus comitatus cum pertinentiis ad nos et hseredes nostros 
 libere revertatur, faciendo inde secundum debitum et con- 
 suetum, &c. Apud Edinburgh 8 Junii, anno regui 
 nostri 34." 
 
 So THOMAS BISERT is the fifteenth Earl. 
 
 There is an indenture (the copy of which I have) be- 
 twixt Robert Senescall, (Stuart) Earl of Menteith, and Isobel 
 Countess of Fife, of date the penult day of March 1371. 
 By. which it appears, that the said Countess Isobel doth 
 acknowledge the said Earl to be her lawful heir apparent, 
 
 as 
 
 jjt, To Sir XVilliam Ramsay : Zii, To Walter Stuart, id son of Robert II. 
 by his first wife, Elisabeth More. It is curious that Sibbald takes no notice 
 of this marriage : and, 3</, To Sir Thomas Bisset of Upsettlington. She 
 had no issue by any of her husbands, and was therefore prevailed on td 
 resign the earldom of Fife to Robert Stuart, brother to her second husband*. 
 Earl of Menteith in right of his first v, ife, and afterwards Duke of Albany, 
 Douglas's Peerage.
 
 SECT. III.] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF, 2.33 
 
 as well by the tailzie made by umquhile Duncan Earl of 
 Fife, her father, to Allan Earl of Menteith, the grandfather 
 of the lady Margaret, the spouse of the said Robert, now 
 Earl, as by the tailzie made by the lady Isobel herself, and 
 her umquhile husband, Walter Senescall, the son of the 
 said Robert Earl of Monteith, to the foresaid Earl ; by 
 which, upon the said Earl's assisting her in the recovery o 
 her earldom, which she by force and fear had otherwise 
 resigned ; and that, when the said earldom is recovered, 
 and the Countess has got possession of it, she shall pre- 
 sently resign it in the king's hand, to infeft the Earl him- 
 self in it, who shall presently receive sasine of the feud of 
 die said earldom, with the leading and dominion of these 
 of the said earldom, their wards, reliefs, marriages, and 
 escheats, and all else belonging to the Earl of Fife, or that 
 should pertain to him when they happen. The courts of 
 the said earldom shall be holden by the Senescall, with the 
 cxites and contingents of the men dwelling in the lands, 
 and shall receive from the Countess her self ferms, and re- 
 ceive the ferms from all the other tenents ; and the said 
 Countess is to have all the days of her life the free tene- 
 ment of the lands of the said earldom, except the third 
 part, allotted to Mary Countess of Fife, the mother of the 
 said lady Isobel ; all the time of her life in assedation, and 
 the raising of ferms, with the harriages and cariages, and 
 other lesser services due and customary : and the said Earl, 
 upon the death of Mary the Countess, shall have her whole 
 third part. And it is agreed, the said Earl shall have in 
 his keeping the castle of Falkland, with the forrest of it, 
 and a constable shall be placed there by him, as he pleaseth ; 
 and that the said Countess may stay within the tower when 
 she pleaseth, and the whole village of Falkland, over against 
 the said tower, shall be set in tack, for such a ferro, to the 
 same Earl, the day of the making of the present indenture ; 
 Hh so
 
 234 TH1E HISTORY OF FIFE. PART in. 1 ) 
 
 so as, when he conies, he may have lodging and accommo^ 
 dation there for him and his horses, and not wrong the 
 other lands of the Countess. To the performance of all 
 which, they on both sides bound themselves by their oath 
 corporally; and for testimony of it, put to it the seals 
 of the foresaid Earl and Countess, with the seal and sub- 
 scription of the notar subscribing, dated the said place, day 
 and year foresaid. 
 
 Et ego Joannes Rollo elericus Moraviensis diocesis, apos- 
 tolica autoritate notarius, prsedi&is omnibus et singu- 
 lis, dum sic tra6tarent, concordarent et juramento, 
 htnjc inde, eonfirmaverunt, una cum discretis viris 
 Stephano archdiacorio Moraviense, Heugone de Eglin- 
 ton, Roberto Senescallo, Vice-comite de Perth militi- 
 bus, Mauritio de Drumond, Thoma Sybald et multis 
 aliis testibus ad prsemissa vocatis specialiteret rogatis: 
 anno die et mense supra dilis ; indi&ione nonu pon- 
 tificatus D. Gregorii divina providentia Papae XL 
 anno primo ; prassens interfui, eaque omnia et singula 
 przemissa fieri vidt, scivi, et audivi, ac mea propria 
 manu ad instantiam diclarum personarum, signumque 
 meum consuetum, subscripsi, apposui, vocatus specia- 
 liter et vogatus, in omnium prscmissorum testimonium. 
 
 ROE CRT STUART was the sixteenth Earl of Fife, he was 
 Duke of Albany, and regent ; he married the lady Mar- 
 garet daughter to the Earl of Monteith> in whose right as 
 heiress of tail/ie of the earldom of Fife, and by the dispo- 
 sition made to him by the Countess Isobel, he got it. He 
 died 1420 '. 
 
 His 
 j, , _ . . 
 
 1 Of Robert Stuart, certainly the most noted of the Earls of Fife, Sibbald 
 chooses to say but little. With the tenderness of a genealogist, he passes 
 over a history, many parts of which could not be reckoned honourable to 
 
 the
 
 SECT. III.] SUCCESSORS OF MACDUFF. 235 
 
 His son MURDO was the seventeenth Earl of Fife, and 
 
 Duke of Albany j he was execute 1424, and, upon his 
 
 H h 2 forfaulture 
 
 th earldom. From the age of his father, Robert II. at his accession, and 
 the weakness of his elder brother John, afterwards Robert IIL he early 
 obtained great influence in the state. In the chara-fler of commander of 
 the army, though he had but mean talents for war, he managed the whole 
 affairs of the nation, while the feeble sovereign lived retired from public 
 concerns in the little island of Bute. At length, in 1 389, he was formally 
 acknowledged by the three estates as governor of the kingdom, an office 
 which he in fuel held under the different names f Lieutenant-General, 
 Governor, and Regent, for 34 years, during the reigns of his father and 
 brother, and of his nephew James I. while in captivity in England. His 
 character, and that of his government, are well delineated by the pene- 
 trating and judicious historian of the first seven sovereigns of the house cf 
 Stuart. " His person was tall, and majestic, his countenance amiable : tem- 
 perance, affability, eloquence, real generosity, apparent benignity, a degree 
 t>f cool prudence bordering upon wisdom, may be reckoned among his 
 virtues. But the shades of his vices are deeper ; an insatiate ambition, uir- 
 relenting cruelty, and its attendant cowardice, or at least an absolute de- 
 fect of military fame, a contempt of the best human affections, a long 
 practice in all the dark paths of art and dissimilation. His administratiou 
 he studied to recommend, not by promoting the public good, but by 
 during the spoils of the monarchy v.'ith the nobles, by a patient connivance 
 at their enormities, by a dazzling pomp of expenditure in the pleasures of 
 the feast, and in the conciliation of munificence. As fortune preserved lik 
 government from any signal unsuccess, so it would be an abuse of terms to 
 bestow upon a wary management, which only regarded his own interest, 
 the praise of political wisdom." The crime that chiefly disgraces his ad- 
 mmi'tration, is the murder of his nephew the Duke of Rothsay, eldest son 
 of Robert III. in the guilt of which it is but too clear he had the principal 
 share. The good qualities of the prince, who was endued with a comely 
 person, an honest heart, an able head, a sweet aud affable temper, and who 
 gave every promise of. Becoming a wise and aiftive sovereign, excited 
 the jealousy of the crafty and ambitious governor. Dreading him as thr 
 rival of his present power, and the subverts* of his future projects, he re- 
 solved on the destruction of the heir of die kingdom. The power ami 
 acnse of the Queen, the gravity of Trail bishop of St. Andrews, a chid 
 promoter of concord, the valour and wisdom of the first Archibald Earl of 
 Douglas, had balanced the ambition of Albany, but these three supporters 
 of the monarchy died within a short period, and the governor's passions 
 
 had
 
 236 THE HISTORY OF FI*E. [pART III. 
 
 forfaulture, king James the first annexed the earldom to the 
 crown '. 
 
 There 
 
 had no longer any controul, save from Rothsay's merit, and just preten- 
 sions. The decrepit and infirm monarch was, as usual, distant from the 
 public scene, and guided by those around him ; among whom was now 
 unhappily one Raruorguy, a knight, but a villain, whom the generous na- 
 ture of the prince had made his enemy. At his suggestion, which may be 
 construed that of Albany, Robert sent a written order to the regent, to 
 urrest his son, and confine him for a short time, in order to subdue his 
 stubborn spirit ; forgetful ha>v short a path leads a prince from the prison 
 to the grave. The royal mandate was born by Ramorgny and by another 
 enemy of Rothsay, Sir William Lindsay, whose sister Euphemia i ia< i 
 been affianced to the prince, and rejected. From these circumstances it 
 may be perceived that the scheme was laid, and conducted with all the 
 deep and dark art of consummate villainy. Albany, receiving the. order 
 with joy, resolved on its immediate enforcement, and that the bearers 
 should be the executors. Erivacy was necessary ; and Rothsay was in- 
 teigled into Fife, upou pretence that he should take possession for the 
 king of the castle of St. Andrews, till the appointment of another bishop. 
 "When the unsuspe&ing prince was riding with a small attendance,' between 
 iNydie and Straburn, near St. Andrews, he was seized, and held a prisoner 
 in the castle, till the governor and his council, assembled at Culross, should 
 determine the place of his confinement. The tower of Falkland was 
 named ; and thither Albany and Douglas, with a strong band of followers, 
 conducted the prince, seated on a labouring horse, and covered with a. 
 russet clokc, to defend him from the falling xain. Here under the custody 
 of John Selkirk, and John Wright, two assassins employed by Albany, the 
 lAiost cruel of deaths, that of famine, awaited the heir of the monarchy -. 
 and he was buried in a private manner at Lindoris, distant from the tombs 
 of the Scottish kings, or those pf his family, the conspirators not daring, 
 i>y a funereal pomp, to awaken the attention and detection of the people. 
 
 1 Murdoch succeeded his father as regent ; but indolent and remiss, he 
 acquired not his father'* power ; nor did he equal his father's atrocities ; 
 lie might be said rather to have connived at the crimes of his children, than 
 to have been criminal himself. After a quiet regency of about four years, 
 he finished his public life, by placing his sovereign on the throne at Scone, 
 :m office that belonged to him as Earl of Fife. He fell rather from the 
 offences of his family than his own. After a trial by a jury, where the 
 king himself presided, he was condemned to death, on what precise grounds 
 * new unknown. His estates of Fife and Menteith wf re immediately 
 
 annexed
 
 SECT, in.] C1DETS OF MACDUFF. 237 
 
 There were several cadets of the MacdufTs Earls of Fife, 
 viz. the predecessor of the Earl of Weems, and the pre- 
 decessor of Mackintosh ', who in his mother-tongue calls 
 himself Maktosich Wichdhuie, that is, the son of the 
 Tbattgj who was the son of Duff: the predecessor of 
 Toshay of Minevaird, and the predecessor of the barons of 
 Fanduy, Craigtoun, and of others of the name of Duff, 
 who still retain the sirname of Duff. I have a copie of 
 the seal " Mackduffi de Balbirney, de eodem, infra Vice- 
 comitatum de Fife," 1 in anno 1234. In the circle of the 
 seal is, SIG: MAKDVF DE BAJ.BIRNIA. And within the seal 
 is the figure of a rabbet. 
 
 Mackdifffus Fife PrafecliiSy Vemlsitt gentis attflor t tnnpore 
 Mllcohnnbi tertii. 1079. 
 
 Pellere me potuit regni de parte tyrannus, 
 Tollere non potuit libera regna animi. 
 
 Quod potui, voluisse timer, nee velle timere : 
 Sic nunquam in tuto est conscia cura mali. 
 
 Ergo furens magis imbelles cum conjuge natos 
 Perdidit : ast neque in hoc mi cecidere animi. 
 
 Exilium 
 
 annexed to die crown. His title of Albany has been frequently conferred 
 on different branches of the royal family. Fife was never again to appear 
 in the Scottish peerage ; but the title has been revived in Ireland, in favour 
 ef Duff of Dipple, who pretends to be descended from Macduff, but in 
 what line the genealogists cannot ascertain ; and the present possessor of 
 that title was, in 1790, created a British peer also, by the title of Lord 
 Fife. 
 
 1 The family of Wemyss claim their descent from Gillimichael the fourth 
 EarL The ancestor of Macintosh is said, in the histories of that family, 
 to have been Duncan the fifth Earl, whose second son Shaw, obtained lands 
 in the north from Malcolm IV. A descendant of his, in the end of the 
 1 3th century, is said to have become chief of the clan Chattan, a clau 
 composed of a number of tribes, by the marriage of the only daughter of 
 GHjiatric Macdougal mhic Gillichattan. Douglas'* Peerage and Baronage.
 
 238 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III, 
 
 Exilium vici, regem in sua regna reduxi, 
 Subjecique armis colla tyranna meis. 
 
 Addo decus priscis meritis. Monumenta vetusta 
 Servat adhuc rerum Vemisiana domus. 
 
 Crcdita res posse baud fieri lv.cc, nisi Crcsaris armis, 
 Czesar ego, caesa de genitrice, feror. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Concerning the Civil Jurisdictions; in this Shire. 
 
 JLl-FTER that of the Earl Macduff, the most ancient juris- 
 di&ion is that of the Sheriffs. 
 
 The Sheriffs of Fife. 
 
 King William, David de Wemys. 
 
 King Alexander II. an. 15. of his reign, Ingelramus de 
 Balfour. 
 
 An. 1239. David de Wemys. 
 
 An. 1289. Hugo de Lochor. 
 
 An. 1292. Constantinus de Lochor. 
 
 King John Baliol, Johannes de Valloniis (Vallange). 
 
 King Robert I. David de Barclay. ; f 
 
 An. 1314. Michael de Balfour. 
 
 King David II. of his reign an. 15. Johannes de Balfour. 
 
 About an. 1360. David de Wemys. 
 
 An. 1396. Dominus Georgius Lesly, de Lesly super 
 Leven. 
 
 An. 1424, & 1439. John Lumisdean of Glengirnock. 
 
 An. 1449. Robert Levingston of Drumry. 
 
 At this time the Sheriff-court did sit on the Camhill 
 (now called the Mutehill) of Cowper. 
 
 An. 1464, & 1465. Alexander Kennedy. 
 
 An.
 
 SECT. III-3 CIVIL OFFICERS. 
 
 An. 1504. Andrew Lundin of Balgony. 
 
 Now the Sheriff-court sits hi the tolbooth of Cowper. 
 
 About 1514. The laird of Balgony gets the sheriff-ship 
 for five years. 
 
 An. 1517. Patrick Lord Lindsay of the Byres, and John 
 Master of Lindsay of Pitcruvie. 
 
 30. May 1524. The same Patrick Lord Lindsay gets the 
 sheriff-ship heritably, and is Sheriff an. 1530. 
 
 Esquire Meldrum is his depute. 
 
 " Carta, per Jac. IV. regem, Georgio comiti de Rothes-, 
 de officio Vice-comitis de Fyf, &c. in album firmam, pro 
 solutionc unius denarii argenti, &c. apud lladinton, 
 i. Junii 1489. 
 
 An. 1531. George Earl of Rothes. 
 
 And since that the sheriffship is heritably in that noble 
 family '. 
 
 'Judlces de Fife. 
 
 An. 1292. Thomas Kayr judex de Fife. 
 An. 1 343. Robertus de Erskin, balivus Duncani comi. 
 tis de Fife. 
 
 Crtnuners of Fife. 
 
 King Alexander. Alexander filius Colvil. 
 Queen Mary. The laird of Burghly is heritable crowner. 
 An. 1582. Andrew Wood, of Largo, is crowner for 4 
 time. 
 
 Tlx 
 
 1 Since the ad of Parliament abolishing heritable jurisdi&lons, and 
 vasting the office of Sheriff in the crown, the following gentkmen have 
 been Sheriffs-depute of Fife, viz. 
 
 1748. The Hon. Jame Leslie of Milndean*. 
 1761. James Dalgliesh, Esq. of Scotscraig. 
 1780. Claud Irvinc-Boswcll, Esq. of BalmuWi 
 1799- Neil Fcrgusson, Efq. of Pitcullo.
 
 40 "THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III* 
 
 The present Steward, and Lords of the Regalities within Fife. 
 
 The Duke of Athol is heritably steward, and keeper of 
 the palace and park of Falkland '. 
 
 The Earl of Crawfurd is heritable baillie and admiral of 
 the regality of St. Andrews. 
 
 The Marquis of Tweeddale is heritable baillie of the re- 
 gality of Dunfermling. 
 
 The Lord Balmerinoch is heritable baillie of the regality 
 of Balmerinoch z . 
 
 < Sir William Anstruther, Lord Anstruther, is heritable 
 baillie of the regality of Pittenweem. 
 
 Barclay of Cullaimy, is heritable baillie of the regality of 
 Lundoris 3 . 
 
 Sir Thomas Hope 1 of Craighall, is heritable baillie of the 
 provostry of Kirkheugh. 
 
 There is the Commissar-court at St. Andrews, where the 
 Commissar judgeth the matters belonging to that court. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Containing the List of the Bishops and Priors of St. Andrews. 
 
 jSJNG Kenneth II. translated the episcopal see (which 
 whilst the Pidish kingd6m stood, was settled at Abernethy) 
 to the church of St. Reule, and ordained it, from thence- 
 forth to be called, the church of St. Andrews, and the 
 bishop thereof, maximus Scotorum episcopus, the principal 
 
 bishop 
 
 1 Now David Skcne, Esq. of Hallynrds. 
 3 Now the Right Honourable the Earl of Moray. 
 3 Now the Hon. Mrs. Maitland-Mackgill of Rankeilour-Mackgill- 
 The families of Craufiird, Tweedale, Anstruther, and Hope, still posses 
 their heritable office*
 
 SECT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. 1NDREWS." 24! 
 
 bishop of Scotland. This is said to have been done in the 
 year of the world 4810. and of Christ 840 '. 
 
 The learn'd historian and diligent antiquary Mr. George 
 Martine, in his MS. Reliquiae S. Andreae, has given a full 
 
 account 
 
 * Of the pretended bishoprick of Abernethy, no traces are to be found 
 in the registers of monasteries, or the earlier annalists ; nor does there ap- 
 pear to have been any episcopal see, properly so called, north of the Forth, 
 before the ere&ion of the bishoprick of St. Andrews, in the 9th century. 
 It may be supposed, that when the Culdees were accustomed to elec~b 
 bishops, who had no fixed diocese, but exercised their functions wherever 
 they came, Abernethy may have been the favourite residence of some of 
 them. It was an ecclesiastical establishment, perhaps as early as the begin* 
 uing of the yth century, and appears to have been a school for such learn- 
 ing as then obtained among the clergy. These circumstances might induce 
 some of the bishops to reside there, and give them an influence over the 
 clergy educated under their inspection, which tradition has magnified into 
 a supremacy over all the churches of PiSland. That there were bishops 
 among the Culdees in Pi&land, we cannot doubt, though they were cer- 
 tainly (except in what immediately regarded the episcopal fundion) infe- 
 rior in influence and power to the abbot of lona. There is a solitary in- 
 stance of their having a primate ; for two Irish annalists mention, at 864, 
 the death of Tuahal the son of Artgus, arctiistof of Pi&land, and abbot 
 of Dunkcld. After lona was ravaged by the Danes, Dunkeld, and not 
 Abernethy, seems to have become the primitial see of the Pids ; and it is 
 perhaps from his rank and influence, as abbot of Dunkeld, that Tuahal is 
 called archbishop of PictlanJ. Of the bishopricks north of the Forth and 
 Clyde, St. Andrews is certainly the most ancient. In present Scotland, 
 two perhaps, certainly one, may claim higher antiquity ; for Ninian who 
 converted the southern PicU in 412, was bishop of Candida Casa or Whit- 
 herne in Galloway, then a part of the province of Valentia, inhabited by 
 Britons and Romans, and their descendants. If St. Mungo (Kentigern) had 
 been a bishop, which Keith seems to prove he was nor, Glasgow would be 
 the second ; for this saint lived there towards the end of the 6th century. 
 To these may be added the bishoprick of Abercorn or Lothian, while that 
 province formed part of the kingdom of Northumbria, from the middle of 
 the 6th till towards the end of the ;th century, when this bishoprick ended. 
 The other two sees had ceased to have bishops before the erection of St. 
 Andrews ; at least nothing is known of any bishop of Whithernc from 
 790 to 1154, or of Glasgow, from the death of Kcnticrn in 6oi to 
 Keith. Pink. Part VF. 
 
 li
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [TART III, 
 
 account of the bishops and archbishops of St. Andrews, 
 their rights and privileges ; of their jurisdictions and supe- 
 riorities, and of the lands contained in their golden charter ; 
 and of the prelacies and benefices depending upon them, or 
 belonging to them, and of their officers and deputes in 
 their courts, and of their revenues ; to which I refer the 
 curious. I cannot pass by a testimony he gives pag. 12. 
 out of a manuscript of the bishops and archbishops of 
 St. Andrews, written in the Latin tongu'e, in the account it 
 gives of the life of William Wishart, bishop there. 
 
 " Quando ecclesia Scotica crescere bona fide, et in bo- 
 narri frugem adolescere ccepit, Culdei semen evangelii 
 rnrrum in modum multiplication, cernentes, ex suo corporc 
 episcopum (irearunt, qui nulli certse sedi alligatus fuit; 
 circa annum conversions 62, i. e. reparatae salutis hu- 
 manae 270. Cum vero, rmicus, quisedem habere praecipuam 
 incipiebat Sodone in Argadia, non sufficeret, (ut opinaban- 
 tur) tune plures ex eoruro Culdcorum corpore episcopi sunt 
 creati : Nee hoc satis erat, quia postea ab eleemosynis, ad 
 certos annuos census, ecclesiastic! transivere, turn episco- 
 patus crescere, abbatbe fundari, et donationibus ditari : Dig- 
 riitas etiam et honor a putativa ilia sede apostolica augeri a 
 regibus, optimatibusque, et populo in admirationem, haberi 
 cceperunt ; tune omnia pessum ire. Verum Culdei, epis- 
 copum e suo corpoi'e eligendi potestatem, in Scotia semper 
 habebant, donee translatum fuit ab iis jus illud ad clerum, 
 quod primum in eleclione SancT: Andreani episcopi Wil- 
 lielmi Wishart abrogatum fuit, anno, 1271, aut eo circa V 
 
 Archbishop 
 
 1 *' About the 6zd year after the introdu<Slion of Christianity into Scot- 
 land, and of the Chribtian ./Era 270, the Culdces observing the increase of 
 the church, eledled a bishop from their own body, who had no fixed dio- 
 cese. When however, one, who began to fix his residence at Sodor, in th.? 
 diocese of Argyle, was (as they thought) insufficient for the duty, tltey 
 ele&cd more bishops out of their own society. Nor was this enough ; for 
 
 the
 
 SBCT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 745 
 
 Archbishop Usher, iu his Britannicarum ecclesiarum 
 Antiquitates, p. 1032. makes the bishop of St. Andrews to 
 have got that privilege from the Culdees sooner , for be 
 says, from the Dunelmense Chronicum, that, " anno ah 
 incarnatione domini MCVIII. tempore regis Malcolmi et 
 San&ne Margarets, eleftus fuit Turgotus, prior Dunel- 
 mensis, in episcopum Santi Andreae, et sedit per annos 
 septem : in diebus illis, totum jus Keledeorum, per totum 
 regnum Scotiae, transmt in episcopura Santi Andrea? I ." 
 
 The Bishops and Archbislseps of St. Andrews y collected frat the 
 
 histories and charters. 
 i ADRIAN, killed by the Danes, buried in the Isle of 
 
 Mayan. 872*. 
 
 I i 2 2 Kellach 
 
 the clergy, passing from a state of dependence on charity, to the enjoy- 
 ment of fixed revenues, the episcopal order increased, abbeys were founded 
 and enriched, and a love of splendour and rank attached to the offices of 
 the church, proceeding from that see which had usurped apostolical autho- 
 rity, prevailed among the kings, the nobles, and the people : then every 
 thing went to ruin in the church ; but the Culdees preserved the power of 
 electing the bishops of St. Andrews, till it was transferred from them to 
 the regular clergy ; which was first done about 1171, at the ejection of 
 William Wishart." See before, Book It Chap. V. 
 
 1 " That in 1108, in the time of Malcolm III. and St. Margaret, Turgot 
 prior of Durham was elected bishop of St. Andrews, which office he held 
 for seven years. In his time, the whole rights of the Culdees, throughout 
 all Scotland, were vested in the bishop of St. Andrews." The mistake ot 
 this excellent chronologer will appear from the chapter referred to above. 
 It ob'viously arose from trusting too much to the monks of Durham, who, 
 to do honour to their prior, ascribed to him powers which he never pos- 
 sessed. Alexander I., and not Malcolm III., reigned when Turgot was 
 elected bishop. 
 
 * Besides this list of Sibbald's, Keith has published other three, of the 
 bishops of St. Andrews, preceding Robert prior of Scone, in none of which 
 the name of Adrian appears, except in Spottiswood's ; and there is no 
 proof that Adrian, the hermit of the May, ever was invested with the 
 episcopal character, or had any particular connection with St. Andrews ; 
 but there is evidence, that Kellach was made bishop when king Grig cr 
 Prrgory cradcd the see, about the end of the 9th century.
 
 '244 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [pART III, 
 
 2 Kellach, sat 4 years, Constantine III. being king. 
 
 3 Malisius, sat 8 years ; Gregory the Great being king, 
 
 4 Kellach II. son of Ferlegus, sat 35 years> an. 904. 
 
 5 Malmore. 
 
 6 Malisius II. 
 
 7 Alwinus sat 3 years. 
 
 8 Maldwin the son of Gillander. % '- 
 
 9 Tuthaldus. 
 
 10 Fothadus or Fodanus, under Malcolm II. consecrate 
 
 an. 954 '. 
 
 j i Gregorius sat 2 years. Died, Male. III. being king. 
 1 2 Turgot, prior of Durham, sat 25 or 26 years*. 
 
 13 Godericus 
 
 1 According to the accurate Ruddiman, the second bishop was Fothad, 
 who was expelled by king Indulph, 954 962, and died in the time of Odo 
 or Duff, 962 966. The third was Maelbright, called Malis by Sibbald, 
 who died in the reign of Culen, about 970. The fourth Kellach II. The 
 fifth Malis II. The sixth Malmore. The next five the same as Sibbald. 
 Betwixt Gregory and Turgot, Ruddiman inserts Cathar, Edmar, and Godric, 
 marked the thirteenth in Sibbald, all of whom he says died without being 
 consecrated. 
 
 * Turgot was elected 1107, was consecrated 1109, and died 1115, and 
 could have been bishop only eight or nine years. His consecration was 
 long delayed, on account of disputes that prevailed between the Scottish 
 clergy and the archbishop of York, and between the archbishops of York 
 and Canterbury, about the right of consecrating the bishops of St. An- 
 tlrews. After a contest for above two years, the controversy remained 
 undecided, and was afterwards to disturb the peace of the church and the 
 state. The archbishop of York consecrated Turgot, " saving the autho- 
 rity of either church." He met obstacles in the discharge of his episcopal 
 functions, from the firm and imperious Alexander I. called the Fierce, who, 
 though he favoured the church, was jealous of every authority that inter- 
 fered with his own. And perceiving that he had lost the influence which 
 lie had possessed while ecclesiastical affairs were directed by Queen Mar- 
 garet, to whom he was confessor, the spirit of the old man sunk within 
 rum, and in a desponding mood, he asked permission to revisit his cell at 
 Durham, where he died. Besides several other works, in history and theo- 
 logy, Turgot wrote a life of his patroness St. Margaret, Queen of Mal- 
 colm
 
 SECT. III.3 BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 345 
 
 13 Godericus, who anointed king Edgar, 1098. He 
 
 died 1107. 
 
 14 Eadmerus, a monk of Canterbury, king Alexander I. 
 
 reigning 1 . 
 
 15 Robert prior of Scone, elected an. 1103. Died about 
 
 an. 1158. he founded the priory of St. Andrews : he 
 is sometimes design'd, Robertus Dei Gratia, Sandli 
 Andreae humilis minister ; sometimes, S. Andrea; epis- 
 copus ; and sometimes, Scotorum episcopus. And after 
 the same manner are the under-named Arnold, Richard, 
 Roger and William Malvoisin, entitled*. 
 
 1 6 Ernestus, whom I find bishop, in an. 5 and 7 of Mal- 
 
 colm IV. his reign. 
 
 Walthe. 
 
 colm III. which contains a faithful picture of that excellent woman, whose 
 real merit far exceeds the fame of these idle miracles which have heen at- 
 tributed to her in later times ; for she was truly religious, virtuous, and 
 charitable. As a wife and a mother, she was most affectionate. To her 
 piety, the church owed a reformation from many abuses. By her exem- 
 plary manners, as well as by her taste, the court was purified fioni much 
 of the vice and barbarism that had prevailed. By her beneficence, the poor 
 and the orphan, abounding in these days of turbulence, were daily relieved. 
 The Normans and Saxons who fled from the tyranny of William, were 
 hospitably received and provided for ; and numbers of English who were 
 then scattered over Scotland in a state of slavery, were redeemed from 
 bondage. To many of these works, it is fair to believe, that Turgot was 
 her adviser. It docs not derogate from the character of Margaret to say, 
 that, in an age when the influence of confessors was great, she listened to 
 the counsels of the pious and enlightened Turgot. It was creditable for 
 him to dired, and for her to follow, a course of life unexampled in these 
 barbarous times. Koith. Hailcs. 
 
 1 In the time of Eadmer, the disputes respecting the right of consecra- 
 ting the bishops of St. Andrews raged with great violence. From the 
 policy and inflexibility of Alexander, who was determined to yield to 
 neither of the archbishops of England, Eadmer never was consecrated. 
 Keith. Hailes. 
 
 1 For an account of the foundation of the priory by Robert, assisted by 
 David and his son Henry Earl of Huntingdon, pee page 10.1.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [P&R.T III. 
 
 Walthemius, abbot of Melross, elected, but accepts not. 
 
 17 Arnoldus abbot of Kelso, who sat i year, 10 months, 
 
 and 1 7 days : he is legatus a latere : he founded the 
 cathedral church ; died 1163. 
 
 1 8 Richard, chaplain to king Malcolm IV. died 1178*. 
 
 19 Hugo de Roxburgh, chaplain to king William, died 
 
 6. August 1 1 88*. 
 
 20 Roger 
 
 * When the Scots, impatient at the absence of their king, William the 
 Lion, who had been surprised and taken while lying before Alnwick, by a 
 party of the gallant barons of Yorkshire, surrendered the independency of 
 the kingdom to Henry IL bishop Richard, with other dignified clergy, 
 was prevailed on to enter into an agreement for the submission of the 
 Scottish church also ; but standing firm to their privileges, the clergy so 
 managed the wording of the agreement, as to leave the independency of 
 the Scottish church to be agitated on a more fit occasion, and in better 
 times. They agreed, that the English church sljould have that right ever 
 the Scottish " which iujustite it ought to have." Hailes. 
 
 a It was with much difficulty, and after a long struggle, that Hugh, 
 supported by the king, obtained possession of the see of St. Andrews. As 
 this contest exhibits, in a strong point of view, the spirit and independence 
 of William the Lion, when every other sovereign of Europe yielded im- 
 plicit obedience to the will of Rome, an account of it is subjoined in the 
 words of Lord Hailes. " John, sirnamed the Scot, a native of Cheshire, 
 but probably of Scottish parentage, was a person eminently learned, ac- 
 cording to the measure of that age ; his mother was the sister f Matthew 
 Kynynmount bishop of Aberdeen. Thus connected with the Scottish 
 church, he obtained the patronage of Richard bishop of St. Andrews, was 
 made one of the archdeacons of that see, and, on the demise of Richard, 
 was elected bishop of St. Andrews, by the chapter 1178. William had 
 destined this bishoprick to one Hugh his chaplain. When he heard of the 
 ^lection made by the chapter, he passionately exclaimed. " By the arm of 
 " Saint James, while I live, John Scot shall never be bishop of St. An- 
 P drews." He seized the revenues of the see, and ordered his bishops to 
 consecrate Hugh. John appealed to Rome. The king, disregarding the 
 appeal, procured the consecration of Hugh, and put him in possession. 
 John solicited his appeal in person, and was favourably received by Alex- 
 ander III. The Pope annulled the election of Hugh, and appointed his 
 |egate Alexius to heas and determine as to the election of John. The le- 
 gate called an assembly of the Scottish clergy, pronounced judgment for
 
 SECT. Ill,] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 247 
 
 20 Roger, son to Robert Beaumont, Earl of Licester, is 
 
 chancellor : he built the castle of St. Andrews j 
 died 9. July 1202. 
 
 21 William Malvoisin, bishop of Glasgow, chancellor, a 
 
 Frenchman, sat 35 years, died 1237. He founded 
 
 the 
 
 John, and consecrated him. ( 1 1 80) The king beheld all this in sullen silence* 
 But, as goon as John was consecrated, he banished him from Scotland. 
 Meanwhile, Hugh enjoyed the revenues of the see, and, tinder the shelter 
 of his sovereign, asserted that his election was canonical. Alexius, per- 
 ceiving that no obedience was given to his sentence, bethought himself of 
 an ingenious expedient. He laid the diocese of St. Andrews under an in- 
 terdict ; amd thus endeavoured to silence the person whom he could not 
 expeL This method also proved ineffectual The immediate interposi- 
 tion of the Pope became necessary. Alexander, that aged dictator of the 
 Christian world, commanded the Scottish clergy, within eight days after 
 receiving his mandate, to install John, and yield clerical obedience to him. 
 Not satisfied with this, Alexander issued a mandate to the Scottish bishops, 
 ordering them to excommunicate Hugh, the pretended bishop of St. An- 
 drews. To shew that he was resolved to enforce obedience, the Pope 
 granted legatinc powers, over Scotland, to Roger archbishop of York ; he 
 authorised him, and Hugh bishop of Durham, to excommunicate the king 
 of Scotland, and to lay the kingdom under an interdict, if the king did not 
 forthwith put John in peaceful possession of the see of St. Andrews. Wil- 
 Uam still remained inflexible. He seems to have been proud of opposing, 
 to the uttermost, that Pontiff, before whom his conqueror Henry had 
 bowed. It is said, that John offered to resign his pretensions ; but that the 
 Pope required him, by his clerical e&eJienct, the most formidable of all 
 adjurations, to stand firm and maintain his post. Hugh bishop of Durham, 
 taking John with him, had an interview with the king. He strove to re- 
 concile them, but in vain. The interdiction of the diocese of St. Andrews, 
 the excommunication of Hugh, and the menaces issued against the king, 
 had all proved unsuccessful Alexander now lost all patience ; thwarted 
 and despised, he direded an epistle to William in the style of a peevish 
 old man, and commanded him to install John, within the term of twenty 
 days, under pain of excommunication. " If you persist in your obstinacy 
 " and outrage," said the Pope, " you may rest assured, that at, in time 
 M past, I have laboured to procure the freedom of your kingdom, so, in 
 " time to conic, I will make it my study that it return into its ancient ser- 
 ' is." Henry offered his mediation to terminate tliis quarrel. William 
 
 agreed
 
 248 THE HISTORY OP FIFfi. f_PAfct III,' 
 
 the ministry of Scotland-Well. He called to Scot- 
 land the Franciscan, Dominican and Jacobine friars, 
 and the monks Vallis Umbrosse '. 
 
 22 David 
 
 agreed to confer the office of chancellor on John Scot, and to give him his choice 
 of the vacant bishopricks in Scotland.. The Pope would listen to no compro- 
 mise ; William would make no further concessions. The archbishop of York 
 and the bishop of Durham, tools of the Romish court, summoned the clergy of 
 the diocese of St. Andrews to yield obedience to John, tinder pain of suspen- 
 sion. William banished all who yielded obedience. Both parties had now 
 advanced so far, that neither could retreat. The archbishop of York, as 
 papal legate, fulminated the sentence of excommunication against William : 
 concurring with the bishop of Durham, he laid the kingdom of Scotland 
 under an interdict. Matters were brought to this crisis, when the Pope 
 and his obsequious legate died. William lost no time in dispatching am- 
 bassadors to Rome. Lucius III. the new Pontiff, reversed the sentence of 
 excommunication, and recalled the interdict His Bull issued on that oc- 
 casion bears, " That, to reverence kings is an apostolical precept ; that the 
 u king of Scotland had inexorably opposed the admission of John Scot, and 
 " had set forth many and sufficient reasons for annulling the judgments 
 " pronounced by authority of Alexander III." The Pope sent the bishop 
 of Dol, and the abbot of Rivaux, into Scotland, to negociate with the king. 
 The king offered to confer on John Scot the bishoprick of Dunkeld, and 
 the dignity of chancellor, and to allow him the emoluments of the arch- 
 deaconry of St. Andrews, with an annual pension of 40 merks. He offered, 
 if it was absolutely required, to remove Hugh from St. Andrews to Glas>- 
 gow ; but he candidly declared, that, in that case, he would with-hold his 
 personal favour from John. In what related to himself, John acquiesced ; 
 but he declared he never could consent to his rival's remaining in the see of 
 St. Andrews. At length the controversy was ended in this manner : Both 
 Hugh and John resigned their pretensions to the bishoprick of St. An- 
 drews : the Pope nominated Hugh to St. Andrews, John to Dunkeld, and 
 made that Lit deed, which was the king's will. In token of perfect amity, 
 Lucius sent the golden rose to William, with his paternal benediction." 
 
 1 Malvoisin seems to have had some pretensions to literature, as he is 
 said by Dempster to have written the lives of St. Ninian and St. Kcnti- 
 gern. But he is more celebrated by the annalists of the see for his un- 
 rcmitted attention to its temporalities, for his vigorous and successful efforts 
 to recover its estates, which had been usurped by the laity, and for his 
 munificence in forwarding the building uf the cathedral. He* seems tu 
 
 have
 
 SECT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS, 249 
 
 22 David Benham, camerarius regls; consecrate 1238. 
 
 Died i. May 1251 '. 
 
 23 Abel, archdeacon of St. Andrews, is bishop 1254 
 
 and 1255. 
 
 24 Gamelinus, clericus (or chaplain) to king Alexander 
 
 III. consecrate on St. Stephen's day 1255. chancellor; 
 died at Inchmurtach, an. 1271*. 
 The see is vacant for a year. 
 
 25 William Wishart ele& of Glasgow, consecrate an. 
 
 1274. died 1279 3 . 
 
 26 William 
 
 have delighted In the pkasures of the table, rather than the austerities of 
 the cloister. lake a noble prelate of the present age in a sister kingdom, 
 lie made it his study to have his board plentifully supplied with the exhi- 
 larating juice of the grape. It is recorded by Fordun, VI. 41. that he de- 
 prived the abbey of Dunfcrmline of the presentation to two churches, be- 
 cause the monks of that abbey had neglected to supply him with wine 
 enough for his collation after supper. The historian adds, that the monka 
 had indeed prepared a sufficient quantity of wine, but that the bishop's 
 attendants, as fond of it as their master, had improvidcntly consumed it all. 
 Marline. Keith. Hailcs. 
 
 1 The fame of Benham, (properly Bernham) a native of Berwick upon 
 Tweed, rests merely upon an attempt which he is said to have made, to 
 restore the discipline of the regular clergy, already become corrupted. 
 .Marune. 
 
 * Gameline aded a busy part in the minority of Alexander HI. He is 
 said by Marline to have opposed the Comyns, whose faction resisted the 
 V.nglish influence at the court of Scotland ; but he more generally appears 
 as a partisan of that family. He is dismissed with them from the king'j 
 counsels, when a regency was formed by the interference of Henry III. at 
 Roxburgh ; he becomes one of the regents with them when they recovered 
 their power, and he is put out of the protection of the laws, because he 
 opposed the government of their enemies. Martine. Keith. Hailcs. 
 
 3 In the time of this bishop, Bencmundus de Vicci, vulgarly called 
 Bagimont, was employed by the Pope to collccl the tenth of all ecclesias- 
 tical benefices in Scotland for the relief of the Holy Land. The rent-roll 
 by which this tax was levied, is known, in the history of Scotland, under 
 the title of Bagimont's roll By the clerical annali*ts, WUhart i* extolled 
 
 for 
 Eft
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 16 William Frazer chancellor, consecrate an. 1280. 
 died 1297 '. 
 
 27 William 
 
 for his virtue, piety, learning, and eloquence. Fordun, certainly not unfa- 
 vourable in general to his own order, ascribes to him rather the craft and 
 sYtbtility of a hypocrite, than the simplicity and honesty of a good mind. 
 Perhaps the favourable character given of him by his ecclesiastical panegy- 
 rist?, may be traced to that preference with which he favoured the regular 
 clergy, in opposition to their rivals the Culdees, and to the care with which 
 he promoted the building of the cathedral, and the ample provision which 
 he made for the splendour of its Worship. Maftine. Keith. Hailes. 
 
 1 1'his treacherous and intriguing prelate, is celebrated by some of our 
 writers as a man of great .worth. From his rank or his talents, he was 
 elected at a general counsel of the kingdom, one of the regents for the in- 
 fant Margaret the Maiden of Norway. After her death, he continued in 
 office ; but he acted as regent of the kingdom only to betray its counsels 
 to Edward, or with dark and dangerous policy, to promote the interests of 
 Edward's dependent Baliol ; that candidate for the crown, who in the language 
 of Fraser, " was disposed to preserve the honour and the interest of the king 
 of England, and to follow his counsel" Fraser continued in favour with 
 Baliol ; and, a short time before he was deprived of the kingdom, by the 
 same power which forced him upon the Scots, this ill-fated prince con- 
 fided to Fraser, with another ecclesiastic and two noblemen, the negocia- 
 tion of that treaty with France, by which Philip the Hardy gave his niece 
 in marriage to the son and heir of Baliol, and the two kings were bound 
 to assist each other. This is the original treaty which was the ground of 
 so many more, equally honourable and ruinous to Scotland, and not that 
 old league, of which many of our writers fondly speak ; for it never existed 
 but in their own imaginations. This celebrated treaty was fatal to Baliol. 
 The resentment of Edward was roused ; and with the force of his liege 
 lord, the power of the Scottish king contended in vain. Fraser returned 
 not to behold the disgrace of his friend, and the calamities of his country, 
 to which he had been doubly instrumental. He languished in France, a prey 
 t/> a di^ased mind, till towards the end of the year 1297, when he died at 
 Arteville. His body was buried in the church of the preaching friars at 
 Paris; but his heart, inclosed in a very rich box of silver, was brought to 
 Scotland by his successor, and entombed in the wall of the cathedral, beside 
 .the sepulchre of Gameline. Fraser is said by Martine to have purchase J 
 the I&le of May from the abbot and monks of Reading in England, tt 
 \vtiom it had been given by David I.'and to have bestowed it on the priol 
 and canons of St. Andrews, who afterwards resigned it to the priory o; 
 Pittenwcem. This is attributed by Keith to his successor. Hailes.
 
 SECT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 
 
 ^7 William Lambertoun parson of Campsay, and chan- 
 cellor of the chapter of Glasgow; consecrate 1298. 
 died 1328. 1310 is released from being prisoner in 
 England : lie finished the cathedral of St. Andrews, 
 and built much about the abbacy '.. 
 
 K k ': 28 James 
 
 1 This bishop was a politician of considerable rote in the turbulent and 
 busy times of Edward I. and II., and Robert I. His talents and influence 
 being considerable, he was courted by both parties, who in their turns go- 
 Terncd or wasted the distracted kingdom of Scotland ; but his character 
 cannot be defended against the charge of unsteadiness and versatility, so 
 common in times of public dissension, but which must be considered as par- 
 ticularly blameable in the first ecclesiastic of the kingdom. We first find 
 him a regent for Baliol, when that unhappy prince was the prisoner of 
 Edward; and again, after the gallant Wallace, the deliverer of his country, had 
 been by the jealousy of the nobles reduced to a private station ; then am- 
 bassador in France to watch over the interests of the Scots, who still ac- 
 knowledged Baliol. Soon after we find him entering into secret articles 
 with Bruce ; then acting as a commissioner for Edward I. in settling the. 
 affairs of Scotland. When Bruce openly claimed the kingdom, and was 
 crowned at Scone, Lamberton was one of his chief associates. When the 
 adherents of Bruce were soon after dispersed, the bishop was made a priso- 
 ner by the English, and would probably have suffered a capital punishment, 
 had not Edward respected the dignity of his ecclesiastical character. Ed- 
 ward had peculiar cause to punish him, from the duplicity of his condufl in 
 private as well as public concerns. Edward had committed the eldest son 
 of the Stuart, who had been given to him as a hostage, to the keeping of 
 the bishop of St. Andrews. When he heard of the slaughter of Comyn at 
 Dumfries, he demanded back the youth, probably with a view of securing 
 the fidelity of the father. The bishop, instead of restoring the charge, put 
 him into the hands of Bruce. Lamberton was also accused of haVing had some 
 fliare in the slaughter of Comyn. He not only asserted his innocence of 
 the charge, but disclaimed any concern in the insurrection of Bruce, offered 
 to make any sort of submission to the king of England, and immediately 
 renewed his oath of fealty to Edward. Under pretence of urgent business, 
 he obtained leave to return home. He then assembled a considerable num- 
 ber of his vassals and dependents, and sent them to the aid of Bruce, under 
 the command of James, son to William the good Lord Douglas. Th; 
 faithless prelate was soon imprisoned again. The allowance made to a pri- 
 soner of his rar.k, shews the value of money in these days. lie received 
 
 tidily
 
 252 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [p ART III. 
 
 2,8 James Bane archdeacon of St. Andrews, sat 4 years, 
 
 died 1332. 
 
 William Bell elected, but not consecrate. 
 The see is vacant 9 years. 
 
 29 William de Laundelys (son to the baron of Laundelys 
 in the Mers) provost of Kinkell, consecrate 1341. sat 
 44 years; died'an. 1385 '. 
 
 30 Stephan 
 
 daily for himself sixpence, threepence for his serving-man, three-halfpence 
 for his foot-boy, and three-halfpence for his chaplain. Tired of confine- 
 ment, and of being conveyed from prison to prison, this turbulent but 
 timid politician, made submissions which procured his enlargement, then 
 his full liberty, and at last the confidence of the weak Edward II. who 
 hoped by his mediation to reconcile the Scots to the English government. 
 Lamberton took a most solemn oath over the consecrated host, and a cru- 
 cifix of peculiar sandity, to be the faithful liegeman of England ; and with 
 the zeal of a new convert, he became her adtive partisan. But after the 
 success of Bruce, he became a confidential servant of his ancient friend. 
 iLamberton appears to have been a lover of letters, and of the fine arts, espe- 
 cially of architecture, on which he must have expended large sums ; for be- 
 tides repairing and enlarging the castle of St. Andrews, he built the houses 
 of Monimail, Tony, Dairsy, Inchmurtach, Muckhart, Kettins, Lintoii, 
 Monymusk, and Stow. He built also ten churches in his diocese, and 
 finished and consecrated the cathedral in 1318. He adorned the chapter 
 house with curious seats and ceiling, furnished the canons with vestments 
 for their service, and their library with books. The liberal disinterested 
 expenditure of his ecclesiastical revneues, his encouragement of the arts of 
 peace, in a rude and barbarous age, are virtues which relieve the dark shades 
 of his political duplicity. The splendid munificence and taste of the bishop, 
 in some degree balance the vices of the statesman. No sufficient apology, 
 indeed, can be made for the head of the national church ; but his conduct 
 may be palliated by the circumstances of the times, when the perpetual 
 hostility of contending factions, the violence of invading enemies, and the 
 necessity of retaliation, which the struggles for independence or superiority 
 imposed, obliterated from the mind the common notions of right and 
 wrong ; when conscience, intoxicated by indulgences, or stupified by fre- 
 quent absolution, was no longer a faithful monitor amidst the temptations 
 <;i interest, ambition, and national animosity. Marline. Hailes. 
 
 1 This prelate enjoying much of the confidence of David II. and of the 
 regency while he was p'risoucr in England, was frequently employed in 
 
 those
 
 SECT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 253 
 
 30 Stephan Pay, prior of St. Andrews '. 
 
 31 Walter Trail, referendarius Papae. He rebuilt the 
 
 castle of St. Andrews ; died 1401. a son of the house 
 
 of Blebo . 
 Thomas Stuart, archdeacon of St. Andrews, son to 
 
 king Robert II. is eleded, but accepted not : he 
 
 died 3 years after that. 
 The see is vacant 3 years. 
 
 32 Henry Wardlaw, precentor of Glasgow (son to the 
 
 laird of Torrie) consecrate 1404. an. i4ii.est le- 
 gatus Papae cum plena potestate : and that year he 
 founded the university of St. Andrews. He built the 
 Guard-bridge ; died 1440, 6th April 3 . 
 
 33 James Kennedy 3 , bishop of Dunkeld (son to the Lord 
 
 Kennedy, 
 
 those important ncgociations which had for their object the ransom of the 
 king, and the establishment of a perpetual peace betwixt Scotland and 
 England. He was also trusted by David with those secret negociations 
 into which he entered in the end of his reign with Edward III. and which 
 had in view to transfer the sovereignty of Scotland to the king, or one of 
 the royal family of England. After the accession of the house of Stuart, 
 Laundelys, probably how far advanced in life, makes but little figure. He 
 seems to have relinquished politics for the more appropriate duties of his 
 see. About seven years before his death, the church of the monastery 
 having been burnt down, he rebuilt it with considerable elegance. Keith. 
 Hailes. Pink. 
 
 1 Pay having been taken at sea by the English, on his way to Rome, 
 soon after his election, died without being consecrated. Keith. 
 
 - Winton gives % singular tale, unknown to other writers, concerning 
 the appointment of a bishop of St. Andrews. In the year 1399, Walter 
 Daniclston, parson of Kincardin O Neil in Aberdeenshire, by some means 
 took possewion of the cattle of Duubarton. Three years after, on the 
 death of Trail bishop of St. Andrews, Thomas Stuart brother to the king 
 was ele&ed by the chapter, but not confirmed by the Pope ; and Daniel- 
 ston offered to surrender Dumbarton, if the see were assigned to him. The 
 terms were accepted by Albany : but Daniclston only survived this strange 
 transaction half a year. Pink. Hist. Stuart*, VoL I. 
 
 3 , 3 Sec Chap. VI. of this Book,
 
 254 T ' HE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 Kennedy, and- Mary Countess of Angus, daughter to 
 king Robert III.) died 10 May 1466. He founded 
 St. Salvator's College in St. Andrews. 
 He and his successor write, Dei ct apostolicse sedis 
 gratia. 
 
 34 Patrick Grahame, bishop of Brichen (son to the Lord 
 
 Grahame of Mugdock, and the same Mary Countess 
 of Angus, daughter to king Robert III.) 1470. is con- 
 servator privilegiorum ecclesije, and thereby convoca- 
 tor and president of the national synods. 1471, 
 is made archiepiscopus, primas et metropolitans , et 
 /egatus Pap<e, by Pope Sixtus IV. and so are his 
 successors: he enjoyed the title 13 years. He 
 died, and is buried in St. Servanus's Isle, in Loch- 
 levin l . 
 
 35 William Schevez, archdeacon of St. Andrews (son to 
 
 the 
 
 1 The church of Scotland now attained greater consistence and dignity, 
 by the ereion of the see of St. Andrews into an archbishopric. But in- 
 stead of congratulating their order upon this accession of importance, and 
 the kingdom upon the honour and advantage of a metropolitan see, at this 
 period to be found in all the other chief states of Christendom ; and the 
 want of which, as religion then stood, might bear a derogatory interpre- 
 tation, and had induced and might induce the usurping claims of the pri- 
 mates of York ; a spirit of envy seized the Scottish clergy. By an offer 
 of eleven thousand marks, the bishops excited James to oppose, and insult, 
 the archbishop : reciprocal interests, and abuses, concurred to unite the 
 king and the prelates against Graham, a man of worth and learning, who 
 was imprisoned in the castle of Lochleven ; where he died seven years 
 after, in the vain enjoyment of his titles. Spottiswood says, that in worth 
 and learning, Graham was inferior to none of his time, and that he was 
 oppressed by the malice and calumny of the clergy, because they dreaded 
 his intention to reform their abuses. Buchanan, seldom a panegyrist of 
 the Romish clergy, gives the same character of Graham, with a long detail 
 of the persecution of. this venerable prelate, conducted by Schevez, aftci- 
 wards his successor. The tale does honour to the historian's feelings, and 
 brands the persecutor with lasting infamy. Buch. Book XII. 33 3 
 Keith. Pink. Hist. Stuarts, Vol. I.
 
 SECT. HI.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 
 
 the laird of Kilwhiss in Fife) succeeds 1478, and is 
 archbishop, and legatus natus ; died 1497 ' 
 
 36 James Stuart Duke'of Ross, (son to king James III.) 
 
 is postulate and consecrate 1497. is archbishop and 
 legatus natus ; and is chancellor of Scotland. Died 
 1506. 
 
 37 Alexander Stuart (son to king James IV. and Mary 
 
 Boid) archbishop and legatus natus; and is commen- 
 dator of Dunfermling and Coldingham, is chancel- 
 lor ; kill'd in the battel of Flowdon, 9. Sept. 1513*. 
 The see is vacant two years. 
 
 38 Andrew 
 
 1 Schcvez, educated at Louvainc in the fashionable study of astrology, 
 ioon became a favourite with the weak James III. who was addicted to 
 divination and every superstition. Appointed by the king archdeacon of 
 St. Andrews, he soon became a bitter enemy of the mild and pious Graham. 
 By his influence at court, he was soon appointed co-adjutor to the arch- 
 bishop, whom he procured to be declared insane, and confined first in 
 Inchcolm, and then in the castle of Lochleven, where he died. On this 
 event, Schcvez obtained the object of his foul ambition. It is to be ad- 
 mitted, however, that Schevez continued faithfully attached to the sove- 
 reign by whose favour he was raised to the primacy. 
 
 1 This youthful archbishop, (he was under twenty when he was, killed) 
 the pupil of Panter and Erasmus, became the victim of his father's gallan- 
 try and of his own. While James wasted his time in fatal dalliance with. 
 Mrs. Heron, the archbishop became the paramour of her daughter. The 
 consequences of these amours, and of the treachery of the Herons, are too 
 well known to need to be mentioned in this place. The field of Flodden, 
 as it was almost the ruin of his kingdom, was also the disgrace of the 
 greatest of the Stuarts. It seems that chastity was not reckoned among 
 episcopal virtues at that time ; for Erasmus, in. the eulogy which he wrote 
 an Alexander Stuart, speaks of him as distinguished not only by a graceful 
 form, and a splendid genius, and wonderful literary acquirements, but by 
 his pure and virtuous manners, "ad bonos mores appositus, verecundi mores 
 &c." But the blame may be ascribed, not so much to Stuart, as to the 
 times, when the natural sons of bishops were openly acknowledged and 
 provided for, and when their daughters were sought in marriage by the 
 best families of the country, and to the folly which made a boy of fifteen 
 the fir-it ecclesiastic of a kingdom. Martin:. Keith.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [P1RT III. 
 
 38 Andrew Foirman, bishop of Murray, succeeds unto the 
 
 same dignities, the end of 1515. And is also legatus 
 ^ latere, per totum regnum Scotia?. He is likewise 
 archbishop of Bourges in France, and commendator 
 perpetuus de Dunfermling ; died 1522 '. 
 
 39 James Bethune, archbishop of Glasgow (son to the 
 
 laird of Balfour, and Mary Boisvil) is chancellor, and 
 is commendator of Arbroth, Dunfermling and Kil- 
 winning : he founded the New College in St. An- 
 drews; died 1538 *. 
 
 40 David Bethune, abbot of Arbroth, (nephew to the 
 
 former, and son to the laird of Balfour and 
 
 Monipenny) is commendator of Arbroth ; and is by 
 the parliament, loth January 1542, made chancellor, 
 1544 is legatus a latere, 1538 is made cardinal. Mur- 
 ther'd 3d May 1546*. 
 
 41 John Hamilton, bishop of Dunkeld and abbot of Paislay 
 
 (son to the earl of Arran) succeeds 1549. thesaurer 
 of Scotland : is commendator of Paislay 1557, he is 
 legatus a latere. Executed at Stirling 1570. 
 
 42 John 
 
 1 This prelate, the successful rival of Gawin Douglas, was eminent for 
 his talents, his ambition, his ecclesiastic preferments, his civil .employments, 
 his avarice, and his duplicity. Long busied in the subtleties of negocia- 
 tion, he constantly, with unprincipled cunning, pursued his own advance- 
 ment, at the expeace of his country, and with treachery to the sovereign, 
 who was his benefactor. In France, and in England, he received the re- 
 wards of his perfidy, in the archbishopric of Bourges, and the abbacy of 
 Cottingharrt. In his own country, besides the metropolitan office and opu- 
 lence, he held the rich abbies of Dunfermline and Arbroath, and many 
 other places and benefices. 
 
 a , * With the pride, ambition, and power of the Bethunes, every body is 
 so well acquainted, that the short notices concerning them that could be 
 given in a note, are quite unnecessary. From the numerous histories of 
 later times, the conduct and characters of the subsequent prelates arc s 
 well known, that no illustration of them can be requisite.
 
 SECT. III.] BISHOPS OF ST. ANDREWS. 257 
 
 42 John Douglass, principal of the New College, ele&ed 
 
 26. January 1571, is the first protestant archbishop of 
 St. Andrews. He died 1576. 
 
 43 Patrick Adamson succeeds 1576. died 159*. The 
 
 see is vacant 1 5 years. 
 
 44 George Glaidstones, bishop of Caithness, consecrate 
 
 January 1605. Died 2. May 1615. 
 
 45 John Spotiswood, archbishop of Glasgow, succeeds 
 
 1615, is chancellor. He died 28 November 1639. 
 The see is vacant 23 years. 
 
 46 James Sharp succeeds November 1661. Murther'd 3. 
 
 May 1679. 
 
 47 Alexander Burnet, archbishop of Glasgow, elected 
 
 1679. died 1684. 
 
 48 Arthur Ross, archbishop of Glasgow, elected and 
 
 translated 1684. died 13 June 1704. 
 The see is vacant. 
 
 I shall next set down the priors, from Fordun's Chronicle 
 and other MSS. because some of them are come of the 
 kings, and some of the best families. 
 
 1 Robertus, prior de Scona, ad monasterium Sanfti 
 
 Andrex, per Robertum episcopum vocatus et stetit 
 prior an. 22. obiit anno 1142. 
 
 2 Waltherus, cantor Santi Andreae, prior an. 24. 
 
 3 Gilbertus, canonicus, ibid, prior an. 2. 
 
 Waltherus, convalescens in officium rediit et obiit anno 
 
 1200. 
 
 4 Thomas, ibidem sub-prior, vir totius religionis exemplar. 
 
 5 Simon, canonicus, ibidem, hie reliquit prioratum an. 
 
 1225. et postquam rexisset annis 14. prioratum de 
 Lochlevin suscepit. 
 
 6 Hcnricus de Norhame, canonicus, stetit prior an. u. 
 
 L 1 7 Joannes
 
 258 THE H1STORT OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 7 Joannes Quhyte, canonicus, stetit annos 22, tedificavit 
 dormitorium, refe&orium, et magnam aulam hospi- 
 tum. Obiit an. 1258. 
 : 8 Gilbertus Carranus, ejusdem domus religiosus, stetit prior 
 
 an. 5. et obiit an. 1263. 
 9 Joh. de Haddingtoun, ejusdem domus camerarius, prior 
 
 an. 40. obiit 1304. 
 
 '10 Adam, viz. Machan, canonicus ejusdem domus, et 
 archidiaconus, prior an. 9. obiit an. 1313. 
 
 1 1 Joannes de Forfar, canonicus ibidem, prior an. 9. obiit 
 
 anno 1321. 
 
 12 Joannes de Goury, prior annos 18. et obiit 1340. 
 
 13 Willielmus de London, monasterii sub-prior. Prior 
 
 annos 14. obiit 1354. 
 
 14 Dom. Thomas Bisset, nepos Thomse Bisset comitis de 
 
 Fyfe, sub-prior. Prior stetit an. 9. 
 
 15 Dom. Stephanus Pai, prior an. 21, obiit 1383. 
 
 1 6 Robertus de Monte-rosarum, monasterii canonicus, et 
 
 prior lacus de Lochlevin, et officialis San&i Andreae, 
 prxdicator egregius. Prior an. 14. Occisus a Thoma 
 Placort corre&ionis aspernatore. 
 
 17 Jacobus Bisset, canonicus monasterii, prior an. 24. 
 i 8 Dom. Willielmus de Camera, prior. 
 
 19 Dom. Joannes Lhster, canonicus monasterii, et licentiatus 
 
 in decretis, per Beneditum XIII. P. P. successit. 
 
 20 Dom. Jacobus de Haldenstoun, prior per annos 14. obiit 
 
 1443. Insignia pastoralia, viz. mitram, baculum et an- 
 nulum prioribus impetravit. 
 
 21 Willielmus 1452. 
 
 22 Joannes Hepburn 1 1488. obiit post 1517. He was 
 
 keeper of the privy seal, 1488, 1489, 1490. 1515. 
 Vicarius generalis, sede vacante ; he is brother to the 
 first Earl Bothwel. 
 
 23 Patrick 
 1 Founder of St. Leonard's College.
 
 SECT. III.] OFFICERS Of STATE. 
 
 23 Patrick Hepburn succeeds him, afterwards 1537, made 
 
 bishop of Murray. 
 
 24 James Stuart, (afterwards E. Murray) made prior 1540, 
 
 and because he was of nonage, Alex. Miln, abbot of 
 
 Cambuskenneth, is general administrator prioratus S. 
 
 Andrea in spiritualibus et temporalibus. 
 John Winram is sub-prior from 1538 to the change of 
 
 religion. 
 David Guthrie is tertius prior S. Andreae 1555. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 The List of the Clergy , Nobility and Gentry, ivho ivere Officers 
 of State, from Charters and MS. Histories, being of Fife, 
 by birth, residence, or office, before the year 1680 r . 
 
 CHANCELLORS. 
 
 CoNSTANTINE, Earl of Fife, chancellor to king 
 Alexander I. 
 
 William de Riparys, prior of St. Andrews, chancellor to 
 Malcolm IV. 
 
 William de Lundin, chancellor to king William, 27 year 
 of his reign. 
 
 Hugo, abbot of Dunfermling, chancellor to king Wil- 
 liam. 
 
 Robert, abbot of Dunfermling, chancellor to king Alex- 
 ander II. anno 1238. 
 
 Richard, abbot of Dunfermling, chancellor to king Alex- 
 ander III. an. 1250. 
 
 L 1 2 Mr. 
 
 1 Many of these officers of state have already been noticed in the ac- 
 counts of the Earls of Fife and of the bishops of St. Andrews. An opportu- 
 nity of speaking of the most duticguithed of the others, will afterwards 
 occur io the topography.
 
 260 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART III. 
 
 Mr. Matthew Scot, archdeacon of St. Andrews, chan- 
 cellor to king Alexander II. from the I2th to the i6th year 
 of his reign. 
 
 Gamelinus, bishop of St. Andrews, chancellor to king 
 Alexander II. from the i6th to the 33d year of his reign. 
 
 William Vitchard, bishop of St. Andrews, chancellor to 
 king Alexander III. to the 1 2th year of his reign. 
 
 William Frazer, bishop of St. Andrews, chancellor to 
 king Alexander III. from 1273 to I2 93- 
 
 James Kennedy, bishop of St. Andrews, an. 1445. chan- 
 cellor to king James II. 
 
 James Duke of Ross, archbishop of St. Andrews, chan- 
 cellor, 1502, 1503, 1504 and 1505. 
 
 Alexander Stuart, archbishop of St. Andrews, chancel- 
 lor, 1510, 1511, 1512, and 1513. 
 
 James Bethune, archbishop of St. Andrews, 1525. 
 David Bethune, cardinal, archbishop of St. Andrews, 
 1542. and to his death, 3d May 1546. 
 . James Earl of Mortoun, 1562, 1563, 1564, 1565, is 
 ojutted, but restored 1567, and is to 1572. inclusive. 
 
 Alexander Earl of Dunfermling, 1605, and to his death, 
 1622. 
 
 . John Spotiswood, archbishop of St. Andrews, from 
 1635 to 1639. 
 
 John Duke of Rothes, 1665. to his death, 1681. 
 
 Great Chamberlains. 
 
 Henricus de Balfour is camerarius, 1219, and in the 
 I oth year of King Alexander II.'s reign. 
 
 David de Lochor, knight, is chamberlain in the 3d year 
 of John Baliol's reign. 
 
 Thesaurers. 
 
 George, abbot of Dunfermling, an. 1493. 
 Sir Thomas Sybald of Balgony is thesaurer to king 
 James II. 
 
 Robert
 
 SECT. III.] OFFICERS OF STATE* 
 
 Robert Lundy qf Balgony, 1497, 1498 and 1499. 
 
 James Bethune when abbot of Dunfermling, 1505, 
 1506, 1507. 
 
 Sir James Kirkaldy of Grange, from 1538 to 1543 
 inclusive. 
 
 John Hamilton, archbishop of St. Andrews, is thesaurer 
 from 1547 to 1553 inclusive. 
 
 William Earl of Mortoun, is lord high thesaurer, comp- 
 troller and collector general, from 1630 to 1636. 
 
 John, Earl of Crawfurd, is lord high thesaurer, from 
 1641 to 1649. Then is outted by the parliament for his 
 accession to the engagement ; but restored by king Charles 
 II. and is again 1660 and 1661. 
 
 John Earl of Rothes, (afterwards Duke of Rothes) is lord 
 high thesaurer, 1665. 
 
 Sir Robert Melvil of Murdocairny is thesaurer-depute 
 from 1582 to 1595. 
 
 Secretaries of State. 
 
 Sir James Balfour, of Pittendriech, 1554. is after de~ 
 sign'd, of Burghly. 
 
 Robert Pitcairn, archdeacon of St. Andrews, and com- 
 mendator of Dunfermling, from 1570 to his death, 1584. 
 
 Sir John Lindsay of Balcarras, from 28 of May 1596. 
 to his death, 1598. 
 
 James Lord Balmerinoch, from 1597 to 1608. 
 
 Sir Robert Spotiswood, 1644. and president of the 
 Session. 
 
 Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal. 
 
 John, prior of St. Andrews, 1488, 1489 and 1490. 
 David Bethune, abbot of Arbroth (afterward archbishop 
 6f St. Andrews, and cardinal) 1528, 1529, 1530* 
 George Durie, abbot of Dunfermling, 1553. 
 Mr. John Arnot, archdeacon of Glasgow, 1459. 
 
 Sir
 
 362 THE .DISTORT OF WFH. PART III,} 
 
 Sir John Lindsay of Balcarras, 1595. 
 Charles Earl of Dunfermling, 1671. 
 
 Clerk-Registers. 
 
 JohnSchevez, Doctor of the Laws, from 142610 1449. 
 
 Mr. James Mackgill of Rankeilor-nether, from 1554 to 
 1565. Then outted ; but restored 1567. and is to 1574. 
 
 Mr. James Balfour of Burghly, 1565, 1566, 1567. and 
 president of the Session, 1567. 
 
 Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie, 1641. 
 
 Comptrollers. 
 
 Alexander Nairn of Saintfoord, 1446. 
 
 Alexander Inglis, archdeacon of St. Andrews, 1488. 
 
 James Bethune, abbot of Dunfermling (afterwards arch- 
 bishop of St. Andrews) 1506. 
 
 Sir James Colvil of East Weems, from 1525 to 1534. 
 
 Andrew Wood of Largo, 1581 to 1587. 
 
 David Seton of Parbroth, from 1589 to 1595- 
 
 Sir David Murray of Gospertie (afterwards Lord Scone 
 and Viscount Stormont) from 1599 to 1607. 
 
 Sir James Hay of Fingask, 1609 and 1610. 
 
 Lord Advocates. 
 
 Mr. James Henderson of Fordel, from 1494 to 1507. 
 And also Justice-Clerk. 
 
 Mr. Henry Balnaves of Hallhill, advocate to Queen 
 Mary. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, from 1626 to 1641. 
 
 Direftors of the Chancery. 
 
 Sir James Colvil of East Weems, from 1520 to 1539. 
 Mr. William Scot of Ardross, from 1591 to 1610. 
 . Sir John Scot of Scots-Tarvet, from 1610 to 1652. ^ 
 
 Justiciars. 
 Puncan Earl of Fife, in king William's reign. 
 
 John
 
 SECT. III.] UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. 
 
 John Lord Lindsay of the Byres, principal and chief 
 justiciar benorth Forth, 1457 and 1466. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hope of Kers (son to Sir Thomas Hope 
 advocate) justice-genera], 1641. 
 
 Lords Lion, Kings of Arms. 
 
 Alexander Nairn of Saintfoord, in king James II.'s reign. 
 Sir David Lindsay of Mount, 1539. 
 Sir David Lindsay of Mount, 1588. 
 Sir Jerome Lindsay of Mount, 1626. 
 Sir James Balfour of Detuniln, 1630. 
 Sir Alexander Durham of Largo, 1660. 
 
 Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo, 1669. 
 Sir Alexander Erskine of Cambo, 1680. 
 
 Masters of Requests. 
 
 Mr. John Hay, abbot of Balmerinoch, 1561. 
 Mr. James Colvil, 1579. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 An Account of the University of St. Andrews. 
 
 ilENRY WARDLAW, bishop of St. Andrews, first opened 
 the public schools at St. Andrews, in anno 1411, that the 
 youth of the kingdom might be educated in learning at 
 home. He was assisted in this enterprize by many learn'd 
 men then in St. Andrews. Laurence Lundoris and 
 Richard Corvel, doctors of the civil law, publickly profes- 
 sed here good literature, and laid the foundation of an 
 university. James Bisset, prior and archdeacon of St. An- 
 drews, and Thomas Stuart, promoted learning here. Bishop 
 Wardlaw procured great privileges to the professors, stu- 
 dents
 
 264 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. 
 
 * 
 
 dents, and their servants. In anno 1413, Mr. Henry 
 Ogilvie being sent to Arragon, to Pope Benedict XIII. (to 
 whom Spain and Scotland adhered in the schism that then 
 obtained) by this bishop Wardlaw, at his return brought 
 most ample privileges, and such as used to be conferred 
 upon colleges *. 
 
 Their 
 
 1 Until the time of Foreman and the Bethunes, the bishops of St. An- 
 drews were little noted for their ambition. From their wealth and rank, 
 indeed, as primates of the kingdom, and from their learning, which was 
 then almost exclusively confined to the clergy, they were often appointed 
 to the high offices of the state, especially where a knowledge of letters 
 was requisite, such as those of the chancellor and secretary ; and often, 
 for the same reason, important embassies were committed to their charge, 
 the cxpence of which they sometime* defrayed, a matter of considerable 
 importance to so poor a state as Scotland : but generally their rich reve- 
 nues were spent in the bishop's duty ef hospitality, or in promoting public 
 works, especially those which related to religion. Wardlaw, though he 
 is described as " severus et gravis luxurix reprehensor et castigator," is said 
 to have been eminent for hospitality, perhaps rather for the number of 
 his guests, than the richness or .-delicacy of their fare. On one occasion, 
 when his servants asked, whom they should first invite to an entertainment, 
 he replied, Fife and Angus ; an answer that seems to imply, that he kept 
 open table for the numerous visitors at the primitial residence. But Ward- 
 law did not waste the riches f his see in splendid or luxurious living, of 
 which the Guard (properly Gair) bridge, erected by him, is one ample 
 testimony. This bridge over the estuary of the Eden, consisting of six 
 arches, was long reckoned the fairest in Scotland, except those at Glasgow, 
 and the Dec, in Aberdeenshire. For the conveniency which it affords, the 
 county of Fife still feels great obligations to the provident prelate. And 
 his country owes him yet higher gratitude for the foundation of the first 
 of her universities, which is commonly said to have taken place in 1444, 
 but it dates some years higher ; for the founder died 6th April 1440. The 
 date of erection, as quoted by Martine, confirmed by Scotstarvet's calendars 
 of charters, is the penult day of February, 1411 according to the computation 
 of the Scottish church, or according to the new style 1412. (see page 253.) 
 Andthe bull of confirmation by Pope Benedict XIII. is dated in the subsequent 
 year. Public le&ures, however, had begun to be given at Pentecost 1410. 
 In this liberal and patriotic undertaking, the bishop was cheerfully assisted 
 by the principal clergy of his diocese ; and this dawn of the light of lite- 
 rature
 
 SECT, nif UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. 26$ 
 
 Their publick schools were generally called, Gymnasium 
 Sanfti Andreae de Kilrymonth; and from many places, 
 learn'd men resorted to it, especially after king* James L's 
 return, he granted a royal maintainance to the colleges, and 
 
 gave 
 
 rature in their country^ was hailed with solemn and public testimonies of 
 joy by all ranks of the people. When Ogilvie arrived with the bulls of 
 confirmation, universal festivity enlivened the city. The grants of the 
 Pope were presented to the bishop, who appeared in state in the refc&ory, 
 were solemnly perused aloud, and Te Dcum sung, and the elevation of joy 
 and of wine pervaded every street. On a following day, a grand proces- 
 sion was instituted, in which were seen not less than four hundred clergy. 
 Wardlaw seems not to have trodden the thorny path of politics. Lord 
 Hailes indeed, speaks of him as chancellor in the reign of James I. But 
 this is one of the few cases in which that judicious historian has allowed him- 
 self to be misled ; for Cameron, bishop of Glasgow, was chancellor during 
 the whole of that reign. But the name of Wardlaw will always be ho- 
 nourably distinguished for his love of letters, of his king and his country. 
 Of the one, his university is a noble monument ; of the other, his zealous 
 faithful attachment to the unhappy Robert III. when loyalty had almost 
 forsaken the land, is an honourable proof, beside many others that might 
 be given. He was one of the few friends that adhered to the aged and sickly 
 king, who during his whole reign had been the vidim of his own weakness, 
 and his brother's savage ambition, (see page 234, note i.) To Wardlaw, 
 Robert committed the charge of James Earl of Carrick,his only surviving son. 
 It was by his advice, that France was chosen as a sure retreat for the heir of 
 the kingdom, from the brutal force or dark art of Albany. It was no fault 
 of the bishop that the plan did not succeed, or that the prince was, con- 
 trary to tht law of nations, seized on his passage by an English ship, and 
 doomed to captivity for nineteen years. The fair fame of Wardlaw has 
 been somewhat sullied, by a supposed implication in the death of John 
 Resby, and Paul Crawar, a German, and follower of Huss, who had vented 
 pinions destructive of the papal authority ; but the condemnation of these 
 Iirt vi&ims to the doSrines of the reformation, should rather be ascribed 
 to the severity of Lundoris the inquisitor, whose judgments the bishop 
 probably could not controul nor alter. Indeed, the cruel executions for 
 opinions, which now began to uke place, ought not perhaps to be so much 
 attributed to the individuals, who were the immediate instruments of them, 
 as to the controuling spirit of the times, which few men in any age have 
 ufficient energy to resist. Martinc. Keith. Pink. Hist. Stuarts. 
 
 Mm
 
 26(5 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. fpART III. 
 
 ' 
 
 gave great privileges and immunities to them, and much 
 encouraged them , for that effet he brought in the Car- 
 thusian M<nks ; the MS. of them tells, that Nos, 
 pnemissa digna meditatione pensantes, notum facimus uni- 
 versis, quod omnes et singulos retores, qui pro tempore 
 fuerint, facultatum decanos, procuratores nationum, regen- 
 tes, magistros et scholares in prcelibata universitate stu- 
 ilentes, praesentes et futures, sub nostra firma pace etcus-. 
 todia, defensioue et rnanutenentia, suscipimus et specialiter 
 reservamus. Nee non eosdem restores, decanos, procura- 
 tores, regentes, magistros, bedellos, scriptores, stationarios, 
 pergamenarios, et scholares continue studentes, dummodo 
 prselati uon existanti, ak omnibus tributis, muneribus, 
 exactionibus, taxationibus, collefStis, vigiliis, custodiis et 
 pedagiis percipiendis, liberaliter eximimus per prsesentes, 
 quomodo scilicet, hanc nostram concessimus, et gratiso 
 specialis prserogativam adjunctam eisdem studentibus 
 pro perpetuis temporibus, omnino volumus inviolabiliter 
 observari." 
 
 And the MS. shows, that not long after, Conveners 
 tredecim doftores theologi, decretorum o&o, aliarumque 
 artium plurimi professores, doctoratus omnes insignibus 
 honestati 1 ." 
 
 These settl'd first at St. Mary's (now call'd the New- 
 College) but then the Pedagogy. 
 
 The 
 
 T " There were colluded thirteen teachers of divinity, eight of the canon 
 law, and many of other arts, all honoured with the degree of dodlor." 
 It is the fashion to despise the futile studies of the(e times, the thorny 
 tra& of scholastic theology, and the clerical usurpations of the canon law. 
 We ought rather to he pleased, that learning had/begun to diffuse its soft 
 and salutary influence, over a tumultuous and barbarous people, than to 
 'Icride its infancy, because it partook of the charader of the times in which 
 it first appeared. Rude, it may be said, was the offering now made to 
 science ; but it was honourable to hang the first wreath upon her altar. 
 It was a glorious toil, to begin to cultivate ihat field which was to yield 
 many productions of delight and utility,
 
 SECT. HI.] UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. 
 
 The archbishops of St. Andrews are perpetual chancel- 
 lors of the university *. The rector is chosen yearly ; and 
 by the statutes, he ought to be one of the three principals : 
 his power is the same with that of the vice-chancellor of 
 Oxford or Cambridge. There are in this university three 
 colleges, viz. St. Salvator's St. Leonard's, and New College 3 . 
 
 St. Salvator's College is aitf ancient and stately building, 
 lately repaired by Doftor Skeen, when he was provost 
 thereof. It was founded by bishop James Kennedy 3 , ne- 
 phew to king Jaaies I. by his sister married to the Lord of 
 M m a Cassils, 
 
 1 Since the revolution, the chancellor has been elected by the Senatu 
 Academicus. 
 
 * The rector is chosen annually, on the first Monday of March, by the. 
 Comitia of the university, consisting of the re&or, principals and professors 
 of both colleges, with the students of divinity, of moral and of natural 
 philosophy ; all these masters and students arc divided, according to the 
 place of their birth, into four nations, Fifans, Angusians, Lothians, and Al- 
 bans, which last class comprehends all who belong to none of the first thre. 
 Each nation chooses an intrant, and the four intrants flame the re&or. If the 
 votes of the intrants are equally divided, the last re&or, who is preses of 
 the Comitia, has the casting voice. The only persons eligible into the pfEcc 
 of the rectorate, are the principals and the professor* of divinity, who arc 
 designed Viri majoris dignitatis BC nominis, or Viri redlorales. The rec- 
 tor immediately after his instalment, (which is performed by his putting 
 on the gown of office, being a purple robe with a large hood, the hood and 
 borders of die robe lined with crimson satin ; and by receiving the oath 
 4t fa/fii,) names deputies, from among the Viri re&orales, and assessors 
 from the Senatus Academicus. He is a civil judge in the university, be- 
 fore whom may be brought complaints against masters, students, or sup- 
 posts of the university. To his court, there lies also an appeal from the 
 judgments of cither tollege, in matters of discipline, ki the redtoral court, 
 the assessors hare a deliberative voice ; but the re<Sor is not bound by their 
 opinion or advice, having the power of decision entirely in his own person. 
 The Court of Session have shown themselves very tender in receiving ap- 
 peals, or advocations from the rcftor, in matters of discipline over the 
 tudents. Stat. Ace. Vol. XIII. No. 15. 
 
 3 Kennedy was the worthy successor of Wardlaw ; and though he took 
 * more a<3ive part in public life, be followed the steps of his predecessor
 
 268 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IIJ. 
 
 - 
 
 Cassils, to teach there Literas humanas et divinas, both 
 divine and humane learning : he built the college and endow- 
 ed 
 
 in the encouragement of literature, by the munificent foundation of a col- 
 lege. All our historians agree in praising the mildness, benignity, and 
 patriotic prudence of this venerable prelate. A regent during the minority 
 of two sovereigns James II. and III. and chancellor in a time of great diffi- 
 culty, his wise and conciliating counsels often saved his sovereign, and the 
 state, from the wild ebullitions of that aristocratic violence, which was so apt 
 to rage in Scotland during a minority, or under the government of a weak 
 prince, and which so often nearly overturned the tottering throne of the 
 Stuarts. There is subjoined his character from two historians. " A grand- 
 son of Robert III. his virtues, and abilities, conferred a greater glory than 
 his royal descent. His wisdom, bis munificence, his public spirit, secured 
 the applause, and gratitude, of his country : and his fame would diffuse a 
 strong and steady light, independent of the darkness of a barbarous age. 
 Upon the death of Mary of Gelder, he appears to have retained the chief 
 management of affairs, by the declared will, or implied consent, of the 
 nation. Eminent in knowledge of the civil law, in the learning of the age, 
 in the experience of men, and manners, and politics, the late king, the 
 nobles, submitted to his wisdom as to that of a public parent. Nor was 
 the bishop less respectable than the counsellor of state, in enforcing the 
 residence of his clergy, their regular preaching.* and visitation of the sick ; 
 and in affording an example, by preaching four times in the year at every 
 church in his- diocese, by inspecting the maintenance of the poor, and the 
 education of youth, and by the vigorous punishment of clerical negligence." 
 Pink. Hist. Stuarts. " This bishop James Kennedy, in his days, was won- 
 drous godly and wise, and was well learned in divine sciences, and practised 
 the same to the glory of God, and commonweal of the kirk of God. Far- 
 ther, he was a man well learned in the civil laws, and had great practice 
 in the same ; where, by ingine, letters and practice, long use and years, 
 he knew the nature of the Scottish men, so that he was most able of any 
 lord in Scotland, spiritual or temporal, to give any wise counsel, or an an- 
 swer, when the time occurred, before the prinqe or the> council ; and spe- 
 cially in the time of parliament, or when the ambassadors of other coun- 
 tries came for their affairs, there was none so able as he to give them an- 
 swer, conform to their petition and desires of their masters. Or when any 
 affairs or troubles that occurred in the realm, and specially Jesc-majesty, he- 
 was also practised in the same : for he gave counsel to king James II. when 
 he was ready to depart out of Scotland for fear of the Earl of Douglas, 
 yiho had gathered against him to the. number of fortr thousand men, ready 
 
 ts
 
 SECT. HI.] UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. 265) 
 
 eel it with competent revenues ; he built the collegiate church 
 likewise, and provided it with all necessaries for the divine 
 worship in these times. There are in it a provost and four 
 masters for teaching philosophy, called regents, and eight 
 poor scholars called bursars at the foundation. The Earl of 
 Cassils hath founded a Professor of Humanity, to teach the 
 Latine tongue, and of late there is a Professor of the 
 Greek tongue. 
 
 John 
 
 to give him battle, or else to chase him out of the realm." Pitscottie. Lind- 
 say adds, that the bishop led the king into his oratory ; and after prayers pro- 
 duced a sheaf of arrows, not to be broken when joined, but easily fractured 
 apart : from this demonstration of an Esopian apologue, he shewed that 
 the power of the aristocracy must be assailed by dcgrees.-r-The wealth and 
 munificence of the bishop were displayed in public works, three of which 
 arc particularly celebrated : x. As the little trade of Scotland was then 
 chiefly carried on by the great, the bishop, for his own convenience, or 
 perhaps to rouse the commercial enterprise of his countrymen, built a great 
 s>hip which he called the St. Salvator ; but it was denominated by the 
 people the Bishop's Barge. This vessel remained the property of the sec 
 of St. Andrews, and was employed in bringing the rich merchandise of 
 foreign countries for the use of the clergy. In one of these voyages, she 
 was wrecked near Bamborough, and plundered by the English of her va- 
 luable cargo, in the reign of James III. for which Edward IV. paid a par- 
 tial compensation of 500 merks. 2. He built a tomb for himself of the 
 finest gothic construction, in the church of St. Salvator, at St. Andrews. 
 Though much of this beautiful struAure be now destroyed, there remains 
 enough of it, of the most exquisite workmanship, to mark the taste of the 
 founder. 3. He founded and endowed St. Salvator's College in 1458, be- 
 sides a proper provision for the members out of the episcopal revenues, and 
 the buildings in a good stile, particularly the chapel, he bestowed on the col- 
 lege a wonderful variety of splendid vessels, dresses, and ornaments, which 
 the annalists of the times enumerate with much satisfaction, and of which 
 some maces and cups still remain, as specimens of the taste and wealth of 
 the bishop. It is asserted, that the expence of these three objects amounted 
 to L. 10,000 Sterling each, or a total sum equal at present to about 
 L. 300,000 : yet it is hardly conceivable, that even in twenty-six years of 
 prelacy, and five of public emolument as chancellor, such a treasure could 
 
 have been amassed. Kennedy wa not only the liberal patron of the 
 
 learned, but had himself some pretensions to literature ; for he is said to 
 hare mitten two books, Historiasui Temporis, and Monita Politico.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. fPART III. 
 
 John Hepburn 1 , prior of St Andrews, anno 1512. did 
 found St. Leonard's College : it is built within the precincl: 
 of the Augustine monks ; 'twas before a hospital for seven- 
 teen poor men ; it is now enlarged with buildings and a 
 parochial church, and is since erected in a college, with 
 provision for a principal or warden, and four professors of 
 philosophy, whereof one teacheth the Greek tongue, and eight 
 poor scholars. The number of the bursars was encreased 
 by Robert Earl of March and Lenox prior of St. An- 
 drews. Sir John Scot of Scots-Tarvet, founded a Profes- 
 sor of Humanity. 
 
 James Beatoun archbishop of St. Andrews, towards the 
 end of his days, and not long before his death, began to 
 build the New College, which was called that of St. Mary. 
 The MS. tells, that < Paedagogium, variis proventibus a se 
 au&um, in Collegium Marianum transmutavit, voluitque 
 ut professores et alumni eadem mensa deinceps uterentur*. 
 The professors and scholars endowed, are of divinity. And 
 not long since there was founded in the university, a pro- 
 fessor of mathematicks 3 . There will be occasion to give an 
 account of the learn'd men, who were bred, or were pro- 
 fessors in this university, in the Fourth Part. 
 
 THE 
 
 1 See description of St. Andrews, Part IV. 
 
 * He changed the pedagogy, of which he had increased the reve- 
 nues, into St. Mary's College, and appointed that the professors and 
 students should board at the same table." 
 
 3 In each of these colleges were lecturers in theology, as well as in phi- 
 losophy, languages, &c. In the reign of James VI. 1579, under the direc- 
 tion of George Buchanan, the university was new modelled ; and St. 
 Mary's College was appropriated to the study of theology, and is therefore 
 distinguished by the name of the Divinity College, or the New Col- 
 Jege. In 1747, on a petition from the masters of the two colleges of 
 St. Salvator's, and St. Leonard's, the Parliament united these two 
 colleges into one society, under the designation of the United Col- 
 lege. The university thus consists now of two colleges, which are inde- 
 pendent of each other iu their revenues and discipline. The Senatus Aca- 
 
 dcmicu?,
 
 THE 
 
 KINROSS-SHIRE. 
 
 To Sir WILLIAM BRUCE of Kinross, Knight Barwet t 
 Heritable Sheriff of the Shire of Kinross : at4 to JOHff 
 his Sen and Heir. 
 
 This is dedicated by the dtithor, 
 
 ROBERT SIBBALD. 
 
 nn 
 
 A HE country called the Shire of Kinross, was made a 
 distinct shire from Fife, about the year 1426. At first it 
 contained only the parodies of Kinross, Orwell, and Port- 
 mock; but of late, viz. anno 1685. " The king and estates 
 of parliament, considering the smallness and extent of the 
 sheriffdom of Kinross, and jurisdiction thereof, to support 
 and maintain the state and rank of a distinct shire, as it is, 
 and anciently has been -, and that it would be of great ad- 
 vantage and ease to his majesty's leiges, the several here- 
 tors, residenters and inhabitants within the parodies of 
 
 Portmock 
 i 
 
 drmiois, or tmiTeriity meeting, consists of the principals and professors of 
 both colleges, which have a common interest in the library. The preses 
 of this meeting is the redor or his deputy. The higher academical degree* 
 are granted by the university. The rector confers the degree of Master 
 of Arts, on the recommendation of the Faculty of Arts in the United Col- 
 lege. The Dean and Faculty confer the degree of Bachelor o Artfc 
 Ace. Vol. XIIU No. IJ.
 
 272 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 Portmock, Cleish and Tilliboalj and to the heretors of these 
 several parts and portions of land, lying in the paroch of 
 Kinross, and in the shires of Fife and Perth, and of the barony 
 of Cuthilgourdy, lying in the shire of Perth, and belonging 
 to Sir William Bruce of Kinross, be disjoin'd from the said 
 shires of Fife and Perth, and jurisdictions thereof, and 
 joined, 1 annexed and united to the shire of Kinross and ju- 
 risdiction thereof, unto which the said paroches and lands 
 ly contigue, and most conveniently. Excepting always, 
 land reserving the jurisdiction of the lands of Carnboe, 
 Bridge-lands, Cruick and Cruick-Miln, lying in the paroch 
 i of Tilliboal and stewartry of Strathern, whereof James 
 Earl of Perth, lord high chancellour, is heritable Stewart, 
 out of this aft, which is declared to be without prejudice 
 thereunto, infringement thereof, or incroachment there- 
 lipon, or to the detriment of the said heritable stewartry, in 
 any manner of way whatsoever. And that John Marquis 
 of Athol, Sheriff principal of the sheriffdora of Perth ; and 
 Margaret, Countess of Rothes, and the deceast Charles, 
 Earl of Haddingtoun, her hushand, heritable sheriff of the 
 shire of Fife, have for their respective interests, consented 
 to the disjunction of the said lands, and paroches above- 
 mentioned, from the said shires of Fife and Perth, and to 
 the uniting them to the said shire of Kinross, and heritable 
 jurisdiction, thereof, in favours of the said Sir William 
 Bruce, heritable sheriff of the same, with the burden of the 
 valuation, and all other publick burdens laid on or to be 
 laid on the same : therefore his majesty and estates of par- 
 liament, upon the considerations foresaid, hereby dismem- 
 ber and disjoin the said several paroches of Portmock^ 
 Cleish, and Tilliboal, and whole lands contained therein, 
 '(reserving the jurisdiction of the said lands, as is above' 
 reserved) and. the said parts and portions of land in the 
 .pavoch of Kinross, lying within the saids shires of Fife and 
 
 Perth
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 273 
 
 Perth, and the saids lands and barony of Cuthilgourdy, from 
 the saids shires of Fife and Perth, and jurisdictions thereof, 
 for now and ever ; and adjoin, unite, annex, and incorpo- 
 rate the same to the said sherlfFdom, and heritable sheriff- 
 ship of Kinross ; and statute, ordain and declare them in 
 all time coming, to be a part of the shire of Kinross, iir 
 and to all effe&s and purposes, and in particular in point 
 of jurisdiction, judicatures civil and criminal, and in all 
 matters private and publick whatsoever ; and the said shire 
 of Kinross is to consist of the paroches of Kinross, Urwell, 
 Portmock, Cleish and Tilliboal, and the lands lying within 
 the said paroches, and of the lands and baronies of Cuthil- 
 gourdie, with the burden of the valuation of the saids pa- 
 roches and lands. Willing and appointing the heretors, 
 inhabitants and possessors of the saids lands, in all time 
 coming to answer to the courts of the said sheriffdom of 
 Kinross, and to be liable to the jurisdiction of the sheriffs 
 thereof, in all causes civil and criminal, competent to a 
 sheriff's cognition, and that all legal diligences against the 
 heretors, possessors and inhabitants of the said lands, with 
 all briefs, proclamations and others, be used and execute at 
 the mercat-cross of Kinross, head burgh of the said shire 5 
 and that there be a register kept at Kinross, for all the lands 
 for registration of sasines, reversions and other writs, en- 
 joined by aft of parliament to be registrated." 
 
 Keanross, in the old language, signifieth the head of the 
 peninsule, it containeth some seven miles in length, and 
 near as much in breadth ; it lieth from west to east in a 
 goodly plain, betwixt two ranks of low green hills, the 
 arms of the adjoining Ochel mountains, excellent for pas- 
 ture, covered with flocks ; their sheep are not so big as these 
 of some other countries, but they are very sweet and deli- 
 fate to eat. 
 
 The plain is open towards the east, where the valley of 
 N n Leveu
 
 274 - THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 Leven lieth ; it is watered and irrigate, with the two wa- 
 ters Cuich and Garney, both arising from the Occelli or 
 Ochels. Cuich gives the name to two small waters, which 
 run into the loch Levin, the one is called Over-Cuich, and 
 the other Nether-Cuich j the Over is to the north of the 
 Nether, they take their rise from the Ochels, at the distance 
 of six miles from Loch-Levin. Nether-Cuich riseth like- 
 wise six miles from Kinross, but to the south of the Over j 
 they join not in one stream, but the Over enters the north- 
 west end of the loch, benorth the town of Kinross , and 
 the Nether runs into the west-end of the loch also, but to 
 the south 'of the town. 
 
 Sir William Bruce has built a stately bridge of several 
 arches, upon South-Cuich, just at the south-end of Kinross- 
 town, upon the high-way from the North-ferry, to St. Johns- 
 toun (Perth). There is another old bridge on North-Cuich. 
 
 The water of Garney taketh its rise from two small lochs, 
 upon the top of Cleish hills, and runs through the valley, 
 near to Cleish, the seat of the Lord Colvil ! ; which Cleish, 
 regnante Jac. V. did belong to the Meldrums. Then it 
 runneth by Dowhill, a seat of a gentleman of the name 
 of Lindsay *, and by the Tilliochies, Achnacroich, Trustills, 
 and Lathro, a little above which it hath a bridge of several 
 arches, from whence, being but narrow, it keeps a slow 
 course to the lake of Levin, into which it empties its black 
 and mossy water, besouth Clashlochie, the seat of Mr. 
 Thomas Crawfurd 3 , a gentleman deservedly renowned for 
 his great learning, especially for his skill in history and in 
 our antiquities. 
 
 At the east-end of the loch, where the water of Levin 
 issues from the loch, upon the high-way from the coast to 
 
 Perth, 
 
 1 Now the property of John Young, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of William Adam, Esq. of Blair-Adam. 
 
 3 No\r the property of Andrew Stein, Esq. of Hattonburo.
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 275 
 
 Perth, there was within these few years built a bridge of 
 three or four arches, a little to the north of Kirkness. Near 
 to this bridge are many eels taken [whereof some are three 
 foot long and big proportionally) in several eel-arcs built by 
 Sir "William and the lairds of Kirkness, Babedie and Arnot : 
 and a mile below this, near the march of Fife and Kinross- 
 shire, John Malcolm of Babedie built the large bridge of 
 Achmure of several arches, by which the water of Levin is 
 over-passed there. 
 
 The oval plain, in which much of this shire of Kinross 
 lieth, is, upon all sides, except towards the east, (where the 
 valley of Levin runs) environed with hills, and enjoys a 
 wholesome air, and affords a delightful prospeft of the 
 town of Kinross, and the houses and seats of the nobles 
 and gentry, and of the loch, especially of the stately build- 
 ing, which Sir William Bruce, the heritable sheriff, and 
 the superior and proprietor of many of the lands, has built 
 in this plain ', betwixt the town of Kinross and the west- 
 end of the loch ; which for situation, contrivance, prospe&s, 
 avenues, courts, gardens, gravel-walks and terraces, and all 
 hortulane ornaments, parks and planting, is surpassed by 
 few in this country. 
 
 The town is situated in the center of the high-way, be- 
 twixt the North-ferry and Perth. Tis the head-burgh of 
 the shire, and was creeled in a burgh of barony, with a fair 
 every year, on the 1 8th of October, by James Earl of Mor- 
 toun, and regent of Scotland, reg. Jacobo VI. It hath 
 been much enlarged of late *, with several good buildings, 
 
 N n 2 and 
 
 1 Kinross-house was built in 1685. The estate of Kinross is now the 
 property of Thomas Graham, Esq. 
 
 a In 1708, two years before the publication of this work, the town, a* 
 appears from an agreement for a division of the common, consisted of only 
 47 tofts or steadings. Perhaps, however, as the possessors of these stead- 
 ings were generally farmers, many of them might have cot-houses annexed, 
 Stat. Ace. VoL VI. No. *2.
 
 276 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 and some tradesmen of several employments have been 
 brought to it by Sir William Bruce. It is well provided 
 with necessaries, for the accommodation and lodging of 
 passengers. 
 
 The great avenue, with a large gate of curious architec- 
 ture (as all the work of the great house is) begins at a small 
 distance from the middle of the town, upon the east-side ; 
 and hath inclosures of planting upon each side : the house 
 hath several courts ; upon the north-side of it, near to the 
 loch, is the neat manour, called the New-house ', the seat 
 of the Earls of Mortoun ; and upon the east-side is the 
 paroch church. The old castle of Loch-Levin stands in an 
 island, in the north-west part of the loch, at half a mile'? 
 distance or so now, from the shoar : for Sir William Bruce 
 drain'd a great deal of ground at the west-end of the loch, 
 and thereby did recover much ground ; where now he has 
 orchards and large parks, well planted, part of which for- 
 merly was flow-moss, which is firm ground now, fertile of 
 good grass, and full of all sorts of trees 5 which give both 
 shelter and a fine prospet to the buildings. 
 
 The castle of Loch-Levin stands in an island, in the 
 north-west part of the loch, half a mile or so, distant from 
 the shoar. Sir James Balfour, in his notes, tells, that it 
 was the ancient habitation of Congal, son to Dongart, king 
 of the Picls, who founded the samen. The book of Scone 
 shows, that it was valiantly defended by Sir Allan Wypont, 
 for king David II. against all the English party then in 
 Scotland, anno 1335. " Joannes de Striveling (says the 
 record) miles regis Anglue, cum suis Scotis Anglicatis, &c. 
 tune ad pacem regis Anglue conversis, qui omnes ad obsi- 
 tlendum cast-rum de Levyne in lacu, confluebant in medio 
 cjuadragesimse, quam pro Davide rege, tenebat Alanus de 
 Vetere ponte, miles, sed frustra ; post longum tempus deces- 
 
 serunt, 
 
 * Ncwhousc was demolished in 1723.
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 577 
 
 serunt V George Buchanan has the history at large, Hist. 
 Jib. 9. to which I refer the reader. They thought to 
 drown the castle, by stopping the issue of the water of 
 Levin, by making a bank of stones and turfs, heaped upon 
 one another ; the garrison, in the absence of these in the 
 fort over against the castle, pierced through the wall at the 
 issue of the loch, and made many holes in it, in several 
 places, whilst the watch was sleeping. The water having 
 
 gotten 
 
 1 " John de Strlvelin, an officer of the king of England, having with 
 him several Scots of the English party, in the time of Lent blockaded the 
 castle of Lochleven, which was held by Sir Alan Wypont, for David II. 
 But after wasting much time, the enterprise proved abortive." Several 
 barons of Fife and Kinross having joined the English party, served under 
 John de Strivelin at this siege, particularly Michael and David de Weemyss, 
 Michael de Arnot, (and Richard de Melvill ?) Alan de Wypont was as- 
 sisted by James Lambyn, (probably Lamy) a citizen of St. Andrew*. 
 Hailcs, Vol. II. The castle is encompassed with a rampart of stone, nearly 
 of a quadrangular form. The principal tower, a kind of square building, 
 stands upon the north wall, very near the north-west corner, and there it 
 a lesser round one at the south-east. The other apartments were arranged 
 along the north-wall, between the great tower and the north-east cornetv 
 In the lower part of the square tower is a dungeon with a well in it. 
 Above the dungeon is a vaulted room, which, from the appearance of the 
 effects of smoke on the jambs of the chimney, seems to have been used as 
 a kitchen. Over this had been three stories. No date or inscription ap* 
 pears on any part of the buildings, excepting only the letters R. D. and. 
 M. E. (probably the initials of Sir Robert Douglas, and Margaret Erskine 
 his lady), on the face of an ornamented stone, that a few years ago, when 
 the walla were standing, proje&ed a little at the north-east corner of the 
 kitchen. The whole circuit of the rampart is 585 feet. Alexander III. it 
 said to have lived some time at Kinross, undoubtedly in the castle of Loch* 
 leven, after returning from an interview with his father-in-law, Henry lit. 
 of England, at Werk Castle. In this castle Queen Mary Stuart was im- 
 prisoned, on the i6th June 1567 ; resigned the crown with reludance ift 
 favour of her son James VI. on the 24th July, same year ; and escape! 
 from her confinement there, on the ad of May 1568, by means of George 
 
 Douglas, youngest son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. The Earl 
 
 of Northumberland was imprisoned in Lochleven cattle, from 1569 to about 
 'he end of 1572. Stat. Ace. Vol. VI. No. 2Z.
 
 378 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 
 
 gotten some small passages, widened the orifices of them by 
 
 degrees, and at last broke forth with such a violence, that it 
 tumbled down all that was before it : it overflowed all the 
 plains, and carried away with it, tents, huts, men half asleep, 
 and horses, with a mighty rushing noise into the sea, and they 
 which were in the vessels running in with a great shout, 
 upon the affrightned souldiers, added a second terror to the 
 first ; so that, upon the surprize, every man minded noth- 
 ing, but how to save himself : thus they fled, as every man 
 could, and left the prey to their enemy. 
 
 " Allan, at his leasure, carried into the castle, not only 
 the spoils of their camp, but provisions also, prepared for a 
 long siege. 
 
 " Moreover, in another sally made against the guards, 
 which were at Kinross, there was a happy success, the 
 guards were routed and taken, and the siege raised." 
 
 In this castle was Mary Queen of Scotland imprisoned, 
 m the time of the civil wars, who from thence escaped, by 
 the practices of George Douglass, third son to the laird of 
 Loch-Levin. The herons nestle in this isle, where the 
 castle stands. 
 
 Little more than a mile south-east from the castle, in the 
 samen lake, lieth St. Serf's isle, and not far from it another 
 small isle, much haunted by water-fowls, which lay their 
 eggs, and hatch their young there, called the Butterns hour 1 . 
 St. Serf's isle was of old called the island of Loch-Levin, 
 as appears by the records of the priory of St. Andrews ; 
 where, as Sir James Balfour, in his notes, remarks, it is 
 said, That " Brude, films de Ergard, Piftorum rex dedit 
 insulam de Loch-Levin, Deo Omnipotent!, Santo Servano, 
 ct Keledeis heremetis ibi commorantibus et Deo servienti- 
 bus." The ruines of the old priory, built (as Sir James's 
 
 notes 
 
 fit'' ' ' *"3 
 
 . " , 
 
 * The birds that breed on the hies are herons, common gulls, pewit 
 julls, and great terns. Sec Part II. Chap. HI.
 
 THE HISTORY ; OF KINROSS. 
 
 notes tell us) by Achaius king of Scots, (in honorem et ad 
 gloriam Dei Omnipotent et Sanfti Servani) appear yet. 
 St. Ronan the abbot lived here, and died in it, in a full 
 age ; and the first archbishop of St. Andrews was interred 
 in this isle. The register of the priory of St. Andrews 
 tells, That the " Keledei dederunt, in locum cellulae epis- 
 copo Sanfti Andrea; j" and it became the possession of the 
 Austine-monks of the priory of St. Andrews, together with 
 Portmock. 
 
 Towards the middle of Loch-Levin, a little north, from 
 the kirk of Orwell, stands the castle and barony of Burligh 1 , 
 which Sir James Balfour (in his notes) says, " King James 
 II. anno nono regni sui, gave in liberam baroniam Johanni 
 de Balfour de Balgarvie, militi. And king James VI. of 
 that name, king of Scotland, and first of Great Britain, 
 honoured Sir Michael Balfour of Burleigh (son to Sir James 
 Balfour of Monquhanny, clerk register, and to Margaret Bal- 
 four heiress of Burleigh) by letters patent, bearing date at 
 Roystoun in England, 7. August in anno 1606. with the 
 title of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, he being then his am- 
 bassadour to the Duke of Tuscany, and to the Duke of 
 Lorrain." The church of Orwell is the common sepulchre 
 of the family. 
 
 The paroch-church of Orwel was but a chappel of ease, 
 in anno 1330 ; for, the same year, king Robert I. gives to 
 the monastery of Dunfermling, " in puram et perpetuam 
 eleemosinam, ecclesiam de Kinross cum capella de tJrwell, 
 teste Edwardo de Bruss Comite de Carried, et Domino Gal- 
 lovidix fratre nostro." 
 
 The paroch-church of Kinross stands a little to the east 
 of the town, upon the loch-side. 
 
 Near the south-side of the loch ariseth a high and steep 
 mountain, somewhat level and plain on the top> called in 
 
 the 
 
 1 Now the property of Thomas Graham, Es<j. of Kinross.
 
 HISTORf OF KINROSS. 
 
 the Irish dialed, Benartoch ; our vulgar call it Benartie ; 
 Boethiua calleth it, " Mons Arcis, arx naturu et arte muni- 
 tissima." Sir James Balfour says, it was built by Gedor 
 king of Pidts ; 'tis like fortified, as the Castella Brigantum, 
 with rough stones heaped upon one another. Sir James 
 says, nothing remains to be seen now, save the vestiges of 
 a double trench, which is scarce noticeable now. At the 
 west-end of it, in the plain, is the Paran well, a spring of 
 excellent water. 
 
 The castle of Loch-Levin was the seat of some of our 
 Icings, who appointed gentlemen captains of it, and of latter 
 times the laird of Loch-Levin is design'd, captain of Loch- 
 Levin. Sir James Balfour gives the following extract out 
 of a charter : " Carta fada per Davidem II. regem 
 Sector urn terrarum de Raplauch Andrew Erskine, durante 
 toto tempore vitae sute, &c. apud castrum lacus Levini. 
 10. Septemb. anno regni 28." 
 
 The priory of Portmock is properly seated in St. Serf a- 
 nus's isle -, on the south-side of the river Levin is Kirkness, 
 where the canons and their prior oft resided ; they came to 
 be a part of the priory of St. Andrews', Austine-monks , and 
 their prior was reckoned tertius prior S. Andrere. The 
 learn'd Mr. James Martine, in his Reliquiae S. Andrea?, 
 tells us, that in the charter of union and mortification of 
 the priory of St. Servan's isle, within Loch-Levin, to St. 
 Leonard's College, by Mr. John Winram, oeconomus of 
 the monastery of St. Andrews, and the convent thereof, 
 dated 5. October 1570. are these words : " Cum manife's- 
 tum sit priorem et conventum monasterii Santi Andrea?, 
 abhinc retro in jiodiernum diem ad spatium circiter quin- 
 gentorum annorum, continue patronos indubitatos fuisse 
 prioratus insulse Sanfti Servani intra lacum de Lochlevin 
 sita?, qu'oties ipsum prioratum vacare contingat." Sir James 
 Balfour, in his notes, gives us this account f it. " Near 
 
 to
 
 THE HISTORY OF, KINROSS. 
 
 tlie east-side of Benartie, bursts out the river Levin, out of 
 (the loch) his mother's belly, from whom he also takes his 
 name, with a small, but speedy aperture, leaving on his 
 north-side the little, but ancient priory of Portmock, found- 
 ed by Eogachmen, king of the Picas', and consecrate to the 
 blessed Virgin Mary, anno I . regni sui ; (for which he citeth 
 regist. MS. monasterii S. Andr. fol. 161.) This monastery 
 was the first place in Scotland, given by the Pi&ish kings, 
 after their conversion to Christianity, to the religious Kele- 
 dei, or Culdaei, or, as Fordun names them, Cultores Dei, 
 worshippers of GOD j they being religious persons of divers 
 orders. This monastery was anciently called the priory o 
 Loch-Levin ; the most part of the lands came to the Earls 
 of Mortoun, who held them feu of the archbishop and 
 prior of St. Andrews formerly. 
 
 " Kirkness * and Bolgyn embracing the south-banks o 
 Levin, the inheritance of the house of Mortoun, and a por- 
 tion collected for their younger sons, holds of the arch- 
 bishop of St. Andrews, and was given to the Culdees o 
 the foresaid priory, by Mackbeth the son of Finlach, regn. 
 Davide I. anno 3. regni sui." 
 
 The monastery of Loch-Levin, now Portmoak, so named, 
 as may be conjectured, from St. Moak, the first abbot, sig- 
 nifying a mansion or dwelling, in the ancient language, as 
 ye would say, the dwelling of Moak. (The inhabitants 
 thereabout, to this day, show upon the side of the hill, 
 above the monastery, a concavity like to a seat, where this 
 abbot, for his recreation, sometimes used to solace himself, 
 the top of the adjoining rocks giving umbrage to the place, 
 which, corrupting the words, they call St. Moucum's seat, 
 that is, St. Moak's seat). Nothing remains of this monas- 
 
 -.*. tery, 
 
 1 The register of St. Andrews attributes the foundation of the church 
 f Lochleven to Brudc VII. in 842. 
 
 f A scat of Major-Gencral W. Douglas M'Lcan Clephane of Carslogic. 
 
 Oo
 
 232 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 tery, save a paroch-church, which answereth to the presby- 
 tery of Kirkcaldy. 
 
 The priory of Portmoak is properly seated in St. Ser- 
 vanus's isle. 
 
 Scotland- Well was a ministery of the Fratres San&ze 
 Trinitatis de redemptione captivorum," and founded by 
 William Malvoisin, bishop of St. Andrews, who died anno 
 1238. and it is confirm'd by his immediate successor David 
 Benham, bishop of St. Andrews, as their charters bear. 
 The rudera of the church and house is on the north-side of 
 Levin river, at the foot of the Bishop-hill j and it was a 
 receptacle for religious pilgrims : and the friars, who be- 
 longed to that house, collected charities for the redemption 
 of Christians, who were slaves in Turky. 
 
 Sir James Balfour,~in his notes, says, it was called by 
 our historians, Hospitale de fonte Scotise, with the manour 
 of Kilgad, and a chappel founded by Madocus Comes de 
 Ernewall, for the relief of pilgrims and passengers, who 
 resorted this way, either for devotion or travel. But Sir 
 James is mistaken in this, for it is by William Malvoisin, 
 bishop of St. Andrews, as the following charters show. 
 Cart a Ministerii de Scotland-Well. 
 
 " Omnibus Christi fidelibus presens scriptum visuris vel 
 nudituris. Willielmus dei gratia episcopus Sandli Andree, 
 eternam in domino salutem. Noverit universitas vestra, 
 nos, divinse pietatis intuitu, dedisse, concessisse, et hac 
 carta nostra confirmasse, Deo et Hospitali Sante Marie de 
 Lochlevin, ad suam et pauperum sustentationem ibidem 
 confluentium, ecclesiam Sandte Trinitatis de Urhithumene- 
 syn, hoc est, Moonsy. In suis usibus et pauperum haben- 
 dam ; cum terris, decimis, obventionibus, oblationibus et 
 omnibus aliis ad eandem ecclesiam juste pertinentibus 5 in 
 liberam, puram, quietam et perpetuam eleemosinam. Ita 
 tamen quod, quicunque pro tempore fuetit Gustos predili 
 
 hospitalis,
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 283 
 
 hospitalis, difte ecclesie honeste faciet deserviri, &c. Testi- 
 bus Johanne de Arnut, Johanne de Gaduts et multis aliis." 
 
 Cart a Ministerii de Scotland-Well. 
 
 Omnibus Christi fidelibus presens scriptum visuris vel 
 audituris, David, dei gratia episcopus Sanfti Andree, eter- 
 nam in domino salutem. , Noverit universitas vestra quod 
 cum bone memorie Willielmus episcopus, predecessor nos- 
 ter, quandam domum fundasset ad fontem Scotie, ad reci- 
 piendum et hospitandum pauperes et egenos in eadem, ibi- 
 dem undique confluentes ; nos dispositionem dite domus 
 viris religiosis committere volentes, qui, ex officii nostri de- 
 bito, religionem plantare et augmentare tenemur; ditam 
 domum, cum omnibus pertinentiis, et libertatibus suis, et 
 cum omnibus reditibus et bonis, mobilibus et immobilibus ad 
 candem spe&antibus, Deo et Beate Marie et Fratribus ordi- 
 nis Sante Trinitatis et captivorum, dedimus et concessimus 
 et present! scripto confirmamus. Statuentes ut in predi&a 
 domo prefatus ordo San&e Trinitatis et captivorum in per- 
 petuum observetur. In cujus rei testimonium, present: 
 scripto sigillum nostrum apponi fecimus. Testibus, ma- 
 gistris Gulielmo de Cuninghame, Alexandro de Edinburgh, 
 David, Roberto, Rad. Gilberto, Jacobo, capellanis, Gal- 
 frido, Waltero, Gilberto, clericis nostris. Datum apud 
 Lossech, anno gratie, millesimo ducentesimo quinquagesi- 
 mo, in crastino circumcisionis domini." 
 
 Arnot " lies high upon the north side of Levin, on the 
 south-side of the Bishop's Hill j he is a knight-baronet 
 whose ancestors of that name have possessed these lands 
 well nigh 600 years. The register of Dunfermling shows, 
 that Sir Michael Arnot disponed the lands of Clunie to the 
 monks there, rege Male. IV. The Bin *, at the west-end 
 
 O o 2 of 
 
 1 Now the property of Thomas Williamson Bruce, Esq. 
 1 Now the property of John Syme of Cartmorc, Esq.
 
 284 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 
 
 of Benartie, belongs to Sir John Malcolm of Lochor. 
 Captain Crawfurd has, at the north-east of Loch-Levin, the 
 Powmill 1 . To the south of it is the village Kinaskwood. 
 In Benartie are foxes and badgers, which the heretors hunt 
 at certain times. 
 
 Loch-Levin abounds with fine fish, such as salmon taken 
 in summer. The gelletroch or red-womb trout ; it hath a 
 small head ; it is usually 1 8 inches long. The speckled 
 trout, red-womb, with white fins, taken in October with 
 nets. Some are reddish within, some whitish. The gray- 
 trout, or bill-trout, some of them as big as a salmond, gray- 
 ish skinn'd and red fish'd, a foot long, taken all the year 
 over. Cendue or Camdue, in Irish, (Cean-dubh) blackhead, 
 having a black spot on the top of its head ; is fat, big as 
 a Dunbar-herring, red fish'd, much esteem'd. Big eels and 
 
 pearches in abundance *. 
 
 Many 
 
 1 Now the property of John Crawfurd Balfour, Esq. 
 
 2 The Reverend Mr. Smith has made the following observations on the 
 fish of this lake : " The high flavour and bright red colour of the trout, 
 seem evidently to arise from the food which nature has provided for them, 
 an the loch. A considerable part, of the bottom is oozy and spongy, from 
 which aquatic herbs spring up in abundance ; and, so vigorous are they in 
 many parts, as towards the beginning of autumn, to cover the surface 
 with their flowers. The trout, especially of size, lie much in that sort of 
 bottom. Gentlemen, accustomed to make observations when angling, 
 know well, that even in clear running rivers, where their course takes a 
 direction through a long tract of meadow, or of oozy ground, the trout 
 that lie or feed in that ground, if of size, are generally less or more of a 
 pink colour in the flesh ; while those that feed in the stony or gravelly 
 soil, above or below the swampy meadows, are all white, excepting the 
 mixture that is sometimes made by floods. But what appears to contri- 
 bute most to the redness and rich taste of the Lochleven trout, is the' vast 
 quantity of a small shell-fish, red in its colour, which abounds all over the 
 bottom of the loch, especially among the aquatic weeds. It is of shape 
 tjuite globular, precisely of the appearance and size of a lintseed boll at a 
 little distance, and the trouts when caught have often their stomachs full 
 pf them. These observations may account for a phenomenon of another 
 
 kind.
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS. 285 
 
 Many water-fowls haunt this loch ; such as, 
 The Common Heron '. 
 
 The 
 
 kind. In Lochlcven are all the different species of hill, or burn, or muir 
 trout, that are to be met with in Scotland, evidently appearing from the 
 diversity of manner in which they are spotted. Yet all these different 
 kinds, after behig two years in the loch, and arriving at 3-4ths or i Ib. 
 weight, are red in the flesh, as all the trout of every kind in the loch are, 
 eicept perhaps those newly brought down by floods, or such as are sickly. 
 The silver grey trout, with about four or five spots on the middle of each 
 side, is apparently the original native of the loch, and, in many respes, 
 the finest fish of the whole. The fry of all kinds are white in the flesh till 
 they come to the size of a herring, about the beginning of their third 
 year. The gallytrough, or char, abounds in the loch. The description of 
 this fish is generally well known. What is remarkable of them is the size 
 to which they often grow, some of them weighing near 2 1b. and they are 
 never known to rise to a fly, or to be caught with a hook, baited in any 
 way whatever. Besides these, are vast numbers of eels, pikes and perch, 
 in the loch." The fishing with nets belongs to Thomas Graham, Esq. of 
 Kinross, and to William Fergusson, Esq. of Raith, each of whom separately 
 let their right of fishing. About 1780, the rent of both little exceeded 
 L. 20. It soon after rose to L. 80 ; in 1793 to L. 100, and is now (1803) 
 I.. 143 Sterling. In this fishery there are two boats, which draw their 
 nets indiscriminately in every part of the lake. An attempt was made, 
 some years ago, by some gentlemen of Leith, to send the trout of Lochleven 
 to the London market, packed in ice, in the same manner as the salmon, 
 but was soon dropped, as the fish did not arrive in a proper state of pre- 
 servation. Stat. Ace. VoL VI. No. 22. 
 
 1 Ardea major. The male, which is a very elegant bird, is in length 
 3 feet 6 inches, and in breadth 5 feet 4 inches ; the bill 6 inches long, 
 very strong and pointed ; the forehead and crown are white, the hind part 
 is adorned with a crest of long black feathers, waving with the wind. The 
 general colour grey, mixed with white, some black feathers in the wings, 
 and beneath them there is a bed of black feathers, used formerly as egrets 
 for the hair, or ornaments for the caps of Knights of the Garter. The co- 
 lour of the female is grey. She wants the crest, and is much less elegant 
 than the male. The age of these birds is said sometimes to exceed sixty 
 years. They build in trees, and nestled therefore, in the isles of Lochlevin, 
 which were well wooded. The heron was formerly reckoned a bird of 
 game, was much esteemed as a, food, and was valued at the same rate as a 
 pheasant.
 
 THE HISTORY OF KINROSS* 
 , v 
 
 The Bittern . 
 
 The Snipe *. 
 
 The Teal 3 . 
 
 The Water-Rail 4 . 
 
 The King's Fisher. 
 
 The Coot 5 . The 
 
 1 Ardea Stellaris. The bittern is inferior in size to the heron. The 
 plumage of a pale dull yellow spotted, barred or striped with black. It is 
 a very retired bird, lives chiefly on frogs, builds among rushes, and lays 
 five or six eggs of a dirty green colour. It was once esteemed as food ; and, 
 in England, in the reign of Henry VIII. was valued at a shilling Sterling. 
 
 2 Scolopax gallinago. This bird is found in every quarter of the globe, 
 and is so well known, as to need no description. In winter, great numbers 
 of snipes frequent the marshy and wet grounds, where they lie concealed in 
 the rushes, &c. In the summer, they disperse to different parts, and are found 
 in the midst of the highest mountains, as well as in the low fens and mosses. 
 
 3 Anas Crecca. This small species of duck is in length 14 inches, in 
 Breadth 23 inches. It is rather a beautiful species. The head is of a deep 
 fcay colour ; from the bill to the hind part of the head, is a broad bar of 
 glossy changeable green ; the lower part of the neck, the beginning of the 
 &ack, and the sides under the wings, are elegantly marked with waved 
 line* of black and white ; the general colour whitish, spotted with black. 
 
 * Raljus aquaticus. The water rail is a bird of a long slender body, 
 with short concave wings. It delights less in flying than running ; which 
 at does very swiftly along the edges of brooks covered with bushes : as it 
 runs, every now and then flirts up its tail ; and in flying hangs down its 
 legs : actions it has in common with the water hen. The length to the 
 end of the tail la inches, the breadth 16 inches ; "the head, hind part of the 
 neck, the back, and coverts of the wings and tail are black, edged with an 
 olive brown ; the base of the wing is white ; the quill-feathers' and secon- 
 daries dusky ; the throat, breast, and upper part of the belly are ash-co-f 
 loured ; the sides under the wings as far as the rump finely varied with 
 fclack and white bars. The tail is very short, consists of twelve black fea- 
 thers j the ends of the two middle tipt with rust-colour ; the feathers im- 
 mediately beneath the tail white. The legs are placed far behind, and are 
 of a dusky flesh-colour ; the toes very long, and divided to their very 
 origin ; though the feet are not webbed, it takes the water ; will swim on, 
 it with much ease ; but oftcner is observed to run along the surface. 
 
 S Fulica atra. The belly is ash-coloured ; and on the ridge of each 
 wing is a line of white ; every part besides is of a deep black. Coots fre- 
 quent
 
 THE HISTORY 0* JT.INROSS. 2$J 
 
 The Swan '. 
 
 Sundry gulls, wild geese and wild ducks. In the moors 
 are many wild fowls. 
 
 There is a fine stone at Nivestoun, and much lime-stone ; 
 they want no fewel, have coal from Kelti-heugh ; there is 
 much pasture and plenty of corns. 
 
 qucnt lakes and still rivers ; they make their nest among the rushes, with 
 grass, reeds, &c. floating on the water, so as to rise and fall with it. They 
 lay five or six large eggs, of a dirty whitish hue, sprinkled over with mi- 
 nute deep rust colour spots; they will sometimes lay fourteen and more. 
 The young when just hatched are very deformed, and the head mixed with 
 a red coarse down. In winter they often repair to the sea. 
 
 1 The wild Swan, Anas Cygnus ferus, is not known to frequent any of 
 our lakes ; but the tame Swan, Anas Cygnus mansuetus, is common in se- 
 veral of them. The swan is the largest of the British birds. It is distin- 
 guished externally from the wild swan ; first, by its size, being much, 
 larger : secondly, by the bill, which in this is red, and the tip and sides 
 black, and the skin between the eyes and bill is of the same colour. Over 
 the base of the upper mandible projects a black callous knob : the whole 
 plumage in old birds is white ; in young ones ash-coloured till the second 
 year : the legs dusky ; but Dr. Plott mentions a variety found on the 
 Trent near Rugely, with red legs. The swan lays seven or eight egg, 
 and is near two months in hatching : it feeds on water plants, insects and 
 shells. No bird perhaps makes so inelegant a figure out of the water, or 
 has the command of such beautiful attitudes in that element as the swan. 
 In former times it was served up at every great feast, when the elegance 
 of the table was measured by the size and quantity of the good cheer. 
 Cygnets are to this day fattened at Norwich about Christmas, and are sold 
 for a guinea a piece. Swans were formerly held in such great esteem in 
 England, that by an aft of Edward IV. c. 6. " no one that possessed a free- 
 hold of less clear yearly value than five marks, was permitted to keep any, 
 other than the son of our sovereign lord the king." And by the eleventh 
 of Henry VII. c. 17. the punishment for taking their eggs was imprison- 
 ment for a year and day, and a fine at the king's will. Though at present 
 they are not so highly valued as a delicacy, yet great numbers arc preser- 
 ved for their beauty. 
 
 END OF THE HISTORY OF KINROSS.
 
 288 THE> HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 WHAT IS MOST REMARKABLE IN FIFE. 
 
 To the HERETORS OF FIFE. 
 
 This Fourth Part is Dedicated 
 by the Author, 
 
 ROBERT SIBBALD. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 The Coast, from the Western Boundary of the Shire to the 
 Mouth of the River Leven. 
 
 Jt IFE is a peninsula, embraced towards the south with the 
 Firth of Forth, and towards the north with the Firth of 
 Tay. At the west limit of it, from the brink of Forth, 
 (where the small water Bloddyr dischargeth itself into the 
 firth, at Newmiln bridge) it stretcheth northwards, includ- 
 ing the paroches of Carnock and Saline (and excluding the 
 paroch and lordship of Culross, within the shire of Perth) 
 till the south-marches of the paroch of Cleish in Kinross- 
 shire. 
 
 Before I begin the account of the remarkable places in 
 this part of the coast, I will give first the excellent verses of 
 John Johnston and Arthur Johnston, upon the towns in 
 the coast of Fife. 
 
 John
 
 SfiCT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 
 
 John Johnston's are these : 
 
 Oppida sic toto sunt sparsa in littore, ut unum 
 
 Dixeris ; inque uno plurima junta eadem. 
 Littore quot curvo Forthae volvuntur arenae, 
 
 Quotque undis refluo tunditur ora salo ; 
 Pene tot hie cernas instratum puppibus sequor, 
 
 Urbibus et crebris pene tot ora hominum. 
 Cuncla operis intenta domus fxda otia nescit 
 
 Sedula cura domi, sedula cura foris. 
 Quae maria et quas non terras animosa juventus 
 
 Ah ! fragili fidens audet adire trabe ; 
 Auxit opes virtus, virtuti dura pericla 
 
 Juncta, etiam lucro damna fuere suo. 
 Quae fecere viris animos, cultumque dedere ; 
 
 Magnanimis prosunt damna, pericla, labor. 
 
 Arthur Johnston's are these : - r ; A. 
 
 Oppida, qux longo lavat hinc Bodotria tractu, 
 
 Flatibus a Boreas, Grampius inde tegit. 
 Fleftere vos docuit Neptuni dextera remos, 
 
 Et cava nimbosis pandere vela Notis. 
 Nee vos Scylla vorax, nee terret vasta Charybdis, 
 
 Nee vada Dulichia? quae metuere rates. 
 Seu Syrtes tentare juvat, seu radere cautes 
 
 Cyaneas, vobis invia nulla via est. 
 Nee satis est sulcare fretum, Fergusia vobis 
 
 Cogitur abstrusos pandere terra sinus. 
 Illius in gremio conclusos quaeritis ignes, 
 
 Et propre Tartarei cernitis ora Jovis. 
 Artibus et vestris liquidus lapidescere pontus 
 
 Cogitur et sal fit, quod prius unda fuit. 
 Montibus excisas ne ja&et Saxo salinas, 
 
 Largius has vobis sufficit aequor opes. 
 
 P p Scotia
 
 -290 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 Scotia vos celebret, vestro sine munere Brumre 
 Sunt nimis atroces, insipicbeque dapes. 
 
 The coast is very fertile, and has many waters and burns 
 running into it, from the Ochils and Lomunds, and the hills 
 in the inner parts of it. Some of these waters are aurife- 
 rous : and so Buchanan's verses holds in Fife as well as in 
 other parts of this country. 
 
 . 
 Nunc tibi frugifere memorabo hie jugera glebse, 
 
 Et saltus peeore, et fcecundas piscibus undas, 
 Et xris gravidos et plumbi pondere sulcos, 
 Et nitido atiro montes, ferroque, rigentesj 
 Deque metalliferis manantia flumina venis, 
 Quseque beant alias communia commoda gentes. 
 
 I shall have occasion- to give instances of this, ifl the ac- 
 count of the most remarkable places in this shire. 
 
 In this coast ate many fine harbours, many convenient 
 fisheries, sundry manufactories, many royal burghs ; and 
 the salt that here is made, and the coal, and the fishery, 
 afford much matter of trade. 
 
 I begin with Torrie-burn, a burgh of barony : it has a 
 harbour for small vessels, and has salt-pans '. It is named 
 from the water of Torrie, which runneth through the; 
 town ; over which, forgainst the kirk a , a bridge was built 
 
 ' -, 
 
 by 
 
 1 About i ooo tons of shipping belong to Torryburn. The navigation 
 of which employs about 70 seamen. By this port, the town of Dunferm- 
 line carries on part of its trade. 
 
 2 In the kirk-yard, the following characteristic epitaph was to be found 
 a few years ago, but is now defaced. The writer of the Statistical Account 
 of the parish, has the merit of preserving these beautiful and simple lines. 
 
 " AT anchor now, in Death's dark Road, 
 
 " Rides honest Captain HILL, 
 " Who serv'd his king, and fear'd his God* 
 
 " With upright heart and will. 
 
 U
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 
 
 by Mr. James Aird the minister, a man eminent for his 
 piety and charity to the poor. The town is under the ju- 
 risdiction of the Earl of Kincardine, descended of a brother 
 of the ancient family of Blairhall, of which also Sir Wil- 
 liam Bruce of Kinross, and several other gentlemen of the 
 name of Bruce are descended ; of which family of Blair- 
 hall, also the Earl of Elgin in Scotland, and of Alisbury in 
 England, are descended. It is now the seat of the Honour- 
 able Dougal Stuart, one of the senators of the college of 
 justice, who married the heiress '. 
 
 Near to Torrie-burn stands the manour of Torrie*, now 
 the seat of William Erskine, a son of the Lord Cardross. 
 'Twas formerly in the possession of the ancient family of 
 the Wardlaws, of which several lairds of that name are de- 
 scended. To the east of the town is Crumbie 3 , a pleasant 
 seat of the Lord Colvil of Cleish 4 , descended of the Lord 
 P p 2 Colvil 
 
 " In social life sincere and just, 
 
 " To vice of no kind given ; . 
 " So that his better part, -we trust, 
 
 " Hath made the PORT of HEAVEN." 
 
 1 Now the property of Erskine of Carnock. 
 
 * The seat of Sir William Erskine, Baronet. 
 
 3 The lands of Torry and Crumbie contain much coal ; the following table 
 of the thickness of its various seams in both estates, was furnished by a 
 gentleman, who was proprietor of the one, and had a lease of the other. 
 
 Feet. Feet. 
 
 H Main coal C 7 
 
 9 This coal has neither smoke 5 
 
 6 nor flame, and is used only TROMBIP J 4 
 
 TORRY <! 5 in dl l in g malt - 
 4 
 3 Parrot coal 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 Besides these different seams, there is, on the north parts of Torry, a fine 
 parrot coal, in thickness four feet, which is very valuable, and is said to sell 
 in the London market, at a higher price than any other. There is also very 
 good ironstone, some of which has been wrought. Stat. Ace. VoL VIII. No. 2f . 
 \ Now the property of James Wedderburn, Esq. uf Inveresk.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 Colvil of Culross, whose predecessor was James Lord 
 Colvil, a follower of Henry the Great, who to the immor- 
 tal honour of himself and his nation, was the man whom 
 God made the chief instrument to carry the battel of Cul- 
 tras, so favourable to the protestants in France, against the 
 bloody leaguers. 
 
 Not far from this, towards the north, is the neat house 
 of Pitfirren 1 , well adorn'd with curious gardens, large parks 
 and meadows, the manour of the ancient family of the 
 Halkets. There is in the register of Dunfermling a con- 
 tract betwixt the abbot of Dunfermling and David Halket, 
 design'd in some charters, de Lusfennen, De perambulatione 
 terrarum de Petfarane, anno 1437. There is a vast fond of 
 small coal in the lands, which is carried to the port of 
 Lyme Kills, belonging to Pitfirren a , being a small burgh of 
 barony; it is well provided with coal-yards and cellars. 
 Several whales have come in upon this coast; anno 1652. 
 
 one 
 
 - 
 1 The seat of Sir Charles Halket, Baronet. 
 
 a From a remote period, the family of Pitferran obtained from govern- 
 ment the privilege of exporting their coals to foreign parts, free of all duty 
 whatever. The original privilege was renewed by Queen Anne, De- 
 cember 21. 1706, and ratified in Parliament March 21. 1707. The 
 family continued to enjoy the privilege till 1788, when it was purchased 
 by government for L. 40,000 Sterling, when the property that could injure 
 the revenue was nearly exhausted. The most remarkable, in these lands, 
 are the seams, consisting of five feet, two feet, and four feet each. They 
 are all found within the space of fourteen yards, at the distance of three 
 fathoms and a half from each other ; and in their natural state, they dip 
 from one foot in four, to one in six towards the north-east. Immediately 
 above the two feet seam, arc two strata of ironstone. The uppermost is 
 four inches, and the lowermost two and a half inches thick. Being above a 
 team of coal, they are wrought along with it. They are of an excellent 
 tjuality for making cannon, and have been exported to the Carron Com- 
 pany for that purpose. The ironstone began to be wrought by that Com- 
 pany in 1771, and in 1773 and 1774, there were sixty miners, and as many 
 bearers employed in the mines. Since that period, the ironstone has been 
 wrought by the tacksmcn of the toal, Stat. Ace, Vol. XIII. No. 39. 
 
 

 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 293 
 
 one 80 foot in length, of the whale-bone kind, came in, 
 which (as I was inform'd) beside a vast quantity of oyl, did 
 afford 500 weight of baleen. The jaws of it stand for a 
 gate, in the garden of Pitfirren. And anno 1689 there 
 came in one of the spermaceti kind, with big teeth in the 
 under-jaw, the whale was above 52 foot long '. 
 
 The coast abounds much with iron-stone, of which there 
 are some pieces curiously figur'd, some like clam-shells, and 
 one has the shape of the scabbard of a Turkish scimitar, of 
 the kind call'd Siliquastrites. * 
 
 Close by Pitfirren is Cavil *, the seat of an ancient gentle- 
 man of the name of Lindsay -, and Pitliver 3 , the seat of Sir 
 James Campbel, who married the heiress, of the name of 
 Dempster. 
 
 Hard by is Dunfermling, a royal burgh 4 , having its name 
 
 from 
 
 1 See before, Part II. Chap. III. 
 
 a Now the property of Dr. James Robertson Barclay. 
 
 3 Now the property of Robert Wellwood, Esq. of Garvock. 
 
 * The burgh, it appears, held of the monastery for near two centurie*, 
 It became royal by a charter from James VI. dated 24th May 1588. In 
 this charter, called a charter of confirmation, the king ratifies sundry char- 
 ters, donations, and indentures by John and Robert, abbots of Dunferm- 
 line ; and particularly, an indenture made at Dunfermline, loth October 
 1395, between John, abbot of the monastery, and the Eldermen and com- 
 munity of the burgh ; by this deed the abbot and convent renounce, iii 
 favour of the eldcrmen and community, the whole income of the burgh 
 belonging to their revenue, with the small customs, profits of court, &c. 
 reserving, however, the yearly pensions payable to the monastery from the 
 lands of the burgh ; and the correction of the bailies, as often as they, or 
 any of them, should be guilty of injustice in the exercise of their office. 
 By the set or constitution, the government of the burgh is lodged in a 
 council of twenty-two ; consisting of twelve guildry or merchant-council- 
 lors, eight deacons of incorporations, and two trades-councillors ; the ma- 
 gistrates are, a provost, two bailies, and dean of guild. The annual reve- 
 nue is considerably above JL. 500 Sterling. Eight public fairs are held 
 tl'.rough the year, and two days in the week, Wednesday and Friday, arc 
 appointed for markets ; the market on Wednesday has for some tide fallen 
 iato disuse. Sut. Ace. VoL 111. No. 39.
 
 2p4 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 from a lull near a crooked water, which is the situation of 
 it ; for it lies upon the ridge of a hill, sloping gently to the 
 south. It was the ordinary abode of Malcolm Kenmore ; 
 the ruins of a tower he dwelt in are yet to be seen, near to 
 the west bridge 1 . This king Malcolm III, founded the mo- 
 nastery, 
 
 1 A palace was afterward built a little south-east of the tower in a most 
 romantic situation, close on the verge of the glen, but at what particular 
 period is not now known. The south-west wall of the palace still remains 
 a monument of the magnificent fabric, of which it is a part, and tradition 
 continues to point out the chimney of the apartment where that unfortu- 
 nate monarch Charles I. was born. The monastery was one of the most 
 ancient in Scotland, founded by Malcolm Canmore for the monks of the 
 order of St. Benedict ; the building being left unfinished by Malcolm, was 
 completed by his son Alexander I. The monastery and its church were 
 dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and St. Margaret, Malcolm's queen. In 
 some olii manuscripts, it is called, Monasterium de monte infirmorum ; 
 hence some have conjectured, that it was originally intended for an hos- 
 pital or infirmary. It continued to be governed by a. prior till the reign 
 of David I. who raised it to the dignity of an abbey, and in 1114 translated 
 thither thirteen monks from Canterbury ; before the dissolution, however, 
 the fraternity had increased to twenty-six. The abbey was richly endowed, 
 and derived part of its extensive revenue from places at a considerable 
 distance. Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, and Burntisland, (called of old Wester; 
 Kinghorn), likewise Musselburgh and Inveresk, belonged to this abbey. 
 According to a rental given up at the time of the Reformation by Allan 
 Couts, in name of George Durie, abbot, the yearly revenue was as follows : 
 Money, L. 2513 : 10 : 8 Scots ; wheat, 28 c. n b. i f. bear, 102 c. 15 b. 
 I f. 3 p. meal, 15 c. oats, 61 c. 6 b. a f. horse corn, 29 c. i b. i f. 
 
 3 p. butter, 34 st. lime, 19 c. 15 b. salt, u c. 8 b. According to 
 
 another rental by the same person -. Money, L. 2404, 4 s. wheat, 27 c. 
 
 4 b. 3 f. bear, 83 c. n b. 2 f. 2 p. oats, 158 c. 5 b. a f. whereof 84 c. 
 white oats. lime, 20 c. salt, n c.8 b capons, 374 poultry, 746. The 
 abbey was a magnificent and very extensive building, but fell an early sa- 
 crifice to the barbarous policy of the English, being almost entirely burnt 
 down by them, in the beginning of the I4th century. Edward I. of Eng- 
 land wintered at Dunfermline in 1303. " In that place there was an abbey 
 of the Benedictine order, a building so spacious, that according to an Eng- 
 lish historian, three sovereign princes, with all their retinue, might have 
 been lodged conveniently within its precincts. Hcrj the Scottish nobles 
 
 sometimes
 
 SECT.I .] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 
 
 nastery, and he and his successors, especially David I. did 
 endow the same with great riches and privileges, three of 
 which are so remarkable and peculiar to this monastery, 
 that I cannot pass them ; I extracted them from the great 
 register of the monastery. The first is, " Sciatis me dedisse 
 ct concessisse ecclesiae Sanctie Trinitatis de Dunfermling, 
 omnem decimam de auro quod mihi eveniet de Fif et Fo- 
 therif, T. cancellario, ct Hugone de Morevil, et Johanne 
 episcope, apud Newbotill." By which privilege it appears, 
 that in his days there was gold found in the waters, which 
 came off the mountains and hills in this shire, as there is 
 silver,, copper, lead and iron found in them still. 
 
 The second privilege is in a charter of confirmation, of 
 the same king David I. which has this clause, " Et de 
 seKchfs qui ad Kingornum capientur, postquam decimati 
 fuerint ; concede ut omnes septimos seliches habeant." 
 
 The third is by Malcolm IV. " Capita piscium qui di- 
 cuntur crespeis praeter linguam, qui in meo dominio ex ilia 
 partc Scott watir applicuerint, in qua'parte illorum ecclesia 
 sita est '." 
 
 By the former, it seems, in those days the selchs were a 
 matter of trade ; and the last shows, that the meer-swine 
 and porpesses, and lesser sort of whales (which I guess 
 were mean'd by crespeis) were matter of trade, and the oyl 
 was imployed, as a charter hath it, ad luminarfa ecclesias *. 
 
 In 
 
 sometimes held their assemblies. The English soldiers utterly destroyed 
 this magnificent fabric. M. Westminster justifies this brutal extravagance. 
 The Scots, (says he) had converted the House of the Lord into a den of 
 thieves, by holding their rebellious parliaments there. The church, how- 
 ever, and a few mansions fit for monks, were graciously spared by the 
 English reformers." The cells belonging to the abbey, which were spared 
 by the English, and likewise, it is probable, the principal part of the 
 church, were demolished at the Reformation in 1560. The ruins of the 
 abbey are now but inconsiderable, Hailes AnnaU. Stat. Ace. 
 
 1 Sec before, page 1 16. note i. 
 
 1 Coal is found in great abundance almost everywhere in the neighbour- 
 hood
 
 2p6 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 In the town is one long street, which runs from the 
 east to the south-west, where, by a lane, it entereth the 
 king's palace, which is famous for the birth of king Charles 
 I. The monastery is joined to it, a great fabrick ; it was 
 for the Benedictine monks, founded by king David, anno 
 1130. The town has a manufactory of dornick-cloath * : it 
 
 gives 
 
 hood of Dunfermline, and the mines are the most ancient in Scotland. The 
 earliest account of coal used as fuel, is a charter of William de Oberwill, in 
 which lit granted liberty to the abbot and convent of Dunfermline to open 
 a coal-pit wherever they inclined, excepting f>n his arable land, and per- 
 mitted them to take as much as was necessary for their own use, and to 
 open a new mine whenever the old was exhausted ; but not to sell any 
 part of it to others. The charter is dated at Dunfermline, on the Tuesday 
 immediately before the feast of St. Ambrose 1291. But at that early pe- 
 riod it does not appear that coal was wrought to a great extent. It was 
 only used in the abbey, and by persons of distinction in the country. In 
 progress of time it was more generally used as fuel ; and when trade began 
 to flourish, it was exported to foreign parts. Although it was worked by 
 crop levels ever since the above mentioned period, there was little exported 
 till about the middle of this century. Even so late as 1763, the annual 
 valne of exported coal was only L. 200; and in 1771, it did not exceed 
 L. 500 Sterling. The coal mines, since 1771, have been sources of great 
 wealth to many of the proprietors. The annual quantity of coal raised 
 from the various mines of the parish amounts to 90,000 tons. Of these, 
 60,000 tons are exported from Limekilns, Brucehaven, a small harbour 
 farther east, and Inverkeithing. The remaining 30,000 tons are consumed 
 In the town and parish of Dunfermline, and the immediate neighbourhood. 
 The total annual value of coal amounts to L. 22,650 Sterling. Of this 
 turn, there are L. 3000 annually expended on timber, iron, ropes, incidents, 
 &c. &c. and L. 13,000 for labour. Stat. Ace. Vol. XIII. No. 29. 
 
 1 This town has long been distinguished for the manufacture of diaper 
 r table linen : for many years past, no other cloth has been woven in the 
 parish to any considerable extent. In the infancy of the trade, it was the 
 custom to weave diaper only during the summer, the winter being em- 
 ployed in weaving ticks and checks. This practice continued till about 
 the year 1749, when the manufacture of ticks and checks was in a great 
 measure relinquished. Since the above period, the diaper trade has been 
 gradually increasing; in 1788 there were about 900, and in 179* 
 no less than 1200 looms were employed in the trade; of thi number, 
 1 above
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 297 
 
 gives the title of Earl to a branch of the Seatons. The he- 
 ritable keeping of the palace, with the revenues of the mo- 
 nastery, and the superiorities and jurisdiction, belongeth 
 now to the Marquis of Tweeddale. 
 
 In Mr. Sletzer's Theatrum Scotiae, there is a prospect of 
 the town and the abbey, and another of the abbey. 
 
 There were interred here, Malcolm III. with St. Marga- 
 ret his queen, and king Edgar their son ; Alexander I. with 
 Sibilla his queen , David I. with his two wives ; Malcolm 
 IV. ; Alexander HI. and his queen Margaret ; Robert I. and 
 Isobel his queen ; Edmond second son to king Malcolm III. 
 and his brother Ethelrade, Earl of Fife -, Macduff, Earl o 
 Fife ; Constantine, Earl of Fife j William Ramsay Earl o 
 Fife ; Tho. Randel, Earl of Murray, governour of Scotland, 
 anno 1331 '. 
 
 A small 
 
 ubove SQO belonged to the parish. The value of goods annually manu- 
 factured has for some time past been from L. 60,000 to L. 70,000 Sterling, 
 and the trade is on the increase. Astonishing improvements have been 
 made within less than half a century in the art of weaving, and in the 
 manufa&ure of table-linen : by the introduction of machinery, labour has 
 been greatly abridged. Formerly, in weaving diaper, two, and sometimes 
 three persons, were requisite for one web ; now, by means of the fly- 
 shuttle, and what is called a frame for raising the figure, a single weaver 
 can work a web two and a half yards broad without the least assistance. 
 Many of the tradesmen in this place discover considerable genius in drawing; 
 figures for the diaper, and several of them have obtained premiums for their 
 draughts. In the chest of the incorporation, there is preserved a very curious 
 specimen of the weaving art : it is a man's shirt, wrought in the loom about 
 100 years ago, by a weaver of this place, of the name of Inglis. The shirt 
 is without scam, and was finished by the ingenious artisan without the least 
 assistance from the needle ; the only necessary part he could not accom- 
 plish was a button for the neck. While, toward the end of the last war, 
 the linen trade in general declined on account of the want of foreign de- 
 mand, and the high price of the raw material, the business of Dunfcrm- 
 line was scarcely affc&ed. Stat. Ace. VoL XIII. No. 19. 
 
 1 The principal part of the church appears to have been demolished at 
 the time of the Reformation, and to have buried the royal monument* in 
 
 it 
 
 Qq
 
 Cp8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 A small portion of the ancient church yet stands, in 
 which there are these inscriptions. 
 
 Integernmo Amico Gultelmo Shaw. 
 Vive inter superos, rcternumque optime vive, 
 Hrec tibi vita labor, mors fuit alta quies. 
 
 ALEXANDER SETONIUS, D. F. 
 
 The other is : 
 
 'Domino Roberto Pitcarnio, abbatl Fermoloditniy legato regio, 
 
 ejttsque majestati a secretis. 
 Hie situs est heros modica Robertus in urna 
 Pitcarnius, patrix spes, columenque sure. 
 
 Ouem 
 
 its ruins. The area of this part of the church is covered with rubbish to 
 the depth of three or four feet ; it has long been used as burying ground, 
 and on that account cannot now be explored. In digging a grave lately, 
 there was discovered a stone coffin six feet in length, containing human 
 l>ones ; at the same time were found several fragments of a marble monu- 
 ment, which had been finely curved and gilt. Here is shown what is said 
 to have been the tombstone of St. Margaret, and six flat stones, each nine 
 feet in length, where as many kings are said to lie. " Margaret died i6th 
 November 1093, and was buried at Dunferoiline. In the ujoor 1151, her 
 bones were removed, and placed in a more honourable place in the Church 
 of the Triniry of Dunfermline." Hailes's Ann. " Alexander III. caused her 
 bones to be put into a chest of silver, enriched with precious stones, after 
 many prayers and solemn processions, and placed it in the noblest part of 
 the church. Daring the troubles of the Reformation, the coffer wherein 
 her head and hair were inclosed, was carried to the castle of Edinburgh, 
 and from thence transported to the manor-house of the laird of Dury, who 
 who was a reverend father, priest and monk of Dunfermline. After he 
 had kept this religious pledge some years, it was in 1597 delivered into 
 tlie hands of the Jesuits, missionaries in Scotland, who seeing it was in 
 danger to be lost or prophancd, transported it to Antwerp. Her relics arc 
 kept in the Scots College at Doway in a bust of silver." Hay's Scotia Sacra. 
 In the church-yard, a handsome monument has been creeled to the me- 
 mory of the late Earl of Elgin, a nobleman whose memory is dear to those 
 who had the happiness of being known to him. Stat. Ace. Vol. XIIL. 
 No. 29.
 
 SfiCT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 
 
 Quern virtus, gravitas, generoso pe&ore digna 
 
 Ornat, et vera cum pietate fides. 
 Post varies vitte fluftus, jam mole reli&a % 
 
 Corporis, Elisium pergit ad, umbra nemus. 
 
 The next thing remarkable is the iron-mills, erected by 
 chancellor Hay, of which Mr. Thomas Crawfurd, in his 
 epitaph upon him, gives this account : 
 
 Ouid referam moles operum, rupesque stupendis 
 Artibus incisas alveos duxisse cavatos ? 
 Unde rotas <luri minuentes semina ferri, 
 Lignaque multiplici sulcantes ordine serrie, 
 Circumagant amnes, ut barbara tesqua feraces 
 Jam laxare sinus in publica commoda discant. 
 The common people along the coast of Fife, get their 
 bread both by sea and land, and according to the seasons of 
 the year, are either seamen or landmen : they make nets, 
 and in smaller boats, fish all the year over for cod and ling 
 and other white fish ; and have larger boats for taking her- 
 ring and macharel in the time of the drove. Many of them 
 go long voyages, and export and import merchandize ; the 
 coal and salt, and herring fishing, furnish matter of trade. 
 To proceed where we left, 
 
 The castle of Resyth is remarkable, being situated upon 
 a rock that advanceth a little into the firth ; the water at 
 full tide surrounds it, and makes it an island. It was the 
 antient seat of the Stuarts of Resyth or Durisdeer ; de- 
 scended lineally of James Stuart of Durisdeer, brother ger- 
 man to Walter, the great Stuart of Scotland, father to king 
 Robert II. That family failed lately, the last laird of that 
 name dying unmarried, without brother op children, dis- 
 poned the estate to a stranger ; and it is at present the pos- 
 session of Primrose Earl of Roseberry '. To the east of 
 
 Q q 2 Resyth 
 
 1 Now of the Earl of Hopctoun.
 
 300 THE HISTORY OF TIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 Resyth is St. Margarets Bay, separated by a small neck of 
 land from the bay of Innerkeithing : which if cutt would 
 make the hill above the North-ferry l an island, and this hill, 
 which has a promontory stretching south into the firth over 
 against Inch-garvie, if it were fortified, and Inch-garvie, 
 and the south shoar opposite to it, it would secure all the 
 western parts of the firth above that, and give great oppor- 
 tunity for docks, for building and repairing ships, and that 
 with safety ; and for laying up vessels of the greatest force 
 and burden during the winter season. 
 The town of Innerkeithing*, is seated upon a rising 
 
 ground 
 
 1 The original state of this ferry (Queensferry) is involved in much ob- 
 scurity. It is known to have been named from Queen Margaret, who fre- 
 quently used it ; and she is said to have gifted the lands of Muiryhall, on 
 the opposite side of the frith, consisting of about seventeen acres, for main- 
 taining the passage. In 1275, there is in the chartulary of Dunfermline, a 
 grant of " eight oars in the new boat at the ferry." The boat is divided 
 into eight shares, eight pennies of rent werrto be paid for each share. The 
 ferry now employs four boats and four yawls, which belong to several pro- 
 prietors on either side of the frith, and who have an exclusive right to the 
 passage. The tacksmen, beside keeping the boats in repair, pay about 
 ^L. 300 of yearly rent. Hailes's Annals, Vol. I. Stat. Ace. Vol. X. No. 34. 
 and Vol. XVII. No. 33. 
 
 * The set of this burgh is uncommon in some things. The provost, the 
 two bailies, the dean of guild, and treasurer, are annually elected by the 
 counsellors and deacons of the trades. The counsellors are chosen from 
 among the burgess inhabitants, the guildry, and even the members of the 
 incorporated trades, who still retain a vote in their respective incorpora- 
 tions. The five incorporated trades elect their deacons yearly as their re- 
 presentatives. The town-council, including the magistrates, cannot be 
 under twenty ; but it is not limited to any number above it ; so that the 
 whole burgess inhabitants might be made counsellors. What is very sin- 
 gular, the counsellors continue in office during life and residence. The 
 yearly revenue amounts to L. 300 Sterling and upwards ; many of their 
 extensive rights and dues have been sold and disposed of at different times. 
 Before the entrance of the harbour, there is a large and safe bay, which 
 affords excellent shelter for ships in all winds. Here his Majesty's ships 
 
 of
 
 . I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 30! 
 
 ground to the north of the bay. Antiently rt had a fair 
 harbour for ships : and was a considerable burgh royal. 
 King David I. dwell'd sometimes in it. In king William's 
 reign it flourished much. Their first charter is by him, de- 
 claring their liberties to extend from the water of Dovan 
 unto the water of Levin, " inter medietatem aque de Forth, 
 et lapidem magnum juxta molendium de Ellhorth." And 
 
 king 
 
 of war sometimes come from Leith roads, and ride at anchor to avoid th - 
 winter storms ; and merchant ships from the Mediterranean formerly used 
 to perform quarantine here. The harbour itself is a small bay ; at the 
 mouth of which, upon the west side, there lies a large Dutch built vessel 
 as a lazaretto, where, instead of detaining ships from foreign ports, the 
 particular goods, in which any infection may be supposed to lodge, arc 
 immediately received, aired under the inspection of a proper officer, and 
 delivered, within a limited time, to the owners, by the express orders of 
 the custom-house. At the head of the bay is the quay, the proper place 
 for landing and receiving goods. The depth of water at spring tides is 13 
 and sometimes ij feet. It was deepened within these few years; and a 
 narrow channel cut farther down to admit ships up to it. This is kept 
 pretty clear by a rivulet that runs through it at low tide. Another quay 
 is now built with great improvements, to accommodate the shipping. 
 There are here sometimes between forty and fifty vessels from different 
 places waiting for coals, especially in the winter season. Several ships be- 
 long to this place ; but none of any considerable burden. Some of them 
 sail to foreign ports, and the rest are chiefly employed in the coal and 
 coasting trade. The coal shipped here is by far the greatest article of 
 trade. The colliery is at Halbeath, in the parish of Dunfermline : it once 
 belonged to a Dutch company ; but, being attended with no advantage, 
 they disposed of it. It is now worked by a company of our own country- 
 men, who carry it on with spirit, and have brought it to a flourishing state. 
 There is a proper waggon road laid with timber, for the distance of five 
 miles, and kept in good repair at a great expence. Twenty-four waggons 
 are employed ; they are drawn, some by one and others by two horses, 
 and bring down two tons each time. The coals are good, burn well, and 
 have great heat and force. Twenty-five thousand tons and upwards are 
 shipped annually ; the demand is greater than can be answered ; and ships 
 frequently wait five and sii weeks. There arc a few salt-pans that make 
 annually from twelve to fifteen thousand bushels. Star. Ace, Vol. X. 
 No. 34.
 
 >02 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [TART IV, 
 
 king James VI. by his charter of confirmation, declares 
 them to be sheriffs within themselves. Sir James Balfour 
 says, " That of old it was of a large extent, and very po- 
 pulous, and payed a great tax." The lands about it be- 
 long'd to the Moubrays, till they were forfaulted by king 
 Robert I. Then they were given to Scrimzeor constable 
 of Dundee, to whose posterity it belonged, till by failzieing 
 of heirs, it returned to the crown in king Charles II.'s reign, 
 as ultimus hjeres. The Black and Gray Friers had both of 
 them convents in this town of Innerkeithing. At the 
 North-ferry there was a chapel served by the monks of 
 Dunfermling, for which king Robert I. gave them a mor- 
 tification. 
 
 The next place of note as we go eastward, is the pleasant 
 house of Dinnibirsel, the seat of the Earl of Murray ', and 
 well adorned with gardens, terraces, statues and large in- 
 closures. James Stuart prior of St. Andrews, was created 
 Earl of Murray, loth of February 1562. 
 
 And hard by it is , Dalgatie, the dwelling of the Lord 
 Tester * : it was repaired and beautifyed with gardens by 
 chancellor Seaton Earl of Dunfermling, who lyes interred 
 in the church there. He was created Earl the third of 
 March 1605. There is upon the coast here much lyme- 
 stone, with clames petrified and incorporated ; and a very 
 good quarrie of free-stone. 
 
 Eastward of this upon the coast is the town of Aberdour 3 , 
 
 erected 
 
 1 Dunnibirsel was originally the scat of the abbots of Inchcolm. The 
 present Earl of Moray has made many improvements on this fine place. 
 
 * Now the property of the Earl of Moray, 
 
 3 Aberdour abounds with coal, lime, and ironstone, of which only the 
 limestone is wrought. The limestone on the coast is shipped at a commo- 
 tlious harbour at Starly-burn, which the Earl of Morton has lately built 
 for the purpose. It is a stone of a strong and superior quality. It is used 
 at Carron for smelting- It is also disposed of in shells, or Blacked. The
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 303 
 
 erected into a burgh of regality by the Earl of Morton, lord 
 high treasurer, whose successor has a pleasant seat here, 
 nnd fertile lands around it. The town gives the title of 
 Lord Aberdour to the eldest son of these Earls. There is 
 a confirmation by king David II. of a charter granted by 
 William Dowglas Lord of Niddisdale, to James Dowglas his 
 son, of the lands of Aberdour, within the shire of Fife, 
 apud Dunevege, anno rcgni 3 7. It appears by the produc- 
 tions at the ranking of the nobility, that they were created 
 Earls of Morton before the 24th of O&ober 1458. Aber- 
 dour belonged very antiently to the Wiponts, and by a mar- 
 riage 1126 it came to the Mortimers -, in king Alexander 
 Ill's, time, Allanus de Mortuomari gave the wester-part of 
 Aberdour to the monks of Inch-Colm, for a buriall place 
 within their church. To the west of the castle, there is a 
 little harbour. In the lands of Whitehill above the town, 
 good oker is found. Hard by the town is the house of 
 Hill 1 , belonging to the laird of Dunairn, a cadet of the Earl 
 
 of 
 
 shore is generally covered with wood to the water's edge. The trees 
 hive been planted with a proper regard to the variety of shade, the 
 jutting rocks which appear in different places, render the whole ex- 
 tremely picturesque and beautiful. This wood is intersected with walks 
 cut out on the face of the hill, from which the prospects are rich and varied. 
 On the west, there is a beautiful white sandy bay, surrounded with trees. 
 Here the grounds rise gently to the west, bordered by thriving plantations; 
 and stretching southward, they terminate in a perpendicular rock washed 
 by the sea. By this rock on the east, and by headlands on the south-west, 
 the small harbour of Aberdour is well sheltered from all winds. The ship- 
 ping at present consists of a few small vessels. There is one ferry-boat to 
 Leith, which is principally employed in carrying grain. The shipping 
 here, as in mo/t towns on the coast of Fife, was formerly much more con- 
 siderable than at present. The venerable old castle of Aberdour, rising 
 amidst trees, stands on the eastern bank of a rivulet, which, taking a 
 winding course below it, falls into the frith in front. The situation is beau- 
 tiful, and the prospects from it magnificent. Stat. Ace. Vol. IV. No. 45. 
 1 Now the property of Dr. Charles Stuart.
 
 304 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 of Murray's : and Cuthill-hill the house of a gentleman of 
 the name of Weems *, who has a coal in his ground. 
 
 Next to this, upon a rising ground above the coast, is 
 Newbigging, the house of Mr. George Robertson z ; who 
 lias much lyme-stone in his lands, and some caves remark- 
 able for the curious petrifactions in them, of which some 
 account has been given already. 
 
 Near to this are the lands of Orrok of that Ilk 3 ; Novem- 
 ber 1690 there came in here a whale, 46 foot long, of the 
 balene-kind : in this remarkable, that it had no spout in the 
 forehead, but nosethrils like those of a horse. 
 
 We come now to Burntisland, called of old Wester 
 Kinghorn, being a part of that barony, anno 1382, and was 
 a mean place, of a few houses. It is now a well built town, 
 and king James VI. gave it the privilege of a burgh-royal 4 . 
 It hath a large and safe harbour 5 , for ships of die biggest 
 size ; there may be docks made here, and at the east end of 
 
 the 
 
 1 William Wemyss, Esq. 
 
 2 Now of Miss Robertson. 
 
 3 Now the property of the Earl of Morton. 
 
 * The government of it is vested in twenty-one persons, of whom four- 
 teen are termed guild-counsellors, consisting of merchants, tradesmen, skip- 
 pers, seamen, and land labourers ; of whom three are chosen yearly at 
 Michaelmas, by the old and new council, to be bailies ; the other seven arc 
 trades-counsellors.'beingone of each trade. There is also a provost chosen 
 yearly at Michaelmas. If he is a nobleman, he is a supernumerary ; but if 
 a burgher, he is included in the above number, Stat. Ace. Vol. II. No. 38. 
 
 S The harbour certainly is one of the best in Scotland. By way of ex- 
 cellence it is called, in some of the town's charters, " Portus Gratis," and 
 " Portus Salutis." It is here that ships generally take shelter, when driven 
 up by storms, and hard gales of easterly wind. It is easily entered, and af- 
 fords the greatest safety, let the wind blow from any quarter. It is very 
 capacious, and of great depth of water. Much improvement might still be 
 made upon it. Were the quays extended, (which could easily be done at 
 no great expence) small ships could come in, and go out, at any time of 
 tide. Stat. Ace. Vol. II. No. 38.
 
 SCT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 33- 
 
 the town 1 . Because of its situation, and accommodations 
 
 for 
 
 1 In the opinion of professional men, docks might be established here, 
 capable of receiving the largest ships of war. This is surdy an object well 
 deserving the attention of government. It might be done at a small ex- 
 pence. And, in the event of our being again at war with our northern neigh- - 
 hours, there would be a vast saving and conveniency ; as the ships that 
 happened to want cleaning and repair, would not need to return to Eng- 
 land for that purpose ; which they must always do at present. Even for 
 the ships that are stationed in the frith, and such as may occasionally come 
 into it, an establishment of this kind would be a great saving of time and 
 money. Here too, houses and yards for the king's stores might be had, 
 much more conveniently, and at far less expence, than at I.cith. They 
 could be had at the very entrance of the harbour, or along the quays. And 
 as the houses would be cheap, and the access easy, an annual saving of some 
 hundreds of pounds might reasonably be expe-fled. There is another thing, 
 respecting this harbour, which deserves to be pointed out to government, 
 and may at least merit their consideration. It is this ; that it might be made 
 one of the safest and most convenient watering-places possible for his Ma- 
 jesty's ships in the frith. At no great expence, a run of the finest water might 
 be introduced by a pipe, and carried to any of the quays thought most 
 proper, where the king's boats might receive it, without the least trouble 
 or danger. This may be thought the more worthy of notice, as, it is well 
 known, that the present mode of watering the king's ships, either by going 
 to I.eith, or Starly-burn, a place on the north shore, about a mile to the 
 westward of Burntisland, is often attended with danger, and sometimes 
 with loss. It is surprising, that the advantages of this harbour should have 
 o long been overlooked by the public ; and no less so, that, in the present 
 enterprising mercantile age, they have not been laid hold of and improven, 
 It is doubtless equal, if not preferable, to any in Scotland, for dry docks. 
 Its vicinity to Edinburgh, the capital of the kingdom, and its ready access 
 by sea, to every quarter of the globe, certainly render it eligible for every 
 tort of mercantile pursuit. Before the union, the trade of this place seems 
 to have been very considerable. A number of ships belonged to it. Large 
 quantities of malt, as in the other towns on the coast, were made here, and 
 exported to England, and the north, which yielded great profits. Many of 
 the shipmasters and inhabitants appear to have been wealthy. But since 
 that period, little business of any kind has been done, till within these few 
 years, when trade ha again begun to revive a little. Some branches of 
 manufactures have been established, such as a sugar-house, belonging to a 
 -w company, ia a very thriving condition, and a work for sulphuric 
 
 acid, 
 
 Rr
 
 306 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART H*. 
 
 for landing, and for die entertainment of passengers, it is 
 
 one 
 
 acid, or oil of vitriol. Ship-building is carried on by a few hands, and 
 might be increased to any extent. Stat. Ace. Vol. II. No. 38. -Burntisland 
 has received considerable additions and improvements since 1793, when the 
 new herring fishing began in the Frith of Forth. It is not very creditable 
 to the attention and vigilance of the fishermen of Fife, that this vast fund 
 of national wealth was not resorted to earlier. When the herrings left the 
 shores near the mouth of the frith, it was supposed they had taken their 
 departure altogether from our coasts, and no attempts were made to dis* 
 cover them in the shallow waters of the upper parts of the frith. The 
 discovery of them is said to have been made accidentally by a poor man, 
 named Thomas Brown, who lived near Dunraibirsel. For many year, he 
 had been wont to fish, with hook and line, for haddocks or podlics along 
 the shore. During the winter seasons, he took many herrings in this way, 
 and is reported to have observed ich numbers, close to the beach, as to> 
 take them up in pails or buckets. With base avarice, he concealed the 
 favours of providence ; but his new fishery became gradually known to his 
 neighbours, who profited by his example, and soon began to sell in the 
 neigbouring country the supplies gleaned from the shores. When it was 
 reported, that a shoal of herrings were found so far up the frith, the fish- 
 ermen gave no credit to the tale, because such, a circumstance had not been 
 known before. At last, in 1793, some fishermen of Queensferry set their 
 herring nets, and their astonishing success roused the torpid spirit of theit 
 brethren, who, from the gradual failure of all kinds of fishing along the 
 coast, had become timid and spiritless. An instance of their want of energy 
 anu faith on this subject, was mentioned to the editor by an intelligent 
 seaman. About twenty years before the fishing commenced, the mainsail 
 of his vessel had accidentally fallen overboard in the bay of Inverkeithing j 
 when it was hauled on board, it was found to contain a great number of 
 herrings in its folds. He reported this circumstance to many fishermen, 
 but could not prevail on one of them to mak a trial for herrings, so 
 strong was their prejudice against their being found at a distance from their 
 wonted haunts. The success of the Queensferry boats excited general at- 
 tention, and for ten years, this fishery has been followed with perseverance 
 and good fortune, not only by the fishermen of Fife, but of a great part of 
 the east coast of Scotland, and of the Frith of Clyde, and of Ireland, who 
 come through the canal in the end of autumn, and remain tilt the close of 
 the fishing season. Last year the fishing rather declined ; and this year it 
 has been more unsuccessful ; but the high prices in some measure compen- 
 sated the diminution of number. At first the herrings sold about half-a- 
 
 crow'h
 
 SECT. I.} DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 
 
 one of the three towns for passage over the firth, and xrell 
 
 frequented '. This town is naturally fortified, and may be 
 
 made much stronger by bringing the sea round it*. The 
 
 R r 2 new 
 
 crown or three shillings pr crane, which is the fill of a barrel placed on 
 the beach, or on a deck, with its two ends taken out. They rose after- 
 wards to ten shillings, about which price they continued some years. In 
 1800 and 1801, they were as high as twenty-five shillings, and have been 
 this year about twenty shillings. There appears to be no difference, as some 
 people supposed, betwixt these herrings and those formerly caught in the 
 lower part of the frith. There is indeed amoog them a considerable mix- 
 ture of pilchards, the number of which has rather increased in proportion 
 to the herrings. The curers of white herrings salt them, mixed with the 
 herrings, as they are taken. But when red herrings are to be made, the 
 pilchards mast be separated, as their scales arc too thick to be properly 
 penetrated by the heat and smoke. When the herrings first arrive, they 
 arc somewhat emaciated ; and for about a month, they continue improving 
 in size, not merely by the increase of the roe, but by the addition of fat 
 and fleshy substance. In a month or six weeks more, they begin to spawn. 
 The fishing last* from October to February, or to the middle of March. 
 In coining up the frith, they keep in deep water ; and in returning to the 
 ocean, they follow the same plan, except that they approach pretty near 
 the shore about Pittenweem and Anstruther, where a good many arc- 
 caught. It is probable, that the winter fishing, which was carried on with 
 indifferent success for many years previous to 1793, on this part of thr 
 coast, was afforded by the shoal returning from the higher parts of the 
 frith ; at least, the time of this fishing corresponds with the return of this 
 shoal in February and March, and the quality of the fish was similar, being 
 lean and dry, as usual with fish after spawning. The situation of Burnt- 
 island, near the fishing ground, and its safe and capacious harbour, renders 
 it the general rendezvous for the boats and busses employed in this fishery. 
 The resort of fishermen and curers, has greatly increased the wealth, and 
 the appearance of the place, which before wore many marks of decay 
 and wretchedness. 
 
 1 There are at present three large stout boats, and a small one that goes 
 at half tide. They cross every day when passengers appear. And when 
 cnce the quays arc extended, as now resolved on, there will be passage at 
 all times, wind and weather serving. 
 
 * It appears, at some former period to h*ve been fortified. On the louth- 
 wt tide of the harbour, part of the walls f a fort is still standing entire.
 
 308 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART iv. 
 
 new church is a fine square structure, with a pavilion roof, 
 after the modern fashion. The ruins of the old church are 
 seen at the Kirktoun, to the north of Bruntisland , it was 
 this place that was properly called Wester Kinghorn, in the 
 old charters : here is still the burial place of the lairds of 
 Orrock and the other gentry. Sir James Balfour in his 
 notes upon this towfy gives us these verses of a country 
 poet. 
 
 Brave ancient Isle, thy praise if I should sing, 
 The habitation of a PidHsh king 
 Drustus, who made against the Romans strokes^ 
 Forth's snakie arms thee to inclose with rocks. 
 They often press'd to vanquish thee with jfor, 
 As Macedon did the sea embordered Tyre : 
 But thou did'st scorn Rome's captive for to be, 
 And kept thyself from Roman legions free f . 
 
 Tacitus, cap. 22. vitse Agricolse, tells us, That Agricola, 
 in the summer which began his sixth expedition in this part 
 of Britain, " Portus classe exploravit trans Bodotriam:'* 
 
 "He 
 
 And on the top of a small hill, immediately to the north of the town, there 
 are to be seen the remains of a trench. It is also said, that when Cromwtll 
 bad an army in this country, it held out against him, till he was obliged to 
 enter into a compromise with the inhabitants, on certain conditions: part 
 of which was, that he should repair the streets and the harbour. In con- 
 sequence of this, the quays, as they presently stand, were built by him. 
 
 1 If this origin of the name could be received, it were a strong pre- 
 sumption, that a dialect of the Gothic, not materially differing from our 
 present language, or from that of the northern nations of Europe, was 
 very early used in Fife. The same compound name occurs in Denmark, 
 Uruntlandt ; but this etymology is the mere fancy of the rustic poet, un- 
 supported by record or tradition. It is certain, that the ancient name of the 
 place was Wester Kinghorn ; and the tradition of the origin of the present 
 name is, that it arose from the burning of a few fishermen* huts, upon a 
 tmall island on the west side of the harbour, which induced them to take 
 y> their residence where the town now stands.
 
 -SECT. I.} DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 309 
 
 " He sounded the havens upon the north coast of Forth," and 
 there was none so commodious for great vessels to enter in 
 as this. And it is like, this poet took occasion to make 
 these verses, from the opposition that the Caledonians made 
 to the Romans, which Tacitus shows ; " Ad manus et 
 arma conversi Caledoniam incolentes populi :" they made 
 such resistance that some of the Romans were for quitting 
 the attempt j " Regrediendumque citra Bodotriam, et exce- 
 dendum potius, quam pellerentur, specie prudentium, ignavi 
 admonebant V 
 
 It has a castle upon an eminence, and commanding tin- 
 town and harbour, built by Durie of that Ilk, whose name 
 and arms are upon it. In the cartulary of Dunfermling, 
 (to which abbacy this town, castle and harbour belonged) 
 there is a grant by George Durie commendator of Dunferm- 
 ling, and archdeacon of St. Andrews, to Robert Durie of 
 that Ilk, of our lands of Nether-Grange of Kinghorn Wes- 
 ter, called Le Mains , together with the keeping of the 
 place or fort of the same ; " and for the preserving and cus- 
 tody thereof, we dispone heritably our lands of Grefland, 
 and Cuningerland, now called Brunt-Island, within our 
 shire of Kinghorn, regality of Dunfermling, and sherifT- 
 dom of Fife;" dated anno 1538. After the reformation, 
 it was given first to Grange Kirkaldie, then to Sir Robert 
 Melvill of Carnie. This town gave the title of Lord, to 
 Sir James Weems, who married the Countess heiress of the 
 Earldome of Weems, and was father to the present Earl. 
 The castle and milns belong now to Mr. Colin M'Kenzie, 
 
 son to Redcastle in Ross *. 
 
 Above 
 
 1 See before, page 59. note 3. 
 
 a There are two mills close to the town, employed in making flour, 
 meal, and barky. One of them is creeled upon the sea, which comes int 
 a bay, on the north side of the estate of Rosscnd. At an average it works 
 the year round, about fourteen hours each day. On the same water, other 
 profitable works might be ercded. The castle and mills belong now t 
 Rcbert Bcatson, Eaj.
 
 31 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT, 
 
 Above this coast the country riseth high to the Binn ', 
 near to which northward is Orrock, the seat of Orrock of 
 that Ilk. In the cartulary of Dunfermling there is a char- 
 ter by Richard abbot of Dunfermling, to David de Orrock 
 eldest son and heir to William de Orrock of that Ilk ; this 
 grants and confirms to him, " Omnes et singulas terras 
 duirum partium terrarum de Orrock, et Silliebabe, et Dun- 
 hern, cum suis pertinentus." Dated 3d Junii 1458. On 
 the south-side of the hill is Gedds'-miln, and lands adjacent, 
 the inheritance of Ged of Badridge* ; and Nether-Grange, 
 which hath a neat house and inclosures, belonging to a 
 gentleman of the name of Durie 3 . Above it is a cascade or 
 fall of water. All the hills here abound with lime-stone; 
 some of which yield curious yolks, of a spheriod figure. 
 The lands of Orrock afford British diamonds of several co- 
 lours, naturally cut into angles, some of four, some six, 
 which are equal in fineness to the Bristol stones. Near to 
 the house of Orrock there is a vitriolic spring ; and the hill 
 of Orrock abounds with capillary herbs. 
 
 To 
 
 T Now the property of the Eari of Morton. This hill is very steep, and 
 elevated between 500 and 600 feet above the level of the sea. It yields 
 most excellent pasture in any season ; is well watered and sheltered, and 
 withal, very extensive. It would make one of the finest inclosures in Scot- 
 land, particularly for sheep. From its appearance, one would almost be 
 induced to believe, it had undergone some violent commotion, and that the 
 rocks on each end were incrusted with something like volcanic matter. It 
 is rlso proper to mention, that some years before the revolution in France, 
 tin ingenious foreign gentleman, in his researches about this country, dis- 
 covered here a sort of mould, (which appears to be rocks reduced by time 
 to earth) ; of which he afterwards sent to France two ship loads. He was 
 very tenacious of making any discoveries respecting its quality. It is now 
 known, however, that the court of France prohibited the importation of 
 it. It is thought this stuff was used cither in the porcelain manufactory, 
 or for making crucibles. The ships were loaded from the earth, on the 
 top of u small hill, immediately to the north of the town. 
 
 a Now the property of William Wemyss, Esq. of CnttlehilJ. 
 
 3 Now to William Wemyss, and Roger Ayton, Esqrs.
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 3!* 
 
 To the eastward of Bruntisland the sea has inundat much 
 land, and die south face of the hills are over-spread with 
 sand '. Midway betwixt Bruntisland and Kinghorn (or a 
 mile from each) is the rock, fatal to king Alexander III. by 
 his horse running over it, whose death occasioned much 
 trouble and blood in Scotland*. A little to the east- 
 ward of this rock is Kinghorn-Spaw, where the water 
 comes out of the rock, five or six foot above the ground : 
 it is commended for the cure of sore eyes. Doctor 
 William Barclay and Doctor Anderson 3 have written 
 
 of 
 
 1 The shore, from a quarter of a mile eastward, is all sandy, till it joins 
 the Pettycur harbour, near Kinghorn. Opposite this sandy beach, the sea. 
 has made great encroachments within these hundred years, and still con- 
 tinues to gain ground. Near the town, however, the rocks are a perfect 
 defence. From these rocks, there is as much sea weed cut, every two 
 years, as produces about twelve or fifteen tons of kelp. The rocks and 
 shores are very beneficial to the inhabitants of this place, particularly the 
 poor, from the large quantities of shell-fish that may be gathered, of one 
 kind or another, at all seasons ; especially cockles, which abound in the 
 extensive sands between Burntisland and Kinghorn. A boy or girl may- 
 gather to the ralue, perhaps, of 3d. or 4 d. in a few hours. Excellent 
 oysters are also to be had near the town. The bed belongs partly to the 
 burgh, and partly to the Earl of Morton. Stat. Ace. VoL II. No. 38. 
 
 3 Riding in the dusk of the evening between Burntislaad and Kinghorn, 
 he was thrown from his horse over a precipice, and killed on the spot, 
 1 6th March 1285-6. He died in the 4,5 th year of his age, and 37th of 
 liis reign. Knyghton items to ascribe his death to a divine judgment, be- 
 cause he was going to visit his wife in the season of Lent. With a better 
 spirit Fordun speak*, " Let no one question the salvation of this king, be- 
 cause of his violent death ; be -wlo t/^t HvcJ '.veil, eamut die ill." Ilailes'a 
 Annub, VoL I. 
 
 3 It was in the year 1618, that the celebrated Dr. Anderson, physician 
 to Charles I. inventor of the pills that still go by his name, wiote a treatise 
 upon the nature and properties of this water, with dire&ions for using it. 
 It is impregnated, he says, with chrystal, gypsum, and nitre ; is a powerful 
 diuretic, give* vigour and strength to debilitated constitutions, relieves such 
 as are troubled with a-ditficulty of breathing, and allaycth all inflammations 
 internal and external ; thai it ought to be taken in ths morning fasting, 
 
 and
 
 312 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. . [PART IV. 
 
 of it. Hard by it is Prettycur, a harbour for the passage 
 boats 1 . 
 
 A quarter 
 
 and at the rock from which it issues. But, for farther particulars, both 
 xvith respect to the nature and properties of this water, and the way oi" 
 using it, the reader is referred to the foresaid Treatise. Dr. Anderson 
 concludes his account of it, with informing us, that in his time, " this fair 
 spring" was much frequented ; and that he himself had many opportu- 
 nities of observing its salutary effects, from, his attending patients that 
 were drinking the water, 
 
 1 This harbour was greatly improved and enlarged about 40 years ago. 
 It was lately very much choked up, and in danger of being lost, from the 
 great quantity of sand continually drifting from the west, at low water, 
 with the westerly winds, and accumulating within it ; and an attempt has 
 Been made, by means of two large basons, to clear away the sand, but 
 without much success. About the same time, a lighthouse was erected 
 upon the end of the quay, for the benefit of the passage-boats. It is the 
 opinion ^of many, that had the money which has been expended upon the 
 Pettycur, and its basons, been laid out upon the extending of the quay, 
 and upon improving the old harbour otherwise, not only all the pur- 
 poses of the ferry might have been equally well answered, but a safe and 
 capacious bason might have been formed, for the admission of ships of 
 considerable burden. As they are at present, neither the one nor the other 
 will admit vessels of above 150 tons. Should ever Kinghorn become a great 
 manufacturing and commercial town, this plan might still be put in exe- 
 cution. Hitherto, it cannot be said to have ever been either. Formerly, 
 indeed, there were a few brigs, and several sloops belonging to this town ; 
 but these were generally either freighted by merchants residing in other 
 places, or engaged in smuggling. At present there are only two small 
 sloops employed in the coasting trade, that sail from this port, with nine 
 passage-boats, of about 50 or 60 tons each, and a few pinnaces that ply the 
 ferry. The writer of the Statistical Account, who had every access to 
 fcnow their characters, pays a well-merited compliment to the ferrymen. 
 " If to the rough and insolent, they sometimes behave with rudeness, the 
 fault, surely, is not entirely theirs. To their skiH and activity, and even 
 general sobriety, it may, in some measure, be attributed, that there is not 
 n instance of so much as one of these boats having been lost, within the 
 memory of man, or even upon record." About half way between King- 
 horn and the Pettycur, close by the sea, there is a specimen of the basaltcs, 
 which well deserves the attention of the curious, who may not have had 
 an opportunity of surveying those more stupendous .works of nature of the
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 313 
 
 A quarter of a mile to the east of this, is the town of 
 Kinghorn, consisting of two streets, one runs from east 
 to west, on a level ground ; the other is from north to 
 south, on a very shelving ground, and to the sea ; at the 
 south foot of it is the church, and an harbour lately built. 
 In the middle of it, is St. Leonard's tower, now made a 
 prison. Here is the ruins of a castle ', which was one of the 
 ordinary seats of our kings, till king Robert II. disponed it, 
 cum dominio de Kinghorn, to John Lyon knight, Lord 
 Glammis, " in liberum maritagium cum Janeta Stuart filia 
 ex Ade Mure regina, prognata :" his representative Joha 
 Lord Glammis was honoured by king James VI. with the 
 title of Earl of Kinghorn, loth July 1606. which sometime 
 ago they have changed for that of Earl of Strathmore. 
 King David I. endued this town with the privileges of a 
 burgh royal, and king Alexander III. confirmed them. 
 They make much course sail-cloth, and threed stockings *, 
 anno regis Duncani imo, Canutus king of Norway sent a fleet 
 with 9000 men, commanded by his brother, who landing 
 at this place over-run and ravaged the adjacent country. 
 But M<Beth Thane of Falkland, and Bancho Thane of 
 Lochaber, defeated them. Bancho allowed the corps of 
 their chief men to be buried at Inch-Colm, so saith Boethius, 
 
 lib. 
 
 tome kind, the Giants Causeway, in the county of Antrim in Ireland, or 
 the rock Percncire, near St. Sandoux in Auvcrgnc, in France, or the cele- 
 brated island of Staff.i. The basaltic columns are of different diameters, 
 with four, five, six, or seven faces. They are, in general, about twelve or 
 fourteen feet in height, with a few joints or cracks in each, all parallel to 
 one another, and inclining towards the sea, to the east. 
 
 1 No vestige of the castle now remains. The castle and lands of King- 
 hora were frequently pledged as security for the jointure of the Scottish 
 yuv-cns. 
 
 a The town of Kinghorn has but little trade or manufactures, except 
 some machines driven by water and steam, for spinning flax and cotton, 
 which employ a number of hands. 
 
 SS
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART If. 
 
 lib. 12. It seems some of the Scots commanders were 
 killed also, for at the house of Boisvill-Glasmond in the hills 
 near this town, there are two obelisks of rough stones 
 standing erected ; which used to be done in battles for a 
 memorial of eminent men killed '. 
 
 A little to the east of Kinghorn, upon the coast, is 
 Vicars-Grange, where some marble is found ; and eastward 
 of that is the ruinous tower of Seafield, the ancient seat of 
 the Moutray's, washed with the sea, represented by the 
 laird of Rescobie : it is now the Earl of MelviFs. To the 
 north of both is Grange Kirkcaldie, of old, the house of the 
 antient family of tire name of Kirkcaldie, some of whom 
 were famous for their courage and prudence. It is now, 
 by the marriage of the heiress of the nanfe of Skeen, the 
 possession of Cnrnegie of Boysack *. 
 
 A mile east from this and four miles from Brunt-island, 
 upon the sea, is the town of Kirkcaldie, a burgh royal 3 , 
 which with the Linktoun of Abbots-hall, and the suburbs 
 of the Panns, is about a mile in length. It hath its name 
 from some cells of the Culdees here in ancient times. The 
 town belonged to the abbacy of Dunfermling. It hath se- 
 veral 
 
 1 See before, pages 80, 8r. 
 
 * The Granges and Seafield belong to William Fergusson, Esq. of Raithj 
 3 In 1334, David II. granted the town of Kirkcaldy to the abbey of 
 Duufermline, in whose possession it continued till 1450, when the commen- 
 dator and convent disponed it to the bailies and community. It was soon 
 after erected into a royal burgh. The government of the burgh is vested 
 in a council annually chosen from three classes of inhabitants, mariners, 
 merchants, and craftsmen. The council consists of twenty-one members; 
 of whom ten must be mariners, eight merchants, and three craftsmen. The 
 old council cled their successors ; to whom, however, they do not wholly 
 resign their places, till they have voted along with them, and with the 
 deacons of the incorporated trades, in the election of the new magistrate;,. 
 These are taken from the new council, and consist of a provost, two bailies, 
 a dean of guild, and a treasurer. The incorporated trades are seven in 
 number. Stat. Ace. Vol. XVIII. No. i.
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 315 
 
 veral ships ' and a good trade *. There are salt pans here, 
 which belong to Bogie. Some years ago they built an har- 
 bour to the east of the town 3 . 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Kircaldie is much coal, and a 
 fertile soil, and many seats of the gentry j the most re- 
 markable are Abbotshall, a large and fine new house with 
 gardens and inclosures, antiently the possession of the Scotts 
 of Balweery ; now of Mr. Andrew Ramsay, a grandson of 
 the laird of Whitstoun in the Mearns, and nevoy of Sir 
 Andrew Ramsay of Abottshall, provest of Edinburgh, and 
 a lord of the Session *. 
 
 Raith, the ancient seat of the chief of the Melvills, who 
 had and yet have sundry lands in this shire : the Lord 
 Raith, treasurer depute, built a very good new house here, 
 with all its attendants of gardens and others ; and it hath 
 some old barren planting 4 . 
 
 S s 2 The 
 
 1 The following statement of the whole shipping of the port of Kirk- 
 raldy, including the coast from Aberdour to JLeven, at different periods, 
 it given from the custom-house books. 
 
 'I 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 \ 176 
 
 1 
 
 0. 
 
 In 1772. 
 
 in 1782. 
 
 5, 
 
 -: 
 j- 
 
 (n 1792. 
 
 In 1800. 
 
 In 1802. 
 
 1 
 
 .S 
 . 
 *t 
 
 j 
 
 i? 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 -^ 
 SB 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 c 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 >: 
 
 & 
 
 i 
 
 681 
 
 .': 
 
 4II/ 
 
 3> 
 
 - 
 
 4*5..' 
 
 403 
 
 -K 
 
 33c 
 
 247 
 
 10302 
 
 652 
 
 89(10485, 
 
 649 
 
 9 
 
 IIIJC 
 
 - Kirkcaldy is more a place of manufactures than of trade. The prin- 
 cipal manufactures are linen, ticks, and checks, leather, cotton yarn, 
 salt, and shipbuilding. Several vessels, however, are employed by the mer- 
 chants of the place in foreign trade, particularly with the Baltic and North 
 America. Interesting and ample details of its trade and manufactures, 
 will be found in Stat. Ace. Vol. XVIII. No. i. 
 
 3 To the harbour, which is unavoidably exposed to a heavy sea from the 
 east, and was very narrow and inconvenient, a considerable addition has 
 lately been made. 
 
 *, * Now the property of William Fergusson, Esq. who ha* built an elegant 
 xiedcrn house in a beautiful situation at Raith.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 The house and estate of Sir John Weems of Bogie, the 
 nearest cadet of the house of Weems, is near to this east- 
 ward ; who hath much coal; and salt-pans at Kirkcaldie 1 . 
 And to the west is Wester-Bogie, the house of Mr. John 
 Skeen, a cadet of Hallyairds *. To the south-east of Bogie 
 is Bennachie, the dwelling and lands of Mr. White of Ben- 
 nachie, advocate 3 : and to the north-west is Touch-Barclay 4 . 
 
 The water of Tiel, which emptieth itself into the firth at 
 west-bridge of Kirkcaldy, runneth through a pleasant strath, 
 fertile in grass and corn. In it are Hallyairds, the resi- 
 dence of a gentleman of the name of Skeen 5 : a great build- 
 ing, surrounded with gardens, large enclosures and plant- 
 ing : having large meadows to the west, and a loch fertile 
 of fish to the east. The village of Auchtertule, and almost 
 the whole parish of Auchtertule, belong to the laird of 
 Hallyairds 5 . The church of Auchtertule, belonged to the 
 bishop of Dunkekl. South-east of this is Balmuto, the seat 
 of a gentleman, chief of the antient name of the Boisvills ; 
 a good old house. It belonged anciently to the Glens of 
 Inchemartin, and came by marriage of an heiress of the 
 Boisvills 6 . A little northward to this is Balbarton, a plea- 
 sant dwelling of Mr. Walter BoisviUV. Eastward is the 
 ruinous tower of Balweerie, which belonged for at least 500 
 years to gentlemen of die name of Scott 7 , who had Scotts- 
 Craig and many other lands in this shire. Michael Scott 
 of Balweerie was twice ambassador to Norway, first after 
 king Alexander's death, then by king Robert I. anno reg. 5. 
 
 to 
 
 1 Now the property of James T. Oswald, Esq. of Dunnikier, 
 a Now the property of James Thomson, Esq. 
 
 3 The property of John White-Melville, Esq. 
 
 4 Now the property of Roger Ayton, Esq. of Inchdairnie. 
 5, s Now the property of the Earl of Moray. 
 
 6 The seat of the Honourable Claud Irvine-Boswell, Lord Balmuto. 
 l t 1 Now the property of William Fergusson, Esq. of Raith.
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 317 
 
 to demand the Orcades ; it is now' part of the earldom 
 of Melvill 1 . To the south of it is Innertiel, one of the seats 
 of Sir John Malcolm of Lochor ~; and Pittedie belonging to 
 a gentleman of the name of Calderwood *. And in the 
 
 same 
 
 1 The most eminent of this very ancient and respeflable family was this 
 Sir Michael Scot, who, in the I3th century, contributed, by his attain- 
 ments in science, to break the gloom of that benighted age. After pur- 
 auing with unusual success the study of languages, belles lettres, and the ma- 
 thematics, at home, Sir Michael travelled into France, where he resided 
 several years. From France he removed into Germany, and lived for a. 
 while at the court of the Emperor Frederick II. a prince the most eminent 
 of his time, both for his own learning, and for the encouragement which 
 he gave to learned men. But that prince being then engaged in war, Sir 
 Michael Scot withdrew from the court, to prosecute with more advantage 
 in retirement, his favourite studies of medicine and chemistry. After some 
 years he returned through England (where he was well received by Ed- 
 ward I.) into his own country,. and there died in 1291. The extraordinary 
 discoveries of this man, particularly in chemistry, made him pass in that 
 ignorant and superstitious age, for a magician ; and a thousand popular 
 stories ate in different parts of Scotland told to this day, of his commerce 
 with evil spirits, and of the wonders which he atchieved through their 
 agency. He is also said to have been a prophet, and among other events 
 to have foretold the union of Scotland and England. He left behind Kim, 
 I. A translation of Aviccna's book on animals from the Arabic into Latin, 
 a. A Commentary on the works of Aristotle. 3. A Treatise on the Secrets 
 of Nature, on the principles of the Aristotelian philosophy. In this book, 
 he treats at large of a science, to which a modern author has applied much 
 ingenuity, Physiognomy. 4. A book on Alchymy, entitled, The Nature 
 of the Sun and Moon. 5. A book entitled Mensa Philosophica. Sir George 
 Mackenzie calls him one of the greatest Philosophers, Mathematicians, Phy- 
 sicians, and Linguists, of the times in which he lived ; and says, that had he 
 not been so much addidcd to astrology, alchymy, physiognomy, and chiro- 
 mancy, he would have deserved well of the republic of letters. Sir Michael 
 Scot succeeded to the lands of Balweary, in right of his mother, who was 
 the daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Balweary of that Ilk. The family 
 is now represented by Sir John Scot of Ancrum, Bsronct. Sttt. Ace. 
 VoL XVIII. No. i. Douglas's Baronage. 
 
 *, * Now tbc property of Sir James Erskinc St. Clair, Baronet.
 
 318 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [p ART IV. 
 
 same valley are Kilrie ', Norther-Pittedie * and Norther- 
 Glasmond 3 inherited by the Betsons. 
 
 To the east of Kirkcaldie, upon a rising ground, is the 
 house and village of Dinniekier, consisting of two streets, 
 belonging to Captain Oswald, and formerly to Mr. John 
 Watson who built the house, and mortified several acres 
 of land near Bruntisland for maintaining of poor widows 4 . 
 Near the east-end of Dinnikier is the castle of Ravens- 
 heugh, on a rock stretching into the sea, the seat of the 
 Lord Sinclair Earl of Orknay, and of his predecessors 
 Earls of Orknay ? . William Sinclair Earl of Orknay, got 
 from king James III. the castle of Ravensheugh with some 
 lands beside it, and an annual out of the burrow meals of 
 Edinburgh, when he resign' d his title to Orknay 6 . 
 
 A mile 
 
 * Now the property of William Fergusson, Esq. of Raith. 
 a The property of Robert Beatson, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of Robert Hog, Esq. 
 
 * This village is better known by the name of Pathhead. It is named 
 from its situation near a steep descent called the Path. It is divided into 
 Pathhead proper, or Dunnikier, situated on Dunnikier estate, and Sinclair- 
 ton, situated on the Sinclair estate. Dnnnikier is the old town : the greatest 
 part of Sinclairton has been built within these forty years. The chief em- 
 ployment in Pathhead wap, for a long time, the making of nails. They 
 sent great quantities to Edinburgh, to Glasgow, and to the north of Scot- 
 land. Two things favoured this trade, plenty of good coals near them, 
 and the facility of getting old iron, by the ships trading from Dysart to 
 Holland. But when other places came to have the same advantages, and 
 jiail factories were erected in different quarters, the profits of this trade were 
 diminished. Linen manufactures have been introduced since that time. 
 In Pathhead there are forty-three smiths, who make about six millions of 
 nails annually, value about L. 1000. The present proprietor, James Town- 
 send Oswald, Esq. has built an elegant mansion at a considerable distance 
 northwards from the village. Stat. Ace. Vol. XII. No. 35. 
 
 5 Ravensheugh or Ravenscraig ib now in ruins. 
 
 The Scottish family of Sinclair, or St. Clair, acquired the Norwegian 
 Earldom of Orkney, by the marriage of a daughter of Malis, Earl of 
 Strathern, who had succeeded to it by marrying the daughter of M?gnus V.
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OP THE WEST COAST. 319 
 
 A mile to the east of this is Dysart, a burgh royal 1 , with 
 an harbour for ships* : the town hath three streets, and well 
 built upon a sloaping ground southward to the sea , but 
 now is much decayed. The church is a parsonage in my 
 Lord Sinclair's patronage, the inhabitants are most of them 
 fewars of my Lord Sinclair, who has his seat and ordinary 
 residence within the town He is lineally descended, and 
 the representative of the Sinclairs Earls of Qrknay, and by 
 a& of parliament in king James TV's, reign, his predeces- 
 sor the Lord Sinclair is declared chief of the blood 3 . All 
 the ground upon which the town stands, and the heath 
 benorth it hath much coal in it, some of it 28 foot 
 
 thick j 
 
 in whom the ancient line of the Norwegian Earls failed. William, chan- 
 cellor of Scotland, the fourth Earl of Orkney of this family, held the earl- 
 dom when James III. obtained the sovereignty of these islands from Chri- 
 stiern I. of Denmark and Norway, as a pledge for part of the dower of 
 Margaret his daughter, whom James married in 1469. To this great man 
 Scotland was not a little indebted, in the negociation which produced the 
 ccs 'ion of the Orkneys. In 1470, he resigned the earldom to the king, ao<f 
 received the castle of Ravenscraig, and lands adjacent, in recompense for 
 his castle of Kirkwall, " and jus haill right to the erledom of Orkney.** 
 Re received also many other grants, among which was one of 40 marks a, 
 year out of the great customs (burrow mails) of Edinburgh. Sibbald has 
 omitted the name of this eminent statesman in his list of chancellors. Pink. 
 Hist. Stuarts. 
 
 1 It was made a royal burgh in the beginning of the x6th century ; but 
 the original charter and old records are lost. In 1546, it is mentioned as 
 one of the principal trading town* on the Fife coast. In the beginning of 
 the i8th century, its trade was much decayed; but from the number of 
 well built house* in it then, it had the appearance of having been in a 
 flourishing state. At that time much salt was made there ; and their trade 
 consisted chiefly in exporting coal and salt to Holland. At that time too, 
 malting and brewing were carried on to a great extent. 
 
 z The harbour was much injured by the severe storms of January 1803. 
 It is at present proposed to improve it, by deepening it, and extending 
 the pier. 
 
 3 The lands of Dysart and Ravenshcutch belong to Sir James Eiskic* 
 St. Clair, Baronet, whose residence is at Dysart House,
 
 320 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV 
 
 thick ! ; and a part of it hath for many years been burning, 
 und still burns. In high winds the flame is seen in the 
 night ; but in the day light smoke doth always appear. 
 Sometimes a noise is heard like the boiling of cauldrons. 
 
 The 
 
 1 This coal continues to be wrought. There are fourteen beds of coal in 
 the Sinclair estate. Most of them are thin, and have been wrought out 
 above the level of the sea. Three of the thickest of these beds, which are 
 near one another, are now working. The uppermost bed is five feet thick. 
 The distance between it and the second bed is eighteen inches, being a foot 
 of coal, with three inches of till above and under it. The second bed of 
 coal is eight feet thick ; under it, is a bed of stone and till, two feet three 
 inches ; and under it the third bed of coal, five feet thick. They are now 
 working these beds of coal sixty fathoms below the surface. The water is 
 raised by two steam engines : the coals are raised by three horse gins. 
 Horses are employed under ground to bring the coals to the pit bottoms. 
 The average quantity of coals raised annually, for seven years preceding 
 1791, is 15,267 tons, value L. 4000, and 7000 tons of culm, value L. 583 ; 
 105 persons are employed. There are five beds of ironstone, which being 
 near each other, are wrought at the same time. They lie below the coal ; 
 and as they dip the same way, are wrought to the west of it, where they 
 come nearer the surface ; twenty-four men are employed in this work, who 
 raise 2080 tons annually. A ton of stone yields about 1200 weight ol 
 iron. The metals cut through in getting to the coal, are, itt, Next the 
 surface, two fathoms brownish stone : id, Fourteen fathoms and a half till, 
 very close : 3</, Eight fathoms brownish stone, porous, and mixed with iron 
 veins : 4tk, Seven fathoms till, mixed with thin beds of freestone, hard : 
 $tu, Two fathoms blueish stone, very hard, must be wrought with gun- 
 powder : 6ib, Six fathoms till, mixed with thin beds of freestone : 7/, One 
 half fathom, a hard coarse coal, mixed with stone, which is immediately 
 above the beds of coal that are wrought, and is left for a roof. Dysart 
 coal was amongst the first wrought in Scotland, having been begun more 
 than 300 years ago. It was on fire nearly as far back. It is said to have 
 had periodic eruptions once in forty years; a remarkable one in 1662. 
 The effects of it may still be traced by the calcined rocks from the har- 
 bour, more than a mile up the country. The road from the harbour ia. 
 called Hot Pot Wynd, and another near it, the Burning. In the begin- 
 ning of the last century, the flames were seen at night coming out of the 
 pit mouths. In 1741, the coal was set on fire by a lime kiln, which had 
 been placed too near it. It did not burn violently ; but was not extin- 
 guished'
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 321 
 
 The learned Mr. Pitcairn, minister there, acquainted me, 
 that once in 40 years some extraordinary eruption happen-* 
 eth, as did in anno 1662 : the only remedy is to stop up all 
 the chinks. Anno 1680, some venturing down into an old 
 waste with candles, perceived a great many little glaring 
 lights, like the shining of fish-heads ; these upon search 
 were found to be little heaps of small coal, and exceeding hot, 
 and they observed a continual dropping of water upon the 
 heaps, which some thought might have caused the burning, 
 and may occasion damps also. The damps of these coal- 
 heughs are sulphureous and narcotick : those that are seised 
 with them fall a vomiting,and after this fall into a profound 
 sleep. The Philosophick Transactions, No. III. give ac- 
 count of some killed by damps in this ground. Plinius 
 remarks of the Thracian stone (of which nature, if not the 
 same, our coal is) that it kindleth and burneth in water : 
 and Ccesalpinus also tells us, " Peculiare est in bitumine 
 accendi aqua." But considering that in many of our coal- 
 heughs the pyrites aureits, (which the vulgar call brass lumps,) 
 is found in the seams of the coal ; and this pyrites is apt to 
 take fire by the dropping of water upon it, I incline to 
 think, that this might have been the first cause of the burn- 
 ing of this coal : since this coal has been burning near 200 
 years, there must be much of that fewel that entertains the 
 flame. There is also a vitriolick matter found in this 
 ground, which joined with the pyrites and coperas stones, 
 
 and 
 
 pushed for some years. In 1790,11 again took fire, from what cause is 
 unknown. It did not burn with fury ; but occasioned much smoke and, 
 bad air. The colliers were prevented from working for some months. It 
 is now extinguished. Tht means used, v/ere to exclude the air as much as 
 possible, and to allow the water to rise by stopping the engines. Dysart 
 coal has a strong heat ; but being slow in kindling, and having much ashes, 
 is not so pleasant for rooms as some lighter coals. It dips to the south-east, 
 (most of the metals on the sea-coast of the parish dip the same vray) one 
 fathom in three near the shore, but h flatter at it goes north. Stat. Ace. 
 Vol. XI L No. 35. 
 
 Tt
 
 322 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [p ART IV. 
 
 and some mixture of arsenical steams, may have caused 
 these damps which killed some in this ground ; as they 
 have also done in other coal-heughs of this country. 
 
 Buchanan's Verses on tke burning field of Dysart t in bis 
 
 Francis canus. 
 
 Campus erat late incultus, non floribus horti 
 Arrident, non messe agri, non frondibus arbos. 
 Vix sterilis siccis vestitur arena myricis. 
 Et pecorum rara in solis vestigia terris : 
 Vicini Deserta vocant : ibi saxea subter 
 Antra tegunt nigras vulcantia semina cautes : 
 Sulphureis passim concepta incendia venis 
 Fumiferam volvunt nebulam, piceoque vapore 
 Semper anhelat humus : coecisque inclusa cavernis 
 Flamma furens, dum lu&ando penetrare sub auras 
 Conatur, totis passim spiracula campis 
 Findit, et ingenti tellurem pandit hiatu : 
 Teter odor, tristisque habitus, faciesque locorum. 
 
 The same Mr. Pitcairn sheweth me, that the shoar of 
 Dysart is the level, into which all the water of these coal- 
 works for two miles northward is conveyed by mines or 
 channels ' , and the arch or roof is an iron-stone, which in 
 its concave produceth much vitriol, this dropping falls down 
 like tangles and impregnates the water, especially to the 
 south-west, as that spring at the harbour. The springs to 
 the north of these coal-works are of an inkie taste, but not 
 so well impregnated ; because they come off the convex of 
 that arch or iron-stone roof. At this town are many salt 
 panns, by which much salt is made, and furnisheth with 
 the coal exported, matter of trade*. r 
 
 1 The two steam-engines, which arc now employed in draining off the 
 water from the present workings, are a little above the harbour. 
 
 * Salt was made here, at least some time before 1483, as appears by an 
 
 agreemefit
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 323 
 
 This town gave the title of Earl to William Murray, a 
 cadet of the family of Tullibardin, and gentleman of the 
 bed-chamber to king Charles I. who created him Earl : his 
 only child, Elizabeth Countess of Dysart was married first 
 to Sir Lionel Talmage (Tollemache) in England, and their 
 son is now Earl of Dysart. The Countess was married 
 after Sir Lionel's death to the Duke of Lauderdale. 
 
 A mile to the east of Dysart, keeping still by the 
 coast, is Wester-Weems, the town is a burgh of barony, 
 belonging to the Earl of Weems, it consists of two streets, 
 and hath an harbour for ships. It hath great, advantages 
 for trade by the abundance of coal in this Earl's lands, and 
 the great plenty of salt made here j for besides the great 
 quantities of both vended in the country, much is exported 
 by sea '. 
 
 T t 2 The 
 
 agreement with the family of St. Clair, of that date. The works were 
 more extensive than at present. There are vestiges, of many salt-pans, 
 which have been demolished long ago. Much salt was exported to Hol- 
 land ; but none of late years. Seven pans are now going, and employ 
 fourteen salters, besides several hands occasionally to carry the salt to the 
 granaries. About 17,100 bushels are made annually, value L. laoo. The 
 fuel employed is chiefly culm. 120 loads arc required to make 100 bushels 
 of salt. Stat. Ace. Vol. XII. No. 35. 
 
 1 The government of Wester Wemyss is vested in two bailies, a treasurer, 
 and council. In the west ground of the estate of Wemyss, besides what 
 is called Dysart coal, (which is twenty-one feet thick, with three feet 
 of coarse coal left for a roof) of which a very extensive field remains to 
 be wrought, there arc other ten or eleven workable scams of coal, 
 most of which have been wrought above the level of the sea. The princi- 
 pal scam of these is now working between fifty or sixty fathomi be- 
 lAw the surface. This scam is ten feet thick, but eight feet of it 5 
 only wrought, viz. five feet of very fine splint, and three feet of free, the 
 other two feet being left for a roof. The water is raised by a steam-engine, 
 The coal is brought to the pit-bottom by horses under ground, and then 
 raised by horse-gins. Coal for exportation is driven in large waggons from 
 the pits to the harbour of Wester Wemyss. The other seams in this part 
 f the estate, which have been wrought, are all entirely below the level of 
 
 the
 
 324 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. ,[PART IV. 
 
 The Earl of Weems's seat ' is upon an high ground above 
 this town, and is a noble great house upon a rock overlook- 
 ing the sea. He is descended of a son of the Earl of Fife, 
 
 -:{* as 
 
 the sea, excepting one, a small part of which was wrought near the sea, 
 about the year 1656, at which time the water- was drawn off" by horses. 
 In the east ground of the estate there are also several workable seams of 
 coal. The only seams that have been wrought in this part of the estate 
 for a considerable time were, one eight feet thick, and twenty fathoms 
 from the surface, and another much about the same thickness, and seven 
 fathoms deeper. The main coal is twelve feet thick, of an excellent qua- 
 lity, and was always preferred at the foreign markets. It was formerly 
 wrought to a considerable depth by two engines at Kirkland of Methil, 
 which were driven by the water of Leven. To the south of Kirkland this 
 coal is cut off by a hitch or dike, which throws it down thirty fathoms. 
 This has lately been cut out under the care of a very ingenious and aftive 
 engineer, and the coal is now working level free. A waggon-way of two 
 miles from the pits to the harbour of Methil is now completed. There are 
 nine salt-pans at Methil, and seven at Wester Wemyss. These works have 
 been long carried on, and much salt is made at them, both for land-sale 
 and exportation. About 6000 tons of coal, and 40,000 bushels of salt, are 
 annually shipped from Wemyss and Methil. At both places, too, shipbuild- 
 ing is carried on to a considerable extent. The harbour of Methil received 
 much injury from the storms and high tides of January 1803. 
 
 1 The old residence of the proprietors of Wemyss was situated above 
 tfic village of Easter Wemyss. It is usually called Macduff's Castle, and 
 said to have been built by Macduff, Thane of Fife. Two square towers 
 of the castle still remain. The castle of Wemyss, the present scat of 
 the family, situated a little to the east of the burgh of Wester Wemyss, 
 and close by the shore, on a cliff between thirty and forty feet above 
 the level of the sea, is a large and magnificent building. When it was 
 built is uncertain, but part of the east wing is said to be near, if not as 
 old as the castle of Easter Wemyss. It received considerable additions 
 iibout the beginning of the i;th century, from the Right Honourable 
 David Earl of Wepiyss; and his grandson, being Lord High Admiral of 
 Scotland, raised a good wall, in the form of a fort, upon a beautiful bow- 
 Jing-grecn, and placed a few cannon to answer salutes from ships as they 
 passed. It was in the castle of Wtmyss that Lord Darnly had his first in- 
 terview with Queen Mary, i3th February 1565. The Queen was at this 
 time on a tour of visits in Fife, which, bays the famous John Kuox, caused 
 wild fowl to be so dear, that partridges v/erc iold at a crown a-piecc. Stat. 
 Ace. Vol. XVI. No. 26.
 
 SECT. I.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 375 
 
 as was told before, but takes his surname of Weems from 
 the caves in his ground upon the coast to the east of the 
 house 1 . He is the chief of the name*. He was first created 
 Lord Weems, and in anno 1633, advanced to the degree of 
 an Earl. They have charters from king William : and in 
 the cartulary of Dunfermling, there is a precept by Williel- 
 
 mus 
 
 1 The name of the distriA of Wemyss, or Wecms-sliire, as it was an- 
 ciently called, is said to be derived from the Gaelic word, -vamb, a cave. 
 And the number of caves along the coast seems to give countenance to this 
 etymology ; yet the name occurs in countries where it is not supposed the 
 Gaelic ever was spoken. la Denmark there is Wym, in Friesland, Wymer, 
 and in Finland, Wiems. Of the caves from which the name has been sup- 
 posed to be taken, the following note is extracted from Stat. Ace. There 
 are seven a little to the east of Easter Wemyss, and all but one about ico 
 yards from high-water mark. Four of them were long ago fitted up for, 
 and still are pigeon-houses. There are two at the bottom of the cliff, and 
 immediately under the ruins of the castle of Easter Wemyss ; one of them 
 ii called Johnathan's Cave, from a man who, with his family, resided some 
 time in it ; the entrance to the other is very narrow, but after having goc 
 through it, you find yourself in a very spacious place, in which is a well of 
 excellent water. It is annually visited by the young people of Easter 
 Wemyss, with lights, upon the first Monday of January Old Style ; but 
 from what this custom took its rise, the writer could never learn. The 
 seventh (the nearest to the shore) is called the Court Cave, and two rea- 
 sons are assigned for the name ; one is, that when the lands of Easter 
 Wemyss were the property of the Colvills, they here held their baron- 
 court ; another, that king James V. in a frolic once joined a company of 
 gypsies, who were here making merry, and when the liquor began to ope- 
 rate, the gypsies, as usual with people of their character, began to quarrel 
 among themselves ; upon this his Majesty attempted to mediate between 
 the parties, but they, ignorant of the rank of their new associate, were 
 about to handle him pretty roughly for his goodness, which obliged the 
 king to discover himself ; in allusion to this affair, the cave was afterwards 
 ironically called the Court Cave. There is another cave a little to the east 
 of the castle of Wemyss, and much about the same distance from the shore 
 as the former. This cave, which is about too feet in length, 100 in 
 breadth, and 30 in height, was fitted up about iixty years ago by a tacks- 
 man for a glass-work ; but soon after the work commenced, the man be- 
 came bankrupt, and the buildings were allowed to go to ruins. 
 
 * The estate of Wemyss belongs now to Major General William Weroysi
 
 326 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 mus comes de Ross, Justiciarius ex parte boreali maris Sco- 
 ticani constitutus, directed to David de Wemys vice-comiti 
 de Fyfe, warranding him to deliver to the monks of Dun- 
 fermling, the eighth part of the amerciaments of Fyfe and 
 Fothryfe, imposed in the justice airs held at Coupar of 
 Fyfe, anno 1239. And our historians, particularly Bucha- 
 nan, lib. 8. at the beginning, relate, that after the unfortu- 
 nate death of king Alexander III. that by the regents and 
 states of Scotland, there were sent to Norway, " David 
 Vemius et Michael Scotus equites Fifani illustres, et summas 
 prudentise apud suos, illis temporibus habiti," to bring 
 home the defunct king's grand-daughter and heiress Mar- 
 garet j but it pleased God to take her, ere they came there. 
 In testimony of this honourable commission and embassy, 
 there is still preserved in the house of Weems a silver bason 
 of an antick fashion, which David de Weems got from the 
 king of Norway at that time. And there is an indenture 
 betwixt Sir Michael Weems de eodem miles, and Sir Mi- 
 chael Scot of Balweerie miles, in presentia Joannis Balioli 
 regis : apud monasterium de Lundoris, anno 1294. 
 
 I have seen a charter by king Robert I. granting to 
 David de Wemys et Marjory sponse sue, totam terram 
 de Glasmonth in tenemento de Kinghorn, intra vice-comita- 
 tum de Fyfe, in liberam baroniam : apud Glasgu tertio 
 die July, anno regni nostri 23." And an other by Johannes 
 de Boisvill de Balmuto, granting " Consanguineo suo Jo- 
 hanni de Wemys omnes terras meas de Myrcairney, de la 
 Rathe, de Glenyston, de Polguild, de Nether Cambron et 
 de Methkill, infra Fyfe. Testibus Roberto Senescallo co- 
 mite de Fyfe et Monteeth Thoma Sybaulde." And I have 
 seen two charters by Duncanus comes de Fyfe, granting 
 " Domino Michaeli de Wemys militi, filio et heredi quondam 
 David de Wemys, totam terram nostram de little Monichy 
 ct totam terram dc Dron occidental!." Witnesses are, 
 
 " Venera-
 
 SECT. I,] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST. 327 
 
 " Venerabilibus in Christo patribus, domino Jacobo, del 
 gratia episcopo S. Andrce, Johanne eadem gratia priore St. 
 Andree, dominis David de Berclay, Michaele Scoto, Wil- 
 lielmo de Fresly, Willielmo de Cambow, militibus, Johanne 
 Monipenny, Thoma Bell cive S. Andree, Johanne de For- 
 reth, Alano de Clapham et multis aliis." These two last 
 are about the year 1332. A mile eastward is Easter- 
 Weems, antiently a part of the estate of Wemys of that 
 ilk j but afterwards it went off. And the Livingstons for 
 three generations possessed it ; then the Colvils gave Ochil- 
 tree for it, among whom James Lord Colvil, a follower of 
 Henry king of Navarre, afterward of France, was famous. 
 But after 200 years separation it was purchased by John 
 Lord Weems, and joined again to the estate. The village 
 of Easter- Weems is said to have four fisher boats, with five 
 fishers in each ; and with the same boats fish herring dur- 
 ing the harvest, with seven men in each. Here is the parish 
 church which belonged to the ecclesia collegiata St. Trini- 
 tatis de Edinburgh. 
 
 A mile from this is the village of Buckhaven^ a fisher 
 town belonging to the Earl of Weems 1 . They have ordi- 
 narily twelve fishing boats with six men in each 5 and fur- 
 nish 
 
 1 The following account of Buckhaven was written by the late Rev. 
 Harry Spens, D. D. in 1778. " As far as I have been able to learn, the 
 original inhabitants of Buckhaven were from the Netherlands about the 
 time of Philip II. Their vessel had been stranded on the shore. They 
 proposed to settle and remain. The family of Wemyss gave them permis- 
 sion. They accordingly settled at Buckhaven. By degrees they acquired 
 our language, and adopted our dress, and for these threescore years past, 
 they have had the character of a sober and sensible, an industrious and 
 honest set of people. The only singularity in their ancient customs that I 
 remember to have heard of was, that of a richly ornamented girdle or belt, 
 wore by their brides of good condition and character at their marriage, 
 and then bid aside and given in like manner to the next bride that should 
 be deemed worthy of such an honour. The village consists at present of 
 about 140 families, 60 of which arc fishers, the rest land-labourers, weavers, 
 and other mcclunics."
 
 328 THE HISTORY OF 1-TFE. [PART IV. 
 
 nish Edinburgh with white fish. In August yearly they 
 with others take herring, and make much money by this. 
 Two miles to the east of this, is Methill, a village with 
 salt panns belonging to the Earl of Weems ; here the pre- 
 sent Earl's grandfather, Earl David, built an harbour, where 
 ships do load with coal and salt. Here was a parsonage 
 that is now suppressed. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 TJie Coast) from the Mouth of the River Leven to Fife-ness. 
 
 IN EAR to Methill doth the water of Levin run into the 
 firth, where there is a little harbour, and a salmond fishing 
 belonging to Gibson of Durie. And upon the east brink 
 of Levin is the town of Levin, well built, of two streets ', 
 and trades with iron and timber, and such like merchan- 
 dize* ; and belongs to the same baron of Durie. 
 
 A little above this is, first the parish church of Sconie, 
 that belonged to the priory of St. Andrews. Next it is the 
 seat of the barons of Durie, a large old house with planting 
 and inclosures. It was antiently the inheritance of gentle- 
 men of the name of Durie ; but now for several succes- 
 sions it hath belonged to the Gibsons, the first of whom, 
 a Lord of the Session, purchased it in king James VFs. 
 time. The Duries had it from king Alexander IPs. reign, 
 till that in king James Vs. reign, Thomas Durie of that 
 Ilk, leaving only a daughter, the king by virtue of the ward, 
 married her to Alexander Kemp, his favourite, from whose 
 posterity Sir Alexander Gibson bought it 3 . N t 
 
 * A neat new church, with a spire, was ere-flcd about twenty-five years 
 ago, adjoining to the village of Leven. 
 
 * The trade of Leven is very confined, but it manufactures a considerable 
 quantity of coarse linens. There are also some salt-pans, a rope-work and 
 a bleachfield. 
 
 3 The estate and fine place of Durie, belong now to James Christie, Es<j,
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 
 
 Next to Levin, on the coast, two miles eastward, doth 
 the water of Largo empty itself into the sea ; on the west 
 brink of this emboucheur is Dromachie, and on the east 
 the Sea-town of Largo. Dromachie is a village belonging 
 to the barojis of Lundin, with a fishing ; they claim a right 
 to the tithes of the fish for some miles east of this. To the 
 north of this, is the house of the antient barons of Lundin, 
 chiefs of that name ; in a pleasant plain with planting and 
 inclosures'. Here is a quarrie of free-stone, which hath 
 yolks curiously figured : one I did see, a cylinder with lo- 
 zens all over it, sunk. To the south of the house, on the 
 highway, there are erected three high stones * set in a tri- 
 angle, and uncut ; it is said, that some antient sepulchres 
 have been found near to this. Mr. Maule tliinks that they 
 
 THE STANDING STONES OF LUNDIN. 
 
 1 A scat of Sir William Erskine, Baronet, of Torry. 
 
 1 There are also fragments of a fourth, which seems to have been of equal 
 magnitude with the other three. A late French traveller, Foujas St. Fondj 
 ha* placed these stones, by mistake, betwixt Kitkcaldy and Klnghorn. 
 
 Uu
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 were erefted after a battle with the Danes near to this. 
 Robert de London, son to king William, married the heiress 
 of this family, and of the same name of Londin ; some of 
 that name we find in king David Fs. time, and many in king 
 William's reign. And it is evident from charters that at 
 this time there were three distinct families of the name of 
 Lundin : for king William confirms a charter granted in his 
 time, of the kirk of Lassedwyn, " Cnnonicis de Dryburgh, 
 per Robertum de Londonia, filium Richardi, filii Mauritii, 
 filii Thome de Londonia." And at the same time there are 
 mortifications to the abbacies of Cupar and Aberbrothock, 
 by Thomas de Lundin filius Malcolmi de Londin Hostiarius 
 D. rcgis Scotie ; and confirmed by Alanus Hostiarius regis, 
 comes Atholie son to Thomas ; this family lived in Angus, 
 and most of them took the name of the office, and were 
 called Door-r wards, vulgo Dorets. Then Walter de Londin 
 son to Philip de Lundin, mortifies " Monasterio de Cambus- 
 kenneth, quatuor bovatas terre de Balcormok." And 
 Thomas the son of Walter confirms the donation ; and 
 king William confirms this : it was this family in Fife with 
 which king William's son matched. 
 
 The sea-town of Largo, belonging to the lairds of Largo, 
 hath ordinarily three fishing-boats, with five men in each, 
 and in the herring season, they have four boats with seven 
 men in each '. A little to the north of this, on a rising 
 ground, and at the west foot of an hill, or Largo-Law, is 
 pleasantly situated the house of Largo. It was antiently a 
 part of the Earl of Fife's estate 5 and king James III. gave 
 to Andrew Wood*, master of the king's Yellow Kervel 
 
 Alexander 
 
 1 Some years ago all kinds of fish having become scarce on the coast, the 
 fishing was entirely abandoned by the people of Largo. A few of them 
 have lately turned their attention again to this employment. 
 
 a Sir Andrew Wood received a grant of Largo from James III. in 14831 
 'which was confirmed by James IV. in 1488 and 1407. He was early ce- 
 lebrated
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 33!. 
 
 (Alexander Duke of Albany being then high admiral) the 
 lands of Largo, to keep the ship in repair. And anno 
 
 U u 2 1482, 
 
 lebrated for his courage and naval skill. When the council of James IV. 
 wished to punish Wood, who had been strongly attached to his unfortunate 
 prince James III. they applied to the shipmasters of JLeith to seize him and 
 his vessels. But they declined the hazardous service, informing the council, 
 that no ten ships of Scotland would dare to assault his two vessels, such 
 was his strength in men and artillery, and such his maritime and military 
 skill. The barrenness of naval transactions in the Scottish history, renders 
 the deeds of Wood not a little singular and interesting ; for which reason 
 the minute relation of Lindsay shall be followed. Five English vessels ha- 
 ving entered the Forth, despoiled some mercantile ships belonging to Scot- 
 land, and her allies. James IV. and his council, irritated by the indignity, 
 eagerly desired revenge, but could not prevail upon any masters of vessels 
 to proceed against the enemy, till they applied to Sir Andrew Wood of 
 Largo, whom they incited by large offers of men and artillery, of royal 
 favours and rewards. Being furnished with an ample provision of men, 
 cannon, and arms, Wood proceeded with his two ships, the Flower, and 
 the Yellow Carvel, against the English, who were also not deficient in 
 artillery J and finding them opposite to Dunbar, an obstinate and sangui- 
 nary conflict ensued. Wood's extreme courage, and naval skill, at length 
 procured the victory: the five English vessels were taken, and brought to 
 Lcith ; the commander presented to the king and council. The spirit and 
 conduct of Wood were recompensed by honourable rewards, by the favour 
 of James and the nobles, and by the loud voice of public fame. Henry VII. 
 concerned at the unusual disgrace of the English flag, inflicted by a power 
 unknown in the annals of the sea, offered a large yearly sum to any com- 
 mander who should capture Wood. But the skill, valour, and fortune of 
 the Scottish leader were now so celebrated, that fear repressed avarice. At 
 length Stephen Bull, an English officer, engaged to seize Wood dead or 
 alive ; and was provided with three stout ships completely equipped for 
 war. Bull passing to the Forth, anchored behind the isle of May, where he 
 awaited the return of Wood, who had escorted some merchant vessels to Flan- 
 ders, expecting that peace was established with England. The English cap- 
 tain seized some fishing boats, and retained the mariners, that by their infor- 
 mation he might not mistake his object. On a summer-morn, a little after 
 dawn, one of the English shipmasters descried two vessels coming under 
 sail, by St. Abb's Head : the prisoners were ordered to the tops, that they 
 might declare whether these vessels were Wood's, or not ; and, upon their 
 hesitation, freedom being offered in case thU was the expected prey, they 
 
 announced
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 1482, he got them heritably, in consideration of his good 
 services. That family kept these lands till king Charles I's. 
 time., and they have been since in several hands. After the 
 
 restoration 
 
 announced the Scottish admiral. Bull, with the exultation of English cou- 
 rage, ordered the preparations for battle ; and, after distributing wine and 
 ehearfulness, commanded all to their stations. Wood advanced, uncon- 
 scious of foes, till he perceived the three ships under sail, and attired for 
 combat. He instantly prepared, and addressed his men in the plain and, 
 boisterous phrase of the sea : " These, my lads, are the foes, who expecft 
 to convey us in bonds to the English king : but by your courage, and the 
 help of God, they shall fail. Set yourselves in order, every man to his sta- 
 tion. Charge gunners : let the cross-bows be ready : have the lime-pots, 
 and fire-balls, to the tops : two handed swords to the fore-rooms. Be 
 stout, be diligent, for your own sakes, and for the honour of this realm." 
 Wine was then dealed around ; and the ships resounded with acclamations. 
 The sun, now above the horizon, shone full upon the English vessels, and 
 displayed their magnitude and force to the eyes of the Scots, with a dazzling 
 and enlarged appearance. Wood skilfully attained the windward of the 
 foe ; and engaged in a close combat, which continued undecided from morn- 
 ing till night, while crowds of spectators, assembling on the coast of Fife, 
 expressed by their gestures and voice, their alternate hopes and fears. Du- 
 ping the night the combatants lay by to refresh and refit : at the dawn of 
 ^lay the trumpets again summoned them to arms. The battle continued' 
 so obstinate, that the negledled vessels drove before an ebb-tide, and south 
 >vind, till they were opposite to the mouth of the Tay. At length the 
 valour and seamanship of Wood prevailed : the three English ships were 
 captured, and brought to Dundee, where the wounded were properly 
 tended. Wood presented Bull, to the Scottish monarch, and was rewarded 
 as such eminent services merited. James gave a specimen of his future 
 regal spirit by bestowing gifts upon the English ' commander, and his 
 people ; and sending them and their ships as a present to their sovereign ; 
 ' whom he at the same time informed, that Scotland could also boast of 
 warlike sons both by sea and land ; and therefore desired that Henry would 
 no more insult the Scottish seas, else a different fate should await the in- 
 truders. Henry murmured thanks, and dissembled. It appears that Sir 
 Andrew Wood, like Commodore Trunnion, brought on shore his nautical 
 ideas and manners. From his house, down almost as far as the church, he 
 formed a canal, upon which he was wont to sail in his barge to the church 
 <?very Sunday in great state. Pitscottie. Pink. Hist. Stuarts, Vol. II. Stat. 
 Ace. Vol. IV. No. 6?.
 
 StCT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 333 
 
 restoration of king Charles II. Sir Alexander Durham Lord 
 Lyon (grand-unckle to the present laird) and a son of Pit- 
 kerrois, purchased them 1 . Contiguous to the precindt of 
 the house is the church, which belonged to the nunnery of 
 North-Berwick ; and an hospital for fifteen old men, founded 
 in king Charles IPs. reign, by John Wood Esquire, a cadet 
 of the ancient family ; who also built and endued a school 
 at Newburn, a little towards the east of this. In the hill 
 or Largo-Law, metals of the best kind are said to be found*. 
 At Largo the country stretches itself near three miles 
 further south, towards the sea, and the west point of this 
 is a promontory called Kincraigs-ness, upon which is die 
 house of Kincraig, which anciently belonged to the Bicker- 
 tons , and since king David IPs. time, has been the posses- 
 sion of the Gourlays 3 : in king William's reign I find men- 
 tion made of Engelramus de Gourlay. In the rocks here 
 are the Devil' s-Cave, MacdufFs-Cave 4 , and the Hall-Cave. 
 
 At 
 
 1 Largo is the scat of James Caldcrwood Durham, Esq. 
 
 a Alexander Selkirk, who was rendered famous by M. de Foe, under 
 the name of Robinson Crusoe, was born in Largo in 1676. He went to 
 sea in his youth, and in the year 1703, being sailing master of the ship 
 Cinque Ports, Captain Stradling, bound for the South Seas, he was put on 
 shore, on the island of Juan Fernandez, as a punishment for mutiny. In 
 that solitude he remained four years and four months, from which he was 
 at last relieved, and brought to England by Captain Woods Rogers. He 
 had with him in the island his clothes and bedding, with a firelock, some 
 powder, bullets and tobacco, a hatchet, knife, kettle, his mathematical 
 instruments and Bible. The chest which Selkirk had with him on the 
 inland, is still kept by his grandnephew, John Selkirk, weaver in Largo, 
 and his musket is in the possession of a gentleman in the neighbourhood. 
 
 3 The property of William Gourlay, Esq. 
 
 * Macduff is said to have lain concealed in this cave for some time, when 
 flying to Malcolm in Cumberland. At last he was ferried over the frith 
 to Dunbar, by the fishermen of the village, afterwards called Earl's Ferry, 
 who had also shewn hjm many kind attentions when concealed in their 
 r-L-ighbourhood. In return, he is said to have obtained for them the fol- 
 Jjwing privilege : " That the persons of all who pass the frith from EarlV 
 
 ferry
 
 334 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART iv* 
 
 At the east of this promontory is the house of Grange, 
 very pleasantly situated, the dwelling of Mr. James Mal- 
 colm 1 brother to Sir John Malcolm of Lochor. It was sold 
 off by the nuns of North-Berwick, before the reformation, 
 to Alexander Wood. And south of this, upon the sea is 
 Earls-ferry, a little fisher town, which (as is said) MacdufF, 
 Earl of Fife, got eretted into a royal burgh, because the 
 fishers here transported him over the firth, when he made 
 his escape from Macbeth. They are said to have only three 
 fishing boats. 
 
 Almost contiguous to the east of this, is the town of Elie, 
 well built, with a most convenient harbour*, and safe from 
 easterly storms, which are of greatest danger in the firth. 
 The water in it at spring tides is twenty-two foot deep. A 
 little to the east of this there might be a harbour made for 
 ships of the greatest burden, and in which lesser ships might 
 enter at low water, and be as safe as the other. Elie is a 
 burgh of barony belonging to the Lord Anstruther, and he 
 Jiath the office of a searcherie and coquet in this place. A 
 little to the north of this village is the house of Elie 3 , one of 
 the seats of the Lord Anstruther : the church of this parish 
 is of a modern erection. Eastward of Elie is the ruinous 
 
 house 
 
 ferry in a vessel belonging to the town, were declared inviolable, or safe 
 from their pursuers, till they were half sea over." This privilege is said 
 to have been used in the case of Douglas, and Carnegie of Finhaven. 
 
 1 The property of Sir James Malcolm, Baronet, of Grange. 
 
 2 There is an excellent harbour at Elie. It is the deepest in the Frith of 
 .Forth, Burntisland excepted. It has remarkably easy access, and is per- 
 fectly safe. It is the resort of more wind-bound vessels than any other 
 harbour, perhaps, in Scotland. It has also been the means of saving many 
 a ship, cargo, and seaman, that would otherwise have been driven out of 
 the frith ; many of them being so poorly manned and provisioned, that 
 they never could have been able to regain the coast. This useful harbour, 
 however, is going fast to ruin. Stat. Ace. Vol. XVII. No. 38. 
 
 3 The seat of Sir Philip Anstruther, Baronet, of Anstruther. The late 
 Sir John Anstruther built a very elegant house at Elie, and laid out the 
 ground* with great taste.
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 335 
 
 house of Ardross, which gave name anciently to this barony, 
 and was for a long time the estate of the Dissingtons. 
 And near to this, is 
 
 The house and village of St. Monans ; the house or 
 castle is upon a rock advancing into the sea ; the village 
 hath usually ten fishing boats, with four men in each -, but 
 during the herring fishing (which is in August) they send 
 out twelve boats and seven men in each, and sometimes 
 more. Here was a noble and large chapel in honour of St. 
 Monan, an hermite who dwelt in this place, called then 
 Inweerie : it was all of smooth stone in form of a cross, 
 with the steeple in the center. The east branch of it (which 
 only is roofed and vaulted now, tho' the walls of the south, 
 and north branches are still up, but want the roof) and the 
 steeple serves for a church to the people of the parish of Aber- 
 crumby : (in which parish, belonging to the priory of St, 
 Andrews, this place is.) It appears from the royal arms 
 and the Bruces arms on the roof, that either king Robert I. 
 or king David II. built it *. It was served by the black 
 friers of St. Andrews. Sandelands laird of St. Monans, 
 descended of the Lord Torfuchen, was 1648 created Lord 
 Abercrumbie. The castle here commonly called New-wark, 
 gave title to lieutenant-general David Leslie, son to the 
 Lord Lindoris, and was by king Charles II. created Lord 
 
 New- 
 
 1 This part of the building has a very beautiful vaulted roof, with veins 
 jutting out from die side-walls, and meeting in the centre of the roof, 
 where it is decorated with rotes, and other ornaments. The church was 
 part of a convent or priory of black friars. It was founded by king David IL 
 of Scotland, in the 4Oth year of his reign, and was served by a hermit. By 
 his charter, dated " at Edinburgh," he grants thereto, the lands of Easter- 
 Birney in Fife, and some lands in the sheriffdom of Edinburgh, It was 
 given by king James III. to the black friars. To it was annexed the con- 
 vent founded by the Macduffs Earls of Fife, at the foot of the Castlehill of 
 Cupar. Afterwards, both were annexed by king James V. to the convent 
 of St. Andrews, at the west port of the street called the Northgate, founded 
 by William Wishart, bishop of that city. Stat. Ace, VoL IX. No.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART iV. 
 
 New-wark, his son dying without heirs male, the peerage 
 failed ; and the grand-daughter is married to Sir Alexander 
 Anstruther, brother to the Lord Anstruther 1 . 
 
 Two miles by east St. Monan, is the royal burgh of Pit- 
 tin weem, so named from a cave there a 5 it is well built. The 
 upper part of the town is a fair street from west to east, 
 at the east of it is a church of this parish, of a late ere&ion. 
 To the north of which is Mary-Chapel, in the Mary-gate 
 that goeth to the east port ; and by south the church is the 
 priorie (to which this town belonged) inclosed with a good 
 wall : it hath a good deal of building yet intire 3 . It was a 
 
 colony 
 
 1 Newark is now the property of Sir P. Anstruther, Bart. There is abun- 
 dance of coal in the lands of Newark, consisting of splint, cherry, and cuhh, 
 at present working. It is not level free, but is wrought by a fire-engine. 
 .Likewise one of the neatest and best contrived salt-works upon the coast, 
 called St. Philip's ; both are the property of Sir Philip Anstruther, Bart. 
 The coal and salt, besides what is sold to the country, are exported at Pit- 
 tenweem. In the lands of Abercrombie there are several seams of coal, 
 but as yet untouched, which belong to Sir Robert Anstruther, Bart. 
 
 1 The cave from which it is supposed to have derived its name, is situ- 
 ated half way between the beach and the abbey. It is large and capa- 
 cious, consisting of two apartments. At the further end of the inner one, 
 there is a well of excellent water. At the junction of the two apartments, 
 <here is a stone stair, which carried you up a little way to a subterraneous 
 passage, that led to the abbey, where was another stair, which landed in 
 the great dining hall of the abbey. The two stairs still remain ; but of ' 
 late years the subterraneous passage was destroyed, by the impending earth 
 sinking, and cutting off the communication. The subterraneous passage 
 might be about fifty yards in length. 
 
 3 The noted St. Fillan, whose name has been given to so many chapels, 
 fountains, &c. in Scotland, and who is still held in superstitious reverence 
 in great part of the Highlands, was abbot of Pittenweem, from which situ- 
 ation he retired, and died a hermit in the wilds of Glenurchy, A. D. 649. 
 While engaged in transcribing the scriptures, his left hand was observed to 
 send forth such a splendour, as to afford light to that with which he wrote ; 
 a miracle which saved many candles to the convent, as St. Fillan used to 
 spend whole nights in that exercise. Lesley, lib. 7. tells us, that Robert 
 the Bruce wv possessed of this miraculous and luminous arm, which he 
 
 inclosed
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 337 
 
 colony and dependence of the priorie of St. Andrews, and 
 possessed by regular priests of the order of St. Augustin. 
 In the reign of king Alexander III. William bishop of St. 
 Andrews bought the priory of May, from the abbot of 
 Reading, (to which abbacy it was given by King David I.) 
 and annexed it to this priorie of Pittinweem. It had 
 the churches of Rind, and Anstruther- Wester (in which 
 parish Pittinweem was till of late) and many lands, with a 
 regality, of which the lairds of Anstruther are heritable 
 baylies. The precinct of the house, and fews belong to the 
 Earl of Kellie 1 , whose eldest son is intituled Lord Pittin- 
 weem. The lower part of the town of Pittinweem lieth 
 alongst their two havens. The west haven is near the panns, 
 and fit only for fish-boats. Of late they had only six fishing 
 boats with six men in each, and they had fifteen boats for the 
 fishing of herring with seven men in each, but now more. 
 The east haven is the largest, and fit for ships of burden ; 
 having at no time below eight foot of water*. 
 
 A 
 
 inclosed In a silver shrine, and had it carried at the head of his army. 
 Previous to the battle of Bannockburn, the king's chaplain, a man of little 
 faith, abstracted the rclique, and deposited it in some place of security, 
 least it should fall into the hands of the English. But lo ! while Robert 
 was addressing his prayers to the empty casket, it was observed to open 
 aud shut suddenly ; and, on inspection, the saint was found to have himself 
 deposited his arm in the shrine, as an assurance of victory. Such is the 
 tale of Lesley. But the Bruce little needed that the arm of St. Fillan 
 thould assist his own. Minstrelsy of the Border, Vol. II. The belief of 
 the power of St. Fillan in the cure of Lunacy, is far from being eradicated 
 in the northern part of the kingdom ; and the magical operations by which 
 his aid is supposed to be procured, are still performed at his chapel and 
 pool in Strathfillan in Breadalbane. Stat. Ace. Vol. XVII. No. 25. 
 
 1 Now to Sir Philip Anstruther, Baronet. 
 
 1 The harbour was considerably improved after the Newark coal was 
 wrought for exportation. In the year 1779, P a ul Jones, with his little squa- 
 dron, lay for several hours off this harbour, about half a mile from the shore. 
 
 The 
 
 Xx
 
 33 8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 A little above Pittinweem to the north-west, is Balcaskie, 
 a very pretty new house, with all modish conveniences of 
 terraces, gardens, park and planting. It was antiently the 
 possession of lairds of the name of Strang ; and is now 
 the seat of Sir Robert Anstruther brother to my Lord 
 Ansrruther 1 . 
 
 A mile from Pittinweem eastward, is Anstruther-Wester, 
 a burgh royal * with a church, both belonging formerly to 
 the priory of Pittinweem. And next to it is Anstruther- 
 Easter, from which it is separat by a stone bridge of two 
 arches over a little river 3 . This is a pretty large royal burgh, 
 well built, and populous, and of great trade, belonging to 
 the lairds of Anstruther as their superior ; with a church 
 
 of 
 
 The pilot and hi* crew went off, believing they were British ships, and 
 requested some powder, which was given. The crew were permitted im- 
 mediately to return, but the pilot was detained, treated very uncivilly, and 
 was not set at liberty, until after the engagement Paul Jones had with our 
 fleet. 
 
 1 The seat of his grandson, Sir Robert Anstruther, Baronet. 
 
 * Anstruther Wester was eredled into a burgh of barony in 1554, and 
 became royal in 1583. The government is vested in three bailies, a trea- 
 surer, and any number of counsellors from six to eleven. This burgh has 
 every mark of decay. It consists of but a very few houses, which'are mostly 
 ruinous. It has no trade, and its harbour is mean and inconvenient. To 
 the general causes which so deeply affedted the prosperity of the towns on 
 the coast of Fife, there are to be added, as peculiarly injurious to Anstru- 
 ther Wester, two inundations towards the end of the ryth century, which 
 destroyed or choked up the harbour, washed away the bulwarks, and swept 
 off a long street, where the principal houses were situated, whose place is 
 covered by the sea every tide. A little west from the town, there is a 
 creek called Westhaven, which at no great expence, might be made an ex- 
 cellent harbour. Nature eems to have fitted it for that purpose, as boat* 
 can come into it almost at low water. It is singularly useful in the fishing 
 season. Part of a quay remains at this haven, which is said to have been 
 built by a Dutch company, who had taken a lease of the coal in the 
 adjacent lands. Stat. Ace. Vol. III. No. 6. 
 
 3 In this rivulet, there is said to have been a salmon fishing ; and as a 
 testimony of it, three salmon are borne as the arms of Anstruther Wester.
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 339 
 
 of this parish of a later ere&ion. They have good maga- 
 zines and cellars for trade, and are provided with all ac- 
 commodations for making and curing of herrings ; which 
 is the staple commoditie of this town, and of all the towns 
 in this east coast of Fife. And this town sends about twenty- 
 four boats to the fishing of herring, formerly they sent yearly 
 about thirty boats to the fishing of herring at the Lewis t 
 and at the same time they had twenty-four ships belonging to 
 them 1 . The harbour is the best in Fife, except Bruntisland 
 X x 2 and 
 
 1 The town of Aiwtruther, along with the other burghs on the coast of 
 Fife, exhibits many vestiges of former commercial prosperity. In all of them 
 many large warehouses for trade, and magnificent dwellings of wealthy mer- 
 chants, are now in a state of decay, or of ruin The loss of their com- 
 merce it to be traced to various causes, especially to some events that have 
 been very beneficial to the kingdom at large. The foreign trade of this 
 country was chiefly carried on with France, whose wines and brandies were 
 imported, partly for home consumption, and partly to be smuggled into 
 England, often engaged in war with France, and always viewing that 
 country with political and commercial jealousy. The accession of James VI. 
 to the crown of England, weakened the peculiar ties \vhich bound Scotland 
 to France. His peaceful reign, and the connections which the succeeding 
 princes of the Stuart family formed with the court of that country, opened 
 the trade of France to the wealth and spirit of English merchants, and anni- 
 hilated the profits which the contraband trade of the Scots, with French 
 commodities, was wont to afford. The union of the kingdoms at h*t 
 destroyed the intercourse of this country with France, at a time when the 
 want of spirit and resources prevented the opening of any other channels 
 of commerce. In the political dissensions of the middle of the lyth cen- 
 tury, the Whigs of Fife took a very aclive part, and, of course, had a very 
 ample share in the subsequent calamities. . The military spirit, and the 
 love of independence, for which the county had long been distinguished, 
 led many gallant bands of the men of Fife into these civil broils, where 
 numbers of them perished, in supporting what they believed to be the cause 
 of God and their country. But it was the fatal battle of Kilsyth which 
 most deeply affe&cd the burghs on the coast. Most of the principal traders 
 and shipmasters, with their seamen, besides a multitude of the people of all 
 classes, were engaged in that most disastrous enterprise. Three regiments 
 from Fife perished almost to a man. The records of the kirk sessions bear 
 testimony to the extent of the losses, by the number cf widows and orphan 
 
 families
 
 340 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 and the Elie, and the peer very convenient for loading and 
 
 unloading 
 
 families which were then admitted to their charities. And there are few old 
 people who do not speak with traditional horror of the bloody field of Kil- 
 syth, or who cannot enumerate some of their relations among the sufferers. 
 The loss of the activity and wealth, and commercial and naval skill of its 
 principal merchants and mariners, could not be repaired in a country that 
 was immediately exposed to the oppressions of successful rebellion, and af- 
 terwards to the civil and ecclesiastical tyranny of the unprincipled courts 
 of Charles II. and James VII. Nor did the revolution bring a remedy ; 
 for it was so quickly followed by a severe and continued famine, (the black 
 years of king William) that the remaining resources of the country were 
 almost entirely exhausted. The ruin of their foreign commerce, and these 
 domestic calamities, were accompanied also with the loss of their coasting 
 trade with England. The principal article of this trade was malt, which 
 was here made free of duty. It was either smuggled by sea in great quan- 
 tities, or landed near the Scottish border, and carried by land into the nor- 
 thern counties of England. The imposition of duties at the union, ruined 
 this branch of commerce, so lucrative both to the burghs and the inland 
 country. Every town exhibits many ruins of malt steeps and barns ; and 
 the aged tell of many scores of them, in places where scarcely one is now 
 occupied. A considerable quantity of salt, made from sea water, was also 
 exported to England. But when duties came at the union to be levied on 
 this article, it could not maintain the competition with the English mineral 
 salt, considerable quantities of which are now brought into Scotland, al- 
 though we are not allowed to import and manufacture the fossil material, 
 a privilege not denied to the sister kingdom of Ireland. The ruins of salt- 
 pans, scattered along the whole coast of Fife, testify the once flourishing 
 state of this trade. Taxes imposed at the union on many other articles, 
 and the numerous restrictions with which the English contrived, in_ the 
 narrow spirit of commercial monopoly, to fetter the trade of Scotland, 
 were quickly and severely felt in this part of the united kingdom, and our 
 languishing commerce hastened fast to utter ruin. A pretty successful 
 fishery, however, for a while retarded the progress of decay in the 
 burghs. But this, too, gradually failed, partly from the disappearance of 
 the herrings from their wonted haunts, and partly perhaps from the feeble 
 exertions of a dispirited and impoverished people. The political situation, 
 too, of the little towns, exposing them to the intrigue and corruption of 
 contested elections, combined with the other causes to promote their de-> 
 lension. From the union till the middle of the last century, almost their 
 only commerce was a contraband importation of spirits and v.-incs, and the 
 
 exportation
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 34! 
 
 unloading of ships'. The lairds of Anstruther, have here 
 the office of searcherie and of giving of coquets. The 
 town has a very good weekly mercat, and is the fifteenth 
 burgh royal of Scotland. The lairds of Anstruther have a 
 stately house here overlooking the town *. 
 
 The family of Anstruther of that Ilk is very antient. In 
 the cartulary of Balmerinoch, D. Willielmus de Candela 
 dominus de Anstroythcr, confirms a donation by his father 
 William, to the monks of Balmerinoch, granting them 
 " Quandam terram adjacentem ex parte orientali ville de 
 Anstrother continen spatium septies viginti pedum, on the 
 sea coast by the way leading to Craill " and this about the 
 seventeenth year of the reign of king Alexander II. In 
 the register of Dryburgh, there is a charter of confirmation 
 " Per Henricum de Anstroyther dominum ejusdem, super 
 tribus bothis in di&a villa de Anstroyther, faa monachis 
 
 ecclesise 
 
 exportation of some coals and grain. It was not till after the peace of 1763, 
 that trade began to revive. Even in 1768, the whole shipping of Anstru- 
 ther was only 80 tons. The cutting of the great canal between the Forth 
 and the Clyde, contributed largely to revive both the agriculture and 
 commerce of the county, by opening an easy access to the market of Glasgow, 
 and the other towns on the west coast of the island, for the surplus grain, 
 and for the productions of the manufacturer ; and the discovery of new shoals 
 of herrings has in part restored the ancient prosperity of the towns on the 
 frith. Some of them, however, have yet derived little benefit from the 
 revival of trade, and of spirit and energy among their neighbours. The pre- 
 sent state of the shipping of the port of Anstruther, including the coast 
 from the mouth of the Lcven to the mouth of the Eden, is, 
 Ships. Tons. JWtu. 
 
 54 193 *Z3 
 
 1 The harbour was much improved in 1753, by the building of a nerr 
 quay on the west side, extending nearly as far as the other on the east side. 
 It is now both safe and commodious. Shipbuilding is carried on here to 
 a considerable extent. The principal imports are the materials for that 
 purpose ; and the chief exports are salted cod and herrings, and grain ; of 
 which last, a8,oco quarter* have been carried in one year from this har- 
 bour alone, chiefly through the canal. 
 
 * Anstruther House is now in ruins.
 
 342 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV, 
 
 ecclesiae de Dryburgh ordinis Premonstratensis, quas habue- 
 runt ex donatione dominorum Henrici et Willielmi prede- 
 cessorum meorum. Testibus domino Thoma Ranulpho 
 comite Moravie, domino David de Wemys domino ejusdem, 
 D. Willielmo Oliphant, D. Willielmo Dis&ingtoun, D. 
 Johanne de Dundemore et D. Alexandro de Fenton mili- 
 tibus," The witnesses insert prove it to have been before 
 anno 1332, for the Jast Thomas Randolf Earl of Murray 
 died that year. And in the same register of Dryburgh, 
 there is about the same time another donation to those 
 monks " Per Henricum de Anstroyther dominum ejusdem, 
 pro salute anime mee, et Matildis sponse mee, de messu- 
 agio, cum gardino, et una acra terre in villa mea de An- 
 stroyther. Testibus D. Jacobo episcopo St. Andree, D. 
 Willielmo Oliphant, D. Johanne de Dundemore, D. Pa- 
 tricio de Polworth, militibus, Thoma de Balcasky, Lau- 
 rerttio de Vynnerston, Valtero de Carale, Henrico Herwart 
 et multis allis." I have seen a charter by Ricardus de 
 Anstroythir, dominus loci ejusdem, granting Johanni difto 
 Strang and the heirs begot betwixt him and his spouse 
 Cecilia, sister to Richard, seven akers and two buts of 
 arable land, with other things, intra terram et territorium 
 Je Anstroyther. This is confirmed by king David II. at 
 St. Andrews, the 24th of April, and of his reign the thirty- 
 third year, that is 1362. And I have seen a commission 
 of embassie and plenipotentiary power, by king Charles I. 
 to Sir Robert Anstruther of that Ilk knight and baronet, 
 one of the gentlemen of his majestie's bed-chamber, to treat 
 xvith the Emperor and the states of Germany, that were to 
 meet at Nuremberg, about the concerns of the Elector Pa- 
 latine, and other affairs of Europe. Dated at Westminster 
 the 1 2th day of April 1627, having die great seal in yel- 
 low wax appended to it. And I have seen also, another 
 commission by the same king, and Frederick, Elector Pah- 
 tine,
 
 SECT. II. J DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 34J 
 
 tine, to the same Sir Robert Anstruther, to be their ambas- 
 sadour and plenipotentiary, for settling all differences be- 
 twixt the Roman Emperor Ferdinand, and the Elector Pa- 
 latine ; given at Westminster the ad day of June 1630, 
 signed by king Charles and Frederick, and having both 
 their seals appended. I have likeways seen a commission 
 by king James I. of Great Britain, to the same Sir Robert 
 Anstruther, for borrowing money from Christian king of 
 Norway, with power to grant security for it in the king's 
 name ; dated at Westminster, March the i oth 1 620. At 
 this time he got from king Christian, in a complement, a 
 ship's loading of timber for building his house in Scotland ; 
 as the grant (I also saw) bears. Sir William Anstruther 
 the present laird of Anstruther, one of the ordinary Lords 
 of the Session, and of the Justiciary, hath a charter, from. 
 Queen Ann (which I have read) dated at Kensingtoun, the 
 aoth of April 1704, of the baronies of Anstruther and 
 Ardross, and many other lands, and of the heritable bay- 
 iiarie of the lordship and regality of Pittenweem ; and of 
 the office of searcherie, and giving coquets for the ports of 
 Anstruther and Elie. And the same charter constitutes 
 him heritably, one of the Cibi cidte or Carvers, and one of the 
 Master-housholds to her majesty and her successors within, 
 the kingdom of Scotland. These offices belonged to his 
 predecessors of old : for I find that 1592, James Anstruther 
 is master-houshold to the king. 
 
 Very near to the east-end of Anstruther-Easter, is Cel- 
 lar-dyke a royal burgh, commonly called Kilrinny. (These 
 three burghs seem to be but one town.) It holds of the 
 laird of Balfour as superiour 1 . It consists of one street, and 
 hath ten boats witli six men in each, that fish all the year 
 over for white fish ; but in the season for fishing herring 
 they *ct out twenty boats with seven men in each : it hath 
 
 a link 
 
 1 Gilbert Bcthune, Es<j. of Balfour. '
 
 344 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 a little harbour. A little above to the north-east, is the 
 village and parish church of Kilrinny or Kilninian, so named 
 from St. Ninian one of St. Regulus's companions'. It be- 
 longed to the abbacy of Dryburgh : and here the laird of 
 Balfour hath one of his seats, which is a fine new house*. 
 In the same village is the seat of Lumisdean of Innergelly 3 a 
 grand-child of Sir James Lumisdean (a cadet of Lumisdean 
 of that Ilk in the Mers) major-general to Gustavus Adol- 
 phus king of Sweden, in whose wars he was famous for 
 the taking of Frankfort on the Oder, and other actions of 
 honour. Here is also the manor of Lumisden of Rinny- 
 Hill. 
 
 A mile east from Kilrinny is Third-part, one of the seats 
 of David Scot of Scotstarbet 4 . He is descended 01" the 
 great family of Buccleugh, a grandson to Sir John Scot of 
 Scotstarbet, director of the chancery, and a Lord of the 
 Session, a very learned gentleman, and a patron of learn- 
 ing : he founded a regency for teaching of the Latin tongue 
 in St. Leonard's College in St. Andrews j and gave a morti- 
 fication to the Smiths of Glasgow, for which he has the 
 presenting of prentices. 
 
 The next place we meet with eastward is Barns, the seat 
 of an ancient family of the name of Cuningham. They 
 have a charter from king Robert II. And to them doth 
 the island of May now belong 5 . 
 
 A mile east from Barns, and two from Kilrinny, is the 
 town of Crail, consisting of two streets from west to east, 
 
 and 
 
 1 The church was dedicated to and named from St. Irenxus, bishop of 
 Lyons, and is still generally called St. Irenie by seafaring men. 
 
 * Kilrenny House is now destroyed. The site of it belongs to Andrew 
 Johnston, Esq. of Rinnyhill or Ircniehill, whose scat is built close by it. 
 
 3 The seat of James Lumisdaine, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of the Marquis of Titchfield, by his marriage with 
 the eldest daughter of the late Major General John Scot of Balcomie, heir- 
 ess of her father, and of his older brother David Scot, Esq. of Scotstarvet. 
 
 s Barns and the Isle of May belong to the Marquis of Titchfield.
 
 SECT. II.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EAST COAST. 34$ 
 
 and there is to be seen the ruins of a strong castle, in 
 which our kings sometimes resided ' : king David I. died 
 here *. It is a burgh royal of an antient erection, before 
 king William's time. Their privileges were from the 
 water of Levin to Pitmilly-burn's mouth, called then the 
 water of Putiken 3 . Boethius says, it was a considerable 
 town, anno 874. The harbour is at the west-end of the 
 town, but cannot admit ships of burden 4 . But there is a 
 creek, east of the town called Roome, where there might be 
 an harbour made for ships of any burden, and well fenced 
 from all winds. The church is a good large building, con- 
 sisting of church, vester y, and quire ; and before the refor- 
 mation it was anno 1517, upon the induement, and petition 
 of the priors of Hadington, and William Myretoun vicar of 
 Lathrisk, ereted into a collegia! church, consisting of a 
 provost, a vicar pensioner, a saccist, and nine other pre- 
 bends 5 . It was of old a place of good trade j and again 
 
 within. 
 
 1 The royal demesne of Crail, with its castle, was frequently part of tlie 
 jointure lands of the Queens of Scotland. The castle is now entirely demo- 
 lished. Upon the site of it, a gentleman has lately erected a neat summer- 
 house, which commands a fine prospect, and having a battery of small can- 
 non mounted upon its top, it makes an excellent appearance from the sea. 
 
 2 A similarity of names has misled Sibbald in this case. David I. fre- 
 quently resided at Crail, but he died at Carlisle, May 1153, where he had 
 fixed his residence for some time before. Carlisle was part of his dominions 
 as Earl of Cumberland. Hailes, Vol. I. 
 
 3 Accordingly the customs are regularly collected by the burgh between 
 Crail and Pitmilly. Pittenweem and Anstruthcr Easter were burdened with 
 an annual rent or reddendo, when they were erected into royal burghs. The 
 other places between Crail arid Leven do not appear ever to have been in 
 use of making any such payment for their anchorage and customs ; but the 
 question has never yet been decided, whether the town of Crail has or 
 has not lost these, with several other rights and privileges. Stat. Ace. 
 
 * This is probably the place called the old harbour in some of the char- 
 ters belonging to the town. 
 
 S It was in this church that the mob, inflamed by the preaching of tlir. 
 runous John Knot, begau the work of abolishing the monument* of idola- 
 try 
 Y v
 
 346 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 within these twenty years they have been improving it by 
 their fishing, beyond what was for some time before '. They 
 have now belonging to them six ships and barks, and about 
 eighty fishing boats, which for the most part are employed 
 in herring fishing, which come upon this coast yearly about 
 Lambas, at which seasons there come from the coasts of 
 Angus, Mearns, and Aberdeenshire about 200 boats more, 
 whom the inhabitants of this town furnish with nets and 
 other materials for the herring fishing : and for this herring 
 trade they have provided themselves with cellars, salt-gir- 
 nels, and other ware-houses proper. 
 
 About a mile from this is the erstmost point of Fife, 
 upon which is a small fishing village, called Fife's-ness *, be- 
 side which is the' house of Balcomie : from Malcolm IV. 
 to James II. anno reg. n. it belonged to the Hayes, and 
 since, the Leslys have possessed it, afterward it came to the 
 Learmonths : and now it is the seat of Sir William Hope, 
 
 uncle to the present Earl of Hopetoun 3 . 
 
 SECT. 
 
 try in Fife, as their brethren had done at Perth a few days before. Having 
 finished their operations here, they followed their apostolical leader to St. 
 Andrews, where they assisted in levelling its beautiful and superb cathedral 
 to the ground. Stat. Ace. Vol. TX. No. 30. 
 
 1 As early as the 9th century, when Crail or Carrail is said to have been 
 a place of considerable note, -the inhabitants of the Netherlands resorted to 
 the coasts of Scotland to purchase salted fish from the natives, of whom 
 they learned the trade which the Dutch have since pursued with so much 
 national advantage. Anderson's Hist, of Commerce. 
 
 a The point of Fife-ness is laid down in north latitude 56 17', and west 
 longitude 2 o 1 . A ridge of rocks, called the Car, runs out from it a con- 
 siderable^ way, and renders the doubling of the cape dangerous to seamen 
 unacquainted with the coast. Ainslie's Map. 
 
 3 Balcomie, which is kept up chiefly as a land-mark for seamen, is the pro- 
 perty of the Earl of Kcllie. This was the landing-place of Mary of Guise, 
 wife of James V. and mother of the ill-fated Mary. She was accompanied 
 by the French Admiral D'Annabault, and was met by James at St. An- 
 drews, where a marriage was celebrated, fruitful in so many evils to the 
 unhappy kingdom of Scotland, and to the beautiful princess, who wa* its 
 only offspring.
 
 SECT. HI.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH COAST. * 347 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 The Coast, from Fife-ness to the Mouth of the River Eden. 
 
 IN OW we turn to the coast on the north of Fyfe, and go 
 westward. The first place of remark is a cave hard by 
 Fife-ness, where king Constantine II. was killed by the 
 Danes, having taken him in battle near this, about anno 
 874'. Here is to be seen the marks of the Danish camp, 
 viz. the ruins of a dry-stone dyke built from north to south, 
 by which they inclosed themselves in the east point of Fife, 
 the other parts being encompassed by the sea. To the west 
 of Balcomie and a little to the south of this 6oast, is Wol- 
 merstoun, antiently the possession of gentlemen of the 
 name of Spence who were of blood to the Macduffs Earls 
 of Fife ; now it belongs to Mr. John Lindesay commissary 
 of St. Andrews, a cadet of the Earl of Craufurd's*. Then 
 we meet with Randerston the possession of Mr. James 
 Balfour, second son to Sir David BalFour of Forret, a Lord 
 of the Session 3 . Below this house is a fort, hard upon the 
 shore, on a rock, called Randerston-Castle : where there is 
 a ruinous old dry-stone wall, or heaps of stones all round 
 the level ground above the rock. 
 
 To the west of this and two miles from the east point, is 
 Cambo, a large fine house with gardens and inclosures and 
 planting ; the seat of Sir Alexander Areskin Lord Lyon, 
 son to Sir Charles Lord Lyon, brother to the Earl of Kellie : 
 of old it belonged to the Camboes of that Ilk, and then to 
 Y y 2 the 
 
 1 See before, page 79. note x. 
 
 4 The seat of Patrick Lindsay, Esq. 
 
 * The property of David Balfour Hay, Eq, of Leyi.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV, 
 
 the Myrtons 1 . And on a rising ground be-south this, is 
 Newhall, an house and estate belonging formerly to the 
 Macmorans, now to the lairds of Cesnuck, by marriage of 
 the heiress*. Half a mile to the east of Cambo and near 
 the cbast is Kings-barns, a pleasant village, with a parish 
 church lately ereted, and several good houses in it belong- 
 ing to the fewars : it was formerly a part of the Earl of 
 Fife's estate, now it is annexed to the crown, to which the 
 present fewars pay a great duty. A mile west of this is 
 Pitmilly near the coast also, the house of a very antient fa- 
 mily of the name of Monipenny 3 . The Lord Monipenny, 
 whom we find in the parliament rolls in king James Ill's, 
 reign, was (say they) a branch of their family. Anno 1 2 1 1 
 Thomas prior of St. Andrews gave, Richardo Monipenie, 
 terram de Putmullin, quam Malisius tenuit. Half a mile 
 from this, on the water of Ken. lay are the ruins of a seat of 
 the archbishop of St. Andrews, called Inchmurtach ; now 
 are to be seen only the ruins, and the walls of a chapel. 
 The books of Paisly and Scone say, that I4th May 1363, 
 king David II. held a parliament here. South of Inch-- 
 rnurtach on a higher ground are some obelisks of rough 
 stones : which the gf eat antiquary Mr. Maule thinks are 
 the monuments of some great men killed in the battle with 
 the Danes. Betwixt this and St. Andrews, and a mile be- 
 east it, on the sea, is Kinkell, so called from the chapel of 
 St. Anna, built here by Kellach bishop of St. Andrews 
 about anno 875. Of old the Moubrays had Kinkell, then by 
 
 marriage 
 
 1 Now a seat of the Right Honourable Thomas Erskine, Earl of Kellie. 
 
 2 Now the property of the Honourable Henry Erskine. 
 
 3 The seat of David Monypenny, Esq. This family produced some 
 eminent statesmen in Scotland ; and from a branch settled in France, seve- 
 ral sprung 1 , who became equally distinguished in that country. The most 
 celebrated was the Sieur dc Concrcssault, who was often employed in im- . 
 portant ncgociations, and at different times visited Scotland as ambassador 
 in the reigns of James III. an,d James IV.
 
 SECT. III.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH COAST. 349 
 
 marringe the Hepburns, afterwards the Monipennies, now 
 the Hamiltons '. 
 
 Then a mile west of it on a level ground and fertile, and 
 six miles from Fife-ness, is the metropolitan city of St. 
 Andrews. Antiently all round it was forrest and infested 
 with boars ; hence this wood was called Ctirsus. apri t and 
 these lands called Byre-hill, were truly Boar-hills ; as the 
 learned Mr. Martine describes it in his Reliquiie Sancli 
 Andrew. They tell of one boar that was of a vast bulk 
 and fierceness, and that two of his teeth, each sixteen 
 inches long and four thick, were chained to St. Andrew's 
 altar in the cathedral church, now demolished*. This city 
 
 consisted 
 
 1 Now the property of John Ramsay, Esq. 
 
 * In this remote and sequestered corner, the boars were probably un- 
 commonly numerous and large. But they seem to have abounded in all North 
 Britain, and from the number, to have been given as the emblem of the 
 country. Oa altars, and other Roman monuments found in the different 
 walls across the island, the figure of a wild boar is often delineated ; and 
 the killing of the large ones which infested the country, was reckoned a 
 most honourable achievement, by the Romans, as well as the natives, and 
 worthy of being recorded in inscriptions on the altars of the gods. An 
 altar, dedicated to Sylvan Mars, was found in a glen in Weardale, in the 
 bishopric of Durham. From the following votive inscription, it appears 
 to have been ereded by C. T. V. Micianus, a Roman general, upon taking 
 an immense boar, which none of his predecessors could destroy. " Silvano 
 invi&o sacrum. C. Tetius Veturius Micianus Prxf. Alae Sebosinae ob 
 aprum eximis forms captum, quern multi antecessores ejus przdari non 
 potuerunt, Votum solvcns lubenter posuit." By the natives, as by their 
 ancestors the Scandinavians, the boar appears to have been hunted with great 
 eagerness, and to have been highly esteemed as a food. Some curious relics 
 of this taste arc to be traced in more recent times. In 1449, at the festi- 
 val which took place after the marriage of James II. with Mary of Gclder, 
 the first dish was the figure of a boar's head painted, and stuck full of lards, 
 or coarse bin of flax, which was served up in an enormous platter, sur- 
 rounded with thirty-two banners, bearing the arms of the king and chief 
 nobles. The flax was then kindled, amid the joy and acclamations of the 
 numerous and brilliant assemMy in the hall. And in 1503, at the marriage 
 
 feast
 
 35 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART 17. 
 
 consisted of three long streets, well built, but now in great 
 decay '. To the north-east of it are the ruins of the castle, 
 which was a great building and strong, as the times then 
 
 needed ; 
 
 feast of James IV. with Margaret of England, the first course was a boar'* 
 head gilt, but not in flames, as at the wedding of James II. While the 
 boar's head, the memorial of the feasts of ancient times, was exhibited at 
 the royal entertainments as a testimony of peace and joy, and of welcome to 
 the guests, the bull's head, according to Boeth. and Pitscottie, was em- 
 ployed as a signal of destruction. The following is a narrative of a case 
 of this nature : " The Earl of Douglas came forward to Edinburgh, and 
 entered into the castle ; where, by outward countenance, he was received 
 with great joy and gladness, and banquetted royally, with all delicates that 
 could be gotten ; and ever that he should take no suspicion of any deceit 
 to follow thereupon. Then, at the last, many of the Earl's friends being 
 caled off the town, and opportunity serving, with consent and advice of 
 the governor, who came then, of set purpose, to Edinburgh, when the 
 dinner was finished, and all the delicate courses taken away, the chancellor 
 (Sir William Crichton) presented a bull's head before the Earl of Douglas, 
 which was a sign and token of condemnation to the death ; but the Earl 
 land his brother beholding this manifold treason, with sad mind and driry 
 countenance, start up from the board, and made to leap at some place 
 where they might anywise get out ; but then, from hand, a company of 
 armed men rushed out round about them, who, breaking all hospitality, 
 lead them to the Castle-hill, with Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld, 
 and other gentlemen their assisters and familiars, and shook their heads 
 from them." If we can believe this account, the presenting of a bull's 
 head as a signal of death, must have been a known custom ; for it is 
 immediately understood by the Douglasses, who before had the utmost 
 confidence in Crichton's hospitality. It is to be remarked, however, that 
 the whole rests on the authority of Boeth. ; for Lindsay's first book is 
 merely a translation from Boeth's Chronicles of Scotland. Gord. Iter. Sept. 
 Pink. Hist. Stuarts. Minstrelsy of the Border, Vol. II. 
 
 1 The great opulence of this city, in the times of Popery, may be con- 
 ceived from this single circumstance, that there was an annual fair here, 
 commencing in the beginning of April, which lasted for some weeks ; and 
 to which there resorted from two to three hundred vessels, from all parts 
 of the then commercial world. From the decay into which St. Andrews 
 fell after the reformation, when the establishments of the regular clergy, its 
 chief support, were destroyed, it is now emerging, by the spirited exer- 
 tions of a few individuals.
 
 SECT. III.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH COAST. 35! 
 
 needed ; built all round a large court square. It was built 
 by Roger bishop of St. Andrews, who died 1 202, and was 
 much repaired by cardinal Bethune and archbishop Hamil- 
 ton : it was the chief palace of the archbishops of St. An- 
 drews. To the south-east of the castle, and east of the 
 city, was the precincl: of the priory called antiently Kilry- 
 mond ; consisting of a very great and magnificent cathedral 
 church, built cross, with five steeples, founded by bishop 
 Arnold, who died 1163. This was pulled down at the re- 
 formation. Beside it stood the chapel of St. Regulus, 
 whose walls and steeple are still intire j tho* built about 
 the end of the fourth century, by Hergustus king of 
 the Pib : it is a piece of notable architecture, and the 
 steeple is an equilateral quadrangle, the height of it that 
 stands yet, is 103 foot, for the sloping spire is gone 1 . There 
 were also here a vast many fine buildings, for the residence 
 and service of the prior and canons, with gardens and other 
 conveniencies. All this was inclosed within a strong high 
 wall that is still entire, with turrets or little bastions, built by- 
 prior John Hepburn. All these are particularly described 
 by Mr. Martine. The ingenious Mr. Sletzer observeth in 
 his Theatrum Scotiae, that the metropolitan church of St. 
 Andrews, was probably the biggest in Christendom, being 
 seven foot longer and two foot broader, than that of St. 
 Peter's at Rome ; and for the height and embellishing of its 
 pillars and roof, the beauty of its stones, and symmetry of 
 its parts, was one of the best of the Gothick kind in the 
 world. The priory consisted of a prior and thirty-four re- 
 gular priests, of the order of St. Austin. It was founded in 
 king David Vs. time by Robert bishop of St. Andrews, who 
 died 1 159. The gray friers had a house here in the Shoe- 
 gate, where the high school erected by Dr. Young, now is. 
 The black friers also had a convent here, at the West-port 
 
 .'.-*! f 
 
 1 See before, page 45. note . and page 165. note i.
 
 352 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 of the North-gate : in king Alexander IPs. time Guiliamus 
 a Dominican here, translates the Bible into English. 
 Dempster in his Apparatus says, that the Carmelites had a 
 settlement in this town. The town church, which is still 
 entire, is a very large cross-church with a steeple of good 
 work, of he wen stone *. 
 
 In this city also is an University consisting of three col- 
 leges of professors, for teaching sciences and languages. 
 
 1. The old College or St. Salvator's College, founded and 
 built by bishop Kennedy, 1458. The vaulted church and 
 steeple of this college are well built of smooth stone. 
 It hath a vastly large hall. This college has now a pro- 
 vost, three regents for teaching philosophy, and one regent 
 who teaches Greek, and one regent who teaches Latin. 
 
 2. St. Leonard's College founded by prior John Hepburn, 
 anno 1512. It hath now a principal, and five regents 
 as the Old College has. 3. The New or St. Mary's 
 College founded and built by archbishop James Bethune, 
 advanced by cardinal Bethune, and finished by archbishop 
 Hamilton, anno 1552. It hath now two professors of theo- 
 logy and one of Hebrew. It hath an observatory, which 
 the famous Mr. James Gregory got built for him. The 
 university here was first begun by bishop Wardlaw, anno 
 141 1. And hath now a professor of mathematicks*. 
 
 Bishop 
 
 '''.-I,' r-^i vr/uC" 
 
 1 The town church has been recently repaired at a great expence, and i 
 BOW a very handsome place of worship. Of the present state of the ruins 
 of St. Andrews, the editor forbears to say any thing, as they are described 
 in so many publications ; and as the curious in these matters may soon ex- 
 pecT. a work entirely on this subject, by a gentleman well qualified for the 
 undertaking. 
 
 2 See before, Part III. Seel. III. Chap. VI. A professorship of medicine 
 has since been founded by the Duke of Chandos. The patronage of it it 
 tested in the University.
 
 SECT. III.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH COAST. 353 
 
 Bishop Robert who founded the priory, got king Mal- 
 colm IV. to erel this city into a burgh royal 1 . It hath an 
 harbour to the east of it, but of difficult access, through 
 rocks : it had of old many ships, but now this is much de- 
 cayed, and they have few ships*. It was of old more popu- 
 lous, and was the seat of the archbishop and prior of St. 
 Andrews. In this city do the courts of the commissariot, 
 and of the regality of St. Andrews still hold. The Earl of 
 Craufurd is heritable baylie and admiral of the regality. 
 Into the harbour doth the little water of Kinness run, and 
 hath a stone bridge of one arch over it, as it enters the 
 same : this rivulet runs along below the south-side of 
 the city, and gives the name of Strathkinness to a strath 
 here. 
 
 On 
 
 1 Subjoined is a literal copy of the charter of Malcolm IV. The late Lord 
 Hailes caused eugrave a fac simile of the original, which is still preserved 
 in the archives of the city, with part of the seal appended tp it. The in- 
 ventors of the forms of writings in more recent times, will smile with 
 contempt at the brevity of this legal instrument of the lath century. 
 44 MALCOLMUS Rex Scottorum omnibus suis probis hominibus Salutem 
 sciatis me concessisse et hac Carta confirmasse Burgensibus Episcopi Sanfli- 
 andree omnes liber tates et consuetudines quas mei Burgenses communes 
 habent per totani terrain meam quibuscumque portubus applicuerint. Qua 
 de re volo et firmitcr super meum plcnarium prohibeo forisfadum ; ne quis 
 sb illis aliquid injuste exigat. Tcstibus Waltero Cancellario, Hugone dc 
 Morevilla, Waltero filio Alani, Waltero de Lindeseia, Roberto AveneL 
 Apud San&umandream." The government of the city is vested in a pro- 
 vost, dean of guild, and four bailies, who, with the town treasurer, are 
 called the office-bearers in the council, and are elected annually at Michael- 
 mas by the whole council. The dean of guild here has the precedence of 
 the bailies, and is preses of the council in absence of the provost. No one is 
 eligible into the council, who is not a burgess and guild brother, assessed 
 in a portion of the public burdens within the city. The provost is the 
 only member of the council who is not obliged to reside. 
 
 1 The harbour was much improved after the beginning of last century, 
 by building a pier out from the beach on the east side of it ; 
 *Hc pier on the north has been considerably extended. 
 
 Zz
 
 354 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 On an eminence without the wall of the priory, and just 
 above the harbour, was the collegiat church of Kirk-heugh : 
 to it belonged the kirk of Seres. It had a provost and ten 
 prebends, it is of a very antient foundation, by Constantino 
 III. who became one of them, and belonged to the Culdees 
 till about the beginning of the fourteenth century. It was 
 called " Prsepositura Capelle regie S. Marie de rupe, prope 
 S. Andream." And on their seal is, Capella D. regis Sco- 
 torum. Accordingly, when anno 1501, king James IV. 
 got the chapel royal of Stirling creeled, the provost of 
 Kirk-heugh was appointed to be always the dean : but 1504, 
 this was altered and the bishop of Galloway made dean. 
 In this college was (saith the author of Scoti Chronicon) a 
 statue of king Constantine III. who retired from the world 
 and became religious in this place l . Sir Thomas Hope is 
 heritable baylie of this provostry. 
 
 The Verses Arthur Johnston made upon St. Andrew?. 
 
 Urbs sacra, nuper eras toti venerabilis orbi, 
 
 Nee fuit in toto sanlior orbe locus. 
 Jupiter erubuit tua cernens templa, sacello 
 
 Et de Tarpeio multa querela fuit. 
 Hrec quoque contemplans Ephesinse conditor sedis 
 
 Ipse suum merito risit et odit opus. 
 Vestibus aequabant templorum marmora mystae, 
 
 Cuntaque divini plena nitoris erant. 
 Ordinis hie sacri princeps, spedlabilis auro, 
 
 Jura dabat patribus Scotia quotquot habet. 
 Priscus honor periit : traxerunt templa ruinarn, 
 
 Nee superest mystis qui fuit ante nitor. 
 Sacra tamen musis urbs es, Phcebique ministris, 
 
 Nee major meritis est honor ille tuis. 
 
 Lumine 
 
 1 Constantine III. retired to this monastery in 944, having resigned thr 
 crown to Malcolm I. He died in 954. pink. Inq. Vol. II.
 
 SECT. III.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH COAST. 35 J 
 
 / 
 
 Lumine te blando, musas quse diligit, eos 
 
 Adspicit, et roseis molliter afflat equis. 
 Mane novo juxta musarum murmurat sedes 
 
 Rauca Thetis, somnos et jubet esse breves. 
 Proximus est campus, studiis hie fessa juventus 
 
 Se recreat, vires sumit et inde novas. 
 Phocis amor Phoebi fuit olim, Palladia A&e, 
 
 In te jam stabilem fixit uterque larem. 
 
 We go no farther north the coast at this time, because it 
 hatli no burghs royal, no trade to give ground for a distinct 
 consideration of it. 
 
 Z z 2 
 
 SECT. 
 
 RUINS OF THE CHAPEL or THE GREY FRIERS IN ST. ANDREWS. 
 
 See before, page 351.
 
 3 5 6 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 SECTION IV, 
 
 Description of the Inland Country, East from the Lomonds. 
 
 .HAVING gone over all the south coast of Fife, and some, 
 of the north j we go up to the inland parts, which consist 
 of a sloping ground from the sea to the hills, (except about 
 Bruntisland and Kinghorn,) then the country westward is 
 mountainous till you enter Kinross- shire, and eastward to 
 the plain of Edin ; benorth this plain it is mountainous to 
 the water of Tay. But the mountains are generally fertile, 
 and well peopled, and intermixed with straths : particular- 
 ly on the north side. In the south hills of the west and 
 east parts of Fife, there were great heaths, but they are now 
 generally improven into corn fields; and these heaths 
 abound with coal. All the traces of hills in Fife lie east 
 and west, except the Lomonds and Nydie-hill. The shelv- 
 ing ground of the east coast of Fife, is of all the sweetest, 
 most plentiful and populous part of it : and begins below 
 Largo-law, and continues to Fife-ness, and is at least two 
 miles broad, till near the point. 
 
 We shall, as we did with the coast, begin at the west 
 part of it, and go east : noticeing only places most remark- 
 able. And first we meet with Drumeldrie, belonging most 
 of it to the representative of the old family of Auchmoutie 
 of that Ilk 1 ; and near to it, is Law-hill, formerly a part of 
 
 the 
 
 1 The school endowed by Mr. Wood is established at Drumeldry, p. 333. 
 The master is bound to educate and maintain six poor scholars. Boys of the 
 uanie of Wood have a preferable claim to the charity. The lands of 
 Orkie, in the parish of Kettle, destined for the support of the school, 
 are rented at L. 140 fer annum. Stat. Ace. VoL XII. No. 6.
 
 SCC. IV.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PARTS INLAND. 351 
 
 the estate of Auchmoutie, and now the seat and posses- 
 sion of Mr. John Craigie professor of philosophy at St. 
 Andrews, and brother to the laird of Dumbarnie in Perth- 
 shire 1 . Next we rencounter the village of Balchristie*, and 
 Newburn 3 : Newburn shire and church belonged to the ab- 
 bacy of Dunfermling, except a duty out of Balchristie, paid 
 first to the Culdees, and then to the priory of St. Andrews 4 . 
 These places are at the foot of Largo-law. To the south 
 of them, in lower ground is Sant-furd, a new house j these 
 lands have belonged to gentlemen of the name of Duding- 
 ston since king Robert Ill's, time 5 . And to the east of this 
 " is the village, and church (that belonged to the nunnery of 
 North Berwick) and house of Kilconquhair belonging to Mr. 
 John Carstairs : it is a well repair'd house with gardens 
 and inclosures 6 . Above, on the side of the hills, is first 
 Riras, autiently belonging to the name of Weems, and then 
 
 by 
 
 1 It is now called Hallhill, and is the property of Mrs. Halket Craigie. 
 
 * The seat of Alexander Christie, Esq. ._, r . r. 
 3 Now the property of Mrs. Halket Craigie. 
 
 * There seems to have been very early, at Balchristie, a religious esta- 
 blishment. The lands Were given by Malcolm and Queen Margaret to the 
 Culdees; (see page 168.) but there seems to have been a church served 
 by them before that time. 
 
 s Now the property of Sir Philip Anstrucher, Bart. 
 
 * Now the seat of Henry Bethune, Esq. There is a beautiful piece of 
 water on the eouth of the village of Kilconquhar, commonly called Kil- 
 conquhar Loch, almost three quarters of a mile in length, and about one 
 quarter of a mile in breadth. This loch was originally called Redmire, 
 from which much fuel was got, as peat and turf. It had a drain westward 
 to the sea. The tradition of the place is, that in the year 1624 or i6zj, the 
 drain was filled up with sand driven by a violent gust of wind from the 
 sea, and that the water, thus stopped in its course, became a lake. A num- 
 ber of swans enliven and adorn this lake. In it there are several small 
 islands planted with shrubs formed for the use of the swans : they hatch 
 .11 the month of May. The beautiful policy of JIlic House skirts the south 
 and west tides of the lake.
 
 358 THE HISTORY OF FIF. [PART IT. 
 
 by marriage with a son of Pitsligoe's, it came to the For- 
 beses, and of late to Captain Chrichton descended of the 
 Earl of Dumfries '. 
 
 To the east of it*, is Balcarras on the same hill, a large 
 and fine. house, with gardens, great inclosures and much 
 planting , the seat of the Earl of Balcarras*. The first of 
 this family, Sir John Lindesay, was a son of the laird of 
 Edzell Earl of Crawfurd, he Was a Lord of the Session, and 
 of the thesaury. March 1595 the is made keeper of the 
 privy seal, and in May 1596 he is made secretary of state, 
 in which office he died. He was also director of the 
 mines, and chancellor of the University of St. Andrews. 
 He was a wise and learned person. His son was 1633 
 created Lord Balcarras, and his grandson was created Earl 
 of Balcarras ; his great-grandson the present Earl has born 
 considerable offices in this kingdom, and was a lord of the 
 thesaury : he has a great bibliotheck here : he has caused 
 build a handsome village below his house, which is named 
 after himself Colinsburgh. East on the hill from Balcarras 
 is Kilbrackmount, the seat of a gentleman of the name of 
 Hamiltoun, descended of Orbistoun in the west 3 . East of 
 this is Gibliston, that was formerly George Sibbald's M. D. 
 now is Mr. George Smith's 4 . 
 
 The next considerable place eastward is Kellie, the seat 
 of the Earl of Kellie; above it the hill rises into a pike, 
 and it's called Kellie-law. This is a good old house 5 . The 
 first of this family was Sir Thomas Areskin son to the Earl 
 
 of 
 
 * Now the property of Alexander Bayne, Esq. 
 
 * Between Hallhill and Balcarras are situated Coats, the seat of John 
 Anstriither Thomson, Esq. of Coats, and Newton, the scat of John An- 
 struther Thomson, Esq. of Charleton. 
 
 2 Now the seat of the Honourable Robert Lindsay of Leuchars. 
 
 3 Now the property of the Hon. Robert Lindsay. 
 
 4 Now the property of Robert Gillespie Smith, Esq. 
 
 5 Kellie Castle is a scat of the Earl of Kellie. The greatest part of the 
 lands belong to Sir Robert Anstruther.
 
 SEC. IV.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PARTS INLAND. 359 
 
 of. Mar, who with Sir John Ramsay rescued king James 
 VI. from Gourie's conspiracy anno 1600. He was first 
 created baron of Dirleton, then viscount Fenton and after- 
 wards Earl of Kellie, anno 1619. After king James's acces- 
 sion to the crown of England, he was captain of his Eng- 
 lish guards, and groom of the stole. 
 
 To the east of Kellie, upon an high ground, and where 
 the tracl: of hills which begin at Largo-law do end, is 
 Carnbie, formerly it belonged to gentlemen of the name of 
 Melvill, and it is now the seat of the Lord Dunkeld ', de- 
 scended of Sir James Galloway son to Mr. Patrick Gallo- 
 way minister of Edinburgh : he was master of requests to 
 king Charles I. and II. ; and was by king Charles II. 
 created Lord Dunkeld, the church here belonged to the 
 abbacy of Dunfermling. 
 
 Near to this in a lower ground is Pitcorthie, remarkable 
 for being the birth-place of the famous Hay, Earl of Carlisle, 
 born of a son of Megginsh in Angus, and of the dowager 
 of Barclay laird of Innergelly, she having these lands in 
 jointure*. And Ada Comitissa gives " Canonicis de Dry- 
 burgh, ecclesiam de Kilrinny, et dtmidiam carrucatam terre 
 de Pitcortyne, et unum toftum in burgo meo de Carele, pro 
 anima D. Henrici mee comitis, et pro anima filii mee Mal- 
 colmi regis, et pro salute anime mei, &c." This donation 
 is confirmed by king William, and by William Earl of 
 Buchan. We add here, That' Margareta de Ardrosse 
 filia D. Merleswan quondam domini de Innergelly, morti- 
 fied the lands of Innergelly to the abbot and convent of 
 Dryburgh, and she constitutes her husband Hugo de Perisby 
 miles, her procurator, for resigning them in the hands of 
 William bishop of St. Andrews : (this is in king Alexander 
 II's. reign , her father Merleswan lived in king William's 
 reign.) 
 
 Southward 
 
 1 Now the property of Sir Philip Anstruthcr. 
 * Now the property of the Marquis of TitchfielJ.
 
 3<fo THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 Southward of Carnbie is Balhouffie, a good new house 
 with all suitable ornaments and conveniencies : the seat 
 of a gentleman of the name of Patullo, descended of a 
 gentleman of that name in Angus ' : and to the north- 
 east of this, and on a higher ground is Airdry, the seat of 
 Mr. Philip Anstruther nevoy to my Lord Anstruther. In 
 king David' IPs. reign, I find that it belonged to Donde- 
 more of that Ilk. Afterwards it came to the Lumisdeans, 
 who 1466 have it. From them it was purchased by Sir 
 John Preston of Penycuick, President of the Session in king 
 James VPs. time *. Further to the north-east is Kippo, 
 the seat of Ayton, a cadet of Ayton of that Ilk 3 : the last 
 heritor of it was Sir John Ayton knight of the black-rod in 
 England. Very antiently it belonged to the Barclays, for 
 1285, John prior of St. Andrews confirms the lands of 
 Auldmuir to Margaret Lindesay, relic!: of Sir Walter Bar- 
 clay of Kippo knight, in liferent, and to Walter Barclay 
 their son in fee. In king James Ill's, reign, Sir Andrew 
 Murray of Balvaird married the heiress, and with them it 
 continued till king James VI. that it was sold to Dr. Philip. 
 
 Westward of this near two miles, as we enter the moun- 
 tainous country, we meet with Stravithy, well situated, be- 
 longing to Lumisdean, a cadet of Lumisdean of Innergelly 4 . 
 and then the church of Dininno belonging to St. Salvator's 
 College. The first place of notice in the high country, is 
 Lathocker, situated in an heath, a new house belonging to 
 a gentleman of the name of Weems s , to which family it 
 hath long pertained, for Henry Wardlaw bishop of St. An- 
 drews, gives a charter to John de Wemys of Kilmany and 
 Janet Wardlaw his spouse, " De ofRcio constabularii castri 
 et civitatis nostre St. Andree, cum terris de Muirtoun et Ra- 
 
 thokyr 
 
 1 The seat of Robert Pattullo, Esq. 
 
 a Now the seat of Methven Erskine, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of James Cheapc, Esq. of Wellfield. 
 
 *, S Now the property of the Marquis of Titchfield.
 
 SEC. IV.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PARTS INLAND. 361 
 
 thokyr infra regalitatera St. Andree." This is confirmed by 
 king James II. 1440. Henry Wardlaw was bishop from, 
 1404, till near the time of this confirmation, but is then dead. 
 South of it is the church of the parish of Cameron, of a mo- 
 dern erection, taken off St. Andrews. 
 
 To the north of this, and in a lower ground, is Clermont, 
 the possession of a gentleman of the name of Martine, sqa 
 to Mr. George Martine that worthy and learned antiquary, 
 who writ a description of the archbishoprick and city of St. 
 Andrews, under the title of Reliquiae divi Andres '. 
 
 After this nothing notable occurs, till we come to Craig- 
 hall the seat of Sir Thomas Hope, the chief of that name. 
 It is a good house with gardens, great inclosures and much 
 planting * : and in a bottom below it, is Ceres a burgh of 
 barony, belonging to Sir Thomas, seated on a water having 
 a stone bridge at the south and another at the north-end of the 
 town, and a church that pertained to the provostry of Kirk- 
 heugh : this estate belonged antiently to the Kyninmonds, 
 and one of the baronies of this estate is named Kynin- 
 mond 3 . "We find Matthew de Kininmond to be bishop o 
 Aberdeen in king Malcolm IV's. reign. From this family, 
 Sir Thomas Hope advocate to king Charles I. bought it : of 
 whom are descended several gentlemen of good estates. 
 
 To the north of Craighall, upon the south-side of Tarvet- 
 hill, is Weems-hall, a pretty new house belonging to Mr. 
 John Weems of Winthank 4 ; and to the west of this, at 
 the end of that hill, is Scots-Tarvet, an old tower of aisler, 
 with a lower house, which is another of the seats of Mr. 
 David Scot, of whom before 5 . It was long the inheritance 
 
 1 Now the property of James Nairne, D. D. 
 
 2 Craighall, the property of the Hon. Major-General John Hope/is now 
 in ruins. 
 
 3 Now the property of Robert Spears, Esq. 
 
 * The seat of James Wemyss, Esq. of Wimhank. 
 
 5 Now the property of James Wemyss, Esq. Great part of the lands 
 belong to Oliver Gourlay, Eq. of Kihnaron. The superiority, with a feu- 
 duty, belongs to the Marquis of Titchfield. 
 
 3A
 
 362 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 of the name of Inglis, and was purchased from them by the 
 above named Sir John Scot. 
 
 Half a mile to the south of this, is Struthers, or Ochter- 
 other-struther, so called from the morasses round it. It is 
 a large old house with gardens, great orchards, and vast 
 inclosures and planting. In David I's. time it belonged 
 to one Radolphus de Ochter-struther de eodem. It is the 
 seat of the Earl of Craufurd 1 : a noble and ancient family. 
 Anno 1357 I find by a charter dated at the abbacy of Lun* 
 doris, that David de Lindesay dominus de Craufurd had 
 three sons, I. Jacobus de Lindesay, who is after his father's 
 death dominus de Craufurd : to him succeeds his son Jaco- 
 bus de Lindesay) dominus de Craufurd, whom king Robert 
 II. often names Nepos noster ; he died sans issue. 2. The 
 second son of David de Lindesay dominus de Craufurd is 
 named Alexander de Lindesay, and is dominus de Glenesk 
 by marrying Catharine Stirling the heiress. His son David 
 de Lindesay, succeeds to his cousin Jacobus de Lindesay, 
 dominus de Craufurd, and is about 1398 created Earl of 
 Craufurd; for, ib* Decembris anno 9. reg. Roberti III. 
 there is a charter by king Robert III. " Dile&o fratri meo 
 David de Lindesay comiti de Craufurd," of the barony of 
 Craufurd, " Cum quatuor puntis corone, et in liberam 
 regalitatem." He married a sister of this king, and he 
 often stiles him Frater. His successor David comes de 
 Craufurd, is, 1 8th May 1488, created Duke of Montross. 
 3. The third son is Willielmus de Lindesay dominus de 
 Byres ; he is, by the productions at the ranking of the nobi- 
 lity, 1 606, found to have been a peer of the degree of a 
 lord. He married Christiana daughter of Sir William Muir 
 of Abercorn, and got with her Abercorn, Dean beside 
 Edinburgh, and the milnes, and many other lands, therefore 
 lie added the Craufurd's arms, three mollets in chief, to the 
 
 Lindesay* 
 
 1 The property of the Earl of Craufurd, but now in ruin*
 
 EC. IV.] DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN PARTS INLAND. 363 
 
 Lindesays fesse checkee. His successor John Lord Linde- 
 say anno 1633, is created Earl of Lindesay; betwixt him 
 and Lowis Earl of Craufurd there was a taylzie, by virtue 
 of which, when Earl Lowis was forfeited, Earl John suc- 
 ceeded to the title of Earl of Craufurd, and to all the 
 remains of the estate. In king Robert Ill's, reign, the 
 i above named Willielmus de Lindesay dominus de Byres, 
 jmade an excambion with Willielmus de Keth marescallus, 
 | giving him the castle of Dalnottar, for Auchter-uther- 
 i struther, West-Markinch and Pittindriech in Fife. 
 
 To the south of Struthers is Carskirdo, the possession of 
 Mr. John Melvil '. To the south-west of Struthers, upon 
 the descent of this hill-country toward the south coast is 
 Aitherny, a fine house with gardens, orchards and parks, 
 jbelonging to a gentleman of the name of Watson. In 
 David I's. time it was the inheritance of Stephanus de 
 jAiderny de eodem. Afterwards it belonged to the Car- 
 imichells, Inglises and Rigses successively *. North-west of 
 this is Kilmucks, on a higher ground, the possession of Mr. 
 John Durie 3 . To the west of it is Auchtermairny on the 
 top of the hill, the possession of a cadet of the family of 
 Lundin 4 . And northward of this amongst the hills is 
 Dovan belonging to Boisvill a cadet of Balmuto 5 . Then 
 we find Forther, an old fabrick and the seat of a gentleman 
 of the name of Pitcairn, the representative pf secretary 
 'itcairn : this formerly belonged to the Ramsays 6 . South- 
 ward of this is Kirkforther, the place of an old parsonage 
 now suppressed ; it hath since king James Vs. reign be- 
 3 A 2 longed 
 
 1 Now the property of Miss Halkerston of Greensidc. 
 
 3 The property of Sir William Erskine, Bart, and is now in ruins. 
 
 3 Now the seat of John Tullideph, Esq. 
 
 * The scat of Richard Lundin, Esq. 
 
 5 Now the property of John Balfour, Esq. of Balbirnie. 
 
 ' Now the property of George Ramsay, Esq. of Whitehall.
 
 \ 
 
 364 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT, 
 
 Jonged to Lindesays, cadets of the Earl of Craufurd '. And 
 south of this is Pyotstoun the heritage of Mr. John Thomson 
 writer to the signet a . Then Karristoun the seat of a gen- 
 tleman of the name of Seaton, a near cadet of the Earl of 
 Winton 3 . West of it in a low ground, is Balbirny, an old 
 house with planting belonging to gentlemen of the name of 
 Balfour, antiently it belonged to Balbirny of that Ilk 4 . 
 And eastward is Bruntoun a part of the barony of Dalgr 
 inche, belonging to the representative of Law archbishop 
 of Glasgow, who purchased it from Wardlaw of Torry 5 . 
 Here antiently Malcolm Earl of Fife had a castle. Reg. 
 Maj. lib. i. c. 20. appoints Dalginche as the capital place 
 of Fife, at which these accused of theft were to find surety 
 for sisting themselves in judgement. West of it, in a lower 
 ground is Markinch, a village, (with a parish church, of old 
 one of the prior's of St. Andrews) belonging to the Earl of 
 Levin 6 . In a charter of king William to the priory of St. 
 Andrews, he confirms a donation of the kirk of Markinch 
 to them, by Eugenius films Hugonis filii Gillemichel comitis 
 de Fyfe. 
 
 We turn now to the Lomond-hill, that north of this 
 stretches itself to the north-west and hath two pikes, with 
 the moss of Ballo betwixt them : it hath a great store of sheep 
 upon it with fine wool. And at the foot of it, is first, Pit- 
 cairn, a gopd new house with an inclosure belonging to the 
 learned Archibald Pitcairn, M. D. a cadet of Forther 7 . 
 Higher upon the hill, and to the east is Bandon, the house 
 
 of 
 
 1 Now the property of Christopher Seton, Esq. 
 
 2 Now the property of John Balfour, Esq. of Balbirnie. 
 
 3 Now the property of James Wemyss, Esq. of Carriston. 
 * The scat of John Balfour, Esq. 
 
 5 Now called Barnsley, the seat of William Paston, Esq. 
 
 6 The property of the Earl of Leven and Melvill. 
 
 7 Now the property of John Balfour, Esq. of Balbirnie.
 
 SECT. T.] DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATH OF LEVEN. 365 
 
 of a gentleman of the name of Bethune the nearest cadet of 
 the laird of Balfour '. Above this and higher on the hill 
 is Conland, the possession of Mr. David Kinloch, the re- 
 presentative of the ancient Kinlochs of that Ilk *. NeaY to 
 this is an other Conland, belonging to John Hay, D. D. a 
 cadet of Nauchton s . Eastward upon the side of the Lo^ 
 monds overlooking the valley of Edin, is Drumms, the 
 house of Lundin a cadet of the family of Lundin 4 . Below 
 Drumms, in a better climate, is Pittillock, the heritage of 
 Mr. Mungo Law advocate 5 . And to the north of that, 
 near Falkland, lies also under the hill, Purin the possession 
 of Mr. Henry Montgomery alias Miller 6 . 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Description of the Strath of Leven. 
 
 JN EXT we shall survey the strath in which the water of 
 Levin runs ; but in our way to it, in the shelving ground 
 be-south the hills, is a large village called Kennoway, or 
 Kenneth' s-way, of one street, from north to south (with a 
 parish church that belonged to the prior) pertaining to the 
 laird of Balfour ". South of it is a little hill fenced on the 
 
 south 
 
 1 Now the property of Robert Balfour, Esq. 
 
 - Now the property of David Johnston, Esq. of Lathrisk. 
 3 Now the property of John Murray, Esq. 
 
 * The seat of William Hepburn, Esq. Part of the land* belongs to the 
 representative of the family, Michael Lundin, Esq. 
 
 5 The seat of Arthur Law, Esq. 
 
 Now the property of William Miller, M. D. 
 " The property of Gilbert Bethune, Esq.
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. ' [PART IT. 
 
 south-side with fossees, called the Maiden Castle ', which 
 Boethius calls " Arx Septinalis totidem fossis munita olim 
 possessio Fifi Dufli, cujus posteritas per multa secula earn 
 tenuere." Some make it a seat of Macduff Earl of Fife. 
 But there is no room on that hill for a house to lodge i 
 person of any grandeur. 
 
 The river of Levin which we described before, has a few 
 fine seats upon it, and of antient great families. The first 
 we see going westward and up the river, on the south brink 
 of it is Balfour, or Bal-Or, from the water of Or running 
 at a little distance on the south of it. It is a fine new house 
 with gardens and inclosures, and is one of the seats of Mr. 
 James Bethune z . It gave the name of Balfour to a very 
 antient family that were heritors of it. They reckon their 
 descent from the time of king Duncan, Anno 15. reg. Alex- 
 andri. II. Ingelramus de Balfour vice-comes de Fife, is wit- 
 ness to a charter of confirmation by this king to the monas- 
 tery of Aberbrothock, of a mortification to them by Philip 
 de Moubray, " De uno pienario tofto in Innerkeithing." And 
 Henricus de Balfour is witness to an other confirmation by 
 this same king Alexander II. to that monastery, of a dona- 
 tion by Malcolmus comes de Angus, " De terris in territorio 
 de Kermuir." The book of Melross tells us, that anno 1 246, 
 ' Obiit dominus Henricus de Balfour, et a S. Jacobo de- 
 portatur corpus, et tumulatur in ecclesia abbatie de Mel- 
 ross." And that anno 1347, "Adam de Balfour, ibidem 
 sepelitur." Then the seals of David de Balfour, and Mal- 
 colm de Balfour, are, among others present in parliament 
 at Cambuskenneth, 6th of November 1314, appended to 
 
 the 
 
 1 The Maiden Castle is on the farm of Duniface, belonging to the united 
 college of St. Andrews, as administrators of the Ramsay bursaries ; of these 
 there are five, at L 21 per annum, and they may be held for nine year*. 
 They are in the gift of Sir Alexander Ramsay brine, Bart, of Balmain. 
 
 * The seat of Gilbert Bcthunc, Esq.
 
 SECT. V.] DESCRIPTION OP THE STRATH OF LEVEN. 36*7 
 
 the general sentence by that parliament of forfalture of all 
 the rebels. And in the parliament at Air, 1315, dominica 
 proxima ante festum, S. Jacobi, are Michael de Balfour vice- 
 comes de Fife, et David de Balfour, and their seals are ap- 
 pended to an a& of that parliament, taylzieing the crown. 
 And there are at present, a greater number of heritors in Fife 
 of the name of Balfour than of any other. But anno 5. 
 reg. Roberti II. dominus Johannes de Balfour de eodem 
 miles, dying without sons, dominus Robertus de Bethune, 
 familiaris regis Roberti II. (as my author calls him) married 
 his daughter the heiress of Balfour, and yet retained the 
 name of Bethune ; of this family since that, are several he- 
 ritors of the name of Bethune descended ; as the prefixed 
 list shews 1 . James Bethune archbishop of St. Andrews and 
 chancellor of Scotland, and his nevoy David Bethune car- 
 dinal of St. Andrews and chancellor of Scotland, and the 
 cardinal's nevoy James Bethune archbishop of Glasgow, 
 were all three sons of this house of Balfour. And of the 
 same in king James IV's. time, descended the Bethunes, 
 lairds of Criech, which failed but of late, and the estate 
 was united to that of Balfour. The name of Bethune also 
 is very antient and honourable in Scotland. In the end 
 of king William's reign or beginning of king Alexander 
 II's. Robertus de Beton is witness to a charter by Rogerua 
 de Quincy comes de Winton constabularius Scotie, to 
 Sayerus de Seaton, of an annuity out of the miln and 
 railn lands de Tranent. And in the above cited .charter of 
 mortification of lands in terrhorio de Kermuir, David de 
 Beton, and Johannes de Beton are also witnesses. And 
 about 1296, we find David de Beton, miles, and Alexander 
 de Beton, is in the above quoted parliament, 6th Novem- 
 ber 1314. and his seal is appended to the adl of forfal- 
 ture. And severals of this name I find witnesses to char- 
 ters by Duncan Earl of Fife. 
 
 A 
 1 Sec Appendix.
 
 368 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 A very little to the west of Balfour, upon the same side 
 of the river of Levin, is Balgony, one of the seats of Leslie 
 Earl of Levin, who has considerably enlarged the house, 
 and made new gardens and vast inclosures round it, on 
 both sides of Levin 1 . It was the seat of a very antient 
 family of the name of Sibbald. George Douglass Earl of 
 Angus who died anno 1461, married Elizabeth daughter 
 to Sir Andrew Sibbald of Balgony ; of this marriage was 
 born Archibald Earl of Angus, father of the learned Gavin 
 Douglas bishop of Dunkeld. Hume of Godscroft, and 
 the learned antiquary Mr. Thomas Craufurd say, that 
 dominus Thomas Sibbald de Balgorty was thesaurarius 
 regis Jacobi II. In king James IV's. reign, Sir Andrew 
 Sibbald of Balgony, and (Sir James Balfour says) sheriff 
 of Fife, dying without sons, Robert de Lundin a younger 
 son of the -laird of Lundin, married Helena his daughter 
 and heiress, and got the estate, yet retained the name of Lun- 
 din. This Robertus de Lundin I find thesaurarius regis vel 
 regni, anno 1497 and 1498,. and his son Andreas de Lundin 
 find to be sheriff of Fife, 1504, and 1505. In king Charles 
 Fs. reign, General Alexander Leslie purchased Balgony, 
 and was by that king created Earl of Levin, whose great 
 grandson the present Earl is. The name of Sibbald is very 
 antient in Scotland. In the end of king William's reign or 
 beginning of Alexander II. Duncanus Sibbauld is witness 
 to that charter by Rogerus comes de Winton to Sayerus de 
 Seaton. I have an authentick bull by Pope Innocentius IV. 
 about anno 1250, referring the cognition of a complaint 
 made to him by the prior and capitulum of St. Andrews, 
 that the bishop of St. Andrews, had introduced Ordo Tri- 
 nitatis et captivorum, within a parish belonging to them, 
 and allowed some knights to build chapels and oratories, 
 within parishes of theirs. And upon the foot are marked 
 
 in 
 
 1 A seat of the Earl of 'Lcven and Melvill, which was much embellished 
 by the present noble proprietor, when Lord Balgony,
 
 SECT. V.] DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATH OF LEVEN. 369 
 
 in a$ antient writ ; " Duncano Sibauld et Willielmo de 
 Valoynes militibus, &c. St. Andree dioces. concessit, eorun- 
 dem prioris et capituli negle&o assensu et ibidem quasdem. 
 capellas construxemnt." Now Balgony is within the parish 
 of Markinch, which was one of the churches of the priory 
 of St. Andrews. And anno 1246, Donatus Sibbauld is 
 witness to a charter by the same Earl of Winchester to 
 Adam de Seton, " De Maritagio heredis Alani de Fauside." 
 In the cartulary of Coupar there is a charter Donatt 
 Sybaldi filii Walteri, " De dimidia merca argenti, annuatim. 
 solvenda e molendino meo de Lundin. Testibus D En- 
 gelramo de Vallibus, Alexandro de Camelyn, Engeiramo 
 de Gourley, Duncano Sybald." And there is carta dona- 
 tionis per Duncanum Sybald monachis de Cupro, " De. 
 una petra cere, et quatuor solidis ad lumen misse He St 
 Maria, annuatim percipiend. e terra mea Miraitembeg. 
 Anno gratie 1 206." In a charter of donation of the wood, 
 of Crostach by Thomas de Lundin to the monks of Aber- 
 brothock, there are witnesses, " Bricio episcopo Moravicnsi, 
 Waltero filio Sybaldi, Phil/Ippo de Malevell, Waltero filio 
 Walteri Sybald." This is confirmed by king William. I 
 find Matheus Sybauld testis to several charters of Duncan 
 the last Earl of Fife of the Macduffs. And Thomas Sybald 
 miles is testis in several charters, in king Robert IPs. time : 
 particularly to that writ of alienation of the earldom of Fife 
 by Isabella comitissa de Fyfe, to Robert Stuart Earl of Mon- 
 teith 1371. There is a charter by king Robert to Alex- 
 ander Sybald, de terris de Cuickston. A charter by Robert 
 Duke of Albany Earl of Fife to Sir John Sibbald of Bal- 
 gony, de terris de Rossie et Creinberg. A charter by king 
 Robert to Thomas Sibbald, " De quinquc marcis annul 
 redditus de firmis burgi de Crail." 
 
 Abput a mile to the west of Balgony, and to the south 
 of the water of Levin, on an eminence about half a mile's 
 
 3 B distance
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 distance from it, is Auchmoutie, the seat of an antient 
 family of the same name : it is now the possession of the 
 Earl of Rothes. 
 
 Two miles west and more from Balgony, is seated on the 
 north side of the river of Levin, the magnificent palace of 
 Leslie, with its gardens, terrasses, and a great inclosure with 
 much young planting : all built of new by the late Duke 
 of Rothes. It is one of the seats of the 'Duke's grandson, 
 John Lesley Earl of Rothes heritable sheriff of Fife ; 
 which office has been heritably in that family since king 
 James Vs. time. The house is noble and great, all round 
 a court, and has very fine apartments and richly furnished 1 . 
 It stands in a point of ground betwixt the river of Levin 
 and the water of Lotrie, which below the house runs into 
 the other. Upon Lotrie at the entry of the house there is 
 a fine stone bridge built at the same time with the house. 
 Above the house to the north upon an eminence is the parish 
 church that pertained to the monastery of Inch-colm : and 
 the large well built village of Leslie of one street from east 
 to west, belonging to the Earl. The barony of Leslie was 
 antiently named Fithill. And Sir James Balfour says the 
 house was very antiently called Harp ad Levin, from some 
 resemblance to an harp that the angle of land had, upon 
 which the house is built. It is a noble antient family, and 
 I shall set down their descent, as it was sent me: 
 
 1. Bartholomew Lesly, who came fo Scotland, anno 1097. 
 
 Died 1 1 20. 
 
 2. Malcolm. 
 
 3. Norman, married Margaret daughter to the Lord Lorn, 
 
 1182. 
 
 4. Leonard, married Catharin More heiress of Taces in Fife. 
 
 5. Norman, anno 1283. 
 
 6. Andrew
 
 SECT. V.] DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATH OF LEVEN. 37 J 
 
 6. Andrew, married Mary one of the heiresses of Aber- 
 
 nethy, before 1317. 
 
 1. Andrew died about 1400. 
 
 2. Norman his son died about 1391. 
 
 3. David died issueless, 1439. 
 
 7. Norman the first of Rothes married Margaret Leslie, 
 
 died before 1367. 
 
 8. George married Elizabeth Haydaughter to the Constable, 
 
 he died about 1420. 
 
 9. Norman, married Christina Seaton, 1417. and he is 
 
 served heir to his cousin David, 19. May 1439. 
 
 10. George, served heir to his father Norman, 3d February 
 
 1439, married Christina Haliburton. He is created 
 
 Earl of Rothes, 1457. 
 
 Andrew, master of Rothes, he married Elizabeth Sin- 
 clair daughter to the Earl of Orkney anno 1459. 
 He died before his father. 
 
 John his eldest son married Janet Keith, daughter to 
 the Earl Mareschal, anno 1477, he died before his 
 grandfather, sans issue. 
 
 11. George second son to Andrew master of Rothes, suc- 
 
 ceeds to his grandfather George, and is the second Earl 
 of Rothes. He died without issue. 
 
 12. William third son to Andrew the master, and third 
 
 Earl. He married Balfour daughter to Mount- 
 
 \vhannie. He was killed at Flowden, 1513. 
 
 13. George the fourth Earl of Rothes, married Agnes 
 
 Sommervill about 1526. He died at Deip 1557. 
 
 14. Andrew the fifth Earl, married Grisel daughter to Sir 
 
 James Hamilton of Finnert, i6th June 1548. 
 
 James master of Rothes married Lindesay 
 
 daughter to the Lord Lindesay of Byres. 
 
 15. John the sixth Earl, succeeds to his grandfather, he 
 
 married Anna Areskin daughter to the Earl of Mar. 
 He died 1641. 
 
 3 B 2 1 6. John
 
 J72 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. .[PART IV. 
 
 16. John Duke of Rothes, married Anna Lindesey daugh- 
 
 ter to the Earl of Craufurd. He died 1681. 
 
 17. Margaret Countess of Rothes, married to Charles Earl 
 
 of Hadinton. She died 2oth of August 1700. 
 
 1 8. John Earl of Rothes, her eldest son, married Jean Hay 
 
 daughter to the Marquis of Tweedale, 2pth April 
 1697. 
 
 Anno 1366, Walter de Lesly, a son of this family, mar- 
 ried the eldest daughter and heiress of William Earl of 
 Ross, and in her right was Earl of Ross ; their son Alex- 
 ander Lesly succeeds as Earl of Ross, and his daughter 
 Eupham de Lesly is Countess of Ross. George the fourth 
 Earl of Rothes is Queen Mary's ambassador to Christian 
 king of Denmark and Norway, his commission is dated, 
 June 24th 1550. This I have seen a copy of, 
 
 and of that king's answer, with his letter to Queen Mary, 
 approving and commending the negotiation of this Earl her 
 ambassador, dated that same year. John Duke of Rothes 
 was of a princely presence and of great capacities. He was 
 long prisoner after the unfortunate battle of Worcester. 
 But after the restoration of king Charles II. he was much 
 favoured by that prince, who made him captain of his horse 
 guards in Scotland, and general of all the forces there ; 
 then he was made high treasurer. And he was high com- 
 missioner, or his majesty's representative in parliament 
 1663. At last he was made great chancellor of Scotland, 
 anno 1665, and in this high post he continued till his 
 death. 
 
 Above Lesly, a mile to the north-west of it, upon an high 
 ground, at some distance from the water of J^evin, is 
 Strathenry an old building, the possession antiently of the 
 Strathenries of that Ilk. Then anno 1496, Forrester a 
 son of Carden's married the heiress, and it continued in the 
 
 name
 
 SECT. VI.] DESCRIPTION OF LOCHORSHIRE. 373 
 
 name of Forrester, till king Charles IPs. time, that a younger 
 son of Kirkness married the heiress and got the estate : 
 and his son Mr. John Douglass is the present possessor *. 
 
 The next place near the water of Levin, and the west- 
 most part of Fife upon it, is Balbedy, on a rising ground 
 to the south of that river. It is a pleasant house with gar- 
 dens and inclosures, and well planted. It is one of the 
 seats of Michael Malcolm, second son of John Malcolm of 
 Balbedy, who had a considerable estate in this shire *. 
 
 This river of Levin takes its source (as was said) from 
 Loch-levin, and taking its course eastwards, runs about ten 
 miles and falls into the Firth of Forth (as is noted above) 
 at the town of Levin. It hath upon it the Gullet, a bridge 
 of three arches of stone, just at its beginning ; a mile be- 
 low this, is the bridge of Auchmuir of two arches of stone, 
 built by the above named John Malcolm of Balbedy : the 
 bridge of Balbirny of two arches of stone : the bridge at 
 the Milntoun of Balgonie of two arches of stone built by 
 the present Earl of Levin : and Camron-bridge of the like 
 arches of stone, upon the highway from Kenoway tq 
 Kirkcaldie. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Description of Lochorshire. 
 
 A ASS1NG by Kirkness, which is to the west of Balbedy, 
 and is in the shire of Kinross, and hath been already men- 
 tioned, we enter Lochor-shire, which is to the west and 
 south of this, and comprehended of old the parish of Ba- 
 
 lingry, 
 
 ' The seat of Robert Douglas, Esq. 
 
 2 The property of John Malcolm, Esq.
 
 374 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 lingry, and Auchterdiran, which was the estate of the 
 Lochors of that Ilk, of whom I find Adam de Lochor 
 sheriff of Perth in king Alexander IPs. reign. And there is 
 David de Lochor in the reigns of Alexander II. and III. who 
 1255 is sheriff of Perth : and there is one David de Lochor 
 named in Ragman's roll, anno 1296. About 1289 Hugo 
 de Lochor is vice-comes de Fyfe. In king Alexander IPs. 
 time, 1235 Constantinus de Lochor with consent of David 
 his son and heir and Philip his brother, renounces his claim 
 to Kinglassie in favours of the abbacy of Dunfermling. 
 And anno 1315 Thomas de Lochor is in the parliament at 
 Air that tailzied the crown, and his seal is appended to that 
 aft. The gentlemen of that name had several other lands ; 
 tho' scarce one of the name is now to be found. It fell in 
 Robert Ps. time to the son of a gentleman Adam de Valoniis 
 who had married a daughter of the barons of Lochor, and 
 
 it continued with this name of Vallange, till anno 
 
 that D. Jacobus de Valoniis leaving only three daughters ; 
 the eldest was married to Sir Andrew Wardlaw of Torry, 
 and with her he got Wester-Lochorshire, or the parish of 
 Balingry, whose church is an old parsonage at the laird of 
 Lochor's presentation 1 . The second daughter was married 
 to Roger Boisvill predecessor to Balmuto, and her portion 
 was the half of the parish of Auchterdiran 3 , (whose church 
 is an old parsonage in Balmuto's patronage) with Glasmont 
 and Muircambus. His third daughter was married to 
 Livingston of East-Weems, who got with her the other 
 half of Auchterdiran parish 3 . Wardlaw of Torrie kept 
 the barony of Lochor, (sometimes also called Inchgall) 
 till king Charles Ps. time, and their chief mansion was 
 the castle of Lochor within the loch of Lochor, consist- 
 ing 
 
 * The lands of Balingry, are now the property of Laurence Bonar, Esq. 
 The patronage of the church belongs to John Syme, Esq. of Cartraorc. 
 a , 3 Now the property of Lord Mint.
 
 SECT. VI.] DESCRIPTION OF LOCIIORSHIRE. 37J 
 
 ing of a strong tower and many lower houses, all inclosed 
 with a wall, that is washed with the water of the loch) built 
 by Duncan Lochor, in king Malcolm's time. It seems to 
 have been much fortified and repaired by the Wardlaws, 
 for the chief entry to the tower has above it Robertus 
 Wardlaw. This loch is in a very low ground, and about a 
 mile in circuit, abounding with pikes and perches, and has 
 large meadows to the west and north of it. Most of that 
 barony of Lochor is now a part of the estate of Sir 
 John Malcolm, eldest son to John Malcolm of Baibedy 
 (whom we mentioned before) who built on aa eminence 
 above the loch a fine new house, with gardens and inclo- 
 tures, which is now one of their ordinary seats, the castle 
 being ruinous '. West of this house, is Blair, a new 
 house with a good coal, belonging to Mr. Alexander Col- 
 vil, a cadet of the Lord Colvil of Culross *. 
 
 In Lochor-shire do three little rivers take their beginning, 
 the northmost is Lochtie, which takes it's source from the 
 hill of Benartie, (an high hill of about a mile and a half in, 
 length, from west to east, all green, and affords pasture for 
 sheep ; but the rocks on the north side of it lodge many 
 foxes). Lochtie in a little stream runs by the kirk of Ba- 
 lingry, at the south foot of Benartie, from that through a 
 great marish called Bog-Lochtie, by east Kirkness ; to the 
 east of this marish is Kinglassie, where is upon the north 
 side of Lochtie, a parish church (that belonged to the 
 abbacy of Dunfermling) and the seat of William Ay ton 
 alias Douglas 3 , M. D. brother to Sir Robert Douglas of 
 Kirkness, who married the heiress of the name of Ayton, 
 a cadet of Kinaldie : their other seat is Finglassie, more 
 than a mile to the east of this near Lochtie. The tiends of 
 
 Kinglassie 
 
 1 The lake of Lochor is now drained. The estate is the property f 
 John Syme, Esq. of Cartmore. 
 
 1 Now the property of William Adam, Esq. of Blair-Adam. 
 
 s New the property of Roger Ayton, Esq. of Inchdarnie.
 
 376 THE HISTORY OP FIEL. [PART IT. 
 
 Kinglassie were anno 1 234, mortified by William bishop of 
 St. Andrews, " Deo, S. Margarete et monachis de Dun- 
 fermling:" as the records of that abbacy bear. And imo. 
 Martii 1235, Constantinus de Lochor, with consent of 
 David his son and heir, and Philip his brother, renounces 
 in favours of the monks of Dunfermling, all title or interest 
 he had or can pretend to the lands of Kinglassin. Above 
 Kinglassie on an eminence is Finmount the possession of 
 Mr. David Burgh 1 . 
 
 A little to the east of Kinglassie, in the same strath of 
 Lochtie, is Inch-darny, the seat of a gentleman of the name 
 of Ayton, a cadet of Ayton of that Ilk*. About two miles 
 east is Pitewchar, formerly belonging to the Clarks, now 
 belonging to Mr. James Moyes 3 . 
 
 On the hills above this strath to the north, is the village 
 of Gait-milk, belonging to Mr. James Oswald 4 ; it for- 
 merly gave the name of Gait-milk-shire to several lands 
 around it, all belonging to the abbacy of Dunfermling ; 
 who had fewed them out ^before the reformation. To the 
 cast of Pitewchar, and on the highway from Kirkaldie to 
 Falkland, is a stone bridge of two arches, built by James 
 Bethune archbishop of St. Andrews : below that bridge it 
 runs into Or. On the hill-head to the south of this strath, 
 and over against Kinglassy is Pitlochy the possession of Mr. 
 Patrick Murray 5 . And on the north side of Bog-Lochtic 
 is Pitkeanie, the heritage of Mr. James Weems, a cadet of 
 the Earl of Weems 6 . 
 
 The second river that ariseth in Lochor-shire, is Or, 
 
 which 
 
 1 Now the property of Mrs. Campbell. 
 
 a The seat of Roger Ayton, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of William Drysdale, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of Roger Ayton, Esq. of Inchdarnic. 
 
 S The property of William Murray, Esq. of Polmaise. 
 
 The property of David \Wmyss, Esq.
 
 SECT. VI.] DESCRIPTION OF LOCHORSHIRE. "377 
 
 \vhich cometh out of the loch of that name, and is to the 
 south of Lochtie. This runs through a populous strath, 
 and falls into the river of Levin, to the east of Balfour, ha- 
 ving before that received Lochtie. It has upon it a little 
 bridge at its beginning, and below that the Bow-bridge - 
 (as it is called) of one arch. Then is the stone bridge at 
 Bowhill, and in the way from Kirkcaldy to Falkland is a 
 stone bridge of two arches, built by the above named James 
 Bethune, archbishop of St. Andrews. 
 
 In this strath of Or there is Bowhill, the heritage of Mr. 
 John Scrimzeour, the representative of the Scrimzeours of 
 the Myres '. Above this to the north, and on an higher 
 ground, is Balgony, belonging to Mr. David Dewar, bro- 
 ther to Lassodie *. And to the east of this is the village 
 and parish-kirk of Auchterdiran, and to the east of it is 
 Balgriegie, the heritage of Mr. John Sinclair, a cadet of my 
 Lord Sinclair, being great grand-son to Patrick Sinclair son 
 to Henry Lord Sinclair, and he purchased Balgriegie 3 . 
 Above Auchtcrdiran and Balgriegie to the north is a range 
 of rocks tint are carried east to Docktoun, where there is 
 a Danish obelisk, or monument of stone. 
 
 Below Docktoun on the north brink of Or, is Clunies, 
 which has been a good house, and pleasantly situate, but 
 now ruinous 4 . These lancjs were mortified to the monas- 
 tery of Dumfermling by Sibilla, Alexander I's. queen : and 
 the monks feued them to Duncan Earl of Fyfe in Alex- 
 ander Ill's, time. The Earls of Fyfe kept these lands till 
 their forfalture by king James I. by which they returned to 
 the monastery of Dumfermling: and anno 1437, they feu- 
 ed them to Sir David Stuart of Ressyth ; but in king James 
 Hi's time, Stuart of Ressyth disponed them to David 
 
 Crichton 
 
 1 Now the property of Roger Ayton, Esq. of Inchdarnie. 
 
 * Now Little Balgony, the property of Lieut. Col. David Clephane. 
 - 1 Now the property of Roger Ayton, Esq. of Inchdarnie. 
 
 * Nuw the property of William Fcrgusson, Esq. of Raith. 
 
 3C
 
 378- THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [>ART IT. 
 
 Crichton of Cranston-riddel, a cadet of the Lord Crich- 
 ton ; his posterity enjoyed this estate till Charles IPs time, 
 that the Duke of Rothes purchased them, and they are now 
 a part of the earldom of Rothes. To the east of this, and 
 on the south-side of Or, is Skedoway, belonging to a gentle- 
 man of the name of Alexander '. 
 
 The third river that begins in Lochor-shire is Gellie, 
 which runs out of Loch-gellie ; this loch is about a mile 
 in circumference, and has the same fishes as Lochor. On 
 an eminence to the north of this loch is the house of East- 
 er Loch-gellie, one of the seats of Sir Alexander Murray 
 of Melgum, of the family of Philiphaugh, by his marrying 
 the heiress of Kinninmonth -, for after the barons of Kin- 
 ninmonth sold Craighall, they bought an estate here, one 
 part of which was antiently called Kinninmonth *. Beside 
 this, is Wester Loch-gellie, belonging to Mr. Henry Scrim- 
 zeour, writer to the Signet, descended of the Scrimzeours, 
 constables of Dundee 3 . 
 
 The water of Gellie has upon the north brink, as it comes 
 out of the loch, Powguild, belonging to Mr. David Betson, 
 the representative of Betson of Garden 4 . And on the south- 
 side, is Glenniston, belonging antiently to the Glens, now 
 to Mr. David Boisvill uncle to Dovan 5 . 
 
 Next is the tower of Garden, (where the water of Gellie 
 turns and runs northward, in a den) upon a high ground 
 to the. east of the water 6 . This estate belonged antiently 
 to the name of Martin, then it was purchased by one of 
 the name of Betson, who gave it with a daughter to a 
 
 younger 
 
 1 Now the property of Sir James Erskins St. Clair. 
 
 2 , 3 Now the property of the Right Honourable Lord Minto, 
 
 4 Now the property of George Clephane, Esq. 
 
 5 Now the property of Schank, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of William Fergusson, Esq. of Rait!
 
 SECT. VII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST PARTS INLAND. 379 
 
 younger son of Edmonstone of that Ilk : now it Is purchased 
 by the late Earl of Melvil, and is a part of that earldom. 
 Gellie runs into Or near to Bowhill, having performed 
 course of about three miles. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 ?* 
 
 Description of the Western Parts Inland. 
 
 1VETURNING to that part of the west of Fife we past 
 over, or some of the inland places of the presbytery of 
 Dumfermling, within this shire : Carnock is the westmost 
 parish, whose church belonged to the ministry of Scotland 
 Well : the Lord Lindesay of Byres got this parish by mar- 
 riage of a brother-daughter of Dalhousie : and they kept it 
 till king James VI's. time, that Sir George Bruce the pre- 
 decessor of the Earls of Kmcardin got it : for the present 
 it is in many hands ' : Pittindinnes was purchased by Sir 
 Patrick Murray, a cadet of Blackbarony, and now belongs 
 to his daughter, Lady Dowager of Pitfirran*. Wester Lus- 
 kar is the heritage of Henry Wardlaw, of the old family 
 of Torry 3 . North of Camock is the parish of Saulin, di- 
 vided into a great many small feuers : the most consider- 
 able, are Kinnedder-over, belonging to Mr. David Oliphant 4 , 
 and Kinnedder-nether, the possession of William Haly 
 writer 5 . 
 
 3 C 2 In 
 
 1 It is now chiefly the property of DaTid Erskine, Esq. 
 
 a Now the property of Sir Charles Halket, Bart, of Pitfcrran. 
 
 3 Now the property of Thomas Hog, Esq. 
 
 * The property of James Oliphant, Esq. 
 
 5 Now the property of William Erskine, Etq
 
 380 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 In Dumfermling parish there are these places which we 
 have not touched ; first, to the south-west of the town is 
 PittincriefF, a pretty house, the seat of Forbes, son to Colo- 
 nel Forbes who purchased it '. 
 
 North of the town is Baldrick, the seat of Robert Ged z . 
 
 East of the town is Balmule, on an high ground, the seat 
 of Sir Henry Wardlaw, late of Pitrevie, which lies in a low 
 ground south-east of Dunfermling 3 . , Below Balmule to 
 the south is Loch-fittie, a pleasant little loch, here is 'got 
 very good sand for sharping syths. At the west foot of the 
 hill of Beath, (which is an high green hill, and much of it 
 manured on the south-side, of about a mile of length from 
 east to west) is Hall-beath, belonging to Mr. Henry Balfour 
 minister of the gospel 4 . Craig-luscar is the heritage of a 
 gentleman of the name of Durie, descended of Durie of 
 that Ilk 5 . 
 
 Eastward of Dumfermling parish is that of Beath, the 
 church here is of late ereted into a parish church ; of old 
 it was only a chapel of ease of the parish church of Aber- 
 dour ; and this with the parish church of Dalgatie belonged 
 to the abbacy of Inch-colm ; and all these parishes were 
 reckoned within the diocese of Dunkeld, it consists mostly 
 of small heritors, and is a part of the Earl of Murray's 
 estate. The only places noticeable in it are Burnheuch, 
 the seat of Moutray of Rescobie, the representative of the 
 old Moutrays of Seafield, which we named before. And 
 Lassodie in a low ground at the east-end of Loch-fittie, be- 
 longing to a gentleman of the name of Dewar 6 . In Alex- 
 ander II's. reign, I find one Richardus de Dower. 
 
 We 
 
 1 Now the scat of William Hunt, Esq. 
 a Now the property of John Bartholomew, Esq. and others. 
 3 Now the property of R. Mudie, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of 'William Scott, Esq. The coal shipped at InTer- 
 keithing is wrought on this estate. 
 S The property of Charlee Durie, Esq. 
 9 Now the property of Henry Dewar, Esq.
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 381 
 
 We are to observe that all this country that we have 
 surveyed, abounds with coal ; especially the most barren 
 heaths, as the East or King's-muirs, within the presbytery 
 of St. Andrews, and the West or Fothrife-muirs, within the 
 presbytery of Dumfermling and Kirkcaldy. And thac 
 northward of this there is no coal in Fyfe, no not in all 
 Scotland. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 Description of the Plain of Eden. 
 
 JL HE next part of Fyfe that falls under our observation, 
 is the plain of Edin, called the How of Fife, and is iu the 
 middle of Fife reckoning from south to north ; it is almost 
 encompassed with mountains : those we have described arc 
 to the south. To the north are the Ochil-hills, which 
 stretch themselves all along to the north-east of Fife : the 
 west is shut in by the Lomond-hills except the narrow 
 strath of Miglo ; on the east is Nydie-hill which runs from, 
 the south at Blebo, north to the water of Edin. A great 
 deal of this plain was antiently heath ; but now most of it 
 is either planted, or made arable ground. It is eight miles 
 from east to west, and at the broadest four miles j it be- 
 comes narrower at the east-end. The river of Edin has its 
 source at the north foot of the Lomonds, and it soon re- 
 ceives the water of Miglo. After that it runs south-east 
 through the wood of Falkland, and then in a direct line 
 east, on the south-side of the plain below or east the park, 
 it has the Shiell-bridge of one large arch of stone over it : 
 two miles east is Ramorny-bridge, lately begun by the 
 gentry living near it, at the direction of the Lord Rankeilor, 
 
 and
 
 3 $2 THE HISTORY Ol? FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 and finished by tne shire, of two stone arches. And at 
 Coupar is a fine stone bridge of four arches : at Dairsie is 
 a stone bridge of three arches '. Lastly, near its embou- 
 cheur, or losing itself into the ocean, after about twelve miles 
 course, is the Guard-bridge of six stone arches, built by 
 bishop Wardlaw. The tide reaches above this bridge, and 
 there is a good salmon-fishing betwixt the last bridges *. 
 All the river abounds with trouts ; the black trout of Edin 
 is particularly commended. Upon it John Johnston writes, 
 
 Arva inter nemorisque umbras et pascua Iseta, 
 Lenefluens vitreis labitur Eden aquis. 
 
 I shall go round the valley in my particular description ; 
 because most of the gentlemens houses are upon the bor- 
 ders of it ; the inner part being either heath, or inhabited 
 by farmers. The eastmost place is Nydie, standing upon 
 the water of Edin, a little above the Guard-bridge, it is the 
 dwelling of gentlemen of the name of Corstorfin 3 . Kem- 
 back at the west foot of Nydie-hills, a sweet place well 
 planted, was antiently the possession of one Myles Graham, 
 one of king James I's. murtherers ; and it then falling into 
 the hand of the bishop of St. Andrews as superiour ; these 
 lands were afterwards conferred by archbishop Schevez 
 upon his cousin, with the office of marescallus domus epis- 
 copi, and the Schevezes kept them till king Charles IPs. 
 time, that a son of Rankeilor-M'Gill purchased them, and 
 are now the inheritance of his son Mr. Arthur M'Gill 4 . 
 South of this is Blebo, a large house with inclosures, an- 
 tiently the seat qf the Trails, till king Charles I's. time, 
 
 now 
 
 1 Dairsie bridge was built by archbishop Spottiswood. 
 
 a Of late years, the fishing of salmon has been very inconsiderable. 
 
 3 Now the property of William Bethune, Esq. of Blsbp* 
 
 * The seat of John, Macgill, Esq.
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 383 
 
 now of Bethune a cadet of Balfour '. On the hill above it, 
 is Clatto belonging to a younger son of Blebo *. 
 
 Below Kemback and Blebo to the west is a deep den or 
 glen, in which the water of Ceres runs, and on the east-side 
 of it, near to Kemback church, (which belongs to St. Sal- 
 vator's College) high in the rocks, are two artificial caves : 
 and hard by Kemback is a good stone bridge, over that 
 little river, below which it falls into the river of Edin. On 
 the west-side of that water of Ceres, and south of Edin, is 
 Rumgally, sometime belonging to the Douglasses, then to 
 the Weemses, of late to the Macgills, a cadet of Rankeilor, 
 and now to the Moncrieffs 3 . Above Rumgally to the south 
 is Ceres-muir, a pretty large heath on a mountainous 
 ground 4 . 
 
 A mile west is Nether-Tarvet at the south foot of Tarvet- 
 hill, a neat house with gardens and park, belonging for- 
 merly to the Sibbalds of Rankeilor. It is now the seat of 
 Mr. Thomas Bethune, descended of cardinal Bethune by 
 Marion Ogilvie, daughter to my Lord Ogilvie, whose pre- 
 decessor was Alexander Bethune, archdeacon of Lothian 
 and laird of Carsgowny, who turned Protestant and mar- 
 ried 5 . The cardinal's friends say, it was before he was a 
 churchman, and so under no vows, when he was simply a 
 student of the laws ; and the greatest families of the king- 
 dom arc descended of him, by his daughter's marriage with 
 the Earl of Crauford, thinking it no dishonour to be come 
 of an ecclesiastick prince. Near this was the parish church 
 of St. Michael now suppressed. 
 
 Two 
 
 1 The scat of William Bethune, Esq. 
 
 * The scat of Robert Low, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of Alexander Thorns, Esq. To the south of Rum- 
 giilly is Dura, the scat of Alexander Baytie, Esq. of Riras. 
 
 * Ceres muir is now mostly inclosed, and cultivated or planted. 
 
 5 Tarvit House, on this property, is the seat of Janas Home Rigg, Esq. 
 of Downfield aud Morton.
 
 384 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 Two miles west, on a rising ground a little removed from 
 Edin, is Bunzeon, a pretty little house with good inclosures, 
 the heritage of Mr. Patrick Bruce ', a cadet of 
 
 Below Bunzeon, a little to the south-west, and on the 
 south-side of Edin, is the village of Pitlessy, belonging an- 
 tiently to Ramorgney of that Ilk; 1439 Alexander de Ra- 
 morgney sold it to John Lord Lindesay de Byres, and it 
 continued with that family till king Charles IPs time, now 
 it pertains to Mr. James Craufurd of Mountwhanie z . On 
 the hills above this on the south, and at Forther, is plenty 
 of excellent limestone 3 . 
 
 Over against Pitlessy, upon the north-side of Edin, is 
 Ramorny, an old hoMse with gardens and parks. It belong- 
 ed antiently to gentlemen of the name of Ramorny ; then 
 to the Heriots, who have been long masters of it, and is 
 now the seat of Mr. Robert Heriot chief of that name 4 . 
 
 A mile west of this, on the south of Edin, is the village 
 of King-kettle, possessed by several feuers. It was of old 
 part of the Earl of Fyfe's estate, given to Duncanus comes 
 de Fyfe (who died 1203) by Malcolm IV. in liberum mari- 
 tagium with his niece. It continued with the Earls of Fyfe 
 
 till 
 
 1 Now the property of the Earl of Craufurd. 
 
 - Now the property of George Heggie, Esq. 
 
 3 The limestone rock in this range of hills is wrought, to great ejtent, 
 for the supply of the north Ride of Fife, and partly for exportation by the 
 Tay. On the hill to the west of this, there is a quarry of freestone. It is 
 covered by a stratum of earth four feet thick. When this is removed, we 
 observe upon the surface of the rock numerous impressions of vegetable 
 bodies, apparently formed by branches of trees, of various diameters, curi- 
 usly ramified and interwoven. A large piece of petrified wood, and a pe- 
 trified horn, were lately found here. About a furlong- to the eastward of 
 this quarry, on the declivity of the hill, some persons searching for mine- 
 rals discovered a large ijiass of petrified shells of various kinds, some wi 
 which were completely filled with transparent concretions. The mas* ib 
 situated at the lower extremity of the limestone rock. 
 .* The seat of James Herriot, Esq.
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 38^ 
 
 till their forfaulture. Upon the hill side above it to the 
 south is Chapel-kettle, belonging to the name of Arnot; 
 ultimo Decembris 1558, Jacobus commendator prioratus 
 S. Andree, dispones the church lands called Chapel-kettle 
 to John Arnot and his heirs, declaring that he and his pro- 
 genitors had been possessors of these lands past memory of 
 man '. In the village of Kettle is the parish church, for- 
 merly seated at Lathrisk, belonging to the priory of St. 
 Andrews. , 
 
 West of this is Lathrisk, an old house with gardens and 
 inclosures, the seat of Mr. Patrick Seaton, a cadet of the 
 Earls of Winton : a predecessor of his got these lands by 
 marrying the heiress, of the same name with the lands, 
 Lathrisk a . North-east of this is Monks-moss, concerning 
 which I find a confirmation by king Robert I. to the monks 
 and the church of St. Mary at Lundoris of a grant by Rogerus 
 de Quincy comes de Winton constabularius Scotie, (this I 
 take to be the Earl Roger who died 1 264.) to them, De 
 ducentis carratis bruere (two hundred cart-loads of hether) 
 in mora sua de Kindeloch, annuatim ; et de tot petis de 
 peteria de Monegie quot voluerint. Cum acra terre, et 
 messuagio, et pastura decem ovium, et duarum vacearum, 
 ad opus custodis petarum et bruerarum." By this -and 
 other charters it appears that the Earls of Winchester had 
 a great estate here. This confirmation was now the more 
 necessary, because Seyerus de Quincy comes de Winton 
 constabularius (the last of that family in this kingdom) was 
 forfaulted by king Robert I. 
 
 South of Lathrisk we find Frewchie, a village possessed 
 by feuers 3 : and then Newton of Falkland, a village belong- 
 ing to the Lord Burleigh 4 . And hard by is the town of 
 
 Falkland, 
 
 1 The scat of Robert Arnot, Esq. 
 
 * Now the scat of David Johnstone, Esq. 
 
 3 , * Now the property of David Johnstone, Esq. of Lathrisk, 
 
 3D
 
 3 86 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 falkland, seated at the north-east foot of that pike called 
 the East Lomonds. It is a little town erected into a burgh 
 royal by king James II. anno 1458'. Here is one of the 
 royal palaces, which came to the crown by the forfaulture 
 of the last Earl of Fife by king James I. anno 1425. It 
 was before that called the Castle or Mar of Falkland, and 
 was one of the seats of the Macduffs Earls of Fife. King 
 James V. did much enlarge and beautify it. The east part 
 of it was casually burnt in king Charles II's. time, the south 
 part or front is entire, and has an antick grandeur without 
 and within : it was of late much repaired by the Duke of 
 Athol *. It was much frequented by king James V. and VI. 
 because of the pleasant situation, and conveniency of hunt- 
 ing in the park, Edin's muir, and river of Edin. There is 
 hard, by the palace to the north, a fair large house built by 
 David Murray Viscount of Stormount, then Stewart of Fife, 
 in the very spot where (some think) stood the old castle, 
 where David Duke of Rothesay was famished to death by 
 his ambitious uncle Robert Duke of Albany, anno 1401,^ 
 and was buried at Lundoris. It had a large park to the 
 north, planted with oakes and arns, and full of deer. King. 
 
 James 
 
 1 The preamble to the charter of ere&ion states, as reasons of granting 
 it, the frequent residence of the royal family at the manor of Falkland, 
 and the damage and inconvenieuce sustained by the many prelates, peers, 
 barons, nobles, and others of their subje&s, who came to their country 
 seat, for want of innkeepers and victuallers. This charter was renewed 
 by king James VI. in the year 1595. There are three bailies, fifteen coun- 
 sellors, of whom one is treasurer, and a clerk. The revenue of the burgh 
 arises from custom at markets, landed property, and a mill, and amounts 
 to upwards of L. 100 exclusive of public burdens. There are several mo- 
 numents of public spirit in the town, particularly a plentiful supply of fine 
 water, which was brought into it in the year 17.81. The expencc amount- 
 ed to near L. 400. And an elegant new town-house, with a handsome 
 spire, was built in i8oz. Stat. Ace. Vol. IV. No. 58. 
 
 2 Part of the palace of Falkland is still inhabited. It is now the pro- 
 perty of David Skene, Esq. of Kailyards. See page 340. note i.
 
 SECT. VTII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 387 
 
 James VI. enlarged it to the compass of more than three 
 miles. But the English in Cromwell's usurpation, under 
 pretence of needing the timber for building the citadel 
 of St. Johnston, allowed almost all of it to be cut, and 
 the deer to be destroyed : that now scarce a vestige of 
 it appears, but all the ground is turned to arable land. 
 Sometime after the forfaulture, the court of the stewartry was 
 transported from Coupar (which was then disjoined from 
 the stewartry) to Falkland : for the Earls of Fife had al- 
 ways one named, sometimes judex, sometimes balivus, con- 
 tradistintt from vice-comes de Fife. In the book of the 
 priory of St. Andrews, it is writ, that anno quinto regis 
 David I. Constantinus comes de Fyfe et Macbeth Thanus 
 de Falkland, gatherM an army to restrain Robert de Bur- 
 goner from forcing the Culdees of St. Andrews and Loch- 
 levin, to give him the half of the lands of Kirkness, and 
 that they defeated him. In Malcolm IV's. time, Duncan 
 Earl of Fife got (as it is writ before) from that king, Falk- 
 land, Kettil, &c. in liberum maritagium, with Ada the 
 king's niece. John Duke of Athol is heritable keeper of 
 the palace and park, and Stewart of the stewartry or the 
 Earl of Fife's estate, annexed to the crown, and holds his 
 courts here. The only inconvenience of this town is, that 
 being so very nigh an high mountain, it is obnoxious to 
 many fogs and rains. Mr. Sletzer in his Theater of Scot- 
 land, has in one table the prospect of this town from the 
 east, and in another table the figure of the palace. 
 
 Contiguous to Falkland, is Balmblea the seat of Robert 
 Carmichael M. D. a grandson of the family of Balmedy '. 
 And very near it to the north-west, is Nutthill, one of the 
 seats of Michael Malcolm of Balbedy* ; formerly it was a 
 part of the Viscount of Stormount's estate. North-west of 
 
 3 D 2 this 
 
 1 The scat of Carmicliacl, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the wat of George Sandilacds, E*q.
 
 388 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 this is Kilgowr, where of late the parish church of Falkland 
 was, that belonged to the priory of St. Andrews. 
 
 The next place we notice is Edin'shead, where the river 
 of Edin has its source, a pretty house with good inclo- 
 sures ; the seat of Walter Scot ', son to Sir John Scot of 
 Scots-tarvet, of whom formerly. This land and house was 
 formerly named Pitlochy. It anciently was the inheritance 
 of the Lundins of Balgonie. On the east is Corstoun the 
 possession of Cahoun* ; of old it belonged to the Ramsays, 
 who had a good estate here, and of them were some notable 
 families, as Ramsay of Balmain in the Mearns, &c. About 
 a mile to the east of this, is the village of Strathmiglo, with 
 a parish church (which belonged to the bishop of Dunkeld,) 
 named from the rivulet of Miglo that runneth by it ; it 
 belongs to the Lord Burghly since 1600 3 , anciently to the 
 Scots of Balweery, who about 1251, got it from the Earl 
 of Fife for their good services. Duncan Earl of Fife got it 
 from Malcolm IV. with his niece. The Scots had a castle 
 here which king James V. called Cairny-flappet, from its 
 being very suddenly built. Near to it further south, is 
 Cash, the possession of Mr. James Morison advocate 4 . 
 Above this on the south-side of the hills is Pitlowre, the 
 possession formerly of Pitcairn, now of Skeen a son of 
 Hallyairds in Fife 5 . Descend we eastward to Auchter- 
 muchtie, the possession of a great many feuers.: it was a 
 part of the Earl of Fife's estate, and came by their forfaul- 
 ture to the crown. Anno 1562, it Was erected into a burgh 
 of barony holding immediately of the crown 6 . It is a very 
 
 large 
 
 1 Now the seat of David Walker, Esq. 
 
 a Now the property of John Balfour, Esq. of Balbirnie. 
 
 3 Strathmiglo held of David Skene, Esq. 
 
 4 Now the property of Alexander Low, Esq. 
 
 5 The seat of David Skenc, Esq. 
 
 6 Auchterrauchty was constituted a royal burgh by James IV. which 
 
 charter
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 389 
 
 large village, and hath in it a parish church, which, anno 
 1350, Duncan the last MacduffEarl of Fife, after his libe- 
 ration (being taken prisoner at the battle of Durham) in 
 performance of a vow, mortified " Beate Marie et St. An- 
 dree rnirifica operantibus apud Lundoris." Betwixt this 
 and Falkland-park is the house of Myres, a parcel of the 
 lands of Auchtermuchtie, and feued by king James V. to 
 James Scrimzeour : afterwards it was purchased by Major- 
 General Leslie, and is now by marriage the heritage of the 
 MoncriefFs of Ridie '. 
 
 Going east is Rossie, a well repaired huse, with all con- 
 veniencies and well planted. To the south of it is a loch, 
 abounding with pykes and perches. This estate in David 
 I's. reign belonged to Dominus Henricus Rossey de eodem, 
 and in Malcolm IV's. reign, anno 7. Sir Alexander de Ros- 
 sey is forfaulted, and the lands are given to the Earl of Fife. 
 Robert Duke of Albany Earl of Fife, gives a charter to Sir 
 John Sibbauld " De terris de Rossie et Creinbag." And 
 there is another charter to John Sibbald of the same lands. 
 Anno 1472, Bonnar got them : with that family it continued 
 till 1630 that Sir James Scot purchased them. Now it is 
 the seat of a gentleman of the name of Cheap, grandson 
 of Mr. James Cheap advocate in king Charles IPs. time, the 
 representative of the Cheaps of Mawhill beside Kinross *. 
 
 East of Rossie, and to the north of the loch, is Kinloch, 
 
 It 
 
 charter was rentwed by James VI. It enjoys all the privileges of a royal 
 burgh, but that of sending a representative to parliament. It has three bailies 
 chosen annually at Michaelmas, fifteen counsellors, (one of them treasurer) 
 and a clerk. The revenue is above L. 100 per annum. The first Macduff 
 K said to have once resided here. A considerable manufacture of coarse 
 linens has been long established in this place. Stat. Ace. VoL VI. No. 38. 
 
 1 The seat of Peter Moncricff, Esq. 
 
 * The seat of John Cheap, Es^. Great part of the lake of Rossie wa 
 drained in 1 741 , and converted into arable lands, on which very great im- 
 provements have been made by the present spirited proprietor.
 
 390 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [>ART ITT. 
 
 It is the seat of Mr. James Bruce descended of the family 
 of Airth, who hath built a new house here with gardens 
 and a park 1 . It belonged anciently to the Kinlochs of that 
 Ilk y I have seen three original charters by the second 
 Roger de Quinci comes de Winton constabularius, to 
 Johanni de Kyudelouch, of a miln and some lands about 
 this place ; about king Alexander Ill's, reign. To the 
 north and to the east of Kinloch, is the baron) of Wed- 
 dersbie, the inheritance of Hamilton of Wishea in the west 
 country, a learned antiquary* : this was anciently also, the 
 estate of these Kinlochs of that Ilk. 
 
 A little east of Collessie was Hallhill, which belonged 
 to Mr. Henry Balnaves, whom 1542, 1 see designed depute-r 
 keeper of the privy seal, and 1543, he is secretary-depute : 
 these lands he gave to Sir James Melvill a son of the laird 
 of Raith, and with his posterity it continued till king 
 Charles II's. reign, that the Lord Melvill (afterward Earl) 
 purchased it. The house is razed and the ground taken in 
 within the new park of Melvill. 
 
 Not far from this, is Melvill, a great, noble and regular 
 new house richly furnished, with office houses without, 
 large gardens, vast inclosures for pasture and barren plant- 
 ing, built by the late George Earl of Melvill secretary of 
 state and high commissioner to the parliament, and after- 
 ward lord privy seal to king William and Queen Mary ; 
 and is now one of the seats of David Earl of Levin and 
 Melvill his son, as Earl of Melvill, governour of the castle 
 of Edinburgh, and lieutenant-general of the Scots forces 3 . 
 The name and family is very ancient. The tradition of 
 the family is, that three brothers came to Scotland with 
 Queen Margaret (to whom they were related) wife to Mal- 
 colm 
 
 1 Now the property f Andrew Thomson, and Thomas Kinnear, Esqrs, 
 3 Now the property of David Johnstone, Esq. of Lathrisk. 
 * The scat of the Earl of Levcn and Melvill
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 39! 
 
 colm III. That one of them got the lands of Raith in 
 Fife, (the predecessor of this present Earl of Melvill) the 
 second got the lands of Melvill in Lothian, the last of this 
 house of the name of Melvill an heiress was married to the 
 Lord Ross of Halkhead ; which lands the present Lord 
 Ross has, and whose arms he has quartered with his 
 own. The third, the lands of Glenbervie, which continued 
 in the name of Melvill, till it fell to an heiress, who mar- 
 ried a gentleman of the name of Douglas j of this house 
 were the Melvills lairds of Dysert. I have not seen their 
 papers, but anno 1178, I find in the cartulary of Aberbro- 
 thock Willielmus rex, and Richardus de Melvill, witnesses 
 to an exemption of obedience granted by the abbot of Kelso, 
 to the first abbot of Aberbrothock. In the same book, is 
 Philippus de Malavilla vice-comes de Aberdeen in Alexan- 
 der H's reign. And about the same reign Philippus de 
 Malavilla is vice-comes de Mernis, et Philippus de Mala- 
 villa is often witness in charters by that king. In the same 
 cartulary, there is " Carta donationis Philippi de Malevill 
 et sponse sue filio Walteri filii Sibaldi, fa&a Deo, S. 
 Thome et monasterio de Aberbrothock, de tota ilia terra, 
 quam Walterus filius Sybaldi dedit mihi in maritagium cum 
 filia sua quando earn desponsavi, sicut mihi perambulata 
 fuit coram Waltero Scot et putre meo. Et cum communi 
 pastura tam de Munechyn quam de Kare :" this is confirm- 
 ed by king William. In the cartulary of Dunfermling, 
 Galfrid de Malevill gives the church of Malevill to that 
 monastery ; and he is often witness in king William's char- 
 ters. About 1289, Robertus de Malevyll is witness to a 
 charter by David de Wemys, filius et heres D. Michaelis 
 de Wemys, Johanni de Wemys avunculo, de certis terris in 
 Fyfe. In 14 1 2 there is a contract of marriage betwixt John 
 de Malvill and Margaret Scot, daughter to the laird of Bal- 
 weery. In a perambulation betwixt Easter-Kinghorns, 
 
 aunt
 
 392 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. 
 
 anno 1457, by Thomas Lord Erskin and George Lord 
 Leslie upon Levin, the substitutes of Joannis domini de 
 Lindesay de Byres militis, justitiarii principalis et capitalis 
 ex parte boreali aque de Forth constituti, among assizzars 
 are, Robertas Malevyne de Carnebene, Henricus Malvyne de 
 Carnbee, Alexander Malvyne de Kennochy. Sir Robert Mel- 
 vill son to the laird of Raith, tresaurer-depute, from 1581 to 
 I 495 purchased the barony of Monymeal, and, as above, 
 the barony of Bruntisland. His son was created Lord 
 Melvill, April 30. 1616. He dying without children, the 
 laird of Raith succeeded to the peerage, and barony of 
 Monymeal ; and the barony of Bruntisland was disponed 
 to Melvill of Hallhill. The house and church of Monymeal 
 stand on an eminence to the north of this house of Melvill : 
 the house was one of the manses of the archbishop of St. 
 Andrews j and the church was at his disposal or a mensal 
 church. The famous physician Cardan cured archbishop 
 Hamilton here, of a pthysis, and there is a well here, cal- 
 led Cardan's-well. 
 
 A mile east of this, is Wester-Ferny, a well repaired 
 old house, with good gardens and planting. Anciently it 
 was a part of the Earl of Fife's estate, and Duncan the last 
 Earl of Fife of the Macduffs, disponed Johanni del 
 Gleneclerico et Marie de Fyfe sponse sue consanguinee mee : 
 totam terram meam de Wester-Ferny, cum pertinentiis, 
 infra vice-comitatum de Fyfe j nee non forrestam meam de 
 Kilface ex parte boreali montium de Ferneys adjacentem, 
 in liberum maritagium." He, by another charter gave him 
 " Officium forrestarii de Falkland, et constabularii castri 
 nostri de Cupro in Fyfe." These became afterward the 
 property of Ferneyes of that Ilk : then it was the Arnots' : 
 and is now the heritage of colonel John Balfour brother to 
 the Lord Burleigh 1 . 
 
 North 
 
 1 The scat of Francis Balfour, Esq.
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 393 
 
 North above this, is Kennochy, of old a part of the estate 
 of Ferny, but in Charles Ps. reign was purchased by Lovel, 
 the representative of the barons of Balumby in Angus, and 
 is now the possession of Mr. Alexander Auchinleck minis- 
 ter of the gospel, of the family of Auchinleck in Angus, 
 who married the heiress '. 
 
 East of Wester-Ferny is Easter-Ferny j it belonged for- 
 merly to Auchmutie of that Ilk, now to Hope of Rankilor* 
 
 To the south of Wester-Ferny, and of a marish that is 
 betwixt them, is Rankilor-Over, a very fine new house, 
 with gardens, large inclosures and much planting, all done 
 by Sir Archibald Hope (a son of Sir John Hope of Craig- 
 hall) a Lord of the Session and of the Justiciary, father to 
 Mr. Thomas Hope the present heritor of it 3 . And south 
 of this, is Nether-Rankilor, both which have the name from 
 Ram, a village upon the water of Kilor that runneth 
 through this barony in its course towards Edin. They 
 were anciently the estate of gentlemen of the name of Ran- 
 kilor. Afterwards Over-Rankilor became the heritage of 
 the Sibbalds, cadets of the Sibbalds of Balgony, which they 
 had for some centuries of years. I have seen the autograph of 
 a charter by king James V.dat.apudFaukland ultimo dieSep- 
 tembris, anno regni nostri vigesimo septimo, confirming a 
 charter of alienation made by Jacobus Sibbauld de Rankilor- 
 Over, " Alexandro Sibbauld ejus fratri-germano, et heredi- 
 bus, de tertia parte terrarum de Pitcullo, jacen. infra vice- 
 comitatum nostrum de Fyff." The Sibbaulds kept it till king 
 Charles IPs. time, that Sir Archibald Hope purchased it. 
 Rankilor-Nether was acquired by Mr. James Macgill clerk 
 register in the reigns of Queen Mary and king James VI. 
 
 descended 
 
 1 Now the seat of George Paterson, Esq. 
 
 2 The property of the Hon. Major-General John Hope, of CraighaU. 
 
 3 The seat of the Hon. Major-General John Hope, of CraighaU, who 
 kas lately built au elegant mansion, and greatly improved the grounds 
 about it. 
 
 3 E
 
 394 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. |>ART IV. 
 
 descended of a gentleman in Galloway ; his posterity still 
 possess it 1 . David Macgill of Cranston-Riddel, advocate to 
 king James VI. from 1582 to 1596 that he died, and the 
 predecessor of the Viscount of Oxford was his second son. 
 I find one Mauritius Macgill testis to a charter of mortifi- 
 cation by Maldouenus comes de Levenauch to the monks of 
 Aberbrothock : this is confirmed by king Alexander, anno 
 reg. 17. Herons nestle and breed in Nether-Rankilor. 
 Mr. George Sibbald of Gibblistoun M. D. a son of Over- 
 Rankilor's, (and the author's uncle) celebrates this part of 
 Fife by these verses. 
 
 Ilia ferax rota est peninsula, amcenior illic 
 
 Kilor ubi Edini fluminis auget aquas. 
 Kilor tempe avium Monimalia rura pererrans 
 
 Adsita culta, casas prataque pita rigat. 
 Protegit arx villas, patrio de more vetusta 
 
 Qua stirpes vitreus fons Tamelonis alit. 
 Hie locus unde atavi, genus hie, priscique penates, 
 
 Majoresque mei, &c." 
 
 A mile eastward of Rankilor, is Carslogie, an old house 
 surrounded with much planting both old and young ; the 
 seat of Mr. David Clephan ; this is an antient family, and 
 have been for several ages masters of this estate*. A copy 
 of a charter, taken off the original, was sent me, bearing, 
 that " Duncanus comes de Fyfe confirmat Johanni de Cle- 
 phan et heredibus, totain terram de Clesclogie et de Erithir- 
 rogewale adeo libere sicut David de Clephan pater ejus, 
 
 et predecessores, eas tenuerunt. Testibus dominis Alex- 
 
 andro de Abernethy, Michaele et David de Wemyss, Hu- 
 gone de Lochor, Johanne de Ramsay, Willielmo de Ram- 
 say, 
 
 1 The scat of the Honourable Mrs. Maitland-Macgill. 
 * The property of Major-General William Douglas-Maclean-Clephane, _ 
 who is the twentieth in regular descent that have possessed this estate.
 
 SECT. VJII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN., 395 
 
 say, et Henrico de Ramsay, cum multis aliis." By these 
 witnesses it appears to have been given, at latest, in the be- 
 ginning of king Robert Fs. reign. And about king Alex- 
 ander Ill's, time, I find Marcus de Clapan miles, witness 
 to several charters by dominus Alexander de Abernethyn 
 dominus de eodem. And anno 1332, 1 find one Alanus de 
 Clepan. Sir James Balfour writes, that anno 9. reg. Will. 
 Willielmus de Carslogie filius D. Richardi de Carslogie 
 militis, is witness to a donation of this king's terrarum de 
 Torriey, and called Vallettus domini regis. 
 
 To the north of this, upon an hill side, is Mount, the seat 
 of Sir David Lindesay, Lord Lyon 1 , a cadet of the Lord 
 
 3 E 2 Lindesay's, 
 
 1 Lindsay is known as a successful negotiator of a commercial treaty 
 with the Netherlands for 100 years, concluded with the Emperor Charles 
 V. and his sister the Queen of Hungary, governess of the Low Countries. 
 A treaty that was granted the more easily, (or rather renewed, for a simi- 
 lar one had been made in the time of James I.) because the Emperor 
 wished to encourage James V. whose proposals had been rejected by the 
 Queen of Hungary, to seek another nuptial alliance with his family. The 
 Netherlands were the chief emporium of the commerce of the Scots, to which, 
 ignorant of the most necessary and common arts of life, they exported their 
 skins, hides and wool, and from which they imported their mercery, haber- 
 dashery, and the most common machines and carriages, for the ordinary 
 purposes of domestic and agricultural labour. In an old English poem, the 
 nature of the Scottish trade is very distinctly stated. 
 
 " Also over all Scotland the commoditees 
 Are felles, hides, and of wolle the flees. 
 All this must passe by us away, 
 Into Flaunders by England, this is no nay. 
 And all her wolle is draped for to selle 
 In the towns of Poperyng, and of Belle ; 
 For the staple of that marchaundie 
 Of Scotland is Flaunders truly. 
 Thau the Scottes ben charged at sye, 
 Out of Flandres with litcll mercerye, 
 And gretc plcnte of haberdashe ware, 
 And with cart wheles bare, 
 
 Ajul
 
 . 
 
 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 Lindesay's, famous for his poems, with whose posterity it 
 still is '. 
 
 Below it to the east, is Balgarvie, the old possession and 
 title of die Balfours of Burghlie, of late it was purchased 
 from them by the Earl of Melvill, and is now the heritage 
 of his grandson Mr. George Melvill 3 , who resides at Coupar 
 in a fine new repaired house belonging to him. 'Tis said, 
 that at Balgarvie there was a strong castle, which was taken 
 and levelled, by Sir John Pettsworth as he was marching 
 with the English forces to the siege of the castle of Coupar j 
 in the reign of king Robert I. 
 
 From this we come to the town of Coupar, seated in the 
 middle of the valley, which is here straitned by the hills on 
 both sides bending nearer to others. It is most pleasantly 
 situate upon a level point of land where the river of Edin 
 and the little water of Mary do meet : is very wholsome, 
 being in a dry ground, and upon a running water, and by 
 
 the 
 
 And barowes are laden in substaunce ; 
 Thus must rude ware ben her chevesance. 
 
 So may thei not forbere this Flemysh lond." > 
 
 THE BIBEL OF ENGLISH POLICY. 
 
 The negociation of this important treaty was committed by James to Lindsay, 
 Sir John Campbell of Lundy, and the celebrated secretary Panter, who were 
 received by the Emperor and his sister with great favour, and dismissed 
 with entire satisfaction in their demands. But Lindsay is chiefly celebrated 
 as a poet, and he bears the palm from his contemporaries in the reigns of 
 James V. and of Mary. His principal poems are, the Testament of the 
 Papingo or Parrot, the Dream, the Elegy on the death of Queen Magda- 
 len, his Complaint to the king, Answer to the king's satire, Complaint of 
 Ba*h the king's hound, Satire on long trains and veiled faces, Katie's con- 
 fession, Justing of Watson and Barbour, History of squire Meldrum, and 
 his Play or Satire on the Three Estates, first a&ed at Linlithgow in 1540, 
 and afterwards at Edinburgh and Coupar in Fife in 1552, the Tragedy of 
 Cardinal Beton, published 1546, and his four books of the ancient monar- 
 chies 1552. Pink. Hist. Stuarts. Stat. Ace. Vol. XVII. No. n. 
 
 1 Now the property of the Hon. Major-General John Hope of Craighall.. 
 
 t Now the seat of James Rgbirtson, Esq.
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 397 
 
 the hills and rising ground around it, fenced from the vio- 
 lences of wind and weather. It is a very ancient burgh- 
 royal '. I see the commissioners of Coupar in the rolls of 
 
 parliament 
 
 1 It is governed by a provost, three bailies, a dean of guild, thirteen 
 guild counsellors, who choose one another, and eight trades counsellors, or 
 deacons, elected by the eight incorporations, The town of Cupar is the most 
 wealthy community in the county of Fife. Its annual revenue, at present, 
 amounts to about L. 5x5 Sterling. In Cupar, and the neighbouring country, 
 a considerable manufacture of coarse linens has been established. They 
 consist chiefly of yard-wides, as they are commonly named, for buckram, 
 glazed linens, &c. There also they manufacture Osnaburghs, tow sheet- 
 ings, and Silesias. About 995,00x3 yards are annually stamped in Cupar, 
 \vhichamountinvalueto about L. 35,000. Cupar being the principal 
 market in Fife for brown linens of the above description, webs from the 
 adjoining country, to the value of more than L. 30,000 come to be sold 
 there. All these are purchased with ready money, and sent to London, 
 Glasgow, and other markets. The linen merchants in Cupar pay annually 
 to the manufacturers and weavers, betwixt L. 60,000 and L. 70,000. 
 The trade is facilitated by the banking office* established in the place, of 
 which there are four, viz. two branches of Edinburgh banks, and two 
 companies formed of gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, under 
 the firms of the Cupar Banking Company, and the Fife Banking Com- 
 pany. The success of manufactures in Cupar is however somewhat retarded! 
 by the great expence of land carriage. St. Andrews, Leven, Ncwburgh, 
 and Dundee, are the nearest sea-ports, though all of them are distant nine 
 English miles. Thus the manufacturer must bring to Cupar the raw ma- 
 terial he uses, at a very heavy expence ; and his different articles, when 
 finished, cannot be again conveyed to the sea shore, but at an additional 
 charge. To enable the industry of the inhabitants to rise superior to this 
 natural disadvantage, it has been suggested, that a navigable canal might 
 be formed, nearly in the course of the Eden, as high as Cupar. The river 
 falls into the sea about nine miles below the town. The greater part of 
 the channel is already navigable. The tide rises as high as Lydoz mill, 
 little more than three English miles from Cupar. The fall from the town 
 is very gradual, and to the place to which the tide rises, thought not to be 
 more than twenty-six feet. It is thus evident, that a navigable canal 
 might be formed, as far as Cupar, at no very formidable expence. The 
 advantages to be derived from this cut, to the inhabitants of the town and 
 of the, neighbouring country would be great. But it is very doubtful whe- 
 ther the business that would probably be done upon this canal, would repay 
 the exyence of making it. Sut. Ace. Vol. XVII. No. u. Survey of Fife.
 
 398 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 parliament of king David H's. reign. And it is the head 
 burgh of the shire ; here the sheriff holds his courts, and 
 the committees for ordering the business of the shire do 
 meet ". And so it hath been for many ages, as is evident 
 from that order of the Earl of Ross to David de Weems 
 sheriff of Fife ; which we mentioned when at Weems. 
 Coupar depended upon the Earl of Fife as their superiour, 
 and his chief seat was the castle here j it seems to have 
 been the ancientest part of his estate, for (as we have 
 shewed) Falkland, Kettil and Strathmiglo were late acqui- 
 sitions. He held his courts here, and the reddendo of some 
 of. his charters was, " Servando tria nostra placita capitalia, 
 apud burgum nostrum de Cupro :" accordingly I find anno 
 1343 he held a court in this town. It consists of three 
 streets, the Crossgate lying from south to north, and west- 
 ward by Edin on the east, over which there is a good old 
 Stone bridge, of four arches near the south end of this 
 street : the Bonygate joins with the other at the north, and 
 makes an angle, in which the cross stands, and lies east and 
 west : the third street lies betwixt these two, from north- 
 east to ' south-west, called the Kirkgate, for here is a large 
 well-built church with a pretty cupolo or steeple * ; the 
 
 book 
 
 1 The older part of the building, ^or the accommodation of the county, 
 contains a court-room, sufficiently commodious ; and the prisons, of the 
 meanness and wretchedness of which, complaints have been justly made. 
 And about twenty years ago, the gentlemen of the county, by subscription, 
 and by an assessment on their valued rents, built, on a large scale, and in 
 the modern taste, adjoining to the town-house, a room for their use at head 
 courts, for their accommodation at balls, &c. A tea-room, and other apart- 
 ments, have since been added. 
 
 2 This church was built in the best stile of the times, of polished free- 
 stone, in length 133 feet, by 54 in breadth. The roof was supported by 
 two rows of arches, extending the whole length of the church. The oak 
 couples were of a circular form, lined with wood, and painted in the taste 
 f the.times. In 1785, this extensive building was found to be in a state 
 
 of
 
 SECT. VIII.] DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN OF EDEN. 399 
 
 book of Paisly and other monastery books tells us, that 
 anno 1415, " In Cupro de Fyfe fundata est nova parochi- 
 alis ecclesia, qux prius distabat a burgo ad plagam borea- 
 lem." It was one of the prior of St Andrews' kirks. The 
 castle was on a hill at the angle or east of the town where 
 the two streets meet ; here the MacdufFs Earls of File 
 lived, it seems to have been of good strength and was twice 
 kept by the English, Wallace re-took it the first time ; again 
 in king David IPs. reign the English took it and fortified it, 
 but William Douglas recovering it, king David caused de- 
 molish it '. At the south foot of the Castle-hill was a 
 
 convent 
 
 of total decay. The heritors of the parish resolved to pull down the old 
 fabric, and to erect, on the same site, a church on a more convenient plan. 
 This plan they accordingly carried into execution, at a very considerable 
 expence. It is to be regretted, however, that the new building was not 
 joined to the spire of the old church, which still stands. The vestry, or 
 session-house, by intervening between the church and spire, gives a de- 
 tached and aukward appearance to both. The spire has always been con- 
 sidered as a very handsome structure, and appears light and elegant when 
 viewed from the east or west. It was built by the prior of St. Andrews, 
 in 1415, only up to the battlement. All above that was added in the be- 
 ginning of the last century, hy Mr. William Scot, who was for many years 
 minister of Cupar. Stat. Ace. VoL XVII. No. n. 
 
 1 The castle of Cupar, of which jio vestige now remains, seems to have 
 been a place of considerable strength and importance, and was of course 
 often the subject of fierce contention in the turbulent times of Robert I. and 
 David II. betwixt the adherents of Bruce and Baliol. In the two most 
 memorable sieges which it maintained, it was defended by churchmen. Ill 
 the first, it was held for Bruce by Robert Wishart, bishop of Glasgow. He 
 was forced to yield it to the celebrated Ayraer de Valence, the general 
 of Edward, and being taken arrayed in armour, was in that uncanonical 
 garb, conducted a prisoner to the castle of Nottingham. In the other, it 
 was defended for Baliol by 'William Bullock, an ecclesiastic of eminent abi- 
 lities, whom Baliol had appointed chamberlain of Scotland. This able, 
 sagacious and valiant churchman, for a long time successfully resisted the 
 r.rms of Sir Andrew Moray the regent, the companion of Wallace, and the 
 ".titrepid asscrtor of his country's honour, after the death of his friend. But 
 
 the
 
 THE HISTORY OF 7 FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 convent of Dominican or black-friers, with a fine chapel, 
 where now Mr. Mejyill of Balgarvie's house is '. The con- 
 stabulary (as we have said) was given by Duncan Earl of 
 Fife, to the lairds of Ferny ; but the town of Coupar pur- 
 chased it some time ago. 
 
 A mile to the east of Coupar and north of Ediu, rs 
 Prestonhall, the seat of Sir John Preston, the represen- 
 tative of Sir John Preston of Pennycuick, President of 
 the Session from 1609 to 1616', that he died, the li- 
 neal heir of Preston of Gilmertoun *. East of this and 
 near to Edin where it turns northward, is Dairsie, a 
 pleasant seat, this belonged of old to the Learmonds, the 
 archbishops bailives and admirals of the regality of St. An- 
 drews, from whom my Lord Lindesay purchased them. 
 From them archbishop Spotswood purchased this estate, 
 and built a very fine parish church here, (that was one of 
 the churches of the priory of St. Andrews) since that, it 
 came to the Morisons 3 . 
 
 SECT. 
 
 the art of Robert the Stewart, the successor of Moray, succeeded where 
 the bravery of Moray had failed. Sounding Bullock, he discovered him 
 to be selfish and avaricious; and, satiating his predominant passion by arr 
 ample grant of lands, won him over from his duty. ' Bullock abandoned 
 and betrayed his benefactor, yielded up the fortress committed to his 
 charge, and, with his numerous adherents, swore fealty to David. Men in 
 all ages have rewarded treason ; but in that age men were wont to put 
 confidence in traitors. Bullock was received into as great trust with the 
 Scots as he had ever enjoyed under Baliol ; and he seems to have adted 
 with zeal and fidelity in support of that cause which he had so dishonour- 
 ably espoused. Hailes, Vol. II. 
 
 1 Now the scat of the Right Honourable Lady Elizabeth Anstruther. 
 
 a Now the seat of John Swan, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of James Gibson, Esq. The house of Spotis- 
 wood is now almost entirely demolished, a drawing of it as it was a few 
 years ago is annexed. The old castle of Dairsie was a place of considerable 
 consequence. In the minority of David II. on account of its strength and 
 ictircd situation, it was chosen by the regents, Robert the Stewart and the 
 
 liar!
 
 -SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Description of the Northern Parts Inland. 
 
 JL HE last part of our survey and particular description is 
 the northermost part of Fyfe, and is accounted from the 
 valley of Edin to Tay. It is a continuation of the Monies 
 Ocelli or Ochill Hills from Kinross-shire and Perth, unto 
 the north-east point of Fyfe. In Fyfe they are generally 
 green and fertile, and interlined with excellent straths of 
 very good arable land : for the abundance and goodness of 
 wheat, bear and oats produced here, and for the numbers 
 of sheep and black cattle bred here, this part of Fyfe may 
 compare with the like quantity of ground in any of the best 
 parts of Great Britain. In breadth, from south to north 
 about four miles , in length, from west to east about ten or 
 eleven miles at most. 
 
 The westmost place of note among these hills, and to the 
 south, is the kirk of Aringosk, which being only a chapel, 
 was anno 1282 given to the abbacy of Cambuskenneth, by 
 Gilbertus de Frisly dominus de Forgy : and anno 1527, 
 Margaret Barclay lady of the barony of Aringosk, with con- 
 sent of Sir Andrew Murray her husband, and Sir David 
 Murray her son, creeled the chapel into a parish church. 
 The barony of Aringosk bdongea to the Frislays till about 
 1332, that Sir Richard Barclay married the heiress of that 
 name, and got these lands and Kippo. Then 1491, the 
 
 said 
 
 Earl of Moray, as the seat of their parliament in ij3J from which so 
 much wasexpe&ed for the deliverance of this distrailc-i country, but which 
 the animosities and mutual di.-gust; of t!:j nobles broke up, without having 
 concerted apv plan of defence. 
 
 3F
 
 402 THE HISTORY OF FI?E. [PART IV. 
 
 said Sir Andrew Murray of Balvaird got them by marrying 
 Margaret Barclay J . East of this is Balvaird, an old well 
 built castle belonging to the Murrays since anno 7. reg. 
 Roberti IT. and is now the heritage of the Viscount of 
 Stormount, the lineal representative of the Murrays of Bal- 
 vaird a . Then Balcanquhall is in view, the seat of an old 
 family of that same name 3 : of this family was the most 
 learned divine Dr. Balcanquhall. And east of this, among 
 the hills, above Strathmiglo, is Glentarkie, a pretty new 
 house belonging to one Watson 4 . East of this, and to the 
 north of Auchtermuchtie, among the hills, is Lumwhat, 
 which was formerly the Bonnars', and now is the heritage 
 of Captain Leslie, a cadet of the Earl of Rothes $ . 
 
 North of Lumwhat, and in a glen, is Pitcarlie, an old 
 tower, of old the seat of Patrick Lesly, first Lord Lindoris, 
 then of Mr. John Bayne, writer in Edinburgh, and now of 
 Mr. James Taylor, writer to the Signet there 6 . 
 
 North-west of Pitcarlie, upon an high ground, in the 
 very borders where Fyfe and Strathern meet, was the 
 cross MacdufF, of which I have given you the descrip- 
 tion in a former part of this book 7 . The pedestall or a big 
 stone in which the cross was fixed, is in that ground still. 
 North-east of this, and near the river or firth of Tay, is 
 first, Mugdrum, the estate anciently of the Orms, now one 
 of the seats of Cheap qf Rossie 8 . East of it and also upon 
 Tay, is the village of Newburgh, of one street from west 
 to east. It was erected into a burgh of barony in favours of 
 the monastery of Lundoris (whose it was) by king Alexan- 
 der 
 
 ', * These lands are mostly divided among feuars, but the Earl of Mans- 
 field i,s superior. 
 
 3 Now the property of Sir John Hope, Bart. 
 
 4 Now the property of David Skcne, Esq. of Hallyards. 
 $ Now the property of John Arnot, Esq. 
 
 ^ The property of James Cathcart, Esq. 
 
 7 See Part III. Se<ft. III. Chap. I. 
 
 * The seat of David Ball'jur Hay, Esq. of Leys,
 
 XCT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE N ? ORTH SIDE. 403 
 
 tier III. anno regni 17'. It had only of old a chapel of ease 
 dedicate to St. Catharine, but 1635, it was taken off the pa- 
 rish of Ebdie and ere&ed into a parish. Almost contigu- 
 ous to Newburgh east, and anciently within Earns-side- 
 wood, are the ruins and seat of the abbacy of Lundoris, a 
 right sweet situation, and of a most rich soil, witness the 
 vastly big old pear trees there. This monastery was 
 founded by David Earl of Huntington, when he returned 
 from the Holy Land, anno 8. reg. Willielmi ; some say 
 anno 1178, and dedicated to St. Mary and St. Andrew*. 
 
 3 F 2 The 
 
 1 Charles I. erefled it into a royal burgh, and it retains all the privileges 
 f a foyal burgh, except that of a voice in \fre choice of a member of par- 
 liament. A few yards northward from the town, and nearly connected 
 with it by buildings, although beyond the limits of its jurisdiction, lies the 
 shore of Newburgh ; which consists of three continuous piers, projecting 
 into the south deep of the river Tay, with several dwelling-houses, store- 
 houses, and other corvveniencies 1 for commerce. These piers form very safe 
 stations for the vessels employed in the trade on the river ; and although 
 none of any burden can properly be said to belong to Newburgh, and but 
 few are freighted to it, except with coals or lime, they are seldom to be 
 seen without ships, as the generality of vessels, bound for Perth, must wait 
 at Newburgh the flow of the tide ; and not a few of them, must unload 
 part of their Cargoes there, before they can, even with the tide, proceed 
 farther up the river. Hence arises a good deal, if not of trade, at least of 
 itir, at the shore of Newburgh, whkb proves of advantage to the place at 
 large. The smacks employed in the salmon trade, also lie to there, at all 
 seasons, and take in all kinds of goods for the London market. A good 
 niany of the people of Newburgh are employed in the seafaring line, and 
 the fisheries, but the greatest number following any one occupation are 
 weavers of coarse linens, the exportation of which constitutes the principal 
 trade of the place. 
 
 2 The story of David Earl of Huntington is romantic, aad though it 
 may be true, is considered as liable to suspicion. He was brother to Wil- 
 liam the Lion, and heir presumptive of the crown of Scotland, having 
 married Matildis daughter of Ranulph Earl of Chester, he immediately 
 departed for the Holy Land, under the banners of Richard Cotur dc Lion. 
 Many were the disasters of this zealous prince. Shipwrecked on the coast 
 f Egypt, he was made captive. His rank unknown, he was purchased by
 
 404 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 The monks were of the order of St. Benedict. They were 
 rich, had twenty-two churches, and many lands, in several 
 shires. I find, anno 1 208, they had an abbot and twenty- 
 six monks. This abbacy was erected into a temporal lord- 
 ship, 
 
 a Venetian, who brought him to Constantinople; there some English mer- 
 chants accidentally recognised him; they redeemed and sent him home. 
 After having surmounted various difficulties, he was in imminent hazard 
 of a second shipwreck on the coast of Scotland. He ascribed his deliverance 1 
 to the Virgin Mary, and, in memory of her efficacious intercession, founded 
 a monastery at Lindoris. Some of the ruins still remain ; but what may 
 h^ve been the extent of the buildings of the abbey, in former times, one 
 cannot judge, as part of the grounds, which they once occupied, is now 
 converted into arable land. Remains of the church, however, are still 
 extant, which shew, that it must have been a large, if not an elegant build- 
 ing. Parts, also, of the garden walls are still standing, which suggest no 
 mean idea of the wealth of the clergy who inhabited it, and strongly mark 
 the pains they had taken to secure the delicacies and luxuries of the table. 
 Within these walls, and for a small space 'beyond them, on one side, the 
 ground continues to be occupied by fruit trees, which, having been long 
 since planted, exhibit appearances of decay, that, viewed in conjunction 
 with the mouldering fragments of structures, half covered at top with ivy, 
 and surrounded at bottom with thorn and hazel, give an air of melancholy 
 grandeur to the place at large. Formerly strangers, who visited the ruins 
 of the abbey, had a stone coffin pointed out to them, which was placed 
 within the area of the church, on the north wall, towards the east end, 
 which was said to have contained the remains of the last Earl of Douglas; 
 but, in consequence of depredations lately made upon the walls, it is now 
 covered over with rubbish. The last of the Douglasses certainly died at 
 Lindoris. James Earl of Douglas had forfeited, and had been banished in the 
 reign of James II. He was well received in England, where the value of 
 so illustrious a traitor, of great influence on the borders, was duly estimated. 
 Supported by English power, he had made several unsuccessful inroads into 
 his country. At last, wearied with banishment, he and the exiled Albany 
 resolved to attempt their re-establishment in Scotland, now peculiarly open 
 to invasion, from the tyranny and weak councils of James III. They ga- 
 thered some hundreds of horse and infantry, hoping that their friends and 
 followers would soon swell their array. And advancing towards Loch- 
 maben during a fair, Douglas swore in the spirit of the times, that he 
 would lay his offering on the high altar of that place on St. Magdalen's 
 
 day
 
 SECT. JX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 40$ 
 
 ship, in favours of Patrick Lesly a son of the Earl of 
 Rothes : and 25th December 1600, he is created Lord Lin- 
 doris : and it is now the seat of the Lord Lindoris his suc- 
 cessor. 
 
 day (1483-). But the influence of Douglas was forgotten, even by his 
 former vassals ; and that of Albany was despised : the neighbouring gen- 
 tlemen collecting some hasty bands, the occasion furnished numbers, fuiy 
 arms ; and after a conflict, or rather affray, which lasted from noon till 
 night, while Albany found his safety in the swiftness of his horse, the last 
 Douglas remained the ignominious captive of a vassal's hand, a son of 
 Kirkpatrick of Closcburn. A grant of lands had been offered for his per- 
 son : " Carry me to the king !" said Douglas to Kirkpatrick : " thou art 
 well entitled to profit by my misfortune; for thou wast true to me,'while 
 I was true to myself." The young man wept bitterly, and offered to fly 
 with the Earl into England. But Do'uglas, weary of exile, refused hit 
 proffered liberty, and only requested, that Kirkpatrick would not deliver 
 him to the king till he had secured his own reward. Kirkpatrick did more. 
 When Douglas, now old and unwieldy, was conveyed to the royal presence, 
 cither from shame or scorn, he turned his back on the son of James II. the 
 destroyer of his house : a ray of pity illuminated the despotic mind of the 
 king, who had now himself tasted misfortune : and at the generous inter 
 cession of Kirkpatrick, he sentenced the years and infirmities of Douglas, 
 who had been educated to the church, to the religious retirement of Lin- 
 doris abbey, while the Earl's indifference muttered, " he who may no better 
 be, must be a monk." In this retreat, the last of the Douglasses perhaps 
 first knew happiness ; and died after four years ef penitence and peace. 
 The matrix of the seal of this abbey has been recently discovered, and it 
 thus described by Mr. Brand, secretary to the Society of Antiquaries : " It 
 seems to be made of the bone of some animal, and represents the Virgin 
 Mary seated, with our Saviour in her lap, holding ft branch in her right 
 hand, and the abbey of Lindoris in her left. The inscription runs thus : 
 " Sigillum SunJle Marie, et Sci. Andrec de Lundo*** ;" here a piece has 
 been broken off; part of the R is, however, still visible, and there is no 
 doubt but that the letters E and S followed it. My reasons for filling up 
 the hiatus in the above manner, cannot but be thought satisfactory, when 
 I aseure you, that, as on the one hand, no traces of evidence can be found 
 to evince that any abbey, monastery, nunnery, or hospital, of the age of 
 this matrix, wa* dedicated to St. Man- and St. Andrew in the city of 
 London ; so, ou the other, there is luckily preserved, at the end of the 
 second Tolume of Dugdalc't Monasticon, among the " Coenobia Scotica," 
 
 copied
 
 40*5 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 cessor. And the town of Newburgh gave the title, first 
 of Lord, and then of Earl, to Livingston of Kinnaird in 
 Angus, in king Charles IPs. reign. 
 
 All round this monastery was Earn-side-wood, where 
 Wallace defeated the English. It was anciently four miles 
 In length and three in breadth ; now there is nothing but 
 some few shrubs to the east of the abbey 1 . By east that, is 
 the house and barony of Balmbriech or parish of Flisk. The 
 house is a big old building upon Tay, one -of the seats of 
 the Earl of Rothes *. The church of Flisk was anciently 
 and is of a laik patronage, pertaining to this Earl. East of 
 the church upon the river is Flisk-wood. This estate was 
 a part of the great lordship of Abernethy, and it came by 
 a marriage to this Earl's predecessor. For in king Robert Fs. 
 reign, Alexander de Abernethin, dominus de eodem, had 
 
 only 
 
 copied from the original by Sir James Balf our, L yon King at Arms, the charter 
 of foundation of an abbey for monks al Lundoris, dedicated to the Virgin Mary ant 
 St. Andrew." The following is the introduction of the charter : " Universi* 
 sanclae matris ecclesise filiis, et fidelibus, tarn presentibus quam futuris, 
 comes David, fratet regis Scotix, salutem. Sciatis me fundasse quandam 
 abbaciam apud Londors, de ordine Kelchorensi, ad honorem Dei, et S. 
 Maria: Virginis, et S. Andree apostoli," &c. The site of the abbey, with 
 come part of the lands, belongs to David Balfour Hay, Esq. of Leys. The 
 greater part of the estate i the property of the Right Hon. Lord Dundas. 
 Hailes. Stat. Ace. Vol. VIII. Pink. Hist. Stuacts. Minstrelsy of tfce Border, 
 Vol. I. Archseologia, Vol. XIII. 
 
 1 Of this wood no vestige remains. The place where it is said to have 
 grown, lies along the shore of the frith, a considerable way below the 
 Junction of the Tay and the Earn. The name seems to countenance the 
 tradition, that the Earn alone once flowed by the bottom of the hills of 
 fife, and did not unite for several miles below this with the Tay, whose 
 course was then along the foot of the hills, forming the northern boundary 
 of the Carse of Cowrie, which lying thus betwixt two large rivers, was 
 frequently overflowed, and only became habitable when, in a great inun 
 lation, the Tay burst into the Earn where they now join. The tradition 
 3 confirmed by many other circumstances, which are accurately stated ia 
 ihe very excellent Statistical Account of the parish of Longforgaru 
 Vol. XIX. 
 
 3 The property of Lord Dunda*. The house is now in ruins.
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 
 
 only three daughters and co-heirs ; one of them, Margaret, 
 he married to John Stuart Earl of Angus, and gave with 
 her the barony of Abernethy. Another, Mary, he gave in 
 marriage to Norman de Lesly, and gave with her the ba- 
 rony of Balmbriech. The third was married to Lindesay 
 dominus de Craufurd, who got with her the barony of 
 Downic in Angus. 
 
 A little from the abbacy of Lindoris to the south, is Den- 
 miln, anciently it was the Earl of Fife's ; and after the for- 
 faulture, king James II. anno reg. 14. gave it to his beloved 
 and familiar servant, James Balfour son to Sir John Balfour 
 of Balgarvie knight, and ia now the seat of Sir Michael 
 Balfour, his lineal successor 1 . Sir James Balfour, Lord 
 Lyon, a most knowing antiquary, and Sir Andrew Balfour 
 a very learned physiciap, were sons of this house, and bro- 
 thers : vide Memor. Balfourian. Hard by it is Clatchart- 
 craig, an high rock ; on the top of it was anciently a strong 
 castle. 
 
 South of Denmiln is the house of Lindoris, standing 
 upon a loch : these lands, and a strong castle here, belonged 
 to the Earls of Fife; after the forfaulture 1530, a part o 
 them belonged to Alexander de Valoniis. Afterwards An- 
 drew Earl of Rothes gave Lindorrs to Mr. James M*Gill 
 clerk register, for good services. And it is now the seat of Mr. 
 David M'Gill of Rankeilor his representative *. Adjacent 
 to Lindoris, is the parish church of Ebdie, belonging to the 
 abbacy of Lindoris. East of this, and contiguous to the 
 lands of Lindoris, is Kinnaird, a large new house, the seat 
 of Sir George St. Clare, of the family of -. An- 
 ciently it belonged to David Earl of Huntington : anno 12. 
 reg. Willielmi, lie disponed these lands to Gilbert Earl of 
 Strathern his cousin ; and Madocus Com. Ern-Vallensis, 
 
 cum 
 
 1 Now the property of John Watt, Esq. 
 
 3 $fow in ruins, is the property of the Hon. Mrs Mitlao<l-MacgiU.
 
 408 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IY. 
 
 cum consensu Malisii filii, gave them, in puram et perps- 
 tuam eleemosinam to the nunnery of Elchok, in king Alex- 
 ander IPs. time. In king James Vs. time, Magdalen, 
 prioress of Elchok feued them to Alexander Leslie ; and 
 fns grand-daughter and heiress being married to James 
 Baron, merchant in Edinburgh, whose son disponed them 
 to Sir Mkhael Balfour of Denmiln ' : of these Barons were 
 the two learned Dr. John Baron and Dr. Robert B,aron. 
 
 To the south of this, is the loch, house and lands of 
 Woodmiln, the estate of Mr. James Arnot, the lineal suc- 
 cessor of Sir John Arnot of Berswick, provost of Edin- 
 burgh, and thesaurer-depute to king James VI. of the fa- 
 mily of Arnot *. The loch has pikes, and eels, and the 
 biggest perches of any loch in this country. To the east 
 ef Kinnaird, is Dinbug, a good house, fine gardens and in- 
 closures, the ^seat of Major Henry Balfour brother to the 
 Lord Burleigh. Anciently it. was a part of the barony of 
 Balmbriech ; then it came to the Lord Home, and in king, 
 James IV's. reign, Alexander Lord Home sold it to David 
 Bethune of Criech, whose posterity possessed it till king 
 Charles IPs. time, that the laird of Criech having no sons 
 left it to the laird of Balfour, who sold it off 3 . Here was 
 the preceptory of Gadvan, being a house and some lands 
 where two or three of the monks of Balmerinoch resided. 
 Hard by, is the parish church of Dinbug, given by Alexan- 
 der Cumin Earl of Buchan to the abbacy of Aberbrothock, 
 in king Alexander IPs. reign. South-east of Dinbug, is 
 Dinmuir, a new house, the seat of Mr. George Paterson, 
 whose ancestors have been heritors of this estate since king 
 James III. gave it to his servitor James Paterson 4 . Din- 
 muir 
 
 1 Now in rUins, is the property of John Pitcairn, Esq. 
 
 a Now the property of Colonel William Simpson of Pitcorthj'. , 
 
 3 Now the property of Lord Dundas. 
 
 4 Now the property of Colonel Ninian Imrje,
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OP THE NORTH SIDE. 409 
 
 muir stands at the foot of a very high hill named Norman's- 
 law, which is on the north of it. South of Dinmuir in a 
 lower ground, is Aiton, a good house, with all convenien- 
 cies of gardens and inclosures, belonging to Mr. William 
 Aiton, the lineal successor of Andrew Aiton captain of the 
 castle of Stirling, of the family of Aiton in the Mers ' : to 
 him, pro bono et fideli servitio, king James IV. 1507, dis- 
 poned the west half of Dinmuir, or Nether-Dunmuir, now 
 called Aiton. Both this estate and Over-Dunmuir were 
 anciently the heritage of the Dundemores, a considerable 
 family, and of great antiquity. 
 
 Near to Aiton, south on an higher ground, is Cullerny, 
 an old house ; this is the estate of a very ancient and ho- 
 nourable family of the name of Barclay *. 
 
 East of this, is Balmeady, that gives title to Sir David 
 Carmichael in Perthshire : this was exchanged by the Earl 
 of Fife with die Earl of Angus, giving Balmeady for Bal- 
 birny ; and in king James Ill's, reign, the Earl of Angus 
 gave Balmeady, with the heritable bailiary of the regality 
 of Abernethy, to a gentleman of the name of Carmichael, 
 captain of the castle of Crawfurd, Sir David's predecessor, 
 who married the Earl's mother, when a widow 3 . Near to 
 this, eastward, are the ruines of the house of Parbroth, the 
 dwelling of gentlemen of the name of Seaton 4 , descended 
 of the brave governor of Bervick ; it is now a part of the 
 estate of Mr. Andrew Baylie, of the family of Carfin, in 
 tlu west of Scotland, whose seat is at Lithrie, to the north- 
 east of this 5 . To the north of Lithrie, in a higher ground, 
 is Criech, anciently the seat of the Bethuns of Criech, 
 
 cadets 
 
 1 Now the propertf of Alexander Murray, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of Francis Balfour, Esq. of Fcrney. 
 3 Now the property of Lord Dundas. 
 
 * Now the property of the Hon. Major-Gcneral John Hope of Craighal!. 
 5 Luthric is the seat of Colonel Alexander Baillrc. 
 
 3G
 
 410 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT. 
 
 cadets of Bethun laird of Balfour, in king James IV's. 
 time '. And near to it, is the parish church of Criech, that 
 belonged to the abbacy of Lundoris. 
 
 To' the south-east of Lithrie, in a low ground and amidst 
 morasses, is the castle of Cairnie, of old one of the seats of 
 the Earls of Crawfurd, which they got in king James IV's. 
 reign, by the marriage of Dumbar heiress of the parish of 
 Moonsie : this house and estate was, in king James VFs. 
 time, purchased by the Lord Lindesay of the Byres, the 
 predecessor of the present Earl of Crawfurd 3 . Above this 
 to the south, on the top of a hill, is the parish church of 
 Moonsie, that belonged to the ministry of Scotland Well. 
 To the north of this castle, and on the north-side of a hill, 
 is Murdocairnie, anciently a part of the Earl of Fife's estate, 
 now is the heritage of Mr. John Melvill, a cadet of the Earl 
 of Melvill 3 . To the east of Murdocairnie, is Hillcairnie, 
 that belongs to Mr. Robert Ross of Innernethy, in Perth- 
 shire, a cadet of Ross of Craigie in that shire 4 . 
 
 To the north of that, and in a low ground, upon the 
 water of Motry, is Rathillet, one of those places which 
 king William gave to the Earl of Fife with his niece Ada : 
 it is now the possession of a gentleman of the name of 
 Halkerston 5 . Above that to the north, and on the south- 
 side of an hill, is Mountwhanie, a pretty good house with 
 inclosures, which was anciently the estate of gentlemen of 
 the name of Balfour. Duncan Earl of Fife, " Dat consan- 
 guineo suo Michaeli Balfour, totam terram de Moulkhany 
 in excambio pro terra de Pittincrieff." This is confirmed 
 by king David II. anno 1353. ; and " Isabella Senescal comi- 
 
 tissa 
 
 1 Now the property of David Gillespie, Esq. of Kirkton. 
 a The property, of the Earl of Craufurd and Lindsay.' 
 3 The property of Miss Helen Melville. 
 
 * Now the property of Ebenezer Marshall, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property of David Carswell, Esq.
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 
 
 lissa tie Fyfe, in sua legittima viduitate, dat eidem Michaeli 
 <le Balfour, consanguineo suo, terram de Easter-Lathalan, 
 infra schiram de Riras." And in another charter, she gives 
 him "Octo mercas Sterlingorum annuatim de farms' de 
 Easter-Ferny, quousque ipsa vel successores fecerint ei 
 o&o mercatas terre." These are confirmed by king David II. 
 anno regni 35. It is now the estate of Mr. James Craw- 
 
 furd, of the family of in the west country '. A 
 
 mile north-east of Mountwhanic, is Grange, the heritage of 
 Mr. David Balfour, the representative of the Balfours of 
 Mountwhanie 3 ; here is of late, found good slate for cover- 
 ing houses : Sir James Balfour says, he saw a charter by 
 king AVIlliam to Sir Michael de Balfour of Mountwhanie, 
 dat. apud Forfar. 
 
 We cross the hills from Grange, north to the water ot" 
 Tay, upon it we meet first, to the west, Corbie, called also 
 Birkhill, from a park of birks surrounding the house to the 
 south. It is a pleasant place. Anciently Laurence de Aber- 
 nethy, the son of Orme, gave these lands and Balindean to 
 the monks of Balmurenach, pro anima ejus, &c. and be- 
 cause Queen Emergarda left him 200 merks Sterling in her 
 testament In king James VI's. reign, it belonged to a 
 younger son of the Earl of Rothes, and now by a marriage 
 to Carnegie, a cadet of the Earl of Southesk's 3 . 
 
 A mile east of this is the abbacy of Balmerinoch, plea- 
 santly situate ; now almost all in ruins. It was founded by 
 Queen Emergarda mother of king Alexander II. anno i 229, 
 and planted with monks of die Cistertian order, that came 
 from the abbacy of Melross. She died and was buried here, 
 anno 1233, where her statue within these few years was 4 . 
 3 G 2 Adam 
 
 1 Now the seat of David Gillespie, Esq. of Kirkton. 
 
 a Now tac property of Alexander Scriingeonr Wederburn, Esq. 
 
 3 The seat of Alexander Scrimgeour Wedderburn, Esq. of Wedderburn. 
 
 4 Some pillars of excellent workmanship, and most durable stone, every
 
 412 THE HISTORY OF 1'1*'E. [PART IV. 
 
 Adam de Stalwele, brother and heir to Richard de Ruele, 
 son of Henry, sold, and (as the way then was) resigned 
 Balmurenach, Cultrach and Balindean, in curia regis Alex- 
 andri, apud Forfar, die post festum S. Dionysii, anno 1215, 
 to Queen Emergarda for 1000 merks Sterling. This ab- 
 bacy was by king James VI. erected into a temporal lord- 
 ship, in favours of Sir James Elphinston secretary of state, 
 (a son of the Lord Elphinston) and 25th of April 1604, ne 
 is created Lord Balmerinoch ; and it is one of the seats of 
 his great-grandson the present Lord Balmerinoch '. 
 
 To 
 
 one ornamented in a different manner, and covered in -by a beautiful arch, 
 are still to be seen. There arc also some semicircular vaults, one of which 
 seems to have been a place of worship, as thre is a row of stone-benches 
 all round it, and nigh the entrance two basons cut out in the stone, pro- 
 Lably for holding holy water, as the bust of the Virgin, with the holy child 
 in her arms, stood in a niche above them. This bust was dug out of the ruins 
 some years ago, and given to the late David Martin, Esq. painter. There arc 
 also the ruins of the church, and what appears to have been a small chapel 
 upon the end of a house, within the precincts of the abbey, where Lord 
 Ualmerino sometimes resided. This abbey is pleasantly situated upon the 
 l>anks of the Tay, noted for their romantic shelving and perpetual verdure, 
 and commands a beautiful view of the river, with Dundee, and the rich 
 vale of the Carse of Gowry on the opposite shore. It has a small running 
 water to the east of it, which runs through a den or glen, well stocked 
 with venerable trees, consisting of ash, beech, elm, &c. In the old garden 
 there is a chcsnut-tree, the b^le of which measures fifteen feet in the girth, 
 and not above five feet to the setting out of the branches, two of which 
 run horizontally the whole length of the chapel, formerly mentioned, 
 standing at the end of the house. A beech-tree was measured to twelve 
 feet seven inches in the girth ; and an elm to seven feet nine inches, their 
 height from thirty to forty feet. Slat. Ape. Vol. IX. No. 16. 
 
 1 Now the property of the Earl of Moray. The harbour of Balmeruio, 
 is the chief place on the south side of the Tay for shipping wheat and 
 barley for the Forth and the Canal. The quay was at first designed for 
 bhipping lime from die Fife hills, to Dundee ; now there is not a boll that 
 conies from thence, but, on the contrary, some thousands from Charles- 
 town on the Forth, and from South Sundcrland, are delivered annually to 
 the neighbourhood. The trade of shipping wheat and barley at this port 
 
 began
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OK THE NORTH SIDE. 
 
 To the cast is Nauchton, a tower upon an high rock, 
 built by Robertus de Limdon, natural son to king William : 
 
 SOOH. 
 
 began about forty years ago ; at first, only some farm-bolls were shipped, 
 and afterward the merchants began to buy from the farmers at the weekly 
 market in Cupar, and received their grain at Balmerino. Before that 
 period, the farmers carried their victual either to Dundee, where the mer- 
 chants shipped the surplus, or transported it upon horseback to the south 
 coast. The harbour is but trifling, and may. no doubt, be improved ; but, 
 as the bottom is good, ships lie to and take in and deliver with case. 
 There are eight salmon-fishings in the parish, upon the banks of the Tay. 
 These fishings were carried on by means of yairs or scaffolds with poke- 
 nets, and in summer with sweep and toot nets. The first were hauled 
 when the fish struck the nets in their way up with the flowing tide. The 
 second were payed off and drawn in at a certain time of the tide, without 
 knowing whether there were salmon or not ; and the last were set in the, 
 water, and never drawn till the watchman, or tootsman, as he is called 
 here, observed the fish to have got within the net. A mofe successful mode 
 of fishing has been lately introduced. It was first begun on the other side of 
 the Tay, by some enterprising gentlemen from the neighbourhood of the; 
 Solway Frith, where similar modes of fishing have long been practised; 
 and it is now very generally adopted on this side of the river also. The 
 machinery is of the following description. There is formed an inclosurc, 
 beginning at the shore, with poles creeled at the distance of six feet 
 from each other, and, in general, of a height nearly equal to that 
 of the water in ordinary tides. To these poles there is fixed a netting 
 strengthened by ropes running in a horizontal dire&ion, the highest of 
 which on a line with the tops of the poles supports the net, and the lowest 
 of which touches the sands. The meshesof the netting arc of very strong 
 cord, and when fully stretched out, are three inches square. The whole 
 is of the same construction, except for about twenty yards near the lower 
 extremity, where there is an opening furnished with a sort of valve or valves 
 curiously contrived for admitting all the fish which comtf with the rising 
 tide, and for preventing their passage out when the tide falls. The valves 
 are constructed in this way. The nettings are divided into two, and in- 
 stead of being fastened at the bottom, they are left loose, and are only fas- 
 tened at the top, so as to float with the rising tide. And the nettings arc 
 kept quite tight by small poles or sticks to which they are fastened, and 
 which arc raised along with them by the tide. Thus the fish get acc 
 into the inclosure, but when the tide falls, the netting falls along with it, 
 :nd thus forms a complete barrier, so as to confine every fist which had 
 
 made
 
 4 14 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IV. 
 
 soon after it came to the Hays, whom after I find lairds of 
 
 Nauchtoun 
 
 made its way into the inclosure. And in order to bring more fish into 
 the inclosure, there is formed what is not inaptly termed a leader, being a 
 row of stakes and netting of several hundred yards in length, run- 
 ning from the opening obliquely down the river, and having at the lower 
 end a small curve corresponding to the state of the sands at the place. 
 The salmon meeting this leader in their progress up the river, are neces- 
 sarily kept in by it, and led into the inclosure by the opening already de- 
 scribed. The leader is of the same construction with the inclosure itself, 
 and where it is turned round at the end, the netting is made to rise 
 with the tide, and to fall down with its return, so as to prevent the fishes 
 from escaping. This general description cannot be supposed to apply pre- 
 cisely in every case, because the mode of setting the stakes, &c. must ne- 
 cessarily be accommodated to the form, situation of the shore, and the banks 
 In the tideway of the river. This invention has greatly increased the value of 
 the fishings to the proprietors and tacksmen, but the people at large derive 
 Jess benefit from them than they enjoyed before, for almost the whole of the 
 *ahnon are sent to the London market, packed in ice or pickled, as the sea- 
 eon answers ; for which purposes proper houses have been recently built at 
 Balmerino. The proprietors of the fishings in the higher parts of the 
 river, have challenged this mode of fishing as illegal. They gained the cause 
 in the Court of Session, but it has been carried by appeal to the House of 
 Peers, where it is still in dependance. The question at issue refers only 
 to the fishing at Seaside on the opposite shore, and from some specialities 
 in that case, it is supposed, that though the decision of the House of 
 Peers may be unfavourable, the right of fishing in this manner on this 
 side of the river, will not be affected by it. A few years ago, consider- 
 able numbers of herrings were observed in the frith opposite to Balmerino 
 and Woodhaven, and a fishery of them was begun and pursued for several 
 seasons, with considerable success. Last winter however, it almost en- 
 tirely failed, when very great .preparations had been made to prosecute 
 
 it on a more" extensive scale. There is likewise a spirling fishing 
 
 carried on here through the winter, and as they catch great num- 
 bers of spirlings (smelts), garvies (sprats), herrings, flounders, &c. they 
 are sold at low prices, and are easily come at by the poorest in the neigh- 
 bourhood. These fishes are taken with poke-nets tied between two poles, 
 and anchored at the back end. The ebbing tide forces the fish into them, 
 and they are shaken out at low water. The fishers, who are extremely 
 industrious, likewise catch seals, in the summer months, with long nets, 
 for which, besides the value of the oil and skins v they draw a Small pre- 
 mium from the salmon-dealers.
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF TUB NORTH SIDE. 415 
 
 Nauchtoun about king Alexander Ill's, reign. In king 
 James IIFs. time, Eustachius de Chrichton got it in mar- 
 riage with Matildis, daughter and heir of Sir John de la 
 Hay. From the Chrichtons, Mr. IVter Hay a son of Meg- 
 ginshe's in Angus, purchased it in James VI's. time, whose 
 posterity now have it '. North of Nauchtoun is Wormet, 
 belonging to Mr Alexander Scrimzeour, a cadet of the 
 Earls of Dundee *. 
 
 Our method obliges us to turn again south upon these hills, 
 unto Foodie, which formerly belonged to Sir James Hay of 
 Kinglassie, father to the famous Earl of Carlisle ; now Mr. 
 Thomas Wemyss, a cadet of the Earl of Weemyss has this 
 estate 3 . Crossing the hill northward in a lower ground is 
 Denbrae, belonging to Mr. James Preston, uncle to Sir 
 John Preston of Prestonhall : his dwelling is a very fine 
 house in the town of Cnpar. A mile north of Dunbrae, 
 and on a shelving ground, is Forret, it was the estate of 
 the name Forret, since king William's time at least, now is 
 the heritage of Mr. Michael Baifour, eldest son of Sir David 
 Balfour, a Lord of the Session and of the Justiciary, son of 
 Sir Michael Balfour of Denmiln, who planted a great many 
 barren trees here, specially on Forret hill 4 . North and 
 below this in the strath, is Kilmany, upon the water of 
 Motrey, a village 5 with a parish church, belonging to St. 
 Salvator's College in St. Andrews. 
 
 A mile east of Kilmanie, upon an eminence amidst mea- 
 dows, on Motrey is Kinneir, the possession of very ancient 
 gentlemen of that same name of Kinneir . They have a 
 
 , charter 
 
 1 The tower is now io ruins, but an excellent house has been built by 
 the present proprietor James Morison, Esq. 
 
 2 The property of Alexander Scrimgeour Wcddcrburn, Esq. of 
 Wedderbvrn. 
 
 3 Now the property of J;imes Gibson, Esq. 
 
 * Now the property oi. James Mackenzie, Esq. 
 
 5 The property of John Anstruther Thomson, Esq. of Charlton. 
 
 c The property of Charle* Kinnear, Esq.
 
 41 3 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [PART IT, 
 
 charter by king Alexander II. I find one Willielmus dc 
 Kiner in king William's time. In the cartulary of Balme- 
 rinoch, there is a charter bearing that " Symon filius et 
 heres Symonis de Kyner dedit Deo, S. Marie, et Monachis 
 de Balmerinach in eleemosinam pro salute animarum, &c.: 
 medietatem totius terre in feodo de Kyner," (now called 
 Little Kinneir) 1 . This donation is confirmed by king Alex- 
 ander II. 2 1 . Septembris anno regni 22do. A little eastward 
 is Easter-Kinneir, belonging to Mr. John Falconer advo- 
 cate *. South of Kinneir, upon an high ground, is Logic, 
 the seat of Mr. Alexander Bayn 3 , and near to it the parish 
 church of Logic, or Logic Murdoch, that belonged to the 
 abbacy of Balmerinoch. South-west of this, and on the 
 border of these hills, is Craigfoodie, a very pretty' new 
 house, belonging to Mr. John Bethune 4 . East of it is 
 Pitcullo. This in king Robert I's. time was the heritage 
 of gentlemen of the same name of Pitcullo. In king 
 James Ill's, reign it was the Sybbalds', afterwards the Bal- 
 fours', and of late it is the Trents' 5 . 
 
 A little north of Pitcullo and somewhat high on the 
 south side of an hill, is Airdit, a good house with gardens : 
 it anciently belonged to the Earls of Fife, and in king Alex- 
 ander II's. reign it was given Johanni de Airdit, pro 
 homagio et servitio and to his heirs male , these failing in 
 the third generation, it returned to the Earl of Fife and was 
 theirs at the forfaulture. Now it is the seat of Sir Robert 
 Douglas, who upon the death not long since of Sir Robert 
 Douglas of Glenbervic colonel of a Scots regiment, with- 
 out heirs male, served himself heir, and got a charter de 
 novodamus of these lands of Airdit, to be call'd, in all time 
 
 coming 
 
 1 Now the property of Alexander Scrimgeour Wedderburn, Esq. 
 
 2 The property of Charles Kinuear, Esq. 
 
 3 Now the property of George Wilson Bowman, Esq. 
 * The seat of David Mcldrum, Esq. 
 
 15 The scat of Neil Fer^usson, E->q.
 
 iKCT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 417 
 
 coming Glenbervie '. To the east of this, does Luck-law- 
 hill run near a mile in length, and then ends. In it red 
 marble is said to be. 
 
 A mile and more east of Glenbervie, in a fruitful plain, 
 is the castle, village and church of Leuchars : so named 
 A Locro, Pi&orum magnate ejusdem possessore." Hie 
 castle stands on an eminence amidst morasses, and was an- 
 ciently a dwelling of our kings*. In 1327 the Earl of Pem- 
 broke general of the English took it and demolished it, king 
 Robert II. an. reg. 5. gave it to Sir Alexander Ramsay, he 
 leaving only a daughter, she was married to Eustachius de 
 Monipenny, and his successor having only daughters, the 
 eldest of them was married to Ramsay of Colluthie, who 
 got this castle and barony : and in king James VI's. time it 
 came to the Earl of Southesk by a marriage of the heiress 
 of the name of Ramsay 3 . The church of Leuchars belong- 
 ed to the priory of St. Andrews. Near to this, south east, 
 is Earls-hall, anciently one of the seats of the Earls of Fife -, 
 afterwards of the Lord Monipenny, but in king James Vs. 
 
 reign 
 
 1 The seat of John Anstrnther, Ewfe 
 
 * The morasses are now drained, many acres formerly covered with 
 coarse grass and rushes, and about thirty-six acres south and west of Leu- 
 chars, covered with water to a considerable depth in the winter season, 
 and not free from water in the summer, are now produciug abundant 
 crops of all kinds of grain, clover, turnips, and cabbages. In the garden be- 
 longing to Pitlethie, stood the castle', used as a hunting seat by king James 
 VI.; thi house had been taken down to a little below the surface, and thus 
 rendered invisible. In digging the garden lately, the spade rung against a 
 firm stone, and upon removing the earth, the foundation of this hunting 
 i. .it was discovered to a great depth and thickness. This was carefully 
 raised, and a great part of Pitlethie house and offices was built from this 
 quarry. Here too were fonnJ the royal arms of Scotland, cut in a stone, 
 which is still preserved, bcinj; placed in the front of one of the houses. In 
 a field, near the house of 1'itlcthie, grows a venerable spreading thorn, 
 where, it is said, hi* majesty ' hawks after their toils were accustomed 
 to refresh themselves through the night. Stat. Ace. Vol. XVIII. No. 12. 
 
 * Now the property of the Honourable Robert Lindsay. 
 
 3H
 
 41 8 THE HISTORY OF FIFE. [ PART ** 
 
 reign, the Lord Monipenny excambed it with Bruce ol 
 Bridzeam in the Mers for some lands he had acquired in. 
 France *. Two miles eastward unto the ocean, is a plain 
 heath and full of marishes, with a few cottages scattered 
 over them called Tents-muirs, and inhabited by a very rus- 
 tick sort of people 2 . To the south of Leuchars, the water 
 of Motrey joins Edin, a little before their being swallowed 
 up of the ocean. Upon Motrey there is a stone bridge oi 
 three arches. 
 
 We shall finish our particular description by noticeing 
 some few places upon the northmost range of mountains, 
 to the cast of Nauchton. Saintfurd has been long the heri- 
 tage of gentlemen of the name of Nairn 3 : 1446, Alexander 
 Nairn de Saintfurd is comptroller, and in the same reign 
 
 of king James II. Nairn is Lyon king at arms. 
 
 North of it is Wood-haven, a ferry over Tay to .Dundee 4 . 
 Near to Saintfurd is Innerdovat, belonging formerly to the 
 Lightouns, now to Mr. Gavin Hamiltoun clerk of the Ses- 
 sion 5 . East of it is Kirktoun, (the estate and dwelling of a 
 gentleman of the name of Young 6 ,) and the parish church 
 of 'St. Philans or Forgun, that wa* one of the kirks of the 
 
 priory 
 
 1 The seat of Thomas Bruce-Henderson, Esq. 
 
 2 It has been supposed that these people are the progeny of some 
 shipwrecked Danes, or of the remnant of a defeated army ; but it is pro- 
 bable that the rusticity of their manners, arose merely from their resi- 
 dence in a desolate wild, secluded from the intercourse and comforts of 
 society. 
 
 3 Now the scat of Archibald Campbell Stewart, Esq. of Castlestewart, 
 
 * This is the principal ferry from Fife to Dundee, and it is well provided 
 with excellent boats and skilful ferrymen. The passage may be made at 
 any time of the tide, except at low water in blowing weather, when a 
 large bank in the middle of the frith greatly obstructs it. As the current 
 of the tide of flood runs south, high water here is about half an hour ear- 
 lier than at Lcith. 
 
 * Now the property of John Berry, Esq. of Tayficld. 
 6 Now the property of David Gillespie, Esq.
 
 SECT. IX.] DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH SIDE. 419 
 
 priory of St. Andrews. On the east part of these hills is 
 the house of the Craig, a pretty house, with the village of 
 Portincraig ; belonging anciently to the bishops of St. An- 
 drews ; but in king Alexander Ill's, reign it was feued to 
 Sir Michael Scot of Balweary ; then it came to the Duries, 
 Ramsays, Buchanans and Areskins successively. In king 
 Charles IPs. time archbishop Sharp purchased it. Now it 
 belongs to Mr. Alexander Colvill, the representative of the 
 Lord Colvill of Culross '. At the village is a ferry over the 
 mouth of Tay to Angus, and in it is a parish church of a 
 new erection, the parish being disjoined from the parish 
 of Leuchars. 
 
 Now when we look back upon so many changes of pos- 
 sessors of the lands in these shires, this brings to our re- 
 membrance what Horace makes Ofellus say to us Serm. 
 lib. II. Satyr 2. 
 
 Nam propriae telluris herum natura neque ilium, 
 Nee me, nee quenquam statuit. 
 Nunc ager Umbreni sub nomine, nuper Ofelli 
 Diftus, erit nulli proprius : sed cedet in usum 
 Nunc mihi, nunc alii *. 
 
 * The seat of William Dalgliesh, Esq. 
 
 2 Nature will no perpetual heir assign, 
 Or make the farm his property or mine. 
 He turn'd us out : but follies all his own, 
 Or law-suits, and their knaveries unknown, 
 Or, all his follies and his law-suits past, 
 Some long-liv'J heir shall turn him out at last. 
 The farm once mine, now bears Umbrenus' name ; 
 The use alone, not property we claim. FKANCH. 
 
 END OF PART FOURTH.
 
 APPENDIX. No.J. . 
 
 (SIBBALD'S.) 
 
 \ 
 
 TO THE 
 
 DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF FIFE. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Concerning the Natural History of it. 
 
 JL HESE who write more particularly of Natural History, 
 usually treate of it under these titles, i. The heavens and 
 air. 2. The waters. 3. Earths. 4. Stones. 5. Plants. 
 6. Brutes. 7. Men and women. 8. Antiquities and arts. 
 Most of these are treated of in the former parts, yet some 
 particulars remain untouched ; of which this section is to 
 give some account. 
 
 As to what relateth to the first title, this is to be added ; 
 which Sir James Balfour, Lord Lyon, mentioneth in his 
 notes upon this shire, that, regnante Malcolm IV. the castle 
 of Leuchars was beaten to the ground, by a blast of thun- 
 der from heaven '. And as to die other head, the air, par- 
 ticularly 
 
 * The following remarkable cases of thunder storms, are worthy of re- 
 cord. On the ayth of O&ober 1733, Melvill-house was struck with a re- 
 markable thunder storm. The whole house, on every side, and from top 
 to bottom, was affe&ed. The stream of lightning, it is supposed, was at- 
 tra&ed by a long iron spike, on the top of a cupola covered with lead. 
 The effedb of it were felt, and are still visible in almost every part of the 
 house : providentially no person was materially hurt. In a large mirror, 
 a piece of the size of a crown was melted, and no crack or flaw whatever 
 appears in any other place. Many splinters were torn out of the solid 
 wainscoting, particularly a thin one about the breadth of a half foot joiner'* 
 rule, was beaten fourteen feet from the top of the finishing, on the floor, 
 where it made a deep impression, which still remains. One of the chim- 
 neys tops was thrown down, and some of the stone? carried one hundred 
 yards into the garden. At Cnpar, on the 3Oth of April 1735, a blacksmith 
 while employed in shoeing a horse before the door of his workshop, was 
 it rack dg>vn in the street, and instantly- expired. About thirty years ago, 
 
 the
 
 422 APPENDIX. No. I. [SECT. i. 
 
 ticularly as, to damps in this shire, the Transactions of the 
 Royal Society, No. III. hath the relation concerning the 
 persons killed in the Lord Sinclair's coal pit at Dysart, to 
 which the reader is referred. 
 
 Concerning the second title the waters ; this account of 
 Hedlor Boeth is to be added, Hist. Sector, lib. xiii. in 
 fine, " Anno regni Alexandri III. septimo et decimo, tanta 
 jnuridatio, nimio plus solito maris aestu per tempestates 
 alveos excedente, fata est, prsesertim Tai et Forthese flu- 
 viorum, ut multus villas ac pagos prostraverit, maximamque 
 eladem, cum hominum, turn pecorum, dederit V 
 
 To 
 
 the lightning struck Pitcullo-house, about four miles from Cupar. It 
 entered in two streams ; one came down the kitchen chimney, tore off the 
 jack-case, and left three or four black spots on the roof of the kitchen, at 
 considerable distances from each other. A servant sitting in a closet off 
 the kitchen, had a large hole burnt in the crown of her head-dress. She 
 was some hours insensible, but recovered. When the stroke came, she 
 thought that she was falling into a swoon or faint. The other stream en- 
 tered by a fine shell-closet, stripped a few shells and some frosting off, then 
 Went down the staircase, and burst through the panneling of another 
 room, where was a mahogany table. This table was picked, as if hit with 
 very small shot. Here its force was exhausted. In July 1783, about sir 
 o'clock in the morning, a girl and boy were killed with lightning near 
 Monimail. Peals of thander, with vivid lightning, were that morning 
 loud and frequent. The mother was a helpless palsied woman, and had 
 been carried from her bed to the fire-side. The boy, who was much 
 frightened with the thunder, was standing before the fire. The girl was 
 eated opposite to her mother, feeding the fire with brush wood. On the 
 descent of the lightning, the boy fell back, and was, for some time, believed 
 to be the only person affected : the girl retained her sitting posture, and 
 was not supposed to be injured. A dog lay motionless more than an hour, 
 but on being thrown out as dead, revived and recovered entirely. The 
 poor mother said, she thought the fire that came down from the heavens, 
 completely involved her with the rest. The shock had no effect on her 
 health or constitution, either favourable or unfavourable. At Cupar, on 
 the zoth of September 1787, four men were struck with lightning in the 
 old correction house, at that time used as a wright's shop. Two of the 
 four, though severely stunned and wounded, gradually recovered. The 
 other two were found without any remains of life. Stat. Ace. Vol. II. 
 No. 33. Vol. IV. No. 30. Vol. XVII. No. n. 
 
 1 " In the I7th year of Alexander III., there happened a most extraordi- 
 nary inundation of the sea, especially in the friths of the Forth and Tay, 
 which involved in a common destruction many towns and villages, and 
 the inhabitant* and their herds." In his account of this deluge, Boeth 
 is supported by Vordun, who is still more particular in his narrative : he 
 mentions, th.it on the eve of the fenst-of the nooo Virgins, a great wind 
 arose from t!ic north, and overwhelmed many houses and villages between 
 the Tay and the Tweed. " There was never such a deluge, he says, since 
 the times of Noah, as appears from its traces at this day." None of the 
 
 historians
 
 SECT, i.] APPENDIX. No. I. 423 
 
 To the third title, concerning earths, is to be added an 
 earthquake occasioned by a speate of water, some twenty 
 five years ago, or thereabout, at Taces in this shire, thus : 
 there is a great descent of that land towards the water, 
 which is the march betwixt it and the avenue, to the west 
 of the mannour of Craighall : and there is an high bank 
 above the water there, upon the south side of the water 
 belonging to the Taces ; the torrents, in the furrows above 
 this bank, had during the speate, after great rains, so sunk 
 into the ground above the bank, that by the force and im- 
 petuosity of these subterraneous torrents, the whole face of 
 the bank, opposite to the foot of the west avenue to Craig- 
 hall (containing more as an acre of ground) was shaved 
 down (as if it had been cut off by proper instruments) 
 the height of three or four spears, and was laid upon the 
 ground of Craighall, with the shrubs and plants growing 
 upon it. This I saw the day following, as I went to Craig- 
 hall that way. Upon Thursday, the eight day of Novem- 
 ber 1608, there was in Fife, an earthquake betwixt nine 
 and ten hours at even, which lasted about a quarter of an 
 hour j that it terrified all the persons within the towns of 
 Couper of Fife, Newburgh, Dunfermling, Bruntisland and 
 others within Fife. 
 
 As to the fourth title, concerning stones ; these additions 
 are to be joined : first, that beside the white marble found 
 upon the coast at Vicar's Grange, it is reported, that red 
 marble was found in Luck-law-hill, in the north-east part 
 of this shire, not far from Leuchars. And at Cambo, the 
 seat of the present Lord Lyon, there are divers curious 
 formed stones cast up by the sea, upon the shoar there, 
 some of them in shape resembling nooks, or the flounder 
 
 fishes ; 
 
 historians however, point out the extent of the devastation, or the names 
 and situations of the towns that were destroyed, to enable us to estimate 
 the loss of territory that was sustained. The uncertain voice of tradition, 
 points out many places now always covered with water, and at a great 
 distance from the shore, which were then parts of the inhabited land. And 
 it particularly mentions, that the extensive and elevated sands of Borric, uii 
 the opposite side of the Frith of Tay, were then formed, and that a town 
 was buried under them ; and that a considerable portion of the land on the 
 south side of St. Andrews hay wa overwhelmed. There is no doubt that 
 the sea has made several encroachments on the coasts of Angus, Fife, and 
 Lothiau, in former times ; but our annalists, more interested about fabu- 
 lous geneajogies, and cloister promotions, have left us no means of ascer- 
 taining the date of them.
 
 424 APPENDIX. No. I. [SECT. I. 
 
 fishes ; and Sir Charles himself did me the favour to give 
 to me one he took up upon the coast, it is an oblong round- 
 ish stone, of a red colour, the surface of which, upon both 
 sides, is incrusted with quadrangular and pentangular cells, 
 like to the cells of bee-hives, divided by a whitish hard 
 partition. 
 
 There is nothing to be added to the title of plants, save 
 that now the gardens of the nobility and gentry are pro- 
 vided with many of the choicest flowers and fruits ; and 
 they bestow much upon the culture of them, and want few 
 or none of the ornaments to be seen elsewhere. 
 
 As to the title concerning brutes, some remarkable acci- 
 dents which happened in some of this shire, are worthy to 
 be recorded. I shall mention only two, the first accident 
 is concerning some toads, which though they live both at 
 land and in the water, yet sometimes are excluded from 
 hoth ; having, by the observation of the writers of natural 
 history, been found often oloss imprisoned xvithin the middle 
 of solid blocks of stone, without any perceivable rift or 
 cleft, either whereby they were first admitted, or were sup- 
 plied with air, during their abode there j an instance of this 
 (happened at Dinbolg in this shire. I shall give the relation, 
 ns I had it from a reverend divine and curious philosopher, 
 \vho was an eye-witness : he writes to me there were pre- 
 sent also Do&or James Murray, uncle to the present Vis- 
 count of Stormont, and Humphry Colly, then chirurgeon 
 in Perth, where Doctor Murray resided also ; they, with 
 ihe divine, the relater of the history, were waiting upon a 
 sick lady there, and having walkt out a little for their re- 
 creation, came in their returning, to stop at a louping-on- 
 titoue at the gate (which is a little stair, with a flat broad 
 stone upon the top of it, made for the ease of women when 
 they take horse), they heard a croaking noise come from 
 under the top-stone, which notwithstanding they perceited 
 every where to be close built, without the least chink , they 
 culled for some servants of the house, who loosed it, and 
 turned it ofl, and underneath immediately did three toads 
 appear crawling 5 one of them was very large, and two of 
 the ordinary size ; it was found, that that stair had been 
 liuilt some dozen years before, or thereby. This happened 
 in September 1671. 
 
 The other history is concerning an ox in the laird of 
 
 Inchdairny's
 
 ECT. i.] APPENDIX. No. I. 425 
 
 Inchdairny's bounds. I had the relation from one of the 
 do&ors of our college at Edinburgh, who got the ox's horn 
 from Inchdairny : I am the more willing to trcateof it, that 
 I find a history very like to it, set down by the famous 
 Malpighius, in a letter he wrote to the learaed Jacobus 
 Sponius, physician at Lyons in France , the figure of the 
 horn he writes of, is much the same with this, which our 
 college gave me ; only that described by Malpighius was 
 much bigger than this, and differed in the colour without : 
 what was within it, and all the minute parts, and the way 
 of its generation, are well explained by Malpighius. That 
 of his, and ours likewise, grew upon the side of the neck 
 of the ox, and made the yoke to be uneasy to it : the hol- 
 low part of this last, was full of a white substance, like 
 tallow, but it did, not burn ; the rats eated it : so the cavity 
 appeareth of a conick figure, wide below, and tapering up<- 
 wards. This last horn was in length some three inches, 
 and towards the point turned down into an obtuse angle, 
 it is of a whitish colour. 
 
 The writers of the natural history, give account some- 
 times of the odd and rare diseases incident to men and 
 women in the place. There was a virgin in this shire, re- 
 markable for her abstinence j I saw her in that state, and 
 was informed by her relations, that she took no food but 
 once a fortnight, sometimes once a month, a figg, or a sugar 
 'biscueit ; and drank only water or a little milk, and yet was 
 of a fresh complexion, but obliged to lye much in bed 
 through weakness. I saw her lately in good health and 
 vigorous. 
 
 A person of quality, a lady of great age in this shire, 
 had a horn growing out of her toe, which bowed down to 
 the nail of her toe, and put her from walking ; it was cut 
 off by Dr. St. and slie was freed of pain, and walked. 
 
 There are several accounts given of the ancient monu- 
 ments in this shire already. Mr. Monypenny, in his de- 
 scription of Scotland, tells us of the rocking stone, near fa 
 Balvaird in this shire, a slight touch made it rock to and 
 fro, but a great force did not move ir. I am informed this 
 stone was broken by the usurper's soldiers, and it was dis- 
 covered then, that its motion was performed by a yolk 
 cxtuberant, in the middle of the under surface of an upper 
 stone, which was inserted in a cavity in the surface of the 
 
 3 I Ipwer
 
 426 APPENDIX. No. I. [SECT, iir 
 
 lower stone ; so it consisted of two stones, the one lying 
 upon the other. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 Concerning some Natives of this Shire, Eminent for 
 Learning and Arts. 
 
 1 SHALL give an account of those, under these titles 
 following, beginning with these of the highest degree. 
 
 The greatest honour this shire ever had, was, that it gave 
 birth to king Charles, the Royal Martyr, who was born in 
 the abbey of Dunfermling, and baptised by Mr. David 
 Lindsay, bishop of Ross, on December 23. 1600. 
 
 Whose heavenly vertues, angels should rehearse, 
 It is a theme, too high for humane verse ; 
 His sufferings and his death, let no man name, 
 It was his glory, but his kingdom's shame. 
 
 Archbishop Spotswood (who was chancellor) wrote the 
 history of the Church of Scotland, with great applause ; 
 and his son Sir Robert (who suffered for his loyalty) was 
 president of the Session, and afterwards secretary, and di- 
 gested our laws in a body. Alexander Bruce Earl of Kin- 
 cardine, proposed first the applying of the pendular clocks 
 at sea, for discovering the longitude. The Duke of Lau- 
 derdale, one of the most expert statesmen in Europe, in his 
 time, was bred at St. Andrews. Sir Robert Murray, one 
 of the commission for the treasury, was president of the 
 Royal Society, and a great advancer of experimental phi- 
 losophy, he was bred at St. Andrews likewise. The Lord 
 of Merchistoun, famous for his skill in mathematicks and 
 mechanicks, was bred at St. Andrews. The Duke of 
 Rothes, who was commissioner, lord chancellor, lord trea- 
 surer, general of the forces, and captain of the king's life- 
 guard, was of a family in this shire, famous of old for its 
 
 brave
 
 . 11.5 APPENDIX. No. I. 427 
 
 jrave achievements, and the Duke had at his death this 
 doge: 
 
 LESLY, through storms, was life of loyalty, 
 
 Nor could that dy, 
 
 ' Which his all-cheering spirit did uphold, 
 Like sol's warm beams, midst shivering winter's cold ; 
 Not art's, but nature's printice, yet a rare 
 
 Artificer. 
 
 Created wise, a statesman needing no 
 Instructions, who 
 
 Like" a fix'd star, of the first magnitude, 
 Arose and stood, 
 In sun-shine of multiple dignity, 
 Without the sable shadow of envy. 
 
 In ancienter times, there were bred at St. Andrews, some 
 of the firs.t restorers of learning ; Guillaum, vicar of the 
 black-friars at St. Andrews, is said to have first translated 
 the scripture into our language. Sir David Lindsay of the 
 Mount, Lord Lyon, was a restorer of learning, and severe 
 reformer of the corruptions in his time. Mr. George Bu- 
 chanan, who was bred and taught philosophy at St. An- 
 drews, did much advance learning; and so did Robert 
 Constantine, born in this shire, whose Greek dictionary is 
 yet esteemed the best extant. David Colvil, of this shire, 
 did much enlarge the dictionary of Caesar Calderinus, which 
 he published at Venice 1612, and called it Calepinus. 
 There were many eminent poets, natives of this shire, as 
 Doctor Panter, George Thomson, the two Ecclins, brothers. 
 Sir Robert Aitoun, who had this eloge : 
 
 ETON inexhaustis Phzebi satiate fluentis, 
 Palladis et Suada? viva medulla Dex. 
 
 Sir James Weems, a. native of this shire, invented the 
 leather-guns for the field-service. 
 
 There were of this shire many eminent divines, James 
 Hacket, bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, was a son of a 
 brother of the house of Pitfirran. Walter Balcanquil dean 
 of Durham, was a cadet of the house of that name. The 
 learned doctors of Divinity, John and Robert Baron, were 
 
 7 I 2 cadets
 
 4 38 APPENDIX. No. I. [SECT. iu 
 
 cadets of the lairds of Kinnaird, in this shire, of that name. 
 Do&or Strang was a cadet of the Strangs of Balcaskie, and ., 
 Mr. Alexander Henderson was born in this shire. 
 
 Several historians were natives of this shire, such as Mr. 
 James Melvil, who wrote the memoirs of what past in his 
 own time ; Lindsay of Pitscotty ; Sir James Balfour, Lord 
 Lyon, and his brother Sir Andrew, who first introduced 
 the study of natural history, and was a great promoter of 
 it, and had this eloge : 
 
 Quoe valles, montesque tenent, vitreoque profundum 
 Gurgite, qua; gremio terra benigna tulit. " ,.- 
 
 Cuncla suo natura parens non invidia mystse 
 Nosse dedit. 
 
 Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, the king's advocate, had 
 this eloge by Arthur Johnston : 
 
 Maxime Phaebigenum, magni laus prima senatus 
 Lima fori, titulis major Hbpsee tribus. 
 
 J JT 
 
 George Sibbald of Giblistoun, doctor of medicine, a bro- 
 ther of Sir James Sibbald of Rankeilor-Over, knight baro- 
 net, and by his mother Margaret Lermounth, daughter to 
 George Lermounth of Balcomie, by Euphem Lesly his wife, 
 a grandchild, of Andrew Earl of Rothes, was well skilled 
 in all good learning ; for which John Dunbar gave him 
 the following eloge : 
 
 Sive velis Grasco, seu te sermone Latino, 
 Aut tua Judaeis promere sensa sonis. 
 
 Pandere res sacras, magnive Machaonis artemj 
 Aut vetera e priscis prodere gesta libris. 
 
 Nemo est cui cedas ; potius quam cesseris u,lli, 
 Cedunt cundla uni, dofte Sibbalde, tibi. 
 
 There were many of this shire came to great honour 
 abroad ; the famous brothers Henry and Adam Black woods;' 
 the first was one of the most famous professors and phy- 
 sicians at Paris, and the other was a counsellor of the pre- 
 sidial court of PoiHers. The famous William Barclay, 
 (father of John) professor of the laws at Angiers, derives- 
 his pedigree from Barclay of Cullairny, in this shire ; and 
 
 Henry
 
 SECT, n.] APPENDIX. No. I. 429 
 
 Henry Scrimgeour, the excellent Grecian, was <of the 
 Scrimgeours in this shire. That I may conclude, Ferrarius 
 has printed, amongst his eloges, two publick inscriptions 
 done for Henry Lindsay, native of this shire, a lawier that 
 was prore&or at Padua in the University : 
 
 DECORA ALTA 
 Hendrici Lindesaii Scoti prore&oris, 
 
 quern magna virtus 
 Ignorantiam redU et invidiam 
 
 supergressa, 
 Principum inclinatione, 
 Cun&orum ordinum favore subnixum 
 Immortalitati commendavit. 
 
 Juris cultores, P. P. *?* 
 
 . 
 
 HENDRICO LINDESAIO 
 Prdreftori cum paucis comparando ; 
 
 Cujus industrise ac dexteritati 
 Verieta majestas primum indulsit ; 
 
 Utprore&ores deinceps 
 Eodem ritu quo proceres et nobilia capita 
 Laurea insignirentur. 
 
 Juris studiosi, P. P. 
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 APPENDIX. No. II. 
 
 SIBBALD'S LIST 
 
 OF THE HERITORS OF THES% SHIRES 
 
 ALEXANDER of skedoway 
 
 Anderson of Balratn 
 
 Sir William Anstruther of that Ilk 
 
 Sir John Anstruther 
 
 Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskic 
 
 Sir Alex. Anstruther of New-wark 
 
 Sir Philip Anstruther of Anetruther- 
 
 field 
 
 Anstruther of Airdry 
 Areskin Earl of Kellie, his seats are 
 
 Kellie and Pittinweem 
 Sir Alexander Areskin of Cambo, 
 
 Lord Lyon 
 Areskin of Torrie 
 Sir David Arnot of that Ilk 
 Arnot of Woodmiln 
 Arnot of Baikal thlie 
 Arnot of Balcormo 
 Arnot of Chapel-kettle 
 Arthur of Ballon 
 Auchinlecfc of Cunnochie 
 Ausbmoutie of Drumeldric 
 Ayton of that Ilk 
 Ayton of Kinnaldie 
 Ayton of Inchderny 
 Ayton of Finglassie 
 Balcanquell of that Ilk 
 Balfour Lord Burleigh, his seat is 
 
 Burleigh 
 
 Colonel Balfour of Ferny 
 Major Balfour of Dinbug 
 Sir Michael Balfour of DcnmiJn 
 
 Balfour of 
 Balfour of Forret 
 Balfour of Rand erst on 
 Balfour of Radernie 
 Balfour of North-bank 
 Balfour of Balbirnie 
 Balfour of Hall-beatb. 
 Balfour of Lavvlerhan 
 Balfour of Banktowr* 
 Barclay of Cullerny 
 Barclay of Touch 
 Barclay of Pittauchop 
 Baylie of Parbroth 
 Bayn of Logy 
 Bethun of Balfour 
 Bethun of Bandon 
 Bethun of Tarvet 
 Bethun of Blebo 
 Bethun of Clatto 
 Bethun of Craigfudic 
 Bethun of Kingask 
 Betson of Kilrie 
 Betson of Glasmont 
 Betson of North Piteadic 
 Betson of Powguild 
 Betson of Contlc 
 Betson of Balbardie 
 Betson of Vicars Grange 
 Boisvill of Balmouto 
 Boisvill of Balbartoun 
 Boisvill of Dovan 
 Boisvill of Glennistoun 
 
 Boisvill
 
 APPENDIX. No.H. 
 
 Boisvill of Olasmotmt 
 
 Bonnar of Gricgsroun 
 
 Bonnar of Binn-end 
 
 Bruce Earl of Kincardin : his seat 
 
 is Broomhall 
 Sir John Bruce of Kinross, sheriff 
 
 principal of Kinross 
 Bruce of Kin loch 
 Bruce of Bunzeon 
 Bruce of Earls-hall- 
 Bruce of Pitterthie 
 Brymer f Newtoun 
 Burgh of Finmount 
 Cahoun of Corstoun 
 Calderwood of PiteadSe 
 Campbell Lord Polwart : his Mat is 
 
 Newhall 
 
 Sir James Campbell of Pitliver 
 Campbell of Smiddy-green 
 Sir David Carmichael of Bal- 
 
 meady 
 
 Carmichael of Balmnlea 
 Carneygie Earl of Southesk: bis 
 
 seat is Leuchars 
 Carneygie of Grange 
 Carneygie of Birk-hill 
 Carstairs of Kilconquhair 
 Cheap of Rossie 
 Christie of Anchmuir 
 St. Clare Lord St. Clare : his seat is 
 
 Dysart 
 
 Sir George St. Clare of Kinnaird 
 St. Clare of Balgrigie 
 Clcphan of Carslogie 
 Colvill Lord Colvill : his seat* vc 
 
 Cliesh and Crombeth 
 Colvill of the Craig 
 Colvill of Blair 
 Colvill of Hillside 
 Corstorfin of Nydic 
 Crafurd of Mountwhuiie 
 Crafurd of Powtniln 
 Crafurd of Clash-lochie 
 
 Crafurd of Toda-green 
 
 Craigie of Lawhill 
 
 Cuningham of Barns 
 
 Dallas of Craiglown 
 
 Dewar of Lassodie 
 
 Dewtr of Balgony 
 
 Dewar of Redhouse 
 
 Dishinjjtoun of Lochmalony 
 
 Douglas Earl of Mortoun : his stfat 
 
 is Aberdour 
 
 Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervk 
 Sir Robert Douglas of Kirkncss 
 Douglas of Strath-henry 
 Douglas of Finglassie 
 Dudingston of Saiotfurd 
 Durham of Largo 
 Durie of Grange 
 Durie of Craig-lucar 
 Durie of Letham. 
 Elphingston Lord Balmerinoch : bit 
 
 seat is Balmerinoch 
 Falconer of Easter Kinncir 
 Forbes of Pittincrief 
 Galloway Lord Dunkcld : his seat 
 
 is Carnbee 
 Ged of Baldrig 
 Gibson of Durie 
 Gourley of Kincraig 
 Gordon of Gicn-nairn 
 Sir Peter Halket of Pitfirren 
 Halkerston of Rathillit 
 Haly of Kinnedckr 
 Halyday ofTully-boll 
 Hamilton of Ki.Ubrackmount 
 Hamilton of Wcddersbie 
 Hamilton of Innerdovat 
 Hamilton of Kink'.-ll 
 Hay Marquis of Tweedale, baylic 
 
 of the regality of Dvnfermling : 
 
 his seat is Dalgatie 
 Hay of Nauchtoun 
 D. Hay of Ccnlan4 
 Hty of Mertou Hay
 
 APPENDIX. No. II. 
 
 Hay of Strowie at Auchtermuchtie 
 Sir John Henderson of Fordell 
 Henderson of Pittadro 
 Herlot of Ratnorny 
 Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall 
 Sir William. Hope of Balcomie 
 Hope of Rankilor-Over 
 Sir James Howburn of Otterstoun 
 Jmbry of Cruvie 
 Kinloch of Conland 
 Kinneir of that Ilk 
 Law of Bruntoun 
 Law of Pitillock 
 Lentron of Kincaiple 
 Lesley Earl of Rothes, sheriiF prin- 
 cipal of Fife : his seats are Lesley 
 
 and Balmbriech 
 Lesley Earl of Levin : his seat is 
 
 Balgony 
 ^Lesley Lord Lindoris : his seat is 
 
 Lindoris 
 
 Lesley of New-wark 
 Lesley of Lumwhat 
 ^Lesley of Quarter 
 Llndesay Earl of Crafurd, bay lie of 
 
 the regality of St. Andrews : his 
 
 seat is Struthers 
 Lindesay Earl of Lalcarras : his seat 
 
 is Balcarras 
 
 Lindesay of Wolmerstoun 
 Lindesay of Newtoun of Nydie 
 Lindesay of Mount 
 Lindesay of Kirkforthcr 
 Lindesay of Dowhill 
 Lindesay of Keivil 
 Lumisdeati of Innergclly 
 Lumlsdcan of Str-avithy 
 Lumisdean of Drumrak 
 Lumisdcan of Rinniehill 
 Lundin of that Ilk 
 Lundin of Drums 
 Lundin of Strajherlic 
 
 Lundin of Auchtermairny 
 
 Lundin of Baldastard 
 
 Lyl of Boghall 
 
 Macgill of Rankilor- Nether 
 
 Macgill of Kcmback 
 
 Mackenzie of Ross-end 
 
 Sir John Malcolm of Lochor 
 
 Malcolm of Balbedy 
 
 Malcolm of Grange 
 
 Malcolm of Foxtoun 
 
 Martin of Clermount 
 
 Melvill Earl of Melvill*. his seats 
 
 are Melvill and Raith 
 Melvill of Balgarvie 
 Melvill of Cairn y 
 Melvill of Carskirdo 
 Millar of Pourin 
 Mitchel of Balbairdie 
 Sir Thomas Moncrief of Capeldrca 
 Moncrief of Ridic 
 Moncrief of Sauchop 
 Moncrief of Murnipea 
 Moncrief of Rumgally 
 Monipcnny of Pitmiliy -.^ 
 Morison of Cash 
 Moubray of Cow-cairny 
 Moutrie of Rescobie 
 Moyes of Piteuchar 
 Murray Duke of Athol, heritable 
 
 keeper of the palace of Falkland, 
 
 and Stewart of Fife 
 Murray Viscount of Stormount : his 
 
 seat is Balvaird 
 Sir Alexander Murray of Kinnia- 
 
 mound 
 
 Murray of Pitlochie 
 Oliphant of Kinnedder 
 Orrock of that Ilk 
 Orrock of Cassindonat 
 Orrock of Wcstcr-Lathallan. 
 Oswald of Dunikeir 
 Paterson of Dinmuir 
 
 Pafersofl
 
 APPENDIX. No. il. 
 
 Paterson of Chanwell 
 Patullo of Balhouffic , 
 Pitcairn of Forther 
 Pitcairn of that Ilk 
 Primrose Earl of Rosebcrrie : 
 
 seats Resyth and Pittrevie 
 Sir John Preston of Prestonhall 
 Preston of Denbrea 
 Ramsay of Abbots-hall 
 Ridale of Grange 
 Robertson of New-bigging 
 Robertson of Glaidney 
 Ross of Hill-Cairdny 
 David Scot of Scots-Tarvet 
 Scot of Edinshead 
 Scot of Spenserfield 
 Scot of Balmount 
 Scot of Cotes 
 Scrimzeor of Bowhill 
 Scrimzeor of Wormet 
 Scrimzeor of Lochgelly 
 Seaton of Carristoun 
 Seaton of I.atri&k 
 Sir William Sharp of Strathtyrum 
 Shaw of Gospcrtie 
 Skeen of Hallyairds 
 Skeen of Wester-Bogie 
 Skeen of Pitlowr 
 Smith of Giblistoun 
 Spencc of Easter-Lathallan 
 Spence of Berry-hill 
 
 433 
 
 Spittle of Luchat 
 
 Storehouse of Mastertoun 
 
 Stuart Earl of Murray : bis seat if 
 
 Dinnibirsel 
 
 his Stuart of Dun-nairn 
 Symson of White-hill 
 Syniion of Pincartoun 
 Taylor of Pittcairlie 
 Thomson of Priorletham 
 Thomson of Pyotstoun 
 Thomson of Sandydub 
 Thomson of Newtoun of Collcssy 
 Trent of Pitcullo 
 Sir Henry Wardlaw of Balmulc 
 Wardlaw of Abden 
 Wardlaw of Luscar 
 \Vatson of Aithernic 
 Watson of Glentarkie 
 Watson of Ormstoun 
 Wemys Earl of Wemys : his seat i? 
 
 Wemys 
 
 Sir John Wemys of Bogie 
 Wemys of Cuthil-hill 
 Wemys of Pitkatnie 
 Wemys of Winthank 
 Wemys of Fingask 
 Wemys of Lathocker 
 Wemys of Grange-muir 
 White of Bcnochi-j 
 Wood of Sauchop 
 Young of rtirktoiih 
 
 APPEN-
 
 APPENDIX. No. III. 
 
 A LIST 
 
 PRINCIPAL HERITORS OF THE SHIRE OF FIFE*. 
 
 A. 
 
 XJ.ON. Geo. Abercrombie of Saline 
 Alex. Abercrombie of Drummil- 
 
 lions, W. S. f. 
 William Adam of Blair Adam, 
 
 M. P. f. 
 
 David Adamson of Pipeland 
 George Aitken of Thornton, f. 
 George Aitken of Loch-head 
 John Aitken of Whitehoiise 
 John Aitken of Hill of Beath 
 Alexander Alison of Balmullo, f. 
 Alexander Anderson of Kingask, f. 
 James Anderson of Inchry 
 Sir Philip Anstruther of Anstnither, 
 
 Baronet, f. 
 Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskie, 
 
 Baronet, f. 
 Sir John Anstruther of Magask, 
 
 Baronet, Adv. Chief Justice of 
 
 Bengal, f. 
 
 John Anstruther of Airdit, Adv. f. 
 CoL Robert Anstruther of Dura, f. 
 Col. Robert Anstruther of Carn- 
 
 bee, f. 
 
 Robert Armit of Polduff 
 George Arnot of Freeland, f. 
 Hugo Arnot of Balcormo, f. 
 John Arnot of Lumwhat, f. 
 Robert Arnot of Chapel, f. 
 William Arnot of Berryhole, f. 
 John Ayton of Lochton, f. 
 CoL Roger Ayton of Inchdairnie, f. 
 
 B. 
 
 Col. Alex. Baillie of Lythrie.f. 
 Robert Baillie of Carphin, f. 
 AndrewBalfour of Kinglassie, Adv.f. 
 Dr. Francis Balfour of Fernie, f. 
 John Balfour of Balbirnie, f. 
 Robert Balfour of Corston, younger 
 of Balbirnie, f. 
 
 Robert 
 
 * The letter f. is affixed to the names of those whose valued rent is known 
 to entitle them to vote for the representative of the county in parliament, 
 although from the present possessors being minors or females, they are not 
 on the roll of freeholders. The court of freeholders, most readily agreed 
 to allow their roll to be published. The names of the other heritors were 
 collected chiefly from private information ; and the Editor is afraid, that 
 notwithstanding all the pains he has bestowed to render the list complete, 
 there may be still some omissions.
 
 APPENDIX. No. III. 
 
 435 
 
 Robert Balfour of Balcurvie, f. 
 Henry Ballingall of Leadenurquhart 
 Thomas Ballingall of Drumaird 
 Dr. Jame Robertson-Barclay of Ca- 
 vill, 
 
 John Barnes of Dairsie, f. 
 
 John Bartholomew of Wester Bald- 
 ridge 
 
 Alexander Bayne of Riras, f. 
 
 William Bayne of Newmill 
 
 David Beath of Foulford 
 
 David Beatson of Meikle Beath 
 
 John Beatson of Contle 
 
 Robert Beatson of Norther Pitteadie 
 
 Robert Beatson of Rose-end 
 
 David Beatson of Easter Balbairdie 
 
 Rev. Andrew Bell of Kilduncan, f. 
 
 Charles Bell of Pitbladdo, f. 
 
 Andrew Bell of Sandyhill 
 
 William Cavendish-Bentinck, Mar- 
 quis of Titchfield, M. P. 
 
 Richard Berry of Raderny 
 
 John Berry of Tayfield, f. 
 
 William Berry of Innerdovat, 
 younger of Tayfield, f. 
 
 Gilbert Bethune of Balfour, f. 
 
 Henry Bethune of Kilconquhar, f. 
 
 William Bethune of Blcbo, f. 
 
 George Beveridge of Conland 
 
 David Black of Banc'.rum, f. 
 
 John Black of Northfod 
 
 Shovel Blackwood of Pittreavie 
 
 James Blyth of Kinninmonth, f. 
 
 Blyth of Hallfield 
 
 George Bogie of Auld Forgie 
 
 John Grahamc-Bonarof Greigston.f. 
 
 Laurence Bonar of Ballingry 
 
 Claud Irvine-BoswcU of Balmuto, 
 one of the Senators of the Col- 
 lege of Justice, f. 
 
 James Boswell of Auchmleck 
 
 George Wilson-Bowman of Logic 
 
 David Briggs of Strathairly, f. 
 
 David Brown of Kingsbarns 
 John Brown of Prat-house 
 Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin and 
 
 Kincardine 
 Edward -Bruce of Ferniebarns, 
 
 W. S. f. 
 
 Thomas Bruce of Grangemuir, f. 
 John Bruce of Grangemyre 
 Arthur Buist of Pittuncartie 
 
 C. 
 
 M rs. Campbell of Finmount 
 David Carsewell of Rathillet, f. 
 Thomas Carstairs of Kingsbarns, f. 
 James Cathcart of Pitcarlic, f. 
 John Cheape of Rossie, f. 
 James Cheape of Wellfield, f. 
 James Cheape of Srathtyrum, f. 
 George Cheape of Pusk, f. 
 Alexander Christie of Balchristie, f. 
 Andrew Christie of Ferrybank, f. 
 James Christie of Durie, f. 
 John Christie of Pitgorno Easter 
 Robert Christie of Easter Newton, 
 
 younger of Balchristie, f. 
 Hugh Cleghorn of Denbrae 
 Major-General William Douglas- 
 
 Maclean-Clephane of Carslogie, 
 
 M. P. for Kinross, f. 
 Col. David Clephanc of March of 
 
 Carslogie, f. 
 
 Henry CJephane of Powguild 
 Hon; James Cochrane of Little 
 
 Fordel, f. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Colvill of Hillside, f. 
 John Corstorphinc of Kingsbarns 
 Dr. Andrew Coventry of Pitillock 
 John Coventry of North Lethens 
 Mrs. Halket-Craigie of Dumbar 
 
 nie, f. 
 
 K 2
 
 APPENDIX. No. III. 
 
 Col. Halket-Craigie of Hallhill, 
 
 younger of Dumbarnie, f. 
 Robert Cuningham of Pitcrthie, f. 
 
 . Cuningham of Balbougie 
 
 Robert Currar of Dunduff 
 
 D. 
 
 Robert Dalgliesh of Dunnygask 
 William Dalgliesh of Scotscraig, 
 
 Adv. f. 
 
 ^ Dalgliesh of Halkerstons Beath 
 John Dalyell of Lingo, f. 
 Charles Dempster of Pilmour 
 Henry Dewar of Lassodie, f. 
 iMajor Alexander Deas of Hilton 
 James Dingwall of Tarvet-mill 
 James Ronaldson-Dickson of Blair- 
 hall, f. 
 
 George Douglas, Earl of Morton 
 John Douglas of Pinkerton 
 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Douglas 
 
 of Strathenry, f. 
 
 William Drysdale of Pitteuchar, f. 
 Alex. Duncan of Castlefield, W. S. f. 
 Rev. Dr. Alexander Duncan of 
 
 Stonnywynd, f. 
 John Duncan of Denhead 
 John Duncan of Newton of Falkland 
 Thomas Dundas, Lord Dundas 
 Hon. Laurence Dundas of Lum- 
 
 phinnans, M. P. f. 
 Robert Dundas of Tevvchats 
 James Calderwood Durham of 
 
 Largo, f. 
 Col. James C. Durham of Balcormo, 
 
 younger of Largo, f. 
 Col. Thomas C. Durham of Pit- 
 
 cruivie, f. 
 Capt. Philip C. Durham, R. N. of 
 
 Lundinmill, f. 
 Charles Durie of Craigluscar, f. 
 
 E. 
 
 Robert Edmond of BoarhilU 
 Gilbert Elliot, Lord Minto 
 Thomas Erskine, Earl of Kelly 
 Hon. Henry Erskine of Ncwhall, f. 
 Sir William Erskine of Torry, Ba- 
 ronet, M. P. for Fife, f. 
 David Erskine of Carnock, f. 
 John Erskine of Balmule, Counsellor 
 
 i at Law, London, f. 
 Methven Erskine of Airdrie, f. 
 William Erskine of Kinedder, f. 
 
 F. 
 
 Walter Fergus of Strathore 
 
 Neil Fergusson of Pitcullo, Adv. 
 
 Sheriff of Fife and Kinross, f. 
 William Fergusson of Raith, f . 
 Robert Fergusson of Beg, younger 
 
 of Raith, Adv. f. 
 Col. Ronald Fergusson of Muir- 
 
 town, f. 
 
 Andrew Fernie of Myreside 
 James B. Fernie of Kilmux Wester 
 Rev. James Forrester of New 
 
 Grange, f. 
 
 William Fortune of Wester Craig- 
 foodie 
 
 G. 
 
 William Gordon of Woodhaven 
 David Gillcspie of Kirkton, Adv. f. 
 James Gilmour of Upper Pitlochie 
 David Glass of Smiddygreen, f. 
 Oliver Gourlay of Kilmaron, f. 
 Dr. William Gourlay of Kincraig, 1". 
 Col. Alexander Graham-Stirling of 
 Sanction, (Duchry) f. 
 
 Thcmzs
 
 APPENDIX. No. III. 
 
 437 
 
 Thomas Graham of Saline Shaw,/. 
 David Greig of Balgony 
 George Grcig of Balcurvie 
 
 H. 
 
 Miss Halkerston of Carphin 
 Miss Halkerston of Greenside 
 James Halkerston of Falklamthill 
 .Sir Charles Halket of Pitfirran, 
 
 Baronet,/. 
 Peter Halket of Pitdinnies,/ 
 
 Hally of Kinedder 
 
 Peter Hannay of Kingsmuir 
 James Harrower of Inzievar 
 David Balfour-Hay of Randcrston, 
 
 (Leys)/. 
 
 George Hay, Marquis of Twecdalc 
 John Hay of Nether Magask 
 Hugh Hay of Morton 
 William Hedderwick of Denhead 
 John Hedderwick of Edensbank 
 George Heggie of Pitlessie,/. 
 Sir John Henderson of Fordell, 
 
 Baronet,/ 
 
 Robert Bruce-Henderson of Earls- 
 hall, Adv. / 
 
 Hepburn of Upper Drums 
 
 Miss Herd of Bruntshiels 
 
 James Heriot of Ramornie,/. 
 
 James Hill of Langraw 
 
 Dr. John Hill of Brownhills, / 
 
 Thomas Hogg of North Glasmont 
 
 Thomas Hogg of Cluuic,/ 
 
 James Hope-Johnstone, Earl of 
 
 Hopetoun 
 Hon. Major-General John Hope of 
 
 Craighall,/ 
 
 Sir John Hope of CraighaU, Ba- 
 ronet,/ 
 
 William Hunt of PittenciiefF,/ 
 James Hutcheson of Crajgkclly 
 
 Miss Jameson of Greycraig 
 CoL Ninian Irnrie of Dunmuir,/ 
 John Inglis of Colluthic,/. 
 William Inglis of Templehall 
 Colin Innes of Balmblea 
 Andrew Johnston of Pittowie,/ 
 Andrew Johnston of Rinnyhill,/ 
 David Johnston of Lathrisk/ 
 David Johnston of Easter Lathrisk, 
 
 younger of Lathrisk,/ 
 Col. George Johnston of Irvine- 
 field,/ 
 
 Robert Johnston of Kedlock,/ 
 William Johnston of Hattonhill, jC 
 Alexander Ireland of Bannotie 
 Rev. Andrew Ireland of Tarvet-mill 
 John Ireland of Nether Urquhart 
 Thomas Ireland of Upper Urquhari 
 
 Charles Kinnear of Kinnear,/ 
 Thomas Kinnear of Kinloch/ 
 John Keltic of Southficld 
 
 John Landale of Little Luna 
 Arthur Law of Pitillock,/. 
 Henty Laurie of Lacestowu 
 George Laurie of Lappie 
 Thomas Lawson of Pitlethic 
 Alexander Melville-Leslie, Earl of 
 
 Leven and Melville,/ 
 Jean Elizabeth Leslie, Countess of 
 
 Rothes 
 CoL George Lindsay-Craufurd, Ear.1 
 
 of Craufurd and Lindsay, Lord 
 
 JLicutcnant of Fifohire
 
 APPENDIX. No. III. 
 
 Lieutenant-General Alexander Lind- 
 say, Earl of Balcarras 
 Hon. Robert Lindsay of Leuchars, f. 
 Mrs. Georgia Lindsay of Kirk- 
 
 forther Easter, f. 
 Patrick Lindsay of Wormiston,/ 
 Martin Eccles Lindsay of Wor- 
 miston, y ounger of Kilconquhar,/ 
 William Lindsay of Balmungie 
 William Lindsay of Feddinch,/ 
 Rev. James Lister of Lethem 
 Adam Low of Meldrums-mill 
 Alexander Low of Cash,/. 
 Robert Low of Clatto,/ 
 James Lumsdaine of Innergelly,/ 
 Major John Lumsdaine of Lath- 
 
 allan,/. 
 
 Peter Lumsdaine of Pittauchop 
 Michael Lundir of Nether Drums 
 Richard Lundia of Auchtermairny 
 
 M. 
 
 Joseph M'Cormick of Nether 
 Pratis, Adv./. 
 
 William Macdonald of Meadow- 
 brow, W. S. f. 
 
 James Mackenzie of Forret, / 
 
 John Mackgill of Kemback, /. 
 
 John Macritchie of Denork 
 
 Hon. Mrs. Maitland-Mackgill of 
 Rankeilor,/. 
 
 Charles Maitland of Ormistoun, 
 younger of Rankeilor, f. 
 
 Sir James Malcolm of Grange, 
 Baronet,/ 
 
 John Malcolm of Balbedie,/. 
 
 Eberiezer Marshall of Hillcairnic,/ 
 
 William Marshall of Grange,/ 
 
 David Martin of Edenside 
 
 Rev. Alex. Meldrum of Kincaple,/ 
 
 David Meldrum of Craigfoodie/ 
 
 James Meldrum of Pitteuchar 
 Robert Meldrum of Clayton,/ 
 Robert Meldrum of Pittormie 
 David Meldrum of Balmullo 
 Andrew Melvill of PoldufF 
 Miss Helen Melvill of Murdoch- 
 
 cairnie,/ 
 General Robert Melville of Strath- 
 
 kinnes,/ 
 
 Thomas Mill of Blair 
 George Millar of Pitteuchar 
 John Millar of Over Urquhart 
 Dr. Henry Miller of Pourin 
 James Miller of Kinslief Easter 
 Rear-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell 
 
 of Monthrive,/ 
 
 Sir Thomas Moncrieff of Boghall,/ 
 Alexander Moncrieff of Easter 
 
 Craigduckie, / 
 Patrick Moncrieff of Reidie,/ 
 
 ' Moncrieff of Sauchopwood 
 
 David Monypenny of Pitmilly, / 
 
 Adam Moone of Kilgowrie-know 
 
 James Morison of Naughton,/ 
 
 David Morrice of Allanhill 
 
 'John Morthland of Letham, Adv./, 
 
 Robert Moubray of Cockalrney,/ 
 
 Dr. Henry Moyes of Wester Glaslic 
 
 James Mudic of Deals 
 
 George Mudie of Lathamond 
 
 Robert Mudie of Balmule 
 
 Col. David William Murray, Earl 
 
 of Mansfield 
 
 Alexander Murray of Ayton,/ 
 John Murray of Conland 
 William Murray of Pitlochie,/ 
 William Murray of Forresters Seat 
 George Murison of Dunbrae,/ 
 William Mutter of Annficld,/ 
 
 N. 
 
 Rev. Dr. James Nairn of Clermont 
 James
 
 APPENDIX. No. HI. 
 
 o. 
 
 James Oliphant of Upper Kinncdder 
 James Townsend Oswald of Dun- 
 
 nikier,/. 
 Col. John Oswald of Over Grange, 
 
 younger of Dunnikicr,/. 
 
 V 
 
 William Paston of Kirklands 
 Col. William Paston of Barnslee,/. 
 Major Geo. Paterson of Cunnochie,/. 
 CoL Robert Paton of Kinnal Jie,^. 
 Robert Patullo of Balhouffic,/. 
 John Pitcairn of Kinnaird,/. 
 Sir Robert Preston of Valleyfield,/. 
 Thomas Purvis of Lochend 
 
 R. 
 
 Major Geo. Ramsay of Whitchill,/. 
 John Ramsay of Kinkcll,/ 
 M. Ramsay of Baldinny 
 John Reddie of Redhousc 
 Richard of Gilmerton 
 
 James Home-Rigg of Downfield,/. 
 James Ritchie of Bogward 
 James Robertson of Balgarvie,/. 
 Dr. John Stark-Robertson of 
 
 Bandean,/. 
 
 Miss Robertson of Newbigging, 
 Adam Holland of Cask 
 William Rolland of Burnside 
 Andrew Russel of Priorlands 
 John Russel of Middlefield,/. 
 James Rutherford of Radtrnic,/. 
 
 8, 
 
 Major Geo. Sandilands of Nuthill,/. 
 
 439 
 
 James Saunders of Coaltown 
 Henry Scotland of Brieryhill 
 John Scotland of Luscar 
 Robert Scotland of Middlebank 
 Thomas Scotland of Weiter Luscar 
 Major Thomas Scott of Loch- 
 
 malony,/. 
 
 William Scott of Hallbeath,/. 
 Christopher Seton of Kirkforther, /. 
 
 Dr. Seton of Drumaird 
 
 John Shanks of Balltully 
 
 Shank of Glcnniston 
 
 John Sibbald of Abden 
 Col. William Simson of Pitcordue,/. 
 William Simson of Star 
 Major-General Sir James Erskine 
 
 St. Clair of Sinclair, Baronet, 
 
 M. P./. 
 
 William Sinclair of Skedoway,/. 
 David Skene of Kailyards,/. 
 Robert Gillespie-Smith of Gibiis- 
 
 ton, W. S. /. 
 
 Miss Sommerville of Myrecairnie,/. 
 Robert Spears of Kinninmont 
 James Spens of Craigsanquhar,y, 
 James Stark of Kingsdalc,/. 
 Thomas Stark of Tcasscs, /. 
 Richard Steel of Baldastard 
 James Stenhousc of Northfod 
 John Stenhousc of Southfnd,/. 
 Major-Gencral Sir James Stewart- 
 
 Denham of Briersmire,/. 
 Dr. Charles Stewart of Dunearnc,/; 
 James Stewart of Nooklauds 
 
 younger of Duncarne, W. S.f. 
 Archibald C. Stewart of St. Fort,/. 
 Richard Storrar of Nether Urquhar'. 
 David Swan of Riggs 
 John Swan of Prestonhall 
 Rev. Colin Syrnmers of King's Kettle 
 Francis Stuart, Bail of Moray 
 Francis Stuart, Lord Dour.c,/ 
 
 JobR
 
 440 
 
 APPENDIX. No. HI. 
 
 John Syme of Lochore,/ 
 T. 
 
 Alexander Telford of Luscar,/. 
 William Telford of Balgoner 
 Alexander Thoms of Rumgally,/ 
 Alexander Thomson of Balniel,/. 
 Andrew Thomson of Kinloch,/. 
 Oliver Thomson of Leckiebank,/. 
 James Thomson of Wester Bogie, 
 
 W.S.f. 
 Colonel John Anstruther-Thomson 
 
 of Coats,/. 
 John Anstruther-Thomson of Char- 
 
 leton,/ 
 
 John Thomson of Orkiemill,/ 
 William Thomson of Stevenson's 
 
 Beath 
 
 David Tod of Bahnungo 
 Thomas Tod of East Lythrle 
 Dr. Alex. Towers of Easter Dalg- 
 
 inch,/ 
 
 John Tullidelph of Kilmux 
 Rev. Dr. Alex. Turnbull of CasSin- 
 
 donald,/: 
 
 W. 
 
 David Walker of Fallfield 
 James Walker of Daftmill 
 Henry Walker of Backside of Pit- 
 
 tencrieff 
 Peter Walker of Kingask 
 
 Robert Walker of Sunnybank,/, 
 
 David Walker of Edenshead 
 
 David Wallace of Balmeadowside,/. 
 
 John Wallace of Bousie 
 
 John Wallace of Newton of Collessie 
 
 John Watt of Denmill 
 
 Alex. Scrimgeour-Wedderburn of 
 
 Birkhill, (of Wedderburn),/. 
 James Wedderburn of Crombie,/ 
 Robert Welch of Balmullo 
 Robert Wellwood of Garvock,/*. 
 David Wemyss of Pitkennie,/. 
 David Wemyss of Wester JLath- 
 
 James Wemyss of Carriston 
 James Wemyss of Winthank,/. 
 
 Col. James Wemyss of Wemvsshall, 
 younger of Winthank, f. 
 
 Major-General William Wemyss of 
 
 Wemyss, f. 
 William Wemyss of Cuttlehill, /. 
 
 Henry West of Foxton,y: 
 John White of Arngask 
 John Whyte-Melville of Bennochy,/. 
 
 - Wilkie of Newburn 
 William Wilson of Ballo, 
 
 - Wilson of Pirnie 
 Alex. Wood of Grangehill 
 
 y. 
 
 John Young of Leuchars Lodge, 
 W. S.f. 
 
 APPEN-
 
 APPENDIX. No. IV. 
 
 
 LIST OF THE 
 PRINCIPAL HERITORS OF THE SHIRE OF KINROSS. 
 
 W, 
 
 A. 
 
 ILLIAM Adam of Dowhill, 
 (Blair-Adam), M. P. f. 
 Rev. Andrew Adie of Auchtenny 
 John Anderson of Carsegour 
 John Anstruther of Airdit, f. 
 George Arnot of Arlary, f. 
 John Arnot of Kinnaswood 
 John Arnot of Carsegour 
 
 B. 
 
 Alex. Balfour of Mickle Tillery 
 Crauford Balfour of Powmiln 
 Rev. James Beatson of Mawhill 
 Rev. Andrew Belfrage of Collision 
 Rev. John Bennet of Gairney Bridge 
 James Beveridge of Kinnaston 
 Jame*Beveridgeof WesterTillyochie 
 James Beveridge of Easter Tilly ochie 
 John Beveridge of Kinnaston 
 Alex. Beveridge of Wester Ballado 
 James Beveridge of Easter Ballado 
 Thomas Beveridge of Carsegour 
 David Black of Tullywhallie 
 William Blackwood of Coldrain 
 Geo. Brown, Merchant, London, f. 
 John Brown of Finderley 
 
 Brown of Nether Craigow 
 
 Tho. Bruce- Williamson of Arnot, f. 
 Henry Burt of Barnes 
 
 C. 
 Major-General William Douglas- 
 
 Maclean-Clephane of Kirkness, 
 
 M. P. for Kinross, f. 
 Lieut. Col. David Clephane of the 
 
 aoth Regiment of foot, f. 
 George Condie of Lidlation 
 Dr. Andrew Coventry of ShaRwell 
 David Coventry of Arlaty 
 John Coventry of Pittendricch 
 Robert Coventry of Arlary 
 John Curror of Nivingston 
 
 D. 
 Da. Dempster of Easter Tillyochie 
 
 Will. Dempster of Wetter Tillyochie 
 
 F. 
 William Fergusson of St. Serfs Inch, 
 
 (Raith) 
 
 William Flockart of Wester An- 
 nafriech 
 
 6. 
 
 John Graeme, W. S. f. 
 Thomas Graham of Kinross, f. 
 James Graham, f. 
 John Graham, f. 
 David Greig of Little Tillery 
 David Greig of Hallgrcig 
 Henry Greig of Milnathorc 
 John Greig of Lethangic 
 
 H. 
 
 Hugh Hay of Candie 
 Hay of Powmiln 
 John Henderson of Netherton 
 Michael Henderson of Turfhills 
 David Horn of Cockairncy 
 
 1. 
 David Ireland of East Bowhouse 
 
 K. 
 
 David Keltie of Upper Gelvin 
 John Kelty of Ncwbigguig 
 
 L. 
 
 Henry Lawrie of Drungie 
 James Lawrie of Drungie 
 John Lindsay of Easter Annafriech 
 Alexander Low of Dowhillmiil 
 Robert Low of Brackley 
 David Low of Vaine 
 
 M. 
 
 John Macglashan, Writer Edinr. f. 
 Hon. Miss Mercer of Craighead 
 John Millar of Ballingall 
 Rev. Sir Harry Moncrieff- Well wood 
 
 of Tuliibole, Baronet, f. 
 John Murdoch of Upper Craigow 
 
 P. 
 
 William Pearson of Hardiestone 
 Pitcairn of Hilton of Ballingall 
 
 Thomas
 
 442 
 
 APPENDIX. No. V. 
 
 Thomas Purves of Warroch 
 
 R. 
 
 David Reddic of Cuthil 
 Robert Reddie of Seggie 
 Robert Robertson of Coldrain 
 James Robertson of Touchie 
 John Robertson of Rentoul 
 Dr. John Rutherford of Little Seggie 
 - Rutherford of Craigie 
 
 S. 
 
 John Shaw of Westhill of Seggie 
 James Simson of Mawcarse 
 John Simpson of Blairnathort 
 James Simpson of Blairnathort 
 D. Skene of Burngrange (Hallyards) 
 James Skelton of Orwell 
 Thomas Stalker of Killduff 
 Major Stark of Bridgeland 
 James Stedman of Frux 
 James Stedman of Whinfield 
 Stedman of Earniside 
 
 Andrew Stein of Cowden 
 James Stocks of Lathrow 
 John Syme of Binns, W. S. f. 
 
 T. 
 
 Miss Thomson of Hilton 
 James Thomson of Mawmill 
 John Thomson of Seggie 
 William Thomson of Ballingall 
 Andrew Tod of Feal 
 William Tod of Finnetty 
 
 W. 
 
 David White of Tarhill 
 David White of Easter Balgeddie 
 John White of Wester Balgeddie 
 William White of Easter Balgeddie 
 Adam Wilson oi Nether Gelvin 
 Adam Wilson of Bankhcad of Tul- 
 liebole 
 
 Y. 
 
 David Young of Wester Balgeddie 
 John Young of Cleish 
 
 APPENDIX. No. V. 
 
 To illustrate still farther the state of property in the county at different 
 periods, there is extracted from Bleau's Atlas published 1654, a list of the 
 proprietors furnished by Gordon of Straloch. 
 
 NOBILITY. 
 
 Lesley Earl of Rothes 
 Stuart Earl of Moray 
 Douglas Earl of Morton 
 Lindsay Earl of Crauford 
 Leslie Earl of Leven 
 Lion Earl of Kinghorn 
 Ereskine Earl of Kellie 
 Wemyss Earl of Wemyss 
 Carnegie Earl of Southesk 
 
 Ramsay Earl of Dalhousie 
 Scrimgeour Viscount Dudhopc 
 St. Clair Lord Sinclair 
 Elphinston Lord Balmcrino 
 Balfour Lord Burleigh 
 Leslie Lord Lindoris 
 Melville Lord Melville 
 Lindsay Lord Balcarras 
 Murray Lord Balvaird 
 
 The list of the lesser barons is alphabetical, which, however, Gordon 
 admits not to be complete. Not satisfied with the obvious utility of this 
 mode of classification, he assigns a reason suited to the taste of his times, 
 for giving his list in that form, lest he should offend the family pride of 
 these toparchae, quo* vulgo small baronns and lairds vocant, " ne quis in- 
 feriorem sibi prolatum quseri possit." 
 
 Auchmultie
 
 APPENDIX. No. VI. 
 
 443 
 
 Auchmuitic 
 
 Arnot Fareny 
 
 Ay ton 
 
 Anstruther 
 
 Areskin Endcrtill (Innertiel) 
 
 Bcatun B.dhour (Balfour) 
 
 Beatun Crews (Cricch) 
 
 Balfour Kinnearc 
 
 Barclay Collerny 
 
 Balcanquh.il 
 
 Brace de Earle* Hawl (Bruce) 
 
 Brace de Keamock (Bruce of 
 
 Car nock) 
 Broun de Fordal 
 Boswall de Bulmoutho 4>.ifou: 
 Colvili Cleish 
 
 Carstares Keinocher (Kilconquhar) 
 Crichton Lwydon 
 Crichton Abercrumby 
 Cunningham Barns 
 Clerphan Carslogey 
 Forbeis Rires t ... 
 
 Gibson Dwrie 
 Hamilton Kwenbrackmont (Kil- 
 
 brackmont) 
 
 Halkhead Pithfirrein (Halket) 
 Henryson Fordel 
 Hay Nachton 
 Hope Crighall 
 
 Heriot Ramorncy 
 
 Inglis 
 
 Kirkcaldy Grange 
 
 Kyriinmont 
 
 Kynneir 
 
 Lyndsay Wormoiiston 
 
 Lcsly Newton 
 
 Lundy alias Maitlar, J 
 
 Lummisden Innergellti 
 
 Lermont Balcomie 
 
 Monipenny Pithmilly 
 
 MoncriefF Balcasey 
 
 Moncrieff Randerstonc 
 
 Melvill de Bruntyland 
 
 Myrton de Catnbo 
 
 Makgill Rankiilo 
 
 Orrok 
 
 Pitcairne Forther 
 
 Preston WaileBcld 
 
 Preston Ardri 
 
 Sandilaods St. Monans 
 
 Scott Scottis Tarvct 
 
 Scott Ardrass 
 
 Scott Rossy 
 
 Scott Pittedy 
 
 Sibbet Rankiilo Over 
 
 Wardlaw Pitrevie 
 
 Weymes Bogyn 
 
 Wood 
 
 Several of these names are somewhat disfigured in the Latin of the fo- 
 reign publisher of Gordon's papers, some of which the Editor has not found 
 it possible to restore. 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VI. 
 
 As few counties in Scotland can boast of so many noblemen* and gcn- 
 tlemens seats, it has been thought proper to give the following list of the 
 principal houses. Many of them are uncommonly elegant, and by the 
 rich and extensive plantations and pleasure grounds, with which they are 
 surrounded, add greatly to the beauty of the county. Those which have 
 been lately built, or have been greatly repaired and improved, have this 
 mark f affixed to them. 
 
 Houses of tie Nobility. fCranfurd Lodge, Earl of Craufurd 
 
 Dunbog, Lord Dundas 
 
 Aberdour, Earl of Morton f Dunuibirsd, Earl of Moray 
 
 fBalgonie Castle, Earl of Leven Kellie Castle, Earl of Kellie 
 
 -fBroomhall, Earl of Elgin Leslie, Countess of Rothes 
 
 Earl of Kellie Melville, Earl of Leven
 
 444 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VI. 
 
 Homes of Baronets. 
 
 Hillside, Dr. Stewart 
 
 
 ^Hilton, Major Dcas 
 
 Balcaskie, Sir R. Anstruther 
 
 Inchdairnie, Colonel Aytou 
 
 _. Sir James Erskine 
 
 Innergelly, Mr. Lumsdainc 
 
 ^y 93 "' St. Clair 
 
 Kemback, Mr. Mackgill 
 
 Elie, / Sir Ph. Anstruther 
 
 JKilconquhar Mr. H. Bethune 
 
 Fordel, Sir John Henderson 
 
 Kinloch Easter, Mr. Kinnear 
 
 Grange, Sir James Malcolm 
 
 Kinloch Wester, Mr. Thomson 
 
 fLundin, Sir Will. Erskine 
 
 Kincraig, Dr. Gourlay 
 
 Pitfirran, Sir Charles Halket 
 
 fKingsdale, Mr. Stark 
 
 JTorry, Sir Will. Erskine 
 
 Kirkforther, Major Seton 
 
 
 {Largo, Mr. Durham 
 
 Seats of other Heritors. 
 
 JLathallan, Major Lumisdaiuc 
 
 
 Lathrisk, Mr. Johnston 
 
 fAnnfield, Mr. Alex. Low 
 
 JLeucharsLodge, Mr. Young 
 
 j-Airdit, Mr. Anstruther 
 
 ILochmalonie, Major Scott 
 
 Auchtermairnie, Mr. Lundin 
 
 ^Lochore, Mr. Syme 
 
 Balbedie, Mr. Malcolm 
 
 Logic, Mr. Hunt 
 
 f-Balbirnie, Mr. Balfour 
 
 Lythrie, Col. Baillie 
 
 Balcarras, Hon. Mr. Lindsay 
 
 JMount Melville, General Melville 
 
 f Balchristie, Mr. Christie 
 
 Mountwhannte, Mr. Gillespie 
 
 Balgarvie, Mr. Robertson 
 
 fMugdrum, Mr. Hay 
 
 Baldastard, Mr. Steele 
 
 Myres, Mr. Moncrieff 
 
 Balfour, Mr. G. Bethune 
 
 Naughton, Mr. Morison 
 
 Balhouffie, Captain Patullo 
 
 {Newton, Captain Thomson 
 
 Balingry, Mr. Bonar 
 
 Nuthill, Major Sandilands 
 
 j-Balmungie, Mr. Lindsay, 
 
 Pitcarlie, Mr. Cathcart 
 
 fBalmuto, Lord Balmuto 
 
 Pitcullo, Mr. Fergusson 
 
 fBarnslee, Colonel Paston 
 
 Pitliver, Mr. Wellwood 
 
 Bellfield, . T Captain Bell 
 
 Pitlour, Mr. Skcne 
 
 -j-Birkhill, Mr. Wedderburn 
 
 Pitmilly, Mr. Monypenny 
 
 fBlebo, Mr. W. Bethune 
 
 Pittencrieff, Mr. Hunt 
 
 j-BIoomhill, Rev.Mr.Meldrum 
 
 Pitillock, Captain Law 
 
 Bucklyvie, Mr. W. Wemyss 
 
 |Raith, Mr. Fergusson 
 
 Carphin, Miss Halkerston 
 
 Ramorney, Mr. Heriot 
 
 fCarriston, Mr. Ja. Wemyss, 
 
 \ Rankeilor Over, Hon. Gen. Hope 
 
 Carslogie, General Clephane 
 
 |Rankeilor Ne- Hon. Mrs. Mait- 
 
 Cavil, Dr. R. Barclay 
 
 ther, land 
 
 f Chapel, Mr. Arnot 
 
 Rinnyhill, Mr. Johnstone 
 
 4Clatto, Mr. Robert Low 
 
 Rossie, Captain Cheape 
 
 j-Clayton, Mr. R. Meldrum 
 
 Scotscraig, Mr. Dalgliesh 
 
 f Coats, Col. Thomson 
 
 JSmithy Green, Mr. Glass 
 
 Cockernie, Mr. Moubray 
 
 tSt. Fort, Mr. Stewart 
 
 f Craigfoodie, Mr. Da. Meldrum 
 
 {St. Leonards, Mr. Cleghorn 
 
 fCuunochie, Major Paterson 
 
 ^Starr, Mr. Simson 
 
 fDalyell Lodge, Captain Dalycll 
 
 |Strathairlie, Mr. Briggs 
 
 f Dunnikier, Mr. Oswald 
 
 Strathenry, Colonel Douglas 
 
 JDura, Mr. Bayne 
 
 JStrathtyrum, Mr. Cheape 
 
 Durie, Mr. Christie 
 
 tTarvit, Mr. Rigg 
 
 Earlshall, Mr. B. Henderson 
 
 ^Tayfield, Mr. Berry 
 
 leddinch, Mr. Lindsay 
 
 jwellfield, Mr. Cheape 
 
 Ttrnic, Dr. Balfour 
 
 Wemyss Castle, General Wemyss 
 
 Grangemuir, Mr. Bruce, 
 
 Wemyshall, Mr. Wemyss 
 
 Urcigston, Capt. Grahame 
 
 Wormiiton, Mr. J^indsay 
 
 APPEN-
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 NEW VALUATION 
 
 FIFESHIRE, 1695. 
 
 COPAK. PRESBYTERY. 
 
 
 lib. 
 
 /. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Newton's part thereof 518 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balmcrino Parish. 
 
 
 
 Denmoor's part thereof 326 
 
 
 
 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 ,/. 
 
 Lochmalony 160 
 
 t'3 
 
 4 
 
 Corbie 413 
 
 
 
 
 
 Newbigging 103 
 
 
 
 
 
 Airdit or Skur and Scrogie 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Side - 54 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Moontic Parish. 
 
 
 
 Grainge Balfour - 434 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Earl of Crawford - 1274 
 
 i.", 
 
 4 
 
 Naughtone - 1870 
 
 
 
 
 
 Culluthic 514 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 Alexander Pcestone - 25 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Small fewar* 358 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Aldle Parish. 
 
 
 
 Ban den - - 88 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Denmoor - 6 j i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Balmerinoch - 841 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Sir James Macgill - 500 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 David Macgill - 794 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Logie Parish. 
 
 
 
 Gawin Adamson - 81 
 
 
 
 
 
 Logic - - 53 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Hattonhill - 231 
 
 (, 
 
 S 
 
 TLarl of Southesk's Cruvie 602 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Ormstoune - 191 
 
 Kj 
 
 4 
 
 Wester Forret - 150 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Berryholl . 388 
 
 
 
 
 
 taster Forret - 670 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Katharine Balfour's pan 
 
 
 
 James Prestone of Dum- 
 
 
 
 thereof - - 35 
 
 10 
 
 O 
 
 brae - - 420 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Inchry - 193 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Keadlock - 387 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Countess of Rothes - 863 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 John Imbrie of Wester 
 
 
 
 Aytone - - 639 
 
 6 
 
 s 
 
 Cruvie 33i 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Woodmyln 816 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dcnmyln - - 1006 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Flisk Parish. 
 
 
 
 Kinnaird 930 
 
 
 
 
 
 Aytoun's Glenduckie 64% 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pittachop 315 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Creich Parish. 
 
 
 
 Countess of Rothes 2266 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 Balmediesydc, Parbroath 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and Lillok - 998 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Kilmany Parish. 
 
 
 
 David Cairns' part of 
 
 
 
 Hillcairny 418 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 I,5thrie 6f 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 Middlemytn 164 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. George Killoch's part 203 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Kinneir - 430 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 James Barclay's part - 113 
 
 
 
 
 
 Myrecairny - 370 
 
 
 
 
 
 Robert Baillie's part 411 
 
 
 
 
 
 Rathillet 389 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Sir David Carmichell's 
 
 
 
 Montwhanny - 980 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 part - - 173 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 Cairny - - 606 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Wester Kinskith - 157 
 
 (> 
 
 1 
 
 Starr - - 525 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Creich - - 353 
 
 
 
 
 
 Little Kinneir - 167 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 Easter Kinsleith - 179 
 
 
 
 
 
 Aitherny's part of Kil- 
 
 
 
 Gilbert Clerk's part of 
 
 
 
 many - 164 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Lithrio - * - 114 
 
 
 
 
 
 ', f. '*..''/
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII, 
 
 Montmail Parish. lit. 
 
 t. 
 
 d. 
 
 Robert Russet's part 106 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Earl of Melvill - 45O 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 John Anderson's part 109 
 
 6 
 
 
 Lord Rankeillour - 1468 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Lumwhat - - 344 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Sir James Macgill - 189 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Daftmyln 121 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mount - - 440 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Rankeillour's Ball- 
 
 
 
 Cunnochle - 675 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 myln 54 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Wester Fairney - 1 143 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 William Henderson's 
 
 
 
 Denbrae's Ladiffron - 514 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 part thereof - 13 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Carslogie 695 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Newton - 183 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. James Spense's part 
 
 
 
 Ay ton's Drumtennent 170 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 of Letham - 131 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 David Bonthorne's part 
 
 
 
 Cult Parish. 
 
 
 
 thereof 131 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Earl of Crawford - H2I 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 William Fleming's Rath- 
 
 
 
 Lord Rankeillour's Hos- 
 
 
 
 ogill - - 8l 
 
 
 
 
 
 pital-miln - 146 
 
 
 
 
 
 Town of Edinburgh's feu 
 
 
 
 Bunzeon - - 341 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 out thereof - 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Muntwhanny's Pitlessie 490 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Cullairny's part of Ladif- 
 
 
 
 Town of Edinburgh's feu 
 
 
 
 fron - 72 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 out of Hospital-miln 1 1 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Ceres Parish. 
 Eatl of Craufurd - 1345 
 Craighall - - 4209 
 Scotstarvet 857 
 Carskerdo - - 334 
 Blebo's Magask - 454 
 James Thomson's Magask 171 
 Thomas Fleming's Bal- 
 tullie - - 196 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Strathmiglo Parish. 
 Lord Burghly - 584 
 Edenshead - 1386 
 Pitlowr - - 967 
 Balfour's Urquharts - 408 
 Gospartrie - 577 
 Balcanquall - 492 
 Ja. Mcldrum for West- 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 13 
 13 
 
 8 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 Thomas Glover's Baltullie 121 
 Teasses Barony - 870 
 
 to w 
 
 M M 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 myln 124 
 Glentarkie 545 
 Corstoune 418 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Dunbcg Parish. 
 Countess of Rothes - 608 
 Dunbog 1306 
 Cullerny - - 95 6 
 
 o 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 James Beverage's part 
 thereof 88 
 Drumdriell 190 
 Kincraigie - - 336 
 Cash-milne 69 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balmedy - - 492 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Balvaird - - 1488 
 
 
 4 
 
 <J 5 Dairsie Parish. 
 
 
 
 Arngosk - 719 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Dairsie - - 1200 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Balmblae - - 761 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Mr. William Bethune's 
 
 
 
 John Bontron and John 
 
 
 
 Craigfoodie - 520 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Burt - 16 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Cullairny's Craigfoodie 181 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Bishop of Dumblain 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 Newmyln - 158 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wester Cashe - 477 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Pittormy - - 121 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fingask - 35* 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Auchtermuchty Parish. 
 
 
 
 Foodie - - 583 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Burghly - ma 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Reidie 1507 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Collttsie Parish. 
 
 
 
 Struie - - 311 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Rossie - - 1864 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Leckiebank - 315 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 Weddersbie 1603 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Mornipea 206 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Hallhill - - 519 
 James Bruce's Kinloch 491 
 
 10 
 
 
 o ' Grange Riddell - 530 
 o Rossie's Kilwhiss - 497 
 
 o 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 David Balfour's part 
 
 
 
 RobertMaxwcll of Broom- 
 
 
 
 thereof - 254 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 brae - - 117 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 LathrUh's
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 44J 
 
 lib. t. d. 
 
 lib. i. A 
 
 Lathrish'i part of Auch- 
 
 Do<2or Haye's Wetter 
 
 tennurhty - 49 6 8 
 
 Coii land - 179 10 O 
 
 Thomas Thomson's part 
 
 ?uUairnie's Glasley - 138 13 4 
 
 thereof - 36 6 8 
 
 jrainge Dick's Glasley 1 68 O o 
 
 JLumwhat 180 13 4 
 
 Mr. Ja. White's Conland 348 6 8 
 
 Alex. Thomson - 79 1 3 4 
 
 Andrew BLrrcTs part of 
 
 John Symb's part of 
 
 Freuchie - 74 o O 
 
 Auchtermuchty - 67 6 8 
 
 W. Gedd's part thereof 74 o o 
 
 John Hardy - 34 6 8 
 
 ff. Fergus's part thereof 74 o o 
 
 Kingsmiln - 48 o o 
 
 A. Frazer's part thereof 182 10 o 
 
 Small heretors -i-. 781 6 8 
 
 Thomas JLouson's part of 
 
 John Thomson ^^*ri V) O o 
 
 Balmblae - 900 
 
 James Maxwell - 103 o 
 
 STu thill - - 716 
 
 
 Jalmblae - 254 6 8 
 
 Nnvburgb Parish. 
 
 |ohn Geddie - 330 o o 
 
 JLord Lindorcs - 436 o o 
 
 Lord Burghley - 495 10 o 
 
 Pitcairly 1136 13 4 
 
 Dharles Arnot - 411 o o 
 
 jMugdrum - 183 o o 
 
 Lord Murray for Darno 147 O O 
 
 Small heretors - 382 o o 
 
 Small heretors - 269 13 4- 
 
 Croftdyck feu deuty - 22 13 4 
 
 William Marshall - 90 o O 
 
 Marquis of Douglas's feu 
 
 Countess of Rothes feu - 26 o o 
 
 out of Mugdrum - 13 13 4 
 
 Lord Storniont's feu duty 8 6 8 
 
 
 John Lumsdean for dry 
 
 Cafar Paritb. 
 
 multure 1 8 10 o 
 
 Earl of Crawford - 79 13 4 
 
 Byres.Thomson and Lums- 
 
 Earl of Mclvil! - 315 6 8 
 
 dean, for multure 21 o o 
 
 Countess of Rothes 189 o o 
 
 
 Sir John Preiton - 1605 6 8 
 
 Kettle Parut. 
 
 Denbrae's Kirklands - 264 O O 
 
 
 Hill-tarvet 400 10 o 
 Gladney - A^: 361 13 4 
 
 Chapel Arnot \ 103 zo o 
 David Thomson's part of 
 
 Ballass - - 94 13 4 
 
 Kettle 253 10 o 
 
 Tarvit - - 666 10 o 
 
 Robert Russell provest 85 o o 
 
 Kingask - 260 o o 
 
 Robert Russell baillie 106 6 8 
 
 Foxtoun - - 180 o o 
 
 Patrick Russel - 64 o o 
 
 Hiltoun 148 o o 
 
 Mr. Thomas Russel - 64 o o 
 
 Pitblado 231 13 4 
 
 David Rymer 37 o o 
 
 Kilmaron and Pitlug 383 O O 
 
 Forthar - - 1023 O O 
 
 Mr. William Wilson 868 
 
 Lath risk - 111800 
 
 Alexander Norie - 400 
 
 Ramorny - 997 IO o 
 
 Chirstin Greig - 43 o o 
 
 Alex. Hog and Jx Bennet 16 o o 
 
 John Lousone - 700 
 
 Dovan - 499 13 4 
 
 Charles Thornton - -12 o o 
 
 Holkettlc 312 1 3 4 
 
 Denmoor's aiker* - 34 o o 
 
 Clattie - ^ 666 o o 
 
 Arthur Millar - 700 
 
 Fruichic-myla - 315 10 o 
 
 
 Ramcldrie - 343 O o 
 
 Falkland Par'nb. 
 
 Riggs - - 139 o o 
 
 Ballo - - 389 6 8 
 
 Ay ton's Burnturk - 466 10 o 
 
 David Sibbald . ; 176 o o 
 
 Orkie - . - 2J o o 
 
 Thomas Duncan 24 13 I 
 
 Orkic-myln - 103 o o 
 
 Drums - - 581 3 4 
 
 
 Purin *-*.f 183 o o 
 
 
 Pittiloch - - 477 13 4 

 
 443 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 Abbreviate of Cupar Presbytery 
 
 
 tit. 
 
 s. 
 
 /. 
 
 lib. s. 
 
 d. 
 
 James Walker - 43 
 
 *3 
 
 4 
 
 Baltnerino - 4085 10 
 
 o John Scott - - 21 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Logic - - 2916 6 
 
 8 i Robert Bogie of Kittitie 152 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Flisk - 32133 1 6 
 
 8 
 
 Thomas Duncan's part of 
 
 
 
 Kilmany - 5334 10 
 
 o 
 
 Fetteress 34 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Moonsie - 1789 o 
 
 
 
 J. Watson's part thereof 14 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Abdie - - 7321 o 
 
 
 
 Kincarrochie's Dron 160 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Creich - *7j8 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Monimail - 7980 13 
 
 4 
 
 Newborn Parish. 
 
 
 
 Ceres - - 8359 o 
 
 o 
 
 Lawhiil 796 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dunbog - 3161 13 
 
 4 
 
 James Lundie - 657 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Dairsic - - 3116 6 
 
 8 
 
 Daniel Auchmoutie - 285 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Collessie - 5815 O 
 
 o 
 
 Wester Lathallan - 281 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Cult - - 2069 6 
 
 8 
 
 James Finlay - 180 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Strathmiglo - 4457 o 
 
 
 
 Thomas Oourlay - 60 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Auchtermuchty - 5804 10 
 
 
 
 Mr. Robert Lindsay 60 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Newburgh - 4174 o 
 
 
 
 James Corfoot - 66 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Cupar - - 5331 13 
 
 4 
 
 John Wilsonc 54 
 
 
 
 
 
 Falkland - 5864 3 
 
 4 
 
 Monturpie - - 362 
 
 6 
 
 g 
 
 Kettle - - 6965 3 
 
 4 
 
 James Forret - 48 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 David IVTitchetl 3^9 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 Sum Total 93535 13 
 
 4 
 
 Thomas Cook's Newburn 192 
 
 **> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Craighall's Coatts - 648 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERY. 
 
 
 Lord Ycster - 174 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 Earl of Dumfermling - 410 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Forgan Parish. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jvirktoun Young - 1216 O 
 
 
 
 Ferry PiirisL. 
 
 
 
 Bank of Innerdovat 133 o' 
 
 
 
 Sir William Sharp - 2183 
 
 
 
 
 
 Flass - - 244 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mortoun Hay - 161 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kemback Parish. 
 
 
 
 Wortnitt - 201 O 
 
 
 
 Kemback and Kinnaird 506 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Innerdovat 363 13 
 
 4 
 
 Rumgay 367 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Ford Walker - 341 o 
 
 
 
 Bleboholl 157 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Woodhaven - i8a 13 
 
 A 
 
 Blebo - - 1117 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Harlawsheills - 126 o 
 
 
 
 Dura - 164 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Newtone - - 640 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lhtle.Friartoim - 226 10 
 
 
 
 Largo Parish. 
 
 
 
 St. Foord Nairn - 1309 13 
 
 4 
 
 James Lundie's part of 
 
 
 
 
 
 Strathairlic - 372 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Leucbars Parish. 
 
 
 J. Lundie's part thereof 447 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Earl of Southesk - 3924 o 
 
 
 
 Pitcurvie and Balmaine 920 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Earleshall - - 1594 o 
 
 
 
 Baldastard - 159 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Pitcullo . - 985 o 
 
 
 
 Lundie - - 4350 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Rires and Whitecroft 1262 o 
 
 
 
 Largo - - 1564 
 
 10 
 
 e 
 
 Pittlethic 314 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Moonzie-myln - 161 o 
 
 
 
 Kilconqtthar Parish. 
 
 
 
 Airdit - - 874 o 
 
 
 
 Earl of Balcarras - 1943 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Southfield - 122 o 
 
 o 
 
 John Gillespie's Newtone 300 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Stevenuone's Cowbaikie 164 10 
 
 
 
 Kilbrackmont - 807 
 
 IO 
 
 n 
 
 (Julian's Cowbaikie 82 6 
 
 8 
 
 Grainge Arnot - 319 
 
 6 
 
 B 
 
 Cullairnic'g Dron - 116 o 
 
 
 
 Largo's Fafield - 84 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Kcmback's Brakemont 
 
 
 Bantronc's Fafield - aio 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 and Lucklaw - 516 o 
 
 
 
 Lathallen Spense - 477 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kilconc^uhaV
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 449 
 
 lib. 
 
 i. 
 
 ,'. 
 
 George Methvcn's part of lib. 
 
 /. 
 
 ,'. 
 
 Kilconquhur . 2124 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 ByrehilU . 72 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kilconquhar fcwars . 37 
 
 
 
 q 
 
 Carstaires' and Craig's part 53 
 
 
 
 U 
 
 St. Foord Dudingscoun 551 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 R. Lentrou'b Kincaple 568 
 
 10 
 
 <-' 
 
 Cleivland's part of St. 
 
 
 
 Liudsay*'* Newton of Ny- 
 
 
 
 Foord ..'"*' 530 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 die :::_<,, 185 
 
 K| 
 
 4 
 
 Rires . . . 989 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Lord Burghley . 556 
 
 i.i 
 
 4 
 
 Kincraig . . 889 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 John Lennox <.~:'*-iJ. 40 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bruntshiclls . 218 
 
 IO 
 
 u 
 
 Arthur's Byloan . 425 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Kerr's part of Kil- 
 
 
 
 Philip's part of Byrehills 69 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 conquhar - 69 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Goldman'spartofKincaple 73 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Young's part of Byrehills 142 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Andre-wi Parish. 
 
 
 
 Mr. James Robertson 18 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Clatto . . .188 
 
 43 
 
 4 
 
 Dairsie's Kincaple . 945 
 
 13 
 
 A 
 
 Bonn i town . 362 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 Mr. George Marline 428 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 James Watson t' .-.- 36 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lumbo , > . . . 103 
 
 IO 
 
 c 
 
 Nicolson's part of Stric- 
 
 
 
 Dinnork . . 233 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 kinnes . 31 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Millar's part of Denhead 63 
 
 10 
 
 c 
 
 Dick&on's part . 11 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Northbank . . . 347 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Ronald Smith . .>; 39 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Jack's part of Strickinnes 71 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 George Hewat . 74 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mr. David Watson 139 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 James Nairne . . 52 
 
 i.? 
 
 4 
 
 Kinglassie . . 125 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Fortoun . : 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 Helenhill . . 150 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Pikie Walkmiln . 126 
 
 
 
 
 
 Walwood's Newgrainge 80 
 
 
 
 
 
 G. Halyburton's Denhead 97 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 James Fogo . . 29 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Archdean's teynd . 629 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mr. Alex. Orrock . 67 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kilconquhar's Grange 288 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Abbay craft . 9 1 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Devvar's Miln . 97 
 
 
 
 
 
 Little PoldufF '.- V 75 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Law Miln . 48 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wester Balriemont . 257 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 John Mount . r;i 9 
 
 4. 
 
 i 
 
 Easter Balriemont - 687 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Town of St. Andrews 14 
 
 6 
 
 X 
 
 St. Nicolas . 306 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Mr. Andrew Geddie . 138 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Geddie's Newtonc of 
 
 
 
 Balgove and Stratyrom 862 
 
 1C 
 
 
 
 Nydie 269 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Kinnaldie's part .of Kin- 
 
 
 
 Cairnes , . . 275 
 
 IO 
 
 c 
 
 kell and B-Lnungo 471 
 
 Kj 
 
 4 
 
 Alex. Weems Byloan 109 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Pryor aikers . 4865 
 
 IJ 
 
 4- 
 
 Lindsay's part of Stric- 
 
 
 
 Archbishop's rents . 6453 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 kinnes .. 27 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Lambeletham . .- 689 
 
 6 
 
 a 
 
 Bogward . 66 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 Aithcrnie's Pipeland 87 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Cameron Par'ub. 
 
 
 
 Winthank's New Grange 270 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Win thank . 278 
 
 6 
 
 s 
 
 Kiunair's New Grange 221 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Lathones __ 421 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alison Melvill and Geo. 
 
 
 
 Carstairc*' Radernic 202 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Turpio . 45 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balfour's Radernie . 256 
 
 U 
 
 4 
 
 Kinkell wl' . v 643 
 
 
 
 C' 
 
 Mason's Radernie . 90 
 
 
 
 
 
 T. Duncan's part thereof 33 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Earlshall's Radernic . 399 
 
 IJ 
 
 4 
 
 D. Bruce's part of Kinkell 29 
 
 13 
 
 -'- 
 
 Grcigstoun . ' 461 
 
 
 
 
 
 Barclay's part . 21 
 
 o 
 
 C 
 
 Pryor Letharn . 201 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 Margaret Russet'* part 31 
 
 10 
 
 C 
 
 Cameron . 227 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 Donaldson's PoldufF 102 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Wilkicstv.un . 160 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 Smiddic Green . 268 
 
 o 
 
 o Fcddinch . . 400 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 Cassindonald ' .' 644 
 
 13 
 
 4 ' I.angraw . 230 
 
 
 
 
 Nydie . . . joo 
 
 o 
 
 o'Lathocker . 417 
 
 6. 
 
 C 
 
 Is'cwbiggir.jjand Kingask40a 
 
 o 
 
 ojCruijjtoun . 293 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 M 
 
 Drumcirro
 
 45 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 
 lib. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Cesnock's part of Kings- lib. 
 
 i. 
 
 d. 
 
 Drumcarro . 
 
 35 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 barns . 513 
 
 6 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 
 David Corstorphine . 209 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Pittenioeem Parish. 
 
 Robert Lyell . ii-Z 
 
 i3 
 
 f, 
 
 Earl of Kellie 
 
 348 
 
 
 
 
 
 William Lyell . 171 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Sir Robert Anstruther 
 
 226 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Lady Boghall . 213 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Robert Law 
 
 77 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 George Moncrieff . 171 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Kirk-Box of Anstruther 
 
 27 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Colin Campbell . 112 
 
 
 
 
 
 My Lord Anstruther 
 
 130 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 John Callward . 56 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Anstruther feuars 
 
 64 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Alexander Briggs . 113 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Sea-Box of Pittenweem 
 
 197 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 James Louthian . 56 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Cook . 
 
 219 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nydic's Sandiehill . nz 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Air. Robert Cleveland 
 
 1 06 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Mr. David Airth , . 
 
 103 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Crall Parish. 
 
 
 
 Gibblestoun -. 
 
 143 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Newhail . . 806 
 
 '3 
 
 4 
 
 Thomas Achesone 
 
 60 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Pinkertoun . 438 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Robert Lyell 
 
 37 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 James Louson . 58 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 William Stevensone . 
 
 215 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 William Robertson . 52 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Simon Russell 
 
 42 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. Andrew Robertson 70 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Helen Dempster < . ff 
 
 36 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Sipsies I j, . 451 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 William Gray '.. 
 
 3* 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Sauchop . 891 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 John Wilson ' * ' : 
 
 30 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Duchess of Lauderdale's 
 
 
 
 William Watson ..",tf''> 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 feu . . 28 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Mr. Robert Verner . 
 
 IOO 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Wormistoun . 1373 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Thomas Cook 
 
 21 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 William Moncreiff 64 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Alexander Gillespie 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Mr. Alex. Lesley . 155 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Stephen Touch 
 
 37 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Airdrie . . 806 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 William Ireland . 
 
 5 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Pittairthie . 147 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 Anna Nepar . ,' 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. James Moncrieff 142 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Margaret Suine . 
 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Andrew Millar . 42 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Christian Stevenson . 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Kirk-Session . 19 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Thomas Horsburgh 
 
 . 3 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Alexander Bainc . 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mr. Robert Cook 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Andrew Comorphine 30 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Janet Law 
 
 21 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Drumraikie . 102 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Andrew Rollo 
 
 22 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Garstoun . 72 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Thomas Toddie 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Balcomy and Stuart Flat 3139 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 William Bell '*: 
 
 53 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Broadlyes >i J-i 567 
 
 
 
 
 
 Alexander Stewart 
 
 22 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Pittowie . 524 
 
 13 
 
 4- 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kirklaruls . 204 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Dtnino Parish. 
 
 Town of Crail's feu 10 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Stravithie 
 
 93 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. John Wood . 324 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Kinnaldie 
 
 819 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Barns and West Barns 3162 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Dinnino . 
 
 857 
 
 
 
 
 
 William Stevenson . 55 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Pitkeathly 
 
 267 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 Pitarthre . 
 
 153 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kilrenny Parish. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Scotstarvit . 1195 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Kingtbdrns Parish. 
 
 Balfour . . 1254 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 George Lumsdean . 545 
 
 IO 
 
 O 
 
 Earl of Kdly 
 
 1177 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 Innergelly ;^ 1103 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Cambo . 
 
 1340 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Barns Moor ..,> 9*8 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Randtrstoun 
 
 998 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Janet Law .,'" 35 
 
 6 
 
 \ 
 
 Pitmilly . ' . 
 
 916 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 William Lumsdean 12 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Kippo .. 
 
 1098 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Lord Cardross' feu out of 
 
 
 
 Kilduncan .. 
 
 J59 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Innergellf . 7 
 
 6 
 
 S
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 45 
 
 Amiruil:r Latter Pariib. 
 
 
 Abbreviate of St. Aiidrevn Pretbytery. 
 
 lit. i. 
 
 ,1 
 
 lib. t. d. 
 
 Sir Philip Anstruther 1977 15 
 
 
 
 Forgan . . 5145 6 8 
 
 My Lord Anstruther 1480 5 
 
 o 
 
 Leuchars . 10541 o o 
 
 
 
 Newburn *." 4J3* o 
 
 AnstrutLtr Wester Pariib, 
 
 
 Ferry /-^ . 2183 o o 
 
 
 
 Kemback -v.- 231* 6 8 
 
 Sir Robert Anstruther 149 13 
 
 4 
 
 Largo . . 7813 10 o 
 
 Wester Grangcmuir . 460 o 
 
 
 
 Kilconquhar * . 9546 % ; 4 
 
 Easter Grange muir . 344 o 
 
 
 
 St. Andrews . 26037 6 8 
 
 Feuars of Anstruther 288 o 
 
 
 
 Cameron ,., .*, 4264 o o 
 
 My Lord Anstruther 367 o 
 
 I 
 
 Pittenweem . / 2452 o o 
 
 Town of Pittenweem 33 6 
 
 8 
 
 Denino . 3000 6 8 
 
 William Scott . 12 o 
 
 
 
 Kingsbarns t- j 7531 6 8 
 
 Trades Box . . 410 
 
 
 
 Crail '. . 13657 o o 
 
 
 
 Kilrenny . . 5081 6 8 
 
 St. Monance Pariib 
 
 
 Anstruther Easter 3458 o o 
 
 
 
 Anstruther Wester 1458 10 o 
 
 Earl of Balcarras . 105 o 
 
 
 
 St. Monance . 2693 13 4 
 
 Sir Robert Anstrnther 1486 o 
 
 o 
 
 Carnbee ' p 10202 o o 
 
 Sir Alex. Anstruther noz 13 
 
 4 
 
 Elie 4105 13 4 
 
 Carnbrc Parish. 
 
 
 Total 126013 10 o 
 
 Earl of Balcarras . 1337 o 
 
 
 
 KIKKCALDY PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Sir Robert Anstruther 1097 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 BalhoufHe . 1131 o 
 
 
 
 KirtcalJy Pariib. 
 
 Cassingray . 420 o 
 
 
 
 Lord Raith . 3173 13 4 
 
 Giblistoun . 658 o 
 
 (1 
 
 Bogie Weern* . 942 o o 
 
 Bultie's Lochtie . 69 o 
 
 
 
 Benuachie . 1367 o o 
 
 Craighead t J9J o 
 
 o 
 
 Easter Touch . 390 6 ft 
 
 William Pcadge . 23 6 
 
 8 
 
 Smitonc , 113 o o 
 
 Robert Lyell , ." 43 o 
 
 
 
 Bogie Skeen . 410 o o 
 
 Balcormo . . 369 o 
 
 11 
 
 Balsusney aikers . 1309 o o 
 
 Balmonth . 346 o 
 
 
 
 Alexander Williamson 72 o o 
 
 Pittenweem Sea-Box 57 o 
 
 
 
 Sea-Box * $ . _ . 24 0,0 
 
 Kirk-Session of Carnbce 
 
 
 L*>rd Yester ^ .. aj* 13 4 
 
 and Scholemaster 36 o 
 
 1 
 
 
 Mr. Robert Cook . 32 o 
 
 
 
 Abbotilall Parifb. 
 
 Langside . . 86 o 
 
 
 
 Abbotshall . . 3331 o o 
 
 Craigtoun .. 164 o 
 
 
 
 Thirle duty of Bogie 69 6 8 
 
 Earl of Kelly . 2589 13 
 
 4 
 
 
 Nether Carnbie . 654 13 
 
 4 
 
 Dysart Pariib. 
 
 Over Carnbie . 307 o 
 
 
 
 Lord St. C lair . 2800 o o 
 
 Lord Y ester . 206 o 
 
 
 
 Jount ess of Rothes . 509 10 o 
 
 Lingo . . 295 6 
 
 8 
 
 Alexander Swintoun 230 10 o 
 
 Peter Mortoun . 96 o 
 
 
 
 Robert Kerr . 43 o o 
 
 
 
 Elizabeth Cunninghamc 2100 
 
 Elle Parish 
 
 
 Skedoway . 494 o o 
 
 
 
 Small heretors . 250 13 4 
 
 Earl of Levin . 341 o 
 
 
 
 Jalgreiguie's part of Mi- 
 
 Muircambes . 449 13 
 
 4 
 
 chalstoun . 87 13 4 
 
 Muircambes Miln 155 o 
 
 o 
 
 [ames Pattullo . .. 29 o o 
 
 Ardross . . 3160 o 
 
 o .' Dunnikier . *oi o o 
 
 
 3 M s Andrew
 
 452 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 
 Hi. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 in. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Andrew Chalmers 
 
 43 
 
 o 
 
 o i Wester Kilmucks 
 
 435 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Hew St. Clair 
 
 III 
 
 
 
 o '; Blackball 
 
 93 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 ' *i 
 
 
 
 j Brymor's Newton . 
 
 245 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Scoonie Parish. 
 
 Lament's Newton 
 
 227 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 Laird of Durie .' 
 
 356i 
 
 10 
 
 o Kingsmiln -..i, 5 "' 
 
 100 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Aithernie . 
 
 434 
 
 
 
 o ' Treatoun and Kennoway 1 145 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Monthryve 
 
 455 
 
 13 
 
 4 Dunniface ratfirr; 
 
 293 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Letham. and Kilmucks 
 
 682 
 
 10 
 
 o Feuars of Traitoun 
 
 29 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Ovenstoun 
 
 139 
 
 13 
 
 4 An, Balfour's heirs teynd 159 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Countess of Weemys 
 Little Drumaird 
 
 101 
 
 77 
 
 o 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 
 4 
 
 Ballingry Parish. 
 Sir John Malcolm . 514 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Michael Malcolm . 
 
 514 
 
 
 
 
 
 Markincb Parish. 
 Earl of Leven . 1 764. 
 
 13 
 
 Balbeady * , 
 
 668 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Countess of Weemys 
 Auchmouty 
 Bandon and Coull 
 ICirkforther 
 Pyestoun ." 
 Carristoun 
 
 1358 
 569 
 - 568 
 51* 
 219 
 251 
 
 6 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 5 Blair . . ^ 
 Ballingrie - > ^ 
 Coutle V 1 . 
 ; Corshills '. 
 Templeland 
 
 O .! 
 
 Milntoun 
 o . .. ... 
 
 240 
 156 
 i?8 
 
 122 
 38 
 
 27 
 
 13 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Bruntoun . 
 Balbirnie ' /^ 
 Balfary . 
 Lament's Land ''V s 
 Little Balcurvie . 
 
 927 
 922 
 - 365 
 49 
 83 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 10 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 8 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 isavittie . * 
 Cartmore ..?.. 
 Ladath . ' '. 
 Kinninmonth 
 Countess of Rothes . 
 
 153 
 211 
 
 130 
 
 IZ3 
 
 400 
 
 13 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 4 
 Of 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Andrew Landells 
 
 . 81 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Auchtertool Parish, 
 
 Thomas Alburn ' . 
 
 24 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Countess of Weemys . 
 
 301 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Balfour . 
 
 . 611 
 
 o 
 
 o Hallyeards 
 
 2490 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Law's heirs teynd 
 
 . 126 
 
 10 
 
 o! Mitchell of Balbairdie 
 
 214 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Balfour's heirs teynd 
 
 7^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 Betsone's part thereof 
 
 1 80 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Lathon's teynd out 
 
 of 
 
 
 
 Edintoun of Wester Bal- 
 
 Milntoun *' Y 
 
 69 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 bartoun . 
 
 321 
 
 o 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 
 
 Walter Laing . . 
 
 22 
 
 10 
 
 O 
 
 Leslie Parish. 
 
 Margaret Rolland 
 
 15 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Countess of Rothes . 
 
 2248 
 
 13 
 
 4 John Wylie t; ;.-. 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Strathenry . I 
 
 1397 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 David Burnlie > .;" 
 
 24 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Pitcairn . 
 
 491 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balsillie 
 
 177 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Kixglorn Parish. 
 
 Prinless 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 
 
 Earl of Leven 
 
 2 3 l8 
 
 o 
 
 e 
 
 Earl of Murray's feu 
 
 II 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kailyards . - 
 
 1309 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 J. and W. Russel's 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Pittcadie . 
 
 "33 
 
 6 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pittkeanie Betson %V 
 
 360 
 
 
 
 G 
 
 Kennotvay Parish. 
 
 Vicars Grange 
 
 224 
 
 IO 
 
 
 
 Countess of Rothes 
 
 . 42 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 John Scot .^ 
 
 12 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Atichtermairny 
 
 830 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 James Gay- 
 
 12 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Balbirnie's Lathalen 
 
 . 100 
 
 o 
 
 D 
 
 Mungo Strachan 3 
 
 42 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Bankirk 
 
 no 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 William Birrel 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Archibald's part of 
 
 William Smeatone . 
 
 24 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Balbreikie 
 
 47 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 Henry Shanks 
 
 48 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 J. Thomson's part thereof 47 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Graingemyre . 
 
 78 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Archbald . 
 
 103 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 George Boswell . 
 
 121 
 
 
 
 
 
 Robert Seaton . 
 
 J55 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Patrick Black . 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 Aleiander Blyth . 
 
 172 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kilrie . 1 
 
 389 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 South
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 453 
 
 I .. rt A 
 
 lib. 
 
 /. 
 
 ,/. 
 
 lit. 
 
 t. <f. 
 
 flout h Glasmount 
 
 415 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 Boghall - -321 
 
 O 
 
 North Glasmount 
 
 457 
 
 i') 
 
 
 
 Pittkeany.Weemys - 311 
 
 13 4 
 
 Tyrie :*)% 
 
 471 
 
 *3 
 
 4 
 
 North Strathrudie - 177 
 
 o o 
 
 Balmuto 
 
 -1058 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 Easter Bowhill - 227 
 
 
 
 Easter Balbartoun 
 
 . 3*8 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 Wester Bowhill - 242 
 
 6 8 
 
 Invertile . 
 
 "25 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 Mr. David DC war - 592 
 
 O 
 
 Seafield - . fc 
 
 456 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kinninmont - 1122 
 
 
 
 Nether Pitteadic 
 
 278 
 
 
 
 
 
 Easter Cartmore - 147 
 
 O 
 
 Bagiessie . 
 
 864 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Powguild --!>G 579 
 
 
 
 Inch Keith 
 
 50 
 
 1C 
 
 
 
 Wester Lochgelly - 343 
 
 O 
 
 Abdon 
 
 .673 
 
 10 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 Rowland . - 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Kinglault Parish. 
 
 
 Earl of Strathmoar 
 
 376 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Kinglassic -fcy 413 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 Finglassie - >. - 549 
 
 o o 
 
 Bruntitland Parltb. 
 
 Kinninmont - 56 
 
 
 
 Orrock . 
 
 1250 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Cullairnie's part thereof 252 
 
 
 
 Grange Durie . V- 
 
 119 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Pitteuchar - 571 
 
 
 
 Inchdairnie . i. 
 
 53i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Easter Pitteuchar - 252 
 
 
 
 Newbigging . /. 
 
 578 
 
 10 
 
 c 
 
 Overstentone 470 
 
 IO O 
 
 Captain Dounie . 
 
 460 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pitlochic - - 395 
 
 13 4 
 
 Widow Reat 
 
 1 20 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Inchdairny - 655 
 
 o o 
 
 Gedsmiln : . 
 
 32 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 Gaitmilk - 608 
 
 
 
 Countess of Weemy* 
 
 302 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Auchmoor - 316 
 
 IO O 
 
 Quarter 
 
 43 
 
 
 
 
 
 Walkertoun - 42 
 
 IO O 
 
 Janet Boswell 
 
 31 
 
 10 
 
 c 
 
 Countess of Rothes for 
 
 
 George Jamicson 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lugtoun and Caske- 
 
 
 Mr. Robert Ross 
 
 46 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 benen - 2134 
 
 
 
 John Ross 
 
 33 
 
 1C 
 
 
 
 Finmount - 328 
 
 
 
 Thomas Weemys 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Reidwells .' ,; 268 
 
 o o 
 
 James Angus CVn 
 
 104 
 
 1C 
 
 
 
 Lord Yester - - 308 
 
 *3 4 
 
 Kupham Melvill 
 
 2 3 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Mylndeans - 248 
 
 o o 
 
 Mr. Gilbert Melvill 
 
 . 48 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Earl of Dunfcrmline - 405 
 
 O 
 
 John Anderson -W? 
 
 55 
 
 D 
 
 
 
 
 
 Andrew Short 
 
 21 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 Wemjti Parltb. 
 
 
 David Christie 49 
 
 33 
 
 6 
 
 8 ! Countess of Weemys 4946 
 
 O 
 
 John Duff 
 
 . 21 
 
 c 
 
 O Town of Edinburgh - 329 
 
 Z 3 4 
 
 John Moncrieff 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Dewar . 
 William Johnstoun 
 
 9 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Ablrmiat: of Klrkealdy Prctlyterj. 
 Kirkcaldy . : , 11459 
 
 Alexander Bonnar 
 
 . 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dysart - - 5321 
 
 6 8 
 
 William Marshall 
 
 12 
 
 i.- 
 
 
 
 Scoonie - 5452 
 
 
 
 Andrew Lessels . 
 
 IO 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 Markinch - 10171 
 
 13 4 
 
 Binend . . 
 
 336 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Leslie - . * 4561 
 
 O 
 
 Lord Yester 
 
 754 
 
 M 
 
 o ' Keunoway - 4131 
 
 13 4 
 
 Mr. William Dalgliesh 
 
 44 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Ballingry - 3477 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Auchtcrtool ,-j - . 3582 
 
 6 g 
 
 Aucbterdtrran Pariil. 
 
 Kinghorn .'. ^ 12744 
 
 13 4 
 
 Countess of Rothes 
 
 470 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 Bruntisland . - 5784 
 
 10 
 
 Countess of Wccmyss 
 
 280 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Atichterderran - 7437 
 
 13 4 
 
 Cardone " . - 
 
 1292 
 
 6 
 
 X 
 
 Kinglassie - 8272 
 
 16 8 
 
 Little Balgonie - . 
 
 601 
 
 6 
 
 -i 
 
 - 
 
 Wemys* ->-.; 5275 
 
 13 4 
 
 Glcnistonn - '. 
 
 .309 
 
 - 
 
 
 Total 87664 
 
 16 3 
 
 DUNHRMUNF
 
 454 
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 DUNFEHMLINE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 -Hi. 
 
 /. 
 
 d. 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 Kelloch's part * * 40 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dunfermllne Parisb. 
 
 
 
 Lassodie Myln - IOO 
 
 
 
 
 
 lit. 
 
 /. 
 
 d. 
 
 Rescobieand Craigduckie 869 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Sir Charles Halket 1841 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Pitliver ** - 868 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Holl - -76 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Gask - - 164 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Clun and Garlickhill - 300 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Walls of Mossyde - 63 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 And. Walker's Northfod 98 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Pro vest Walwood - 35 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Stenhouse Northfod - 98 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 Duiu'.uff and Lcthamont 378 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Brown's Northfod - 86 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Meadowend - 78 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Garvock - 169 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Earl of Dunfermline - 193 
 
 
 
 
 
 Smith's Northfod - 91 
 
 IO 
 
 o 
 
 JLogie wairds and New- 
 
 
 
 Sennet's Grange - 341 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 lands - 563 
 
 
 
 
 
 'JTurnbull's Grange - 143 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Tester - 2872 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Craigluscar - 689 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Broomhall - JJ3* 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Dinnigask - 363 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 George Walker's heks 84 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Douglass Mastertonn 117 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Ftenhouse Mastertoun 136 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 jlberdour Parish. 
 
 
 
 Wai wood of Touch - 8i 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Earl of Mortoun - 1988 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Janet Allan - 48 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Earl of Murray - 141* 
 
 zo 
 
 
 
 John Watson - 15 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 South Kilrie - 205 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 John Walla - 30 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 CuttehiH .- 433 
 
 
 
 
 
 John Cupar - 30 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Balram - - 374 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 David Aidie 15 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Couston - 385 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Randiefoordand Milnhill 705 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 Whifehill 422 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Brieriehill 45 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mr. Charles Stewart 1026 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Pittreavie and Balmnle 4167 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Balmule and Montquey 441 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Roads - - 60 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Stevensone's Balmule 183 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Helen Smart - 34 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Stevensone of Templehall 155 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Stenhouse's Southfod aoi 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Pictencrieff - 991 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Seatb Parish. 
 
 
 1 
 
 l.assodit- - 589 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Earl of Murray - noo 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Weemys Newlands - 36 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Dewar's part of Swin- 
 
 
 
 Carpow's Newlands 8y 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 toun's Beath - 63 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Agnes Givan t nr 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 Currie'i part thereof 75 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 John Adie i >;_.*.'- 7 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Bonielaw's Beath - 145 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Provest Walker - 66 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Peirsone's Beath - 95 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Outh - - 197 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 Turnbull's Beath - iao 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Kavill ' '?M\-:~ 330 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Halkerstone's Beath - 157 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Robert Stevenson - 17 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Mitchell's Beath - 168 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Baldrig - - 695 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Leuchat's Beath - 184 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 Margaret Cowden - 56 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Stevinsone's Beath - 94 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 Scot's Mastertoun - 149 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Couden's Beath - 144 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Spencerfield's Gullats 550 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Keir's Beath - 459 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 JLady Nanghton - 869 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Stewart's Beath - 367 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 R. Walwood of Touch 448 
 
 
 
 
 
 Beavrage Beath - 95 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 T. Huton'spart of Luscar 71 
 
 o 
 
 '6 
 
 
 
 
 J. Black's part of Cocklaw 1 1 8 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Dalgety Parish. 
 
 
 
 John Aitken's part - 119 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Earl of Murray - 1375 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 John Stevenson's part 118 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Leuchat 569 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 David Sim's part - 119 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Otterstoun 345 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 James Kclloch's part 119 
 
 10 
 
 O 
 
 Cockairnie 395 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Aitkeri'b part of Windiage 46 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Lord Y ester - 636 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Mudic's part thereof 113 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Vicars Lands - 41 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 Fordell
 
 APPENDIX. No. VII. 
 
 455 
 
 Fordell - 
 
 lib. t. 
 - ai3i o 
 
 Saline Parish. 
 
 Earl of Argile 76 10 
 
 Lord Yester 50 o 
 Laird of Alva - 46 
 
 Lord Colvill - 66 o 
 
 Hillsyde - 159 6 
 
 Meadowhead - 103 o 
 
 Hawburn 37 o 
 
 Hallcroft - - 88 o 
 
 Kirkland and Salen Shaw 151 o 
 
 Easter and Wester Salens 245 o 
 
 Mudie of Cult - 44 o 
 
 Souther Cult - 53 o 
 
 Nicol Roland portioner of 60 o 
 
 Thomas Kirk's portion 60 o 
 
 Hen. Stenhousc's portion 33 o 
 
 Gray's part of Balgoner 64 o 
 
 James Elder's part - 44 o 
 
 Andrew Bennet'spart 44 o 
 
 James Gibson's part - 42 o 
 
 John Hutton of Lops - 4% o 
 
 R. Pearson of Steallend 59 o 
 William Hally in Nether 
 
 Kinneather - 40* o 
 
 Craighousand Drumcapy 1 73 13 
 James Henderson's part of 
 
 Bandruni 51 13 
 
 Killerny 722 6 
 
 Morgan's part of Boreland 78 6 
 
 Patrick Bennet's part - 35 10 
 
 Andrew Thomson's part 63 6 
 
 John Roland's part - 52 o 
 
 Adam Stobie's part - 31 13 
 
 William Roland's part 63 o 
 
 Will. Roland Maltman - 29 6 
 
 Robert Sim's part - 10 o 
 
 John Gray's part - 30 o 
 
 Thomas Dryidaill - 6 6 
 Isabell Crawford - 70 
 
 Grissell Bennet - 17 o 
 Marion Hutton - 40 
 
 T. Earner of Cultmiln 208 10 
 
 John Scotland of Busses 84 o 
 
 John Gib of PcAv - 109 o 
 Robert May of Boonitoun 32 o 
 
 Oliphant of Kinncder 386 o 
 
 Bishop of Dunkeld - 4 10 
 Valieficlds feu due tics 34 o 
 
 /;*. ,. 
 
 Lord Yester 74 o 
 
 Pittdinnies - 682 o 
 
 WardlawofWesterLuscar378 13 
 
 Stobie's portion of Lnscar 168 o 
 
 Crotxbie Parish. 
 
 Lord Colvill ft* 1030 o 
 
 Lady Colvill - 1311 o 
 
 W. Wilson of Walkmiln 124 o 
 
 Jerom Cowie 
 
 17 13, 
 
 Torryburn Parish. 
 Earl of Kincardine 2430 13 
 Pitsoulie t W-* 1 335 10 
 Doctor Sibbald - 16 10 
 
 Inverkeitbing Pmriib. 
 Lord Yester - 409 
 
 Earl of Haddington's feu *7 
 Pittathro 
 
 Balbugie and Dealls - 
 Salvadge 
 Spencerfield 
 Urquharts 
 
 Sir David Shore ' - 
 Rasyth - 
 
 Heretors of Northferry 
 Rottmell's Inns 
 W. Hendyrson of 1 7 ridges 31 10 
 
 Spitlefield 
 
 151 
 
 Abbreviate ef Duitfemtlinc Presbytery. 
 
 Dunfermlinc 
 
 Aberdour 
 
 Beath - 
 
 Dalgety 
 
 Saline - 
 
 Curnock 
 
 Crombie 
 
 Torryburn 
 
 Invcrkeithing 
 
 21951 13 
 7015 10 
 3069 i 6 
 5394 o 
 4161 6 
 
 *53* 3 
 2472 13 
 
 6866 16 
 
 Total 56250 13 4 
 
 Tie Sum vf the Valua'.'m* ef tie 
 
 Presbyteries of 
 
 Cupar - - 93535 *3 4 
 
 St. Andrews - 126013 10 o 
 o iKirkcaldy - 87664 16 8 
 
 o Dunfermlinc - 36250 13 4 
 
 t Cjrnotl Parish. 
 
 Earl of Kincardine - 1233 10 o 
 
 Valuation of Flic, 363464 13 4 
 
 APPEN-
 
 APPENDIX. No. VIII. 
 
 
 
 List of the Parishes as divided into Presbyteries^ 'with thi 
 Names of the Patrons and Incumbents. 
 
 St. Andrews 
 
 ST. ANDREWS PRESBYTERY. 
 
 j John Adamson, D. D. Crown. 
 
 I George Hill, D. D. Town-Council 
 
 St. Leonards James Playfair, D. D. Crown 
 
 Leuchars Thomas Kettle Ditto 
 
 Cameron Thomas Adamson Ditto 
 
 Ferry-port-on-craig David Williamson Ditto 
 
 Forgan, or St. Fillans Alexander Maulc Ditto 
 
 Abercromby, or 7 Ditto 
 St. Monance 5 
 
 Austruther-Easter 
 
 Robert Wilson 
 
 Sir Philip Anstruthcr 
 
 
 James Macdonald, junr. 
 
 Ditto 
 
 
 Pittenweem 
 
 James Nairn 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Kilrenny 
 
 James Forrester 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Elie 
 
 James Clerk 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Crail 
 
 Andrew Bell 
 
 Earl of Craufurd 
 
 Kingsbarns 
 
 Robert Arnot, D. D. 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Kemback 
 
 James Macdonald 
 
 United Col. of St. Andrews 
 
 Denino 
 
 James Hunter 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Kilconquhar 
 
 Alexander Small 
 
 Earl of Balcarras 
 
 Carnbee 
 
 Alexander Brodie 
 
 Earl of Kellie 
 
 Largo 
 
 Spence Oliphant 
 
 Durham of Largo 
 
 Newbuni 
 
 Thomas Laurie 
 
 Halket-Craigie of Hallhill 
 
 CUPAR PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Cupar 
 
 Kettle 
 
 Balmerino 
 
 Dunbog 
 
 Logic 
 
 Newburgh 
 
 Abdie 
 
 Strathmiglo 
 
 Moonsie 
 
 Ceres 
 
 Cult 
 
 Xilmany 
 
 Flisk 
 
 Creich 
 
 Monimail 
 
 Colessie 
 
 Auchtcrrnuchty 
 
 Dairsic 
 
 Falkland 
 
 C George Campbell, D. D. 
 Laurence Adamson 
 
 Peter Barclay 
 
 Andrew Thomson 
 
 James Keyden 
 
 Andrew Melville 
 
 Thomas Stewart, D. D. 
 
 Robert Thomas 
 
 John Martin 
 
 Andrew Ireland 
 
 Joseph Crichton 
 
 David Wilkie 
 
 Thomas Chalmers 
 
 William Gourlay 
 
 Michael Greenlaw, D. D. 
 
 SamUel Martin, D. D. 
 
 Andrew Walker 
 
 Jame Lister 
 
 Robert Macculloch 
 
 George Buist 
 
 Crown 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Earl Mansfield 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Earl of Craufurd 
 
 Ditto 
 
 United Col. of St. Andrews 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Lord Dundas 
 
 Earl of Leven and Melville 
 Johnston of Lathrisk 
 Moncrieff of Myres 
 Earl of Elgin 
 Thomson of Balnie.1 
 
 KlRKCALDf
 
 APPENDIX. No. Vin. 
 KIRKCALDY PRESBYTERY. 
 
 457 
 
 Kirkcaldy 
 Burntisland 
 Kennoway 
 Markinch 
 Sconic, or Leven 
 Leslie 
 Kinglawie 
 
 Dysart 
 
 Kinghorn 
 Auchtertool 
 Auchterderran 
 Abbotshall 
 Wemyss 
 Ballingry 
 Portmoak 
 
 Thomas Fleming 
 James Wemyss 
 Patrick Wright 
 George Wright 
 David Swan 
 George Willis 
 James Reid 
 I Patrick Muirhcad 
 George Muirhead 
 Adam Paterson 
 David Guild 
 Andrew Murray 
 George Shaw 
 George Gib 
 Wallace 
 Hugh Laird 
 
 Crown 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Countess of Rothei 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Sir Ja. Erskine St. Clair 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Earl of Strathmore 
 
 Bail of Moray 
 
 Lord Balmuto 
 
 Fergusson of Raith 
 
 City of Edinburgh 
 
 Sime of Lochore 
 
 Graham of Kinross 
 
 DUNFERMLINE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Dunfcrmline 
 
 Saline 
 
 Kinross 
 
 Clcish 
 
 *Orwell 
 
 Dalgety 
 
 Bcath 
 
 Car nock 
 
 Toryburn 
 
 Aberdour 
 
 luverkeithing 
 
 C Allan Maclean 
 John Fernie 
 William Forfar 
 
 William Dalling 
 Patrick Spence ^^. 
 John Scott 
 James Hutton 
 Alexander Thomson 
 David Balfour 
 William Bryce 
 Andrew Robertson 
 
 Crown 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Graham of Kinross 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Earl of Moray 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Erskine of Carnock 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Earl Morton 
 
 Sir William Erskine 
 
 Those Parishes marked thus are in the shire of Kinross. The Parish 
 of Tullibole, in the Presbytery of Auchtcrarder, is in the shire of Kinross; 
 and part of the parishes of Aberncthy and Arngask, in the Presbytery of 
 Perth, arc in the shire of Fife. 
 
 UNirERSITT OF ST. ANDREWS, 
 
 Right Hon. Viscount MELVILLE, Chancellor. 
 
 UNITED COLLEGE OF ST. SALVATOR AND ST. LEONARD. 
 
 John Cook 
 John Rothcram 
 H. D. Hill 
 William Barron 
 Nicolas Vilant 
 John Hunter 
 John Adamson 
 James Flint 
 
 JAMES PLAYFAIR, Principal, Crown. 
 
 Moral Philosophy 
 Natural Philosopy 
 Greek 
 Logic 
 
 Mathematics ' 
 Humanity 
 Civil History 
 Medicine 
 
 United College 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Crown 
 
 Marchioness Titchficld 
 
 Earl of Cassilis 
 
 Uaivcrsity 
 
 ST,
 
 458 
 
 Robert Arnot 
 John Trotter 
 John Cook 
 
 APPENDIX. No. IX. 
 ST. MARY'S COLLEGE. 
 
 GEORCE HILL, Principal, and Primaries 
 Professor of Divinity, Crown. 
 Divinity Crown 
 
 Church-History Ditto 
 
 Oriental Languages Ditto 
 
 APPENDIX. No. IX. 
 
 List of the Finish Kings. 
 
 * Cbr-cn. Piaorum. * Reg. St. And. 
 
 f Wirtton. 
 
 1 l^RUITHNE, fil, i Crutheus Koine 
 
 i Cruthne Mak Kynn; 
 
 Kinne 
 
 
 2 Circui 
 
 
 3 Fidaich 
 
 
 4 Forteim 
 
 
 5 Floclaid 
 
 
 6 Got 
 
 
 7 Ce, L e. Cecircum 
 
 
 8 Fibald 
 
 
 9 Gedeol Gudach 
 
 
 10 Denbacan 
 
 
 II Olfine&a 
 
 
 iz Guidid Gaedbrecach 
 
 
 13 Gestgurtich 
 
 
 14 Wurgest 
 
 
 15 Brude Bout 
 
 
 1 6 Gilgidi a Gede 
 
 a Cede 
 
 17 Thar an 3 Tharan 
 
 3 Caran 
 
 1 8 Morleo 
 
 
 19 Deocil Luuoii 4 Duchil 
 
 4 Duthii 
 
 ao Cimoiod f. Arcois 
 
 
 3i Deoord 5 Duordechcl 
 
 5 Wergetel 
 
 aa Blici Bliterth 
 
 
 33 DeSloteric 6 Deootheth 
 
 6 Dekothot 
 
 a4 Usconbuts 7 Combust 
 
 7 Combust 
 
 aj Carvorst 8 Caranathrecht 
 
 8 Caranacait 
 
 36 Deoar Tavois 
 
 
 37 Uist 
 
 
 23 Ru 
 
 
 29 Gartnaith Boc 9 Gernath Bolg 
 
 9 Garnaird Bclg. 
 
 30 Vere 
 
 
 31 Breth. f. Buthut 
 
 
 3 a Vipoig Namet 10 Umpopenenet 
 
 10 Wypopmet. 
 
 ii Fiachna Albus 
 
 
 S3 Canut Ulachama iz Canatulmel 
 
 ii Fathna 
 
 34 Wradech Vcchla 13 Dinornach Netalec 
 
 
 14 Feodac Finleg 
 
 ia Enalculmel 
 
 35 Garnaich di Uber 15 Garnat Dives 
 
 13 Denortnach Neteles 
 
 
 36 Talorc 
 
 From Inncs. | From Pinkerton.
 
 APPENDIX. No. IX. 
 
 459 
 
 CBren. Pitlorum. 
 
 36 Talore f. Achivir 
 
 37 Drust. f. Erp or Irb 
 
 38 Talore f. AnicI 
 
 39 Nedon Morbetf.Erp 
 
 40 Brest Gurthinmoch 
 
 41 Galanau Etclich 
 4J Dadrest 
 
 C Brest f. Gyrom & 
 
 43 I Brest f. Udrost 
 Brest f. Gyrom solus 
 
 44 Gartnach f. Gyrom 
 
 45 Cealtram f. Gyrom 
 
 46 Talorg. f. Muir- 
 cholaich 
 
 47 Brest f. Munait 
 
 48 Galam cum Aleph 
 cum Brideo 
 
 49 Bride f. Mailcom sive 
 Meilochon 
 
 50 Gartnaich f. Bomelch 
 
 51 Nedan nepos Uerb 
 
 52 Cineoch f. Luthrin 
 
 53 Garnard f. Wid. 
 
 54 Bridci f. Wid. 
 
 55 Talore frater eorum 
 
 56 Talorcan f. Enfret 
 
 57 Gartnait f. Donnel 
 
 58 Brest frater ejus 
 
 59 Bidei f. Bili 
 
 60 Taran f. Entifidich 
 
 61 Bredci f. Berili 
 
 62 Nedon seu Naitan f. 
 
 63 Brest etAlpin [Berili 
 
 64 Onnust seu Oengus f. 
 Urgurt 
 
 65 Bredci f. Uiurgust 
 
 66 Kiniod f. Wirdech 
 
 67 Elpin L Wroid 
 
 68 Brest f. Talorgan 
 
 69 Talorgan f. Onnu&t 
 
 70 Canaul f. Tarla 
 
 71 Constantin f. Urguist 
 
 72 Unnust f. Urguist 
 
 73 Brest f. Constautin 
 
 74 Uwen f. Unnust 
 
 75 Wrad. f. Bargoit 
 
 76 Bred 
 
 Keg. St. And. 
 
 1 6 Talarg f. Keothffr 
 
 17 Burst f. Urb 
 
 1 8 Talarg f. Amil 
 
 19 Nethan Thelcamot 
 
 20 Brust Gorniot 
 
 21 Galam 
 
 22 Brust f. Gigurum 
 
 23 Brust f. Hydressig 
 
 Winton. 
 
 14 Feurdach Fingel 
 
 15 Brust Hyrbson 
 
 1 6 GolargtsMaikAmyJc 
 
 17 Nedane Kellemot 
 
 1 8 Burst Gorniot 
 
 19 Galanc 
 
 30 Burst Gygmour 
 21 Burst Hoddcrling 
 
 24 Ganut f. Gigurum 22 Garnot Gignoure 
 
 25 Kelturan frater ejus 23 Gilturnane 
 
 26 Golorg f. Mordeleg 24TolargMakMordelay 
 
 27 Brust f. Moncth 25 Burk Mak Mouthay 
 
 28 Tagalad 26 Gagalagc 
 
 29 Brude f. Melchon 
 
 30 Garnat f. Bomnach 
 
 31 Nethau f. Irb. 
 
 32 Kinel, f. Luthrcn 
 
 33 Nedan f. Fottle 
 
 34 Brude f. fothe 
 25 Tul'H'g f. Fetobar 
 
 36 Talargan f. Amfrudc 
 
 37 Garnat f. Bomnal 
 
 38 Brust frater ejus 
 
 39 Brude fc Bile 
 
 40 Taram f. Amfredcch 
 
 41 Brude f. Berili 
 
 42 Nedan frater ejus 
 
 43 Garnath f. Ferach 
 
 44 Ocngusa f. Fcrgusa 
 
 45 Nethan f. Berili 
 
 46 Alpin f. Feret 
 
 47 Ocngusa, f. Brude 
 
 48 Brude f. Tenegus 
 
 49 Brust f. Talargan 
 
 50 Talargan f. Brustan 
 
 5 1 Talargan f . Tenegus 
 
 27 Brude Methcnessor 
 
 28 Garnach Mak Bonafc 
 
 29 Nedan Fadison 
 
 30 Kenel m. Luthren 
 
 (Nedan Fadison) 
 
 31 Brude 
 
 32 Golarg 
 
 33 Golargan 
 
 34 Garnat m. Bonald 
 
 35 Burst 
 
 36 Brude Bylisson 
 
 37 Brudc Bargardsor. 
 
 38 Nadan 
 
 39 Garnat m. Ferach 
 
 40 Oongus Fergus fym 
 
 son 
 
 41 Nedanc 
 
 42 Elpyne 
 
 43 Oongus Brudeson 
 
 44 Brude m. Tengas 
 
 45 Alpitie m. Tencgus 
 
 52 Constautin f. Fergusa Constantyn: 
 
 53 Hungus f. Fcrgusa Hungus 
 
 ^7 Kenneth Alpin 
 
 54 Bustalorg 
 
 55 Eoganan f. Hungus 
 
 56 Ferat Batot 
 
 57 Brude f. Ferat 
 
 58 Kinat f. Ferat 
 
 59 Brudc f. Fotcl 
 
 60 Brust f. Ferat 
 
 6 1 Kincth m. 
 
 Kenneth Mac Alpia
 
 APPENDIX. No. X. 
 
 Account of the arrival and treatment of some shipwrecked 
 Officers y Mariners and Soldiers of the Spanish 
 ' Armada at Anstruther. 
 
 Mr. JAMES MELVILL, who was Minister at Anstruther 
 at the time of the Spanish Armada, in a manuscript 
 account of his own life, which was in the Library at Glas- 
 gow, has the following passages concerning it. 
 
 JL HE year 1588 is well known in history for the providential destruction 
 of the Spanish Armada. It had been blazed about for a long time, arid 
 this island had found the fearfull effect of it, to the utter subversion both 
 of kirk and policy, if God had not wonderfully watched over the same. 
 Sometimes we were told of their landing at Dunbar, sometimes at St. 
 Andrews and in Tay, and sometimes in Aberdeen and in Cromarty Firth. 
 
 Within two or three weeks after the rising of the General Assembly 
 that year, by break of day, one of ^ r bailies at Anstruther, comes to my 
 bedside, but in a fray, and told me a ship full O f Spaniards was arrived in 
 our harbour, not to give mercy, but ask it; that the commanders had 
 landed, and he had commanded them to their ships again, till the magis- 
 trates of the town had advised ; and they had humbly obeyed. 
 
 I got up, and after assembling the honest men of town, we met in the 
 tolbooth, and after agreeing to hear them, then came to us a very reve- 
 rend man of big stature and grace, of a stout countenance, and gray hair 'd. 
 After much and low courtesy, bowing with his iace near the ground, 
 touching my shoe with his hand, he began his harangue in the Spanish 
 tongue, whereof I understood the substance, and being about to answer in 
 Latin, he having a young man with him to be his interpreter, the youth 
 repeated in good English, what the other had said. The same was, That 
 his master, lung Philip, had rigged out an army and navy to land in Eng- 
 land, for just causes, and to be avenged of many intolerable wrongs which 
 he had received of that nation ; but God, for their sins, had been against 
 them, and by storm of weather, had driven them by the coast of England, 
 and him with certain captains, being the commanders of twenty hulks, 
 upon an isle of Scotland called the Fair Isle, where they were shipwrecked, 
 and as many as had escaped the merciless seas and rocks, had for six or 
 seven days suffered great hunger and cold, till getting the bark they were 
 in, they had sailed from Orkney till they had arrived here, and were come 
 to their special friends and confederates, to kiss the king's majesty's hand 
 of Scotland, (here he beckoned even to the earth), and to find relief 
 thereby unto himself, and the gentlemen captains and poor soldiers, whose 
 condition was for the present most miserable and pitiful. 
 
 I answered in short, That our friendship would not be very great, seeing 
 they and their king were friend* to the greatest enemy of Christ, the pope 
 of Rome, and our king and we defend not him nor yet their cause against 
 ur neighbours and speciall friends, the English, could procure any benefit 
 
 at
 
 APPENDIX. No. X. 461 
 
 r.t our bands for their relief and comfort ; nevertheless, they should find 
 by experience, that we were men, and so moved by human compassion, 
 and Christians of a better religion than they, which shewed itself in the 
 fruits and efieds plain contrary to theirs, for whereas our people resort- 
 ing among them in peaceable manner, and for lawfull affairs of merchan- 
 dize, were taken, cast into prison, their goods and gear confiscate, and 
 their bodies committed to cruel flaming fire for the causes of religion, they 
 should find nothing among us but Christianity and works of mercy, and 
 always leaving to God to work in their hearts concerning religion, as U 
 pleased him. 
 
 This being truely repeated to him by his interpreter, with great reve- 
 rence he gave thanks, and said he could not answer for their kirk and the 
 laws and orders of it, only for himself, that there were divers Scotsmen 
 who know him, and to whom he had shoun courtesy and favour at Cadiz, 
 and he supposed some of this same town of Anstruther. I shoued hint 
 that the bailies had granted him licence with his captains, to go to their 
 lodgings for their refreshment, but to none of their men to land, till the 
 Over-Lord of the town was advertised, and they understood the king's 
 majesty's mind anent them. Thus with great courtesy he departed, . 
 
 That night the laird of Anstruther came, and accompanied with a good 
 number of neighbouring gentlemen, gave the general and captains presence, 
 and after speeches in effeA, as also received him into his house, and enter- 
 tained them humanly, and suffered them to come ashore, and ly altogether, 
 to the number of thirteen score, for the most part young beardless men, 
 silly, tracked and hungred. To them for a day or two, the inhabitants 
 gave kail, pottage, and fish. My address to them was like Elijah's to the 
 king of Israel in Samaria, " Give them br"l and water." The names of 
 the commanders were, Joan Comes de Medina, General of twenty hulks. 
 Captain Patricio, Captain de I.egunetto, Captain de Lastria, Captain" de 
 Manrito and Seignior Leizano. 
 
 Meantime all the while my heart melted within me for thankfulness to 
 God, when I remembered the pridcfull and cruell nature of these people 
 and how they would have used us, in case they had landed with their 
 force against us, and saw much of 'the woiiderfull work of God's mercy 
 and justice, in making us see the chief commanders of them making such 
 duty and courtesy to poor seamen, and their soldiers so abje&y to beg 
 alms at our doors and in our streets. Meanwhile they not knowing the 
 wreck of the rest, supposed their army was safely returned, till one day I 
 got instant answers a printed account of the wreck of the galleys, with the 
 names of the principall men, and how they were used in Ireland, and our 
 Highlands, in Wales, and other parts of England, the which when I told 
 to the gentrall, he cried out for grief, and bur&ted and great. 
 
 This commander when he returned to Spain, shotted great kindness to a 
 hip of Anstruther arrested at Cadiz. He rode to court for her, and highly 
 commended Scotland to his king, he took the seamen to his house and en- 
 quired for the laird of Anstruther, for the minister, and for his host, and 
 sent many compliments home. But we thank God we had seen them 
 among us in this sort. 
 
 3 O THE
 
 THE Editor was indebted to the late Earl of LEVEN for 
 the manuscript of the Extract from Melville's Memoirs. 
 Mr. CONSTABLE, Bookseller in Edinburgh, kindly favoured 
 him with the use of the manuscript of the Valuation of 
 Fife, 1695. He also received valuable assistance frorn 
 several other gentlemen, whose names he has not obtained 
 permission to mention. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 40. note t. line 4. for and below, read " and below, " 
 74. I. 4> dele comma after Anlaff. 
 __ .., ... i. -,,... 7. In some copies, after &c this reference is 
 omitted, Hist. Ingulph. p. 37. ad ann. 948. 
 80. - - 1 14. for Langmans, read Langmani. 
 ipa. ... i. penult. In some copies, for St. Serpinch, read St. 
 
 Serf's Inch. 
 7.77. . a. Hne 6. dele c in Weemyss. 
 
 INDEX,
 
 I N D E X. 
 
 , of Inchcolni, 91. of Culrocs, 
 330. of Lundoris, seal of, 405, n. 
 of Cupar, 399. of Dunfermliiie, 294. 
 
 Alcrnetby, built by Netban II. 5, 47, 
 a. seat of the Pidhsh kings, 5, 49. 
 not a bishopric, Z4I, n. 
 
 Abibanes, office of, 49. exaniined,52, n. 
 
 sUomnans, St. influence in the church, 
 176. 
 
 Adrian, wall of, 2, D. 
 
 Adrian, St. killed at the May, 100. 
 
 Agatbyrsi, a Gothic tribe, ancestors 
 of the Picts, 22. 
 
 Agricola, fortifies the ist limusbetween 
 the Forth and Clyde, z, n. sends 
 a fleet to examine the coast of 
 Scotland, 12. time of his coming 
 to Britain, 60, n. 
 
 Albany, the eastern and northern 
 parts of Scotland, 75. 
 
 Albany, Robert Duke of, 234. mur- 
 ders Rothsay, 235, n. Murdoch 
 Duke of, 235, 236. 
 
 Altin Scots, 27. 
 
 Alexander III. death of, 311. 
 
 Anderson, Dr. writes of Kinghorn 
 Spaw, 311. 
 
 Andrews, St. encroachments of the 
 tea at, 153. episcopal see of, 167, 
 187, 240. priory of, 182, n. 
 191, 245, parishes in the pres- 
 bytery of, 207, 456. first bishop- 
 ric of Scotland, 241, n. disputes 
 about the consecration of the bi- 
 shops of, 244, n. erected into an 
 archbishopric, 254. cathedral of, 
 founded, 246. finished, 251. de- 
 stroyed, 346. castle of, built by 
 bishop Beaumont, 247. rebuilt, 
 
 353. 351- 
 
 Andrews, St. University of, founded, 
 353, 263. Su Salvator's Col- 
 lege, 254, 267. St. Leonard's Col- 
 
 lege 258,0. 870. New College,;^, 
 
 266, 270. Chancellor and Re&ox 
 
 of, 267. new modelled, 270, n. 
 Anglo Sjxot, specimen of, 32, n. 
 Anttrutber, family of, 341. 
 Antoninus Pius,hz& Loliius Urbicus fof 
 
 a Lieutenant in Britain, 2, n. 
 Atbelstane, son of Ethclwolf, said to 
 
 have been defeated and slain by 
 
 Hungns, 48, 89, n. 
 AtMitanr, son of Edward, defeats the 
 
 confederate army of Scots, Picts, 
 
 &c. under Anlafif, 74. 
 Augustine, St. monks of, 99. rule of, 
 
 introduced, 187, n. 190, n. 
 
 Bagimonf i Roll, 249, n. 
 
 BaUreJ, St. miracle of, 105, n. 
 
 Balfour, account of the family of, 
 366369. 
 
 Baliol, supported by Fraser archbi- 
 shop of St. Andrews, 150, D. and 
 Lamberton, zji. n. 
 
 Balvaird, rocking stone of, 425. 
 
 Banquo, said to have vanquished the 
 Danes, 81. account of him fabu- 
 lous, 81, n. 
 
 Barrie, sands of, 422, n. 
 
 Bats, isle of, 102. 
 
 Beet, tea, 104. 
 
 Benarte, supposed to hare been the 
 scene of a battle with the ninth 
 legion, 67. Roman trenches at, 70. 
 
 Bernicia, kingdom of, founded, 75, n. 
 
 Betbmne, account of the family of, 367. 
 
 Birds, aquatic in Lochlcven, 285. 
 
 Bishops, elected by the Culdces, 182, 
 242. of St. Andrews, list of, 243. 
 
 Bitset, Earl of Fife, 232. 
 
 Soars Chase, 4, l8l, n. 349. 
 
 Boar'i-bead, a national dish, 349. 
 
 Brute, supported by bishop Lamber- 
 ton, 2JI, n. 
 
 * Names that occur in the lists published in this work, or in the topo- 
 graphical part, are not inserted in the Index, because they may be easily 
 found by looking at the titles of the chapters and scAioci io the conteaa.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Buehan, Isobel Countess of, crowns 
 
 Robert Bruce, 230, n. 
 Buchanans verses on the water of 
 
 Fife, 290. on the burning field of 
 
 Dysart, 322. 
 
 Sulf.s-beaJ,.a. signal of death, "350, n. 
 Bullock, parson, 399. 
 Burghs, causes of their decline, 339, n. 
 Burntlsland, Danes landed at, 76. sea 
 
 made encroachments at, 152. har- 
 hour of, 304. 
 J3ut(,the retreat of Robert III. 335, n. 
 
 Caithness, length of days in, 39- 
 conquered by the Danes, 79, n. 
 
 Caledonia, boundaries and etymology, 
 8, n. people of, 15, n. 
 
 Canal, between Forth and Clyde, 2,n. 
 projected at Cupar, 397, n. 
 
 Cardan s Well, 392. 
 
 Casslh, Earl of, founds a professor- 
 ship at St. Andrews, 269.' 
 
 Cfolfrift letter about Easter, 47, n. 
 
 C^r^etymologyof the name of, i2,n. 
 a boundary of the grant of Hun- 
 gus, 166. 
 
 Cesariensii Maxima, Roman province 
 
 of, 1, n. 
 
 Cbandos, Duke of, founds a professor- 
 ship at St. Andrews, 352, n. 
 
 Church, Scottish, not early connected 
 with Rome, 187, n. indepen- 
 dence of, preserved; -246, n. 
 
 Churches, in Fife, list of, 206, 456. 
 
 Circles, called Druidiral, used as 
 courts, of judgment iu Gothic 
 countries, 57. 
 
 Clai:k Geese, 136, n. 
 
 Clatchartcraig, Roman trenches at, 70. 
 
 Glicsfj, parish of, disjoined from Fife, 7. 
 
 defiant, family of, 394. 
 
 Clyde, divides the southern and mid- 
 dle peninsulas of Scotland, 2, n. 
 
 Coal, 157,291,292,295, n. 299,301, 
 n. 302, n. 315, 319, 323, 336. 
 
 CocUe fishery, 136, I). 311, n. 
 
 Cod Fishery, 122, n. 123, n. 
 
 Ce/lum&A, St. converted the northern 
 
 . 1'iiits, 4, n. 46, n. 
 
 Commerce, of Scotland, carried on by 
 the great, 269, n. 
 
 Censtantine II. defeated, but not killed 
 at Crail, 79, n. 
 
 Crltfyleitl, Lie, 105. 
 
 Cramand Inch, 93- 
 
 Grinan, abbot of Dunkeld, paternal 
 ancestor of the royal family of 
 Scotland, 52, n. 
 
 Crystal, found, 157. 
 
 Crowning, the king, privilege of, 2ii, 
 230, n. 231, n. 236, n. 
 
 Cro-witers of Fife, 239* 
 
 Crusoe, Robinson, 333- 
 
 Culdees, Christian priests among the 
 Pidts, 49. dodlrines and order 
 of, 163, &c. hereditary suc- 
 cession among, 177, n. ele& their 
 bishops, 183, n. 242, n. were 
 Irish priests, and disciples of Co- 
 lumba, 186, n. controversy with 
 the priory, 193. 
 
 Culross, etymology of the name of, 3. 
 early Christian establishment at, 
 4, n. abbey of, founded by Mal- 
 colm Earl of Fife, 130. 
 
 Cupar, supposed to be the Urbs 
 Orrea, 71. 
 
 
 Danes, instigated to invade Scotland 
 by the Pidls, 76. land in Fife, 
 ib. defeated at Leven Water 
 ky the Scots, 77. defeat the Scots 
 at Crail, 78, 347. invasion of in the 
 reign of Duncan, fabulous, 8 1, n. 
 
 Danes Dikes, story of, 79,11. 
 
 Damps, in coal- works, 157. 
 
 Danlelston, Walter, negotiates for the- 
 bishopric of St. Andrews, 253, n. 
 
 David I. died at Carlisle, 345, n. 
 
 David, Earl of Huntington, 403, n. 
 
 Diaper Linen, manufactory of, 296. 
 
 Dicaledones, or Duncaledones, said to 
 have inhabited Fife, 5. 
 
 Dolphins, esteemed as food, 116, n. 
 
 Douglas, James, sent by bishop L>am- 
 berton to the assistance of Bruee, 
 251, n. James last Earl of, dies at 
 Liindores, 404. 
 
 Dovecraigs, 94. 
 
 Druids, said to be Pi<5lish priests, 40;,- 
 55, 56. the notion examined, 
 
 57> 
 
 Drust, united the Pi&ish tribes, 5,n. 
 Duff, derivation of the name of, 227. 
 Dunbar and Dumbarton, garrisoned by 
 
 French soldiers, 89, n. 
 Dunkeld, built by Constantino king of 
 
 the Fids, 48, n. abbot of high 
 rank
 
 INDEX. 465 
 
 scriptionof.85,86. lakiesof,87, 88. 
 
 Fortbever, one of the ancient divi- 
 sions of Scotland, 4. 
 
 Fortbric, or Fotbrif, 4, 5. etymology 
 of the name, 10, n, n. 
 
 Frame, original treaty with, ncgo- 
 ciated by bishop Eraser for Baliol, 
 250, n. 
 
 Friars, Augustine, 91. Franciscan, 
 Dominican and Jacobine, 248. 
 
 Galgacui, chosen commander of the 
 Caledonians, 43, n. 
 
 Gar urn pickle, 124, n. 
 
 German language, specimen of, 32, n. 
 
 Germans, dress of, 30. hospitality 
 of, 54, 
 
 Girth, Macduff's privilege of, 114. 
 nature of, 216, n. 
 
 Glass, formerly made in Fife, 325. 
 
 Gothic dialecls, affoi d et y mons of many 
 names in Fife, n, n. 33 36. lan- 
 guage, mother of the Scottish, 31. 
 
 Goths, dress of, 30, n. specimens of 
 their language, 32. n. 33, 34. 
 
 Greece, monuments of, 57. n. 
 
 Guard Sr*Jg*t bwtit, ^53 264* n. 
 
 <?HOT, extracted from hare bells, 161,0. 
 
 Haddock-Jiibery, 123, n. 
 
 called a kingdom, 7. ety- i Hail, storms of, 152. 
 mology of the name of, n, 12, n. i Harbours, good at Inverkeithing, 301. 
 
 funk, 52, n. William Sinclair bi- 
 hop of, 230, n. primitial see of 
 Pi&land, 241, n. 
 Dysart, Danes landed at, 77. 
 
 Earnsi.it: Wood, account of, 406, n. 
 
 Earth, for porcelain, 310, n. 
 
 Easter, Ceolfrid's letter about, 47, n. 
 
 Eden, fish in, 136, n. 
 
 Erasmus, his panegyric on archbi- 
 shop Alexander Stuart, 255, n. 
 
 Enkine, family of, 358. 
 
 Etbelred, called Earl of Fife, charter 
 of, 168. controversy concerning it, 
 225, n. 
 
 Eumenius, his panegyric on the cli- 
 mate of Britain, 38. 
 
 fjir, remarkable, at St. Andrews, 
 3JO, n. 
 
 Falkland, supposed station of the 
 ninth legion, 70. 
 
 ferry, Queens, 86, 300. at 
 urntisland, 307. at Kinghorn, ; 
 312. at Woodhaven, 418. Ferry- 
 port-on-craig, 419. 
 
 Feutl, in Fife, 159. 
 
 Fidra rock, IOJ. 
 
 Fife, extent, name, form and situa- 
 tion, 3. boundaries of, 3, 84. 
 
 language of Gothic, 31 34. 
 divisions and inquisition for va- 
 luing, 199, 200. 
 
 Burntisland, 304. Elie, 334. 
 Anstruther, 338. 
 Hay-Jlaei, rock, 93. 
 
 Fife, Earls of, their privileges, 212, HtLudes, conquered by the Danes 
 &e. list and historic* of, 216236. ' and Norwegians, 79, n. 
 cadets of the family, 237. male I Hereditary succession among priests, 
 line of, ended, 231, n. earldom of, 
 
 annexed to the crown, 236. 
 
 fife-nut, geographical situation of, 
 346, n. 
 
 Fillan, St. account of, 336, n. 
 
 Fort, on Inchgarvie, 89. on Inch- 
 keith, 97. 
 
 forts, George, Augustus, and Wil- 
 liam, built on the sites of Roman 
 forts, a, n. 
 
 farteviot, church of, said to have 
 been founded by Hungus II. 5, n. 
 seat of the Pictish kings, 49, n. 
 
 Forth, divides the middle and sou- 
 thern peninsulas, of Scotland, I. 
 etymology of the name, 84. dc- 
 
 177, n- 
 Hermits, origin of, 196. 
 Herring-fishery, 126, n. 306, n. 414, n. 
 Hope, family of, 361, 393. 
 Horestii, country of, 68, n. 71, n, 
 Horn, remarkable, 424. 
 Hospital,**. Inchkeith, 97, n. at Largo, 
 
 330- 
 
 HuMgus, founder of St. Andrews, 
 famous charter of, 166. son of 
 Forgto, a forgery, 45, n. 
 
 James I. when Earl of Carrick, com- 
 mitted to the charge of bishop 
 Wardlaw, 265, n. munificent to the 
 school* at Si. Andrews, 265. 
 
 3?
 
 466 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 "James II. marriage feast of, 349,11. 
 James III. addi&ed to astrology, 
 
 *55> n- 
 James IV. marriage feast of, 349, n. 
 
 suffers by the treachery of Mrs. 
 
 Heron, his mistress, 255. 
 James V. frolic of, 325, n. 
 Jbris rock, 105. 
 
 Icelandic dialeB, Specimen of, 32, n. 
 Jerne, not Strathern, but Ireland, 
 
 37, n. 
 Jncbcolm, situation and extent of, 90. 
 
 plundered by the English, 92, n. 
 Jnchgarvie, 89. 
 Incbkeitb, 94. 
 
 Jnkfsb, esteemed as food, 130, n. 
 Johnston s, Arthur and John, verses 
 
 on St. Andrews, 389. and the towns 
 
 on the coast, 354. 
 Jona, monastery of, built, 174. 
 
 exercised power over the Scottish 
 
 church, 172, 175, 187, n. 241, n. 
 Jonathans Cave, ancient custom at, 
 
 3*5, n. 
 
 Jones, Paul, 90, n. 337, n. 
 Jronttone, 292, n. 293, n. 320. 
 Isthmuses, of Scotland, a, n. 
 Judges, of Fife, 239. 
 
 JCeitb, family of, 94. 
 
 Kilrymont, district of, granted to the 
 
 church, 166. 
 
 Kingdom of Fife, why so named, 7. 
 Kinross, etymology of the name of, 
 
 3. early Christian establishment 
 
 at, 4, n. county of, disjoined from 
 
 Fife, 7, n. 271. 
 Kirkcaldy, Danes landed at, 76. 
 
 Lacedemonians, custom of, to their ge- 
 nerals, 65. 
 
 Lakies, of the Frith of Forth, 87. 
 
 Lam rock, IOJ. 
 
 Language, experiment on, by James 
 IV. 97, n. 
 
 Lead, found in Fife, 159. 
 
 Legion, ninth, battle with, 64. sup- 
 posed to have been at Benartie, 67. 
 
 Leslie, family of, 370. 
 
 Lfven, Roman coins found at, 71. 
 Danes encamped at, 74. and de- 
 feated by the Scots, 7 7. river of, 
 274,281,373. 
 
 Limestone, 302, n. 384. 
 
 Lindores, Duke of Rothsay buried 
 at, 236, n. seal of the abbey, 
 
 403, n- 
 
 Lindsay, family of, 358, 362. 
 
 Lindsay, Sir David, 395, n. 
 
 L obster-jisbery , 131,11. 
 
 Locbleven, early Christian establish- 
 ment at, 4, n. isle of bestowed on 
 the church, 168, 280. castle of, 
 276. 
 
 Locbore, Roman camp at, 68, n. 
 
 Locby, loch and river, divide the mid- 
 dle and northern peninsulas of 
 Scotland, i. 
 
 Lollius Urbicus, builds a wall between 
 the Forth and Clyde, 2, n. 
 
 Longevity, instances of, 150. 
 
 Lundin, standing stones of, 329. fa- 
 mily of, 330. 
 
 Macletb, considered as a giant, 79,0, 
 said to have defeated the Norwe- 
 gians, 80, n. 313. 
 
 Macduff, rise of, 211. privileges of, 
 212, &c. cross of, 219, 222, n. 
 flight of, 333,n. 
 
 Macintosh^ descended from Macduff, 
 
 437. 
 
 Mteata, lived to the south of the Ro- 
 man wall. 15, 99, n. 
 
 Malcolm II. not killed at Glammis, 
 79, n. 
 
 Malcolm III. divided Scotland into 
 dioceses, 181. founded Dun- 
 fermline, 294. 
 
 Manures, used in Fife, 156. 
 
 Marble, found, 314, 423. 
 
 Margaret, St. short notices of, 244, n. 
 294, n. 297. 
 
 Mary, Queen, confined in Lochleven 
 castle, 277, n. 278. 
 
 Mary of Guise, 346. 
 
 May, name of, 36. isle, 98. &c. 
 priory, 99. light-house of, 100, 
 101, n. bought from the abbot 
 of Reading, and given to St. An- 
 drews, 250, n. 
 
 Melville, family of, 390. 
 
 Melville, sheriff of Mearns, his death, 
 216, n. 
 
 Micre Inch, or Mictery, 93. 
 
 Mineral Water, at Or rock, 310. 
 at Kinghorn, 311. al Dysart, 
 322. 
 
 Money,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 467 
 
 Money, value of, in the time of Ed- 
 ward II. 25 1, n. 
 
 Monti, origin of, 196, of Vallis 
 Umbrosa came to Scotland, 248. 
 Carthusian, 266. 
 
 Many fenny, family of, 348. 
 
 Mortimers, acquire Abcrdour, 93. 
 
 JMottet, formation of, 17, 153, &c. 
 mode of converting into arable 
 land, 155. 
 
 Al nc truss, early given to the priests 
 of St. Andrews, 4, n. 
 
 Mugdrum Inch, IOJ, n. 
 
 Mungo, St. or Kentigem, of Glasgow, 
 
 241, n. 
 Jbtutsel-Jiibery, 136, n. 
 
 Nail manufafiory, 318, n. 
 
 Namet, in Fife, of Gothic origin, 12, 
 n. 33. some, Gaelic and Welsh, 
 186. 
 
 Naugbton, account of, 36, 164, n. 
 166, 413. 
 
 Jfcti, loch and river, divide the mid- 
 dle and northern peninsulas of 
 Scotland, i. 
 
 Nctban II. founded Abernethy, 5, n. 
 
 Ninian, St. converts the Picfts- - " 
 
 45- n- 
 Nortb Beru^*, nunnery of, founded, 
 
 229. 
 
 Norwegian!, defeat the Scots at Cul- 
 ross, 80. 
 
 Qberville, William de, granted liberty 
 to the convent of Dunfermline to 
 open a coal pit, 295, n. 
 
 Ocbill bills, 159, 401. 
 
 Orkie, etymology of the name of, 
 12, n. 
 
 Orkney, specimen of its ancient dia- 
 led, 32, n. length of days in, 39, a 
 principality of the Finish king- 
 dom, 48, n. conquered by the 
 Danes and Norwegians, 79, n. 
 
 Orrea Urlt, supposed to be near 
 Lochore, 68. station of the 
 ninth legion, 70. not in Fife, 71, n. 
 
 Or iv f I, parish of, disjoined from 
 Fife, 7 . 
 
 Otdinia, a name given to Fife by 
 Boeth, 8. 
 
 OtteJtni, where seated, 9, n. 
 
 Qjstcr-fibtry, 93, n. 95, 3IJ, Q. 
 
 Palladivs, St. not sent to Scotland 
 but Ireland, 45, n. 174, 175. 
 
 Panter, secretary, imprisoned in Inch- 
 garvie, 98, n. tutor to archbishop 
 Alexander Stuart, 255, n. 
 
 Paritbet of Fife, old list of, 206. list 
 of in 1710,207. in 1803,456. 
 
 Parliament, not early known in Scot- 
 land, 224, n. one held at Dairsie, 
 400, n. 
 
 Patrick, St. time of his going to Ire- 
 land, 45, n. 
 
 Perth, bridge of, 88, n. 
 
 Pettycur, Danes lauded at, 76. har- 
 bour of, 312. 
 
 Pifis, priests among, generally from 
 lona, 4, n, 185, n. converted to 
 Christianity, 4, n. 45, n. 241, n. 
 in Britain before Cesar's time, 18. 
 came from Germany, 19, &c. 
 seated in the north of Britain, 36. 
 defied their princes, 42, 43, 48* 
 n. choice confined to the royal 
 race, 48, n. sovereign power, li- 
 mited, 43, list of their kings, 
 44, &c. names of their 
 
 lri"g Gothic, .49. residence of 
 
 their kings, ib. race of hardy and 
 warlike, 53. settled in England, 
 74i 75. n. said to have brought the 
 Danes to invade Scotland, 76. fa- 
 bulous account of their ccmvcr-, 
 sion, 163. 
 
 Pilchard-fishery, 126, n. 307, n. 
 
 Pitjlrran, privilege relating to its 
 coal, 292, n. 
 
 Porpest, food for the royal table, 116. 
 
 Priory, of May, 100. of Lochleven 
 or Portmoak, 280, &c. of St. 
 Andrews, 187, &c. 
 
 Pittenioecm, 336. 
 
 Purple dye, made from a shell, 134, n. 
 
 ufeitjffrry, origin of the name of, 
 86, n. 300, u. 
 
 Regulm, St. legend of, 163, &c. tower 
 of, 165, n. 351. 
 
 Robert IIL supported by bishop Ward- 
 law, 264, n: 
 
 Roeking-stone, 425. 
 
 Roman army ,losof,undcr Severn s,i6,n. 
 
 Roman, trenches at Lochore, Bcnarte 
 
 and Clatchart, 70, 71. works, few 
 
 vestiges
 
 INDEX. 
 
 vestiges of in Fife, ib. n. coins 
 found near the water of Leven, 
 arms found in different places, ib. 
 72, n. 
 
 Ross, included Fife, Montieth, and 
 Strathern, 3. 
 
 Rothsay, Duke of, murdered at Falk- 
 land, 234, n. buried at Lindores, 
 ib. 386. 
 
 Royal sepulchres, 297- 
 
 Russian hospital, at Inchkeith, 98, n. 
 
 Saint Clair, Earl of Orkney, 318. 
 
 family of, 319. 
 Salmon-fibery, 125, n. 338, n. 382, 
 
 412, n. 
 Salt, 299, 315, 319, 323, n. 324, n. 
 
 3^8, 336, 340, 403. 
 Safoator, St. or bishop's barge, 269, n. 
 Scot, Sir Michael, 317, n. of Scots- 
 
 tarvet founds a professorship, 344. 
 Scotland-Well, founded, 247, 282. 
 Scottish, old, specimen of, 32, n. 
 Scythia, or the north of Germany, 
 
 the original country of the Pi<fts, 
 
 20, &c. 
 Scythian language, mother of *K o o - 
 
 thic, and thence of the Scottish, 31. 
 Sea, encroached at St. Andrews, 
 
 153. at Burntisland, 311, n. at An- 
 
 struther, 338, n. 
 Seals, used as food, 114, n. as matter 
 
 of trade, 295. 
 
 Selkirk, Alexander, story of, 333, n. 
 Ser-oan, St. a bishop, 175. 
 Sberi/s of Fife, 238, 239, n. 
 Sibbald, family of, 360, 399. 
 Sinclair, William, the king's bishop, 
 
 231, n. 
 Smelt, of Stirling fsbery, 125, n - 
 
 412, n. 
 
 Vo//, nature of, in Fife, 153. 
 Solan Goose, I 09. medical use of, 1 1 1 , n. 
 Sol-way, ancient name of, 5, n. 
 Stirling, bridge at, 85. 
 S/r/Ww, John de, besieges Lochleven 
 ' castle, 276. 
 Sueno, king of Norway, invades Fife, 
 
 80. 
 Sympathy, remarkable instanceof, 151. 
 
 fay, rise and course of, 88, o. 149. 
 
 tradition concerning, 406. 
 Temple's, Sir William, opinion of the 
 
 origin of the Scots, 27. 
 Thanes, said to be civil officers among 
 
 the Pids, 49, 50, 51. Selden'* 
 
 account of, 51. 
 Tbule, said to be the country of the 
 
 Pids, 2O, 36. situation of, 37. 
 Thunder storms, 421, n. 
 Trade of Fife, causes of its decline, 
 
 3 3 9, n. of Scotland described,395,n. 
 Trout-fishery, in Lochleven, 284, n. 
 Turbet-fsbery, 119, n. 
 
 Urcbin,sea, esteemed as a food, 133, n< 
 
 facomagior Vicomagi, where seated, 9. 
 Valentia, Roman province of, 2, n. 
 Valuation of Fife, in 1517, 2OI. in 
 
 1695, 445- 
 Vanguard, Macduff's privilege of 
 
 leading, 212, &c. 
 VeSiuriones, inhabited Fife, 6, n. 
 
 etymology of the name, 6. 
 fenicontes, or Vennicones, said to have 
 
 inhabited Fife, 12, 69. 
 f^-f^tiana, Roman province of, 2, . 
 
 Wampum, substance of, 135, n. 
 Water, means of converting salt into 
 
 fresh, 105, n. 
 Wemyss, family of, 22?, 237, 309, 
 
 334- 
 Whales, found in the Frith of Forth, 
 
 94, 115, 292. head esteemed a de- 
 licacy, 116, n. 
 William, the Conqueror, statute of, 
 
 mentioning the Picls, 74. 
 William, the Lion, firmness in resist - 
 
 ingthe pope's influence, 246, n. 
 Wisbart, bishop of Glasgow, taken at 
 
 Cupar, 399, n. 
 Wood, Sir Andrew, pilot to James 
 
 IV. loo. brilliant adions of, 330, n. 
 
 John, his school and hospital, 33J t 
 
 356,- n. 
 
 Woods, Fife once full of, 153. 
 Wypout, Alan, defends Lochleved 
 
 castle, 277, n. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 
 
 . Dr. Adamson, St. Andrews. 
 Rev. Thomas Adamson, Cameron. 
 Andrew Aitken, Carnbce. 
 George Aitken, Esq. Cupar. 
 George Aitken, Kirkcaldy. 
 Thomas Aitken, Westhall. 
 William Allastar, Writer Edin. 
 James Anderson, Star. 
 James Anderson, Esq. of Inchry. 
 John Anderson, Newburgh. 
 Patrick Anderson, Esq. W. S. Edin. 
 Robert Anderson, Pathhcad. 
 William Anderson, Cupar. 
 Thomas ArchbalA, Merchant, Elie. 
 William Arthur, Esq. Kemback. 
 Robert Arnot, Esq. of Chapel. 
 James Ay ton, Kinghorn. 
 
 B. 
 
 Robert Baillie, Esq. of Carphin. 
 
 Robert Baldie, Cupar. 
 
 James Balfour, Kilmany. 
 
 James Balfour, Kirkcaldy. 
 
 John Balfour, Fernicbarns. 
 
 General Nisbct Balfour. 
 
 John Balfour, Esq. of Balbirnie. 
 
 Jame? Balfour, Brochlie. 
 
 "William Balfour, Bankhcad. 
 
 Thomas Ballingall, Balmalcolm. 
 
 William Barclay. 
 
 Alex. Bayne, Esq. of Rircs. 
 
 William Baync, Esq. of Newmill. 
 
 David Bcatson, Dunfermline. 
 
 Robert Beatson, Esq. of Bruntisland 
 
 Cattle. 
 
 Robert Beatson, Esq. of Pitteadie. 
 William Bcatson, London. 
 Alex. Bell, Surgeon, Errol. 
 Rev. Andrew Bell, Crail. 
 Charles, Bell, Esq. of Pitbladdo. 
 James Bell, BrownhilU. 
 John Bell, Cupar. 
 
 Gilbert Bethune, Esq. of Balfour. 
 Henry Bethune, Esq. of Kilconquhar. 
 William Bethune, Esq. of Blebo. 
 James Begbie, St. Andrews. 
 Robert Birrel, Kirkcaldy. 
 David Black, Esq. Dunfermline. 
 
 Blair, Colin. 
 
 John Blyth, Leven. 
 
 Miss Boswell, Cupar. 
 
 John Braid, St. Andrews. 
 
 Thomas Brand, Teasses. 
 
 John Brash, Leith. 
 
 Archibald Brodie, St. Andrews. 
 
 Rev. David Brown, Crailing. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Brown, Tranent. 
 
 James Brown, Kirkcaldy. 
 
 John Brown, Gcncalogiat R. H. P. W. 
 
 lcMr Brown, Esq. of Newton. 
 
 Robert Brown, Kirkcaldy. 
 
 Thomas Bruce, Esq. of Grangemuir. 
 
 Walter Bruce, Cabinet-maker, Leith, 
 
 Rev. George Buist, Falkland. 
 
 Henry Buist, Braeside. 
 
 Henry Buist, Weddersbic. 
 
 Rev. James Burns, Brcchin. 
 
 C. 
 
 Right Honourable Earl of Craufurd 
 
 and Lindsay, 4 copies. 
 Rev. Adam Cairns, Longforgan. 
 Lieutenant General Alex. Campbell 
 
 of Monzie, M. P. 
 Rev. Dr. Campbell, Cupar. 
 George Cant, Kingsbarns. 
 William Carnie, Collinsburgh. 
 Rev. Andrew Carstairs, Kingsbarns. 
 George Carstairs, Merchant, Leith. 
 James Carstairs, Writer, Cupar. 
 John Carstairs, Esq. London. 
 Thomas Carstairs, Hillary. 
 William Carstairs, London. 
 Rev. Thomas Chalmers, Kilmany. 
 George Cheap, Esq. of Pusk. 
 James Cheap, Esq. of Strathtjrrum. 
 
 John
 
 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 
 
 John Cheap, Esq. of Rossie. 
 
 Andrew Christie, Esq. Cupar. 
 
 John Christie, Paymr. Fife Mlitia. 
 
 James Clark, Hillhead. 
 
 Rev. James Clark, Elie. 
 
 Hugh Cleghorn, Esq. of Denhead. 
 
 James Cockburn, Cupar. 
 
 Robert Coldstream, Merchant, 
 
 Leith. 
 
 David Condie, Kirkcaldy. 
 James Coupar, Kirkcaldy. 
 Coupar, Leven Iron Works. 
 Rev. Robert Coutts, Brechin. 
 Andrew Cowan, Dumbarnie. 
 Charles Cowan, Edinburgh. 
 John Cowie, London. 
 Davkl Cowan, Kippo. 
 Rev. Joseph Crichton, Ceres. 
 
 D. 
 
 George Dairsie, Anstruther. 
 
 William Dalgliesh, Esq. of Scotscraig. 
 
 John Daly ell, Esq. of Lingo. 
 
 James Davidson, M. D. Dunfermline. 
 
 John Dawson, Cupar. 
 
 James Dempster, Cupar. 
 
 Thomas Dickson, Nursery, Leith- 
 Walk. 
 
 John Dingwall, Ramorniemill. 
 
 Alexander Donaldson, Denmill. 
 
 John Donaldson, Denbrae. 
 
 William Douglas, Kirkcaldy. 
 
 James Dow, Anstruther. 
 
 Michael Duff, Pathhead. 
 
 Andrew Duncan, scnr. M. D. Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 David Duncan, Kilrenny. 
 
 Rev. William Duncan, Abernethie. 
 
 John Durie, Newburgh. 
 
 John Durie, Leith. 
 
 E. 
 
 Arthur Edie, Gibliston. 
 Thomas Edgar, Drumeldrie. 
 Robert Edmond, Esq. of Boarhills. 
 Francis Erskine, Esq. of Mar. 
 Methven Erskine, Esq. of Airdrie. 
 
 F. 
 
 Walter Fergus, Esq. Kjrkcaldy. 
 John Fergusson, Esq. of Btronvar. 
 
 Niel Fergusson, Esq. of Pitcullo. 
 George Fernie, Cupar. 
 William Fernie, Fincraigs. 
 Lewis H. Ferrier, Esq. younger ef 
 
 Bellcside. 
 
 John Finlay, College, Glasgow. 
 Maurice Finlay, Cupar. 
 William Finlayson, Cupar. 
 George Fleming, Edenside. 
 James Fleming, Newton. 
 James Forbes, Esq. Ramornie. 
 George Forrester, Collector of the 
 
 Customs, Anstruther. 
 John Fortune, Keplaw. 
 Miss Jean Frasei, Edinburgh. 
 
 G. 
 
 John Galloway, Merchant, Cupar. 
 John Gardener, Tranent. 
 Robert Geddie, Banker, Cupar. 
 William Geddes, Cupar. 
 Thomas George, Cupar. 
 Dr. Gibb of Castleton. 
 Harry Gibb, Ballas. 
 David Gillespie, Esq. of Kirkton. 
 Captain Laurence Gillespie, Fife 
 
 Militia. 
 
 John Givan, Cupar. 
 David Glass, Esq. of Smiddygreen. 
 John Gordon, Anstruther. 
 Oliver Gourlay, Esq. of Kilmaron. 
 Rev. William Gourlay, Flisk. 
 John Govan, M. D. Cupar. 
 Charles Grace, M. D. Cupar. 
 Stuart Grace, Writer, St. Andrews. 
 John Graham, Writer, Pitten- 
 
 weem. 
 
 Nathaniel Grant, Writer, Edinburgh. 
 David, Gray, Merchant, Cupar. 
 George Greenlaw, Esq. W. S. 
 
 Edinburgh. 
 John Grey, Esq. Somersethouse, 
 
 London. 
 Walter Grieve, Leith. 
 
 H. 
 
 The Right Honourable the Earl of 
 
 Hopeton. 
 
 Peter Halkerston, Solicitor, Edinr. 
 Sir Charles Halket, Bart, a copies 
 John Hamilton, Musicseller, Edinr. 
 John Harrower, Newburgh Shore. 
 
 Jame*
 
 SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 
 
 James Haxton, Adchtermuchty. 
 
 David Balfour Hay, Esq. of Ley*. 
 
 Hugh Hay, Esq. of Pans. 
 
 John Hay, Esq. of Magask. 
 
 William Haig, Kincaple. 
 
 Henry Hedderwick, Cassindonnet. 
 
 James Hedderwick, Cameron. 
 
 John Hedderwick, Rires. 
 
 Robert Hedderwick, Writer, Edinr. 
 
 George Heggie, E*q Kirkcaldy. 
 
 Mungo Henderson, Leith. 
 
 Henderson, Grange. 
 
 James Heriot, Esq. of Ramornie. 
 
 John Hill, L. L. D. of Brownhillg. 
 
 James Hill, Bleacher, Cupar. 
 
 Harry Hope, Writer, Falkland. 
 
 Hon. Major-General John Hope ol 
 Craighall, ^ copies. 
 
 Andrew Home, Damside. 
 
 Major Horsbrugh, Cupar. 
 
 Thomas Horsbrugh, Esq. Cupar. 
 
 William Hunt, junr. Dunfermline. 
 
 Rev. James Hunter, Denino. 
 
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 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER, 
 
 INSIDE View of St. Monance Church, to face the title. 
 Ruins of the Monastery of Dunfermline, - - page 294 
 Palace of Falkland, -..--.--.-386 
 Dairsie Castle and Church, -^...... 400 
 
 Subscribers Names to follow die Index.
 
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